what mercy at God's hand through Christ, we have offered and given unto us. The former part serveth to keep the old man from carnality and security, and to stir him up to diligence and solicitude; the latter part serveth how to keep the new and inward man from doubting and despair, and to bring us into an assured certainty and quietness with God, through Christ.

The old man and the field he resteth in, may not be sown with any other seed than is agreeable to the former doctrine; the new man and the field he resteth in, may not be sown with any other, than is agreeing to the latter doctrine. By this means man shall be kept from carnality, and from desperation also, and brought into diligence and godly peace of conscience. It is forbidden in the old law, to sow two kinds of seeds in one field, to wear linsey wolsey petticoats, or to eat beasts that did not cleave the hoofs. God grant us to be wise husbandmen, to sow according as I have said; God grant us to be wise tailors, to cut our coats for two men of one whole cloth, as is declared. God grant us to be clean beasts, to cleave the hoofs accordingly, that is, to give the old man meat, meet for the mowers, that is, the law with the appurtenances, conditionals, promises, and comminations; and to give to the new man the gospel, and sweet free promises, as appertaineth; and then doubtless we shall walk in the right high way unto eternal life, that is in Christ Jesu, the end of the law and the fulfilling of the promises, in whom they be yea and, Amen.

If this my poor advice be observed, my dear brethren in the Lord, I doubt not but all controversies, for predestination, original sin, free will, &c. shall so cease, that there shall be no breach of love, nor suspicion amongst† us; which God grant for his mercy's sake. I am persuaded of you, that you fear the Lord, and therefore I love you, and have loved you in him, my dear hearts, though otherwise you have taken it without cause on my part given, so far as I know. For hitherto I have not suffered any copy of the treatise above specified to go abroad, because I would suppress all occasions so far as might be.

See this subject pursued and more fully illustrated in No. 25.

↑ Emonges.

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Now am I going before you to my God and your God, to my father and your father, to my Christ and your Christ, to my home and your home. I before, but you shall come after, sooner or later. Howbeit I could not but before I go, signify thus much unto you, as I have done, that you might see my love, and thereby be occasioned to increase in love, and learn rather to bear than break.

My poor and most dear sister to me that ever I had, with whom I leave this letter, I commend unto you all and to every of you, beseeching you and heartily praying you in the bowels and blood of Jesus Christ, to care for her, as for one which is dear in God's sight, and one which loveth you all in God, and hath done, as I can and do bear her witness; although in the point of predestination, it hath pleased God by my ministry, to open unto her his truth. Wherein as she is settled, and I trust in God, confirmed; so if you cannot think with her therein as she doth, I heartily pray you, and as I can, in God's behalf charge you, that you molest her not, nor disquiet her, but let love abound, and therein contend who can go most before. I commend also unto you my good sister, M. C., making for her the like suit unto you all.

Ah, dear hearts, be not faint hearted for these evil days, which are come to try us and purify us, that we may the more be partners of God's holiness; as to ourselves so to the world, we shall be better known. Continue to walk in the fear of the Lord, as ye have well begun. Keep yourselves pure, as I hope you do, from this rotten Romish, yea Anti-Christian religion. Reverently read God's word, thereto joining prayer; that as you hear, in reading, God speak unto you; so in praying, you may speak unto him. Labour after your callings to help other. As you have done, do still, and I pray God give you grace to continue, as I doubt not but he will, for his goodness sake. At the length we shall meet together in Christ's kingdom, and there never part asunder, but praise the name of our good God and father, with the patriarchs, prophets, apostles, angels, archangels, and all the saints of God.

Oh, joyful place, Oh, place of all places desired. My brethren, I think myself more happy than you, by how much I am now more near unto it. Elijah's chariot I hourly look for, to come and catch me up. My cloak, that is, my carcase, I shall leave behind me in ashes,

which I doubt not my Lord will raise up and restore to me again in the last day, glorified even like unto his own most glorious body.

The portion of the good spirit which my father hath lent me, I wish, yea double and treble, unto you all. God the father of mercy, in the blood of his Christ, give to every of you, my dear hearts, in him, his blessing, and pour plentifully upon you his holy spirit, that you may increase in all godly knowledge and godliness, to your own comfort and the edification of many others. Amen.

Yet once more I commend unto you my aforesaid most dear and beloved sister in the Lord; who always be unto her a most loving father, spouse, and pastor. Amen, Amen. Out of prison, the 16th of Feb. 1554.

Your own heart,

JOHN BRADFORD.

No. 23.*

TO TREWE AND ABYNGTON,

With other of their Company, Teachers and Maintainers of the error of man's free-will.

YET once more, beloved in the Lord, before pen and ink be utterly taken from me, as I look it to be this afternoon, I thought good to write unto you, because I stand in a doubt, whether at any time hereafter, I shall see or speak with you; for within this sevennight my Lord Chancellor bad look for judgment. God knoweth I lie not, I never did bear you malice, nor sought the hindrance of any one of you, but your good both in soul and body, as when we shall

• Cov. 474.

+ It seems probable that this letter was addressed to the same individuals as the last.

all appear together before God, I am certain you shall then know,* though now you doubt it, and that causeless, I am right well assured. For mine own conscience can and doth bear witness with me, that I never defrauded you or any of you, of the value of one penny or pennyworth of any thing; but have sought, with that which hath been given, not only in common, but also unto me and to mine own use, discretion, and distribution; to do you good.

Therefore disdain not the good will of your lover in God; and in hope that you will not, I have eftsones even now sent unto you thirteen shillings and fourpence; if you need as much more, you shall have it, or any thing else I have, or can do for you.

Though in some things we agree not, yet let love bear the bell away, and let us pray one for another, and be careful one for another; for I hope we be all Christ's. As you hope yourselves to pertain to him, so think of me; and as you be his, so am I your's.‡

JOHN BRADFORD.

No. 24.§

TO THE SAME.

He that seeketh not to hinder himself temporally, that he may further his brother in more need, the same wanteth true love. I have done, do, and will, except you refuse it, hinder myself this way that

• Read 1 Cor. xiii. and compare these spirits with the spirit of humbleness, unity, and love, which here you see in this man of God, doing good even to his adversaries, and then judge of them and their doctrines.-Cov. 475.

+ He meaneth concerning free will, original sin, predestination, &c. wherein they are plain pelagians and papists.-Cov. 475.

At this letter, these men were so sore offended, because he said he had hindered himself to further them, as though he had thereby upbraided them; that in displeasure they sent it to him again. Whereupon he wrote unto them that which follows.—

Cov. 475.

Cov. 475.

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I

may further you, and indeed myself also that way, wherein I desire to be furthered. If I would seek mine own gains temporally, then could I have taken and used many portions of money, which have been given to me for mine own use.* I never minded to upbraid you; but that which I did write of my own hindrance, was that you might see I loved you, and sought your weale, as I doe, and will be glad to do it continually. The Lord, of mercy hath forgiven us all, wherefore henceforth let us rather bear than break.

Your's in the Lord,

No. 25.*

JOHN BRADFORD.

TO CERTAIN OF HIS FAITHFUL FRIENDS,

Worthy of all Christians to be read, wherein is described a

lively comparison between the old man and the new also between the law and the gospel, containing much fruitful matter of divinity, necessary for Christian consciences to read and understand.

A MAN that is regenerate and born of GOD,-the which thing that every one of us be, our baptism, the sacrament of regeneration, doth require under pain of damnation, and therefore let every one of us, with the Virgin Mary, say; Be it unto me, O Lord, according to thy word, according to the sacrament of baptism, wherein thou hast declared our adoption; and let us lament the doubting hereof in us, striving against it, as we shall be made able of the Lord;—a man,

Though he distributed to them, amongst other prisoners there, not only that which was given in common, but also to his own use; yet they suspected him of evil dealing. Thus do not they, in whom the love of God dwelleth.-Cov. 476.

+ Fox 349.