received only when in accordance with the Scriptures； that the essential
doctrines of the faith are presented in the Bible in a clear and simple
manner； so that all men may understand them。 Christ said； 〃My doctrine is
not Mine； but His that sent Me〃 （John 7：16）； and Paul declared that should
he preach any other gospel than that which he had received； he would be
accursed （Galatians 1：8）。 〃How； then；〃 said the Reformer； 〃shall others
presume to enact dogmas at their pleasure； and impose them as things
necessary to salvation？〃Wylie； b。 10； ch。 4。 He showed that the decrees of
the church are of no authority when in opposition to the commands of God；
and maintained the great Protestant principle that 〃the Bible and the Bible
only〃 is the rule of faith and practice。
This contest； though conducted upon a stage comparatively obscure； serves to
show us 〃the sort of men that formed the rank and file of the army of the
Reformers。 They were not illiterate； sectarian； noisy controversialistsfar
from it； they were men who had studied the word of God； and knew well how to
wield the weapons with which the armory of the Bible supplied them。 In
respect of erudition they were ahead of their age。 When we confine our
attention to such brilliant centers as Wittenberg and Zurich； and to such
illustrious
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names as those of Luther and Melanchthon； of Zwingli and Oecolampadius； we
are apt to be told； these were the leaders of the movement； and we should
naturally expect in them prodigious power and vast acquisitions； but the
subordinates were not like these。 Well； we turn to the obscure theater of
Sweden； and the humble names of Olaf and Laurentius Petri from the masters
to the discipleswhat do we find？ 。 。 。 Scholars and theologians； men who
have thoroughly mastered the whole system of gospel truth； and who win an
easy victory over the sophists of the schools and the dignitaries of
Rome。〃Ibid。； b。 10； ch。4。
As the result of this disputation the king of Sweden accepted the Protestant
faith； and not long afterward the national assembly declared in its favor。
The New Testament had been translated by Olaf Petri into the Swedish
language； and at the desire of the king the two brothers undertook the
translation of the whole Bible。 Thus for the first time the people of Sweden
received the word of God in their native tongue。 It was ordered by the Diet
that throughout the kingdom； ministers should explain the Scriptures and
that the children in the schools should be taught to read the Bible。
Steadily and surely the darkness of ignorance and superstition was dispelled
by the blessed light of the gospel。 Freed from Romish oppression； the nation
attained to a strength and greatness it had never before reached。 Sweden
became one of the bulwarks of Protestantism。 A century later； at a time of
sorest peril； this small and hitherto feeble nationthe only one in Europe
that dared lend a helping handcame to the deliverance of Germany in the
terrible struggle of the Thirty Years' War。 All Northern Europe seemed about
to be brought again under the tyranny of Rome。 It was the armies of Sweden
that enabled Germany to turn the tide of popish success； to win toleration
for the Protestants；Calvinists as well as Lutherans；and to restore
liberty of conscience to those countries that had accepted the Reformation。
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Chapter 14
Later English Reformers
While Luther was opening a closed Bible to the people of Germany； Tyndale
was impelled by the Spirit of God to do the same for England。 Wycliffe's
Bible had been translated from the Latin text； which contained many errors。
It had never been printed； and the cost of manuscript copies was so great
that few but wealthy men or nobles could procure it； and； furthermore； being
strictly proscribed by the church； it had had a comparatively narrow
circulation。 In
1516； a year before the appearance of Luther's theses；
Erasmus had published his Greek and Latin version of the New Testament。 Now
for the first time the word of God was printed in the original tongue。 In
this work many errors of former versions were corrected； and the sense was
more clearly rendered。 It led many among the educated classes to a better
knowledge of the truth； and gave a new impetus to the work of reform。 But
the common people were still； to a great extent； debarred from God's word。
Tyndale was to complete the work of Wycliffe in giving the Bible to his
countrymen。
A diligent student and an earnest seeker for truth； he had received the
gospel from the Greek Testament of Erasmus。 He fearlessly preached his
convictions； urging that all doctrines be tested by the Scriptures。 To the
papist claim that the church had given the Bible； and the church alone could
explain it； Tyndale responded： 〃Do you know who taught
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the eagles to find their prey？ Well； that same God teaches His hungry
children to find their Father in His word。 Far from having given us the
Scriptures； it is you who have hidden them from us； it is you who burn those
who teach them； and if you could； you would burn the Scriptures
themselves。〃D'Aubigne； History of the Reformation of the Sixteenth
Century； b。 18； ch。 4。
Tyndale's preaching excited great interest； many accepted the truth。 But the
priests were on the alert； and no sooner had he left the field than they by
their threats and misrepresentations endeavored to destroy his work。 Too
often they succeeded。 〃What is to be done？〃 he exclaimed。 〃While I am sowing
in one place； the enemy ravages the field I have just left。 I cannot be
everywhere。 Oh！ if Christians possessed the Holy Scriptures in their own
tongue； they could of themselves withstand these sophists。 Without the Bible
it is impossible to establish the laity in the truth。〃Ibid。； b。 18； ch。 4。
A new purpose now took possession of his mind。 〃It was in the language of
Israel；〃 said he； 〃that the psalms were sung in the temple of Jehovah； and
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 k