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Protestantism in Poland and Bohemia - James Aitken Wylie

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only <strong>in</strong>fallible touch-stone -- "Can I, by the<br />

performance of the works she prescribes, obta<strong>in</strong><br />

peace of conscience, <strong>and</strong> make myself holy <strong>in</strong> the<br />

sight of God?" Alasco was constra<strong>in</strong>ed to confess<br />

that he never should. He must therefore, at<br />

whatever cost, separate himself from her. At this<br />

moment two mitres -- that of Wesprim <strong>in</strong> Hungary,<br />

<strong>and</strong> that of Cujavia <strong>in</strong> <strong>Pol<strong>and</strong></strong> -- were placed at his<br />

acceptance.[6] The latter mitre opened his way to<br />

the primacy <strong>in</strong> <strong>Pol<strong>and</strong></strong>. On the one side were two<br />

k<strong>in</strong>gs proffer<strong>in</strong>g him golden dignities, on the other<br />

was the Gospel, with its losses <strong>and</strong> afflictions.<br />

Which shall he choose? "God, <strong>in</strong> his goodness,"<br />

said he, writ<strong>in</strong>g to Pellicanus, "has brought me to<br />

myself." He went straight to the k<strong>in</strong>g, <strong>and</strong> frankly<br />

<strong>and</strong> boldly avow<strong>in</strong>g his convictions, decl<strong>in</strong>ed the<br />

Bishopric of Cujavia.<br />

<strong>Pol<strong>and</strong></strong> was no place for Alasco after such an<br />

avowal, lie left his native l<strong>and</strong> <strong>in</strong> 1536, uncerta<strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong><br />

what country he should spend what might yet<br />

rema<strong>in</strong> to him of life, which was now wholly<br />

devoted to the cause of the Reformation.<br />

Sigismund, who knew his worth, would most<br />

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