The European Union in Prophecy The EU in Prophecy I | Page 63

The European Union in Prophecy
church. They had now to meet an agency more powerful than Wycliffe--an agency
against which their weapons would avail little. There was at this time no law in
England prohibiting the Bible, for it had never before been published in the language
of the people. Such laws were afterward enacted and rigorously enforced. Meanwhile,
notwithstanding the efforts of the priests, there was for a season opportunity for the
circulation of the word of God.
Again the papal leaders plotted to silence the Reformer's voice. Before three
tribunals he was successively summoned for trial, but without avail. First a synod of
bishops declared his writings heretical, and, winning the young king, Richard II, to
their side, they obtained a royal decree 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 a reform of the
enormous abuses sanctioned by the church. With convincing power he portrayed the
usurpation and corruptions of the papal see. His enemies were brought to confusion.
The friends and supporters of Wycliffe had been forced to yield, and it had been
confidently expected that the Reformer himself, in his old age, alone and friendless,
would bow to the combined authority of the crown and the miter. But instead of this
the papists saw themselves defeated. 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Wycliffe, repealed the persecuting edict, and the Reformer was again at liberty.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 no favor would be shown to heresy. Here at last Rome
would triumph, and the Reformer's work would be stopped. So thought the papists. If
they could but accomplish their purpose, Wycliffe would be forced to abjure his
doctrines, or would leave the court only for the flames. But Wycliffe did not retract;
he would not dissemble. He fearlessly maintained his teachings and repelled the
accusations of his persecutors. Losing sight of himself, of his position, of the occasion,
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 felt
in the council room. A spell from God was upon the hearers. They seemed to have no
power to leave the place. 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
with convincing power threw back upon themselves. Why, he demanded, did they dare
to spread their errors? For the sake of gain, to make merchandise of the grace of God?
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