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Protestantism in Poland and Bohemia - James Aitken Wylie

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een erected. They hastened to the w<strong>in</strong>dows, <strong>and</strong><br />

began to s<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> a loud voice the forty-fourth Psalm<br />

to cheer their fellow-martyrs: "Yea, for thy sake we<br />

are killed all the day long; ... Rise, Lord, cast us not<br />

off for ever." A great crowd, struck with<br />

consternation at see<strong>in</strong>g their greatest <strong>and</strong> most<br />

venerated men led to death, followed them with<br />

sighs <strong>and</strong> tears.<br />

This night was spent as the preced<strong>in</strong>g one had<br />

been, <strong>in</strong> prayers <strong>and</strong> psalms. They exhorted one<br />

another to be of good courage, say<strong>in</strong>g that as the<br />

glory of go<strong>in</strong>g first <strong>in</strong> the path of martyrdom had<br />

been awarded them, it behooved them to leave an<br />

example of constancy to their posterity, <strong>and</strong> of<br />

courage to the world, by show<strong>in</strong>g it that they did<br />

not fear to die. They then jo<strong>in</strong>ed <strong>in</strong> s<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g the<br />

eighty-sixth Psalm. When it was ended, John<br />

Kutnauer turned the last stanza <strong>in</strong>to a prayer,<br />

earnestly beseech<strong>in</strong>g God that he would "show<br />

some token which might at once strengthen them<br />

<strong>and</strong> conv<strong>in</strong>ce their enemies." Then turn<strong>in</strong>g to his<br />

companions, <strong>and</strong> speak<strong>in</strong>g to them with great<br />

fervor of spirit, he said, "Be of good cheer, for God<br />

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