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54
From Here to Forever
Attacked by Dangerous Illness
But suddenly his labors were stopped. Though not yet sixty,
unceasing toil, study, and the assaults of enemies had told upon
his strength and made him prematurely old. He was attacked by a
dangerous illness. The friars thought he would repent of the evil he
had done the church, and they hurried to his chamber to listen to his
confession. “You have death on your lips,” they said; “be touched
by your faults, and retract in our presence all that you have said to
our injury.”
The Reformer listened in silence. Then he bade his attendant
raise him in his bed. Gazing steadily upon them, he said in the firm,
strong voice which had so often caused them to tremble, “I shall
not die, but live; and again declare the evil deeds of the friars.
Astonished and abashed, the monks hurried from the room.
Wycliffe lived to place in the hands of his countrymen the most
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powerful of all weapons against Rome—the Bible, the Heaven-
appointed agent to liberate, enlighten, and evangelize the people.
Wycliffe knew that only a few years for labor remained for him; he
saw the opposition he must meet; but encouraged by the promises
of God’s Word, he went forward. In the full vigor of his intellectual
powers, rich in experience, he had been prepared by God’s provi-
dence for this, the greatest of his labors. The Reformer in his rectory
at Lutterworth, unheeding the storm that raged without, applied
himself to his chosen task.
At last the work was completed—the first English translation
of the Bible. The Reformer had placed in the hands of the English
people a light which should never be extinguished. He had done
more to break the fetters of ignorance and to liberate and elevate his
country than was ever achieved by victories on fields of battle.
Only by wearisome labor could copies of the Bible be multiplied.
So great was the interest to obtain the book that it was with difficulty
that copyists could supply the demand. Wealthy purchasers desired
the whole Bible. Others bought only a portion. In many cases,
families united to purchase a copy. Wycliffe’s Bible soon found its
way to the homes of the people.
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Astonished and abashed, the monks hurried from the room.