An interesting notice of THE LANTERN OF LIGHT is found in the history of John Claydon, skinner of London, who was accused before archbishop Chichely, A. D. 1415, " for the suspicion of heresy." It is given by Fox from the archbishop's own registers. Claydon, when accused, openly confessed, that for the preceding twenty years he had been suspected for Lollardy and heresy, and had been imprisoned five years by the late bishop of London. He had twice abjured all doctrines contrary to the catholic faith, and the determination of the church.

Being asked whether he ever had in his house, since his abjuration, any books written in English, he confessed that he had many which were now in possession of the mayor of London. The mayor said, that he had them, and that they were the worst and most perverse he ever saw or read. He produced one of them which was well bound in red leather, written in a good English hand on parchment, entitled, the LANTERN OF LIGHT. Claydon confessed that he knew it very well, because he caused it to be written at his own costs and charges, for he spent much money thereupon since his abjuration. Being asked who wrote it, he answered, one John Grime. Farther, being required what John Grime was, he answered, he could not tell. Being questioned whether he ever read it, he replied that he could not read, but had heard the fourth part read by one John Fuller. Being asked whether he thought the contents to be catholic, profitable, good, and true, he answered, that many things which he had heard in the same book were both profitable, good, and healthful to his soul, and he had great affection for the same book, for a sermon preached at Horsleydown, written therein.

The books were then delivered to Dr. Lindewood and other examiners; fifteen articles or points, which were noted for heresies and errors, were taken out of the Lantern of Light, which are printed by Fox. The books were condemned and burned; and Claydon himself being condemned for having relapsed into heresy, was burned in Smithfield with one Turming, a baker.

From the above particulars it is evident that THE LANTERN OF LIGHT was written soon after Wickliff's decease; the contents of the work show that it was not compiled till after the burning of the Lollards had com menced. The name of the author is not known, as it does not clearly appear whether John Grime was the author, or only the copyist. Tauner mentions a John Gryme as author of a work on the mass, but gives no farther notice of any one of that name connected with those times. Herbert mentions that his printed copy had a manuscript note, ascribing it to a William Hardy, curate of Barling in Essex. It is equal, if not superior, to most of the writings of that day, even to those of Wickliff.

GOD, that is good in himself, fair in his angels, marvellous in his saints, and merciful upon sinners, have mercy on us, now and ever, and give us grace to hold the way of truth in these days of great tribulation. For now, many that seemed to have been stable in virtue, fall from their holy purpose, dreading loss of goods and bodily pain. As Christ said, Matt. xxiv. The great plenty and abundance of wickedness shall make cold the charity of many. For now the fiend hath marred the world by his lieutenant antichrist, that men be borne about in divers doubts, as waves of the sea, wretchedly divided in opinions, each neighbour with others. But St. Paul saith, there is but one Lord, whom all men should dread and love; one faith, that all men should believe without changing; one baptism or christendom, that all men should keep without defouling. Alas! how is this unity broken, that men unru'ed, walk after their lusts, as beasts in the corn! Certes the wicked man that Christ speaketh of, Matt. xiii. hath done this deed. The enemy of God hath sown tares among the seed of Jesus Christ. This wicked man is ANTICHRIST, who clouteth his laws, as rotten rags, to the clean cloth of Christ's gospel; and waketh in malice as a child of Judas, while Simon sleepeth and taketh no heed. O thou wicked man, is there any other that may save souls than Jesus Christ? Holy and true Jesus Christ hath the key of David, which openeth and no other closeth, closeth and then no other openeth, (Rev. iii.) who casteth down, and then no man reareth, who seateth and then no man casteth down. And, therefore, in the virtue of this name JESUS, standeth all man's salvation, as it is written, Acts iv. St. Peter saith, There is none other name under heaven given to men, but this name Jesus. In which it behoves us

to be made safe; for only in virtue of this name, cometh remission of sins. As it is written, Luke xxiv. It behoveth to be preached among all folks, penance, * and remission

of sins in the name of Jesus. Art not thou a wicked man, a foulted† shepherd, a cruel beast, the son of perdition, and antichrist himself, who pretendest in thee and in thy members, to bind and loose, to bless and curse beside this name Jesus? People without number, following thee and thy divided laws, are divided from Christ Jesus, and go with the blindlings to hell for evermore. And this is greatly to sorrow, so that Christ maketh mourning thereupon, and saith, John v. I have come in the name of my Father, and ye have not taken me, when another comes in his own name, him ye shall take. And this is antichrist, as St. John Chrysostom saith upon this gospel, "He that will not receive Christ in pain of sin, he is constrained to receive antichrist."

Therefore, in this time of hideous darkness, some seek the LANTERN OF LIGHT, of which spake the prophet, Psal. cxix. Lord, thy word is a lantern to my feet. For as far as the light of this Lantern shineth, so far darkness of sin, and clouds of the fiend's temptations vanish away, and may not abide. And always, when the Lantern giveth light into the heart, it cleanseth from corruption, and suageth and healeth spiritual sores. As the wise man saith, (in the Book of Wisdom,) "Neither herb nor plaster hath healed them, but, Lord, thy mighty word that healeth all things." For, Lord, when thou diedst upon the cross, thou puttest in thy word the Spirit of life, and gavest to it power of quickening by thy own precious blood, as thou thyself sayest, The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and life.

CHAPTER II.
Of a Petition.

DEAR friends, help me with your prayer with almighty God, for St. James saith, The busy prayer of the righteous is much worth. This your asking and your desire is a charge unto me, but with God nothing is impossible, as Christ saith, Matt. xix. Mark x. Luke xviii. And in this * Repentance. + Foolish.

faith Isaiah saith, (xxvi.) The Lord God himself worketh all our works in us. Fail we not then God in good living, and he may not fail to give us such wisdom as is needful to us, and also to constrain our tongue, and to give us true organ of ready eloquence, to edifying of our neighbour, as Christ saith, Matt. x. Forsooth it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father that speaketh in you. For the apostles of Christ and his other followers were not graduate men in schools, but the Holy Ghost suddenly inspired them, and made them plenteous of heavenly lore. And they that have laboured in mortal learning, humbled themselves as simple men, as St. Jerome saith, Preachers unlettered are sent to preach, that the faith of true believers should be hoped to be brought in, not by man's virtue, but by speech and doctrine of God." And so saith St. Augustine, writing to Simplician, "Untaught men rise and catch heaven, and we, with our clergy, are drowned to hell." And St. Gregory saith, "Right as truth incarnate, that is, Christ in his manhood, chose poor simple men for his preaching, so antichrist is to choose sturdy and double-minded men, having the wisdom of this world, to preach his falsehood." Have we then full faith in this Lord Jesus, with perfect living, and this Lord, through your prayer, shall lead this work after his own pleasure, and bring it to a perfect end, to his own worship, and the profit of his servants.

CHAPTER III.

What is Antichrist in general; with six conditions.

To speak in general, antichrist is every man that liveth against Christ; as St. John saith, Forsooth now there are many antichrists. And therefore saith St. Augustine, "Whoso liveth contrary to Christ, he is an antichrist." Be thou within, be thou without, if thou live contrary to Christ, thou art but chaff. Of which Christ saith, Matt. iii. The chaff shall burn with fire that may not be quenched. And the soul that is chaff, shall ever suffer, and never die, as the prophet saith, Isaiah ix. Six sins there are against the Holy Ghost, that turn the wretched soul into this chaff. The philosopher saith, "There is no evil fled unless it be known." Therefore we shall name them in this little treatise for the more learning of small understanders.

The first of these sins is presumption-that is high swelling of the spirit, without dread of God's righteousness. And of this sin all manner of malice and wickedness taketh root, that reigneth among mankind, in ignorant or learned. In whomsoever this sin of presumption hath no lordship, in him the devil is overcome.

The second sin is desperation or despair-that is, too little trust on the mercy of God. St. Augustine saith, "Dread of God's righteousness, and hope of God's mercy, are two gates of life." For by them we enter, here into grace, and after into bliss, as the prophet saith, Ps. cxlvii. It is well pleasing unto the Lord upon them that dread him, and in them that trust on his mercy. And again, presumption and desperation are two gates of death, by which men enter into sin and trouble, and afterwards into the pains of hell without end. St. John teacheth against this sin, and saith, My little sons, these things I write unto you, that ye sin not in the sin of despair; but if it be so that any of us have sinned, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, our just Lord; and he is the mercyasker for our sins; not only for our sins, but also for the sins of all the world. Jesus is, as to say a Saviour," in our tongue. For he hath plenty of medicine to save all mankind, if they would take this medicine and be safe. For Gregory saith, " He slayeth himself that will not keep the bidding of his leech." (physician.)

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The third sin is, obstinacy or hardness of heart, which will not be contrite for compunction, nor made soft with pity, nor moved with prayers or preachings, and setteth nought by beatings. It is unkind against good deeds, unfaithful to counsels, fierce and raging against judgments, unshamefaced in foul things, neither fearful in perils, nor manful in manhood, foolhardy against God, forgetful of time that is past, negligent in time that is present, not providing for time that is to come. And, to speak shortly, this is that sin

which neither dreadeth God nor shameth man. Thus saith St. Bernard. And a medicine for this hard heart, Lincoln (Grosthead) teaches, when he says, "A hard heart should be brayed in a mortar of stone with a heavy pestle." This mortar is the body of Christ, wounded in his passion. This pestle is the dread of damnation that follows this sin. Thus then, thou obstinate man, thou man indurate in sin, thou hard-hearted wretch! Come thou nigh to the body of Christ. For dread of damnation conform thee to Christ's passion.