On this day in 1555, during the reign of Queen Mary I, Nicholas Ridley and Hugh Latimer were burned at the stake in Oxford, England for heresy. Christian biography always serves as a good and necessary reality check and a challenge; that's why I periodically remind you to read good Christian biography (please see my note below). I found the account of these two faithful saints of the English Reformation to be a fitting, humbling, and challenging follow-up to my blog from a couple days ago in which I'd written about Margaret Durham, who "danced and skipped for joy" during the time of the Persecution in Scotland in the following century. In that post, I shared my experience of fighting for joy from three years ago:
On October 9, 2009, sitting in a coffee shop, I began to embrace the promises of God and to seek the face of God in earnest so I might experience Habakkuk 3 joy no matter what: no matter my circumstances, no matter my feelings, no matter what others might say about me or do to me, no matter the amount of fruit (or no fruit) in my ministry, etc. I was seeking to know and to experience joy in the Lord so I might be sustained to carry on and persevere in and through all God had in store for me. I was asking, seeking, and knocking for God-breathed joy such as that which the first century Church possessed (or should I say the joy which possessed them?!) – Habakkuk 3 joy which enabled the early Christians to rejoice and sing in hardship and persecution. I was seeking the joy of the Reformers who would not relent and sang in triumph as they were martyred, and the joy which the Scottish Covenanter Mrs. Durham exhibited (a portion of her story is recounted below).
Reading the account of these two men, we find living proof of how God showered His grace upon and manifested His mighty power in and through Ridley and Latimer, in accordance with Paul's prayer in Colossians 1 to ...
fill these men with the knowledge of God's will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, so they walked worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increased in the knowledge of God; Ridley and Latimer were strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made them meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light... (adapted)
When you who are Christians begin to argue that such patience and longsuffering with joyfulness isn't possible for you, I'll say, "Yes, in one way it isn't." For apart from the mighty power of God at work in you, it is impossible. But remember: the things that are impossible with man are possible with God! God's will for us is to be strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness and thanksgiving. My brothers and sisters, this is part of our inheritance along with all the saints, along with Master Ridley and along with Master Latimer! I pray that as you read the accounts below, you'd remember that Ridley and Latimer and countless saints like them were all men with natures like us (James 5:17). Our God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think (~ Ephesians 3:20-21). Ask, seek, and knock. Ask God to increase your faith, ask the Holy Spirit to descend upon the Word of God, that you might no longer read the Bible's promises as a dead letter but as the living word of God for you, so you might embrace the promises and trust and hope in and plead to this God –– the God who brings life to the dead, the God who calls things into existence that never were! Our God is able to perform that which He promises (~ Romans 4:16-21).
Here were the articles which were being disputed for which Master Ridley and Master Latimer were brought to trial, and which led to their condemnation and martydrom, for these two men (along with Thomas Cranmer) answered "No" to all three:
First, Whether the natural body of Christ be really in the sacrament, after the words spoken by the priest, or no?
Secondly, Whether in the sacrament, after the words of consecration, any other substance do remain, than the substance of the body and blood of Christ?
Thirdly, Whether in the mass be a sacrifice propitiatory for the sins of the quick and the dead?
As we look at the account of their lives in "Foxe's Book of Martyrs," we get a little glimpse into power of the Holy Spirit which was made available to them (and that same power continues to be made available to all who are Christ's today ~ Acts 2:39). As you read, you'll see that both Master Ridley and Master Latimer possessed a
"lively hope" (I Peter 1:3 ~ HT:
@cerwindoris ), and neither one counted his life
dear unto himself (Acts 20:24). Both of these men overcame and triumphed over the devil's schemes
"by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death" (Rev. 12:11).
The night before he [Master Ridley] suffered, his beard was washed and his legs; and, as he sat at supper, the same night, at Master Irish's, (who was his keeper,) he bade his hostess, and the rest at the board, to his marriage; "for," said he, "to-morrow I must be married" and so showed himself to be as merry as ever he was at any time before.
In describing the time of imprisonment of Cranmer, Ridley, and Latimer, Foxe wrote
... they were most godly occupied, either with brotherly conference, or with fervent prayer, or with fruitful writing.
Albeit Master Latimer, by reason of the feebleness of his age, wrote least of them all in this latter time of his imprisonment; yet in prayer he was fervently occupied, wherein oftentimes so long he continued kneeling, that he was not able to rise without help...
And here was one of the "principal matters he [Latimer] prayed for":
That as God had appointed him to be a preacher of his word, so also he would give him grace to stand to his doctrine until his death, that he might give his heart blood for the same....
... concerning his constancy, even in the most extremity the Lord graciously assisted him. For when he stood at the stake without Bocardo-gate at Oxford, and the tormentors about to set the fire to him, and to the learned and godly bishop Master Ridley, he lifted up his eyes towards heaven with an amiable and comfortable countenance, saying these words, "God is faithful, which doth not suffer us to be tempted above our strength." And so afterward by and by shed his blood in the cause of Christ, the which blood ran out of his heart in such abundance, that all those that were present, being godly, did marvel to see the most part of the blood in his body so to be gathered to his heart, and with such violence to gush out, his body being opened by the force of the fire; by the which thing God most graciously granted his request, which was, that he might shed his heart blood in the defence of the gospel.
I could stop there, but I want to give you some further excerpts... beginning with the time when these two dear saints, of whom the world was not worthy, were heading to the stake...
Then Master Ridley, looking back, espied Master Latimer coming after, unto whom he said, "Oh, be ye there?" "Yea," said Master Latimer, "have after as fast as I can follow." So he, following a pretty way off, at length they came both to the stake, the one after the other, where first Dr. Ridley entering the place, marvellous earnestly holding up both his hands, looked towards heaven. Then shortly after espying Master Latimer, with a wondrous cheerful look he ran to him, embraced, and kissed him; and, as they that stood near reported, comforted him, saying, "Be of good heart, brother, for God will either assuage the fury of the flame or else strengthen us to abide it."
With that went he to the stake, kneeled down by it, kissed it, and effectually prayed, and behind him Master Latimer kneeled, as earnestly calling upon God as he. After they arose, the one talked with the other a little while, till they which were appointed to see the execution, removed themselves out of the sun. What they said I can learn of no man. . .
Dr. Ridley and Master Latimer kneeled down upon their knees towards my Lord Williams of Thame, the vice-chancellor of Oxford, and divers other commissioners appointed for that purpose, who sat upon a form thereby; unto whom Master Ridley said, "I beseech you, my Lord, even for Christ's sake, that I may speak but two or three words." And whilst my Lord bent his head to the mayor and vice-chancellor, to know (as it appeared) whether he might give him leave to speak, the bailiffs and Dr. Marshal, vice-chancellor, ran hastily unto him, and with their hands stopped his mouth, and said, "Master Ridley, if you will revoke your erroneous opinions, and recant the same, you shall not only have liberty so to do, but also the benefit of a subject; that is, have your life." "Not otherwise?" said Master Ridley. "No," quoth Dr. Marshal. "Therefore if you will not so do, then there is no remedy but you must suffer for your deserts." "Well," quoth Master Ridley, "so long as the breath is in my body, I will never deny my Lord Christ, and his known truth: God's will be done in me!" And with that he rose up, and said with a loud voice, "Well then, I commit our cause to Almighty God, which shall indifferently judge all." To whose saying, Master Latimer added his old posy, "Well! there is nothing hid but it shall be opened." And he said, he could answer Smith well enough, if he might be suffered.
Incontinently they were commanded to make them ready, which they with all meekness obeyed. Master Ridley took his gown and his tippet, and gave it to his brother-in-law Master Shipside, who all his time of imprisonment, although he might not be suffered to come to him, lay there at his own charges to provide him necessaries, which from time to time he sent him by the serjeant that kept him. Some other of his apparel that was little worth, he gave away; other the bailiffs took.
He gave away besides, divers other small things to gentlemen standing by, and divers of them pitifully weeping, as to Sir Henry Lea he gave a new groat; and to divers of my Lord Williams's gentlemen some napkins, some nutmegs, and rases of ginger; his dial, and such other things as he had about him, to every one that stood next him. Some plucked the points off his hose. Happy was he that might get any rag of him.
Master Latimer gave nothing, but very quietly suffered his keeper to pull off his hose, and his other array, which to look unto was very simple: and being stripped into his shroud, he seemed as comely a person to them that were there present, as one should lightly see; and whereas in his clothes he appeared a withered and crooked silly old man, he now stood bolt upright, as comely a father as one might lightly behold.
Then Master Ridley, standing as yet in his truss, said to his brother, "It were best for me to go in my truss still." "No," quoth his brother, "it will put you to more pain: and the truss will do a poor man good." Whereunto Master Ridley said, "Be it, in the name of God;" and so unlaced himself. Then, being in his shirt, he stood upon the foresaid stone, and held up his hand and said, "O heavenly Father, I give unto thee most hearty thanks, for that thou hast called me to be a professor of thee, even unto death. I beseech thee, Lord God, take mercy upon this realm of England, and deliver the same from all her enemies."
Then the smith took a chain of iron, and brought the same about both Dr. Ridley's and Master Latimer's middle: and, as he was knocking in a staple, Dr. Ridley took the chain in his hand, and shaked the same, for it did gird in his belly, and looking aside to the smith, said, "Good fellow, knock it in hard, for the flesh will have his course." Then his brother did bring him gunpowder in a bag, and would have tied the same about his neck. Master Ridley asked what it was. His brother said, "Gunpowder." "Then," said he, "I will take it to be sent of God; therefore I will receive it as sent of him. And have you any," said he, "for my brother;" meaning Master Latimer. "Yea, sir, that I have," quoth his brother. "Then give it unto him," said he, betime; lest ye come too late." So his brother went, and carried off the same gunpowder unto Master Latimer.
In the mean time Dr. Ridley spake unto my Lord Williams, and said, "My Lord, I must be a suitor unto your Lordship in the behalf of divers poor men, and specially in the cause of my poor sister: I have made a supplication to the queen's Majesty in their behalfs. I beseech your Lordship, for Christ's sake, to be a mean to her Grace for them. My brother here hath the supplication, and will resort to your Lordship to certify you hereof. There is nothing in all the world that troubleth my conscience, I praise God, this only excepted. Whilst I was in the see of London, divers poor men took leases of me, and agreed with me for the same. Now I hear say the bishop that now occupieth the same room, will not allow my grants unto them made, but, contrary unto all law and conscience, hath taken from them their livings, and will not suffer them to enjoy the same. I beseech you, my Lord, be a mean for them: you shall do a good deed, and God will reward you."
Then they brought a faggot, kindled with fire, and laid the same down at Dr. Ridley's feet. To whom Master Latimer spake in this manner "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."
And so the fire being given unto them, when Dr. Ridley saw the fire flaming up towards him. he cried with a wonderful loud voice, In manus teas, Domine, commendo spiritum meum: Domine recipe spiritum meum. And after, repeated this latter part often in English, "Lord, Lord, receive my spirit;" Master Latimer crying as vehemently on the other side, "O Father of heaven, receive my soul!" who received the flame as it were embracing of it. After that he had stroked his face with his hands, and as it were bathed them a little in the fire, he soon died (as it appeareth) with very little pain or none. And thus much concerning the end of this old and blessed servant of God, Master Latimer, for whose laborious travails, fruitful life, and constant death, the whole realm hath cause to give great thanks to Almighty God.
But Master Ridley, by reason of the evil making of the fire unto him, because the wooden faggots were laid about the gorse, and over-high built, the fire burned first beneath, being kept down by the wood; which when he felt, he desired them for Christ's sake to let the fire come unto him. Which when his brother-in-law heard, but not well understood, intending to rid him out of his pain, (for the which cause he gave attendance,) as one in such sorrow not well advised what he did, heaped faggots upon him, so that he clean covered him, which made the fire more vehement beneath, that it burned clean all his nether parts, before it once touched the upper; and that made him leap up and down under the faggots, and often desire them to let the fire come unto him, saying, "I cannot burn." Which indeed appeared well; for, after his legs were consumed by reason of his struggling through the pain, (whereof he had no release, but only his contentation in God,) he showed that side toward us clean, shirt and all untouched with flame. Yet in all this torment he forgot not to call unto God still, having in his mouth, "Lord, have mercy upon me," intermingling his cry, "Let the fire come unto me, I cannot burn." In which pangs he laboured till one of the standers-by with his bill pulled off the faggots above, and where he saw the fire flame up, he wrested himself unto that side. And when the flame touched the gunpowder, he was seen to stir no more, but burned on the other side, falling down at Master Latimer's feet; which, some said, happened by reason that the chain loosed; others said, that he fell over the chain by reason of the poise of his body, and the weakness of the nether limbs.
Some said, that before he was like to fall from the stake, he desired them to hold him to it with their bills. However it was, surely it moved hundreds to tears in beholding the horrible sight; for I think there was none that had not clean exiled all humanity and mercy, which would not have lamented to behold the fury of the fire so to rage upon their bodies. Signs there were of sorrow on every side. Some took it grievously to see their deaths, whose lives they held full dear: some pitied their persons, that thought their souls had no need thereof. His brother moved many men, seeing his miserable case, seeing (I say) him compelled to such infelicity, that be thought then to do him best service, when he hastened his end. Some cried out of the fortune, to see his endeavour (who most dearly loved him, and sought his release) turn to his greater vexation and increase of pain. But whoso considered their preferments in time past, the places of honour that they some time occupied in this commonwealth, the favour they were in with their princes, and the opinion of learning they had in the university where they studied, could not choose but sorrow with tears, to see so great dignity, honour, and estimation, so necessary members sometime accounted, so many godly virtues, the study of so many years, such excellent learning, to be put into the fire, and consumed in one moment. Well! dead they are, and the reward of this world they have already. What reward remaineth for them in heaven, the day of the Lord's glory, when he cometh with his saints, shall shortly, I trust, declare.
* * *
Do you have a "lively hope" like that of Ridley and Latimer, or is your hope, for all intents and purposes, a dead hope?
Have you found yourself graced with "an amiable and comfortable countenance" in time of trial?
As a Christian, you have been granted access to the throne of grace through the shed blood and torn flesh of the Lord Jesus Christ. Do you make time to seek the face of God and sup with Him and regularly reflect upon and savor the great salvation that is already yours in Jesus Christ, and look ahead with anticipation to the Marriage Supper that awaits you, so that no matter the situation, you might show yourself to be "as merry as ever"?
We may not go to the flame as did Ridley and Latimer, but may we pray for the mighty power of the Lord of hosts to come to us so we might rejoice in the Lord always, for that is God's will for us.
We’re Marching to Zion
(Isaac Watts, 1707, boldface mine)
We’re marching to Zion,
Beautiful, beautiful Zion;
We’re marching upward to Zion,
The beautiful city of God.
The hill of Zion yields
A thousand sacred sweets
Before we reach the heav’nly fields,
Before we reach the heav’nly fields,
Or walk the golden streets,
Or walk the golden streets.
We’re marching to Zion,
Beautiful, beautiful Zion;
We’re marching upward to Zion,
The beautiful city of God.
Then let our songs abound,
And every tear be dry;
We’re marching through Immanuel’s ground,
We’re marching through Immanuel’s ground,
To fairer worlds on high,
To fairer worlds on high.
Matthew 1:23
“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call his name Immanuel”
(which means, GOD WITH US)
HT for the text of Foxe's "Book of Martyrs":
http://www.exclassics.com/foxe/foxecont.htm You can access the entire book at that site.
To read more on the Marian persecutions: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marian_Persecutions
Related posts:
My other letters on assurance & fighting for joy including:
Letter 17 on assurance and fighting for joy (will we be diligent to enter into His joy?)
asking a hard thing (letter 84 on assurance & fighting for joy)
five years ago ~ for your joy (AND an inheritance | Richard Sibbes & the Sealing of the Spirit) ~ Letter 136
Three Years Later: Dancing & Skipping with Mrs. Durham | Letter 147 on fighting for joy
Why not pray for the baptism of the Holy Spirit
"The Christian should not just believe the truth, and know it..." | the Father's assurance
Advent #1 WHY HAS JESUS COME? that we might have life & life more abundantly
the best Mother's Day present: to see my children rebel
Reformation Sunday: Luther-"Just an individualist who never co-operated" or Contender for the truth?
the church reformed, always being reformed, lest we become deformed (Reformation Day)
Reformation Rebels: Are you willing to be a rebel for the sake of the Church?
the church reformed, always being reformed, lest we become deformed (Reformation Day)
"the infinite significance of the eternal Kingdom"
postcards from England: we're never to give way to false gospels
A little child shall lead us: Christ died for our sins (precious penal substitution)
"All My Heart This Night Rejoices" - the Lamb ... full atonement maketh
How could we? (Bible Reading - Leviticus 22)
the priest shall make atonement
Regarding Christian biography: Please see my tags marked bio. Also, if you're not sure where to start in regard to Christian biography, I'd suggest your checking out John Piper's biographical messages found at http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/biographies/by-title. Some of these are now available in PDF as well as ebook format; please check here: http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/books/by-title.
Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Holy Bible.
Photo credit: I edited the image found here: http://magicstatistics.com/wp-content/pictures/art/Ridley_Latimer.jpg / Originally from Foxe's Book of Martyrs / {{PD-Old}}
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