teacheth you battle; to take in your left hand the shield of faith, to
defend and bear off the darts of the devil, and in the other hand a sword
to strike with against the enemy: for a good man of war may not stand
against, and defend only, but also strike against his enemy. So St. Paul
giveth us here a sword, "The word of God." For this sword is it that
beateth this great captain, our enemy. Christ himself gave us ensample
to fight with this sword; for he answered the devil with the scripture,
and said, "It is written." With this sword he drave away the devil: and
so let us break his head with this sword, the true word of God, and not
with any word of the bishop of Rome's making; not with his old learning,
nor his new learning, but with the pure word of God.

The time passeth: I will therefore make an end. Let us fight manfully,
and not cease; for no man is crowned or rewarded but in the end. We must
therefore fight continually, and with this sword; and thus armed, and we
shall receive the reward of victory. And thus the grace of our Lord
Jesus Christ be with all your spirits. Amen.




THE SERMON THAT THE REVEREND FATHER IN CHRIST, M. HUGH LATIMER, BISHOP OF
WORCESTER, MADE TO THE CONVOCATION OF THE CLERGY, BEFORE THE PARLIAMENT
BEGAN, THE 9 DAY OF JUNE, THE 28 YEAR OF THE REIGN OF OUR LATE KING HENRY
THE 8. TRANSLATED OUT OF LATIN INTO ENGLISH, TO THE INTENT THAT THINGS
WELL SAID TO A FEW MAY BE UNDERSTOOD OF MANY, AND DO GOOD TO ALL THEM
THAT DESIRE TO UNDERSTAND THE TRUTH.


_Filii hujus seculi_, &c.--Luc. xvi.