The Great Controversy The Great Controversy | Page 90

many willingly engaged in the work of transcribing it, but it was with
difficulty that the copyists could supply the demand. Some of the more
wealthy purchasers desired the whole Bible. Others bought only a
portion. In many cases, several families united to purchase a copy. Thus
Wycliffe’s Bible soon found its way to the homes of the people.
The appeal to men’s reason aroused them from their passive
submission to papal dogmas. Wycliffe now taught the distinctive
doctrines of Protestantism—salvation through faith in Christ, and the
sole infallibility of the Scriptures. The preachers whom he had sent out
circulated the Bible, together with the Reformer’s writings, and with
such success that the new faith was accepted by nearly one half of the
people of England.
The appearance of the Scriptures brought dismay to the authorities
of the 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

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