Jacob of Mies

Jacob of Mies ( _cs. Jakoubek ze Stříbra) was a Bohemian reformer, and colleague of Jan Hus; b. at Mies (Czech: Stříbro) (15 m. w. of Pilsen), Bohemia, after 1350; d. at Prague August 9, 1429.

He studied at Prague, receiving both bachelor's and the master's degrees in theology, and became pastor of the Church of St. Michael and an outspoken supporter of Jan Hus. In 1410 he took part in the disputations regarding John Wycliffe, defending the latter against archiepiscopal condemnation. His study of Scripture and the Fathers had shown him that withholding of the cup in the administration of the Lord's Supper to the laity was an arbitrary measure of the Roman Church.

In 1414 he propounded and defended his views in a public disputation; and when Hus, at that time in jail at Konstanz, accepted them, he began to administer the cup to his parishioners, in spite of the remonstrances of the bishop and the university. His example was quickly followed by other pastors in Prague. The fathers of the council, who were much alarmed, issued a curious decree, admitting in theory as truth what in practise they condemned as heresy. Though Jacob would by no means submit, he was not removed from his office, perhaps because in other points, as, for instance, in the doctrine of purgatory, he agreed with the Roman Church.

During the last decade of his life Jacob was regarded as one of the foremost of the Utraquist theologians.

(originally by J. Loserth. - from the [http://www.ccel.org/php/disp.php?a=schaff&b=encyc06&p=79 New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge] )

Bibliography

*E. H. Gillett, "Life and Times of John Huss", i., chap. xviii., ii. chap. iii., Philadelphia, 1861; KL, ii, 1315;
*Neander, "Christian Church", v. 297, 331, 337, 338, 367.