Before his day such copies of Wycliffe’s Version as still survived could only be consulted in secret; they were but few in number, and the language in which they were written had become obsolete. Tyndale conceived the bold idea of translating the Scriptures so that the poorest might be able to obtain and to understand them.
For this noble object he lived and died, and Englishmen should never forget that the priceless boon of an open Bible, which is the secret source of our national liberties and success, was paid for by Tyndale with his blood.
Tyndale does not regret the purchase now, for although duty exacts a heavy fine, it more than repays those who give up all things that they may possess her.
Harringay, London N., 1890.
CONTENTS.
| CHAPTER I. | |
|---|---|
| THE APOSTLE OF ENGLAND; OR, THE MAN WHOIS FORGOTTEN BECAUSE OF HIS SUCCESS. | |
| PAGE | |
| “PUT IT ON THE SHELF!”—A BLANK WORLD—CLEVERNESSNO CREDIT—THE FARMER’S SON—NEW LIGHTFROM THE OLD CHRONICLES—THE MIDNIGHT DARKNESSAND THE MORNING STAR | [ 1] |
| CHAPTER II. | |
| THE SCHOLAR WHO OUTSTRIPPED HISTEACHER. | |
| HARD FARE MAKES FIRM MEN—WHAT ERASMUS WISHED,AND TYNDALE ACCOMPLISHED—WEALTH MADETHE TEST OF TRUTH—A MAN OF PUTTY HELPINGA MAN OF IRON—DRIVEN AWAY, BUT NOT CONQUERED | [ 11] |
| CHAPTER III. | |
| MARKING THE COURSE OF THE WORLD; OR,LEARNING WHOM NOT TO TRUST. | |
| NO ROOM FOR A BIBLE IN THE BISHOP’S PALACE—THEMERCHANT’S HOUSE A HOME—MONMOUTH’S GRACIOUSCHARACTER—AN EXILE FOR CONSCIENCE’ SAKE | [ 23] |
| CHAPTER IV. | |
| AN EXILE, YET IN HIS FATHER’S LAND. | |
| HELPED BY LUTHER—FINDING A COMPANION—A BOLDVENTURE—DRIVEN AWAY—BURNING THE BIBLEDOES NOT DESTROY IT | [ 30] |
| CHAPTER V. | |
| A MAN WITHOUT A PATTERN, BUT WITHMANY IMITATORS. | |
| CURIOSITIES OF TRANSLATION—ANCIENT VERSIONS—THEBOOK THAT TURNS THE HEART INSIDE OUT—TYNDALE’SQUALIFICATIONS—HIS PUNGENT GLOSSES | [ 40] |
| CHAPTER VI. | |
| HATED BY THE CARDINAL, BUT WORKINGFOR GOD. | |
| LEAVES WORMS FOR MARBURG—FARTHER FROM ROME,YET NEARER TO THE TRUTH—“THE WICKED MAMMON”AND “THE OBEDIENCE OF A CHRISTIAN MAN”—READBY KING HENRY—“THE PRACTICE OF PRELATES”—NOTESON THE PENTATEUCH | [ 56] |
| CHAPTER VII. | |
| NOT SECOND TO A GLADIATOR; OR, STRONGFOR THE TRUTH. | |
| SIR THOMAS MORE THE ADVOCATE OF THE BISHOPS—TYNDALE’SCRUSHING REPLY—MORE’S GROSS ABUSEAND FOUL LANGUAGE—PUBLIC OPINION WITHTYNDALE | [ 73] |
| CHAPTER VIII. | |
| BRIBES AND BAIT; OR, THE FLY WHO WOULDNOT ENTER THE SPIDER’S WEB. | |
| ATTEMPTS TO INDUCE TYNDALE TO RETURN TO ENGLAND—THEINTERVIEW IN THE MEADOW—TYNDALE’SPATHETIC APPEAL AND HIS NOBLE OFFER | [ 79] |
| CHAPTER IX. | |
| A FRIEND UNTO DEATH; OR, COMFORTINGA SUFFERER. | |
| THE BOOK OF JONAH TRANSLATED—POWER LENT BYGOD—WANDERING BUT WORKING—COMFORTINGFRYTH—FRYTH’S NOBLE DEFENCE—TYNDALE’S MODEOF LIFE | [ 87] |
| CHAPTER X. | |
| TRAPPED AT LAST; OR, DYING FOR THE TRUTH. | |
| THE QUEEN’S BIBLE—THE TRAITOR—THE TRAP—THEWEARY YEAR OF IMPRISONMENT—THE TRIUMPH | [ 98] |
WILLIAM TYNDALE.
