Page 13 - 14 Later English Reformers

country did it exercise a more absolute sway.

Nowhere was the darkness deeper. Still there

came rays of light to pierce the gloom and

give promise of the coming day. The Lollards,

coming from England with the Bible and the

teachings of Wycliffe, did much to preserve

the knowledge of the gospel, and every

century had its witnesses and martyrs.

With the opening of the Great Reformation

came the writings of Luther, and then

Tyndale's English New Testament. Unnoticed

by the hierarchy, these messengers silently

traversed the mountains and valleys, kindling

into new life the torch of truth so nearly

extinguished in Scotland, and undoing the

work which Rome for four centuries of

oppression had done.

Then the blood of martyrs gave fresh impetus

to the movement. The papist leaders,