Latimer on Lent

Hugh Latimer preached three series of Lenten sermons before Edward VI. In the seventh of his 1549 sermons, he explained the purpose behind Lent (I have updated the spelling): “All thing that be written, they be written to be our doctrine. By occasion of this text . . . I have walked this Lent in the broad field of Scripture and used my liberty and entreated of such matters as I thought meet for this auditory. I have had a do with many estates, even with the highest of all, I have entreated of the duty of Kings, and the duty of magistrates, and Judges, and the duty of prelates, allowing that which is good and disallowing the contrary. I have taught that we are all sinners, I think there is none of us all, neither preacher, nor hearer but we may be amended, and redress our lives. We may all say, yea all the pack of us, peccavimus cum patribus nostris .”

The whole of Lent was for repentance, for everyone from King Edward down. This particular sermon was a Good Friday Sermon, and Latimer said that the Good Friday observance was edifying for Christians since, having become convinced of our sin, “it is good to hear the remedy of sin.” He went on, “This day is commonly called Good Friday, although every day out to be a good Friday, yet this day is accustomed specially to have a commemoration and remembrance of the passion of our Savior Jesus Christ. This day we have in memory his bitter Passion and death, which is the remedy of our sin.”