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52
From Here to Forever
wealth of the friars was constantly increasing, and their magnifi-
cent edifices and luxurious tables made more apparent the growing
poverty of the nation. Yet the friars continued to maintain their
hold on the superstitious multitudes and led them to believe that all
religious duty was comprised in acknowledging the supremacy of
the pope, adoring the saints, and making gifts to the monks. This
was sufficient to secure a place in heaven!
Wycliffe, with clear insight, struck at the root of the evil, declar-
ing that the system itself was false and should be abolished. Dis-
cussion and inquiry were awakening. Many were led to question
whether they should not seek pardon from God rather than from the
pontiff of Rome.
“The monks and priests of Rome,”
said they, “are eating us away like a cancer. God must deliver us,
or the people will perish.
Begging monks claimed they were fol-
lowing the Saviour’s example, declaring that Jesus and His disciples
had been supported by the charities of the people. This claim led
many to the Bible to learn the truth for themselves.
[54]
Wycliffe began to write and publish tracts against the friars, to
call the people to the teachings of the Bible and its Author. In no
more effectual way could he have undertaken the overthrow of that
mammoth fabric which the pope had erected, in which millions were
held captive.
Wycliffe, called to defend the rights of the English crown against
the encroachments of Rome, was appointed a royal ambassador in
the Netherlands. Here he was brought into communicaton with
ecclesiastics from France, Italy, and Spain, and had opportunity
to look behind the scenes hidden from him in England. In these
representatives from the papal court he read the true character of the
hierarchy. He returned to England to repeat his former teachings
with greater zeal, declaring that pride and deception were the gods
of Rome.
After his return to England, Wycliffe received from the king the
appointment to the rectory of Lutterworth. This was an assurance
that the monarch had not been displeased by his plain speaking.
Wycliffe’s influence was felt in molding the belief of the nation.
2
D’Aubigne, bk. 17, ch. 7.