Hugh Latimer, one of the leaders of the Protestant Reformation in England, was appointed a royal chaplain to King Henry VIII (1491-1547). His bold and uncompromising preaching finally brought him into disfavor, and he was subsequently executed. One day, at the beginning of a sermon before the royal court, he exclaimed to himself:
“Latimer, Latimer, thou art going to speak before the high and mighty king, Henry VIII, who is able, if he thinks fit, to take thy life away. Be careful what thou sayest. But Latimer, Latimer, remember also thou art about to speak before the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Take heed thou does not displease Him.”
[Reproduced with permission from Encylopedia of 15,000 Illustrations, by Paul Lee Tan, Communications, Inc., Dallas, TX, 1998, #1915]