Origin of the work:
1659 Amsterdam
Editions:
1659 Leiden
Contents:
Comenius’ defence against the accusations of a former pupil at Leszno, Professor Mikuláš Arnold. Comenius’ publication of revelations by prophets provoked disagreement in some intellectual circles, and even negative judgments. It was particularly unpleasant for Comenius that such a position was also taken by a former pupil at Leszno, Mikuláš Arnold, Professor of Theology at Franeker, who in his anti-Socinian treatise also denounced Comenius’ publication of revelations (see the entry for revelations). Moreover, he also laid the blame for the destruction of Leszno at Comenius’ door, as the latter had twice welcome the King of Sweden, Charles X Gustav, into Poland (see the entry for the Panegyricus). In a later letter, Arnold also accused him of being responsible for the destruction of the Reformed Church, and termed him the “vestibularis janitor” (doorkeeper of the vestibule), who tired people with endless reworkings of his books the Vestibulum (Vestibule) and the Janua linguarum (Gate of Tongues). Comenius’ responded in this treatise, in which he clarified his deeds and his efforts. He rejects blame for the destruction of Leszno, noting that he and the Bohemian Brethren stayed in the town longer than anyone else. Truly did Arnold term his the “janitor”, because he would gladly open the doors to deeper learning anywhere. He gathers that Arnold is preparing a new tract against him, exhorts the latter to moderation, and offers him his diaries for study, in order that he might see how everything occurred.
For further study, see also:
J. V. Novák & J. Hendrich, Jan Amos Komenský, jeho život a spisy. Prague 1932, pp561-565
Jan Kumpera, Jan Amos Komenský, poutník na rozhraní věků. Prague & Ostrava 1992, pp311-312