The Way to Peace

Cesta pokoje, to jest Pravý, neomylný, jediný prostředek, kterýmž církev Boží v pokoji, svornosti a lásce zachována býti můž: za příčinou nepokojných spisů M. Samuele Martinia z Písem svatých vyhledaná, ukázaná a všechněm věrným Čechům podaná od starších kněží Jednoty bratrské

The Way to Peace, that is, the True, unerring, sole means, through which the Church of God can preserve itself in peace, concord and love; instigated by the unsettled tract of Samuel Martinius, researched from the Holy Scripture, demonstrated and given to all faithful Czechs by an elder priest of the Unity of Brethren.

Origin of the work:
  1637 Leszno

Editions:
  1637 Leszo

1912 Brno, Veškeré spisy J. A. Komenského, vol. XVII

Contents:

This is a dissertation in which Comenius sets out his thoughts on ecclesiastical peace.

The Neo-Utraquist preacher of the Czech religious exiles in Saxony, Samuel Martinius of Dražov, attacked the Unitas Fratrum with accusations that the Brethren had stepped back from the unification of the non-Catholic churches anchored in Rudolfs 1609 Letter of Majesty, that they had allowed Calvinists into the body, and that they falsely collected alms abroad in the name of the whole nation. In the background, this covers the attempts of the Lutherans to integrate the Unitas Fratrum into the Lutheran church; the Brethren, however, wished to retain their independence with a view to the purity of their teaching and religious practice. While they defended themselves against Martinius’ attack (see the entry on announcement),but the latter did not cease with his polemics. It was for this reason that in 1637 the tract “The Way of Peace” came from Comenius’ pen.

The text first expresses sorrow that disputes have arisen among the scattered Czech exiles. In this case the fault lies with Samuel Martinius. It is deplorable that as a Czech he stands against Czechs, to the detriment of the Czech name, and that he acts in such a manner at a time when God is wrathful with the unruly exiles, that they might be induced to repent, and when there are clear signs of efforts at reconciliation between them. For this reason the Brethren call Martinius to peace, the first way to which leads through abandoning the murderous fight between the various churches, the second way to which is found in gentle speech on the truth of the faith, without bloodletting, and third way to which is based upon the cessation of mutual vituperation that toleration might be arrived at. Otherwise the Bishop of Rome will use the differences between the heterodox to his own advantage.

For further study, see also:

Veškeré spisy J. A. Komenského, vol. XVII. Brno 1912, pp289-293

J. V. Novák & J. Hendrich, Jan Amos Komenský, jeho život a spisy. Brno 1932, pp274-277

Jan Kumpera, Jan Amos Komenský, poutník na rozhraní věků. Prague & Ostrava 1992, pp210-211