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Hugh Latimer: Example of Christian Courage
by Tom Stewart
November 29, 1999
In this age of machismo, what do the
"meek and lowly in heart" (Matthew 11:29) have to
do with Christian Courage? "The wicked
flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion" (Proverbs 28:1). Throughout the ages, the Saints have been blessed by examples
of selfless courage of those who have followed in the steps of the Saviour to do
the will of God. "And
[Christ] made His grave with the wicked, and
with the rich in His death; because He had done no violence, neither was any deceit
in His mouth" (Isaiah 53:9). "Then
said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of Me,) to do Thy will,
O God" (Hebrews 10:7). But, then, who is Hugh Latimer?
In short, Hugh Latimer (1485-1555) was a leader of English Protestantism, who followed
in the steps of Martin Luther in leading England to depart from the errors of the
Church of Rome. "And upon her forehead
was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT [ ---New Window], THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH" (Revelation 17:5).
Hugh Latimer was the son of an English farmer, educated at Cambridge University,
and ordained as a Roman Catholic priest in 1510. "Before
I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb
I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations" (Jeremiah 1:5). Though reputed as a preacher prior to his conversion to
Christ in 1525, after contact with Thomas Bilney-- another Cambridge scholar who
had come to accept the preeminence of the Scriptures over the preeminence of the
Pope-- Hugh Latimer was transformed into a mouthpiece for the claims of Christ over
the claims of Romanism. "We have also
a More Sure Word of Prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a Light
that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the Day Star arise in your
hearts" (2Peter 1:19). Armed with faith in the LORD Jesus
Christ for his Eternal Salvation, Latimer used the position of influence that had
come to him for the faithful declaration of the Word of God. "10 Be
it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the Name of Jesus
Christ of Nazareth, Whom ye crucified, Whom God raised from the dead, even by Him
doth this man stand here before you whole. 11 This is the Stone which was set at nought of you builders,
which is become the Head of the Corner. 12 Neither is there Salvation in any other: for there is none other
name under Heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved"
(Acts 4:10-12).
It is said that Hugh Latimer, with the courage of a lion, approached his immoral
sovereign-- Henry VIII-- with a New Year's Day gift, a Bible with the leaf turned
down to the passage, "Whoremongers and
adulterers God will judge" (Hebrews 13:4). "Then said [John the Baptist]
to the multitude that came forth to be baptized
of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?" (Luke 3:7). At another time, Henry VIII called Latimer to preach before
his court. With towering unction and the plainest language, Hugh Latimer faithfully
denounced the king and his courtiers, like John the Baptist before King Herod. "For John said unto [Herod], It is not lawful for thee to have her" (Matthew 14:4). Enraged, the king demanded that Latimer retract his denunciations
upon the next LORD's Day. "For though
I preach the Gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea,
woe is unto me, if I preach not the Gospel!" (1 Corinthians
9:16).
Entering the pulpit, Latimer announced the same text. Then he paused and said:
Speaking thus, to the amazement of all the court, Latimer renewed
his preaching with even greater zeal and strength. "O
Earth, Earth, Earth, hear the Word of the LORD" (Jeremiah
22:29). All present were certain that Henry would have Hugh Latimer beheaded; but,
the king, subdued by Latimer's earnestness, exclaimed, "Blessed
be God, I have so honest a servant!" And, though Henry
VIII is still identified with the debauchery and treachery that brought him to divorce
or behead nearly six wives-- Catherine Parr, his sixth wife, outlived him-- he was
instrumental in divorcing the influence of the Church of Rome over what would become
Protestant England. "Surely the wrath
of man shall praise Thee: the remainder of wrath shalt Thou restrain" (Psalm 76:10).
And, what became of Hugh Latimer? Henry VIII was succeeded to the throne in 1547
by his sickly young son, Edward VI, whose short reign ended with his death by tuberculosis
and the ascension to the throne of the Roman Catholic, Mary Tudor, later vilified
as Bloody Mary. "When the wicked rise,
men hide themselves: but when they perish, the righteous increase" (Proverbs 28:28). Immediately, Latimer was arrested for treason, tried,
and consigned to execution. On October 16th 1555, he and fellow Reformer, Nicholas
Ridley, were burned at the stake; and, while at the stake, Latimer exhorted Ridley
with the prophetic encouragement,
"13 I give thee charge in the sight of God, Who quickeneth all things,
and before Christ Jesus, Who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; 14 That thou keep this Commandment
without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our LORD Jesus Christ: 15 Which in His times He shall shew,
Who is the Blessed and Only Potentate, the KING of Kings, and LORD of Lords; 16 Who only hath immortality, dwelling
in the light which no man can approach unto; Whom no man hath seen, nor can see:
to Whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen" (1Timothy
6:13-16). May God grant to us a like Christian Courage!
Maranatha!
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