5. John Wycliffe. 87
received the title of“ The Gospel Doctor.” But the greatest work of his life was to be the translation of the Scriptures into the English language. In a work,“ On the Truth and Meaning of Scripture,” he expressed his intention to translate the Bible, so that every man in England might read, in the language in which he was born, the wonderful works of God.
But suddenly his labors were stopped. Though not yet sixty years of age, unceasing toil, study, and the assaults of his enemies, had told upon his strength, and made him prematurely old. He was attacked by a dangerous illness. The tidings brought great joy to the friars. Now they thought he would bitterly repent the evil he had done the church, and they hurried to his chamber to listen to his confession. Representatives from the four religious orders, with four civil officers, gathered about the supposed dying man.“ You have death on your lips,” they said;“ be touched [ 088 ] 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, and gazing steadily upon them as they stood waiting for his recantation, 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.” 119 Astonished and abashed, the monks hurried from the room.
Wycliffe ' s words were fulfilled. He lived to place in the hands of his countrymen the most powerful of all weapons against Rome,— to give them the Bible, the Heaven-appointed agent to liberate, enlighten, and evangelize the people. There were many and great obstacles to surmount in the accomplishment of this work. Wycliffe was weighed down with infirmities; he knew that only a few years for labor remained for him; he saw the opposition which he must meet; but, encouraged by the promises of God ' s word, he went forward nothing daunted. In the full vigor of his intellectual powers, rich in experience, he had been
119 D ' Aubigné, b. 17, ch. 7.