Origin of the work:
1667 Amsterdam
Editions:
1667 place not given
Contents:
This treatise justifies the publication of the book of prophecies Lux e tenebris (Light from Darkness), on the basis of which it issues a challenge. Comenius here sets out how, two years previously, a luxurious edition of the Lux e tenebris came to be printed, but is only now being made available to the public. The world is full of iniquity; now, signs of God’s displeasure are appearing. The tract contains three challenges. In the first, Comenius calls upon the young Emperor Leopold; according to Drabík’s prophecy, he can still attain God’s mercy, if he will cease to support the Antichrist (i.e. the Pope) and if he will be just (see the entry for Mikuláš Drabík). The second challenge turns, even more emphatically, to Pope Alexander VII and the Catholic cardinals, that they might repent before God’s rage is manifested. Christianity is full of conflict; the Pope should either undertake the reformation of the entire Church, or call a council and set himself under it, that reformation might be undertaken from the foundations upwards – otherwise, secular power will be decisive. The third challenge is issued to the secular powers, i.e. to sovereign rulers: now, while peace is being discussed between England and Holland at Breda, is the right time for them to reach concord among themselves.
For further study, see also:
J. V. Novák & J. Hendrich, Jan Amos Komenský, jeho život a spisy. Prague 1932, p629
Jan Kumpera, Jan Amos Komenský, poutník na rozhraní věků. Prague & Ostrava 1992, p313