Page 36 - 05 John Wycliffe
P. 36
But his courage was unshaken. “Why do you
talk of seeking the crown of martyrdom
afar?” he said. “Preach the gospel of Christ to
haughty prelates, and martyrdom will not fail
you. What! I should live and be silent? ...
Never! Let the blow fall, I await its coming.”—
D'Aubigne, b. 17, ch. 8.
But God's providence still shielded His
servant. The man who for a whole lifetime
had stood boldly in defense of the truth, in
daily peril of his life, was not to fall a victim of
the hatred of its foes. Wycliffe had never
sought to shield himself, but the Lord had
been his protector; and now, when his
enemies felt sure of their prey, God's hand
removed him beyond their reach. In his
church at Lutterworth, as he was about to
dispense the communion, he fell, stricken
