Lord’s Day, Vol. 5 No. 41
Forerunners of the Reformation
- John Wycliffe
In the 14th Century a young man was enrolled at the University of Oxford, of whom his teachers had great expectations. John Wycliffe, for such was his name, had a brilliant mind, undaunted courage, and a silver tongue. He also developed great skill with the pen. The date of his birth and the precise spot where it took place are not known, but in all probability it was during the period 1320-24, and in or near the village of Old Richmond in Yorkshire. He would doubtless be about 16 years old when he went to Oxford.. He remained in association with the University for the rest of his life, becoming a Fellow, and then in 1361 the Master of Balliol College. He became a Doctor of Theology there also.
The greatest crisis of Wyciffe’s life, came when he attacked the Roman doctrine of transubstantiation, that is, the teaching that the Eucharist (Lord’s Supper) the bread and wine are changed into the body and blood of Christ. As all priests claimed the power to perform this so-called miracle, it raised them, in the eyes of the Church, high above princes.
Wycliffe’s attitude in this matter aroused the greatest opposition, the king began to withdraw his support, and as for the University of Oxford, the heads and fellows of its various colleges were also in opposition to him. But he was so popular with the common people that his enemies feared. Possibly he might have brought about a better state of things in the church had he possessed more patience. But he wished to overthrow with one blow the false teachings of Rome and re-establish the pure, undiluted gospel. Yet he discovered, as time passed, that reformation could not be brought about in one year or in ten; it required long effort and much patience.
The greatest of all the works of accomplished by Wycliffe was to translate the Bible into English, so that all who were able to read, or listen to the Word when read, could learn the truth of God.
Of the Book that had been the sealed-up Book
He tore the clasps, that the nation
With eyes unbandaged might look thereon
And therein find salvation.
The Roman Church used the Latin Bible only, in the version called the Vulgate, and refused to have it translated into the language of the people. Wycliffe did not know either the Hebrew or Greek of the original Scriptures; but still it proved to be a great blessing to the people. Also all Scripture had to be written by hand for as yet there was no printing press.
The poor preachers took portions of it with them in their travels and read them to men and women in cities and hamlets, wherever they could get an audience. Wycliffe’s was the first English translation of the whole Bible.
Early the following century two dreadful steps were taken by Parliament and Church. A law for the burning of heretics – Lollards (Wycliffites) were called heretics – was passed in 1401, and it did not remain a dead letter, the most notable sufferer being Sir John Oldcastle of the Church condemned Wycliffe’s translation of the Bible.
The hatred of the Roman Church for John Wycliffe is perhaps best shown by an event which took place about forty years after his death.
By order of the Council of Constance (1415) the reformer’s bones were to be dug up from their grave and refused reburial. This was carried out in 1428 when the Bishop of Lincoln burned the remains, and scattered the ashes upon the waters of the River Swift which runs through Lutterworth.
It has been well said that, as the ashes were carried by the Swift to the Avon, by the Avon to the Severn, by the Severn to the ‘narrow seas’, and by the ‘narrow seas’ to the ocean, so the reformer’s teachings and message reached out into all England, and from England into far-distant lands. Indeed, Wycliffe was ‘The Morning Star of the Reformation’ which commenced in the 16th century.
And though his bones from the grave were torn
Long after his life was ended,
The sound of his words, to times unborn,
Like a trumpet-call descended.
[Extracted and edited from Sketches from Church History by S.M Houghton, pp.63-64]
Yours Lovingly,
Pastor Lek Aik Wee