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
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
pleased then most Gratious Lady for the matter belongeth vnto you to receiue vnder your favorable protectiō this Mirrour or memorial of the Martyrs who living had the protection of Angels and when the Lord shall haue perfourmed to your Grace all the good that hee hath promised and of all loyall hearts is earnestly expected it shall then bee no offence vnto your Princely mind that you haue so doone That great GOD who by his Omni-presence filleth Heaven and Earth with his Glorie fill and replenish your Graces heart with all the gifts and graces of his blessed Spirit which may beautifie and adorne your person in the sight of God and Man in this life and heereafter Crowne you with jmmortall Glorie for ever and ever in his Kingdome of Glory Amen Your Graces most humbly devoted In all humble and dutifull affection CLEM COTTON THE MIRROR OF the Martyrs ¶ In a short view liuely expressing and shewing the force of their Faith the feruencie of their Love the wisedome of their Sayings the patience of their Suffrings their Constancy Comforts and sweet meditations in the middest of all their Conflicts ¶ With their Prayers and preparation for their last farewell Bishop Hooper THE Godly Bishop HOOPER being brought vnto the place where he should suffer seeing a Pardon lying vpon a stoole to be tendered vnto him if he would recant cryed to them that stood by If you loue my soule away with it If you loue my soule away with it A blind Boye being suffered to come vnto him after much entreaty to conferre with him M r. HOOPER hearing his talke the water stood in his eyes Ah poore Boy sayd he GOD hath taken from thee the sight of thy bodilie eyes for what cause he best knoweth but hee hath giuen thee another sight much more pretious for he hath endued thy soule with the eye of knowledge and faith GOD giue thee grace that thou loose not that sight for thē should'st thou be blind both in body and Soule The day before his Martyrdome he spent the most of the day in prayer vnlesse any were licenced to speake with him amongst the which S r. Anthony Kingston was one who being brought into his Chāber found him at prayer and at the first view of him burst foorth into teares M r. HOOPER at the first blush knew him not Then sayd S r ANTHONY why my Lord know you not me an old friend of yours Anthony Kingston Yes M r. Kingston I know you well sayd M r. HOOPER and I am glad to see you in good health doe praise GOD for it KINGSTON But I am sorie to see you in this case for as I vnderstand you are come hither to die But alas consider that life is sweet and death is bitter Therefore seeing life may be had desire to liue for life hereafter may do good HOOPER Indeed it is very true M. Kingston I am come hither to die and to end this life heere because I will not gainesay the former truth I haue heeretofore taught in this Diocesse amongst you and I thanke you for your friendly counsaile though not so friendly as I could haue wished it Life indeed is sweet and death is bitter but alas cōsider that the death to come is more bitter and the life to come more sweet Therefore for the desire loue I haue to the one the feare and terror I haue of th' other I do not so much regard this death nor esteeme this life but haue setled my selfe through the strength of Gods Spirit patiently to passe through the torments and extremities of the fire now prepared for me rather then to deny Gods word and truth The night before he suffred his desire was to go to bed that night betimes saiing that he had many things to thinke on and so did at 5 of the clock and slept one sleepe soundly and bestowed the rest of the night after in prayer Being got vp in the morning hee desired that none should come vnto him that hee might bee solitary till the hower of his death Bishop Ridley WOrthie Bishoppe RIDLEY going to his burning at Oxford looking backe espyed M r. LATIMER coming after to whome he sayd Oh be ye there yea sayd Father LATIMER haue after as fast as I can Bejng come to the stake he ranne to M r. LATIMER jmbraced him and kissed him and as they that stood neere reported comforted him saying Bee of good comfort Brother for GOD will either asswage the furie of the fire or else strengthen vs to abide it Being at the stake he held vp both his hands to Heaven and sayd Oh heauenly Father I giue thee most heartie thankes that thou hast called me to be a professor of thee euen vnto death A Fagot being brought which was kindled with fire and laid downe at M. RIDLEYS feet Father LATIMER spake on this manner to him Be of good comfort M. RIDLEY and playe the man wee shall by Gods grace light such a Candle this day in ENGLAND as I trust shall neuer be put out By reason the fire was ill made M. RIDLEY continued long in his torments in so much as he often cryed I cannot burne I cannot burne for Christs sake let the fire come to mee Lord haue mercie vpon mee let the fire come to me I cannot burne M. Iohn Philpot. THE valiant servant of Christ M. Iohn Philpot having the newes of his death brought him by one of the Sheriffes men that hee must the next day bee burned at a stake sayd I am ready God grant me strength and a ioyfull resurrection And so went to his chamber and powred out his spirit vnto the Lord giving him most heartie thankes that had made him worthy to suffer for his truth As hee was entring into Smithfield the passage was somewhat foule and twoo Officers tooke him vp to beare him to the stake Thē he sayd merilie What will ye make me a Pope I am content to go to my iourneys end on foote But first comming into Smithfield hee kneeled downe there saying these words I will paye my vowes in thee O Smithfield Iohn Bradford HOly BRADFORD having newes brought him in great haste by the Keepers wife of the Counter that hee should be burned the next day and that his Chayne was a buying with that put off his Cap and lifting vp his eyes to Heaven said I thanke God for it I haue long looked for this time and therefore it commeth not to me now sodainlie but as a thing expected euery houre the Lord make me worthy thereof After which he went alone and prayed secretly a long time A little before they carried him from the Counter to Newgate he made a notable prayer of his farewell with such plentie of teares and aboundance of the spirit of praier that it ravished the minds of the hearers Also when he shifted himselfe with a cleane shirt that was made for his burning hee made such a prayer of the wedding Garment that some there
no motion nor sence of any comfort from him To whome the sayd Austen answering desired him patiētly to waite the Lords leisure howsoeuer his present feeling was and to play the man nothing doubting but the Lord in due season would satisfie his desire with plentie of Consolation whereof hee sayd hee was right certaine and sure and therefore desired him whensoeuer any feeling of GODS heavenly mercies should begin to touch his heart that hee would giue him some signe thereof The next day when the time of his Martyrdome was come and as hee was going to the stake come to the sight of it albeit all the night before prayjng for comfort and courage hee felt no answere of his praier sodainely he was so mightily replenished with the comfort of Gods holy Spirit and heavenly joies that hee cried out clapping his hands to Austen sayjng these words hee is come Austen hee is come hee is come and that with such joy and alacritie as one seeming rather to bee risen from some deadly danger to liberty of life then as one passing out of this world by any paines of death M. Iohn Lambart IOHN LAMBART having his nether parts consumed with fire lifting vp such hands as hee had and his fingers ends flaming with fire cryed to the people None but Christ None but Christ. Adam Damplip THIS good man beejng advertised by his keeper that his execution drew neere was never seen to quaile but was as merrie and eate his supper that night as chearefully as ever hee did in all his life at which his keeper and the rest of the prisoners wondring asked him how hee could take such newes so chearefully Ah my Maisters sayth he doe yee thinke I haue beene thus long Gods prisoner in the Marshalsey and haue not yet-learned to die Yes yes I doubt not but God will strengthen me therein Kerby Martyr ONE KERBY beeing councelled by M. WINKFIELD to pittie himselfe and to take no more vppon him then hee should bee able to performe the fire saith hee is hot the terrour is great the paine wil be extreame and life is sweet To whom KERBY answered M. WINKFIELD be at my burning and you shall say there standeth a Christian Souldier in the fire For I know that Fire and Water Sword and all other things are in the hāds of God who will suffer no more to bee layd vppon vs then hee will giue strength to beare Thomas Bilney MR. THOMAS BILNEY beeing put in mind that though the fire which he should suffer the next day should be of great heat vnto his body yet the comfort of GODS spirit should coole it to his euerlasting comfort and refreshing At those words putting his finger towards the flame of the candle thē burning before them as also hee diuers times did and feeling the heat thereof O sayd hee I feele by experience and haue knowne it long by Philosophy that fire by gods ordinance is naturally hot but yet I am perswaded by Gods holy word and by th' experience of some spoken of in the same that in the flame they felt no heat and in the fire they felt no consumption And I constantly beleeue that howsoeuer the stubble of this my body shal be wasted by it yet my Soule and Spirit shall be purged thereby A paine for the time after which notwithstanding followeth vnspeakeable Ioy. And then entreated notably vpon the first and second verses of the 43 Chap. of Isaias which sentēces for the joy cōfort some of his friends tooke in them caused them to be faire written out the comfort whereof they left not to their dyjng day The sayd BILNEY beeing visited by certain of his friēds the night before he suffred they found him eating an Alebrew with such a cherefull heart and quiet minde as made them wonder thereat sayjng they were not a little glad to see him at that time so cheerefully to refresh himselfe To whome hee made this answere Oh sayd he I follow the example of the Husbandmen in the Countrie who hauing a ruinous house to dwell in doe yet bestow cost as long as they remaine in it to vphold the same And so do I now with this ruinous house of my body refreshing the same as you see with these good creatures of God Iames Baynam THis BAYNAM as hee stood at the stake in the midst of the flaming fire which fire had halfe consumed his armes and his legges hee was heard to speake these words O yee Papists Behold yee looke for Miracles and heere yee may see a Miracle for in this fire I feele no more paine then if I were in a bed of down but it is to me as sweet as a bed of Roses Henry Voes THe like speach I finde of a young man burnt at Bruxels who when the fire was kindled at his feet sayd me thinks you strew Roses vnder my feete Hugh Laverocke THis Laverocke a lame Creple IOHN APPRICE a blind man being chained both of them to the stake LAVERCOCK casting away his Crutch and comforting his fellow Martyr fayd Be of good comfort my brother for my L. of London is our good Phisition Hee will shortly cure vs both thee of thy blindnes and me of my lamenesse William Hunter WILLIAM HVNTER apprētice of the age of 19 yeares standing at the stake sayd Son of God shine vppon me and jmediately the Son in the Element shone out of a darke cloud for it was a glomie day so full in his face that hee was constrained to turne his face an other way The sayd WILLIAM HVNTER beeing brought downe from London to be burnt remained by the way two dayes at Burntwood whether his Father and Mother came to comfort him who heartely desired of GOD that hee might cōtinue in the good way hee had begun vnto the end and his mother sayd vnto him that shee was glad shee was euer so happy as to beare such a Sonne who could find in his heart to loose his life for Christs sake Then said WILLIAM to his mother For my little paine which I shall suffer which is also but for a moment Christ hath promised me Mother saith he a Crowne of life And may not you bee glad of that Mother With that his Mother kneeled downe on her knees sayjng I pray GOD strengthen thee my Sonne vnto the end And I thinke thee as well bestowed as any Child that euer I bare At which words M. HIGBED one that was then to suffer for the same cause tooke her in his armes sayjng I rejoyce much to see you in this mind and you haue good cause so to doe Robert Samuel MR. ROBERT SAMVEL Minister was kept in streight prison by the Bishops Chancellor of NORVVICH Wherein hee was chained boult vpright to a great post in such sort that standing only on tip-toe hee was faine to stay vp the whole poyse of his body thereby And to make amends they added a far greater torment keeping him without meat and drinke whereby
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
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