Literary cadet, and Saturday evening bulletin. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1826-1827, 1826-08-12
MISCELLANY.

merely TO show that ianatcism has'n all ages been
a scourge and I" a plague spot" to the world. and
also to show the independence of Latimer.
The first remarkable occasion which Latimer,
one of that glorious army Of martyrs who ntrodu-
ced the reformation into England, publicly avowed
his opinions respecting the corruptions Of the Ro-
mish Church, was in a course Of sermons, which he
delivered during the Christmas holidays before the
Univ ersity Of Cambridge, to which he belonged
lie insisted particularly on the great abuse of lock-
ing up the Scriptures in an unknnwn tongue and
endeavored to show, that in comparison with the
religion of the heart, external observances were of
no manner Of value. The orthodox part of the
clergy, as they were then called, could not allow
such hereses to pass without some attempt at
public confutation of them. The task under
taken by Dr. Buckingham, Prior of the Black FRI
ars-who appeared in the same pulpit few Sun
days after, and with great 2omp and prolxity, de-
clared against the dangerous tendency OF Latimers
opinions particularly the dreadful notion Of having
the Scriptures in English II that heresy, said he,
were to prevail, we should see end of every
thing useful among US. The ploughman, reading
that if he put his hand to the plough and should
happen to look back, he unfit for the kingdom
of heaven, would soon lay aside his labor the bs-
ker. likewise, reading that little leaven will cor
rupt his lump, would give us very insipid bread
the simple man also finding himself commanded to
pluck out his own eyes, iE a few years we should
have the nation full of blind beggsrs Latimer
could not help listening with secret pleasure to this
ingenious reasoning, aud longed till opportunity
came round for exposing it. When ii came again
to his turn to preach, the whole University crowd
ed to hear.
Among the rest, Prior Buckingham entered the
Church with his cowl about his shoulders, anu
seated himself with air of importance, before the
pulpit. Latimer, with great gravity, recaptula-
ted the learned Doctors arguments, placed them n
the strongest light, and then assailed them WITH
such how Of wit, and at the same time with 50
much good humor, that without exciting one unta-
vorable sentiment against himself, he made his ad
versary in the highest degree, ridiculous. He then,
with great address, appealed TO the people; de-
scanting upon the low esteem in which their guides
had always held their understandings expressed
his indignation at their being treated with such
contempt; and wished that his honest countrymen
might only have the use OF the Scriptures till they
were guilty Of SO absurd Interpretation of them,
as that apprehended by the learned friar.
Latmer afterwards interdicted from preach
ing by his Diocesan, the Bishop Of Ely, but there
fortunately happened at that time to be Protes-
tant Prior IN Cambridge, DR.. Barnes, Of the Au.
strian Friars, who having monastery exempt from
episcopal jurisdiction, and being great admirer Of
Latimer. boldly licensed HIM TO preach there
The late opposition had greatly excited the Gu
r,osity of the people, and the friar's chapel was
soon incapable of containing the crowds that solicit
ed admission. Ii is not little remarkable, that
the Bishop Of Ety. who had interdicted Latiner,
was now often one OF his hearers end had the in
genuousness to declare, that he among the
best preachers he had ever heard.
After Laimer's promotion to the See of Worces-
ter IN the time of Henry VIII. he preached before
the court. The sermon which he delivered on the
occasion, was, at a subsequent convocation Of the
Bishops, at which the King was present, denounced
to his Majesty as seditious by the Bishop of Win
chester. Latmer being called upon by Henry,
rith some sternness, to vindicate himself was so
.ar from denying or even pallating what he had
said, that he boldly justified it and turning to the
King with that noble uuconcern which good con-
science inspires, made this answer ' never
thought myself worthy, and never sued to be a
preacher before your Grace but was called to it,
and would be willing if you mislike it, to give
place to my betters, for ] grant there may be as
great and many more worthy Of the room than |
am And il it be your Grace's pleasure to allow
them for preachers, could be content to bear their
books after them. But if your Grace allow me for
preacher, would desire you TO give me leave to
discharge my conscience, and to frame my doctrine
according to my audience. | had been very dolt
indeed, to have preached at the borders Of your
realm, az preach beiore your Grace" This an.
swer baffled the malice of his accuser. The sever.
ty of the Kings countensnce relaxed into o gra-
c,ou. smile; and Latimer was dismissed with that
obliging freedom which this monarch never used
but to those he esteemed.
During the three first years Of the succeeding
reign Of EdwardVf. Latimer preached the Len,
sermons bsfore his majesty, and such were the
crowds which then resorted to hear him, that Hey
lin tells us the pulpit removed out Of the Roy
al Chapel into the Privy Garden.
His style Of preaching is said 10 have been ex.
tremely captivating simple and familiar, often en-
liyened with anecdote, irony and bumor and still
otener swelling into strains Of the most impasnon.