Anathemas and recriminations were flying from pope to pope； and torrents of
blood were poured out to support their conflicting claims。 Crimes and
scandals flooded the church。 Meanwhile the Reformer； in the quiet retirement
of his parish of Lutterworth； was laboring diligently to point men from the
contending popes to Jesus； the Prince of Peace。
The schism； with all the strife and corruption which it caused； prepared the
way for the Reformation by enabling the people to see what the papacy really
was。 In a tract which he published； On the Schism of the Popes； Wycliffe
called
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upon the people to consider whether these two priests were not speaking the
truth in condemning each other as the anti…christ。 〃God；〃 said he； 〃would no
longer suffer the fiend to reign in only one such priest； but 。 。 。 made
division among two； so that men； in Christ's name； may the more easily
overcome them both。〃R。 Vaughan； Life and Opinions of John de Wycliffe；
vol。 2； p。 6。
Wycliffe； like his Master； preached the gospel to the poor。 Not content with
spreading the light in their humble homes in his own parish of Lutterworth；
he determined that it should be carried to every part of England。 To
accomplish this he organized a body of preachers； simple； devout men； who
loved the truth and desired nothing so much as to extend it。 These men went
everywhere； teaching in the market places； in the streets of the great
cities； and in the country lanes。 They sought out the aged； the sick； and
the poor； and opened to them the glad tidings of the grace of God。
As a professor of theology at Oxford； Wycliffe preached the word of God in
the halls of the university。 So faithfully did he present the truth to the
students under his instruction； that he received the title of 〃the gospel
doctor。〃 But the greatest work of his life was to be the translation of the
Scriptures into the English language。 In a work； On the Truth and Meaning of
Scripture； he expressed his intention to translate the Bible； so that every
man in England might read； in the language in which he was born； the
wonderful works of God。
But suddenly his labors were stopped。 Though not yet sixty years of age；
unceasing toil； study； and the assaults of his enemies had told upon his
strength and made him prematurely old。 He was attacked by a dangerous
illness。 The tidings brought great joy to the friars。 Now they thought he
would bitterly repent the evil he had done the church； and they hurried to
his chamber to listen to his confession。 Representatives from the four
religious orders； with four civil officers； gathered about the supposed
dying man。 〃You
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have death on your lips；〃 they said； 〃be touched by your faults； and retract
in our presence all that you have said to our injury。〃 The Reformer listened
in silence； then he bade his attendant raise him in his bed； and； gazing
steadily upon them as they stood waiting for his recantation； he said； in
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 tha