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Light Breaks in England
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Wycliffe now taught the distinctive doctrines of Protestantism—
salvation through faith in Christ and the sole infallibility of the
Scriptures. The new faith was accepted by nearly one half of the
people of England.
The appearance of the Scriptures brought dismay to the authori-
ties of the church. There was at this time no law in England prohibit-
ing the Bible, for it had never before been published in the language
of the people. Such laws were afterward enacted and rigorously
enforced.
Again the papal leaders plotted to silence the Reformer’s voice.
First, a synod of bishops declared his writings heretical. Winning
the young king, Richard II, to their side, they obtained a royal decree
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consigning to prison all who should hold the condemned doctrines.
Wycliffe appealed from the synod to Parliament. He fearlessly
arraigned the hierarchy before the national council and demanded re-
form of the enormous abuses sanctioned by the church. His enemies
were brought to confusion. It had been expected that the Reformer,
in his old age, alone and friendless, would bow to the authority of
the crown. But instead, Parliament, roused by the stirring appeals
of Wycliffe, repealed the persecuting edict, and the Reformer was
again at liberty.
A third time he was brought to trial, and now before the highest
ecclesiastical tribunal in the kingdom. Here at last the Reformer’s
work would be stopped. So thought the papists. If they could
accomplish their purpose, Wycliffe would leave the court only for
the flames.
Wycliffe Refuses to Retract
But Wycliffe did not retract. He fearlessly maintained his teach-
ings and repelled the accusations of his persecutors. He summoned
his hearers before the divine tribunal and weighed their sophistries
and deceptions in the balances of eternal truth. The power of the
Holy Spirit was upon the hearers. As arrows from the Lord’s quiver,
the Reformer’s words pierced their hearts. The charge of heresy,
which they had brought against him, he threw back on them.
“With whom, think you,” he said, “are ye contending? with an
old man on the brink of the grave? No! with Truth—Truth which is