This called forth a rebuke from the sheriff, who ordered the work to be hastened, whereupon he was bound to the stake. Turning to one who suffered with him, he bade him be of good cheer; "for," said he, "we shall sup with the Lord tonight;" and then, embracing the reeds, he said, "Strait is the gate and narrow is the way that leadeth to eternal life, and few there be that find it."

Thus he ended this mortal life; triumphed over every foe, through the abundant grace vouchsafed him by Almighty God; and thus entered upon a more glorious existence, even an eternal, an heavenly.

CHAPTER XXXIX.

Ridley and Latimer.

CIRCUMSTANCES OF THEIR CONVERSION; PECULIAR DEVOTION TO RELIGIOUS DUTY; THROWN INTO PRISON TOGETHER; EXPIRE IN

THE FLAMES SIDE BY SIDE.

HESE men are so identified with each other, the history of their lives is so closely intermingled, and the time and manner of their death being the same, it seems better, in the contemplation of them, not to separate their names.

They were pillars in the church of Christ, fearlessly defending the doctrines of the gospel. They were men ever memorable for their piety, learning and incomparable ornaments and gifts of grace, joined with commendable sincerity of life, and fervent devotion to the cause of truth.

Doubtless their names are written in the "Lamb's book of life," with the blessed saints of the Most High, while they stand crowned and enthroned among the glorious company of martyrs.

Ridley was born in the county of Northumberland, and, in his early years, was a child of uncommon promise. His

easy and rapid attainment at Newcastle procured for him an early entrance into the university of Cambridge, where he in a short time became so distinguished for his acquirements and singular aptness that he was promoted to high offices, and finally called to be head of Pembroke Hall, and there made doctor of divinity.

After this, departing from thence, he traveled into Paris, and at his return was made chaplain to Henry the Eighth, and afterward promoted by him to the bishopric of Rochester, and from thence translated to the see and bishopric of London, in king Edward's days.

In this calling he applied himself diligently to teaching and preaching the pure and holy doctrines of Christ; and he did it in such a manner as to secure willing hearers, and call forth the ardent attachment of the people for himself. Every holiday and every Sabbath he preached in some place, intent upon doing his Master's will, and leading some perishing souls to embrace the great salvation; and, to give an idea of his power, we give the figures of an English writer, who, in describing him, says: "The people resorted to his sermons, swarming about him like bees, coveting the sweet flowers and wholesome juice of the fruitful doctrine, which he did not only preach, but shewed the same by his life, as a glittering lanthorn to the eyes and senses of the blind, in such purity of life, that even his very enemies could not reprove him in any one thing." Besides he was learned, his memory was remarkably retentive, and his reading so extensive that, of right, he deserved to be compared to the best men of the age, as his works, sermons, and sundry disputations in the universities can sufficiently testify.

He was also wise of counsel, deep of wit, and very politic in all his doings. He sought to win all to the truth by his gentleness, and his attempts to induce the papists to turn from their erroneous opinions were always characterized by the same spirit of mild forbearance. An instance of the rare clemency of his nature is seen in the regard which he manifested for Mrs. Bonner, mother of the cruel bishop of that name, who lived very near him. He was in the habit of

sending for her to take dinner and supper with him, saying to the servant, "Go for my mother Bonner;" and, upon her arrival, greeted her with a cordial welcome, giving her the seat at the head of the table, never displacing her for the most lordly company, being wont to say, "By your lordship's favor, this place, of right and custom, is for my mother Bonner." How he was recompensed for this singular kindness is seen in the story of his wrongs and persecution.

Ridley's self-training is particularly noticeable, and shows little indulgence to his natural propensities and appetites. He used all kinds of methods to mortify himself, and was much given to prayer and contemplation. A little time he allowed every day for recreation, but most of it, from early in the morning, till eleven at night was spent in study of the Scriptures, communion with God, and pious labors for the benefit of others.

From the time he had been thoroughly won and brought to the true way he was as constant and faithful in christian effort as he had before been blind and zealous in his ignorant rejection. His attention was first particularly excited by reading Bertram's book of the sacrament, and his views afterward confirmed by a conference with archbishop Cranmer and Peter Martyr.

He was indefatigable in his attempts to support the happiness and peace of the church till the death of king Edward, when the whole state of the church in England was left desolate, and open to the enemy's hands.

After the accession of queen Mary to the throne, it is not surprising to hear of his persecution, for the heart of the proud queen had no sympathy with the pure, self-denying precepts of the Saviour's gospel, and their zealous, able advocates could expect no mercy at her hands.

Ridley was one of the first she sought to silence; and, for this purpose, he was committed to prison, first in the Tower, and afterward with the archbishop of Canterbury, inclosed in the common prison of Boccardo.

At length, being separated, he was committed to custody in the house of one Irish, where he remained till the day of his martyrdom, which was from 1554 till October 16th, 1555.

He was the companion of Latimer as they went to the stake; and they passed to the glories of heaven together, through the same fire.

We defer an account of this, to give a brief sketch of the life of Hugh Latimer, who was a disciplined soldier of Christ, and a valiant champion for the truth.

He was the son of one by the same name, who lived in Thirkesson, in the county of Leicester, a husbandman in good repute, with whom he was brought up till he was about four years old. At this early age, his parents discovered evidence of uncommon intellectual ability, and formed a purpose to train him up in erudition, and give him a knowledge of literature in general, which purpose they immediately put in execution. He was placed at school in the vicinity, where his improvement was so marked that, at the age of fourteen, he was prepared to enter the university at Cambridge, where he gave himself up to the study of such divinity as the ignorance of that age would suffer.

He was then zealous in the popish religion, and so scrupulous, as he himself confessed, that he thought he should not be lost if he only were a professed friar, and a servile observer of the Romish decrees, diligently saying mass. In this blind zeal he was a decided opposer to the professors of Christ's gospel, and he made an oration against Melancthon, in which he displayed the bitter opposition of his heart. He used his efforts to persuade the youth of the university to disregard the teachings of the pious man who discoursed to them upon the true divinity.

But, God had a work for this man to do, and his merciful purpose was to be accomplished speedily.

Thomas Bilney, being at that time a trier of Satan's subtilties, and a secret overturner of Antichrist's kingdom, seeing Latimer to have a zeal in his way, but not according to knowledge, ardently desired that he might become a convert to the true religion, and began to consider by what means he might win this zealous, ignorant brother to the true knowledge of Christ. He went to Latimer's study, and, in a familiar, earnest manner, unfolded the great truths of revelation in

such a light that the mind of the popish devotee conceived a desire to become illuminated with the blessed rays which proceed from the infinite source of blessedness.

He immediately forsook the superstitious fantasies of popery, and became an earnest student in divinity, an humble learner at the foot of the cross. His caviling was changed into pleasant conference with those faithful ministers he had, a short time before, derided; and his whole manner of life became different. Having himself drank at the fountain of living waters, and found his own thirst quenched, like a true disciple of the blessed Jesus, he pitied the misery of others, and longed to bring them to the sacred stream. He not only became a public instructor, but a private tutor to the rest of his brethren in the university, and, for the space of three years, spent his time partly in the Latin tongue among the learned, and partly among the simple people in his natural and vulgar language.

But Satan never sleepeth when he sees his kingdom begin to decay; so, now, perceiving this worthy member of Christ would do much toward destroying its foundations, found means greatly to disturb and molest him.

An Augustine friar, blindly yet zealously favoring all the delusions of popery, was troubled at the success of Latimer's practical preaching and feared the result upon his own party. He took occasion from his sermons to bring an accusation against him, which, for a time, interrupted the good man in his work, though, by no means, disheartening him, for his soul was stayed on a foundation which the combined forces of the adversary could not move. Notwithstanding the malice of his enemies, he still persevered in proclaiming "the gospel's joyful sound," with the favor of the godly, and, at times, even his persecutors were constrained to commend his gift.

He continued in close intimacy with Mr. Bilney, and they so frequently conferred together that the field in which they usually walked was, for a long time after, called, "The heretic's hill." Together they visited the poor and the sick, and told them of the plan of redemption through a crucified