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The first is that Bradwardine was a scholar, primarily a man oftheuniversities. Courtenay writes that" it may be one ofthe distinguishingfeatures ofa Hus or a Martin Luther that they carried theseriousness of the academic debate in the classroom into thestreets." On the other hand, "Bradwardine's tenacious and provocativeSumma de causa Dei circulated within university circlesin England and on the continent."33 In that same connection,Alister McGrath points out that Bradwardine, unlike Gregori ofRimini, was not a member ofa religious order, which order mighthave promoted Bradwardine's views. In addition, he notes that theHundred Years War would isolate Oxford and give the advantageto Paris as a center of theological study.34 Perhaps those werefactors. One could point out the obvious fact that Bradwardinedied in his prime, thus snuffing out any possible influence he mighthave had as Archbishop of Cantetbury.However, the material reason why Bradwardine's effortseffected no change must be traced to the doctrine he propounded.Recall the state ofthe church in the fourteenth century. The churchwa~ corrupt in doctrine and practice. The sacerdotal system andthehierarchy were stifling. The doctrinal support for both was theSemi-Pelagian doctrine ofmerit. In turn, the doctrine ofmerit wasbased on the free will of men and the notion that man has anecessary part in his salvation. These doctrines were well establishedin the church, and are doctrines always pleasing to man.Man wants to be able to point to something he has contributed tohis salvation. Bradwardine's teaching demolished all bases forman to boast. For that reason, the theology ofBradwardine wouldnever be accepted. William Cunningham notes that Bradwardinedeplores bitterly the general prevalence ofPe)agian error over thechurch, and earnestly appeals to the pope to interpose to check it,addressing him in these words: HRise, Peter, why art thou sleep-33. Courtenay, Schools and Scholars, (£n. 38) p. 38.34. McGrath, Alister E. Iustitia Dei: a history of the Christiandoctrine ofjustification (Cambridge: CambridgeUniversity Press, 1986),pp. 142-143.24 PRTJ