ALmighty God our most louing father increase in your heart (my good mother & deare maistresse in the Lord) his true knowledge and loue in Christe,* 1.1 to ye encouraging and comforting of your faith in these stormy dayes: as ne∣cessary vnto vs, so profitable if we per••iste vnto the ende, which thing God graunt to vs. Amen.
My righte dearely beloued, I knowe not what other thing to wryte vnto you, then to desire you to be thankfull vnto the Lord, in that amongst thee not many of your cal∣ling and state, it pleaseth him to geue you his rare blessing, I meane to keepe you from all the filthe wherewyth on••e Countrey is horribly defiled. Thys blessing assuredly is rare, as you see. But nowe if he shall blesse you with an o∣ther blessing which is more rare, I meane to cal you foorth as a Martyr, and a witnesse against this filth, I hope you will become double thankefull. For a greater token com∣monly we haue not to iudge of our election and saluation, next to Christe and faith in him, then the crosse, especiallye when it is so glorious, as on this sorte to suffer any thing,* 1.2 but chiefly losse of this life, which in deede is neuer founde til it be so lost: except the graine of wheate fall and be dead, it remaineth fruitlesse.
You know how that he which was rapt into the third heauen, and did knowe what he wrote, doeth say: That as the corne liueth not except it be dead, and cast into the earth,* 1.3 so truely oure bodies. And therefore the crosse shoulde so little feare vs, that euen death it selfe shoulde altogether be desi∣red of vs, as the Tailour which putteth off oure ragges, and araieth vs with the Royall Roabes of immortalitie, incorruption, and glory. Great shame it shoulde be for vs,* 1.4 that all the whole creatures of God shoulde desire, yea, grone in their kinde for our libertie, and wee our selues to loath it: as doubtlesse we doe, if for the crosse, yea for death it selfe, we with ioy swallow not vp all sorrow that might let vs from following the Lordes calling, and obtaining the Lordes prouidence: whereby doubtles all crosses, and death it selfe doth come, and not by hap or chance. In con∣sideration whereof (right deare Mother) that this proui∣dence stretcheth it selfe so vnto vs, and for vs, that euē the hair of our heads are numbred with God, not one of them to fall to our hurte: surely we declare our selues very faint in faith, if we receiue not such comfort, that we can willing∣ly offer our selues to the Lord, and cast our whole care vp∣on his backe, honouring him with this honour, that he is and euer will be carefull for vs, and all we haue, as for hys deare children. Be therfore of good cheare euen in the mid∣dest of these miseries, be thankful to the Lord, and prepare your selfe for a further triall, which if God sende you, as I hope, so do you beleeue, that God therein wil help & com∣fort you, and make you able to bear whatsoeuer shall hap∣pen. And thus much, hauing this oportunitie, I thoughte good to wryte, praying God our father to recompence into your bosome, all the good that euer you haue done, to mee especially, and to many others, both in this time of trou∣ble, and alwaies heeretofore.
Your owne in the Lord, Iohn Bradford.