Wicliffe and His Times - James Aitken Wylie

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Chapter 11 Wicliffe and Transubstantiation DID the Reformer now rest? He was old and sickly, and needed repose. His day had been a stormy one; sweet it were at its even-tide to taste a little quiet. But no. He panted, if it were possible and if God were willing, to see his country's emancipation completed, and England a reformed land, before closing his eyes and descending into his grave. It was, he felt, a day of visitation. That day had come first of all to England. Oh that she were wise, and that in this her day she knew the things that belonged to her peace! If not, she might have to buy with many tears and much blood, through years, and it might be centuries, of conflict, what seemed now so nearly within her reach. Wicliffe resolved, therefore, that there should be no pause in the war. He had just ended one battle, he now girded himself for another. He turned to attack the doctrinal system of the Church 178
of Rome. He had come ere this to be of opinion that the system of Rome's doctrines, and the ceremonies of her worship, were anti-Christian — a "new religion, founded of sinful men," and opposed to "the rule of Jesus Christ given by Him to His apostles;" but in beginning this new battle he selected one particular dogma, as the object of attack. That dogma was Transubstantiation. It is here that the superstition of Rome culminates: it is in this more than in any other dogma that we find the sources of her prodigious authority, and the springs of her vast influence. In making his blow to fall here, Wicliffe knew that the stroke would have ten-fold more effect than if directed against a less vital part of the system. If he could abolish the sacrifice of the priest, he would bring back the sacrifice of Christ, which alone is the Gospel, because through it is the "remission of sins," and the "life everlasting." 179
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WICLIFFE AND HIS TIMES James A. Wyl
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ival. It built for itself gorgeous
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child, who was named John. Here his
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humility was rewarded by his findin
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authority" with which they were for
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a single chapter of the Bible, for
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Alps it entered Northern Europe, le
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and Calvin. Wicliffe had been a wit
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"and inhabit everlasting burnings."
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een a person of noble aspect and co
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delay, in 1370, the cause was given
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all. The king had appealed to the P
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ceased to be rung; the crosses and
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they should instantly, except upon
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the independence of their country a
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contending against the evangelical
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demand the more conspicuous, was th
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ulls, and briefs were so many drain
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ishop, or other, any bull, or any o
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to benefices it was not so easy to
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These were a sort of double breast-
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A military baron is the first to ri
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should hold our land directly and a
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did was against his oath at his cor
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with so resolute a patriotism. The
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peculiar clerk," from which we infe
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would bring such an accession of pr
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Chapter 4 Wicliffe's Battle with th
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original at small occasions, thereb
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monastery came the halt, the blind,
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in society, not in solitude, that w
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week except Friday. They run here a
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devoured after plate, and such natu
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view in the constitution of the new
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to be. Being joined by seven discip
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again were kings and suppliant prin
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his conclave the idea of Francis ap
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of Rome, but did not attest with eq
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order of monks were recluses. They
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oth as individuals and as a body, w
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hoards increased every day. How cam
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established in England, where, from
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though they would, to the great gri
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Pope; they had been created by him,
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it; and therefore, not content, as
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controversy was no mere quarrel bet
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"There is no greater heresy than fo
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false dogma on which it was founded
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abuses which these laws were meant
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conveyed away, which they cannot be
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never tied his hands by promise or
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Wicliffe was appointed to the recto
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year he had taken the first-fruits
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against the royal prerogative. The
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took the matter in hand, being then
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These doctrines were found to be of
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erroneous conclusions, and most wic
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first to make his way into the Chap
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citation, like a dangerous spell wh
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fourteenth century found it encompa
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all the temporalities, of all the s
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Chapter 8 Hierarchical Persecution
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the archbishop's chapel at Lambeth.
Page 127 and 128: than courtly, their adherence to th
Page 129 and 130: Would it have been better that Engl
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Page 133 and 134: as a single acre from her domains o
Page 135 and 136: "Prelates and priests," says he, "c
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Page 147 and 148: Nor even to the men of his own time
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Page 153 and 154: Chapter 10 The Translation of the S
Page 155 and 156: against the Reformer, died also, an
Page 157 and 158: with the first-elected Pope, who to
Page 159 and 160: helped to reveal to him yet more cl
Page 161 and 162: eyes upon them, he said with a loud
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Page 165 and 166: end their authors sought. They were
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Page 171 and 172: of some college, where all might co
Page 173 and 174: already traversing the length and b
Page 175 and 176: In short, a great clamor was raised
Page 177: Wielding the sword of the Spirit, w
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Page 183 and 184: his expulsion from the university.
Page 185 and 186: they show us the inner condition of
Page 187 and 188: seats, and were proceeding to busin
Page 189 and 190: from the emperor, but certainly not
Page 191 and 192: stage. This prince stood stoutly by
Page 193 and 194: Chapter 12 Wicliffe's Appeal to Par
Page 195 and 196: paper, which related to tithes and
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Page 199 and 200: Chapter 13 Wicliffe Before Convocat
Page 201 and 202: after the manner of that scholastic
Page 203 and 204: laid an arrest upon him. He had had
Page 205 and 206: would have felt only assailed; as i
Page 207 and 208: was left at liberty. "He that lovet
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Page 211 and 212: deeply he saw into the constitution
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Page 215 and 216: taught also that every man had a ri
Page 217 and 218: and very man; His substitution in t
Page 219 and 220: among its ministers, gradation of r
Page 221 and 222: teachings of prophets and apostles,
Page 223 and 224: very heart of the darkness, telling
Page 225: generations." Wicliffe, had he live
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Wicliffe and His Times - James Aitken Wylie

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