the great controversy-第44章

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stake。　To　pray　to　God　in　secret；　to　refrain　from　bowing　to　an　image；　or　to
sing　a　psalm；　was　also　punishable　with　death。　Even　those　who　should　abjure
their　errors　were　condemned；　if　men；　to　die　by　the　sword；　if　women；　to　be
buried　alive。　Thousands　perished　under　the　reign　of　Charles　and　of　Philip
II。

At　one　time　a　whole　family　was　brought　before　the　inquisitors；　charged　with
remaining　away　from　mass　and　worshiping　at　home。　On　his　examination　as　to
their　practices　in　secret　the　youngest　son　answered：　〃We　fall　on　our　knees；
and　pray　that　God　may　enlighten　our　minds　and　pardon　our　sins；　we　pray　for
our　sovereign；　that　his　reign　may　be　prosperous　and　his　life　happy；　we　pray
for　our　magistrates；　that　God　may　preserve　them。〃Wylie；　b。　18；　ch。　6。　Some
of　the　judges　were　deeply　moved；　yet　the　father　and　one　of　his　sons　were
condemned　to　the　stake。

The　rage　of　the　persecutors　was　equaled　by　the　faith　of　the　martyrs。　Not
only　men　but　delicate　women　and　young　maidens　displayed　unflinching　courage。
〃Wives　would　take　their　stand　by　their　husband's　stake；　and　while　he　was
enduring　the　fire　they　would　whisper　words　of　solace；　or　sing　psalms　to
cheer　him。〃　〃Young　maidens　would　lie　down　in　their　living　grave　as　if　they
were　entering　into　their　chamber　of　nightly　sleep；　or　go　forth　to　the
scaffold　and　the　fire；　dressed　in　their　best　apparel；　as　if　they　were　going
to　their　marriage。〃Ibid。；　b。　18；　ch。　6。

As　in　the　days　when　paganism　sought　to　destroy　the　gospel；　the　blood　of　the
Christians　was　seed。　（See　Tertullian；　Apology；　paragraph　50。）　Persecution
served　to　increase　the　number　of　witnesses　for　the　truth。　Year　after　year
the　monarch；　stung　to　madness　by　the　unconquerable　determination　of　the
people；　urged　on　his　cruel　work；　but　in　vain。　Under　the　noble　William　of
Orange　the　Revolution　at　last　brought　to　Holland　freedom　to　worship　God。

In　the　mountains　of　Piedmont；　on　the　plains　of　France　and　the　shores　of
Holland；　the　progress　of　the　gospel　was

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marked　with　the　blood　of　its　disciples。　But　in　the　countries　of　the　North　it
found　a　peaceful　entrance。　Students　at　Wittenberg；　returning　to　their　homes；
carried　the　reformed　faith　to　Scandinavia。　The　publication　of　Luther's
writings　also　spread　the　light。　The　simple；　hardy　people　of　the　North　turned
from　the　corruption；　the　pomp；　and　the　superstitions　of　Rome；　to　welcome　the
purity；　the　simplicity；　and　the　life…giving　truths　of　the　Bible。

Tausen；　〃the　Reformer　of　Denmark；〃　was　a　peasant's　son。　The　boy　early　gave
evidence　of　vigorous　intellect；　he　thirsted　for　an　education；　but　this　was
denied　him　by　the　circumstances　of　his　parents；　and　he　entered　a　cloister。
Here　the　purity　of　his　life；　together　with　his　diligence　and　fidelity；　won
the　favor　of　his　superior。　Examination　showed　him　to　possess　talent　that
promised　at　some　future　day　good　service　to　the　church。　It　was　determined　to
give　him　an　education　at　some　one　of　the　universities　of　Germany　or　the
Netherlands。　The　young　student　was　granted　permission　to　choose　a　school　for
himself；　with　one　proviso；　that　he　must　not　go　to　Wittenberg。　The　scholar　of
the　church　was　not　to　be　endangered　by　the　poison　of　heresy。　So　said　the
friars。

Tausen　went　to　Cologne；　which　was　then；　as　now；　one　of　the　strongholds　of
Romanism。　Here　he　soon　became　disgusted　with　the　mysticisms　of　the
schoolmen。　About　the　same　time　he　obtained　Luther's　writings。　He　read　them
with　wonder　and　delight；　and　greatly　desired　to　enjoy　the　personal
instruction　of　the　Reformer。　But　to　do　so　he　must　risk　giving　offense　to　his
monastic　superior　and　forfeiting　his　support。　His　decision　was　soon　made；
and　erelong　he　was　enrolled　as　a　student　at　Wittenberg。

On　returning　to　Denmark；　he　again　repaired　to　his　cloister。　No　one　as　yet
suspected　him　of　Lutheranism；　he　did　not　reveal　his　secret；　but　endeavored；
without　exciting　the　prejudices　of　his　companions；　to　lead　them　to　a　purer
faith　and　a　holier　life。　He　opened　the　Bible；　and　explained　its　true
meaning；　and　at　last　preached　Christ　to　them　as　the　sinner's　righteousness
and　his　only　hope　of　salvation。　Great　was　the

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wrath　of　the　prior；　who　had　built　high　hopes　upon　him　as　a　valiant　defender
of　Rome。　He　was　at　once　removed　from　his　own　monastery　to　another　and
confined　to　his　cell　under　strict　supervision。

To　the　terror　of　his　new　guardians　several　of　the　monks　soon　declared
themselves　converts　to　Protestantism。　Through　the　bars　of　his　cell　Tausen
had　communicated　to　his　companions　a　knowledge　of　the　truth。　Had　those
Danish　fathers　been　skilled　in　the　church's　plan　of　dealing　with　heresy；
Tausen's　voice　would　never　again　have　been　heard；　but　instead　of　consigning
him　to　a　tomb　in　some　underground　dungeon；　they　expelled　him　from　the
monastery。　Now　they　were　powerless。　A　royal　edict；　just　issued；　offered
protection　to　the　teachers　of　the　new　doctrine。　Tausen　began　to　preach。　The
churches　were　opened　to　him；　and　the　people　thronged　to　listen。　Others　also
were　preaching　the　word　of　God。　The　New　Testament；　translated　into　the
Danish　tongue；　was　widely　circulated。　The　efforts　made　by　the　papists　to
overthrow　the　work　resulted　in　extending　it；　and　erelong　Denmark　declared
its　acceptance　of　the　reformed　faith。

In　Sweden；　also；　young　men　who　had　drunk　from　the　well　of　Wittenberg　carried
the　water　of　life　to　their　countrymen。　Two　of　the　leaders　in　the　Swedish
Reformation；　Olaf　and　Laurentius　Petri；　the　sons　of　a　blacksmith　of　Orebro；
studied　under　Luther　and　Melanchthon；　and　the　truths　which　they　thus　learned
they　were　diligent　to　teach。　Like　the　great　Reformer；　Olaf　aroused　the
people　by　his　zeal　and　eloquence；　while　Laurentius；　like　Melanchthon；　was
learned；　thoughtful；　and　calm。　Both　were　men　of　ardent　piety；　of　high
theological　attainments；　and　of　unflinching　courage　in　advancing　the　truth。
Papist　opposition　was　not　lacking。　The　Catholic　priest　stirred　up　the
ignorant　and　superstitious　people。　Olaf　Petri　was　often　assailed　by　the　mob；
and　upon　several　occasions　barely　escaped　with　his　life。　These　Reformers
were；　however；　favored　and　protected　by　the　king。

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Under　the　rule　of　the　Roman　Church　the　people　were　sunken　in　poverty　and
ground　down　by　oppression。　They　were　destitute　of　the　Scriptures；　and　having
a　religion　of　mere　signs　and　ceremonies；　which　conveyed　no　light　to　the
mind；　they　were　returning　to　the　superstitious　beliefs　and　pagan　practices
of　their　heathen　ancestors。　The　nation　was　divided　into　contending　factions；
whose　perpetual　strife　increased　the　misery　of　all。　The　king　determined　upon
a　reformation　in　the　state　and　the　church；　and　he　welcomed　these　able
assistants　in　the　battle　against　Rome。

In　the　presence　of　the　monarch　and　the　leading　men　of　Sweden；　Olaf　Petri
with　great　ability　defended　the　doctrines　of　the　reformed　faith　against　the
Romish　champions。　He　declared　that　the　teachings　of　the　Fathers　are　to　be
received　only　when　in　accordance　with　the　Scriptures；　that　the　essential
doctrines　of　the　faith　are　presented　in　the　Bible　in　a　clear　and　simple
manner；　so　that　all　men　may　understand　them。　Christ　said；　〃My　doctrine　is
not　Mine；　but　His　that　sent　Me〃　（John　7：16）；　and　Paul　declared　that　should
he　preach　any　other　gospel　than　that　which　he　had　received；　he　would　be
accursed　（Galatians　1：8）。　〃How；　then；〃　said　the　Reformer；　〃shall　others
presume　to　enact　dogmas　at　their　pleasure；　and　impose　them　as　things
necessary　to　salvation？〃Wylie；　b。　10；　ch。　4。　He　showed　that　the　decrees　of
the　church　are　of　no　authority　when　in　opposition　to　the　commands　of　God；
and　maintained　the　great　Protestant　principle　that　〃the　Bible　and　the　Bible
only〃　is　the　rule　of　faith　and　practice。

This　contest；　though　conducted　upon　a　stage　comparatively　obscure；　serves　to
show　us　〃the　sort　of　men　that　formed　the　rank　and　file　of　the　army　of　the
Reformers。　They　were　not　illiterate；　sectarian；　noisy　controversialistsfar
from　it；　they　were　men　who　had　studied　the　word　of　God；　and　knew　well　how　to
wield　the　weapons　with　which　the　armory　of　the　Bible　supplied　them。　In
respect　of　erudition　they　were　ahead　of　their　age。　When　we　confine　our
attention　to　such　brilliant　centers　as　Wittenberg　and　Zurich；　and　to　such
illustrious

244

names　as　those　of　Luther　and　Melanchthon；　of　Zwingli　and　Oecolampadius；　we
are　apt　to　be　told；　these　were　the　leaders　of　the　movement；　and　we　should
naturally　expect　in　them　prodigious　power　and　vast　acquisitions；　but　the
subordinates　were　not　like　these。　Well；　we　turn　to　the　obscure　theater　of
Sweden；　and　the　humble　names　of　Olaf　and　Laurentius　Petri　from　the　masters
to　the　discipleswhat　do　we　find？　。　。　。　Scholars　and　theologians；　men　who
have　thoroughly　mastered　the　whole　system　of　gospel　truth；　and　who　win　an
easy　victory　over　the　sophists　of　the　schools　and　the　dignitaries　of
Rome。〃Ibid。；　b。　10；　ch。4。

As　the　result　of　this　disputation　the　king　of　Sweden　accepted　the　Protestant
faith；　and　not　long　afterward　the　national　assembly　declared　in　its　favor。
The　New　Testament　had　been　translated　by　Olaf　Petri　into　the　Swedish
language；　and　at　the　desire　of　the　king　the　two　brothers　undertook　the
translation　of　the　whole　Bible。　Thus　for　the　first　time　the　people　of　Sweden
received　the　word　of　God　in　their　native　tongue。　It　was　ordered　by　the　Diet
that　throughout　the　kingdom；　ministers　should　explain　the　Scriptures　and
that　the　children　in　the　schools　should　be　taught　to　read　the　Bible。

Steadily　and　surely　the　darkness　of　ignorance　and　superstition　was　dispelled
by　the　blessed　light　of　the　gospel。　Freed　from　Romish　oppression；　the　nation
attained　to　a　strength　and　greatness　it　had　never　before　reached。　Sweden
became　one　of　the　bulwarks　of　Protestantism。　A　century　later；　at　a　time　of
sorest　peril；　this　small　and　hitherto　feeble　nationthe　only　one　in　Europe
that　dared　lend　a　helping　handcame　to　the　deliverance　of　Germany　in　the
terrible　struggle　of　the　Thirty　Years'　War。　All　Northern　Europe　seemed　about
to　be　brought　again　under　the　tyranny　of　Rome。　It　was　the　armies　of　Sweden
that　enabled　Germany　to　turn　the　tide　of　popish　success；　to　win　toleration
for　the　Protestants；Calvinists　as　well　as　Lutherans；and　to　restore
liberty　of　conscience　to　those　countries　that　had　accepted　the　Reformation。




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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　14

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Later　English　Reformers


While　Luther　was　opening　a　closed　Bible　to　the　people　of　Germany；　Tyndale
was　impelled　by　the　Spirit　of　God　to　do　the　same　for　England。　Wycliffe's
Bible　had　been　translated　from　the　Latin　text；　which　contained　many　errors。
It　had　never　been　printed；　and　the　cost　of　manuscript　copies　was　so　great
that　few　but　wealthy　men　or　nobles　could　procure　it；　and；　furthermore；　being
strictly　proscribed　by　the　church；　it　had　had　a　comparatively　narrow
circulation。　In
1516；　a　year　before　the　appearance　of　Luther's　theses；
Erasmus　had　published　his　Greek　and　Latin　version　of　the　New　Testament。　Now
for　the　first　time　the　word　of　God　was　printed　in　the　original　tongue。　In
this　wor