MarginaliaAnno. 1555. Iuly.dleton is gone downe to Preach with you, MarginaliaD. Pendleton recanted first in K. Edwardes time, and now againe in Q. Maryes time.not as he once recanted (for you all knowe how he hath preached contrary to that he was wont to preache afore I came amongest you) but to recante that which hee hath recāted.
Pendleton had been active in preaching for the reformed religion in Lancashire in Edward VI's reign, and he was successfully preaching for catholicism in Lancashire in Mary's reign (see Haigh, pp. 189-90). Bradford is emphasizing the changes in Pendleton's religious allegiance to discredit him and he is referring to Pendleton having converted from catholicism to protestantism to catholicism.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaThe causes why M. Bradford was condemned.In deede the chief thyng, whiche I am condemned for as an heretick, is because I deny in the Sacramēt of the altar (whiche is not Christes supper but a plain peruertyng of it, beyng vsed as the Papistes now vse it) to be a reall, naturall, & corporall presence of Christes body & bloud, vnder the formes and accidences
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.
MarginaliaM. Bradfords farwell to the countrey of Lankeshire.And to the ende you might be deliuered from this plague (right deare to me in the Lorde, I shall for my farewell with you for euer in this presente life, hartely desire you all in the bowelles and bloud of our moste mercifull Sauiour Iesus Christ, to attend vnto these thynges whiche I now shall shortly write vnto you out of the holy scriptures of the Lorde.
[Back to Top]You knowe an heauy plague (or rather plagues) of God is fallen vpō vs MarginaliaGods manifold plagues vppon England in Queene Maries dayes.in taking awaie our good king, Gods true Religion, Gods true Prophets and Ministers. &c. And setting ouer vs suche as seke not the lord after knowledge: whose endeuours GOD prospereth wonderfully, to the triall of many, that his people may bothe better know them selues, and be knowen. MarginaliaThe cause of Gods plagues is our iniquities, and not knowyng the time of Gods visitation.Now the cause hereof is our iniquities and greuous synnes. We did not knowe the tyme of our visitation: we wer vnthankfull vnto God: we contēned the Gospel, & carnally abused it, to serue our hypocrisy, our vainglorie, our viciousnes, auarice, idlenes, securitie. &c. Long did the lorde linger & tary to haue shewed mercie vpon vs, but we were euer the longer the worse. Therefore most iustly hath God dealt with vs, and dealeth with vs: yea yet we maie se, that his iustice is tempered with muche mercie, wherto let vs attribute that we are not vtterly consumed. For if the Lorde should deale with vs after our desertes, alas, how could we abide it? In his anger therfore, seyng he doeth remēber his mercy vndeserued (yea vndesired on our behalfe) let vs take occasion the more speedely to go out to meete hym, not with force of armes (for we are not so able to withstāde him, muche lesse to preuaile against hym) but to beseche hym to bee mercifull vnto vs, and according to his wonted mercy to deale with vs.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaRising with Dauid.Let vs arise with Dauid and saie: Ne intres in iudicium cum seruo tuo. &c. i.
Ne intres in iudicium cum seruo tuo. etc.
Enter not into iudgement O lorde with thy seruaunt [for in thy sight no fleshe liuyng shalbe iustified].
et non intres in iudicio cum servo tuo quia non iustificabitur in conspectu tuo omnis vivens.
[Accurate citation, except fornefornonin line 1]
crie out: MarginaliaRepēting with the Publican.Oh God bee mercifull vnto vs wretched synners. Let vs with the lost Sonne returne and saie: MarginaliaReturnyng with the loste Sonne.O Father, we haue synned against heauen and earth, and before thee: we are vnworthy to be called thy children. Let vs I say do on this sort, that is, hartly repēt vs of our former euill life, and vnthankfull gospellyng past, conuert & turne to God with our whole hartes, hoping in his greate mercy through Christ, and hartly callyng vpon his holy name, & then vndoubtedly we shall finde and fele otherwise then yet we fele, both inwardly and outwardly. Inwardly we shall fele peace of conscience betwene God and vs, which peace passeth all vnderstandyng, and outwardly we shal fele much mitigatiō of these miseries, if not an vtter taking of them awaie.
[Back to Top]Therefore my dearely beloued in the Lorde, I your poorest brother now departing to the lorde, MarginaliaBradfords vltimū vale.for my vale in æternum
'Farewell in eternity'.
An indication of Bradford's extensive preaching in Lancashire during Edward VI's reign.
Now is the axe laied to the roote of the tree, vtterly to destroye the impenitent. Now is the fire gone out before the face of the lorde, and who is able to quenche it? Oh therefore repent you, repent you. It is enough to haue liued as we haue doen. MarginaliaWanton Gospellers. Proud Protestantes. False christiās.It is inough to haue played the wanton Gospellers, the proud Protestantes, Hypocriticall and false Christians, as alas, we haue doen. Nowe the lorde speaketh to vs in mercie & grace: Oh tourne before he speaketh in wrathe. Yet is there mercy with the lorde, and plenteous redemption: yet he hath not forgotten to shewe mercie to them that cal vpon hym. Oh then cal vpō hym, while he may be found. For he is riche in mercy, and plentifull to all them that call vpon hym. So that he that calleth on the name of the Lorde shall be saued. If your synnes be as redde as scarlet, the Lord saieth, he will make them as white as snowe. He hath sworne, and neuer wil repent him therof, that he will neuer remember our iniquities, but as he is good, faithfull and true, so will he bee our God, and we shalbe his people: his lawe will he write in our hartes, and engraffe in our mindes, and neuer wil he haue in mynde our vnrighteousnesse.
[Back to Top]Therefore my deare hartes in þe lord, turne you, turne you to the Lorde your Father, to the lorde your Sauiour, to the lord your Comforter. Oh why do you stop your eares, and harden your hartes to daie, when you heare his voyce by me your poorest brother? MarginaliaBradford prophesied of these plagues before.Oh forget not how that the lord hath shewed himself true & me his true preacher by bringing to passe these plages, whiche at my mouthe you oft heard before thei came to passe, specially whē I entreated of Noes floud & when I preached of the. 22. chapter of S. Matthewes Gospel on sainct Steuens daie the last tyme that I was with you. And now by me the lorde sendeth you worde (deare countrey menne) that if you will goe on forwardes in your impenitency, carnalitie, hypocrisse, idolatry, couetousnes, swearing, glottony, dronkennes, whoredō. &c. (Wherwith alas, alas our coūtrey floweth): if (I say) you will not turne and leaue of, seeyng me now burned amongst you, to assure you on al sides how God seketh you, and is sory MarginaliaDestruction threatned too thē that repent not.to do you hurt, to plage you, to destroy you, to take vengeaunce vpon you, oh your bloud will be vpon your own heades: you haue bene warned, and warned againe by me in preachyng, by me in burnyng.
[Back to Top]As I saied therfore, I say again, my deare hartes and dearlinges in the lorde, turne you, turne you, repēt you, repent you, MarginaliaPreceptes of life.ceasse frō doyng euill, studie to do wel, away with idolatrie, fly the Romishe God and seruice, leaue of frō swearyng, cut of carnalitie, abandon auarice, driue away dronkēesse, flie from fornication and flatterie, murther and malice, destroye deceiptfulnesse, and cast awaie all the workes of darkenes. Put on pitie and godlines, serue god after hys worde, and not after custome, vse your tonges to glorifie God by praier, thankesgeuyng and confession of his truth. &c. be spiri-
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