(Here follows another letter of his, written to the good Lady Vane, wherein he resolves certain questions which she demanded. This Lady Vane was a special nurse, and a great supporter to her power of the godly saints, which were imprisoned in Queen Mary's time. Unto whom I have divers letters, of Master Whippet, Careless, Fraherne, Thomas Rose, and of others; wherein they render unto her most grateful thanks, for her exceeding goodness towards them, with their singular commendation and testimony also of her Christian seal towards God's addicted prisoners, and to the verity of his gospel She departed at Holhorn, anno 1568, whose and was more like a sleep, than any death; so quietly and meekly she deceased and departed hence in the Lord. Amongst others who wrote unto her, Master Bradford also sent letters to the said Lady. Fox.)
The true sense and sweet feeling of God's eternal mercies in Christ Jesus be ever more and more lively wrought if your heart by the Holy Ghost. Amen.
I most heartily thank you, good Madam, for your comfortable letters; and whereas you wish to be told what were best to be done on your behalf, concerning your three questions it the truth is, that the questions are never well seen nor answered, until the thing whereof they arise is well considered; I mean, until it is seen how great an evil the thing is. If indeed it is once in your heart perceived, upon probable and pithy places, gathered out of God's book, that there never was any thing upon the earth so great and so much an adversary to God's true service; to Christ's death, passion, priesthood, sacrifice, and kingdom; to the ministry of God's word and sacraments; to the church of God, to repentance, faith, and all true godliness of life, as that is whereof the questions arise, (as most assuredly it is so indeed,) then a Christian heart cannot but abhor it, and all things that in any point might seem to allow it, or any thing pertaining to the same, by so much the more as it has the name of God's service.
Again, your Ladyship knows, that as all is to be blanked and avoided, which is followed or fled from in respect of ourselves, or in respect of avoiding Christ's cross; so the end of all our doings should be to God-wards, to his glory, to our neighbours, to edification, and good example, whereof none can be given, by allowing any of the three questions (these questions were concerning the mass, whereof she desired his judgement; Letters of the Martyrs) propounded by you. But because this which I write now is brief, and needs the more consideration or explication, as I doubt not of the one in you, so by God's grace, you shall receive the other from me shortly. For I have already written a little book about it, which I will send unto you, in which you shall have your questions fully answered and satisfied (he means his book called "The hurt of hearing mass"; Letters of the Martyrs), and therefore I omit to write any more hereabout at present; beseeching God, our good Father, to guide you, as his dear child, with his Spirit of wisdom, power; and comfort, unto eternal life, that you may be strong, and rejoice in him, and with his church, to carry Christ's cross, if he shall think it needful, (I Pet. i.;) which is a thing to be desired, wished, and embraced, if we looked on things after the judgment of God's word, and tried them by that touchstone.
If you are accustomed to think on the brevity, vanity, and misery of this life, and on the eternity, truth, and felicity of everlasting life; if you look on things after their ends, and not after their present appearance only; if you use yourself to set God's presence, power, and mercy always before your eyes, to see them as God by every creature desires you should; I doubt not but you shall find such strength and comfort in the Lord, as you shall not be shaken in, with all the power of Satan. God's mercy in Christ be with you, and his good Spirit guide you for ever. Amen.
Letter 22. Another Letter to Lady Vane
As to mine own soul, I wish your Ladyship grace and mercy, from God our dear Father in Christ, our Lord and Saviour.
I thank God that he has eased you something, and mitigated his fatherly correction in us both. I would to God he had done so much in behalf of the grief of the body to you, as he has done to me. For as for the soul, I trust you feel that, which I pray God increase in you; I mean his fatherly love, and grant that I may with you feel the same in such degree as may please him; I will not say as you feel, lest I should seem to ask too much at one time. God often much more plentifully visits with the sense of his mercy them that humble themselves under his mighty hand, and are sore exercised, as you long have been, than others, who to the face of the world have more show and appearance.
Therefore I wish as I do, and that not only for my own advantage, but also that I might lead you to consider the goodness of God, which I by your letters well espy; which is indeed the highway whereby God increases his gifts, and shows his salvation more lively. Psalm 1. and cvii. I have received God's blessing from you, which I have partly distributed unto my three fellow-prisoners, Master Farrar, Master Taylor, Master Philpot; and the residue I will bestow upon four poor souls, which are imprisoned in the common jail for religion also. As for my own part, if I had need I would have served my turn also; but because I had not, nor I thank God have not, I have been and will be your almoner, as I have already advertised you. God reward you, and give you to find it spiritually and corporally. Because I cannot talk with you otherwise, therefore in this manner, as occasion and opportunity serve, I am ready to show my goodwill and desire of your help and furtherance in the Lord unto everlasting life, whereunto God bring us shortly for his mercy's sake. Amen.
Good Madam, be thankful to God, as I hope you are; be earnest in prayer, continue in reading and hearing God's word; and if God's further cross comes, as therein God serves his providence, (for else it shall not come unto you,) so be certain the same shall turn to your eternal joy and comfort. Amen.
John Bradford.
Letter 23. To my dear friends and brethren, R. and E., with their wives and families
(R. and E.: Roydon and Esing. Fox.)
The comfort of Christ, felt commonly by his children in their cross for his sake, may the everlasting God work in both your hearts, my good brethren, and in the hearts of both of your yoke-fellows, especially of good Mary, my good sister in the Lord. Amen.
If I had not heard something of the hazard which you are in for the gospel's sake, if you continue the confession and profession thereof, as I trust you do and will do, and that unto the end, God enabling you, as he will doubtless for his mercy's sake, if you hope in him, (for this binds Him, as David in Christ's person witnesses, Our fathers hoped in thee, and thou deliveredst them, &c. Psalm xxii.,) yet by conjectures, I should suppose, though not so certainly, that the time of your suffering and probation is at hand. For now is the power of darkness fully come upon this realm, most justly for our sins, and abusing the light lent us of the Lord, by setting forth ourselves more than God's glory. It is sent that we might be brought unto the better knowledge of our evils, and so heartily repent, (which God grant us to do,) as also that we might have more feeling and sense of our sweet Saviour Jesus Christ. by humbling and dejecting ourselves, thereby to make us more desirous of him, and him more sweet and pleasant unto us; which may the good Spirit of God work sensibly in all our hearts for God's holy name's sake.
For this cause, I thought it my duty, being now where I have some liberty to write, the Lord be praised, and hearing of you as I hear, to do that which I should have done, if I had heard nothing at all; that is, to desire you to be of good cheer and comfort in the Lord, although in the world you see cause rather to the contrary; and to go on forwards in the way of God, wherein you are entered, considering that the same cannot but so much more and more wax strait to the outward man, by how much you draw nearer to the end of it: even as in the travail of a woman, the nearer she draws to her delivery, the more her pains increase; so it goes with us in the Lord's way, the nearer we draw to our deliverance by death, to eternal felicity.
Example whereof we have, I will not say in the holy prophets and apostles of God, which, when they were young, girded themselves, and went in manner whither they would, but when they waxed old, they went girded of others, whither they would not, concerning the outward man; but I will say, rather and most lively, in our Saviour Jesus Christ, whose life and way was much more painful to him towards the end, than it was at the beginning. And no marvel; for Satan can somewhat abide that a man should begin well, and set forwards; but rather than he should go on to the end, he will do his uttermost and cast out floods to overflow him, before he will suffer that to come to pass
Therefore, we should not now be dismayed at this world, as though some strange thing were happened unto us, since it is but as it was wont to be to the godly; for the devil declares himself after his old manner, for we have professed no less, but to forsake the world and the devil: as God's very enemies; and we learned no less at the first, when we came to God's school, than to deny ourselves, and take up our cross and follow our Master, who leads us no other way than he himself has gone before us. As we should not be dismayed, so we should with patience and joy go forwards, if we set before us the time to come as if present ; like as the wife in her travail does the deliverance of her child; and as the saints of God did, but especially our Saviour and pattern, Jesus Christ; for the apostle says, he set before him the joy and glory to come, and therefore contemned the shame and sorrow of the cross; and if we did so, we should find at length as they found. For who that had a long journey, would grieve to go through a piece of foul way, if he knew that, afterwards, the way should be most pleasant, yea, the journey should be ended, and he most happy at his resting-place? Who would be afraid or loath to leave a little pelf for a little time, if he knew he should shortly after receive most plentiful riches? Who will be unwilling for a little while to forsake his wife, children, or friends, &c. when he knows he shall shortly after be associated unto them inseparably, even after his own heart's desire? Who will but sorry to forsake this life that cannot but be most certain of eternal life? Who loves the shadow better than the body? Who can love this life, but they that regard not the life to come? Who can desire the dross of this world, but such as are ignorant of the treasures of everlasting joy in heaven? I mean, who are afraid to die, but such as hope not to live eternally? Christ has promised pleasures, riches, joy, felicity, and all good things, to them that for his sake lose any thing, or suffer any sorrow. And is he not true? How can he but be true? For guile was never found in his mouth.
Alas! then, why are we so slack and slow, yea, so hard of hear, to believe him, when thus promising us plentifully eternal blissfulness; and why are we so ready to believe the world, promising us many things, and paying us nothing? If we will curry favour now, and halt on both parts, then it promises us peace, quietness, and many other things else. But how does it pay this? Or, if it will pay it, with what quietness of conscience? Or, if so, how long, I pray you? Do not we see before our eyes, men die shamefully, I mean as rebels and other malefactors, which refused to die for God's cause? What way is so sure a way to heaven, as to suffer in Christ's cause? If there is any way on horse-back to heaven, surely this is the way; by many troubles, says the apostle, we must enter into heaven. All that will live godly in Christ Jesus, must suffer persecution. For the world cannot love them that are of God; the devil cannot love his enemies; the world will love none but his own; you are Christ's, therefore look for no love here. Should we look for fire to quench our thirst? As soon shall God's true servants find peace and favour in antichrist's regiment. Therefore, my dearly beloved, be stout in the Lord, and in the power of his might; put on you his armour; stand in the liberty of Christ, which you have learned; rejoice that you may be counted worthy to suffer any thing for God's cause; this is not given to all men. Your reward is great in heaven, though in earth you find nothing. The journey is almost past; you are almost in the haven; hale on apace, I beseech you, and merrily hoist up your sails. Cast yourselves on Christ, who cares for you; keep company with him now still to the end; he is faithful, and will never leave you, nor tempt (try, editor) you further than he will make you able to bear; yea, in the midst of the temptation he will make an out-scape. Now pray unto him heartily, be thankful for his favour, rejoice in hope of the health you shall receive, and be mindful of us which are in this vayward (front of a battle, editor); and by God's grace trust in Christ to be made able to break the ice before you, that you, following, may find the way more easy. God grant it may be so. Amen, Amen.
Out of prison by your brother in Christ,
John Bradford.
Letter 24. To Mistress Wilkinson
Almighty God, our most loving Father, increase in your heart, my good mother and dear mistress in the Lord his true knowledge and love in Christ, to the encouraging and comforting of your faith in these stormy days, as is necessary unto us, and profitable, if we persist unto the end; which God grant to us. Amen.
My right dearly beloved, I know not what else to write unto you, than to desire you to be thankful unto the Lord, that amongst the not many of your calling and state, it pleases him to give you his rare blessing; I mean, to keep you from all the filth wherewith our country is horribly defiled. This blessing assuredly is rare, as you see: but now, if he shall bless you with another blessing, which is more rare, I mean to call you forth as a martyr and a witness against this filth, I hope you will become doubly thankful; for commonly we have not a greater token to judge of our election and salvation, next to Christ and faith in him, than the cross, especially when it is so glorious as on this sort to suffer anything, but chiefly loss of this life, which indeed is never found till it be so lostoexcept the grain of wheat fall and is dead, it remains fruitless.
You know that he which was taken up into the third heaven, and knew what he wrote, says that as the corn lives not, except it is dead, and cast into the earth, so truly our bodies. 1 Cor. xv. And therefore the cross should so little fright us, that even death itself should altogether be desired by us, as the tailor which puts off our rags and arrays us with the royal robes of immortality, incorruption and glory. Great shame it should be for us, that all the creatures of God should desire, yea, groan in their kind, for our liberty, and we ourselves loath it, as doubtless we do, if for the sake of the cross, yea, for death itself, we with joy swallow not up all sorrow, that might hinder us from following the Lord's calling, and obeying the Lord's providence; whereby doubtless all crosses, and death itself, comes, and not by hap or chance. In consideration whereof, right dear mother, since this providence stretches itself so unto us, and for us, that even the hairs of our head are numbered with God, and not one of them is to fall to our hurt, surely we declare ourselves very faint in faith, if we receive not such comfort, that we can willingly offer ourselves to the Lord, and cast our whole care upon him, honouring him with this honour, that he is, and ever will be, careful for us, and all we have as for his dear children. Be therefore of good cheer, even in the midst of these miseries, be thankful to the Lord and prepare yourself for a further trial; which if God send you, so do you believe, as I hope, that God therein will help and comfort you, and make you able to bear whatsoever shall happen. And thus much, having this opportunity, I thought good to write, praying God our Father to recompense into your bosom all the good that ever you have done, to me especially, and to many others, both in this time of trouble and always heretofore.
Your own in the Lord,
John Bradford.
Letter 25. Another letter, written to certain godly persons, encouraging them to prepare themselves with patience for the cross
Gracious God, and most merciful Father, for Jesus Christ's sake, thy dearly beloved Son, grant us thy mercy, grace, wisdom, and Holy Spirit, to counsel, comfort, and guide us in all our cogitations, words, and works, to thy glory and our everlasting joy and peace for ever. Amen.
In my last letter you might perceive my conjectures towards you to be no less than now I have learned; but, my dearly beloved, I have learned none other thing, than I have told you before would come to pass, if you cast not away that which I am sure you have learned. I do appeal to both your consciences, whether herein I speak truth, as well of my telling, (though not so often as I might and should, God forgive me,) as also of your learning. Now God will try you, to make others learn by you, that which you have learned by others, and by them which suffered this day (Lady Jane Grey and her husband were beheaded that day; Letters of the Martyrs), you might learn, if you had not already learned, that life and honour are not to be more set by than God's commandment. Notwithstanding all that their ghostly fathers could do, having Doctor Death to take their part, they in no point would consent, or seem to consent, to the popish mass and papistical god, otherwise than they received in the days of our late king, and this their faith they have confessed with their deaths, to their great glory and all our comforts, if we follow them, but to our confusion, if we start back from the same. Wherefore, I beseech you to consider it, as well to praise God for them, as to go the same way with them, if God so will.
Consider not the things of this life, which is a real prison to all God's children, but the things of everlasting life, which is our real home. But to behold this, you must open the eyes of your mind, of faith I should have said, as Moses did, who chose trouble with God's people, rather than the riches of Egypt and Pharaoh's court. Your house, home, and goods, yea life, and all that ever you have, God has given you as love-tokens, to admonish you of his love, and to win your love to him again. Now will he try your love, whether you set more by him, than by his tokens. If you for his tokens' sake, that is, for your home, house, goods, yea life, will go with the world, lest you should lose them, then be assured he will cast your love away with the world, as he cannot but espy it to be a strumpet's love. Remember that he who will save his life shall lose it, if Christ is true; but he who adventures, yea, loses his life for the gospel's sake, the same shall be sure to find it eternally. Do not you know, that the way to salvation is not the broad way, which many run in; but the strait way, which few now walk in?
Before persecution came, men might partly have doubted by the outward state of the world with us, (although by God's word it was plain,) which was the high way, for there were as many that pretended to follow the gospel as popery. But now the sun is risen, and the wind blows, so that the corn which has not taken fast root, cannot and will not abide, therefore you may easily see the strait way, by the small number that pass through it. Who will now adventure their goods and life for Christ's sake, though he gave his life for our sakes? We are now become Gergesites, that would rather lose Christ than our swine. A faithful wife is never tried to be so, but when she rejects and withstands wooers. A faithful Christian is found to be so, when his faith is assaulted
If we are not ableoI mean, if we will not forsake this world for God's glory and the gospel's sake, think you that God will make us able, or give us a will to forsake it for nature's sake? Die you must once, and leave all you have, (God knows how soon and when,) will you, or will you not; and seeing that you must do this, will you not willingly do it now for God's sake?
If you go to mass, and do as the most part do, then you may live at rest and quietly; but if you deny to go to it, then shall you go to prison, lose your goods, leave your children comfortless, yea, lose your life also; but, my dearly beloved, open the eyes of your faith, and see how short a thing this life isoeven a very shadow and smoke. Again, see how intolerable the punishment of hellfire is, and that endless. Last of all, look on the joys incomprehensible, which God has prepared for all those, world without end, who lose either lands or goods for his name's sake. And then reason thus: If we go to mass, which is the greatest enemy that Christ has, though for a little time we shall live in quiet and leave to our children what they may live by hereafter, yet we shall displease God, fall into his hands, which is horrible to hypocrites, and be in hazard of fading from eternal joy into eternal misery, first of soul, and then of body, with the devil and all idolaters.
Again, we shall want peace of conscience, which surmounts all the riches of the world; and for our children, who knows whether God will visit our idolatry on them in this life? Yea, we are in danger of losing our house and goods, as also our lives, through many casualties; and when God is angry with us, he always can send when he will, one mean or another to take all from us, for our sins, and cast us into care, for our own sakes, if we will not come into some little trouble for his sake.
On this sort reason with yourselves, and then doubtless God will work otherwise with you, and in you, than you are aware of. Where now you think yourselves unable to abide persecution, be most assured, that if you purpose not to forsake God, he will make you so able to bear his cross, that you shall rejoice therein. Faithful is God, says Paul, who will not tempt you further than he will make you able to bear, yea, he will give you an outscape in the cross, which shall be to your comfort. Think how great a benefit it is, if God will vouch you worthy of this honour, to suffer loss of anything for his sake. He might justly cast most grievous plagues upon you, and yet now he will correct you with that rod, by which you shall be made like to his Christ, that you may reign with him for ever. Suffer yourselves therefore now to be made like to Christ, for else you shall never be made like unto him. The devil would gladly have you now overthrow that godliness which you have long professed. Oh! how would he triumph, if he could win his purpose! Oh! how would the papists triumph against God's gospel in you! Oh! how would you confirm them in their wicked popery! Oh! how would the poor children of God be discomforted, if you should now go to mass, and other idolatrous service, and do as the world does!
Has God delivered you from the sweating sickness (an infectious distemper by which many thousand persons died in England, in the year 1551; in the space of a few days, nine hundred and sixty persons died in London alone, and it was chiefly fatal to men in the prime of life; see Holinshed's Chronicle), to serve him so? Has God miraculously restored you to health from your grievous agues for such a purpose? Has God given you such blessings in this world, and good things all the days of your life hitherto, and now of equity will you not receive at his hands, and for his sake, some evil? God forbid! I hope better of you. Use prayer, and cast your care upon God; commit your children into his hand; give to God your goods, bodies, and lives, as he has given them, or rather lent them unto you. Say with Job, God has given, and God has taken away: his name be praised for ever. Cast your care upon him, I say, for he is careful for you; and take it amongst the greatest blessings of God, to suffer for his sake; I trust he has kept you hitherto for that end.
And I beseech thee, O merciful Father, for Jesus Christ's sake, that thou wouldst be merciful unto us, comfort us with thy grace, and strengthen us in thy truth, that in heart we may believe, and in tongue boldly confess, thy gospel, to thy glory and our eternal salvation. Amen.
Pray for me, and I by God's grace will do the same for you.
