. A church history for the use of schools and colleges . ermore they were to a serious degree tinged withthe onesidedness of the age. In their opposition to thepapal Church they were carried so far as to underratethe value of outward order and organization. In vari-ous ways they, however, prepared the way for thereformation, especially by emphasizing the Word of Godas the only rule of faith and a holy life, and they maytherefore just-ly be styledPrecursors of theReformation. a) The firstone to whomthis name hasbeen applied isthe English-man John Wyc-liffe, professorat the univer-sity of Oxford
. A church history for the use of schools and colleges . ermore they were to a serious degree tinged withthe onesidedness of the age. In their opposition to thepapal Church they were carried so far as to underratethe value of outward order and organization. In vari-ous ways they, however, prepared the way for thereformation, especially by emphasizing the Word of Godas the only rule of faith and a holy life, and they maytherefore just-ly be styledPrecursors of theReformation. a) The firstone to whomthis name hasbeen applied isthe English-man John Wyc-liffe, professorat the univer-sity of was a gift-ed man, of un-daunted cour-age and equal-ly zealous forreligion and the fatherland. He made himself first felt as a skillfuldefender of English rights over and against the this way he came into conflict with the bulwark ofpapacy, the mendicant monks. Later he attacked allthe doctrines and practices of the Church (sale of indul-gence, saint-worship, pilgrimages, etc.) which he con-sidered to be contrary to the Word of God. He was,. John Wycliffe. 150 THE MEDIEVAL ERA however, unable fully to acquire biblical views. Thusfor instance in his struggle against the doctrine of tran-substantiation he was driven to deny the real presenceof the body and blood of Christ in the sacrament of thealtar; and in opposition to the tendency of the Churchto overestimate the value of human works, he acceptedthe predestination doctrines of St. Augustine. For the religious enlightenment of the people he causeda translation of the bible to be made from the vulgateinto English, and sent out a large number of preachersto proclaim the Word of God in the vernacular. In this waythere arose a powerful, spiritual movement which hadnumerous adherents, the co-called Lollards. It con-tinued in spite of persecutions up to the time of theReformation and became a potent factor in aiding thecause of the latter movement in England. The mendicant monks did all in their power to silencetheir irr
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