cause of all this misery; our sins, I say, which I would that every one of us would apply to ourselves, after the example of Jonas and David; turning over the wallet, that other men's offences might lie behind, and our own before.

Not that I would excuse other men, who exteriorly have walked much more grossly than many of you have done; but that I would provoke you all as myself, to more hearty repentance and prayer. Let us more and more increase, to know and lament our doubting of God, of his presence, power, anger, mercy, &c. Let us better feel and hate our self-love, security, negligence, unthankfulness, unbelief, impatience, &c. and then doubtless the cross shall be less fearful, yea it shall be comfortable, and Christ most dear and pleasant. Death then shall be desired, as the dispatcher of us out of all misery, and entrance into eternal felicity and joy unspeakable; the which is so much the more longed for, by how much we feel indeed the serpent's bites, wherewith he woundeth our heels, that is, our outward Adam and senses.

If we had, I say, a lively and true feeling of his poison, we could not but, as rejoice over our Captain that hath bruised his head, so be desirous to follow his example, that is, to give our lives with him and for him; and so to fill up his passion, that he might conquer and overcome in us and by us, to his glory, and comfort of his children.

Now the second, I mean the sequel, or that which will follow, on the strangers, my dearly beloved; let us well look upon. For if so be, that God justly do thus give to satan and his seed, to vex and molest Christ and his penitent people; oh, what and how justly may he and will he give to satan, to entreat the reckless and impenitent sinners? If judgment begin thus at God's house, what will follow on them that be without, if they repent not? Certainly for them is reserved the dross of God's cup, that is, brimstone, fire, and tempest intolerable. Now are they unwilling to drink of God's cup of affliction, which he offereth common with his Son Christ our Lord, lest they should lose their pigs, with the Girgesites. They are unwilling to come into the way that bringeth to heaven, even afflictions; they in their hearts cry, let us cast his yoke from us; they walk two ways, that is, they seek to serve God and mammon, which is impossible.

They will not come nigh the strait way that bringeth to life; they open their eyes to behold present things only; they judge of religion after reason, and not after God's word; they follow the more part, and not the better; they profess God with their mouths, but in their hearts they deny him, or else they would sanctify him, by serving him more than men. They part stake with God, who would have all, giving part to the world, to the Romish rout, and antichristian idolatry, now set abroad amongst us publicly. They will have Christ, but none of his cross, which will not be; they will be counted to live godly in Christ, but yet they will suffer no persecution; they love this world, wherethrough the love of God is driven forth of them; they savour of those things that be of men, and not that be of God. Summa, they love God in their lips, but in their hearts, yea and in their deeds, deny him; as well by not repenting their evils past, as by continuing in evil still; by doing as the world, the flesh, and the devil willeth, and yet still perchance they will pray, or rather prate, Thy will be done in earth, which is generally, that every one should take up his cross, and follow Christ.

But this is a hard saying, Who is able to abide it? Therefore Christ must be prayed to depart, lest all their pigs be drowned. The devil shall have his dwelling again in themselves, rather than in their pigs; and therefore to the devil shall they go, and dwell with him in eternal perdition and damnation, even in hell fire, and torment endless, and above all cogitations incomprehensible, if they repent not.

Wherefore, by them, my dearly beloved, be admonished to remember your profession, how that in baptism you made a solemn vow to renounce the devil, the world, &c. You promised to fight under Christ's standard. You learned Christ's cross, afore you began with A. B. C. Go to then, pay your vow to the Lord; fight like men and valiant men under Christ's standard; take up your cross and follow your Master, as your brethren, M. Hooper, Rogers, Taylor, and Saunders have done; and as now your brethren, M. Cranmer, Latimer, Ridley, Farrar, Bradford, Hawkes, &c. be ready to do.

The ice is broken before you, therefore be not afraid, but be content to die for the Lord. You have no cause to waver or doubt

of the doctrine, thus declared by the blood of the pastors. Remember that Christ saith, He that will save his life shall lose it. And what should it profit you to win the whole world, much less a little quietness, &c., your goods, &c., and to lose your own souls? Render to the Lord that he hath lent you, by such means as he would have you render it, and not as you would. Forget not, Christ's disciples must deny themselves, as well concerning their will, as concerning their wisdom. Have in mind, that as it is no small mercy to believe in the Lord, so it is no small kindness of God towards you, to suffer any thing, much more death, for the Lord. If they be blessed that die in the Lord, how shall they be that die for the Lord.

Oh, what a blessing is it to have death due for our sins, diverted into a demonstration and testification of the Lord's truth. Oh, that we had a little of Moses' faith, to look upon the end of the cross, to look upon the reward, to see continually with Christ and his people, greater riches than the riches of Egypt. Oh, let us pray that God would open our eyes to see his hidden manna, the beavenly Jerusalem, the congregation of the first-born, the melody of the saints, the tabernacle of God dwelling with men; then should we run and become violent men, and so take the kingdom of heaven, as it were, by force. God, our Father, give us for his Christ's sake, to see a little what and how great joy he hath prepared for us, he hath called us unto, and most assuredly giveth us, for his own goodness and truth's sake, Amen.

My dearly beloved, repent, be sober, and watch in prayer; be obedient, and, after your vocations, shew your obedience to the higher powers, in all things that are not against God's word, therein acknowledge the sovereign power of the Lord; how beit so that ye be no rebels, or rebellers, for no cause; but because with good conscience you cannot obey, be patient sufferers, and the glory and good spirit of God shall dwell upon us. I pray you remember us, your afflicted brethren, being in the Lord's bonds for the testimony of Christ, and abiding the gracious hour of our dear and most merciful father. The Lord for Christ's sake, give us merry hearts, to drink lustily of his sweet cup, which daily we groan and sigh for, lamenting that the time is thus prolonged. The Lord

Jesus give us grace to be thankful, and to abide patiently the provident hour of his most gracious good will, Amen, Amen.

From the compter in the Poultry,

Your's in Christ,

JOHN BRADFORD.

No. 80.*

TO HIS GOOD BROTHER, R. COLE.

MINE own good brother, our good and most merciful Father, more and more embrace us, in the arms of his mercy, as his loving and own natural children; and give us, one to embrace another, in the arms of love as true brethren; that with one heart and mind, we may praise his holy name, in Christ our Saviour; and through the grace of his spirit, may mightily, every one, fight against sin, and all that is against the kingdom of Christ. Whereto, my beloved, we are called effectually to our everlasting felicity, I doubt not, praised be the name of our good God therefore, for ever and ever, Amen.

Mine own heart in the Lord, desire our brethren, that every one would bend himself to bow; let us never break. Love suffereth long, and seeketh not herself. We have all one father, we are all brethren, God keep us from dissention. If we cannot agree in all points, either the points perchance be not so necessary, or else by love we shal hereafter be brought to see that which yet is hid. If love may appear in all our doings, and that we seek one another with a simple and a single eye in God's sight, doubtless all prejudice whereby we are letted to see manifest things, will be had away, and we shall take things spoken and done in the best part; and so doubtless the name of our father shall be sanctified in us and by us, as by instruments of grace, and God's kingdom shall increase apace in us and by us also, which thing may he grant, for his mercy's sake, Amen.

• Cov. 411.

Commend me heartily, I pray you, to both those good women. Good I call them, because I am persuaded that God will deliver them, especially my good Mary. I will not cease, but even as for myself, to pray to God for them, and for you, my right dear brother in the Lord. If you were acquainted with M. Robert Harrington, you should find a plain Nathaniel, you should see the worst at the first; I dare say for him, his only desire is to please God, and he is afraid to offend. Pray for him, and for my good sister J. H. as I know she doth for you. The peace of God be with you mine own in the Lord. JOHN BRADFORD.

No. 81.*

To a Faithful Friend of his, whom for his godly simplicity and singleness of heart in the ways of the Lord, he called Nathaniel; and to his Wife.

THE merciful God, and Father of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who loveth us as a most dear father, and hath put upon him towards us, the affections of a most tender mother towards her children; so that he can no less think upon us, although of ourselves we are most unworthy, and deserve nothing less, than she can think on her only begotten child in his distress; yea, if she should forget her child, as some unnatural mothers will do, yet will he never forget us, although for a time he seem to sleep, that we might be occasioned to call loud and awake him. This good God keep you, my dear brother Nathaniel, and your good yoke-fellow, my heartily beloved sister in the Lord, in all things now and for ever, to his glory and your eternal comfort; and also of his goodness

Fox iii. 346. Cov. 414.

+ M. Robert Harrington, see the last letter.

Note that Nathaniel was not his proper name, but he was so called from his unfeigned simplicity and truth.-Fox.