THe good spirite of God whiche guideth hys children, be with you my good sister in the Lorde, for euer. Amen.
Although, as I to you, so you vnto me in person are vnkno∣wen,* 1.1 yet to hym whome we desire to please, wee are not onelye in persons, but also in hartes knowne and thorowly seene: and therefore as for hys sake you woulde by that you sent, of me bee perceiued how that in God you beare to me a good will: so, that I to you might be seene in God to beare you the lyke, I sēd to you these fewe wordes in writing, wishing that in all your do∣inges and speache, yea euen in your very thoughtes, you woulde labour to feele that they are all present and open before the sight of God, be they good or bad. This cogitation often had in mind and prayer made to God for the working of his spirite, therby, as a meane, you shall at the length feele more comforte and com∣moditie, then any man can knowe, but such as be exercised ther in. Howbeit, this is to be added, that in thinking youre selfe, & all that you haue and doe, to be in the sight of God: this (I say) is to be added,* 1.2 that you thinke hys sight is the fight, not onely of a Lorde, but rather of a father, which tendereth more your in∣firmities, then you can tender the infirmities of any your Chil∣dren. Yea when in your self you see a motherly affection to your little one that is weake, let the same be vnto you a trace to trayn you to see the vnspeakable kinde affection of God your father towardes you.
And therfore vpon the consideration of your infirmities and naturall euils, which continually cleaue vnto vs, take occasion to goe to God,* 1.3 as your father through Christe, and before hys mercifull harte, laye open your infirmities and euilles, with de∣sire of pardon and helpe, after hys good will and pleasure, but in hys time, and not when you will, and by what meanes he will, not by that waye you woulde: in the meane season hange on hope of his fatherly goodnes, and surely you shall neuer be asha∣med. For if a woman that is naturall, cannot finally forget the Childe of her wombe, be ••ure God whiche is a father supernatu∣rall,* 1.4 cannot, nor will not forget you. Yea if a woman coulde be so forgetfull, yet God hymselfe sayth, he will not be so.
This opinion, yea rather certayne perswasion of God our fa∣ther through Christe, see that you cherishe and by all meanes, as well by dilligent consideration of his benefites,* 1.5 as of his louing corrections, whether they be inward or outwarde, see that you nourishe: knowyng for certayne, that as the deuill goeth about nothing so muche as to bring you in a doubte whether yee be Gods childe, or no: so what soeuer shall moue you to admitte that dubitation, be assured the same to come from the Deuill. If you feele in your selfe not onely the want of good thinges, but also plentye of euill, do not therefore doubte whether you be Gods childe in Christ, or no.
For if for your goodnes or ilnesse sake, which you feel or feele not,* 1.6 ye should beleue or doubte, then shoulde you make Christe Iesus for whose sake onely God is your father, either nothyng, or els but halfe Christ.
But rather take occasion of your wants in good, and of your plenty in euill, to goe to God as to your father, and to praye to him, that in asmuch as he commaundeth you to beleue that he is your God and father: so he would geue you his good spirite, that you might feele the same, and liue as hys childe, to hys glorye: and cease not vpon such prayers to look for comfort Gods good tyme, still hoping the best, and reiecting all dubitation, and so all euill workes, words and cogitations, as the Lord shal enable you by hys good spirite and grace, which I beseeche hym to geue vn∣to you, my good sister, for euer. And further I pray you, that as hee hath made you to be an helper vnto your husband, so you would endeuour your selfe therein to shewe the same as well in soule as body: and begge grace of God, that your indeuour may be effectual to both your comfortes in Christ. Amen.
Iohn Bradford.