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ward VI. he and all others, imprisoned in the same cause, were set at liberty; and bishop Latimer, whose old friends were now in power, was received by them with every mark of affection; and he would have found no difficulty in dispossessing Heath, in every respect an insignificant man, who had succeeded to his bishopric: but he had other sentiments; he neither would make suit himself, nor suffer his friends to make any for his restoration. However, this was done by the parliament, who, after settling the national concerns, sent up an address to the protecter to restore him. The protector was very well inclined, and proposed the resumption to Mr. Latimer, as a point which he had very much at heart; but Latimer persevered in the negative, alledging his great age, and the claim he had from thence to a private life. And it may be readily believed, that no man ever said " Nolo episcopari," with more sincerity.

Having thus rid himself of all entreaty on this head, he accepted an invitation from his friend archbishop Cranmer, and took up his residence at Lambeth, where he led a very retired life, being chiefly employed in hearing the complaints and redressing the injuries of poor people. His free reproofs, joined to the integrity of his life, had a great effect upon those in the highest stations; while hist own independence and backwardness of asking any favour for himself, allowed him greater liberty in asking for

others.

In these employments he spent more than two years, interfering as little as possible in any public transaction, only he assisted the archbishop in composing the homilies which were set forth by authority in the first year of Edward VI. He was also appointed to preach the lent sermons before his majesty; which office he performed during the three first years of his reign.

As to his sermons, which are still extant, they are indeed far enough from being exact pieces of composition; yet his simplicity and low familiarity, his humour and gibing drollery, were well adapted to the times; and his oratory, according to the mode of eloquence at that day, was exceedingly popular. His action and manner of preaching too were very affecting; and no wonder, for he spoke immediately from his heart. His abilities, however, as an orator, made only the inferior part of his character

as

as a preacher: what particularly recommends him is that noble and apostolic zeal, which he exerts in the cause of truth.

Upon the revolution which happened at court, after the death of the duke of Somerset, Latimer seems to have retired into the country, and made use of the king's licence as a general preacher in those parts, where he thought his labours might be most serviceable. He was thus employed during the remainder of that reign, and continued in the same course, for a short time, in the beginning of the next; but as soon as the introduction of Popery was resolved on, the first step towards it was the prohibition of all preaching throughout the kingdom, and a licensing only such as were known to be popishly inclined. Accordingly, a strict enquiry was made after the more forward and popular preachers; and many of them were taken into custody. The bishop of Winchester, who was now prime minister, having proscribed Mr. Latimer from the first, sent a message to cite him before the council. He had notice of this design, some hours before the messenger's arrival; but he made no use of the intelligence. The messenger found him equipped for his journey; at which expressing his surprize, Mr. Latimer told him, that he was as ready to attend him to London, thus called upon to answer for his faith, as he ever was to take any journey in his life; and that he doubted not but that God, who had enabled him to stand before two princes, would enable him to stand before a third, either to her comfort or discomfort eternally. The messenger then acquainting him, that he had no orders to seize his person, delivered a letter, and departed. Mr. Latimer, however, opening the letter, and finding it to contain a citation from the council, resolved to obey it. He set out therefore immediately, and as he passed through Smithfield, where heretics were usually burnt, he said chearfully, "Smithfield hath long groaned for me." The next morning he waited upon the council, who, having treated him rudely, and loaded him with many severe reproaches, sent him to the Tower. This was but a repetition of a former part of his life; only he now met with harsher treatment, and had more frequent occasion to exercise his resignation; nay, even the usual chearfulness of his disposition did not now forsake him, of which we have one instance still remain

ing. A servant leaving his apartment in the Tower, Mr. Latimer called after him, and bade him tell his master, that unless he took better care of him, he would certainly escape him. Upon this message, the lieutenant, with some discomposure in his countenance, came to Mr. Latimer, and desired an explanation. "Why, you expect, I suppose, sir, replied Mr. Latimer, that I should be burnt; but if you do not allow me a little fire this frosty weather, I can tell you, I shall be starved to death with

cold."

Cranmer and Ridley were also prisoners in the same cause with Latimer; and when it was resolved to have a public disputation at Oxford, between the most eminent of the Popish and Protestant divines; these three were appointed to manage the dispute on the part of the Protestants. Accordingly, they were taken out of the Tower, where they had lain all the winter of 1553, and sent to Oxford, in the spring of 1554; where they were closely confined in the common prison; and they might easily imagine how free the disputation was likely to be, when they found themselves denied the use even of books and pen and ink.

At length the mock disputation began, and he answered the questions of his adversaries as far as civility required, and in these answers it is observable he managed the argument much better than either Ridley or Cranmer, who acted too much after the manner of schoolmen. Whereas, when the same proofs were multiplied upon Latimer, he told them plainly, that such proofs had no weight with him; that the fathers, no doubt, were often deceived, and that he never depended upon them, but when they depended upon Scripture. "Then you are not of St. Chrysostom's faith, (replied his antagonist,) nor of St. Austin's." "I have told you (said Mr. Latimer) I am not; except they bring Scripture for what they say." The dispute being ended, sentence was passed upon him in the beginning of October; and he and Ridley were executed on the 16th. When they came to the stake, Latimer lifted up his eyes with a sweet and amiable countenance, saying, Fidelis est Deus," &c. i. e. " God is faithful, who will not suffer us to be tempted above that which we are able." When they were brought to the fire, on a spot of ground on the north side of Baliol College; where, after an VOL, III.-No. 59. abusive

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abusive sermon, being told by an officer they might now make ready for the stake, Mr. Latimer, having thrown off his prison attire, appeared in a shroud prepared for the purpose; " and whereas before (says Mr. Fox) he seemed a withered and crooked old man, he stood now upright." Being thus ready, he recommended his soul to God, and delivered himself to the executioner, saying to the bishop of London, "We shall this day, brother, light such a candle in England, as shall never be put out.'

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When the fire was first kindled, he cried, "O Father of heaven, receive my soul ;" and so receiving the flame, and (as it seemed) embracing it, and having stroked his face with his hands and bathed them a little with fire, he soon died without the least appearance of suffering pain.

Such was the death of Hugh Latimer, bishop of Worcester, one of the leaders of that noble army of martyrs, who introduced the Reformation in England. He had a happy temper, improved by the best principles; and such was his cheerfulness, that none of the circumstances of life were seen to discompose him. Such was his Christian fortitude, that not even the severest trials could unman nim; he had a collected spirit, and on no occasion wanted a resource; he could retire within himself, feel the sup port of a gracious Master, and hold the world at defi

ance.

LAVATER, JOHN CASPAR, was born in 1741, of very respectable parents, at Zurich in Switzerland, who, to the best of their knowledge and abilities, educated him in the strictest principles of virtue and religion. From his infancy, he had many serious impressions; and, when only seven years old, felt himself strongly drawn to seek God by prayer. "To use God," says he, 66 as my own God, was one of the earliest and most deeply impressed ideas in my mind. Observing the indifference of others towards God, I was determined to make the best use of him I could. I felt a need of his presence, and made it a constant practice to pour out my heart before him in fervent prayer every morning and evening: yet my light and volatile disposition oftentimes disturbed me in my devotions. To listen to the sermons was too tiresome for me, so I took my little Pocket Bible to the place of worship; and, with the greatest eagerness, I read the His

tories of the Old Testament, more especially that of Elias and Elisha. Christ and the New Testament had but a small share of my attention or affection at that time."

When ten years of age, young Lavater freely declared his intention to devote himself to the ministry, and, notwithstanding all the objections and difficulties he had to encounter, he never changed his mind; but zealously applied himself to the study of the Latin language, and other branches of human learning requisite for this purpose.

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In his fourteenth year he had a dangerous fit of sickness. When thus taken ill," says he, "I seriously reflected upon my former life, endeavouring to purify my heart, most heartily forgiving every received injury, and asking pardon of all those to whom I suspected I had given the least offence." This illness, he adds, left behind it many a serious impression. Soon after this, have ing taken a long walk on a very hot day, and too eagerly drinking more wine than he could bear, he got nearly intoxicated which grieved him to his very heart. "Hardly," says he, "any occurrence in my whole life has made such an indelible impression upon my mind as this accident. I shed streams of penitential tears, and nothing could erase the remembrance of it from my mind ; and, even now, after the elapse of twenty-six years, it serves me as a powerful warning never to exceed moderation in drinking, in the least degree." In the fifteenth year of his age, a violent shock of an earthquake, and the happy departure of his elder brother, contributed to confirm and to increase the good impressions and pious resolutions of his mind." When," says he, "my brother was in his last moments, he sat up in his bed, lifted up his hands, and, looking up stedfastly toward Heaven, exclaimed,Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God! Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit." Thus saying, he sunk down and expired. All of us were dissolved in tears. Now I saw my brother a dead corpse on the very spot on which I was born, I felt quite heavenly-minded. Death and Heaven were my only thoughts; so I went to bed; but when I awoke the next morning, I felt quite pleased in my having become the eldest son of the family, and the heir of the cabinet of curiosities which my brother had collected. I could not help abhorring myself, on account

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