Sermons on the Card, and Other DiscoursesLatimer, Hugh
Religion
Sermons on the Card, and Other Discourses
Latimer, Hugh
Church of England -- Sermons; Sermons, English -- 16th century
for the maintenance of idolatry done to the brasen serpent, as well as
there hath been now of late, and be now, that can blanch the abuse of
images, and other like things. But good king Hezekiah would not be so
blinded; he was like to Apollos, "fervent in spirit." He would give no
ear to the blanchers; he was not moved with the worldly respects, with
these prudent considerations, with these policies: he feared not
insurrections of the people: he feared not lest his people would bear not
the glory of God; but he, without any of these respects, or policies, or
considerations, like a good king, for God's sake and for conscience sake,
by and by plucked down the brasen serpent, and destroyed it utterly, and
beat it to powder. He out of hand did cast out all images, he destroyed
all idolatry, and clearly did extirpate all superstition. He would not
hear these blanchers and worldly-wise men, but without delay followeth
God's cause, and destroyeth all idolatry out of hand. Thus did good king
Hezekiah; for he was like Apollos, fervent in spirit, and diligent, to
promote God's glory.
And good hope there is, that it shall be likewise here in England; for
the king's majesty is so brought up in knowledge, virtue, and godliness,
that it is not to be mistrusted but that we shall have all things well,
and that the glory of God shall be spread abroad throughout all parts of
the realm, if the prelates will diligently apply their plough, and be
preachers rather than lords. But our blanchers, which will be lords, and
no labourers, when they are commanded to go and be resident upon their
cures, and preach in their benefices, they would say, "What? I have set
a deputy there; I have a deputy that looketh well to my flock, and the
which shall discharge my duty." "A deputy," quoth he! I looked for that
word all this while. And what a deputy must he be, trow ye? Even one
like himself: he must be a canonist; that is to say, one that is brought
up in the study of the pope's laws and decrees; one that will set forth
papistry as well as himself will do; and one that will maintain all
superstition and idolatry; and one that will nothing at all, or else very
weakly, resist the devil's plough: yea, happy it is if he take no part
with the devil; and where he should be an enemy to him, it is well if he
take not the devil's part against Christ.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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