MarginaliaAn. 1555. Iuly.Ye all know there was neuer more knowledge of God and lesse godly lyuing and true seruyng of God. MarginaliaComplaynt of the carnall and wicked life among Gospellers.It was coūted a foolish thyng to serue God truly, and earnest prayer was not past vpon. Preachyng was but a pastyme. The Communion was counted to cōmon. Fastyng to subsidue the flesh, was farre out of vse. Almes was almost nothyng. Malice, couetousnes and vncleannes was common euery where, with swearyng, dronkennes and idlenes. God therfore now is come as you haue heard me preach, and because he will not damne vs with the world, he begynneth to punish vs: as me for my carnall lyuing. For as for my preachyng, I am most certaine it is and was Gods truth, and I trust to geue my lyfe for it by Gods grace: but because I lyued not the Gospell truly but outwardly, therfore doth he thus punish me: nay rather in punishyng blesseth me. And in deede I thanke him more of this prison, then of any parler, yea then of any pleasure that euer I had: for in it I find God my most sweete good God alwayes. MarginaliaThe cause why God first punisheth his, in this world.The flesh is punished, first to admonish vs now hartely to lyue as we professe: secondly to certifie the wicked of their iust damnation, if they repent not.

Perchaunce you are weakened in that which I haue preached, because God doth not defend it (as you thinke) but suffereth the Popish doctrine to come agayne & preuayle: but you must know, good mother, MarginaliaGod vseth to proue and try his children.that God by this doth proue and trye his childrē and people whether they will vnfainedly and simply hang on him and hys word. So did he with the Israelites, bryngyng them into a desert after their cōming out of Egypt, where (I meane the wildernes) was want of all thynges in comparison of that which they had in Egypt. Christ when he came into this world, brought no worldly wealth nor quietnes with him, but rather warre: MarginaliaIohn. 16.The world (sayth he) shall reioyce, but ye shall mourne and weepe, but your weepyng shalbe turned into ioy: and therfore happy are they that mourne and weepe, for they shalbe comforted. They are marked thē with Gods marke in their foreheades & not with the beastes marke, MarginaliaOf this place the Earle of Darby semeth to take hold, complayning that he curseth them that teacheth any false doctrine. &c. Page. 1783.I meane the Popes shauen crowne, who now with hys shauelynges reioyce: but wo vnto them, for they shalbe cast downe, they shall weepe & mourne. The riche glutton had here his ioy, & Lazarus sorrow, but afterwardes the time was chaūged. The end of carnall ioy is sorrow. Now let þ^e whoremonger ioy, with the dronckard, swearer, couetous, malicious, and blind bussard Syr Iohn: for MarginaliaThe Masse rebuketh no sin nor shameth consciences, as preaching doth.the Masse wil not bite them, neither make them to blush as preachyng would. Now may they do what they will, come deuils to the Church & go deuils home, for no mā must find fault. And they are glad of this: now haue they theyr hartes desire, as the Sodomites had when Loth was gone, but what folowed? Forsoth when they cryed peace, all shalbe well, then came Gods vengeaunce, fyre and brymstone from heauē and burnt vp euery mothers child: euen so deare mother will it do to our Papistes.

Wherfore feare God: sticke to his word though all the world would swarue from it. Dye you must once, and when or how, you can not tell. Dye therfore with Christ, suffer for seruyng hym truly and after his word: MarginaliaThe best death of all deathes, is to die for Gods sake.for sure we be that of all deathes it is most to be desired to dye for Gods sake. This is the most safe kynd of dying: we cā not doubt but that we shall go to heauen if we dye for his names sake. And that you shall dye for his names sake, Gods word will warrant you, if you sticke to that which God by me hath taught you. You shall see that I speake as I thinke: for by Gods grace I will drinke before you of this cuppe if I be put to it. I doubt not but God will geue me his grace, and strengthen me therunto: pray that he would, and that I refuse it not. I am at a poynt euen when my Lord God will, to come to hym. Death nor lyfe, prison nor pleasure (I trust in God) shalbe able to separate me from my Lord God and his Gospell. In peace when no persecution was, then were you content and glad to heare me, then dyd you beleue me, and will you not do so now, seyng I speake that which I trust by Gods grace if neede be, to verifie with my life? Good mother I write before God to you, as I haue preached before hym.

It is Gods truth I haue taught: It is that same infallible word wherof he hath said: Heauen and earth shall passe, but my worde shall not passe. The Masse and such baggage as the false worshippers of God and enemyes of Christes Crosse (the Papistes I say) haue brought in agayn MarginaliaThe Masse is a poyson to the Church.to poyson the Church of God withall, displeaseth God highly and is abominable in his sight. Happy may he be which of conscience suffereth losse of lyfe or goodes in disalowyng it. Come not at it. If God be God, folow

hym: If the Masse be God, let them that wil see it, heare or be present at it, & go to the deuil with it. What is there as God ordained? MarginaliaComparisō betwen the Lordes supper, and the Masse.His Supper was ordained to be receaued of vs in the memoriall of his death, for the confirmatiō of our fayth, that his body was broken for vs and his bloud shed for pardon of our sinnes: but in the Masse there is no receauing, but the priest keepeth all to hymselfe alone. Christ sayeth: take, eate: no sayeth the Priest: gape, pepe. There is a sacrificing, yea killing of Christ agayne as much as they may. There is Idolatry in worshippyng the outward signe of bread and wyne: there is all in Latine, you can not tell what he saith. To conclude, there is nothyng as God ordained. Wherfore my good mother come not at it.

MarginaliaDoubtes and obiections answered.Oh will some say, it will hynder you if you refuse to come to Masse and to do as other do. But God wil further you (be you assured) as you shal one day fynd: who hath promised to them that suffer hinderaunce or losse of any thing in this world,MarginaliaMath. 19. his great blessing here, and in the world to come lyfe euerlasting.

You shall be counted an heriticke: but not of others then of heretickes, whose prayse is a disprayse.

You are not able to reason agaynst the priestes: but God wil, that all they shall not be able to withstand you.

No body wil do so but you onely: In dede no matter, for few enter into the narow gate which bringeth to saluation. How be it, you shall haue with you (I doubt not) Father Traues and other my brothers and sisters to go with you therein: but if they wil not, I your sonne in God (I trust) shall not leaue you an inch, but go before you: pray that I may, and geue thankes for mee. Reioyce in my sufferyng, for it is for your sakes to confyrme the truth I haue taught. MarginaliaFor al this caueat, yet this letter came to the Earle of Darbies knowledge.How so euer you do beware this letter come not abroad but into father Traues hys handes: for if it should be knowen that I haue pen and Inke in the prison, then would it be worse with me. Therefore to your selues kepe this letter, commendyng me to God and his mercy in Christ Iesus, who make me worthy for his names sake, to geue my lyfe for hys Gospell and church sake. Out of the Tower of London the. vj. day of October. 1553.

My name I wryte not for causes, you know it well enough: lyke the letter neuer the worse. Commend me to all our good brethren and sisters in the Lord. How soeuer you do be obedient to the higher powers, that is, in no poynt eyther in hand or tong rebell, but rather if they commaund that which with good conscience you cannot obey, lay your head on the blocke and suffer what soeuer they shall do or say. By patience possesse your soules.

After the tyme that M. Bradford was condemned, and sent to the Counter, it was purposed of his aduersaries, as ye heard before, MarginaliaPag. 1789 Col. 2.pag. 1789. col. 2. that he should be had to Manchester where he was borne, and there be burned. Wherupon he writeth to the Citie of London, thinkyng to take his last vale of them in this letter, as foloweth.

MarginaliaA fruitfull letter of Maister Bradford to the citie of London.TO al that professe the gospel and true doctrine of our Lord and Sauyour Iesus Christ in the City of Lōdon, Ihon Bradford a most vnworthy seruaunt of the Lord, now not only in prison, but also excommunicated and condemned to be burned for the same true doctryne, wisheth mercy, grace, and peace, with encrease of al godly knowledge and piety, from God the father of mercy, through the merites of our alone and omnisufficient redemer Iesus Christ, by the operation of the holy spirit for euer, Amen.

My dearely beloued brethren in our Sauiour Christ, although the time I haue to liue is very litle (for hourely I loke when I should be had hence to be cōueyed into Lankashire, there to be burned, and to render my lyfe by the prouidēce of God, where I first receiued it by the same prouidence) and although the charge is great to keepe me from all things whereby I might signifie any thing to the world of my state: yet hauing, as now I haue pen and inke through Gods working, mauger the head of Sathā & his souldiers, I thought good to write a short confession of my faith, and therto ioyne a litle exhortatiō vnto you all, to liue according to your professiō.

First for my faith, I do confesse and pray al the whole congregation of Christ to beare witnes wyth me of the same, that I do beleue constantly through the gyft and