be convinced of trangressions; if I cannot have this, "as hitherto I have not had, God's good will be done." Upon these words, the lord chancellor began a tedious tale about the false doctrine in king Edward's days, and how the people were deceived thereby; and at the conclusion he turned to Mr Bradford and said, how sayest thou?

Bradford. "My lord, the doctrine taught in king Ed"ward's days was God's pure religion; [the first book "of homilies in the church of England was then made "and confirmed] which, as I then believed, so do I now "more believe it than ever I did, and therein I am more "confirmed, and ready to declare it by God's grace, " even as he will, to the world, than I was when I first "came into prison."

Durham. What religion mean you in king Edward's days? What year of his reign?'

Bradford. Forsooth even the same year, my lord, "that the king died, and I was a preacher."

After some small pause, the lord chancellor began again to declare, that the doctrine taught in king Edward's days was heresy, though he pretended not to prove his assertion either by scripture or reason; but cunningly made use of this observation, that it ended with treason and rebellion, so that said he, the very end were enough to prove that doctrine to be naught.

Bradford.

Ah, my lord! that you could enter into "God's sanctuary, and mark the end of this present doctrine that you so magnify."

Lord Chancellor. What meanest thou by that? I am of opinion we shall have a snatch of rebellion even now.' Bradford. "My lord, I mean no such end as you "would gather: I mean an end which no man seeth, "but such as enter into God's sanctuary. If a man "look on present things, he will soon destroy himself."

Here my lord chancellor offered mercy; and Mr Bradford answered as before: "Mercy with God's mercy, should be welcome; but otherwise he would have none." Whereupon the chancellor rang a little bell to call somebody in; for there were but very few present at that time besides the bishop of Worcestor.-And when one was come in, Mr Secretary Bourne said, it is best for you, my lord, to give the keeper an extraordinary charge of this fellow.' Then the under marshal was called in. Lord Chancellor. • Ye shall take this man to you, and keep him close without conference of any man, but by your knowledge, and suffer him not to write any letters,

&c.

&c. for he is of another manner of charge to you than he was before.'

And so they departed, Bradford looking as chearful as any man could do; declaring thereby how willing he was even to give his life for the confirmation of his faith and doctrine.

On the twenty-ninth of January, 1555, the lord chancellor and other bishops were in St Mary-Overy's church in Southwark, when Mr Bradford was sent for; and they proceeded to a second examination of him, but he by his proper answers manifested, that he was well established in the truths of the gospel. Mr Bradford was several times examined by the lord chancellor and the bishops, by two Spanish friars who came to him in the Compter, and by Dr Westen, dean of Westminster, who came to visit Mr Bradford in prison, and had much conversation with him; but in his conferences with them all, he answered in a steady and uniform manner, becoming a man who knew in whom he believed, and like a Christian champion for the truths of God; though, naturally, he was (as Mr Edward Leigh says of him) a man of a humble, melting 'spirit.'

He lived under so strong a sense of his corruptions, that he subscribed some of his letters from prison in the following words :-" The most miserable, hard-hearted, "unthankful sinner, John Bradford. The sinful John "Bradford."

We are

informed by Mr Fox, that he wrote many treatises, especially during his confinement, of which the following have been published.-Two sermons; the first of repentance, on Matt. iv. 17. the second of the Lord's Supper. 2. Letters to his fellow martyrs. 3. An answer to two letters, upon the lawfulness of attending mass. 4. The danger of attending mass. 5. His examination before the officers. 6. Godly meditations made in prison, called his short prayers. 7. Truth's complaints. 8. A translation of Melancthon upon prayer. 9. A dialogue of predestination and free-will.

It is no wonder that Bradford's letters made such a noise among the papists, since they were highly spiritual, and tended to establish the people of God under the severity of their persecution. They are They are so truly excellent, that, notwithstanding the rude style of those times, they are read with delight and edification even to this day. We will select two or three of them for our readers, to shew his manner and spirit, and refer them for the rest to Fox's Acts and Monuments.

"To

"To my dear fathers, Dr Cranmer, Dr Ridley, and

"Dr Latimer.

ESUS Emmanuel! My dear fathers in the Lord, I beseech God, our sweet Father through Christ, to "make perfect the good he hath begun in us all. Amen. "I had thought that every of your staves had stood next "the door, but now it is otherwise perceived. Our dear "brother Rogers hath broken the ice valiantly, as this "day (I think) or to-morrow at the uttermost, hearty "Hooper, sincere Saunders, and trusty Taylor, end their "course, and receive their crown. The next am I, which

For

hourly look for the porter to open me the gates after "them, to enter into the desired rest. God forgive me, "mine unthankfulness for this exceeding great mercy, "that amongst so many thousands it pleaseth his mercy "to chuse me to be one, in whom he will suffer. "although it be most true, that justè patior, i. e. I justly "suffer (for I have been a great hypocrite, and a griev"ous sinner, the Lord pardon me, yea, he hath done it, " he hath done it indeed) yet hic autem quid mali fecit? "i. e. what evil hath he done? Christ, whom the prelates "persecute, his verity which they hate in me, hath done "no evil, nor deseryeth death. Therefore ought I most "heartily to rejoice of this dignation and tender kindness "of the Lord's towards me, who useth remedy for my "sin as a testimonial of his testament, to his glory, to "my everlasting comfort, to the edifying of his church, "and to the overthrowing of antichrist and his kingdom. “Oh what am I, Lord, that thou shouldest thus magnify "me, so vile a man and wretch, as always I have been? "Is this thy wont, to send for such a wretch and an hy<6 pocrite as I have been, in a fiery chariot, as thou didst "for Helias? Oh dear fathers, be thankful for me, that "I still might be found worthy in whom the Lord would "sanctify his holy name. And for your part, make you "ready: For we are but your gentlemen-ushers. Nuptia "Agni paratæ sunt, venite ad nuptias: i. e. the marriage of "the Lamb is prepared; come unto the marriage. I now 65 go to leave my flesh there, where I received it. I shall "be conveyed thither, as Ignatius was at Rome, Leopar"dis; by whose evil I hope to be made better. God grant, if it be his will that I ask, it may make them "better by me. Amen.

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"For my farewel therefore, I write and send this unto you, trusting shortly to see you where we shall never

"be

"be separated. In the mean season I will not cease, as "I have done, to commend you to our Father of heaven; "and that you would so do by me, I most heartily pray "every one of you: You know now I have most need. "But fidelis est Deus, que nunquam sinet nos tentari suprà id "quod possumus ; i. e. faithful is God, which will not "suffer us to be tempted above our strength. He never "did it hitherto, nor now; and I am assured he will "never. Amen. A dextris est mihi, non movebor. Propter "hoc lætabitur cor meum, quia non derelinquet animam meam "in inferno, nec dabit me, sanctum suum, per gratiam in "Christo, videre corruptionem. E carcere raptim, expectans "omni momento carnificem; i. e. he is on my right hand, "therefore I shall not fall: Wherefore my heart shall "rejoice, for he shall not leave my soul in hell; neither "shall suffer me his holy one, by his grace in Christ, to "see corruption. Out of prison in haste, looking for the ❝tormentor, the eighth of February, 1555.”

દ

To a faithful Woman in her heaviness and trouble.

GOD

OD our good Father, for his mercies sake in Christ, : with his eternal consolation so comfort you, as I desire to be comforted of him in my most need: Yea, " he will comfort you (my dear sister) only cast your care upon him, and he never can nor will forsake you. For his calling and gifts be such, that he can never repent "him of them Whom he loveth, he loveth to the end “none of his chosen can perish : Of which number I know "you are, my dearly beloved sister. God increase the "faith thereof daily more and more in you; may he give "unto you to hang wholly on him and on his providence and protection: For whoso dwelleth under that secret thing, and help of the Lord, he shall be cock-sure for "evermore. He that dwelleth, I say; for if we be flit ters and not dwellers, as was Lot a flitter from Segor, where God promised him protection, if he had dwelled "there still; we shall remove to our loss, as he did into "the mountains.

"Dwell therefore; that is, trust, and that finally unto "the end, in the Lord, (my dear sister) and you shall be "as mount Sion. As mountains compass Jerusalem, so "doth the Lord all his people. How then can be forget ❝ you, which are as the apple of his eye, for his dear "Son's sake? Ah dear heart, that I were now but one half hour with you, to be a Simon to help to carry your

"cross

cross with you. God send you some good Simon to be with you, and help you.

"You complain in your letters of the blindness of your "mind, and the troubles you feel. My dearly beloved, "God make you thankful for that which God hath given << unto you; may he open your eyes to see what and how "great benefits you have received, that you may be less "covetous, or rather impatient, for so (I fear me) it should "be called, and more thankful. Have you not received "at his hands sight to see your blindness, and thereto a "desirous and seeking heart to see where he lieth in the "mid-day, as his dear spouse speaketh of herself in the "Canticles? Oh Joyce, my good Joyce, what a gift is this? "Many have some sight, but none this sobbing and sigh❝ing, none this seeking which you have, I know, but "such as he hath married unto him in his mercies. You "are not content to kiss his feet with the Magdalen, but

you would be kissed even with the kiss of his mouth, "Canticles i. You would see his face with Moses, for"getting how he biddeth us seek his face, Psalm xxvii. "Yea, and that for ever, Psalm cv. Which signifieth "no such sight, as you desire to be in this present life, "which would see God now face to face; whereas he "cannot be seen, but covered under something, yea, "sometime in that which is (as you would say) clean " contrary to God; as to see his mercy in his anger. In "bringing us to hell, faith seeth him to bring us to "heaven; in darkness it beholdeth brightness; In hid❝ing his face from us, it beholdeth his merry counte❝nance. How did Job see God, but (as you would say) "under Satan's cloak? For who cast the fire from heaven

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upon his goods? Who overthrew his house, and stirred. "up men to take away his cattle, but Satan? and yet "Job pierced through all these, and saw God's work, say"sing, The Lord hath given, the Lord hath taken away, &c. "In reading of the Psalms, how often do you see that David in the shadow of death saw God's sweet love? "And so, my dearly beloved, I see that you in your "darkness and dimness by faith do see clarity and bright<<<ness. By faith, I say, because faith is of things absent, "of things hoped for, of things which I appeal to your "conscience, whether you desire not. And can you de"sire any thing which you know not? And is there of heavenly things any other true knowledge than by

faith?

"Therefore