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John Bradford

John Bradford

      John Bradford was born in 1510 and received a good education in a grammar school in Manchester. He was able to earn a good living serving under John Harrington, paymaster to the English forces during the wars of Henry the 8th. For a time he studied law but through the influence of a fellow student he was converted to Protestant Christian faith. Because of this he left the study of law and began his study of theology at Cambridge.

      Though he would only live seven more years he was often referred to as "holy Bradford" not in derision, but from respect to his unselfish service to God and those around him. In 1550, during the reign of Edward the 6th, he was ordained by Bishop Ridley to be a "roving chaplain". Following Edward's early death, England was ruled by Mary Tudor who was zealous to bring back the Roman Catholic religion and to discipline "heretics."

      Before Mary's reign was a month old John was arrested on a trivial charge and confined to the Tower of London, never to be a free man again. His time in prison was not wasted as he continued to preach to all that would listen and to write letters and treatises that would encourage fellow believers. During his two-year imprisonment he was cast for a time into a single cell with three fellow reformers, Thomas Cranmer, Nicholas Ridley and Hugh Latimer. Their time together was spent encouraging one another and in careful study of the New Testament. All three were to become martyrs.

      Finally on January 31st, 1555 Bradford was brought to the notorious Newgate Prison to be burned at the stake as a heretic. Though the burning was scheduled for 4 AM, there was a great crowd, made up of many who admired Bradford, who had come to witness the execution. He was chained to the stake with another young martyr, John Leaf. After begging forgiveness of any he might have wronged and freely forgiving those who had wronged him, he turned to fellow-martyr, John Leaf, with these words, "Be of good comfort brother; for we shall have a merry supper with the Lord this night!"

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John Bradford

Brief Admonition written by John Bradford in the New Testament of a Friend

Brief Admonition written by John Bradford in the New Testament of a Friend This book is called, The word of the Cross, because the cross always accompanies it: so that if you will be a student thereof, you must needs prepare yourself to that cross which you began to learn, before you learned your al... Read More
John Bradford

Daily Meditations and Prayers

Daily Meditations and Prayers * When you Awake out of your Sleep, Pray thus: * So soon as you behold the Daylight, Pray: * When you Arise, Pray: * When you are made Ready to begin the Day, Pray: * Cogitations Proper to Begin the Day with * When you go Forth out of Doors, Pray: * When you are going a... Read More
John Bradford

Daily Prayers of Master John Bradford

Daily Prayers of Master John Bradford * A Confession of Sins and Prayer for the Mitigation of God's Wrath and Punishment for the same * Another Confession of Sins * A Prayer for the Remission of Sins * Another Prayer for Remission of Sins * A Prayer for Deliverance from Sin, and to be Restored to Go... Read More
John Bradford

Godly Meditations upon the Lord's Prayer

Godly Meditations upon the Lord's Prayer, the Belief, and the Commandments, with other Comfortable Meditations, Prayers, and Exercises by the constant Martyr of God, John Bradford, in the Time of his Imprisonment * Of the Lord's Prayer * Upon the Twelve Articles of the Christian Faith * Upon the Com... Read More
John Bradford

Letters of Master John Bradford, written on Various Occasions

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 matr... Read More
John Bradford

Life of Master John Bradford

Some Account of the Rev. John Bradford, Prebendary of St.Paul's, and Martyr, A.D. 1555. John Bradford was born at Manchester about the year 1510. His parents gave him a good education. He was a hard student from his youth, and his skill in accounts procured him employment under sir John Harrington, ... Read More
John Bradford

Sermons and Tracts by that Worthy Martyr of Christ, John Bradford

Sermons and Tracts by that Worthy Martyr of Christ, John Bradford * A fruitful Sermon of Repentance, made by that Constant Martyr of Christ, John Bradford, 1553 * A Sermon upon the Supper of the Lord * A Fruitful Treatise, and Full of Heavenly Consolation against the Fear of Death * An Exhortation t... Read More
John Bradford

Life of Master John Bradford

Some Account of the Rev. John Bradford, Prebendary of St.Paul's, and Martyr, A.D. 1555. John Bradford was born at Manchester about the year 1510. His parents gave him a good education. He was a hard student from his youth, and his skill in accounts procured him employment under sir John Harrington, ... Read More
John Bradford

The Flesh and the Spirit

How the Words "Flesh" and "Spirit" are to be Understood in the Scriptures For your better understanding of the scriptures, especially of the new Testament; for the forearming you against errors, which, through the ignorance or diverse acception and taking of terms or words used and written of the ho... Read More
John Bradford

The Old Man and the New

A man that is regenerate and "born of God," consisteth of two men (as a man may say), namely of "the old man," and of "the new man." "The old man" is like to a mighty giant, such a one as was Goliath; for his birth is now perfect. But "the new man" is like unto a little child, such a one as was Davi... Read More
John Bradford

The Places of the Law & the Gospel

Whosoever truly understandeth the division of the places of the Law and of the Gospel, gathered out of the holy scriptures, cannot by any man's doctrine be seduced from the truth, or read the scriptures but to edify both himself and others: whereas he that is ignorant of the same cannot, though he w... Read More

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