CONANT’S "HISTORY OF ENGLISH BIBLE TRANSLATION."*

*In two parts, paper cover, 25 cents. each; bond in one volume, cloth, $1.00.*

What, of course, indicates the hand of God in history are deliverances that are wrought again and again when all is lost, as far as man is concerned.

It could not be otherwise, but it is striking and interesting to note it. It bows the Christian's mind in worship; for while face to face with the distress and sin that fill this scene with darkness, God is seen to be at work; for "the wise understand," though the wicked do not. (Dan. 12:10.)

The opening chapters of this history present this very evident truth or feature with clearly marked outlines.

As regards any prospect of a Reformation, what were the circumstances in Wickliffe's time,-that is, toward the close of the fourteenth century?

In the main, we may say, the clergy corrupt, the people degraded, cr ignorant and helpless, the king and the barons in selfish strife-both despising and distrusting the people, no doubt,-the Bible locked up and locked out, hardly to be found often, and then only in Latin- unknown to the people, and those in power ready to crush out the first attempt to read and obey the Scriptures.

Truly "man's extremity is God's opportunity:" vain is the help of man. This leaves God free to work-as in Egypt, so in England, and by means that keep before us always this, that the power is of God and not of man.

Wickliffe at Oxford receives the Word into his heart, and begins to give it forth to others; and how powerful is the truth ! Every utterance of it causes the foundations of error to shake, and the enemies of Christ are all alive.

But fasting and prayer precede the blessing. " These beautiful words, uttered in one of his sermons at Lutterworth, might fitly serve as the motto of his whole subsequent career:' O Christ, Thy law is hidden in the sepulcher:when wilt Thou send Thy angel to remove the stone, and show Thy truth unto Thy flock.' This prayer-this heart's desire went up into heaven, to His holy dwelling-place, and in due time the Lord wrought for His own name's sake and brought salvation."

In 1365, Wickliffe was summoned to aid them by his counsel as to resisting the papal claim of tribute from England,-at least there seems to be evidence that his counsel was sought in this way. Not that he turned aside from the ministry, but his counsel and his influence are among the indications of what is plainly true, that the underlying power at work for good was not political aspiration, but the effectual working of the truth in hearts prepared of God. It was not that civil liberty introduced the Reformation, but the work of God in hearts and consciences led to a faithful witness against evil in high places that men dared not and had no wisdom to withstand.-a witness to death often in martyrdom, giving a movement and a power through the country that natural men took advantage of in order to throw off political yokes and galling grievances.

As to the pope's claim of secular dominion, if he is the vicar of Christ, Christ refused all secular dominion ; He subsisted on charity, and had not where to lay His head ; and besides this, the Reformers showed the error of the clergy in seeking political office, in beautiful words, edifying and searching to us all:-

"Prelates and great religious possessioners are so occupied in heart about worldly lordships and pleas of business, that no habit of devotion, of praying, of thought-fulness on heavenly things, on the sins of their own hearts, or those of other men, may be preserved ; neither are they found studying and preaching the gospel, nor visiting and comforting of poor men."

This care for the poor, manifest here and elsewhere in this narrative, is to be noted. It affects the heart. It is the Spirit of Christ at work-of Him who had compassion on the people, who were as sheep without a shepherd.

Note again the balance of character taught in Scripture. There is tender love and mercy for the poor and needy, faithful rebuke to the proud and to the oppressor, and yet the spirit of meek subjection and submission to masters and governors-to the froward as well as to the good.

All this is not of man, but of God ; but how much is mingled with the experience or lives of Christians that is of the old leaven, when we think of this beautiful standard!

"It is the will of the Holy Spirit," says Wickliffe, "that the books of the Old and New Law should be read and studied as the one sufficient source of instruction ; and that men should not be taken up with other books, which, true as they may be, and even containing Scripture truth, are not to be confided in without caution and limitation. . . . If we follow this rule, the Scripture will be held in becoming reverence, the papal bulls will be superseded, as they ought to be."

" Such were the doctrines," continues the author, "which Wickliffe, two centuries (a hundred and fifty years?) before Luther [and Tyndale], taught openly in the halls of Oxford." No doubt his words stirred up many who are supposed to have gone out through the country as itinerant preachers. "All Christians," he said, "should be the soldiers of Christ. But it is plain that many are chargeable with great neglect of this duty, being prevented by the fear of the loss of temporal goods and worldly friendships, and apprehensive about life and fortune, from faithfully setting forth the cause of God, from standing manifestly in its defense, and, if need be, from suffering death in its behalf. …. Hence we Christians need not visit pagans to convert them by enduring martyrdom in their behalf:we have only to declare with constancy the Word of God before Caesarian prelates, and straightway the flower of martyrdom will be ready to our hand."

If at this time, as set forth in this account, the Reformer's life was peaceful, the winds of opposition were only held back for a time. " In favor with its court for the stand which he had taken against the pope, and with the university for his zeal against the [begging] friars; honored for his genius, his learning, and his virtuous life; he was at this time regarded as the chief light and ornament of Oxford."

Thus uniform is the dealing of God in His providence, for Jesus Himself experienced a time of peaceful development before Satan was allowed to raise the storm of man's hatred against Him. ''The Child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom ; and the grace of God was upon Him. …. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and' man." (Luke 2:40, 52.) E.S.L.