The Forerunners of the Reformation.
1. PETER WALDEN. Peter Walden, who was a rich and pious merchant of the
twelfth century, lived in Lyons, an important city in Southern France.
One day he was sitting at meal with his friends and conversing on the
evils of the time and the corruption of the church. Suddenly one of his
companions fell dead before their eyes. This occurrence made a deep
impression on Walden, and he sought now, more than ever before, the one
thing that is needful. Through diligent reading and study of Holy
Scriptures he came to a knowledge of the truth, and his heart was filled
with heavenly comfort and joy. The deeper he entered into the true
meaning of the Holy Scriptures the more he recognized the errors and the
decay of the Roman Catholic church. He saw that Christendom had departed
from the true way of salvation. He, therefore, felt constrained to bring
the sweet Gospel of Christ to lost souls. In 1170 he sold all his
possessions and traveled through the country, teaching and preaching. He
had the four Gospels translated into French and spread them among the
people. The scattered seed sprung up and bore rich fruit; for very soon
thousands wanted to hear of no other doctrine than the pure doctrine of
God's Word.
Walden and his adherents, called Waldensians, taught: "In all questions
pertaining to our salvation we dare trust no man or book, but must
believe the Holy Scriptures only. There is but one mediator; the saints
must not be worshiped; purgatory is a fable invented by men. There are
but two sacraments, Baptism and the Lord's Supper." Their life conformed
so well to their doctrine that King Lewis of France exclaimed: "Truly,
these heretics are better than I and all my people!" The following is
another beautiful testimony for the Waldensians: "They lead a purer life
than other Christians. They do not swear, except necessity demands it,
and beware of taking God's name in vain. They keep their promises
faithfully; they are truthful in their words and live peacefully
together in brotherly love."
But the more their doctrine and life testified of their faith, the more
the hatred against them increased. Peter Walden was forbidden to preach
or explain the Scriptures, and when, in spite of this, he continued to
sow the seed of the Word of God, he was excommunicated by the Pope. He
fled from one place to another, and everywhere proclaimed the Gospel
with signal blessing. His followers were most cruelly persecuted by the
Roman church, which used every means to destroy them. About a million of
them were slain in continuous wars of persecution. Seven thousand were
slaughtered in a church at one time. A judge in Spain had 10,000 of them
burned alive and imprisoned 97,000 who perished enduring the most
frightful tortures. But in spite of fire and sword they could not be
extirpated, and exist unto this day. Removed from the markets of the
world, and distant from the great highways, the descendants of the
Waldensians live in the unapproachable mountain glens of Savoy and
Piedmont.
2. JOHN WYCLIF. John Wyclif was Doctor and Professor of Theology at the
University of Oxford. He directed his attacks chiefly against monkery,
and unsparingly denounced the idling, the begging, and the perversion of
religion by the monks. They therefore entered complaint against him with
the Archbishop, and Wyclif was deposed from his chair at the university.
From now on he testified even more decidedly against the errors and
abuses of popery. He maintained: "The Roman church is not superior to
the other churches; Peter had no preeminence over the other apostles,
and the Pope, as far as his power to forgive sins is concerned, is but
the equal of every other pastor." He spoke very emphatically against
indulgence, against the adoration of relics, and reproved the popular
errors by which the poor souls were deceived. Wyclif was now denounced
as a heretic at the court of the Pope, but his eloquent and masterful
defense at the trial procured his release. He translated the Bible into
English and taught pious men to preach the Gospel to the people. He died
in 1384 at Lutterworth, where he had been pastor. His numerous writings
were spread by his followers throughout all Europe, and especially
Bohemia, where they bore rich fruit. But the hatred against Wyclif did
not cease with his death. In compliance with an order of the Council of
Constance, where his doctrines were condemned, his bones were exhumed,
burned, and the ashes thrown into the river.
[Illustration: John Huss.]
3. JOHN HUSS. Huss was born in 1369 at Hussinecz, in Bohemia. Through
reading the Holy Scriptures and the writings of Wyclif he came to a
knowledge of the truth and boldly lifted his voice against the errors
and abuses prevalent in the church. He preached against indulgences,
purgatory, and the ungodly life of the priests. Thereby he became an
object of hatred to the Pope. He was soon excommunicated by the Pope,
and when he continued to preach in Prague, where he was pastor, and was
supported by that city, it was also placed under the ban. The churches
were closed, the bells were silent, the dead were denied Christian
burial, Baptisms and marriages could only be performed in the
graveyards.
Huss was cited to appear at the council to be held at Constance.
Although Emperor Sigismund promised him safe-conduct, nevertheless Huss
undertook the journey to Constance foreboding no good. And indeed, in
spite of the safe-conduct, he was taken and thrown into a foul prison
immediately upon his arrival. When Sigismund expressed his disapproval
the monks told him that faith need not be kept with a heretic. Huss
defended himself before the council with great steadfastness, and as he
would not recant he was condemned to die at the stake. He was deposed
from the priesthood and made an object of ridicule and scorn. On his
head was placed a paper cap painted with numerous devils who were
tormenting a poor sinner. He was led out to execution, and on the way
frequently called upon the Savior for mercy. He was then chained to an
upright pole, and hay and straw, saturated with pitch, were piled about
him. Once more he was tempted to recant and thus to save his life. But
Huss remained faithful. Now the flames surrounded him. The smoke curled
above him. "Christ, Thou Lamb of God, have mercy upon me!" the faithful
witness sang twice with a loud and clear voice. But when he began the
third verse, he was overcome by smoke and flames and gave up the ghost.
It is reported that while at the stake he prophesied: "To-day you are
roasting a goose, but after a hundred years a swan will come, which ye
will not roast."
4. JEROME SAVONAROLA. In Italy a man arose who was to startle the proud
Pope and his priests out of their security. This was Jerome Savonarola.
The misery and the corruption in the church had driven him into the
cloister. Through the Word of God he learned the truth, and then
publicly denounced the depravity of his time. He was an eloquent and
passionate preacher. He cried out: "Before long the sword of the Lord
will come over Italy and over all the earth, and then the church will be
renewed!" The Pope of that time lived in the grossest vices. Rome was
the hotbed of all sins and crimes. Savonarola complained: "The poison is
heaped up at Rome to such an extent that it infects France, and Germany,
and all the world. Things have come to such a pass that we must warn
everyone against Rome. Rome has perverted the whole of Scriptures!"
By the Pope he was anathematized, and by the temporal court condemned to
die at the stake. With two of his companions he was to be hanged on the
gallows, and then their corpses were to be burned. Savonarola
entertained the sure hope that judgment would come upon Rome, and the
Lord would renew the corrupt church. He said: "Rome will not be able to
quench this fire, and if it is quenched God will light another; aye, it
is kindled already in many places, but they do not know it. Before long
the desolation and idolatry of the Roman Pope will be reproved, and a
teacher will be born whom no one can resist." On Ascension Day, May 23,
1498, with cheerful resignation, he met death at the hand of the
hangman.