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Persecution: John Wycliffe, Jan Hus, and Pilgrim’s Progress

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Persecution: John Wycliffe, Jan Hus, and Pilgrim’s Progress
By the 1300’s, it was becoming increasingly clear that Roman Catholicism had become corrupt. It took strong, brave people to go against the Church. One such person was John Wycliffe who was born in 1324 in Yorkshire, England. He lived during the reign of King Edward III and King Richard II of England. In 1376, he wrote the Civil Dominion which called for a reformation in the church. He began to attract followers as people were drawn to his cause. He and his followers rejected wealth, believing that it was better for the church to be poor as was shown by the churches initiated by the apostles after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. “All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.” - Acts 4:32-35 NIV “Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” - Matthew 19:24 NIV
In the book Pilgrim’s Progress, written by John Bunyan, the protagonist left all he had, including his family and worldly possessions, to find a way to rid himself of his burden. Christian then begins his long and sometimes hazardous journey to the Celestial City where he is rewarded for his courage and persistence. One of Christian's companions, Faithful, had been detained on his journey by Adam the First. Adam had offered Faithful his three daughters and a place in his household as his heir. At first, Faithful was tempted to accept the man’s offer but thought better of it. He continued on, passing on the promise of worldly wealth to gain an eternal
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