.^^^Rv Of PRmcirj,^ •Logical s£>a\^ BR 45 .B74 V.6 British Reformers M ^^- c-^/^'^A^^ .r, — > ./■ ^•^z ^' WRITINGS OF THE UEV, JOHN BRADFORD, Prebendary of St. Paul's and Martyr, A. D. 1555. Ti-f -J. LONDON; PRINTED FOR ND SOLD AT THEIR DEPOSITORY, 56, PATERNOSTER-ROW J ALSO BY J. NISBET, NO. 21, BERNERS- STREET j /LND OTHER BOOKSELLERS. LONDON : PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES, Stamford-street. CONTENTS. Page. A BRIEF account of the Life of the Rev. John Bradford 1 LETTERS OF MASTER JOHN BRADFORD 1. To the City of London , 5 2. To the University and Town of Cambridge ] 1 3. To Lancashire and Cheshire 16 4. To the Town of Walden 22 5. A comfortable letter to his mother, a godly matron, dwell- ing in Manchester, and to his brethren and sisters, and others of his friends there . . . . , 28 6. To my loving brethren, B.C. &c. — their wives, and whole families 32 7. To my dearly beloved in Christ, Erkinalde Rawlins and his wife 35 8. To Mistress A. Warcup 40 9. To mine own dear brother. Master Laurence Saunders, prisoner in the Marshalsea 41 10. Another letter to Master Laurence Saunders 43 11. To my dear fathers, D. Cranmer, D. Ridley, D.Latimer, prisoners in Oxford for the testimony of the Lord Jesus and his holy gospel 44 12. To my dear fathers, D. Cranmer, D. Ridley, and D. Latimer 46 13. To the Right Honourable Lord Russell, (afterwards Earl of Bedford,) being then in trouble for the verity of God's gospel 4S 14 To Master Warcup and his wife. Mistress Wilkinson, and others of his godly friends, with their families 51 1 5. To Sir James Hales, Knt., then prisoner in the Compter in Bread-street 56 1 6. To my very dear friend in the Lord, Doctor Hill, physician 60 17. To Mistress M. H., a godly gentlewoman, comforting her in that common heaviness and godly sorrow, which the feeling and sense of sin worketh in God's children 64 18. Another letter, full of godly comfort, written to the same person 68 IV CONTENTS. Page. 19. To my well beloved in the Lord, W. P 70 20. A letter to a faithful woman in her heaviness and trouble, most comfortable for all those to read that are afflicted and broken-hearted for their sins 71 21. To my good Lady Vane 78 22. Another letter to the Lady Vane 79 23. To my dear friends and brethren, R. and E., with their wives and families 80 24. To Mistress Wilkinson 81 25. Another letter, written to certain godly persons, encou- raging them to prepare themselves with patience for the cross 85 26. An admonition to certain professors of the gospel, to beware they fall not from it, in consenting to the Romish religion, by the example of halting and double- faced gospellers 89 27. To my good brother, John Careless, prisoner in the King's Bench 92 28. To Master John Hall and his wife, prisoners in Newgate, for the testimony of the gospel 94 29. To Mistress Hall, prisoner in Newgate, and ready to make answer before her adversaries 97 30. To a woman that desired to know his mind, whether she, refraining from the mass, might be present at the popish matins, or not 98 31. To the worshipful, and, in God, my most dear friend, the Lady Vane, respecting the pope's pretended supremacy . . 101 32. To m.y dear brother in the Lord, Master Richard Hopkins, and his wife, dwelling in Coventry, and others my faithful brethren and sisters, professors of God's holy gospel there and thereabouts 105 33. A letter to Master Richard Hopkins, then sheriff of Coven- try, and prisoner in the Fleet, for the faithful and con- stant confessing of God's holy gospel 114 34. To my good sister, Mistress Elizabeth Brown 118 35. To a friend of his, instructing him how he should answer his adversaries 119 36. To certain godly men, whom he exhorts to be patient under the cross, and constant in the true doctrine which they had professed 121 37. To my dear friend and brother in the Lord, Master George Eaton 1 25 CONTENTS. V Page. 3£ Another letter to Master George Eaton ] 28 S9. Another letter to Mistress Ann Warcup 129 40. To a certain godly gentlewoman, troubled and afflicted by her friends, for not coming to the mass 13. 41. To one by whom he had received »*-H;h comfort and relief in his trouble and imprisonment 1S4 42. To a faithful friend and his wife, resolving their doubt why they ought not to go to auricular confession 136 43. A letter to N. and his wife 140 44. To my good brother, Augustine Berneher 143 45. To mine own good Augustine Berneher 144 46. A letter describing a comparison between the old man and the new, &c 145 47. A letter written to his motherasafarewell, when he thought he should have suffered shortly after 148 48. Another letter to his mother, as his last farewell unto her in this world, a little before he was burned 151 49. A letter sent with a supplication to Queen Mary, her coun- cil, and the whole parliament 152 50. To certain of his friends, N. Sheterden and R. Cole 154 51. To Mistress J. Harrington, a faithful woman, and fearing God, whom he exhorteth to be patient under the cross, and not to fear death 156 52. To my good friend in God, Master Humphrey Hales .... 159 53. Another letter to Master Humphrey Hales and his wife 162 54. To Master Shalcrosse and his wife, dwelling in Lancashire 164 55. To my good friends in the Lord, Master R. and his wife . . 168 56. To the worshipful Sir William Fitzwilliams, then being knight marshal of the King's Bench 171 57. To my good brother. Master Coker, at Maldon, in Essex . . 173 58. To mineown good brother, Master John Philpot, prisoner in the King's Bench 174 59. To my good brother, R. Cole 175 60. To Mistress Brown 176 61. To certain godly men, relievers and helpers of him and others, in their imprisonment 176 62. Another letter to the Lord Russell 182 63. To his godly friends, G. and N., encouraging them to pre- pare themselves to the cross, and patiently to endure afflictions for God's cause and his holy gospel 28 4 64. To my dearly beloved in the Lord, Mrs. W. and Mrs. W. . 187 65 To my good sister, M.H 189 VI CONTENTS. Pa^e 66. A letter concerning freewill, to certain men who were then prison-ers with liim in the King's Bench 191 67. To certain men not rightly persuaded in the most trtre, comfortable, and necessary doctrine of God's holy elec- tion and predestination 193 68. To Trewe and Abingdon, with other of their company, teachers and maintainers of the error of man's freewill 197 60. To the same 198 70. To the Lady Vane 198 71. To Mistress Wilkinson 199 72. To Father Traves, minister of Blackley, begging his prayers, and lamenting his own sinful condition 201 73. Another letter to Father Traves 202 74. Another letter to Sir Thomas Hall, and Father Traves, of Blackley 204 75. Another letter to Father Traves 207 76. Another letter to Father Traves 212 77. Another letter to Father Traves 214 78. Another letter to Father Traves 216 79. Another letter to Father Traves 218 80. Another letter to Father Traves 219 81. Another letter to Father Traves 22 1 82. Another letter to Father Traves 224 83. To a faithful and dear friend of his, treating of this place of St. Paul to the Romans : " The fervent desire of the creature waiteth when the children of God shall be delivered." (Rom. viii,) 225 SERMONS AND TRACTS. Preface to the Christian reader 237 A fruitful sermon of Repentance 241 A sermon upon the Supper of the Lord 274 A fruitful Treatise, and full of heavenly consolation, against the Fear of Death 296 An exhortation to the patient suffering of trouble and affliction for Christ's cause. Written to all the unfeigned profes- sors of the gospel throughout the realm of England, at the beginning of his imprisonment, A. D. 1554 3' 2 A short and pithy defence of the doctrine of the holy election and predestination of God, gathered out of the first chapter of St. Paul's epistle to the Ephesians. Ad- dressed to a dear friend, and treating briefly but most CONTENTS. Vii Page. perfecUy, godly, soundly, and pithily, of God's holy election, free-grace, and mercy in Jesus Christ 331 A brief summary of the doctrine of election and p'-edestina- tion 341 MEDITATIONS AND PRAYERS, Address to the Reader 342 Instructions to be observed concerning Prayer 343 A meditation upon the twelve articles of the Christian Faith « , 367 A meditation upon the Commandments 375 A meditation concerning prayer, with a brief paraphrase upon the petitions of the Lord's Prayer 398 Another paraphrase or meditation upon the Lord's Prayer. . . . 405 A meditation on the coming of Christ to judgment, and of the rewards both of the faithful and unfaithful 409 A meditation concerning the sober usage both of the body and pleasures in this life 412 Another meditation to the same effect 4IS A meditation for the exercise of true mortification 414 A godly meditation and instruction on the providence of God towards mankind -, 415 A meditation of the presence of God 417 A meditation of God's power, beauty, goodness, &c 418 A meditation on death, and the advantages it brings 419 A godly meditation upon the passion of our Saviour Jesus Christ 420 A confession of sins and prayer for the mitigation of God's wrath and punishment for the same 424 Another confession of sins 426 A prayer for the remission of sins 427 Another prayer for remission of sins 428 A prayer for deliverance from sin, and to be restored to God's grace and favour again 429 A prayer for the obtaining of faith 430 A prayer for repentance 431 A godly meditation and prayer 431 DAILY MEDITATIONS AND PRAYERS. When you awake out of your sleep 4S6 As soon as you behold the daylight 43^ When you arise 4S7 Vni CONTENTS Page. Wlien you dress yourself 437 When you are made ready to begin the day .. 438 Cogitations proper to begin the day with 438 When you go forth out of doors 440 When you are going any journey 440 Another on the same « 441 When you are about to receive your meat 441 In the meal-time 442 After your meat 443 Cogitations for about the mid-day time 444 When you come home again 444 At the sun's going down 444 When the candles are lighted 44.') When you undress yourself 4l6 When you enter into your bed 446 When you feel sleep to be coming 447 A most fruitful prayer for the dispersed church of Christ, very necessary to be used by the godly in these days of affliction 448 Another prayer 45 ] Another godly prayer to be read at all times 45 4 THEOLG'vil •A BIIIEC ACeOtTNT THE REV. JOHN BRADFORD. Prebendary of St. Paul's, and Martyr, A. D. 1555. John Bradford was bom at Manchester, of respectable parents, soon after the year 1510. He received a good educa- tion ; and when he arrived at manhood, he engaged in the service of sir John Harrington, one of the treasurers of king Henry the Eighth. Bradford was highly valued by his master for his ability and faithfulness, and was intrusted with the management of many important affairs. His worldly prospects were good, but God was pleased to call him to the knowledge of the truth, and to implant in his heart a desire to engage in the ministry of the word. He therefore relinquished his situation, and applied wholly to the study of the Scriptures. And here the powerful effect pro- duced upon his mind by one of Latimer's "searching ser- mons" should be noticed. In the course of his official duties, Bradford had been induced to sanction an account, or in some manner was engaged in a transaction, with the remembrance of which his awakened conscience felt dissatisfied ; and as he found that the person whose interest had been benefited thereby refused to make it good, he did not rest till he had made full restitution to the injured party, although to effect this he was compelled to give up his patrimony. After studying some time in London, Bradford went to Cambridge, where he was much loved and esteemed. By the earnest persuasion of Bucer he was induced to enter into the ministry earlier than ^ he had intended; and bishop Ridley immediately appointed him to a prebend in St. Paul's. He preached in the metropolis with much acceptance during the BRADFORD I. B 2 Bradford. latter part of the reign of kinj^ Edward VI. The sum and sub- stance of his discourses is thus described by Fox : " Sharply he opened and reproved sin, sweetly he preached Christ cru- cified, pithily he impugned heresy and error, and earnestly he persuaded to godly life." When Queen Mary came to the throne, Bradford was one of the first who was marked for destruction, and the conduct of the Papists towards him is among the most atrocious actions of that cruel, persecuting reign. They were deeply sensible of his worth, and laboured more earnestly with him than with any other of the martyrs, to induce him to forsake the faith ; but their endeavours were in vain. The particulars of their proceedings, and of his constancy in the truth, are related by Fox and other historians of that period. At length he was brought to the stake, and burned in Smithfield on the first of July, 1555, with a youth named John Leaf. At the place of suffering Bradford addressed the assembled multitude in these words, " O England, repent thee of thy sins. Beware of idolatry, beware of false Antichrists. Take heed they do not deceive you." The last words he was heard to utter were, " Strait is the way and naiTOw is the gate that leadeth to eternal life, and few there be that find it." The bystanders heard no more, but as one who has written concerning him observes, they saw that " he endured the flame as a fresh gale of wind on a hot summer's day." Bradford is one of the most spiritual and valuable writers among the British Reformers. In his works, " he being dead yet speaketh." His Letters' in particular have always been higlily prized ; they will often be found to present more of the genuine truths of the gospel in a single page than is con- tained in whole volumes of later divines. As Fox observes, *' They show how godly he occupied his time when a prisoner; what special zeal he bore to the state of Christ's church ; what care he had to perform his office ; how earnestly he admonished all men ; how tenderly he comforted the heavy-hearted ; and how fruitfully he confirmed them whom he had taught." LETTERS MASTER JOHN BRADFORD. A faithful Minister and pillar of Christ's Church, by whose great labours and diligence in preaching and planting the sincerity of the gospel, by whose most godly and innocent life, and by whose long and painful imprisonments for the maintenance of the truth, the Kingdom of God was not a little advanced : who also at last most valiantly and cheerfully gave his blood for the same, on tlie 1st day of July, in the year of our Lord 1555. b2 m,.' LEXTERS OF JOHN BRADFORD, WRITTEN ON VARIOUS OCCASIONS [After the time that Bradford was condemned and sent to the Compter, it was purposed by his adversaries that he should be had to Manchester, where he was born, and tiiere be burned ; whereupon he wrote to the City of London, thinking to take his last farewell of them in this letter. Fojc.] LETTER I. To the City of London. To all that profess the gospel and the true doctrine of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, in the city of London ; John Bradford, a most unworthy servant of the Lord, noAv not only in prison, but also excommunicated and con- demned to be burned, for the same true doctrine, wishes mercy, grace, and peace, with increase of all godly know- ledge and piety, from God the Father of mercy, through the merits of our alone and all-sufficient Redeemer Jesus Christ, by the operation of the Holy Spirit for ever. Amen. My dearly beloved brethren in our Saviopr Christ: — Although the time I have to live is very little, for I look hourly when I shall be conveyed into Lancashire, there to be burned, and, by the providence of God, to render my life where I first received it, by the same providence : and although the charge is great to keep me from all things whereby I might signify any thing to the world of my state ; yet having, as now I have, pen and ink, through God's working, notwithstanding the power of Satan and his soldiers, I thought good to write a short confession of my b3 6 Bradford. — Letters. faith, and thereto join a httle exhortation unto you all, to live according to your profession. First, for my faith : 1 do confess, and pray all the whole congregationof Christ to bear witness with me of the same, that I believe constantly, through the gift and goodness of God, for faith is only God's gift, all the twelve articles of the symbol or creed, commonly attributed to the apostles. This my faith I would gladly particularly declare and ex- pound, to confirm and comfort the simple ; but, alas ! by starts and stealth I write in the manner that I write, and therefore I shall desire you all to take this brevity in good part. And this faith I hold, not because of the creed itself, but because of the word of God, which teacheth and con- firmeth every article accordingly. This word of God, written by the prophets and apostles, and contained in the canonical books of the holy Bible, I do believe to contain plentifnlly all things necessary to salvation, so that nothing, as necessary to salvation, ought to be added thereto ; and therefore neither the Church of Christ, nor any of his con- gregation, ought to be burdened with any other doctrine, than that which hereout has its foundation and ground. In testimony of this faith, I render and give my life, being con- demned, as well for not acknowledging the antichrist of Rome to be Christ's \-icar-general and supreme head of his catholic and universal church, here or elsewhere upon earth ; as for denying the horrible and idolatrous doctrine of transubstantiation, and Christ's real, corporeal, and carnal presence in his supper, under the forms and acci- dents, (or appearance,) of bread and wine. To believe that Christ our Saviour is the head of his Church, and that kings in their realms are the supreme powers, to whom every soul oweth obedience. And to be- lieve that in the supper of Christ is a true and very pre- sence of whole Christ, God and man, to the faith of the receiver, but not to the stander by and looker upon, even as it is a true and very presence of bread and wine to the senses of men : to believe this, — I say, — will not serve ; and therefore as a heretic I am condemned, and shall be burned ; whereof I ask God heartily for mercy that I do no more rejoice than I do, having so great cause, as to be an instrument wherein it may please my dear Lord God and Saviour to suiier. * For albeit my manifold sins, even since I came into prison, have deserved at the hands of God, not only temporal fire. I.] To the City of London. 7 but also eternal fire in hell, much more my former sinful life, which the Lord pardon for his Christ's sake, as 1 know he of his mercy hath done, and that he never will lay mine iniquities to my charge, to condemnation ; so great is his goodness, praised therefore be his holy name ! Although, I say, my manifold and grievous late sins have deserved most justly all that man or devil can do unto me ; and therefore I confess that the Lord is just, and that his judgments are true and deserved on my behalf : yet the bishops and prelates do not persecute them in me, but Christ himself, his word, his truth, and rehgion. And therefore I have great cause, yea, most great cause, to re- joice that ever I was born, and hitherto kept of the Lord ; that by my death, which is deserved for my sins, it pleases the heavenly Father to glorify his name, to testify his truth, to confirm his verity, to oppugn his adversaries. O good God and merciful Father ! forgive my great unthankful- ness, especially herein. And you, my dearly beloved, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, I humbly and heartily in his bowels and blood do now, for my last farewell in this present life, beseech you and every one of you, that you will consider this work of the Lord accordingly. First by me be admonished to beware of hypocrisy and carnal security ; profess not the gospel with tongue and lips only, but in heart and verity ; frame and fashion your lives accordingly; beware that God's name be not evil spoken of, and the gospel still less regarded by your conversation. God forgive me, that I have not so heartily professed it as I should have done, but have sought myself much therein. The gospel is a new doctrine to the old man ; it is new wine ; and there- fore cannot be put in old bottles, without more hurt than good to the bottles. If we will talk with the Lord, we must put off" our shoes and carnal affections ; if we will hear the voice of the Lord, we must wash our garments and be holy ; if we will be Christ's disciples, we must deny our- selves, take up our cross, and follow Christ ; we cannot serve two masters. If we will seek Christ's kingdom, we must seek for the righteousness thereof. To the petition, Let thy kingdom come, we must join. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. If we will not be doers of the w:ord, but hearers of it only, we sorely deceive our- selves. If we hear the gospel, and love it not, we declare ourselves to be but fools, and builders upon the sand. 8 Bradford. — Letters. The Lord's Spirit hateth feifrniiifr ; deceitfulness the Lord ubhorreth ; if we come to him we must beware that we come not with a double heart ; for then may chance that God will answer us accordinjr to the block which is in our heart, and so we shall deceive ourselves and others. See that we couple a good conscience to faith, lest we make a shipwreck. To the Lord we must come with fear and reverence. If we will be gospellers, we must be Christ's ; if we be Christ's, we must crucify our flesh with the lusts and concupiscences thereof; if we will be imder grace, sin must not bear rule in us. We may not come to the Lord, and draw nigh unto him with our lips, and leave our hearts elsewhere, lest the Lord's wrath wax hot, and he take from us the good yet remaining. In no case can the kingdom of Christ approach unto them that repent not. Therefore, my dearly beloved, let us rejient and be heartily sorry that we have so carnally, so hypocritically, so covet- ously, so vain-gloriously professed the gospel. For all these I confess of myself, to the glory of God, that he may cover my offences in the day of judgment. Let the anger and plagues of God most justly fallen upon us, be applied to every one of our deserts, that from the bottom of our hearts every one of us may say, It is I, Lord, that have sinned against thee ; it is my hypocrisy, my vain-glory, my covet- ousness, uncleanness, carnality, security, idleness, unthank- fulness, self-love, and such like, which have deserved the taking away of our good king,* of thy word,and true religion, of thy good ministers by exile, imjirisonment, and death ; it is ray wickedness that causes success, and increase of au- thority, and peace to thy enemies. Oh, be mercifial, be mer- ciful unto us. Turn to us again, O Lord of hosts, and turn us unto thee ; correct us, but not in thy fury, lest we be consumed in thine anger; chastise us not in thy wrathful displeasure ; reprove us not, but in the midst of thine anger remember thy mercy. For if thou mark what is done amiss, who shall be able to abide it? But with thee is mercifulness, that thou mightest be worshipped. Oh then be merciful unto us, that we may tnily worship thee. Help us, for the glory of thy name ; be merciful unto our sins, for they are great : Oh, heal us, and help us for thine honour. Let not tlie wicked people say. Where is their God, &c. On this sort, my right dearly beloved, let us heartily * King Edv/ard YI. I.] To the City of London. 9 bewail our sins, repent us of our former evil life, heartily and earnestly purpose to amend our lives in all things, continually watching in prayer; diligently and reverently attend, hear, and read the holy Scriptures, and labour after our vocation to amend our brethren. Let us reprove the works of darkness. Let us flee from all idolatry. Let us abhor the antichristian and Romish rotten service, detest the popish mass, renounce their Romish god, prepare our- selves to the cross, be obedient to all that are in authority, in all things that are not against God, and his word ; an- swering with the apostles, It is more meet to obey God than man. Howbeit, never for any thing resist, or rise against the magistrates. Avenge not yourselves, but commit your cause to the Lord, to whom vengeance belongs, and he in his time will reward it. If you feel in yourselves a hope, and trust in God that he never will tempt you above that which he will make you able to bear, be assured the Lord will be true to you ; and you shall be able to bear all brunts. But if you want this hope, flee and get you hence, rather than, by your tarrying, God's name should be dishonoured. In sum, cast your care upon the Lord, knowing for most certain, that he is careful for you ; with him are all the hairs of your head numbered, so that not one of them shall perish without his good pleasure and will : much more, then, nothing shall happen to your bodies, which shall not be profitable, however for a time it seems otherwise to your senses. Hang on the providence of God, not only when you have means to help you, but also when you have no means, yea, when all means are against you. Give him this honour, which, of all other things, he most chiefly requires at your hands ; namely, believe that you are his children through Christ, that he is your Father and God through him, that he loves you, pardons you all your offences, he is with you in trouble, and will be with you for ever. When you fall, he will put his hand under, you shall not he still. Before you call upon him he hears you : he will finally bring you out of evil, and deliver you to his eternal joy. Doubt not, my beloved, herein, doubt not, I say ; God your Father will do this for you, not for respect of yourselves, but for respect of Christ your captain, your pastor, your keeper; out of whose hands none shall be able to catch you ; in him be quiet, and often consider your dignity; namely, how that you are God's children, the 10 Bradford.— Letters. saints of God, citizens of heaven, temples of the Holy Ghost, the thrones of God, members of Christ, and lords over all. Tlierefore be ashamed to think, speak, or do any thing that should be unseemly for God's children, God's saints, Christ's members, &c. Marvel not though the devil and the world hate you, though you are persecuted here, for the servant is not above his master. Covet not earthly riches, fear not the power of man, love not this world, nor the things that are in this world ; but long for the coming of the Lord Jesus, at which time your bodies shall be made like unto his glorious body : v/hen he appeareth you shall be like unto him ; when your life shall thus be revealed, then shall you appear with him in glor\\ In the mean season live in hope thereof. Let the life you lead be in the faith of the Son of God : for the just doth live by faith, which faith flees from evil, and follows the word of God as a lantern to her feet and a light to her steps. Her eyes are above, where Christ is ; she beholds not the things present, but rather things to come ; she glories m affliction, she knows that the afflictions of this life are not to be compared to the glory that God will reveal to us and in us. Of this glory God grant us here a lively taste ; then shall we run after the scent it sendeth forth. It will make us valiant men to take to us the kingdom of God, whither the Lord of mercy bring us in his good time, through Christ our Lord, to whom, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, three persons and one God, be all honour and glory, world without end. Amen. My dearly beloved, I would gladly have given here my body to be burned, for the confirmation of the true doc- trine I have taught here unto you ; but that my country must have it. Therefore I pray you take in good part this signification of my good-will towards every of you. Im- pute the want herein to time and trouble. Pardon me mine offensive and negligent behaviour when I was amongst you. With me repent and labour to amend. Continue in the truth which I have truly taught unto you by preaching in all places where I have come, God's name therefore be praised. Confess Christ when you are called, what- soever comes thereof; and the God of peace be with us all. Amen. This 11th of February, anno 1555, Your brother in bonds for the Lord's sake, John Bradford. II.] To Cambridge. \\ LETTER II. To the University and Town of Cambridge. To all that love the Lord Jesus and his true doctrine in the university and town of Cambridge, John Bradford, a most unworthy servant of the Lord, now not only impri- soned, but also condemned for the same true doctrine, wisheth grace, peace, and mercy, with increase of all godliness from God, the Father of all mercy, through the bloody passion of our only Saviour Jesus Christ, by the lively working of the Holy Spirit for ever. Amen. Although I look hourly when I should be had to the stake (my right dearly beloved in the Lord), and although the charge over me is great and strait ; yet having, by the providence of God, secretly pen and ink, I could not but signify unto you something of my sohcitude which I have for you and for every one of you in the Lord, though not as I would, yet as I may. You have so often and openly heard the truth disputed and preached, especially in this matter wherein I am condemned, that it is needless to do any more than to put you in remembrance of the same ; but hitherto you have not heard it confirmed, and as it were sealed up, as now you do and shall hear by me, that is, by my death and burning. For albeit I have deserved eternal death and hell fire through my uncleanness, hypocrisy, avarice, vain-glory, idleness, unthankfulness, and carnality, whereof I accuse myself, to my confusion before the world, that before God, through Christ, I might find mercy, as my assured hope is that I shall. Albeit, I have deserved much more than this affliction and fire prepared for me : yet, my dearly beloved, it is not for these, or any of these things, wherefore^ the prelates persecute me, but for God's verity and truth ; yea, even Christ himself is the only cause and thing whereof I am now condemned, and shall be burned as a heretic, because I will not grant the antichrist of Rome to be Christ's vica,r-general and supreme head of the church here, and everywhere upon earth, by God's ordinance ; and because I will not grant such cor- poreal, real, and carnal presence of Christ's body and blood in the sacrament as doth transubstantiate the substance of bread and wine, and is received by the wicked, yea, even by dogs and mice. Also I am excommunicated, and 12 Bradford. — Letters. counted as a dead member of Christ's Church, as a rotten branch, and therefore shall be cast into the fire. Therefore you ought heartily to rejoice with me, and to give thanks for me that God, the eternal Father, hath vouchsafed our mother* to bring up any child in whom it would please him to magnify his holy name as he doth, and I hope, for his mercy and truth's sake, will do in me and by me. Oh ! what such benefit upon earth can there be as that I, which deserved death by reason of my sins, should be delivered for a demonstration, a testimony, and confirmation of God's verity and truth ! Thou, my mother, the University, hast not only had the truth of God's word plainly manifested unto thee, by reading, disputing, and preaching pubhcly and privately, but now to make thee altogether excuseless, and, as it were, almost to sin against the Holy Ghost, if thou put to thy helping hand with the Romish rout to suppress the verity and set out the con- trary, thou hast my life and blood as a seal to confirm thee, if thou wilt be confirmed, or else to confound thee, and bear witness against thee, if thou wilt take part with the prelates and clergy, which now fill up the measures of their fathers which slew the prophets and apostles, that all the righteous blood, from Abel to Bradford, shed upon earth, may be required at their hands. Of this therefore I thought good before my death, as time and liberty would suffer me, for the love and duty I bear unto you, to admonish thee, good mother, and my sister the town, that you would call to mind from whence you are fallen, and study to do the first works. You know, if you will, these matters of the Romish supremacy, and the antichristian transubstantiation, whereby Christ's sup- per is overthrown, his priesthood annulled, his sacrifice frustrated, the ministry of his word unplaced, repentance repelled, faith fainted, godliness extinguished, the mass maintained, idolatry supported, and all impiety cherished : you know, I say, if you will, that these opinions are not only besides God's word, but even directly against it ; and therefore to take part with them is to take part against God, against whom you cannot prevail. Tlierefore, for the tender mercy of Christ, in his bowels and blood I beseech you to take Christ's eye-salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see what you do and have done in admitting, as I hear you have admitted, yea, alas ! * The University of Cambridge. II.] To Cambridge. 13 authorized, and by consent confirmed, the Romish rotten rags, which once yon utterly expelled. Oh ! be not a dog returned to his vomit. Be not the washed sow returned to her wallowing in the mire. Beware, lest Satan enter in with seven other spirits, and then thy last state shall be worse than the first. It had been better you had never known the truth, than after knowledge to run fi:om it. Ah ! woe to this world and the things therein, which has now so wrought with you. Oh ! that ever this dirt of the devil should daub up the eye of the realm. For thou, O mother, art as the eye of the realm. If thou be light and shine, all the body shall fare the better ; but if thou the light be darkness, alas ! how great will the darkness be ! What is man, whose breath is in his nostrils, that thou shouldst thus be afraid of him ! Oh ! what is honour and life here ? Bubbles. What is glory in this world but shame ? — Why art thou afraid to carry Christ's cross ? Wilt thou come into his kingdom, and not drink of his cup ? Dost thou not know Rome to be Babylon ? Dost thou not know, that as the old Baby- lon had the children of Judah in captivity, so hath this Rome the true Judah, that is, the confessors of Christ ? Dost thou not know, that as destruction happened unto it, so shall it do unto this ? And supposest thou that God will not deliver his people, now when the time is come, as he did then ? Has not God commanded his people to come out from her, and wilt thou give example to the whole realm to run unto her ? Hast thou forgotten the woe that Christ threatens to offence-givers? Wilt thou not remember that it were better that a millstone were hanged about thy neck, and thou thrown into the sea, than that thou shouldst offend the little ones ? And, alas ! how hast thou offended ! Yea, and how dost thou still offend ! Wilt thou consider things accord- ing to the outward show ? Was not the synagogue more seemly and like to the true church than the simple flock of Christ's disciples? Hath not the harlot of Babylon more costly array, and rich apparel, externally to set forth herself, than the homely housewife of Christ ? Where is the beauty of the King's daughter, the church of Christ ? without or within ? Doth not David say within ? Oh ! remember, that as they are happy which are not offended at Christ, so are they happy which are not offended at his poor church. Can the pope and his prelates mean honestly, BRADFORD I. C 14 Bradford. — Letters. which make so much of the wife and so Httle of the hus- band? The church they magnify, but Christ they con- temn. If this church were an honest woman, (that is, Christ's wife,) except they would make much of her hus- band, Christ and his word, she would not be made much of by them. When Christ and his apostles were upon earth, who seemed more likely to be the true chureh, they or the pre- lates, bishops, and synagOjE^ue ? If a man should have followed custom, unity, antiquity, or the more part, would not Christ and his company have been cast out of the doors ? Therefore Christ bade them to search the scrip- tures. And, good mother, shall the servant be above his master? Shall we look for other entertainment at the hands of the world than Christ and his dear disciples found ? Who was taken in Noah's time for the church, poor Noah and his family, or others ? Who was taken for God's church in Sodom, Lot, or others? And doth not Christ say, As it was then, so shall it be now towards the coming of the Son of Man ? What meaneth Christ when he says. Iniquity shall have the upper hand ? Doth not he say that charity shall wax cold? And who sees not a wonderful great lack of charity in those which would now be taken for Christ's church ? All that truly fear God in this realm can tell more of this than I can write. Therefore, dear mother, receive some admonition of one of thy poor children, now going to be burned for the testi- mony of Jesus. Come again to God's truth ; come out of Babylon ; confess Christ and his true doctrine ; repent that which is past ; make amends by declaring thy repent- ance by the fruits. Remember the readings and the jn'eachings of God's prophet, and true preacher, Martin Bucer, Call to mind the threatenings of God, now some- thing seen by thy children Leaver and others. Let the exile of Leaver, Pilkington, Grindall, H addon, Home, Scory, Ponet, &c. something awake thee. Let the impri- sonment of thy dear sons, Cranmer, Ridley, and Latimer, move thee. Consider the martyrdom of Rogers, Saunders, Taylor. And now cast not away the poor admonition of me, going to be burned also, and to receive the like crown of glory with my fellows. Take to heart God's calling by us. Be not as Pharaoh was, for then will it happen unto thee as it did unto him. What is that ? — Hardness of heart ? And what then ? — Destruction eternally, both II.] To Cambridge. 15 of body and soul. Ah ! therefore, good mother, awake, av/ake, repent, repent, bustle thyself, and make haste to turn to the Lord, for else it shall be more easy for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for thee. Oh ! harden not your hearts ; oh ! stop not your ears to-day in hearing God's voice, though it -be by me a most unworthy messenger. Oh ! fear the Lord, for his anger is begun to kindle. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the tree. You know I prophesied truly to you before the sweating sickness came on you, what would come if you repented not your carnal gospelling. And now I tell you, before I depart hence, that the ears of men will tingle to hear the ven- geance of God that will fall upon you all, both town and university, if you repent not, if you leave not your idolatry, if you turn not speedily to the Lord, if you still are ashamed of Christ's truth which you know. Oh ! Perne, repent ; oh ! Thomson, repent ; oh ! you doctors, bachelors, and masters, repent ! oh ! mayor, alder- men, and town-dwellers, repent, repent, repent, that you may escape the near vengeance of the Lord. Rend your hearts, and come apace, caUing on the Lord. Let us all say, We have all sinned, we have done wickedly, we have not hearkened to thy voice, O Lord. Deal not with|us after our deserts, but be merciful to our iniquities, for they are great. Oh ! pardon our offences. In thine anger remember thy mercy. Turn us unto thee, O Lord God of Hosts, for the glory of thy name's sake. Spare us, and be merciful unto us. Let not wicked people say. Where is now their God ? Oh ! for thine own sake, for thy name's sake, deal mercifully with us. Turn thyself unto us, and us unto thee, and we shall praise thy name for ever. If in this manner, my dearly beloved, in heart and mouth we come unto our Father, and prostrate ourselves before the throne of his grace, then surely, surely we shall find mercy. Then shall the Lord look graciously upon us, for his mercy's sake in Christ ; then shall we hear him s])eak peace unto his people ; for he is gracious and merciful, of great pity and compassion ; he cannot be chiding for ever ; his anger cannot last long to the penitent; though we weep in the morning, yet at night we shall have our sorrow cease ; for he is easy to be entreated, and hath no plea- sure in the death of a sinner, he rather would have our conversion and turning. c2 16 Bradford.— Letters. Oh ! turn now and convert, yet once again I humbly beseech you, and then tlie kinn^dom of heaven shall draw nigh. The eye hath not seen, the ear hath not heard, nor is the heart of man able to conceive the joys prepared for US, if we repent, amend our lives, and heartily turn to the Lord. But if you repent not, but be as you were, and go on forwards with the wicked, following the fashion of the world, the Lord will lead you on with wicked doers, you shall perish in your wickedness, your blood will be ui)on your own heads, your part shall be with hypocrites, where shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth ; you shall be cast from the face of the Lord for ever and ever. Eternal shame, sorrow, woe, and misery, shall be both in body and soul to you, world without end. Oh ! therefore, right dear to me in the Lord, turn you, turn you, repent you, repent you, amend, amend your lives, depart from evil, do good, follow peace, and pursue it. Come out from Babylon, cast off the works of darkness, put on Christ, confess his truth, be not ashamed of his gospel, prepare yourselves for the cross, drink of God's cup before it come to the dregs, and then shall I with you, and for you, rejoice in the day of judgment, which is at hand, and therefore prepare your- selves thereto I heartily beseech you ; and thus I take my farewell of you in this present life, mine own dear hearts in the Lord. The Lord of mercy be with us all, and give us a joyful and sure meeting in his kingdom. Amen. Amen. Out of prison the 11th of February, anno 1555. Your own in the Lord for ever, John Bradford. LETTER III. To Lancashire and Cheshire. To all that profess the name and true religion of our Saviour Jesus Christ, in Lancashire and Cheshire, and espe- cially those abiding in Manchester and thereabouts, John Bradford, a most \mworthy servant of the Lord, now not only in bonds, but also condemned for the same true rehgion, wishes mercy and grace, peace and increase of all godliness, from God, the Father of all pity, through the deserts of our Lord Jesus Christ, by the working of HI.] To Lancashire and Cheshire. 17 the most mighty and Uvely Spirit, the Comforter, for ever. Ameii. I hear it reported credibly, my dearly beloved in the Lord, that my heavenly Father hath thought it good to provide, that, as I have preached his true doctrine and gospel among you by word, so I shall testify and confirm the same by deed, that is, I shall with you leave my life, which, by his providence, I first received there ; for in Man- chester was I born ; for a seal to the doctrine I have taught with you and among you ; so that if from henceforth you waver in the same, you have no excuse at all. I know the enemies of Christ which exercise this cruelty upon me, (I speak in respect of my offence, which is nothing towards them, I think,) by kiUing of me amongst you, to affright you and others, lest they should attempt to teach Christ truly, or beheve his doctrine hereafl:er. But I doubt not that my heavenly Father will, by my death, more confirm you in his truth than ever. And therefore I greatly rejoice to see Satan and his soldiers supplanted in their own wisdom, which is plain foolishness among the truly wise ; that is, among such as have heard God's word, and do follow it ; for they only are counted wise of the wisdom of God our Saviour. Indeed, if I should simply consider my life, with that which it ought to have been, and as God in his law re- quires, then could I not but cry as 1 do. Righteous art thou, O Lord, and all thy judgments are true. For I have much grieved thee, and transgressed thy holy precepts, not only before my professing the gospel, but since also : yea, since my coming into prison I do not excuse, but accuse myself before God and all his church, that I have grievously offended my Lord God. I have not lived his gospel as I should have done. I have sought myself, and not simply and only, his glory and my brethren's commodity. I have been too unthankful, secure, carnal, hypocritical, vain- glorious, &c. All which my evils, the Lord of mercy pardon me for his Christ's sake, as I hope and certainly believe he hath done for his great mercy in Christ our Redeemer. But when I consider the cause of my con- demnation, I cannot but lament that I do no more rejoice than I do, for it is God's verity and truth ; so that the condemnation is not a condemnation of Bradford simply, b\it rather a condemnation of Christ and of his truth, Bradford is nothing else but an instrument, in whom. c3 18 Bradford. — Letters. Christ and his doctrine is condemned. And therefore* my dearly beloved, rejoice, rejoice, and give thanks with me and for me, that God ever did vouchsafe so great a benefit to our country as to choose the most unworthy, I mean myself, to be one in whom it would please him to suffer any kind of affliction ; much more this violent kind of death, which I perceive is prepared for me amongst you, for his sake. All glory and praise be given unto God our Father, for his great and exceeding mercy towards me, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. But perchance you will say unto me. What is the cause for which you are condemned? we hear say, that you deny all presence of Christ in his holy supper, and so make it a bare sign and common bread, and nothing else. My dearly beloved, what is said of me, and what will be said, I cannot tell. It is told me that Pendleton is gone down to preach with you, not as he once recanted, for you all know he has preached contrary to that he was wont to preach before I came among you, but to recant that which he has recanted. How he will speak of me, and report before I come and when I am come, and when I am burned, I care not much ; for he that is so uncertain and will speak so often against himself, I cannot think will speak well of me, except it make for his purpose and profit : but of this enough. Indeed the chief thing which I am condemned for as a heretic, 'w> because I deny that in the sacrament of the altar (which is not Christ's supper, but a plain perverting of it, when used as the Papists now use it,) there is a real, natural, and corporeal presence of Christ's body and blood, under the forms and accidents of bread and wine. That is, be- cause I deny transubstantiation, which is the darling of the devil, and daughter and heir to Antichrist's religion, whereby the mass is maintained, Christ's supper perverted, his sacrifice and cross imperfected, his priesthood de- stroyed, the ministry taken away, repentance repelled, and all true godliness abandoned. In the su])per of our Lord, or sacrament of Christ's body and blood, I confess and be- lieve, that there is a true and real jiresence of the whole Christ, God and man, to the faith of the receiver, (but not of the stander-by and looker on,) as there is a very true presence of bread and wine to the senses of him that is partaker thereof This faith, this true doctrine, which con- III.] To Lancashire and Cheshire. 19, sents with the word of God and with the true testimony of Christ's church, which the popish church persecutes, I will not forsake, and therefore am I condemned as a here- tic, and shall be burned. But, my dearly beloved, this truth which I have taught, and you have received, I be- lieved and do believe, and therein give my life. And I hope in God it shall never be burned, bound, nor over- come, but shall triumph, have victory and be at liberty, in spite of the head of all God's adversaries ; for there is no counsel against the Lord, nor can any device of man be able to defeat the verity, in any other than such as are children of unbeHef, which have no love, to the truth, and therefore are given up to believe lies. From which plague may the Lord of mercy deliver you and all the realm, my dear hearts in the Lord, I humbly beseech his mercy. Amen. And to the end you might be delivered from this plague, right dear to me in the Lord, I shall, for my farewell with you for ever in this present life, heartily desire you all, in the bowels and blood of our most merciful Saviour Jesus Christ, to attend unto these things which I now shall shortly write unto you, out of the holy Scriptures of the Lord. You know that a heavy plague, or rather plagues, of God is fallen upon us, in taking away our good king and true religion, God's true prophets and ministers, &c. and setting over us such as seek not the Lord according to knowledge, those whose endeavours God prospers won- derfully for the trial of many, that his people may both better know themselves, and be known. Now the cause hereof is our iniquities and grievous sins. We did not know the time of our visitation ; we were unthankful unto God, we condemned the gospel, and carnally abused it to serve our hypocrisy, our vain-gloiy, our viciousness, ava- rice, idleness, security, &c. Long did the Lord linger and tarry to have showed mercy upon us, but we were ever, the longer the worse ; therefore most justly has God dealt with us, and deals with us, yea, yet we may see that his justice is tempered with much mercy, whereto let us attribute that we are not utterly consumed ; for if the Lord should deal with us after our deserts, alas ! how could we abide it? In his anger, therefore, seeing he remembers his mercy un- deserved, yea, undesired on our behalf, let us take occa- sion the more speedily to go out to meet him, not witli force of arms, for we are not able so to withstand him, 20 Bradford.— Letters. much less to prevail ap^ainst him, but to beseech him to be merciful unto us, and to deal with us according; to his wonted mercy. Let us arise with David, and say. Enter not into judg- ment with thy servant, O Lord ! for in thy sight no flesh living shall be justified. Let us send ambassadors, with the centurion, and say. Lord, we are not worthy to come ourselves unto thee ; speak the word, and we shall have peace. Let us penitently, with the pubhcan, look down on the earth, knock our hard hearts to burst them, and cry out, O God ! be merciful unto us wretched sinners. Let us, with the lost son, return and say, O Father! we have sinned against heaven and earth, and before thee ; we are unworthy to be called thy children. Let us, I say, do thus, that is, heartily repent us of our former evil life, and our past unthankful gospelling. Let us convert and turn to God with our whole hearts, hoping in his great mercy through Christ, and heartily calling upon his holy name ; and then undoubtedly we shall find and feel otherwise, than as yet we feel both inwardly and outwardly. Inwardly we shall feel peace of conscience between God and us, which peace passes all understanding; and outwardly we shall feel much mitigation of these miseries, if not an out- ward taking of them away. Therefore, my dearly beloved in the Lord, I your poorest brother, now departing to the Lord, as my farewell for this present hfe, pray you, beseech you, and even from the very bottom of my heart, for all the mercies of God in Christ showed unto you, I most earnestly beg and crave of you out of prison, as oflen out of your pulpits I have done, that you will repent you, leave your wicked and evil life, be sorry for your ollences, and turn to the Lord, whose arms are wide open to receive and embrace you ; whose hand, stretched out to strike to death, stayeth, that he may show mercy upon you, for he is the Lord of mercy, and God of all comfort. He willeth not the death of the sin- ner, but rather that you should return, convert, and amend ; he hath no pleasure in the destruction of man ; his long- suffering draweth to repentance before the time of ven- geance and the day of wrath, which is at hand, doth come. Now is the axe laid to the root of the tree, utterly to de- stroy the impenitent ; now is the fire gone out before the face of the Lord, and who is able to quench it? Oh! therefore, repent you, repent you ; it is enough to have HI.] To Lancashire and Cheshire. 21 lived as we have done, it is enough to have played the wanton gospellers, the proud protestants, hypocritical and false Christians, as, alas ! we have done. Now the Lord speaks to us in mercy and grace : oh ! turn before he speak in wrath. Yet is there mercy with the Lord, and plenteous redemption. Yet he has not forgotten to show mercy to them that call upon him. Oh ! then call upon him while he may be found, for he is rich in mercy, and plentiful, to all them that call upon him ; so that he that calleth on the name of the Lord shall be saved. If your sins be as red as scarlet, the Lord saith, he will make them as white as snow : he hath sworn, and never will repent him thereof, that he will never remember our iniquities : but as he is God, faithful, and true, so will he be our God, and we shall be his people ; his law will he write in our hearts, and ingraft in our minds, and never will he have in mind our unrighteousness. Therefore, my dear hearts in the Lord, turn you, turn you to the Lord your Father, to the Lord your Saviour, to the Lord your Comforter. Oh ! why do you stop your ears and harden your hearts to-day, when you hear his voice by me your poorest brother ? Oh ! forget not how that the Lord hath showed himself true, and me his true preacher, by bringing to pass these plagues, which, at my mouth, you often heard of before they came to pass ; especially when I treated of Noah's flood, and when I preached from the twenty-second chapter of St. Matthew's gospel, on St. Stephen's day, the last time that I was with you. And now by me the Lord sends you word, dear countrymen, that if you will go on forward in your impenitency, carnahty, hypocrisy, idolatry, covetous- ness, swearing, gluttony, drunkenness, whoredom, &c., wherewith, alas, alas ! our country floweth ; if, I say, you will not turn and leave off, seeing me now burned among you, to assure you on all sides how God seeks you, and is sorry to do you hurt, to plague you, to destroy you, to take vengeance upon you ; oh ! your blood will be upon your own heads ; you have been warned and warned again by me in preaching, — by me in burning. As I said therefore, I say again, my dear hearts, and dearlings in the Lord, turn you, turn you, repent you ; cease from doing evil, study to do well. Away with idolatry, fly the Romish God and service, leave off" from swearing, cut off" carnality, abandon avarice, drive away drunkenness, fly from fornication and flattery, murder and malice ; destroy ^2 Bradford. — Letters. deceitfulness, and cast away all the works of darkness ; put on piety and godliness, serve God after his word, and not after custom ; use your tongues to glorify God by prayer, thanksgiving, and confession of his truth, &c. Be spiritual, and by the JSpirit mortify carnal affections ; be sober, holy, true, loving, gentle, merciful ; and then shall the Lord's wrath cease, not for this our doings' sake, but for his mercy's sake. Go to, therefore ; good countrymen, take this counsel of the Lord by me, and now sent unto you, as the Lord's counsel and not as mine, that in the day of judg- ment I may rejoice with you and for you, which I heartily desire ; and not to be a witness against you. My blood will cry for vengeance against the papists, God's enemies (whom I beseech God, if it be his will, heartily to forgive, yea, even them which put me to death, and are the causers thereof, for they know not what they do ;) so also will my blood cry for vengeance against you, my dearly beloved in the Lord, if you repent not, amend not, and turn not unto the Lord, Turn unto the Lord, yet once more, I heartily beseech thee, thou Manchester, thou Aston-under-Line, thou Bol- ton, Bury, Wigan, Liverpool, Mottrin, Stepport, Winsley, Eccles, Prestwich, Middleton, Radchff, and thou city of West-Chester, where I have truly taught and preached the word of God. Turn, I say unto you all, and to all the in- habitants thereabouts, turn unto the Lord our God, and he will turn unto you ; he will say unto his angel, " It is enough, put up the sword." And that he do this, I humbly beseech his goodness, for the precious blood sake of his dear Son our Saviour Jesus Christ. Ah ! good brethren, take in good part these my last words unto every one of you. Pardon me mine offences and negligences in beha- viour amongst you. The Lord of mercy pardon us all our offences, for our Saviour Jesus Christ's sake. Amen. Out of prison, ready to come to you, the eleventh of February, anno 1555. LETTER IV. To the Town ofWalden. To the faithful, and such as profess the true doctrine of our Saviour Jesus Christ, dwelling at Walden, and there- IV.] To the Town of TValdcn. 23 abouts : John Bradford, a most unworthy servant of the Lord, now in bands, and condemned for the same true doc- trine, wishes grace, mercy, and peace, with the increase of all godliness, in knowledge and living, from God the Father of all comfort, through the deserts of our alone and full Redeemer Jesus Christ, by the mighty working of the most holy Spirit, the Comforter, for ever. Amen. When I remember how that, by the providence and grace of God, I have been a man, by whom it hath pleased him, through my ministry, to call you to repentance and amendment of life, something effectually, as it seemed, and to sow amongst you his true doctrine and religion ; — lest that by my affliction and the storms now arisen to try the faithful, and to conform them like to the image of the Son of God, into whose company we are called, you might be faint-hearted — I could not, but out of prison, secretly, for my keepers may not know that I have pen and ink, write unto you a signification of the desire I have, that you should not only be more confirmed in the doctrine I have taught amongst you, which I take on my death, as I shall answer at the day of doom, I am persuaded to be God's assured, infaUible, and plain truth ; but also that you should, after your vocation, aver the same by confession, profession, and living — I have not taught you, my dearly beloved in the Lord, fables, tales, or untruths ; no, I have taught you the verity, as now by my blood gladly, praised be God, therefore, I seal the same. Indeed, to confess the truth unto you, and to all the church of Christ, I think of myself, that I have most justly deserved not only this kind, but also all kinds of death, and that eternally, for my hypocrisy, vain-glory, uncleanness, self-love, covetousness, idleness, unthankfiilness, and car- nal professing of God's holy gospel, living therein not so purely, lovingly, and painfully as I should have done. May the Lord of mercy, for the blood sake of Christ, pardon me, as I hope, yea, I certainly beheve, he hath done for his holy name sake, through Christ. But, my dearly beloved, you and all the whole world may see and easily perceive, that the prelates persecute in me another thing than mine ini- quities, even Christ himself, Christ's verity and truth, be- cause I cannot, dare not, will not, confess transubstan- tiation, and how that wicked men, yea, that even mice and dogs, eating the sacrament, (which they call the sacrament of the altar, thereby overthrowing Christ's holy suj)per 24 Bradford. — Letters. utterly,) do eat Christ's natural and real body born of the Virn;in Mary. It is not enough now to believe and confess as God's word teaches, the primitive church believed, and all the catholic and fr-ood holy fathers taught, five hundred years at the least after Christ, that, in the supper of the Lord, which the mass overthroweth, as it doth Christ's priest- hood, sacrifice, death, and passion, the ministry of his word, true faith, repentance, and all godliness ; — there is whole Christ, God and man, present by grace to the faith of the receivers, but not of the standers-by and lookers-on, as bread and wine is to their senses. Therefore I am con- demned, and shall be burned out of hand as a heretic. Wherefore I heartily thank my Lord God, that will and doth vouch me worthy to be an instrument, in whom he himself does suffer ; for you see my affliction and death is not simply because I have deserved no less, but much more at his hands and justice, but rather because I confess his verity and truth, and am not afraid through his gift so to do, that you also might be confirmed in his truth. Therefore, my dearly beloved, I heartily pray you, and so many as unfeignedly love me in God, to give, with me and for me, most hearty thanks to our heavenly Father, through our sweet Saviour Jesus Christ, for this his ex- ceeding great mercy towards me, and you also, that your faith waver not from the doctrine I have taught, and you have received ; for what can you desire more to assure your consciences of the verity taught by your preachers than tlieir own lives ? Go to therefore, my dear hearts in the Lord ; waver not in Christ's rehgion, truly taught you and set forth in king Edward's days. N ever shall the enemies be able to burn it, to prison it, and keep it in bonds ; us they may prison, they may bind and burn, as they do, and will do so long as shall please the Lord ; but our cause, religion, and doc- trine, which we confess, they shall never be able to van- quish and put away ; their idolatry and popish religion shall never be built in the consciences of men that love the truth. As for those that love not God's truth, that have no pleasure to walk in the ways of the Lord, in those, I say, the devil shall prevail, for God will give them strong illusion to believe lies. Therefore, dear brethren and sis- ters in the Lord, I humbly beseech you and pray you, in the bowels and blood of our Lord and Saviour Jesus IV.] To the Town of JValdcn. 25 Ciirist, now I am going to the death for the testimony of Jesus, as oftentimes I have done before, out of your pnlpit, that you would love the Lord's truth ; love, I say, to live it, and frame your lives thereafter. Alas ! you know the cause of all these plagues which are fallen upon us, and of the success which God's adversaries have daily, that it is for our not living according to God's word. You know that we were but gospellers in lips, and not in life ; we were carnal, full of concupiscence, idle, unthank- ful, unclean, covetous, arrogant, dissemblers, crafty, subtle, malicious, false, backbiters, &c., and even glutted with God's word, yea, we loathed it, as the Israelites did the manna in the wilderness. And therefore, as to them the Lord's wrath waxed hot, so it does unto us ; so that there is no remedy, but that, for it is better late to turn than never to turn ; we confess our faults, even from the bottom of our hearts, and with hearty repentance, which may God work in us all for his mercy's sake, we run unto the Lord our God, who is ready to be entreated, merciful, and sorry for the evil ])Oured out upon us ; and we cry unto him with Daniel, saying, We have sinned, we have sinned grievously, O Lord God, against thy majesty ; we have heaped iniquity upon iniquity ; the measure of our transgressions iloweth over: so that thy vengeance and wrath are justly fallen upon VIS, for we are very miserable. We have contemned thy long suffering, we have not hearkened to thy voice ; when thou hast called us by thy preachers, we hardened our hearts, and therefore now deserve that thou send thy curse thereupon, to harden our hearts also, that we should hence- forth have eyes and see not, ears and hear not, hearts and understand not, lest we should be converted and be saved. Oh ! be merciful unto us, spare us", good Lord, and all thy people whom thou hast dearly bought ; let not thine ene- mies triumph altogether and always against thee, for then will they be puffed up. Look down, and behold the pitiful complaints of the poor; let the sorro\\ful sighing of the simple come in thy sight, and be not angry with us ibr ever. Turn us, O Lord God of Hosts, unto thee, turn thou unto us, that thou mayest be justified in thy sweet sen- tences, and overcome when thou art judged, as now thou art by ovir adversaries : for they say. Where is their God ? Can God deliver them now ? Can their gospel serve them ? O Lord ! how long, for the glory of thy name, and for thy honour's sake, in the bowels and blood of Jesus Christ, we BRADFORD 1. *C 26 Bradford. — Letters. humbly beseech thee, come and help us, for we are very miserable. In tins manner I say, dearly beloved, let us pubhcly and privately bewail our sins, but so that hereto we join ceasino- from wilfulness and sin of purpose ; for else the liord heareth not our prayers, as David saith : and in St. John V. is written, the impenitent sinners God heareth not. How im]ienitent are they, which purpose not to amend their hves ! As for example, not only such as still follow their pleasures in covetousness, uncleanness, and carnality, but those also which for fear or favour of men against their conscience consent to the Romish rags, and resort to the rotten religion, communicating in ser\ace and ceremonies with the papists ; thereby declaring themselves to love the world more than God, to fear man more than Christ, ta dread the loss of temporal things more than of eternal ; in whom it is evident the love of God abideth not : for he that loveth the world hath not God's love abiding in him, saith St. John ; therefore, my dear hearts, and dear again in the Lord, remember what you have professed, — Christ's reli- gion and name, and the renouncing of the devil, sin, and the world. Remember, before you learned A, B, C, your lesson was Christ's cross.* Forget not that Christ will have no dis- ciples, but such as will promise to deny themselves, and take up their cross, mark, they must take it u]), and follow him,, and not the multitude, custom, and use. Consider, for God's sake, that if we gather not with Christ, we scatter abroad. What should it profit a man to win the whole world, and lose his own soul ? We must not forget that this life is a wilder- ness, and not a paradise ; here is not our home ; we are now in warfare ; we must needs fight, or else be taken prisoners. Of all things we have in this life, we shall carry nothing with us ; if Christ be our captain, we must follow him as good soldiers ; if we keep company with him in affliction, we .shall be sure of his society in glory ; if we forsake not him,, he will never forsake us ; if we confess him, he will confess us ; but if we deny him, he will deny us ; if we are- ashamed of him, he will be ashamed of us. Wherefore, as he forsook his Father, and heaven, and all things, to. come to us, so let us forsake all things to come to him^ being sure and most certain that we shall not lose thereby. * He refers to the fig^ure of a cross formerly put at the top of the hornbook, from which children used to karn their letters IV.] To the Town of IValden. 2t Your children shall find and feel it double, yea, treble, whatsoever you lose for the Lord's sake — you shall find and feel peace of conscience, and friendship with God, which is worth more than all the goods of the world. My dearly beloved, therefore, for the Lord's sake, con- sider these thing's which I now write unto you of love, for ray last farewell for ever in this present hfe. Turn to the Lord, repent you of your evil and unthankful life, de- clare repentance by the fruits ; take time while you have it; come to the Lord while he calls you ; run into his lap while his arms are open to embrace you ; seek him while he may be found ; call upon him while time is convenient ; forsake and fly from all evil, both in religion, and in the rest of your life and conversation. Let your light so shine be- fore men that they may see your good works, and praise God in the day of his visitation. Oh ! come again, come again, you strange children, and 1 will receive you, saith the Lord. Convert and turn to me, and I will turn unto you. Why will ye needs perish ? As sure as I live (sweareth the Lord) I desire not your death ; turn there- fore unto me. Can a woman forget the child of her womb ? If she should, yet I will not forget you, saith the Lord your God. I am he, I am he, which putteth away your sins for mine own sake. Oh then, dear friends, turn, I say, unto your dearest Father ; cast not these sweet and lo^ang words to the ground and behind you, for the Lord watches over his word to perform it, which he does in tAvo w^ays. To them that lay it up in their hearts, and believe it, will he pay all, and eternal joy and comfort ; but to them that cast it at their backs, and wilfully forget it, to them, I say, will he ])Our out indignation and eternal shame. Wherefore I heartily yet once more beseech you, and pray you, and every one of you, not to contemn this poor and simple exhortation, which now out of prison I make unto you, or rather the Lord by me. Loath would I to be a witness against you in the last day, as of truth I must, if you repent not, if you love not God's gospel, yea, if you live it not. Therefore to conclude, repent, love God's gospel, live in it, make it all your conversation ; so shall God's name be praised, his plagues mitigated, his people comforted, and his enemies ashamed. Grant all this, thou gracious Lord God, to every one of us, for thy dear Son's sake, our Saviour, Jesus Christ: to whom, with thee and the *c 2 28 Bradford. — Letters. Holy Ghost, be eternal calory, for ever and ever. Amen. The twelfth of February, anno Vy^b. By the bondsman of the Lord, &c. Your afflicted poor brother, John Bradford. LETTER V. A comfortable letter of Master Bradford to his mother^ a godly matron, dwelling in Manchester, and to his brethren and sisters, and others of his friends tJicre. Our dear and sweet Saviour Jesus Christ, whose pri- soner at this present (praised be his name therefore) I am, preserve and keep you, my £^ood mother, with my brothers and sisters, my father John Traves, Thomas Sorrocold, Lawrence and James Bradshaw, with their wives and families, &c. now and for ever, amen ! I am at this present in prison, sure enough for starting to confirm that I have preached unto you : as I am ready, I thank God, with my life and blood to seal the same, if God consider me worthy of that honour ; for, good mo- ther and brethren, it is a most special benefit of God to suffer for his name sake and gospel as now I do. I heartilv thank him for it, and I am sure that with him I shall be partaker of his glory. As Paul saith, If we suffer with him, we shall reign with him. Therefore be not faint-hearted, but rather rejoice, at least for my sake, which now a^n in the right and high way to heaven, for by many afflictions we must enter the kingdom of heaven. Now God will make knoAvn his children. When the wind does not blow, then a man cannot know the wheat from the chaff; but when the blast comes, then the chatf flies away, but the wheat remains, and is so far from being hurt, that by the wind it is cleansed from the chatf, and known to be wheat. Gold, when it is cast into the fire, is the more precious; so are God's children by the cross of affliction. God always begins his judgment at his house ; Christ and the apostles were in most misery in the land of Jewry, but vet the whole land smarted for it aflerwards ; so now God's children are chastised in this world, that they should not be damned with the world, for surely great plagues of God hang over this realm. v.] To his mother, 8fc, 29 You all know that there never was more knowledge of God, and less g:odly living- and true serving of God. It was counted a foolish thing to serve God truly, and earnest prayer was not passed upon ; preaching was but a pas- time ; the communion was counted too common ; fasting to subdue the flesh was far out of use ; alms were almost nothing ; mahce, covetousness, and uncleanness, were common everywhere, with swearing, drunkenness, and idleness. God therefore now is come, as you have heard me preach ; and because he will not condemn us with the world, he begins to punish us, — as me for my carnal living. For as for my preaching, I am most certain it is and was God's truth, and I trust to give my life for it by God's grace ; but because I lived not the gospel truly, but outwardly, therefore he thus punishes me ; nay, rather in punishing blesses me. And indeed I thank him more for this prison than for any parlour, yea, than for any pleasure that ever I had ; for in it I find God, my most sweet good God alv/ays. The flesh is punished, first to admonish us now to live heartily as we profess ; secondly, to certify the wicked of their just damnation, if they repent not. Perchance you are weakened as to that which I have preached, because God does not defend it, as you thinkj, but suffers the popish doctrine to come again and prevail ; but you must know, good mother, that God by this proves and tries his children and people, whether they will un - feignedly and simply hang on him and his word. So did he with the Israehtes, bringing them into a desert after their coming out of Egypt ; where, I mean in the wilder- ness, was want of all things in comparison of that which they had in Egypt. Christ, when he came into this world, brought no worldly wealth nor quietness with him, but rather war. The world, said he, shall rejoice, but ye shall mourn and weep, but your weepnig shall be turned into joy ; and therefore haj)py are they that mourn and weep, for they shall be comforted. They are marked then with God's mark in their foreheads, and not with the beast's mark, I mean the Pope's shaven crown, who now rejoices with his shavelings ; but woe unto them, for they shall be cast down, they shall weep and mourn. The rich glutton .had here his joy, and Lazarus sorrow, but afterwards the time was changed. The end of carnal joy is sorrow. Now,, let the whoremonger joy with the drunkard, swearer, 30 Bradford. — Letters. covetous, malicious, and blind buzzard Sir John;* for the mass will not bite them, neither make them to blush, as preachinf^ would. Now may they do what they will, come devils to the chiu-ch, and g;o devils home, for no man may find fault, and they are g*lad of this ; now they have their heart's desire, as the Sodomites had when Lot was g-one ; but what followed ? Forsooth when they cried, *' Peace, all shall be well," then came God's venf^eance, fire and brimstone from heaven, and burnt up every mother's child ; even so, dear mother, will it do to our pa])ists. Wherefore fear God, stick to his word, thous^h all the world swerve from it. Die you must, once, and when or how you cannot tell. Die therefore with Christ, suffer for servino' him truly and after his w^ord ; for sure may we be, that of all deaths, it is most to be desired to die for God's sake. This is the most safe kind of dying ; we cannot doubt but tha,t we shall go to heaven if we die for his name sake. And that you shall die for his name sake, God's word will warrant you, if you stick to that which God by me hath taught you. You shall see that I speak as I think ; for by God's grace I will drink before you of this cup, if I am put to it. I doubt not but God will give me his grace, and strengthen me thereto : pray that he w^ould, and that I refuse it not. I am at a point, even when my Lord God will, to come to him : death nor life, prison nor pleasure, I trust in God, shall be able to separate me from my Lord God and his gospel. In peace, when no persecution was, then you were content and glad to hear me, then you beheved me ; and will you not do so now, seeing I speak that which 1 trust by God's grace, if needs be, to verify with my hfe ? Good mother, I write before God to you, as I have preached before him. It is God's truth I have taught, it is that same infallible word whereof he said, " Heaven and earth shall pass, but my word shall not pass." The mass and such baggage as the false worshippers of God and enemies of Christ's cross, the papists, have brought in again, to poison the church of God withal, displease God highly, and is abo- minable in his sight. Happy may he be which for con- science suffers loss of life or goods in disallowing it. * The Koiuish priests were so si} led. v.] To his mother, 8)C. 31 Come not at it. If God be God, follow him ; if the mass be God, let them that will, see it, hear or be present at it, and go to the devil with it. What is therein as God. ordained ? His supper was ordained to be received of us in memorial of his death, for the confirmation of our faith, that his body was broken for us, and his blood shed for pardon of our sins ; but in the mass there is no receiving, but the priest keeps all to himself alone. Christ saith. Take, eat : No, saith the priest, gape, peep. There is a sacrifice, yea, a killing of Christ again as much as they may. There is idolatry in worshipping the outward sign of bread and wine ; there is all in Latin, you cannot tell what he saith. To conclude, there is nothing as God ordained ; wherefore, my good mother, come not at it. Oh ! some will say, it will be a hinderance to you if you refuse to come to mass, and to do as others do ; — but God will further you, be you assured, as you shall one day find, who hath promised to them that sutfer hinderance or loss of anything in this w^orld, his great blessing here, and in the world to come Mfe everlasting. You shall be counted a heretic, but not of others, only of heretics, whose praise is a dispraise. You are not able to reason against the priests, but God will, so that all of them shall not be able to withstand you. Nobody will do so but you only ; indeed no matter ; for few enter in at the narrow gate which bringeth to salvation. Howbeit, you shall have with you, I doubt not, father Traves and others my brothers and sisters, to go with you therein ; but if they will not, I your son in God, I trust, shall not leave you an inch, but go before you ; pray that I may, and give thanks for me. Rejoice in my suffering, for it is for your sakes, to confirm the truth I have taught. Howsoever you do, beware this letter come not abroad, but into father Traves's hands ; for if it should be known that I have pen and ink in the prison, then would it be worse with me. Therefore keep this letter to your- selves, commending me to God, and his mercy in Christ Jesus, may he make me worthy, for his name sake, to give my life for his gospel and church. Out of the Tower of London, the 6th day of October, 1553. My name I write not, for causes you know well enough : like the letter never the worse. Commend me to all our good brethren and sisters in the Lord. Howsoever you do, be obedient to the higher powers, that is, in no point either in 32 Bradford. — Letters. hand or tono-ue rebel ; but rather, if they command that which with oood conscience yon cannot obey, lay vour head on the block, and suffer whatsoever they shall do or say. By patience possess you your souls. LETTER VI. To my loving hrcthren, B. C. — Sfc. their wives, and whole families, J. Bradford. I BESEECH the everliving' God to grai;t you all, my good brethren and sisters, the comfort of the Holy S]3irit, and the continual sense of his mercy in Christ our Lord, now and for ever. Amen. The world, my brethren, seems to have the upper hand, iniquity overflows, the truth and verity seem to be oppressed, and they which take part therewith are unjustly entreated ; and they which love the truth lament to see and hear as they do. The cause of all this is God's anger and mercy ; his anger, because v,e have grievously sinned against him ; his mercy, because he punishes us here, and nurtures us as a father. We have been unthankful for his word ; we have contemned his kindness ; we have been negligent in prayer ; we have been so carnal, covetous, licentious, &c. that we have not hastened to heaven-ward, but rather to hell-ward. We were fallen almost into an open contempt of God, and all his good ordinances. So that of his justice he could no longer forbear, but must make us feel his anger, as now he hath done, in taking his word and true service from us,, and permitting Satan to serve us with antichristian religion, and that in such a manner, that if we will not yield to it, and seem to allow it in deed and outward i'act, our bodies are likely to be laid in ])rison, and our goods given we cannot tell to whom. This we should look upon as a sign of God's anger, procured by our sins, which, my good brethren, every one of us should now call to our memories oftentimes, as particularly as we can, that we may heartily lament them, repent them, hate them, ask earnestly mercy for them, arid submit ourselves to bear in this life any kind of punish- ment which God will lay upon us for them. This we should do in consideration of God's anger at this time. Now his mercy in this time of wrath is seen, and should be VI.] To his brethren, B. C, 6fc. 3'3 seen by us, my dearly beloved, in this respect, that God vouchsafes to punish us in this present life. If he had not punished us, do not you think that we should have con- tinued in the evils we were in ? Yes, verily, we should have been worse, and have gone forward in hardening our hearts, by impenitency, and negligence of God, and true godliness ; and then, if death had come, should we not have perished, both soul and body, in eternal fire and per- dition ? Alas ! what misery we should have fallen into, if God had suffered us to go forward in our evils ! No greater sign of damnation is there, than to he in evil and sin, unpunished of God, as now the papists, my dearly beloved, are cast into Jezebel's bed of security, (Rev. iii.) which of all plagues is the most grievous plague that can be ; they are bastards, and not sons, for they are not under God's rod of correction. A great mercy therefore it is that God punishes us : for if he loved us not, he would not punish us : now he chastises us, that we should not be damned with the world. Now he nurtures us, because he favours us ; now we may think ourselves God's house and children, because he begins his chastising at us. Now he calls us to remember our sins past. Wherefore ? — That we might repent, and ask mercy. And why ? — That he might forgive us, pardon us, justify us, and make us his children, and so begin to make us here like Christ, that we might be like unto him else- where, even in heaven, where already we are set by faith with Christ. And at his coming, in very deed we shall enjoy his presence, when our sinful and vile bodies shall be made like to Christ's glorious body, according to the povv^er whereby he is able to make all things subject to himself. Therefore, my brethren, let us in respect hereof not lament, but laud God. Let us not be sorry, but be merry, not weep, but rejoice and be glad, that God vouchsafes to offer us his cross, thereby to come to him to endless joys and comforts. For if we suff*er, we shall reign ; if wc confess him before men, he will confess us before his Father in heaven ; if we are not ashamed of his gospel now, he will not be ashamed of us in the last day, but will be glorified in us, crowning us with crowns of glory ai:d endless fehcity. For blessed are they that suffer ])erse- cution for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom oi heaven. Be glad, (saith Peter,) for the Spirit of God 34 Bradford. — Letters. restetli ui)on you. And after you are a little while afflicted, God will comfort, streiig;then, and confirm you. And therefore, my g^ood brethren, be not discouraged for cross, for prison, or loss of g-oods, for confession of Christ's gospel and truth which ye have believed, and which was taught amongst you in the days of our late good king, and most holy ])rince king Edward. This is most certain, if you lose anything for Christ's sake, and for contemning the antichristian service set up again among us ; — as you for your parts, even in prison, shall find (lod's great and rich mercy far passing all worldly wealth ; — so shall your wives and children, in this present life, find and feel God's providence more plentifully than tongue can tell ; for he will show merciful kindness on thousands of them that love him. The good man's seed shall not go a-begging his bread. You are good men, so many as suffer for Christ's sake. I trust that you all, my dearly beloved, will consider this with yourselves, and in the cross see God's mercy, which is more sweet and to be set by, than life itself, much more than any muck or pelf of this world. This mercy of God should make you merry and cheerful, for the afflictions of this life are not to be compared to the joys of the life prepared for you. You know the way to heaven is not the wide way of the world, which windeth to the devil, but it is a strait way, which few walk in. For few live godly in Christ Jesus ; few regard the life to come ; few remember the day of judgment ; few remember how Christ will deny them before his Father, that deny him here ; few consider that Christ will be ashamed of them in the last day, which now are ashamed of his truth and true service ; few cast their accounts what will be laid to their charge in the day of vengeance ; few regard tlie con- denniation of their own consciences, in doing that which inwardly they disallow ; few love God better than their goods. But I trust yet, you are of this few% my dearly beloved ; I trust you are of that little flock, which shall inherit the kingdom of heaven ; I trust you are the mourners and lamenters which shall be comforted with comfort that never shall be taken from you, if you now repent your former evils, if now you strive against the evils that are in you, if now you continue to call upon God, if now you defile not your bodies with any idolatrous service, used in the VII.] To Erkiiiaide Rawlins and his wife. 35: anti christian churches ; if you molest not the g;ood Spirit of God, which is given you as a gage * of eternal redemption, a counsellor and master to lead you into all truth ; which g-ood Spirit I beseech the Father of mercy to give to us all, for his dear Son's sake, Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom I commend you all, and to the word of his grace, which is able to help you all, and save you all, that believe it, follow it, and serve God thereafter. And of this I would you were all certain, that all the hairs of your heads are numbered, so that not one of them shall perish, neither shall any man or devil be able to attempt anything, much less to do anything to you, or any of you, before your heavenly Father, which loveth you most ten- derly, shall give them leave ; and when he has given them leave, they shall go no farther than he will, nor keep you in trouble any longer than he will. Therefore cast on him all your care, for he is careful for you. Only study to please him, and to keep your consciences clean, and your iDodies pure from the idolatrous service, which now evei-y- where is used, and God will marvellously and mercifully defend and comfort you ; which thing he will do for his holy name's sake in Christ our Lord. Amen. LETTER VII. To my dearly beloved in Christ, Erkinalde Rawlins and his wife. God, our dear and most merciful Father, through Christ, be with you, my good brother and sister, as with his children for ever ; and in all things so guide you with his Holy Spirit, the leader of his people, as may be to his glory, and your own everlasting joy and comfort in him. Amen. Because 1 have oftentimes received from either of you comfort corporeal, for which I beseech the Lord to make me thankful, and to recompense you both now and eternally, I cannot but go about (Lord, help hereto for thy mercy's sake !) to write something for your comfort S})iritually. My dearly beloved, look not upon these days and the afflictions of the same here with us, simply as they seem unto you, that is, as dismal days, and days of Gods * Pledije. 36 Bradford. — Letters. veno'eancc, but rather as lucky days, and days of God's fatherly kindness towards you, and such as you are, that is, towards such as repent their sins and evil hfe past, and earnestly purpose to amend, walking- not after the will of the world, as the most part of men do, for the preservation of their pelf, which, will they, nill they, they shall leave sooner or later, and by whom, or how it shall be used, they know not. Indeed, to such as walk in their wickedness, and wind on with the world, this time is a time of wrath and veng-eance ; and their beginning' of sorrow is but now, because they contemn the physic of their Father, which by this purging time, and cleansing days, would work their weal, v/liich they will not. And because they will not have God's blessing, which both ways he has offered unto them, by prosperity and adversity ; therefore it shall be kept far enough from them, as, when the sick man will take no kind of physic at the hands of the physician, he is left alone, and so the malady increases, and destroys him at length. To such men indeed, these days are and should be doleful days, and days of woe and weeping-, because their damnation draweth nig-h. But unto such as be penitent, and are desirous to live after the Lord's will, amonj^ whom I do not only count you, but, as far as a man may judge, I know you are, unto such 1 say this time is and should be comfortable. For, first, now your Father chas- tiselh you and me for our sins ; for the which if he would have destroyed us, then would he have let us alone, and left us to ourselves, not taking to heart his fatherly visita- tion, which here it pleases him to work at present, because elsewhere he will not remember our transgressions, as Paul writes ; he chastise!-i us in this world, lest with the world we should perish. Therefore, my dear hearts, call to mind your sins, to lament them, and to ask mercy for them in his sight, and withal undoubtedly believe to obtain ])ardon, and assured forgiveness of the same, for the Lord ])unishes not twice for one thing-. So that, I say, first we have cause to rejoice for these days, because our Father suffers us not to lie in Jezebel's bed, sleeping in our own sins and security ; but is mindful of us, and corrects us as his children, whereby we may be certain that we are not bastards, but children ; for he chas- tiseth every child whom he receiveth ; so that they which are not partakers of his chastising, or that contemn it, declare themselves to be bastards and not children. But VII.] To Erkinalde Rawlins and his wife. 3^ I know you are children who when you are chastised, take it to heart accordingly. And therefore be glad, my dear hearts, as folks knowing certainly, even by these visita- tions of the Lord, that you are his dear elect children, whose faults your Father may visit with the rod of correction, but his mercy he will never take away from you. Amen. Secondly, you have cause to rejoice for these days, because they are days of trial, wherein not only you your- selves, but also the world, shall know that you are none of his, but the Lord's dearhngs. Before these days came, how many thought of themselves that they had been in God's bosom, and so were thought, and would be thought by the world. But now we see whose they are ; for to whom we obey, his servants we are. If we obey the world, which God forbid, and hitherto ye have not done it, then are we the world's ; but if we obey God, then are we God's ; which thing (I mean that you are God's) these days have declared both to you, to me, and to all others that know you, better than ever we knew it ; therefore you have no cause to sorrow, but rather to sing, seeing your- selves to be God's babes, and seeing that all God's children do so count you. What though the world repine thereat ? what though he kick ? what though he seek to trouble and molest you ? My dear hearts, he does but after his kind. He cannot love the Lord, who Hves not in the Lord ; he that hates the father, cannot bear the child ; he cannot mind the servant, that cares not for the master : if you were of the world, the world would love you ; you should dwell quietly ; there would be no grief, no molestation. If the devil dwelt in you (which the Lord forbid) he would not stir up his ser- vants to besiege your house, to snatch your goods, or suffer his fiends to enter into your hogs ; but because Christ dwelleth in you, as he does by faith, therefore he stirs up his first-begotten son, the world, to seek how to disquiet you, to rob you, to spoil you, to destroy you. And perhaps your dear Father, to try and to make known to you and to the world, that you are destined to another dwelling than here on earth, to another city than man's eyes have seen at any time, has given or will give power to Satan and to the world to take fi-om you the things which he has lent you ; and, by taking; away, to try your fidelity, obedience, and love towards him ; for you may not love them above him, as 38 Bradford, — Letters, by giving what you have, and continuing it, he has declared his love towards you. Satan perchance tells God, as he did of Job, that you love God for your goods' sake. What now then if the Lord, to try you, with Job, shall give Satan power on your goods and body accordingly; should you be dismayed? should you despair ? should you be fainthearted ? Should you not rather rejoice, as did the apostles, that they were counted worthy to suffer anything for the Lord's sake ? Oh I forget not the end that happened to Job, for as it happened unto him, so shall it happen unto you ; for God is the same God, and cannot long forget to show mercy to them that look and long for it, as I know you do, and I pray you so to do still ; for the Lord loveth you, and never can nor will forget to show and pour out his mercy upon you. After a little while that he has afflicted and tried you (saith Peter) he will visit, comfort, and confirm you. As unto Jacob, wrestling with the angel, at the length morn- ing came, and the sun arose ; so, dear hearts, doubtless it will happen unto you. Howbeit, do you as Job and Jacob did : that is, order and dispose your things, that God has lent you, as you may, and while you have time, — wha knows whether God has not given you power thus long even for that purpose ? Go to, therefore, dispose your goods, prepare yourselves to trial, that either you may stand to it, like God's cham- pions, or else, if you feel such infirmity in yourselves that you are not able, give ])lace to violence, and go where you may with free and safe conscience serve the Lord.* Think not this counsel to come by chance or fortune, but to come from the Lord. Other oracles we may not look for now. As God told Joseph in a dream by an angel, that he should flee, so if you feel such infirmity in yourselves as should turn to God's dishonour, and your own destruction, know that at this present I am as God's angel, to admonish you to take time while you have it, and to see that in no case God's name by you might be dishonoured. Joseph might have objected the omission of his vocation, f as perchance you will do ; but, dear hearts, let vocations, and all things else, give place to God's name, and the sanctifying thereof. * Erkinalde Rawlins and his wife followed this counsel, and fled bej^nnd sea. Fox. t Matt. c. ii. V. 14. Tiie loss of his business. VII.] To Erkinalde Rawlins and his wife. 39 This I speak, not as though I would not have you rather to tarry and to stand to it, but I speak it in respect of your infirmity, which if you feel to be so orreat in you that you are not certain of this hope, that God will never tempt you above your ability, flee and get you hence, and know that thereby God will have you tried, to yourselves and to others. For by it you shall know how to take this world, and that your home here is no home, but that you look for another, and so give occasion to others to love this world less, and perchance to some to doubt of their re- ligion, wherein, though they are earnest, yet would they not lose so much as you do for your religion, which you do confirm to me and others by your giving place to violence. Last of all, you have cause to rejoice over these our days, because they are days of conformation, in which and by which God our heavenly Father makes us like unto Christ's image here, that we may be like unto him else- where. For if we suffer with him, then we shall reign also with him ; if we are buried with him, then we shall rise with him again ; if we company with him in all troubles and afflictions, then we shall rejoice with him in glory ; if we now sow with him in tears, we shall reap with him in gladness ; if we confess him before men, he will confess us before his Father in heaven ; if we take his part, he will take ours ; if we lose aught for his name's sake, he will give us all things for his truth's sake. So that we ought to rejoice and be glad, for it is not given to every one to suffer loss of country, life, goods, house, &c. for the Lord's sake. What can God the Father do more unto us, than to call us into the camp with his Son ? what may Christ our Saviour do more for us, than to make us his warriors ? what can the Holy Ghost do to us above this, to mark us with the cognizance of the Lord of Hosts? The cognizance of the Lord standeth not in forked caps, tippets, shaven crowns, or such other baggage and antichristian pelf, but in suffering for the Lord's sake. The world shall hate you, saith Christ. Lo ! there is the cognizance and badge of God's children : — the world shall hate you. Rejoice, therefore, my dearly beloved ; rejoice that God thus vouchsafes to begin to conform you, and to make you hke to Christ. By the trial of these days you are occasioned more to repent, more to pray, more to contemn this world, more to desire life everlasting, more to be holy, for to be holy is the end wherefore God afflicts us. 40 Bradford. — Letters. and so to come to God's company ; which thing, because we cannot do, as long as this body is as it is, therefore by the door of death we must enter, with Christ, into eternal life, and immortahty of soul and body ; which God of his mercy send shortly, for our Saviour Jesus Christ's sake. Amen. LETTER VIII. To Mistress A. War cup. The everlasting peace of Christ be more and more lively felt in your hearts, by the operation of the Holy Ghost, now and for ever. Amen. Although I know it is not needful to write anything unto you, good sister, being, as I doubt not you are, diligently exercised in reading of the scriptures, in medi- tating of the same, and in hearty prayer to God for the help of his Holy Spirit for the sense and feeling, especially of the comforts you read in God's sweet book; yet having such opportunity, and knowing not whether hereafter I shall ever have the like, as this bringer can declare, I thought good, in few words, to take my farew ell in writing, because otherwise I cannot. And now methinks I have done it : for what else can I, or should I say unto you, my dearly beloved in the Lord, but farewell ? Farewell, dear sister ! farewell ; howbeit, in the Lord, our Lord, I say, farewell 1 In him shall you fare well, and so much the better, by how much in yourself you fare evil, and shall fare evil. When I speak of yourself, I mean also this world, this life, and all things properly pertaining to this life : in them you look not for your welfare, and be not dismayed when accordingly you shall not feel it. To the Lord our God, to the Lamb our Christ, which hath borne our sins on his back, and is our Mediator for ever, do I send you. In him look for welfare, and that without all wavering, be- cause of his own goodness and truth, which our evils and untruth cannot take away. Not that, therefore, I would have you to flatter yourself in any evil or unbelief; but that I would comfort you, that they should not dismay you. Yours is our Christ, wholly ; yours I say he is, witii all that ever he hath. Is not this welfare, think you? VIII.] To Mrs. A. TFarcvp. 41 Mountains shall move, and the earth shall fall, before you find it otherwise, say that liar Satan what he list. Therefore, good sister, farewell, and be merry in the Lord ; be merry, I say, for you have good cause. If your welfare, joy, and salvation, hanged upon any other thing than only God's mercy and truth, then might you well be sad, heavy, and stand in doubt ; but since it hangcth only upon these two, tell Satan he lieth, when he would liave you to stand in a maminering, * by causing you to cast your eyes on yourself in some respect, which in this case should be set on Christ your sweet Saviour only. Indeed, look on yourself, on your faith, on your love, obedience, &c. to wake you up from security, to stir you up to diligence in doing the things appertaining to your vocation. But when you would be at peace with God, and have true consolation in your conscience, altogether look upon the goodness of God in Christ ; think on this commandment, which pre- cedes all other, that you must have no other gods but the Lord Jehovah, which is your Lord and God ; which he could not be if he did not pardon your sins in very deed. Remember that Christ commands you to call him Father for the same intent. And hereto call to mind all the benefits of God, hitherto showed unto you, and so shall you feel, in very deed, that which I wish unto you and pray you to wish unto me. Farewell, or welfare, in the Lord Jesus ; with whom may he grant us shortly to meet, as his children, for his name and mercy's sake, to our eternal welfare. Amen. Amen. Your own in the Lord, John Bradford. LETTER IX. To mine own dear brother,. Master Laurence SaunderSy prisoner in the Marshalsea. My good brother, I beseech our good and grncious Father always to continue his gracious favour and love towards us, and by us, as by instruments of his grace, to work his glory and the confusion of his adversaries Out of the mouths of infants and babes he will show forth his praise to destroy the enemy, »&c. * Hesitating. 49 Bradford. — Letters. I have perused your letters for myself, and have read them to others ; for answer whereof, if I should write what Doctor Taylor and Master Phil])ot think, then must I say that they think the salt sent us by your frier.d * is unsea- sonable ; and indeed I think they both will declare it heartily, if they should come before men. As for me, if you would know what I think, because I am so sinful, and so defiled, (the Lord knoweth I he not,) with many grievous sins, which I hope are washed away bv the blood of Christ our Lord, I neither can nor would be consulted withal, but as a cipher. Howbeit, to tell you how and what I mind, take this : I pray God that in no case I may seek myself, and indeed, I thank God therefore, I purpose it not. That which remains I commit to my Lord God ; and I trust in him that he will do according to this : Cast thy care on the Lord, &c. Cast all your care upon him, &c. Reveal unto the Lord thy way, and trust, &c. Whoso trusteth in the Lord, mercy shall compass him about. I did not, nor do I know, but by your letters, that to-morrow we shall come in the presence of each other. Mine own heart, stick still to, " It shall be given you," &c. ; for the Lord is faithful ; he will in temptation make a way, that ye may be able to bear it. The Lord knoweth how to rid out of temptation the godly, &c. Oh ! would God I were godly ! The Lord knoweth how to deliver out of temptation such as trust in him, &c. I cannot think that they will offer any kind of inditferent or mean conditions ; for if we will not adore " The Beast," we never shall be dehvered, but against their will, think I. God our Father and gracious Lord make perfect the good he hath begun in us ! He will do it, my brother, my dearest brother, whom I have in my heart to live and die with. Oh ! if I were with you ! Pray for me, mine own heart-root in the Lord. For ever your own, John Bradford. * This friend advised them to subscribe to the Papists' arlicles with this condition, " so far as they were not against God's word," when in fact tijey were quite contrary to it, yet shortly after he valiantly suffered deatli for refusing- the same. Letters of the Martyrs. X.] To Laurence Saunders. 43 LETTER X. Another Letter to Master Laurence Saunders. God's sweet peace in Christ be with you, my g-ood bro- ther in the Lord Jesus, and with all your fellow captives. Amen. I was hindered this morning from musing on that which I purposed to have thought on, by reason of you ; against whom I saw myself guilty of negligence, even in this point, that I would not write — I should say that I had not written unto you as yet. Therefore out of hand, I prepared myself to clear myself hereof; not that I will go about to excuse my fault, for that were more to load me ; but by asking both God and you pardon, to get it no more laid to my charge. Now when I was thus purposing, and partly doing, there Cometh one with a letter from you ; for which as I have cause to thank God and you, (howbeit not so that you should think I give not the whole to God,) so I see myself more blameworthy for thus long holding my peace. How- beit, good brother, in this I have given a demonstration to you, to behold my negligence in all other things, and es- pecially in praying for you, and for the church of God ; which for my sins and hypocrisy (hypocrisy, indeed ! — even in this writing ; God deliver me from it !) have deserved to be punished, God is just, for we have deserved all kind of plagues at his hands ; but yet he is merciful, that will on this wise chastise us in this world, that we should not be condemned with the world. He might otherwise have punished us ; I mean he might have cast us into prison for other causes, me especially, and not for his gospel and word's sake ; praised, therefore, be his name, which vouch- eth us worthy this honour. Ah, good God ! forgive us our sins, and work by this thy fatherly correction on us — on me especially, effectually to love thee and thy Christ ; and with joyfulness to carry thy cross to the end, through thick and thin. Always set before our eyes, not this gallows on earth, if we stick to thee ; but the gallows in hell, if we deny thersnasion which came from Ilim that called you. For why sliould you waver ? Why should you waver, and be so heavy-hearted? Whom look you on? On yourself? ou your worthiness ? on your thankfulness ? on that which God requireth of you, as faith, hope, love, fear, joy, &c. ? Tiien can you not but waver indeed ; for what have you as God requireth ? Believe you, hope you, love you, &c. as nnich as you should do ? No, no, nor ever can in this hfe. Ah ! my dearly ])eloved, have you so soon forg-otten that which should ever be had in memory — namely, that when you would and should be certain and quiet in conscience, then should your faith burst throug'h all thing's, that you have in you, or which are in heaven, earth, or hell, until it come to Christ crucified, and the eternal sweet mercies and g-ood- iicss of God in Christ ? Here, here is the resting-place, here is your s]K)use's bed ; creep into it, and in yoiu' arms of faith embrace him, bewail your weakness, your unworthi- ness, your diilidence, t\:c. and you shall see he will turn to you. Wliat said 1 you shall see ? Nay, 1 should have said, you shall perceive he will turn to you. You know that Moses, when he went to the mount to talk with God, entered into a (lurk cloud, and Llias had his face covered when God passed by : both these dear friends of God heard God XX.] To a faithful IVoman. 77 but they saw him not ; but you would be preferred before them ! See now, my dear heart, how covetous you are. Ah ! be thankful, be thankful ; but, God be praised, your covetousness is Moses's covetousness. Well, with him, you shall be satisfied : but when ? Forsooth, when he shall ap- pear. Here is not the time of seeing, but, as it were, in a glass. Isaac was deceived, because he was not content with hearing only. Therefore, to make an end of these many words, where- with I fear I trouble you from better exercises : — Inas- much as you are indeed the child of God, elect in Christ before the beginning of all times ; inasmuch as you are given to the custody of Christ, as one of God's most precious jewels ; inasmuch as Christ is faithful, and thereto has all power, so that you shall never perish, no, one hair of your head shall not be lost — I beseech you, I pray you, I desire you, I crave at your hands, with all my very heart, I ask of you with hand, pen, tongue, and mind, in Christ, through Christ, for Christ, for his name, blood, mercies, power, and truth's sake, my most entirely beloved sister, that you admit no doubting of God's final mercies towards you, howsoever you feel yourself. But complain to God, and crave of him, as of your tender and dear Father, all things, and in that time which shall be most opportune you shall find and feel, far above what your heart, or the heart of any creature can conceive, to your eternal joy. Amen, Amen, Amen. The good Spirit of God always keep us, as his dear children : may he comfort you, as I desire to be comforted, my dearly beloved, for evermore. Amen, I break off thus abruptly, because our common prayer- time calls me. The peace of Christ dwell in both our hearts for evermore. Amen. As to the report of W. P. if it be as you hear, you must prepare to bear it. It is written on heaven's door : Do well, and hear evil. Be content therefore to hear what- soever the enemy shall imagine to blot you withal. God's Holy Spirit always comfort and keep you. Amen, Amen, This 8th of August, by him that in the Lord desireth you as well and as much felicity as to his own heart, John Bradford. 78 Bradford. — Letters. LETTER XXI. To my good Lady Vane.*' The true sense and sweet feelinij^ of God's eternal niercies in Clirist Jesus be ever more and more lively wrought in your heart by the Holy (ihost. Amen. I most heartily thank you, i^ood Madam, for your com- fortable letters ; and whereas you wish to be told what were best to be done on your behalf, concerninG^ your three questions ;t the truth is, that the questions are never well seen nor answered, until the thino; whereof they arise is well considered ; I mean, until it is seen how irreat an evil the thin£^ is. If indeed it is once in your heart perceived, upon probable and pithy places, feathered out of God's book, that there never was any thinj^ upon the earth so great and so much an adversary to God's true service ; to Christ's death, passion, priesthood, sacrifice, and kingdom ; to the ministry of God's word and sacraments ; to the church of God, to repentance, faith, and all true godliness of life, as that is whereof the questions arise, (as most as- suredly it is so indeed,) then a Christian heart cannot but abhor it, and all things tliat in any point might seem to allow it, or any thing pertaining to the same, by so much the more as it hath the name of God's service. Again, your Ladyship knows, that as 'all is to be blamed and avoided, which is followed or fled from in respect of ourselves, or in respect of avoiding Christ's cross ; so the end of all our doings should be to God- wards, to his glory, to our neighbours, to edification, and good example, whereof none can be given, by allowino- any of the three questions propounded by you. But because * Here follovveth anotlier letter of Ills, written to the good Lady Vane, uhorein he resolves cerbiin questions which she demanded. This Lady Vane was a special nurse, and a great supporter to iier power of ihe i;odly saints, whicli were imprisoned in Que -ii .Mary's time, l^nto whdiii 1 have divers letters, of ^Master rhilynt, Care- less, Frah(>rne, Thomas IJose, and of others ; wherein tlii^y render unto lier most grateful tlianks, for her exceedincf goodness towards them, with their singular commendntion anti testimony also of her Christian zeal towards God's afllicted prisoners, and to'th^' verity of his {.'ospel. She departed at Holborn, anno \v>(\H, wlios'- end was more like a sleep, than any deatlj ; so qtiietly and meekly she de- ceased and departed hence in the I>ord. Anu)'ni,\st others uho wrote unto hfr, IMaster I'.radCord also sent letters to tlie said L idy. Fox. t 'i'lu'se (juestions were coneerninj? the mass, whereon she desired his j ud-ment. Letters of the Martyrs. XXII.] To Lady Vane. 79 this which I write now is brief, and needs the more con- sideration or exphcation, as I doubt not of the one in you, so by God's orrace, you shall receive the other from me shortly. For I have already written a little book about it, which I will send unto you, in which you shall have vour questions fully answered and satisfied,* and therefore I omit to write any more hereabout at present ; beseechinj^ God, our good Father, to guide you, as his dear child, with his Spirit of wisdom, power, and comfort, unto eternal life, that you may be strong, and rejoice in him, and with his church, to carry Christ's cross, if he shall think it needful, (1 Pet. i. ;) which is a thing to be desired, wished, and em- braced, if we looked on things after the judgment of God's word, and tried them by that touchstone. If you are accustomed to think on the brevity, vanity, and misery of this life, and on the eternity, truth, and fe- licity of everlasting life ; if you look on things after their ends, and not after their present appearance only ; if you use yourself to set God's presence, power, and mercy al- ways before your eyes, to see them as God by every crea- ture desires you should ; I doubt not but you shall find such strength and comfort in the Lord, as you shall not be shaken in, with all the power of Satan, God's mercy in Christ be with you, and his good Spirit guide you for ever. Amen. LETTER XXII. Another Letter to the Lady Vane. As to mine own soul, t wish your Ladyship grace and mercy, from God our dear Father in Christ, our Lord and Saviour. I thank God that he has eased you something, and mitigated his fatherly correction in us both. I would to God he had done so much in behalf of the grief of the body to you, as he has done to me. For as for the soul, I trust you feel that, which I ])ray God increase in you ; t mean his fatherly love, and grant that I may with you feel the same in such degree as may please him ; I will not say as you feel, lest I should seem to ask too much at one time. God often much more plentifully visits with the * He means his book called " The hurt of hcanng m iss." Letters of the Martyrs. 80 Bradford. — Letters. sense of his morcy tliein tliat Immble tliemsclves under his miiihty liand, and are sore exercised, as you lon^r have been, (han others, who to the face of the world have more show and appearance. Therefore 1 wish as I do, and that not only for my own advantap;e, but also that I mio'ht lead you to consider the goodness of Cod, which I by your letters well espy; which is indeed the highway whereby God increaseth his c;ifts, and showeth his salvation more lively. Psalm 1. and cvii. I have received God's blessing- from you, which I have partly distributed unto my three fellow-prisoners. Master Farrar, Master Taylor, Master Philpot ; and the residue I will bestow upon four poor souls, which are imprisoned in the common jail for religion also. As for my own part, if I had need I would have served my turn also ; but be- cause I had not, nor I thank God have not, I have been and will be your almoner, as I have already advertised you. God reward you, and g'ive you to find it spiritually and corporeally. Because I cannot talk with you other- wise, therefore in this manner, as occasion and opportunity serve, I am ready to show my good-will and desire of your help and furtherance in the Lord unto everlasting life, whereunto God bring us shortly for his mercy's sake. Amen. Good ]Madam, be thankful to God, as I hope you are ; be earnest in prayer, continue in reading and hearing God's word ; and if God's further cross comes, as therein God serves his providence, (for else it shall not come unto you,) so be certain the same shall turn to your eternal joy and comfort. Amen. John Bradford. LETTER XXIII. To my dear friends and brethren, R. and E.* with their wives and families. The comfort of Christ, felt commonly by his children in their cross for his sake, may the everlasting God work in both your hearts, my good brethren, and in the hearts of both of your yoke-fellows, especially of good Mary, my good sister in the Lord. Amen. * Koydon and Esin^. Fox. XXIII.] To R. and E. and their families. 81 If I had not heard something of the hazard which you are in for the gospel's sake, if you continue the confession and profession thereof, as I trust you do and will do, and that unto the end, God enabling you, as he will doubtless for his mercy's sake, if you hope in him, (for this bindeth him, as David in Christ's person witnesseth, Our fathers hoped in thee, and thou deliveredst them, &c. Psalm xxii,,) yet by conjectures, I should suppose, though not so cer- tainly, that the time of your suffering and probation is at hand. For now is the power of darkness fully come upon this realm, most justly for our sins, and abusing the light lent us of the Lord, by setting forth ourselves more than God's glory. It is sent that we might be brought unto the better knowledge of our evils, and so heartily repent, (which God grant us to do,) as also that we might have more feeling and sense of our sweet Saviour Jesus Christ, by humbling and dejecting ourselves, thereby to make us more desirous of him, and him more sweet and pleasant unto us ; which may the good Spirit of God work sensibly in all our hearts for God's holy name's sake. For this cause, I thought it my duty, being now where I have some liberty to write, the Lord be praised, and hear- ing of you as I hear, to do that which I should have done, if I had heard nothing at all ; that is, to desire you to be of good cheer and comfort in the Lord, although in the world you see cause rather to the contrary ; and to go on forwards in the way of God, wherein you are entered, con- sidering that the same cannot but so much more and more wax strait to the outward man, by how much you draw nearer to the end of it : even as in the travail of a w^oman, the nearer she draweth to her delivery, the more her pains increase ; so it goes with us in the Lord's way, the nearer we draw to our deliverance by death, to eternal felicity. Example whereof we have, I will not say in the holy prophets and apostles of God, which, when they were young, girded themselves, and went in manner whither tliey w^ould, but when they waxed old, they went girded of others, whither they would not, concerning the outward man ; but I will say, rather and most lively, in our Saviour Jesus Christ, whose life and way was much more i)ainf\d to him towards the end, than it was at the beginning. And no marvel ; for Satan can somewhat abide that a man should begin well, and set forwards ; but rather than he ' e3 8r2 Bradford. — Lcflers. should li'o on to tlie end, he will do liis ultermnst and cast out Hoods to overflow hnn, belbie he will suffer that to come to pass 'J'heretore, we sliould not now be dismayed at this world, as ihouo-h some strang-e thinj^ were haj)pene 1 unto us, since it is but as it was wont to be to the ii^od y ; for the devil declares himself after his old manner, for we have professed no less, but to forsake the world and the devil, as God's very enemies ; and we learned no less at the first, when we came to God's school, than to deny our- selves, and take up our cross and follow our Master, who leads us no other way than he himself has c^one before us. As we should not be dismayed, so we should with patience and joy go forwards, if we set before us the lime to come as if present ; like as the wife in her travail does the deliverance of her child; and as the saints of God did, but especially our Saviour and pattern, Jesus Christ ; ibr the apostle saith, he set before him the joy and g\oYy to come, and therefore contemned the shame and sorrow of the cross ; and if we did so, we should find at lenn;lh as they found. For who that had a long- journey, would grieve to go through a piece of foul way, if he knew that, alterwards, the way should be most pleasant, yea, the journey should be ended, and he most happy at his resiing- place? Who would be afraid or loath to leave a little pelf for a little time, if he knew he should shortly after receive most ])lentlful riches? Who will be unwilling for a little while to forsake his wife, children, or friends, &c. when he knows he shall shortly after be associated unto them in- separably, even after his own heart's desire ? Who will be sorry to forsake this life that cannot but be most certain of eternal life? Who loves the shadow better than the body? Who can love this life, but they that regard not the life to come? Who can desire the dross of this world, but such as are ignorant of the treasures of everlasting joy in lieaven? I mean, who are afraid to die, but such as hope not to live eternally ? Christ has promised pleasures, riches, joy, felicity, and all good things, to them that for his sake lose any thing, or sutler any sorrow. And is he not true? How can he but be true? For guile was never found in his mouth. Alas ! then, why are we so slack and slow, yea, so hard of heart, to believe him, when thus promising us plentifully XXIII.] To R. and E. and their families. 83 eternal blissfulness ; and why are we so ready to believe the world, promising- us many thing-s, and paying us no- thing ? If we will curry favour now, and halt on both parts, then it promises us peace, quietness, and many other things else. But how does it pay this ? Or, if it will pay it, witli what quietness of conscience ? Or, if so, how long, I pray you ? Do not we see before our eyes, men die shamefully, I mean as rebels and other malefactors, which refused to die for God's cause ? What way is so sure a way to heaven, as to suffer in Christ's cause ? If there Is any way on horse- back to heaven, surely this is the way ; by many troubles, saith the apostle, we must enter into heaven. All that vvill live g-odly in Christ Jesus, must suffer persecution. For the world cannot love them that are of God ; the devil cannot love his enemies ; the world will love none but his own ; you are Christ's, therefore look for no love here. Should we look for fire to quench our thirst? As soon shall God's true servants find peace and flivour in antichrist's regiment. Therefore, my dearly beloved, be stout in the Lord, and in the power of his might ; put on you his armour; stand in the liberty of Christ, which you have learned ; rejoice that you may be counted worthy to suffer any thing for God's cause ; this is not given to all men. Your reward is great in heaven, though in earth you find nothing. The journey is almost past ; you are almost in the haven ; hale on apace, I beseech you, and merrily hoist up your sails. Cast yourselves on Christ, who careth for you ; keep company with him now still to the end; he is faithful, and will never leave you, nor tempt* you further than he will make you able to bear ; yea; in the midst of the temptation he will make an out- scape. Now pray unto him heartily, be thankful for his favour, rejoice in hope of the health you shah receive, and be mindful of us which are in this vayward ;t and by God's grace trust in Christ to be made able to break the ice before you, that you, following, may find the way more easy. God grant it may be so. Amen, Amen. Out of prison by your brother in Christ, John Bradford. * Try. '^ Front of the battle. 84 Bradford. — Lettas. LETTER XXIV. To MUtress WilJcimon. Almighty God, our most lovinp: Father, increase in your heart, my g;ood mother and dear mistress in the Lord, his true knowled2;e and love in Christ, to the encou- raQ:in.o' and comfortinj^ of your faith in these stormy days, iis is necessary unto us, and profitable, if we persist unto the end ; which God frrant to us. Amen. My ri£rht dearly beloved, I know not what else to write unto you, than to desire you to be thankful unto the Lord, that amonn^st the not many of your calling and state, it pleases him to i!;ive you his rare blessiuir ; I mean, to keep you from all the tilth, wherewith our country is horribly defiled. This blessing assuredly is rare, as you see : but now, if he shall bless you with another blessing, which is more rare, I mean to call you forth as a martyr and a witness against this filth, I hope you will become doubly thankful ; for commonly we have not a greater token to judge of our election and salvation, next to Christ and faith in him, than the cross, especially M'hen it is so glorious as on this sort to suffer anything, but chiefly loss of this life, which indeed is never found till it be so lost — except the grain of wheat fall and is dead, it remains fruitless. You know that he which was taken up into the third heaven, and knew what he wrote, says that as the corn lives not, except it is dead, and cast into the earth, so truly our bodies. 1 Cor. xv. And therefore the cross should ao little fright us, that even death itself should altogether be desired by us, as the tailor which putteth off our rags, and arrayeth us with the royal robes of immortality, in- corru])tion and glory. Great shame it should be for us, that all the creatures of God should desire, yea, groan in their kind, for our liberty, and we ourselves loath it, as doubtless we do, if for the sake of the cross, yea, for death itself, we with joy swallow not up all sorrow, that might hinder us from following the Lord's calling, and obeying the Lord's jirovidcnce ; whereby doubtless all crosses, and death itself, comes, and not by haj) or chance. Tn consideration whereof, right dear mother, since this providence stretches itself so unto us, and for us, that even the hairs of our head arc lumibered with God, and not one XXIV.] To Mistress JFilkinson. ' , 85 of them is to fall to our hurt, surely we declare ourselves very faint in faith, if we receive not such comfort, that we can willingly offer ourselves to the Lord, and cast our whole care upon him, honouring- him with this honour, that he is, and ever will be, careful for us, and all we liave, as for his dear children. Be therefore of g-ood cheer, even in the midst of these miseries, be thankful to the Lord, and prepare yourself for a further trial ; which if God send you, so do you believe, as I hope, that God therein will help and comfort you, and make you able to bear what- soever shall happen. And thus much, having this oppor- tunity, I thought good to write, praying God our Father to recompense into your bosom all the good that ever you have done, to me especially, and to many others, both in this time of trouble and always heretofore. Your own in the Lord, John Bradford. LETTER XXV. Another letter, written to certain godly persons, encou- raging them to prepare themselves with patience for the cross. Gracious God, and most merciful Father, for Jesus Christ's sake, thy dearly beloved Son, grant us thy mercy, grace, wisdom, and Holy Spirit, to counsel, comfort, and guide us in all our cogitations, words, and works, to thy glory and our everlasting joy and peace for ever. Amen. In my last letter you might perceive my conjectures towards you to be no less than now I have learned ; but, my dearly beloved, I have learned none other thing, than I have told you before would come to pass, if you cast not away that which I am sure you have learned. I do appeal to both your consciences, whether herein I speak truth, as well of my telling, (though not so often as I might and should, God forgive me,) as also of your learning. Now God will try you, to make others learn by you, that which you have learned by others, and by them which suffered this day,* you might learn, if you had not already learned, that life and honour are not to be more set by than God's com- mandment. Notwithstanding all that their ghosdy fathers * Lady Jane Grey and her husband were beheaded that day. Letters of the ISlartyrs, 86 Bradford.— Letter!^. '■'■*. co\ilri do, liavinjx Doctor Death to take tlielr part, they in no point uouUi consent, or seem to consent, to the popish mass and ])a])istical s:od, otherwise tlian they received in tlie days of onr kite kino-, and this their faith they have confessed witli their deaths, to their p^reat glory and all our comforts, if we follow them, but to onr confusion, if we start back from the same. Wherefore, I beseech you to consider it, as well to ])raise God for them, as to go the same way with them, if Ciod so will. Consider not the thinjrs of this life, which is a real pris( n to all God's children, but the thinc^s of everlastinf^ life, which is our real home. But to behold this, you must open the eyes of yoiu' mind, of faith I should have said, as Moses did, who chose trouble with God's peojde, rather than the riches of Eg-ypt and Pharaoh's court. Your house, home, and g'oods, yea life, and all that ever yovi have, God has o-iven you as love-tokens, to admonish you of his love, and to win your love to him ag-ain. Now will he try your love, whether you set more by him, than by his tokens. If you for his tokens' sake, that is, for your home, house, goods, yea life, will go with the world, lest you should lose them, then be assured he will cast your love away with the world, as he cannot but es])y it to be a strumjict's love. Remember that he who will save his life shall lose it, if Christ is true ; but he who adventures, yea, loses his life for the gospefs sake, the same shall be sure to find it eternally. Do not you know, that the way to salvation is not the broad way, which many run in ; but the strait way, which few now walk in? Before persecution came, men might y)artly have doubted by the outvvard state of the world with us, (although by Gods word it was ])lain,) which was the high way, for there were as many that pretended to follow the a'ospel as yjopcr^'. But now the sun is risen, and the wind blows, so that the corn which has not taken fast root, cannot and will not abide, therefore you may easily see the strait way, by the small nmnber that pass through it. Who Avill now adventure their goods and life for Chrisl's sake, thoi'gh he gave his life for our sakes ? We are now bec( me Gergesites, that would rather lose Christ than our swine. A faithful wife is never tried to be so, but when she rejects and withstands wooers. A faithful Christian is found to be so, when his faith is assaulted. XXV.] To certain godly jjersons. 87 If we are not able — I meiin, if we will not forsake tliis world for God's £rlory aiid the ."rospel's sake, think you that God will make us able, or a^ive us a will to forsake it for nature's sake ? Die you must once, and leave all you have, (God knows how soon and when,) will you, or will you not ; and seeina: that you must do this, will you not williiig;ly do it now for God's sake? If you go to mass, and do as the most part do, then you may live at rest and quietly ; but if you deny to <^o to it, then shall you 2^0 to prison, lose your i>;oods, leave vour children comfortless, yea, lose your hfe also ; but, my deariy beloved, open the eyes of your faith, and see how short a thing- this life is — even a very shadow and smoke. Again, see how intolerable the punishment of hell-fire is, and that endless. Last of all, look on the joys incompre- hensible, which God has prepared for all those, world without end, who lose either lands or g-oods for his name's sake. And then reason thus : If we g-o to mass, which is the .greatest enemy that Christ hath, though for a little time we shall live in quiet, and leave to our children what they may live by hereafter, yet we shall displease God, fall into his hands, which is horrible to hypocrites, and be in hazard of falling- from eternal joy into eternal misery, first of soul, and then of body, with the devil and all idolaters. Again, we shall want peace of conscience, which sur- mounts all the riches of the world ; and for our children, who knows whether God will visit our idolatry on them in this life? Yea, we are in danger of losing our house and goods, as also our lives, through many casualties ; and when God is angry with us, he always can send when he will, one mean or another to take all from us, for our sins, and cast us into care, for our own sakes, if we will not come into some little trouble for his sake. On this sort reason with yourselves, and then doubtless God will work otherwise with you, and in you, than you are aware of Where now you think yourselves unable to abide persecution, be most assured, that if you purpose not to forsake God, he will make you so able to bear his cross, that you shall rejoice therein. Faithful is God, saith Paul, who will not tempt you further than he will make you able to bear, yea, he will give you an outscape in the cross, which shall be to your comfort. Think how great a benefit it is, if God will vouch you worlliy of this honour, to suifer loss of anything for his sake, lie might 88 Bradford. — Letters. justly cast most grievous plaj^ues upon you, and yet now he \vill correct you with that rod, by vvhicli you shall be made like to his Christ, that you may reip,u with him for ever. Suffer yourselves therefore now to be made like to Christ, for else you shall never be made like \mto him. The devil would p,'ladly have you now overthrow that godliness which you have long professed. Oh ! how would he triumph, if he could win his purpose ! Oh ! how would the papists triumph against God's gospel in you ! Oh ! how would you confirm them in their wicked popery! Oh 1 how would the poor children of God be discomforted, if you should now go to mass, and other idolatrous service, and do as the world does ! Has God delivered you from the sweating sickness,* to serve him so ? Has God miraculously restored you to health from your grievous agues for such a purpose ? Has God given you such blessings in this w^orld, and good things all the days of your life hitherto, and now of equity- will you not receive at his hands, and for his sake, some evil ? God forbid ! I hope better of you. Use prayer, and cast your care upon God ; commit your children into his hand; give to God your goods, bodies, and lives, as he has given them, or rather lent them unto you. Say ivith Job, God has given, and God has taken away : his name be praised for ever. Cast your care upon him, I say, for he is careful for you ; and take it amongst the greatest blessings of God, to suffer for his sake ; I trust lie has kept you hitherto for that end. And I beseech thee, O merciful Father, for Jesus Christ's sake, that thou wouklst be merciful unto us, comfort us with thy grace, and strengthen us in thy truth, that in heart we may believe, and in tongue boldly con- fess, thy gospel, to thy glory and our eternal salvation. Amen. Pray for me, and I by God's grace will do the same for you. John Bradford. * An infectious distemper l)y ^vhicIl many thousand persons died in Ijinlaiul, in llie \car l.)"*!. in the space ofu lew days, nine liun- rin