Marginalia1555. Iuly.they would haue still taryed with vs, and neyther for gaine nor losse, haue left vs either in word or dede. As for their hart (which vndoubtedly is double, and therfore in daunger to gods curse) we haue as much with vs, as the Papistes haue with them, and more too by theyr owne iudgement. MarginaliaBackesliding Gospellers.For they playing wily begile themselues, thinke it enough inwardly to fauour the truth, though outwardly they curry fauour. What though with my body (say they) I do this or that? God knoweth my hart is whole wyth him. Ah brother, if thy hart be whole wyth God, why dost not thou confesse and declare thy selfe accordingly by word and fact? Either that which thou sayst thou beleuest in thy hart, is good or no. If it be good, why art thou ashamed of it? If it be euill, why dost thou kepe it in thy hart? MarginaliaMistrusters of God.Is not God able to defend thee aduenturing thy self for his cause? or will he not defend his worshippers? Doth not the scripture say that MarginaliaPsal. 33.the eyes of the Lord are on them that feare him, & trust in his mercy? And whereto? Forsoth to deliuer their soules from death, and to fede them in the time of hunger.

If this be true (as it is most true) why are we afraid of death, as though God could not comfort or deliuer vs, or would not, contrary to his promise? Why are we afrayd of the losse of our goodes, as though God would leaue them that feare him, destitute of al good things, and so do against his most ample promises? Ah faith, faith, how few feele thee now a dayes? Ful truly said CHRIST, MarginaliaLuke. 18. Lacke of fayth.that he should scarcely finde faith when he came, on earth. For if men beleued these promises, they would neuer doe any thing outwardly, which inwardly they disallow. No example of men, how many so euer they be, or how learned so euer they be, can preuaile in this behalfe: for þ^e paterne which we must follow, is CHRIST him self, and not the more company, or custome. MarginaliaPsal. 118.His word is the lanterne to lighten our steppes, and not learned men. Company and custome are to be considered according to the thyng they allow. MarginaliaLearning to be followed, so farre as it concurreth with Gods worde.Learned men are to be listened to and followed according to Gods lore and law, for els the more parte goeth to the deuill. As custome causeth errour and blindnes, so learning, if it be not according to the light of gods word, is poyson, and learned men most pernicious. The Deuill is called Dæmon for his cunning, and MarginaliaLuke. 16.the children of this world are much wiser then the children of lyght in their generation: and I know the Deuill and his dearelings haue alwayes for the most part, more helps in this life then CHRISTES church and her children. MarginaliaThe Sinagoge of the deuill more furnished with worldly helpes thē the church of Christ.They (the deuill and his Sinagoge I meane) haue custome, multitude, vnity, antiquity, learning, power, riches, honour, dignity, and promotions plenty, as alwayes they haue had, and shall haue commonly and for the most part, vntil CHRISTES cōming, much more then the true church hath presently, heretofore hath had, or hereafter shall haue. For her glory, riches, and honour is not here: her triall, crosse, and warrefare is here.

And therefore (my deare hartes in the Lord) consider these things accordingly. Considre what you be, not worldlings, but Gods children. MarginaliaWhat we be. Where we be. Amongest whom we be.Consider what you be, not worldlings, but Gods children. Consider where you be, not at home, but in a straūge countrey. Consider among whom ye are conuersant, euen in the middest of your enemies, and of a wicked generation, and then I trust you will not much muse at affliction, MarginaliaAffliction no strange thing amongest Gods children.which you can not be wythout, being as you bee, Gods children, in a straunge Countrey, and in the myddest of your ennemies, except you wold leaue your captaine CHRIST, and follow Sathan for the mucke of this mould, rest and quietnes, which he may promise you, and you in deede thinke you shal receaue it by doing as he would haue you to doe, but (my sweete hartes) he is not hable to pay that he promiseth. Peace and warre come from God, riches and pouerty, wealth and woe. The Deuil hath no power but by Gods permission. If then God permit him a litle on your goods, body, or life, I pray you tell me, what can much hurte you (as Peter saithMarginalia1. Pet. 3.) you being followers of godlines? Thinke you that God wil not remember you in his time, as most shall be to your comfort? MarginaliaEsay. 49.Can a woman forget the childe of her wombe? And if she should, yet will not I forget thee (sayth the Lorde). MarginaliaExamples of Patriarches and prophetes afflicted in this world.Loke vpon Abraham in his exile and misery, loke vpon Iacob, Ioseph, Moses, Dauid, the Prophets, Apostles, and all the godly frō the beginning: and my good brethren, is not God the same God? Is he a chaungeling? You haue heard of the patience of Iob, (saith S. IamesMarginaliaIacob. 5.) and you haue seene the end how that God is mercifull, patient and long suffering: euen so say I vnto you, that you shall finde accordingly, if so be you be patient, that is, if so be you feare him, set his worde before you, serue him thereafter, and if he lay his crosse on you, you beare it with patience: the which you shall doe, when

you consider it not according to the present sense, but according to the end. Heb. 12. 2. Corin. 4.

Therfore I hartely beseche you, and out of my bonds which I suffer for your sake, pray you (mine owne swete harts in the Lord) that you would cleaue in hart & humble obedience, to the doctrine taught you by me, and many other my brethren. For we haue taught you no fables nor tales of men, or our owne phantasies, but the very word of God, which we are ready with our liues (God so enhabling vs, as we trust he will) to confirme, and by the sheeding of our bloudes, in all pacience and humble obedience to the superior powers, to testify and seale vp, as well that you might be more certaine of the doctrine, as that you might be ready to cōfesse the same before this wicked world, knowing that if we cōfesse CHRIST and his truth before men, he will confesse vs before his father in heauen: if so be we be ashamed hereof for losse of lyfe, frendes or goods, he will be ashamed of vs before his father, and his holy Angels in heauen.

MarginaliaHe exhorteth to come from the masse.Therfore take heede, for the Lords sake take hede, take hede, and defile not your bodies or soules with this Romishe and Antichristian religion set vp amongest vs againe: but come away, come away as the Angell cryeth,MarginaliaApoca. 18. from amongest them in their Idolatrous seruice, lest you be partakers of their iniquity. Harken to your preachers as the Thessalonians did to Paule: that is, conferre theyr sayings with the scriptures, and if they sound not thereafter, the morning light shall not shine vpon them.MarginaliaEsay. 8. Vse much and harty prayer for the spirit of wisedome, knowledge, humblenes, meekenes, sobriety, and repentaunce: which we haue great neede of, because our sinnes haue thus prouoked the Lordes anger against vs: but let vs beare his anger, and acknowledge our faults with bitter teares, and sorowfull sighes, & doubtles he will be merciful to vs, after his woonted mercy. The which thing he vouchsafe to doe for his holy names sake, in CHRIST IESV our Lord, to whom with the father and the holy ghost, be all honour, glory, praise, and euerlasting thākes from this time forth for euermore, Amen.

Out of prison by yours in the Lord
to commaund, Iohn Bradford.

MarginaliaA Letter of Master Bradford to Master George Eaton.ALmighty God our heauenly Father, recompence aboundauntly into your bosome (my dearely beloued) here and eternally, the good which from him by you I haue continually receaued sithen my comming into pryson. Otherwise can I neuer be able to requite your louing kindnes here , thē by praying for you, and after this life, by witnessing your faith declared to me by your fruites, when we shall come and appeare together before the throne of our Sauiour IESVS CHRIST, whether (I thanke God) I am euen now a going, euer loking when officers wil come, and satisfy the precept of the Prelates, whereof though I can not complaine, because I haue iustly deserued an hūdreth M. deathes at Gods hands by reason of my sinnes, yet I may and must reioyce, because the Prelates do not persecute in me mine iniquities, but CHRIST IESVS and his verity: so that they persecute not me, they hate not me, but they persecute CHRIST, they hate CHRIST.MarginaliaThe prelates persecute and hate the Martyrs, not for theyr iniquities, but for hatred of Christ and of his veritie in them. And because they can do him no hurt (for he sitteth in heauen, and laugheth them and their deuises to scorne, as one day they shall feele) therefore they turne their rage vpon his pore shepe, as Herode their father did vpon the infantes. Math. 2. Great cause therefore haue I to reioyce, that my deare Sauiour CHRIST will vouchsafe amongest many, to chuse me to be a vessell of grace to suffer in me (which haue deserued so often & iustly to suffer for my sinnes) that I might be most assured I shall be a vessell of honour, in whom he wil be glorifyed.

Therfore (my right deare brother in the Lord) reioyce with me, geue thankes for me, and cease not to pray, that God for his mercies sake would make perfect the good he hath begun in me. And as for the doctrine which I haue professed and preached, I doe confesse vnto you in wryting, as to the whole world I shortly shall by Gods grace in suffering, MarginaliaIoh. Bradford geueth testimony of hys doctrine.that it is the very true doctrine of IESVS CHRIST, of his Church, of his prophets, Apostles and all good men: so that if an Aungel should come from heauen and preach otherwise, the same were accursed. Therefore wauer not (deare hart in the Lord) but be confirmed in it, and as your vocation requireth, when God so will, confesse it, though it be perillous so to doe. The ende shall euidently shewe another manner of pleasure for so doing, then tounge can tell. Be diligent in prayer, & watch therin. Vse reuerent reading of Gods worde. Set