<P> While the phrase, or its attribution to Bradford, cannot be traced to before 1800, Townsend notes that there is a 17th - century attribution of a similar sentiment to Bradford, demonstrating how "by the sight of others' sins, men may learn to bewail their own sinfulness". According to this tradition, Bradford, "when he saw any drunk or heard any swear, &c., would railingly complain,' Lord I have a drunken head; Lord, I have a swearing heart ."' </P> <P> But there are other attributions for the phrase "there but for the grace of God"; Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (in the voice of Sherlock Holmes) attributes the phrase to Richard Baxter (1615--1691) in The Boscombe Valley Mystery (1891): </P> <P> Why does fate play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, "There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes ." </P> <P> The phrase has also been attributed to John Newton (1725--1807) and in Catholic tradition to Philip Neri (1515--1595). </P>

There but by the grace of god go i