Sermon of the Plough

Hugh Latimer's "Sermon on the Ploughers" stands as one of the most striking homiletical performances of the English Reformation. Preached at St. Paul's Cross in London on January 18, 1548, during the reign of the young Edward VI, this sermon emerged from Latimer's deep concern about the spiritual dereliction of England's clergy. As Protestant reforms swept through the realm, Latimer observed that many bishops and parish priests remained more invested in worldly pursuits than in their primary calling to preach God's word to their flocks.

Latimer builds his entire argument around an extended metaphor comparing faithful preachers to diligent ploughmen who prepare the soil of human hearts for the seed of the gospel. Just as a farmer must break up hard ground, clear away weeds, and sow seed in season, so must preachers labor constantly to till the spiritual soil of their congregations through regular, faithful exposition of Scripture. Latimer contrasts these faithful "ploughers" with negligent clergy who abandon their fields to pursue courtly advancement, accumulate benefices, or engage in secular business. He argues that such spiritual negligence leaves souls barren and vulnerable to the devil's weeds. The sermon's power lies not merely in its agricultural imagery but in Latimer's passionate, plain-spoken delivery that exemplifies the very kind of preaching he advocates.

This sermon has endured as a masterpiece of Reformed homiletics because it captures both the urgency of gospel proclamation and the practical challenges facing pastoral ministry in any era. Latimer's vivid metaphors and direct style influenced generations of English preachers who sought to communicate biblical truth in accessible language. Who should read this: Pastors and preachers seeking inspiration for faithful biblical exposition will find Latimer's vision of pastoral calling both challenging and encouraging. Those interested in Reformation-era preaching or the development of English Protestant rhetoric will discover here a foundational text that shaped centuries of pulpit practice.