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
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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 work many errors of former versions were corrected； and the sense was
more clearly rendered。 It led many among the educated classes to a better
knowledge of the truth； and gave a new impetus to the work of reform。 But
the common people were still； to a great extent； debarred from God's word。
Tyndale was to complete the work of Wycliffe in giving the Bible to his
countrymen。
A diligent student and an earnest seeker for truth； he had received the
gospel from the Greek Testament of Erasmus。 He fearlessly preached his
convictions； urging that all doctrines be tested by the Scriptures。 To the
papist claim that the church had given the Bible； and the church alone could
explain it； Tyndale responded： 〃Do you know who taught
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the eagles to find their prey？ Well； that same God teaches His hungry
children to find their Father in His word。 Far from having given us the
Scriptures； it is you who have hidden them from us； it is you who burn those
who teach them； and if you could； you would burn the Scriptures
themselves。〃D'Aubigne； History of the Reformation of the Sixteenth
Century； b。 18； ch。 4。
Tyndale's preaching excited great interest； many accepted the truth。 But the
priests were on the alert； and no sooner had he left the field than they by
their threats and misrepresentations endeavored to destroy his work。 Too
often they succeeded。 〃What is to be done？〃 he exclaimed。 〃While I am sowing
in one place； the enemy ravages the field I have just left。 I cannot be
everywhere。 Oh！ if Christians possessed the Holy Scriptures in their own
tongue； they could of themselves withstand these sophists。 Without the Bible
it is impossible to establish the laity in the truth。〃Ibid。； b。 18； ch。 4。
A new purpose now took possession of his mind。 〃It was in the language of
Israel；〃 said he； 〃that the psalms were sung in the temple of Jehovah； and
shall not the gospel speak the language of England among us？ 。 。 。 Ought the
church to ha