ALmighty God our heauenly Father, recompence a∣boundantly into your bosome (my dearely beloued) here and eternally,* 1.1 the good which frō him by you I haue continually receiued sithen my comming into prison. O∣therwyse can I neuer be able to requite your louing kind¦nesse here then by praying for you, and after this lyfe, by witnessing your fayth declared to me by your fruits, whē we shall come and appeare together before the throne of our Sauiour Iesus Christ, whether (I thanke God) I am euen now a goyng, euer looking when officers wyll come, & satisfie the precept of the Prelates, wherof though I can not complayne, because I haue iustly deserued an hundreth thousand deaths at gods hands by reason of my sinnes, yet I may and must reioyce, because the Pr••lates do not persecute in me myne iniquities, but Christ Iesus & his veritie: so that they persecute not me, they hate not me, but they persecute Christ, they hate Christ.
And because they can do hym no hurt (for he sitteth in heauen,* 1.2 and laugheth them and their deuises to scorne, as one day they shall feele, therfore they turne their rage vpō his poore sheepe, as Herode their father did vpon the in∣fants. Math. 2. Great cause therefore haue I to reioyce, that my dere Sauiour Christ wil vouchsafe amongst ma∣ny, to chuse me to be a vessel of grace to suffer in me (which haue deserued so often & iustly to suffer for my sinnes) that I might be most assured I shall be a vessell of honour, in whom he will be glorified.
Therfore (my right deare brother in the Lord) reioice with me, geue thankes for me, and cease not to pray, that God for his mercies sake would make perfect the good he hath begun in me. And as for the doctrine which I haue professed and preached, I do confesse vnto you in writing, as to the whole world I shortly shall by gods grace in suf∣fering,* 1.3 that it is the very true doctrine of Iesus Christ, of his Church, of his Prophets, Apostles and all good men: so that if an Angell should come from heauen and preach otherwise, the same were accursed.
Therefore wauer not (deare hart in the Lord) but be confirmed in it, and as your vocation requireth, whē God so will, confesse it, though it be perillous so to do. The end shall euidently shew an other maner of pleasure for so do∣yng, then tong can tell. Bee diligent in prayer, and watch therein. Use reuerent readyng of Gods worde. Set the shortnesse of this tyme before your eyes, and let not the e∣ternitie that is to come, depart out of your memory. Prac∣tise in doing that you learne, by reading and hearing. De∣cline from euill, and pursue good. Remember them that be in bondes, especially for the Lordes cause, as members of your body, and fellow heires of grace. Forget not the af∣flictions of Syon, and the oppression of Ierusalem: and God our Father shall geue you hys continuall blessyng thorough Christ our Lorde, who guide vs as hys deare children for euer, Amen. And thus I take my Vale and farewell with you (deare brother) for euer in this pre∣sent lyfe, till wee shall meete in eternall blisse: whether our good God and Father bryng vs shortly, Amen. God blesse all your babes for euer, Amen.
Out of pryson this viij. of February.
Your afflicted brother for the Lordes cause. Iohn Bradford.