THE 450th ANNIVERSARY OF THE MARTYRDOM OF HUGH LATIMER AND NICHOLAS RIDLEY
PREACHED 16th OCTOBER, 2005
READ: REVELATION 2:12-17 TEXT: v13
I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.
PREACHED 16th OCTOBER, 2005
READ: REVELATION 2:12-17 TEXT: v13
I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.
 HUGH LATIMER |
 NICHOLAS RIDLEY |
 MARTYRDOM OF LATIMER AND RIDLEY |
Today we are going to walk a balanced pathway between the extremes of elevating some pretty ancient church figures to icon status and asking them to pray for us and, on the other hand, ignoring them altogether as if they never existed or have nothing to teach us. God would have us remember his martyrs (text) He names one of them who belonged to the Pergamos congregation. Antipas (name means: like the Father) had died rather than deny the faith he professed. Many centuries previous, Satan uttered one of his most diabolical lies: All that a man hath will he give for his life (Job 2:4) as if this world and its empty pleasures were all that a man had to hope for. Not so! Antipas chose death for Christ rather than life without Him. Many thousands/Christians have done likewise.
Two such Christians were burned/stake 450 years to this very date (16-10-1555) Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley. They were burned together at the same stake in the reign of Bloody Mary/England. We simply could not let the 450th anniversary pass without saluting their memory and learning those lessons which can be learned. If there are no such lessons, then God would not have recorded either the name of Antipas here/Revelation 2 or have mentioned the martyrdom: James the brother/John (Acts 12:2) or given the extended coverage that it does of the faithful stand and consequential martyrdom of Stephen (Acts 7)
We don't glorify great men, but we do rather glorify the grace/God that made them great. And so we want to mark this anniversary by learning what we can from the lives/testimony. 5 points:
1) LATIMER AND RIDLEY'S BACKGROUNDS:
A/ Both were devout RC'S. Hardly anything else when they lived. Wycliffe's lollards were still in existence but the Church/Rome had brutally sought to wipe them out and they were struggling to survive.
B/ LATIMER (born 1470) was a very zealous RC . Farming background but was able to attend Cambridge when 14 years old where he was noted as a good student. Ordained to RC priesthood and was noted for opposing the Lutheran teaching that was creeping into England.
LUTHERANISM? Martin Luther basically urged a return to the Bible. Despite some doctrinal weaknesses, Luther was fundamentally right in the matter/salvation. Justification was by faith alone (Romans 3:28/Romans 5:1) Disregarded view: mere human councils had equality with or authority over the word/God. Basically NT Christianity resurfacing again. True: Acts 14:17 but such witnesses were not many in number and were either in isolated communities in the Alps or largely silent within the Church/Rome, despite its unbiblical doctrines. But Latimer used his unsaved days to denounce Lutheran doctrine.
C/ RIDLEY likewise studied at Cambridge was a priest/RC Church and even went to France for further education. He became learned in the early church fathers which stood in him in some stead as he sought to defend his faith later on.
To some folk, it might be asked: What did these men lack? They were clergymen in their church. Permitted/perform the sacraments which Rome says are so needful to enter Heaven. They claimed power to forgive others…to perform the miracle/transubstantiation etc., Chaplain/King of France once boasted: With my god in my pocket [wafer] and my priest at my knee [Confession]…who can greater be? Yet we must record something else about these two men:
2) LATIMER AND RIDLEY'S CONVERSIONS TO JESUS CHRIST:
Please remember that one/Christ's earliest recorded interviews with an individual was with a high ranking Jewish cleric and He told him simply/clearly/uncompromisingly: Ye must be born again (John 3:7) So too with these 2 men. They had been baptised/RC Church…sought to live good wholesome lives…studied for/ordained to priesthood etc., but they were still unsaved! Religion is no passport to Heaven. Taken many to hell…but none to Heaven!
A/ LATIMER the most zealous opposer/Lutheranism was brought to Christ through the witness of a man called Bilney. I have heard it said: the Reformers had no interest/evangelism. Rubbish! Bilney had a novel idea. He engaged the ear/Latimer: the confessional box! Talk about bearding the lion in his own den! Bilney's confession was much more than "Forgive me Father for I have sinned." Bilney gave him the old zealous Roman bigot the gospel clear/plain in a word of personal testimony. Latimer recalled: "I learned more by his confession than before in many year. From that time forward I began to smell the word/God and forsook the school doctors and such fooleries." As we will see… he gave every evidence of being born again/God.
B/ RIDLEY: His conversion is not so well chronicled, but his reading of the early Church Fathers (in which much good is to be found, even among much error) led him to forsake doctrine/transubstantiation around the year 1545 and we may assume his conversion dates from there. A tree is known by its fruit and we should not quibble over the details if the fruit is edible and full of nutrition. Ridley certainly gave every evidence of the new birth.
C/ I hope you can look back to a similar before/after event in your life. Most important thing/whole world! I exaggerate not! Without the new birth/conversion experience you will be lost forever. Described as "believing in Him who sent" Jesus and "not coming into condemnation" but "passing from death unto life" (John 5:24) You cannot afford to be vague on this matter. Do not make an evangelical background a lovely warm little cocoon - make sure that you are saved in the NT sense/word. Be very clear on this vital matter.
3) LATIMER AND RIDLEY'S PREACHING:
Both men were true to apostolic words: We believe therefore we speak (2 Corinthians 4:13) How could they keep silent? Imperative that they shared their new found faith. They themselves had been deceived by a false gospel. Folk round about them were lost.
A/ BIBLICAL/PREACHING: Notwithstanding their very Anglican ways…yet they were fundamentally Biblical. Every fundamental believer would "amen" more than disapprove their preaching. Our hearts would be warmed and whatever secondary differences would arise…we concede: These were good men, filled/Holy Ghost.
B/ COURAGEOUS/PREACHING: Even though dangerous days… Protestant preachers were being hunted down/silenced often by the sword…still spoke out. Backdrop: Lollards/Huss's martyrdom. God's people were dying all over Europe. Inquisition (established in 1542 by Pope Paul III) was at work. These men did not merely preach an ecumenical, inoffensive type gospel. They attacked the stronghold's/error. They opposed every false/damnable heresy of the RC Church. What could not be substantiated by the Bible was rejected. Cardinal doctrines were brought to the sword/God's word and dispatched. It could not but arouse opposition and concern. Yet…these men (no doubt lovingly) continued to do so and that in the highest places…not merely in some unheard of back waters.
Latimer was particularly bold. Latimer was raised to the bishopric of Worcester in the reign of Henry VIII. It was the custom of those days for each of the bishops to make presents to the king on New Year’s Day. Latimer went with the rest of his brethren to make the usual offering; but, instead of a purse of gold, he presented the King with a New Testament, in which was a leaf doubled down to this passage, “Whoremongers and adulterers God will judge." His preaching in another occasion had offended the King, and Latimer was expected to apologise the next Sabbath Day. However, after reading his text, the bishop thus began his sermon:—"Hugh Latimer, dost thou know before whom thou art this day to speak? To the high and mighty monarch, the king's most excellent majesty, who can take away thy life if thou offendest; therefore take heed that thou speakest not a word that may displease! But then consider well, Hugh, dost thou not know from whence thou comest; upon whose message thou art sent? Even by the great and mighty God! who is all present! and who beholdeth all thy ways! and who is able to cast thy soul into hell! Therefore, take care that thou deliverest thy message faithfully." And he was even more pointed than before. Henry VIII commented: "Blessed be God, I have so honest a servant."
C/ EFFECTIVE/PREACHING: As the Bible was being read (by order of Henry VIII) and faithful men were preaching: 1 Corinthians 1:21 I accept many embraced Protestantism for the wrong reasons…but this really was a time of revival also and many were converted to Christ.
The Devil was about to hit back…
4) LATIMER AND RIDLEY'S DEATHS:
Henry VIII (a political Protestant but nothing more) died. His son Edward VI then reigned - a faithful Protestant. The Reformation made much headway during his short reign. When he died…Bloody Mary (I) took over and began to exterminate Protestants. During her short reign of 5 years, over 300 men, women and children were put to death. Only crime was their Protestant religion.
A/ LATIMER had spent some time in/out of prison for his faith. Jailed under Henry VIII, released under Edward VI but jailed again by Bloody Mary. He spent his days/prison reading the NT and in prayer. Often examined/challenged by various Romish committees etc., Remained stedfast at all times, arguing for the Biblical faith. He refused to be drawn into any debates over the Church Fathers, but wisely kept to the word/God. (We don't take our faith from Augustine etc., Too modern for our tastes! What saith/Scripture?)Condemned to death for his faith.
B/ RIDLEY likewise was imprisoned/faith. Especially hated by Mary I before whom personally he contended. I have a copy of his works and it is good to see how he used his knowledge/church fathers to confound the Romanists. They would not let him have his books, but he more held his own from his memory. Even with the prospect/death hanging over him, he never wavered once, ever preaching Christ.
C/ Both men were condemned to die together. Died: 16-10-1555 They buoyed each other up. Ridley came first/burned and when he saw Latimer coming…ran and embraced him saying: "Be of good cheer, brother for God will either assuage the fury/flames or else strengthen us to abide it." A renegade preached to them from 1 Corinthians 13:3 Though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. But they refused to recant.
When they kindled the flames, Latimer spoke his immortal words: "Be of good comfort, Master Ridley, and play the man: we shall this day light such a candle, by God's grace, in England, as I trust shall never be put out." As the flames came towards them, "Lord, into thy hands, I commit my spirit, Lord, receive my spirit." Ridley cried: "Father of Heaven, receive my soul!" and received the flame as if embracing it. Both died at the stake, faithful unto death and so eligible to receive the crown of life (Revelation 2:10)
5) LATIMER AND RIDLEY'S LEGACY:
A/ They showed us how living/Christ is absolutely everything.
B/ Our civil and religious liberty.
C/ Our Evangelical Protestant/Christian heritage.
D/ An example should we ever be called so to bear witness/Christ.
E/ A word/unsaved. Men died to bring you the Bible. Mean anything?