Of the birth and parentage of Latimer little is known beyond that his father was a yeoman farmer in Leicestershire, but we find by the Cambridge University register that he obtained his Bachelor’s degree in 1510, after the usual four years’ residence. His chief study was that of Divinity, in which he was eminent. He was a zealous Papist, till he accidentally became acquainted with a fellow student named Thomas Bilney (“little Bilney,” as Latimer used to call him). Young Bilney was brought very low, and his mental struggles have been compared to those of Luther. In his own words, “But at last I heard speak of Jesus, even then when the first New Testament was set forth by Erasmus, which I had obtained, being allured by the Latin, rather than the Word of God—I bought it, even by the providence of God—as I do now well perceive—and, at the first reading of it, as I well remember, I chanced upon this sentence of St. Paul: ‘It is a true saying, and worthy of all men to be embraced, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the chief and principal.’ This one sentence, through God’s instruction and inward working, which I did not then perceive, did so exhilarate my heart, being before wounded with the guilt of my sins, and being almost in despair, that immediately I felt a marvellous comfort and quietness within, insomuch that my bruised bones leaped for joy.”
Under the blessing of the Most High, Thomas Bilney was led to show Latimer how repugnant to common sense, the whole tenor of Scripture, the glory of God, and the true interest of man, the Popish religion was. He then applied himself to the diligent study of the Word, and was led to embrace the truth as it is in Jesus.
His opposition to the idolatrous worship of Rome caused him many enemies; chief amongst them was Dr. Wells, Bishop of Ely, who forbade him to preach in any of the Cambridge churches. However, he obtained a church in West Kingston, where he continued some time under the blessing of God on his ministry. But, suddenly, he was summoned to London, and was there accused to Dr. Wareham, Archbishop of Canterbury, with speaking against the worship of the Virgin Mary. After being detained in London for some time, he obtained the favour of King Henry VIII, who preferred him to the Bishopric of Worcester. There he continued for some years till he was suspected of heresy and committed a prisoner to the Tower of London—to be again set at liberty on the accession of Edward VI.
The historian tells us that he used frequently to say he would lose his life for preaching the gospel. Queen Mary had no sooner ascended the throne when his prediction began to be verified. Latimer was accused of heresy in company with Dr. Ridley, and they both laid down their lives for the faith “once delivered to the saints,” on October the 16th, 1555, at Oxford.
As a preacher, Dr. Latimer was stern and rugged, and his oft-time quaintness did not detract from the solemnity of his preaching. One of his best-known sermons is entitled “The Plough,” and we give the following extract from that discourse:—
“And now I would ask a strange question: who is the most diligentest bishop and prelate in all England, that passeth all the rest in doing his office? I can tell, for I know him who it is, I know him well. But now I
think I see you listening and hearkening, that I should name him. There is one that passeth all the other, and is the diligent prelate and preacher in all England. And will ye know who it is? I will tell you. It is the devil. He is the most diligent preacher of all other; he is never out of his diocese; he is never from his cure; ye shall never find him unoccupied; he is ever in his parish; he keepeth residence at all times; ye shall never find him out of the way: call for him when you will, he is ever at home; the diligentest preacher in all the realm; he is ever at his plough: no lording nor loitering can hinder him; he is ever applying his business, ye shall never find him idle, I warrant you. And his office is to hinder religion, to maintain superstition, to set up idolatry, to teach all kind of popery. He is ready as can be wished, for to set forth his plough; to devise as many ways as can be to deface and obscure God’s glory. Where the devil is resident, and hath his plough going, there away with books, and up with candles; away with Bibles, and up with beads; away with the light of the gospel, and up with the light of candles, yea, at noondays. Where the devil is resident, that he may prevail, up with all superstition and idolatry; censing, painting of images, candles, palms, ashes, holy water, and new service of men’s inventing; as though man could invent a better way to honour God with, than God himself hath appointed. Down with Christ’s cross, up with purgatory pickpurse, up with him, the popish purgatory, I mean. Away with clothing the naked, the poor and impotent; up with decking of images and gay, garnishing of stocks and stones. Up with man’s traditions and his laws, down with God’s traditions and his most holy word. Down with the old honour due to God, and up with the new God’s honour: let all things be done in Latin. There must be nothing but Latin, not as much as Memento homo quod cinis es, et in cinerem reverteris, ‘Remember, man, that thou art ashes, and into ashes thou shalt return’: which be the words that the minister speaketh to the ignorant people, when he giveth them ashes upon Ash Wednesday; but it must be spoken in Latin: God’s word may in no wise be translated into English.
Oh that our prelates would be as diligent to sow the corn of good doctrine, as Satan is to sow cockle and darnel!”—A. T. T.