life of idleness and beggary was not only a heavy drain upon the resources
of the people； but it brought useful labor into contempt。 The youth were
demoralized and corrupted。 By the influence of the friars many were induced
to enter a cloister and devote themselves to a monastic life； and this not
only without the consent of their parents； but even without their knowledge
and contrary to their commands。 One of the early Fathers of the Roman
Church； urging the claims of monasticism above the obligations of filial
love and duty； had declared： 〃Though thy father should lie before thy door
weeping and lamenting； and thy mother should show the body that bore thee
and the breasts that nursed thee； see that thou trample them underfoot； and
go onward straightway to Christ。〃 By this 〃monstrous inhumanity；〃 as Luther
afterward styled it； 〃savoring more of the wolf and the tyrant than of the
Christian and the man；〃 were the hearts of children steeled against their
parents。Barnas Sears； The Life of Luther； pages 70； 69。 Thus did the papal
83
leaders； like the Pharisees of old； make the commandment of God of none
effect by their tradition。 Thus homes were made desolate and parents were
deprived of the society of their sons and daughters。
Even the students in the universities were deceived by the false
representations of the monks and induced to join their orders。 Many
afterward repented this step； seeing that they had blighted their own lives
and had brought sorrow upon their parents； but once fast in the snare it was
impossible for them to obtain their freedom。 Many parents； fearing the
influence of the monks； refused to send their sons to the universities。
There was a marked falling off in the number of students in attendance at
the great centers of learning。 The schools languished； and ignorance
prevailed。
The pope had bestowed on these monks the power to hear confessions and to
grant pardon。 This became a source of great evil。 Bent on enhancing their
gains； the friars were so ready to grant absolution that criminals of all
descriptions resorted to them； and； as a result； the worst vices rapidly
increased。 The sick and the poor were left to suffer； while the gifts that
should have relieved their wants went to the monks； who with threats
demanded the alms of the people； denouncing the impiety of those who should
withhold gifts from their orders。 Notwithstanding their profession of
poverty； the wealth of the friars was constantly increasing； and their
magnificent edifices and luxurious tables made more apparent the growing
poverty of the nation。 And while spending their time in luxury and pleasure；
they sent out in their stead ignorant men； who could only recount marvelous
tales； legends； and jests to amuse the people and make them still more
completely the dupes of the monks。 Yet the friars continued to maintain
their hold on the superstitious multitudes and led them to believe that all
religious duty was comprised in acknowledging the supremacy of the pope；
adoring the saints； and making gifts to the monks； and that this was
sufficient to secure them a place in heaven。
84
Men of learning and piety had labored in vain to bring about a reform in
these monastic orders； but Wycliffe； with clearer insight； struck at the
root of the evil； declaring that the system itself was false and that it
should be abolished。 Discussion and inquiry were awakening。 As the monks
traversed the country； vending the pope's pardons； many were led to doubt
the possibility of purchasing forgiveness with money； and they questioned
whether they should not seek pardon from God rather than from the pontiff of
Rome。 （See Appendix note for page 59。） Not a few were alarmed at the
rapacity of the friars； whose greed seemed never to be satisfied。 〃The monks
and priests of Rome；〃 said they； 〃are eating us away like a cancer。 God must
deliver us； or the people will perish。〃D'Aubigne； b。 17； ch。 7。 To cover
their avarice； these begging monks claimed that they were following the
Saviour's example； declaring that Jesus and His disciples had been supported
by the charities of the people。 This claim resulted in injury to their
cause； for it led many to the Bible to learn the truth for themselvesa
result which of all others was least desired by Rome。 The minds of men were
directed to the Source of truth； which it was her object to conceal。
Wycliffe began to write and publish tracts against the friars； not； however；
seeking so much to enter into dispute with them as to call the minds of the
people to the teachings of the Bible and its Author。 He declared that the
power of pardon or of excommunication is possessed by the pope in no greater
degree than by common priests； and that no man can be truly excommunicated
unless he has first brought upon himself the condemnation of God。 In no more
effectual way could he have undertaken the overthrow of that mammoth fabric
of spiritual and temporal dominion which the pope had erected and in which
the souls and bodies of millions were held captive。
Again Wycliffe was called to defend the rights of the English crown against
the encroachments of Rome； and being appointed a royal ambassador； he spent
two years in the Netherlands； in conference with the commissioners of the
pope。 Here he was brought into communication with
85
ecclesiastics from France； Italy； and Spain； and he had an opportunity to
look behind the scenes and gain a knowledge of many things which would have
remained hidden from him in England。 He learned much that was to give point
to his after labors。 In these representatives from the papal court he read
the true character and aims of the hierarchy。 He returned to England to
repeat his former teachings more openly and with greater zeal； declaring
that covetousness； pride； and deception were the gods of Rome。
In one of his tracts he said； speaking of the pope and his collectors： 〃They
draw out of our land poor men's livelihood； and many thousand marks； by the
year； of the king's money； for sacraments and spiritual things； that is
cursed heresy of simony； and maketh all Christendom assent and maintain this
heresy。 And certes though our realm had a huge hill of gold； and never other
man took thereof but only this proud worldly priest's collector； by process
of time this hill must be spended； for he taketh ever money out of our land；
and sendeth nought again but God's curse for his simony。〃 John Lewis；
History of the Life and Sufferings of J。 Wiclif； page 37。
Soon after his return to England； Wycliffe received from the king the
appointment to the rectory of Lutterworth。 This was an assurance that the
monarch at least had not been displeased by his plain speaking。 Wycliffe's
influence was felt in shaping the action of the court； as well as in molding
the belief of the nation。
The papal thunders were soon hurled against him。 Three bulls were dispatched
to England；to the university； to the king； and to the prelates；all
commanding immediate and decisive measures to silence the teacher of heresy。
（Augustus Neander； General History of the Christian Religion and Church；
period 6； sec。 2； pt。 1； par。 8。 See also Appendix。） Before the arrival of
the bulls； however； the bishops； in their zeal； had summoned Wycliffe before
them for trial。 But two of the most powerful princes in the kingdom
accompanied him to the tribunal； and the people； surrounding the building
and rushing in； so intimidated the judges that the
86
proceedings were for the time suspended； and he was allowed to go his way in
peace。 A little later； Edward III； whom in his old age the prelates were
seeking to influence against the Reformer； died； and Wycliffe's former
protector became regent of the kingdom。
But the arrival of the papal bulls laid upon all England a peremptory
command for the arrest and imprisonment of the heretic。 These measures
pointed directly to the stake。 It appeared certain that Wycliffe must soon
fall a prey to the vengeance of Rome。 But He who declared to one of old；
〃Fear not： 。 。 。 I am thy shield〃 （Genesis 15：1）； again stretched out His
hand to protect His servant。 Death came； not to the Reformer； but to the
pontiff who had decreed his destruction。 Gregory XI died； and the
ecclesiastics who had assembled for Wycliffe's trial； dispersed。
God's providence still further overruled events to give opportunity for the
growth of the Reformation。 The death of Gregory was followed by the election
of two rival popes。 Two conflicting powers； each professedly infallible； now
claimed obedience。 （See Appendix notes for pages 50 and
86。） Each called upon the faithful to assist him in making war
upon the other； enforcing his demands by terrible anathemas against his
adversaries； and promises of rewards in heaven to his supporters。 This
occurrence greatly weakened the power of the papacy。 The rival factions had
all they could do to attack each other； and Wycliffe for a time had rest。
Anathemas and recriminations were flying from pope to pope； and torrents of
blood were poured out to