Response to the Right Reverend H. Graham & His Followers

Part 19: A Cathar Treatise Vindicating Their Church of Heresy, circa 1250.

[N.B. By using the New Testament Gospels and Epistles as their sole authority, the Cathars delineate the qualities and character traits of the biblical Church of God.]

“In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. We propose to recount some testimony from Holy Scriptures in order to give knowledge and understanding of the Church of God. This Church is not made of stones or wood, or of anything made by hand, for it is written in the Acts of the Apostles that the Most High dwelleth not in houses made by hands. But this Holy Church is the assembly of the faithful; holy men in whom Jesus lives and will live until the end of the world, as our Lord says in the Gospel of St. Matthew, Behold, I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world. [The Cathar author then cites Scriptures teaching the Father and Paraclete will make an abode in the obedient, as well as those Scriptures teaching Christians are the temple of the living God, who has promised to dwell in His people. It is for this beloved Church that Christ delivered Himself] (Wakefield & Evans, pp. 596-97).

[N.B. The following excerpts omit the innumerable Scriptural proofs the Cathar author cited to substantiate the principles listed.]

“This Church of God of which we speak has received such power from our Lord Jesus Christ that sins are pardoned by its prayer…….This Church refrains from killing, nor does it consent that others may kill……This Church refrains from adultery and all uncleanness…..This Church refrains from theft or robbery……This Church refrains from lying and bearing false witness…..This Church refrains from oaths…….This Church refrains from blasphemy and from cursing……..Christ says, Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree evil and its fruit evil. And therefore, the Church of God desires all its fruit be good, so that it may be like its good teacher and pastor, Jesus Christ. For all those things which He taught to others He first did and fulfilled in His works, so that if anyone did not wish to believe in Him through His words, he may believe through His good works. Of this He says in the Gospel of St. John, If you are not willing to believe the words, believe the works. Therefore St. Peter says, Christ suffered for us, leaving us an example that we may follow in His steps, Who did not sin, neither was guile found in His mouth. Thus, the Church of God, which is called the body of Christ, seeks to follow its head, who is Jesus Christ…..Thus, since righteous Christians are members of Christ, it behooves them to be holy, pure and chaste, and soiled with no sin, even as their head, Jesus Christ” (pp. 597-602).

[N.B. The following cites Chapter 10 of the Treatise in its entirety due to the uncommon clarity and irrefutable nature of its arguments proving either the Cathar Church is of God or the Roman Church is of God. For it is impossible both are of God, since they are diametrically opposed to one another.]

“This Church suffers persecutions and tribulations and martyrdoms in the name of Christ, for He Himself suffered them in the desire to redeem and save His Church and to show them by deed and word that until the end of the world they must suffer persecution, contumely [i.e. ‘slander’] and malediction [i.e. ‘curses’], just as He says in the Gospel of St. John, If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you. And in the Gospel of St. Matthew He says, Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye when they shall revile you, and persecute you, and speak all that is evil against you, untruly, for my sake. Be glad and rejoice, for your reward is very great in heaven. For so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. And again He says, Behold, I send you as sheep in the midst of wolves; and again, And you shall be hated by all men for my name’s sake; he that shall persevere unto the end, he shall be saved. And when they shall persecute you in this city, flee into another.

“Note how these words of Christ contradict the wicked Roman Church. For it [the Roman Church] is not persecuted for the goodness or justice [i.e. ‘righteousness’] which is in it. But on the contrary, it persecutes and kills all who refuse to condone its sins and its actions. It flees not from city to city, but rules over cities, towns and provinces while seated in grandeur in the pomp of this world. It is feared by kings and emperors and other men. Nor is it like sheep among wolves, but rather like wolves among sheep or goats. For it endeavors to rule over pagans, Jews and Gentiles. And above all does it persecute and kill the Holy Church of Christ [i.e. Cathar Church], which bears all things in patience, like the sheep, making no defense against the wolf. Therefore, St. Paul says, For They sake we are put to death all the day long. We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. But in contrast to this, the shepherds of the Roman Church feel no shame in saying they are the sheep and lambs of Christ, and they declare the wolves are the Church of Christ, which is persecuted by them. But this is a contradiction, for in times past the wolves persecuted and killed the sheep; now all would be reversed [the Roman Church claims with ludicrous logic], that the sheep [i.e. Roman Church] are so enraged that they bite, persecute and kill the [Cathar] wolves! And [if carried out to its logical conclusion] the [Cathar] wolves are quite patient as to allow themselves to be devoured by the [Roman] sheep.

“But the Roman Church says further, ‘We do not persecute heretics for their good works, but for faith, because they refuse to accept our faith.’ Note how they seem to be the sons of those who killed Christ and the apostles, for they have killed and persecuted – and will do so until the end – because the saints speak out against their sins, and preach to them the truth which they cannot understand [1 Cor. 2:14]. Whence Christ says in the Gospel of St. John says to them, Many good works have I showed you from my Father; for which of these works do you stone me? And they answered Him, For a good work we stone thee not, but for blasphemy. Thus, it is manifest from the beginning of the world the wolves killed and persecuted the sheep [Genesis 4:8], and the wicked persecuted the good, and sinners persecuted the saints. And therefore St. Paul says, All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. Note that he did not say, ‘shall persecute,’ but ‘shall suffer persecution.’ And Jesus Christ, in the Gospel of St. John, says, The hour cometh that whosoever killeth you will think that he doth a service to God. Note that He did not say, ‘The hour cometh for you to persecute and kill men and offer worship to God.’

“And again, the good Jesus Christ says to persecutors, Behold, I send you scribes and wise men, and you will put them to death and crucify them and scourge them and persecute them from city to city. And in the Acts of the Apostles, the apostles said, For through many tribulations and persecutions we must enter into the kingdom of heaven. And therefore, St. John the apostle says, Wonder not, brethren, if the world hate you.

Next: The Cathar Treatise refutes salvation through water baptism.

 

Part 20: The Cathar Church refutes salvation by water baptism (Wakefield & Evans, pp. 604-606).

[N.B. The Cathar Church distinguishes between the baptism of John and that of Christ. The former does not save. Jesus acknowledges this fact in His Matthew 7: 21-23 discourse. All those who profess Jesus ‘Lord’ on the Last Day were obedient, having been water baptized, an ordinance performed by man. However, they lacked regeneration by the Spirit. The Cathar Church would not embrace the title, ‘Baptist,’ because of the Baptist emphasis on water baptism, albeit a water baptism of those professing faith in Christ. The one baptism essential to salvation is that of the Holy Spirit, Ephesians 4:5.]

“This [Cathar] Church [is of God because it] performs a holy spiritual baptism, which is the imposition of hands through which is given the Holy Spirit, of which John the Baptist says, He that shall come after me shall baptize you in the Holy Spirit. And therefore, when our Lord Jesus Christ came from the seat of His grandeur to save His people, He taught His Holy Church to baptize others with this holy baptism, just as He says in the Gospel of St. Matthew, Go and teach ye all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. And in the Gospel of St. Mark He says to them, Go ye into the whole world and preach the Gospel to every creature. And he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be condemned.

“But the wicked Roman Church, like the blind leading the blind, says that Christ referred to temporal water, which John the Baptist urged before Christ preached. This can be refuted on many counts. For, if the baptism which the Roman Church performs were that which Christ ordained for His Church, then almost all those who are baptized by their priests will be condemned. For Christ says, He that believeth not will be condemned.” [N.B. The implication being that their priests water baptize a majority of unbelievers.] “And they baptize little children who do not believe, having no knowledge of good and evil; thus, by citing Christ’s words they condemn themselves.

“Furthermore, if people are saved by the baptism of temporal water, then in vain did Christ come to die, for they [the Jews] already had the baptism of water [e.g. via John the Baptist & OT laver]. But it is certain that the Church of Christ baptized with a baptism other than that of John the Baptist, as St. John the Evangelist reveals when he says, But when Jesus understood that the Pharisees heard that Jesus maketh more disciples and baptizeth more than John (although Jesus himself did not baptize, but His disciples) [Implying the baptism given by Jesus was not that of water, which is given by men]. And John the Baptist clearly showed this, saying, I have baptized you with water, but He shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit………

“St. Paul showed that of these two baptisms [i.e. water and Spirit], only one was unto salvation, for he says, One faith, one Lord, one baptism, and so on. And St. Luke declares in the Acts of the Apostles which baptism it is that the Church of God performs, and shows clearly that baptism of water was little valued, saying, When Paul came to Ephesus, he found certain disciples and asked them if they had received the Holy Spirit when they became believers. And they said to him, ‘We have not so much as heard whether there be a Holy Spirit.’ And Paul said to them, ‘In what then were you baptized?’ And they said, ‘In John’s baptism.’ And Paul said to them, ‘John baptized the people with the baptism of penance, saying that they should believe in Him who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus.’ Having heard these things, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had imposed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them. Note that if these, who were men of mature age, having belief in their hearts and knowing good from evil, did not receive the Holy Spirit through baptism of water, then it is not credible that little children who have neither belief nor knowledge can receive the Spirit through water baptism.

“Furthermore, St. Luke proves this argument again, saying, When the apostles who were in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John. Who, when they were come, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For He was not as yet come upon any of them, but they were only baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then the apostles laid their hands upon them, and they received the Holy Spirit. And St. Paul says to Timothy, whom he had baptized with this holy baptism, I admonish thee, that thou stir up the grace of God which is in thee by the imposition of my hands. And thus did Ananias baptize St. Paul. And one finds that many others who were not apostles performed this holy baptism, just as they received it from the Holy Church. For the Church of Christ has kept it uninterruptedly and will keep it until the end, as Christ says to them, Baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. And behold, I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world” [i.e. The baptism of Christ’s was not restricted to the 1st century Church, just as Christ did not restrict Himself, His power or His commandments to the 1st century Church].

“And St. Peter shows clearly that one cannot be saved without that baptism, saying, As in the days of Noah a few, that is, eight souls, were saved by the ark, the like form, baptism, saveth you, and so on. Hence, no man is saved who is not baptized with this baptism, just as all those who were outside the ark were drowned in the flood, for he says, Its like form, baptism, saveth you, and so on” [i.e. Mere submersion in water is insufficient to effectuate salvation, since all but eight perished by water. Those saved in the ark were a type of those saved by Christ (the ark), who had experienced His Holy Spirit baptism, the only baptism which saves].

[N.B. The Cathars understood the necessity of Holy Spirit baptism as do Calvinists today understand the necessity of Holy Spirit regeneration before anything pleasing to God can be done by man. They are one and the same sovereign gracious work of the Lord.]

NEXT: More historic testimony against the spirit of Antichrist by the Waldenses and Albigenses.

 

Part 21: More historic testimony against the spirit of Antichrist by the Waldenses and Albigenses.

[N.B. The following citations are from a reprint of History of the Old Waldenses, by French Waldensian Pastor, Jean Paul Perrin, dated 1618, translated into English and published in 1845. His extensive use of extant ancient antagonistic histories, as well as histories written by those persecuted, with their original documentation, is proof of the diligent professional nature of his researched findings.]

“God hath never left Himself without witness; but from time to time He raises up instruments to publish His grace, enriching them with gifts necessary for the edification of His Church, giving them His Spirit for their guide, and His truth for their rule; whereby they may distinguish the Church begun in Abel, from that which commenced in Cain.” [N.B. The doctrine of the Two Churches, the true and the false, has been a common thread of belief held by so-called ‘heretics’ for centuries, as has been cited in previous posts. The Protestant Reformers expanded and developed this doctrine when using it as biblical proof of the necessity of their separating from the Roman Church.]

“About the year of our Lord 1160, it was made a capital crime for any person not to acknowledge, after the words of consecration were pronounced by the priest, that the body of our Lord Jesus Christ was actually present in the ‘Host’ or Mass-wafer, under the accident [i.e. ‘appearance’] of bread, with its roundness and whiteness – even that very same body, as large as it was when it hung upon the cross; the bread vanishing, and being transubstantiated into the actual flesh of Christ. Moreover, the worship of the ‘Host’ was enjoined; and in honour to it, they adorned the streets through which it was carried in procession with flowers and hangings of tapestry; and they fell on their knees before it, adoring and calling it their God. The superstitious devotees smote their breast at the sight of it and kept it in a Pix in order to worship it, as is the uniform and universal practice among the Papists even to this day.” [N.B. This holds true in 2019.]

“That doctrine was unknown to the Apostles, who never made mention of such a mystery; and it was also unheard of by the primitive Church, who never taught that an expiatory sacrifice was now to be made for the living and the dead. Hence, many Christians abhorred it, and chose rather to suffer temporal death, by resisting such idolatry, then by complying therewith, to live and die in danger of hell.

“Peter Waldo, a citizen of Lyons, appeared most courageous in opposition to that unholy invention. He also attacked several other corruptions which had been adopted by the Roman priesthood, for he asserted that:

· The papists had forsaken the faith of Jesus Christ.

· The Church of Rome is the Babylonish harlot, and like the barren fig tree which the Lord formerly cursed.

· The Pope is not to be obeyed, forasmuch as he is not head of the Church.

· Monkery [i.e. religious orders under vows] is an abominable thing.

· Vows are the characteristic and mark of the great Beast.

· Purgatory, masses, dedications of temples, worship of Saints, and commemoration of the dead, are only the inventions of devils, and engines of avarice.

Waldensians Charged with Denying Infants Baptism

“From this imputation they acquit themselves as follows: ‘Neither is the time or place appointed for those who must be baptized; but charity and the edification of the Church and Congregation ought to be the rule of this matter; - yet notwithstanding, we bring our children to be baptized; which they ought to do to whom they are nearest related; as are their parents, or those whom God has inspired with such a charity.’

[Perrin explains they refused infant baptism by papists.]

“True it is, that being for some hundreds of years constrained to suffer their children to be baptized by Romish Priests, they deferred the doing of it as long as possible because they detested the human inventions annexed to the institution of that holy sacrament, which they looked upon as pollutions of it. Their pastors, whom they called ‘Barbs,’ were often away traveling abroad for the service of their churches and were unable to baptize the children. They, therefore, sometimes kept them long without baptism, resulting in the priests charging them with that reproach.”

Rules of Faith and Practice Adopted by All the Waldenses, Who Met in One Assembly at Angrogne, September 12, 1535.

[The following are excerpts.]

“Article 2. All that have been, or shall be saved, were elected by God before all worlds.

Article 3. They who are saved cannot miss of salvation.

Article 4. Whosoever maintaineth free-will wholly denieth predestination and the Grace of God.

Article 12. Marriage is not prohibited to any man; of what quality or condition soever he be.

Article 13. Whosoever forbiddeth marriage teacheth a diabolical doctrine.

Article 14. He who hath not the gift of continency is bound to marry.

Article 17. As to the sacraments, it hath been determined by the holy scriptures, that we hath but two sacramental signs or symbols which Christ Jesus hath left unto us: the one is baptism, the other the eucharist or Lord’s Supper which we receive to demonstrate our perseverance in the faith, according to our promise we made in our baptism in our infancy: as also in remembrance of that great benefit which Jesus Christ hath conferred upon us, when He had laid down His life for our redemption, cleansing us with His most precious blood.”

NEXT: Perrin’s History of the Old Albigenses.

 

Part 22: Perrin’s History of the Old Albigenses.

[N. B. Before delving into the testimony of the Albigenses, I thought it particularly relevant to quote the Protestant Reformer who wrote his brethren, the Waldenses, to encourage them to hold fast the faith once delivered to the saints. Tragically, too many so-called ‘evangelical leaders’ today disregard these scriptural truths, preferring instead to consider the sacrifice of the Mass of little consequence to one’s ultimate salvation, as long as the person is sincere in loving Jesus. This letter is found in Perrin’s History of the Old Waldenses, pp. 103-04]

“Letter written by Oecolampadius (d. 1531) to the Waldenses of Provence, who thought they might serve God by bowing before popish idols, 1530.

“Oecolampadius desires the grace of God, through Jesus Christ, His Son, and the Holy Ghost, to his well-beloved brethren in Christ, called Waldenses. We understand that the fear of persecution hath caused you to conceal and dissemble your faith. Now with the heart we believe we believe unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation; but those who are afraid to confess Christ before the world, such shall find no reception from God the Father. For our God is truth, without any dissimulation; and as He is a jealous God, He cannot endure that any of His servants should take upon them the yoke of Antichrist; for there is no fellowship or communion with Christ and Belial. If you communicate with infidels, by going to their abominable masses, you will hear blasphemies against the death and passion of Christ. For when they boast that by the means of such sacrifices they make satisfaction to God for the sins of both the living and the dead, what naturally follows [is the logical conclusion] that Jesus Christ hath not made sufficient expiation and satisfaction by His death and passion, and consequently that Christ is no Jesus, that is, no Savior, and that He died for us in vain. Thus, if we participate of that impure table [i.e. ‘Lord’s Supper’] we declare ourselves to be of one and the same body with the wicked, although it never be so contrary to our wills and inclinations. And when we say ‘Amen’ to their prayers, do we not deny Christ?.......

“………. For if it be lawful to conceal our faith under the tyranny of Antichrist, it will be as lawful so to do under that of the Turk, and [as it would have been under] Diocletian to worship a Jupiter of Venus. It would then have been lawful for Elijah to worship the calf in Bethel. And what then will become of our faith towards God? If we do not pay to God that honor which belongs to Him, and if our life be nothing else but hypocrisy and dissimulation, He will spew us up like base and lukewarm wretches. And how shall we glorify the Lord in the midst of sufferings and tribulations, if we deny Him?”

[N.B. The following quotes are from Perrin’s History of the Old Albigenses, Book 1, Chapters 1, 2 & 4.]

“The Albigenses, who are treated of in this history, did not differ from the Waldenses in faith, but were only so-called from the country of Albi where they dwelt, and whence at first they derived their earliest name. The Popes condemned them as Waldenses. The legates made war upon them as professors of the faith of the Waldenses. The monks inquisitors formed their process and indictments as against the Waldenses. The people persecuted them as such, and they themselves looked upon that title as an honor, being very well assured of the purity of their doctrine, as the same with that of the Waldenses.”

[N. B. A footnote cited below, written by the editors of this 1847 translation, explains how authentic biblical faith was handed down through the centuries.]

“As in the Valleys of Piedmont, the primitive Christianity was derived down to Claudius, Archbishop of Turin, who maintained the purity of doctrine in the 9th century against the innovations of Rome, and who transmitted down the same to his disciples, and they to succeeding generations to this day. Also, in the neighboring parts, in France, in the 8th century, the purity of Christianity, in opposition to the idolatry of the Church of Rome, was strenuously maintained under Charlemagne [Council at Frankfort, 794]. From the holy men of that age the lamp of pure doctrine was handed down to Berengarius [opposed the doctrine of the Real Presence], and from him to Peter Bruis [founder of the Petrobrussians], to Waldo, to Dulcinus [Waldense pastor martyred in 1308], to Marsilius of Padua [anti-papal, anti-cleric medieval scholar], to Wickliffe. From him to Huss and Jerome of Prague, and from their scholars to Luther and Calvin.”

[N.B. Perrin then recounts the efforts of two Albigense pastors, Henry and Arnold.]

“Henry and Arnold principally labored in the country of Albi, and with such success, that within a short time there were found but few, or none at all in several places, who would attend Mass; saying the sacrifice of the Mass was only invented to enrich the priests, to make them more esteemed and regarded in the world, as being able by their words to make the body of Christ, and to offer him up as a sacrifice to God the Father, for the sins of both the living and the dead. This is a piece of wickedness and impiety that, in effect, destroys the sacrifice of the Son of God, making the merit of His death and passion of none effect……

“The doctrines that they [the Albigenses] maintained against the court of Rome were these:

1. That the Romish Church is not the holy church and spouse of Christ, but is a church filled with the doctrine of devils – that Babylon which John described in the Revelation, the mother of fornications and abominations, gorged with the blood of the saints.

2. That the Mass was not instituted by either Christ or the Apostles, but is the invention of men.

3. That the prayers of the living are unprofitable to the dead.

4. That purgatory, as held and maintained in the Church of Rome, is a human invention, to serve the avarice of the priests.

5. That the saints ought not to be invoked.

6. That Transubstantiation is an invention of men, a false and erroneous doctrine; and the adoration of the bread, manifest and downright idolatry.

“Therefore, we must forsake the Church of Rome, wherein the contrary was affirmed and taught, because we cannot be present at the Mass, wherein idolatry is used and practiced, nor expect salvation by any other means than by Jesus Christ, nor transfer the honor to creatures, which is due to the Creator, nor call bread by the name of God, and worship it as such, without incurring eternal damnation, because idolaters shall not inherit the kingdom of heaven.”

[Perrin concludes] “For all these things affirmed by them, the papists hated, persecuted, and put those ‘Witnesses’ to death” [Rev. 11].

[N.B. The massacre at Beziers is the first major military action taken by the Crusaders against the Albigenses (also known as 'Cathars'). Perrin relates the response of the Albigenses who, when offered escape from execution, were told they would live only if they would abjure their faith, promising to live according to the laws of the court of Rome.]

“The Albigenses made answer that they would not renounce their faith for the poor and contemptible purchase of this perishing life; that they knew well enough that God could, if He pleased, save and defend them. But they knew as well, that if He was pleased to be glorified by the confession of their faith, it would be an exceeding honor for them to sacrifice their lives for righteousness’ sake. That they would rather displease the Pope, who could only destroy their bodies, than displease God, who is able to destroy both body and soul together. That they never would be ashamed of and forsake a faith whereby they had been taught the knowledge of Christ and His righteousness, and at the hazard of eternal death, exchange it for a religion which annihilated the merit of Christ, making His righteousness of none effect. They must not and could not promise anything contrary to the duty of good Christians.”

NEXT: Wickliffe’s views on where the spirit of Antichrist resided.

 

Part 23: Wickliffe’s Views on Antichrist

[N.B. The following is translated from the 1968 AMS reprint of the 1842 publication of Dr. James Henthorn Todd’s edition of An Apology for Lollard Doctrines Attributed to Wicliffe. Translation by this present writer.]

“15th Argument: The pope, cardinals, bishops and lesser prelates are disciples of Antichrist and sellers of merit. Christ said to the Jews, ‘You are of your father, the Fiend [Devil], eager to do his desires, for he was a manslayer from the beginning.’

“And from this comes the proposition, Whose doctrine a man follows, he is his disciple. And Christ says, ‘He that is not with me, he is against me. And truly my works are not in accord with the works of Satan, for in nothing do I agree with him. We are contrary in every way. For my will toward men is benign, tending to save souls. Contrarily, Satan is proud, envious, and covetous, tending to destroy souls. I gather together the virtuous with my preaching; he scatters and deviates from the unity of the church.

“Therefore, those who perform such works are disciples of Antichrist, and are Antichrist. For John saith in his epistle, ‘Sons, it is the last hour, and as ye have heard that Antichrist cometh, now are there many antichrists, wherefore we know it is the last hour. Such a spirit that denies Jesus Christ is not of God, and is Antichrist, of whom ye have heard he cometh, and even now is in the world.’

“Such a one contrary to Christ is Antichrist. Profession alone is not the judge of righteousness, but also the life lived. Paul saith, ‘They profess to know God, but in deeds they deny Him.’ For there are many in the church who swear oaths, commit frauds, are evildoers, sortylogers [?], marriage breakers, drunkards, usurers, as well as anyone who holds doctrines contrary to the doctrine taught in the Word of God, he is antichrist. If you love sins, whether hidden or public, and if you are contrary to Christ, whether hidden or public, you are antichrist, according to St. Augustine.

“And thus saith Lincoln [Robert Grosthead, Bishop of Lincoln] in a sermon: ‘The office of Prelacy surpasses all others in authority and importance. Christ came into this world principally to quicken souls, while the principal work and intent of Satan, who is a manslayer from the beginning, is the slaying and crushing of souls. Wherefore shepherds, called by the name of the true Shepherd, Jesus Christ, deliberately abstain from preaching the Gospel, though they maintain nothing else of great evil, they are antichrists and Satans transfigured into an angel of light. These secret and open slayers and traitors of the sheep, make the house of prayers a den of thieves.’

[N.B. The following excerpt, Of the Pope, is from The English Works of Wyclif Hitherto Unprinted, Edited by F. D. Matthew, 1880. Translation by this present writer.]

“Some men understand [Genesis 3:15] to mean that prayer made by the Church directed to Christ and His mother will move Him to send down His grace, enabling men to discern the falsehood of Antichrist, the head of the Serpent, thereby separating from him. It seemeth to us that the Pope is Antichrist here on earth. For he is against Christ both in lifestyle and teaching. Christ was quite poor from His birth to His death, having no desire for worldly riches or the need to beg while in the state of sinless innocence. But Antichrist is against this, for from the time that he is made Pope until the time of his death, he covets the world’s riches, using many false proofs which justify his wealth.

“Christ was quite meek, encouraging others to learn this about him, but we see how the Pope is the proudest of men on earth, making lords kiss his feet, whereas Christ washed His apostles’ feet. Christ was unpretentious in lifestyle, deeds and words, but we see that the Pope bears no resemblance to Christ in this, for though Christ walked to both cities and small towns, this Pope is cloistered in a castle dressed in ostentatious array….

“…. Christ embraced the young and the poor as evidence of his unassuming, down-to-earth persona, while we see that the Pope embraces pretentious worldly worship. Such worship is not that of true Christians, for then the Pope would have to deny himself the worship which he so craves. Christ was active preaching the Gospel, not in order to be worshipped in a worldly fashion, nor to win favor among men. The Pope, however, purposefully neglects this duty, preferring instead to make laws of his own; laws which he elevates above Christ’s law, demanding unswerving obedience.

“Christ loved His flock so much that He lay down His life for them, suffering sharp pains and death to bring them to Heaven. But we see how much the Pope loves the worship of the world when he feigns absolving me of their sins, claiming they will go straight to Heaven [bypassing Purgatory]. Such an alleged good work garners him much praise and worship, though in truth this folly is the cause of death of many thousands of men, both in body and soul. How does he imitate Christ in this?

“Christ was so patient, suffering much wrongdoing, yet He prayed for His enemies and taught His apostles to take no vengeance. But we see that the Pope of Rome will be avenged in all matters, both by killing and cursing, as well as by other punishments, though they exist only in his imagination. Christ taught men to live well by the example of His own life and words, for He lived what He taught and bade men believe in His works. But the Pope is the very opposite of this, for his life is no example to others which they should follow. No man should live like him, as he pretends by his exalted position, to be high above all others.

“Christ always sought the glory of God in all His works and words, suffering many reproofs in His humanity because of it. The Pope, on the contrary, always seeks his own glory, yea, as if the true worship of God was extinct and no longer known. And thus, he feigneth many unscriptural falsehoods. So if these and many similar things may be said to be true of the Pope of Rome, he is the very Antichrist and not Christ’s vicar on earth.”

[The following quotes are from Gordon Leff, Heresy in the Later Middle Ages, Volume 2, 1967, Manchester University Press.]

“Wyclif’s main ground for disqualifying the pope, cardinals, bishops and the Caesarian priests as a whole, was precisely their visible betrayal of Christ. From this point of view the higher their original status the greater their subsequent crime, a fact which he repeatedly emphasized. Thus the pope who lived on endowments was Antichrist, the ‘abomination of desolation’ and a usurper. Like Satan and Judas, antichrists in chief, those who had been closest to God fell farthest.

“By the same token the clergy, as the continuators of the apostolic tradition, were, in failing to uphold it, Christ’s greatest betrayers. Wyclif accordingly sought Antichrist from among them, meaning by the term not a specific individual [N.B. Unlike modern-day Futurists who seek one individual at the end of time], but the whole body of the damned” (pp. 536-37).

[N.B. This is the Historicist view. Antichrist consists of the head and his members. The Papal office holders comprise the head, while the Roman clergy, prelates and religious communities are its body. In addition, those who support, honor and worship under the auspices of the Roman Church are also considered members.]

NEXT: The Lollards’ view on Antichrist.

 

Part 24: The Lollards’ View on Antichrist

A clarification concerning the meaning and etymology of the proper noun, ‘Lollard,’ is necessary. The Mirriam-Webster Dictionary informs us of the Origin and Etymology of lollard: Middle English, from Middle Dutch lollaert, from lollen ‘to mutter.’ All authorities agree to this truth. They also agree it is an antipathetic term of ill will directed toward those who were opposed to the Roman Church, particularly in England. Though the common thought among scholars centers on the idea of the Lollards constantly ‘muttering’ prayers, the truth is far more sinister. It was a frequent accusation by the Roman Catholic authorities against those who opposed them, (no matter their names, or the century in which they thrived), that the so-called ‘heretics’ were practicing witchcraft with perverse satanic rituals, conducted secretly, under cover of night.

Psalm 58:5: Which will not hearken to the voice of charmers, charming never so wisely.

Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible explains this passage:

“Which will not hearken to the voice of charmers - The word rendered "charmers" - לחשׁ lachash - means properly "whisperers, mutterers," and it refers here to those who made use of spells or incantations - sorcerers or magicians.”

Hundred of years earlier, Protestant Reformer William Perkins, in his 1618 work, A Discourse on the Damned Art of Witchcraft, Chapter 2, wrote: “The ground of all practices of Witchcraft is a league or covenant made between the Witch and the Devil……First, the holy Scripture doth intimate so much unto us in the 58th Psalm verse 5, where, howsoever the common translation runneth in other terms, yet the words are properly to be read thus: which heareth not the voice of the mutterer……..the worke or effect of a charm, muttered by the Inchanter…….”

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J.A.F. Thomson’s classic work, The Later Lollards, 1414-1520, used only original source material, as do all scholars writing on historical subjects. Though presented in a rather dry, academic manner, the dedicated Christian reader can find numerous instances of courageous, biblical and even dangerously disparaging answers giving by the accused to the heresy hunters who interrogated them under threat of death. Thomson admits, “In the long run two aspects of Lollard doctrine were perhaps the most important. Firstly, it was strongly antipapal, not infrequently describing the pope as Antichrist….” The following antipapal testimonies were gleaned from this work.

“In 1429 William Emayn disapproved of images and pilgrimages, saying that offerings to images and were damnable, and that no genuflexions should be made to them. [The promulgators of ordinances not grounded in the Gospels] were like the scribes and Pharisees ‘to whom Christ said, Woe to you scribes and Pharisees;’ He considered that virtuous living was the qualification for membership of the Church, and that those who were in deadly sin were of the synagogue of Satan, even if they were the pope” (p. 29).

“William Wakeham of Devizes was accused of saying it was no better for a layman to say the Lord’s Prayer in Latin than it was for him to say ‘bibble babble’” (p. 33).

“William Graunger of Gloucester described the [Roman] Church as the temple of the Devil rather than of God, denounced the veneration of the cross and said it should be despised as Christ suffered scorn on it” (p. 35).

“John Yonge, a chaplain of the parish of Holy Cross of the Temple, was questioned if the pope was the true vicar of Christ on earth, he replied he was not…He denied the authority of Rome and the power of the bishops or pope to make constitutions, and was hostile to the religious orders and the veneration of images. He said those who were in religious orders were not of Christ’s kingdom, but the Devil’s….” (p.37).

“In 1470 two men from Lydney confessed baptism could be done as well in a ditch as in a font.”

“Thomas Drayton, rector of Drayton Beauchamp in Buckinghamshire, said the prayers of priests were of no greater value than the bellowing of oxen or the grunting of pigs.”

“John Croft had denounced the pope as Antichrist, affirming he did not possess the power of binding and loosing which Christ has given to St. Peter, and had spoken against the veneration of images” (p. 48).

“Thomas Higons was suspected of disbelief of the sacrament of the altar when he said a carpenter could make a house, but the house could not make the carpenter” (ibid.)

“Thomas Bikenore, a clergyman, denounced the pope as Antichrist; the bishops and other estates in the Church as the disciples of Antichrist, while the whole organized Church was likened to the beast of the Apocalypse, with the religious orders as its tail…. The Church was the congregation of those that should be saved” (p.65).

“William Aylward, the smith of Henley affirmed that pilgrims going to Canterbury were offering their souls to the Devil, that the blood of Hailes was but the blood of an animal, that the sacrament of the altar was a great devil of hell and a synagogue, as was the pope who should lie nine times deeper in hell than Lucifer, that confession was ordained so that priests should understand the lives of women, and that the King and all who supported the Church were going to the Devil” (p. 71).
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[N. B. “Soon after the death of Thomas Becket, Pope Alexander canonised him and the murdered priest was elevated to sainthood. Becket's shrine at Canterbury now became the most important place in the country for pilgrims to visit. When Becket was killed, local people apparently managed to obtain pieces of cloth soaked in his blood. Rumours soon spread that, when touched by this cloth, people were cured of blindness, epilepsy and leprosy. It was not long before the monks at Canterbury Priory were selling small glass bottles of Becket's blood to visitors. The keeper of the shrine would also give the pilgrim a metal badge that had been stamped with the symbol of the shrine” (Source: Spartacus Educational: Pilgrimage to Canterbury).

“Hailes Abbey became a site of pilgrimage after Richard's son Edmund donated to the Cistercian community a phial of the Holy Blood, purchased in Germany, in 1270. Such a relic of the Crucifixion was a considerable magnet for pilgrimage. From the proceeds, the monks of Hailes were able to rebuild the Abbey on a magnificent scale” (Source: Wikipedia: Hailes Abbey).

Re: women confessing to priests: Charles Chiniquy, ex-Roman Priest, wrote a scathing indictment on this very subject – The Priest, the Woman and the Confessional. A pdf can be accessed here.]
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“John Tanner spoke against the adoration of images, and said the sacrament of the altar was no more than a sign of the Passion and that the only baptism which availed was that of fire and the Holy Spirit” (p. 79).

“In March 1499 four men and four women appeared before the bishop of Salisbury. All were hostile to the adoration of images, asserting money spent on pilgrimages was wasted.” [Though they were in unbelief regarding transubstantiation] they still attended [Mass] in church ‘only for dread of the people and to avoid the jeopardy and danger that we fear to fall into if we had not done as other crysten people did.’ Also, they believed poor men [read: Lollards] were the images of God, and it was to them that gifts should be given, that the pope was Antichrist, and that there was no need for fastings, offerings, or verbal confessions” (p. 80).

“Two brothers and a sister, who were probably children of a man, John Goodson, who had been burnt, held the common heresies concerning the Eucharist and pilgrimages, besides calling the pope Antichrist, and were clearly Lollards” (p. 84).

“John Falkis refused to make an offering to the image of the Virgin saying, ‘Her head will be white-haired before I make an offering to her. It’s nothing but a wooden block. If it could speak to me I would give it a half penny worth of ale’” (p. 106). [Translation by this present writer.]

NEXT: More Lollard testimony against Antichrist.

 

Part 25: More Lollard testimony against Antichrist

[Dr. Thomson [Later Lollards] relates the stirring account of a dying Lollard, John Morden, who calls his son-in-law to his bedside to question his religious beliefs. Translation is by this present writer.]

“It is clear that at this date Ashford [his son-in-law] must have accepted the orthodox doctrine [read: Roman Catholic doctrine], for Morden replied, ‘Thou art deceived. For it [the consecrated Eucharist and chalice of wine] is but bread and wine. And so it was when the priest began with it at Mass, and so it is when the Mass is ended. Also, the images [to which you bow down and pray to] are nothing but stocks and stones. They cannot help themselves, so how can they help thee? The worshipping of them is nothing less than idolatry. Furthermore, there is no pilgrimage of any value in this world, but the one of unity between brothers walking together in shared belief in the knowledge of the Scriptures, such as I have” (p. 91). [Translation by this present writer.]

“Robert Hatchet [was accused of having] said to a person making an offering to the image of the Virgin in the Tower of Coventry, ‘God help thee. Thou art a fool’ (p. 112). [N. B. Travelers would make offerings to Our Lady of the Tower in the hopes of having their journeys blessed.]

“The East Anglian Lollards seem to have adhered to the extremer forms of heretical belief…. Pilgrimages to shrines were considered of no value and at least one offender described three of these in bad puns, Walsingham as Falsingham, Woolpit as Foulpit, and Canterbury as Cankerbury…. Margery Baxter said that Thomas [Becket] of Canterbury whom the people call St. Thomas of Canterbury was a false traitor and damned in hell, and that the priests lie in saying he faced death patiently at the altar, since he was slain at the church door while attempting to flee, and others denied there was any merit in his death. Opposition to the veneration of images was general, and two of the accused held that the crucifix was a sign of Antichrist” (p. 126).

[N. B. According to legend, in 1061 the BVM appeared to an English noblewoman whom she whisked away to Nazareth to view the birth home of Jesus. This resulted in the noblewoman building a replica ‘Holy House,’ which became a major pilgrimage attraction honoring ‘Our Lady of Walsingham.’

Our Lady of Woolpit is not nearly as fabulous a story as is the tale of the green children who allegedly appeared mysteriously in Woolpit during the 12th century. Be that as it may, ‘the richly adorned statue of the Virgin Mary, known as Our Lady of Woolpit, was an object of veneration and pilgrimage…..particularly popular in the 15th and early 16th centuries.”]

[N. B. Professor Anne Hudson’s Selections From English Wycliffite Writings has reprinted a Lollard treatise, Images and Pilgrimages, which contains information about pilgrimages not divulged by the Roman Catholic Magisterium.

“These pilgrimages and offerings are the devious inventions of the Fiend [Devil] and his covetous and worldly clergy. For it is common knowledge that pilgrimages are often used as a pretense to hide its true purpose, which is to engage in lechery, drunkenness, extortions, worldly vanities and other obvious sins. For when men are not able to carry out their lechery as they wish where they live, due to fear of reprisals by their lords, magistrates and neighbors, they devise their plan well in advance. They gather all the money they can, without a thought as to the consequences of losing it all, then boast how they will allegedly offer their monetary gifts to these idols which are always located in a far country, requiring extended journeys.

“Rather than giving their offerings to idols, their monetary gifts are given to innkeepers, cooks and taverners, thereby allowing them to pursue their true desires: lechery, gluttony, and drunkenness. This vain spending of one’s goods neglects the godly good works which help one’s own family or neighbor when in need. Upon arrival back home, the hypocrite boasts of having only imbibed wine while on pilgrimage, while, due to his wild spending, his household’s living standards are far worse for the next six months. It may well happen that the household becomes debtors, from which they never recover.

“But the extortioners [i.e. priests] who gain wealth through quick and easy false absolutions, are the same ones who, in confession, impose pilgrimages and offerings. Some men go on pilgrimages by virtue of their own free will simply to sightsee in other countries. Sweet devotion of their soul to God or to the saint in question is nonexistent.

“Therefore, true forgiveness is hindered, and detestable injustices and extortions perpetuated, while the poor are wickedly defrauded. These high synagogues are places of refuge for thefts, as well as the nurturing of sins, due to the sophisticated hypocrisy utilized by the privileged. And thus, these churches which should be houses of devout prayer and holiness, are made dens of thieves and synagogues of Satan. Such is the common fruit of these pilgrimages and offerings” (pp. 86-87).

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Dr. Thomson relates several testimonies which ring of acerbic humor, dripping with dry sarcasm:

Rather than acknowledge the pope as ‘Holy Father,’ one Lollard would only acknowledge him only as ‘Father Antichrist’ (p. 128).

The superstitious ringing of church bells allegedly to ward off evil spirits was, to John Skylly and Sybil Godsell, for no other purpose ‘but to gather money into priests’ purses.’ John Kynget, on the other hand, described the bells as ‘antichrist’s horns’ (p. 129).

At the time of William Barrow’s execution in 1467, the parson of St. Peter Cornhill attempted to persuade him of the truth concerning transubstantiation. Barrow replied, “Bawe! Bawe! Bawe! [translation = Bulls**t]. This priest knows not of what he speaks. This I know well, that on Good Friday ye make many gods to be put in the sepulchers, but at Easter they cannot, of their own accord, rise. So ye must lift them up and bear them forth [in procession] or else they will lie still in their graves” (p.134).

Thomas Cooper of East Sutton replied, “he would no more wish to hear the mass of a bad priest than that of a barking dog, that he would as well be buried under an oak tree as in a Christian sepulcher…” (p. 181).

John Sprat of Willesborough uttered, “if he were accused of a serious crime he would prefer to confess to a tree than to a priest” (p. 183).

NEXT: The Confession of Hawisia Moone of Lodden, 1430.

 

Part 26: The Confession of Hawisia Moone of Lodden, 1430.

[N.B. The following text is from Selections From English Wycliffite Writings, Edited by Anne Hudson, 1997 edition. Mrs. Moone begins by acknowledging her crime of harboring, supporting and favoring several well-known ‘heretics’ in her house for the purpose of teaching others ‘heretical’ doctrines. She enumerates these doctrines. Modern translation is by this present writer.]

“First, that the sacrament of baptism done in water in the form accustomed by the [Roman] church is but a trifle of no importance and not to be pondered, for all of Christ’s people are sufficiently baptized in the blood of Christ. Christ’s people need no other baptism.

“Also, that the sacrament of confirmation performed by a bishop is of no avail and not necessary, for when a child has discretion, able to understand the Word of God, that, in and of itself, is sufficient confirmation by the Holy Ghost, and needs no other confirmation.

“Also, that confession should be made only to God and to no other, for no priest has the power to remit sin, nor to absolve a man of any sin. Also, that no man is bound to perform the penance enjoined by the priest to whom confession of sins was made. It is sufficient that the sinner abstains from said sin, whether lying, backbiting or evil deeds.

“Also, that no priest has the power to make the literal body of Christ from bread. After the sacramental words are spoken by the priest at Mass there remains only material bread.

“Also that the pope of Rome is Father Antichrist whose works are all fraudulent. He has no more power with God than any illiterate commoner, unless his life reflects biblical holiness. Nor does he have the power to ordain bishops, priests, or any other orders. And he that the people call the ‘pope of Rome’ is no pope, but a fraud and extortioner who deceives the people. Furthermore, all who live a most holy and perfect life are ‘popes.’

“And those religious who sing masses are no priests, though they be called such, but are lecherous and covetous men, deceivers who defraud the people. By their cunning teaching and preaching, singing and reading, they pillage the people of their goods. This they do without pity so they may sustain their pride, lechery, sloth and so many other vices…….

“Also, it is but a trifle to anoint a sick man with consecrated material oil, for it is sufficient that the man personally makes amends with God. Also, that every man may lawfully withhold tithes and offerings normally made to priests and curates by giving instead to the poor. That is more pleasing to God……..

“Also, that pilgrimages ought not be made, for they only serve to make priests, taverners and innkeepers merry, rich and prideful.

“Also, that no worship or reverence should be made to any image of the crucifix, Our Lady, or any other saint, for all such images are but idols, the works of men’s hands. These are not the image of God; human beings are the only image of God. [N.B. Many Lollards were against capital punishment because man was created in the image of God, and therefore human life should be respected, not destroyed.]

“Also, that prayer should be made to God alone, not to saints, for it is quite doubtful that these so-called ‘saints’ are actually in Heaven, though the church claims they hear and respond to our prayers and singing.

[N.B. The following quotes are from NORWICH HERESY TRIALS 1428-31; edited for the Royal Historical Society by Norman P. Tanner, 1977.]

John Skylly of Flyxton professed: “I held and affirmed and taught that the pope of Rome is Antichrist, and bishops and other prelates are disciples of Antichrist, and that the pope hath no power to bind or loose.”

John Godesell professed, “the Pope is Antichrist, and the head of the dragon mentioned in Scriptures and the bishops and other prelates of the Church are followers of Antichrist, the mendicant orders the tail of the dragon.”

John Reve of Becles professed: “The pope of Rome is Antichrist and hath no power of God to bind nor to lose as Peter had, for he followeth not Peter’s holy conversation and living.”

John Skylan of Bergh professed: “There was never a pope after the death of Peter. He that is called pope of Rome is father Antichrist, false and cursed in all his working, falsely and subtly under the pretense of holiness deceiving the people to gain wealth…..All persons of the [Roman] Church, from the highest to the lowest, and all their teaching and preaching, whose goal is to enslave, are false, cursed and lies. Their priests are ordained that they may beguile and deceive the people to gain wealth, in addition to maintaining their pride, sloth and lechery.”

William Hardy of Mundham professed: “No worship nor reverence is due any images of the crucifix, neither of Our Lady St. Mary, or any other saint, for the sign of the cross is the sign of Antichrist. There is no more reverence owed the cross than owed the gallows upon which men are hanged.”

Edmund Archer of Lodne professed: “I held, believed and affirmed that no manner of worship should be made any images of the crucifix, Our Lady St. Mary, or any other saint, especially to images of Christ’s cross, for every such cross is the sign and token [read ‘mark’] of Antichrist.”

NEXT: Some Common Sense Observations.

 

Part 27: Some Common Sense Observations

Having traversed some 500 + years of ‘heretical’ Church history in these several posts, specifically in Western Christendom before the Protestant Reformation, it is not out of the question that some pertinent, common sense observations can and should be made.

Though the book of Revelation is, for many, an exhaustingly difficult, even impenetrable book defying explanation, nevertheless, when broken down into its basic components, certain stark realities begin to emerge when viewed in the context of Church history.

Realty # 1: Unlike many Church prognosticators in our day who view the Revelation as a future prophecy concerning the last 7 years before the return of Christ, (Antichrist Unknown); or who view the Revelation as a prophecy of the past culminating with the destruction of Israel in the first century, (Nero, the Beast Antichrist); the ‘heretics’ thought otherwise. They viewed the Church of Rome, Pope and clerics as fulfilling the false Christianity described throughout the New Testament. Mystery Babylon was no mystery to them. Nor was the identity of the Antichrist and his members. They simply compared the life, works and teachings of Christ and His Apostles against the life, works and teachings of the Roman Church, Pope and clergy.

Reality # 2: The book of Revelation speaks of two distinct groups of people: those who follow the Lamb, called ‘saints’, and those who follow the Beast, who are of the Dragon. (Rev. 12:11 & 17; 13:7 & 15.)

Reality # 3: Those who are of the Beast kill those who are of the Lamb (see Scriptures cited above).

Reality # 4: Those who are of the Beast are of the Dragon, who is identified as Satan (Rev. 12:9). They are the seed of the Serpent (Genesis 3:15), who, like the Pharisees, (John 8:44; Matthew 23:33; 1 John 3:8), are sons of Satan. They intensely hate the seed of the woman, Christ and His progeny, as decreed by the Lord (Genesis 3:15; Galatian 3:16 & 29).

Reality # 5: Those who are of the Lamb are the innocent victims of the murderers, Satan’s children. Those murdered are blessed of the Lord (Rev. 14:13) because they have saving faith which gives them the will to follow His commandments (Rev. 14:12).

Reality # 6: The murderers are not Christians, though they may profess to be. Murders are works of the flesh, diametrically opposed to the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:17-24). Murderers are not admitted into the Holy City (Rev. 21:8).

Reality # 7: The so-called ‘heretics’ were witnesses who exposed the profligate lives, greed and hypocrisy of the Roman religious hierarchy, clergy and orders. Their words were like fire proceeding out of their mouths, scorching the very hearts and souls of their tormented enemies (Rev. 11:5). Threats of loss of possessions, homes, livelihoods, freedom and death were used to silence these critics of the Roman Church.

Reality # 8: There is no dispute over the fact that for centuries the Roman Church handed over to the secular Roman Catholic authorities all professing Christians who refused to abjure their opposition to the faith taught by the Roman Church. Such refusal to avow Roman Catholicism frequently meant death for holding ‘heretical’ beliefs.

NEXT: The Roman Church decrees no burial for ‘heretics’, forbidding buying or selling with the ‘heretics.’