PROTESTANT HISTORY

I will utter dark sayings of old: Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done. (Psalm 78:2-4)

INTRODUCTION

BIBLE PROTESTANTISM HAS A GLORIOUS HISTORY. It is an epic story of a deadly struggle from under the heel of the Roman system to the glorious liberty of the sons of God.

In our ecumenical and apostate age, this story needs to be retold that the battle may continue. These pages are  just another shot fired in this great battle between the forces of good and the forces of evil. We are deliberately aiming at brevity, leaving it to other works (listed later) to satisfy any hunger for further information. These pages may therefore be viewed as tasty appetisers. May God give us the faith of these old Protestants who loved not their lives unto death and of whom, the world in its sin, was not worthy.

JOHN WYCLIFFE (1320?-1401) IT WAS A GOOD DAY in the 14th Century when John Wycliffe raised his voice against the follies and sins of Roman Catholic monks in England. But he did much more than this, he translated the complete Bible into the English language for the first time. He then sent out young men - called Lollards - to read and preach the word of God. Rome reacted in a most murderous fashion and many Lollards were burnt at the stake their hand written copies of the Scriptures tied around their necks. Five Papal bulls were issued against him in one year, condemning him on nineteen different charges taken from his writings. Later he strongly denounced the doctrine of transubstantiation. Although Wycliffe himself was not martyred, his remains were dug up and flung into the River Swift forty years after his death.

JOHN HUSS (1369?-1415) IT WAS A GOOD DAY when the writings of Wycliffe came into the possession of this Bohemian reformer, along with two cartoons. One of these cartoons depicted the Lord Jesus  wearing a crown of thorns while the Pope wore a crown of gold and expensive clothing. The second showed a picture of the woman to whom Christ said: "Thy sins are forgiven thee" while the second side showed the Pope selling indulgences to the people. Huss wrote and preached the gospel and opposed Rome. He was summonsed to the Council of Constance in 1415 where, despite promises of safe conduct, was eventually imprisoned and burnt at the stake.

WILLIAM TYNDALE  (1494?-1536) IT WAS A GOOD DAY when William Tyndale discussed the things of God at the dinner table in the home of Sir John Walsh at Little Sodbury Manor (Gloucestershire)  One present declared that "it were better to be without God's laws than the Pope's laws" to which our  Protestant friend replied: "I defy the Pope and all his laws!" At the risk of relegating Protestantism to being a parasite religion living of the errors of Rome, yet this great statement of Tyndale epitomises all that is righteously defiant in Bible Protestantism. Tyndale also vowed that he would enable "the boy who drove the plough to know more of the Scriptures than he did." Tyndale laboured night and day in exile to translate the Bible into English from the original languages and succeeded not only in doing so but in having thousands of copies smuggled into England. Rome  put a price on his head and he was finally betrayed and burnt at the stake.

KING HENRY EIGHTH (1457-1509) IT WAS A GOOD DAY (strange to relate) when William Tyndale was burnt at the stake because he offered up a prayer that the Lord would open the eyes of the King of England. God did. Although Henry was never a  Protestant in the doctrinal sense of the word, he fell out with the Pope over  his divorce to Catherine of Aragon and caused the Church of England to break from communion with the Church of Rome. He ordered the Bible to be placed in every parish church and appointed people to read its pages to the assembling congregations. This had a wonderful affect. The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple. (Psalm 119:130) God can use even unsaved people to further His sovereign purposes.  The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will. (Proverbs 20:1)

MARTIN LUTHER - HIS CONVERSION (1483-1546) IT WAS A GOOD DAY when the German Reformer found Christ as his Saviour. Strict adherence to the monkish requirements of the Roman Catholic Church failed to give him peace with God. However he discovered a Bible in the monastic library and learned the great truth: "For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith." (Romans 1:17) Wise words from John von Staupitz, the head of the Augustinian Order, pointed him in the right direction: "Remember that Christ came into the world for the pardon of our sins" and again "Look to the wounds of Christ , and you will there see shining clearly the purpose of God towards men."

MARTIN LUTHER - HIS PROTEST AGAINST INDULGENCES: IT WAS A GOOD DAY when Luther raised his voice in angry protest against the sale of indulgences. The Pope badly needed money to build Saint Peter's in Rome and so authorised the sale of these indulgences. The Pope's agent in Saxony was Tetzel who confidently proclaimed that once the money tinkled in his box, the soul thus paid for would spring out of purgatory. The immoral effect of these "sin dockets" (as the Reformers later called them) can only be imagined. Luther was enraged with a holy rage and characteristically said that he would burst a hole in Tetzel's drum.

MARTIN LUTHER - NAILING  HIS 95 THESIS TO THE CATHEDRAL DOOR IT WAS A GOOD DAY on 31st October, 1517 when Luther nailed his ninety five thesis to the Cathedral door of Wittenberg. Most of these are evangelical in content and they caused a great stir in Germany and ultimately (when translated) all over Europe. Pope Leo X initially dismissed the matter as the ranting of a "drunken German" but soon had to change his tune when a great debate started among the common people. Luther gained much respect for his boldness, reminding us of Daniel's words: The people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits (Daniel 11:32)

LUTHER - DEFENDING THE GOSPEL AT THE DIET OF WORMS IT WAS A GOOD DAY in 1521 when Luther confronted Eck, the Pope's man at the Diet of Worms. When commanded to withdraw his "heretical" teachings as contained in his books, Luther's answer must rank as one of the most inspiring ever recorded outside of Scripture: "Unless I am convinced by testimonies of the Scriptures or by clear arguments that I am in error - for Popes and councils have often erred and contradicted themselves - I cannot withdraw, for I am subject to the Scriptures I have quoted; my conscience is captive to the word of God. it is unsafe and dangerous to do anything against one's conscience. Here I stand; I can do no other. So help me God."

LUTHER - BURNING THE PAPAL BULL IT WAS A GOOD DAY when Luther burned the Bull of excommunication which followed his performance at Wittenberg. C.H. Spurgeon said later: "What cared he for any Pope in or out of Hell?"

LUTHER  - WRITING THE BONDAGE OF THE WILL IT WAS A GOOD DAY when Luther took up his pen to write many books. At one time, one book in three printed in Germany was penned by Luther. He translated the bible into German, composed hymns, a catechism and other books in defence of the gospel. One of his best known works is called "Bondage of the Will" and is still in print. He refuted the teaching of  Erasmus of Amsterdam (and the Roman Church) that taking the Biblical line that man's will is in bondage to his heart which is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9) The Church of Rome were later to anathematise the teachings of Luther in the infamous Council of Trent.

LUTHER COMMENTARY ON GALATIANS IT WAS A GOOD DAY when Luther wrote his commentary on Paul's Galatians epistle.  It answers the argument that Protestantism is a negative religion. Although Luther attacked Romanism in its pages (just as Paul in the epistle itself attacks false gospellers) yet he positively sets forth the great truths of the gospel and the responsibilities of successful Christian living. The immortal dreamer, John Bunyan, records his indebtedness to it: "I do prefer this book of Martin Luther upon the Galatians, excepting the Holy Bible, before all books I have ever seen, as the most fit for a wounded conscience."

JOHN KNOX - HIS CONVERSION (1514-1572) IT WAS A GOOD DAY when our Scottish Reformer was converted to God. He had been a priest of  Rome but recorded on his death bed  how he "first cast anchor" on the glorious words of Christ in John 17:3   And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. He was a fearless Christian. Once when captured by the Spanish and forced to be a galley slave, they produced an image of the Virgin Mary  and ordered him to kiss it. Knox declined the invitation: "Trouble me not. Such an idol is accursed and therefore I will not kiss it." The Romanists replied, "Thou shalt handle it" and forced it violently to his face and into his hands. Knox then received the idol into his hands but immediately cast it into the water with the words, "Let her save herself she is light enough, let her swim!" After this, no Scotsman was urged with this idolatry. Knox was a fearless preacher of the gospel. CH Spurgeon said: "I cannot shape the truth. I know of no such thing as paring off the rough edges of a doctrine. John Knox’s gospel is my gospel. That which thundered through Scotland must thunder through England again."

ULRICH ZWINGLI  (1484-1531) - HIS CONVERSION IT WAS A GOOD DAY when this Swiss Reformer sought and found the Lord. Born into the darkness of Rome, He came to know the Lord through reading the Bible and also perusing the early Church Fathers and also the books of Wycliffe and Huss. These all served to strengthen his conviction that Rome had seriously departed from the word of God. He preached the gospel mightily in Zurich and gained himself the name of being a good pastor when he remained in the city during a severe plague. He successfully opposed the Bishop of Constance over the matter of fasting during Lent and won a vital debate on the matter which ensured the gospel would continue to be preached in the city. He finally died on the battle field.

JOHN CALVIN - HIS CONVERSION (1509-1564) IT WAS A GOOD DAY in 1527 when our French Reformer could describe his conversion. He said:  "When I was the obstinate slave of the superstitions of popery," he says, "and it seemed impossible to drag me out of the deep mire, God by a sudden conversion subdued me, and made my heart obedient to his Word." He immediately became busy in the work of God. Later on when his body was wrecked with numerous diseases, his doctor urged him to ease up. Calvin replied: “Would you have my Master come and find me loitering?”

CALVIN - HIS COMMENTARIES IT WAS A GOOD DAY when Calvin's commentaries began to be published.  Many of them are the sermons which he preached daily to mass crowds in the Cathedral in Geneva. C.H. Spurgeon wrote, "…that mighty servant of God, John Calvin, whom I honour, not as teaching these doctrines himself, but as one through whom God spoke, and one who, next to the apostle Paul, propounded truth more clearly than any other man that ever breathed, knew more of Scripture, and explained it more clearly…That man of God expounds the doctrines in so excellent and admirable a manner, that we cannot too much bless the Lord who sent him, or too much pray that others like him may be honest and sincere in the work of the Lord."

MARTYRDOM OF THE BISHOPS UNDER BLOODY MARY If all things truly do work together for good to them who love God (Romans 8:28) then… IT WAS A GOOD DAY when the Church of England bishops were burnt at the stake during the reign of Bloody Mary.  Mary was a bigoted Roman Catholic who sought to strangle the new Reformation faith in England. During the last four years of Mary's reign, no less than two hundred and eighty eight Protestants were burned for refusing to embrace the heresies of Rome. No less than five of these martyrs were Bishops.

BISHOPS HUGH LATIMER (1485?-1555) AND NICHOLAS RIDLEY (1503?-1555) Both men were burned together at the same stake on the October 16th 1555. Latimer said of  his pre conversion days: "I was as obstinate a Papist as any was in England." He was led to Christ through the faithful witnessing of Bilney who himself was later martyred. Latimer said: "I learned more by his confession than before in many years. From that time forward I began to smell the word of God, and forsook the school doctors and such fooleries."  Ridley came to Christ through the reading of a book on the sacraments and  by personal conversation with Bishop Cranmer and Peter Martyr. Both men contended fervently for the Protestant faith. Ridley leaves the following record: "The See of Rome is the seat of Satan, and the bishop is the same, that maintaineth  the abominations thereof, is Antichrist himself indeed: and for the same causes this See this day is the same that St John calls, in his Revelation, Babylon, or the whore of Babylon, and spiritual Sodom and Egypt, the mother of fornications and abominations on earth." At the stake, Latimer spoke the following words to his fellow martyr: "Be of good comfort, Master Ridley, and play the man. We shall this day light such a candle, by God's grace, in England, as I trust shall never be put out." Both men then sealed their testimony with their blood.

BISHOP JOHN HOOPER (1495-1555) Our  friend was a Cistercian monk before he was converted to saving faith in Jesus Christ. He contended earnestly for the faith, confessing: "I believe that the people of God, who are the very true church of God, have a certain doctrine, that never was, is or hereafter shall be, violated by time or man's any man's authority. This doctrine only and solely is comprehended in the sacred and holy Bible." He was condemned to be burned in sight of his Cathedral in Gloucestershire.  Seven thousand witnessed his martyrdom on 8th February 1555 where he "died as quietly as a child in his bed."

BISHOP ROBERT FERRAR  ( -1555) The Bishop of St David's in Wales was burned on the 30th March 1555 at Carmathen because of his faith. He was one of the signatories to a famous protestation drawn up in the prison, which, among other things, denounced the mass "to be Antichrist's doctrine."

ARCHBISHOP THOMAS CRANMER (1489-1556) Cranmer had risen to the high office of Archbishop in the Roman Church before coming to faith in Jesus Christ. He was the first Protestant Archbishop of Canterbury. Initially, he recanted under great pressures. However, when he was taken to St Mary's Church in Oxford to read a prepared sermon, he nailed his colours very firmly to the mast: "And now I come to the great thing which troubleth my conscience more than any other thing that ever I said or did in my life; and this is, the setting abroad things contrary to the truth; which here I now renounce and refuse, as things written with my hand, contrary to the truth which I thought in my heart, and writ for fear of death, and to save my life, if it might be; and that is, all such bills, which I have written or signed with mine own hand since my degradation; wherein I have written many things untrue. And forasmuch as my hand offended in writing  contrary to my heart, therefore my hand shall be first punished; for if I come to the fire, it shall be first burned. And as for the Pope, I refuse him as Christ's enemy and antichrist, with all his false doctrine." Cranmer was as good as his word. When he was martyred at the stake on 21st March, 1556 he plunged his hand into the flame and was heard to repeat on several occasions the phrase, "This unworthy right hand."

THE MARTYRDOM OF PATRICK HAMILTON (1503-1528) IT WAS A GOOD DAY when our first Scottish martyr, Patrick Hamilton was ordered to be burned by RC Archbishop Beaton in St. Andrews. Hamilton went there, understanding that it was to debate his doctrines, but he was seized and quickly burned before his friends could muster support. It was thought that this summary execution would intimidate others, but Rome was badly mistaken. One bystander remarked, "The reek [smoke] of Mr Hamilton has infected as many as it did blow upon."

JENNY GEDDES AND HER THREE LEGGED STOOL! Although not strictly a Reformation event, yet we include it here as an example of a good old Protestant spirit alive and well after the deeds of earlier times. In 1637 in Edinburgh, Scotland, the minister of St Giles tried to introduce the English Prayer Book, which although drawn up by the English Reformers, nevertheless still retained some Popish features. Jenny Geddes, a street trader, threw her stool at the head of the minister when he commenced reading it. She cried: "Deil colic the wame o’ ye, fause thief; daur ye say Mass in my lug?" meaning "Devil cause you severe pain and flatulent distention of your abdomen, false thief: dare you say the Mass in my ear?"

THE PRINCIPLES OF PROTESTANTISM

The Protestant Reformation was founded on five great "solas" of the gospel. It is these which mark the differences between us and the Church of Rome. If we state that we believe that faith justifies the soul, even the most ardent Romanist will happily nod his head in agreement. He even believes in the authority of the Bible or in the absolute necessity of Jesus Christ for the salvation of the soul. These are the words which are put into ecumenical documents and get agreement between so called Protestants (even professing evangelicals) and Roman Catholics. But if the word "alone" were to be slipped into the document, no Romanist, being faithful to his creed, could honestly sign it.

We must therefore contend "tooth and nail" for these "solas" if we would preserve the very essence of the gospel which saves men to the uttermost. There can be no unity with any church which would deny them either individually or collectively.

1) THE AUTHORITY OF THE SCRIPTURES ALONE:

Protestantism does not elevate church tradition to equality with the Bible. Those who do soon, in practice, elevate Scripture over the Bible. Protestants do not require any man to subscribe to that which cannot be founded upon the clear principles of the Bible. Rome charges us with believing a doctrine which is itself  unfounded on Scripture, but this is not so. The man of God can be made perfect through the Scripture (2 Timothy 3:15-17) and therefore we do not need anything else, other than the author of the Book i.e. the Spirit of God to open it to us. While God has appointed teachers (Ephesians 4:11) we must judge the teachers by the Book and not vice versa. Thus the Bereans subjected the teaching of Paul to the authority of Scripture.  (Acts 17:11)

2) SALVATION BY GRACE ALONE:

Grace alone rules out any human contribution, actual or foreseen, to salvation. Eternal life is given solely on the basis of  the grace of God. "I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion"(Romans 9:15) If God was under any obligation to save any one, then the whole concept of grace is at once destroyed. The sinner can only be saved by grace alone, because the sinner has nothing to give or pay. His good works are counted as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6) while his sins as portrayed as mounting up like unpaid debts (Luke 7:40-42) However Christ has done all that was necessary when He died on the Cross and cried "It is finished" (John 19:30) and God now offers salvation to all men, freely "without money and without price" (Isaiah 55:1) This concept of grace is heightened when we remember that we were not only non deserving, but ill deserving and indeed hell deserving sinners.

3) JUSTIFICATION IS BY FAITH ALONE:

Rome teaches that God imparts His righteousness into the souls of those who effectively work for it. This drives the sinner to constantly look to his own actions for assurance of peace with God. He can never be sure that he has done enough, simply because he never can do enough.  Rome's teaching is based on a radically erroneous definition of justification. Justification does not make a person righteous, but declares them to be so. In Luke 7:29 the people justified God but none would argue that they made Him righteous. Rather, they declared him to be so. Likewise when grace saves the sinner, applying the blood of Christ to his sin stained soul, God declares the one pardoned to be without any guilt. "Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect, it is God that justifieth." (Romans 8:32) The work which Christ accomplished at Calvary cannot be allowed to remain a mere fact of history - all its worth needs to be appropriated if the soul is to benefit from this. The channel is faith alone without the deeds of the law (Romans 3:28)  Rome would channel it all through her various sacraments. This goes against the teaching of the Bible, because you need to be in a state of grace to partake of the sacrament and this state is achieved by works. Rome therefore has no viable message for the guilt ridden sinner.

4) SALVATION THROUGH CHRIST ALONE:

Rome has other mediators other than Christ (1 Timothy 2:5) and other priests other than Christ (Hebrews 4:14) This ought not to be. Christ is sufficient for us. To introduce others is to detract from His glorious work. All I need in Thee I find…O Lamb of God I come.

5) ALL THINGS FOR GOD'S GLORY ALONE:

The Reformers opposed the idea that those who gave themselves "full time" to church work were more faithful and acceptable than those who had another occupation. The child of God can bring as much glory to God in a "secular" occupation as those actively engaged in the religious sphere. Whether it is something mundane as eating or drinking - it is all to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31)

GOOD BOOKS TO PROCURE AND READ:

As stated in the introduction, this booklet is only an appetiser. The full story deserves to be read. The following books have long been classics in this field:

* FOXES BOOK OF MARTYRS - JOHN FOXE: Online edition here
* HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM - JOHN WYLIE: Online edition here
* THE ENGLISH REFORMATION - D'AUBIGNE: Online edition here
* FIVE ENGLISH REFORMERS - BISHOP JC RYLE: Online edition here
* LIFE OF CALVIN - THEODORE BEZA Online edition here
* HERE I STAND  (LIFE OF LUTHER)  - ROLAND BAINTON