their quarrels about divine things-all operated as powerful stimulants to awaken their faculties from the deep slumber which had oppressed and degraded them. The humanizing influence, too, of Christianity, purified and exalted their affections, while its doctrines instructed them in their duties, and its sanctions urged to the practice of them. It were futile to object that the lower classes of religionists, and even those of more cultivated minds, blended the absurdest superstition, both with their theoretical and practical theology. This must necessarily be the case, till the instruments of thought are sufficiently sharpened and polished by use, to enable them to separate the true from the false. With the hope of eternal and inconceivable rewards on one hand, and the prospect of unimagined and ever-during torment on the other-tenets rendered operative by being brought home to the feelings by faith-their effect was great in proportion as their motives were powerful. Hence, among the early reformers, conscience was almost omnipotent: for, though to avoid being burnt alive, many of them recanted, yet the horrors of remorse, more terrible than devouring fire, caused many also to relapse into their

former heresies, and joyfully to embrace the flames in which they were consumed. The improvement of the public morals was the necessary consequence of this obedience to duty.

VOL. I.

LATIMER,

Bishop of Worcester.

LATIMER gained perhaps his greatest publicity under the following reign; though even before the commencement of the present, he had become distinguished, and had reached his highest ecclesiastical dignity. He is praperly found, therefore, at the close of this reign.

He was born at Thirkesson, or Thurcaston, in Leicestershire, about the year 1475. Being an only son, and of quick parts, his father, a respectable yeoman, resolved to make him a scholar. His early years were spent at home, and at the schools in the neighbourhood. At the age of fourteen, he entered 'at Christ's College, Cambridge; and on taking his degree of master of arts, he entered into priest's orders. This was in the year 1500, when he began to act a conspicuous part on the theatre of the world.

He was a zealous papist till the age of thirty; when, being converted to Lutheranism by Bil ney, (who was also a priest, and afterwards burnt for heresy,) he began with great zeal to propagate the opinions of the reformers. His conversion took place in 1505; and about three years after, he was invited, through the interest of Dr. Butts, the king's physician, to court, which he soon quitted in disgust. He obtained, in 1529, the living of Westkinton, in Wiltshire; and in 1534, was made chaplain to the queen, Anne Boleyn, at her own request, occasioned probably by the favorable representations of the lord Cromwell and Dr. Butts. In 1535, he was promoted by the king to the bishopric of Worcester.

On the passing of the act of the six bloody articles, Latimer's conscience recoiled at their savage spirit, and he resigned his bishopric. He could not refrain sometimes from expressing the abhorrence he felt ; for which an accusation was finally laid against him, and he was committed prisoner to the Tower, where he remained till the death of Henry. He was now released, and entered again on his ministerial function, but did not resume his epis copal dignity.

In 1548, he was one of the commissioners for trying and condemning Joan Bocher; which seems to verify the imputation, that our first reformers were no sooner freed from persecution, than they became persecutors.

During the reign of Edward VI. his zeal was pre-eminent among his zealous cotemporaries, to spread the reformation; and in conjunction with Cranmer, was one of the principal instruments in effecting its establishment. But in the persecutions of Mary, he was singled out as one of the most desired victims of popish vengeance. He might have made his escape, and the opportunity which was given him, seems to have been designed; but Latimer had the true spirit of a martyr; he refused, (and if such an epithet were applicable to a saint,) disdained to fly. On his reaching London, and passing through Smithfield, he remarked, that " Smithfield had long groaned for him." He was burnt for heresy at Oxford, on the 16th of October, 1555.

Latimer, a staff in his hand, a pair of spectacles hanging at his breast, and a Bible at his girdle, walked to his trial, and probably to the place of execution. When chained to the stake, he called out to his fellow martyr, Rid