5. John Wycliffe. 83
in their stead ignorant men, who could only recount marvelous tales, legends, and jests to amuse the people, and make them still more completely the dupes of the monks. 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, and that this was sufficient to secure them a place in heaven. [ 084 ]
Men of learning and piety had labored in vain to bring about a reform in these monastic orders; but Wycliffe, with clearer insight, struck at the root of the evil, declaring that the system itself was false, and that it should be abolished. Discussion and inquiry were awakening. As the monks traversed the country, vending the pope ' s pardons, many were led to doubt the possibility of purchasing forgiveness with money, and they questioned whether they should not seek pardon from God rather than from the pontiff of Rome. 112 Not a few were alarmed at the rapacity of the friars, whose greed seemed never to be satisfied.“ The monks and priests of Rome,” said they,“ are eating us away like a cancer. God must deliver us, or the people will perish.” 113 To cover their avarice, these begging monks claimed that they were following the Saviour ' s example, declaring that Jesus and His disciples had been supported by the charities of the people. This claim resulted in injury to their cause, for it led many to the Bible to learn the truth for themselves,— a result which of all others was least desired by Rome. The minds of men were directed to the Source of truth, which it was her object to conceal.
Wycliffe began to write and publish tracts against the friars, not, however, seeking so much to enter into dispute with them as to call the minds of the people to the teachings of the Bible and its Author. He declared that the power of pardon or of excommunication is possessed by the pope in no greater degree than by
112 See Appendix. 113 D ' Aubigné, b. 17, ch. 7.