Letters of Master John Bradford, written on Various Occasions *
Letter 1. To the City of London *
Letter 2. To the University and Town of Cambridge *
Letter 3. To Lancashire and Cheshire *
Letter 4. To the Town of Walden *
Letter 5. A comfortable letter of Master Bradford to his mother, a godly matron, dwelling in Manchester, and to his brethren and sisters, and others of his friends there *
Letter 6. To my loving brethren, B. C. - etc., their wives, and whole families, J. Bradford *
Letter 7. To my dearly beloved in Christ, Erkinalde Rawlins and his wife *
Letter 8. To Mistress A. Warcup *
Letter 9. To mine own dear brother, Master Laurence Saunders, prisoner in the Marshalsea *
Letter 10. Another Letter to Master Laurence Saunders *
Letter 11. To my dear fathers, D. Cranmer, D. Ridley, D. Latimer, prisoners in Oxford for the testimony of the Lord Jesus and his holy gospel *
Letter 12. To my dear fathers, D. Cranmer, D. Ridley, and D. Latimer *
Letter 13. To the Right Honourable Lord Russell, (afterwards Earl of Bedford), being then in trouble for the verity of God's gospel. *
Letter 14. To Master Warcup and his wife, Mistress Wilkinson, and others of his godly friends, with their families *
Letter 15. To Sir James Hales, Knt., then prisoner in the Compter in Bread Street *
Letter 16. To my very dear friend in the Lord, Doctor Hill, Physician *
Letter 17. To Mistress M. H., a godly gentlewoman, comforting her in that common heaviness and godly sorrow, which the feeling and sense of sin works in God's children *
Letter 18. Another letter, full of godly comfort, written to the same person *
Letter 19. To my well beloved in the Lord, W. P. *
Letter 20. A Letter which he wrote to a faithful woman in her heaviness and trouble, most comfortable for all those to read that are afflicted and broken-hearted for their sins *
Letter 21. To my good Lady Vane *
Letter 22. Another Letter to Lady Vane *
Letter 23. To my dear friends and brethren, R. and E., with their wives and families *
Letter 24. To Mistress Wilkinson *
Letter 25. Another letter, written to certain godly persons, encouraging them to prepare themselves with patience for the cross *
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 *
Letter 27. To my good brother, John Careless, Prisoner in the King's Bench *
Letter 28. To Master John Hall and his wife, prisoner in Newgate, for the testimony of the gospel *
Letter 29. To Mistress Hall, prisoner in Newgate, and ready to make answer before her adversaries *
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 *
Letter 31. To the worshipful, and, in God, my most dear friend, the Lady Cane *
Letter 32. To my dear brother in the Lord, Master Richard Hopkins, and his wife, dwelling in Coventry, and other my faithful brethren and sisters, professors of God's holy gospel there and thereabouts *
Letter 33. A letter to Master Richard Hopkins, then sheriff of Coventry, and prisoner in the Fleet, for the faithful and constant confessing of God's holy gospel *
Letter 34. To my good sister, Mistress Elizabeth Brown *
Letter 35. To a friend of his, instructing him how he could answer his adversaries *
Letter 36. To certain godly men, whom he exhort to be patient under the cross, and constant in the true doctrine which they had professed *
Letter 37. To my dear friend and brother in the Lord, Master George Eaton *
Letter 38. Another letter to Master George Eaton *
Letter 39. Another letter to Mistress Ann Warcup *
Letter 40. To a certain godly gentlewoman, troubled and afflicted by her friends for not coning to the mans *
Letter 41. To One by whom he had received much comfort and relief in his trouble and imprisonment *
Letter 42. To a faithful friend and his wife, resolving their doubt why they ought not to go to auricular confession *
Letter 43. A letter to N. and his wife *
Letter 44. To my good brother Augustine Berneher *
Letter 45. To mine own good Augustine *
Letter 46. A letter of Master Bradford, describing a comparison between the old man and the new, &c. *
Letter 47. A letter written to his mother as a farewell, when he thought he should have suffered shortly after *
Letter 48. Another letter to his mother, as his last farewell unto her in this world, a little before he was burned *
Letter 49. A letter sent with a supplication to Queen Mary, her council, and the whole parliament. *
Letter 50. To certain of his friends, N. Sheterden and R. Cole *
Letter 51. To Mistress J. Warrington, a faithful woman, and fearing God, whom he exhorts to be patient under the cross, and not to fear death *
Letter 52. To my good friend in God, Master Humphrey Hales *
Letter 53. Another letter to Master Humphrey Hales and his wife *
Letter 54. To Master Shalcrosse and his wife, dwelling in Lancashire *
Letter 55. To my good friends in the Lord, Master R. and his wife *
Letter 54. To the worshipful Sir William Fitzwilliams, then being knight marshal of the King's Bench *
Letter 57. To my good brother, Master Coker, at Maldon, in Essex *
Letter 58. To mine own good brother, Master John Philpot, prisoner in the King's Bench *
Letter 59. To my good brother, R. Cole *
Letter 55. To Mistress Brown *
Letter 61. To certain godly men, reliever and helpers of him and others, in their imprisonment *
Letter 62. Another letter to the Lord Russell *
Letter 63. To his godly friends, G. and N., encouraging them to prepare themselves to the cross, and patiently to endure afflictions for God's cause and his holy gospel *
Letter. 69. To my dearly beloved in the Lord, Mrs. W. and Mrs. W. *
Letter 65. To my good sister, M. H. *
Letter 66. A letter concerning freewill, to certain men who were then prisoner with him in the King's Bench *
Letter 67. To certain men not rightly persuaded in the most true, comfortable, and necessary doctrine of God's holy election and predestination *
Letter 68. To Trewe and Abingdon, with other of their company, teachers and maintainers of the error of Man's Freewill *
Letter 69. To Trewe and Abingdon, with other of their company, teachers and maintainers of the error of Man's Freewill *
Letter 70. To the Lady Vane *
Letter 71. To Mistress Wilkinson *
Letter 72 To Father Traces, minister of Blackley, begging his prayers, and lamenting his own sinful condition *
Letter 73. Another letter to Father Traves *
Letter 74. Another letter of John Bradford to sir Thomas Hall, and Father Traves, of Blackley *
Letter 75. Another letter to Father Traves *
Letter 76. Another letter of Master Bradford to Father Traves *
Letter 77. Another letter of Master Bradford to Father Traves *
Letter 78. Another letter to Father Graves. *
Letter 79. Another letter to Father Traves *
Letter 80. Another letter to Father Traves *
Letter 81. Another letter to Father Traves *
Letter 82. Another letter to Father Traves *
Letter 83. To a faithful and dear friend of his, treating of this place of St. Paul to the Romans: "The fervent desire of the creature waiteth when the children of God shall be delivered." (Rom. viii.) *
Letters of Master John Bradford, written on Various Occasions
Master John Bradford, a faithful Minister and pillar of Christ's Church, by whose great labours and diligence in preaching and planting the sincerity of the gospel, by whose most godly and innocent life, and by whose long and painful imprisonments for the maintenance of the truth, the Kingdom of God was not a little advanced; who also at last most valiantly and cheerfully gave his blood for the same, on the first day of July, in the year of our Lord 1555.
[After the time that Bradford was condemned and sent to the Compter, it was purposed by his adversaries that he should be had to Manchester, where he was born, and there be burned. Whereupon he wrote to the City of London, thinking to take his last farewell of them in this letter. Fox.]
Letter 1. To the City of London
To all that profess the gospel and the true doctrine of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, in the city of London. John Bradford, a most unworthy servant of the Lord, now not only in prison, but also excommunicated and condemned to be burned, for the same true doctrine, wishes mercy, grace, and peace, with increase of all godly knowledge and piety, from God the father of mercy, through the merits of our alone and all-sufficient Redeemer Jesus Christ, by the operation of the Holy Spirit for ever. Amen.
My dearly beloved brethren in our Saviour Christ. Although the time I have to live is very little, for I look hourly when I shall be conveyed into Lancashire, there to be burned, and, by the providence of God, to render my life where I first received it, by the same providence. And although the charge is great to keep me from all things whereby I might signify any thing to the world of my state; yet having, as now I have, pen and ink, through God's working, notwithstanding the power of Satan and his soldiers, I thought good to write a short confession of my faith, and thereto join a little exhortation unto you all, to live according to your profession.
First, my faith. I do confess, and pray all the whole congregation of Christ to bear witness with me of the same, that I believe constantly, through the gift and goodness of God, for faith is only God's gift, all the twelve articles of the symbol or creed, commonly attributed to the apostles. This my faith I would gladly particularly declare and expound, to confirm and comfort the simple. But, alas! by starts and stealth I write in the manner that I write, and therefore I shall desire you all to take this brevity in good part. And this faith I hold, not because of the creed itself, but because of the word of God, which teaches and confirms every article accordingly. This word of God, written by the prophets and apostles, and contained in the canonical books of the holy Bible, I do believe to contain plentifully all things necessary to salvation, so that nothing, as necessary to salvation, ought to be added thereto. And therefore neither the Church of Christ, nor any of his congregations, ought to be burdened with any other doctrine, that that which here-out has its foundation and ground. In testimony of this faith, I render and give my life, being condemned, as well for not acknowledging the antichrist of Rome to be Christ's vice-general and supreme head of the catholic and universal church, here or elsewhere upon earth. As for denying the horrible and idolatrous doctrine of transubstantiation, and Christ's real, corporeal, and carnal presence in his supper, under the forms and accidents, (or appearance,) of bread and wine.
To believe that Christ our Saviour is the head of his Church, and that kings in their realms are the supreme powers, to whom every soul owes obedience. And to believe that in the supper of Christ is a true and very presence of whole Christ, God and man, to the faith of the receiver, but not to the stander by and looker upon, even as it is a true and very presence of bread and wine to the senses of men; to believe this, I say, will not serve. And therefore as a heretic I am condemned, and shall be burned. Whereof I ask God heartily for mercy that I do no more rejoice than I do, having so great cause, as to be an instrument wherein it may please my dear Lord God and Saviour to suffer.
For albeit my manifold sins, even since I came into prison, have deserved at the hands of God, not only temporal fire, but also eternal fire in hell, much more my former sinful life, which the Lord pardon for Christ's sake, as I know he of his mercy has done, and that he never will lay my iniquities to my charge, to condemnation. So great is his goodness, praised therefore be his holy name! Although, I say, my manifold and grievous late sins have deserved most justly all that man or devil can do unto me. And therefore I confess that the Lord is just, and that his judgements are true and deserved on my behalf. Yet, the bishops and prelates do not persecute them in me, but Christ himself, his word, his truth, and religion. And therefore I have great cause, yea, most great cause, to rejoice that ever I was born, and hitherto kept of the Lord. That by my death, which is deserved for my sins, it pleases the heavenly Father to glorify his name, to testify his truth, to confirm his verity, to oppugn his adversities. O good God and merciful Father! Forgive my great unthankfulness, especially herein.
And you, my dearly beloved, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, I humbly and heartily in his bowels and blood do now, for my last farewell in this present life, beseech you and every one of you, that you will consider this work of the Lord accordingly. First by me be admonished to beware of hypocrisy and carnal security. Profess not the gospel with tongue and lips only, but in heart and verity. Frame and fashion your lives accordingly. Beware that God's name be not evil spoken of, and the gospel still less regarded by your conversation. God forgive me, that I have not so heartily professed it as I should have done, but have sought myself much therein. The gospel is a new doctrine to the old man. It is new wine. And therefore it cannot be put in old bottles, without more hurt than good to the bottles. If we will talk with the Lord, we must put off our shoes and carnal affections. If we will hear the voice of the Lord, we must wash our garments and be holy. If we will be Christ's disciples, we must deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Christ. We cannot serve two masters. If we will seek Christ's kingdom, we must seek for the righteousness thereof. To the petition, Let thy kingdom come, we must join, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. If we will not be doers of the word, but hearers of it only, we sorely deceive ourselves. If we hear the gospel, and love it not, we declare ourselves to be but fools, and builders upon the sand. The Lord's spirit hates feigning. Deceitfulness the Lord abhors. If we come to him we must beware that we come not with a double heart. For them may chance that God will answer us according to the block which is in our heart, and so we shall deceive ourselves and others.
See that we couple a good conscience to faith, lest we make a shipwreck. To the Lord we must come with fear and reverence. If we will be gospellers, we must be Christ's. If we be Christ's, we must crucify our flesh with the lusts and concupiscences thereof. If we will be under grace, sin must not bear rule in us. We may not come to the Lord, and draw night unto him with our lips, and leave our hearts elsewhere, lest the Lord's wrath wax hot, and he take from us the good yet remaining. In no case can the kingdom of Christ approach unto them that repent not. Therefore, my dearly beloved, let us repent and be heartily sorry that we have so carnally, so hypocritically, so covetously, so vain-gloriously professed the gospel. For all these I confess of myself, to the glory of God, that he may cover my offences in the day of judgement. Let the anger and plagues of God most justly fallen upon us, be applied to every one of our deserts, that from the bottom of our hearts every one of us may say, It is I, Lord, that have sinned against thee; it is my hypocrisy, my vain-glory, my covetousness, uncleanness, carnality, security, idleness, unthankfulness, self-love, and such like, which have deserved the taking away of our good king (King Edward VI, editor), of thy word, and true religion, of thy good ministers by exile, imprisonment, and death. It is my wickedness that causes success, and increase of authority, and peace to thy enemies. Oh, be merciful, be merciful unto us. Turn to us again, O Lord of hosts, and turn us unto thee. Correct us, but not in thy fury, lest we be consumed in thine anger. Chastise us not in thy wrathful displeasure. Reprove us not, but in the midst of thine anger remember thy mercy. For if thou mark what is done amiss, who shall be able to abide it? But with thee is mercifulness, that thou might be worshipped. Oh then be merciful unto us, that we may truly worship thee. Help us, for the glory of thy name. Be merciful unto our sins, for they are great. Oh, heal us, and help us for thine honour. Let not the wicked people say, Where is their God, etc.
On this sort, my right dearly beloved, let us heartily bewail our sins, repent us of our former evil live, heartily and earnestly purpose to amend our lives in all things, continually watching in prayer; diligently and reverently attend, hear, and read the holy Scriptures, and labour after our vocation to amend our brethren. Let us reprove the works of darkness. Let us flee from all idolatry. Let us abhor the antichristian and Romish rotten service, detest the popish mass, renounce their Romish god, prepare ourselves to the cross, be obedient to all that are in authority, in all things that are not against God, and his word; answering with the apostles, It is more meet to obey God than men. Howbeit, never for any thing resist, or rise against the magistrates. Avenge not yourselves, but commit your cause to the Lord, to whom vengeance belongs, and he in his time will reward is. If you feel in yourselves a hope, and trust in God that he never will tempt you above that which he will make you able to bear, be assured the Lord will be true to you. And you shall be able to bear all brunts. But if you want this hope, flee and get you hence, rather than, by your tarrying, God's name should be dishonoured.
In sum, cast your care upon the Lord, knowing for most certain, that he is careful for you. With him are all the hairs of your head numbered, so that not one of them shall perish without his good pleasure and will. Much more, then, nothing shall happen to your bodies, which shall not be profitable, however for a time it seems otherwise to your senses. Hang on the providence of God, not only when you have means to help you, but also when you have no means, yea, when all means are against you. Give him this honour, which, of all other things, he most chiefly requires at your hands; namely, believe that you are his children through Christ, that he is your Father and God through him, that he loves you, pardons you all your offences. He is with you in trouble, and will be with you for ever. When you fall, he will put his hand under. You shall not lie still. Before you call upon him he hears you. He will finally bring you out of evil, and deliver you to his eternal joy. Doubt not, my beloved, herein, doubt not, I say. God your Father will do this for you, not for respect of yourselves, but for respect of Christ your captain, your pastor, your keeper; out of whose hands none shall be able to catch you. In him be quiet, and often consider your dignity; namely, how that you are God's children, the saints of God, citizens of heaven, temples of the Holy Ghost, the thrones of God, members of Christ, and lords over all.
Therefore be ashamed to think, speak, or do anything that should be unseemly for God's children, God's saints, Christ's members, etc. Marvel not though the devil and the world hate you, though you are persecuted here, for the servant is not above his master. Covet not earthly riches. Fear not the power of man. Love not this world, nor the things that are in this world. But long for the coming of the Lord Jesus, at which time your bodies shall be made like unto his glorious body. When he appears you shall be like unto him. When your life shall thus be revealed, then shall you appear with him in glory.
In the mean season live in hope thereof. Let the life you lead be in the faith of the Son of God. For the just does live by faith, which faith flees from evil, and follows the word of God as a lantern to her feet and a light to her steps. Her eyes are above, where Christ is. She beholds not the things present, but rather things to come. She glories in affliction. She knows that the affliction of this life are not to be compared to the glory that God will reveal to us and in us. Of this glory God grants us here a lively taste. Then shall we run after the scent it sends forth. It will make us valiant men to take to us the kingdom of God, whither the Lord of mercy bring us in his good time, through Christ our Lord, to whom, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, three persons and one God, be all honour and glory, world without end. Amen.
My dearly beloved, I would gladly have given here my body to be burned, for the confirmation of the true doctrine I have taught here unto you; but that my country must have it. Therefore I pray you, take in good part this signification of my goodwill towards every of you. Impute the want herein to time and trouble. Pardon me my offensive and negligent behaviour when I was among you. With me repent and labour to amend. Continue in the truth which I have truly taught unto you by preaching in all places where I have come. God's name therefore be praised. Confess Christ when you are called, whatsoever comes thereof. And the God of peace be with us all. Amen. This 11th of February, anno 1555.
Your brother in bonds for the Lord's sake,
John Bradford.
Letter 2. To the University and Town of Cambridge
To all that love the Lord Jesus and his true doctrine in the university and town of Cambridge, John Bradford, a most unworthy servant of the Lord, now not only imprisoned, but also condemned for the same true doctrine, wishes grace, peace, and mercy, with increase of all godliness from God, the Father of all mercy, through the bloody passion of our only Saviour Jesus Christ, by the lively working of the Holy Spirit for ever. Amen.
Although I look hourly when I should be had to the stake (my dearly beloved in the Lord), and although the charge over me is great and strait; yet having, by the providence of God, secretly pen and ink, I could not but signify unto you something of my solicitude which I have for you and for every one of you in the Lord, though not as I would, yet as I may. You have so often and openly heard the truth disputed and preached, especially in this matter wherein I am condemned, that it is needless to do any more than to put you in remembrance of the same. But hitherto you have not heard it confirmed, and as it were sealed up, as now you do and shall hear by me, that is, by my death and burning. For albeit I have deserved eternal death and hell fire through my uncleanness, hypocrisy, avarice, vainglory, idleness, unthankfulness, and carnality, whereof I accuse myself, to my confusion before the world, that before God, through Christ, I might find mercy, as my assured hope is that I shall. Albeit, I have deserved much more than this affliction and fire prepared for me. Yet, my dearly beloved, it is not for these, or any of these things, wherefore the prelates persecute me, but for God's verity and truth. Yea, even Christ himself is the only cause and thing whereof I am now condemned, and shall be burned as a heretic, because I will not grant the antichrist of Rome to be Christ's vice-general and supreme head of the church here, and everywhere upon the earth, by God's ordinance; and because I will not grant such corporeal, real, and carnal presence of Christ's body and blood in the sacrament as does transubstantiate the substance of bread and wine, and is received by the wicked, yea, even by dogs and mice. Also I am excommunicated, and counted as a dead member of Christ's Church, as a rotten branch, and therefore shall be cast into the fire.
Therefore you ought heartily to rejoice with me, and to give thanks for me that God, the eternal Father, has vouchsafed our mother (the University of Cambridge, editor) to bring up any child in whom it would please him to magnify his holy name as he does, and I hope, for his mercy and truth's sake, will do in my and by me. Oh! what such benefit upon earth can there be as that I, which deserved death by reason of my sins, should be delivered for a demonstration, a testimony, and confirmation of God's verity and truth! You, my mother, the University, have not only had the truth of God's word plainly manifested unto you, by reading, disputing, and preaching publicly and privately, but now to make thee altogether excuseless, and, as it were, almost to sin against the Holy Ghost, if you put to your helping hand with the Romish rout to suppress the verify and set out the contrary, you have my life and blood as a seal to confirm you, if you will be confirmed, or else to confound you, and bear witness against you, if you will take part with the prelates and clergy, which now fill up the measures of their fathers which slew the prophets and apostles, that all the righteous blood, from Abel to Bradford, shed upon earth, may be required at their hands.
Of this therefore I thought good before my death, as time and liberty would suffer me, for the love and duty I bear unto you, to admonish you, good mother, and my sister the town, that you would call to mind from whence you are fallen, and study to do the first works. You know, if you will, these matters of the Romish supremacy, and the antichristian transubstantiation, whereby Christ's supper is overthrown, his priesthood annulled, his sacrifice frustrated, the ministry of his word unplaced, repentance repelled, faith fainted, godliness extinguished, the mass maintained, idolatry supported, and all impiety cherished. You know, I say, if you will, that these opinions are not only besides God's word, but even directly against it. And therefore to take part with them is to take part against God, against whom you cannot prevail.
Therefore, for the tender mercy of Christ, in his bowels and blood I beseech you to take Christ's eye-salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see what you do and have done in admitting, as I hear you have admitted, yea alas! authorised, and by consent confirmed, the Romish rotten rags, which once you utterly expelled. Oh! be not a dog returned to his vomit. Be not the washed sow returned to her wallowing in the mire. Beware, lest Satan enter in with seven other spirits, and then your last state shall be worse than the first. It had been better you had never known the truth, than after knowledge to run from it. Ah! woe to this world and the things therein, which has now so wrought with you. Oh! that ever this dirt of the devil should daub up the eyes of the realm. If you be light and shine, all the body shall fare the better. But if your light be darkness, alas! how great will the darkness be! What is man, whose breath is in his nostrils, that you should thus be afraid of him!
Oh! what is honour and life here! Bubbles. What is glory in this world but shame? Why are you afraid to carry Christ's cross? Will you come into his kingdom, and not drink of his cup? Do you not know Rome to be Babylon? Do you not know, that as the old Babylon had the children of Judah in captivity, so has this Rome the true Judah, that is, the confessors of Christ? Do you not know, tat as destruction happened unto it, so shall it do unto this? And suppose you that God will not deliver his people, now when the time is come, as he did then? Has not God commanded his people to come out from her, and will you give example to the whole realm to run unto her? Have you forgotten the woe that Christ threatens to offence-givers? Will you not remember that it were better that a millstone were hanged about your neck, and you thrown into the sea, than that you should offend the little ones?
And alas! how have you offended! Yea, and how doe you still offend! Will you consider things according to the outward show? Was not the synagogue more seemly and like to the true church than the simple flock of Christ's disciples? Has not the harlot of Babylon more costly array, and rich apparel, externally to set forth herself, than the homely housewife of Christ? Where is the beauty of the King's daughter, the church of Christ? Without or within? Does not David say within? Oh! remember, that as they are happy which are not offended at Christ, so are they happy which are not offended at his poor church. Can the pope and his prelates mean honestly, which make so much of the wife and so little of the husband? The church they magnify, but Christ they contemn. If this church were a honest woman, (that is, Christ's wife, ) except they would make much of her husband, Christ and his word, she would not be made much of by them.
When Christ and his apostles were upon earth, who seemed more likely to be the true church, they or the prelates, bishops, and synagogue? If a man should have followed custom, unity, antiquity, or the more part, would not Christ and his company have been cast out of the doors? Therefore Christ bade them to search the scriptures. And, good mother, shall the servant be above his master? Shall we look for other entertainment at the hands of the world than Christ and his dear disciples found? Who was taken in Noah's time for the church, poor Noah and his family, or others? Who was taken for God's church in Sodom, Lot, or others? And does not Christ say, As it was then, so shall it be now towards the coming of the Son of Man? What means Christ when he says, Iniquity shall have the upper hand? Does not he say that charity shall wax cold? And who sees not a wonderful great lack of charity in those which would now be taken for Christ's church? All that truly fear God in this realm can tell more of this than I can write.
Therefore, dear mother, receive some admonition of one of your poor children, now going to be burned for the testimony of Jesus. Come again to God's truth. Come out of Babylon. Confess Christ and his true doctrine. Repent that which is past. Make amends by declaring your repentance by the fruits. Remember the readings and the preachings of God's prophet, and true preacher, Martin Bucer. Call to mind the threatenings of God, now something seen by the children Leaver and others. Let the exile of Leaver, Pilkington, Grindall, Haddon, Horne, Scory, Ponet, etc. something awake you. Let the imprisonment of your dear sons, Cranmer, Ridley, and Latimer, move you. Consider the martyrdom of Rogers, Saunders, Taylor. And now cast not away the poor admonition of me, going to be burned also, and to receive the like crown of glory with my fellows. Take to heart God's calling by us. Be not as Pharaoh was, for then will it happen unto you as it did unto him. What is that? Hardness of heart? And what then? Destruction eternally, both of body and soul. Ah! therefore, good mother, awake, awake, repent, repent, bustle yourself, and make haste to turn to the Lord, for else it shall be more easy for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgement than for you. Oh! harden not your hearts; oh! stop not your ears today in hearing God's voice, though it be by me a most unworthy messenger. Oh! fear the Lord, for his anger is begun to kindle. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the tree.
You know I prophesied truly to you before the sweating sickness came on you, what would come if you repented not your carnal gospelling. And now I tell you, before I depart hence, that the ears of men will tingle to hear the vengeance of God that will fall upon you all, both town and university, if you repent not, if you leave not your idolatry, if you turn not speedily to the Lord, if you still are ashamed of Christ's truth which you know.
Oh! Perne, repent; oh! Thomson, repent; oh! you doctors, bachelors, and masters, repent! Oh! mayor, aldermen, and town-dwellers, repent, repent, repent, that you may escape the near vengeance of the Lord. Rend your hearts and come apace, calling on the Lord. Let us all say, We have all sinned, we have done wickedly, we have not hearkened to thy voice, o Lord. Deal not with us after our deserts, but be merciful to our iniquities, for they are great. Oh! pardon our offences. In thine anger remember thy mercy. Turn us unto thee, o Lord God of Hosts, for the glory of thy name's sake. Spare us, and be merciful unto us. Let not wicked people say, Where is now their God? Oh! for thine own sake, for thy name's sake, deal mercifully with us. Turn thyself unto us, and us unto thee, and we shall praise thy name for ever.
If in this manner, my dearly beloved, in heart and mouth we come unto our Father, and prostrate ourselves before the throne of his grace, then surely, surely we shall find mercy. Then shall the Lord look graciously upon us, for his mercy's sake in Christ. Then shall we hear him speak peace unto his people. For he is gracious and merciful, of great pity and compassion. He cannot be chiding for ever. His anger cannot last long to be penitent. Though we weep in the morning, yet at night we shall have our sorrow cease. For he is easy to be entreated, and has no pleasure in the death of a sinner. He rather would have our conversion and turning.
Oh! turn now and convert, yet once again I humbly beseech you, and then the kingdom of heaven shall draw night. The eye has not seen, the ear has not heard, nor is the heart of man able to conceive the joys prepared for us, if we repent, amend our lives, and heartily turn to the Lord. But if you repent not, but be as you were, and go on forwards with the wicked, following the fashion of the world, the Lord will lead you on with wicked doers. You shall perish in your wickedness. Your blood will be upon your own heads. Your part shall be with hypocrites, where shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. You shall be cast from the face of the Lord for ever and ever. Eternal shame, sorrow, woe, and misery, shall be both in body and soul to you, world without end. Oh! therefore, right dear to me in the Lord, turn you, turn you, repent you, repent you, amend, amend your lives, depart from evil, do good, follow peace, and pursue it. Come out from Babylon, cast off the works of darkness, put on Christ, confess his truth, be not ashamed of his gospel, prepare yourselves for the cross, drink of God's cup before it come to the dregs, and then shall I with you, and for you, rejoice in the day of judgement, which is at hand. And therefore prepare yourselves thereto I heartily beseech you. And thus I take my farewell of you in this present life, my own dear hearts in the Lord. The Lord of mercy be with us all, and give us a joyful and sure meeting in his kingdom. Amen. Amen. Out of prison the 11th of February, anno 1555.
Your own in the Lord for ever,
John Bradford.