Desperate times call for faithful men and not for careful men. The careful men come later and write the biographies of the faithful men, lauding them for their courage, Douglas Wilson.

Things were dire for the Protestant Church in 1555 England.

Queen Mary, eventually to be known as Bloody Mary because of her persecution of the Reformation Saints, ascended to the throne of England.

The scholar Nicholas Ridley had been chaplain to King Henry VIII and was Bishop of London under his son Edward.

He was a preacher, beloved by his congregation whose very life portrayed the truths of the

Christian doctrines he taught.

In his own household he had daily Bible readings and encouraged

scripture memory among his people. Hugh Latimer also became an influential

preacher under King Edward's reign. He was an earnest student of the Bible and as Bishop of

Worcester he encouraged the scriptures to be known in English by the people. His sermons emphasized that men should serve the Lord

with a true heart and inward affection,

not just with outward show.

Latimer's personal life also reinforced his preaching. He was renowned for his works,

especially his visitations to the prisons. When Mary became Queen of England,

she worked to bring England back to the Roman Catholic Church.

One of her first acts was to arrest Bishop Ridley

and Bishop Latimer.

After serving time in the Tower of London,

they were taken to Oxford in September of 1555 to be examined

by the Lords Commissioner at Oxford's Divinity School.

When Ridley was asked if he believed the Pope was heir to the authority of Peter as a foundation of the church,

he replied that the church was not built on any man, but on the truth Peter confessed, that Christ was a son of God.

...