THE NEW SCHAFF-HERZOG
article of faith; and he played a leading part at the
head of the deputation from the University of Paris
in the critical days after the flight of John XXIII
(see Constance, Council of). But
4. The from that time forth his fame rapidly Council of paled. In the trial of Huss he served Constance, as accuser. After that, apart from
certain reports and gala addresses, his name is no longer mentioned in the official documents. The animating forces of the council passed out of his control. In fact, though chancellor of the first university in the world, from whom an influence over that impressionable assembly might have been expected equaled by few others, he had missed his mark. He had conceived the notion of making the council decide a question which was really French in its coloring and became uplifted to the plane of a theological moral problem. On Nov. 23, 1407, an assassin's hand, in the hire of John of Burgundy, the son and heir of Philip, had made way with Duke Louis of Orleans, the brother of Charles VI. ; and in the year following, Jean Petit, professor of theology in Paris, justified this murder as due to a tyrant and arch-traitor. Gerson was so deeply devoted to the Burgundian cause that he maintained silence, and still further upheld the assassin's policy. But in Paris this shortly led to mob rule, and revolution was succeeded by reaction. Patriots' eyes were opened, and they became permanently estranged from the Burgundian. Gerson in particular now believed all the nation's misery to be traceable to that crying violation of law and morality, and thenceforward he applied all his power to the end of making satisfaction, without which a real peace were impossible. But by this course he naturally passed into the service of the opposing party, which came to wield a decisive influence in shaping the policy of the French delegation to the council, and — if a few waverings be excepted — continued to maintain this influence throughout the entire session. The bishop of Paris, on Feb. 23, 1414, had been obliged to condemn the " doctrine " of Petit; and it was desired to have the council confirm this verdict. In striving for this goal Gerson displayed a persistency which proclaims a pure idealism far exalted above partizan passion. It is his fairest renown, but also the tragic strain in his life. For in the course of the highly excited proceedings which extended over the years 1415 to 1417, he almost entirely isolated himself. From the council, which he had approached so joyfully and hopefully, he withdrew under the bitterest protest (cf. the Dialogus apologeticus and Tractatus quomodo etan liceat in causis fidei a summo pontifice appellare seu ejus judicium declinare). And, instead of returning to his beloved fatherland, he had to wander into exile for fear of his former patron, the Duke of Burgundy.
Through Albert of Bavaria he first found refuge at Rattenberg on the Inn, later at Neuburg. In
the autumn of 1418 he moved over to
5. Last Austrian territory, probably to Molk; Years. and Duke Frederick of Austria even
offered him a Vienna professorship. After the assassination of John of Burgundy (Sept. 10, 1419) Gerson retired to the quiet of a canonry
at St. Paul's in Lyons, employing his leisure in literary labors. Amid the abundance of partly edifying, partly dogmatic and moral writings that belong to this latter period, mention may be made merely of the Consolatio theologicc ; the rather long poem Josephina, in honor of St. Joseph; the Gospel harmony Monotessaron ; the Dialogus sophice et natures super ccelibatu ; the treatise De concordia metaphysical cum logica ; the Collectorium super Magnificat, and the Tractatus super cantica canticorum. He appeared in public only to deliver an address before a provincial synod at Lyons (1421). That he instructed children is probably a myth. He obtained a proud monument in the Church of St. Lawrence. The populace honored him as one of the blessed, and miracles at his grave were reported. But this memorial did not survive the progress of time, and the Church of St. Lawrence itself succumbed to the Revolution. Only his title of Doctor christianissimus continued to live in the learned world in connection with his perennially reprinted works. For his claim to the authorship of the " Imitation of Christ" see Kempis, Thomas a. b. Bess.
Bibliography: The best and most complete edition of the works of Gerson is by L. EHies Du Pin, 5 vols., Antwerp, 1706. For discussion of the sources up to 1858 the best works are J. B. Schwab, Johann Gerson, Wiirzburg, 1858, and P. Tschackert, Peter von Ailli, Gotha, 1877. Consult J. C. E. Bourret, Essai historique et critique sur les sermons francais de Gerson, Paris, 1858; H. Jadart, Jean de Gerson, . recherches sur son origine, son village natal et sa famille, Reims, 1882; K. Werner, Die Scholastik des spateren Mittelalters, vol. iv. , Vienna, 1887; E. Guillon, De Johanne Gersonio, Paris, 1888; B. Bess, Johannes Gerson und die kirchen-politischen Parteien Frankreichs vor dem Koncil zu Pisa, Marburg, 1891. Consult also R. A. Vaughan, Hours with the Mystics, i. 338, 369, London, 1879; KL, v. 457-473; Neander, Christian Church, v. 53-93 et passim.