The Lord of mercy, in Christ his Son our Saviour and only Comforter, be with you all now and for ever. Amen.
Although at present I have little time by reason of this bringer's short departing, and less occasion to write unto you; yet since it has pleased God to offer me more liberty to write than before I had, (as this bearer can report,) I thought good to signify unto you the same with the acknowledging of the receipt of your tokens, for which I neither can nor will go about to flatter you with thanks; for I know you look for none at mine hands, God being the cause, and his word the end wherefore you did so. To him I know you would have me thankful, and I beseech you pray that I may be so, and not only thankful for myself and his benefits towards me, but also thankful for you, to whom God has given to fear his name and love his truth. Which gifts far pass the riches of the world, for they shall perish and be left we know not unto whom; but these gifts of God as they last for ever, so they make the possessors of the same happy. Go on therefore, and pray God to increase them of his goodness, as of his mercy he has begun them in you, and indeed so he will. For to whom he gives the earnest to win, to them he will give the grace of continuing, if we reject not the same, as we do when we are double-hearted, and divide our fear and love, as the Samaritans did, which feared God and also their Adramelech,oloved God's religion and the old customs of their country. If this doubleness come on us, that we fear the world and unite it with the fear of Godo if we love the muck of this earth and couple it with the love of God's religion, then we divide the stakes, then we mar the market, then the Spirit of God will depart, then we play as Ananias and Sapphira did, and sooner or later we shall fall into perdition with them. But, as I said, I think no such thing of you. I think of you as God's dear children, whose hearts are wholly with the Lord. And therefore I write not this as though you were such, but because it is of God's goodness that you are not such, because Satan would have you such, and because man, that were as you are, now are such. Therefore to make you thankful and careful to continue, but so that your care be all cast upon the Lord, is the only cause wherefore I write this, and would write more, but the bringer cannot tarry. And therefore I make an end hastily and abruptly, beseeching Almighty God in our Redeemer Jesus Christ to be with you, and comfort you all with his Holy Spirit.
By your own to use in the Lord for ever,
John Bradford.
Letter 72 To Father Traces, minister of Blackley, begging his prayers, and lamenting his own sinful condition
(The following letters were written by M. Bradford to Father Traves, the minister of Blackley, in Lancashire, his revered friend and spiritual counsellor. They were written before the preceding letters, but it appears best to adopt the arrangement of Fox, and place them here. They present an interesting view of a real follower of Christ, fleeing for refuge to the hope which is set before him; and like Zaccheus, not resting satisfied till he had made restitution for former misdeeds according to the utmost of his ability. This circumstance, to which he frequently alludes, is noticed in the sketch of his life prefixed to these letters.)
Grace and mercy from God the Father, through out Lord Jesus Christ, govern our minds, that sin have not dominion over us. Amen.
Yesterday night, a little before supper, I was asked by a neighbour, my mother's friend, for to go this day to dinner. For that a refusal would have been imputed disdainful stateliness, I unwillingly, but not unadvisedly, yet foolishly granted the same; which I advertise you, as my excuse for not coming this day. And for mine absence yesterday, my vain looking for you to have come with your nearest neighbour, the rather for that I heard him commit to you the survey (examining, editor) of his will, has with some repentance deceived me, though to my hurt and loss, yet to your profit, which else by my coming and troubling you should have been contrary. If you come not hither tomorrow, send me word by the bringer; and if there is no sermon, I will come to you, to have your counsel in such things as I will not now write by letter.
In the mean season, in your communication with God, I pray you have me in remembrance, of all sinners a most negligent, unthankful, and wretched, (oh! that from the bottom of my heart I confessed the same unfeignedly!) that at length I might truly convert and return from these greasy fleshpots of Egypt, to feed with his manna, patiently and assuredly expecting his mercy, joyfully sighing for and bearing the badge of his disciples and servants, the cross. I mean to crucify this lucriferous (covetous, editor) and gluttonous heart, more than most worthy of the rich Epulo's unquenchable thirst (Luke 16, editor), and the gnawing worms of Herod (Acts 12, editor).
This paper, pen, and ink, yea the marble stone weeps, to see my slothful security, and unthankful hardness to so merciful and longsuffering a Lord. I confess it, I confess it, though not tremblingly, humbly, or penitently, yet I confess it, oh! hypocritically I confess it!
Therefore pray,opray for me, that I may repent, and be turned to God, not despising his wrath, and the death of his Son Jesus Christ, but that I may live in the Spirit and walk in the Spirit, evermore to bewail my carnal security and this self-love, that I may be made a new creature through grace, made meet to receive the new wine of the gospel into a new vessel, purified by faith, wrought by the Spirit of consolation, which may vouch-safe to lead us in all truth and godly living, that we may know God the Father to be in himself the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom he has sent. To which most blessed Trinity, be all honour and glory for ever. Amen.
From Manchester. In haste, this Thursday in the morning.
Yours as his own,
John Bradford.
Letter 73. Another letter to Father Traves
Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father, and Jesus Christ our Lord.
If my heart were not altogether adamantine, your kind letters to me, unkind wretch, would cause me, from the bottom of the same, to confess mine ingratitude towards you; but as I act, so I write; and as I am unable in the one, so am I foolish in the other; in all those unkindnesses, rudeness, &c. whereof you accuse yourself, I am enforced to acknowledge myself most justly condemned. In your letters, as in a glass, I may learn by you, speaking humbly of yourself, to espy my nakedness, which before I thought was clothed with a double garment, but now find only with fig-leaves hypocritically gilded, of which humility wrought in you by the Holy Ghost, be not proud; for what have you that you have not received? But be thankful to the Lord not only therefore, but also for those surges (trials, editor) which you feel now, through the cares accompanying marriage, through education, and bringing up of your children and family; through the cross of the common accustomed manner of living. For through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of heaven; yea, they are the cognizances (marks or badges, editor) of God's election, the instruments which work earnest sighings after eternal life, and therefore to be embraced. Believe me, it is the most excellent gift of God, for a man to demand humble himself, and to feel the crosses of Christ, as crosses. But I, most hypocritical wretch, not worthy that this earth should bear me, am ever giving way to the world, which is my greatest trouble. O Lord, help me and deliver me, for Jesus' sake, anoint mine eyes with ointment, that I may see. Oh give me not over unto a lewd (ignorant, editor) mind and reprobate sense, but awake my sleeping soul, that Christ may shine in me. You know the cross, the fatherly cross, the loving Lord has laid upon me; but I am little or nothing moved therewith. I work therein, yet not I, but God's Spirit, not of a repentant faithful mind, but, I cannot tell how, of a slothful, blind, reckless intent. O Lord! forgive me for saying so, it is thy gift, forgive me my unthankfulness for Jesus' sake; and, as I have blasphemed and dishonoured thy holy name herein, so do thou by thy Holy Spirit glorify by me the same. So be it.
Since my coming to London, I was with M. Latimer, whose counsel is as you shall hear, which I purpose by God's grace to obey; if it be thy will, O Lord, let it be done. He advises me, as I have done, to write to my master, who is in the country, and to show him, that if within a certain time, which I appointed, fourteen days, he does not set about to make restitution, that I will submit myself to my lord protector and the king's majesty's council, to confess the fault, and ask pardon. This life is uncertain and frail, and when time is, it must not be deferred. And what should it profit me to win the whole world, and to lose my own soul? If, as I justly have deserved, I am put to death for it, God's will be done. At the least, slander, reproach, rebuke, loss of worldly friends, loss of living, &c., shall ensue: what then? Lord, thy will be done: thine I am; if death come, welcome be it, if slander, &c., even as thou wilt, Lord, so be it. Only grant me a penitent, loving, obedient heart, and of mere love to go forwards herein, and not to shrink,oto stand, and not to fall, that thy name only may be praised herein. Amen. Pray, pray for me, cry for me; and when you shall hear anything, comfort my mother, to whom, since this bringer has not given me an hour's warning of his departure, I have not only written nothing, but also have thus prated to you, who I think will bear with me as no man else would. For, as God knows, to whose grace I commit you and your wife, with all your children and family, the shortness of time, and this bringer's haste, is the only hindrance why I neither send you spectacles, the price of the paraphrases, nor thanks for your cheese, as by the next that comes I will, God willing, send them to you, and a goodly testament for sir Thomas Hall, which is at the binding. But let it not be known that I have now written to you, for so I have prayed this bringer. God be with us, and pray for me, and abhor not my rude scribbling, which, if it were as well written as it is meant, would deserve pardon. Thus I make an end, imputing to the hastiness of this bringer all blame which you may lay unto me.
From the Temple, this Sunday, immediately after A. Latimer's famous sermon, which this bringer, as he says, did hear.
By your poorest friend,
John Bradford.
It shall not be long, God willing, but you shall both have and hear from me. Keep with you Melancthon's Common-places, for I have another.
Letter 74. Another letter of John Bradford to sir Thomas Hall, and Father Traves, of Blackley
The grace of God, our most merciful Father, keep your mind and soul in Christ Jesus, who alone is our full sufficient Saviour, for in him we are complete,obeing made through his death, and one only oblation made and offered by himself upon the cross, the children of God, and fellow-heirs with him of the celestial kingdom, which is the free gift of God, and comes not of merits, but of the free grace of God Which is given to none that puts any manner of hope or trust in any other thing, visible or invisible, than in that oblation of sweet savour, which Christ himself offered upon Good Friday, as we call it. Which oblation is always recent and new in the sight of God the Father, and makes intercession for us, for us I mean, which think that only sacrifice then offered is sufficient, as it is, has been, and ever shall be, for all the faithful; by which sacrifice if we believe, we have free pardon of all our sins. To Him therefore, which was both the offerer and offering, be all honour and praise, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, blessed for ever. Amen.
Sir Thomas, my old friend, John Traves, shall declare unto you the occasion of this my long silence towards you, upon the knowledge whereof, I doubt not of your pardon. I have sent unto you an English and Latin Testament, both in one print and volume; the which, though it be not so beautiful without as I could have sent you, yet it is no less beautiful within, and more I think for your profit, and better for your eyes, your eyes, I mean, of the body. For undoubtedly it gives light unto the soul, if she be not dead. Whereof take this for an argument, and a true proof. If your soul is not delighted in it, if your soul do not hunger for it, I mean not for the book, but for the doctrine in the book, surely your soul is sorely sick; for as the body which abhors meat is not well, even so must the soul be; for other meat has she none. Christ, whom you must believe before all men, affirms this to be true in the 4th of Matthew: "Not only in bread, but in every word of God, the soul does live." Mark well, he says, not one or two words, as an epistle or a gospel, but he says, "every word!' Take heed! believe Christ better than any man, be he ever so holy. For he that is of God (John viii.) hears the word of God. Will you have a more plain mark whether you are the elect child of God or no, than this text? Christ says, he that is of God hears the word of God; but we have no other word of God than in the canon of the Bible; and all things written therein, are written for our learning, (says St. Paul,) whereby he proves, that seeing it is a learning, yea, our learning, then we must learn it. Therefore woe be to all them which either persuade men, that there is other doctrine of like authority, or that dissuade men from embracing this wordothis word of God, or that think this word, especially the New Testament, is not above all other to be loved, to be read, to be chewed. This is the precious stone, which in the gospel Christ says, when a man has found, he sells all that ever he has, and buys it. Mark now how necessary and precious Christ makes that which great learned men think not necessary. May God help them! Christ bade his disciples sell their coats, and buy a sword, which is no other thing than the word of God; for so St. Paul calls it, the sword of the Spirit. Nay, say our learned men, (I lie, they have said so, but now they are ashamed,) fetch fire and burn it. (Bradford wrote this in king Edward the Sixth's reign; in a very few years afterwards, "they fetched fire and burned, not only the word of God, but also the faithful followers of it. Editor.)
This I say, sir Thomas, to the intent, that no ungodly hypocrite should persuade or dissuade you from reading the holy word of God, the gospel of Jesus Christ. Follow St. Paul's lesson: attend to reading it, and let the word of God dwell in you. How much? Plentifully, says he. And to what end? To feed the flock of Christ, even as much as in you is, says Peter, not once a year, or once a quarter, as a strawberry (a trifling matter, or perhaps a dainty, editor), but as much as in you is. This word of God tries all doctrine; for we ought to have our conscience charged with nothing, as touching religion, except the word of God in the canon of the Bible set it out. I mean not only in allegories, but even in plain words: for no other foundation can any man lay besides that which is laid. St Paul says, the groundwork is already laid; even so says he to the Ephesians; we are his workmanship, to do good works, which God has created that we should walk in them. He says not, they were to be made, but that they are made already. What shall we think then of such works as man's wit (wisdom, editor has founded, which yet seem most holy? Let God's word be judge. Read the same, diligently and reverently with prayer, (I mean not the Latin service not understood, but with true hearty prayer,) and mark what the law requires; even that which we cannot giveothe whole heart, and more if it were possible. But to this end, that we, seeing our abominable uncleanness and inability, might despair in ourselves, trembling at the justice of God and his anger, which we continually procure; and so embrace Christ, in whom God the Father is well pleased: which Christ is the end of the law, to justify all that believe, and continue not in their popish ignorance, justifying themselves, and treading Christ's blood under their feet, denying the Lord that bought them. All such, be they ever so well learned, ever so holy, are nothing but hypocrites and plain antichrists, which may not abide the sword of God's mouth. For when the trumpets of the army blow, I still mean God's word, the high wall of Jericho, the figure of hypocrisy, falls down. Embrace therefore God's holy word, and be not only a reader, but a doer; for your calling requires you to be apt to teach such proud, hypocritical, arrogant babblers, as I am now, which, if I may use this term, defile God's word. God forgive me, and pray you for me, and give God thanks for me, who spares me, which prate of God's holy word thus Lucifer-like, not of a true zeal, but of a foolish bragging. I know not what I do to confess it. So it is. I have sent to you other books, which I pray you read. I have written your name in them. The Holy Ghost keep you, with your brother George, his wife, and children; and with your brother James, &c., sir Lawrence, &c. This 20th of March.
A very painted hypocrite,
John Bradford,
Yours in Christ for ever.
Pray for me, pray for me, give God thanks for me, and take John Traves' help to read this letter, written in haste.
If anything but good be chanced to J. Traves, which God forbid, I pray you burn my letters out of hand.
Letter 75. Another letter to Father Traves
Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, through our Lord Jesus Christ, with increase of all manner of godly knowledge and living, be with you and all your household, now and ever. Amen.
To excuse this my long silence, within five or six days after my letters written to you by John Moss, it pleased God to send my master hither to London, whom, as I lately had advertised by letters, I moved, you know wherein, and prayed him to discharge the same, or else I would submit myself, &c. Whereunto he answered that if the books would declare it, he would satisfy, &c. I showed the books, whereupon he promised as much as I could ask. But he was herein something more moved than he had cause, God be praised therefore, which of his mere good pleasure wrought it, at times, as I desired to know how and in what time he would discharge us both, he thinking me to be over-curious herein, was not contented, and hearing me allege the uncertainty of time, and the fear of God's justice, (which, O gracious Lord, grant me to feel indeed as much as thou knows good for me,) he answered me, that I was scrupulous, and of a superstitious conscience, (for the natural man perceives not the things which be of God,) and plainly said further, that I should not know when, nor by these words have his head so under my girdle. And when I showed him that, as God witnesses with me, I desired no such thing, he said, that, seeing he promised before the face of God to discharge me, and to pay the thing, there was no godly conscience but ought so to be quieted. And thus at divers and sundry times, moving often to know of him the way and time of discharging the debt, and having no other answers than before, I, doubting worldly wisdom, which causes delays to reign in him with this mammon, (the which, O merciful God, eradicate out of his heart, mind, and all others,) I was something more sharp, and told him, (not of myself indeed, but through thy grace, O Lord,) I would obey God more than man: the which he lightly regarding, as it seemed, I departed and went to M. Latimer to have had him brought me to my lord protector, whose grace then was purposed shortly to take his journey to visit the ports. M. Latimer willed me to stay until his return, which will not be long. In the mean time I bade my bedfellow, my master's son, whom my master had used as his instrument to move me by influence of worldly things, for my master discharged him of his exhibition (deprived him of his allowance, editor), telling him that he could not be able to keep either house or child, for I purposed to undo both him and all his, (untruly thou knows, good Lord,) and bade him take that as a warning, that both he and his brethren should provide for themselves as they could. I bade, I say, my said bedfellow show my master, as of himself, my further purpose, which thing, when he knew it, so moved and alarmed him, that he began something to relent, and then made fair promises, that he would do what I should devise. I devised, but my devices pleased him not: and thus, but not vainly, I trust, (as I now do with you, but I know your gentleness, which ever has borne with me,) I spent the time in which I have been silent to write, nay babble to you. And he, departing out of London before I knew, sent me word by another of his said sons, not so given to the gospel and a good life as my bedfellow, and therefore more to be suspected,othis other brother, I say, told me, that my master would do all things, if his fame and ability only were preserved: but what shall it profit to gain the whole world, and lose the soul? And by the said brother my master sent me a little billet also, wherein he confessed, that he was contented within twelve months to deliver to my hands the whole money; which billet I, thinking not so good as it might have been, have devised another, and have sent it down to him in the country, with request that he will seal and sign it. For M. Latimer thinks this sufficient; but as yet I hear not of it, and am doubtful of worldly wisdom, which overcame Samson; moved David to slay Uriah; brought wise Solomon to idolatry; and crucified Christ; which also moved me to perpetrate this act, and works in my master's heart, having higher place there than the fear of the Lord. What say I? there yea, verily, with me, it sits in the holy place, (the Lord deliver us.) Doubting, I say, the effect of worldly wisdom, I remain in that same state now for this matter that I was in at my last writing unto you, though in worse for my soul, which is more to be lamented; pray therefore, I beseech you, pray with me, and for me, that I may do so earnestly. And as I then purposed, so I doubt not (grant it, Lord) but that I shall persevere, if in the mean season I shall not hear from my master accordingly. Thus I have, like myself, foolishly but truly, declared unto you, in many babbling words, what, if I had understanding, would have been shortly and briefly comprehended, (arrogant wretch, nay, unthankful of God's working,) my working in this matter, which is and which was the only cause I troubled you not before, (as I now do,) to the intent I might advertise you some certainty in this thing. And though silence had been much better than this foolish prating, yet your fatherly kindness ever towards me, in expecting from you a correction, as I have herein given cause, may, though not to you, yet to me be profitable. In hope whereof, I proceed in requiring you to continue your remembrance of me, a most unkind wretch to God and you, in your prayers with the almighty merciful Lord, that I may more regard his will and pleasure herein, than all honour or shame in this life. But I must confess unto you, that my working in this matter is not of love, as I should do, nor of fear of God's justice; mine unthankfulness, mine unthankfulness, if there were nothing else, has not only deserved, but does deserve more than everlasting damnation: O Lord, be merciful unto me! I do not so repent it as I should do. Why say I so? as though this so were anything. O hypocritical wretch that I am! Alas! father Traves, (let me call you so,) I am hard-hearted, there was never any so obstinate, so unkind, against so loving, so merciful, so gracious, so good, so beneficial a Lord yea, a Father, as I am, wretch and most miserable sinner! This I speak, but not of humility, but of hypocrisy; yet I speak truly; I pray thee, good father, for Christ's sake that I may think it truly, as I write it even of arrogance; oso it is; therefore pray and cry for me. Here are goodly, godly, and learned sermons, which these uncircumcised ears of mine hear at the least thrice a week, which are able (the great loving mercy of God offered to me in them I mean) to burst any man's heart, to relent, to repent, to believe, to love, and to fear that omnipotent gracious Lord. But my adamantine, obstinate, most unkind, ingrate, unthankful heart, hears my Lord, which is the Lord over all lords, vouchsafe so graciously, so lovingly, by so many his instruments to speak, to call, to cry unto me; now by his law, now by his threats, now by his gospel, now by his promises, now by all his creatures, to come, to come even to himself. I hide me with Adam in the garden, I play not Samuel running to Eli, but I play Jonah running to the sea, and there I sleep upon the hatches, which is my greatest trouble, until it please God to anoint mine eyes with eye-salve, until it please him to raise up a tempest, to turn and look upon me, as Luke says he did on Peter. For, O Lord! it is thy gift, and comes of thee, and of thy mere grace; it comes not of man, it comes not of works, to repent, to believe, to fear and to love. Work thou therefore in me, for Jesus Christ's sake, which am thy creature, and most unthankful hypocritical servant; not when I will, not as I will, but when thou wilt, even that which may be most to the glory of thy name. Amen. What should I write? Nay, why do I not pluck these same words and paper in pieces? For I write altogether of hypocrisy and arrogant presumption. I will confess it, (thou wicked spirit, the Lord judge thee,) I will confess it; it is most true, John Traves, I only write it, for it is not I, it is hypocrisy. Knowledge (if I had it) puffs up. O Lord, grant me thy grace, and leave me not to my own judgment and reason. Hypocrisy; arrogance, and obstinate security, environ me, yet I feel them not. The Lord deliver me. Pray, pray for me. Give God thanks for me. O Lord! even thy will be done; unlock this mine heart, thou which hast the key of David, who alone opens, that I may desire to have the desire of the glory of thy name, of repentance, faith, &c. Pray for me, and be thankful for me, O father Traves! and write to me. I desire to see your letters more than any man's living. Let me have them therefore as you may, but your prayer at all times, that God would open my heart to feed and taste of these comfortable places of scripture, which to me are locked: "Remember that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead." This text, as a text of most comfort, (as it is indeed, and when God will I shall feed on it,) Paul sent to Timothy, to be his comfort in all places. For our salvation (this day of resurrection) is nearer now than when we believed; therefore he that endures to the end shall be saved. For he will accomplish the transgression, says Daniel, he will make an end of sin, destroy iniquity, and bring in everlasting righteousness. For God will come and save us, he will come and will not tarry; and when Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall we appear, with him, in glory. For he was once offered, that he might bear the sins of many; and to them that look for him shall he appear without sin unto salvation, and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words: O Lord! open mine eyes, which see nothing of the great comforts in these thy most rich words; open mine eyes, good Lord, that I sleep not unto death. Pray for me, and commend me to your wife and all the brethren in Christ with a holy kiss. Thus I make an end, (for it is time you may say,) and I pray you still water (instruct in the truths of the gospel, editor) sir Thomas Hall, unto whom I have sent a fair Testament, both in English and Latin, if this bringer will carry it. And I have herewith sent you a letter, which first peruse and read, and when you have so done, abhor not me, but my wickedness, and pray for me; and as you can see a meet time seal it, and deliver it to sir Nicholas Wolstoncross, by such policy as you can think of, by God's grace, through prayer. I confess unto you, God is my witness, to my knowledge, I never while in the country this winter at any time called it to remembrance; the Lord forgive me. I would by some occasion, if any could be had, before the delivery of the letter, by some story or communication, that he did know that abomination to be sin; for I fear me he thinks it to be no sin. The Lord open our eyes, and forgive us. Amen. The peace of God be with you. Amen. From the Temple, this 22nd of March, 1547-8.
Yours in Christ most bounden,
John Bradford.
I have sent you three pairs of good spectacles, I trow (think, editor), and other such books as have your name written in them, which take in good worth, and pray for me, and give thanks for me.
