Ì«×ÓүС˵Íø > Ó¢Óïµç×ÓÊé > the great controversy >

µÚ18½Ú

the great controversy-µÚ18½Ú

С˵£º the great controversy ×ÖÊý£º ÿҳ4000×Ö

°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·­Ò³£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡



life¡¡of¡¡idleness¡¡and¡¡beggary¡¡was¡¡not¡¡only¡¡a¡¡heavy¡¡drain¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡resources
of¡¡the¡¡people£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡brought¡¡useful¡¡labor¡¡into¡¡contempt¡£¡¡The¡¡youth¡¡were
demoralized¡¡and¡¡corrupted¡£¡¡By¡¡the¡¡influence¡¡of¡¡the¡¡friars¡¡many¡¡were¡¡induced
to¡¡enter¡¡a¡¡cloister¡¡and¡¡devote¡¡themselves¡¡to¡¡a¡¡monastic¡¡life£»¡¡and¡¡this¡¡not
only¡¡without¡¡the¡¡consent¡¡of¡¡their¡¡parents£»¡¡but¡¡even¡¡without¡¡their¡¡knowledge
and¡¡contrary¡¡to¡¡their¡¡commands¡£¡¡One¡¡of¡¡the¡¡early¡¡Fathers¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Roman
Church£»¡¡urging¡¡the¡¡claims¡¡of¡¡monasticism¡¡above¡¡the¡¡obligations¡¡of¡¡filial
love¡¡and¡¡duty£»¡¡had¡¡declared£º¡¡¡¨Though¡¡thy¡¡father¡¡should¡¡lie¡¡before¡¡thy¡¡door
weeping¡¡and¡¡lamenting£»¡¡and¡¡thy¡¡mother¡¡should¡¡show¡¡the¡¡body¡¡that¡¡bore¡¡thee
and¡¡the¡¡breasts¡¡that¡¡nursed¡¡thee£»¡¡see¡¡that¡¡thou¡¡trample¡¡them¡¡underfoot£»¡¡and
go¡¡onward¡¡straightway¡¡to¡¡Christ¡£¡¨¡¡By¡¡this¡¡¡¨monstrous¡¡inhumanity£»¡¨¡¡as¡¡Luther
afterward¡¡styled¡¡it£»¡¡¡¨savoring¡¡more¡¡of¡¡the¡¡wolf¡¡and¡¡the¡¡tyrant¡¡than¡¡of¡¡the
Christian¡¡and¡¡the¡¡man£»¡¨¡¡were¡¡the¡¡hearts¡¡of¡¡children¡¡steeled¡¡against¡¡their
parents¡£Barnas¡¡Sears£»¡¡The¡¡Life¡¡of¡¡Luther£»¡¡pages¡¡70£»¡¡69¡£¡¡Thus¡¡did¡¡the¡¡papal

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡83

leaders£»¡¡like¡¡the¡¡Pharisees¡¡of¡¡old£»¡¡make¡¡the¡¡commandment¡¡of¡¡God¡¡of¡¡none
effect¡¡by¡¡their¡¡tradition¡£¡¡Thus¡¡homes¡¡were¡¡made¡¡desolate¡¡and¡¡parents¡¡were
deprived¡¡of¡¡the¡¡society¡¡of¡¡their¡¡sons¡¡and¡¡daughters¡£

Even¡¡the¡¡students¡¡in¡¡the¡¡universities¡¡were¡¡deceived¡¡by¡¡the¡¡false
representations¡¡of¡¡the¡¡monks¡¡and¡¡induced¡¡to¡¡join¡¡their¡¡orders¡£¡¡Many
afterward¡¡repented¡¡this¡¡step£»¡¡seeing¡¡that¡¡they¡¡had¡¡blighted¡¡their¡¡own¡¡lives
and¡¡had¡¡brought¡¡sorrow¡¡upon¡¡their¡¡parents£»¡¡but¡¡once¡¡fast¡¡in¡¡the¡¡snare¡¡it¡¡was
impossible¡¡for¡¡them¡¡to¡¡obtain¡¡their¡¡freedom¡£¡¡Many¡¡parents£»¡¡fearing¡¡the
influence¡¡of¡¡the¡¡monks£»¡¡refused¡¡to¡¡send¡¡their¡¡sons¡¡to¡¡the¡¡universities¡£
There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡marked¡¡falling¡¡off¡¡in¡¡the¡¡number¡¡of¡¡students¡¡in¡¡attendance¡¡at
the¡¡great¡¡centers¡¡of¡¡learning¡£¡¡The¡¡schools¡¡languished£»¡¡and¡¡ignorance
prevailed¡£

The¡¡pope¡¡had¡¡bestowed¡¡on¡¡these¡¡monks¡¡the¡¡power¡¡to¡¡hear¡¡confessions¡¡and¡¡to
grant¡¡pardon¡£¡¡This¡¡became¡¡a¡¡source¡¡of¡¡great¡¡evil¡£¡¡Bent¡¡on¡¡enhancing¡¡their
gains£»¡¡the¡¡friars¡¡were¡¡so¡¡ready¡¡to¡¡grant¡¡absolution¡¡that¡¡criminals¡¡of¡¡all
descriptions¡¡resorted¡¡to¡¡them£»¡¡and£»¡¡as¡¡a¡¡result£»¡¡the¡¡worst¡¡vices¡¡rapidly
increased¡£¡¡The¡¡sick¡¡and¡¡the¡¡poor¡¡were¡¡left¡¡to¡¡suffer£»¡¡while¡¡the¡¡gifts¡¡that
should¡¡have¡¡relieved¡¡their¡¡wants¡¡went¡¡to¡¡the¡¡monks£»¡¡who¡¡with¡¡threats
demanded¡¡the¡¡alms¡¡of¡¡the¡¡people£»¡¡denouncing¡¡the¡¡impiety¡¡of¡¡those¡¡who¡¡should
withhold¡¡gifts¡¡from¡¡their¡¡orders¡£¡¡Notwithstanding¡¡their¡¡profession¡¡of
poverty£»¡¡the¡¡wealth¡¡of¡¡the¡¡friars¡¡was¡¡constantly¡¡increasing£»¡¡and¡¡their
magnificent¡¡edifices¡¡and¡¡luxurious¡¡tables¡¡made¡¡more¡¡apparent¡¡the¡¡growing
poverty¡¡of¡¡the¡¡nation¡£¡¡And¡¡while¡¡spending¡¡their¡¡time¡¡in¡¡luxury¡¡and¡¡pleasure£»
they¡¡sent¡¡out¡¡in¡¡their¡¡stead¡¡ignorant¡¡men£»¡¡who¡¡could¡¡only¡¡recount¡¡marvelous
tales£»¡¡legends£»¡¡and¡¡jests¡¡to¡¡amuse¡¡the¡¡people¡¡and¡¡make¡¡them¡¡still¡¡more
completely¡¡the¡¡dupes¡¡of¡¡the¡¡monks¡£¡¡Yet¡¡the¡¡friars¡¡continued¡¡to¡¡maintain
their¡¡hold¡¡on¡¡the¡¡superstitious¡¡multitudes¡¡and¡¡led¡¡them¡¡to¡¡believe¡¡that¡¡all
religious¡¡duty¡¡was¡¡comprised¡¡in¡¡acknowledging¡¡the¡¡supremacy¡¡of¡¡the¡¡pope£»
adoring¡¡the¡¡saints£»¡¡and¡¡making¡¡gifts¡¡to¡¡the¡¡monks£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡this¡¡was
sufficient¡¡to¡¡secure¡¡them¡¡a¡¡place¡¡in¡¡heaven¡£

84


Men¡¡of¡¡learning¡¡and¡¡piety¡¡had¡¡labored¡¡in¡¡vain¡¡to¡¡bring¡¡about¡¡a¡¡reform¡¡in
these¡¡monastic¡¡orders£»¡¡but¡¡Wycliffe£»¡¡with¡¡clearer¡¡insight£»¡¡struck¡¡at¡¡the
root¡¡of¡¡the¡¡evil£»¡¡declaring¡¡that¡¡the¡¡system¡¡itself¡¡was¡¡false¡¡and¡¡that¡¡it
should¡¡be¡¡abolished¡£¡¡Discussion¡¡and¡¡inquiry¡¡were¡¡awakening¡£¡¡As¡¡the¡¡monks
traversed¡¡the¡¡country£»¡¡vending¡¡the¡¡pope's¡¡pardons£»¡¡many¡¡were¡¡led¡¡to¡¡doubt
the¡¡possibility¡¡of¡¡purchasing¡¡forgiveness¡¡with¡¡money£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡questioned
whether¡¡they¡¡should¡¡not¡¡seek¡¡pardon¡¡from¡¡God¡¡rather¡¡than¡¡from¡¡the¡¡pontiff¡¡of
Rome¡£¡¡£¨See¡¡Appendix¡¡note¡¡for¡¡page¡¡59¡££©¡¡Not¡¡a¡¡few¡¡were¡¡alarmed¡¡at¡¡the
rapacity¡¡of¡¡the¡¡friars£»¡¡whose¡¡greed¡¡seemed¡¡never¡¡to¡¡be¡¡satisfied¡£¡¡¡¨The¡¡monks
and¡¡priests¡¡of¡¡Rome£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡they£»¡¡¡¨are¡¡eating¡¡us¡¡away¡¡like¡¡a¡¡cancer¡£¡¡God¡¡must
deliver¡¡us£»¡¡or¡¡the¡¡people¡¡will¡¡perish¡£¡¨D'Aubigne£»¡¡b¡£¡¡17£»¡¡ch¡£¡¡7¡£¡¡To¡¡cover
their¡¡avarice£»¡¡these¡¡begging¡¡monks¡¡claimed¡¡that¡¡they¡¡were¡¡following¡¡the
Saviour's¡¡example£»¡¡declaring¡¡that¡¡Jesus¡¡and¡¡His¡¡disciples¡¡had¡¡been¡¡supported
by¡¡the¡¡charities¡¡of¡¡the¡¡people¡£¡¡This¡¡claim¡¡resulted¡¡in¡¡injury¡¡to¡¡their
cause£»¡¡for¡¡it¡¡led¡¡many¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Bible¡¡to¡¡learn¡¡the¡¡truth¡¡for¡¡themselvesa
result¡¡which¡¡of¡¡all¡¡others¡¡was¡¡least¡¡desired¡¡by¡¡Rome¡£¡¡The¡¡minds¡¡of¡¡men¡¡were
directed¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Source¡¡of¡¡truth£»¡¡which¡¡it¡¡was¡¡her¡¡object¡¡to¡¡conceal¡£

Wycliffe¡¡began¡¡to¡¡write¡¡and¡¡publish¡¡tracts¡¡against¡¡the¡¡friars£»¡¡not£»¡¡however£»
seeking¡¡so¡¡much¡¡to¡¡enter¡¡into¡¡dispute¡¡with¡¡them¡¡as¡¡to¡¡call¡¡the¡¡minds¡¡of¡¡the
people¡¡to¡¡the¡¡teachings¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Bible¡¡and¡¡its¡¡Author¡£¡¡He¡¡declared¡¡that¡¡the
power¡¡of¡¡pardon¡¡or¡¡of¡¡excommunication¡¡is¡¡possessed¡¡by¡¡the¡¡pope¡¡in¡¡no¡¡greater
degree¡¡than¡¡by¡¡common¡¡priests£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡no¡¡man¡¡can¡¡be¡¡truly¡¡excommunicated
unless¡¡he¡¡has¡¡first¡¡brought¡¡upon¡¡himself¡¡the¡¡condemnation¡¡of¡¡God¡£¡¡In¡¡no¡¡more
effectual¡¡way¡¡could¡¡he¡¡have¡¡undertaken¡¡the¡¡overthrow¡¡of¡¡that¡¡mammoth¡¡fabric
of¡¡spiritual¡¡and¡¡temporal¡¡dominion¡¡which¡¡the¡¡pope¡¡had¡¡erected¡¡and¡¡in¡¡which
the¡¡souls¡¡and¡¡bodies¡¡of¡¡millions¡¡were¡¡held¡¡captive¡£

Again¡¡Wycliffe¡¡was¡¡called¡¡to¡¡defend¡¡the¡¡rights¡¡of¡¡the¡¡English¡¡crown¡¡against
the¡¡encroachments¡¡of¡¡Rome£»¡¡and¡¡being¡¡appointed¡¡a¡¡royal¡¡ambassador£»¡¡he¡¡spent
two¡¡years¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Netherlands£»¡¡in¡¡conference¡¡with¡¡the¡¡commissioners¡¡of¡¡the
pope¡£¡¡Here¡¡he¡¡was¡¡brought¡¡into¡¡communication¡¡with

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡85

ecclesiastics¡¡from¡¡France£»¡¡Italy£»¡¡and¡¡Spain£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡had¡¡an¡¡opportunity¡¡to
look¡¡behind¡¡the¡¡scenes¡¡and¡¡gain¡¡a¡¡knowledge¡¡of¡¡many¡¡things¡¡which¡¡would¡¡have
remained¡¡hidden¡¡from¡¡him¡¡in¡¡England¡£¡¡He¡¡learned¡¡much¡¡that¡¡was¡¡to¡¡give¡¡point
to¡¡his¡¡after¡¡labors¡£¡¡In¡¡these¡¡representatives¡¡from¡¡the¡¡papal¡¡court¡¡he¡¡read
the¡¡true¡¡character¡¡and¡¡aims¡¡of¡¡the¡¡hierarchy¡£¡¡He¡¡returned¡¡to¡¡England¡¡to
repeat¡¡his¡¡former¡¡teachings¡¡more¡¡openly¡¡and¡¡with¡¡greater¡¡zeal£»¡¡declaring
that¡¡covetousness£»¡¡pride£»¡¡and¡¡deception¡¡were¡¡the¡¡gods¡¡of¡¡Rome¡£

In¡¡one¡¡of¡¡his¡¡tracts¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡speaking¡¡of¡¡the¡¡pope¡¡and¡¡his¡¡collectors£º¡¡¡¨They
draw¡¡out¡¡of¡¡our¡¡land¡¡poor¡¡men's¡¡livelihood£»¡¡and¡¡many¡¡thousand¡¡marks£»¡¡by¡¡the
year£»¡¡of¡¡the¡¡king's¡¡money£»¡¡for¡¡sacraments¡¡and¡¡spiritual¡¡things£»¡¡that¡¡is
cursed¡¡heresy¡¡of¡¡simony£»¡¡and¡¡maketh¡¡all¡¡Christendom¡¡assent¡¡and¡¡maintain¡¡this
heresy¡£¡¡And¡¡certes¡¡though¡¡our¡¡realm¡¡had¡¡a¡¡huge¡¡hill¡¡of¡¡gold£»¡¡and¡¡never¡¡other
man¡¡took¡¡thereof¡¡but¡¡only¡¡this¡¡proud¡¡worldly¡¡priest's¡¡collector£»¡¡by¡¡process
of¡¡time¡¡this¡¡hill¡¡must¡¡be¡¡spended£»¡¡for¡¡he¡¡taketh¡¡ever¡¡money¡¡out¡¡of¡¡our¡¡land£»
and¡¡sendeth¡¡nought¡¡again¡¡but¡¡God's¡¡curse¡¡for¡¡his¡¡simony¡£¡¨¡¡John¡¡Lewis£»
History¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Life¡¡and¡¡Sufferings¡¡of¡¡J¡£¡¡Wiclif£»¡¡page¡¡37¡£

Soon¡¡after¡¡his¡¡return¡¡to¡¡England£»¡¡Wycliffe¡¡received¡¡from¡¡the¡¡king¡¡the
appointment¡¡to¡¡the¡¡rectory¡¡of¡¡Lutterworth¡£¡¡This¡¡was¡¡an¡¡assurance¡¡that¡¡the
monarch¡¡at¡¡least¡¡had¡¡not¡¡been¡¡displeased¡¡by¡¡his¡¡plain¡¡speaking¡£¡¡Wycliffe's
influence¡¡was¡¡felt¡¡in¡¡shaping¡¡the¡¡action¡¡of¡¡the¡¡court£»¡¡as¡¡well¡¡as¡¡in¡¡molding
the¡¡belief¡¡of¡¡the¡¡nation¡£

The¡¡papal¡¡thunders¡¡were¡¡soon¡¡hurled¡¡against¡¡him¡£¡¡Three¡¡bulls¡¡were¡¡dispatched
to¡¡England£»to¡¡the¡¡university£»¡¡to¡¡the¡¡king£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡the¡¡prelates£»all
commanding¡¡immediate¡¡and¡¡decisive¡¡measures¡¡to¡¡silence¡¡the¡¡teacher¡¡of¡¡heresy¡£
£¨Augustus¡¡Neander£»¡¡General¡¡History¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Christian¡¡Religion¡¡and¡¡Church£»
period¡¡6£»¡¡sec¡£¡¡2£»¡¡pt¡£¡¡1£»¡¡par¡£¡¡8¡£¡¡See¡¡also¡¡Appendix¡££©¡¡Before¡¡the¡¡arrival¡¡of
the¡¡bulls£»¡¡however£»¡¡the¡¡bishops£»¡¡in¡¡their¡¡zeal£»¡¡had¡¡summoned¡¡Wycliffe¡¡before
them¡¡for¡¡trial¡£¡¡But¡¡two¡¡of¡¡the¡¡most¡¡powerful¡¡princes¡¡in¡¡the¡¡kingdom
accompanied¡¡him¡¡to¡¡the¡¡tribunal£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡people£»¡¡surrounding¡¡the¡¡building
and¡¡rushing¡¡in£»¡¡so¡¡intimidated¡¡the¡¡judges¡¡that¡¡the

86

proceedings¡¡were¡¡for¡¡the¡¡time¡¡suspended£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡was¡¡allowed¡¡to¡¡go¡¡his¡¡way¡¡in
peace¡£¡¡A¡¡little¡¡later£»¡¡Edward¡¡III£»¡¡whom¡¡in¡¡his¡¡old¡¡age¡¡the¡¡prelates¡¡were
seeking¡¡to¡¡influence¡¡against¡¡the¡¡Reformer£»¡¡died£»¡¡and¡¡Wycliffe's¡¡former
protector¡¡became¡¡regent¡¡of¡¡the¡¡kingdom¡£

But¡¡the¡¡arrival¡¡of¡¡the¡¡papal¡¡bulls¡¡laid¡¡upon¡¡all¡¡England¡¡a¡¡peremptory
command¡¡for¡¡the¡¡arrest¡¡and¡¡imprisonment¡¡of¡¡the¡¡heretic¡£¡¡These¡¡measures
pointed¡¡directly¡¡to¡¡the¡¡stake¡£¡¡It¡¡appeared¡¡certain¡¡that¡¡Wycliffe¡¡must¡¡soon
fall¡¡a¡¡prey¡¡to¡¡the¡¡vengeance¡¡of¡¡Rome¡£¡¡But¡¡He¡¡who¡¡declared¡¡to¡¡one¡¡of¡¡old£»
¡¨Fear¡¡not£º¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡I¡¡am¡¡thy¡¡shield¡¨¡¡£¨Genesis¡¡15£º1£©£»¡¡again¡¡stretched¡¡out¡¡His
hand¡¡to¡¡protect¡¡His¡¡servant¡£¡¡Death¡¡came£»¡¡not¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Reformer£»¡¡but¡¡to¡¡the
pontiff¡¡who¡¡had¡¡decreed¡¡his¡¡destruction¡£¡¡Gregory¡¡XI¡¡died£»¡¡and¡¡the
ecclesiastics¡¡who¡¡had¡¡assembled¡¡for¡¡Wycliffe's¡¡trial£»¡¡dispersed¡£

God's¡¡providence¡¡still¡¡further¡¡overruled¡¡events¡¡to¡¡give¡¡opportunity¡¡for¡¡the
growth¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Reformation¡£¡¡The¡¡death¡¡of¡¡Gregory¡¡was¡¡followed¡¡by¡¡the¡¡election
of¡¡two¡¡rival¡¡popes¡£¡¡Two¡¡conflicting¡¡powers£»¡¡each¡¡professedly¡¡infallible£»¡¡now
claimed¡¡obedience¡£¡¡£¨See¡¡Appendix¡¡notes¡¡for¡¡pages¡¡50¡¡and
86¡££©¡¡Each¡¡called¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡faithful¡¡to¡¡assist¡¡him¡¡in¡¡making¡¡war
upon¡¡the¡¡other£»¡¡enforcing¡¡his¡¡demands¡¡by¡¡terrible¡¡anathemas¡¡against¡¡his
adversaries£»¡¡and¡¡promises¡¡of¡¡rewards¡¡in¡¡heaven¡¡to¡¡his¡¡supporters¡£¡¡This
occurrence¡¡greatly¡¡weakened¡¡the¡¡power¡¡of¡¡the¡¡papacy¡£¡¡The¡¡rival¡¡factions¡¡had
all¡¡they¡¡could¡¡do¡¡to¡¡attack¡¡each¡¡other£»¡¡and¡¡Wycliffe¡¡for¡¡a¡¡time¡¡had¡¡rest¡£
Anathemas¡¡and¡¡recriminations¡¡were¡¡flying¡¡from¡¡pope¡¡to¡¡pope£»¡¡and¡¡torrents¡¡of
blood¡¡were¡¡poured¡¡out¡¡to¡¡

·µ»ØĿ¼ ÉÏÒ»Ò³ ÏÂÒ»Ò³ »Øµ½¶¥²¿ ÔÞ£¨0£© ²È£¨0£©

Äã¿ÉÄÜϲ»¶µÄ