IN giving the following extract from good Bishop Latimer’s sermon, we are glad to give a picture of his countenance. He was full of wit and point, and his sermons abounded in telling sentences; and always the Gospel in its fulness was the joy of his heart. Would God there were a bishop like him today in England! “And now I would ask a strange question, Who is the most diligent bishop and prelate in all England, and passeth all the rest in doing his office? I can tell, for I know him who he is; I know him well. But now methinks I see you listening and hearkening that I should name him. There is one that passeth all the others, and is the most diligent prelate and preacher in all England. But will you know who it is? I will tell you. It is the devil. He is the most diligent preacher of all other. He is never out of his diocese; he is never from his cure; you will never find him unoccupied―he is ever in his parish; he keepeth residence at all times―you will never find him out of the way; call for him when you will, he is ever at home; the diligentest preacher in all the realm―he is ever at his plough; no lording or loitering may hinder him—he is ever applying his business; you will never find him idle, I warrant you. And his office is to hinder religion, to maintain superstition, to set up idolatry, to teach all kind of Popery.
“Where the devil is resident and hath his plough going, there away with books and up with candles; away with Bibles and up with beads; away with the light of the Gospel and up with the light of candles―yea, at noon-day. Where the devil is resident, that he may prevail, up with all superstition and idolatry, censing, painting of images, candles, palms, ashes, holy water, and new service of men’s inventing, as though man could invent a better way to honour God with than God Himself hath appointed. Down with Christ’s cross and up with purgatory pickpurse; up with Popish purgatory, I mean. Away with clothing the naked, the poor, and impotent; up with decking of images and gay garnishing of stocks and stones. Up with man’s traditions and his laws, down with God’s will and His most holy Word.”