Be constant in prayer....

John Bradford

(summarised from an article on graceandtruth.org.uk)

On the morning of July 15th 1555 at 9am, two men were led to their execution at London’s Smithfield in the reign of "bloody Queen Mary". They were condemned to be burnt alive as heretics. One was a young man of 19 called John Leaf, the other was about 45 years old and his name was John Bradford.

Among Bradford’s final words at the stake were these "O England, England, repent!" Turning to the young man who was to suffer with him he said, "Be of good comfort, brother, for we shall have a happy supper with the Lord tonight". Then, embracing the wood of his execution, he repeated our Saviour’s words, "Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, that leads to life and few there be that find it". "Thus", says Foxe in his Book of Martyrs, "like two lambs, they both ended their mortal lives ... being void of all fear".

John Bradford has been described as one of the holiest men since the apostles, a wonder of his own age and among the most spiritual of the Reformers. When we consider how godly the Reformers were, this must make him a veritable giant among giants. And in an age of spiritual pigmies such as our own, we have much that we can learn from this colossal contender for The Faith.

John Bradford was born at Manchester about the year 1510. Precisely when Bradford was converted to Christ we do not know. But we do know that when God touched his heart, his former love of rings, chains and jewellery gave place to a fervent devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ and His cause on earth. The transformation was so great that he gave up his study of law at the Temple and went to the University of Cambridge in 1548, to give himself entirely to the study of the Scriptures.

Bradford took Scripture earnestly to heart, as may be seen from his response to a sermon preached in London before young king Edward by the well-known Reformer, Hugh Latimer. When Bradford heard that God required the restitution of dishonest gain, he was profoundly troubled about a fraud respecting money owed to the king by Sir John Harrington whom he had served. Bradford hadn’t benefited from the fraud, but he had concealed it. Bradford’s spiritual convictions were such that he felt compelled to reveal the matter, and so forced Sir John to make restitution to the king!

Bradford is described as a ruddy, tall and slender man with an auburn beard. He slept four hours in the night, ate sparingly, and never felt an hour well spent unless he had done some good by writing, study, or instructing others. Indeed, he would reprove sin in such a sweet way, that those reproved knew he only did it for their good in order to draw them to God.

His personal walk with Christ was of a deep devotional nature. He was in the habit of writing down his faults, because he wanted to feel a "chest-beating" regret for sin, and to groan with true brokenness of heart when he came to private prayer. At the same time he would seek a fresh assurance of salvation in Christ through faith. Bradford also made a note of the virtues he saw in others that he might lament the lack of them in himself. In short, his life was one of daily repentance and heart-felt prayer - something very different to the "saying of prayers" which was so common in those days, and seems, somehow, never to have gone out of fashion.

The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations tells us that it was Bradford who originated the saying "There but for the grace of God go I." Seeing a group of criminals led out to their execution he declared, "But for the grace of God there goes John Bradford."

Samson, his friend from law-student days, adds: "They which were familiar with him might see, how he, being in their company, used to fall often into sudden and deep meditation in which he would sit with fixed countenance and the spirit moved, yet speaking nothing a good space. And sometimes in this silent sitting, plenty of tears would trickle down his cheeks. Sometimes he would sit in it and come out of it with a smiling countenance. Oftentimes have I sat at dinner and supper with him when, either by occasion of talk or of some view of God’s benefits present, or some inward thought of his own he has fallen into these deep cogitations, and he would tell me in the end such discourses of them, that I did perceive that sometimes a tear trickled out of his eyes, as well for joy as for sorrow".

Ridley lists Bradford, among others, as one who preached in the strongest possible terms to the nobility of Edward’s court. He rebuked them for their "insatiable covetousness", "filthy carnality", "intolerable ambition and pride", as well as their unwillingness to attend to "poor men’s causes and to hear God’s Word". Needless to say Bradford was hated by many. When the young king died, Queen Mary came to the throne and Bradford was immediately arrested and tried for heresy, along with Latimer, Ridley and Archbishop Cranmer. In fact, for a brief time, they shared the same cell together in the Tower. After many months in various prisons, in which he did much good by his letters and writings, Bradford was condemned to death on January 3lst 1555. But it wasn’t until the afternoon of June 30th, of that year, that he knew just when his execution would take place, although he seems to have had a premonition of it in his dreams.

Foxe records how abruptly the news was brought to "… suddenly the keeper’s wife came up, as one half amazed, and seeming much troubled being almost breathless, said, ‘Oh Master Bradford, I come to bring you heavy news.’ ‘What is that’ said he. ‘Marry’, said she, ‘tomorrow you must be burned, and your chain is now a buying, and soon you must go to Newgate.’ With that Master Bradford put off his cap and lifting up his eyes to heaven, said ‘I thank God for it. I have looked for the same a long time, and therefore it comes not to me suddenly, but as a thing waited for every day and hour. The Lord make me worthy thereof.’ And so thanking her for her gentleness, he departed up into his chamber, and called his friend with him, and when he came hither, went secretly himself alone a long time and prayed."

When Bradford and his fellow martyr, John Leaf, arrived at the stake they prostrated themselves in prayer. Annoyed by the press of the crowd the Sheriff ordered Bradford to conclude his prayer. Standing at the stake, Bradford looked towards heaven and said "O England, England, repent thee of thy sins, repent thee of thy sins. Beware of idolatry, beware of false antichrists." With these, and other words Bradford preached to the crowd, and comforted the goodly young man who suffered with him. In the mercy of God, both were given strength to endure the torments of the flame, through which they passed to live, as they now do, with Christ.

Bradford and the other Reformers never "played at church"; they were serious about their faith. Adhering to biblical Christianity cost them dear, just as it did the Early Church. Academic brilliance didn’t go to their heads as it does with some today, for their feet were kept firmly on the ground by the threat of death. It seems so different with us. Our tolerant society ensures that we can be Reformed Christians at no personal cost. But if we are proud of our intellectual grasp of doctrine, and allow ourselves the luxury of personal conceit, we are not walking in the tradition of these godly and devout men; we are not like John Bradford, we are not truly Reformed.

____________________________________________

John Bradford was well known for a series of prayers that he often said throughout the day:

Full list is here.

To quote a few:

So soon as you behold the Daylight, Pray:

O Lord, thou greatest and most true Light, whence this light of the day and of the sun does spring! O Light, which does lighten every man that comes into this world! O Light, which knows no night nor evening, but are always a midday, most clear and fair, without whom all is most dark darkness by whom all are most resplendent! O thou Wisdom of the eternal Father of mercies! enlighten my mind, that I may only see those things that please thee and may be blinded to all other things. Grant that I may walk in thy ways, and that nothing else may be light and pleasant unto me. Lighten mine eyes, O Lord! that I sleep not in death, lest mine enemies say, "I have prevailed against him."

Occasions to meditate

Muse a little how much the light and eye of the mind and soul are better than those of the body; also that we care more for the soul's seeing well, than for the body. Think that beasts have bodily eyes, and therewith see, but men have eyes of the mind, and therewith should see.

When you Dress yourself, Pray:

O Christ, clothe me with thine own self, that I may be so far from making provision for my flesh to fulfil the lusts of it, that I may quite put off all my carnal desires, and crucify the kingdom of the flesh in me. Be thou unto me a garment to warm me from catching the cold of this world if thou be away from me, dear Lord, all things will forthwith be unto me cold, weak, dead, &c. But if thou art with me, all things will be warm, lively, fireside &c. Grant therefore, that as I compass this my body with this coat, so thou would clothe me wholly, but especially my soul, with thine own self. Put upon me as the elect of God, mercy, meekness, love, peace, &c.

Occasions to meditate

Call to mind a little how we are incorporated into Christ; again, how he clothes us, and nourishes us under his wings, protection, and providence, preserves us, &c.

When you feel Sleep to be Coming, Pray:

O Lord Jesus Christ, my Watchman and Keeper, take me to thy care; grant that while my body is sleeping my mind may watch in thee, and be made joyful by some sight of that celestial and heavenly life wherein thou art the King and Prince, together with the Father and the Holy Ghost. Thy angels and holy souls are most happy citizens. Oh! purify my soul, keep clean my body, that in both I may please thee, sleeping and waking, for ever. Amen.