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meekly, that Bonner himself pronounced him the most patient prisoner he ever dealt with; and who at last ended his holy life in the flames, A. D. 1558; has transmitted, to posterity, that grand axiom, through the unfeigned belief of which, he was enabled, without murmuring, to "stand as a beaten, anvil to the stroke." And what axiom was it? That in which the rays of Calvinism are concentred, and contracted to a point. Read it in the martyr's own words: "There is nothing that cometh unto us by chance or fortune; but by our heavenly Father's providence (t)."

I may truly say, with the apostle, time would fail me to tell of that "noble army of martyrs," and of suffering confessors, who, through faith, quenched the violence of fire, and out of weakness were made strong who were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection. And others had trial of cruel mockings, and scourgings; yea, moreover, of bonds and imprisonment: being destitute, afflicted, tormented. A competency of witnesses has been produced, sufficient to show, that our protestant martyrs were doctrinal Calvinists. I cannot help repeating an observation already made, viz. that I am widely mistaken indeed, if the gentlemen on the Arminian side of the question are able to bring a single instance of any one pelagian, or free-will-man, who laid down his life in defence of the reformation, during the whole reign of queen Mary. I can at least say, that I, for my part, have not hitherto met with any such example. If Mr. Wesley, or Mr. any-body else, can point out so much as one; it will, as before noted, be for the honour of pelagianism, to let the world know it.

I have dwelt, perhaps, too long, already, on the subject now in hand. Yet, I cannot dismiss those eminent worthies, whose testimonies adorn this

(4) Ibid. p. 728.

section, without adding four more to the number. The reader will not wonder at my introducing them, when he perceives the celebrated names of Mr. John Bradford, chaplain to bishop Ridley, and prebendary of St. Paul's, London; Mr. John Philpot, arch-deacon of Winchester; Mr. Richard Woodman, and Mr. John Clement: which two last, though not in orders, were men famous in their generation, men of renown, for holiness of conversation, liveliness of grace, and clearness of evangelical light. Their attestations shall occupy the section that follows.

SECTION XVII.

The Judgment of the Martyrs concluded.

MR. John Bradford was one of the most valuable men that ever adorned God's visible church below. The impartial and judicious Mr. Strype styles him, one of the "four prime pillars of the reformed church of England (u):" and adds, that he was a person "of great learning, elocution, sweetness of temper, and profoundness of devotion towards God. Of whose worth, the papists themselves were so sensible, that they took more pains to bring him off from the profession of religion, than any other. But he, knowing the truth and goodness of his cause, remained stedfast and immoveable. While he was in prison, he spent his time in preaching twice every Sunday, in writing many letters and

(2) Bradford and Latimer, Cranmer and Ridley, four prime pillars of the reformed church of England; whom this bloody year [1555] executed in the flames." Strype's Eccles. Mem. vol. iii. p.

discourses, praying, reading, conferring, disputing; sleeping but four hours in the night (w)."

It had been at the importunate instigation of Martin Bucer, that Mr. Bradford entered into holy or ders. On Bucer's expressing his earnest desire of seeing him in the ministry, Bradford declined the proposal; from a supposition, that he had not suffi cient talents, to speak in the name of God. Bucer's answer was memorable: If you cannot feed the people with fine manchet, feed them with such barley-bread as God may give you. In the end, Bucer's expostulations prevailed: and Mr. Bradford received both his ordination and his preferments from the apostolic bishop Ridley. The brightest abilities are usually rooted in self-diffidence. Mr. Bradford's powers, as an orator; and the blessing, with which his labours were attended, as a minister of Christ; were equal to the fear and trembling, with which he entered on the arduous employ. Of his usefulness in king Edward's reign, bishop Ridley wrote as follows: "He [i. e. Bradford] is a man by whom, as I am assuredly informed, God hath and doth work wonders, in setting forth his word." And, on another occasion, Ridley said, of Bradford, "In my conscience I judge him more worthy to be a bishop, than many of us, that are bishops already, are of being parish priests (x)." But his course, though illustrious, was short. Queen Mary made him pass through the fire to heaven, in June 1555, (y).

(w) Strype, Ibid. p. 230. (x) Strype's Life of Grindal, p. 8. (y) At the same stake with Mr. Bradford, was burned one John Leaf, a tallow-chandler's apprentice, not twenty years of age. This elect youth had been converted in king Edward's reign, under the ministry of Mr. Rogers, the proto-martyr of the church of England. During Leaf's imprisonment for the gospel, old Bonner sent him two papers, viz. a recantation of protestantism, which if he would sign, his life was to be spared: and a summary of the protestant confession, by the signing of which, his doom was to be finally fixed. The young martyr, on this alternative being offered him, absolutely refused to have any thing to do with the recantation.

Let us now see, whether this " prime pillar of the church of England" was, or was not, a Calvinist.

On his first appearance before Gardiner, the popish bishop of Winchester, we are informed, that Gardiner " began a long process, concerning the false doctrine wherewith the people were deceived in the days of king Edward: and so turned the end of his talk to Bradford; saying, how sayest thou? Bradford answered, my lord, the doctrine taught in king Edward's days was God's pure religion: the which as I then believed, so do I now more believe it than ever I did. And therein I am more confirmed, and ready to declare it, by God's grace, even as he will, to the world, than I was when I first came into prison (2)." This declaration, alone, might suffice to convince any person, who is acquainted with the religious history of Edward VI's reign, that Bradford was, to all intents and purposes, a doctrinal Calvinist. If more particular proofs be required, take the following, as a specimen of the

rest.

1. In a letter to Mrs. Warcup, and others of his evangelical friends, this eminent predestinarian thus writes: "The souls under the altar look for us to fill up their number. Happy are we, if God have so appointed us. Howsoever it be, dearly beloved, cast yourselves wholly upon the Lord; with whom all the hairs of your head are numbered, so that not one of them shall perish. Will we, nill we, we must drink God's cup, if he have appointed it for us (a),"

Not being able to write, he pricked his hand with a pin; and sprinkling the protestant confession of faith with his blood, ordered Bonner's messenger to shew it his master, as a proof of his determined resolution to lay down his life for the truth.-What an instance of heroic zeal! How unlike that worldly, that luke-warm spirit of religious indifference, which now seems to have laid protestants of every denomination asleep.

(2) Fox's Acts and Mon. vol. iii. p. 236.
(a) Ibid.

p. 268.

2. "To Sir James Hales, Knight.

"The children of God think, oftentimes, that God hath forgotten them: and therefore they cry, Hide not thy face from me; leave me not, O Lord. Whereas in very truth, it is not so, but to their present sense. And therefore David said, I said in my agony, I was clean cast away from thy face. But was it so? Nay, verily. Read his Psalms, and you shall see. So writeth he also, in other places, very often; especially, in the person of Christ: as when he saith, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Where [i. e. whereas] indeed God had not left him; but that it was so to his sense: and that this Psalm telleth us full well.-The same we read, in the prophet Isaiah, chap. xl. where he reproveth Israel saying, God hath forgotten them: fear not, &c. For a little while I have forgotten thee, but with great compassion will I gather thee. For a moment, in mine anger, I hid my face from thee, for a little season: but in everlasting mercy have I had compassion on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer. For this is unto me as the waters of Noah: for as I have: sworn, that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn, that I would not be angry with thee, nor rebuke thee. For, the mountains shall remove, and hills fall down: but my mercy shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace fall away, saith the Lord that hath compassion on thee. Be certain, be certain, good master Hales, that all the hairs of your head your dear Father hath numbered. Your

name is written in the book of life. Therefore upon God cast all your care, who will comfort you with his eternal consolations (b).”

3. "To Mrs. M. H. a godly gentlewoman: comforting her in that common heaviness and godly

(b) Ibid. p. 269, 270.