John Wycliffe of England

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"No faithful man ought to follow either the pope himself, or any of the holy men, but in such points as he hath followed the Lord Jesus Christ. For Peter and the sons of Zebedee, by desiring worldly honor, contrary to the following of Christ's steps, did offend, and therefore in those errors they are not to be followed. John Foxe, Acts and Monuments, Vol. 3, pp. 49,50

"Why do you talk of seeking the crown of martyrdom afar? 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.

The Gospel had been planted in Bohemia as early as the ninth century, with the Bible and worship in the language of the people. John Huss and Jerome his associate and fellow martyr, learned much from John Wycliffe of England, through his writings and efforts to bring the Word of God to the people of England in their own language.

Originally a priest, John Huss taught the truth of the Bible and was eventually forced to leave his work and was eventually burnt at the stake for his faith in God's Word over the declarations of the Papacy.

In 1414, the council of Constance was held to face the new opinions of John Huss and to root out the schism of having three proclaimed popes. Called by Emperor Sigismund and one of the rival popes John XXIII, John Huss came expecting death for his faithfulness.

"I am departing, my brethren, with a safe-conduct from the king, to meet my numerous and mortal enemies...I confide altogether in the all-powerful God, in my Saviour; I trust that He will listen to your ardent prayers, that He will infuse His prudence and His wisdom into my mouth, in order that I may resist them; and that He will accord me His Holy Spirit to fortify me in His truth, so that I may face with courage, temptations, prison, and if necessary, a cruel death." Bonnechose, The Reformers Before the Reformation, Vol. 1. pp. 147-148.

Martin Luther of Germany 1483 - 1546  was blessed to know of the writings and lives of those that preceded him, such as John Wycliffe, John Huss and Jerome.

From the priesthood like John Wycliffe, John Huss and Martin Luther, Zwingli eventually became a Protestant and preached the truths of the Bible to his nation.

"If Luther preaches Christ, he does what I am doing. Those whom he has brought to Christ are more numerous than those whom I have led. But this matters not. I will bear no other name than that of Christ, whose soldier I am, and who alone is my Chief. Never has one single word been written by me to Luther, nor by Luther to me. And why?...That it might be shown how much the Spirit of God is in unison with itself, since both of us, without any collusion, teach the doctrine of Christ with such uniformity." D'Aubigne', Book 8, ch. 9

Regarding the annual gathering at the shrine of the Virgin in Einsiedeln, the Swiss reformer said:
"Do not imagine, that God is in this temple more than in any other part of creation. Whatever be the country in which you dwell, God is around you, and hears you...Can unprofitable works, long pilgrimages, offerings, images, the invocation of the Virgin or of the saints, secure for you the grace of God?...What avails the multitude of words with which we embody our prayers? What efficacy has a glossy cowl, a smooth-shorn head, a long and flowing robe, or gold-embroidered slippers?...God looks at the heart, and our hearts are far from Him. Christ who was once offered upon the cross, is the sacrifice and victim that had made satisfaction for the sins of believers to all eternity." Ibid. book. 8, ch. 5.

In Germany, the sale of indulgences (supposed freedom from sin by the giving of money) had been committed to the Dominican friars. In Switzerland, the traffic was put into the hands of the Franciscans. Further, it was taught that only in the Church of Rome, could be found salvation.

"Let not this accusation move you. The foundation of the church is the same Rock, the same Christ, that gave Peter his name because he confessed Him faithfully. In every nation whosoever believes with all his heart in the Lord Jesus is accepted of God. Here, truly, is the church, out of which no one can be saved." D'Aubigne', London ed. Book. 8 ch. 11.