A Flame was Lit

A flame was lit
In the heart of man
T'was never quenched
For no one can.

In the fourteenth century
As Wycliffe read
A new thought came
Into his head.

The common folk—
Not only we,
Should have the Bible
To freely read.

So many a copy
Was written by hand
In languages the people
Could all understand

Many were angry,
His Bibles were banned
People must burn them
All through the land.

But were they diminished?
Are they all gone?
No, Wycliffe's Bibles
Today still live on.

In the fifteenth century
Another stood strong
He stood by the Bible
And spoke against wrong

The Emperor summoned him
"We won't lay a hand,"
So Jan Hus bravely went
To that far-away land.

When he got there, they took him
Threw him into a cell
Where they left him for months
Till a trial befell

They condemned him to death
Yes, they burned Jan Hus
They thought that that would
Stop the fuss.

But as he suffered,
He sang and prayed
Even in the trial
His faith was stayed

Will this now
Make people scared?
For sufferings thus,
Are they prepared?

Somehow this took away their fear
By thousands they were slain
They wouldn't deny Jesus
For any earthly pain.

It still lives on
This flame inside
It wasn't put out
Though so many have tried.

Will you stand up
Though great the price,
Is Jesus worth
Our sacrifice?