Marginalia1555. Iuly.the Prophetes and Apostles, leaft and conteyned in the Canonical bookes of the whole Bible, I do beleue to containe plentifully all thinges necessary to saluation,
Bradford is quoting article six of the 42 Articles, the defining doctrinal statement of the Edwardian church.
In scholastic theology and philosophy, accidents are the physical attributes of an object, such as colour, taste, shape,etc., which do not comprise its physical essence ('substance'). The term is important in controversies over the eucharist.
To beleue Christe our Saueour to be þe head of his Churche, and kynges in their 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 quite ouerthroweth the Lordes supper.which the Sacrament of the altar, as the Papistes call it and vse it, dooth vtterly ouerthrow) is MarginaliaChrist wholy present to the fayth of the receauer.a true and very presence of whole Christ God and man to the fayth of the receiuer (but not to the stander by and looker vpon) as it is a true & very presence of bread and wine to the senses of men: to beleue this (I say) wyll not serue, and therefore as an heretike I am condemned, and shalbe burned: wherof I aske God hartily mercy that I do no more reioyce then I do, hauing so great cause as to be an instrument wherin it may please my deare Lord God and Saueour to suffer.
[Back to Top]For albeit my manyfold sinnes, euen sithen I came into prison, haue deserued at the handes of God, not onely this tēporal, but also eternal fire in hell, much more then my former sinfull life, which þe Lord pardō, for his Christes sake, as I knowe he of his mercy hath done, and neuer wyll lay myne iniquities to my charge, to condemnation, so great is his goodnes (praised therfore be his holy name): MarginaliaGod punisheth his people for one thing: but men persecute then for an other.although (I say) my manyfold and greeuous late sinnes haue deserued most iustly all the tyrannie that man or diuel can do vnto me, and therfore I confesse that the Lord is iust, and that his iudgementes be true, and deserued on my behalfe: yet the Bishoppes and Prelates do not persecute them in me, but Christ hym selfe, his worde, his truth, and Religion. And therfore I haue great cause, yea most great cause to reioyce that euer I was borne, and hitherto kept of the Lord, that by my death, which is deserued for my sinnes, it pleaseth the heauenly father to glorifie his name, to testifie his truth, to confirme his veritie, to repugne his aduersaries. MarginaliaBradford sory that he doth not more reioyce, dying in so good a quarell.Oh good God and mercyfull father, forgeue me my great vnthankfulnes, especially herein.
[Back to Top]And you my dearly beloued, for the Lorde Iesu Christes sake, I humbly and hartily in his bowels and bloud do nowe for my last Vale and farewell in this present lyfe, beseeche you and euery of you, that you wyll consider this worke of the Lord accordingly: MarginaliaA lesson agaynst carnall security.First, by me to be admonished to beware of hypocrisie and carnall securitie: professe not the Gospell with tongue and lyppes onely, but in hart & veritie: frame and fashion your lyues accordingly: beware Gods name be not euyll spoken of, and the Gospel lesse regarded by your conuersation. God forgeue me that I haue not so hartily professed it as I should haue done, but haue sought muche my selfe therein. MarginaliaThe Gospell is a new doctrine to the olde man.The Gospell is a newe doctrine to the olde man: it is newe wyne, and therefore can not be put in olde bottels, without more great hurt then good wyne to the bottels. If we wyl talke with the Lord, we must put of our shooes and carnal affections: if we wyll heare the voyce of the Lorde, we must wash our garmentes & be holy: if we wyl be Christes disciples, we must deny our selues, take vp our crosse, and folowe Christe. MarginaliaChristian profession requireth Christian conuersation.We can not serue two maisters. If we seeke Christes kyngdome, we must also seeke for the righteousnes thereof. To this petition (Let thy kingdome come) we must ioyne, Thy wyll be done, done, on earth as it is in heauen. If we wyll not be doers of the woorde, but hearers of it onely, we sore deceiue our selues. If we heare the Gospel, and loue it not, we declare our selues to be but fooles, and builders vpō the sande. The Lordes spirite hateth faynyng: deceitfulnes the Lorde abhorreth: if we come to hym, we must beware we come not with a double harte: for then maye chaunce that God wyl aunsweare vs accordyng to the blocke whiche is in our harte, and so we shall deceyue our selues and others.
[Back to Top]To fayth see that we couple a good conscience, least we make a shipwracke.MarginaliaFayth would be coupled euer with a good conscience. To the Lord wee must come with feare and reuerence. If we wil be Gospellers, we must be Christes: if we be Christes, we must crucifie our flesh with the lustes and cōcupiscences therof: if we wyll be vnder grace, sinne must not beare rule in vs. We maye not come to the Lord, & draw nigh to hym wyth our lyps, and leaue our
[Back to Top]hartes els where, least the Lordes wrath waxe hot, and he take frō vs the good remaynyng. In no case can the kingdome of Christ approch to them that repent not. MarginaliaHe exhorteth to repentaunce.Therefore my dearly beloued, let vs repent and be hartily sory that we haue so carnally, so hypocritically, so couetously, so vaingloriously professed the gospell. For all these I confesse of my selfe to the glory of God, that he may couer myne offences in the day of iudgement. Let the anger and plagues of God, most iustly fallen vppon vs, be applyed 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 sinned against thee: it is my hypocrisie, my vainglory, my couetousnes, vncleannes, carnalitie, securitie, idlenes, vnthankfulnes, selfeloue, & such like, whiche haue deserued the takyng awaye of our good kyng, of thy woorde and true religion, of thy good ministers by exile, prisonmēt, and death: it is my wickednes that causeth successe and increase of authorytie and peace to thyne enennes. MarginaliaHe exhorteth to pray, and how to pray with repentance.Oh be mercyfull, be mercyfull vnto vs. Turne to vs againe, O Lord of hostes, & turne vs vnto thee: correcte vs, but not in thy furie, lest we be consumed in thyne anger: chastise vs not in thy wrathfull displeasure: reproue vs not, but in the 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 mercyfulnes, that thou mightest be worshipped. Oh then be mercyfull vnto vs, that we might truly worship thee. Helpe vs, for the glory of thy name: be mercyful vnto our sinnes, for they are great: Oh heale vs & help vs for thine honor. Let not the wicked people say, where is their God. &c.
[Back to Top]On this sorte my right dearly beloued, let vs hartyly bewaile our sinnes, repent vs of our former euyl lyfe, hartily and earnestly purpose to amend our lyues in all thynges, MarginaliaPraying, hearing and reading the holy scriptures.continually watche in prayer, diligently and reuerently attende, heare, and reade the holy scriptures, labour after our vocation to amend our brethren. Let vs reproue the workes of darknes. Let vs flee from all Idolatrie. 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 authoritie in all thinges that be not against God and his worde:MarginaliaObedience to magistrates in all that is not against Gods worde. for then answeare with the Apostles: It is more meete to obey God then man. Howbeit, neuer for any thyng resist, or rise agaynst the Magistrates. Auenge not your selues, but commyt your cause to the Lord, to whom vengeaunce perteyneth, and he in his tyme wyll reward it. If you feele in your selues an hope and trust in God, MarginaliaPatience.that he wyll neuer tempt you aboue that he wyll make you able to beare, be assured the lord wyll be true to you: and you shalbe able to beare all bruntes. But if you want this hope, flee & get you hence, rather then by your tarying Gods name shoulde be dishonoured.
[Back to Top]In summe, cast your care on the Lorde, knowyng for most certaine, that he is carefull for you: with hym are all the heares of your head numbred, so that not one of them shall perishe without his good pleasure aud wyll: muche more then, nothyng shal happen to your bodyes, which shall not be profitable, howe soeuer for a tyme it seeme otherwise to your senses. MarginaliaWe ought to depend vpon Gods prouidence alwayes.Hang on the prouidence of God, not onely when you haue meanes to helpe you, but also when you haue no meanes, yea when all meanes be agaynst you. Geue hym this honor, which of all other thynges he most chiefly requireth at your handes: namely beleue that you are his children through Christe, that he is your father and God through hym, that he loueth you, pardoneth you all your offences, he is with you in trouble, and wyll be with you for euer. When you fall, he wyll put vnder his hande, you shall not lye styl: before you call vpon hym, he heareth you: out of euyll he wyll finally bryng you, and deliuer you to hys eternal ioy. Doubt not my dearely beloued hereof, doubt not (I say:) this wyll God your father doo for you in respect, not of your selues, but in respect of Christ your Captayne, your pastor, your keeper, out of whose handes none shall be able to catche you. MarginaliaAll our hope is only in Christ and for his sake to be receaued.In hym be quiet, and often consider your dignitie, namely howe that ye be Gods chyldren, the saints of God, citizens of heauen, temples of þe Holy ghost, the thrones of God, members of Christ, & Lordes ouer all.
[Back to Top]Therfore be ashamed to thinke, speake, or do any thyng that should be vnseemely for Gods children, Gods saintes, Christes members. &c. MarginaliaTo beare the Crosse.Marueyle not though the deuil and the worlde hate you, though ye be persecuted here: for the seruaunt is not aboue his Maister. MarginaliaMortification.Couet not earthly riches, feare not the power of man, loue not this worlde, nor things that be in this world: but long for the Lord Iesus his commyng, at which tyme your bodyes shalbe made like vnto his glorious body, when he appeareth you shal be like vnto hym: when your life thus shalbe reuealed, then shall ye appeare with hym in glory.
[Back to Top]In the meane season lyue in hope hereof. Let the lyfe