The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-04-02


tor of the Puritans--A Most Con-
spicuous Protestant Of the Four
teenth Century - Translation of
Bible His Greatest Work.
The series OF Sunday evening lectures
on the "Great Johns OF Church HIS
tory" by Rev James MeLeod, D. D.,
was continued at the First Presby-
terian church last might by the second
part of the third subject: John Wy.
cliffs. The Morning Star Of the Refor-
nation" The interest attached'to tho
lectures was evinoed by the attention
and attendance of last nights congre.
CATION.
DR.. Mcleod prs!aeod his discourse
by calling attention to the fact that at
the close of HE last lecture he an
nouucsd that Wychff. was a true pa
triot and trus Protestant. Following
the text. He being dead yet speaksth, "
Hebrews N; 1. le continued rs follow:
The patriotism of Wycliffe has, perhaps,
"
country. Hel1ved England more than he
loved Italy. le spurued religious despot-
ism aud he fought for religious liberty.
1t was on ra'riolic rs well us on religious
grounds tht he took the side Of Edward
III against he See of Rome. 1t was most
unwisa on he part Of Urban Y to demand
from Eng .nd the teudatOry tribute which
| the craven coward King Jonn, had
| pledged. Urbau'S demand was refused.
| Edward III and his parliament knew the
| value Of Magma Charta, and they stood up
| for Their rights, Wycitfe took an active
part il the conflict. He was King Ed
! ward chaplain, and he was witness of
the eat parliamentary debate. Indeed,
J he re jorted that great debate. He stated
cleaIy and cOncisely the argu ments Of the
Pee,s, and 10 added his own comments.
DEFENDED HIS COUNTRY.
asa loyal Englishman he defended the
ri ght Of his country against all prieStly
d,spotism lie did this notably in 1873,
| when, as royal commissioner, he went tC
Bruges to meet the Papal envoys.
In the time of Wyclitft, and long before
aud since his day, the Church OF Rome
was deeply engrossed with politics. Other
| churches have been mixed up, more OF
! less, with politics, aud they do not deny
| it. 1t may be lawful aud right, on occR
sion, for church to enter the political
arena: but IN cOntending for her cause
she ougat to be careful and not tramplt
uron the Just rights If others. II the
Presbyterian church should use her po-
liticnl influence in that way, she
| Wuuld deserve TO be eXeCrated
II she should, as church, draw the
bloody sword to propagate her doctrine'
and strike down her foes, she would ac
III II most uuChristlike way.
1t seems strange to u.s. who live in thest
peaceful times, that any church-pretend
iug to be church of Christ-could DO thai
wicked thing. But it has been done often
and with a vengeance. Yet events movt
as they are ordered. The blessing of the
pope at Rome ON the head OF Duke Maxi
milan could not revive in the nineteenth
century the ecclesiastical policy Of the six
tetnth and the result is only new proc
that there can be no prosperity IN the stat
without religious freedom" But, of course
neither the pope of today nor the churci
over which lie rules, should b5 held respon
sible for political interference, unless, in
deed, they should approve and indorse it
The same thing is true of the conduct o
the church in the fourteenth. fifteenth ant
sixteenth centuries. The successors OF tha
church must not be held responsible 70
1.-The most foul and bloudy deeds Of thei
ancestors. But it was against this inter
ference by the church with the affairs o
state that WycIife fought SO strenuously
aud the result proved him to b., not ohll
true patriot, but u clear-headed states
man.
WYCLlFFE A PROTESTANT
Wyc.ffe was the most conspicuous Prot
estant of the fourteenth century. Hi
views of church doctrine and Of churc
government are, in the main, IA ScriI
turgl as are those Of any Protestal
church Of today. lie has been called by "A
archbishop 'The spiritual ancestor Of til
Il!ritnns,n and that is strong testimony i
favor Of his thorough Professionalism. II
used both his tongue and his pen to propa
gate tle truth He welded ready pei
and pamphlets lectures and sermon
made their appearances in quick succession
He taught the people that the Bible is til
only infallible rule of faith and cOnduc
In fact, Wycliffe occupied the same groun
in the fourteenth century which Lutht
occupied in the sixteenth century. L
was the object Of bitter persecution, al
his teachings were denounced and col
demned. But he lived TO see his fonde
hopes, III some measure, realized. HUI
dreds of copies of "Wycliffe's Bible'' We
= put into circulation; and though he WI
hated and persecutei by the CHURCH Of n
, day, he died in peace and in the certa
, hone of glorious resurrection.
The translation Of the Bible into Il
English language was Wycliffe's create
= work. aud it is his most enduring mont
/ ment ITO Wycliffe, more than to al
one person. who can bs mentioned, v
&. owe our English language, our Engll
0 Bible and our reformed religion" ln ri
=, ing the Bible to the people i'll their ow
, language, Wycliffe gave another proof
a his intense patriotism us well as Of his q
( dent pipty He felt that what his con
try most needed was knowledge Of !
r vine truth; for their error could not stal
MP forever against it. Wycliffe was rigt
The open Bible which he gave to the pe
/. pie in their own language, was Minsry
a leaning on earth in her divine streng
, and radiant armor. ready, at the nome
OF her nativity, to subdue aud destroy h
enemies.
=. Wycnffe knew then, what multitud
. have learned since, that free and op
u Bible is the palladium of n nations liberI
- Let the Bible be scattered through
v homes in England, and then Wycliffe, wi
!, an eye rs clear as Milton, saw noble q
Il puisosant nation, rousing herself like
strong man after sleep, and shaking
= invincible locks. He could see England
n au eagle nursing her mighty youth a
/. kindling her undaz2lsd eye ut the I
" mid day beam, purging and unsealing
: long abused sight at the fountain, itse
% Of heavenly radiance Hence Wycliffe V
o determined to make the Bible "mC
1t trewe and open" to the people in Engl
than it was to others in Latin.
HE STILL LIVES.
He being dead yet speaketh, and
speaks with no uncertain voice. He st
lives, and it would be strange, indeed,
we were not interested in his work or
a we should fail 20 hand down the story
., hif life to the generations following. 4
= Wyclffe's Bible is our Bible, and Wycll
"a himself is our Wyclffe. If Wycliffe Ga
l.. 4. Il. A