Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1850-01-01
Hugh LStimer.

This brave old Bishop, an apostolic pre-
late of the true stamp, gallant chief in
the noble army of Martyrs, is the earliest
great name, now eXtant, in the long list Of
great English Divines. His humor and
eloquence, rude and homely as they are,
were, in his day, above rivalry; and to
him was conceded the fame not only Of
the simple-minded and upright Christian,
but also of the fervid, indignant, copiouS
orator. He was, beyond dispute, the ST.
Paul of London, of the sixteenth century,
who attracted the dainty ears Of fastidious
scholars and high-bred courtiers, equally
with the unlettered, but not inattentive au-
.dielces of lower stamp. Admired by
the gentry, except where he was feared
for his honesty, he was the idol of the
popuIace, who would crowd round him as
he walked down the Strand, to preach at
Whitehall, and,. endeavoring to catch but
the hem of his cloak, would cry aloud:
/" Have at them, Father Latimer. "F
The life of Latimer is impressed with
more than one important lesson. A great
change occurred both in his doctrines and
his preaching. He was, at one time, a
jealous Romanist, and preached with Sc
verify against the Reformers, rejecting
bitterly against MeIancthon, the gentlest
of men. Again, he renounced the Pope,
and declared in favor of Henry, both as to
his supremacy as head of the church, and
in the matter of the divorce. Finally, he
became a decided Protestant, and was
distinguished leader of the Reformation,
under Edward VI, when he was at the
zenith of his popularity. In the savage
reign of Mary, lie was burnt at the stake,
with those other glorious Martyrs to truth
and religious liberty, Cranmer and Ridley,
x Some of his sermons, in them.
selves, were true Juvenal strains. Many
of his discourses might be collected under
the same title that Wither adopted for his
satires "Abuses stript and whipt;" and
the good Bishops censures were far from
unavaling. His keen rebukes cut many
to the heart. In his second sermon,
preached before King Edward, he refers
to the common practice Of giving and ia
king bibles, and also to restitution. He
proceeds, in his plain, direct way: have
now preached three Lents. The first time
preached Restitution. Restitution ,
quoth some, what should he preach of
Restitution Let him preach of Contri-
non, and let Restitution alone: we can
never make restitutionn Then, say |, if
thou wilt not make restitution, thou shalt
90 to the devil for it. Now, choose thee,
either restitution or endless damnatOn.
But now there he two manners of restltu-
ton; secret restitution and open restltu
ton; whether of both it be, SO that rGsti
tuition is made, it is all good enough. At
my first preaching of restitution, one good
man took remorse Of conscience, and ac-
knowledged himself to me that he had de-
ceived the king, and willing he was to
make restitution and so, the first Lent,
twenty pounds came to my hands to be
restored to the Kings use was prom
ised twenty pounds more the same Lent,
but it could not be made, so that it came
not Well, the next Lent, came three
hundred and twenty pounds more. re-
ceived ii myself, and paid it to the Kings
council. So, was asked what he was
that had made restitution. But should |
have named him! Nay, they should as
soon have this weasand Of mine. Well,
now, this Lent, came one hundred and
four pounds ten shilIings, which | have
paid and delivered this present day to the
Kings council. And SO this man hath 4
Cody restitution"
He was honest, bold, simple and plous.
His honesty was enlightened by judgment
and experience-his boldness was con-
frmed by truth and sincerity. His sim
plicity was the transparent veil Of bis free
thoughts and manly actions, and his Piety
gave a tone to, and cast lustre over all
these. Inheriting the democratic
tendencies of the Saxon, he feared not to
rebuKe mobiles and prelates, although HIM
Self priest; nor to recognize the God
like characteristics of humanity in the
meanest individual. Loved in life, hon
ored in death, though suffering Martyr,
and yenerated by all after ages.