the word, many thousands were cut off by the raging heat, which continued feveral feafons,

John Wickliffe, Profeffar of Divinity, in the University of Oxford, a man of quick and sharp wit, and found judgment, commonly called the Apoftle of England, taught that the Pope was the herefiarch and Anti-Chrift defcribed in Scripture; wrote against purgatory, image-worship, invocation of the faints, indulgences, &c, And being of a ready wit, published two great volumes, for bulk equal to St. Auguftin's works; tranflated the Bible into English ; and being countenanced by the Duke of Lancaster, the Princess of Wales, the mother of Prince Richard, and a great part of the nobility, and backed by King Edward III, himself, he defpifed Rome, and laughed at the Synod, held by the Archbishop of Canterbury against him, calling it an earthquake, His difciples and he continuing to preach against the luxury and riches of H

the

the clergy, and expofing the abuses that had crept into the church, fince the time of Conftantine the great, Pope Gregory XI. began to be alarmed with fear for his fupremacy; and thereupon wrote to the Univerfity of Oxford, in 1377, to deliver him up to the Archbishop of Canterbury, and Bifhop of London, and ordered these to bring him to his trial.

Wickliffe's party was fo ftrong in the Univerfity, that it was debated whether this letter fhould be received and read, or not; at laft, being carried in the affirmative, Wickliffe prefented himself before the Commiflioners, and maintained his doctrine with fuch refolution, fent a confeffion of his faith to the Pope, and declared he was willing to defend it at Rome, that they had nothing to boast of for the time; but intrigued fo well in King Richard's reign, that they obtained that Prince's declaration against him and his doctrine, and an order to the Univerfity of Oxford to banish

him, which it complied with, for fear of incurring the king's displeasure.

Being thus perfecuted, and his doctrine condemned by a Synod at London, he went into Bohemia, and visiting the Waldenfes, confirmed their doctrine; after that returned into England, where he died in 1384. His bones were dug up forty-one years after. and ordered to be burned by a decree of the Council of Conftance.* Among other things, he taught, that neither king or kingdom fhould fubmit to any bifhop's fee; that no taxes ought to be raised until Church revenues were employed for the public neceffities; that the king was obliged in confcience to confifcate the means and benefices of fuch prelates as offended God mortally; and finally, that he could not employ any bishop in the offices of his kingdom. John Hus taught his doc

trine

* Conftance is a city in Germany.

trine, and was burned for it in the time of the Council of Conftance.

Henry IV. fucceeded his coufin, Richard II. A. D. 1399. He was much difturbed by the rebellion of those who wanted to dethrone him, and re-inthrone Richard, by a war with Scotland, and by the stirring up of the Welch; but Henry's fword proved victorious against them. Men in England were not put to death for religion before this reign,* neither were the Christians by the Romans, till the Jews and Heathens represented them as enemies to the State, by acknowledging Christ for their king.

John Hus was born of mean parents. The word fignifies a goofe, and was the name of a little Borough in Bohemia, where he was born. He maintained the opinions of the Waldenfes

* In 1401, the King to oblige the Clergy, gave his affsent to an Act for burning all Lollards as heretics; which continued in force till 1732, though it never paffed the House bf Commons.

Waldenfes and Wickliffe, in 1407, with wonderful zeal. Jerome of Prague was his totemporary.

King Vinceflaus did not oppofe him; but the Emperor Sigifmund, his brother and heir, fent to John Hus, to perfuade him to defend his doctrine before the council of Conftance; which he did, A. D. 1414, having obtained a passport, and affurance of safe-conduct from the Emperor. Seven months were spent in examining him; and two bishops were fent into Bohemia, to inform themselves of the doctrine he preached; and for his firm adherence to the fame, he was condemned to be burned alive, together with his books; which fentence was executed, A. D. 1415, contrary to the Emperor's promifes of fafe-conduct, which the Council of Conftance faid, he was not obliged to keep to an heretic.

He died with great courage, finging pfalms, and calling on the name of Christ. When