No. 94.*

TO HIS DEAR FRIENDS AND BRETHREN, R. AND E., WITH THEIR WIVES AND FAMILIES.

THE Comfort of Christ, felt commonly of his children, in their cross for his sake, the everliving God work in both your hearts, my good brethren, and in the hearts of both your yoke-fellows, especially of good Mary, my good sister in the Lord, Amen.

If I had not something heard of the hazard which you are in for the gospel's sake, if you continue the profession and confession thereof, as I trust you do and will do, and that unto the end, God enabling you; as he will doubtless, for his mercy's sake, if you hope in him, for this bindeth him, as David in Christ's person witnesseth, Our fathers hoped in thee and thou deliveredst them, &c. Ps. xxii.; yet by conjectures I could not but suppose, though not so certainly, the time of your suffering and probation to be at hand. For now is the power of darkness fully come upon this realm, most justly for our sins, and abusing the light lent us of the Lord, to the setting forth of ourselves, more than of God's glory; that as well we might be brought into the better knowledge of our evils, and so heartily repent, which God grant us to do; as also we might have more feeling and sense of our sweet Saviour Jesus Christ, by the humbling and dejecting of us, thereby to make us, as more desirous of him, so him more sweet and pleasant unto us; the which thing the good Spirit of God work sensibly in all our hearts, for God's holy name's sake.

For this cause I thought it my duty, being now where I have some liberty to write, the Lord be praised, and hearing of you as I hear; to do that which I should have done if I had heard nothing at all; that is, to desire you to be of good cheer and comfort in the Lord, although in the world you see cause rather to the contrary, and to go on forwards in the way of God, whereinto you are entered; considering that the same cannot, but so much more and more wax

Fox iii. 332. Cov. 338.

strait to the outward man, by how much you draw nearer the end of it. Even as in the travail of a woman, the nearer she draweth to her delivery, the more her pains increase; so it goeth with us in the Lord's way, the nearer we draw to our deliverance by death, to eternal felicity.

Example whereof we have, I will not say in the holy prophets and apostles of God, who when they were young girded themselves and went in manner whither they would, but when they waxed old, they went girded of others whither they would not, concerning the outward man; but rather and most lively in our Saviour Jesus Christ whose life and way was much more painful to him towards the end, than it was at the beginning. And no marvel, for satan can some thing abide a man to begin well and set forwards, but rather than he should go on to the end, he will vomit his gorge, and cast floods to overflow him, before he will suffer that to come to pass.

Therefore, as we should not be dismayed now at this world, as though some strange thing had happened unto us, in that it is but as it was wont to be to the godly, in that the devil declareth himself after his old wont; in that we have professed no less but to forsake the world and the devil, as God's very enemy; in that we learned no less at the first, when we came to God's school, than to deny ourselves, and to take up our cross, and follow our master, who leadeth us none other way, than he himself hath gone before us. As, I say, we should not be dismayed, so we should with patience and joy go forwards, if we set before us as present, the time to come, like as the wife in her travail, doth the deliverance of her child, and as the saints of God did, but especially our Saviour and pattern Jesus Christ; for the apostle saith, He set before him the joy and glory to come, and therefore contemned the shame and sorrow of the cross; so if we did, we should find at the length as they found.

For whom would it grieve, who had a long journey to go, to go through a piece of foul way, if he knew that after that, the way should be most pleasant, yea the journey should be ended, and he at his resting place most happy? Who will be afraid or loth to leave a little pelf for a little time, if he knew he should shortly after receive most plentiful riches? Who will be unwilling for a little while to forsake his wife, children, or friends, &c. when he knows

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he shall shortly after be associated unto them inseparably, even after his own heart's desire? Who will be sorry to forsake this life, who cannot but be most certain of eternal life? Who loveth the shadow better than the body? Who can love this life, but they who regard not the life to come? Who can desire the dross of this world, but such as be ignorant of the treasures of the everlasting joy in heaven? I mean, Who is afraid to die, but such as hope not to live eternally?

Christ hath promised pleasures, riches, joy, felicity, and all good things, to them who for his sake lose any thing, or suffer any sorrow. And is he not true? How can he but be true, for guile was never found in his mouth? Alas, then why are we so slack and slow, yea hard of heart to believe his promising us, thus plentifully, eternal blissfulness; and are so ready to believe the world, promising us many things, and paying us nothing? If we will curry favour now, and halt on both knees; if so, then it promiseth us peace, quietness, and many things else. But how doth it pay this gear? Or if it pay it, with what quietness of conscience? Or if so, how long, I pray you? Do not we see before our eyes men to die shamefully, I mean, as rebels and other malefactors, who refuse to die for God's cause? What way is so sure a way to heaven, as to suffer in Christ's cause? If there be any way on horseback to heaven, surely this is the way. By many troubles, saith the apostle, we must enter into heaven. All that will live godly in Christ Jesu, must suffer persecution. For the world cannot love them that are of God; the devil cannot love his enemies; the world will love none but his own; but you are Christs, therefore look for no love here. Should we look for fire to quench our thirst? And as soon shall God's true servants, find peace and favour in antichrist's regiment.

Therefore, my dearly beloved, be stout in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on you his armour; stand in the liberty of Christ which you have learned; rejoice that you may be counted worthy to suffer any thing for God's cause; to all men this is not given. Your reward is great in heaven, though in earth you find nothing. The journey is almost past, you are almost in the haven, take on apace, I beseech you, and merrily hoist up your sails. Cast yourself on Christ, who careth for you. Keep company with

him now still to the end; he is faithful and will never leave you, nor tempt you, further than he will make you able to bear; yea in the midst of the temptation, he will make an outscape.

Now pray unto him heartily, be thankful of his dignation, rejoice in hope of the health you shall receive, and be mindful of us who are in the vaward, and by God's grace trust in Christ to be made able to break the ice before you, that you following, may find the way more easy. God grant it may be so, Amen, Amen. Out of prison, by your brother in Christ,

JOHN BRADFORD.

No. 95.†

TO MRS. WILKINSON.

ALMIGHTY God, our most loving Father, increase in your heart, my good mother and dear mistress in the Lord, his true knowledge and love in Christ, to the encouraging and comforting of your faith in these stormy days; as necessary unto us, so profitable if we persist unto the end, which thing God grant unto us, Amen.

My right dearly beloved, I know not what other thing to write unto you, than to desire you to be thankful unto the Lord, in that amongst the not many of your calling and state, it pleaseth him to give you his rare blessing; I mean, to keep you from all the filth, wherewith our country is horribly defiled. This blessing assuredly is rare as you see. But now if he shall bless you with another blessing which is more rare, I mean, to call you forth as a martyr, and as a witness against this filth, I hope you will become doubly thankful.

For a greater token commonly we have not, to judge of our election and salvation, next to Christ and faith in him, than the

Vanguard.-Bailey.

+ Fox iii. 333. Cov. 312.

A pious woman who relieved the wants of the reformers. Cranmer advised her to fly.-Strype Eccl, Mem, iii. pt. i. 226.

cross, especially when it is so glorious, as on this sort to suffer any thing, but chiefly loss of this life, which indeed is never found till it be so lost; except the grain of wheat fall and be dead, it remaineth fruitless.

You know how that he who was rapt into the third heaven, and did know what he wrote, doth say, that as the corn liveth not except it be dead and cast into the earth, so truly our bodies. And therefore the cross should so little alarm us, that even death itself should altogether be desired of us; as the tailor who putteth off our rags, and arrayeth us with the royal robes of immortality, incorruption, and glory. Great shame it should be for us, that all the whole creatures of God should desire, yea, groan in their kind for our liberty, and we ourselves to lothe it; as doubtless we do, if for the cross, yea, for death itself, we with joy swallow not up all sorrow, that might let us from following the Lord's calling, and obeying the Lord's providence; whereby doubtless all crosses, and death itself, doth come, and not by hap or chance.

In consideration whereof, right dear mother, in that this providence stretcheth itself so unto us and for us, that even the hairs of our heads are numbered with God, not one of them to fall to our hurt; surely we declare ourselves very faint in faith, if we receive not such comfort, that we can willingly offer ourselves to the Lord, and cast our whole care upon his back; honouring him with this honour, that he is and ever will be careful for us, and all we have, as for his dear children. Be therefore of good cheer, even in the midst of these miseries, be thankful to the Lord, and prepare yourself for a further trial; which if God send you, as I hope, so do you believe, that God therein will help and comfort you, and make you able to bear whatsoever shall happen.

And thus much, having this opportunity, I thought good to write, praying God our Father to recompense into your bosom, all the good that ever you have done, to me especially, and to many others, both in this time of trouble, and always heretofore.

Your own in the Lord,

JOHN BRADFORD.