The following is a modified excerpt of a sermon preached by Pastor Josh in January of 2025.
At times we erect monuments to remember things we don’t want to forget. We feel that it is so important that we want it etched in stone for everyone to see and remember whenever they pass by. Here in South Royalton we have several such monuments right on our town common. One of them, the Handy Memorial, just a few feet from the front door of the church—it tells a story that the people here did not want forgotten.
In Oxford, England, there is an imposing monument that tells a story that the people there did not want forgotten either. It’s a monument to three church leaders who were burned at the stake in October of 1555. One of them was a man named Hugh Latimer who was burned at the stake by Queen Mary Tudor. What was his crime?
He believed in something called justification by faith alone. In other words, he believed that a person is made right with God merely by simple faith and trust in Jesus alone and not in anything that they have done themselves. In the 16th century this was a very dangerous thing to believe.
Spurgeon, a great preacher in England some three centuries later tells us some about Latimer. He says that Hugh once had the incredible opportunity to preach before the King. When preaching, Hugh spoke his mind very plainly and directly and the sermon displeased his majesty. The King therefore commanded him to preach again on the next Sabbath, and to make an apology for the offense he had given to the King.
The next Sunday it is said, that Bishop Latimer stood up and after reading his text, the bishop began his sermon with these words:
“Hugh Latimer, dost thou know before whom thou art this day to speak? To the high and mighty monarch, the king’s most excellent majesty, who can take away thy life if thou offendest; therefore take heed that thou speakest not a word that may displease! But then consider well, Hugh, dost thou not know from whence thou comest; upon whose message thou art sent? Even by the great and mighty God! who is all present! and who beholdeth all thy ways! and who is able to cast thy soul into hell! Therefore, take care that thou deliverest thy message faithfully.”
See http://www.romans45.org/spurgeon/misc/ep04.htm
He then proceeded with the same sermon he had preached the Sabbath before, but with a great deal more energy. The sermon ended, and everyone was full of expectation to know what would be his fate after such a bold move. Latimer’s boldness received a positive response from the King, following the sermon. However, in years to come, Queen Mary Tudor, otherwise known as “Bloody Mary” would have Latimer burned at the stake, alongside Nicholas Ridley, another bishop. [In the sermon, I misspoke and said that he was later martyred under Henry VIII].
Spurgeon recounts the event:
His words at the stake were characteristic of the man. Addressing Bishop Ridley, who was to die with him, he said, “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.”
See http://www.romans45.org/spurgeon/misc/ep04.htm
When given the choice to please the King (or Queen) or the Lord Almighty, he chose God. Latimer lived for an audience of One.
May we, like Latimer, have courage to live for God alone!
