Acquiring Truth

We have now entered the season of Christmas. What was predicted and promised through the Prophets, God has delivered upon. He has kept His word.

He has in fact, appeared to all creation... yet laid in a manger out of sight until the fullness of time should come.

Tell me, how can He be fully God and Fully man? Why would He bother?

Play the Man – Oxford Martyrs' Day

“Who is famous for saying ‘play the man’ in church history?”

This phrase has its origins in 2 Samuel 10 which reads, “Be of good courage, and let us play the man for our people, and for the cities of our God; and may the LORD do what seems good to him.” Paul uses similar words in 1 Corinthians 16, “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.”

In church history, we see this phrase connected to the martyrdoms of Bishops Polycarp and Hugh Latimer. Early church historian Eusebius records that at Polycarp’s martyrdom, there was “heard a voice from heaven, which came to Polycarp as he was entering the place: ‘Be strong, Polycarp, and play the man.’ And no one saw the speaker, but many of our people heard the voice.” [1]

Well over a thousand years later, the words were repeated in connection to the Oxford Martyrs, Latimer, Ridley, and Cranmer, who were put to death by Queen Mary Tudor, sometimes known as “Bloody Mary,” on charges of heresy.

Hugh Latimer was an Anglican Priest, Bishop of Worcester, and chaplain to Queen Anne Boleyn and later King Edward VI. [2] As Bishop of Worcester, Latimer continued his cause against social injustices and corruptions. In addition, he promoted the Reformation and argued against Roman Catholic teaching on purgatory, images, and indulgences. [3] Later he even took up residence with Archbishop Cranmer in Lambeth Palace. There he became the confidant of Cranmer, assisted in writing the Book of Homilies, and was a court preacher. [4]

When the young King Edward VI died in 1553, Roman Catholic Queen Mary I took the throne and soon issued a summons for Latimer. Though he had notification in advance, he refused to flee. He was then committed to the Tower of London along with Cranmer and Ridley on charges of heresy. There he continued for over a year and stated that he might die of cold rather than the fire! [5]

When the time did come and as the fires were lit for the burning of Latimer and Ridley, Latimer spoke these famous words to his younger companion, “Be of good comfort, Master Ridley, and play the man. We shall this day light such a candle, by God’s grace, in England, as I trust shall never be put out.” [6]

Oxford Martyrs Day, commemorating the martyrdoms of Latimer and Ridley, is celebrated by many Anglicans and others on October 16th. Though martyred a few months later, Archbishop Cranmer is often also included as one of the Oxford Martyrs and commemorated also on this day.
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1 - Eusebius of Caesaria, “The Church History of Eusebius,” in Eusebius: Church History, Life of Constantine the Great, and Oration in Praise of Constantine, ed. Philip Schaff. A Select Library of the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers of the Christian Church, (New York: Christian Literature Company, 1890), 190.

2 - The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, 420.

3 - The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church, 960.

4 - J.C. Ryle, Hugh Latimer, Bishop and Martyr, 273-279.

5 - Gairdner, Hugh Latimer - A Short Biography, 190-195.

6 - Nicholas Ridley, The Works of Nicholas Ridley, D.D., ed. Henry Christmas (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1843), 297.

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