servant said, "It
will be long ere my master come." This is pleasant. Let us beat our
fellows: let us eat and drink with drunkards. Surely, as oft as we do
not take away the abuse of things, so oft we beat our fellows. As oft as
we give not the people their true food, so oft we beat our fellows. As
oft as we let them die in superstition, so oft we beat them. To be
short, as oft as we blind lead them blind, so oft we beat, and grievously
beat our fellows. When we welter in pleasures and idleness, then we eat
and drink with drunkards. But God will come, God will come, he will not
tarry long away. He will come upon such a day as we nothing look for
him, and at such hour as we know not. He will come and cut us in pieces.
He will reward us as he doth the hypocrites. He will set us where
wailing shall be, my brethren; where gnashing of teeth shall be, my
brethren. And let here be the end of our tragedy, if ye will. These be
the delicate dishes prepared for the world's well-beloved children. These
be the wafers and junkets provided for worldly prelates--wailing and
gnashing of teeth. Can there be any mirth, where these two courses last
all the feast? Here we laugh, there we shall weep. Our teeth make merry
here, ever dashing in delicates; there we shall be torn with teeth, and
do nothing but gnash and grind our own. To what end have we now excelled
other in policy? What have we brought forth at the last? Ye see,
brethren, what sorrow, what punishment is provided for you, if ye be
worldlings. If ye will not thus be vexed, be ye not the children of the
world. If ye will not be the children of the world, be not stricken with
the love of worldly things; lean not upon them. If ye will not die
eternally, live not worldly. Come, go to; leave the love of your profit;
study for the glory and profit of Christ; seek in your consultations such
things as pertain to Christ, and bring forth at the last somewhat that
may please Christ. Feed ye tenderly, with all diligence, the flock of
Christ. Preach truly the word of God. Love the light, walk in the
light, and so be ye the children of light while ye are in this world,
that ye may shine in the world that is to come bright as the sun, with
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; to whom be all honour, praise,
and glory. Amen.

A SERMON OF THE REVEREND FATHER MASTER HUGH LATIMER, PREACHED IN THE
SHROUDS AT ST. PAUL'S CHURCH IN LONDON, ON THE EIGHTEENTH DAY OF J