16 October 1555 A.D. Bishops Ridley and Latimer—Faithful Unto Death
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| Oxford Memorial Was strenunously opposed by Tractarians John Henry Newman, Edward Bouverie Pusey and John Keble |
16 October 1555 A.D. Bishops
Ridley and Latimer—Faithful Unto Death
Dr. Rusten tells the story from
his perspective.
Rusten, E. Michael and Rusten,
Sharon. The One Year Christian History.
Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2003. Available at: http://www.amazon.com/The-Year-Christian-History-Books/dp/0842355073/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1393302630&sr=8-1&keywords=rusten+church+history
Matthew 24. 13, despite
the horrors of the Anglo-Italian IOOs (IOO = Inquisitor Office Operatives)
In 1534, Henry VIII
sovereignly made himself the Head and Governor of the Church of England. He became the English Pope. If that conclusion does not obtain, then he
made the Archbishop of Canterbury an English Pope. It’s debatable and arguable. But this much, the Pope’s wings were clipped
in England. It did not bode well for the
future since England would, in time, become a Protestant bastion of Reformed
theology—at least until the Hillbilly or Goatbilly of Canterbury, Laud. But, Reformed theology dominated well into
the 17th century even after the Goatbilly.
Cranmer made Latimer a
royal chaplain. Latimer had become a
Christian upon the counsel of another Biblical Churchman and after such
counsel. Cranmer made Ridley his own chaplain.
Both Latimer and Ridley were in development. As the years passed, both became more Reformed
in theology.
In the late 1530s, the
400-lb. Tyrant with a 58-inch waist, Henry VIII, gave his unwitting support for
a publishing of an English Bible for 9000 English parishes. It was a Tyndale-Coverdale edition. Cromwell and Cranmer may have known the
origins of such, but the confusion continues.
What did the English fat-cat know?
Meanwhile, Cranmer was pressing for an English liturgy.
As the Cow aged, he
became more tyrannical. Although the Six
Articles passed, forcing Miles Coverdale’s departure from England and Latimer’s
resignation, yet, after one year, the 400-lb. Tub suspended enforcement of the
Six Articles.
Henry VIII met his Maker
in 1547. His son, Edward VI, acceded to
the throne in 1547. Cranmer pressed his
advantages and was influential. Latimer
was busy preaching twice per Sabbath.
But, the principalities
and powers of the air prevailed for a while.
Edward VI died. A puppet Queen,
Mary 1, acceded to the throne and replaced Reformed bishops with IOO-Anglo-Italian clerks.
On 16 October 1555 A.D., Latimer and Ridley, having been tried and
convicted, were led from their prison to the burning-stakes.
Latimer famously said to
Ridley, “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.” Cranmer watched their burning from
a nearside window where he was being held prisoner.
Has that candle been
extinguished in England by liberalism and the TFOs? Secularism? And more?
Cranmer was degraded
publicly in a formal ceremony. That is,
the symbols of Canterburian rule were physically removed from him. After his degradation, he was returned to
jail. He was offered chances to recant;
he did. Anti-christ Mary and the IOOs,
however, were losing the PR war. Cranmer recanted.
But, upon the platform
and before death, Cranmer declared, “As for the pope, I refused him, as
Christ’s enemy and Anti-christ with all his false doctrine.” Cranmer was pulled
from the platform. He ran to the stake. He died bravely, a Protestant, Reformed,
Confessional, Creedal and liturgical Churchman.
Questions:
1.
What
has changed since 1555 and 1556? Is the
leader of the Roman-outfit any less an Antichrist? With his false gospel of Trent? Where are the Englishmen and the Church of
England on this in 2014?
2. What of Newman’s view of these English Reformers? Keble and Pusey?
3.
Willy
Grimbag, Anglican Province of America?
4.
Willingness
of the REC to unite with the APA?
5.
AMiA,
LACNA and continueers re: English Reformed theology?
6.
Mr.
Welby, Canterbury, and his views?
7.
Speaking
of hope and the future, e.g. Latimer’s statement to Ridley, how does that
relate to eschatology, the inter-regnum state of believers, fidelity and future
hopes?
Sources
Atkinson, James. The Great Light: Luther and the Reformation.
Vol. 4 of The Advance of Christianity through the Centuries. Edited by F.F.
Bruce. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1968. 193-221.
Breward, I. “Cranmer,
Thomas.” WWCH. 179-80.
Durant. The Reformation. 523-601.
Petty, P.W. “Edward VI
(1537-1553.” NIDCC. 333-4.
Pollard, Noel S.
“Cranmer, Thomas (1489-1556).” NIDCC. 269-70.
Steer. Guarding the Holy Fire. 22-40.
Toon, P. “Latimer, Hugh.”
WWCH. 413.
-------“Mary Tudor.”
WWCH. 460-1.
-------“Ridley,
Nicholas.” WWCH. 589-90.
Williamson. Foxe’s Book of Martyrs. 290-315.
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