A Message from Guest: 2 English Martyrs -Hugh Latimer
A Message from Guest: 2 English Martyrs
Hugh Latimer: Martyr
Hugh Latimer was born about 1485, the son of a wealthy farmer with a good reputation. At the age of four, he was sent to school and trained in literature; at fourteen, he entered Cambridge University where he continued in ordinary studies, and then concentrated on studying theology, the kind the ignorance of that age allowed, and was a zealous observer of the Roman Catholic superstitions of the time. He was ordained a priest in 1510.
Latimer was a bitter enemy of the Protestant reformers, but God was to intervene. It was surely God's grace that moved the Cambridge reformer, Thomas Bilney, who was burned at the stake for heresy in 1532, to go to Latimer's study and ask him to hear his confession. Latimer willingly agreed, thinking perhaps that Bilney might be returning to the Roman Catholic religion. But during the confession, Latimer was so affected by Bilney's faith in Christ that he began to question him about it, and, by the work of the Holy Spirit, was converted immediately to the true faith. He left his study of the Catholic doctors to learn the true knowledge of Christ.
In 1529 a number of friars and doctors of divinity from all the schools at Cambridge began to preach against Latimer and his new beliefs. Dr. West, Bishop of Ely, forbade him to preach in his church. Like a true disciple, Latimer spent the next three years working to convert his brothers at the university and the parishioners of his church, speaking Latin to the educated and English to the common people.
Latimer and Bilney stayed at Cambridge for some time, having many conversations together; the place they walked soon became known as Heretics' Hill. Both of them set a good Christian example by visiting prisoners, helping the needy, and feeding the hungry.
Some time later King Henry VIII made Latimer the Bishop of Worcester, where he served faithfully, although the dangerous times prevented him from doing everything he wanted to. He wasn't able to rid his diocese of its superstitions, but did what he could within the Catholic Church, helping his parishioners exclude as much superstition as possible from their lives and worship.
When the Six Articles* were passed, Latimer voluntarily resigned his post. He then went to London for treatment for injuries that he received when a tree fell upon him, nearly killing him. While there he continued preaching, and was soon arrested and imprisoned in the Tower of London. He remained there for eight years until Edward VI took the throne. On his release, Latimer now sixty-two years old, went back to work preaching twice every Sunday and often on weekdays, still suffering from the injuries he received from the falling tree.
It wasn't long after young King Edward died (of tuberculosis) in 1553 that Latimer was arrested on Queen Mary's command and thrown back into the tower, where he suffered greatly. He later was transferred to Oxford, along with others, one being Bishop Ridley. While in prison, Latimer prayed about three main concerns, which would all be answered in time:
• Since God had appointed him a preacher, Latimer asked Him for the grace to stand to His doctrine until his death.
• He asked God to restore His gospel to England once again.
• He prayed for the accession of Elizabeth, asking God to make her a comfort to the comfortless realm of England.
* In 1539, King Henry VIII, who had never adopted Protestant doctrines, instituted his Six Articles Act, which upheld the Catholic doctrines of transubstantiation, celibacy of priests, vows of chastity, private masses, confessions to a priest, and the needlessness of the laity to receive both the bread and wine in communion. The Act was repealed in 1547 when Edward VI became king.
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This is the second installment of a three part series from Daniel Shanks in his track "2 English Martyrs."
Hugh Latimer: Martyr
Hugh Latimer was born about 1485, the son of a wealthy farmer with a good reputation. At the age of four, he was sent to school and trained in literature; at fourteen, he entered Cambridge University where he continued in ordinary studies, and then concentrated on studying theology, the kind the ignorance of that age allowed, and was a zealous observer of the Roman Catholic superstitions of the time. He was ordained a priest in 1510.
Latimer was a bitter enemy of the Protestant reformers, but God was to intervene. It was surely God's grace that moved the Cambridge reformer, Thomas Bilney, who was burned at the stake for heresy in 1532, to go to Latimer's study and ask him to hear his confession. Latimer willingly agreed, thinking perhaps that Bilney might be returning to the Roman Catholic religion. But during the confession, Latimer was so affected by Bilney's faith in Christ that he began to question him about it, and, by the work of the Holy Spirit, was converted immediately to the true faith. He left his study of the Catholic doctors to learn the true knowledge of Christ.
In 1529 a number of friars and doctors of divinity from all the schools at Cambridge began to preach against Latimer and his new beliefs. Dr. West, Bishop of Ely, forbade him to preach in his church. Like a true disciple, Latimer spent the next three years working to convert his brothers at the university and the parishioners of his church, speaking Latin to the educated and English to the common people.
Latimer and Bilney stayed at Cambridge for some time, having many conversations together; the place they walked soon became known as Heretics' Hill. Both of them set a good Christian example by visiting prisoners, helping the needy, and feeding the hungry.
Some time later King Henry VIII made Latimer the Bishop of Worcester, where he served faithfully, although the dangerous times prevented him from doing everything he wanted to. He wasn't able to rid his diocese of its superstitions, but did what he could within the Catholic Church, helping his parishioners exclude as much superstition as possible from their lives and worship.
When the Six Articles* were passed, Latimer voluntarily resigned his post. He then went to London for treatment for injuries that he received when a tree fell upon him, nearly killing him. While there he continued preaching, and was soon arrested and imprisoned in the Tower of London. He remained there for eight years until Edward VI took the throne. On his release, Latimer now sixty-two years old, went back to work preaching twice every Sunday and often on weekdays, still suffering from the injuries he received from the falling tree.
It wasn't long after young King Edward died (of tuberculosis) in 1553 that Latimer was arrested on Queen Mary's command and thrown back into the tower, where he suffered greatly. He later was transferred to Oxford, along with others, one being Bishop Ridley. While in prison, Latimer prayed about three main concerns, which would all be answered in time:
• Since God had appointed him a preacher, Latimer asked Him for the grace to stand to His doctrine until his death.
• He asked God to restore His gospel to England once again.
• He prayed for the accession of Elizabeth, asking God to make her a comfort to the comfortless realm of England.
* In 1539, King Henry VIII, who had never adopted Protestant doctrines, instituted his Six Articles Act, which upheld the Catholic doctrines of transubstantiation, celibacy of priests, vows of chastity, private masses, confessions to a priest, and the needlessness of the laity to receive both the bread and wine in communion. The Act was repealed in 1547 when Edward VI became king.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is the second installment of a three part series from Daniel Shanks in his track "2 English Martyrs."
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