Dost Thou Know Before Whom Thou Speaks?

Hugh Latimer was the Bishop of Worcester, England during the reign of King Henry VIII. On one occasion he preached a sermon that offended the king, who sat in the audience. The king commanded Latimer to apologize when he preached the following Sunday.

As Latimer began his next sermon, he addressed himself aloud: "Hugh Latimer, dost thou know before whom thou art this day to speak? To the high and mighty monarch, the king's most excellent majesty, who can take away thy life if thou offendest."

Then Latimer paused and reminded himself—and his hearers—that God was…