Philip Edgcumbe Hughes, MA, ThD: "Theology of the English Reformers:" Ch...

From the Captivity Epistles of the English Reformers before their martyrdoms for Christ, His Word, His Teachings, His Gospel and His worldview. Old Hugh Latimer in a letter to a fellow-inmate for Christ’s cause and Word: “The wise men of the world can fin shifts to avoid the cross…and the unstable in faith can set themselves to rest with the world; but the simple servant of Christ doth look for no other but oppression in the world. And then is it their most glory, when they be under the cross of their Master Christ; which He did bear, not only for our redemption, but also for an example to us, that we should follow His steps in suffering, that we might be partakers of His glorious resurrection…We are now more near to God than ever we were, yea, we are at the gate of heaven; and we are a joyful spectacle to become, in this our captivity, to God, to the angles, and to all His saints, who look that we should end our course with glory. WE have found the precious stone of the Gospel, for the which we ought to sell all that we have in the world. And shall we exchange or lay to gage the precious treasure which we have in our hands for a few days to lament in the world, contrary to our vocation? God forbit it! But let us, as Christ willeth us in St. Luke. `Look up, and lift up our head, for our redemption is at hand.’…Embrace Christ’s cross, and Christ shall embrace you.” Works, 2.429ff.