price Oh wretched sinner that I am not thankfull vnto this my Father who hath vouchsafed mee woorthy to bee a vessell vnto his honour But O Lord now accept my thankes though they proceed out of a not enough circumcised heart Salute all that loue vs in the truth Gods blessing bee with you alwayes Amen Euen now towards the offring vp of a burnt Sacrifice O my CHRIST helpe or else I perish Bishop Hooper ¶ Out of a Letter consolatory which he writ to certain godly Brethren taken in Bow Church-yard at prayer and layd in the Counter in Bread-streete REmember what lookers on you haue to see and behold you in your fight God and all his holy Angels who are ready alwaies to take you vp into Heaven if you be slaine in his fight Also you haue standing at your backes all the multitude of the faithfull who shal take courage strength and desire to follow such noble and valiant Christians as you be Be not afrayd of your adversaries for he that is in you is stronger then hee that is in them Shrinke not although it be paine to you your paines be not now so great as hereafter your joyes shall bee Read the comfortable Chapters to the Rom. 8 10.15 Heb. 11.12 And vppon your knees thanke God that ever you were accounted worthy to suffer any thing for his names sake Read the second of Lukes Gospell and there you shall see how the Sheapheards that watched vppon their Sheepe all night as soone as they heard that Christ was borne at Bethlem by by they went to see him They did not reason or debate with themselues who should keepe the Wolfe from the sheep in the mean time but did as they were commanded and committed their Sheepe vnto him whose pleasure they obayed So let vs now wee bee called commit all other things to him that calleth vs. Hee will take heede that all things shall be well He will helpe the Husband hee will comfort the Wife Hee will guide the Seruants hee will keepe the house hee will preserue the goods Yea rather then faile if it should lye vndone he will wash the Dishes and rocke the Cradle Cast therefore all your care vppon him for he careth for you ¶ Out of another Letter of M r. HOOPERS to his friends perswading them to constancy IT was an easie thing to hold with Christ whiles the Prince and the World held with him but now the world hateth him it is the true tryal who be his In the name and in the vertue theÌ„ of his holie spirit prepare your selues to adversity constancy Let vs not run away when it is most time to fight Remember none shall bee crowned but such as fight manfully You must now turne all your cogitatiâ—ns from the perill you see and marke the felicitie that followeth the perill either victorie of your enemies in this World or else a surrender for euer of your right in the inheritance to come Beware of beholding to much the felicite or miserie of this world for the consideration and too earnest loue or feare of either of them draweth from God Thinke with your selues the felicitie of the world is good but yet none otherwise then it standeth with the fauor of God It is to be kept but yet so farre forth as by keeping of it wee loose not God It is good abiding and tarrying still among our friends here but yet so that we tarrie not therwithall in Gods displeasure and to dwell hereafter with Deuils in fire euerlasting There is nothing vnder God but may bee kept so that God being aboue all things we haue be not lost Of Aduersity iudge the same Long imprisonment is painfull but yet libertie vppon euill conditions is more painfull The prisons stincke but yet not so much as sweet houses whereas the feare and true honour of God lacketh losse of goods is great but losse of Gods grace and fauour is greater I must bee alone and solitarie it is better to bee alone and haue God with mee then to bee in company with the wicked and want his presence I am a poore simple creature and cannot tell how to answere before such a great sort of Noble and learned wen it is better to make answere before the pompe and pride of wicked men then to stand naked in the sight of all heaven and Earth before the iust GOD at the latter day I shall die then by the hands of the cruell man hee is blessed that looseth his life full of miseries and findeth the life of eternall ioyes It is paine and griefe to depart from life and friends but yet not so much as to depart from grace and Heauen it selfe Felicitie nor adversitie then can apreare to be great if it be wayed with the joyes or paine of the life to come ¶ The last will and testament of Doctor Rowland Taylor I Say to my wife and to my Children the Lord gaue you vnto mee and the Lord hath taken me from you and you from mee blessed be the name of the Lord. I beleeue they are blessed that dye in the Lord. God careth for sparrowes and for the haires of our heads I haue euer found him more faithfull and fauorable then is any Father or husband Trust yee therefore in him by the meanes of our deere Sauiour Christs merits beleeue loue feare and obay him pray to him for hee hath promised to helpe Count me not dead for I shall certainely liue and neuer die I goe before you and you shall follow after to our long home I goe to the rest of my childreÌ„ Susan George Ellen Robert Zacharie I haue bequeathed you to the onely omnipotent I say to my deare friends of HADLEY and to all other which haue heard me preach that I depart hence with a quiet conscience as touching my doctrine for the which I pray you thanke God with me for after my small tallent I haue declared to you those lessons I gathered out of Gods blessed booke the Bible If I therefore or an Angell from Heaven should preach vnto you any other Gospell then that ye haue received Gods great curse vppon that preacher Beware for gods sake that ye deny not God neither decline from the woord of Faith least GOD decline from you and so ye doe everlastingly perish For Gods sake beware of Poperie for though it appeare to haue in it vnitie yet the same is in vanitie and Antichristianitie and not in Christs faith and veritie Beware of the sin against the holy Ghost now after such a light opened so plainlie and simplie truelie thorowlie and generally to all England The Lord grant all men his good and holy spirit increase of his wisdome contemning this wicked world heartie desire to bee with God the heavenly company through Iesus Christ our onely Mediatour advocate righteousnes life sanctification and onelie hope Amen Amen pray pray Rowland Taylor departing hence in sure hope without all doubting of eternall salvation I thanke God my
THE MIRROR OF MARTYRS IN A SHORT VIEVV lively expressing the force of their Faith the feruency of their Loue the wisedome of their Sayings the patience of their Suffrings c. With their Prayers and preparation for their last farewell Whereunto is added two godly Letters written by M. BRADFORD full of sweet consolation for such as are afflicted in conscience ¶ They loved not their liues vnto the death Reuel 12.11 AT LONDON ¶ Printed by T. P. for Io Budge and are to be sold at his Shop at the great South doore of S. Paules and at Brittaines Bursse An. 1613. Deut. 15.15 ¶ Remember that thou wast a bond-man in the Land of EGYPT and that the Lord thy God redeemed thee Deut. 16.3 ¶ Remember the day thou camest out of the Land of EGYPT all the dayes of thy life TO ALL SVCH as from a true heart delight to see the mightie power of CHRIST magnified in his Martyrs salvation DEare Christian Reader who either wantest leisure to read or abilitie to buye that rich and plentifull Store-house of Storie Doctrine and Comfort the Acts and Monuments penned by the most innocent hearted man of God and true NATHANAELL M r. IOHN FOXE and yet knowing th'incomparable worth of the things contained therein doest often wish thy selfe some of that pretious store for thy present vse Loe here a Mirror fitched thence which how so euer in regard of the smalnesse it cannot shew thee all yet mayest thou here behold the choice of many memorable things which will yeeld thee sound comfort and profitable delight Accept then good Reader I praye thee in stead of the greater this little Institution of a Christian Martyr with the same mind with which it is now offered vnto thee vse it to the same ends for which it was at the first framed into this so smal a Volume if in reading the whole or any part therof thou or any of thine doe reape but the least good be thankefull therfore to thy good God and helpe mee with thy prayers Thine ever in Christ C. C. THE FAYTHFVLL Soule to her spouse CHRIST I Am my welbeloveds my welbeloved is mine Set me as a seale on thine heart and as a signet vpon thine arme for Loue is strong as death Ielousie is cruell as the graue the coles therof are fiery coles and a vehement flame Much water cannot quench Loue neither can the flouds drowne it if a man should giue all the substance of his house for Loue they would greatlie contemne it A PREAMBLE before the Booke HAppy happy yea thrise and everlastingly happy is that Soule which by Faith feeles it selfe handfasted vnto Christ Thogh it meet with a prosperous estate in this world it easily swels not and if it meet with th' adverse things of the world it easily quailes not For it hath the word of Christ and the Spirit of Christ residing and dwelling in it Shee is not to learne in whome shee hath beleeued neither can she ever be finally forced from beleeving Bring her to triall and prooue whether of the two Christ or Belial she will embrace offer her Gold to forgoe CHRIST shee greatly contemns it Let the mighty terrify with threats shee feares not their feare nor is carefull vpon the perill of life to giue them a direct answere she regards not whippings she dreads not rackings vpon honorable conditions shee esteems the prison a Pallace fetters of jron Ornaments of fine Gold the darkest dungeon a delightsome dwelling rather then shee will violate the chastitie of her faith to CHRIST her onely Spouse she will willingly endure headding and hanging yea burning and broyling In a word nothing can be able to separate this sweet soule from that loue of GOD to her which is in CHRIST Iesus her Lord. Now the jmage of such a soule who desires to see and by sight thereof to be transformed inro the same jmage Let him often with a spirituall eye prie into this Mirrour of Martyrs following Where he shall behold their Faith victorious their Hope liuely their peace passing al vnderstanding their Ioy vnspeakable and glorious their Speach alwaies gracious their prayers full of Fervor their liues full of Beautie their ends full of Honor This Honor shal be to all the Saints Revel 7.13 WHat are these And wheÌ„ce come these Verse 14. THese are they that came out of great tribulation and haue washed their long white Robes in the bloud of the Lambe Verse 15. THerefore are they in the presence of the throne of God and serue him day and night in his Temple and hee that sitteth on the throne will dwell among them Verse 16. THey shal huÌ„ger no more neither thirst any more neither shall the sunne light on them neither heat Verse 17. FOr the Lambe which is in the midst of the thron shal governe them and shall lead them to the liuely fountaines of waters and GOD shall wipe away all teares from their eies Revel 14.12 HEere is the patience of Saints heere are they that keepe the Commandemets of God and the Faith of Iesus Verse 13. ANd I heard a voyce from Heauen saying vnto mee write Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth yea saith the spirit that they may rest from their labours and their works do follow them Psal. 116.15 PRecious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints Psal. 72.14 ANd deare shall their bloud bee in his sight Reuel 6.10 HOw long Lord which art holy true doest thou not judge and auenge our bloud on theÌ„ that dwel on the earth Verse 11. ANd it was sayd vnto theÌ„ that they should rest for a little season vntill their fellow servants their brethren that should bee killed even as they were were fulfilled TO THE RIGHT Noble and Vertuous Princesse the Lady ELIZABETHS Grace Eldest daughter to our Soveraigne Lord King Iames. THat neither this poore and weake seruice which is heere to be offred to the Church of Christ nor the memorie of his faithfull Martyrs which in this small Briefe I endevor to reviue and celebrate might bee the lesse esteemed of the good or any way vilified of the bad by comming abroad without the Patronage and protection of some person of Eminencie in the sayd Church it was needfull for me most Noble Lady to make choyse of such a Patron as for Eminencie of place and vertues might hâ—ue large romth in the hearts of the former and also whose sole authoritie might suffice to put to silence the jgnorance of the foolish All which meeting togeather in your Grace my humble sute is that through your Princely hands this poore Mite may now be cast into the Lords Treasurie Wherein your Grace shall walke in her Royall stepps who though dead yet now seemes to liue in you by her sacred hands did first consecrate the larger volume whence this Epitome is extracted to the vse of the Church and people of God Be
sayd do not leaue the company of thy friends and acquaintance which loue thee and will let thee lacke nothing The spirit sayd the company of Iesus Christ and his glorious presence doth farre exceed all fleshly friends The flesh sayd doe not shorten thy time now for thou maist if thou wilt liue much longer The spirit sayd this life is nothing to that which is to come which lasteth for euer and ever ¶ The Prayer of Richard Browne who standing at the stake and holding vp both his hands sayd O Lord I yeild mee to thy grace Graunt mee pardon for my trespasse Let neuer the feend my soule chase Lord I will bow and thou shalt beat Let neuer my soule come in hell heat Into thy hands I commend my spirit ¶ A Godly and deuout Prayer mentioned in the storie of M r. Philpot Martyr fit for such as suffer at the stake MErcifull God and father to whome approached our Sauiour Christ in his feare need by reason of death and found comfort Gracious God and most bounteous Christ on whome Steuen called in his extreame need and receiued strength Most benigne and holy spirit who in the midst of all crosses and death did'st comfort th'Apostle ST Paul with more consolations in Christ thē hee felt sorrows terrors haue mercie vpon me miserable vild and wretched sinner who now draweth neere vnto the gates of death deserued both in body and soule eternall by reason of my manifold horrible old and new transgressions which to thine eies ô Lord are open and knowne Oh be mercifull vnto mee for the bitter death and bloodshedding of thine onely sonne Iesus Christ. And though thy justice do require in respect of my sinnes that thou shouldst not heare me measuring mee with the same measure I haue measured thy Maiestie contēning al thy gracious calls yet let thy mercie which is aboue all thy works and wherwith th' earth is filled let thy mercy I say prevaile towards mee through and for the Mediation of onr Saviour for whose sake it hath pleased thee now to bring mee foorth as one of thy witnesses and a record bearer to thy veritie and truth taught by him to giue my life therefore To which dignitie ô Lord and deere father I acknowledge there was never any so vnfit nor vnworthy no not the theefe that hanged vppon the Crosse so I therfore most humbly beseech thee that thou woldst accordingly aid helpe and assist me with thy strength and heavenly grace that with Christ thy Sonne I may find comfort with Steven I may see thy presence and gracious power with Paul and all others which for thy names sake haue suffred affliction and death I may find thy sweet consolation so present with mee that I may by my death glorifie thy name propagate and ratifie thy truth comfort the hearts of the heavie confirm thy Church in thy veritie convert some to be converted so depart foorth of this miserable life where I doe nothing but heape sinne dayly vppon sinne and so enter into the fruition of thy blessed presence and mercie whereof giue and encrease in mee a liuely trust sence and feeling where through the terrors of death the torments of the fire the pangs of sinne the darts of Satan and the dolours of hell may never depresse mee but may bee driven away through the working of thy most gratious spirit which now plenteously endew mee withall that I may offer as I now desire to do in Christ by him my selfe wholy Soule and body to be an holy liuely and acceptable sacrifice in thy sight Deere Father whose I am and alwaies haue been even from my Mothers wombe yea even before the world was made to whom I commend my selfe soule and body familie friends Countrey and all thy whole Church yea even my very enemies according to thy good pleasure beseeching thee entirely to giue once more to this Realme of England the blessing of thy word againe with godly peace to the teaching and setting foorth of the same Oh deare Father now giue me grace to come vnto thee purge and so purifie mee by this fire in Christs death passion through thy spirit that I may bee a burnt offring of sweet smel in thy sight who liuest and raignest with the son and holy Ghost now and for ever more Amen M. Bartlet Greene. ¶ A Sweet description of the miseries of this life and of the ioyes of the life to come written by M r. Bartlet Greene. BEtter is the day of death sayth Salomon then the day of birth Man that is borne of a woman liueth but a short time and is replenished with many miseries but happy are the dead that dye in the Lord. Man of a woman is borne in trauell to liue in miserie man through Christ doth dye to liue Straight as he commeth into this world with cries hee vttereth his miserable estate straight as he departeth with songs hee praiseth God for ever Scearce yet in his cradle 3 deadly enemies assaile him after death no adversarie can annoy him whilst he is heere hee displeaseth GOD when hee is dead hee fulfilleth his will In this life hee dyeth through sinne In the life to come he liueth in righteousnesse Through many tribvlations on earth he is still purged with joy vnspeakable in heaven hee is made perfect for ever Heere hee dyeth every houre there hee liveth continually Heere is sinne there is righteousnes Here is time there is eternitie Heere is hatred there is loue Heere is paine there is pleasure Heere is miserie there is felicitie Heere is Corruption there is jmmortalitie Heere we see vanitie there we shall behold the Maiestie of God with triumphant vnspeakable joy in glory everlasting Seeke therefore the things that are aboue where Christ sitteth on the right hand of GOD the Father to whom with the holy Ghost be all glory and houour world without end Amen Lady Iane. ¶ An effectuall Prayer made by the Lady IANE in the time of her trouble O Lord thou god father of my life heare me poore and desolate woman who flyeth vnto thee onely in all troubles and miseries Thou O Lord art the onely defender and deliuerer of those that put their trust in thee therfore I beeing defiled with sinne encombred with affliction vnquieted with troubles wrapped in cares over-whelmed with miseries vexed with temptations and grieuously tormented with the long jmprisonment of this vilde masse of Claye my sinfull body do come vnto thee O mercifull Saviour crauing thy mercie and helpe with the which so little hope of deliuerance is left that I may vtterly despaire of any libertie Albeit it is expedient that seeing our life standeth vpon trying we should be visited sometime with some adversity whereby we might be tried whether wee be thy flocke or no and also know thee and our selues the better yet thou that sayd'st thou would'st not suffer vs to be tempted aboue our power be merciful vnto me now a miserable wretch
I beseech thee that I may neither bee too much puffed vppe with prosperity neither to much pressed downe with adversity least I beeing too full should denye thee my God or being too low brought should despaire blaspheme thee my Lord and Saviour O mercifull God consider my miserie best knowne to thee and bee thou now vnto mee a strong Tower of defence I humbly require thee Suffer me not to bee tempted aboue my power but either be thou a deliuerer to mee out of this great misery or else giue me grace patiently to beare thy heauy hand and sharpe correction It was tâ—y right hand that deliuered the poore people of Israell out of the haÌ„ds of Pharaoh which for the space of Fortie yeares did oppresse and keepe theÌ„ in bondage Let it therefore seeme good to thy fatherly goodnesse to deliuer me sorrowfull wretch for whome thy Sonne Christ shedde his pretious bloud on the Crosse out of this miserable captiuitie and bondage wherein I now am How long wilt thou bee absent for ever Oh Lord hast thou forgotten to bee gracious and hast thou shut vppe thy loving kindnesse in displeasure wilt thou bee no more entreated Is thy mercy clean gone for ever and thy promise come vtterly to an end for evermore Why doest thou make so long tarrying Shall I despaire of thy mercy O God farre be that from me I am thy workemanship created in Christ Iesus giue mee grace therfore to tarrie thy leisure and patiently to beare thy workes assuredly knowing that as thou caust so thou wilt deliuer me when it shal please thee nothing doubting or mistrusting thy goodness towards me for thou knowest better what is good for me then I doe therefore doe with mee in all things what thou wilt Onelie in the meane time arme me I beseech thee with thy armor that I may stand fast my loines being girt about with veritie having on the breast-plate of righteousnes and shodde with the shoes prepared in the Gospell of peace aboue all things taking vnto me the shield of Faith wherewith I may be able to quench al the fiery darts of the devil and taking the helmet of Hope and the sword of the Spirit which is thy most holy word praying alwaies with all manner of Prayer and Supplication that I may referre my selfe wholly to thy will abyding thy pleasure and comforting my selfe in those troubles that it shall please thee to send seeing such troubles be profitable for mee and seeing I am assuredly perswaded that it cannot but bee well all that thou dooest Heare mee ô mercifull Father for his sake whome thou would'st should bee a sacrifice for my sinnes to whome with thee and the holy Ghost bee all honour and glorie Amen ¶ A Prayer of the Lord Cromwell which he at the houre of his death O Lord Iesu which art the onely health of all men living and the everlasting life of them which die in thee I wretched sinner do submit my selfe wholy vnto thy most blessed will beejng sure that the thing cannot perish which is committed vnto thy mercie willingly now I leaue this fraile and wicked flesh in sure hope that thou wilt in better wise raise it vp restore it to me at the day of the resurrection of the just I beseech thee most mercifull Lord Iesus Christ that thou wilt by thy grace make strong my soule against all temptations and defend mee with the buckler of thy mercie against al the assaults of Satan I see and acknowledge that ther is in my selfe no hope of Salvation but all my hope and trust is in thy most mercifull goodnes I haue no merits nor good works which I may alleadge before thee of sinnes and evill works alas I see a great heape but yet thorow thy mercie I trust to be in the nuÌ„ber of theÌ„ to whom thou wilt not jmpute their sins but wilt accept me for just and righteous and to bee th'inheritor of everlasting life Thou mercifull Lord wastborn for my sake thou didst suffer both hunger thirst for my sake thou didst teach pray and fast for my sake all thy holy actions and workes thou wroughtest for my sake Thou suffred'st most greeuous paines and torments for my sake finally thou gavest thy most precious body and blood to be shed vppon the Crosse for my sake Now most merciful Saviour Let all these things profit mee that thou freely hast doone for mee Let thy blood clense wash away the spots and foulenes of my sinnes Let thy righteousnesse hide and couer my vnrighteousnes Let the merits of thy passion and blood shedding bee a satisfaction for my sinnes Giue me Lord thy grace that the faith of my salvation in thy blood waver not but may be ever firme and constant that the hope of thy mercie and life everlasting never decay in me that loue may not bee cold in mee Finally that the weakenes of my flesh bee not ouercome with the feare of death Graunt me mercifull Sauiour that when death hath shut vp the eies of my body and hath taken away the vse of my tongue yet the eyes of my Soule may still behold and looke vppon thee and my heart may still cry and say vnto thee Lord Iesu into thine hands I commed my Soule Lord receiue my spirit Amen ¶ The Prayer that Martin Luther sayd at his death MY Heavenly Father and eternall mercifull GOD thou hast manifested to mee thy deere son our Lord Iesus Christ. I haue taught him I haue knowne him I loue him as my life my health and my redemption whome the wicked haue persecuted maligned and with jniurie afflicted Draw my soule to thee After this hee sayd I commend my spirit into thine hands thou hast redeemed mee ô GOD of truth God so loved the world c. Anne Askew ¶ The Prayer of Anne Askew O Lord I haue more enemies then there bee haires on my head yet Lord let them never overcome mee with vaine words but fight thou Lord in my stead for on thee cast I my care With all the spight they can jmagine they fall vppon me which am thy poore creature Yet sweet Lord let me not set by them which are against mee for in thee is my whole delight And Lord I heartely desire of thee that thou wilt of thy mercifull goodnesse forgiue them that violence which they doe and haue done to me OpeÌ„ also their blind hearts that they may heereafter do that thing in thy sight which is only acceptable before thee and to set foorth thy veritie aright without all fantasies of sinnefull men So be it O Lord so be it By me Anne Askew William Flower ¶ The Prayer and confession which William Flower made at his death OH Eternall God most mightie and mercifull Father who hast sent down thy sonne vppon the earth to saue mee and all mankind who ascended vp into heaven againe and left his blood heere vppon the earth behind him for the redemption of our sinnes haue mercie
present so admired him that their eies were no lesse thorowly occupied in beholding him thē their eares gaue place to the hearing of his prayers At his departing the chāber hee made in like sort a prayer in which hee vehemently desired of God that his wordes might not bee spoken in vaine ¶ His behauiour at his death MR. Bradford cōming to the stake fell flat vpon his face praying the space of one minute of an hower the Sheriffe willed him to make an end because the presse was great at that word standing vpon his feet he tooke a Fagot in his hand and kissed it and so likewise the Stake so putting off his rayment he went to the Stake holding vp his hands and casting vp his countenance to heaven sayd thus O England Englād repēt thee of thy sins repent thee of thy sins c. To the young man that suffered with him hee sayd Be of good comfort Brother for we shall haue a merry Supper with the Lord this night and spake no more wordes that any man heard but jmbracing the Reeds sayd thus Straight is the way and narrow is the gate that leadeth vnto life eternall and fewe there be that find it M. William Tims WIlliam Tims being convented before Bonner Winchester Tims said the Bishops thou hast a good fresh spirit it were well if thou had'st learning to thy spirit Yea my Lords sayd TIMS and it were well also that as you bee Learned men so yee had a good Spirit to your learning Bishop Latimer REuerend LATIMER writes thus to Bishop RIDLEY Lo Sir I haue blotted your papers and play'd the foole egregiously but so I thought it better then not to fulfill your request at this time Pardon me and pray for me pray for me pray for me I say For I am sometimes so scarefull that I could creepe into a mouse hole Sometimes God doth visit me againe with his Comforts So he is comming and going comming and going to teach me to know mine owne infirmitie that I might thanke him who is worthy least I should rob him of his glorie as many doe and almost all the world fare yee well ¶ The 3 requests which Father Latimer was wont to make THe first was that as GOD had appointed him to be a preacher of his word so also he would giue him grace to stand to his doctrine vnto the death and that he might giue his heart blood for the same The second was that GOD of his mercie would restore his Gospell to Enggland once againe and these words once againe once againe hee did so inculcate and beat into the eares of the Lord as though hee had seene god face to face and would haue no nay His third request was for the Lady ELIZABETH our late Soueraigne whō in his prayer hee was wont to name euen with teares begged of God that shee might liue to be a comfort to this comfortlesse Realme Bishop Ridley RIDLEY writes thus in a Letter to Bradford wee looke euery day to be called on I weene I am the weakest many waies of our company and yet I thanke our Lord God and heauenly Father through Christ that since I heard of our deere Brother ROGERS departing and his stout Confession of Christ and his truth euen vnto death mine heart blessed be God reioyced so in it that since that time I say I never felt any lumpishnesse nor heauinesse of heart as I grant I haue felt sometimes before O good Brother Bradford blessed bee God for thee and blessed be the time that euer I knew thee Iohn Rogers MAISTER ROGERS that Morning hee should be burned being in a sound sleepe was hardly awaked with much shogging whē the keepers wife came sodainely vp to giue him warning of his burning At length beeing awaked and bid to make hast Nay then sayd hee and if it be so I shall not need to tye my points The Sunday before hee suffred hee dranke to M. HOOPER being then in a Chamber vnderneath him in Newgate and bad them commend him to him and to tell him that there was never little fellow would better sticke to a man then he would sticke to him supposing they should haue beene burned together Laurence Saunders MR. SAVNDERS at the time of his first examination before STEVEN GARDINER reporto his bed-fellow that lay with him the night following that in the time of his examination he was so wonderfully comforted that not onely in his spirit but also in body hee receiued a certaine tast of that holy Communion of Saints whilst a most pleasant refreshing issued from euery part and member of his body vnto the seat of the heart and from thence did ebbe and flow to fro vnto all the parts againe In a Letter to his Wife faine would this flesh make strange of that which the spirit doth imbrace Oh Lord how loth is this loytring sluggard to passe foorth into Gods path It fancieth forsooth much feare of fraybugs and were it not for the force of Faith which pulleth it forwards by the raines of Gods most sweet promise and hope which pricketh on behind great aduenture there would be of fainting by the way But blessed euerlastingly blessed be that heauenly Father of ours who in his Christ our sufficient Sauiour hath vouchsafed to shine in our hearts by the light of his knowledge in the face of Iesus Christ. His Wife comming to visit him in prison was forbidden to enter the prison by reason whereof the keeper tooke the little babe shee had in her armes and caried him to his Father LAVRENCE SAVNDERS seeing him reioyced greatly saying that hee esteemed more of such a boy then if 2000 pound should be giuen him And to the standers by which praysed the goodlinesse of the child he sayd what man fearing God would not loose this life presently rather then by preserving it heere hee should adiudge this boy to be a bastard and his wife an Whore and him-sefe an Whoremonger yea were there no other cause why a man of my estate should loose his life yet who would not giue it to avouch this child to be legitimate and his mariage to be lawfull and holy Beeing come to the stake where hee was burned hee fell prostrate to the groūd and prayed And rysing vppe againe hee tooke the stake in his armes to which he should be chained and kissed it saying Welcome the Crosse of Christ Welcome euerlasting life Robert Glouer Gen. MR. GLOVER a day or twoo before hee should bee burnt felt his heart so lumpish and heavy that hee found in himselfe no aptnes not willingnesse to die but rather a dulnesse of Spiritfull of much discomfort to beare the bitter Crosse of Martyrdome ready now to bee layd vppon him Wherevpon fearing in himselfe least the Lord had vtterly withdrawen his wonted favour from him he made his moane to one AVGVSTINE BERNHERE his deere friend signifying vnto him how earnestly hee had praied vnto the Lord and yet could receiue
good Lord helpe me and giue mee Faith Hope loue thankfulnesse c. and graunt that thy holy spirit may be with me for ever and more and more to assure mee that thou art my father that this mercifull couenant that thou madest with mee in respect of thy grace in Christ and for Christ and not in respect of any my worthinesse c. On this sort I say you must pray and vse your cogitatiōs when Satan would haue you to doubt of your Salvation He doth all he can to prevaile heerein against you Do you all yee can to prevaile heerein against him Though you feele not as you would yet doubt not but hope beyond hope as Abraham did For alwaies as I sayd faith goeth before feeling As certaine as God is Almightie as certaine as GOD is mercifull as certaine as God is true as certaine as Iesus Christ was crucified is risen and sitteth on the right hand of God his Father as certaine as this is Gods commandement I am the Lord thy GOD c. so certaine ought you to beleeue that God is your Father As you are bound to haue none other Gods but him so are ye no lesse bound to beleeue that god is your God What profit shold it be to you to belieue this to be true I am the Lord thy god to others if you should not beleeue that this is true to your selfe The Devill beleeueth on this sort And whatsoever it be that wold moue you to doubt of this whether God be your God through Christ that same commeth vndoubtedly of the Deuill Wherefore did god make you but because hee loved you might hee not haue made you blind dumb deafe lame frantick might hee not haue made you a Iew a Turk a Papist And why did he loue you what was there in you to mooue him to loue you surely nothing moued him to loue you and therefore to make you and so hitherto to keepe you but his owne goodnes in Christ. Now thē in that his goodnesse in Christ still remaineth as much as it was that is even as great as himselfe for it cannot bee lessened how should it bee but that he is your God Father Beleeue this beleeue this my good sister for god is no changeling them whome hee loueth hee loveth to the end Cast therefore your selfe wholly vppon him and thinke without all wauering that you are Gods child that you are a Citizen of heaven that you are the temple of the holy Ghost c. If heereof you bee assured as you ought to bee then shall your conscience be quietted then shall you lamēt more and more that you want many things which God loueth then shall you labour to be holy in soule and in body then shall you endeavour that Gods glorie may shine in all your words and works then shall you not be afraid what man can doe vnto you then shall you haue wisedome to answere your aduersaries as shal serue for their shame and to your comfort then shall you bee certaine that no man can touch one haire of your head further then it shall please your father to your everlasting joy then shal you be most certaine that God as your good father will be more carefull of your children and make better prouision for thē if al you haue were gone then you can then shall you beeing assured I say of Gods fauour towards you giue over your selfe wholly to helpe care for others that bee in need then shall you cōtemne this life and desire to be at home with your good and sweet Father then shall you labour to mortifie all things that would spot either soule or body All these things spring out of this certaine perswasion and faith that God is our Father and wee his children by Christ Iesus Al things should helpe our faith herein but Satan goeth about in all things to hinder vs. Therefore let vs vse earnest and hearty prayer let vs oftē remember this covenant I am the Lord thy God let vs looke vppon Christ and his precious bloud shed for th' obsignation and sealing of this covenant let vs remember all the free promises of god in his Gospell let vs set before vs GODS benefits generally in making this world in ruling it in governing it in calling and keeping his Church c. Let vs set before vs Gods benefits particularly how he hath made vs his Creatures after his jmage how he hath made vs of perfect lyms forme beauty memory c. How hee hath made vs Christians and given vs a right judgement in his Religion how ever since wee were born he hath blessed kept norished and defended vs how hee hath often beaten chastised and fatherly corrected vs how he hath spared vs and now doth spare vs giuing vs time space place grace This if you do and vse earnest and often prayer and so flee from all things which might troble the peace of your conscience giving your selfe to diligence in your vocation you shall at length find that which god grant mee with you a sure certaintie of Salvation without all such wavering as should hinder your peace with GOD in CHRIST to your eternall joye and comfort Amen Amen Yours to be vsed in Christ Iohn Bradford ¶ The second Letter written to a faithfull Woman in her heauinesse and trouble of mind most comfortable for all to read that are afflicted or broken hearted for their sinnes GOD our Father for his mercies sake in Christ with his eternall consolatiō so comfort you as I desire to be comforted in my most need yea hee will comfort you my deare Sister only cast your care vppon him and hee neuer can nor will forsake you Whom he loueth hee loueth to the end none of his chosen can perish Of which nūber I know your selfe to be one my dearely beloved Sister GOD jncrease the faith thereof daily more and more in you hee giue vnto you to hang whollie on him and on his providence and protectiō For who so dwelleth vnder that secret thing and helpe of the Lord hee shall bee Cocke-sure for evermore He that dwelleth I say for if we be flitters as was Lot a flitter from Zoar where God promised him protectiō if he had dwelled there still we shall remoue to our losse as hee did into the Mountaines Dwell therefore that is trust and that finally to the end in the Lord my deare Sister and you shall be as Mount Syon As the Mountaines compasse Ierusalem so doth the Lord all his people How then can he forget you who are as deare to him as the apple of his Eye for his deare Sons sake Ah deare heart that I were now with you to bee a Symon to you to helpe carry your Crosse with you God send you some good Symon to bee with you and helpe you You complaine in your Letters of the blindnesse of your mind the troubles you feele My dearly beloued GOD make you thankefull for that which God
please him Ah my Ioyce thinke you God to bee mutable Is hee a changeling Doth not he loue to the end theÌ„ whom hee loveth Are not his gifts and calling such as he cannot repent him off theÌ„ for els were he no God If you should perish then wanted hee power For I am certain his will towards you is not to bee doubted off Hath not the spirit which is the spirit of truth told you so And will you hearken with Eue to the liing Spirit which would haue you to despaire God forbid it for to doubt and stand in a maÌ„mering would cause you that you should never truely loue God but ever serue him of a servile feare least hee should cast you off for your vnworthinesse and vnthankfulnesse as though your thankfulnes or worthines were any causes with God why hee hath chosen you or will finally keepe you Ah my owne deare heart Christ onely Christ onely and his mercie and truth In him is the cause of your election This Christ this Mercie this Truth of God remaineth for euer is certaine for euer I say for euer If an Angell from Heaven should tell you contrarie accursed bee he Your thankefulnes and worthinesse are fruits and effects of your election they are no causes These fruites and effects shall be so much the more fruitfull and effectuall by how much the more you wauer not Therefore dearely beloved arise and remember from whence you are fallen You haue a Sheapeheard who neither slumbereth nor sleepeth night nor day No Man nor Deuill can pull you out of his hands Night and day hee commandeth his Angells to keepe you Haue you forgotten what I read to you out of the Psalme The Lord is my Sheepheard I can want nothing Doe you know that GOD sparred Noah into the Arke on the one side so that hee could not get out So hath hee done to you my good Sister so hath hee done to you Tenne Thousand shall fall on your right hand two Thousand on your lâ—ft hand yet no euill shall touch you Say boldly therefore Many a time from my youth vppe haue they fought against mee but they haue not preuailed no nor neuer shall preuaile for the Lord is round about his people And who are the people of God but such as hope in him Happie are they that hope in the Lord and you are one of those my deare heart for I am sure you haue hoped in the Lord I haue your wordes to shewe most manifestly I know they were written vnfainedly I need not say that euen before God you haue simply confessed to mee and that oftentimes no lesse And if once you had this hope as you doubtles had it thogh now ye fele it not yet shall ye feele it againe for the anger of God lasteth but for a moment but his mercy lasteth for euer Tell mee my deare heart who hath so weakned you surely not a perswasion which came of him that called you For why should ye wauer Why should ye wauer be so heauie hearted whome looke yee on on your selfe on your worthines on your thankefulnesse on that which God requireth of you as Faith Hope Loue Feare Ioye c. Then can yee but wauer indeed for what haue you as God requireth Belieue you hope you loue you c. as much as ye should doe No no nor neuer can in this life Ah my dearely beloued haue you so soone forgotten that which should bee had in memory namely that when you should bee secure and quiet in conscience theÌ„ should your faith burst throghout all things not onely that you haue in you or else are in Heaven Earth or Hell vntill it come to Christ crucified and th' eternall sweet mercies of God and his goodnesse in Christ. Heere heere is the resting place heere is your Spouses bed Creepe into it and in your armes of faith embrace him bewaile your weakenesse your vnworthines your dissidence and you shall see he will turne to you What sayd I you shall see Nay I should haue said you shall feele he will turne to you You know that Moses when hee went into the Mount to talke with God hee entred into a darke cloud and Helias had his face couered when GOD passed by Both these deare friends of God heard God but they saw him not but you would bee preferred before them See now my deare heart how couetous you are Ah be thankefull be thankefull but God be praised your couetousnes is Moses couetousnes well with him you shall be satisfied but when Forsooth when hee shall appeare Heere is not the time of seeing but as it were in a glasse Isaak was deceived because hee was not content with hearing onely Therefore to make an end of these many words wherewith I feare me I do but hinder you from better exercises in as much as you are indeed the child of God elect in Christ before the beginning of all times in as much as you are given to the custody of Christ as one of GODS most precious jewels in as much as Christ is faithfull and hitherto and for euer hath and shal haue al power so that you shall never perish no one haire of your head shall not be lost I desire you I craue at your hands with all my very heart I aske of you with hand pen tongue mind in Christ through Christ for Christ for his names sake bloud mercies power and truths sake my most entirely beloued sister that you admit no doubting of gods final mercies towards you howsoeuer ynu feele your selfe but complaine to God and craue of him as of your tender Father all things and in that time which shal be most opportune you shall find feele farre aboue that your hart or the heart of any creature can conceiue to your eternall joy Amen Amen Amen The good spirit of God alwaies keep vs as his deere children he comfort you as I desire to be comforted my deerely beloved for evermore The peace of Christ dwell in both our harts for ever Amen Gods holy spirit alwaies comfort keepe you Amen Amen This 1. of Ianuarie by him that in the Lord wisheth to you as well and as much felicitie as to his owne heart IOHN BRADFORD FINIS A TABLE DIRECting to the names of the Martyrs and to the speciall matters that are mentioned in this Booke A Fol. Adam Damplip his speach to his keeper 27. Agnes Bongeor her complaint 80 81. She is comforted 83. Alice Bindon her straight handling 110 118. Anne Askew her prayer 170. B Bartlet Greene his description of temporall miseries c. 155 156 157. Bradbegges Wife shee commends her two children Patience and Charitie to the Bishop 76. C Fol. Cutbert Simpson Boner commends his patience 39. His comfortable vision 40. D Doctor Taylor Pag. 44. E Elizabeth Folks her answere pretily retorted 73 Eliza Yong her sweet speech 90 91. F Father Latimer 7 14 15. G George Wise-hart his speach to his executioner 58.