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The Story of Redemption
and possessed great patience. He was greatly beloved of God. His
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knowledge of the Scriptures was great, and his judgment and wisdom
excellent. His love for the cause of God was equal to Luther’s. The
hearts of these men the Lord knit together; they were inseparable
friends. Luther was a great help to Melancthon when in danger of
being fearful and slow, and Melancthon in turn was a great help to
Luther when in danger of moving too fast.
Melancthon’s far-seeing caution often averted trouble which
would have come upon the cause had the work been left alone to
Luther; and ofttimes the work would not have been pushed forward
had it been left to Melancthon alone. I was shown the wisdom of
God in choosing these two men to carry on the work of reformation.
England and Scotland Enlightened
While Luther was opening a closed Bible to the people of Ger-
many, Tyndale was impelled by the Spirit of God to do the same for
England. He was a diligent student of the Scriptures, and fearlessly
preached his convictions of truth, urging that all doctrines be brought
to the test of God’s Word. His zeal could but excite opposition from
the papists. A learned Catholic doctor who engaged 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
people the New Testament Scriptures in their own language, was
now confirmed, and he immediately applied himself to the work.
All England seemed closed against him, and he resolved to seek
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shelter in Germany. Here he began the printing of the English New
Testament. Three thousand copies of the New Testament were soon
finished, and another edition followed in the same year.
He finally witnessed for his faith by a martyr’s death, but the
weapons which he prepared have enabled other soldiers to do battle
through all the centuries even to our time.
In Scotland the gospel found a champion in the person of John
Knox. This truehearted reformer feared not the face of man. The
fires of martyrdom, blazing around him, served only to quicken his