The time passeth:  I will therefore make an end.  Let us fight manfully, and not cease; for no man is crowned or rewarded but in the end.  We must therefore fight continually, and with this sword; and thus armed, and we shall receive the reward of victory.  And thus the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all your spirits.  Amen.

The sermon that the reverend father in Christ, M. Hugh Latimer, bishop of
Worcester, made to the convocation of the clergy, before the parliament
began, the 9 day of June, the 28 year of the reign of our late king Henry
the 8.  Translated out of Latin into English, to the intent that things
well said to A few may be understood of many, and do good to all them
that desire to understand the truth.

   Filii hujus seculi, &c.—­Luc. xvi.

Brethren, ye be come together this day, as far as I perceive, to hear of great and weighty matters.  Ye be come together to entreat of things that most appertain to the commonwealth.  This being thus, ye look, I am assured, to hear of me, which am commanded to make as a preface this exhortation, (albeit I am unlearned and far unworthy,) such things as shall be much meet for this your assembly.  I therefore, not only very desirous to obey the commandment of our Primate, but also right greatly coveting to serve and satisfy all your expectation; lo, briefly, and as plainly as I can, will speak of matters both worthy to be heard in your congregation, and also of such as best shall become mine office in this place.  That I may do this the more commodiously, I have taken that notable sentence in which our Lord was not afraid to pronounce “the children of this world to be much more prudent and politic than the children of light in their generation.”  Neither will I be afraid, trusting that he will aid and guide me to use this sentence, as a good ground and foundation of all such things, as hereafter I shall speak of.

Now, I suppose that you see right well, being men of such learning, for what purpose the Lord said this, and that ye have no need to be holpen with any part of my labour in this thing.  But yet, if ye will pardon me, I will wade somewhat deeper in this matter, and as nigh as I can, fetch it from the first original beginning.  For undoubtedly, ye may much marvel at this saying, if ye well ponder both what is said, and who saith it.  Define me first these three things:  what prudence is; what the world; what light; and who be the children of the world; who of the light:  see what they signify in scripture.  I marvel if by and by ye all agree, that the children of the world should be wiser than the children of the light.  To come somewhat nigher the matter, thus the Lord beginneth: