the present tyme appeareth not pleasaunt but payneful but afterward it rendreth the fruit of ryghtuousnes on them whiche are exercised in it Wherfore let vs be of good chere good brethren and let vs pluck vp our feble members that were fallen or began to fainte harte handes knees and all the rest and let vs walke vprighte and straighte that no lymping nor haultyng bryng vs out of the way Let vs looke not vpon the thinges that be presente but with the eyes of our fayth let vs stedfastlye beholde the thynges that bee euerlastyng in heauen and so choose rather in respect of that which is to come with the chosen members of Christ to beare christes crosse then for this short life time to enioy all the riches honors and pleasures of the broad world Why shoulde we christians ferre death Can death depryue vs of Christ which is all our comforte our ioye and our lyfe Nay forsothe But contrary deathe shall delyuer vs from thys mortall bodye whyche lodeth and beareth downe the Spirite 2. Cor 5. that it can not so well perceyue heauenly thinges in the whiche so long as we dwell we are absent from God Wherfore vnderstandyng oure state in that we be christians that yf our mortall bodye whiche is oure earthlye house were destroyed we haue a building 2. Cor. 5 a house not made wyth handes but euerlastyng in heauen c therefore we are of good cheare and knowe that when we are in the bodye we are absente from God for we walke by faythe and not by cleare syghte Neuerthelesse we are bolde and hadde rather be absent from the bodye and presente wyth God wherfore we stryue whether we be presente at home or absent abroad that we may always please hym And who that hath true faith in our sauiour Christ whereby he knoweth somewhat truly what Christ our Sauiour is that he is the eternal sonne of God lyfe lyght the wisdome of the father all goodnes al rightuousnesse and whatsoeuer is good that hart can desire yea infinite plēty of al these aboue that that mans hart can eyther conceyue or thynke for in him dwelleth the fulnesse of the godhead corporally and also that he is geuen vs of the father and made of God to be our wisdome 1. Cor. 1. our rightuousnes our holines and our redemptiō who I say is he that beleueth this in dede that would not gladly be with his maister Christ Phili. 1. Paule for this knowlege coueted to haue bene losed from the body and to haue bene with Christ for that be counted it much better for himselfe had rather to be losed than to liue Therfore these wordes of Christ to the thiefe on the crosse that asked of him mercy were full of comfort and solace this daye thou shalt be with me in paradise Luke 23. To dye in the defence of Christes gospell it is oure bounded duety to Christ and also to our neyghbor To Christ Rom. 9 1. Iohn 3. for he died for vs rose again the he might be lord ouer all And seyng he dyed for vs we also saieth S. Iohn shoulde ieopard yea geue our lyfe for our bretherne And this kynd of geuyng and losyng is gettyng and wynnyng in deede for he that geueth or loseth his lyfe thus getteth and wynneth it for euermore Apo. 14. Blessed are they therfore that die in the lorde and if they die in the Lordes cause they are most happy of all Let vs not then feare death which can do vs no harme otherwise than for a momēt to make the flesh to smart but that our faith which is surely fastened and fyxed vnto the worde of god telleth vs that we shall be anone after death in peace in the handes of god in ioy in solace and that from the death we shall go straight vnto life For S. Iohn saith Iohn 11. Iohn 5 he that liueth beleueth in me shal neuer dye And in an other place he shall depart from death vnto life And therfore this death of the christian is not to be called death but rather a gate or entraunce into euerlastynge life Therfore Paule calleth it but a dissolution and resolution and both Peter and Paule 2. Pet. 1. 2. Cor. 5 a puttyng of of this Tabernacle or dwelhouse meanyng thereby the mortal body as wherin the soule or spirit doth dwell here in thys world for a smal time Yea this death may be called to the christian an ende of all miseries For so long as we liue here Actes 14. we must passe through manye tribulations before we can enter into the kyngdome of heauen And now after that death hath shot hys bolt al the christian mans enemies haue done what they can and after that they haue no more to do What coulde hurte or harme poore Lazarus that lay at the ryche mans gate hys former penury and pouerty hys miserable beggerye and horryble sores and sycknes For so soone as deathe had stricken hym with his dart so sone came the angels Luke 16. caried him straight vp into Abrahams bosome What loste he by death who frō misery payne is set by the ministery of Aungels in a place both of ioye and solace Farewell deare brethren farewel and let vs comfort our hartes in all troubles and in death with the word of God for heauen and earth shall perishe but the word of the lorde endureth for euer Farewel christes dearely beloued spouse here wandring in this worlde as in a straunge land farre from thyn own countrey and compassed about on euery hande with deadly enemies which cease not to assaulte thee euer seekyng thy destruction Farewell farewell O ye the whole and vniuersall congregation of the chosen of god here lyuyng vpon earth the true churche militant of Christ the true mysticall bodye of Christ the very household and family of god and the sacred temple of the holy ghost Farewell Farewel O thou little flocke of the hygh heauenly pastor Christ Luke 12 for to thee it hath pleased the heauēly father to geue an euerlastyng and eternall kyngdome Farewell Farewell thou spirituall house of god thou holy and roi all priesthode thou chosen generation thou holye nation thou wonne spouse Fare wel Farewell N. R. ¶ This that followeth which he further wrote concerning his cruell handlyng in the scholes at Oxford also of the condēnation of him O. Cranmer M. Latymer c we would not here omitte though in order in should before haue bene placed next after the preface to his disputation Folio 78. KNow gentle Reader that maister Prollocutour dyd promyse me in the disputations publikely that I should see myne aunswers how they were collected and gathered of the Notaries and that I should haue licence to adde or diminishe to alter or chaunge afterwarde as I should thynke best would make for me to the aunsweryng of the propositions He promised moreouer publikely that I shoulde haue both tyme and
grene and sappie tree and what followed then on the dry braunches Ieremye speaking in the person of God sayth in the City wherin my name is innocate Luke 14. will I beginne to punish but as for you meanyng the wycked you shal be as innocentes and not once touched Ieremy 15. for the dregges of gods wrathe the bottome of all sorrowes are reserued vnto them in the ende but gods householde shal drinke the flower of the cuppe of hys mercye 2. Para. 3. And therfore let vs saye with Ezechias play the men and shrynke not let vs comfort our selues for the lorde is with vs our helper and fighteth for vs. The Lord is saith he wyth you when you bee wyth hym and when you seke hym he wyl be found of you and agayne when you forsake hym he wil forsake you Wherfore we oughte not to be dismayde or discourage our selues but rather to be of good comfort not to be sadde but mery not sorrowful but ioyful in that god of his goodnes wyll vouchsafe to take vs as hys beloued children to subdue our sinfull lustes our wretched flesh and blood vnto his glory the promoting of his holy word and edifyeng of hys churche 2. Cor. 5. What yf the earthly house of this our habitation Paule meanyng the body be destroyed We knowe assuredlye we shall haue a building of God not made wyth handes but euerlasting in heauen wyth such ioyes as faith taketh not hope toucheth not nor charitye apprehendeth not They passe all desires and wishes Gotten they may be by Christ estemed they cannot be Wherfore the more affliction persecution the word of God bryngeth the more felicity greater ioy abydeth in heauē But the worldly peace idle ease wealthy pleasure and thys present pleasaunt transitory lyfe and felicity which the vngodly folishly imagine to procure vnto themselues by persecuting and thrustyng away the gospel shal turne vnto their owne trouble and at laste vnto horrible destruction and mutations of realmes and countreyes and after thys lyfe if they repent not into their perpetuall infelicity perdition and damnation 1. Regū 25 For they had rather wyth Nabal and hys temporal pleasures descend to the Deuyl then wyth poore Christ and his bodely troubles ascend into the kingdome of God hys father But an vnwise man saith the psalmist comprehendeth thē not negther doth the folish vnderstand them that is these bloody persecutours growen vppe and flourishyng like the flower and grasse in the fielde But vnto this ende do they so floryshe that they might be cut downe and caste into the fyre for euer Iob. 21. For as Iob saith their ioy lasteth but the twinklyng of an eye and death shall lye knawyng vpon them as doth the flocke vpon the pasture psal 4◠Mar. 9. yea the cruell worme late repentance as S. Marke saith shal lie gnawyng tormentyng and accusing their wretched conscience for euermore Let vs therfore good christians be constante in obeying God rather then men For although they slay our synfull bodies yea rather our deadly enemies for gods verity yet can they not do it but by gods sufferance and good wil to hys prayse and honour and to our eternall ioy and felicity For our bloode shedde for the gospell shall preache it with more fruite and greater furtheraunce then dyd oure mouthes lyues and writynges as dyd the bloud of Abell Steuen wyth many other moe What thoughe they laughe Christ and hys worde to scorne which sytte in the chayre of peruerse pestilent scorners To whom as to the wyse Gentiles of the world the gospell of Christe is but folishnes as it was to the Iewes a slaūder and a stumbling stone wherat they now beyng fallen haue prouoked the wrath and vēgeaunce of god vpon them Luke 2. These are the dayes of vengeaunce saith Luke that all thynges written may be fulfylled And surely it shall be no lesse then a huge storme of euylles that shall come vpon vs because that a longe and a cursed obstinate maliciousnes of vs hath gone before crying in the eares of the Lorde GOD of hostes who so manye tymes and so many wayes haue bene prouoked wyth the vnspeakable ryches of hys goodnes hys patience and longe sufferyng to amendment and haue neuertheles contemned the same Esay 3 and proceded forward to worse and worse prouokyng and styrryng the presence of gods maiesty vnto anger EZech. Now therfore sayth God by the mouth of hys Prophet I will come vpon thee and I wyl send my wrathe vpon thee vpon thee I say O Englande and punyshe thee accordyng to thy wayes reward thee after al thine abhominations Thou hast kyndled the fyer of gods wrathe and hast styrred vp the coales Esay 5. For thou wast once lyghtned and haddest tasted of the heauenly gifte and wast become pertaker of the holy Ghost and haddest tasted of the good worde of God Yea it is yet in thy mouth saith the Prophet Alas O England thou knewest thy Lord maisters wil but dydst nothing therafter thou must therfore saith he suffer many stripes many sharpe strokes walke on in the glittering whote flame of thyne owne fyer and in the coales that thou hast kindled This commeth to thee from my hand saith the Lord namely that thou shalt slepe in sorrowe yea euen so thou shalt The playne truth telleth the tale the immutable iustice of the euerliuing God and the ordinary course of hys plagues from the begynning confirmeth the same The ioy of our hart saith Ieremy is gone our glory is fallen away Ieremy 5. our mery singyng is turned into mournyng the garland of our heade is fallen Alas and weale away that euer we synned so sore Wo worth all abhominations and wyckednes wo worth cloked hypocrisie wo worth our carnall liberty wo worthe our most cursed Idolatry For because of these thynges sayth the Lord ye shall perishe wyth sword hunger and pestilence Wherfore let all the wycked enemies of Christ and all the vnbeleuers be afrayed to bee tormented and vexed wyth all hellish furies and cleane without hope at gods accountyng day which know not God in Christe to be theyr very rightuousnes their life Iohn 8. theyr onely saluation and alone Sauiour nor beleue not in hym They must saieth S. Iohn nedes abyde and perishe wyth their sinnes in death and in eternal damnation But we be the chyldrē of saints as the elder Toby dyd aunswer and loke for an other lyfe whyche God shall geue to all them which chaunge not their fayth nor shrynke not from hym Reioyce therfore ye christian afflicted brethern for they can not take our soules and bodies out of the handes of the almighty which be kept as in the bosome of our most swete and louyng father Matth. i0 and yf we abyde fast in Christe and turne not away lyke weathercockes surely we shall lyue for euer Christe affirmyng the same saying my sheepe here my voyce I knowe
for I doe dailye twyse at the least in thys sorte remember you And I do not doubt deare wyfe but that bothe I and you as we be writen in the boke of lyfe so we shal together enioy the same euerlastingly through the grace mercy of god our deare father in his sonne our Christ And for thys present life let vs wholy apoynte our selues to the wil of our good god to glorify him either by life or by death and euen that same mercyfull Lord make vs worthye to honour hym eyther way as pleaseth him Amen I am mery I thanke my god and my Christ in whome and through whome I shall I knowe be hable to fyght a good fighte and fynyshe a good course then receyue the crowne which is layde vp in store for me and all the true souldiours of Christ 1. Timo. 4. Wherfore wyfe let vs in the name of our God fyght lustely to ouercome the flesh the deuyll and the world What our harnesse and weapons be in thys kynd of fyght looke the vi vnto the Ephesians and pray praye praye I would that you make no sute for me in any wyse Thanke you knowe whom for her moste swete and comfortable puttyng me in remembraunce of my iourney whether I am passyng God send vs al good spede and a ioyfull meetyng I haue to fewe suche frendes to further me in that iorney which is in dede the greatest frendeship The blessyng of god be wyth you all Amen A prisoner in the Lord. Laurence Saunders ¶ To hys VVyfe GRace mercye and peace c. Deare wyfe euen that our mercifull God and moste louyng father whom we call vpon daily and of whose mercies we daily taste â—nd who wyl be a most tender father vnto all theÌ„ which hartely turne vnto hym beleue in hym and cast theyr care vpon hym that our good god I say euen for hys sonne our swete Christs sake be your helper and keper Amen Amen And nowe you see hys goodnes towardes you by manye wayes prouokyng you to embrace him as your only god only comfort He is more redy mercifully to receiue you theÌ„ you can be readye to runne vnto hym for helpe He saith by hys prophet I wyll fauour them euen as a father doth fauour hys chyld that offendeth Esay 49. And in an other place is it possible that a mother can forget her childe which she hathe borne If she be forgetfull yet wyl not I forget thee Thus sayth he vnto al such as vnfaynedly seke hym You be in the Lordes bondes and in his blessed tuition I do not doubte Commend your selfe and that which he hath geuen you vnto his mercyfull and blessed wyll and so do I and shall doe by hys goodnes Exercise your selfe in the comfortable remembraunce of gods manyfold mercifull promises Put hym in remembraunce of the same by often prayer and put your whole trust in him who for hys names sake hys promyse sake and for hys Christes sake wyl do that is best for you Commend me to all the godly there Send me word in any wyfe if you lacke Take hede that you be no more chargeable vnto them at whose house you be then you shal fully content them in any wise God kepe you A letter wrytten to Steuen Gardiner Byshop of VVynchester and then Lord Chauncellour as an aunswer to some thyngs wherwith he had before charged hym TOuching the cause of myne imprisonment I doubt whether I haue broken any law either proclamatioÌ„ In my doctrine I did not forasmuch as at the time it was permitted by the proclamatioÌ„ to vse accordyng vnto our coÌ„scieÌ„ces such seruice as was theÌ„ established My doctrine was theÌ„ agreable vnto my conscieÌ„ce and the seruice then vsed He meaneth the publike preaching of gods word in hys owne paryshe This proclamatioÌ„ was to inhibite the preaching of gods holy word The acte which I dyd was such as beyng indifferently weighed sounded to no breaking of the proclamation or at leaste to no wylful breakyng of it for as muche as I caused no bell to bee ronge neyther occupied I any place in the pulpit after the order of Sermons or lectures But be it that I dyd breake the proclamation thys long tyme of continuance in prysoÌ„ may be thought to be more then sufficient punishmente for such a faulte Touchyng the chargyng of me with my religion I say wyth S. Paule Confiteor hoc quod iuxta viani quaÌ„ vocaÌ„t haeresim Actes 24 sic colo patriuÌ„ deuÌ„ credens omnibus quae in lege et prophetis scripta sunt spem habeÌ„s in deuÌ„ c. Quin in hoc et ipse studeo sine offendiculo conscientiam habere erga deum et erga homines semper That is to saye this I confesse that after the waye whiche they call heresy so worshyp I the God of my forefathers beleuyng all thynges whyche are written in the law and prophets and haue hope towardes God c. And herein I endeuoure my selfe to haue alwaye a cleare conscience towardes God and towardes men So that GOD I call to witnes I haue a conscience And this my conscience is not grounded vppon vayne fantasye but vppon the infallible veritye of Gods woorde with the witnessyng of hys chosen churche agreable vnto the same It is an easye thynge for them whiche take Christe for their true pastour to discerne the voyce of their true shepeheard from the voyce of wolues hirelynges and straungers forasmuch as Christ saith Iohn 10 Oues meae vocem meam audiunt That is my shepe heare my voyce Yea and therby they shall haue the gifte to know the ryght voyce of the true shepehard and so to follow hym and to auoide the contrary as he also sayth Oues pastorem sequuntur quia nouerunt vocem eius altenum vero non sequuntur sed aufugiunt ab eo quia non noueruut vocem alienorum That is the shepe follow the shepeheard for they know hys voyce a straunger wyl they not follow but fly from him for they know not the voyce of a strauÌ„ger Such inward inspiratioÌ„ doth the holy ghost put into the children of God beyng in deede taught of god but otherwyse vnhable to vnderstaÌ„d the true way of theyr saluation And albeit that the wolfe as Christe sayth commeth in shepes clothyng yet he sayth ex fructibus eorum cognoscetis eos That is by their fruites ye shall know them For there be certaine fruites wherby the wolfe is bewraied notwithstandyng that otherwise in sundry sortes of deuout holines in outward shew he semeth neuer so simple a shepe That the Romish religion is rauenyng and woluishe it is apparant in three pryncipal pointes Fyrst it robbeth god of his due and only honour Secondly it taketh away the true comfort of conscieÌ„ce in obscuring or rather burieng of Christ his office of saluation Thirdly it spoyleth god of hys true worship seruice in spirit truth apointed in his prescript coÌ„maundemeÌ„ts
champions or els yf ye feele suche infirmitie in your selues that ye be not hable geue place to violence and go where ye maye with free and safe conscience serue the lord Thinke not this counsel to come by chaunce or fortune but to come from the Lorde other oracles we may not looke for nowe As God tolde Ioseph in a dreame by an aungel that he shoulde flye so yf ye feele such infirmity in your selues as shoulde turne to gods dishonor and your owne destruction wythal know that at this present I am as gods aungel to admonish you to take tyme whyles ye haue it and to see that in no case Gods name by you myghte be dishonoured Ioseph myghte haue obiected the omission of his vocation as perchaunce ye wil doe but deare hartes let vocations and all things els geue place to gods name the sanctifyeng therof Thys I speak not as though I wuld not haue you rather to tary to staÌ„d to it but I speake it in respect of your infirmity which if ye feele to bee so greate in you that ye are not certayne of thys hope that god wyll neuer tempt you aboue you hability fly and get you hence and know that therby god wil haue you tried to your selues to others For by this you shal know how to take thys world and your home here as no home but that ye loke for an other and so geue occasion to others lesse to loue thys world and perchaunce to some to doubte of their religion Wherin though they be earnest yet would not they loose so much as ye do for your religion which ye confyrme to me others by your geuyng place to violence Laste of all ye haue cause to reioyce ouer these daies because they be dayes of conformation in the which and by the which god our father maketh vs lyke to christes image here that we may be like to him elswhere For if we suffer with him we shall reigne with him if we be buryed with him we shal rise with him if we coÌ„pany with him in afflictions we shall reioyce with him in glorye if we sowe with him in teares we shal reape with him in gladnes if we coÌ„fesse him before men he will confesse vs before his Father in heauen if we take his part he will take ours if we lose ought for his names sake he wil geue vs all thinges for his truthes sake So that we ought to reioyce bee glad for it is not geueÌ„ to euery one to suffer losse of couÌ„trey life goods house c. for the Lords sake What can god the father do more vnto vs then to cal vs into campe with his sonne What may Christe our Sauiour doe more for vs then to make vs his warriours What can the holy ghost doe to vs aboue this to marke vs with the cognisaunce of the Lord of hostes This cognisance of the Lord standeth not in forket cappes tippettes shauen crownes or such other baggage and antichristian pelfe but in suffering for the Lords sake The worlde shall hate you saith Christ Loe there is the cognisance and badge of gods children the world shal hate you Reioyce therfore my dearly beloued reioyce that god doth thus vouchsafe to beginne to conforme you and make you like to Christ By the triall of these dayes ye are accasioned more to repeÌ„t more to pray more to contempne this worlde more to desire life euerlasting more to be holy for holy is the ende wherfore GOD doth afflict vs and so come to gods company Which thing because we can not do as long as this body is as it is therfore by the doore of death we must entre with Christ into eternall life and immortalitie of soule and body which God of his mercy send shortlye for our Sauiour Iesus Christes sake Amen Iohn Bradford To myne owne deare brother Maister Laurence Saunders prisoner in the Marshalsee GOds sweete peace in Christe be with you my good brother in the Lord Iesus with all your concaptiues AmeÌ„ I was letted this morning from musing on that which I was purposed to haue thought on by reasoÌ„ of you against whoÌ„ I sawe my selfe giltie of negligence euen in this poynt that I would not write I should say that I had not written vnto you as yet therfore out of hande in maner I prepared my selfe to purge my self hereof not that I wil go about to excuse my fault for that were more to loade me but by asking both god and you pardon to get it no more layde to my charge Now then as I was thus purposing partly doing coÌ„meth there one with a letter from you for the which as I haue cause to thanke god and you howbeit not so that you should thinke I geue not the whole to god so I see my selfe more blame worthye for thus longe holding my peace Howbeit good brother in this I haue geuen a demonstration to you to behold my negligence in all other things and especially in praying for you and for the church of god whiche for my sinnes and hypocrisie hypocrisie in dede euen in this writing god deliuer me from it haue deserued to bee punished Iust is god for we haue deserued all kindes of plaggues at his hands but yet merciful is he that will on thys wise chastise vs with this world ne cuÌ„ muÌ„do condeÌ„nemur He myght otherwise haue punished vs I meane he might haue for other causes cast vs in prison me especially then for his gospell and wordes sake Praysed therfore be his name whiche voucheth vs worthy thys honour Ah good god forgeue vs our sinnes and worke by this thy fatherly correction on vs on me especially effectually to loue thee and thy Christ and with ioyfulnes vnto the end to cary thy crosse through thicke and thinne Alwayes set before our eyes not this gallowes on earth if we still sticke to thee but the gallowes in hell if we denye thee or swarne from that we haue professed Ah good brother if I coulde alwayes haue GOD hys maiestie mercye heauen hell c. before mine eyes then should I obdurare as Paule writeth of Moses Heb. 11. obdurauit in quit perinde quasi vidisset eum qui est inuisibilis Praye for me as I know you doe and geue thankes also for in domino spero non nutabo Psal 22. Si ambulauero per valleâ—n vmbrae mortis non timebo quia tu domine mecum es Amen I thinke we shall bee shortly called forth for now legeÌ„ habent secuÌ„duÌ„ legem c. otherwise will they not reason with vs and I thynke theyr shootanker wil be to haue vs to subscribe The which thing if we do though with this condition so farre as the thing subscribed to repugneth not agaynst Gods word yet thys will be offensiue Therefore let vs vadere planê and so sanê I meane let vs all confesse that we are no chaungelinges but reipsa are the same we were in
gleue but those that runne to the appointed marke None shal be saued but suche as persiste and continue to the verye ende Therfore dere Syster remember that we haue nede of patience Hebr. 20 that when we haue done the good wyll of God we may receiue the promise Patience and perseueraunce be the proper notes wherby gods children are known from counterfaites They that perseuer not were alwayes but hypocrites Manye make godly beginnings yea their progresse semeth meruelous but yet after the ende they fayle These were neuer of vs sayth S. Iohn for yf they had bene of vs they woulde haue continued vnto the verye ende Goe to therefore myne owne beloued in the Lorde as you haue well begunne and well gone forwarde so well persyst and happely ende and then all is yours Though this be sharpe and sower yet it is not tedious or long Doe all that euer you doe symplye for GOD and as to God so shall neuer vnkyndnes nor anye other thynge make you to leaue of from well doyng so longe as you may do well Accustome yourselfe nowe to set GOD continuallye that he may be all in all vnto you In good thynges beholde hys mercye and applye it vnto your selfe In euyl thinges and plagues beholde hys iudgementes wherthorough learne to feare hym Beware of synne as the Serpente of the soule which spoyleth vs of all oure or nature and seemelye apparell in Gods syghte Let Chryst crucifyed be your booke to studye on and that bothe nyghte and daye Marke youre vocation and be diligente in the workes thereof vse hartye and earneste prayer and that in spyryte In all thynges geue thankes to GOD our father throughe Chryste Laboure to haue here lyfe euerlastynge begonne in you for elles it wyll not be elsewhere enioyed Set Gods iudgement often before your eies that now examinyng your selfe you maye make diligent sute and obtayne neuer to come into iudgemente Vncouer your euyls to God that he maye couer them Beware of thys Antichristian trashe defyle not your selfe in soule or bodye therewyth but accomplyshe holynes in the feare rf GOD and beare no yoke wyth vnbeleuers Looke for the commyng of the Lorde whyche is at hande by earnest prayer and godly lyfe hasten it GOD oure father accomplyshe hys good worke in you Amen Commende me to my good Mother Mystres Wylkynson and to my verye deare Syster Mystres Warcuppe I shal dayly commende you all to GGD and I praye you do the lyke for me Iohn Bradforde To Mystres Browne GOod Syster I beseche god to make perfecte the good he hath begonne in you vnto the very ende Amen Thys lyfe more and more waxeth vnto vs as it shoulde be that is a miserable life a wepyng lyfe a wofull lyfe and therfore let vs long for our happy life our laughing life our ioyfull lyfe which we shall enioy then haue in very dede whē we depart by death out of this daūgerous state wherin we nowe are by reason of this synful flesh which we cary about vs. Therfore let vs prepare our selues accordyngly and in misery and sorrow be glad through hope Now we are dispersed but we shal be gathered together again there where we shall neuer part but alwayes be together in ioye eternall In hope hereof let vs beare wyth better wyl our bytter burthens which we feele and shall feele in thys miserable world We haue cause to thanke god that maketh this worlde vnto vs a wyldernes If so be therein we bee patient kisse gods todde and humble oure selues before God assuredly we shall come into the most pleasaunt land of rest Wherfore good Sister as I said I say again be mery with sorrow reioyce in hope be pacient in trouble pray in affliction amongest other I pray you hartely pray for me that god woulde forgeue me my vnthankefulnes not onelye against you which is great in dede but also agaynste all hys people but specially agaynst hys maiesty As I can I shall commende you vnto the tuition of our shepeharde Christe who alwayes kepe vs as hys Lambes for hys holy names sake Amen Your afflicted brother Iohn Bradford ¶ To a faythfull frende of hys whome for hys godly symplicity and synglenes of hart in the wayes of the Lorde he called Nathanaell as he doth also here in thys letter THe merciful God and father of our Sauiour Iesus Christ which loueth vs as a most dere father and hath put vpon hym towardes vs the affectiō of a most tender mother towards her chyldren so that he can no lesse thynke vpon vs althoughe of oure selues we bee moste vnworthye and deserue nothyng lesse then she can thynke on her onelye begotten childe in hys distresse yea if she should forget her childe as some vnnaturall mother will doe yet wyll he neuer forgette vs althoughe for a tyme he seme to slepe that we myghte bee occasioned to call loude and awake hym thys good GOD keepe you my deare brother Nathanaell and your good yokefellowe my hartelye beloued Sister in the Lorde in all thyngs nowe and for euer to hys glorye and your eternall comforte and also of hys goodnesse he graunte you both the feeling of that hope whiche vndoubtedlye he hath layde vppe in stoore for you both farre passing the store and prouision not onely whiche you had made but all the worlde is hable to make as I truste alreadye he hath wroughte it in you but I beseche hym to encrease it more and more and kindle in you a hartye longing for the enioying of the same the whiche once felte and had indeede then the meanes by the whiche we come thereto can not be so greatly dredde as most mē do dread thē because either they want this feling I meane it of altogether or elles because the sense of thys presente tyme and thynges therein are as a myste to the hyding of those thynges from oure syghte least we shoulde runne and embrace them by hartye prayer the spirite whereof God graunte vs and in deede we shoulde attayne enough in this behalfe if we continued therein For auriculer confession wherein you desyre my aduice for your good yokefellowe and familye my moste dere brother I am as readye to geue it as you to desire it yea more gladde forasmuch as halfe a suspitiō was in me at the least touching my dere sister your wife of a lothing of my aduice that too muche had beene geuen where in deede I shoulde lamente my to little feeding you spirituallye as both you oute of pryson and in pryson haue fedde me corporallye But as I alwayes thoughte of her so I yet thynke that she is the childe of GOD whom God dearely loueth and wyll in hys good tyme to her eternall comforte geue her her hartes desire in sure feelyng and sensible beleuyng of thys which I would she had often in her mynde namely that he is her God and father throughe Christe Iesus oure deare Lorde and Sauiour A greater seruice to God shee can not geue
10. Heb. 6.10 Mar. 8. Luke i1 that they returne not to their vomyte stumblyng on those synnes from the which there is no recouery causing thee to deny theÌ„ before thy father making their later end worse theÌ„ the beginning as it chauÌ„ced to Lothes wife Iudas Iscariot FrauÌ„ces Spira and to many others But rather strengthen them and vs all in thy grace and in those thynges which thy worde teacheth that we may here hazarde our lyfe for thy sake and so shal we be sure to saue it as yf we seke to saue it Math. 6 we cannot but loose it and that beyng lost what profyte can we haue yf we wynne the whole worlde Oh set thou alwayes before our eyes not as reason doth thys lyfe the pleasure of the same death of the body and prysonment c but euerlastyng lyfe and those vnspeakable ioyes which vndoubtedlye they shall haue which take vp the crosse and follow thee and eternal hell fire and destruction of soule and bodye for euermore which they must nedes at leÌ„gth fal into the which are afrayde for the hoare froste of aduersitye that man or the Deuil styrreth vppe to stoppe or hynder vs for goyng forward our iourney to heauens blisse to the which do thou bryng vs for thy names sake Amen Your owne in the Lorde Iohn Bradford ¶ To my deare frende and brother in the Lorde Maister George Eaton ALmightye God our deare father geue to you dailye more and more the knowledge of hys truth and a loue and lyfe to the same for euer in all thynges throughe Iesus Chryste oure Lorde Amen I shoulde begynne with thankes geuyng to god and to you as hys steward for the great benefites I haue oftentymes receyued from you and speciallye in this tyme of of my most nede farre aboue my expectatioÌ„ but because thankfulnes lyeth not in wordes or letters and because you loke not to heare of your wel doyng of man I am purposed to passe it ouer wyth sylence and to geue my selfe presentlye to that whiche is more profitable vnto you that is as god shall lend me hys grace briefly to labour or at least to shew my good wyl to helpe you in gods gifte to me as you by your doyng the lyke in gods gyfte vnto you haue as alreadye done so occasioned me greatly hereto I woulde gladlye haue done it heretofore but I haue bene discouraged to write vnto you leaste hurte thereby mighte come vnto you which is the only cause I haue not hetherto writted nor now would not haue done but that I stand in adout whether euer herafter I shal haue liberty to write vnto you And therfore whilest I somthing may I thought good to doe thus much to declare vnto you howe that as I thynke my selfe muche bounde to God for you so I desyre to gratifye the same as God should enable me The dayes are come and more and more do approch in the whych tryal wyl be of such as haue vnfainedly redde and hearde the gospel for all others wyll abyde no tryall but as the worlde wyll But of you because I haue better hope I cannot but as pray to god in hym to confyrme you so to beseche you of the same I knowe it will be a daungerous thinge in deede to declare that whiche in woorde you haue confessed and in harte haue beleued speciallye concernyng the papisticall Masse but notwithstandyng we must not for daungers departe from the truth excepte we wyll depart from God For in as muche as GOD is the truth and the truth is God he that departeth from the one departeth from the other Nowe what a thyng it is to departe from God I nede not to tell you because you know it is no lesse then a departyng from all that good is and not onely so but also a coupling of your selfe to all that euill is for there is no meane eyther we departe from god and sticke to the deuill or departe from the deuyll and sticke to God Some men there be whiche for feare of daunger and loâ—le of that they must leaue when where and to whom they knowe not doe deceaue them selues after the iuste iudgement of God to beleue the deuill because they haue no luste to beleue God in harkenyng to Sathans counsaile of partynge stake with God as to be persuaded that it is not euyll or elles no great euill inwardlye in harte to conceale the truth and outwardly in facte to betraye it And therefore thoughe they know the Masse to be abhomination yet they make it but a strawe in going to it as the world doth in whiche thynge the Lorde knoweth they deceaue them selues to dampnation dreame they as they luste For surely the bodye departyng from the veritye and so from god wil drawe and drowne in dampnation the soule also For we shall receaue accordyng to that we doe in the body good or badde And therefore the matter is more to bee considered then men make of it the more it is to bee lamented But I trust my ryghte dearely beloued you wyll consider thys with your self and call your conscience to accompt as gods word maketh the charge Beware of false Auditours which makyng a false charge can get no quietnesse of the conscience after gods woorde Therefore caste your charge and there shall you see that no beliefe of the harte iustifyeth whiche hath not confession of the mouth to declare the same No man can serue .ii. Maisters He that gathereth not with Christ as no masse seer vnreprouyng it doth scattereth abroade Gods chosen are such as not only haue good hartes but also kisse not their hands nor bowe their knee to Baal Christes Disciples are none but such as deny theÌ„selues take vp their crosse folow him He that is ashamed of Christ his truth in thys generation must loke that Christ wil be ashamed of him in the day of iudgement He that denyeth Christ before men shal be denyed before God Now two kindes of denial there be yea three kindes one in hart an other in worde the thirde in deede In the which kindes al masse gospellers be so bitten that all the Surgeons in the world can laye no healing playster therto till repentaunce appeare and drawe out the matteâ— of vsing the euill and resorting to the Masse For pure should we be froÌ„ all spottes not onely of the flesh but also of the spirite And our dutye is to departe not only from euill that is from the Masse But also from the appearaunce of euil that is from coÌ„ming at it Woe vnto theÌ„ that geue offence to the children of God that is which occasion by any meanes any to tarye in the church at Masse time much more then they which occasioÌ„ any to come therto most of all they which enforce any therto Assuredly a most heuie vengeaunce of goâ— hangeth vpon such Suche as decline to their crokednes God wil lead on with wicked workers whose portion shal be snares Psa 11. fyre
that it is not seemely for vs to conclude according to that which semeth appeareth to vs in things but rather as godlynesse requireth to referre all thynges to the wil of God This wil if it be expressed in holy scripture then may we simplye determine that which we read expressed there But if it be not so then ought we frely to confesse our ignoraunce and not prescribe to God what he ought to doe of hys workes by that which alreadye he hath done God is of power infinite of nothīg did he not only make al things but also will doe what pleaseth him both in heauen and in earth sayth Dauid The foresayd Thomas bringeth forth also other reasons but which he hym selfe counteth not for inuincible One is if beastes and plantes shall bee restored eyther all or some shall be restored If al shal be restored then must the resurrectiō be cōmunicate vnto them that the same in nūber be restored which is not cōueniēt If some shal be restored there appeareth no reason why these shoulde be restored more then other therefore saith he they shal not be restored But here what would he aunswere if one shoulde aske him howe he knoweth it is not conuenient that eyther al in number bee restored as mā shal aryse eyther only some in the thys thing wholye resteth in the hand and wil of God An other reason he maketh out of Aristotle and out of a grounde whiche is vncertayne Aristotle affyrmeth the perpetuitie of thinges to hang on the continual mouing of heauen Thomas now hereto gathereth thus but the mouing of heauē shall cease therfore he concludeth that in these inferiour things no perpetuitie maye be looked for But here what answere wil he make if a man shall say that all thynges hange at the becke and pleasure of God who nowe for the conseruation of his creatures whiche now aryse and spring and nowe dye and fall downe vseth the mouyng of heauen and can afterwardes not vse it for thys purpose Thys is a truth that all thynges of them selues are nothyng muche more then can they not doe any thyng Now men may coniecture that the mouyng of heauen shall cease but yet by the certaine word of God they can not proue it In like manner is hys laste reason which he maketh of the ende of beastes and plantes but which end he knoweth not Beastes and plantes sayth he were made for the sustentation of the mutual life of mā but thys lyfe shall cease therefore shall they also But here hath he no aunsweare if a man shoulde demaunde who knoweth whether GOD haue made them to none other ende or vse Seing therfore these thynges be as you see I suppose it not to pertayne to a godly man to denye the beastes and plātes to be restored in that the Apostle doth here expressely say that euery creature which is now subiecte to vanitie shal bee deliuered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of god In that the holy ghost doth affirme thys of euery creature by what reason dare a godly mind exempt any part frō this deliuerance to come Howbeit neyther wyll the Godlye mynde contende whether euery creature shal be renewed For the holy ghost spake of the creature generally and not perticulerly and therfore we maye not otherwyse affirme because we muste not speake but gods worde Therfore it is the parte of a godlye man and of one that hangeth in all thynges vppon the worde of god to learne out of thys place that whatsoeuer corruption deathe or griefe he seeth in anye thyng wheresoeuer it bee that I saye he ascribe that wholye vnto hys synnes and thereby prouoke hymselfe to true repentaunce Nowe as soone as that repentaunce compelleth hym to goe to Christe lette hym thynke thus but thys my Sauiour and my head Iesus Christ dyd for my synnes and therewith as he toke away death so hath he taken away all the corruption and labour of all thynges and wyll restore them in his tyme whether so euer they be in heauen or in earthe Now euery creature trauayleth and groneth wyth vs but we beyng restored they also shal be restored There shall be newe heauens newe earth and all thynges newe Thus I wyshe that our myndes myght staye in thys generalitye of the renouation of the worlde and not curiously to searche what partes of the worlde shal be restored and what shall not or how al thyngs shal be restored much more then I would not haue vs curious nor inquisitiue of theyr place where they shall be of theyr action what they shall doe or of theyr properties and suche lyke For if to haue fore knowen these thynges woulde haue made muche to godlines surely the holy ghost woulde moste playnely haue tolde them For accordyng to christes promise he bringeth vs into all truth all truth I saye suche as the knowledge of it would profite vs. Al the scripture is geuen to vs for this purpose that the man of god might be made perfect and enstructed to al good workes and truely that can be no good worke which we do except god teach vs the same He hath prepared the good workes wherin we walke Ephesi 2 But the certayne and bottomles fountayne of these good workes is in all thynges to hange on the becke and pleasure of god and throughe our Lorde Iesus Christ to looke for with remission of synnes lyfe euerlastyng and the glorye of the resurrection To the ende therefore that we maye more fully know our synnes and more make of our redēption from them by Christ let vs set before oure eyes death the hyre of synne and that not only in our selues but also in euery creature of the world Howbeit this let vs do wyth a hope of so ample a restauration and neuer enough to be merueled at which shal be euen in al thinges for our renouation by the Lord Iesus Christ the renewer of all things whatsoeuer be in heauen or in earth He that with true faith wayeth cōsidereth these things wil be as it were swallowed vp in the admiration of so excedyng great beneuolence and loue of God our heauenly father that he can neuer admitte to yelde to thys curiositie of searchyng what kynde of thyngs shal be renewed and how they shall be renewed or what state or condition they shall be in when they are renewed These be thynges of the lyfe to come wherof thys foreknowledge is sufficient that all these thynges shall be more perfect and happy thē the reach of reason is hable to loke vpon the glory of them For the eye hath not sene nor the eare hath heard nor it cannot ascend into mans hart that God hath prepared for them that loue hym For concernyng our resurrection what other thyng do we knowe before hand but that we shall be most happy euen so therfore let vs not doubt but that there shall be a deliueraunce of the creature from the seruitude of
in the lyke cause as s Iames sayth Take my brethren sayth he the Prophets for an ensāple of suffering aduersitie and of long pacience which spake vnto you in the name of the Lord behold we count thē happy which endure Y e haue heard of the paciēce of Iob haue knowen what end the lord made with hym for the lord is very pitiful merciful Also the lord trieth vs to let vs see our own harts thoughts that no hypocrisy nor ambitiō deceaue vs that the stronge in Christ may pray that he fal not but endure to the end that those that fal through fearful infirmitie might spedely repent ryse agayn wyth Peter also that the weake ones myght bewayle theyr weakenes cry with Dauid haue mercy vpō me O lord Psalme 6. for I am weake O lorde heale me for all my bones are vexed Of thys opening of the hart by persecutiō spake holy Simeō to Marye Christes Mother when he sayde Luke 2. the sworde that is the crosse of persecution shall pearse thy soule that the thoughtes of manye hartes maye be opened For like as a King that shoulde goe to battell is compelled to looke in hys cofers what treasure he hath and also what number and puisaunce of men and weapons so that if he see hymselfe vnreadye and vnarmed to bycker wyth hys ennemye he surceaseth and taketh truce for a tyme euen so we by persecutions haue oure hartes opened that we maye looke therein to see what faythe in Christe we haue and what strengthe to wythstande the enemyes and to beare the crosse that if we bee ryche in these treasures we myghte reioyce and valiauntlye goe to battell or if we wante these thinges with all speede to call and crye vppon him whiche geueth all good giftes to those that aske them Item the crosse trieth the good people from the badde the faithfull frō the worldlings hypocrites also clēseth scoureth the faythful hartes from al corruption filthynesse both of the flesh the spirit And euē as an yron except it be oftē scoured wil sone waxe rustye so except our sinfull hartes flesh be often scoured with the whetstone of the crosse they wil sone corrupt ouergrow with the rust of al filthynesse and sinne And therfore it is mete good for vs as the wismā sayth that as gold siluer are tryed in the fyre Sirach 2. so shoulde the hartes of acceptable men be tryed in the fornace of aduersitie Abide the tryal dere frends that ye may obtayne the crowne of life Fyght manfully in thys the Lords cause that ye may obteyne a gloryous victory here and receaue a great reward in heauen hereafter As ye are called Christians and would be angrye to be called Iewes or Turkes so declare your christianitye by followyng the steppes of Christe whose name ye beare suffer with hym and for hys Gospelles sake rather then to denye hym or to defyle youre fayth and conscience wyth false worshippyng or Romyshe religion Take vppe your crosse my deare hartes nowe when it is offered you and goe vppe wyth Christe to Ierusalem amongest the Byshoppes Priestes and rulers yf GOD call you thereto and they wyl anone send you to Caluarye from whence dying in the cause of the Gospell wherin oure good preachers and brethren haue geuen their lyues your soules I warrant you through Christe Iesu Eccle. 12. shall ascende to GOD that gaue them and the bodye shall come after at the laste daye and so shall ye dwell wyth the Lorde for euer in vnspeakeable ioye and blysse O blessed are they that suffer persecution for ryghteousnesse sake as Christes people in thys Iewyshe Englande now doth for theirs is the kyngdome of heauen O my beloued sette your myndes on this kyngdome where Christe our heade and Kyng is consideryng that as the brute beaste looketh downewardes wyth the face towardes the earth so is man made contrarye wise wyth hys face looking vpwardes towardes the heauens because hys conuersation shoulde be in heauen and heauenly thyngs and not vppon the earth and earthlye chynges Col. 3 as Sainct Paule sayth set your myndes on thynges which are are aboue where Christe is And agayne he sayeth phil 3. our conuersation is in heauen from whence we looke for oure Sauiour who wyll chaunge oure vyle bodyes and make them like to his glorious body Oh the glorious estate that we bee called vnto the Lorde preserue vs blamelesse to hys eternall kyngdome throughe Christe Iesus oure Lorde Amen The seconde thyng that I note in the foresayde wordes of Peter is that he calleth persecution no straunge thynge And truth it is for whiche of the Prophettes were not persecuted wyth Christe and hys Apostles and some of them in the ende cruellye kylled for the truthes sake Caine kylled Abell Isaac was persecuted of Ismaell 3. Regum 4. Regum Iacob was hated of Esau Iosephe was prysoned and sette in the stockes The Prophette Esaye was cutte in two wyth a sawe Ieremye was stoned Micheas was buffeted and fedde wyth breade and water Helias was sore persecuted Eleazer and the woman with her seuen sonnes were cruellye kylled 2. mac 6.7 What Christe and the Apostles suffered it is well knowen so that by manye tribulations as Paule sayeth we muste enter into the kyngdome of heauen Act. 14 All the holy Prophettes Christe and hys Apostles suffered suche afflictions not for euel doing but for preachinge Gods woord for rebukyng the worlde of synne and for their fayth in Iesus Christe Thys is the ordinaunce of GOD my frends this is the hygh way to heauen by corporal death to eternal lyfe Iohn 5. as Christ sayth he that heareth my words beleueth in hym that sent me hath eternal life shal not come into iudgemēt but is escaped from death to lyfe Let vs neuer feare death which is kylled by christ but beleue in him liue for euer Roman 8. as Paul sayth there is no damnation to them that are in christ Iesu which walke not after the fleshe but after the spirit 1. Corin. 15. And agayne Paule sayth Death where is thy sting Hel where is thy victory Thankes be to god whiche hath geuen vs victory through Iesu Christ Besides this ye haue sene dayly do see the blood of your good preachers brethren which hath bene shed in the gospels cause in thys sinful Sodome thys bloody Ierusalē this vnhappie citie of Londō Let not their blood be forgottē nor the blood of your good byshop Ridley who like a good shepeherd to your cōfort exāple hath geuē hys lyfe for his shepe S. Paul saith remember them that haue spokē to you the word of god Iohn 10. Heb. 13 loke vpon the end of their conuersation and folow their faith The deuil euer stirreth vp false teachers as he hath done now ouer al England 2. peter 2. 1. Timot 4. 2. Timo. 3.
I being so long so nere you did not enterpryse to stirre vp familiaritie comunicatiō betwene vs by writing to our mutual cōsolation in Christe For what is there vpon earth wherin to reioyce where al things are transitory vaine yea mā him self respecting this life but as Dauid saith Psal 16 the Saints that dwel vpon the earth such as excel in vertue But here now I consider that if the felowship loue ioy of faythful men and children of god being as we now be in double bondage the body within clay walles the soule wtin these frayle earthly bodies be so great and comfortable howe vnspeakeable wil those ioyes be when we shal be deliuered frō al corruption into the glorious libertie of the sonnes of god Where we shal be present together continually in our glorified bodies beholding the face of our father presently whō now we see but in the glasse of fayth with his dere sonne christ our redemer brother and the blessed companye of Angels al faithful saued soules Oh the incomparable good things and heauenly treasures layd vp for vs in heauen by christ Iesu For the obteyning wherof we ought to set light by al tēporal grefes and transitory afflictions so much the more in that our good God is faythful wil not suffer vs to be tēpted aboue oure strength that namely in the end of our life Eccle. 11. whē the tree where it falleth lieth stil as the preacher sayeth when euerye one causa sua dormit causa sua resurget for els before the end he suffereth hys somtime to fal but not finally to perysh as Peter sincked vpon the sea but yet was not drowned and synned greuously vpon the lande throughe infirmitie denying his Maister but yet found mercye for the ryghteous falleth oftentymes And Christs holy Apostles are taught to say remitte nobis debita nostra Yea thoughe the righteous fall saieth Dauid he shal not be cast away for the Lord vpholdeth hym wyth hys hande Oh the bottomlesse mercy of God toward vs miserable sinners He vouchsafe to plante in my harte true repentance and fayth to the obteyning of remission of al my synnes in the mercyes of God and merites of Christe hys sonne and therto I pray you say Amen Oh my hartely beloued it greueth me to see the spoyle hauocke the Saule maketh with the congregation of Christe but what remedye This is gods wil ordinance that his people shal here both be punished in the flesh tried in their fayth as it is writtē many are the troubles of the righteous but the lord deliuereth thē out of al for by a strait path narowe dore must we enter Whether Into the ioyful kingdome of heauē Therfore blessed are you other that suffer persecutiō for christs sake for the possessing of the same Pray for me my felowes good brother that we may fyght a good fyght that we may kepe the fayth and end our course with ioyful gladnes for now the tyme of our deliuerāce is at hand The lord guide defēd and kepe vs you al his people in our iourney that we may safely through a short death passe to that long lasting life Farewel my dere and louing brother fellow souldiour in Christ farewel I say in him who receaue our soules in peace when they shal depart frō these tabernacles and he graunt vs a ioyfull resurrection and a mery metyng at the last day and continuall dwelling together in hys eternall and heauenly kingdome through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Yours with my poore prayer other pleasure can I do you none Thomas Whittell minister To my deare brethren M. Filles and Cutbert MY dere and welbeloued brethren in Christ M. Filles and Cutbert I wish you al welfare of soule body Welfare to the soule is repentance of synne faythful affiance in christ Iesus a godly life Welfare to the body is the health of the same with al necessary things for this bodely life The soule of mā is immortal therfore ought to be wel kept lest immortalitie to ioy should turne to immortalitie of sorow As for the body be it neuer so wel kept much made of yet shortly by nature wil it perysh decay But those that are engraffed and incorporated into Christ by true fayth feeling the motion of Gods holy spirite as a pledge of their electition and enheritaunce excityng and stirring them not onelye to seke heauenly thyngs but also to hate vyce embrace vertue wyll not onely do those things but also if neede requyre wyll gladlye take vppe theyr crosse and followe theyr Captayne Mat. 26. Mar. 14 theyr Kynge and theyr Sauioure Iesus Christe as hys poore afflicted Churche of Englande nowe doth agaynste that false and Antichristian doctrine religiō nowe vsed and specially that blasphemous masse wherein christes supper and holy ordinaūce is altogether peruerted and abused contrary to his institution Luke 22. 2. Cor. 1◠and to Paules procedinges so that that whiche they haue in their Masse is neyther sacramēt of christ nor yet sacrifice for sinne as the priestes falsely pretende It is a sacrament that is as S. Augustine saith a visible signe of inuisible grace when it is ministred to the communicantes accordyng to christes example and as it was of late yeares in thys realme And as for sacrifice there is none to be made now for sinne Heb. 9.10 for Chryste with one sacrifice hath perfited for euer those that are sāctified Beware of false religion and mens vaine traditiōs and serue god wyth reuerence and godly feare accordyng to the doctryne of hys Gospel Luke i1 whereto cleane ye that ye maye be blessed though of wycked men ye be hated accursed Rather drinke of the cup of Christ wyth his church Apo. 18. then of the cup of that rose coloured whore of Babylon which is ful of abhominatiōs Rather striue ye to go to heauē by that path which is strayte to fleshe and bloud wyth the little flocke then to go the wyde way followyng the enticements of the worlde and the flesh which leadeth to damnation Lyke as Christ suffered in the flesh saith S. Peter pet 4.3 so arme ye yourselues with the same minde for Christe suffered for vs leauyng vs example to follow hys footesteppes Blessed are they that suffer for hys sake great is their reward in heauē He that ouercommeth saith S. Iohn shal eate of the tree of lyfe he shal haue a crowne of life Apoca. 2.3 and not be hurt of the second death he shall be clothed with white aray not be put out of the booke of life yea I wil confesse hys name sayth Christ before my father and before hys aungels he shal be a piller in the house of God and sit with me on my seate And thus I bydde you farewel mine owne bretherne and deare fellowes in Christ whose grace and peace be alwaye
them they harken vnto me and to no straungers and I geue them euerlastyng lyfe Iohn 10 for they shall not be loste nor no man shall plucke them out of my handes no nor yet this flatte ryng world wyth al his vayne pleasures nor any Tyranne wyth his great threates and stoute bragges can once moue them out of the way of eternall lyfe What consolation and coÌ„fort may we haue more pleasaunt and effectuous then this God is on our side and fighteth for vs he suffereth he smarteth is afflicted with vs. As the world can do nothing against his might Esay 4 neither in takyng away or diminishing of hys glory nor putting him from his celestial throne so can it not harme nor hurte any one of his chyldren without his good wyll Ephesi 5 for we are members of hys bodye out of his flesh and of his bones and as deare to him as the apple of his eye Let vs therfore with an earnest fayth set fast hold and sure feeling vpon the promises of God in the gospel and let vs not be sundred from the same by any teÌ„ptation tribulation or persecution Let vs consider the verity of god to be inuincible inuiolable and immutable promising and geuing vs his faythfull souldiours life eternall It is he onely that hath deserued it for vs it is his only benefite and of his only mere mercy vnto hym only must we render thaÌ„kes Let not therfore the vayne fantasies and dreames of meÌ„ the folish gauds and toyes of the world nor the crafty delusions of the deuil driue separate vs from our hope of the crown of righteousnes that is laid vppe in store for vs against the last day Oh that happy and mery last day I meane to the faythfull when Christ by hys couenaunt shall graunte and geue vnto them that ouercome and kepe hys wordes to the ende that they maye ascende and sit in seate with him as he hath ascended and sitteth on throne wyth hys father The same body and soule that is now wyth Christ afflicted shal then be wyth Christ glorified nowe in the butchers handes as shepe appointed to die 2. Timo. 2. then sitting at gods table wyth Christ in hys kyngdom as gods honourable and dere childerne where we shall haue for earthly pouerty heauenlye riches for hunger and thirst saturitye of the pleasaunt presence of the glory of God Psalm 16. for sorrowes troubles and colde irons celestial ioyes and the company of Aungels and for a bodely death lyfe eternall Oh happy soules oh precious death and euermore blessed righte deare in the eyes of god to you the spring of the Lord shall euer be florishyng Then as sayth Esay the redemed shall returne come againe into Sion praysing the Lord and eternall mercyes shal be ouer their heades they shall obtaine myrthe and solace sorrowe and woe shall be vtterly vanquished yea I am euen he sayeth the Lord that in all things geueth you euerlastyng consolation To whom with the Father and the holy ghost be glory and prayse for euer Amen Robert Samuell An other letter written to the Christian coÌ„gregation called the fayth of Robert Samuell The beliefe of the hart iustifyeth and to knowledge with the mouth maketh a man safe Rom. 10. Feare not the curse of men be not afrayde of theyr blasphemies and reuilinges for wormes and mothes shall eate them vppe lyke cloth and woll but my ryghteousnesse shall endure for euer and my sauing healthe from generation to generation Esay 51. COnsidering with my self these perillous times 2. Timo. 3. perishing daies the vnconstant and miserable state of man the decay of our fayth the sinister reporte false slauÌ„der of gods most holy word these vrgent causes in coscience do constrayne me to confesse acknowledge my fayth and meanyng in Christes holy religion as S. Peter teacheth me saying 1. pet 3 be readye alwayes to geue an answere to euery man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you and that with mekenes feare hauing a good coÌ„science that wheÌ„ they backbite you as euill doers they may be ashamed for asmuche as they haue falselye accused your good conuersation in Christe As touching my doctrine for that litle talent that god hath geuen me god I take to recorde mine own conscience mine auditorie knoweth that I neither in doctrine nor maners willinglye taughte any other thing then I receaued of the holy Patriarckes Prophets Christ hys Apostles For it were not only sinne but also the very part of a cursed miscreant to deny to belye or betray the innoceÌ„cie of that heaueÌ„ly doctrine or to be ashamed to coÌ„fesse staÌ„d to the defence of the same Mar. 8. seing the christ plaÌ„ted it with his most precious blood and all good men haue more estemed the true infallible word of god then al this transitorye worlde or their own mortal liues And I beleue this doctrine of the Patriarkes Prophets Christ hys Apostles to be sufficient absolutely perfect to enstruct teach me al the holy church of oure duties towards god the magistrates our neighbours Fyrst principally I do assuredly beleue wtout any douting that there is one deitie or diuine essence infinite substaÌ„ce which is both called is in dede god euerlasting vnbodely vnpartable vnmeasurable in power wisdome goodnesse the maker preseruer of al things as wel visible as inuisible yet there be three distinct persons al of one godhead or diuine being of al one power coequal coÌ„substantial coeternall the father the sonne the holy ghost I beleue in god the father almighty c. As touching god the father of heaueÌ„ I beleue as much as holy scripture teacheth me to beleue The father is the first person in trinitie Ephesi â— first cause of our saluation which hath blessed vs with al maner of blessings in heaueÌ„ly things by Christ which hath choseÌ„ vs before the fouÌ„dations of the worlde were layd that we should be holy without blame before him who hath predestinate vs ordeyned vs to be his childreÌ„ of adoption through Christ Iesu Act. 17. Psal 176. In him as it is sayd we liue we moue haue our being he nourisheth feedeth geueth meate to euery creature And in Iesus Christ hys onely sonne oure lord I beleue that the word that is the sonne of god the second person in trinitie did take mans nature in the wombe of the most blessed virgin Mary Heb. 1. So that there be in hym .ii. natures a diuine nature an humaine nature in the vnitie of persoÌ„ inseperable conioyned knyt in one Christ truly god trulye maÌ„ the expresse perfect image of the inuisible god wherin the wil of god the father shineth apparantly wherin maÌ„ as it were in a glasse maye behold what he ought to do that maye please god the father Borne of the virgin Mary â—â—trulye
sufferyng hys passion crucyfyed dead and buryed to the entent to bring vs again into fauour with god the father almighty to be a sacrifice host oblation Esa 48.43 Gen. 1.22 Esay 53. Act. 10. Math. 8. not only for original sinne but also for al actuall sinnes of the whole generatioÌ„ of mankind For al the works merites deseruings doings obedieÌ„ce of maÌ„ towards god although they be done by the spirit of god in the grace of god yet being thus done be of no validitye worthynes nor merite before god except god for his mercy grace accompt theÌ„ worthy for the worthines merites of Christe Iesus The same Christe went downe to the hels and trulye rose agayn the thyrd day and ascended into the heauens that he mighte there stil reigne haue dominioÌ„ ouer al creatures froÌ„ theÌ„ce shall come c. I beleue in the holy ghost coequal with god the father the soÌ„ne proceding froÌ„ theÌ„ both by whose vertue streÌ„gth operation the true catholike church which is the comunioÌ„ societie of Saints is guyded in al truth veritie kept froÌ„ al errours false doctrine the deuil all power of sinne Which church is sanctifyed hallowed with the precious blood spirite of our Lord Iesus Christ Iohn 10.8 Galat. 1. 1. Timo. 3. which hath also her signe and marke that she heareth foloweth the voyce of her only true pastour christ no straungers Thys church also is the house of god the coÌ„gregatioÌ„ of the liuing god the pyller of truth the liuely body of Christ a church both in name in dede I beleue the remission of synnes by the only meanes merites of christs death passioÌ„ who was made vnto vs of god that only sacrifice oblation offered once for al for euer for al theÌ„ that be sanctifyed I beleue the resurrectioÌ„ of the body wherby in the last day al meÌ„ shal ryse again froÌ„ death the soules ioyned againe to the bodyes the good to euerlastinge lyfe the wycked to euerlastyng payne punyshment And nothyng may more certaynly stablysh confyrme our fayth that we shal ryse agayn immortal both in body soule theÌ„ the resurrectioÌ„ of Christ our Sauiour fyrst fruites of the dead Now that Christ our head is rysen we being his body meÌ„bers must folow our head Death hell and synne can not sunder nor plucke vs from him For as the sonne can not be deuyded nor sundred froÌ„ the father nor the holy ghost from them both no more may we being the faythful meÌ„bers of Christ be seperated froÌ„ christ And for a confyrmatioÌ„ of our resurrection christ wold be sene after his resurrectioÌ„ in his most gloryous bodye hys wouÌ„des being handled felt speaking teaching eating drinking c. We looke sayth S. Paule Iohn 10 Iohn 1. Phil. 3. for Iesus Christ our Sauiour which shall transfygure our vile bodies conforme theÌ„ to his glorious body by the same power vertue wherwith he is able to subdue all things euen like as the grayn of wheate soweÌ„ in the grouÌ„d Iohn 12. is fyrst putrifyed brought as into a thiÌ„g of nought yet after that it spriÌ„geth vp freshly with a goodlyer colour forme beautye then it had before The bodye is sowen in corruption and ryseth in incorruptioÌ„ 1. Cor. 15 it is soâ—en in dishonour riseth in honour Thus I verely knowe and assuredly beleue the resurrection of our bodyes to haue lyfe eternal by Christ for Christes sake Verely verely I say vnto you sayeth Christe he that heareth my woorde and beleueth on hym that sent me Iohn 5. hath euerlasting lyfe and shall not come into dampnation but is escaped from death to lyfe It is Christ that died once for our sinnes Roma 10 Ose 13. and is rysen agayne neuer more to dye it is he that swallowed vppe death and hath caste it vnder hys fete for euer What nowe can death doe vnto vs Verely nothyng ells but for a little tyme seperate our precious soules from oure wretched bodyes that diuyne substance from a Masse of synne that eternall lyfe from a bodye of death and so send our soules out of this miserable wretched sorrowfull lyfe cumbred wyth all calamities vnto that most blessed felicitie and ioyes eternall As concerning the holye and reuerente sacramentes of Christes Church whiche be in number .ii. the Sacramente of baptiseme and the Supper of the Lord I beleue them to be as Saint Paule calleth them confyrmations or seales of Gods promises whiche haue added to them a promyse of grace and therefore they are called inuisible signes of inuisible grace The Sacramente of baptisme is a marke of Christes Churche a seale and confirmation of oure acceptation into the grace and fauour of God for Christes sake For hys innocencye hys ryghteousnesse hys holynesse hys iustyce is ours geuen vs of God and our synnes and vnryghteousnesse by hys obedience and abasing of hymselfe to the death of the crosse are hys whereof baptisme is the signe seale and confirmation Baptisme is also a signe of repentaunce to testifye that we be borne to the waues of perilles and chaunges of lyfe to the entent that we shoulde dye continuallye as longe as we liue from sinne and ryse agayne like new men vnto ryghteousnesse Rom. 6. The other sacrament which is the Supper holy maundy of our Sauiour Christ wherby the church of Christ is knowen I beleue it is a remembraunce of Christes death passion a seale confirmation of his most precious body geueÌ„ vnto death eueÌ„ to the vile death of the crosse wherwith we are redemed deliuered from synne death hel damnation It is a visible word because it worketh the same thing in the eyes which the word worketh in the eares For like as the woorde is a meane to the eares wherby the holy ghost moueth the hart to beleue Ro. 10 so thys Sacramente is a meane to the eyes whereby the holy ghoste moueth the harte to beleue it preacheth peace betwene God and man it exhorteth to mutuall loue and all godly life and teacheth to contemne the world for the lyfe to come when as Christe shal appeare which now is in heaueÌ„ no where els as concernyng thys humaine body Act. 1.3 â–ª Yet doe I beleue assuredly that hys very body is present in his most holy supper at the contemplatioÌ„ of our spirituall eyes so verely eaten with the mouth of our fayth For as sone as I heare these most comfortable heauenly words spoken and pronounced by the mouth of the minister thys is my bodye which is geuen for you when I heare I say thys heauenly harmonye of gods vnfallible promises truth I loke not vpoÌ„ neyther do I behold bread wyne for I take beleue the words simply and plainly euen as Christ spake them For hearing these words my senses be rapte vtterly
prayer must be ioyned almes and mercy towards the poore nedy And that our almes may be acceptable vnto god three things are chiefly requyred First 2. Cor. 9. that we geue with a cherefull ioyful hart for the lord loueth a cherefull geuer Secondly that we geue liberally putting a syde al nigardship knowing that he the soweth litle shal reap little and he that soweth plentifully shal reape plentifully Let euery mā therfore do according as he is able The porest caitife in the world may geue as great acceptable an almes in the syght of god as the rychest man in the world can do The poore wydowe that did offer but two mytes Marke 12 whiche make a farthing did hyghly please Christ in so much that he affyrmed wyth an othe that she of her penury had added more to the offrings of god then al the rych mē which of their superfluitie had cast in very much For if there be first a willing minde it is accepted according to the a man hath not according to that a mā hath not Thirdly we must geue wtout hypocrisie ostentatiō not seking the prayse of mē or our own glory or profite And althoughe the scriptures in some places ake mentiō of a reward to our almes other good works yet ought we not to think that we do merite or deserue any thīg but rather we ought to acknowledge that god of his meere mercy rewardeth in vs his own giftes For what hath he that geueth almes that he hath not receaued He than the geueth vnto a poore mā any maner of thing geueth not of his own but of those goods which he hath receaued of god What hast thou saith the Apostle that thou hast not receaued If thou hast receaued it ◠Cor. 4 why reioycest thou as though thou haddest not receaued it This sentence ought to be had in remēbrance of al mē for if we haue nothing but that which we haue receaued what can we deserue or what nede we to dispute reasō of oure own merites It cōmeth of the free gift of God that we liue that we loue god that we walke in his feare where is our deseruing them ▪ We must also in this our spirituall warfare arme our selues with continual prayer a very necessary strong inuincible weapon Math. 26. Heb. 4. ◠Mach. 4 after the exāple of Christ al other godly men cry hartely vnto god in fayth in all our distresses anguyshes Let vs goe boldely to the seate of grace where we shal be sure to receaue mercy and fynde grace to helpe in time of nede For now is pryde and persecution encreased now is the time of destruction and wrathfull displeasure Wherfore my dere brethren he ye feruent in the law of god ieoperd ye your liues if nede shal so require for the testament of the fathers so shall ye receaue great honour an euerlasting name Remēber Abrahā was not he foūd faythful in temptation Gene. 22. Gene. 41. Num. 25. it was reckned vnto him for ryghteousnesse Ioseph in time of his trouble kept the cōmaūdemēt was made a Lord of Egipt Phinees was so feruent for the honour of god that he obtayned the couenaunt of an euerlasting priesthod Iosua 1 Num. 14 1. Regū 24 Iosua for fulfilling the word of God was made the captayne of Israell Caleb bare recorde before the congregation and receaued an heritage Dauid also in hys merciful kindnes obtained the throne of an euerlasting kingdome 4. Regū 2 Elias being zelous and feruent in the law was takē vp into heauen Annias Azarias Dan. 3. Misaell remayned stedfast in the fayth and were deliuered out of the fyre In lyke maner Daniell being vngiltie Dan. 6. was saued frō the mouth of the Lyons And thus ye maye consyder throughout al ages synce the world began that whosoeuer put their trust in god were not ouercome Feare not ye then the words of vngodly men for their glory is but donge wormes Psal 38. To day are they set vp to morrowe are they gone for they are turned into earth their memorial cōmeth to nought Wherfore let vs take good hartes vnto vs quyte our selues like mē in the law for if we do the things that are cōmaunded vs in the law of the lord our god we shal obteyn great honour therin Beloued in Christe let vs not faynt because of affliction wherwith God tryeth al thē that are sealed vnto life euerlasting for the only way into the kyngdome of god Act. 14. 4. Esdr 7. is through much tribulation For the kingdome of heauen as god teacheth vs by his Prophet Esdras is lyke a citie builded and set vpō a broad field full of all good things but the enteraunce is narrow sodayne ful of sorow trauaile perils labours like as if there were a fyre at the right hand a depe water at the left and as it were one strayte pathe betwene thē both so small that there could but one man go there If thys citie nowe were geuen to an heyre and he neuer went through the perilous way how would he receaue his enheritance Wherfore seing we are in this narowe strayt way which leadeth vnto the most ioyful pleasant citie of euerlasting life let vs not stagger either turne back being afraid of the daūgerous perillous way but folow our Captayn Iesus Christ in the narow strayt way be affrayd of nothyng no not euen of death it selfe for it is he that must lead vs to our iourneyes end open vs the dore vnto euerlastīg lyfe Cōsider also the course of thys world how many there be which for their Maisters sake or for a litle promotions sake would aduēture their liues in worldly affayres as cōmonly in warres yet is their reward but light transitorye ours is vnspeakeable great and euerlasting They suffer paines to be made Lordes on the earth for a shorte season howe muche more oughte wee to endure lyke paynes yea peraduenture muche lesse to bee made kinges in heauen for euer more Consider also the wycked of this world which for a litle pleasures sake or to be auenged on their enemies wil fyght with sword weapons putte thē selues in daunger of imprisonment hanging So much as vertue is better then vyce god myghtyer thē the deuil so much ought we to excel thē in this our spirituall battell And seing brethrē it hath pleased God to set me that most worthy minister of Christ ▪ Iohn Bradford your countreymē in the forefront of this battel where for the time is most daunger I beseche you all in the bowels of Christ to helpe vs al others our felow souldiers stāding in like perilous place with your prayers to god for vs that we maye quite our selues like men in the Lord geue some exāple of boldnesse constancie mingled
with pacience in the feare of god that ye others our brethren through our example may be so encouraged and strengthened to followe vs that ye also may leaue example to your weake brethren in the world to followe you Amen Consider what I say the Lord geue vs vnderstandyng in all thinges 2. Tim. 2 3. Cor. 7 1. Iohn 2. Brethren the time is short it remayneth that ye vse this world as though ye vsed it not for the fashion of this world vanysheth away Se that ye loue not the world neither the things that are in the world But set your affectioÌ„ on heaueÌ„ly things where Christ sitteth on the right hand of god Be meke long sufferiÌ„g serue edisy one an other with the gift that god hath geueÌ„ you Beware of strauÌ„ge doctrine lay aside the old coÌ„uersatioÌ„ of gredy lustes walke in a new lyfe Beware of al vncleannes couetousnes folish talking false doctrine dronkennes reioyce be thankful towards god submit your selues one to an other Cease froÌ„ synne spend no more time in vice be sober apt to pray be pacient in trouble loue ech other let the glorye of god profite of your neyghbours be the only marke you shote at in al your doings Repent ye of the life that is past take better hede to your doings hereafter And aboue al things cleaue ye fast to hym who was deliuered to death for our sinnes rose agayne for our iustification To whom with the father the holy ghost be al honour rule for euer more Amen Salute froÌ„ me in Christ al others whiche loue vs in the fayth and at your discretion make them partakers of these letters and praye ye all for me and other in bondes for the gospel that the same god which by his grace hath called vs from wicked papistrye vnto true christianitie and nowe of loue proueth our patience by persecution will of his mercy fauour in the end gloriously deliuer vs eyther by death or by lyfe to hys glory AmeÌ„ At Lancaster the .30 of Aug. 1554. By me an vnprofitable seruaunt and prisoner of Christ George Marshe The copy of a letter wrytten by Steuen Cotton to his brother Iohn cotton declaryng how he was beaten of Bonner BRother in the name of the Lord Iesus I commend me vnto you and I do hartely thanke you for your godlye exhortatioÌ„ and counsel in your last letter declared to me And albeit I do perceiue by your letter you are informed that as we are diuers persons in number so are we of contrary sectes conditions and opinioÌ„s contrary to that good opinion you had of vs at your last being with vs in Newgate be you most assured good brother in the Lord Iesus the we are al of one mind one raith one assured hope in our lord Iesus whome I trust we altogether wyth one spirite one brotherly loue do daily call vpon for mercy and forgeuenes of our sinnes wyth earnest repentance of our former lyues and by whose precious blood hedyng we truste to be saued onely and by no other meanes Wherefore good brother in the name of the lord seyng these impudent people whose mindes are altogether bent to wickednes enuy vncharitablenes euill speakyng doe go aboute to slaunder vs wyth vntruth beleue them not neither let their wycked sayings once enter into your minde And I trust one day to see you again although now I am in gods pryson which is a ioyful schole to them that loue their lord and god and to me beyng a simple scholer most ioyful of al. Good brother once again I do in the name of our lord Iesus exhort you to pray for me that I may fight strongly in the lordes battail to be a good souldiour to my captaine Iesus Christ our lord and desire my Sister also to do the same and do not ye mourne or lamente for me but bee ye glad and ioyfull of thys my trouble For I trust to be losed out of this dongeon shortly and to go to euerlasting ioy which neuer shal haue ende I heard howe ye were wyth the commissioners for me and how ye were suspected to be one of our company I praye you sue no more for me good brother But one thing I shal desire you to be at my departing out of thys lyfe that you may beare witnes with me that I shal die I trust in god a true christian I hope all my coÌ„panions in the lord our God therefore beleue not these euil disposed people who are the authors of all vntruth I praye you prouide for me a longe shirt against the day of our deliueraÌ„ce for the shirt you gaue me last I haue geueÌ„ it to one of my coÌ„panioÌ„s who had more neede then I and as for the money and meate you sent vs the bishops seruantes deliuered none to vs neither he whoÌ„ you had so great trust in Brother there is none of them to trust to for qualis magister talis serâ—us I haue ben twise beateÌ„ and threatened to be beaten againe by the bishop hymselfe I suppose we shal go into the countrey to Fulham to the bishops house and there be araigned I would haue you to harken as much as you can for when we shal go it shal be sodainly done Thus fare ye wel From the Colehouse thys present Friday Your brother Steuen Cotton A letter of Richard Rothe burnte at Islington to certayne condemned at Colchester ready to die for the lordes cause writen with his own blood O Deare brethren and Sisters how much haue you to reioyce in god that he hath geuen you suche fayth to preuail against these bloudthirsty tyrannes thus farre and no doubt he that hath begon that good worke in you will fulfil it vnto the ende O deare hartes in Christ what a crown of glorye shal ye receyue wyth Christe in the kingdome of god Oh that it had bene the good wil of god that I had ben redy to haue gone with you for I lye in my lordes litle ease in the day and in the night I lie in the Colehouse froÌ„ Rafe Allerton or any other And we loke euery day wheÌ„ we shal be condeÌ„ned for he sayd that I shold be burned wythin .x. dais before Easter but I lie styl at the pooles brynke and euery man goeth in before me but we abyde patiently the Lords laysure with many bandes in fetters stockes by the which we haue receyued great ioy in god And now fare you wel dere brethreÌ„ and Sisters in this world but I trust to see you in the heauen face to face O brother Munt with your wyfe my deare Sister Rose oh how blessed are you in the Lord that god hath found you worthy to suffer for hys sake with all the rest of my dere brethern Sisters knowen vnknowen O be ioyful euen vnto death feare it not saith Christ for I haue ouercommen death Oh dere hartes seyng that Iesus Christ
nothyng was hable to ouerthrow hys kyngdome so much as if children being godly enstructed in religioÌ„ should learn to know Christ whiles they are yet yonge whereby not only children but the elder for t also aged folks that before wer not taught to know Christ in theyr childhode should now eueÌ„ with childreÌ„ babes be forced to learne to know hym Now therfore he roareth now he rageth But what els do they brethren which serue Satan and become his ministers slaues in mainteynyng of this impietie but euen the same which they did Math. 2â— to whom Christ our sauior threatneth this curse in the gospel wo vnto you which shut vp the kingdoÌ„ of heaueÌ„ before meÌ„ take away the key of knowledge from them ye your selues haue not entred in neither haue ye suffred them that would enter to come in And from whence shall we say brethren that this horrible and mischeuous darknes procedeth which is now brought into the world from whence I pray you but euen from the smoke of the greate fornace the bottomles pitte Apoc. 9. so that the sonne and the ayer are now darked by the smoke of the pitte Now euen now out of doubte brethren the pit is opened emongs vs and the locusts beginne to swarme and abbadon now reigneth Apoca. 7. Ye therfore my brethreÌ„ which perteine vnto Christ and haue the seale of god marked in your foreheads that is to witte are sealed vp with the earnest of the spirit to be a peculier people vnto god quite your selues like men be strong for he that is in vs is stronger then he which is in the world i. Iohn 5 and ye know that al that is borne of god ouercoÌ„meth the world this is our victory that ouercoÌ„meth the world euen our fayth Let the world freate let it rage neuer so much be it neuer so cruell bloody yet be ye sure that no man can take vs out of the fathers handes for he is greater then al who hath not spared his owne sonne but hath geuen him to death for vs all and therfore howe shal he not with him geue vs all thynges also who shal lay any thyng to the charge of gods elect It is god that iustifieth who shall then condemne It is Christ that is dead yea rather which is risen agayne Rom. 8 who is also at the right hand of god maketh request also for vs. Who shall separate vs from the loue of Christ shal tribulation or anguish or persecution or famine or nakednes or peril or sword the reste ye know brethreÌ„ We are certainly persuaded with S. Paul by the grace of our Lord Iesus Christ that no kind of thing shal be hable to separate vs from the loue of god which is in Christ Iesus our Lorde Which thing that it may come to passe by the grace and mercy of our lord Iesus Christ to the comfort both of you and of vs all as we for our paâ—tes wil continually God willyng pray for you so deare Brethren in the Lord wyth all earnest and harty request we beseche you euen in the bowels of our Lord Iesus Chryste that ye will not cease to pray for vs. Fare ye well deare brethren The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ be with you all euermore Amen Yours in the Lord Nicolas Ridley To the Quenes maiesty IT may please your maiestye for Christe our sauiours sake in a matter of coÌ„scieÌ„ce now not for my selfe but for other pore men to vouchsafe to heare and vnderstande this mine humble supplication It is so honorable princes that in the time whiles I was in the ministery of the sea of London diuers poore men tenants therof haue taken newe leases of theyr tenantries holdinges and some haue renued and changed theyr old therfore haue payed fines summes of money both to me also to the Chapter of Paules for the confirmation of the same Behold the cruel and vniust dealing of BoÌ„ner He can not deale iustly and truly with men which is vntrue to god and a hater of al truth Now I heare say that the B. which occupieth the same rowme now wil not allow the aforesaid leases which must redound to many pore mens vtter ruine and decay Wherefore this is myne humble supplication vnto your honorable grace that it may please the same for Christes sake to be vnto the foresayd pore men theyr gracious patrone and defeÌ„dour either that they may enioy theyr foresayd leases and yeres renued as wheÌ„ their matter shal be heard with conscience I suppose both iustice coÌ„scieÌ„ce equity shal require for that theyr leases shal be founde I truste made without fraud or couen either of their part or of mine also the old rentes alwayes reserued to the sea without any kind of damage therof or if this wil not be grauÌ„ted then that it may please your gracious highnes to commaund that the poore men may be restored to theyr former leases and yeares and may haue rendred to theÌ„ agayne such summes of money as they payde to me and to the chapter for theyr leases and yeres so now takeÌ„ froÌ„ theÌ„ Which thing coÌ„cerning the fines payd to me may be easely done if it shal please your maiesty to coÌ„mauÌ„d some portion of those goods which I left in my house to be geuen vnto them I suppose that halfe of the value of my plate whyche I lefte in myne offices and speciallye in an yron cheste in my bedde Chamber wil go nighe to restore all suche fines receyued the true summes and parcels wherof are not set in their leases and therfore if that way shall please your hyghnes they must be knowen by such wayes and meanes as your maiesty by the aduise of men of wisedome and conscience shall appoint If to succoâ— the widow and fatherles is pure and vndefiled religioÌ„ as Sainct Iames sayth Then is Boner and his relioÌ„â—g filthye and abhominable whiche doth such wrong to the Widow and fatherles But yet for Christes sake I craue and most humbly beseche your maiesty of your most gratious pitye and mercy that the former way may take place I haue also a poore sister that came to me out of the north with iij. fatherles childreÌ„ for her relief whome I maried after to a seruaunt of myne owne house she is put out of that which I dyd prouyde for them I besech your honorable grace that her case may bee mercifullye considred that the rather in conteÌ„platioÌ„ that I neuer had of him which suffred indurance at my entrance to the sea of London one penye of hys moueable goodes for it was almost halfe a yere after hys deposition afore I did enter in that place yea and also if any were left knoweÌ„ to be his he had licence to cary it awaye or there for hys vse it dyd lie safe and his officers do know that I paid for the lead which I fouÌ„d there wheÌ„ I occupied any
will and pleasure make you to beleue embrace the truth Amen An other farewell to the prisoners in Christes gospels cause and to all them which for the same cause are exiled and banished out form theyr own country chosing rather to leaue al worldly commodity then theyr mayster Christ FArewel my dearly beloued brethrē in Christ both ye my fellowe prisoners ye also that be exiled banished out of your countreis because ye wyl rather forsake all worldly commodity then the gospel of Christ Farewell al ye together in Christ farewell be mery for ye know that the trial of your faith bringeth forth patience and pacience shal make vs perfect whole and sound on euery syde and such after trial ye know shal receiue the crown of life according to the promise of the lord made to his derely beloued let vs therfore be pacient vnto the comminge of the Lorde Iacob 5 As the husbandman abideth paciently the former and latter raine for the encrease of his croppe so let vs bee patiente and plucke vp our hartes for the comminge of the lord approcheth apace Let vs my deare brethren take example of patience in tribulation of the Prophetes which spake lykewise Gods worde truelye in his name Let Iob be to vs an example of patience and the end which the Lord suffered 1. Pet. 1. which is full of mercy and pity We know my brethren by gods word that our fayth is much more precious then anye corruptible golde and yet that is tried by the fyre euen so our fayth is therfore tried likewise in tribulations that it may be found when the Lord shall appeare laudable glorious and honorable 1. Pet. 2. For if we for Christes cause doe suffer that is gratefull before God for thervnto are we called that is our state and vocation wherwith let vs be contēt Christ we knowe suffred for vs afflictions leuinge vs an example that we shoulde folowe his fotesteppes for he committed no sinne nor was there anye guile founde in hys mouth when he was rayled vpon and al to reuiled rayled not again whē he was euill intreated he did not threaten but committed the punishment therof to hym that iudgeth a right Let vs euer haue in fresh remembrance those wonderfull comfortable sentences spoken by the mouth of our sauioure Christ blessed are they whiche suffer persecution for righteousnes sake for theyrs is the kingdome of heauen Blessed are ye when men reuile you Math. 5 persecute you and speake all euell againste you for my sake reioyse and bee gladde for great is you reward in heauen for so did they persecute the prophetes which were before you Therefore let vs alwaye beare this in our minds that if any incommodity do chaūce vnto vs for rightousnes sake happy are we whatsoeuer the world doth think of vs. Luke 21. Christ our maister hath told vs before hand that the brother should put the brother to death the father the sonne and the children should rise against their parentes and kill them that Christs true Apostles should be hated of all men for his names sake but he that shal abide patiētly vnto th end shal be saued Let vs thē endure in al trobles paciētly after the exāple of our maister Christ be cōtēted therw t for he suffred being our maister lord how doth it not thē become vs to suffer Luke 6. For the disciple is not aboue hys maister nor the seruant aboue hys lord It may suffice the disciple to be as his maister and the seruaunte to be as his lord If they haue called the father of the family Math. 10. the maister of the household Belzebub how muche more shall they call so thē of hys household Feare thē not then sayth our sauiour for all priuities shal be made playne there is now nothyng secrete but it shall be shewed in light Of Christes woordes let vs neyther be ashamed nor afrayde to speake them for so Christ our maister commaūdeth vs saieng that I tell you priuily speake openly abroad and that I tel you in your eare preach it vpon the house top And feare not thē which kyll the body for the soule they can not kill but feare him which can cast both body and soule into hel fire Know ye that the heauenly father hathe euer a gratious eye and respecte towarde you and a fatherlye prouidence for you so that withoute his knowledge and permission nothyng can do you harme Let vs therfore cast al our care vpō him and he shall prouyde that which shall be best for vs. For if of ij small sparowes which both are sold for a mite one of them lighteth not on the ground without your father and all the heares of oure head are numbred Math. 10. feare not then sayth oure Maister Christ for ye are more worth then many smal sparowes And let vs not sticke to confesse our maister Christe for feare of daunger whatsoeuer it shal be remembryng the promise that Christe maketh sayeng whosoeuer shall confesse me before men him shall I confesse before my father which is in heauen but whosoeuer shall deny me him shall I lykewyse deny before my father which is in heauē Christ came not to geue vnto vs heare a carnall amity a worldly peace or to knitte hys vnto the world in ease peace but rather to separate deuide thē frō the worlde to ioyn thē vnto hymself in whose cause we must if we wil be his forsake father and mother and stycke vnto hym If we forsake him or shrinke from him for trouble or deathes sake which he calleth hys crosse he wyll none of vs we cannot be hys If for hys cause we shall loose oure temporall lyues here we shall fynde them agayne and enioye them for euermore but if in hys cause we wyll not bee contented to leaue nor lose them here then shall we lose them so that we shall neuer fynd them again but in euerlasting death What though our troubles here be painfull for the tyme and the sting of death bitter vnpleasaunt yet we know that they shal not laste in comparison of eternitye no not the twincklyng of an eie and that they pacientlye taken in Christes cause shall procure and get vs vnmeasurable heapes of heauenly glory 2. Cor 4. vnto the whiche these temporal paynes of death and troubles compared 1. Pet. 4. are not to be estemed but to be reioysed vpon Wonder not saith S. Peter as thoughe it were anye straunge matter that ye are tryed by the fire he meaneth of tribulation whiche thyng sayeth he is done to proue you Nay rather in that ye are parteners of Christs afflictions reioyce that in hys glorious reuelaciō ye may reioice with mery hartes If ye suffer rebukes in Christes name happye are ye for the glory and spirite of god resteth vpon you Ol them God is reuiled and dishonored but of you he is glorifyed Let no man
be ashamed of that he suffreth as a christian in Christs cause for now is the time that iudgement and correctiō must begin at the house of god and if it begin first at vs what shal be the end of those thinke ye which beleue not the gospell And if the righteous shal be hardly saued the wicked and the sinner wher shal he appeare Wherfore they which are afflicted accordyng to the wil of god let them lay down and commit their soules to hym by wel doyng as to a trusty and faithful maker This as I said may not seme straunge to vs for we know that all the whole fraternity of christes congregatiō in this world is serued with the like by the same is made perfect For the feruēt loue that the apostles had vnto their maister Christe and for the great cōmodities increase of all godlines which they felt by theyr faith to ensue of afflictiōs in Christs cause thirdly for the heapes of heauenly ioyes which the same doe get vnto the godly which shal indure in heauen for euermore for these causes I say the apostles of theyr afflictions did ioy and reioiced in that they were had and accompted worthy to suffer cōtumelies and rebukes for christes name And Paule as he gloried in the grace and fauour of god whereunto he was brought and stode in by faith so he reioyced in his afflictions for the heauenly and spiritual profits which he numbreth to ryse vpon them yea he was so farre in loue with that that the carnal man lotheth so much 1. Cor. 2. that is with Christes crosse that he iudged himself to know nothing els but Christ crucified be wil glory he saith in nothyng elses but in Christes crosse yea he blesseth all those as the only true Israelits and elect people of god with peace and mercye which walketh after that rule and after none other O Lord what a wonderfull spirit was that that made Paule in setting forth of himself against the vanity of Satans Pseu dopostels and in hys clayme there that he in Christes cause dyd excel passe thē al 2. Cor. 11 what wonderful Spirit was that I say that made him to recken vp al his troubles his labors his beatīgs his whippings scourgings his shipwracks his daūgers and perils by water and by land his famyne hunger nakednes and cold with many moe and the daily care of all the congregations of Christ among whom euery mans paine did pearce his heart and euery mans griefe was greuous vnto him O Lord is this Paules Primacy wherof he thought so much good that he did excel other Is not this Paules saying vnto Timothy hys own scholler 2. Timo. 2 doth it not pertaine to whosoeuer will be Christes true souldiours beare thou saith he the afflictiōs like a good souldiour of Iesu Christ This is true if we die with him he meaneth Christ we shall liue with him if we suffer with him we shal raign with hym if we deny him he shall denye vs if we be faithlesse he remayneth faythefull he cannot denye himselfe Thys Paule woulde haue knowen to euerye body for there is none other waye to heauen 2. Tim. 3 but Christ and hys waye and all that wyll lyue godlye in Christe shall sayeth Sayncte Paule suffer persecution By thys way went to heauen the Patryarckes the Prophetes Christ our maister hys Apostels hys Martyrs al the godly since the beginnyng And as it hath ben of old that he which was born after the flesh Gal. 4 persecuteth hym whych was borne after the spirit for so it was in Isaackes tyme so sayd Saynt Paule it was in hys tyme also And whether it be so or no nowe lette the Spyrytuall man the selfe same man I meane that is indued wyth the Spirite of almighty God let hym bee Iudge Of the crosse of the Patryarckes as ye may read in their stories if ye reade the booke of Genesis ye shall perceyue Of other Saint Paule in few words comprehendeth much matter speakyng in a generalitie of the wonderful afflictions death and tormentes whiche the men of God in gods cause and for the truth sake willingly and gladly dyd suffer Heb. 11. After much perticuler rehersal of many he saith other wer racked and despised would not be deliuered that thei might obtayne a better resurrection Other againe were tryed with mockinges and scourgings and moreouer with bondes and imprisonment they were stoned hewen a sunder tempted fel and were slain vpon the edge of the sword some wandred to and fro in shepes pilches in goates pylches forsaken oppressed afflicted such godly mē as the world was vnworthy of wandryng in wildernes in mountains in caues and in dennes and all these were commended for their faith And yet they abide for vs the seruaunts of god for those theyr brethren which are to be slayn as they wer for the worde of gods sake that none be shut oute but that we may all go together to meete oure maister Christe in the ayre at his commyng and so to be in blisse with hym in body and in soule for euermore Therefore seyng we haue so muche occasion to suffer and to take afflictions for Christes names sake pacientlye so many commodities thereby so waightye causes so manye good examples so greate necessitye so sure promises of eternall life and heauenlye ioyes of hym that cannot lie Let vs throwe away whatsoeuer might let vs all burden of synne and all kynde of carnalitie and patiently and constantly let vs ronne for the beste game in thys race that is set before vs euer hauyng our eyes vpon Iesus Christ the ryngleader Heb. 12. capitain and perfiter of our fayth which for the ioy that was set before him endured the crosse not passyng vpon the ignomy shame therof and is set now at the right hand of the throne of god Consider this that he suffred such strife of synners against hym selfe that ye shoulde not geue ouer nor fainte in your myndes As yet brethren we haue notwithstande vnto death fyghtyng against synne Let vs neuer forget deare brethren for Christes sake that fatherly exhortatiō of the wyse that speaketh vnto vs as vnto hys children the godly wisdome of god saying thus my sonne despise not the correction of the Lord nor fall not from hym when thou art rebuked of hym for whom the Lorde loueth hym doth he correcte and scourgeth euery childe whome he receyueth what chylde is he whome the father doth not chasten If ye be free from chastisement whereof all are partakers then are ye bastardes and no children Seyng then when as we haue had carnal parents which chastened vs we we reuerenced them shall not we much more be subiect vnto oure spirituall father that we myght lyue And they for a little tyme taught vs after theyr owne mynd but this father teacheth vs to our commoditye Heb. 12. to geue vnto vs hys holines Al chastisement for
true honoryng of God also that can shew you the descente of Christes church from the begynning of it vntyll thys daye that ye maye perceaue by the lyfe of your forefathers these two thynges the one that Chrystes woorde whych sayde that al hys must suffer persecutiō and trouble in the world be true the other that none of all hys before our time escaped trouble then shall ye perceiue that it is but a folly for one that professeth Christe trulye to looke for the loue of the worlde Thus shall ye learne to beare trouble and to exercise youre religion and feele in deede that Chrystes woordes be true in the worlde ye shall suffer persecution Iohn 16 And when ye feele your religion in deede saye yee be no better then youre forefathers but be gladde that ye maye be counted worthye souldioures for thys warre and praye to God when ye come together that he wyll vse and order you and youre doyinges to these thre endes whyche ye muste take heede of the fyrste that ye gloryfye God the nexte that ye edifye the churche and congregation the thyrde that ye profyte your owne soules In all youre doynges beware ye be not deceaued For although thys tyme be not yet bloodye and tyrannous as the time of oure forfathers that coulde not beare the name of Christe wythout daunger of lyfe and goodes yet is oure tyme more perellous both for bodye and soule Therefore of vs Chryst sayde Luke 18. thinke ye when the sonne of manne commeth he shall fynde anye fayth vpon earth He sayde not thynke ye he shal fynde anye man or woman chrystened and in name a christian but he spake of the faythe that saueth the christian man in Chryst and doubtles the scarsitye of faith is now more and wyll I feare increase then it was in the time of the greatest Tyrannes that euer were and no maruell whye Reade yee the syxte chapter of Saynte Iohns Reuelation and ye shall perceyue amonges other thynges that at the opening of the fourthe seale came out a pale horse and he that satte vppon hym was called deathe and hell followed hym Thys horse is the time wherein hypocrites and dissemblers entred into the Churche vnder the precente of true religion as monkers Friers Nonnes massynge priestes wyth suche other that haue killed moe soules wythe heresyes and superstystitiō thē al the Tyrānes that euer were killed bodies with fyre sword or banishement as it appereth by hys name that sitteth vpon the horse who is called death for all soules that leaue Christ and trust to these hipocrytes lyue to the diuil in euerlasting payne as is declared by him that followeth the pale horse which is hel These pretēsed and pale hypocrites haue stirred the earthquakes that is to witte the princes of the world agaynst Christes church and haue also darkned the sonne and made the moone bloody and haue caused the starres to fall from heauen that is to saye haue darkned wyth mistes and daylye doe darken as ye heare by they re sermons the cleare sonne of Gods moste pure woorde the moone whiche be Gods true preachers whiche fetche onelye lyghte at the sonne of Gods woorde are turned into blood prisons and chaines that theyr light can not shine vnto the world as they would Wherupō it cōmeth to passe that the stars that is to say Christian people fal frō heauen that is to witte from Gods moste true word to hypocrisye most deuelyshe superstition and idolatrye Let some learned man shew you al the articles of your belief and monuments of Christian fayth from the time of Christe hetherto and ye shall perceiue that there was neuer mention of such articles as these hypocrites teache God blesse you and praye for me as I do for you Out of the Flete by your brother in Christe Iohn Hoper To all my deare brethren my relieuers and helpers in the City of London THe grace of God bee with you Amen I haue receaued from you dearelye beloued in our sauioure Iesus Christe by the hands of my seruant william Downton your liberality for the which I do most hartly thank you and I prayse god hyghly in you and for you who hathe moued youre heartes to showe this kindnes towardes me prayinge hym to preserue you from all famyne scarcity and lacke of the truth of hys word which is the liuely foode of your soules as you preserue my body from hunger and other necessities which should happē vnto me were it not cared for by the beneuolence and charity of godly people Suche as haue taken all worldlye gooddes and landes from me and spoyled me of all that I had haue emprisoned my bodye and appoynted no one halfepeny to feede or to relieue me wythall But I doe forgeue them and praye for them daylye in my poore prayer vnto God and from my hearte I wyshe their saluation and quietlye and pacientlye beare theyr iniuries wyshyng no farther extremity to bee vsed towardes vs. Yet yf it seeme contrary beste vnto oure heauenlye father I haue made my reckenyng and fullye resolued my selfe to suffer the vttermost that they are able to do against me yea death it selfe by the ayde of Christ Iesu who dyed the moste vyle deathe of the crosse for vs wretches and myserable synners But of thys I am assured that the wycked world with all his force and power shall not touche one of the heares of our heades wythout leaue ad lycence of oure heauenly father whose wyll be done in al thynges If he wyll lyfe lyfe bee it if he wyll deathe deathe be it Onelye we praye that oure wylles maye bee subiecte vnto hys wyll and then althoughe bothe we and all the worlde see none other thynge but deathe yet yf he thynke lyfe best we shall not dye no althoughe the sword be drawen oute ouer oure heades as Abraham thoughte to kyll his sonne Isaac yet when god perceaued that Abraham had surrendred hys wyll to Gods wyll and was contente to kill hys sonne god then saued hys sonne Dearely beloued if we be contented to obeye gods wyll and for hys commaundementes sake to surrender oure goodes and our selues to be at his pleasure it maketh no mater whether we kepe goods and lyfe or loose them Nothing can hurte vs that is taken from vs for Gods cause nor nothyng can at length doe vs good that is preserued contrary vnto Gods commaundemente Lette vs wholye suffer God to vse vs and ours after hys holye wysedome and beware we neyther vse nor gouerne oure selues contrarye to hys wyll by oure owne wisedome for yf we doe oure wisdome wyll at lengthe proue folishnes It is kept to no good purpose that we kepe contrarye vnto his commaundementes It can by no meanes be takē from vs that he would should tary with vs. He is no good christian that ruleth hym selfe and his as worldlye meanes serueth for he that so doth shall haue as many chaunges as chaunceth in the world To daye wyth the
possesse your lyues in pacience sayeth he In the which words he geueth vs both commaundement what to do and also greate consolation and comforte in all troubles He sheweth also what is to be doone and what is to be hoped for in troubles and when troubles happen he biddeth vs be pacient and in no case violently nor seditiously to resist our persequutors because God hath such cure and charge of vs that he wil kepe in the myddes of all troubles the very heares of our heade so that one of thē shal not fall away without the wil pleasure of our heauenly father Math. 10. Whether the heare therfore tarye in the heade or fall from the heade it is the wil of the father And seing he hath such care for the heares of our head how much more doth he care for our life it self wherfore let gods aduersaryes do what they lust whether they take the life or take it not they can do vs no hurte for theyr crueltye hath no further power then god permitteth them and that whiche commeth vnto vs by the wyll of our heauenlye father can be no harme no losse neyther destruction vnto vs but rather gayne wealth and felicitye For all troubles and aduersity that chaunce to such as be of god Rom. 8. by the wil of the heauenly father can be none other but gayne aduauntage That the spirite of man may feele these consolations the geuer of them the heauenly father must be prayed vnto for the merites of Christes passion Iacob 1. 1. Cor. 1.8 for it is not the nature of man that can be contented vntill it be regenerated and possessed with gods spirite to beare pacientlye the troubles of the mind or of the body When the minde and hart of a man seeth of euery side sorrowe and heauines and the worldlye eye beholdeth nothinge but suche thinges as be troublous wholy bent to robbe the poore man of that he hath also to take from him his lyfe except the man waigh these brittle and vncertayne treasures that be taken from him wyth the riches of the life to come and this life of the bodye wyth the life in Christes precious blood and so for the loue and certeynty of the heauenly ioyes contemne al thinges presente doubtles he shall neuer be able to beare the losse of goods life or any other thynges of this world Therfore S. Paule geueth a verye godlye and necessarye lesson to all menne in thys short transitorye life and therein sheweth how a manne maye beste beare the iniquytye and troubles of thys world Col. 3. if ye be risen agayne wyth Christ sayth he seke the thynges whiche are aboue where Chryste sitteth at the ryght hand of God the father Wherfore the christian mans fayth must be alwaies vpon the resurrection of Christe whē he is in trouble and in that glorious resurrectiō he shal not onelye see continuall and perpetuall ioye and consolation but also the victorye and triumphe of all persequution trouble synne death hell the diuell and all other persequutors and tyrannes of Christe and of Christes people the teares and weepinges of the faythfull dryed vp they re woundes healed theyr bodies made immortall in ioy theyr soules for euer praysynge the Lord and coniunction and societye euer lasting with the blessed company of Gods electes in perpetual ioy But the wordes of S. Paule in that place if they be not marked shal do little profite to the reader or hearer and geue him no patience at al in this impaciēt and cruel world In the fyrst part Saynt Paule commaundeth vs to thinke or set our affections on things that are aboue When he biddeth vs seke the things that are aboue he requireth that our mindes neuer cease from prayer and study in Gods worde vntyll we see knowe and vnderstande the vanities of thys world the shortnes and mysery of this lyfe the treasures of the world to come the immortality therof and the ioyes of that life and so neuer cease seking vntill such time as we know certeynly and be perswaded what a blessed man he is that seeketh th one and findeth it and careth not for thother though he lose it and in seking to haue ryght iudgement betwene the life present and the life to come we shal find how little the paynes imprisonment slaunders lies and death it selfe is in this world in respect of the paynes euerlastinge the prison infernal and doungeon of hel the sentēce of gods iust iudgement and euerlasting death When a man hath by seeking the word of God found out what the thinges aboue be then must he as Saynte Paule saythe set his affections vpon them And this commaundement is more hard then thother For mans knowlege many times seeth the beste and knoweth that there is a lyfe to come better then this life present as you may se how dayly men and women can prayse and commend yea and wysh for heauen and to be at rest there yet they set not theyr affection vpon it they do more affect loue in dede a trifel of nothing in this worlde that pleaseth theyr affection then a treasure of all treasures in heauen whiche their owne iudgemente sayeth is better then all worldlye thinges Wherefore we must set our affections vpon the things that be aboue that is to say when any thyng worse then heauē vpon the earth offereth it selfe to be ours yf we wyll geue our good willes to it and loue it in our heartes then to see by the iudgemēt of gods word whether we may haue the world wtout offēce of god and such thynges as be for this worldly lyfe wythout his displeasure If we cannot S. Paules commaundement must take plate set your affection on thinges that are aboue If the riches of this worlde maye not be gotten nor kepte with gods law neyther our lyues be continued with out the denyall of hys honour we must set our affection vpon the riches and lyfe that is aboue and not vpon things that be on the earth Therfore this second commaundemēt of S. Paule requireth that as our myndes iudge heauenly thinges to be better then thinges vppon the earth and the lyfe to come better then the life present so we should choose them before other preferre thē and haue suche affection to the best that in no case we set the worst before it as the most part of the world doth and hathe done for they choose the best and approue it and yet follow the worst But these things my godly wife requyre rather cogitation meditation and prayer then wordes or talke They be easy to be spoken of but not so easy to be vsed and practised Wherfore seyng they bee gods giftes and none of ours to haue as our own when we would we must seke them at our heauenly fathers hande who seeth and is priuye howe poore and wretched we be and how naked how spoyled destitute of all his blessed giftes we bee by
whitenes if God strike wyth hys batteldore Rom. 8 Because ye are gods shepe prepare your selues to the slaughter alwayes knowyng that in the syghte of the lord our death shall be precious The soules vnder the aultar looke for vs to fyll vp their number happye are we if god haue so apointed vs. 1. pet 5 Math. 10. How soeuer it be derely beloued cast your selues wholye vppon the Lorde with whome all the heares of your heades are numbred so that not one of them shall perishe Will we nyll we we must drynke gods cuppe if he haue appointed it for vs. Drynke it wyllyngly then at the fyrst when it is full lest peraduenture if we linger we shal drynke at the leÌ„gth of the dregges wyth the wycked Psal 75 1. pet 4 if at the beginning we drinke not with hys childreÌ„ for with them his iudgemeÌ„t beginneth wheÌ„ he hath wrought hys wil on mount Syon then wil he visit the nations round about Submit your selues therfore vnder the mighty hand of the Lorde 1. pet 7 Rom. 8 No manne shall touche you wythoute hys knowledge When they touche you therefore knowe it is to your weale GOD thereby will worke to make you like vnto Christe here that ye maye bee also lyke vnto hym elsewhere Acknowledge your vnthankefulnes and sinne and blesse god that correcteth you in the world 1. Cor. 11. because ye shal not be daÌ„ned with the world Otherwyse might he correct vs then in makyng vs to suffer for ryghteousnes sake but this he doth bicause we are not of the world Cal vpoÌ„ his name through Christ for his help as he commaundeth vs. Beleue that he is merciful to you heareth you helpeth you Psa 50. Psal 92 I am wyth hym in trouble wil deliuer him sayth he Know that god hath appoynted boundes ouer the which the deuill and all the worlde shal not passe If all thinges seeme to be against you yet say with Iob. If he kil me I wil hope in him Read the 91. psalm and praye for me your poore brother fellow suffâ—er for gods gospels sake his name therfore be praised of of his mercy he make me you worthy to suffer with good conscieÌ„ce for his names sake Die once we must when we know not happy are they whoÌ„ god geueth to pay natures det I meane to dye for his sake Here is not our home therfore let vs accordingly coÌ„sider things alwais hauyng before our eyes heaueÌ„ly IerusaleÌ„ Heb. 12. Apo. 21.22 the way thether to be by persecutions the deare frendes of God howe they haue gone it after the exaÌ„ple of our sauior Iesus christ whose footesteps let vs follow eueÌ„ to the very Gallowes yf god so wyll not doubtyng but that as he wythin three dayes rose agayne immortal euen so we shal doe in our time that is when the trumpe shall blow and the aungel shal shoots and the sonne of man shal apeare in the cloudes with innumerable sainctes and aungels in maiesty and greate glory then shall the dead arise and we shall be caught vp into the cloudes to mete the lord and so be always wyth him Comfort your selues with these wordes and pray for me for gods sake Ecarcere 19. Nouemb. 1553. Iohn Bradford ¶ To Syr Iames Hales knyght then prisoner in the Counter in Bredestrete THe god of mercy and father of all coÌ„fort plentifully powre out vpon you and in you hys mercy and with his consolations comforte strengthen you to the ende for hys and oure Christes sake Amen Although ryght worshhpfull Syr many causes myght moue me to be contente wyth cryeng for you to your god and my god that he would geue you grace to perseuer well as he hathe righte notably begonne to the great glory of hys name comfort of all such as feare him as lacke of learning of familiarity yea acquaintaunce for I thinke I am vnknowen to you both by face name other such like thinges yet I cannot content my self but presume somethyng to scrible vnto you not that I thinke my scriblyng can do you good but that I might hereby declare my 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and compassion loue and affection I beare towardes your mastership which is contented yea desirous wyth vs poore mysers to confesse Christes gospell in these perilous tymes and dayes of trial Oh Lord god how good art thou which doest thus gleane out grapes I meane children for thy selfe and bretherne for Christ Looke good M. Hales on your vocatioÌ„ not many iudges not many knights not many landed men not many rich meÌ„ welthy to liue as you are hath god choseÌ„ to suffer for his sake as he hath now done you Certainly I dare saye you thinke not so of your selfe as thoughe God were bounde to preferre you or had nede of you but rather attribute this as all good thynges vnto hys free mercy in Christe Agayne I dare say you beyng a wise man iudge of things wisely that is concernyng thys your crosse you iudge of it not after the worlde people which is magnus erroris magister nor after the iudgemeÌ„t of reason and worldlye wisedome whiche is folyshnes to fayth nor after the presente sense to that whiche non videtur gaudij sed molestioe as Paule writeth Heb. 1â— but after the woorde of god which teacheth your crosse to be in respect of your selfe betwene god and you gods chastising and your fathers correction nurtour schole trial pathway to heauen glory and felicitie and the furnace to consume the drosse and mortifye the reliques of olde Adam which yet remaine yea euen the frame house to fashion you like to the dearest Saints of god here yea to Christ the sonne of God that elles whece you myght be like vnto him Nowe concerning your crosse in respect of the world betwene the world you gods word teacheth it to be a testimoniall of Gods truth of his prouidence of his power of his iustice of his wisdome of his anger against sinne of his goodnes of hys iudgement of your fayth and religion so that by it you are to the worlde a witnes of God one of his testes that he is true he ruleth all thinges he is iuste wise and at the length wil iudge the world and caste the wicked into perdition but the godlye he will take and receaue into his eternall habitation I knowe you iudge of things after faythes fetch and the effectes or endes of things and so you see aeternum pondus gloriae 2. Cor. 4. which thys crosse shall bring vnto you dum non spectas ea quae videntur sed ea quae non videntur Let the worldlings waye thinges and loke vpon the affaires of men with their worldly and corporall eyes as did many in subscription of the kinges laste wil and therfore they dyd that for the which they beshrewd theÌ„selues but let vs loke on thinges with other manner of eyes as god bee
heauen Actes 14. Nowe will god make knowen his children When the winde doth not blowe thē can not a man know the wheate from the chaffe but when the blaste cōmeth then flyeth away the chaffe but the wheate remaineth and is so farre frō being hurte that by the wind it is more clensed from the chaffe and knowē to be wheate Golde when it is caste into the fire is the more precious so are gods children by the crosse of affliction Alwayes God begynneth hys iudgement at hys house Christ and the Apostles were in most miserye in the lande of Iewry but yet the whole land smarted for it after so nowe Gods children are fyrst chastised in this world that they should not be dampned with the world for surely great plagues of god hang ouer this realme Ye all know there was neuer more knowledge of god lesse godly liuing true seruīg of god It was counted a folishe thing to serue god truely earnest praier not past vpon Preaching was but a pastime The communion was counted to cōmon Fasting to subdue the fleshe was farre out of vse Almes was almost nothing Malice couetousnes and vncleannes was cōmon euery where with swearing dronkennes idlenes God therfore now is come as you haue heard me preach and because he will not dāpne vs with the worlde he beginneth to punyshe vs as me for my carnal liuing For as for my preaching I am moste certayne it is and was gods truth and I trust to geue my life for it by gods grace but because I liued not the gospel truly but outwardly therefore doth he thus punyshe me naye rather in punishing blesse me And in dede I thanke hym more of this prison then of any parler yea then of any pleasure that euer I had for in it I fynde God my moste sweete good god alwayes The flesh is punished fyrst to admonish vs now hartilye to liue as we professe secondlye to certifye the wicked of their iuste dampnation if they repent not Perchaunce you are infirmed weakened of that which I haue preached because god doth not defēd it as you thinke but suffereth the olde popishe doctrine to come agayne and preuaile but you muste knowe good Mother that God by this doth proue and trye his children and people whether they wil vnfainedly and simplie hang on him his woord So did he with the Israelites bringing them into a deserte after their comming out of Egipt where I meane the wildernes was want of al things in comparison of that which they had in Egipt Christe when he came into thys worlde brought no worldly wealth nor quietnes with him but rather warre the worlde sayeth he shall reioyce Iohn 16. but ye shall mourne weepe but your weping shal be tourned into ioy and therfore happy are they that mourne and weepe for they shal be comforted They are marked then with gods marke in their foreheades and not with the beastes marke I meane the Popes shauen crowne who now with his shauelinges reioyce but woe vnto them for they shall be cast down they shall weepe and mourne The riche Glutton had here hys ioy and Lazarus sorrow but afterwards the time was chaūged The end of carnal ioy is sorrowe Nowe let the whoremonger ioy with the dronckard swearer couetous malicious and blynd bussard Syr Iohn for the Masse wil not bite them neither make them to blushe as preaching woulde Nowe maye they doe what they will come deuills to the Church and go deuils home for no man muste fynde fault And they are glad of thys now haue they theyr hartes desyre as the Sodomites had when Loth was gone but what followed Forsoth when they cryed peace all shall be well then came Gods vengeaunce fyre and brymstone from heauen and burnte vppe euerye mothers childe euen so deare Mother will it doe to our papistes Wherefore feare God sticke to hys woorde though all the worlde woulde swarue from it Dye you muste once and when or howe you can not tell Dye therefore with Christe suffer for seruing hym truly after his word for sure may we be that of al deathes it is most to be desired to dye for gods sake This is the most safe kinde of dying we can not doubt but that we shal go to heauen if we dye for hys names sake And that you shal dye for hys names sake Gods woorde will warrant you if you sticke to that whiche GOD by me hath taughte you You shall see that I speake as I thynke for by Gods grace I will drinke before you of thys cuppe if I bee put to it I doubt not but God wil geue me hys grace strengthen me therunto praye that he wold and that I refuse it not I am at a poynte euen when my Lord God will to come to hym Death nor life pryson nor pleasure I trust in God shal be able to separate me from my Lord God and his Gospel In peace whē no persecution was then were you content and glad to heare me then dyd you beleeue me and wil you not do so now seing I speake that which I trust by gods grace if nede be to verefye with my lyfe Good Mother I write before God to you as I haue preached before hym It is gods truth I haue taughte It is that same infallible word wherof he hath sayd heauen earth shal passe but my word shal not passe The masse and such baggage as the false worshippers of god and enemies of Christes crosse the papistes I say haue brought in againe to poyson the church of God withal dyspleaseth God highly and is abhominable in his syghte Happye maye he bee whiche of conscience suffereth losse of lyfe or goodes in disalowing it Come not at it If God bee God followe hym If the masse bee God let them that will see it heare or be present at it go to the deuil with it What is there as God ordayned Hys supper was ordained to be receaued of vs in the memorial of his death for the confyrmation of our fayth that his body was broken for vs his bloodshed for pardon of oure synnes but in the Masse there is no receauyng but the prieste keepeth all to hym selfe alone Christe sayeth take eate no sayeth the Prieste gape pepe There is a sacrificyng yea killing of Christe agayne as muche as they maye There is Idolatry in worshipping the outwarde signe of breade and wyne there is all in Latten you can not tel what he sayeth To conclude there is nothyng as God ordayned Wherefore my good Mother come not at it Oh wil some say it wyl hynder you if you refuse to come to masse and to do as other do But God will further you be you assured as you shal one day find who hath promysed to thē that suffer hinderance or losse of any thyng in thys world his great blessing here Mathe. 19 and in the world to come lyfe euerlasting You shal be coūted an
to God to bee loth to goe vnto hym when he calleth If my dearest frende of a speciall fauoure and tender good will shoulde sende a horse for me to come vnto hym shoulde I bee displeased thereat yea shoulde I not bee willynge and gladde to come vnto hym And halas yet if death the Lordes palfreye the Lordes messenger shoulde come I thynke I should not bee so readye but be fearefull as you foresee your selfe to be Wherethroughe I doubte not but you take occasion to lament the weakenes of youre fayth and seeing your neede to prepare for remedye agaynste the tyme of nede and to begge of GOD hys ayde strength and comforte agaynste that pintche whiche vndoubtedly you shall haue and fynde hys promyse true that in an acceptable tyme he heard your prayer Suche as I am haue no suche foresighte of death and therefore are lesse presentlye dismayde which wil turne to oure greater griefe in the plunge saue that for my part I hope he will neuer tempte me further then he will make me hable to beare Into hys handes I offer my selfe besechyng hym for hys Christes sake to keepe me soule and bodye to hys kyngdome and glorye and to lead me order me and dispose me as he will in all thynges in all places and for euer that at the length I may come whether I wil that is into hys owne blessed presence and fruition of immortalitie with you and hys Sainctes Amen Thus muche I thoughte good to write vnto you for thys presente to occasion you the lesse to feare death which eyther needeth not or boteth not and therefore euen reasonable men muche more spiritual mē labour to striue against the feare of that which they can by no meanes auoyd But of thys hereafter I trust mouth to mouth to speake with you Now as to my soule I praye and wyshe vnto you my most deare sister in the Lord whose grace guyde you and his mercy embrace you on euery side for euer Amen Yours Iohn Bradford To my good frend in God Maister Humphrey Hales AS to my deare frend I wishe vnto you gētle maister Hales health of soule and bodye to Gods glorye and your euerlasting comforte Amen Although it be commonly spoken and as commonly verifyed that seldome seene is soone forgotten yet it is not so commonly seene or experienced amonges them whose frendship is in God the Father throughe Christ as oures is but in those whose frendship is begonne in respect of some earthly commoditie And therfore leste I should incurre thys suspition at your hands which haue so many wayes deserued the cōtrary I thought it my duty to refresh if it nede refreshing the amitie in God begonne betwixt vs which I doubte not shall continue so long as we liue or elles I would be sorie In consideration whereof both mindefull of my promyse made vnto you and careful for your safetye I haue caused a place to be prouided for your wiues deliueraunce where she may so quietly and safely remaine that for the auoyding of the perilles and daungers of these dayes I see none more conueniente I meane it in Hadley at D. Taylours house where I trust there is no peril to you ward nor to any that feareth or regardeth any perill that thereby maye happen And herein of very loue and good wil I am the more familiar and bolde to admonish you not as distrusting you god forbid for I thynke of you as of a very childe of god but as one carefull for you lest you shoulde at length throughe the common infirmitie of our fraile flesh the manifold offēces geuē of the world do exteriourly as the world doth to saue your sleue and maime your arme for euer as those do which for the sauing of their goods ieoperde goodes of bodye and soule in the peril of eternall dampnation If I suspected any such thing in you gentle maister Hales I then would goe aboute to tell you what this life is a smoke a shadow a vapoure c. what the glorye of thys life is grasse haye yea how full of misery it is and hath more allowes then honye Iob. 9. If I suspected any thyng your cōscience I wold thē set before you on the one part the iudgemēt of Christ which shal be most assuredly the terrible sentēce to thē which ar ashamed to confesse his gospell the eternall woe and myserye whiche they shal be cast into that will not obey his gospel here and on the other parte the most pleasant shoute of the Angell to summon all men to come before oure captaine and brother Christ the collectiō and catchyng of vs vp in the cloudes to mete our maister the eternall ioye and felicitie whiche we shall receaue that here confesse hym here suffer wyth hym here lose any thyng for hys sake If I did in any poynte so much as thynke that you would defyle your body in the Antichristian seruice nowe vsed then would I go about to set forth these thinges briefly spoken more at large But as I sayd before I say agayne because I am as wel perswaded of you my derely beloued brother as of any in your profession state I cānot but pray god to make perfect the good which he hath begun in you and desyre you as you haue begon in god so to go forward As your exāple hath done good to many so cast not al down with a type Terrible is that wo which Christ threatneth to them by whome offences do come You know that the way to saluation is straiter then men make it You knowe the soule is to be considered aboue all thyngs Happy is the losse of that bodily lyfe liberty and goods by the which a spiritual life fredome and felicity is purchased What should it profit a man to winne the whole world and to lose hys own soule Who would desire a two yeres mery lyfe for an eternall sorrowe as these masse gospellers doe which yet are vncertaine of two yeres lyfe and god knoweth what woundes their consciences haue Hard is it to recouer health to the conscience and because I am carefull for it to you wardes as to mine own brother and dere frende therfore I wryte thus We are in gods power and not in the power of our enemies he it is that hath all our heares numbred before he saye Amen no man shall once touche you Into hys handes committe your selfe cast your care on hym haue a care to please hym then he wyll care to kepe you You knowe the othe the Athenienses dyd make pugnabo pro sacris solus cum alijs I wyll fyghte for the defence of religion both alone and with others Which saying of the heathen wil be to our condemnation if for his holy worde gospels sake we dare not aduenture the losse of that he hath lent vs kepeth for vs and can when he will take away from vs or vs from it If worldly men dare ieopard a iointe with god rather
the hart of any creature can conceaue to your eternall ioye Amē Amen Amē The good spirite of god alwayes kepe vs as hys deare children he comfort you as I desyre to be comforted my derely beloued for euermore Amen I breake vp thus abruptly because our common prayer tyme calleth me The peace of Christe dwell in both our hartes for euer Amen ⧠As for the report of W. P. if it be as you heare you must prepare to beare it It is written on heauens dore do wel and heare euill Be content therfore to heare whatsoeuer the ennemye shall imagine to blotte you withal Gods holye spirite alwayes comfort and kepe you Amen Amen This 8. of August by hym that in the Lorde desireth to you as well and as much felicity as to his owne harte Iohn Bradford ¶ To my louyng brethren B. and C. wyth their wyues and whole families I Besech the euerliuing god to geue to you al my good bretherne and systers the comfort of his holy spirite and the continuall feelyng of his mercye in Christe oure Lord nowe and for euer Amen The world my brethern at this presente seemeth to haue the vpperhande iniquity ouerfloweth the truth and veritie seemeth to be suppressed and they whiche take part therwith are vniustly entreated The cause of all this is gods anger and mercy his anger because we haue greuously sinned against him his mercy because he here punisheth vs as a father nurtereth vs. We haue ben vnthākful for his word we haue contemned his kindnes we haue ben negligent in praier we haue ben to carnal couetous licētious c. we haue not hastened to heauēward but rather to helward we were fallen almost into an open cōtempt of god and all his good ordinaunces so that of hys iustice he could not long forbeare but make vs to feele hys anger as now he hath done in taking his word and true seruice from vs and permittyng Sathan to serue vs with Antichristian religion and that in such sorte that if we wil not yelde to it and seme to allow it in dede and outwarde fact our bodies are like to be laide in prison and our goodes geuen we cannot tell to whome This should we looke vppon as a sygne of gods anger procured by our synnes which my good brethern euery one of vs should now cal to our memories often tymes so perticulerly as we can that we might hartely lament them repent them hare them aske earnestly mercye for them and submitte our selues to beare in this lyfe anye kind of punishment which god wil lay vppon vs for them Thus should we do in consideration of gods anger in thys time Now his mercy in this time of wrath is sene should be sene of vs my derely beloued in this the god doth vouchsafe to punish vs in this present life If he should not haue punished vs do not ye thinke that we would haue continuin the euils we were in Yea verely we would haue ben worse and haue gone forwards in hardning our harts by impenitency negligence towardes God true godlines then yf death had come should not we haue perished bothe soule and bodye into eternall fyre and perdition Alas what misery should we haue fallen into if god shoulde haue suffered vs to haue gone forward in our euils No greater a signe of damnation there is then to lye in euill synne vnpunished of god as nowe the papists my derely beloued are cast into Iezabels bed of security Apoc. 3 Hebr. 12 which of all plagues is the most greuous plague that can be They are bastardes and not sonnes for they are not vnder Gods rodde of correction A great mercy it is therfore that god dothe punishe vs for yf he loued vs not he wuld not punish vs. Now doth he chastice vs that we shuld not be damned with the world 1. Cor. 2 Now doth he nurture vs because he fauoureth vs. Now may we thynke our selues to be Gods householde and children 1. pet 4 because he beginneth his chastising at vs. Nowe calleth he vs to remēber our synnes past Wherfore That we myght repent and and aske mercy And why That he might forgeue vs pardon vs iustify vs and make vs his chyldren and so begin to make vs here lyke vnto Christ Rom. 8 that we myght bee like vnto hym elsewhere euen in heauen where already we are set by faith with Christe and at hys commyng in verye dede shall enioye his presence when our synfull and vile bodies shal be made lyke to christes glorious body phil 3. accordyng to the power whereby he is able to make al thynges subiect to hymselfe Therfore my brethren let vs in respect hereof not lament but laude god not be sory but be mercy not wepe but reioyce and be glad that god doth vouchsafe to offer vs hys crosse Rom. 8 2. Timo. 3. Math. 10. therby to come to him to endles ioyes and comforts For if we suffer we shall raigne If we confesse hym before men he wil confesse vs before hys father in heauen If we be not ashamed of his Gospell nowe he wyll not bee ashamed of vs in the last day Math. 5. 1. pet 4 1. pet 5 but wyl be glorifyed in vs crownyng vs with crownes of glory and endeles felicity For blessed are they that suffer persecutiō for rightuousnes sake for their is the kingdom of heauē Be glad sayth Peter for the spirit of God resteth vpō you After that ye are a litle while afflicted god will comfort strengthen confyrme you And therfore my good bretherne be not discouraged for crosse for prison or losse of goodes for the confession of Christes gospell and truth whiche ye haue beleued and lyuely was taught emongs you in the days of our late good most holy prince Kyng Edwarde This is most certayne if ye lose any thyng for Christes sake Math. 19 and for contemnyng the Antichristian seruice set vp agayne amonge vs as ye for youre partes euen in prison shall find gods greate and riche mercies farre passing all worldly wealth so shall your wyues children in thys present lyfe fynd and feele gods prouidēce more plentifully then tounge can tell for he wyl shew merciful kindnes on thousāds of them that loue him The good mans sede shal not go a begging his bread Ye are good mē so many as suffer for christes sake Psalm 27 I trust ye all my dearely beloued wil cōsider this geare with your selues and in the crosse see gods mercy which is more swete and more to bee set by then life it self much more thē then any mucke or pelfe of thys world Rom. 8. This mercy of god should make you merye and chearefull for the afflictions of this lyfe are not to bee cōpared to the ioyes of the lyfe prepared for you Ye know the way to heauen is not the wyde way of the world which wyndeth to the deuil but it is a strayt
losse of this life which in dede is neuer founde til it be so loste excepte the graine of wheate fal and be dead it remaineth fruitles You know how that he which was rapte into the third heauen did know what he wrote doth say that as the corne liueth not excepte it bee dead and cast into the earth so truly our bodyes And therefore the crosse should so litle feare vs that euen death it selfe shold altogether be desired of vs as the taylour which putteth of our ragges and arayeth vs with the royall robes of immortalitie incorruptioÌ„ and glory Great shame it should be for vs that al the whole creatures of God should desire yea grone in their kinde for our libertie Rom. 8. we our selues to loth it as doubtles we do if for the crosse yea for death it self we with ioye swallow not vp all sorrow that myght let vs from followyng the Lordes calling and obeying the lords prouidence wherby doubtles all crosses and death it selfe doth come and not by hap or chauÌ„ce In consideratioÌ„ wherof righte deare Mother in that this prouidence stretcheth it self so vnto vs and for vs that euen the heares of our heads are numbred with GOD not one of them to fall to oure hurt surely we declare our selues very faint in faith yf we receiue not such comfort that we can willinglye offer oure selues to the Lord and cast our whole care vpon his backe honouring him wyth this honour that he is euer wyll be carefull for vs and all we haue as for hys deare chyldren Be therfore of good chere euen in the myddest of these miseries be thankefull to the Lorde and prepare your selfe for a further trial which if god send you as I hope so do you beleue that god therin will helpe and comfort you and make you able to beare whatsoeuer shall happen And thus much hauyng this oportunitie I thoughte good to wryte praying god our father to recompence into your bosome all the good that euer you haue done to me especially and to many others bothe in this tyme of trouble and alwaies heretofore Your owne in the Lorde Iohn Bradford To Maystres VVylkinson THe Lorde of mercye in Christe his sonne our Sauiour and only comforter be with you all now and for euer Amen Although preseÌ„tly I haue litle tyme by reason of this bringers short departing lesse occasioÌ„ of necessary mater to write vnto you yet in that it hath pleased god to offer me more liberty to write theÌ„ before I had as this reader can report I thought good to signifye vnto you the same with the acknowledging of the receipt of your tokens for the which I neither can nor wil go about to flatter you with thankes in that I know you loke for none at myne hands god beyng the cause and his word the ende wherfore you dyd so to him I know you woulde haue me thankefull and I beseche you praye that I may so bee and not onelye thankefull for my selfe and his benefites towardes me but also thankefull for you to whome God hath geuen to feare his name and loue his truth The which giftes farre passe the riches of the world for they shal perish and be left we know not vnto whoÌ„ but these gifts of god as they last for euer so they make happy the possessours of the same Go to therfore and pray god to encrease them of hys goodnes as of his mercy he hath beguÌ„ne theÌ„ in you in dede so he wyll For to whome he geueth the earnest of wyllyng to the same he will geue the grace of continuyng yf we reiect not the same as we do when we bee double harred â—4 Reg. 17. and parte our feare and loue as dyd the Samaritanes which feared god and their Adramelech loued gods religion and their olde countrey customes c. If this doublenes come on vs that we feare more the worlde and couple it wyth the feare of God yf we loue the mucke of this molde and couple it wyth the loue of Gods religion then parte we stake then marre we the markette then the spiryte of GOD wyll departe Act. 5. then playe we as Ananias and Saphyra dydde and so sooner or later shall fall to perdition wyth them But as I sayde I thynke no suche thynge of you I thynke of you as of Gods deare chyldren whose hartes are whole wyth the Lorde And therefore I wryte not thys as thoughe you were suche but because it is Gods goodnes you bee not suche because Sathan woulde haue you suche and because manye that were as you nowe bee are suche Therefore to make you as thankeful so carefull to continue but yet so that youre care bee caste all on the Lorde is the onelye cause I write thys and woulde wryte more but that the brynger can not carye And therfore hastely and abruptlye I make an ende besechynge almyghty GOD in our redemer Iesus Christ to bee wyth you and wyth hys holye spiryte comforte you all and helpe my good Syster Maistres W. to bee an happye and a good mother of the chylde of whiche as yet I heare God hathe not deliuered her By your owne to vse in the Lorde for euer Iohn Bradford ¶ To my deare Brother in the Lorde Mayster Rychard Hopkyns and hys wyfe dwellyng in Couentrye and other my faythfull bretherne and Systers professours of gods holye Gospel there and theraboutes THe peace whiche Christe lefte to hys churche and to euerye true member of the same Iohn 14. Rom. 8 the holye spirite the guide of Gods chyldren so engrafte in youre harte and in the harte of youre good wyfe and of all my good bretherne and systers aboute you that vnfaynedlye ye maye in respecte thereof contempne all worldlye peace whyche is contrarye to that peace that I speake of and dryueth it vtterlye oute of the hartes of all those whiche woulde patche them both together For we cannot serue two maisters Math. 6 no man can serue GOD and mammon Christes peace cannot bee kepte with this worldes peace God therfore of hys mercy doe I beseche to geue vnto you his peace whiche passeth all vnderstandyng and so kepe your hartes and mynds phil 4. that they may be pure habitacles and mansions for the holye spirite yea for the blessed trinitie Iohn 14 who hathe promised to come and dwell in all them that loue Chryste and keepe hys sayenges My dearely beloued the tyme is nowe come wherein tryall is made of men that haue professed to loue Chryste and woulde haue beene counted kepers of hys testimonyes But weale awaye the tenthe person perseuereth not the more parte doe parte stakes wythe the papistes and protestantes so that they are become maungye Mongrelles to the infectynge of all that company wyth them and to theyr no smale peryll For they pretend outwardly popery The Mongrels excuse goyng to Masse with the papistes tarying with them personallye at theyr Antichristian and
two thynges one the cause on our behalfe the other what wil be the sequel on straungers For the first yf we be not blynd we cannot but well see that our sinnes are the cause of all this misery our synnes I saye whiche I woulde that euerye one of vs woulde applye to our selues after the example of Ionas and Dauid turnyng ouer the wallet that other mens offences myghte lye behynde and our own before Not that I would excuse other men which exteriorly haue walked much more grossely then manye of you haue done but that I woulde prouoke you all as my selfe to more harty repentaunce and prayer Let vs more more encrease to know and lament our doubtyng of God of hys presence power anger mercy c. Let vs better feele and hate our selfe loue securitie negligence vnthankefulnes vnbeliefe impatience c. and then doubteles the crosse shall be lesse carefull yea it shall be comfortable and Christ most deare and pleasaunt death then shall be desired as the dispatcher of vs out of all misery and entraunce into eternall felicity ioy vnspeakable the which is so much the more longed for by howe muche we feele in dede the Serpentes byttes wherwyth he woundeth our heeles that is our outward Adam and senses If we had I say a liuely and true feelyng of his poyson we could not but as reioyce ouer our Captayn that hath brused hys head so be desirous to follow hys example that is to geue oure lyues wyth hym and for hym Coloss 1 and so to fyll vp hys passions that he myght conquere and ouercome in vs and by vs to his glory and comfort of hys chyldren Now the second I meane the sequell or that whyche wil follow on the straungers my derely beloued let vs wel loke vpon For if so be that god iustly do thus geue to Sathan and hys sede to vexe and molest Christe and hys penitente people oh what and how iustly maye he and wyll he geue to Sathan to intreate the rechlesse and impenitent synners If iudgement beginne thus at gods house what wil follow on them that be wythout if they repent not Certainly for them is reserued the dregges of gods cuppe that is Brymstone fyre and tempest intollerable Nowe are they vnwilling to drynke of gods cuppe of afflictions which he offreth common with hys sonne Christ our Lord lest they shoulde lose theyr pygges wyth the Gergesites Math. 8. They are vnwillyng to come into the waye that bryngeth to heauen euen afflictions they in their hartes crye let vs caste his yoke from vs they walke two wayes that is they seeke to serue god and Mammon which is vnpossible They wil not come nighe the straite waye that bryngeth to lyfe they open their eyes to beholde presente thynges onelye they iudge of religion after reasō and not after gods word they follow the more part and not the better they professe God wyth their mouthes but in their hartes they deny hym or elles they woulde sanctifye hym by seruing him more then men they part stake wyth GGD whych woulde haue al geuing part to the world to the Romishe route and Antichristian Idolatry now set abroad emongest vs publikely they will haue Christ but none of his crosse which will not be they wil be counted to lyue godly in Christe but yet they wil suffer no persecutiō they loue thys world wher through the loue of god is driuen forth of them they sauer those things that be of men and not that be of god Summa they loue god in their lippes ▪ but in their harts yea and in their dedes deny him aswel by not repenting their euils past as by continuing in euil stil by doyng as the world the flesh and the deuil willeth yet stil perchaunce they wil praye or rather prate thy wyll be done in earth which is generally that euery one shuld take vp his crosse and follow christ But this is a hard sermō who is able to abide it Therfore Christ must be praied to depart lest al their pigges be drowned The deuil shal haue his dwelling again in thēselues rather thē in their pigges therfore to the deuil shal they go dwel with him in eternal perdiciō dānation euē in hel fier a torment endles aboue al cogitations incomprehensible if they repent not Wherfore by thē my derely beloued be admonished to remēber your professiō how that in Baptisme you made a solēpne vow to renoūce the deuil the world c. You promised to fight vnder christes stāderd You learned christs crosse afore you begun with A. B. C. Go to thē pay your vow to the lord fyght lyke men and valiant men vnder Christes standerde take vp your crosse and follow your maister as your brethern M. Hoper Rogers Tailor and Saūders haue done and as now your bretherne M. Cranmer Latymer Rydley Farror Bradforde Hawkes c. be redy to do The Ise is broken before you therfore be not afraide but be content to dye for the lord You haue no cause to wauer or doubte of the doctryne thus declared by the bloud of the pastours Remember that Chryste sayeth he that wyll saue hys lyfe shall lose it And what shoulde it profite you to wynne the whole worlde much lesse a little quietnes your goodes c. and to lose your owne soules Render to the Lorde that he hath lent you by such meanes as he would haue you render it and not as you woulde Forgette not Christes disciples must denye themselues as well concernyng their wyl as concernyng their wisedome Haue in mynde that as it is no small mercy to beleue in the Lord so it is no smal kindnes of God towardes you to suffer any thyng muche more death for the Lord. If they be blessed that dye in the Lorde howe shall they be that dye for the Lorde Oh what a blessyng is it to haue death due for our synnes diuerted into a demonstration and testification of the lordes truth Oh that we had a little of Moses faith to loke vpon the ende of the crosse to loke vpon the rewarde to see continuallye wyth Christe and hys people greater ryches then the ryches of Egipt Oh let vs pray that god would open our eyes to see hys hyd Manna heauenlye Ierusalem the congregation of the first borne the melodye of the sainctes the tabernacle of God dwellyng wyth men then should we runne and become violent men and so take the kyngdome of heauen as it were by force God oure father geue vs for hys Christes sake to see a little what and howe great ioye he hath prepared for vs he hathe called vs vnto and most assuredlye geueth vs for hys owne goodnes and truthes sake Amen My derely beloued repent bee sober watch in prayer be obediēt after your vocations shewe your obedience to the hygher powers in all thyngs that are not agaynst gods worde therein acknowledge the soueraigne power of the Lorde howbeit so
lament mourne syghe sobbe wepe and haue your wyldernes to wander in your purgatory and euen hell to purge and burne vp your synnes Ye are not of them which crye let vs eate and drynke for to morowe we shal die Ye are not of that nōber which say they haue made a couenaunt with death and hel for hurting of them Esay 28 Mal. 3. Apo. 3. Ezech. 8. Psa 73. Math. 4. Dani. 3. Ye are not of thē which take it for a vaine thing to serue the lorde Ye are not of thē which are lulled and rocked a slepe in Iesabels bed a bed of securitie Ye are not of the number of thē which say tushe god is in heauen and seeth vs not nor much passeth what we doe Ye are not of the number of thē which wil fall downe for the mucke of the world to worshyppe the Feende or for displeasing of men to worshippe the golden mage Math. 8. 1 Mach. 1.2 Exod. 13 3. Reg. 22. Rom. 6.7 Coloss 3 Finallye yeare not of the number of them which set more by your pygges then by Christ which for ease and rest in this lyfe wil say and doe as Antiochus byddeth you do or say and wil follow the multitude to do euil with Zedechias and the 300. false Prophets yea Achab Iesabel and the whole courte and countrey But ye are of the number of thē which are dead alredy or at least be in dyeng daily to your selues to this world Ye are of them which haue made a couenaūt wyth god to forsake your selues in thys worlde and Sathan also Ye are of thē which say Luk. 12. Mala. 3. nay the lord hath al things written in hys memoriall booke for suche as feare hym and remember hys name Luke 12. psa 33.14.101 Ye are of thē which haue their loines girded about and their lyghtes burning in their hands like vnto men that wayte for their lordes cōming Ye are in the number of them that say the lord loketh downe from heauen and beholdeth the chyldren of men from the habitation of his dwelling he considereth al them that dwell vpon the earthe Luke 3. Dan. 3. 1. pet 2. Psal i20 i. Mac. 2 Math. 7 3. Reg. 22. Ye are of the number of them whiche will worshyp the only lord god and wyl not worshyp the workes of mans handes though the ouen burne neuer so hote Ye are in the nūber of them to whom Christ is precious deare which cry out rather because your habitation is prolonged here as Dauyd did Ye are of them whiche follow Mathathias and the godly Iewes which know the way to lyfe to be a straite way and few to go through it whiche wyll not stycke to follow poore Micheas although he be racked and cast into pryson hauing the Sunne Moone seuen Starres and all agaynste hym Thus therfore dearely beloued remember fyrste that as I sayde ye are not of thys worlde that Sathan is not your Captayne your ioye and Paradyse is not here your companions are not the multitude of worldlings and such as seke to please men and liue here at ease in the seruice of Satan phil 3. Heb. 13 But ye are of an other world Christ is your Captayne your ioy is in heauē where your cōuersation is your companions are the fathers Patriarkes Prophetes Apostles Martyrs Virgins confessors and the deare sainctes of God Apo. 7 Iob. 78.14 Psalm 9. Iames. 4 whych follow the Lambe whether soeuer he goeth dippyng their garments in hys blood knowyng this lyfe and world to be full of euill a warfare a smoke a shadow a vapour and as replenished so enuironed wyth all kynde of myseries This is the fyrst thyng which I would haue you often and diligently wyth your selues to consider to muse wel vpon namely what ye be and where ye be Nowe secondlye forgette not to call to mynde that ye oughte not to thynke it anye straunge thyng if miserye trouble aduersitie persecution and displeasure come vpon you 1. pet 4 Iohn 14. 1. pet 5 For howe can it otherwyst bee but that trouble and persecution muste come vppon you Canne the world loue you which are none of hys Can worldlye men regard you which are your chiefe enemies souldiours Can Satan suffer you to be in rest Math. 7. which wyl do no homage vnto hym Can this way be chosen of any that make it so narrow and straite as they doe Wyll ye looke to trauayle and to haue no fowle way or rayne Wyll shypmen shrynke or saylers on the sea geue ouer if stormes aryse Doe they not loke for suche And dearely beloued did not we enter into gods shippe and Arke of Baptssme at the fyrst 1. pet 4 Wyll ye thē counte it straunge if perilles come or tempestes blowe Are not ye trauailing to your heauēly City of Ierusalē where is all ioye and felicitie and wsll ye now tary by the way for stormes or showers Iohn 9 Mat. 25 The Marte and faier wil then be past the night wil so come vpon you that ye cannot trauayle the dore wyll be sparde and the bryde will be at supper Therfore away wyth daintye nicenesse Wyll ye thynke the father of heauen wyll deale more gently wyth you in thys age thē he hath done wyth others hys dearest frends in other ages What way Gen. 4 6.7.8.9 c. yea what stormes and tempests what troubles and disquietnes founde Abell Noe Abraham Isaac Iacob good Ioseph Which of these had so fayre a lyfe and resteful tymes as we haue had Exod. 2.3.4.5 c Moyses Aaron Samuell Dauyd the kyng and all the good kynges Priestes Prophetes in the olde testament at one tyme or other if not through oute theyr lyfe dyd fele a thousand partes more misery then we haue felte hetherto As for the new Testament Lord god how great was the affliction of Marye of Iosephe of Zacharye of Elizabeth of Iohn Baptiste of all the Apostles and Euaungelistes Math. ii yea of Iesus Christ our Lord the deare sonne and dearlyng of God And since the time of the Apostles Euseb eccl hist Tripart hist howe many and great are the number of Martyrs Confessours and such as haue suffered the sheeding of their bloode in this life rather then they would be stayed in their iourney or lodge in anye of Sathans Innes leste the stormes or windes whiche fell in their trauailinges myght haue touched them And dearelye beloued let vs thinke what we are and howe farre vnmeete to be matched with these with whom yet we looke to be placed in heauen Psa 49 But with what face can we looke for thys that are so fearefull vnwilling and arsward to leaue that which will we nyll we we muste leaue and that so shortly as we know not the time when Where is oure abrenouncing and forsaking of the worlde and the fleshe whiche we solemnely toke vpon vs in baptisme Ah shamelesse cowardes that we bee
corruption And let vs consider these thinges so that we wholy may bende our selues to put away all the oldenes of our flesh whence in dede corruption and death doth come and that we may prouoke our selues to the newnes of the spirite and the lyfe of Christe wherin is all incorruption and the true taste of the resurrection for to thys ende the holy ghost dyd wryte this by the Apostle That therfore this spirit might lead vs hereunto let vs pray then we shall vnderstand this place of Paule wyth profit If perchaunce it wyll moue you that the Apostle speaketh not of thys delyueraunce of the creature from corruption in anye other place but here neither anye other holye wryter I would you would thynke that the misery of the restauration of Israel also of Antichrist is not expounded but in the Apostels writyngs and that but in one place yea the manner of our resurrection is not written but in .ij. places We oughte to knowe that they are the wordes of the Lorde what soeuer the Apostle hathe lefte to vs written Again the simplicity of this place Rom. 8 is plaine And thus my dearely beloued I haue written to you so muche as I thynke is sufficient about thys mater and therfore nede not to tary herein any longer or to spende anye more tyme about the answeryng of that which is but curiositye God our father geue vs nowe hys holye spirite to leade vs into thys and all other necessary truth in such sort that we may haue a liuely feelyng of eternall lyfe begonne in vs that we may become first new and so loke for new heauen and earthe wherin ryghteousnes dwelleth which God impute to vs and begynne in vs for hys Christes sake Amen Amen Your owne for euer in the Lorde Iohn Bradford ⧠Certayne letters of mayster Thomas Whyttel a godlye and a faythefull Minyster and preacher of gods worde who after he had relented by the tyrannye and cruel dealyng of Bonner returned agayne wyth greate constancye and stoode to the defence of the truthe vnto the fyre The .12 of Ianuary In the yeare of our Lorde 1556. To my beloued frende and faythfull Brother in Christe Iohn Careles prysoner in the Kynges Benche THe peace of god in Christ be wyth you continually dearely beloued brother in Christe with the assistaunce of gods grace and holye spirite to the workyng and performyng of those thynges which may comforte and edifye hys churche as ye daily do to the glorye of hys name and the increase of your ioy and comforte of soule in thys lyfe and also your rewarde in heauen wyth Christ our captayn whose faythful souldiour you are in the lyfe to come Amen I haue greatly reioyced my deare hart with thankes to god for you synce I haue heard of your fayth and loue towards god and hys saintes wyth a most godly ardent zeale to the verity of Christes doctrine and religiō which I haue heard by the reporte of many but specially by the declaryng of that valiaunt captaine in Christes church that stout chāpion in gods cause that spectacle to the world I meane our good brother Philpot who now lyeth vnder the aultare swetely enioyeth the promysed rewarde And speciallye I my condemned fellowes geue thankes to God for your louyng and comfortable letter in the depenes of our trouble after the fleshe sente vnto vs to the consolation of vs al but most specially to me most sinfull myser on mine owne behalfe but happy I hope through godslouing kindnes in Christ shewed vnto me who suffred me to fainte and fayle through humayne infirmity by the workyng of the Archenemye in hys sworne souldiours the byshops and priestes In whome so liuely appeareth the verye visage and shape of Satan that a man if it wer not preiudice to gods word might wel affirme them to be Deuils incarnate as I by experiēce do speake Wherfore who so shal for consciēce matters come into their hands had nede of the wilines of the Serpent to saue hys head though it be with the woundyng of his body and to take diligent hede how he consenteth to theyr wycked writyngs or setteth hys hand to their couenaūtes Sore dyd they assault me and craftelye tempte me to theyr wycked wayes or at least to a denegation of my faythe and true opinions though it were but by colour and dissimulation and alas somethyng they dyd preuayle Not that I any thyng at all lyked their opinions and false papisticall religion or els doubted of the truth wherin I stand but only the infirmity of the flesh begyled me desiryng lyberty by an vnlawfull meanes God lay it not to my charge at that day so I desire you hartely to pray How be it vncertain I am whether more profite or disprofite came therby profit to me in that god suffred Satan to buffit me by his foresayd ministers of myschiefe shewyng me mine infirmitye that I should not boste nor reioyce in my selfe but only in the Lord. Who when he had led me to hel in my conscience through the respect of hys fearefull iudgementes agaynste me for my fearefulnes mistrust and crafty clokyng in suche spirituall and weighty matters in the whiche myne agony distresse I found thys old verse true Non patitur ludum fama fides oculus yet he left me not there but brought me from thence againe to the magnifieng of hys name suspectyng of fleshe and bloud and cōsolation of myne own soule also that I myght fele the disprofite in offending the congregatiō of god which peraduenture will rather adiudge my fal to come of doutfulnes in my doctrine religion thē of humain imbecillity Wel of the importune burdē of a troubled consciēce for denying or dissembling the knowē verity I by experience could saye very much more which perhaps I wil declare by writyng to the warnyng of other if god graunt time for now am I my fellowes redy to go hēce euen for Christes cause Gods name be praysed who hathe hetherto called vs. Pray I pray you that we may end our course wyth ioy and at your appointed tyme you shal come after But as the Lord hath kepte you so wyll he preserue your lyfe styll to the intent you should labour as you do to appease and conuince these vngodly contentions and controuersies which now do to muche raigne brauwlyng about termes to no edification GOD is dishonoured the church disquieted and occasion to speake euyll of the Gospel ministred to our aduersaries But such is the subtilty of Sathan that whom he cannot wynne with grosse idolatrye in open religion them he seketh to corrupt and deceyue in opinions in a priuate profession But here I wyl abrutply leaue least wyth my rudenes and symplicity I shuld be tedious to you desiring you my louyng brother if it shal not seme greuous vnto you to wryte vnto me and my fellowes yet once agayne if you may haue leasure and we tyme to the same and sende me worde
wyth you Amen This worlde I do forsake To Christ I me betake And for hys gospell sake Patiently death I take My body to the dust Now to returne it must My soule I know ful wel With my god it shal dwel Thomas Whittell ⧠Letters of Maister Robert Samuell a godly and learned Minister and preacher of Gods worde burnte at Ipsewiche for the faythfull testimony of the same the 18. of Auguste 1555. of whose straunge tormentes and vnmercifull handlyng c reade in the booke of Martyrs Fol. 1270. An exhortation to the patient sufferyng of afflictions for Christes cause and the verity of hys Gospell Eccle. 9. A Man knoweth not hys tyme but as the fishe is taken wyth the angle and as the byrdes are caught with the snare euen so are men caughte and taken in the perilous time when it commeth vppon them The tyme commeth the daye draweth nere Ezechi 7. Better it were to dye as the preacher sayth Eccl. 4 then to lyue and see the myserable workes which are done vnder the Sunne such so dayne and straunge mutations such wofull hainous and lamentable deuisions so fast approcheth and none or verye fewe thoroughly repenteth Esay 1. Alas for this synful nation a people of great iniquitye and seede of vngraciousnes corruptyng their wayes They haue forsaken the lord they haue prouoked the holy one of Israell to anger and are gone backward Who now liueth not in such security and rest as thoughe al daungers were cleane ouerpast Who nowe blyndeth and buffeteth not christ with seest me and seest me not Yea who liueth not now in such felicity worldly pleasures and ioies wholy seeking the world prouidyng and craftely shyftyng for the earthly clodde and all carnall appetites as thoughe synne were cleane forgotten ouerthrowen and deuoured Lyke hoggyshe gaddernes nowe are we more afrayde and ashamed of Christ our Messias Math. 8 fearyng the losse of our fylthy pygges I meane our transitory goods and disquieting of our synfull and mortall bodies in thys short vncertayn and miserable lyfe thē of a legion of Deuyls seducyng and driuyng vs from hearing reading Marke 5. and beleuing Christ gods eternall sonne and hys holy word the power to saue our soules vnto vanities lyes and fables Rom. 10. and to this bewitchyng world Oh perilous aboundaunce of goodes to much saturity of meates wealth quietnes Genes 19. which destroied wyth so many soules those goodly Cities Sodome and Gomorre Ieroboam so long as he was but a poore man not yet auaunced to hys dignitie liued in the lawes of god without reprehension but brought once to welth and prosperous estate he became a wycked and most shamefull Idolatour And what made the couetous young man so loth to follow Christ Math. 19. when he was bydden to forsake but worldly wealth which he then enioyed Wo be vnto these false elusions of the world baites of perdition hokes of the Deuill which haue so shamefully deceyued and seduced ful many from the ryght pathe vnto the Lord into the high wais of confusion and perpetuall perdition We myght now worthely deare christians lamente and bewaile our heauye state miserable condition and sorowful chaunce yea I say we myght wel accuse our selues and with Iob curse these our troublous wicked Iob. 3. and bloody last days of thys world were it not that we both see and beleue and fynde in gods sacred booke Esay 10 that a remnaūt god hath in al ages reserued I meane the faythfull as many as haue bene from the beginnyng of the world exercised whetted and pullished with diuers afflictions troubles tossings cast and dashed against all perils and daūgers as the very drosse and outcastes of the earth and yet wyll in no wyse halte betwene god and Baal 1. Cor. 4 for God vtterly abhorreth two men in one he cannot away wyth thē that are betwene both but casteth thē away as a filthy vomite Apoca. 3. Christ wil not parte spoile with his mortal enemy the deuil he wil haue all or lose all he wil not permit the Deuil to haue the seruice of the body and he to stand contented with the harte and mynd but he wil be glorified bothe in your bodyes and in your spirites which are hys as S. Paule sayeth 1. Cor. 6 For he hath made all bought all and dearely payde for all As S. Peter saith 1. pet 1. wyth hys owne immaculate body hathe he cleane discharged your bodies from sinne death and hel and wyth hys most precious blood payd your raunsome full pryce once for all and for euer Nowe what harme I pray you or what losse sustayne you by this Why are you O vayne men more afraide of Iesus your gentle Sauiour and his gospel of saluation then of a legion of cruel deuils goyng about wyth false delusions vtterlye to destroye you both bodies and soules Thynke you to be more sure then vnder your captayne Christe Doe you promise your selues to be more quiete in Sathans seruice then in Christes religion Esteme you more these trāsitory and pernicious pleasures then god and all hys heauenly treasures Oh palpable darkenes horrible madnes and wilful blyndnes without comparison to much to be suffred any longer We see wyll not see we know and wyll not knowe yea we smarte wyl not fele that our own conscience wel knoweth Oh miserable and brayneles soules which would for folish pleaiures and slippery wealth lose the royall kyngdome and permanent ioyes of god wyth the euerlastyng glory which he hath prepared for them that truly loue hym and renoūce the worlde 2. Cor. 4 The chyldren of the worlde lyue in pleasure and wealthe and the Deuyll who is theyr GOD and Prynce of thys worlde kepeth theyr wealthe whyche is proper vnto them and letteth them enioye it But let vs whiche bee of Christe Ioh. 12 seeke and enquyre for heauenlye thynges whiche by gods promyse and mercye in Christ shal be peculier vnto vs. Let I say the Cretians epicures and such other beastly Belials and carnall people passe for thynges that be pleasaunt for the body and do appertayne to thys transitory lyfe yet shall they once as the kinglye Prophet sayth runne about the Citye of god to fro howlyng lyke dogges Psalm 58. desiring one scrappe of the ioyes of gods elect Luk. 16 but al to late as the rich glutton Let vs therfore passe for those thynges that do perteyne to the spirit and be celestial Coloss 3 Heb. 13 Iob. 7. We must be here saith Paule not as inhabitours and home dwellers but as straungers not as straungers onely but after the mynde of Iob as paynefull souldiours appoynted of our gouernour to fyght agaynst the gouernour of darknes of this world agaynst spiritual craftines in heauenly thynges The tyme is come we must to it Ephesi 5 1. pet 4 the iudgemēt must begin first at the house of god Began they not first wyth the
excluded for fayth wholy taketh place not flesh nor the carnal imaginatioÌ„s of our grosse fleshly and vnreuerent eatyng after the maner of our bodely foode which profiteth nothyng at all as Christ witnesseth Ioan. 6 but with a sorowfull wouÌ„ded conscience an hungrye and thirstie soule a pure faythful mynde do fullie embrace behold and feede loke vpon that most glorious body of Christe in heauen at the ryghte hand of god the father very God and very man which was crucifyed slaine his bloodshed for our sinnes there now making intercession offring geuing his holy body for me Rom. 8. Heb. 9 yea my body my raunsome my full pryce satisfaction my Christ and al that euer he hath and by thys spirituall and faythfull eating of thys liuely and heauenly bread I fele the most swete sappe tast of the fruites Roma 5. benefites vnspeakeable ioyes of Christes death passion fully disgested into the bowells of my soule For my minde is quieted froÌ„ al wordly aduersities tormoylinges and troubles my conscience is pacified froÌ„ sinne death hel daÌ„pnation my soule is ful hath euen enough wil no more for al things are but losse vyle phil 3 dunge and drosse vaine vanitie for the excellent knowledge sake of Christ Iesu my Lord and Sauiour Thus nowe is Christes flesh my very meate in dede Iohn 6. Ephesi 5 Galat. 2. his bloode my verye drinke in dede I am become flesh of his flesh bone of his bones Now I liue yet not I but Christ liueth in me yea I dwell in hym and he in me for through fayth in Christ and for Christes sake we are one that is of one consent mynd and felowship with the father the sonne and the holy ghost Ioan. 17. Thus am I assured and fully persuaded and on this rocke haue I builded by Gods grace my dwelling resting place for body and soule life and death And thus I commit my cause vnto Christ the righteous and iuste iudge who will an other day iudge these debates and controuersyes whom I humblye beseche to caste hys tender and merciful eies vpon the afflicted and ruinous churches and shortlye to reduce them into a godlye and perpetuall concorde Amen Thus doe I beleue and this is my fayth and my vnderstanding in Christe my Sauiour and his true and holy religion And this who so euer is ashamed to do Mar. 8. among this adoulterous and sinneful generation of hym shall the sonne of man be ashamed when he commeth in the glory of his father with the holy Angels Robert Samuell ⧠Letters of Maister Iohn Hullyer a true pastour and a faythfull minister in Gods Church who for the confyrmation of that doctrine which he had most faythfully professed and taught gaue hys bodye to bee burnte at Cambrige the .16 daye of Aprill Anno. 1556. A letter written to the Christian congregation exhorting them constantly and faythfully to abyde in the doctryne of the Lorde IT standeth nowe moste in hande O deare Christians all them that looke to be accounted to be of Christes flocke at that greate and terrible daye when a seperation shall be made of that sorte that shall bee receaued from the other which shall be refused faythfully in thys tyme of greate afflictions to heare oure Maister Chrisâ—es voyce the only true shepeheard of our soules which sayth Matth. 24. whosoeuer shal endure to the end shal be safe For eueÌ„ now is that great trouble in hand as here in England we may wel say that our Sauiour Christ spake of so long before which should followe the true and syncere preachyng of hys Gospell Therfore in thys tyme we muste needes eyther make that we be hys faythfull souldiours and continue in hys battell vnto the ende puttyng on the armour of GOD Ephesi 6. 1. Thess 5. the buckler of fayth the brest plate of loue the helmette of hope and saluation and the sworde of hys holy worde whiche we haue hearde plentifullye wyth all instance of supplication and prayer or elles if we do not worke and laboure wyth these we are Apostataes and false souldiours shrynkyng moste vnthankefullye from our gracious and soueraigne Lord and Captayne Christe and leanyng to Beliall For Luk. 14 as he sayth playnlye who soeuer beareth not his crosse and followe hym he can not be hys Dysciple And no man can serue .ii. Math. 6. Maisters for eyther he muste hate the one and loue the other or elles he shall leane to the one and despyse the other The which thinge the faythfull Prophette Helias signifyed 3. ReguÌ„ 18 when he came to the people and sayde whye halte ye betwene .ii. opinions If the Lorde be GOD follow hym or if Baall bee he then followe hym Nowe let vs not thynke but that the same was recorded in wryting for oure instruction whom the endes of the worlde are come vppon Roman 15 as the Apostle Sainct Paule sayeth what so euer thynges are written aforehande they are written for oure learnyng If Christe be that onely good and true shepeheard that gaue hys lyfe for vs then let vs that beare hys marke and haue our consciences sprinckled wyth hys bloode followe altogether for oure saluation hys heauenlye voyce and calling according to our profession and fyrste promyse But if we shall not so do certaynely say what we can although we beare the name of Christ yet we bee none of hys shepe in deede for he sayth very manifestlie my shepe heare my voyce and followe me Iohn 10 a straunger they wyll not followe but will flee from hym for they know not the voyce of a straunger Therefore let euerye man take good hede in these perillous dayes whereof we haue had so muche warnyng aforehand that he be not begyled by the goodly outwarde shewe and appearaunce as Eue was of our olde subtill ennemye whose crafte and wilinesse is so manifolde and diuerse and so full of close wyndings that if he can not bring hym directly and the plaine strayght way to consent to his suggestions then he wyll allure him and wynde hym in by some other false wayes as it were by a traine that he shall not perceaue it to deceaue hym with all and to steale from hym that goodly victorie of the vncorruptible and eternall crowne of glorie 2. Timot. 2. whiche no man elles can haue but he that fyghteth lawfullye as at thys presente daie if he can not induce hym throughlye as other doe to fauoure hys deuilyshe religion and of good will and free harte to helpe to vpholde the same yet he will enuegle hym to resort to his wicked and whorysh Scholehouse and at tht least wise to be coÌ„uersant and kepe company with his congregation there and to holde hys peace and say nothing whatsoeuer he thynke so that he be not a diligent souldiour and a good labourer on Christes syde to further hys kyngdome by that subtill
meanes flatteryng hym that he shall both saue hys lyfe and also hys goodes and lyue in quiete But yf we loke wel on Christes holy wil and testament we shall perceyue that he came not to make any such peace vppon earth Math. 10 Iohn 14.15.16 nor yet that he gaue any such peace to hys Disciples I leaue peace wyth you saieth he my peace I geue you not as the world geueth it geue I vnto you Let not your harte be troubled nor fearefull these thynges haue I spoken vnto you that in me ye shoulde haue peace In the world ye haue affliction but be of good cheare I haue ouer come the world The seruaunt is not greater then his lorde and maister if they haue persecueed me they shall also persecute you If any man come to me and hateth not hys own father and Mother wyfe chyldren Systers yea and moreouer his owne lyfe Luk. 6.14 it is not possible for hym to be my disciple Blessed be ye that nowe wepe for ye shall laughe wo be vnto you that now laugh for ye shal mourne and wepe he that wyll fynde his lyfe shall lose it Iohn 12 Therfore the god of that true peace and comfort preserue and kepe vs that we neuer obey such false flatteryng which at length will paye vs home once for all bringyng for hys temporall peace and quietnes euerlastyng trouble vexation disquietnes for these vayne and transitory goodes extreme losse and vtter dammage of the eternall treasure and inhericaunce for thys mortal lyfe depriuation of the most ioyful lyfe immortal finally the entrance into endles deth most miserable vnmeasurable payne and torment both of body and soule Now cōferring these two Scholemaisters together let vs cōsider the thyng wel and determine with our selues which way we ought to take and not to take the common broade way which semeth here most pleasaunt and that the most part of people take Surely I iudge it to be better to go to schole wyth our maister Christ and to be vnder hys ferula rodde although it seme sharpe and greuous for a time that at the length we may be coheritours wyth hym of euerlastyng ioy rather thē to kepe cōpany with the Deuils scholers the adulterous generatiō in his Schole that is al ful of pleasure for a while and at the ende to be payd wyth the wages of continual burning in the most horrible lake which burneth euermore wyth fire and brimstone without any ende What shal then these vayne goods and temporal pleasures auayle Who shall then helpe when we cry incessantly wo wo alas and weale away for vnmeasurable payne griefe sorrowe O let vs therfore take hede betime and rather bee content to take paynes in thys worlde for a tyme that we may please god Our sauiour Christ the true teacher sayeth euery braunche that bringeth not forth fruite in me Iohn 15 Eccl. 41. my father wyll take away It is also written not in vayne the chyldren of the vngodly are abhominable children and so are they that kepe company wythe the vngodly What doth he els I pray you that resorteth to the ministration seruice that is most repugnaunt and contrary to christes holye testament there kepyng styl silence and nothing reprouing the same but in the face of the world by hys very dede it self declareth hymself to be of a false fearefull dissembling fayned and vnfaithfull hart and to haue laid away from hym the armour of light discouraging asmuch as lyeth in him al the residue of Christes hoste and geuyng a manifest offence to the weake and also confirmyng encouraging and reioycing the hartes of the aduersaries in al theyr euil doing By which example he doth shew hymselfe neyther to loue god whom he seeth to be dishonoured blasphemed of an Antichristian minister nor yet hys neighbour before whome he should rebuke the euyll Leuit. 18. as it is expressely commaunded in gods holy law where it is sayd thou shalt in any wyse rebuke thy neighbour that thou beare not sinne for his sake Wherfore let such a one neuer fantasy to deceiue himselfe that his name is registred in the boke of lyfe to haue the stipend of christes souldiour except he do the duty and performe the part of a faithful right true souldiour as other haue done before For such fearefulnes commeth not from god as testifieth S. Paule saysng 2. Timot. 1. God hath not geuen vs the spirite of feare but of power of loue Be not ashamed saith he to testify our lord but suffer aduersitie also with the gospel through the power of god which saued vs called vs with an holy callyng To be now feareful when most nede is that we shuld be of strōg hartes is vtterly that reiecting of the feare of god plaine vnfaithfulnes disobedience to the expresse commaūdemēt of our Sauiour christ which saith in his holy gospel Mat. 10. feare not them that kil the body c. For what faithfulnes do we expresse towardes hym when he saith thus to vs and yet we declare in our doings the very contrary beyng euer feareful euē as the vnbeleuyng Israrlites which vnfaythfully feared gods enemies the heathē Cananites where as he had oftētimes geuen thē commaundemēt by his true prophet Moses to do the contrary For the which cause Nume 13.14 al the whole nūber of that secte were destroyed in processe of time in the wildernes and enioyed not the pleasaunt land of promise Which was a bodely figure shewed before and now agreing to the promise of the heauēly inheritaūce which shal be geuē to none other but only to all such as with loue vnfained be wholy bent without any feare of mā to fulfil gods holy wil pleasure But all they that pertaine to the lyuely faith to the winning of the soule wil faithfully sticke to the cōmaundement trusting most firmely faithfully that he that gaue the same wil also geue strength plentifully to performe it euen in the weakest vessels of al as we haue heard sene by many and diuers exāples he only be praised therfore S. Peter saith feare not though they seeme terrible vnto you ◠pet 3. neither be troubled but sanctify the lord god in your harts Only saith S. Paule let your conuersation be as it becommeth the gospel of christ Cōtinue in one spirit in one soule phil 3 labouring as we doe to maintayne the faith of the gospel in nothyng fearing your aduersaries which is to thē a tokē of damnation and to you of saluatiō that of god for vnto you it is geuē the not only ye should beleue in Christ but also suffer for his sake Wherfore let vs be right wel assured that we shal yelde a most straight reckening and accompt yf we transgresse the said most wholsome precepts geuē us of our maister Christ of his apostles now in thys troublesome time wherin the gospel is persecuted
me not vnworthy of such an excellent dignitie Be thākful deare harts be thankful reioice in the lord for mighty is his mercy towards you great is your rewarde in heauē the which you like faithful persons haue plucked to you with a godly violēce of an inuincible faith Oh worthie warriours of the most high captain oh cōstant confessours of the euerlasting verity howe glorious a crown of victory shal you shortly receaue which is prepared for al such as do cōnue to the end Oh you swete Saints of the lord how precious shal your death be in his sight Oh how dere are your soules to your redemer in whole hand they shal most ioyfully rest and the paynes of death shall neuer touch you Oh howe blessed shall you be when Christe shall appeare at the which tyme you shal receaue your bodies againe ful of immortalitie Oh how ioyful shal you be when Christ according to his promise shall knowledge you before his father his holy Angels as you haue most constantlye confessed him to be your Lord and only Sauiour before men Oh blessed Grene thou meeke louing lambe of the lord how happy art thou to be appoynted to die for hys sake A full deintye dishe arte thou for the lords own to the. Fresh grene shalt thou be in the house of the Lord thy fruites shal neuer wither nor decay Althoughe thou go here forth sowyng thy good fruites with teares the tyme shall come that thou shalt reape with ioy and gladnes the fruites of euerlasting life and that without ceasing Be mery therefore and feare not for it is thy fathers will to geue thee a kingdome Luke 12. whereunto he hath chosen thee before the foundations of the worlde were layde Oh happye Minister thou man of God how glad mayest thou be of Gods gracious fauour which hath preuented thee in the day of thy triall Oh happy Peter whose part thou hast wel played therfore thy reward and portion shal be like vnto his Now hast thou good experience of mans infirmitie but much more profe taste yea sense and felyng of gods aboundaunt bottomles mercy Although Sathan desired to sifte thee Luk. 22 yet Christ thy good Captaine prayed that thy fayth should not faile Gods strength is made perfect by thy weakenes and his grace is sufficient for thee his dere child Thine example did so encourage and strength thy pore brethren that God is euery way glorified by thee and shortlye wil he glorifie thee with him selfe with that glory which he hath prepared for thee his elect dearling before the worlde was made Therfore reioyce and be gladde for thou haste good occasion in finding such fauour in his syght This is most true Oh my other brethren whō I do not knowe neyther haue I heard much of you happye are you that euer you were borne and blessed be our god which hath geuen you such victorye ouer the bloody beast Apo. 1◠Shortly shal you be clothed in large white garmentes and fyne raynes of righteousnes so shall you follow the Lambe on mount Syon wyth new songes of myrth and melody for your delyuery forth of Satans power and tyranny God for euermore be blessed for you and strengthen you to the end as I doute not but he wyll for he neuer fayled them that put their trust in hym Oh my deare and faithfull Sister Ioane Warner what shall I say to thee Thy triall hath bene great thy victorye in Christ hath bene notable Thou hast ouercome manye a sharpe shower storme Shortly shalt thou ariue at the hauen of quiet rest receiue a reward due to a cōstant Martyr Thou shalt goe home to thy heauenly father possesse for euer the inheritance which Christ hath purchased for thee where thy earthly parentes be still lokyng for thee whiche haue triumphed ouer Antichrist most victoriously Oh blessed Parentes of happy children which haue shewed such an example as the like hath bene seldome sene I salute thee deare Syster of lyke constant mynde whose constant example is worthy of continuall memory Praysed be God for you my owne swete Systers which hath made you to playe suche wyse Virgines partes Math. 25 He hath plētifully powred the oyle of hys spirite into the lampes of your fayth so that the light thereof shall neuer be extincte You shall enter wyth your bridegrome into euerlastyng ioy wherunto you were chosē in hym from the beginning Oh my deare bretherne and Systers you blessed saints of the Lord how much how depely am I bound to praise god for you both day and nyght Pray pray for me my dere hartes for the tender mercye of God that I maye be made worthy to folow your trace Oh that I had runne the race of my lyfe as farre as you haue done yours and were as nigh my iorneyes ende as you be vnto yours But alas I lie lyke the lame man at the pooles side by Salamōs porch Iohn 5. and euery man goeth into the place of health before me But God wyl appoint me one one day to put me in I trust my Lord of Londons colehouse is empty and all his officers idle Therfore they muste shortlye fetche more shepe to the Shambles for he is the common slaughter slaue of al England But happy are you that are passed through the pikes and deliuered out of his handes and from all the aungels of the darkenes of this world whiche long tempted you in the wyldernes of the same but now shal the aungels of god come and minister vnto you for they are your seruantes to hold you vp in their handes that you shall not hurte your fote psal 60. 4. Reg. 2. no nor one heare of your head shal perish They shal cary you vp to heauē in a fiery chariot though you leaue your mantell behind you for a tyme tyll God restore the fame to you agayne in a more ample and glorious sorte Thus in hast as it doth appeare I am constrayned to make an ende committyng you all to gods moste mercifull defence who euer haue you in hys blessed kepyng desiring you all to remember me in your godlye and faythfull prayers as I wyll not forget you in myne by gods grace The blessyng of God bee wyth you all my deare bretherne and Sisters All our brethern and fellow prisoners here haue them most hartely commended vnto you and pray for you wythout ceasyng God sende vs a mery metyng in his kingdome Amen By your brother and vnfayned louer Iohn Careles prysoner abidyng his most mercifull wyll and pleasure Praye praye praye To my deare and faythfull brother VV. Tymmes prysoner in Newgate THe euerlasting peace of god in Iesus Christ with the cōtinual ioy comfort strength of his swete spirit be multiplied daly more more encreased in your good hart my most faythful dere brother Tymmes to the ful quietyng of your conscience and beating backe of al the fiety dartes
their pigges of worldlye pelfe c. Could the wicked papistes euer haue wroughte their cursed feates as they haue nowe done for the aduauncing of their paultrye and brynging the reaste of their tyrannye and cruell purpose to passe had not these dissembling gospellers bene so aplyable to their myndes at the fyrste dashe and with theyr subtill persuasions bewitched the hartes of others to come to their wickednesse No surely they shoulde sooner for shame dispaire and distresse of minde haue hanged themselues as their predecessour Iudas dyd and therefore I dare accuse them all before God excepte they repent as accessaryes to the wilfull murther of all the Godlye Christian Preachers that haue of late bene putte to death wythin this Realme and also of the soules of such as perish for lacke of true preaching Ah now do I perceaue that it was not for noughte that the Prophet so sore threatneth them with eternall damnation Esay 30 when he cryeth woe be vnto those shrincking children that secke succour vnder the shadow of wicked Pharao Oh woe is my harte for them that euer they shoulde so slyde frō the Lord their Instructour and cause other to do the same Yea the most mercifull Lorde hym selfe doth in his woorde bewayle them and as it were mourne for them saying alas for these disobediente shrinckyng children that they will take counsell withoute me alas that they will take a secrete aduyse and not oute of my spirite Esay 30. and therefore heape they synne vppon sinne c. Nowe tell me O you vayne and carnall gospellers that bee not onely content to playe the disobediente shrincking children your selues but also as muche as in you lyeth doe assure all other to doe the lyke to the greate dishonour of GOD and destruction of your brethrens soules tell me I saye where you haue that counsell and wicked aduyse Verely oute of the spirite of errour and lyes for oute of the Lordes spirite of truth you haue it not for the spirite of God is alwayes consonante and agreable to hys woorde Yea in his word he commaundeth the true seruauntes of God to set themselues at libertye 2. Cor. 6 and not anye longer to beare the straunge yoke with the vnbeleuers But you contraryewyse counsell them to become agayne the bondslaues of Sathan and his sonne Antichriste seruyng their Idolatrye and superstition with their bodelye presence You byd them beare still the straunge-yoke of mens traditions and deuilyshe inuentions with the vnbeleuers tellyng them that there is honest fellowship betwene ryghteousnesse and vnrighteousnesse and good companye betwene lyghte and darkenesse and frendlye concorde betwene Christ and Beliall and that the beleuer and the infidell may parte stakes well enough that their bodye which is or ought to be the tēple of the holy ghost may agree with Images wel enough whiche be forbidden by the word of God yea and teaching them to worshippe the greatest Idoll that euer was vnder heauen and therefore whereas the Lorde by hys holye Prophet doth commaunde hys people to come oute from amongest them and to seperate thē selues from thē and to touch no vncleane thinge you like tempting Serpents do will them to thruste in them selues amonge the thickest of them to ioyne thē selues which ought to be the mēbers of Christes mysticall bodye to the wicked members of Sathā And not only to touch vncleane thinges but also to behold and outwardly worship them yea to receaue into their bodies which ought to be the temple of the liuyng god the most filthy Idoll the straunge god Mauzim the papistes God of defence yea and there to retain him vntil the Iakes receaue hym which is a more meter place for hym then the sanctifyed body of a Christian Alas and weale away that euer anye man that beareth the name of a Christian yea of a Gospeller and fauourer of Gods word should become such a vyle slaue to Sathan and to do hym such notable seruice in these perilous dayes by the meanes wherof he hath preuailed more then he euer dyd in so shorte tyme since the beginnynge of the worlde Oh what deuyll hath bewitched you you runnagates frō God that you shoulde now doe hym such diligente seruice whom you haue not only pretended to hate but also promised at your baptisme vtterlye to forsake Yea and that you shoulde nowe become suche pernitious enemyes to Christ whose woorde you haue so long pretended to loue some of you nygh these .20 yeares Haue you cleane forgotten what you professed and promysed vnto hym at your baptysme Hath not the deuill seruauntes enough of the papistes and infidells to sette a woorke to suppresse Christes syncere religion but he muste sende forth you to helpe hym whiche of all other oughte to hynder his cruell enterpryse Where bee your wittes become oh you madde men the which for a little mucke of thys molde wyl lose the precious parte of euerlasting lyfe Well if you wyll needes playe the traytours agaynst God and dissembling deuils and runne hedlong into hell your selues yet I praye you take not suche paines to draw others wyth you which by their wil would not come there Goe not aboute to persuade them that euil is good Esay 5. that darkenes is light and that soure is swete least your woe and damnation be the greater If he shal be sore punyshed that hydeth hys talente in the grounde and doth none other man good therewyth howe muche more shall he be punished that occupyeth his talent to euill vses and imployeth the same to the destruction of hys weake brethren Math. 18. for whom Christe dyed If it were better for one to haue a mylstone hanged aboute his necke and to be caste into the middest of the sea then to offend one of Christes little ones yea though it were but by example what then shall become of them that leade them forth of the waye to commit most strong and detestable Idolatry If euill may not be done although good should come therof then that euil may not be done wherof cōmeth nothing but innumerable euils both to bodye soule yea so many as a greate volume were not able to contayn thē if they should be ryghtly descrbed I could make a great many of strong argumentes forth of the scriptures to proue the doings of these dissēblers both with god man to be deuilish detestable but these be sufficient to warne such as haue not their harts hardned but as for the rest I will say wyth S. Iohn Apoc. 22. he that is filthy let hym be filthy stil and vpon their own heades be the peril of their perishyng And now againe to you my deare hartes which by such haue bene deceaued or are by feare or fragilitie fallen to you I speake and of loue I warne you my deare and faithfull frendes of London whom I loue in the Lorde as I am no lesse bounde I woulde bee full lothe to be a witnesse agaynste anye of you all at
so desire it and purify hymselfe in all puritie so farre wyll he be from carnall libertye and as the elect of God he will endue and apparell hymself daily wyth the apparell of the elect vsyng praier night and day which is an other propertie of gods children To thys certaintie all the creatures of god cal vs concernyng theyr creation and vse This assuraunce gods firste commaundement requireth vnder payne of dampnation the gospell of god and all hys promyses the sacramentes the substance of them which is Christ Iesus our Sauiour doth aboue al thyngs require it of euery one that is baptised and brought into gods churche Nothing elles dothe GOD to require of vs as thus to be persuaded of him for out of it floweth al godlines to god man So that it cannot be but they take Satans part which go about to let or hynde this certainty in themselues and in others The whiche thing in that you do in dede howsoeuer you meane I cannot but as I haue done often before admonishe you of it eftesones that your bloodes may be on your own heads if you perseuer in your obstinacy and yf you do it obstinately and not ignorauntly From the whych I beseche almightye God to deliuer you Amen 1. Ianuary Iohn Bradford A letter of M. Thomas Whyttel writen to a frende of his declaryng the shamefull tyranny of bloody Bonner who lyke a right angell of Sathan to peruerte hys fayth and driue hym from God buffeted him with hys butcherly fystes and moste cruelly beate hym VPon thursday which was the .x. of Ianuary the bishop of London sent for me out of the Porters lodge where I had bene all nyght lying vppon the earth vpon a pallet where I had as payneful a nyght of sicknes as euer I had I prayse god And when I came before hym he talked with me many things of the sacrament so grosly as is not worthy to be rehearsed And amongest other thynges he asked me if I would haue come to Masse that mornyng if he had sent for me Wherunto I answered that I would haue come to hym at his commaundement but to your Masse sayd I I haue small affection At which answer he was displeased sore and sayd I should be fed with bread and water And as I folowed hym through the great hall he turned backe and beate me wyth hys fifte fyrst on the one cheke and then on the other as the signe of my bearing did many daies after apeare And then he sent me into a little salthouse They that saw his face thus miserably arayed much worse then he reporteth can beare witnes to the truth hereof S. paule commaundeth that a bishop should be no fyghter or stryker Titus ▪ ◠where I had no straw nor bed but lay two nightes on a table slept soundly I thanke God Then vpon the Friday nexte after I was brought to my lord who gaue me many faire words and sayd he would be good to me And so he goyng to Fullam cōmitted me to D. Harpesfield that he and I in that after noone should common together and drew out certaine articles wherunto if I would subscribe I should be dismissed But D. Harpesfield sent not for me till night thē persuaded me very sore to forsake my opinions I answered I held nothing but the truth therfore I could not so lightl◠turne therefrō So I thought I shuld at that time haue had no more adde but he had made a certain bil which the Register pulled out of his bosome red it The bil indede was very easely made therfore more daūgerous The children of god when they see their imperfections frailty falles offences are many tymes brought to such heauines doubting mistrust of gods mercye towardes them as though he had cleane forsaken them as you may reade psal 31.22.77 but then waxe they most strōg receiue newe comforts again in Christ as here you may see in this man of God For the effect therof was to detest al errors and heresies against the sacrament of the aulter and other sacramentes to beleue the fayth of the catholike church and liue accordingly To this bil I did in dede set to my hād being much desired coūselled so to do the flesh being alwais desirous to haue liberty I cōsidered not throughly the incōueniēce that myght come therupō respite I desired to haue had but earnestly they required me to subscribe Now when I had so done I had litle ioy therof For by by my mind consciēce told me by gods word that I had done euil by such a sleight to shake of the swete crosse of Christ and yet it was not my seeking as god he knoweth but altogether came of thē O the crafty subtilty of Satā in his mēbers Let euery man the god shal deliuer into their hands take good hede cleane fast to Christ for they wil leaue no corner of his cōsciēce vnsought but wil attempt all gileful and subtile meanes to corrupt him and make hym to fal both from God and his truthe But yet let no man dispaire of gods help for Peter did fal rise again And Dauid saith a righteous man though he fal he shal not be cast away for the Lord vp holdeth him with hys hand For I for my part haue felt my infirmities and yet I haue foūd gods present helpe comfort in time of neede I most humbly thanke hym therfore The night after I had subscribed I was sore greued and for sorrow of cōscience could not slepe For in the deliueraūce of my body out of bondes whiche I myght haue had I could find no ioy nor comforte but styll was in my conscience tormented more and more being assured by gods spirit his word that I through euill councel aduisement had done amisse and bothe with disquietnes of mynd and with my other cruel handling I was very sickly lying vpō the ground when the keper came whō I desired to praye D. Harpesfield to come to me and so he dyd And when he came and the Register with him I told hym that I was not well at ease but specially I told him I was greued very much in my conicience mynd because I had subscribed and I sayd that my conscience had so accused me through the iust iudgement of God and hys worde that I had felt hell in my conscience and Sathan ready to deuoure me and therfore I pray you M. Harpesfield said I lette me haue the byll agayne for I will not stande to it So he commaūded it to be fetched and gaue it me and suffred me to pul out my name wherof I was right glad when I had so done although death should followe And hereby I had experience of gods prouidēce and mercy towardes me who trieth his people and suffceth them to fal but not to be lost For in the myddes of thys temptation and trouble he gaue me warning