shall not the gospel speak the language of England among us？ 。 。 。 Ought the
church to have less light at noonday than at the dawn？ 。 。 。 Christians must
read the New Testament in their mother tongue。〃 The doctors and teachers of
the church disagreed among themselves。 Only by the Bible could men arrive at
the truth。 〃One holdeth this doctor； another that。 。 。 。 Now each of these
authors contradicts the other。 How then can we distinguish him who says
right from him who says wrong？ 。 。 。 How？ 。 。 。 Verily by God's
word。〃Ibid。； b。 18； ch。 4。
It was not long after that a learned Catholic doctor； engaging in
controversy with him； exclaimed： 〃We were better to be without God's laws
than the pope's。〃 Tyndale replied： 〃I defy the pope and all his laws； and if
God spare my life； ere many years I will cause a boy that driveth the plow
to know more of the Scripture than you do。〃Anderson； Annals of the English
Bible； page 19。
The purpose which he had begun to cherish； of giving to
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the people the New Testament Scriptures in their own language； was now
confirmed； and he immediately applied himself to the work。 Driven from his
home by persecution； he went to London； and there for a time pursued his
labors undisturbed。 But again the violence of the papists forced him to
flee。 All England seemed closed against him； and he resolved to seek shelter
in Germany。 Here he began the printing of the English New Testament。 Twice
the work was stopped； but when forbidden to print in one city； he went to
another。 At last he made his way to Worms； where； a few years before； Luther
had defended the gospel before the Diet。 In that ancient city were many
friends of the Reformation； and Tyndale there prosecuted his work without
further hindrance。 Three thousand copies of the New Testament were soon
finished； and another edition followed in the same year。
With great earnestness and perseverance he continued his labors。
Notwithstanding the English authorities had guarded their ports with the
strictest vigilance； the word of God was in various ways secretly conveyed
to London and thence circulated throughout the country。 The papists
attempted to suppress the truth； but in vain。 The bishop of Durham at one
time bought of a bookseller who was a friend of Tyndale his whole stock of
Bibles； for the purpose of destroying them； supposing that this would
greatly hinder the work。 But； on the contrary； the money thus furnished；
purchased material for a new and better edition； which； but for this； could
not have been published。 When Tyndale was afterward made a prisoner； his
liberty was offered him on condition that he would reveal the names of those
who had helped him meet the expense of printing his Bibles。 He replied that
the bishop of Durham had done more than any other person； for by paying a
large price for the books left on hand； he had enabled him to go on with
good courage。
Tyndale was betrayed into the hands of his enemies； and at one time suffered
imprisonment for many months。 He finally witnessed for his faith by a
martyr's death； but the weapons which he prepared have enabled other
soldiers
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to do battle through all the centuries even to our time。
Latimer maintained from the pulpit that the Bible ought to be read in the
language of the people。 The Author of Holy Scripture； said he； 〃is God
Himself；〃 and this Scripture partakes of the might and eternity of its
Author。 〃There is no king； emperor； magistrate； and ruler 。 。 。 but are
bound to obey 。 。 。 His holy word。〃 〃Let us not take any bywalks； but let
God's word direct us： let us not walk after 。 。 。 our forefathers； nor seek
not what they did； but what they should have done。〃Hugh Latimer； 〃First
Sermon Preached Before King Edward VI。〃
Barnes and Frith； the faithful friends of Tyndale； arose to defend the
truth。 The Ridleys and Cranmer followed。 These leaders in the English
Reformation were men of learning； and most of them had been highly esteemed
for zeal or piety in the Romish communion。 Their opposition to the papacy
was the result of their knowledge of the errors of the 〃holy see。〃 Their
acquaintance with the mysteries of Babylon gave greater power to their
testimonies against her。
〃Now I would ask a strange question；〃 said Latimer。 〃Who is the most
diligent bishop and prelate in all England？ 。 。 。 I see you listening and
hearkening that I should name him。 。 。 。 I will tell you： it is the devil。 。
。 。 He is never out of his diocese； call for him when you will； he is ever
at home； 。 。 。 he is ever at his plow。 。 。 。 Ye shall never find him idle； I
warrant you。 。 。 。 Where the devil is resident； 。 。 。 there away with books；
and up with candles； away with Bibles； and up with beads； away with the
light of the gospel； and up with the light of candles； yea； at noondays； 。 。
。 down with Christ's cross； up with purgatory pickpurse； 。 。 。 away with
clothing the naked； the poor； and impotent； up with decking of images and
gay garnishing of stocks and stones； up with man's traditions and his laws；
down with God's traditions and His most holy word。 。 。 。 O that our prelates
would be as diligent to sow the corn of good doctrine； as Satan is to sow
cockle and darnel！〃Ibid。； 〃Sermon of the Plough。〃
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The grand principle maintained by these Reformersthe same that had been
held by the Waldenses； by Wycliffe； by John Huss； by Luther； Zwingli； and
those who united with themwas the infallible authority of the Holy
Scriptures as a rule of faith and practice。 They denied the right of popes；
councils； Fathers； and kings； to control the conscience in matters of
religion。 The Bible was their authority； and by its teaching they tested all
doctrines and all claims。 Faith in God and His word sustained these holy men
as they yielded up their lives at the stake。 〃Be of good comfort；〃 exclaimed
Latimer to his fellow martyr as the flames were about to silence their
voices； 〃we shall this day light such a candle； by God's grace； in England；
as I trust shall never be put out。〃 Works of Hugh Latimer； vol。 1； p。
xiii。
In Scotland the seeds of truth scattered by Columba and his colaborers had
never been wholly destroyed。 For hundreds of years after the churches of
England submitted to Rome； those of Scotland maintained their freedom。 In
the twelfth century； however； popery became established here； and in no
country did it exercise a more absolute sway。 Nowhere was the darkness
deeper。 Still there came rays of light to pierce the gloom and give promise
of the coming day。 The Lollards； coming from England with the Bible and the
teachings of Wycliffe； did much to preserve the knowledge of the gospel； and
every century had its witnesses and martyrs。
With the opening of the Great Reformation came the writings of Luther； and
then Tyndale's English New Testament。 Unnoticed by the hierarchy； these
messengers silently traversed the mountains and valleys； kindling into new
life the torch of truth so nearly extinguished in Scotland； and undoing the
work which Rome for four centuries of oppression had done。
Then the blood of martyrs gave fresh impetus to the movement。 The papist
leaders； suddenly awakening to the danger that threatened their cause；
brought to the stake some of the
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noblest and most honored of the sons of Scotland。 They did but erect a
pulpit； from which the words of these dying witnesses were heard throughout
the land； thrilling the souls of the people with an undying purpose to cast
off the shackles of Rome。
Hamilton and Wishart； princely in character as in birth； with a long line of
humbler disciples； yielded up their lives at the stake。 But from the burning
pile of Wishart there came one whom the flames were not to silence； one who
under God was to strike the death knell of popery in Scotland。
John Knox had turned away from the traditions and mysticisms of the church；
to feed upon the truths of God's word； and the teaching of Wishart had
confirmed his determination to forsake the communion of Rome and join
himself to the persecuted Reformers。
Urged by his companions to take the office of preacher； he shrank with
trembling from its responsibility； and it was only after days of seclusion
and painful conflict with himself that he consented。 But having once
accepted the position； he pressed forward with inflexible determination and
undaunted courage as long as life continued。 This truehearted Reformer
feared not the face of man。 The fires of martyrdom； blazing around him；
served only to quicken his zeal to greater intensity。 With the tyrant's ax
held menacingly over his head； he stood his ground； striking sturdy blows on
the right hand and on the left to demolish idolatry。
When brought face to face with the queen of Scotland； in whose presence the
zeal of many a leader of the Protestants had abated； John Knox bore
unswerving witness for the truth。 He was not to be won by caresses； he
quailed not before threats。 The queen charged him with heresy。 He had taught
the people to receive a religion prohibited by the state； she de