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'Those excellent men whom God chose as instruments of His honour and service in the Reformation': words from Jeremy Taylor on the commemoration of the martyrdom of Bishops Latimer and Ridley

On this commemoration of the martyrdom of Bishops Latimer and Ridley, words from Jeremy Taylor indicating the esteem in which Episcopalian and Laudian thought held them and the other martyrs of the Reformed Church of England:

... thus as it [i.e. the Book of Common Prayer] was framed in the body of its first constitution and second alteration, those excellent men whom God chose as instruments of His honour and service in the Reformation, to whom also He did shew what great things they were to suffer for His name's sake, approved of it with high testimony, promoted it by their own use and zeal, and at last sealed it with their blood. That they had a great opinion of the piety and unblameable composure of the common-prayer-book, appears, in the challenge made in its behalf by the archbishop Cranmer, to defend it against all the world of enemies; by the daily using it in time of persecution and imprisonment; for so did bishop Ridley, and doctor Taylor, who also recommended it to his wife for a legacy; by their preaching in behalf of it, as many did ... besides the direct testimony which the most eminent learned amongst the queen Mary martyrs have given of it. 

From 'The Author's Preface' (38) - probably written sometime between 1657 and 1660 - to The Apology for Authorized and Set Forms of Liturgy (1649).

... it is matter of great concernment towards the edification of the Church, to obey our Superiors, not to innovate in public forms of worship, especially with the scandal and offence of very wise and learned men, and to the disgrace of the dead Martyrs, who sealed our Liturgy with their blood.

From The Apology for Authorized and Set Forms of Liturgy (1649)

... for the most glorious issues of divine benison upon this kingdom were conveyed to us by bishops' hands ... and the Reformation begun and promoted by bishops.

From the Dedication to Of the Sacred Order and Offices of Episcopacy (1642)

And by the same instrument God restored the beauty of the church, when it was necessary she should be reformed; it was the assiduous and learned preaching of those whom God chose for His ministers in that work that wrought the advantages and persuaded those truths which are the enamel and beauty of our churches.

From the Dedication to XXV Sermons preached at Golden Grove being for the Winter half-year (1653)

... the Reformation of Religion in England was principally by the Preachings and the disputings, the writings and the Martyrdom of Bishops.

From the Sermon at the consecration of two archbishops and ten bishops for the Church of Ireland, January 1661

(The stained glass window is from Christ Church Episcopal, Little Rock, Arkansas, depicting Archbishop Cranmer with Bishops Latimer and Ridley, "martyrs to the principles of the English Reformation".)

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