A29096:13
The good old way, or, An excellent and profitable treatise of repentance made
The good old way, or, An excellent and profitable treatise of repentance made by John Bradford in the year 1553. Now published with two prefaces relating the life of the author, and the excellency of the work.The good old way, or, An excellent and profitable treatise of repentance made by John Bradford in the yeare 1553. Now published with two prefaces relating the life of the author, and the excellencey of the worke.
London: printed by Leon. Lichfield, 1652
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
2. He was of an humble self-denying spirit. I never read of any, that had a meaner opinion of himself, then he had. You shall find the subscription of his letters, Miserrimus peccator, a very hypocrite, the most hard-hearted unthankful sinner, a very painted hypocrite, John Bradford. So cheap an esteem had he of himself. This humility is an adorning grace, next to the garment of Christs righteousness, none like to it, wherefore the Apostles phrase is Emphatical 1 Pet. 5. [Greek or Hebrew]: ⟨image 4⟩Be ye clothed with humility: Let it be your uppermost garment; Cyprian saith, Fundamentum sanctitatis est humilitas. This holy man's example is worthy of our imitation.
2. He was of an humble selfe-denying spirit. I never read of any, that had a meaner opinion of himselfe, then he had. You shall finde the subscription of his letters, Miserrimus peccator, a very hypocrite, the most hard-hearted unthankefull sinner, a very painted hypocrite, John Bradford. So cheap an esteeme had he of himselfe. This humility is an adorning grace, next to the garment of Christs righteousnesse, none like to it, wherefore the Apostles phrase is Emphaticall 1 Pet. 5. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉: ⟨image 4⟩Be ye cloathed with humility: Let it be your uppermost garment; Cyprian saith, Fundamentum sanctitatis est humilitas. This holy man's example is worthy of our imitation.
3. He was much acquainted with God, and enjoyed a holy communion and familiarity with him, in Prayer & Meditation. He meditated much, and Meditation is the spiritual digestion of the soul. It's a divine ruminating upon the word read, or Preached: when we meditate seriously on the Promises, Attributes, or such choice subjects, we are up in the Mount with Moses, we soar aloft, even to heaven, being carried by the wings of holy meditation. This meditation is an uphill duty, Isaac, Moses, Paul, and other Saints of God, have found sweet consolation flowing from it: And he joined prayer to Meditation, he was frequently upon his knees, and he would not rise up, till he felt something coming in, some spiritual illapse darted upon his soul. His practice was suitable to Bernard's resolution, Nunquam Domine discedam a te sine te. He studied usually upon his knees, and prayed much