Oxford; while others assert him to have been banished.

At length he retired to his living of Lutterworth, where he reared the pillars of the reformation, by completing, with immense labour, his translation of the Scriptures. A stroke of the palsy, in the year thirteen hundred and eighty seven, removed him to his reward. Of the opinions with which he was charged, we select the following specimen. "It is blasphemy to call any but Christ head of the church. Peter had no more power than the rest of the apostles. The pope is no successor of Peter, unless he imitates him. The infallibility of the church of Rome is blasphemy. By the abomination which maketh desolate, spoken of in Mathew, is meant the pope. Bishop's benedictions, confirmations, consecration of churches, are only tricks to get money. There were only two orders in the apostles' times, priests and deacons. The church of God consists only of the elect. Tythes are a purely voluntary support to ministers, not to be enforced by penalties. Wise men leave that undetermined which the Scriptures have not settled. All writers, since the year one thousand of the Christian æra, were heretics. Baptism is not essential to salvation, nor can it confer grace, or take away sin. Sacred initiation into holy orders is not essential, as it impresses no character. Vowing virginity is a doctrine of devils. The worship of saints is idolatry*."

Who can seriously reflect on the thick darkness from which this sacred genius emerged, and not acknowledge with mingled astonishment and admiration, the clearness, justness, and comprehension of * Fuller, book IV. p. 131.

his views? The people whose history we are now introducing will readily perceive that Wickliffe was the first of puritans, as well as of protestants, and that in many leading articles he as truly dissents with us, from the religion now established, as he then did from the papal hierarchy. He presents an instructive and encouraging proof of the efficacy of the Scriptures to make men wise to salvation; for his translation of the Bible was at once a cause and an effect of his superior knowledge of religion. Who can wonder that principles, which so forcibly appealed to common sense, and were so well calculated to liberate mankind from the galling fetters of priestly tyranny under which they were groaning, should find a numerous host of admirers? To avoid opposition was impossible.

But we naturally ask, how the daring promulgator of such offensive truths could escape the deadly fangs of the great red dragon. Perhaps his boldness, which was tempered with a happy portion of prudence, embarrassed his enemies, and left them no means of attempting his life with any prospect of success. His numerous writings were wisely adapted to spread his sentiments more rapidly, and to diffuse sufficient knowledge to welcome his translation when it should. appear. Those who had retained the truth of religion, amidst the abomination which made all desolate, especially the concealed Lollards, or Waldenses, would naturally seize with avidity, sentiments so congenial with their taste, and regard their author, as a noble witness for the truth, which they had maintained at the hazard of their lives. At the same time many, to whom the principles were. wholly new, felt their divine power, and blessed

him through whose "tender mercies, the day-spring from on high had visited them, to give light to them that sit in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide their feet into the way of peace."

By the labours of Wickliffe, or of those from whom he derived his sentiments, the lovers of truth were so numerous, that in the reign of Richard the second, an act of parliament notices many persons who preached in church-yards and markets, without licence of the ordinary. The village preachers of the present day may see that they are in good company. Wickliffe's letters diffused the same spirit on the continent; for Jerome of Prague, and some Bohemian brethren, returning to their own country, carried with them an epistle from our reformer to John Huss and his brethren, which breathes a spirit worthy of the writer, who was now in the last year of his life. As it is a curiosity, we present the substance of it to our readers*.

* Carissimi in Domino fratres, &c. Dearest brethren in the Lord, whom I love in the truth, and not I only, but also all who have known the truth: that truth, I say, which remaineth in you, and shall be with you for ever, through the grace of God. I rejoice greatly that the brethren who came from you, bear testimony to your belief of the truth, and that ye also walk in the truth. I have heard, brother, how antichrist afflicts you, bringing numerous and various tribulations on the disciples of Christ. Nor is it wonderful that you are treated thus, since, through the whole world, the law of Christ is now oppressed by the adversaries, and that great manyheaded dragon, of which John speaks in the Revelation, hath cast out of its mouth a vast flood after the woman to swallow her up. But our most faithful Lord will certainly deliver his only spouse, faithful to himself. Let us, therefore, be strong in the Lord our God, and in his immense goodness, firmly believing that he will not permit his beloved friends to fail in their good purpose, provided we love him as we ought with our whole heart. For adversity would not have prevailed, if iniquity had not. Therefore, let no afflic tion, or oppression for. Christ, depress us; since we know, that

The sentiments of Wickliffe, or, in other words, the principles of religion, took possession of many minds, both in England and Scotland; and some are

whomsoever the Lord receives into the number of his sons he chastens. For it is the will of the Father of mercies that we should be exercised with afflictions in the present life, that he may spare us in the future, because the gold, which the supreme artificer chuses, he desires to have purged thoroughly in the fire here, that he may deposit it hereafter in his most pure, eternal treasury. We see the time which we possess here is short and transitory, but the life which we expect in future is blessed and eternal. Let us labour, therefore, as long as time with us shall last, that we may be found worthy to enter into that rest. What do we see in this life, but pains, and griefs, and labours, and that which should most affect. believers, the contempt and violation of the divine law? Let us, therefore, strive with all our powers, to lay hold of those blessings which shall be durable and eternal, denying our earthly, perishing appetites. Let us view the conversation of the brethren in former ages, let us behold the saints of the Old and New Testament; how they endured tossings and afflictions on this ocean, suffering bonds and imprisonments, were stoned, sawn asunder, and slain by the sword. They wandered about in sheep skins, and goat skins, and suffered other trials, which the epistle to the Hebrews largely relates. All going in the narrow way, in the footsteps of Christ, who said, where I am, my servants shall be. "Therefore, having so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside," &c. But let us seek help from the Lord, and fight manfully against antichrist his adversary. Let us therefore love his law from the heart, and not be fraudulent labourers, but in all things, as far as the Lord enables, act boldly, and be brave in the cause of God, in hopes of the eternal reward. Thou, therefore, Huss, my dearly beloved brother in Christ, unknown to me indeed by face, yet not in faith and love, (for the ends of the earth cannot separate those whom the love of Christ unites) be strong in the grace which is given to thee. Fight as a good soldier of Jesus Christ, in word or deed, and recall whomsoever thou canst into the way of truth; for neither on account of erroneous and lying decrees, nor for the sake of the errors of antichrist, is the truth of the Gospel to be detained in silence. Rather, confounding the craft of satan, comfort and establish the members of Christ. For shortly, the Lord willing, antichrist shall come to an end.

recorded as martyrs to their truth. The bishops were obliged to enforce the necessity of confession by public edicts; and all suspected persons were called to make a solemn abjuration. "I promise," say they, "to be buxom to the holy church, and to the archbishop." Wickliffe had, however, several honourable coadjutors in the cause of truth. John Trevisa, vicar of Berkley, is said to have made a translation of the Scriptures into English*. Robert Longland attacked the antichristian beast, in a piece of satyrical poetry, called the complaint and prayer of a ploughman. He complains of the pride of the priests, and the lasciviousness of the unmarried clergy, as well as of the trade in sins, and the souls of men, by purchasing pardons and ecclesiastical livings for money. He derides purgatory, and treats the pope as antichrist. Our ancient critics speak of this production in terms of high praise. Richard, archbishop of Armagh, opposed the monks, and, translated the Bible into the Irish tonguet. Thomas Bradwardine, archbishop of Canterbury, was not only one of the most learned men of his day, but also a noble defender of the doctrine of grace, against the Pelagians. Our ancient poet, Chaucer, was evidently disposed to assist in overturning the throne of the pope.

This affords me great joy that in your kingdom, and elsewhere, God hath so strengthened the hearts of some, that they even endure with joy prisons, exiles, and death for the word of God. I have therefore, my dearest friend, nothing farther to write: but I confess I could most willingly confirm thee, and all of you, who love the law of Christ in that love. So I salute them all from my inmost soul, especially thy coadjutor in the Gospel of Christ, entreating for me, and for the whole church of Christ. "Now may the God of peace,who brought again from the dead," &c.-Comenius ratio disciplinæ in unitate fratrum Bohemorum, p. 6, *Fuller, b. IV. p. 151. † Petrie, 496.

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