magnified by praise and thanksgiving。 Those happy souls returned to their
homes to diffuse light； to repeat to others； as well as they could； their
new experience； that they had found the true and living Way。 There was a
strange and solemn power in the words of Scripture that spoke directly to
the hearts of those who were longing for the truth。 It was the voice of God；
and it carried conviction to those who heard。
The messenger of truth went on his way； but his appearance of humility； his
sincerity； his earnestness and deep fervor； were subjects of frequent
remark。 In many instances his hearers had not asked him whence he came or
whither he went。 They had been so overwhelmed； at first with surprise； and
afterward with gratitude and joy； that they had not thought to question him。
When they had urged him to accompany them to their homes； he had replied
that he must visit the lost sheep of the flock。 Could he have been an angel
from heaven？ they queried。
In many cases the messenger of truth was seen no more。 He had made his way
to other lands； or he was wearing out his life in some unknown dungeon； or
perhaps his bones were whitening on the spot where he had witnessed for the
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truth。 But the words he had left behind could not be destroyed。 They were
doing their work in the hearts of men； the blessed results will be fully
known only in the judgment。
The Waldensian missionaries were invading the kingdom of Satan； and the
powers of darkness aroused to greater vigilance。 Every effort to advance the
truth was watched by the prince of evil； and he excited the fears of his
agents。 The papal leaders saw a portent of danger to their cause from the
labors of these humble itinerants。 If the light of truth were allowed to
shine unobstructed； it would sweep away the heavy clouds of error that
enveloped the people。 It would direct the minds of men to God alone and
would eventually destroy the supremacy of Rome。
The very existence of this people； holding the faith of the ancient church；
was a constant testimony to Rome's apostasy； and therefore excited the most
bitter hatred and persecution。 Their refusal to surrender the Scriptures was
also an offense that Rome could not tolerate。 She determined to blot them
from the earth。 Now began the most terrible crusades against God's people in
their mountain homes。 Inquisitors were put upon their track； and the scene
of innocent Abel falling before the murderous Cain was often repeated。
Again and again were their fertile lands laid waste； their dwellings and
chapels swept away； so that where once were flourishing fields and the homes
of an innocent； industrious people； there remained only a desert。 As the
ravenous beast is rendered more furious by the taste of blood； so the rage
of the papists was kindled to greater intensity by the sufferings of their
victims。 Many of these witnesses for a pure faith were pursued across the
mountains and hunted down in the valleys where they were hidden； shut in by
mighty forests and pinnacles of rock。
No charge could be brought against the moral character of this proscribed
class。 Even their enemies declared them to be a peaceable； quiet； pious
people。 Their grand offense was that they would not worship God according to
the will
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of the pope。 For this crime every humiliation； insult； and torture that men
or devils could invent was heaped upon them。
When Rome at one time determined to exterminate the hated sect； a bull was
issued by the pope； condemning them as heretics； and delivering them to
slaughter。 （See Appendix。） They were not accused as idlers； or dishonest； or
disorderly； but it was declared that they had an appearance of piety and
sanctity that seduced 〃the sheep of the true fold。〃 Therefore the pope
ordered 〃that malicious and abominable sect of malignants；〃 if they 〃refuse
to abjure； to be crushed like venomous snakes。〃Wylie； b。 16； ch。 1。 Did
this haughty potentate expect to meet those words again？ Did he know that
they were registered in the books of heaven； to confront him at the
judgment？ 〃Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My
brethren；〃 said Jesus； 〃ye have done it unto Me。〃 Matthew 25：40。
This bull called upon all members of the church to join the crusade against
the heretics。 As an incentive to engage in this cruel work； it 〃absolved
from all ecclesiastical pains and penalties； general and particular； it
released all who joined the crusade from any oaths they might have taken； it
legitimatized their title to any property they might have illegally
acquired； and promised remission of all their sins to such as should kill
any heretic。 It annulled all contracts made in favor of Vaudois； ordered
their domestics to abandon them； forbade all persons to give them any aid
whatever； and empowered all persons to take possession of their
property。〃Wylie； b。 16； ch。 1。 This document clearly reveals the master
spirit behind the scenes。 It is the roar of the dragon； and not the voice of
Christ； that is heard therein。
The papal leaders would not conform their characters to the great standard
of God's law； but erected a standard to suit themselves； and determined to
compel all to conform to this because Rome willed it。 The most horrible
tragedies were enacted。 Corrupt and blasphemous priests and popes were doing
the work which Satan appointed them。 Mercy had
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no place in their natures。 The same spirit that crucified Christ and slew
the apostles； the same that moved the blood…thirsty Nero against the
faithful in his day； was at work to rid the earth of those who were beloved
of God。
The persecutions visited for many centuries upon this God…fearing people
were endured by them with a patience and constancy that honored their
Redeemer。 Notwithstanding the crusades against them； and the inhuman
butchery to which they were subjected； they continued to send out their
missionaries to scatter the precious truth。 They were hunted to death； yet
their blood watered the seed sown； and it failed not of yielding fruit。 Thus
the Waldenses witnessed for God centuries before the birth of Luther。
Scattered over many lands； they planted the seeds of the Reformation that
began in the time of Wycliffe； grew broad and deep in the days of Luther；
and is to be carried forward to the close of time by those who also are
willing to suffer all things for 〃the word of God； and for the testimony of
Jesus Christ。〃 Revelation 1：9。
（79）
Chapter 5
John Wycliffe
Before the Reformation there were at times but very few copies of the Bible
in existence； but God had not suffered His word to be wholly destroyed。 Its
truths were not to be forever hidden。 He could as easily unchain the words
of life as He could open prison doors and unbolt iron gates to set His
servants free。 In the different countries of Europe men were moved by the
Spirit of God to search for the truth as for hid treasures。 Providentially
guided to the Holy Scriptures； they studied the sacred pages with intense
interest。 They were willing to accept the light at any cost to themselves。
Though they did not see all things clearly； they were enabled to perceive
many long…buried truths。 As Heaven…sent messengers they went forth； rending
asunder the chains of error and superstition； and calling upon those who had
been so long enslaved； to arise and assert their liberty。
Except among the Waldenses； the word of God had for ages been locked up in
languages known only to the learned； but the time had come for the
Scriptures to be translated and given to the people of different lands in
their native tongue。 The world had passed its midnight。 The hours of
darkness were wearing away； and in many lands appeared tokens of the coming
dawn。
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In the fourteenth century arose in England the 〃morning star of the
Reformation。〃 John Wycliffe was the herald of reform； not for England alone；
but for all Christendom。 The great protest against Rome which it was
permitted him to utter was never to be silenced。 That protest opened the
struggle which was to result in the emancipation of individuals； of
churches； and of nations。
Wycliffe received a liberal education； and with him the fear of the Lord was
the beginning of wisdom。 He was noted at college for his fervent piety as
well as for his remarkable talents and sound scholarship。 In his thirst for
knowledge he sought to become acquainted with every branch of learning。 He
was educated in the scholastic philosophy； in the canons of the church； and
in the civil law； especially that of his own country。 In his after labors
the value of this early training was apparent。 A thorough acquaintance with
the speculative philosophy of his time enabled him to expose its errors； and
by his study of national and ecclesiastical law he was prepared to engage in
the great struggle for civil and religious liberty。 While he could wield the
weapons drawn from the word of God； he had acquired the intellectual
discipline of the schools； and he understood the tactics of the schoolmen。
The power of his genius and the extent and thoroughness of his knowledge
commanded the respect of both friends and foes。 His adherents saw with
satisfaction that their champion stood foremost among the leading minds of
the nation； and his enemies were prevented from casting contempt upon the
cause of reform by exposing the ignorance or weakness of its supporter。
While Wycliffe was still at college； he entered upon the study of the
Scriptures。 In those early times； when the Bible existed only in the ancient
languages； scholars were enabled to find their way to the fountain of truth；
which was closed to the uneducated classes。 Thus already the way had been
prepared for Wycliffe's future work as a Reformer。 Men
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of learning had studied the word of God and had found the great truth of His
free grace there revealed。 In their teachings they had spread a knowledge of
this trut