Philip Edgcumbe Hughes, MA, ThD: "Theology of the English Reformers:" Ch...

Sanctification and the Captivity Epistles of the English Reformation John Bradford, in jail about 16ish months, writes in 11 Feb 1555, an “Exhortation to the Brethren,” likewise suffering for the Bible and Reformed Theology: “Away with dainty niceness! Will ye think the Father will deal more gently with you in this age than He hath done with others in other ages? What way, yeah, what storms and tempests, what troubles and disquietness found Abel, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and good Joseph! Which of these had so fair a life and restful times as we have had? Moses, Aaron, Samuel, David the king, and all the kings, priests, prophets of the Old Testament, at one time or other, if not throughout their life, did feel a thousand parts more misery than we have felt hitherto. As for the New Testament, Lord God! How great was the affliction of Mary, of Joseph, of Zacharias, of Elizabeth, of John the Baptist, of all the apostles and evangelists, yea, of Jesus Christ our Lord, the dear Son and darling of God! And since the time of the apostles, how many and great are the number of martyrs, confessors, and such as have suffered the shedding of their blood in this life, rather than they would have stayed in their journey, or lodge in any of Satan’s inns, lest the storms or winds which fell in their travellings might have touch them! And dearly beloved, let us think what we are, and how far unmeet to be matched with them; with whom yet we look to be placed in heaven…Ye shall see in us, by God’s grace, that we preached no lies, nor tales of tubs but even the very true word of God, for the confirmation whereof we, by God’s grace and the help of your prayers, will willingly and joyfully give our blood to be shed, as already we have given our livings, goods, friends, and natural country: for now be we certain that we be I the highway to heaven’s bless…This wind will blow God’s children forwards and the devil’s darlings backwards…Affliction, persecution and trouble are not strange thing to God’s children, and therefore it should not dismay, discourage or discomfort us; for it is none other thing than all God’s dear friends have tasted in their journey to heaven-wards.” Bradford, Works, I.417ff. John Bradford was martyred at Smithfield, 1 July 1555. Death by burning at-the-stake.