I don’t know that the title accurately depicts what I wish to talk about, but it seemed clever. Last night, my church covered the next installment of our Reformation series, and we covered the martyrdom of Cranmer, Latimer, and Ridley. I was affected severely by the account of men whose only crime was that they refused to deny the Lord Who bought them.
Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley were burned at the stake for heresy on October 16th, 1555. Ultimately, they were prosecuted and executed for being Protestants under the reign of Bloody Mary. The account of their execution in Fox’s Acts and Monuments is supremely moving. They went to the stake as men of God, and they have received their rewards of God in heaven.
Reportedly, the night before his execution Master Latimer referred to the following day as “my marriage”, referring to his meeting with his Lord, the Christ. He asked people to be in attendance to share this glorious occasion with him. His good cheer and happiness at what he was to experience the following day reportedly moved people to tears.
Would I cry, were I in attendance. I believe I would, gentle readers. In part, I would weep for the loss of such a giant of the Faith in a time of darkness in England. However, the larger part of my tears by far would refer to my own unworthiness to bear the title of Christian with such a man. Would I go to my death calling upon the Lord to bear witness of the charges leveled against me? Would I be of such good cheer? The Lord only gives us strength to bear what He would have us bear, of course, but I don’t know what I would do. Thomas Cranmer, the ex-Archbishop of Canterbury, a contemporary of Masters Ridley and Latimer, recanted Protestantism to attempt to escape death. I was saddened by his recantation, but I feel I would be far more likely to be in his boat than that of Masters Ridley and Latimer. (For what it’s worth, Cranmer later recanted of his recantation, and because he signed with his right hand that which he did not believe in his heart, when the flames were kindled near him, he thrust his hand into the fire until the offending hand was burned to a stump. Would I do such a thing?)
People of God, we are to be a light unto the world. How many times have you neglected to speak of your Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ because you were afraid of what someone else might say of you? How many times have I done the same? Too numerous to number, I am afraid. Let us go throughout our days, with the words of Hugh Latimer resounding in our minds, recalling the words of Christ Who said that the world shall hate us because they first hated Him. Before being burned at the stake, Hugh Latimer said this:
“Be of good comfort, Master Ridley, 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.”
May we have such a heart to serve God and pay the ultimate price if God wills it so.
