Five English Reformers

Few martyr’s words can be more stirring than those of Bishop Hugh Latimer’s to Dr. Nicholas Ridley: ‘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’.

But, why were such men burned at the stake? What were the great convictions in which they lived and for which they were prepared to sacrifice life itself? What made their lives and testimony to Christ’s gospel so powerful? Do Christians today share either their convictions or their faithfulness?

It was the increasing conviction that martyrs, though dead, can still speak to the church, which led Bishop J.C. Ryle to pen these pungent biographies of Five English Reformers last century. Along with an analysis of the reasons for their martyrdom he pointed out the salient characteristics of their Christian lives. Such men still prove to be examples, warnings and challenges all in one, to Christians today. Readers will rise from the company of their life stories praying for a similar faith in Christ’s power.

In 1837, John Charles Ryle was an outstanding athlete, excelling in cricket and rowing. But, when he became ill with a serious infection, he turned to his long-forgotten Bible and prayed. Then, one Sunday at church, he felt as though God was speaking to him, emphasizing the message that people are saved by grace through faith, which is a gift from God. Ryle ultimately entered the ministry in the Church of England, while also publishing popular tracts and books from a Biblical standpoint. J.C. Ryle’s Holiness is perhaps his best known book, describing the nature of holiness and the challenges of temptation, while Call to Prayer shares with readers the privileges of private prayer. J.C. Ryle’s Thoughts for Young Men offers up what one reviewer calls “true Puritan theology,” while Agency That Transformed a Nation shares timeless lessons gleaned from the 18-century Great Awakening.