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The Great Controversy 1888
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.”
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 doctrine, 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.”
It was not long after that a learned Catholic doctor, engaging in
controversy with him, exclaimed, “It were better for us to be without
God’s law than without 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 who driveth the plow to know more of the Scriptures than you
do.”
The purpose which he had begun to cherish, of giving to the peo-
ple the New-Testament Scriptures in their own language, was now
confirmed, and he immediately applied himself to the work. Driven
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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