Important as were the transactions in which he was engaged, his translation of the Bible was by far the greatest work he accomplished, and it achieved the most splendid triumphs in the cause of the Re formation. It introduced a light which gradually dispelled the darkness which for many centuries had prevailed, and put an end to ignorance, impos ture, and superstition. This great work he accom plished in 1383. Several manuscript copies are to be found; but his translation of the New Testament was published by Lewis in 1731, and reprinted in 1810, under the superintendence of Mr. Baber. Not acquainted with the Greek or Hebrew lan guages, not then known in the country, he had re course to the Latin vulgate as his text.
After his retirement to Lutterworth, his life and liberty were, as before, in imminent danger. He was immediately summoned to appear before the pope at Avignon, but sickness prevented him from obey ing the summons: in truth, his constitution for many years had been rapidly giving way, and his health gradually undermined by the immense labour he underwent, as well as by anxiety of mind. He died on the 31st of December 1384, in the sixtieth year of his age.
Such is a short memoir of John Wycliffe—" that Englishman," to use the words of Milton, " hon oured of God to be the first preacher of a general Reformation to all Europe."
He was a man of great learning,—of extensive and varied reading,—of undaunted fortitude,—of warm attachment to truth,—regardless of personal considerations, and of eminent piety. He renounced the authority of the pope: he exposed the corrup tions of popery; he clearly pointed out the way for those reformers, both at home and abroad, who were to come after him. But he lived in a remote age; and it is a curious fact, that he continued till his death a nominal member of that church which he laboured to expose and undermine. One half of the nation, before his death, are said to have embraced, in a greater or less degree, his opinions, which spread with wonderful rapidity over Europe. His writings were very numerous, amounting to no fewer than eighty-two. By an order from the pope his body was disinterred forty-four years after his death. It was burnt to powder, and thrown into the Swift, a small stream that washes the village of Lutterworth. About the same time, and by the same authority, such copies of his works as could be got, were committed to the flames at Oxford, as if such proceedings could annihilate his labours or stop the progress of truth.
Various Lives of Wycliffe have appeared, but those of Lewis and Vaughan, the first published in 1731, the other in 1828, in two viols, are the best.
(T. ph)