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The Spirit of Prophecy Volume 4
and he met his fate in the same manner. So perished God’s faithful
light-bearers. But the light of the truths which they proclaimed,—the
light of their heroic example,—could not be extinguished. As well
might men attempt to turn back the sun in its course, as to prevent
the dawning of that day which was even then breaking upon the
world.
Notwithstanding the rage of persecution, a calm, devout, earnest,
patient protest against the prevailing corruption of religious faith
continued to be uttered after the death of Wycliffe. Like the believers
in apostolic days, many freely sacrificed their worldly possessions
for the cause of Christ. Those who were permitted to dwell in their
homes, gladly received their brethren who had been banished from
home and kindred. When they too were driven forth, they accepted
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the lot of the outcast, and rejoiced that they were permitted to suffer
for the truths sake.
Strenuous efforts were made to strengthen and extend the power
of the papacy; but while the popes still claimed to be Christ’s repre-
sentatives, their lives were so corrupt as to disgust the people. By
the aid of the invention of printing, the Scriptures were more widely
circulated, and many were led to see that the papal doctrines were
not sustained by the word of God.
When one witness was forced to let fall the torch of truth, another
seized it from his hand, and with undaunted courage held it aloft.
The struggle had opened that was to result in the emancipation, not
only of individuals and churches, but of nations. Across the gulf of
a hundred years, men stretched their hands to grasp the hands of the
Lollards of the time of Wycliffe. Under Luther began the Reforma-
tion in Germany; Calvin preached the gospel in France, Zwingle in
Switzerland. The world was awakened from the slumber of ages,
as from land to land were sounded the magic words, “Religious
Liberty.”
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