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so often shed the blood of the saints。 He was not blind to the danger that
threatened him； yet he would have obeyed the summons had not a shock of
palsy made it impossible for him to perform the journey。 But though his
voice was not to be heard at Rome； he could speak by letter； and this he
determined to do。 From his rectory the Reformer wrote to the pope a letter；
which； while respectful in tone and Christian in spirit； was a keen rebuke
to the pomp and pride of the papal see。
〃Verily I do rejoice；〃 he said； 〃to open and declare unto every man the
faith which I do hold； and especially unto the bishop of Rome： which；
forasmuch as I do suppose to be sound and true； he will most willingly
confirm my said faith； or if it be erroneous； amend the same。
〃First； I suppose that the gospel of Christ is the whole body of God's law。
。 。 。 I do give and hold the bishop of Rome； forasmuch as he is the vicar of
Christ here on earth； to be most bound； of all other men； unto that law of
the gospel。 For the greatness among Christ's disciples did not consist in
worldly dignity or honors； but in the near and exact following of Christ in
His life and manners。。。。 Christ； for the time of His pilgrimage here； was a
most poor man； abjecting and casting off all worldly rule and honor。 。 。 。
〃No faithful man ought to follow either the pope himself or any of the holy
men； but in such points as he hath followed the Lord Jesus Christ； for Peter
and the sons of Zebedee； by desiring worldly honor； contrary to the
following of Christ's steps； did offend； and therefore in those errors they
are not to be followed。 。 。 。
〃The pope ought to leave unto the secular power all temporal dominion and
rule； and thereunto effectually to move and exhort his whole clergy； for so
did Christ； and especially by His apostles。 Wherefore； if I have erred in
any of these points； I will most humbly submit myself unto correction；
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even by death； if necessity so require； and if I could labor according to my
will or desire in mine own person； I would surely present myself before the
bishop of Rome； but the Lord hath otherwise visited me to the contrary； and
hath taught me rather to obey God than men。〃
In closing he said： 〃Let us pray unto our God； that He will so stir up our
Pope Urban VI； as he began； that he with his clergy may follow the Lord
Jesus Christ in life and manners； and that they may teach the people
effectually； and that they； likewise； may faithfully follow them in the
same。〃John Foxe； Acts and Monuments； vol。 3； pp。 49； 50。
Thus Wycliffe presented to the pope and his cardinals the meekness and
humility of Christ； exhibiting not only to themselves but to all Christendom
the contrast between them and the Master whose representatives they
professed to be。
Wycliffe fully expected that his life would be the price of his fidelity。
The king； the pope； and the bishops were united to accomplish his ruin； and
it seemed certain that a few months at most would bring him to the stake。
But his courage was unshaken。 〃Why do you talk of seeking the crown of
martyrdom afar？〃 he said。 〃Preach the gospel of Christ to haughty prelates；
and martyrdom will not fail you。 What！ I should live and be silent？ 。 。 。
Never！ Let the blow fall； I await its coming。〃D'Aubigne； b。 17； ch。 8。
But God's providence still shielded His servant。 The man who for a whole
lifetime had stood boldly in defense of the truth； in daily peril of his
life； was not to fall a victim of the hatred of its foes。 Wycliffe had never
sought to shield himself； but the Lord had been his protector； and now； when
his enemies felt sure of their prey； God's hand removed him beyond their
reach。 In his church at Lutterworth； as he was about to dispense the
communion； he fell； stricken with palsy； and in a short time yielded up his
life。
God had appointed to Wycliffe his work。 He had put the
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word of truth in his mouth； and He set a guard about him that this word
might come to the people。 His life was protected； and his labors were
prolonged； until a foundation was laid for the great work of the
Reformation。
Wycliffe came from the obscurity of the Dark Ages。 There were none who went
before him from whose work he could shape his system of reform。 Raised up
like John the Baptist to accomplish a special mission； he was the herald of
a new era。 Yet in the system of truth which he presented there was a unity
and completeness which Reformers who followed him did not exceed； and which
some did not reach； even a hundred years later。 So broad and deep was laid
the foundation； so firm and true was the framework； that it needed not to be
reconstructed by those who came after him。
The great movement that Wycliffe inaugurated； which was to liberate the
conscience and the intellect； and set free the nations so long bound to the
triumphal car of Rome； had its spring in the Bible。 Here was the source of
that stream of blessing； which； like the water of life； has flowed down the
ages since the fourteenth century。 Wycliffe accepted the Holy Scriptures
with implicit faith as the inspired revelation of God's will； a sufficient
rule of faith and practice。 He had been educated to regard the Church of
Rome as the divine； infallible authority； and to accept with unquestioning
reverence the established teachings and customs of a thousand years； but he
turned away from all these to listen to God's holy word。 This was the
authority which he urged the people to acknowledge。 Instead of the church
speaking through the pope； he declared the only true authority to be the
voice of God speaking through His word。 And he taught not only that the
Bible is a perfect revelation of God's will； but that the Holy Spirit is its
only interpreter； and that every man is； by the study of its teachings； to
learn his duty for himself。 Thus he turned the minds of men from the pope
and the Church of Rome to the word of God。
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Wycliffe was one of the greatest of the Reformers。 In breadth of intellect；
in clearness of thought； in firmness to maintain the truth； and in boldness
to defend it； he was equaled by few who came after him。 Purity of life；
unwearying diligence in study and in labor； incorruptible integrity； and
Christlike love and faithfulness in his ministry； characterized the first of
the Reformers。 And this notwithstanding the intellectual darkness and moral
corruption of the age from which he emerged。
The character of Wycliffe is a testimony to the educating； transforming
power of the Holy Scriptures。 It was the Bible that made him what he was。
The effort to grasp the great truths of revelation imparts freshness and
vigor to all the faculties。 It expands the mind； sharpens the perceptions；
and ripens the judgment。 The study of the Bible will ennoble every thought；
feeling； and aspiration as no other study can。 It gives stability of
purpose； patience； courage； and fortitude； it refines the character and
sanctifies the soul。 An earnest； reverent study of the Scriptures； bringing
the mind of the student in direct contact with the infinite mind； would give
to the world men of stronger and more active intellect； as well as of nobler
principle； than has ever resulted from the ablest training that human
philosophy affords。 〃The entrance of Thy words；〃 says the psalmist； 〃giveth
light； it giveth understanding。〃 Psalm 119：130。
The doctrines which had been taught by Wycliffe continued for a time to
spread； his followers； known as Wycliffites and Lollards； not only traversed
England； but scattered to other lands； carrying the knowledge of the gospel。
Now that their leader was removed； the preachers labored with even greater
zeal than before； and multitudes flocked to listen to their teachings。 Some
of the nobility； and even the wife of the king； were among the converts。 In
many places there was a marked reform in the manners of the people； and the
idolatrous symbols of Romanism were removed from the churches。 But soon the
pitiless storm of persecution burst upon those who had dared to accept the
Bible as their
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guide。 The English monarchs； eager to strengthen their power by securing the
support of Rome； did not hesitate to sacrifice the Reformers。 For the first
time in the history of England the stake was decreed against the disciples
of the gospel。 Martyrdom succeeded martyrdom。 The advocates of truth；
proscribed and tortured； could only pour their cries into the ear of the
Lord of Sabaoth。 Hunted as foes of the church and traitors to the realm；
they continued to preach in secret places； finding shelter as best they
could in the humble homes of the poor； and often hiding away even in dens
and caves。
Notwithstanding the rage of persecution； a calm； devout； earnest； patient
protest against the prevailing corruption of religious faith continued for
centuries to be uttered。 The Christians of that early time had only a
partial knowledge of the truth； but they had learned to love and obey God's
word； and they patiently suffered for its sake。 Like the disciples in
apostolic days； m