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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by the stirring appeals of Wycliffe； repealed the persecuting edict； and the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 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