on more then God himself but pray to him for the prosperous use of them 134. Love all things for Gods sake and God only for his own and look you make him your friend whosoever be your enemy for 〈◊〉 this you shall do if as an obedient Child you always live in the eye of your heavenly Father 135. Give no offence to any man justly whether within or without for wo to them by whom offences come 136. Carry your self unto all so as the weak may be won the strong may be comforted and the wicked be ashamed 137. Delight to do all the good you can to Gods Children and to receive all the good you can from them 138. Think it the greatest work in the world to die well which to do you must inure your self to die before hand 1. By dying to your sins 2. Learning the word of affection before it actually leave you 3. In your last learning of if do it willingly yea joyfully whensoever wheresoever or howsoever God shall call you 139. Greive for nothing so much in the world as for your own sins and in them for nothing so much as for offending so loving a God 140. Let your meat apparel and recreation be lawful needful and moderate 141. Labour alwaies to learn to die defie the world deny the Devil despise the flesh and delight your self in the Lord be penitent for your sins past and present and yet despair not be strong in Faith and yet presume not Desire with the great Apostle to be dissolved and to be with Christ with whom even in death there is life 142. Use your life and keep it with as much quietness as you can so that you offend not God that ease that cometh with his displeasure turneth at length to an unspeakable pain and the gain of the world with the loss of his favourâ— is extream beggary and wretchedness 143. The greatest honour that man can give to God is to confess his truth truly and faithfully in time of trouble and affliction 144. It is but a folly for any one that truly professeth Christ crucified to look for the love of the world 145. Infidelity is the cause of all our misery which causeth us to fear man more then God and to esteem things present more than things to come 146. Love is that flower which shall never fade but shall flourish more and more till it be made perfect in that place where Faith and Hope shall have no office but shall then fully possess that which they have so long patiently waited for in this world 147. After the Lord hath made a Christian to know what he is in himself he will doubtless shew him comfort and declare to him what he is in Jesus Christ his Son 148. The mind of man cannot be contented patiently to bear the troubles either of Soul or body until it be regenerated and possessed by Gods spirit 149. Why should we Christians fear death can death deprive us of Christ who is all our comfort our joy and our life 150. Let us tarry with Christ one hour in Tribulation and affliction and doubtless he will keep us for ever with him in joys everlasting 151. Patience and Perseverance under great tryals are the proper notes whereby Gods children are known from counterfeits they that persevere not were alwaies but Hypocrites 152. If Christ be our Captain we must follow him as good Souldiers if we keep company with him in afflictions we shall be â—â—re of his society in Glory if we forsake not him he will never forsake us if we confess him he will confess us if we be ashamed of him he will be ashamed of us Therefore as he forsook Father Heaven and all things to come to us so let us forsake all things to come to him being most sure and certain that we shall not lose thereby 153. Afflictions are in separable but not infallible notes of Salvation for none shall be saved but he must suffer afflictions but all that are afflicted shall not be saved 154. Wealth is not the way to heaven but the Contrary let all our care be how to live well and then to be sure we shall never dye poor 155. Afflictions and sufferings are sometimes the way to Glory in this world Joseph had never been a Courtier had he not first been a prisoner 156. Gods children are ever the better for being miserable It is good for me that I was afflicted let God use us how he will on Earth so that we may have what he hath promised to those that love him in Heaven who would not be a Lazarus for a day that he might sit in Abrahams bosome for ever Some Heavenly Meditations Exhortations and Consolations of that blessed Martyr Mr. John Bradford and other Martyrs written out of prison to several Friends To Mr. J.H. COnsider what this life is Consider what death is Consider what is prepared for you after death 1. Concerning this life know it is full of misery vanity and wo it is a plain banishment and hath nothing in it that hath continuance it is therefore compared to a vapour to smoak to a shaddow yea to a warfare to a vail of misery wherein we are compassed about on every side with most fierce and fearful Enemies and should we desire to dwell there should we be fond to live in this toylsome and laborious world should we wish to continue in this wretched estate should we take pleasure to remain in this dangerous condition Daniels den was not so dreadful as is this Dungeon we dwell in 2. Concerning death to Gods dear children what other thing is it then the dispatcher of all displeasure the end of Travil the door of desires the gate of gladness the port of Paradise the heaven of Heaven the entiance into rest and quietness the path-way into Felicity and the beginning of all blessedness It is a very bed of Down and therefore compared to a sleep for the bodies of Gods people to rest out of which they shall arise and awake most fresh and flourishing to everlasting life It is a passage to the Father a chariot to Heaven the Lords messenger a leader unto Christ a going to our home a deliverance from prison and bondage a dismission from war a security from all sorrow and a freedom from all misery Should we be dismay'd at it should we be afraid of it should we trouble to hear of it should such a freind as this is be unwelcome should the foulness of his face fear us from his good conditions should the hardness of his husk hinder us from his sweet kernel should the roughness of the Tyde tye us to the bank and shore should the hardness of the saddle set us on our feet to perish by the way rather then leap up and endure the same a little and so to be where we would be 3. Concerning that which is prepared for you after death if I should go about to express it the more
examination and yet a Christian will find himself most backward thereto and soonest weary therein 49. Seasonable and unexpected mercys are very sweet and acceptable 50. The more a soul is exercised in spiritual meditation the less with carnal Temptation and the more frequent and powerful in private prayer the more free from and the more potent against Corruptions 51. Sin was condemned by Christ to save the sinner Rom. 8.3 Oh! then let not the sinner seek to save the sin to wound Christ again 52. Quick onsets and Endeavours to reform are far better then many purposes and Resolutions 53. Small sins yielded to make way for greater and one sin for another 54. Be sure to praise God when you receive power against sin and Temptation and you shall be sure to find God ready to give you power another time when you want it 55. When and where wickedness is most then and there the godly should strive to be most godly It is a sign of sincerity to be good in bad times and in bad places and among bad persons as Noah Lot and Joseph were 56. At the day of death but especially at the day of Judgment a Christian will wish he had sinned less served God and suffered for him more 57. If Christians were not sometimes afflicted they would forget both themselves and others for affliction works humiliation in men themselves and compassion toward others 58. It is a hard thing for a profane man to attain the Shaddow of Religion or for a careless though true Christian to attain the substance And it is hard for a true Christian that hath the substance to keep up the sence and savour either of the excellency of Jesus or the evil of sin always in his heart 59. Oh! what time do Christians mispend what duties do they neglect what mercies do they slight what corruptions do they embrace what Temptations do they lie under what corrections do they undervalue Oh! what heart qualms and fleshly weaknesses cry out upon us to make ready and yet how unready how unripe how unwilling how unmindful and unthoughtful are we of our latter end and this is because we are unassured of Christ unweaned from the world unweary of sin unbroken from self and unapprehensive of the glory to be revealed and enjoyed hereafter 60. Fear thy friends more then thy foes thy sins more then thy sufferings and liberty more then bondage 61. Christians should not give offence carelesly nor take offence causlesly 62. Bad times well Improved are far better then good times not redeemed or mispent 63. It is and shall be the care of a Christian not to suffer for sin nor to sin in suffering 64. There is no real bondage but what is either from sin or for sin 65. Affections parts or applause from the world or from Christians are very dangerous and not to be trusted in 66. I never trusted Christ but I found him faithful nor my own heart but I found it false 67. Shut thy eyes from beholding thy ears from hearing and thy heart from entertaining sin 68. Take heed of reproving or upbraiding another in passion or to provoke them thereto for 't is better be silent then sin in speaking 't is better to keep thy light under a bushel then to put it into the hand of him that will blow it out or tread it under his feet 69. Self-loathing destroys self-love and the more we loath our selves the better we love others 70. Christians should not envy the patience of God toward their enemies for it is nothing in comparison of what grace he shows to them 71. Of all men a Christian may be freer to lose or to part with any thing then another man for he loses nothing but what is hurtful to him to wit his sins or what he shall regain and recover of a better sort and in a more abundant degree As if he lose a small Temporal Estate he hath in reversion an Eternal inheritance If he lays down a body that is full of Corruption he shall have another free from corruption and therefore he may say better then the Heathen could what I keep I lose and what I give or lay out I save 72. Sins best is before but its worst is behind and the sting and Tayl of it is longer then it self where sin is not killed it will kill 73. A Christians conversation should keep from the shew of sin and his conscience from the guilt of it 74. The power and strength of corruption is but seldome known to wit when Temptations Opportunities and Occasions of Tryal come 75. The best way to keep from Sin is to set God in his power Purity and Glory still before our eyes to fear our selves to keep near Christ to fast and pray privately to engage other Christians for our help to cherish the holy spirit to keep up constant practice of holiness to provide contrary means against it to resolve strongly to withstand it to eye Gods promises commands and threatnings to withstand the first occasions of sin to reason it off at a distance to believe it away when it comes near to avoid all occasions thereof and to keep on still the Armour of God 76. Christians are often apt to be most weary of that condition that doth them most good like Peter not understanding what Christ did in washing his feet Joh. 13.1.9 77. Christians in and under afflictions should be growing holy and through their afflictions should be going on toward happiness affliction is part of the way of sanctification leading to salvation and it is like an up-hil leading to an house that is on the top of an hill for so is heaven and the greatest hardship is nearest the end of the journey 78. They have but a slight profession whose profession doth not lead them out of sin and through sufferings he that is worse under affliction as Ahar may well fuspect his own sincerity 79. Christ will soon be sensible of those Christians afflictions that are sensible of their own sins 80. It ought to be a great part of a Christians trouble that he can be no time what he should be that is sinless and servicable that he is not at all times what he is sometimes that is slighting sin Judging himself Loving Christ and dispising the world greatly 81. It is strange and a very bad sign to see Christians look more upon the sins of the wicked to ripen them for misery then to mind self-humiliation and holiness to ripen and fit themselves for mercy 82. He loves not a reprover not values his reproof never profits thereby but is more his sins then his souls Friend 83. 'T is a sign of a hard heart to desire the Eternal destruction of the wicked for obtaining of their own Temporal and Corporal liberty safety or honour as if one should desire to have another cast into the fire and be burnt that himself may be warmed thereby 84. In the midst of earthly businesses the
I should do so the further I should be from it For the eye hath not seen neither hath the ear heard nor is the heart of man able to conceive in any measure the joy mirth melody pleasure power wealth riches honour glory wisdom knowledge treasures security peace quietness and eternal felicity which you shall enjoy world without end with God the Father Son and Holy Spirit Amen O! wo to our blind eyes that see not this wo to the hardness of our hearts that feel not this wo to the deafness of our ears that hear not this in such manner as we should do whereby we should be so far from fearing death that we should rather wish and desire it To the Professors of the Gospel By Mr. John Bradford Martyr IT is I Lord that have sinned against thee it is mine hypocrisie my vain-glory my covetuousness my carnality security Idleness unthankfulness self-love and such like which have deserved the taking away of our King Edward of thy word and true Religion of thy good Ministers by exile imprisonment and death it is my wickedness that causeth success and increase of authority and peace to thy Enemies Let us reprove the works of darkness let us fly from all idolatry let us abhor the Antichristian and Romish rotten service let us detest the Popish Mass and forsake their Romish Idol let us prepare our selves for the Cross let us be obedient to all in authority in things that are not against God and his word for then answer with the Apostle It is better to obey God then Man If you find and feel in your selves an hope and trust in God that he will never tempt you above what he will make you able to bear then be assured the Lord will be true to you and you shall be able to bear all afflictions but if you want this hope and confidence fly and get you hence rather then by your tarrying Gods name should be dishonoured Hang on the providence of God not only when you have means to help you but also when you have no means yea when all means are against you Give God this honour which of all other things he chiefly and principally requireth at your hands namely To believe that you are his children through Christ that he is your Father and God through him that he loveth you and pardoneth you all your offences that he is with you in trouble and will be with you for ever that when you fall he will put under his hand and will not let you lie long in sin Let the life you lead be in the Faith of the Son of God for the just doth live by Faith which Faith flyeth from all evil and followeth the word of God as a Lanthorn to her feet and a light to her steps her eyes be above where Jesus Christ is she beholdeth not things present but rather things to come she glorieth in afflictions and knoweth that the afflictions of this present life are not to be compared with that far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory which God will reveal to us and in us Now of this glory the Lord grant us a lively tast here then shall we run after the scent that it sendeth forth It will make us valiant men to take to us the Kingdom of God whether the Lord of his mercy bring us in his good time through Christ our Lord. To Dr. H. By Mr. John Bradford Martyr SEt before your eyes the end of this straight way rather then the narrowness of the passage so doth the husbandman in plowing and tilling the ground set before him the harvest time so doth the Fisherman consider the draught of his net rather then the casting of it in So doth the Merchant the return of his Merchandize and so should we in these stormy days set before us not the loss of our goods liberty yea of our very life but the reaping time the coming of our saviour Jesus Christ to judgment The more we lose here the greater joy shall we have in the world to come the more we suffer here the greater triumph shall we have there for corruptable dross we shall find incorruptable treasure for Gold we shall have glory for Silver we shall have solace and joy without measure for riches we shall have Royal Robes for earthly â—ouses we shall have eternal Pallaces we shall there have mirth without measure pleasure without pain and absolute blessedness felicity and happiness without end To certain of his faithful Friends by Mr. John Bradford Martyr YEe have cause to rejoyce my dearly beloved Friends in the days of tryal and confirmation in and by which God our Father maketh us like to the Image of Jesus Christ here that so we may be like unto him hereafter For if we suffer with him we shall raign with him if we be buried with him we shall rise with him if we are companions with him in affliction we shall rejoyce with him in glory if we sow with him in tears we shall reap with him in joy if we confess him before men he will confess us before his father in heaven if we take his part he will take ours if we loose any thing for his names sake he will give us all things for his truth and promise sake so that we ought to rejoyce and be glad for it is not given to every one to suffer loss of country life goods house and all things for the Lords sake What can God the Father do more for us then to call us into the camp of his dear Son what can Jesus Christ our Saviour do more for us then to make us his Warriors and fellow Souldiers what can the holy Ghost do to us above this then to mark us with the badg and cognisance of the Lord of Hosts Be of good comfort be of good comfort my dear hearts in the Lord confess him and his truth and fear not the prison loss of goods or life fear rather that prison out of which there is no deliverance fear rather the loss of those goods which last for ever fear rather the loss of that life which is eternal whereunto you are called and the way by which God will bring you to it because you know not certainly whether it will be by prison fire or halter whensoever these come let them not dismay you nor seem strange unto you for no small number of Gods children are gone that way The journey is but short though unpleasant to the flesh perchance if we should dye in our beds by a corporal malady it would be much longer and also more painful but in Gods sight it cannot be so precious and gainful as I know this kind of death is And now I commend my self into the hands of my Father by whose providence I came into this world by whose providence I have been kept in this world and by whose providence I leave and depart out of this world Let us make our selves ready to ride in