Letter 26. An admonition to certain professors of the gospel, to beware they fall not from it, in consenting to the Roman religion, by the example of halting and double-faced gospellers
The peace of Christ, which is the true effect of God's gospel when believed, my dearly beloved, be more and more plentifully perceived of you, through the grace of our dear Father, by the mighty working of the Holy Spirit our Comforter. Amen.
Though I have many letters at present to hinder me from writing unto you, yet being desired, I could not but somewhat signify my ready good-will in this behalf, so much as I may, when I cannot so much as I would.
You hear and see how Satan bestirs himself, raging as a roaring lion to devour us. You see and feel partly that storms he has raised up to drown the poor boat of Christ, I mean his church. You see how terribly he trains his soldiers to give a fierce onset on the vayward (the front of God's army, editor) of God's battle. You see how he has received power of God to molest God's children, and to begin at his house. By reason whereof, consider two things; one, the cause as regards us; the other, what will be the sequel on strangers.
For the first, if we are not blind, we cannot but well see, that our sins are the cause of all this misery; our sins, I say, which I would that every one of us should apply to ourselves after the example of Jonah and David, turning over the wallet, that other men's offences might lie behind, and our own before. Not that I would excuse other men, which outwardly have walked much more grossly than many of you have done, but that I would provoke you all, as myself, to more hearty repentance and prayer. Let us more and more increase to know and lamest our doubting of God, of his presence, power, anger, mercy, &c. Let us better feel and hate our self-love, security, negligence, unthankfulness, unbelief, impatience, &c. and then doubtless the cross shall be less painful, yea, it shall be comfortable, and Christ most dear and pleasant; death then shall be desired, as the dispatcher of us out of all misery, and the entrance into eternal felicity and joy unspeakable. Which is so much the more longed for, by how much we feel the serpent's bites wherewith he wounds our heels, that is, our outward Adam and senses. If we had, I say, a lively and true feeling of his poison, we could not but rejoice in our Captain, that has bruised his head, and be desirous to follow his example,othat is, to give our lives with him, and for him, and to fill up his passions, so that he might conquer and overcome in us and by us, to his glory and the comfort of his children.
Now the second, I mean the sequel, or that which will follow on the strangers (strangers to Christ, editor), my dearly beloved, let us well look upon it. For if so be that God justly permit Satan and his seed to vex and molest Christ and his penitent people; oh! what and how justly may he and will he give power to Satan to treat the reckless and impenitent sinners? If judgment begin thus at God's house what will follow on them that are without, if they repent not? Certainly the dregs of God's cup are reserved for them that is, brimstone, fire, and tempest intolerable. Now are they unwilling to drink of God's cup of afflictions, which he offers them in common with his Son Christ our Lord, lest they should lose their pigs like the Gergesites. They are unwilling to come into the way that brings to heaven, even afflictions; in their hearts they cry, "Let us cast his yoke from us;" they walk two ways, that is, they seek to serve God and Mammon, which is impossible; they will not come nigh the strait way that brings to life. They open their eyes to behold present things only; they judge of religion after reason, and not after God's word; they follow the more part, and not the better; they profess God with their mouths, but in their hearts deny him, or else they would sanctify him by serving him more than men. They part stakes with God, which would have all; giving part to the world, to the Romish rout, and antichristian idolatry now set abroad amongst us publicly; they are willing to have Christ, but none of his cross, which cannot be; they are willing to be counted to live godly in Christ, but they will suffer no persecution; they love this world. whereby the love of God is driven forth from them; they savour of those things that are of men, and not that are of God. To sum up, they love God in their lips, but in their hearts, yea, and in their deeds they deny him, as well by not repenting their past evils, as by continuing in evil still, by doing as the world, the flesh, and the devil wills, and yet still perchance they will pray, or rather prate, "Thy will be done in earth," which means that every one should take up his cross, and follow Christ. But this is a hard saying: Who is able to abide it? Therefore Christ is prayed to depart, lest all the swine be drowned! The devil may have his dwelling again in themselves, rather than in their swine, and therefore to him they shall go, and dwell with him in eternal perdition and damnation, even in hell fire, a torment endless, and above all cogitations incomprehensible, if they repent not.
Wherefore by them, my dearly beloved, be admonished to remember your profession, how that in baptism you made a solemn vow to renounce the devil, the world, &c. You promised to fight under Christ's standard; you learned Christ's cross before you began your A, B. C. Go to then, pay your vow to the Lord; fight like men, and valiant men, under Christ's standard; take up your cross, and follow your master, as your brethren, Master Hooper, Rogers, Taylor, and Saunders have done, and as now your brethren, Master Cranmer, Latimer, Hidley, Farrar, Bradford, Hawkes, &c. are ready to do. The ice is broken before you, therefore be not afraid, but be content to die for the Lord. You have no cause to waver, or doubt of the doctrine thus declared by the blood of the pastors. Remember that Christ says, "He that will save his life, shall lose it." And what should it profit you to win the whole world, (much less a little quietness, your goods, &c.) and to lose your own souls? Render to the Lord what he has lent you, by such means as he would have you render it, and not such as you would. Forget not, Christ's disciples must deny themselves, as well concerning their will, as concerning their wisdom. Have in mind, that as it is no small mercy to believe in the Lord, so it is no small kindness of God towards you to suffer anything, much more death, for the Lord. If they are blessed that die in the Lord, how shall they be that die for the Lord
Oh! what a blessing is it to have the death which is due for our sins, diverted into a demonstration and testimony of the Lord's truth! Oh! that we had a little of Moses' faith, to look upon the end of the cross, to look upon the reward, to see continually with Christ and his people greater riches than the riches of Egypt! Oh! let us pray that God would open our eyes to see his hidden manna, the heavenly Jerusalem, the congregation of the first-born, the melody of the saints, the tabernacle of God dwelling with men, then we should run, and become violent men, and so take the kingdom of heaven, as it were, by force. May God our Father give us for his Christ sake to see a little, what, and how great joy he has prepared for us, and called us unto, and most assuredly gives us for his own goodness and truth's sake. Amen. My dearly beloved, repent, be sober, and watch in prayer; be obedient, and after your vocations, show your obedience to the higher powers in all things that are not against God's wordotherein acknowledge the sovereign power of the Lord; howbeit, so that you are not rebels, or rebellers, for no cause; but since with good conscience you cannot obey, be patient sufferers, and the glory and good Spirit of God shall dwell upon us. I pray you remember us your afflicted brethren, being in the Lord's bonds for the testimony of Christ, and abiding the gracious hour of our dear and most merciful Father. The Lord, for Christ's sake, give us joyful hearts to drink heartily of his sweet cup, which daily we groan and sigh for, lamenting that the time is thus prolonged. The Lord Jesus give us grace to be thankful, and to abide patiently the provident (appointed, editor) hour of his most gracious good will. Amen. Amen. From the Compter in the Poultry.
Yours in Christ,
John Bradford.
Letter 27. To my good brother, John Careless, Prisoner in the King's Bench
The Father of mercy, and God of all comfort, visit us with his eternal consolation, according to his great mercies in Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.
My very dear brother, if I report the truth unto you, I cannot but signify that since I came into prison I never received so much consolation as I did by your last letter, the name of God be most heartily praised therefore. But if I report the truth unto you, and as I have begun, speak still the verity, I must confess, that for mine unthankfulness towards you, and especially to God, I have more need of God's merciful tidings, than I had ever heretofore. Ah! that Satan envies us so greatly! Ah! that our Lord would tread his head under our feet shortly! Ah! that I might for ever myself beware, and be a godly example to you and others, to beware of unthankfulness! Good brother Careless, after a lightening (glimpse of spiritual life, editor) we have more need to take heed of being foiled than before. God therefore is to be praised even when he hides, and that for long, a cheerful countenance from us, lest we, being not expert how to use it as we should do, hurt ourselves thereby; so great is our ignorance and corruption. This, my good brother, and right dear to my very heart, I write unto you, as to one whom in the Lord I embrace, and I thank God that you do me in like manner. God our Father more and more give us both his good Spirit, that as by faith we may feel ourselves united unto him in Christ, so by love we may feel ourselves linked in the same Christ, one to another, I to you, and you to me, we to all the children of God, and all the children of God to us. Amen. Amen. Commend me to our good brother Skelthrop (he was formerly a free-will man; Fox), for whom I heartily praise my God, which has given him to see his truth at the length, and to submit to it. I doubt not but he will be so heedful in all his conversation, that his old acquaintance may thereby think themselves astray. Woe and woe again should be unto us, if we by our example should make men to stumble at the truth. Forget not salutations in Christ as you shall think good, to Trewe and his fellows. The Lord has his time I hope for them also, although we perchance think otherwise. A drop makes the stone hollow, not with once, but with often dropping; so if with hearty prayer for them and good example, you still drop upon them as you can, You shall see God's work at length. I beseech God to make perfect all the good he has begun in us all. Amen.
I desire you all to pray for me, the most unworthy prisoner of the Lord.
Your brother,
John Bradford.
Letter 28. To Master John Hall and his wife, prisoner in Newgate, for the testimony of the gospel
Almighty God our heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, be with you both, my dearly beloved, as with his dear children for ever, and may he so bless you with his Holy Spirit, that you may rejoice in this your cross which doubtless you suffer for his cause, and gladly take it up to bear it so long as he shall think good. I have heard my good brother and sister, how that God has brought you both into his schoolhouse, whereas you were both purposed by his leave to have played truants, so that thereby you might see his carefulness and love toward you. For if it is a token of a loving and careful father for his children, to prevent the purpose, and disappoint the intent of his children, who purpose to depart a while from the school, for fear of beating, which they would not do if they rightly considered the commodity (advantage, editor) of learning which they might get there; how should you take this work of the Lord preventing your purpose, but as an evident sign of love and fatherly carefulness that he bears towards you! If he had winked at your wills, then would you have escaped beating., I mean the cross; but then should you have lost the commodity of learning that which your Father will now have you to learn and feel, and therefore he has sent to you his cross. He, I say, has brought you where you are; and though your reason and wit tell you, it is by chance or fortune, or otherwise, yet my dearly beloved know for certain, that whatsoever was the mean, God your Father was the worker thereof, and that for your weal, although your old Adam tells you and you feel otherwise; yet I say of truth, that your duty is to think of this cross that, as it is of God's sending, and comes from him, so, although your deserts are otherwise, it is of love and fatherly affection for your weal and commodity's sake.
What advantage is there hereby? you will perchance object. You are now kept in close prison, you will say: your family and children are without good overseers; your substance diminishes by these means; your poverty will approach; and perchance more perils also, yea, and loss of life too. These are no commodities, but discommodities, and that not small ones; so that you would be glad to know what commodity can come to you by this cross, whereby come such great discommodities.
To these things I answer, that indeed it is true what you say of your bodies, families, children, substance, poverty, life, &c.; which if you would consider awhile with inward eyes, as you behold them with outward, perhaps you would find more ease. Do not you now by the inward sense perceive that you must part from all these and all other commodities in the world? Tell me then, have not you this commodity by your cross, to learn to loath and leave the world, and to long for and desire another world, where is perpetuity? You ought of your own head and free-will, to have (according to your profession in baptism) forsaken the world and all earthly things, using the world as though you used it not; your heart being set only upon your treasure in heaven, or else you could never be Christ's true disciples, that is be saved, and be where he is. And think you, my good hearts in the Lord, think you, I say, that it is no commodity to be compelled thereto, by this cross, that you might assuredly enjoy with the Lord endless glory? How now does God, as it were, fatherly admonish you, to remember your former offences concerning these things and all other things, so that repentance and remission might ensue? How does God now compel you to call upon him and to be earnest in prayer! Are these no commodities? Does not the Scripture say, that God corrects us in this world, because we shall not be damned with the world? that God chastens every one whom he loves? that the end of this correction shall be joy and holiness? Does not the Scripture say, that they are happy that suffer for righteousness' sake, as you now do? that the glory and Spirit of God is upon them? that, as you are now made like unto Christ in suffering, so shall you be made like him in reigning? Does not the Scripture say, that you are now going the high and right way to heaven? that your suffering is Christ's suffering? My dearly beloved, what greater commodities than these can a godly heart desire?
Therefore you are commanded to rejoice and be glad when you suffer as you now do: for through the goodness of God great shall be your reward.oWhere? Forsooth, on earth first in your children, for now they are in God's more immediate protection. Never was father so careful for his children, as God is for yours at present. God's blessing, which is worth more than all the world, you leave to your children. Though all you have provided for them should be pulled away, yet God is not poor; he has promised to provide for them most fatherly. "Cast I thy burden upon me," says he, "and I will bear it." Psalm 55. Do you therefore cast them and commend them unto God your Father, and fear not that he will do in your debt. He never was found unfaithful, and he will not now begin with you. The good man's seed shall not go begging bread; for he will show mercy upon thousands of the posterity of them that fear him; therefore as I said, God's reward first upon earth shall be felt by your children even corporally, and so also upon you, if God see it more for your commodity; at least you shall feel it inwardly, by quietness and comfort of conscience; and secondly, after this life, you shall find it so plentifully, as the eye has not seen, the ear has not heard, the heart cannot conceive, how great and glorious God's reward will be upon your bodies, much more upon your souls. God open our eyes to see and feel this indeed. Then shall we think the cross, which is a mean hereto, is an advantage: then shall we thank God that he would chastise us: then shall we say with David, Happy am I, that thou hast punished me; for before, I went astray, but now I keep thy laws.
This that we may do indeed, my dearly beloved, let us first know that our cross comes from God: secondly, that it comes from God as a Father, that is, for our weal and good; therefore let us, thirdly, call to mind our sins, and ask pardon, whereto let us, fourthly, look for help certainly at God's hand in his good time: help, I say, such as shall make most to God's glory, and to the comfort and commodity of our souls and bodies eternally. This if we certainly conceive, then will there issue out of us hearty thanksgiving, which God requires as a most precious sacrifice. That we may all through Christ offer this, let us use earnest prayer to our God and dear Father: may he bless us, keep us, and comfort us, under his sweet cross for ever! Amen. Amen.
My dear hearts, if I could any way comfort you, you should be sure thereof, though my life lay thereon; but now I must do as I may, because I cannot as I would. Oh! that it would please our dear Father shortly to bring us where we should never depart, but enjoy continually the blessed fruition of his heavenly presence. Pray, pray; that it may speedily come to passopray. Tomorrow I will send to you to know your state: send me word what are the chief things they charge you with.
From the Compter,
By your brother in the Lord,
John Bradford.
Letter 29. To Mistress Hall, prisoner in Newgate, and ready to make answer before her adversaries
Our most merciful God and Father, through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour, be merciful unto us, and make perfect the good he has begun in us, unto the end. Amen.
My dear sister, rejoice in the Lord, rejoice; be glad, I say, be merry and thankful, not only because Christ so commands us, but also because our state wherein we are at present, requires no less, for we are the Lord's witnesses. God the Father has vouchsafed to choose us amongst many, to witness anti testify that Christ his Son is King, and that his word is true. Christ our Saviour, for his love sake towards us, will have us to bear record that he is no usurper or deceiver of the people, but God's Ambassador, Prophet, and Messiah; so that of all dignities upon earth, this is the highest. Greater honour had not his prophets, apostles, or dearest friends, than to bear witness with Christ, as we now do. The world, following, the counsel of their sire Satan, would gladly condemn Christ and verity; but, lo! the Lord has chosen us to be his champions to hinder this. As stout soldiers, therefore, let us stand to our Master, who is with us, and stands on our right hand, so that we shall not be much moved, if we hope and hang on his mercy; for he is so faithful and true, that he will never try us further than he will make us able to bear. Therefore be not careful what you shall answer. For I hear say this day you shall be called forth. The Lord who is true and cannot lie, has promised, and will never fail nor forget it, that you shall have both what and how to answer, so as to make his shameless adversaries ashamed. Hang therefore on this promise of God, who is a helper at a pinch, and a most present remedy to them that hope in him. Never was it heard, nor shall it be, that any hoping in the Lord was put to foil.
Therefore as I said, I say again, dear sister, not only be not careful for your answering, but also be joyful for your cause. Confess Christ, and be not ashamed, and he will confess you, and never be ashamed of you. Though loss of goods and life are likely to ensue, yet, if Christ is true, as he is most true, it is otherwise indeed: for he that loses his life, says he, wins it, but he that saves it, loses it. Our sins have deserved many deaths. Now if God so deal with us that he will make our deserved death a demonstration of his grace, a testimonial of his verity, a confirmation of his people, and an overthrow of his adversaries, how great cause have we to be thankful! Be thankful therefore, good sister; rejoice and be merry in the Lord; be stout in his cause and quarrel, be not faint-hearted, but run out your race, and set your captain, Christ, before your eyes. Behold, how great your reward is! See the great glory and the eternity of felicity prepared for you. Strive and fight lawfully, that you may get the crown. Run to get the game; you are almost at your journey's end; I doubt not but our Father will with us send to you also, us he did to Elijah, a fiery chariot, to convey us into his kingdom. Let us therefore not be dismayed to leave our cloak behind us, that is, our bodies to ashes. God will one day restore them to us like to the body of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, whose coming is now at hand; let us look for it, and lift up our heads, for our redemption draws nigh. Amen, Amen. The Lord of mercy grant us his mercy. Amen. I pray you pray for me, and so desire my brethren which are with you. God's peace be with us all. Amen. Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord, then how much more they that die for the Lord.
Your brother in bonds,
John Bradford.
Letter 30. To a woman that desired to knew his mind, whether she, refraining from the mass, might be present at the popish matins, or not
I beseech Almighty God, our heavenly Father, to be merciful unto us, and to increase in you, my good sister, the knowledge and love of his truth, and at this present give me grace so to write to you something of the same, as may make to his glory and our own comfort and confirmation in him, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Whether you may come with safe conscience to the church now, that is, to the service used commonly, in part, as at matins; or at an evensong, or not, is your desire to have me to write something about for your further stay. My dearly beloved, although your benefits towards me perhaps might make you think, that in respect thereof I would bear with that which else were not to be borne withal; yet by God's grace I purpose, simply and without such respect in this matter, to speak to you the truth according to my conscience, as I may be able to stand unto, when I shall come before the Lord.
First, therefore, learn perfectly the first lesson to be learned by all that profess Christ, that isoto deny yourself, and in nothing to seek yourself.
Secondly, learn after this, to begin at the next lesson to it, which isoto seek God in all things you do, or leave undone.
Thirdly, know that you seek God, when in his service you follow his word, and not man's fancies, custom, the multitude, &c., and when with your brother you follow the rule of charity, that is, to do as you would be done by. In these is the sum of all the counsel I can give you, if I admonish you about the service now used, which is not according to God's word, but rather against God's word directly, and in manner wholly: so that your going to the service is a declaration that you have not learned the first lesson, nor ever can learn it so long as you go thither; therefore the second lesson you shall utterly lose, if you do not the seeking of yourself, that isoif for company, custom, father or friend, life or goods, you seem to allow that which God disallows; and that you may perceive this the better, I purpose, by God's grace, briefly to show,
First, the matins and evensong are in a tongue forbidden to be used publicly in a congregation that knows not the tongue. Read how Paul affirms that to pray in an unknown tongue, is against God's commandment. This I think were enough, if nothing else were; for how can God's glory be sought, where his word and commandment are wilfully broken? How can charity (love, editor) to man stand, when charity to God, which is obedience to his word, is overthrown?
Again, both in matins and evensong idolatry is maintained instead of God's service; for there is invocation and prayer made to saints departed this life, which robs God of that glory which he will give to none other. Moreover, this service and the setters forth of it condemn the English service as heresy, thereby falling into God's curse, whim is threatened to all such as call good evil, and evil good whereof they shall be partakers that communicate with them. Besides this, the Latin service is a plain mark of antichrist's catholic synagogue; so that the communicants, and approvers of it, thereby declare themselves to be members of the same synagogue, and so cut off from Christ and his church, whose exterior mark is the true administration of God's word and sacraments.
Furthermore, the example of your going thither to allow the religion of antichrist, as doubtless you do indeed, howsoever in heart you think, occasions the obstinate to be utterly intractable, the weak papist to be more obstinate, the strong gospellers to be sore weakened, and the weak gospellers to be utterly overthrown: which things, how great offences they are, no pen is able to express. All these evils you shall be guilty of, that company with those in religion exteriorly, from whom you are admonished to fly. If Christ be Christ; follow him; gather with him, lest you scatter abroad; serve God, not only in spirit, but also in body. Make not your body, now a member of Christ, a member of antichrist. Come out from among them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing. Confess Christ and his truth, not only in heart, but also in tongue, yea, in very deed, which few gospellers do. Indeed they deny him, and therefore had need to tremble, lest Christ deny them in the last day; which day, if it were set before our eyes often, the pleasures and treasures of this world would be but trifles.
Therefore, good sister, often have it before your eyes, daily set yourself and your doings as before the judgment seat of Christ now, that hereafter you be not called into judgment. Think that it will little profit you to win the whole world, and to lose your own soul. Mark Christ's lessons well, He that will save his life shall lose it; the Father from heaven commands you to hear Christ, and he says, Follow me: this you cannot do, and follow idolatry or idolaters. Flee from such, says the scripture.
May God grant this to you, to me, and to all God's children. Amen. Thus in haste I have accomplished your request. God grant, that as you have done me much good bodily, so this may be a little mean to do you some good spiritually. Amen. If time would serve, I would have written more at large. The 2d of March, anno 1555.
