l as in
moulding the belief of the nation.

The papal thunders were soon hurled against him. Three bulls were
dispatched to England,--to the university, to the king, and to the
prelates,--all commanding immediate and decisive measures to silence the
teacher of heresy.(115) Before the arrival of the bulls, however, the
bishops, in their zeal, had summoned Wycliffe before them for trial. But
two of the most powerful princes in the kingdom accompanied him to the
tribunal; and the people, surrounding the building and rushing in, so
intimidated the judges that the proceedings were for the time suspended,
and he was allowed to go his way in peace. A little later, Edward III.,
whom in his old age the prelates were seeking to influence against the
Reformer, died, and Wycliffe's former protector became regent of the
kingdom.

But the arrival of the papal bulls laid upon all England a peremptory
command for the arrest and imprisonment of the heretic. These measures
pointed directly to the stake. It appeared certain that Wycliffe must soon
fall a prey to the vengeance of Rome. But He who declared to one of old,
"Fear not: I am thy shield,"(116) again stretched out His hand to protect
His servant. Death came, not to the Reformer, but to the pontiff who had
decreed his destruction. Gregory XI. died, and the ecclesiastics who had
assembled for Wycliffe's trial, dispersed.

God's providence still further overruled events to give opportunity for
the growth of the Reformation. The death of Gregory was followed by the
election of two rival popes. Two conflicting powers, each professedly
infallible, now claimed obedience.(117) Each called upon the faithful to
assist him in making war upon the other, enforcing his demands by terrible
anathemas against his adversaries, and promises of rewards in heaven to
his supporters. This occurrence greatly weakened the power of the papacy.
The rival factions had all they could do to attack each other, and
Wycliffe for a time had rest. Anathemas and recriminations were flying
from pope to pope, and torrents of blood were poured out to support their
conflicting claims. Crimes and scandals flooded the church. Meanwhile the
Reformer, in the quiet retirement of his parish of Lutterworth, was
laboring diligently to point men from the contending popes to Jesus, the
Prince of Peace.

The schism, with all the strife and corruption which it caused, prepared
the way for the Reformation, by enabling the people