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Protestantism in England From the Times of Henry VIII - James Aitken Wylie

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Chapter 3<br />

William Tyndale and <strong>the</strong><br />

English New Testament<br />

ERASMUS had laid his New Testament at <strong>the</strong><br />

feet <strong>of</strong> <strong>England</strong>. In so do<strong>in</strong>g he had sent to that<br />

country, as he believed, a message <strong>of</strong> peace; great<br />

was his astonishment to f<strong>in</strong>d that he had but blown<br />

a trumpet <strong>of</strong> war, and that <strong>the</strong> roar <strong>of</strong> battle was<br />

louder than ever. The services <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> great scholar<br />

to <strong>the</strong> Reformation were f<strong>in</strong>ished, and now he<br />

retired. But <strong>the</strong> Bible rema<strong>in</strong>ed <strong>in</strong> <strong>England</strong>, and<br />

wherever <strong>the</strong> Word <strong>of</strong> God went, <strong>the</strong>re came<br />

<strong>Protestantism</strong> also.<br />

There was at Tr<strong>in</strong>ity College, Cambridge, a<br />

young student <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> canon law, Thomas Bilney by<br />

name, <strong>of</strong> small stature, delicate constitution, and<br />

much occupied with <strong>the</strong> thoughts <strong>of</strong> eternity. He<br />

had striven to atta<strong>in</strong> to <strong>the</strong> assurance <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> life<br />

eternal by a constant adherence to <strong>the</strong> path <strong>of</strong><br />

virtue, never<strong>the</strong>less his conscience, which was very<br />

43

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