Gems from John Bradford (1510? – 1555)

An extract from Words Old and New: Gems from the Christian Authorship of all Ages (pp. 90-91).¹

1. What is glory in this world but shame? Why art thou afraid to carry Christ’s cross? Wilt thou come into his kingdom, and not drink of his cup?

2. Dost thou not know Rome to be Babylon? Dost thou not know that, as the old Babylon had the children of Judah in captivity, so hath this Rome the true Judah, the confessors of Christ.

3. Hath not the harlot of Babylon more costly array and rich apparel than the homely housewife of Christ? Where is the beauty of the King’s daughter, the church of Christ – without or within? Doth not David say within? Can the Pope and his prelates mean honestly, who make so much of the wife, and so little of the husband? The church they magnify, but Christ they contemn.

4. Covet not earthly riches; fear not the power of man; love not this world; but long for the coming of the Lord Jesus, when your bodies shall be made like unto his glorious body.

5. Dearly beloved, remember that you are not of this world; that Satan is not your captain; that your joy and Paradise are not here; that your companions are not the multitude of worldlings. But ye are of another world. Christ is your Captain; your joy is in heaven; your companions are the fathers, patriarchs, prophets, apostles, martyrs, virgins, confessors, and dear saints of God, who follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth.

6. Faith must go before, and then feeling will follow.

7. Though you feel not as you would, yet doubt not, but hope beyond all hope, as Abraham did; for always, faith goeth before feeling.

8. Being assured of God’s favour towards you, give yourself wholly to help and care for others; then shall you contemn this life, and desire to be at home with your good and sweet Father.

9. If you should believe or doubt for your goodness or illness’ sake, which you feel or feel not, then should you make Christ Jesus, for whose sake only God is your Father, either nothing, or else but half Christ.