THe grace of God our most mercifull father, kepe your mynd and soule in Christ Iesu, who alone is our full sufficient Sauior, for in hym we be complete, being made through his death and one onely oblation made and offe∣red by himselfe vppon the crosse the children of God & fel∣low heyres with hym of the celestiall kingdome which is the free gift of God, and commeth not of merites, but of the meere grace of God geuen to none that putteth any maner of hope or trust in any other thyng visible or inui∣sible, then in that oblation of sweete sauour which Christ himselfe did offer vpon good Friday (as we call it) which oblation is alway recent and new in the sight of God the father, and maketh intercession for vs: vs I mean, which thinke that onely sacrifice then offered, to be sufficient as it is, hath bene, and euer shall be for all the faythfull, by the which sacrifice (if we beleeue) we haue free pardon of all our sinnes. To him therfore which was both the offerer & offering, be all honour and prayse, with the father and the holy ghost, blessed for euer, Amen.
Sir Thomas, the occasion of this my long silence, myne old friend Iohn Traues shal declare vnto you: vpō the knowledge whereof, I doubt not of your pardon. I haue sent vnto you an English and a Latine Testament both in one print and volume, the which though it be not so beautifull without as I could haue sent you, yet no lesse beautifull within, and more I thinke for your profite, and better for your eyes, your eyes I meane of the body. For vndoubtedly, it giueth light vnto the soule, if she bee not dead. Whereof, take this for an argument & a true proofe, If your soule be not delited in it, if your soule do not hun∣ger for it (I meane not the booke, but the doctrine in the booke) surely your soule is sore sicke: for as the body ab∣horring meate, is not well, euen so must the soule bee, for other meat hath she none. Christ whom you must beleeue afore all men, affirmeth this to bee true in the 4. of Math. Not onely in bread, but in euery worde of God the soule doth lyue. Marke well he sayth not, one or two words, as an Epistle, or a Gospell, but he sayth, euery worde. Take heed, beleue Christ better then any man be he neuer so ho∣ly. For he that is of God (Ioh. 8.) heareth the worde of God. Will you haue a more plaine badge, whether you are the elect child of God or no, then this text. Christ saith, He that is of God, heareth the worde of God, but other word of God haue we none, then in the Canon of the Bi∣ble, and all things written therin, are written for our lear∣nyng, (sayth Paule) whereby he prooueth, seyng that it is a learnyng, yea our lerning, that we must learne it. Ther∣fore woe bee to all them which either perswade men, that there is other doctrine of like authoritie, or that disswade men from embrasing this word, this word of God, or that thinke this word, especially the new Testament, is not a∣boue all other to be loued, to be red, to be chewed. This is the precious stone which in the Gospel Christ saith: When a man hath found, he selleth all that euer he hath, and buy∣eth it. Marke now how necessary and precious Christ ma∣keth that which great learned men (nay deuils but no mē) thinke not necessary God helpe them. Christ bade his Di∣sciples sell their coates and buy a sword, which is none o∣ther thyng then the word of God: for so S. Paule calleth it, the sword of the spirit. Nay, say our great learned men, (I lye, they haue said so, now they are ashamed) fetch fire and burne it.
This I say Sir Thomas to the intent no vngodly hy∣pocrite should perswade you or disswade you from reding the holy word of God the gospell of Iesus Christ. Follow you S. Paules lesson: Attend readyng, and the worde of God dwell in you. How much plentifully sayth he, and to what end, To feede the flocke of Christ euen as much as in you is, sayth Peter, not once a yeare or once a quarter as a Strawbery, but so much as in you is. This worde of God trieth all doctrine, for we ought to haue our consci∣ence charged with nothyng as touching religion, except the worde of God in the Canon of the Bible set it out, I meane not onely in allegories, but euen in playne words. For no other foundation can any man lay, besides yt which is layd. S. Paule sayth, the groundworke is layd alredy. Euen so sayth he to the Ephesians: We be his workman∣ship to do good workes, which God hath create that wee should walke in them. He sayth they were not to be made, but they are made already. What shall we thinke than in such works as mans wit hath founded, which yet seeme most holy, let Gods worde be iudge. Read the same dili∣gently and reuerently with prayer (I meane not Latine seruice not vnderstoode, but with true hearty prayer) and marke what the law requireth, euen that which we cannot geue, the whole heart and more, if it were possible. But to this end, that we seyng our abhominable vncleannes and inabilitie, might despaire in our selues, tremblyng at the iustice of God, and his anger which we continually pro∣cure, and so amplect Christ, in whome God the father is well pleased. Which Christ is the end of the law to iustifie all that beleeueth, and continue not in their popish igno∣rance, iustifieng themselues and treadyng Christes bloud vnder their feete, denieng the Lord that bought them. All such be they neuer so well learned, neuer so holy, bee no∣thing but hypocrites, and playne Antichrists, which may not abide the sword of Gods mouth. For the trompets of the army (I meane still Gods word) when they blow, the hye wals of Iericho, the figure of hypocrisie falleth down. Embrace therefore Gods holy worde, and be not onely a Reader, but a doer: for your callyng requireth you to be apt to teach such proud hypocriticall arrogant bablers, as I am now (which if I may vse this terme beshite Gods word) God forgeue me, and pray you for me, & geue God thanks for me, that spareth me thus Luciferlike, not of a true zeale, but of a foolish bragging which prate of Gods holy word. I wot not what I do to confesse it. So it is. I haue sent to you other bookes which I pray you read, I haue written your name in them. The holy Ghost keepe you with your brother George, his wife and children, and with your brother Iames, &c. Sir Laurence, &c.
This 20. of March.
A very painted hypocrite Iohn Bradford. Yours in Christ for euer.
Pray for me, pray for me, geue God thanke for me, and take Iohn Traues help to read this letter written in hast.
If any thing but good bee chaunced to Iohn Traues (which God forbid) I pray you burne my letters out of hande.