CHAPTER 7.
soul troubled him. One day, in the month of November, the chaplain was in his closet, and in the volume of St. Augustine which lay before him he read these words: ‘He who for fear of any power hides the truth, provokes the wrath of God to come to him, for he fears men more than God.’
Another day, while studying St. Chrysostom, these words struck him: ‘he is not only a traitor to the truth who openly for truth teaches a lie; but he also who does not freely pronounce and show the truth that he knoweth.’
These two sentences sank deeply into his heart. fj75 ‘They made me sore afraid,’ he continued, ‘troubled and vexed me grievously in my
conscience.’ He resolved to declare what God had taught him in Scripture.
His frankness might cost him his life (lives were lost easily in Henry’s time); it mattered not. ‘I had rather suffer extreme punishment,’ he said,
‘than be a traitor unto the truth.’ fj76
Latimer reflected that the ecclesiastical law, which for ages had been the very essence of religion, must give way to evangelical faith — that the form must yield to the life. The members of the Church (calling themselves regenerate by baptism) used to attend catechism, be confirmed, join in worship, and take part in the communion without any real individual transformation; and then finally rest all together in the churchyard. But the Church, in Latimer’s opinion, ought to begin with the conversion of its members. Lively stones are needed to build up the temple of God.
Christian individualism, which Rome opposed from her theocratic point of view, was about to be revived in Christian society.
The noble Latimer formed the resolution to make the king understand that all real reformation must begin at home. This was no trifling matter.
Henry, who was a man of varied information and lively understanding, but was also imperious, passionate, fiery, and obstinate, knew no other rule than the promptings of his strong nature; and although quite prepared to separate from the pope, he detested all innovations in doctrine. Latimer did not allow himself to be stopped by such obstacles, and resolved to attack this difficult position openly.
‘Your Grace,’ he wrote to Henry, ‘I must show forth such things as I have learned in Scripture, or else deny Jesus Christ. The which denying ought more to be dreaded than the loss of all temporal goods, honor, promotion, fame, prison, slander, hurts, banishment, and all manner of torments and
cruelties, yea, and death itself, be it never so shameful and painful. fj77… There is as great distance between you and me as between God and man;
for you are here to me and to all your subjects in God’s stead; and so I should quake to speak to your Grace. But as you are a mortal man having in you the corrupt nature of Adam, so you have no less need of the merits of Christ’s passion for your salvation than I and others of your subjects have.’
Latimer feared to see a Church founded under Henry’s patronage, which would seek after riches, power, and pomp; and he was not mistaken. ‘Our Savior’s life was very poor. In how vile and abject a place was the mother of Jesus Christ brought to bed! And according to this beginning was the process and end of his life in this world… But this he did to show us that his followers and vicars should not regard the treasures of this world…
Your Grace may see what means and craft the spirituality imagine to break and withstand the acts which were made in the last parliament against their superfluities.’
Latimer desired to make the king understand who were the true Christians.
‘Our Savior showed his disciples,’ continued he, ‘that they should be brought before kings. Wherefore take this for a sure conclusion, that where the Word of God is truly preached there is persecution, and where
quietness and rest in worldly pleasure, there is not the truth.’
Latimer next proceeded to declare what would give real riches to England.
‘Your Grace promised by your last proclamation that we should have the Scripture in English. Let not the wickedness of worldly men divert you from your goodly purpose and promise. There are prelates who, under pretense of insurrection and heresy, hinder the Gospel of Christ from having free course… They would send a thousand men to hell ere they send one to God.’ fj78
Latimer had reserved for the last the appeal he had determined to make to his master’s conscience: ‘I pray to God that your Grace may do what God commandeth, and not what seemeth good in your own sight; that you may be found one of the members of his Church and a faithful minister of his gifts, and not,’ he added, showing contempt for a title of which Henry was very proud, ‘and not a defender of his faith; for he will not have it
defended by man’s power, but by his word only.
‘Wherefore, gracious king, remember yourself. Have pity on your soul, and think that the day is even at hand when you shall give account of your office and of the blood that hath been shed with your sword. In the which day that your Grace may stand steadfastly and not be ashamed, but be clear and ready in your reckoning, and to have (as they say) your quietus est sealed with the blood of our Savior Christ, which only serveth at that day, is my daily prayer to Him that suffered death for our sins which also prayeth to His Father for grace for us continually.’ fj79
Thus wrote the bold chaplain. Such a letter from Latimer to Henry VIII.
deserved to be pointed out. The king does not appear to have been
offended at it. He was an absolute prince, but there was occasionally some generosity in his character. He therefore continued to extend his kindness to Latimer, but did not answer his appeal.
Latimer preached frequently before the court and in the city. Many noble lords and old families still clung to the prejudices of the middle ages; but some had a certain liking for the Reformation, and listened to the
chaplain’s preaching, which was so superior to ordinary sermons. His art of oratory was summed up in one precept: ‘Christ is the preacher of all preachers.’ fj80 ‘Christ,’ he exclaimed, ‘took upon him our sins; not the work of sin — not to do it w not to commit it, but to purge it; and that way he was the great sinner of the world. fj81… It is much like as if I owed another man 20,000l., and must pay it out of hand, or else go to the dungeon of Ludgate; and, when I am going to prison, one of my friends should come and ask, “Whither goeth this man; I will answer for him; I will pay all for him.” Such a part played our Savior Christ with us.’
Preaching before a king, he declared that the authority of Holy Scripture was above all the powers of the earth. ‘God,’ he said, ‘is great, eternal, almighty, everlasting; and the Scripture, because of him, is also great, eternal, most mighty, and holy… There is no king, emperor magistrate, or ruler but is bound to give credence unto this holy word.’ fj82 He was cautious not to put the ‘two swords’ into the same hand. ‘In this world God hath two swords,’ he said; ‘the temporal sword resteth in the hands of kings, whereunto all subjects — as well the clergy as the laity — be subject. The spiritual sword is in the hands of the ministers and preachers
of God’s Word to correct and reprove. Make not a mingle-mangle of them.
To God give thy soul, thy faith;.. to the king, tribute and reverence. fj83 Therefore let the preacher amend with spiritual sword, fearing no man, though death should ensue.’ fj84 Such language astonished the court. ‘Were you at the sermon to day?’ said one of his hearers to a zealous courtier one day. ‘Yes,’ replied the latter. ‘And how did you like the new chaplain?’
‘Marry, even as I liked him always- a seditious fellow.’ fj85
Latimer did not permit himself to be intimidated. Firm in doctrine, he was at the same time eminently practical. He was a moralist; and this may explain how he was able to remain any time at court. Men of the world, who soon grow impatient when you preach to them of the cross,
repentance, and change of heart, cannot help approving of those who insist on certain rules of conduct. The king found it convenient to keep a great number of horses in abbeys founded for the support of the poor. One day when Latimer was preaching before him, he said, — ‘A prince ought not to prefer his horses above poor men. Abbeys were ordained for the comfort of the poor, and not for kings’ horses to be kept in them.’ fj86
There was a dead silence in the congregation — no one dared turn his eyes towards Henry — and many showed symptoms of anger. The chaplain had hardly left the pulpit, when a gentleman of the court, the lord-
chamberlain apparently, went up to him and asked, ‘What hast thou to do with the king’s horses? They are the maintenances and part of a king’s honor, and also of his realm; wherefore, in speaking against them, ye are against the king’s honor.’ ‘To take away the right of the poor,’ answered Latimer, ‘is against the honor of the king.’ He then added, ‘My lord, God is the grand-master of the king’s house, and will take account of every one that beareth rule therein.’ fj87
Thus the Reformation undertook to re-establish the rule of conscience even in the courts of princes. Latimer knowing, like Calvin, that ‘the ears of the princes of this world are accustomed to be pampered and flattered,’
armed himself with invincible courage.
The murmurs grew louder. While the old chaplains let things take their course, the other wanted to restore morality among Christians. The
Reformer was alive to the accusations brought against him, for his was not a heart of steel. Reproaches and calumnies appeared to him sometimes like
those impetuous winds which force the husbandman to fly hurriedly for shelter to some covered place. ‘O Lord!’ he exclaimed in his closet, ‘these people pinch me; nay, they have a full bite at me.’ fj88 He would have desired to flee away to the wilderness, but he called to mind what had been done to his Master; ‘I comfort myself,’ he said, ‘that Christ Himself was noted to be a stirrer up of the people against the emperor.’
The priests, delighted that Latimer censured the king, resolved to take advantage of it to ruin him. One day, when there was a grand reception, and the king was surrounded by his councilors and courtiers, a monk slipped into the midst of the crowd, and, falling on his knees before the monarch, said, ‘Sire, your new chaplain preaches sedition.’ Henry turned to Latimer: ‘What say you to that, sir?’ The chaplain bent his knee before the prince; and, turning to his accusers, said to them, ‘Would you have me preach nothing concerning a king in the king’s sermon?’ His friends
trembled lest he should be arrested. ‘Your Grace,’ he continued, ‘I put myself in your hands; appoint other doctors to preach in my place before your Majesty. There are many more worthy of the room than I am. If it be your Grace’s pleasure, I could be content to be their servant, and bear their books after them. fj89 But if your Grace allow me for a preacher, I would desire you give me leave to discharge my conscience. Permit me to frame my teaching for my audience.’
Henry, who always liked Latimer, took his part, and the chaplain retired with a low bow. When he left the audience, his friends, who had watched this scene with the keen-est emotion, surrounded him, saying, with tears in their eyes, fj90 ‘We were convinced that you would sleep tonight in the Tower.’ ‘The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord,’ he answered, calmly.
The evangelical Reformers of England nobly maintained their independence in the presence of a catholic and despotic king. Firmly convinced, free, strong men, they yielded neither to the seductions of the court nor to those of Rome. We shall see still more striking examples of their decision, bequeathed by them to their successors.