the great controversy-第16章

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the　firm；　strong　voice　which　had　so　often　caused　them　to　tremble：　〃I　shall
not　die；　but　live；　and　again　declare　the　evil　deeds　of　the
friars。〃D'Aubigne；　b。　17；　ch。　7。　Astonished　and　abashed；　the　monks　hurried
from　the　room。

Wycliffe's　words　were　fulfilled。　He　lived　to　place　in　the　hands　of　his
countrymen　the　most　powerful　of　all　weapons　against　Rometo　give　them　the
Bible；　the　Heaven…appointed　agent　to　liberate；　enlighten；　and　evangelize　the
people。　There　were　many　and　great　obstacles　to　surmount　in　the
accomplishment　of　this　work。　Wycliffe　was　weighed　down　with　infirmities；　he
knew　that　only　a　few　years　for　labor　remained　for　him；　he　saw　the　opposition
which　he　must　meet；　but；　encouraged　by　the　promises　of　God's　word；　he　went
forward　nothing　daunted。　In　the　full　vigor　of　his　intellectual　powers；　rich
in　experience；　he　had　been　preserved　and　prepared　by　God's　special
providence　for　this；　the　greatest　of　his　labors。　While　all　Christendom　was
filled　with　tumult；　the　Reformer　in　his　rectory　at　Lutterworth；　unheeding
the　storm　that　raged　without；　applied　himself　to　his　chosen　task。

At　last　the　work　was　completedthe　first　English　translation　of　the　Bible
ever　made。　The　word　of　God　was　opened　to　England。　The　Reformer　feared　not
now　the　prison　or　the　stake。　He　had　placed　in　the　hands　of　the　English
people　a　light　which　should　never　be　extinguished。　In　giving　the　Bible　to
his　countrymen；　he　had　done　more　to　break　the　fetters　of　ignorance　and　vice；
more　to　liberate　and　elevate　his　country；　than　was　ever　achieved　by　the　most
brilliant　victories　on　fields　of　battle。

The　art　of　printing　being　still　unknown；　it　was　only　by　slow　and　wearisome
labor　that　copies　of　the　Bible　could　be　multiplied。　So　great　was　the
interest　to　obtain　the　book；　that

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many　willingly　engaged　in　the　work　of　transcribing　it；　but　it　was　with
difficulty　that　the　copyists　could　supply　the　demand。　Some　of　the　more
wealthy　purchasers　desired　the　whole　Bible。　Others　bought　only　a　portion。　In
many　cases；　several　families　united　to　purchase　a　copy。　Thus　Wycliffe's
Bible　soon　found　its　way　to　the　homes　of　the　people。

The　appeal　to　men's　reason　aroused　them　from　their　passive　submission　to
papal　dogmas。　Wycliffe　now　taught　the　distinctive　doctrines　of
Protestantismsalvation　through　faith　in　Christ；　and　the　sole　infallibility
of　the　Scriptures。　The　preachers　whom　he　had　sent　out　circulated　the　Bible；
together　with　the　Reformer's　writings；　and　with　such　success　that　the　new
faith　was　accepted　by　nearly　one　half　of　the　people　of　England。

The　appearance　of　the　Scriptures　brought　dismay　to　the　authorities　of　the
church。　They　had　now　to　meet　an　agency　more　powerful　than　Wycliffean
agency　against　which　their　weapons　would　avail　little。　There　was　at　this
time　no　law　in　England　prohibiting　the　Bible；　for　it　had　never　before　been
published　in　the　language　of　the　people。　Such　laws　were　afterward　enacted
and　rigorously　enforced。　Meanwhile；　notwithstanding　the　efforts　of　the
priests；　there　was　for　a　season　opportunity　for　the　circulation　of　the　word
of　God。

Again　the　papal　leaders　plotted　to　silence　the　Reformer's　voice。　Before
three　tribunals　he　was　successively　summoned　for　trial；　but　without　avail。
First　a　synod　of　bishops　declared　his　writings　heretical；　and；　winning　the
young　king；　Richard　II；　to　their　side；　they　obtained　a　royal　decree
consigning　to　prison　all　who　should　hold　the　condemned　doctrines。

Wycliffe　appealed　from　the　synod　to　Parliament；　he　fearlessly　arraigned　the
hierarchy　before　the　national　council　and　demanded　a　reform　of　the　enormous
abuses　sanctioned　by　the　church。　With　convincing　power　he　portrayed　the
usurpation　and　corruptions　of　the　papal　see。　His　enemies　were　brought　to
confusion。　The　friends　and　supporters　of　Wycliffe　had　been　forced　to　yield；
and　it　had　been

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confidently　expected　that　the　Reformer　himself；　in　his　old　age；　alone　and
friendless；　would　bow　to　the　combined　authority　of　the　crown　and　the　miter。
But　instead　of　this　the　papists　saw　themselves　defeated。　Parliament；　roused
by　the　stirring　appeals　of　Wycliffe；　repealed　the　persecuting　edict；　and　the
Reformer　was　again　at　liberty。

A　third　time　he　was　brought　to　trial；　and　now　before　the　highest
ecclesiastical　tribunal　in　the　kingdom。　Here　no　favor　would　be　shown　to
heresy。　Here　at　last　Rome　would　triumph；　and　the　Reformer's　work　would　be
stopped。　So　thought　the　papists。　If　they　could　but　accomplish　their　purpose；
Wycliffe　would　be　forced　to　abjure　his　doctrines；　or　would　leave　the　court
only　for　the　flames。

But　Wycliffe　did　not　retract；　he　would　not　dissemble。　He　fearlessly
maintained　his　teachings　and　repelled　the　accusations　of　his　persecutors。
Losing　sight　of　himself；　of　his　position；　of　the　occasion；　he　summoned　his
hearers　before　the　divine　tribunal；　and　weighed　their　sophistries　and
deceptions　in　the　balances　of　eternal　truth。　The　power　of　the　Holy　Spirit
was　felt　in　the　council　room。　A　spell　from　God　was　upon　the　hearers。　They
seemed　to　have　no　power　to　leave　the　place。　As　arrows　from　the　Lord's
quiver；　the　Reformer's　words　pierced　their　hearts。　The　charge　of　heresy；
which　they　had　brought　against　him；　he　with　convincing　power　threw　back　upon
themselves。　Why；　he　demanded；　did　they　dare　to　spread　their　errors？　For　the
sake　of　gain；　to　make　merchandise　of　the　grace　of　God？

〃With　whom；　think　you；〃　he　finally　said；　〃are　ye　contending？　with　an　old　man
on　the　brink　of　the　grave？　No！　with　TruthTruth　which　is　stronger　than　you；
and　will　overcome　you。〃Wylie；　b。　2；　ch。　13。　So　saying；　he　withdrew　from
the　assembly；　and　not　one　of　his　adversaries　attempted　to　prevent　him。

Wycliffe's　work　was　almost　done；　the　banner　of　truth　which　he　had　so　long
borne　was　soon　to　fall　from　his　hand；　but　once　more　he　was　to　bear　witness
for　the　gospel。　The

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truth　was　to　be　proclaimed　from　the　very　stronghold　of　the　kingdom　of　error。
Wycliffe　was　summoned　for　trial　before　the　papal　tribunal　at　Rome；　which　had
so　often　shed　the　blood　of　the　saints。　He　was　not　blind　to　the　danger　that
threatened　him；　yet　he　would　have　obeyed　the　summons　had　not　a　shock　of
palsy　made　it　impossible　for　him　to　perform　the　journey。　But　though　his
voice　was　not　to　be　heard　at　Rome；　he　could　speak　by　letter；　and　this　he
determined　to　do。　From　his　rectory　the　Reformer　wrote　to　the　pope　a　letter；
which；　while　respectful　in　tone　and　Christian　in　spirit；　was　a　keen　rebuke
to　the　pomp　and　pride　of　the　papal　see。

〃Verily　I　do　rejoice；〃　he　said；　〃to　open　and　declare　unto　every　man　the
faith　which　I　do　hold；　and　especially　unto　the　bishop　of　Rome：　which；
forasmuch　as　I　do　suppose　to　be　sound　and　true；　he　will　most　willingly
confirm　my　said　faith；　or　if　it　be　erroneous；　amend　the　same。

〃First；　I　suppose　that　the　gospel　of　Christ　is　the　whole　body　of　God's　law。
。　。　。　I　do　give　and　hold　the　bishop　of　Rome；　forasmuch　as　he　is　the　vicar　of
Christ　here　on　earth；　to　be　most　bound；　of　all　other　men；　unto　that　law　of
the　gospel。　For　the　greatness　among　Christ's　disciples　did　not　consist　in
worldly　dignity　or　honors；　but　in　the　near　and　exact　following　of　Christ　in
His　life　and　manners。。。。　Christ；　for　the　time　of　His　pilgrimage　here；　was　a
most　poor　man；　abjecting　and　casting　off　all　worldly　rule　and　honor。　。　。　。

〃No　faithful　man　ought　to　follow　either　the　pope　himself　or　any　of　the　holy
men；　but　in　such　points　as　he　hath　followed　the　Lord　Jesus　Christ；　for　Peter
and　the　sons　of　Zebedee；　by　desiring　worldly　honor；　contrary　to　the
following　of　Christ's　steps；　did　offend；　and　therefore　in　those　errors　they
are　not　to　be　followed。　。　。　。

〃The　pope　ought　to　leave　unto　the　secular　power　all　temporal　dominion　and
rule；　and　thereunto　effectually　to　move　and　exhort　his　whole　clergy；　for　so
did　Christ；　and　especially　by　His　apostles。　Wherefore；　if　I　have　erred　in
any　of　these　points；　I　will　most　humbly　submit　myself　unto　correction；

92

even　by　death；　if　necessity　so　require；　and　if　I　could　labor　according　to　my
will　or　desire　in　mine　own　person；　I　would　surely　present　myself　before　the
bishop　of　Rome；　but　the　Lord　hath　otherwise　visited　me　to　the　contrary；　and
hath　taught　me　rather　to　obey　God　than　men。〃

In　closing　he　said：　〃Let　us　pray　unto　our　God；　that　He　will　so　stir　up　our
Pope　Urban　VI；　as　he　began；　that　he　with　his　clergy　may　follow　the　Lord
Jesus　Christ　in　life　and　manners；　and　that　they　may　teach　the　people
effectually；　and　that　they；　likewise；　may　faithfully　follow　them　in　the
same。〃John　Foxe；　Acts　and　Monuments；　vol。　3；　pp。　49；　50。

Thus　Wycliffe　presented　to　the　pope　and　his　cardinals　the　meekness　and
humility　of　Christ；　exhibiting　not　only　to　themselves　but　to　all　Christendom
the　contrast　between　them　and　the　Master　whose　representatives　they
professed　to　be。

Wycliffe　fully　expected　that　his　life　would　be　the　price　of　his　fidelity。
The　king；　the　pope；　and　the　bishops　were　united　to　accomplish　his　ruin；　and
it　seemed　certain　that　a　few　months　at　most　would　bring　him　to　the　stake。
But　his　courage　was　unshaken。　〃Why　do　you　talk　of　seeking　the　crown　of
martyrdom　afar？〃　he　said。　〃Preach　the　gospel　of　Christ　to　haughty　prelates；
and　martyrdom　will　not　fail　you。　What！　I　should　live　and　be　silent？　。　。　。
Never！　Let　the　blow　fall；　I　await　its　coming。〃D'Aubigne；　b。　17；　ch。　8。

But　God's　providence　still　shielded　His　servant。　The　man　who　for　a　whole
lifetime　had　stood　boldly　in　defense　of　the　truth；　in　daily　peril　of　his
life；　was　not　to　fall　a　victim　of　the　hatred　of　its　foes。　Wycliffe　had　never
sought　to　shield　himself；　but　the　Lord　had　been　his　protector；　and　now；　when
his　enemies　felt　sure　of　their　prey；　God's　hand　removed　him　beyond　their
reach。　In　his　church　at　Lutterworth；　as　he　was　about　to　dispense　the
communion；　he　fell；　stricken　with　palsy；　and　in　a　short　time　yielded　up　his
life。

God　had　appointed　to　Wycliffe　his　work。　He　had　put　the

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word　of　truth　in　his　mouth；　and　He　set　a　guard　about　him　that　this　word
might　come　to　the　people。　His　life　was　protected；　and　his　labors　were
prolonged；　until　a　foundation　was　laid　for　the　great　work　of　the
Reformation。

Wycliffe　came　from　the　obscurity　of　the　Dark　Ages。　There　were　none　who　went
before　him　from　whose　work　he　could　shape　his　system　of　reform。　Raised　up
like　John　the　Baptist　to　accomplish　a　special　mission；　he　was　the　herald　of
a　new　era。　Yet　in　the　system　of　truth　which　he　presented　there　was　a　unity
and　completeness　which　Reformers　who　followed　him　did　not　exceed；　and　which
some　did　not　reach；　even　a　hundred　years　later。　So　broad　and　deep　was　laid
the　foundation；　so　firm　and　true　was　the　framework；　that　it　needed　not　to　be
reconstructed　by　those　who　came　after　him。

The　great　movement　that　Wycliffe　inaugurated；　which　was　to　liberate　the
conscience　and　the　intellect；　and　set　free　the　nations　so　long　bound　to　the
triumphal　car　of　Rome；　had　its　spring　in　the　Bible。　Here　was　the　source　of
that　stream　of　blessing；　which；　like　the　water　of　life；　has　flowed　down　the
ages　since　the　fourteenth　century。　Wycliffe　accep