Seven Sermons Before Edward VI

Hugh Latimer's seven sermons preached before the boy king Edward VI between 1547 and 1549 represent some of the most influential pulpit oratory of the English Reformation. Delivered during the early years of Edward's reign when Protestant reforms were advancing rapidly under the regency of Edward Seymour, these sermons were preached in the royal chapel and later published together. Latimer, who had been silenced during Henry VIII's later conservative years, seized this opportunity to shape both the young monarch and the broader direction of English Christianity through bold, accessible preaching.

The sermons blend doctrinal instruction with sharp social criticism, establishing Latimer's reputation as the "apostle to the English." He expounds Protestant teachings on justification by faith while simultaneously denouncing economic exploitation, corrupt magistrates, and neglect of the poor. Latimer's rhetorical style combines scriptural exposition with vivid contemporary illustrations drawn from common life. He addresses Edward directly as both child and king, urging him toward personal piety and just governance. The sermons advocate for reformed worship, criticize Catholic practices like purgatory and saint veneration, and repeatedly emphasize the authority of Scripture over tradition. Throughout, Latimer maintains that true religion must manifest in social justice, particularly care for the commonwealth's most vulnerable members.

These sermons helped establish the prophetic tradition within Anglicanism, demonstrating how reformed preaching could address both personal salvation and public responsibility. They influenced generations of English Protestant preachers and contributed to the theological foundation of the Elizabethan settlement. Latimer's combination of evangelical fervor with social concern prefigured later movements that would see Christian conversion as necessarily leading to social reform.

Who should read this: Students of Reformation history and homiletics will find here masterful examples of Protestant preaching that shaped a nation's religious identity. Modern preachers seeking models for prophetic address to power and the integration of gospel proclamation with social justice concerns will discover a compelling precedent, though those uncomfortable with sixteenth-century anti-Catholic polemic should approach with awareness of the historical context.