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Letters of John Bradford: Letters 76 - 80

By John Bradford


      Letter 76. Another letter of Master Bradford to Father Traves

      Grace, mercy, and peace, &c.

      My chance is not to have any warning by this bringer of his farewell, so that I am constrained, time compelling me, to write not so much of things (which I will omit) as my desire was. Concerning the great matter you know of, it has pleased God to bring it to this end, that I have a bill of my master's hand, wherein he is bound to pay the sum before Candlemas next coming. This, Master Latimer thinks to be sufficient; therefore I pray you to give that gracious Lord thanks, and thanks, and thanks upon it, for me, a most wretched ungrateful sinner, which have also in other things no less cause to praise God's name; as for that I have and sustain my master's sore displeasure, which has brought me (God I should say through it) unto more contempt of worldly things, through the sequestration (taking-away, editor) of such his business, as formerly I had ado withal. I call it a contempt; well, take the word even as it is hypocritically and vain-gloriously spoken; for which fault, amongst my others innumerable, I trust you remember in your prayers, whereof I have (I would I knew how much) need. There is yet another thing, whereof I will advertise you even to this end, that you might pray, if it be God's will, that as I trust shortly to begin, so he may confirm what be has begun, as (if I am not deceived) I believe it is his working. If the thing that I presume seems by God's Spirit in you, then for the Lord's sake advertise me; for I am given to that disease, the Lord deliver me; I have moved my master therein by letters, to see if I shall have any living of him, as hitherto I have had; but I have thereof no answer, nor, as our natural speech is, any likelihood of any grant. Yet that I have already, I trust will suffice me for three years. You look what my purpose means; I am so long before I come to it; therefore I do it, because my long babbling should be less tedious. Now shall you have it. If God's will be so, (whereunto pray I may be obedient,) I am minded before Midsummer to leave London, to go to my books (to study, editor) at Cambridge, and, if God shall give me grace, to be a minister of his word. Thus you have of a fly an elephant. Well, take it in good part. A tumbling block (roller, editor) gathers no moss, so therefore pray for me. Perchance I do foolishly to forsake so good a living as I have. I will say no more hereof, but pray for me. I trust, as I said, I have sufficient for three years' study, if my master take all from me; and when this is spent, God will send more. I do not write this, that you should think me to be in need of worldly help, and therefore, as the friars were wont, secretly to beg: no; in the Lord's name I require you not to take it so, for I had rather never send letter than I should be herein a cross to you, for sufficient to the day is the evil thereof. We are more set by than many sparrows. But if my mother, or sir Thomas Hall, murmur at it, or be offended with me remedy it with your counsel as you can. Howbeit, as yet I will not write to them of it, until such time as I am going. I am something fickle-minded and inconstant, therefore pray for me, that my hand being put to the plough, (presumptuously spoken,) I look not back. You may gather by my words in this letter the heroical heart which lies in me.

      I have sent you a book of Bucer against Winchester, lately translated into English, which I never read, therefore I cannot praise it. And as I call to remembrance, I send you with the other books more than you received, at them least one of them I remember, which is called the Common Places, or the Declaration of the Faith, by Urbanus Rhegius. Ask for it, or send me word in whom the default is you have it not. Hereafter, and that shortly, by God's grace I will send you a work or two, which I have translated into English, so soon as they are printed, which will be before Whitsuntide. Pray for me, good father Traves, and God send you health of soul and body, as I would mine own or any man's living. But yet to warn you of that you know not; in writing your letters to me, you hit me home, and give me that I look for. You are deceived, and so are all that know me. I never came to any point of mortification, therefore a little tickling (praise, editor) sets me afloat. God help me, and give God thanks for me, as all men are most bounden. Thus, when I once begin to write to you, I run on as the priest says matins, for I think I may be bold with you. The Holy Ghost preserve you, your wife, and family, and persevere his grace in you even to the end. I pray you, pray for me, a most (what should I call me) miserable and blasphemous sinner. The peace of God he with us. From the Temple, this 12th of May, 1548.

      Sir Thomas Hall has deceived me, but himself most. I desire to speak with him, as this winter I may chance to see him, if I discharge not myself of mine office. Pray for him and for me,

      A very hypocrite,

      John Bradford.

      Letter 77. Another letter of Master Bradford to Father Traves

      The perseverance of God's grace, with the knowledge of his good will, increase with you unto the end. To declare myself as I am, a carnal man which understands not the things that are of the Spirit. These my letters though I counterfeit and mix amongst them spiritual words, as the devil did in his temptations to Christ, will declare no less. For I begin with carnal things in effect, and no marvel if I so end; for how can a man gather figs of briers? These words, as they seem, so they are spoken, for a cloak to make you think otherwise; but, Father Traves, you cannot think so evil of me as I am. But to the matter: this present day, by God's grace, I take my journey towards Cambridge, where I pray God, and so earnestly I pray you to pray for me, that I may circumspectly redeem this time which God has appointed (to me unknown) to lend me. For, alas! I have spent the time past most wickedly, for which I must account even for every hair breadth, as they say; for God has not given here time to sin. But if I considered this, as I do nothing less, for custom of sin and pleasing myself has so hardened my heart, I should then come to the feeling of myself; then I should hate sin, which I now love; then I should fear God's wrath, which I now contemn. Then should I cry out, and weep, and continually pray; whereas now I am dry as a stone, as dumb as a nail, as far from praying, as he that never knew any taste of it; which thing once I felt, thanks to the Lord, but now for mine unthankfulness I am almost (but most worthily) deprived. I fear God will take his grace from me, I am so unthankful. Alas! why do I lie, in saying I fear, nay, God grant I may do so, for then should I pray and pray; but seeing I cannot, speak you for me, pray for me, that the Lord would remember his odd compassion towards me, and for his mercy's sake draw me, yea, compel me to serve, to fear, and to love him. Thus may you see how I presume; for my intent was to have been a minister of God's word, to have been his instrument, to call from as I have called to sin; but you see that God punishes my arrogance. Alas! what shall I do? I am an unprofitable and idle member; I thought I should have been therein profitable; but, Physician, heal thyself. How should I, or what should I do? I cannot labour with my hands. Well, I trust God will give me grace and knowledge to translate; I fear me, yea, I distrust me, that I shall never be minister of God's word: yea, if arrogance were not in me, how should I, of all wretches the greatest, think to look to the highest room (place or office, editor) and vocation that is upon earth; wherefore I desire you to pray for me speedily, that God's will may be done in me whether I live or die, so that his name be honoured. My master, that was, has denied me all his beneficence; but I have more than enough for this life, thanks be to God; as this winter I intend, by God's favour to declare more onto you. This book, which I have sent, take it in good part; it is the first, but I trust it shall not be the last God has appointed me to translate (it was called Primitiae or Translations, editor). The prince is very false; I am sorry for it; I pray you, be not offended at my babbling in the prologues, &c.

      John Bradford.

      I will lie, God willing, this summer at Catherine's Hall, in Cambridge: write to me.

      Letter 78. Another letter to Father Graves.

      The loving kindness and abundant mercy of God the Father, poured plentifully upon all the faithful, in the blood of that meek lamb Jesus Christ, our only satisfaction and Mediator, through the working of the most Holy Spirit, be increased and perceived in you daily more and more, to the glory of God, &c.

      Because I stand both in doubt of the reading and delivery of such letters as I write and send unto you, dearly beloved father Traves, I am constrained to leave off telling you of such griefs and spiritual wants, as, thanks unto the Lord, I unwillingly feel. For the flesh, as you know, loves nothing so much as security, which is, of all enemies, the most perilous, and not a little familiar with me; from which, with vainglory, hypocrisy, &c. and worldliness, the Lord deliver me! I had not thought to have written thus much, but these I cannot keep, but commit them to your prayers. And to the intent I would you should not think any ingratitude in me, as also that I might give you occasion to write to me again, as heretofore I have done, even so do I interrupt and trouble you with my babbling; but yet, having this advantage, that I babble not so much as I wont to do. The cause I have declared which had almost been the cause I had not written at all. I wrote unto you from London, when I came hither; send me word what letters you have received, for from you I have received but two, and both by John Mosse; and in the latter I perceived that the Lord had visited you with sickness, his fatherly rod, whereby he declares his love upon you, and that he cares for you, wherein you greatly rejoice, though now for a season you are in heaviness, that the trial of your faith being much more precious than of gold that perishes, &c (1 Pet. 1;) forasmuch as you are hereunto called, to suffer with Christ, that you may be glorified with him; for this is certain, if we suffer with him, we shall also reign with him.

      You know that Christ, although the Son of God, yet learned obedience by the things which he suffered. Let patience have her perfect work, that you may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. And does not patience come of probation? The one you had, so that you were going to school to learn the other, which being learned, what want you? The end of all God's proving is, as Paul says, that you may be partakers of his holiness. Therefore give thanks to God the Father, who has made you meet to partake of the inheritance of the saints in light, &c. For he has afflicted you in the same manner, to renew, support, strengthen, settle you. And the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of tribulation, and that in the proper time, even shortly. For he will not delay, who has promised, yet a little while, and ye shall see me; he will surely come, and will not tarry. Therefore rejoice, that you are partakers of the cross of Christ (says Peter), that when his glory is revealed, you may rejoice with exceeding joy. Oh! how does my will overrun my wit (wisdom, editor). Why, Bradford, whom write you unto? You show yourself. Thus, father Traves, you may see my rashness to rabble out the Scripture without purpose, rhyme, or reason. I will not blot it out, as I thought to have done, for that you shall hereby see my need of your prayer. Well, I look for a watch-word from you. Write, I beseech you, and pray for me, that I may be in something profitable to the Lord's congregation; that I may be no stumbling-block, that they who expect is from me may not be confounded. Send me such counsel as the Lord's Spirit shall move you to study. My desire is in something to be profitable, if it were the Lord's will - to be a minister of the word. Alas! I am unmeet, and my time, yea, the Lord's time, I have hitherto evil, yea, most wickedly misspent it, &c. Thus will I end. The Lord be with you and your wife, to whom have me heartily commended, and to all your children and family; which I beseech the Lord to lighten his countenance over, and grant you his peace. I beseech you to write. Pray for me. This Assumption-day, in Catherine's Hall, in Cambridge,

      Yours, with all I have and can,

      John Bradford.

      Letter 79. Another letter to Father Traves

      The plentiful grace of God the Father, through our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ, increase in us daily, to the glory of his name. Amen.

      Forasmuch as I have often written to you, good father Traves, and yet have not once heard from you since Pentecost, I cannot now be so bold, either in writing much or often, as I would have been. Howbeit, this I say, that I much marvel that I hear not from you. But not so, for I am so wretched a sinner, that the Lord's Spirit, I am certain, does not move you to write to me; yet for God's sake, pray for me, and in the Lord's name I desire you to give thanks to God for me. And when it may please God to move you, write to me, though it be but two words. And counsel me how to study the word of life, the ministry whereof I desire, if it be the Lord's pleasure, to profess, and that I may do it, both in living and learning, pray for me. My master has entirely disowned me. Those things he at first granted he now refuses to pay, and is become altogether mine enemy. I know not when I shall see you in body, therefore let me hear from you. I write not this, that you should think me in want, or that I am distressed: no, father, the Lord gives me to abound in all things, and will do. I trust I shall shortly have a fellowship here, I am so promised, and therefore I have taken the degree of Master of Arts, which else I could not have attained. If I get a fellowship, I shall not need to be anxious for the morrow, as hereafter I shall more write to you, by God's grace. I pray you write again, and often pray for me. In haste, as appears, this 22nd of October. Let not my mother know how hardly my master deals with me.

      A most miserable sinner,

      John Bradford.

      Letter 80. Another letter to Father Traves

      The peace and plenteous mercy of God our heavenly Father, in his Christ, our only Lord and Saviour, be ever increased in you, by the Holy Spirit; who works all things in all men. Amen.

      Father Traves, though I might think myself more happy if you would often write unto me; yet because I ought to have respect to your pains, which now that old man cannot so well sustain as it might, I had rather lose my happiness in that behalf, than desire your grief; forasmuch as it can be no happiness unto me, which turns to your pain. Yet because pain is not painful when it is joined with gain I therefore desire you earnestly to pray often for me; for if I shall not be worthy of your prayer, as the Lord who knows all things does right well see, and so my conscience witnesses; yet your good prayer shall return unto your own bosom. And know this, that whoso converts a sinner by prayer, (whether it be by prayer, preaching, or writing letters, &c.) the same has saved a soul. Use therefore, for God's sake I ask it, that pains whereunto is joined profit. I mean prayer to God for me, a miserable and most wretched sinner; and as for the gainless pain as writing to me, use it yet as you may; and surely God, for whose sake you do it, since he will reward a cup of cold water, will in something requite you. And I know certainly, that if you saw what spiritual profit I receive by your letters, I am certain you would not think all your labour lost. For Christ's sake therefore begin again to write unto me and reprove me sharply, for my horrible unthankfulness to God. You know how God has exonerated my laden conscience of the great weighty burden; for so I did write to you, yea, the Lord has in a manner unburdened me of the lesser burden also; for I have an assurance of the payment of the same by Candlemas. Lo! thus you see what a good God the Lord is unto me. O father Traves! give thanks for me, and pray God to forgive me my unthankfulness. But what! should I rehearse the benefits of God towards me? Alas! I cannot, I am too little for all his mercies; yea, I am not only unthankful, but I am too far contumelious against God; for where you know the sun, the moon, and the seven stars forsook me, and would not shine upon me, you know what I mean, (my master and my master's friends,) yet the Lord has given me here in the university as good a living as I would have wished. For I am now a Fellow of Pembroke Hall; for which neither I, nor any other for me, ever made any suit; yea, there was a contention betwixt the Master of Catherine's Hall and the Bishop of Rochester, who is master of Pembroke Hall, which should have me. Thus you may see the Lord's carefulness for me. My fellowship here is worth seven pounds a year, for I have allowed me eighteen pence a week, and as good as thirty-three shillings and four-pence a year in money, besides my chamber, launder, barber, &c.; and I am bound to nothing, but once or twice a year to keep a problem. Thus you see, what a good Lord God is unto me. But, I pray you, what do I now to God for all this? I will not speak of the great mercies he shows upon my soul. Surely, Father Traves, I have clean forgotten God; I am all secure, idle, proud, hardhearted, utterly void of brotherly love; I am envious, and disdain others; I am a very stark hypocrite, not only in my words and works, but even in these my letters to you; I am all sensual, without the true fear of God, another manner of man than I have been since my calling. Alas! father Traves, I write this to put myself in remembrance; but I am without all sense, I only write it. I beseech you! pray for me, which am only in name a Christian; in very deed, a very worldling, and, to say to you the very truth, the most a worldling of all other. (Thus the real follower of Christ will think and speak humbly of himself. Bradford here refers to the inward warfare and to the sinful inclinations of his heart; his outward conduct was exceedingly correct, so that he was called 'Holy John Bradford'. Editor.) I pray you exhort my mother now and then, with my sister Margaret, to fear the Lord. If my mother had not sold the foxes' fur which was in my father's gown, I would she would send it me; she must have your advice in a piece of cloth.

      Yours for ever,

      John Bradford.

Back to John Bradford index.

See Also:
   Letters 1 - 5
   Letters 6 - 10
   Letters 11 - 15
   Letters 16 - 20
   Letters 21 - 25
   Letters 26 - 30
   Letters 31 - 35
   Letters 36 - 40
   Letters 41 - 45
   Letters 46 - 50
   Letters 51 - 55
   Letters 56 - 60
   Letters 61 - 65
   Letters 66 - 70
   Letters 71 - 75
   Letters 76 - 80
   Letters 81 - 83

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