16 October 1555 A.D. Bishops Ridley and Latimer—Faithful Unto Death (Burned at Stake)
Dr. Rusten tells
the story from his perspective.
Matthew
24. 13, despite the horrors of the Anglo-Italian IOOs.
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:
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?
What of Newman’s view
of these English Reformers? Keble and Pusey?
Willy Grimbag, Anglican
Province of America?
Willingness of the REC
to unite with the APA?
AMiA, LACNA and
continueers re: English Reformed theology?
Mr. Welby, Canterbury,
and his views?
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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