Page 11 - 05 John Wycliffe

The Life of Luther, pages 70, 69. Thus did the

papal 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.