by John Bradford
in ePub, .mobi & .pdf formats
John Bradford (1510–1555) was a prebendary of St. Paul's. He was an English Reformer and martyr. The phrase "There, but for the grace of God, goes John Bradford", spoken by Bradford while imprisoned in the Tower of London when he saw criminals being led toward their execution, entered the English language in modified form. Bradford was in the Tower of London for alleged crimes against Mary Tudor for his Protestant faith. Bradford was burned at the stake on 1 July 1555.
The following meditations and prayers were written by Bradford to supersede the ones upon similar subjects in use among the papists and which are still found in many of their books of devotion. Keep in mind that these prayers are only suggestions or starting places that may spur still deeper prayers.
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Table of Contents
1 When you Awake out of your Sleep, Pray thus:
1.1 So soon as you behold the Daylight, Pray:
1.2 When you Arise, Pray:
1.3 When you Dress yourself, Pray:
1.4 When you are made Ready to begin the Day, Pray:
2 Cogitations Proper to Begin the Day with prayer
2.1 When you go Forth out of Doors, Pray:
2.2 When you are going any Journey, Pray:
2.3 Or Pray thus:
2.4 When you we about to Receive your Meat, Pray:
2.5 In the Meal-time, Pray:
2.6 After your Meat, Pray thus:
3 Cogitations for about the Midday time
3.1 When you come Home again, Pray:
3.2 At the Sun's going Down, Pray:
3.3 When the Candles are lighted, Pray:
3.4 When you Undress yourself, Pray:
3.5 When you Enter into your Bed, Pray:
3.6 When you feel Sleep to be Coming, Pray:
4 Another Prayer
5 A Godly Prayer to be read at all Times