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to another, and confined to his cell, under strict supervision.
To the terror of his new guardians, several of the monks soon
declared themselves converts to Protestantism. Through the bars of
his cell, Tausen had communicated to his companions a knowledge of
the truth. Had those Danish fathers been skilled in the church’s plan
of dealing with heresy, Tausen’s voice would never again have been
heard; but instead of consigning him to a tomb in some underground
dungeon, they expelled him from the monastery. Now they were
powerless. A royal edict, just issued, offered protection to the teachers
of the new doctrine. Tausen began to preach. The churches were
opened to him, and the people thronged to listen. Others also were
preaching the Word of God. The New Testament, translated into the
Danish tongue, was widely circulated. The efforts made by papists
to overthrow the work resulted in extending it, and erelong Denmark
declared its acceptance of the reformed faith.
In Sweden, also, young men who had drunk from the well of
Wittenberg carried the water of life to their countrymen. Two of the
leaders in the Swedish Reformation, Olaf and Laurentius Petri, the
sons of a blacksmith of Orebro, studied under Luther and Melancthon,
and the truths which they thus learned they were diligent to teach. Like
the great reformer, Olaf aroused the people by his zeal and eloquence,
while Laurentius, like Melancthon, was learned, thoughtful, and calm.
Both were men of ardent piety, of high theological attainments, and of
unflinching courage in advancing the truth. Papist opposition was not
lacking. The Catholic priests stirred up the ignorant and superstitious
people. Olaf Petri was often assailed by the mob, and upon several
occasions barely escaped with his life. These reformers were, however,
favored and protected by the king. Under the rule of the Romish
Church, the people were sunken in poverty, and ground down by
oppression. They were destitute of the Scriptures, and having a religion
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of mere signs and ceremonies, which conveyed no light to the mind,
they were returning to the superstitious beliefs and pagan practices
of their heathen ancestors. The nation was divided into contending
factions whose perpetual strife increased the misery of all. The king
determined upon a reformation in the State and the church, and he
welcomed these able assistants in the battle against Rome.
In presence of the monarch and the leading men of Sweden, Olaf
Petri with great ability defended the doctrines of the reformed faith