this haughty potentate expect to meet those words again？ Did he know that
they were registered in the books of heaven； to confront him at the
judgment？ 〃Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My
brethren；〃 said Jesus； 〃ye have done it unto Me。〃 Matthew 25：40。
This bull called upon all members of the church to join the crusade against
the heretics。 As an incentive to engage in this cruel work； it 〃absolved
from all ecclesiastical pains and penalties； general and particular； it
released all who joined the crusade from any oaths they might have taken； it
legitimatized their title to any property they might have illegally
acquired； and promised remission of all their sins to such as should kill
any heretic。 It annulled all contracts made in favor of Vaudois； ordered
their domestics to abandon them； forbade all persons to give them any aid
whatever； and empowered all persons to take possession of their
property。〃Wylie； b。 16； ch。 1。 This document clearly reveals the master
spirit behind the scenes。 It is the roar of the dragon； and not the voice of
Christ； that is heard therein。
The papal leaders would not conform their characters to the great standard
of God's law； but erected a standard to suit themselves； and determined to
compel all to conform to this because Rome willed it。 The most horrible
tragedies were enacted。 Corrupt and blasphemous priests and popes were doing
the work which Satan appointed them。 Mercy had
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no place in their natures。 The same spirit that crucified Christ and slew
the apostles； the same that moved the blood…thirsty Nero against the
faithful in his day； was at work to rid the earth of those who were beloved
of God。
The persecutions visited for many centuries upon this God…fearing people
were endured by them with a patience and constancy that honored their
Redeemer。 Notwithstanding the crusades against them； and the inhuman
butchery to which they were subjected； they continued to send out their
missionaries to scatter the precious truth。 They were hunted to death； yet
their blood watered the seed sown； and it failed not of yielding fruit。 Thus
the Waldenses witnessed for God centuries before the birth of Luther。
Scattered over many lands； they planted the seeds of the Reformation that
began in the time of Wycliffe； grew broad and deep in the days of Luther；
and is to be carried forward to the close of time by those who also are
willing to suffer all things for 〃the word of God； and for the testimony of
Jesus Christ。〃 Revelation 1：9。
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Chapter 5
John Wycliffe
Before the Reformation there were at times but very few copies of the Bible
in existence； but God had not suffered His word to be wholly destroyed。 Its
truths were not to be forever hidden。 He could as easily unchain the words
of life as He could open prison doors and unbolt iron gates to set His
servants free。 In the different countries of Europe men were moved by the
Spirit of God to search for the truth as for hid treasures。 Providentially
guided to the Holy Scriptures； they studied the sacred pages with intense
interest。 They were willing to accept the light at any cost to themselves。
Though they did not see all things clearly； they were enabled to perceive
many long…buried truths。 As Heaven…sent messengers they went forth； rending
asunder the chains of error and superstition； and calling upon those who had
been so long enslaved； to arise and assert their liberty。
Except among the Waldenses； the word of God had for ages been locked up in
languages known only to the learned； but the time had come for the
Scriptures to be translated and given to the people of different lands in
their native tongue。 The world had passed its midnight。 The hours of
darkness were wearing away； and in many lands appeared tokens of the coming
dawn。
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In the fourteenth century arose in England the 〃morning star of the
Reformation。〃 John Wycliffe was the herald of reform； not for England alone；
but for all Christendom。 The great protest against Rome which it was
permitted him to utter was never to be silenced。 That protest opened the
struggle which was to result in the emancipation of individuals； of
churches； and of nations。
Wycliffe received a liberal education； and with him the fear of the Lord was
the beginning of wisdom。 He was noted at college for his fervent piety as
well as for his remarkable talents and sound scholarship。 In his thirst for
knowledge he sought to become acquainted with every branch of learning。 He
was educated in the scholastic philosophy； in the canons of the church； and
in the civil law； especially that of his own country。 In his after labors
the value of this early training was apparent。 A thorough acquaintance with
the speculative philosophy of his time enabled him to expose its errors； and
by his study of national and ecclesiastical law he was prepared to engage in
the great struggle for civil and religious liberty。 While he could wield the
weapons drawn from the word of God； he had acquired the intellectual
discipline of the schools； and he understood the tactics of the schoolmen。
The power of his genius and the extent and thoroughness of his knowledge
commanded the respect of both friends and foes。 His adherents saw with
satisfaction that their champion stood foremost among the leading minds of
the nation； and his enemies were prevented from casting contempt upon the
cause of reform by exposing the ignorance or weakness of its supporter。
While Wycliffe was still at college； he entered upon the study of the
Scriptures。 In those early times； when the Bible existed only in the ancient
languages； scholars were enabled to find their way to the fountain of truth；
which was closed to the uneducated classes。 Thus already the way had been
prepared for Wycliffe's future work as a Reformer。 Men
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of learning had studied the word of God and had found the great truth of His
free grace there revealed。 In their teachings they had spread a knowledge of
this truth； and had led others to turn to the living oracles。
When Wycliffe's attention was directed to the Scriptures； he entered upon
their investigation with the same thoroughness which had enabled him to
master the learning of the schools。 Heretofore he had felt a great want；
which neither his scholastic studies nor the teaching of the church could
satisfy。 In the word of God he found that which he had before sought in
vain。 Here he saw the plan of salvation revealed and Christ set forth as the
only advocate for man。 He gave himself to the service of Christ and
determined to proclaim the truths he had discovered。
Like after Reformers； Wycliffe did not； at the opening of his work； foresee
whither it would lead him。 He did not set himself deliberately in opposition
to Rome。 But devotion to truth could not but bring him in conflict with
falsehood。 The more clearly he discerned the errors of the papacy； the more
earnestly he presented the teaching of the Bible。 He saw that Rome had
forsaken the word of God for human tradition； he fearlessly accused the
priesthood of having banished the Scriptures； and demanded that the Bible be
restored to the people and that its authority be again established in the
church。 He was an able and earnest teacher and an eloquent preacher； and his
daily life was a demonstration of the truths he preached。 His knowledge of
the Scriptures； the force of his reasoning； the purity of his life； and his
unbending courage and integrity won for him general esteem and confidence。
Many of the people had become dissatisfied with their former faith as they
saw the iniquity that prevailed in the Roman Church； and they hailed with
unconcealed joy the truths brought to view by Wycliffe； but the papal
leaders were filled with rage when they perceived that this Reformer was
gaining an influence greater than their own。
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Wycliffe was a keen detector of error； and he struck fearlessly against many
of the abuses sanctioned by the authority of Rome。 While acting as chaplain
for the king； he took a bold stand against the payment of tribute claimed by
the pope from the English monarch and showed that the papal assumption of
authority over secular rulers was contrary to both reason and revelation。
The demands of the pope had excited great indignation； and Wycliffe's
teachings exerted an influence upon the leading minds of the nation。 The
king and the nobles united in denying the pontiff's claim to temporal
authority and in refusing the payment of the tribute。 Thus an effectual blow
was struck against the papal supremacy in England。
Another evil against which the Reformer waged long and resolute battle was
the institution of the orders of mendicant friars。 These friars swarmed in
England； casting a blight upon the greatness and prosperity of the nation。
Industry； education； morals； all felt the withering influence。 The monk's
life of idleness and beggary was not only a heavy drain upon the resources
of the people；