No. 74.*

To a Woman who desired to know his mind, whether she, refraining from the Mass, might be present at the Popish Mattins or no.

I BESEECH Almighty God, our heavenly Father, to be merciful unto us, and to increase in you, my good sister, the knowledge and love of his truth; and at this present give me grace so to write to you something of the same, as may make to his glory, and our own comfort and confirmation in him, through Christ our Lord, Amen.

Whether you may come with safe conscience to the Church now, that is, to the service used commonly, in part, as at mattins or at evensong or no, is your desire to have me to write something, for your further stay. My dearly beloved, although your henefits towards me, might perchance make you to think, that in respect thereof I would bear with that, which else were not to be born withal; yet by God's grace I am purposed simply, and without all such respect in this matter, to speak to you the truth according to my conscience, as I may be able to stand unto, when I shall come before the Lord.

First therefore, go about to learn perfectly, the first lesson to be learned of all that profess Christ, that is to deny yourself, and in nothing to seek yourself. Secondly, learn after this, to begin at the next lesson to it, which is to seek God in all things you do and leave undone. Thirdly, know that then you seek God, when in his service you follow his word and not man's fancies, custom, multitude, &c. and when, with your brother, you follow the rule of charity, that is, to do as you would be done by.

In these is a sum of all the council I can give you; if that hereto I admonish you, of the service now used, which is not according to God's word, but rather against God's word, directly and in manner wholly. So that your going to the service is a declaration that you have not learned the first lesson, nor never can

* Fox iii. 338. Cov. 401.

learn it so long as you go thither; therefore the second lesson you shall utterly lose, if you cease not the seeking of yourself, that is, if for company, custom, father, or friend, life or goods, you seem to allow that which God disalloweth. And this that you the better may perceive, I purpose by God's grace, briefly to shew.

First, the mattins and evensong is in a tongue, forbidden publicly to be used in the congregation, that perceiveth not the tongue. Read how Paul affirmeth it, to pray in an unknown tongue, to be against God's Commandment. This one, I trow, were enough, if nothing else were; for how can God's glory be sought, where his word and commandment is wilfully broken? How can charity to man stand, when charity to God, which is obedience to his word, is overthrown? Again, both in mattins and in evensong, is idolatry maintained for God's service; for there is invocation and prayer made to saints, departed this life, which robbeth God of that glory which he will give to none other.

Moreover, this service and the setters forth of it, condemneth the English service as heresy; thereby falling into God's curse, which is threatened to all such as call good evil, and evil good; whereof they shall be partakers, that do communicate with them. Besides this, this latin service is a plain mark of antichrist's catholic synagogue; so that the communicants and approvers of it, thereby declare themselves to be members of the same synagogue, and so cut off from Christ and his Church; whose exterior mark is the true administration of God's word and sacraments.

Furthermore, the example of your going thither to allow the religion of antichrist, as doubtless you do in deed, howsoever in heart you think; occasioneth the obstinate, to be utterly intractable, the weaker papists to be more obstinate, the strong gospellers to be sore weakened, and the weaker gospellers to be utterly overthrown; which things, how great offence they be, no pen is able to utter by letters.

All these evils you shall be guilty of, that company with those in religion exteriorly, from whom you are admonished to fly. If Christ be Christ, follow him; gather with him, least you scatter abroad: serve God, not only in spirit, but also in body. Make not your body, now a member of Christ, a member of antichrist. Come

out from amongst them, saith the Lord, and touch no unclean thing. Confess Christ and his truth, not only in heart, but also in tongue, yea in very deed, which few gospellers do.

Indeed they deny him, and therefore had need to tremble, lest that Christ will deny them in the last day; the which day, if it were set before our eyes often, then would the pleasures and treasures of this world be but trifles.

Therefore, good Sister, often have it before your eyes, daily set yourself and your doings, as before the judgment seat of Christ now, that hereafter you be not called into judgment. Think that it will little profit you to win the whole world, and to lose your own soul. Mark Christ's lessons well; he that will save his life shall lose it. The Father from heaven commandeth you, to hear Christ, and he saith, follow me; this can you not do and follow idolatry or idolaters. Fly from such, saith the Scripture. This God grant to you, to me, and to all God's children, Amen. Thus in haste I have

accomplished your request, God grant that as you have done me much good bodily, so this may be a little mean to do you some good spiritually, Amen. If time would serve, I would have written more at large. The 2 of March, anno, 1555.

On the 21st of March one of the Earl of Derby's men came to the Compter with one M. Collier, formerly Warden of Manchester, who informed Bradford that Dr. Weston,† would be with him in the afternoon.

At dinner time, when M. Collier discommended King Edward, and went about to set forth the authority of the Pope, Bradford withstood him, defending the king's faith, that it was catholic, and that the authority of the Bishop of Rome's supremacy was usurped; bringing forth the testimony of Gregory, which af firmeth the name of Supreme Head, to be a title of the former to antichrist.

See Appendix, Note (CC.)

+ See Appendix, Note (DD.)

Bradford then went to his prison chamber to beg of God grace, and help therein; continuing there until he was called down to speak with M. Weston.

No. 75.*

FIRST CONFERENCE WITH DR. WESTON.

As soon as Bradford entered the hall Dr. Weston very gently took him by the hand, and told him that he had often been minded to come to him, being thereto desired of the Earl of Derby.

Weston. After that I perceived by this man, that you could be contented rather to speak with me, than any others; I could not but come to do you good, if I can; for hurt you be sure I will not. Brad. Sir, when I perceived by the report of my Lord's servant, that you did bear me good will; more as he said, than any other of your sort; I told him that, therefore I could be better content and more willing to talk with you, if you should come unto me. This did I say, otherwise I desired not your coming.

Weston. Well, now I am come to talk with you; but before we shall enter into any talk, certain principles we must agree upon, which shall be this day's work. First, I shall desire you to put away all vain-glory, and not hold any thing for the praise of the world.

Brad. Sir, St Augustine maketh that indeed a piece of the definition of a heretic; which if I cannot put away clean, for I think there will a spice of it remain in us, as long as this flesh liveth, yet I promise you by the grace of God, that I purpose not to yield to it. God, I hope, will never suffer it to bear rule in them that strive there-against, and desire all the dregs of it utterly to be driven out of us.

Fox iii. 301.

Weston. I am glad to hear you say so, although indeed I think you do not so much esteem it as others do. Secondly, I would desire you, that you will put away singularity in your judgment and opinions.

Brad. Sir, God forbid that I should stick to my singularity or private judgment, in God's religion. Hitherto I have not desired it, neither do, nor mind at any time to hold any other doctrine than is public and catholic, understanding catholic as good men do; according to God's word.

Weston. Very well, this is a good day's work, I hope to do you good; and therefore now, thirdly, I shall pray you to write me Capita of those things, whereupon you stand in the sacrament, and to send it to me betwixt this and Wednesday next; until which time, yea, until I come to you again, be assured that you are without all peril of death. Of my fidelity, I warrant you; therefore away with all dubitations, &c.

Brad. Sir, I will write to you the grounds I lean to in this matter. As for death, if it come, welcome be it; this which you require of me, shall be no great let to me therein.

Weston. You know that St. Augustine was a Manichean, yet was he converted at the length; so have I good hope of you.

Brad. Sir, because I will not flatter you, I would you should flatly know, that I am even settled in the religion, wherefore I am condemned.

Weston. Yea, but if it be not the truth, and you see evident matter to the contrary, will you not then give place?

Brad. God forbid, but that I should always give place to the truth. Weston. I would have you to pray so.

Brad. So I do, and that he will more and more confirm me in it, as I thank God he hath done and doth.

Weston. Yea, but pray with a condition, if you be in it.

Brad. No Sir, I cannot pray so; because I am settled and assured of his truth.

Weston. Well, as the learned bishop answered St. Austin's mother, that though he was obstinate, yet the tears of such a mother could not but win her son; so I hope your prayers* cannot but be

• Bradford's eyes here shewed that he had wept in prayer.-Fox in Loco.