Marginalia1555. Iuly.goodnes of God, (for faith is Gods only gift) all the. xij. articles of the Symbole or Crede, commonly attributed to the collection of the Apostles. This my faith I would gladly particularly declare and expounde to the confirmatiō and comfort of the simple: but alas, by startes and stelth I write in maner that that I write, and therefore I shall desire you all to take this breuity in good part. And this faith I holde, not because of the Crede it selfe, but because of the word of God, the which teacheth and confirmeth euery article accordingly. This word of god written by the Prophets and Apostels, left and conteined in þ^e Canonicall bokes of the whole Bible, I do beleue to containe plentifully all things necessary to saluation, so that nothing (as necessary to saluation) ought to be added therto: and therfore the church of Christ, nor none of his congregation ought to be burdened with any other doctrine, then which hereout hath his foundation and ground. In testimony of this faith, I render & geue my life, being condemned aswell for MarginaliaAntichrist of Rome not to be Christes generall vicar.not acknowleging the Antichrist of Rome to be Christes vicare generall and supreme head of his catholicke and vniuersall church here or elswhere vpon earth: as for denying the horrible and idolatrous doctrine of transubstantiation,MarginaliaTransubstantiation a doctrine of Idolatrie. and Christes reall, corporall, and carnall presence in hys supper, vnder the formes and accidēces of bread & wine.

To beleue Christ our Sauiour to be the head of hys Church, and Kings in theyr realmes to be the supreme powers, to whom euery soule oweth obedience, and to beleue that in the supper of Christ (MarginaliaThe sacrament of the aultar quit ouerthroweth the lordes supper.which the sacrament of the altar, as the Papists call it and vse it, doth vtterly ouerthrow) is a true and very presence of whole Christ God and man to the faith of the receiuerMarginaliaChrist wholy present to the fayth of the receauer. (but not to the stander by and loker vpon) as it is a true and very presence of bread & wine to the senses of men: to beleue this (I say) will not serue, and therfore as an hereticke I am condemned, and shalbe burned: wherof I aske God hartely mercy that I do no more reioyce then I doe, hauing so great cause as to bee an instrument wherein it may please my deare Lord God and Sauiour to suffer.

For albeit my manifold synnes, euen sithen I came into prison, haue deserued at the hands of God, not only this temporall, but also eternall fire in hell, much more then my former sinfull life, which the Lorde pardon for his Christes sake, as I know he of his mercy hath done, and neuer will lay mine iniquities to my charge to condemnation, so great is his goodnes (praised therefore be his holy name): MarginaliaGod punisheth his people for one thing: but men persecute then for an other.although (I say) my manifold and greuous late sinnes haue deserued most iustly all the tyranny that man or Diuell can doe vnto me, and therefore I cōfesse that the Lord is iust, and that his iudgements be true, and deserued on my behalfe: yet the Byshops and Prelates do not persecute thē in me, but Christ him selfe, his word, his truth, and Religion. And therfore I haue great cause, yea most great cause to reioyce that euer I was borne, & hitherto kept of the Lord, that by my death which is deserued for my sinnes, it pleaseth the heauenly father to glorify his name, to testify his truth, to cōfirme his veritie, to repugne his aduersaries. MarginaliaBradford sorry that he doth not more reioyce, diing in so good a quarell.Oh good God and mercyfull father, forgeue me my great vnthankefulnes, especially herein.

And you my dearely beloued, for the Lord Iesu Christes sake I hūbly and hartely in his bowels and bloud do now for my last Vale and farewell in this present lyfe besech you and euery of you, that you will consider this worke of the Lord accordyngly: MarginaliaA lesson agaynst carnall securitie.First, by me to be admonished to beware of hypocrisie & carnall security: professe not the Gospel with toung and lyppes onely, but in hart and veritie: frame and fashion your liues accordyngly: beware Gods name be not euill spokē of, and the Gospell lesse regarded by your conuersation. God forgiue me that I haue not so hartely professed it as I should haue done, but haue sought much my selfe therein. MarginaliaThe Gospell is a new doctrine to the old man.The Gospell is a new doctrine to the old mā: it is new wine, and therfore can not be put in old bottels, without more great hurt thē good wine to the bottels. If we will talke with þ^e Lord, we must put of our shooes & carnall affections: if we will heare þ^e voyce of þ^e Lord, we must wash our garmentes and be holy: MarginaliaChristian profession requireth Christian conuersation.if we will be Christes Disciples we must deny our selues, take vp our crosse and folow Christ. We can not serue two maisters. If we seeke CHRISTES kyngdome, we must also seke for þ^e righteousnes thereof. To this petition (Let thy kingdome come) we must ioyne, thy will be done, done, done, on earth as it is in heauē. If we will not be doers of the word, but hearers of it onely, we sore deceiue our selues. If we heare the Gospell and loue it not, we declare our selues to be but fooles, & builders vpon the sande. The Lordes spirit ha-

teth fayning: disceatfulnes the Lord abhorreth: if we come to him, we must beware we come not with a double hart: for then may chaunce that God will aunswere vs accordyng to the blocke whiche is in our hart, and so we shall deceaue our selues, and others.

To fayth see that we couple a good conscience, lest we make a shipwracke.MarginaliaFayth would be coupled euer with a good conscience. To the Lord wee must come wyth feare and reuerence. If we will be Gospellers, we must be Christes: if we be Christes, we must crucify our flesh with the lustes and concupiscences therof: if we will be vnder grace, sinne must not beare rule in vs. We may not come to þ^e Lord, & draw nygh to hym wyth our lips, and leaue our hartes elswhere, lest the Lordes wrath waxe whot, and he take from vs the good remayning. In no case can the kingdome of Christ approch to them that repent not. MarginaliaHe exhorteth to repentance.Therfore my dearely beloued, let vs repent, and be hartely sory that we haue so carnally, so hypocritically, so couetously, so vainegloriously professed the Gospell. For all these I confesse of my selfe to the glory of God, that he may couer myne offēces in the day of iudgement. Let the anger and plages of God, most iustly fallen vpon vs, be applied to euery one of our desertes, that from the bottome of our hartes euery of vs may say: MarginaliaOur sinnes prouoke persecution.it is I Lord that haue synned against thee: it is my hypocrisy, my vainglory, my couetousnes, vncleanes, carnalitie, securitie, idlenes, vnthākfulnes, selfloue, and such like, which haue deserued the taking away of our good king, of thy word and true religiō, of thy good Ministers by exile, prisonment, and death: it is my wickednes that causeth successe & increase of authority and peace to thine enemies. MarginaliaHe exhorteth to pray, and how to pray with repentance.Oh be merciful, be merciful vnto vs. Turne to vs againe, O Lord of hostes, and turne vs vnto thee: correct vs, but not in thy fury, lest we bee consumed in thine anger: chastise vs not in thy wrathfull displeasure: reproue vs not, but in þ^e middest of thine anger remember thy mercy. For if thou marke what is done amisse, who shall be able to abide it? But with thee is mercifulnes, that thou mightest be worshipped. Oh then be mercifull vnto vs, that we might truly worship thee. Helpe vs, for the glory of thy name: be mercifull vnto our sinnes, for they are great: Oh heale vs, & helpe vs for thine honor. Let not þ^e wicked people say, where is their God. &c.

On thys sorte my right dearely beloued, let vs hartely bewaile our sinnes, repent vs of our former eueil life, hartely and earnestly purpose to amend our lyues in all thinges, MarginaliaPraying, hearing and reading the holy scriptures.continually watch in prayer, diligently and reuerently attend, heare, and read the holy scriptures, labour after our vocation to amend our brethren. Let vs reproue the workes of darknes. Let vs flye from all Idolatry. Let vs abhorre the Antichristian and Romishe rotten seruice, detest the popish Masse, abrenounce their Romish God, prepare our selues to the crosse, be obedient to all that be in authority in all things that be not against God and hys word: for then auswer with the Apostels: It is more meete to obey God then man. Howbeit, MarginaliaObedience to magistrates in all that is not agaynst Gods word.neuer for any thing resist, or ryse against the Maiestrates. Auenge not your selues, but commit your cause to the Lord, to whom vengeaunce pertayneth, and he in his time wyll reward it. If you feele in your selues an hope and trust in God, that he will neuer tempt you aboue that he wyll make you able to beare, MarginaliaPatience.be assured the lord wyll be true to you: and you shall be able to beare all brunts. But if you want this hope, flee and get you hence, rather then by your tarying Gods name should be dishonoured.

In summe, cast your care on the Lord, knowing for most certayne, that he is carefull for you: wyth hym are all the heares of your head nombred, so that not one of them shall perish without his good pleasure and wyll: much more then, nothing shall happen to your bodies, which shall not be profitable, how so euer for a tyme it seme otherwise to your senses. MarginaliaWe ought to depende vpon Gods prouidence alwaies.Hang on the prouidence of God, not onely when you haue meanes to helpe you, but also whē you haue no meanes, yea when al meanes be agaynst you. Geue him this honor, which of al other thinges he most chiefly requireth at your hands: namely beleue that you are his children through Christ, that hee is your father and God through him, that he loueth you, pardoneth you all your offences, he is with you in trouble, and wyll be with you for euer. When you fal, he wil put vnder his hand, you shall not lye still: before you cal vpon him, he heareth you: out of euyll hee wyll finally bring you, and delyuer you to hys eternall ioy. Doubt not my dearely beloued hereof, doubt not (I say): thys wyll God your father do for you in respect, not of your