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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
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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 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 Re