the great controversy-第15部分

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magnified　by　praise　and　thanksgiving。　Those　happy　souls　returned　to　their
homes　to　diffuse　light；　to　repeat　to　others；　as　well　as　they　could；　their
new　experience；　that　they　had　found　the　true　and　living　Way。　There　was　a
strange　and　solemn　power　in　the　words　of　Scripture　that　spoke　directly　to
the　hearts　of　those　who　were　longing　for　the　truth。　It　was　the　voice　of　God；
and　it　carried　conviction　to　those　who　heard。

The　messenger　of　truth　went　on　his　way；　but　his　appearance　of　humility；　his
sincerity；　his　earnestness　and　deep　fervor；　were　subjects　of　frequent
remark。　In　many　instances　his　hearers　had　not　asked　him　whence　he　came　or
whither　he　went。　They　had　been　so　overwhelmed；　at　first　with　surprise；　and
afterward　with　gratitude　and　joy；　that　they　had　not　thought　to　question　him。
When　they　had　urged　him　to　accompany　them　to　their　homes；　he　had　replied
that　he　must　visit　the　lost　sheep　of　the　flock。　Could　he　have　been　an　angel
from　heaven？　they　queried。

In　many　cases　the　messenger　of　truth　was　seen　no　more。　He　had　made　his　way
to　other　lands；　or　he　was　wearing　out　his　life　in　some　unknown　dungeon；　or
perhaps　his　bones　were　whitening　on　the　spot　where　he　had　witnessed　for　the

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truth。　But　the　words　he　had　left　behind　could　not　be　destroyed。　They　were
doing　their　work　in　the　hearts　of　men；　the　blessed　results　will　be　fully
known　only　in　the　judgment。

The　Waldensian　missionaries　were　invading　the　kingdom　of　Satan；　and　the
powers　of　darkness　aroused　to　greater　vigilance。　Every　effort　to　advance　the
truth　was　watched　by　the　prince　of　evil；　and　he　excited　the　fears　of　his
agents。　The　papal　leaders　saw　a　portent　of　danger　to　their　cause　from　the
labors　of　these　humble　itinerants。　If　the　light　of　truth　were　allowed　to
shine　unobstructed；　it　would　sweep　away　the　heavy　clouds　of　error　that
enveloped　the　people。　It　would　direct　the　minds　of　men　to　God　alone　and
would　eventually　destroy　the　supremacy　of　Rome。

The　very　existence　of　this　people；　holding　the　faith　of　the　ancient　church；
was　a　constant　testimony　to　Rome's　apostasy；　and　therefore　excited　the　most
bitter　hatred　and　persecution。　Their　refusal　to　surrender　the　Scriptures　was
also　an　offense　that　Rome　could　not　tolerate。　She　determined　to　blot　them
from　the　earth。　Now　began　the　most　terrible　crusades　against　God's　people　in
their　mountain　homes。　Inquisitors　were　put　upon　their　track；　and　the　scene
of　innocent　Abel　falling　before　the　murderous　Cain　was　often　repeated。

Again　and　again　were　their　fertile　lands　laid　waste；　their　dwellings　and
chapels　swept　away；　so　that　where　once　were　flourishing　fields　and　the　homes
of　an　innocent；　industrious　people；　there　remained　only　a　desert。　As　the
ravenous　beast　is　rendered　more　furious　by　the　taste　of　blood；　so　the　rage
of　the　papists　was　kindled　to　greater　intensity　by　the　sufferings　of　their
victims。　Many　of　these　witnesses　for　a　pure　faith　were　pursued　across　the
mountains　and　hunted　down　in　the　valleys　where　they　were　hidden；　shut　in　by
mighty　forests　and　pinnacles　of　rock。

No　charge　could　be　brought　against　the　moral　character　of　this　proscribed
class。　Even　their　enemies　declared　them　to　be　a　peaceable；　quiet；　pious
people。　Their　grand　offense　was　that　they　would　not　worship　God　according　to
the　will

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of　the　pope。　For　this　crime　every　humiliation；　insult；　and　torture　that　men
or　devils　could　invent　was　heaped　upon　them。

When　Rome　at　one　time　determined　to　exterminate　the　hated　sect；　a　bull　was
issued　by　the　pope；　condemning　them　as　heretics；　and　delivering　them　to
slaughter。　（See　Appendix。）　They　were　not　accused　as　idlers；　or　dishonest；　or
disorderly；　but　it　was　declared　that　they　had　an　appearance　of　piety　and
sanctity　that　seduced　〃the　sheep　of　the　true　fold。〃　Therefore　the　pope
ordered　〃that　malicious　and　abominable　sect　of　malignants；〃　if　they　〃refuse
to　abjure；　to　be　crushed　like　venomous　snakes。〃Wylie；　b。　16；　ch。　1。　Did
this　haughty　potentate　expect　to　meet　those　words　again？　Did　he　know　that
they　were　registered　in　the　books　of　heaven；　to　confront　him　at　the
judgment？　〃Inasmuch　as　ye　have　done　it　unto　one　of　the　least　of　these　My
brethren；〃　said　Jesus；　〃ye　have　done　it　unto　Me。〃　Matthew　25：40。

This　bull　called　upon　all　members　of　the　church　to　join　the　crusade　against
the　heretics。　As　an　incentive　to　engage　in　this　cruel　work；　it　〃absolved
from　all　ecclesiastical　pains　and　penalties；　general　and　particular；　it
released　all　who　joined　the　crusade　from　any　oaths　they　might　have　taken；　it
legitimatized　their　title　to　any　property　they　might　have　illegally
acquired；　and　promised　remission　of　all　their　sins　to　such　as　should　kill
any　heretic。　It　annulled　all　contracts　made　in　favor　of　Vaudois；　ordered
their　domestics　to　abandon　them；　forbade　all　persons　to　give　them　any　aid
whatever；　and　empowered　all　persons　to　take　possession　of　their
property。〃Wylie；　b。　16；　ch。　1。　This　document　clearly　reveals　the　master
spirit　behind　the　scenes。　It　is　the　roar　of　the　dragon；　and　not　the　voice　of
Christ；　that　is　heard　therein。

The　papal　leaders　would　not　conform　their　characters　to　the　great　standard
of　God's　law；　but　erected　a　standard　to　suit　themselves；　and　determined　to
compel　all　to　conform　to　this　because　Rome　willed　it。　The　most　horrible
tragedies　were　enacted。　Corrupt　and　blasphemous　priests　and　popes　were　doing
the　work　which　Satan　appointed　them。　Mercy　had

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no　place　in　their　natures。　The　same　spirit　that　crucified　Christ　and　slew
the　apostles；　the　same　that　moved　the　blood…thirsty　Nero　against　the
faithful　in　his　day；　was　at　work　to　rid　the　earth　of　those　who　were　beloved
of　God。

The　persecutions　visited　for　many　centuries　upon　this　God…fearing　people
were　endured　by　them　with　a　patience　and　constancy　that　honored　their
Redeemer。　Notwithstanding　the　crusades　against　them；　and　the　inhuman
butchery　to　which　they　were　subjected；　they　continued　to　send　out　their
missionaries　to　scatter　the　precious　truth。　They　were　hunted　to　death；　yet
their　blood　watered　the　seed　sown；　and　it　failed　not　of　yielding　fruit。　Thus
the　Waldenses　witnessed　for　God　centuries　before　the　birth　of　Luther。
Scattered　over　many　lands；　they　planted　the　seeds　of　the　Reformation　that
began　in　the　time　of　Wycliffe；　grew　broad　and　deep　in　the　days　of　Luther；
and　is　to　be　carried　forward　to　the　close　of　time　by　those　who　also　are
willing　to　suffer　all　things　for　〃the　word　of　God；　and　for　the　testimony　of
Jesus　Christ。〃　Revelation　1：9。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　（79）

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　5

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　John　Wycliffe


Before　the　Reformation　there　were　at　times　but　very　few　copies　of　the　Bible
in　existence；　but　God　had　not　suffered　His　word　to　be　wholly　destroyed。　Its
truths　were　not　to　be　forever　hidden。　He　could　as　easily　unchain　the　words
of　life　as　He　could　open　prison　doors　and　unbolt　iron　gates　to　set　His
servants　free。　In　the　different　countries　of　Europe　men　were　moved　by　the
Spirit　of　God　to　search　for　the　truth　as　for　hid　treasures。　Providentially
guided　to　the　Holy　Scriptures；　they　studied　the　sacred　pages　with　intense
interest。　They　were　willing　to　accept　the　light　at　any　cost　to　themselves。
Though　they　did　not　see　all　things　clearly；　they　were　enabled　to　perceive
many　long…buried　truths。　As　Heaven…sent　messengers　they　went　forth；　rending
asunder　the　chains　of　error　and　superstition；　and　calling　upon　those　who　had
been　so　long　enslaved；　to　arise　and　assert　their　liberty。

Except　among　the　Waldenses；　the　word　of　God　had　for　ages　been　locked　up　in
languages　known　only　to　the　learned；　but　the　time　had　come　for　the
Scriptures　to　be　translated　and　given　to　the　people　of　different　lands　in
their　native　tongue。　The　world　had　passed　its　midnight。　The　hours　of
darkness　were　wearing　away；　and　in　many　lands　appeared　tokens　of　the　coming
dawn。

80


In　the　fourteenth　century　arose　in　England　the　〃morning　star　of　the
Reformation。〃　John　Wycliffe　was　the　herald　of　reform；　not　for　England　alone；
but　for　all　Christendom。　The　great　protest　against　Rome　which　it　was
permitted　him　to　utter　was　never　to　be　silenced。　That　protest　opened　the
struggle　which　was　to　result　in　the　emancipation　of　individuals；　of
churches；　and　of　nations。

Wycliffe　received　a　liberal　education；　and　with　him　the　fear　of　the　Lord　was
the　beginning　of　wisdom。　He　was　noted　at　college　for　his　fervent　piety　as
well　as　for　his　remarkable　talents　and　sound　scholarship。　In　his　thirst　for
knowledge　he　sought　to　become　acquainted　with　every　branch　of　learning。　He
was　educated　in　the　scholastic　philosophy；　in　the　canons　of　the　church；　and
in　the　civil　law；　especially　that　of　his　own　country。　In　his　after　labors
the　value　of　this　early　training　was　apparent。　A　thorough　acquaintance　with
the　speculative　philosophy　of　his　time　enabled　him　to　expose　its　errors；　and
by　his　study　of　national　and　ecclesiastical　law　he　was　prepared　to　engage　in
the　great　struggle　for　civil　and　religious　liberty。　While　he　could　wield　the
weapons　drawn　from　the　word　of　God；　he　had　acquired　the　intellectual
discipline　of　the　schools；　and　he　understood　the　tactics　of　the　schoolmen。
The　power　of　his　genius　and　the　extent　and　thoroughness　of　his　knowledge
commanded　the　respect　of　both　friends　and　foes。　His　adherents　saw　with
satisfaction　that　their　champion　stood　foremost　among　the　leading　minds　of
the　nation；　and　his　enemies　were　prevented　from　casting　contempt　upon　the
cause　of　reform　by　exposing　the　ignorance　or　weakness　of　its　supporter。

While　Wycliffe　was　still　at　college；　he　entered　upon　the　study　of　the
Scriptures。　In　those　early　times；　when　the　Bible　existed　only　in　the　ancient
languages；　scholars　were　enabled　to　find　their　way　to　the　fountain　of　truth；
which　was　closed　to　the　uneducated　classes。　Thus　already　the　way　had　been
prepared　for　Wycliffe's　future　work　as　a　Reformer。　Men

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of　learning　had　studied　the　word　of　God　and　had　found　the　great　truth　of　His
free　grace　there　revealed。　In　their　teachings　they　had　spread　a　knowledge　of
this　trut