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
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
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
Lord that where I might liue in worldly wealth to worshippe a false God and honour thine enemy I choose rather the torment of the body and losse of this my life and haue counted all things but vild dust and dunge that I might winne thee which death is dearer vnto me then thousands of Gold and Silver Such loue oh Lord hast thou layd vppe within my breast that I hunger for thee as the Deere that is wounded desireth the soile Send thy holy Comforter O Lord to ayd comfort and strengthen this weake peece of earth which is empty of all strength of it selfe Thou remembrest Oh Lord that I am but dust and able to doe nothing that is good Therefore O Lord as of thine accustomed goodnesse and loue thou hast bidden me to this banket accounted me worthy to drinke of thine owne cup amongst thine elect even so giue me strength Oh Lord against this thine element which as to my sight it is most yrksome and terrible so to my mind it may at thy commandent as an obedient servant bee sweet and pleasant that through the strength of thy holy spirit I may passe through the rage of this fire into thy bosome according to thy promise and for this mortall receiue an jmmortall and for this corruptible may put on jncorruption Accept this burnt offring O Lord not for the sacrifice but for thy deare Sonnes sake my Saviour For whose testimonie I offer this free-will offring with all my heart and with all my soule O heauenly Father forgiue mee my sinnes as I forgiue all the world O sweet Son of God my sauiour spread thy wings ouer me O blessed Holy Ghost through whose mercifull inspiration I come hither to dye conduct me into euerlasting life Lord into thine hands I commend my spirit Amen ¶ A Prayer which Master George Marsh vsed daily to say O LORD Iesus Christ which art the onely Phisition of wounded consciences wee miserable sinners trusting in thy gracious goodnesse doe briefly open to thee the evill tree of our hearts with all the rootes boughes leaues knots and snags all which thou knowest for thou throughly perceiuest as well th'jnward lusts doubtings and denyings of thy prouidence as these grosse outward sinnes which wee commit in words deeds Wherefore wee beseech thee according to the little measure we haue receaued we being farre vnable and vnapt to praye that thou wouldest mercifully circumcise our stonye hearts and for these old hearts create within vs and replenish vs with a new spirit water and moysten vs with the juice of heauenly grace and Wels of spirituall waters whereby the jnward venome and noisome juice of the flesh may be dryed vp and custome of the old man changed and our hearts alwayes bringing forth Thornes and Bryars to be burned with fire frō hence forth may beare spirituall fruits in righteousnes and holinesse vnto life euerlasting Amen Beloued among other exercises I doe daily on my knees vse this confession of sinnes willing and exhorting you to doe the same and daily to acknowledge vnfainedly to God your vnbeliefe vnthankfulnes and disobedience against him This shall you doe if you will diligently consider and looke vppon your selues first in the pure glasse of Gods Commandements there see your jnward euils filthines and vncleanesse and so learne to vanquish the same that is to wit to fall into hearty displeasure against sinne and thereby be provoked to long after Christ. For we truely are sinners but he is just and the justifier of all them that belieue in him If wee hunger and thirst after righteousnesse let vs resort to his table for he is a liberall feast-maker Hee will set before vs his own holy body which was giuē for vs to be out meat and his pretious bloud which was shed for vs and for many for remission of sinnes to be our drinke He biddeth willeth calleth for guests which hunger and thirst Come sayth he all yee that are laden and labour vnto mee and I will refresh coole and ease you and you shall find rest vnto your soules ¶ A Prayer of Nicholas Sheterden before his death O Lord my God and Saviour which art Lord in heauen and earth maker of all things visible and jnvisible I am thy creature worke of thine hands Lord looke vpon mee and other thy people which at this time are oppressed of the worldly minded men for thy lawes sake yea for thy Law it selfe is now trodden vnderfoote and mens jnventions exalted aboue it and for that cause do I and many of thy creatures refuse the glory praise and commodities of this life and do chose to suffer adversitie and to be banished yea to be burnt with the Books of thy word for the hopes sake that is layd vppe in store For Lord thou knowest if wee would but seeme to please men in things contrarie to thy word wee might by thy permission enioy these comodities as other men do as Wife Children goods and friends which all I acknowledge to be thy gifts given vnto the end I shold serve thee And now Lord that the world will not suffer mee to enioy them except I offend thy Lawes behold I giue vnto thee my whole Spirit Soule and body And lo I leaue heere all the pleasures of this life and doe now leaue th' vse of them for the hopes sake of eternall life purchased in Christs blood and promised to all that fight on his side and are content to suffer with him for his truth whēsoever the world and the Deuill shall persecute the same O Father I presume not to come heere to thee trusting in mine owne righteousnes No but in the onely merits of thy Sonne my Saviour For the which excellent gift of Salvation I cannot worthilye prayse thee neither is any sacrifice worthy or to be accepted with thee in comparison of our bodies mortified and obedient to thy wil. And now Lord whatsoever rebellion hath been or is found in my members against thy will yet doe I heere giue vnto thee my body to the death rather then I will vse any strange worshipping which I beseech thee accept at my hands for a pure sacrifice Let this torment be to me the last enemie destroyed even death the end of miserie and the beginning of all joy peace and solace And when the time of the resurrection commeth let me enjoy againe these mēbers then glorified which now be spoyled and consumed by the fier O Lord Iesus receiue my spirit into thine hands Amen George Tankerfield GEorge Tankerfield sitting before a fier a little before his death at ST ALBANS after he had put off his hose and shooes stretched out his legge to the flame and when it had touched his foot he quickly withdrew his leg shewing how the flesh did perswade him one way and the spirit an other The flesh sayd ô thou foole wilt thou burne and needst not The spirit sayd be not afrayd this burning is nothing to eternall fier The flesh
vppon mee haue mercie vpon me for thy deere Sonne our Saviour Christs sake in whom I confesse onely to bee all salvation and justification and that there is none other meane nor way nor holinesse in which or by which any man can be saved in this world This is my faith which I beseech men heere to beare witnes off Then sayd hee the Lords Prayer and so made an end Fier beeing set vnto him and burning therein he cried thrise with a loud voice O Sonne of GOD haue mercy vpon mee O Sonne of GOD receiue my soule and so his speach beeing taken from him hee spake no more lifting vp notwithstanding his stumpe with his other arme as long as he could ¶ Here followeth two worthy and godly Letters full of heavenly consolation written by that holie man of God M. Iohn Bradford Martyr fit for all such to read and obserue as feele in them a wounded spirit ¶ The first Letter written to Mistres H. a godly Gentlewoman comforting her in that common and godly sorrow which the feeling and sence of sinne worketh in Gods children I Humblie and heartilie praye the everlasting good God and Father of mercie to blesse and keepe your hart and mind in the knowledge and the loue of his truth and of his Christ through th'jnspiration working of the holy spirit Amen Although I haue no doubt but that you prosper and goe forwards daily in the way of Godlinesse more and more drawing towards perfection and haue no need of any thing that I can write yet because my desire is that you might be more fervent and persevere vnto the end I could not but write something vnto you beseeching you both often and diligentlie to call vnto your mind as a meane to stirre you hervnto yea as a thing which god most straightly requireth you to belieue that you are the beloued of God and that hee is your deare Father in through for Christ his deaths sake This loue and tender kindnesse of God towards vs in Christ is aboundantlie herein declared in that he hath to the godly worke of Creation of this world made vs after his jmage redeemed vs being lost called vs into his church sealed vs with his marke and signe Manuel of Baptisme kept and conserved vs all the daies of our life fedde nowrished defended and most mercifullie chastised vs and now hath kindled in our hearts the sparkles of his feare faith loue and knowledge of his Christ truth and therefore we lament because wee can lament no more our vnthankefulnesse our frailenes our diffidence and wavering in things whereof we should be most certain All these things we should vse as meanes to confirme our faith of this that God is our God and Father and to assure vs that he loueth vs as our Father in Christ to this end I say should we vse the things before touched especiallie in that of all things God requireth this faith and perswasion of his Father by goodnesse as his chiefest seruice For before he aske any thing of vs he saith I am the Lord thy God giuing himselfe and all he hath to vs to be our own And this he doth in respect of himselfe of his owne mercie truth and not in respect of vs for then were grace no more grace In consideration wherof when he saith Thou shalt haue none other Gods but mee thou shalt loue mee with all thy heart c. Though of dutie wee are bound to accomplish all that he requireth and are culpable and guiltie if wee doe not the same yet he requireth not these things further of vs then to make vs more in loue and more certaine of this his covenant that hee is the Lord our GOD. In certaintie whereof as he hath giuen this world to serue our need and commoditie so hath he giuen vs his son Christ Iesus and in Christ himselfe to be a pledge and gage wherof the Holie Ghost doth now and then giue vs some tast and sweet feeling and smell to our eternall ioye Therefore as I said because God is your Father in Christ and requireth of you straightly to belieue it giue your selfe to obedience although you doe it not with such feeling as you desire First must faith goe before and then feeling will follow If our jmperfection frailty many evils should bee occasions whereby Satan would haue vs doubt as much as in vs lyeth let vs abhorre that suggestion as of all others most pernicious for so indeed it is For whē we stand in doubt whether God bee our Father or no we cannot bee thankfull to God we cannot heartily pray or thinke any thing we do acceptable to God we cannot loue our neighbours and giue ouer our selues to care for them and doe for them as we should do and therfore Satā is most busie hereabouts knowing full wel that if we doubt of gods eternall sweet mercies in Christ wee cannot please God or doe any thing as we should to man Continually casteth he into our memories our jmperfection frailty folly and offences that we shold doubt of gods mercie and fauour towards vs. Therefore my good Sister we must not bee sluggish herein but as Satan laboreth to loosen our faith so must we labour to fasten it by thinking on the promises and covenant of god in Christs bloud namelie that God is our God with all that ever he hath which Covenant dependeth and hangeth vpon Gods owne goodnes mercie and truth onely and not on our obedience and worthines in any poynt for then should we never bee certaine Indeed God requireth of vs obedience and worthines but not that thereby wee might be made his childrē and he our Father but because he is our Father and wee his children through his own goodnes in christ therfore requireth he faith and obedience Now if we want this obedience worthinesse which hee requireth should wee therefore doubt whether he bee our Father Nay that were to make our obedience worthines the cause and so to put Christ out of place for whose sake God is our Father But rather because hee is our Father and wee feele our selues to want such things as he requireth wee should be stirred vppe to an holy blushing and shamfastnesse because wee are not as wee should bee and therevpon should wee take occasion to go to our father in prayer on this manner Deare Father thou of thine owne Mercie in Christ Iesus hast chosen me to bee thy child and therefore thou would'st I should be brought into thy Church and faithfull company of thy children wherein thou hast kept me hitherto thy name bee praised therefore Now I see my selfe to want faith hope loue c. which thy children haue and thou requirest of me wherethrough the deuill would haue me doubt yea vtterly to despaire off thy Fatherly goodnesse favour and mercie Therefore I come to thee as to my merciful father through thy deare Sonne Iesus Christ and pray thee to helpe me
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