LEARNING WHILE TEACHING; OR, SEEING HIMSELF IN ANOTHER'S FACE
"To thee it was given
Many to save with thyself,
And at the end of thy day,
O faithful shepherd! to come
Bringing thy sheep in thy hand.”
—MATTHEW ARNOLD.
“The way a man talks about his soul is more than what he says very often. It's like feelin' the pulse, and tells more than lookin' into his face." —DANIEL QUORM
“I find in the daily practice and experience of my soul that the knowledge of God and Christ, and the Holy Ghost, and the truth of the Scripture, and the life to come, is more to me than the most curious speculations." —BAXTER
A.D. 1524-1526.
TRAINED IN EGYPT THAT HE MIGHT DELIVER ISRAEL— MEN FULFILLING GOD'S DESIGN WHILE PLEASING THEMSELVES WON— STRANGELY LISTENING— WITH THE LEFT EAR PREACHING BY KINDNESS SMELLING THE WORD OF GOD— PROTECTED BY AN ENEMY.
THUS was Latimer diligently trained in the old learning in order that he might become a more zealous champion of the truth. The gracious Providence which now destined the promulgation of the doctrines of the Gospel was meanwhile preparing for Latimer a place for service. Wolsey, who now ruled both England and its King, was a patron of learning, and was also shrewd enough to perceive the urgent necessity that there was for a Reformation. From motives of worldly prudence, he aimed at the correction of abuses when he should have attained the Popedom, which was the daring goal of his proud ambition. Charles the Fifth promised his assistance, but, with his usual faithlessness, he contrived to secure the ruin of the man whom he professed to serve. Had the two men but pursued their common aims together, the Reformation, humanly speaking, would have been greatly delayed, if not rendered impossible, at least as a spiritual movement.
The same watchful Providence which led Charles the Fifth to quarrel with the one statesman who had hopes and aims similar to his own induced Wolsey to shelter the Bible-readers who were becoming numerous in Cambridge. The great Cardinal stopped the Bishops and Parliament in their persecuting career, and during the interval of quiet which was thus secured Latimer was converted. This momentous and unexpected change fell out thus. Upon the occasion of his taking his degree of Bachelor of Divinity at Michaelmas 1524, Latimer delivered a violent oration against Philip Melancthon. This discourse greatly delighted the Catholic party, who looked upon the preacher as a champion who would eventually destroy the new heresy.
“But," says the old chronicler, "such was the goodness and merciful purpose of God, that when Latimer thought by that his oration to have utterly defaced the professors of the Gospel and true Church of Christ, he was himself, by a member of the same, prettily, yet godly, caught in the blessed net of God's Word. For Master Thomas Bilney, seeing Master Latimer to have a zeal in his ways, although without knowledge, was stricken with a brotherly pity, and bethought by what means he might best win this his zealous yet ignorant brother to the true knowledge of Christ.”
Says Latimer of this Bilney: "Pretending as though he would be taught by me, he sought ways and means to teach me. He came to me in my study, and desired me for God's sake to hear his confession. I did so, and to say the truth, by his confession I learned more than before in many years. So from that time forward I began to smell the Word of God, and forsook the School Doctors and such fooleries.”
Bilney related with touching simplicity and pathos the anguish which he had himself endured for so long, and how at last he had found peace through the blood of Christ. Latimer was deeply touched, and he wept freely as he heard his own experience partially portrayed. Like Bilney, he had long sought for rest, but had not found what he craved for, and convicted by the power of the Holy Spirit, he shed bitter tears. "Brother," said Bilney, "though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow." Latimer took comfort from his friend's words, and he immediately avowed his changed opinions. He waited upon Stafford, and craved his pardon for the many insults which he had heaped upon the Bible-teacher; and he now associated especially with Bilney, in whose company he was daily. One favorite walk of the two friends was long nicknamed the Heretic's Hill, in memory of their friendship.
“After this his winning to Christ," says Foxe, "he was not satisfied with his own conversion only; but, like a true disciple of the blessed Samaritan, pitied the misery of others, and therefore he became both a public preacher, and also a private instructor to the rest of his brethren within the University by the space of two years, spending his time partly in the Latin tongue amongst the learned, and partly amongst the simple people in his natural and vulgar language.”
Bilney's reputation as a preacher was now very high in Cambridge, and although, to use his own expression, "many listened with the left ear, having like Malchus the right ear cut off" (that is, hearing maliciously), most hung upon his words with delight. Latimer at last had begun to exhibit the powers which were afterward to be of such conspicuous service to the Reformation. "He was one of the first," says Strype, "who in the days of King Henry the Eighth set himself to preach the Gospel in the truth and simplicity of it." Nor were they content with preaching alone, for, as in subsequent Reformations, works of practical philanthropy attested the purity of their faith. The Bible-readers visited the jails and preached to the prisoners, and some of the captives were converted. They also visited the lepers and nursed the poor sufferers from that dreadful disease. This continued for nearly a year, and although their enemies complained bitterly of the new faith, the Cardinal's authority prevented any persecution of the truth. As yet neither Bilney, Latimer, nor Stafford had renounced all the errors of Popery; nor were they at all desirous of separating themselves from the Church of Rome. But they read their Bibles, and, to quote Latimer's phrase, "having began to smell the Word of God," their surrendering of the follies of Popery was only a question of time.
But now another step was to be made in advance, and once more Wolsey was to serve the purpose of God while seeking alone to accomplish his own selfish ends. The Cardinal had erected a magnificent college in Oxford, which he was desirous of supplying with eminent scholars. The institution, he hoped, would perpetuate his own name. Accordingly the Cardinal's agents visited Cambridge, and succeeded in inducing a band of scholars to accompany them to Oxford. Among them there were several of the most eminent of Bilney's disciples, and they disseminated their opinions in Oxford with unwearying assiduity. Thus, in Oxford the Word of God was preached with such success, that when an inquiry was held, three years afterward, into the matter, it was found that the University was largely infected with the new opinions. "Would God my Lord's Grace the Cardinal had never been motioned to call Clarke or any other Cambridge man into his most towardly college," lamented Dr. Loudon, one of the heads of houses. "We were clear without blot or suspicion until they came, and some of them long time hath had a shrewd name." An adage long lingered in Cambridge which commemorates these happy times thus:—
"When Master Stafford read,
And Master Latimer preached,
Then was Cambridge blessed.”
Among Latimer's hearers there was a youth of sixteen years of age. Thomas Becon— for that was his name— afterward became chaplain to Cranmer, the Reformer. "If I possess the knowledge of God," he said, "I owe it (under God) to Latimer." Referring to Latimer and his sermons at this period, Becon says: "Oh! how vehement was he in rebuking all sins, idolatry, false and idle swearing, covetousness! How was he wont to rebuke the beneficed men for neglecting and not teaching their flock, and for being absent from their cures! How free was his speech against buying and selling of benefices, against promoting unlearned, ignorant men to livings; against Popish pardons, and reposing our hope in our own works or other men's merits! None except the stiff-necked and uncircumcised ever went away from his preaching without being affected with high detestation against sin, and moved to all godliness and virtue.”
As with every other useful enterprise, this effort met with bitter opposition and dislike: "Swarms of friars and doctors flocked against Master Latimer on every side. Openly in their unsavory sermons, they resisted his godly purpose.”
At length West, Bishop of Ely, resolved to interfere with Latimer, and "without any intelligence to be given to Latimer, he came secretly and suddenly from Ely and entered into the University church, Latimer being then well entered into his sermon." The preacher was, however, not to be so caught; he calmly paused until the gorgeous retinue were seated, and then he remarked, "A new auditory, and one of such honorable rank, requireth a new theme." He, therefore, with an eye to West and the ecclesiastical dignitaries who accompanied him, began a discourse upon the words of St. Paul, "But Christ being come a High Priest of things to come" (Heb. 9:1111But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; (Hebrews 9:11)). After an exposition of the context in which these words stand, Latimer began to speak of our Lord "as the true and perfect pattern unto all other bishops." Latimer did not spare his caustic wit, and the auditory must have writhed under the faithful words of the preacher. West, however, was both a politician and a courtier, and he thanked the preacher for his excellent sermon with assumed politeness. He professed himself to be delighted with Latimer's exposition of the pastoral office. "Indeed," he said, "if you will do one thing at my request, I will kneel down and kiss your feet for the good admonition that I have received of your sermon.”
“What is your Lordship's pleasure that I should do for you?" quoth Mr. Latimer.
“Marry, that you will preach me in this place one sermon against Martin Luther and his doctrine.”
Latimer quite understood the prelate's meaning, and he replied calmly, "My Lord, I am not acquainted with the doctrine of Luther, nor are we permitted here to read his works. Sure I am that I have preached before you this day no man's doctrine, but only the doctrine of God out of the Scriptures. If Luther do none otherwise than I have done, there need eth no confutation of his doctrine!”
“Well, well, Master Latimer," exclaimed the prelate, forgetting his assumed courtesy in his annoyance at being outwitted, "I perceive that you smell somewhat of the pan. One day or other you will repent of that merchandise.”
The Bishop railed publicly against Latimer, and forbade him to preach anywhere within his diocese.
The imprudence, also, of one of the Reformers contributed not a little to aid the designs of this enemy Robert Barnes, who was also a native of Norwich was at that period at the head of the Augustinian Convent at Cambridge. Impulsive and unstable, Barnes was much attached to Latimer, and without having previously looked all round the question, he determined to strike a blow on behalf of his friend. Barnes accordingly declaimed from the pulpit against the pride and luxury of the bishops, whom he declared to be followers of Judas. Especially did he comment upon the magnificence of Cardinal Wolsey, who, whatever other faults he may have had, had not previously been a persecutor. This unwise attack provoked Wolsey, and the preacher was at once arrested. A diligent search was at the same time made for the many heretical books which were now known to be in the University. The Reformers, however, had been warned of the intended visit in time, and they had removed the obnoxious volumes. "God be praised the books were not to be found.”
Barnes himself was induced to recant, and was publicly exhibited bearing a fagot upon his shoulder. Thus it was evident that not by means of wrath and anger was the Gospel to win its way, but by methods which were far more in accordance with its spirit. Barnes had not only disgraced himself by his imprudence and weakness, but he had involved his friends in his own ruin. Latimer was therefore exposed to the bitter hostility of West, who seized the opportunity of accusing him to the Cardinal. That dignitary sent for him.
“Latimer was called before Wolsey into his inner chamber by the sound of a little bell, which the Cardinal used to ring when any person should come or approach unto him," says an eye-witness.
“When Mr. Latimer was before him, he well advised him, and said, ‘Is your name Latimer?’
“Yea, forsooth! ' quoth Latimer.
“You seem,' quoth the Cardinal, that you are of good years, and no babe, but one that should wisely and soberly use yourself in all your doings. And yet it is reported to me of you that you are much infected with this new fantastical doctrine of Luther and such-like heretics, and that you do very much harm among the youth and other light-heads with your doctrine.'
“Said Mr. Latimer again: Your Grace is misinformed, for I ought to have some more knowledge than to be so simply reported of, by reason that I have studied in my time both the ancient doctors of the Church and the School doctors.'
Upon which the Cardinal bade two of his chaplains 'examine Latimer as to proficiency in the theological learning of the time. Latimer proved himself more deeply read than his examiners, and the Cardinal observed—
“What mean ye to bring such a man before me into accusation? I had thought that he had been some light-headed fellow, that never studied such kinds of doctrine as the School doctors' are. I pray thee, Latimer, tell me the cause why the Bishop of Ely and others do dislike thy preachings; tell me the truth, and I will bear with thee upon amendment.'”
Thus adjured, Latimer recounted the incident concerning the sermon which has already been referred to in this chapter. At the Cardinal's request he repeated as much of his sermon as he could remember. Says the narrator: "The Cardinal, nothing at all disliking the doctrine of the Word of God that Latimer had preached, said unto him, Did you not preach any other doctrine than you have rehearsed?'
“No, surely,' said Latimer.
“And examining thoroughly with the doctors what else could be objected against him, the Cardinal said unto Mr. Latimer, ' If the Bishop of Ely cannot abide such doctrine as you have here repeated, you shall have my license, and shall preach it unto his beard, let him say what he will.'”
The next day Latimer read aloud the Cardinal's license from his pulpit, and thus, without knowing exactly what he was doing, Wolsey once more assisted the Reformation. He meant it not, but a higher Will than his own controlled his life, and the proud Cardinal was compelled to help on the progress of the doctrine that he hated. In nothing, indeed, is the amazing success of the Gospel so apparent as in the manner in which adverse wills and events are compelled to serve its interests. Not only is the Church a salamander that lives in spite of the flame into which the hands of its enemies have hurled it, but it thrives even on account of the element which it seems must destroy it. And the same thing is also true of individual lives.