Kšaft

Kšaft umírající matky, Jednoty bratrské: kterýmž (v národu svém a obzvláštnosti své dokonávajic) svěřené sobě někdy od Boha poklady mezi syny a dědice své rozděluje

The Testament of a dying mother, the Unitas Fratrum: who (in her nation and the peculiarity of her death) divides the treasures once entrusted to her by God among her sons and heirs

Origin of the work:
  1650 Leszno

Editions:
  1650 Leszno

1927 Prague, published by S. Souček in the Špalíček series

1970 Prague, Jan Amos Komenský, Dvojí poselství k českému národu (Kšaft, Smutný hlas)

1974 Prague, Vybrané spisy J. A. Komenského, vol. VII

1978 Prague, J. A. Comenii Opera omnia, vol. 3

Contents:

Comenius wrote this work once the Peace of Westphalia had been ratified, leaving Bohemia to the mercy of the Habsburgs and the Catholics. It is an allegorical treatise: the Unitas Fratrum, dispersed in various countries, feeling that its end is drawing near, bids farewell to its sons and wishes its heirs, the evangelical churches, well, these being the bearers of the ideals to which it had been drawn. Comenius, in the spirit of Hus, commends to his nation, which he believes will once again be independent, a love of the pure truth, a desire for an understanding of that which is true, a love for the order of the church, ardency in the service of God, an effort to provide education in the mother tongue, and better and more successful raising of the young. The work ends with a heartfelt blessing upon the Czech nation, in which he had found refuge during the difficult times of his life.

For further study, see also:

J. A. Comenii Opera omnia, vol. 3. Prague 1978, pp605-606

J. V. Novák & J. Hendrich, Jan Amos Komenský, jeho život a spisy. Prague 1932, pp430-432

Vybrané spisy J. A. Komenského, vol. VII. Prague 1974, pp45-48 & 801

Dějiny české literatury I. Prague 1959, pp425-426

J. A. Komenský, Dvojí poselství k českému národu (Kšaft, Smutný hlas). Prague 1970, pp65-82 (postscript)

Jan Kumpera, J. A. Komenský, poutník na rozhraní věků. Prague & Ostrava 1992, pp253-254