Lesson 33: Forerunners of the Reformation

Apostolic ChurchApostolic FathersChurch CouncilsGolden Age of Church FathersAncient Church History Medieval Church HistoryModern Church HistoryThe Pre-ReformersThe First Medieval PopeThe Rise of the Holy Roman EmpireThe CrusadesThe Papacy in Decline

Christian Church in Decline

RENAISSANCEre-birthFlourishing of artistic and scientific activitiesrediscoveryrevitalizationPHYSICAL SUFFERING

POLITICAL UPHEAVALTHE HUNDRED YEARS WARHouse of ValoisPlantagenet's of England/House of AnjouJoan of Arc

1325?1384John WycliffeEnglish Reformer and rightly called the morning star of the Protestant Reformation

Thomas Bradwardine Dr. Produndus

On the Cause of God Against the PalagiansRecovery of Augustinian DoctrineAt the end of the day, think about how you have offended God, and think how graciously God has saved you, not for your own desert, but for his own mercy and goodness.

Developed teaching that would justify states seizure of church propertyScripture is the highest authority for every ChristianDefined the true church as the totality of the predestinedWrote that the papacy is of human origin founded by Constantine, not ChristRejected the dogma of transubstantiation as illogical, unscriptural, and unfaithful to teaching of the ancient church

Organize a large body of sermons for use by the poor priests LollardsProvided impetus for the translation of the Latin Vulgate into EnglishGreatest influence would be felt in Bohemia, not EnglandThe Council of Constance will condemn Wycliffe an heretic and order is body to be exhumed, burned, and thrown into the River Swift.lolia tares

Jan HusJohn Huss

JAN HUSEarlier Czech reformersKing Charles IV (1333-1378)Jan Milic (1325-1375)New Jerusalem homeBethlehem ChapelJan Husb. 1372Hussinec; southern BohemiaEntered University Prague1390 or 91Masters 1396

JAN HUSEarlier Czech reformersKing Charles IV (1333-1378)Jan Milic (1325-1375)New Jerusalem homeBethlehem ChapelJan Husb. 1372Hussinec; southern BohemiaEntered University Prague1390 or 91Masters 1396Professor FaulfashPriests & Nuns to lead pure livesSins confessed to God alone1402 Appointed preacher of Bethlehem Chapel

"Everyone who passes by, pause and consider if there has been any sorrow like mine. Clothed in these rags I weep while my priests go about in scarlet. I suffer great agony in a sweat of blood while they take delight in luxurious bathing. All through the night I am mocked and spat upon while they enjoy feasting and drunkenness. I groan upon the cross as they repose upon the softest beds."

"I call it a poor business. Such bonfires never yet removed a single sin from the hearts of men. Fire does not consume truth. It is always the mark of a little mind that it vents its anger on inanimate objects. The books which have been burned are a loss to the whole people." "In a word, the papal institution is full of poison, antichrist himself, the man of sin, the leader of the army of the Devil, a limb of Lucifer, the head vicar of the fiend, a simple idiot who might be a damned devil in hell, and more horrible idol than a painted log." John Wycliffe"God is my witness that the principal intention of my preaching and of all my other acts or writings was solely that I might turn men from sin. And in that truth of the Gospel that I wrote, taught, and preached in accordance with the sayings and expositions of the holy doctors, I am willing gladly to die today." I will extol thee, O Lord; for thou hast lifted me up, and hast not made my foes to rejoice over meJesus, son of the living God, have mercy on me