mercy cannot dry it up your troubles are many great yet not an ounce-weight beyond the measure of infinite wisdom I hope not beyond the measure of grace that he is to bestow for our Lord never yet brake the back of his childe nor spilt his own work nature's plastering counterfit work he doeth often break in sheards putteth out a candle not lighted at the Sun of righteousness but he must cherish his own reeds handle them softly never a reed getteth a thrust with the Mediator's hand to lay together the two ends of the reed O what bonds ligaments hath our Chirurgion of broken spirits to binde up all his lame bruised ones with cast your disjoynted spirit in his lap lay your burden upon one who is so willing to take your cares your fears off you to exchange niffer your crosses to give you new for old gold for iron even to give you garments of praise for the spirit of heaviness It 's true in a great part what ye write of this Kirk that the letter of Religion onely is reformed scarce that I doe not beleeve out Lord will build his Zion in this land upon this skin of Reformation so long as our scum remaineth our heart-idols are keeped this work must be at a stand and therefore our Lord must yet sift this land and search us with candles and I know he shall give and not sell us his Kingdom his Grace and our remaining guiltiness must be compared the one must be seen in the glory of it and the other in the sinfulness of it But I desire to beleeve and would gladly hope to see that the glancing and shining luster of glory coming from the diamonds and stones set in the crown of our Lord Jesus shall cast rayes and beams many thousand miles about I hope Christ is upon a great Marriage and that his wooing and suting of his excellent Bride doeth take it's beginning from us the ends of the earth O what joy and what glory would I judge it if my heaven should be suspended till I might have leave to run on foot to be a witness of that marriage-Marriage-glory see Christ put on the glory of his last married Bride and his last Marriage-love on earth when he shall enlarge his love-bed and set it upon the top of the mountains and take in the elder Sister the Iewes and the fulness of the Gentiles It were heaven's honour glory upon earth to be his lackey to run at his horse-foot and hold up the train of his Marriage-roberoyal in the day of our high aâ—d royal Solomon's espousals But O what glory to have a seat or â—eâ— in King Iesus his chariot that is bottomed with gold paved and lined over and floored within with Love fâ— the daughters of Ierusalem Cant. 3. 10. To lie upon such a King's love were a bed next to the flower of heaven's glory I am sorry to hear you speak in your Letter of a God anâ—ry at you and of the sense of his indignation which onely ariseth from suffering for Jesus all that is now come upon you Indeed apprehended wrath flameth out of such ashes as apprehended sin but not from suffering for Christ But suppose ye were in hell for by-gones and for old debt I hope ye ow Christ a great summe of charity to beleeve the sweetness of his love I know what it is to sin in that kinde it is to sin our if it were possible the unchangeableness of a Godhead out of Christ to sin away a lovely unchangeable God Put more honest apprehensions upon Christ put on his own mask upon his face and not your vail made of unbelief which speaketh as if he borrowed love to you from you and your demerits sinfull deservings Oh no! Christ is man but he is not like man he hath man's love in heaven but it is lustered with God's love it is very God's love ye have to doe with When your wheels goe about he standeth still Let God be God and be ye a man and have ye the deserving of man the sin of one who hath suffered your Welbeloved to slip away nay hath refused him entrance when he was knocking till his head and locks were frozen Yet what is that to him his book keepeth your name and is not printed and reprinted and changed and corrected And why but he should goe to his place hide himself Howbeit his Departure be his own good work yet the belief of it in that manner is your sin But wait on till he return with Salvation and cause you rejoyce in the latter end It is not much to complain but rather beleeve then complain and sit in the dust and close your mouth till he make your sown light grow again for your afflictions are not eternal Time will end them so shall ye at length see the Lord's salvation his love sleepeth not but is still in working for you his Salvation will not tarry nor linger Suffering for him is the noblest cross that is out of heaven Your Lord had the waile choice of ten thousand other crosses beside this to exercise you withall but his wisdom his love wailed and choosed out this for you beside them all take it as a choice one make use of it so as ye look to this world as your step-mother in your borrowed prison For it is a love-look to heaven and the other side of the water that God seeketh this is the fruit the flower bloom growing out of your cross that ye be a dead man to time to clay to gold to countrey to friends wife children all pieces of created nothings for in them there is not a seat nor bottom for your soul's love O what room is for your Love if it were as broad as the sea up in heaven and in God! and what would not Christ give for your love God gave so much for your soul blessed are ye if ye have a love for him can call in your soul's love from all idols and can make a God of God a God of Christ draw a line betwixt your heart and him If your deliverance come not Christ's presence and his beleeved love must stand as caution and surety for your deliverance till your Lord send it in his blessed time for Christ hath many Salvations if we could see them and I would think it better born comfort and joy that cometh from the faith of deliverance and the faith of his love then that which cometh from deliverance it self It is not much matter if ye finde ease to your afflicted soul what be the means either of your own wishing or of God's choosing the latter I am sure is best and the comfort strongest and sweetest let the Lord absolutely have the ordering of your evils troubles and put them off you by recommending your cross and your furnace to him
who hath skill to melt his own mettall and knoweth well what to doe with his surnace let your heart be willing that God's fire have your tin and brass and dross to consent to want corruption is a greater mercy then many professors doe well know and to refer the manner of God's Physick to his own wisdom whither it be by drawing blood or giving sugared drinks that cure sick folks without pain it is a great point of faith and to beleeve Christ's cross to be a friend as he himself is a friend is also a special act of faith but when ye are over the water this case shall be a yesterday past an hundred years ere ye were born the cup of glory shall wash the memory of all this away and make it as nothing Onely now take Christ in with you under your yoke and let patience have her perfect work for this haste is your infimity The Lord is rising up to doe you good in the latter end put on the faith of his salvation see him posting hasting towards you Sir my employments being so great hinder me to write at more length excuse me I hope to be mindfull of you I shall be obliged to your if ye help me with your prayers for this people this College my own poor soul. Grace be with you Remember my love to your wife St Andrews Feb. 13. 1640. Yours in Christ Iesus S. R. To the much honoured PETER STIRLING 34 Much honoured worthy Sir I Received yours cannot but be ashamed that mistaking love hath brought me in court account in the heart of God's children especially of another nation I should not make a lye of the grace of God if I should think I have little share of it my self O how much better were it for me to stand in the counting table of many for a half-penny to be estemed a liker rather than a lover of Christ If I were weighed vanity should bear down the scale as having weight in the ballance above me except my lovely Saviour should cast in beside me some of his borrowed worth Oh if I were writing now sincerely in this extenuation which may be I fear is subtile coosening pride I would I could love something of heaven's worth in you all of your mettall O how happy were I if I could regain conquer back from the creature my sold lost love that I might lay it upon heaven's jewel that ever ever blooming flower of the highest garden even my soul-redeeming never-enoughprized Lord Jesus O that he would wash my love put it on the Mediator's wheel refine it from it's dross tin that I might propine gift that Lord so love-worthy with all my love Oh if I could set a lease of thousands of years a suspension of my part of heaven's glory frist till a long day my desired salvation sobeing I could in this lower kitchin under-vault of his creation be feasted with his love that I might be a footstool for his glory before men Angels Oh if he would let out heaven's fountain upon withered me dry sapless me If I were but sick of love for his love O how would that sickness delight me How sweet would that easing refreshing pain be to my soul I shall be glad to be a witness to behold the Kingdom of the world become Christ's I could stay out of heaven many years to see that victorious triumphing Lord act that prophesied part of his soul-conquering love in taking in to his Kingdom the greater Sister that Kirk of the Iews who sometimes courted our Welbeloved for her little Sister Cant. 8 8. to behold him set up as an ensign a banner of love to the ends of the world And truly we are to beleeve that his wrath is ripe for the land of graven images for the falling of that mill-stone in the midst of the sea Grace be with you St Andrews March 6. 1640. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To the Lady FINGASK 35. MADAM GRace mercy peace be to you Though not acquainted yet at the desire of a Christian I make bold to write a line or two unto you by way of counsel howbeit I be most unfit for that I hear and I blesse the father of lights for it that ye have a spirit set to seek God and that the posture of your heart is to look heaven-ward which is a work and cast of the Mediator Christ's right hand who putteth on the heart a new frame for the which I would have your La to see a tye bond of obedience laid upon you that all may be done not so much from obligation of Law as from the tye of free love that the law of ransom-paying by Christ may be the chief ground of all your obedience seeing that ye are not under the Law but under Grace withall know that unbeleef is a spiritual sin so not seen by nature's light that all that Conscience saith is not Scripture Suppose your heart bear witness against you for sins done long agoe yet because many have pardon with God that have not peace with themselves ye are to stand fall by Christ's esteem verdict of you not by that which your heart saith Suppose it may by accident be a good signe to be jealouse of your heavenly husband's love yet it is a sinful sign as there be some happy sins If may speak so not of themselves but because they are neighboured with faith and love and so worthy Lady I would have you hold by this that the ancient love of an old husband standeth firm and sure and let faith hing by this small threed that he loved you before he laid the corner-stone of the world therefore he cannot change his minde because he is God and rests in his love neither is sin in you a good reason wherefore ye should doubt of him or think because sin hath put you in the courtesie and reverence of justice that therefore he is wroth with you Neither is it presumption in you to lay the burden of your salvation upon one mighty to save so being ye lay aside all confidence in your self-worth righteousness True faith is humble seeth no way to escape but onely in Christ And I beleeve ye have put an esteem high price upon Christ they cannot but beleeve so be saved who love Christ and to whom he is precious for the love of Christ hath chosen Christ as a lover it were not like God if ye should chuse him as your liking he not chuse you again nay he hath prevented you in that for ye have not chosen him but he hath chosen you O consider his loveliness beauty that there is nothing which can commend make fair heaven or earth or the creature that is not in him in infinite perfection for fair sun and fair
few yea non that dare make any point that toucheth the worship honour of our king lawgiver to be indifferent O that this mislead blindfolded world would see that Christ doeth not rise fall stand or lie by mens apprehensions what is Christ the lighter that men doe with him by open proclamation as men doe with clipped light money they are now crying down Christ some grain weights some pounds or shillings they will have him lie for a penny or a pound for one or for ane hundreth according as the wind bloweth from the east or from the west but the Lord hes weighed him ballanced him already This is my welbeloved Son in whom I am well pleased â—ear ye him his worth his weight standeth still It is our part to cry up up with Christ down down with all created glory before him O that I could highten him highten his name highten his throne I know am perswaded that Christ shall again be high great in this poor withered sun-burnt Kirk of Scotland that the sparks of our fire shall flee over sea round about to warme you other sister-churches that this tabernacle of Davids house that is faâ—len even the Son of David his waste places shall be built again I know the prison crosses persecutions trials of the two slain witnesses that are novv dead buried Rev. 11. of the faithfull professors have a back-door back entrie of escape that death hell and the vvorld tortures shall all cleave split in tvvain give us free passage libertie to goe through them toll-free vve shall bring all Gods good metall out of the furnace again and leave behinde us but our drosse our scumme we may then before hand proclaim Christ to be victorious He is crowned King in mount Sion God did put the crown upon his head Psal. 2. And who dare take it off again out of question he hath sore grievous quarrells against his church and therefore He is called Is. 39. 10. He whose fire is in Sion whose furnace is in Ierusalem But when he hath performed his work on mount Sion all Sions haters shall be as the hungry and thirstie man that dreams he is eating and drinking and behold when he awaketh he is faint and his soul empty and this advantage we have also that he will not bring before sun moon all the infirmities of his wife it is the modesty of marriage-anger or husband-wrath that our sweet Lord Jesus will not come with chiding to the streets to let all the world hear what is betwixt him us his sweet gloomes stay under roofe and that because he is God Two speciall things ye are to minde 1. Try make sure your profession that ye cary not empty lamps alace security security is the bane the wrack of the most part of the world Oh how many professors goe with a golden lustre gold-like before men who are but witnesses to our white skin yet are but bastard base metall consider how fair before the wind some doe ply with up sailes and white even to the nick of illumination Heb. 6 5 And tasting of the heavenly gift a share and part of the holy Ghost the tasting of the good word of God the powers of the world to come yet this is but a false nick of renovation and in a short time such are quickly broken upon the rocks and never fetch the harbour but are sanded in the bottome of hell O make your heaven sure and try how ye come by conversion that it be not stolen goods in a white wel-lustred profession a white skin over old wounds maketh an under-cotting conscience false under-water not seen is dangerous that is a lek and rift in the bottome of an enlightened conscience often falling sinning against light Woe woe is me that the holy profession of Christ is made a stage garment by many to bring home a vain fame Christ is made to serve mens ends this is as it were to stop an oven with a Kings robes Know 2. except men martyre slay the body of sin in sanctified self-denial they shall never be Christs martyrs and faithfull witnesses Oh if I could be master of that house-idol my self my own mine my own will wit credit ease how blessed were I O but we have need to be redeemed from our selves rather then from the Devil the vvorld learn to put out your selves to put in Christ for your selves I should make a sweet bâ—rtering niffering give old for new if I could shuffle out self substitute Christ my Lord in place of my felf to say not I but Christ not my will but Christs not my ease not my lust not my fecklâ—ss Credit but Christ Christ. But alace in leaving our selves in sâ—tâ—ng Christ before our Idol self we have yet a glaikâ—d back-look to our old Idol O wretched Idol my self when shall I see thee wholly decourted Christ wholly put in thy room Oh if Christ Christ had the full place room of my self that all my aimes purposes thoughts desires would coast and land upon Christ not upon my self yâ—t howbeit we can not attain to this denial of me mine that we can say I am not my self my self is not my self mine own is no longer mine own yet our aiming at this in all we doe shall be accepted for alace I think I shall diâ— but minting aiming to be a Christan Is it not our comfort that Christ the mediator of the new covenant is come betwixt us oâ—od in the bussinesse so that green young heirs the like 〈◊〉 sinners have now a Tutour that is God now God be thanked our salvation is bottomed on Christ sure I am the he bottome shall never fall out of heaven happinesse to us I would give over the bargain a thousand times were it not that Christ his free grace hath taken our salvation in hand Pray pray contend with the Lord for your sister-Church for it would appear the Lord is about to spier for his scattered sheep in the dark and cloudy day O that it would please our Lord to set up again Davids old wasted and fallen tabernacle in Scotland that we might see the glory of the second temple in this land O that my little heaven were wodset to redeem the honour of my Lord Jesus among Jews Gentils let never dew lie upon my branches and let my poor flower wither at the root so being Christ were enthroned and his glory advanced in all the world especially in these three Kingdomes but I know he hath no need of me what can I adde to him but oh that he would cause his high pure glory run through such a foul channel as I am howbeit he hath caused the blossome fall off my
one And O what a fair one what an onely one what an excellent lovely ravishing one is Jesus Put the beauty of ten thousand thousand worlds of Paradises like the garden of Eden in one put all trees all flowers all smels all colours all tastes all joyes all sweetness all lovelyness is one O what a fair and excellent thing would that be yet it should be less to that fair dearest welbeloved Christ then one drop of rain to the whole seas rivers lakes fourtains of ten thousand earths O but Christ is heavens wonder earths wonder what marvel that his bride saith Cant 5 v. 16. He is altogether lovely Oh that black souls will not come fetch all then love to this fair one O if I could invite perswade thousands ten thousand times ten thousand of Adam's sons to flock about my Lord Jesus to come take their fill of love Oh pity for evermore that there should be such an one as Christ Jesus so boundless so bottomless so incomparable in infinite excellency sweetness and so few to take him Oh oh ye poor dry dead souls why will ye not come hither with your toom vessels your empty souls to this huge fair deep sweet well of life fill all your toom vessels Oh that Christ should be so large in sweetness worth we so narrow so pinched so ebbe so void of all happiness and yet men will not take him They lose their love miserably who will not bestow it upon this lovely one Alas these five thousand yeers Adam's fools his waster-heirs have been wasting lavishing out their love and their affections upon black lovers and black harlots upon bits of dead creatures and broken idols upon this that feckless creature have not brought their love and their heart to Jesus O pity that fairness hath so few lovers O woe woe to the fools of this world who run by Christ to other lovers Oh misery misery misery that comeliness can scarce get three or four hearts in a town or a countrey Oh that there is so much spoken so much written and so much thought of creature-vanity and so little spoken so little written so little thought of my great and incomprehensible and never-enough-wondered-at Lord Jesus Why should I not curse this forlorn and wretched world that suffereth my Lord Jesus to lie his alone O damned souls O miskenning world O blind O beggerly and poor souls O bewitched fools what aileth you at Christ that you run so from him I dare not challenge providence that there are so few buyers and so little sale for such an excellent one as Christ. O the depth and O the hight of my Lords wayes that passe finding out But oh if men would once be wise and not fall so in love with their own hell as to pass by Christ and misken him But let us come near and fill our selves with Christ and let his friends drink and be drunken and satisfie our hollow and deep desires with Jesus Oh come all and drink at this living well come drink live for ever more come drink welcome welcome saith our fairest Bridegroom no man getteth Christ with ill will no man cometh is not welcome no man cometh and rueth his voyage all men speak well of Christ who have been at him men and Angels who know him will say more then I dow doe think more of him then they can say O if I were misted and bewildered in my Lords love Oh if I were fettered chained to it O sweet pain to be pained for a sight of him O living death O good death O lovely death to die for love of Jesus Oh that I should have a sore heart a pained soul for the wanting of the love of this that idol woe woe to the mistakings of my miscarrying heart that gapeth cryeth for creatures is not pained cutted tortured in sorrow for the want of a souls-fill of Christ. Oh that thou would'st come near my Beloved O my fairest one why standest thou a far come hither that I may be satiat with thy excellent love O for an union O for a fellowship with Jesus O that I could buy with a price that lovely one suppose hells torments for a while were the price I cannot beleeve but Christ will ruâ— upon his pained lovers come ease sick hearts who sigh and swoond for the want of Christ who dow bide Christs love to be nice What heaven can there be liker to hell then to lust and grein and dwine and fall a swoon for Christs love and to want it is not this hell heaven woven thorow other Is not this pain and joy sweetness and sadness to be in one web the one the woft the other the warp Therefore I would Christ would let us meet and joyn together the soul Christ in others arms O what meeting is like this to see blackness and beauty contemptibleness and glory highness and baseness even a soul and Christ kiss one another Nay but when all is done I may be wearied in speaking and writing but O how far am I from the right expression of Christ oâ— his love I can neither speak nor write feeling nor â—alling nor smelingâ— come feel smel taste Christ his love 〈…〉 d ye shall call it more then can be spoken to write how sweet the honey-comb it is not so lovely as to eat suck the honey comb â—nd nights rest in a bed of love with Christ will say more then he 〈…〉 can think or tongue can utter Neither need we fear crosses or sigh or be sad for any thing that is on this side of heaven if we have Christ our crosses will never draw blood of the joy of the holy Ghost peace of conscience ouâ— joy iâ— laid up in such a high place as temptations cannot climb up to take it down this world may boast Christ but they dare not strike or if they strike they break their arm in fetching a stroke upon a rock O that we could put our treasure in Christ's hand give him our gold to keep our crown Stâ—ivâ— Mistress to throng thorow the thorns of this life to be at Christ â—inâ— not sight of him in this cloudy dark day Sleep with him in your heart in the night Learn not at the world to serve Christ but speir at himself the way the world is a false copy a lying guide to follow Remember my love to your husband I wish all to him I have written here The sweet presence the long lasting goodwill of our God the warmely lovely comforts of our Lord Jesus be with you Help me his prisoner in your prayers For I remember you Aberd. Agust 8. 1637. Yours iâ— his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To the Lady Forreâ— 30 Worthy Mistress GRace mercy peace be to you I long
from her head and her gold waxed dim our white Nazarites are become black as the coal Blessed are they who will come out and help Christ against the mighty The shields of the earth the Nobles are debters to Christ for their honour should bring their glory and honour to the new Ierusalem Rev. 21 24. Alas that great men should be so far from subjecting themselves to the sweet yoke of Christ that they burst his bonds asunder and think they dow not goe on foot when Christ is on horseback and that every nod of Christ commanding as a King is a load like a mountain of iron and therefore they say This man shall not reign over us we must have another King then Christ in his own house Therefore kneel to Christ and kiss the Son and let him have your Lo vote as your alone Law-giver I am sure when you leave this old waste Jâ—nes of this perishing life and shall reckon with your hoste depart hence and take shipping make over for eternity which is the yonder side oâ— time a sand-glass of threescore short yeers is running out To look over your shoulder then to that which ye have done spoken suffered for Christ his dear bride that he ransomed with that blood which is more precious then gold for truth the freedom of Christ's Kingdom your accounts shall more sweetly smile laugh upon you then if you had two world's of gold to leave to your posterity O my dear Lord consider that our Master eternity judgement the last reckoning will be upon us in the twinckling of an eye The blast of the last trumpet now hard at hand will cry down all Acts of Parliaments all the determinations of pretended Assemblies against Christ our Law-giver There will be shortly a proclamation by one standing in the clouds that time shall be no more and that court with Kings of clay shall be no more prisons confinements forfeiturs of Nobles wrath of Kings hazard of lands houses name for Christ shall be no more This world's span-length of time is drawn now to less then half an inch and to the point of the evening of the day of this old and gray-haired world And therefore be fixed fast for Christ his truth for a time fear not him whose life goeth out at his nostrils who shall die as a man I am perswaded Christ is responsall and law-biding to make recompence for any thing that is hazardeâ— or given out for him losses for Christ are but our goods given out in bank in Christs hand Kings earthly are well-favoured little clay gods and tim's-idol but a sight of our invisible King shall decry and darken all the glory of this world At the day of Christ truth shall be truth and not treason Alas it is pitiful that silence when the thatch of our Lord's house hath taken fire is now the flower and the bloom of court and state-wisdom And to cast a covering over a good profession as if it blushed at light is thought a canny and sure way through this life But the safest way I am perswaded is to tine win with Christ to hazard fairly for him for heaven is but a company of Noble venturers for Christ. I dare hazard my soul Christ shall grow green and blossom as the rose of Sharon yet in Scotland howbeit now his leaf seemeth to wither and his root to dry up Your noble Ancestors have been inrolled amongst the worthies of this nation as the sure friends of the bridegroom and valiant for Christ I hope ye will follow on to come to the streets for the same Lord the world is still at yea nay with Christ it shall be your glory the sure foundation of your house now when houses are tumbling down birds building their nests thorns briers are growing up where Nobles did spread a table if you engage your estate nobility for this noble King Jesus with whom the created Powers of the world are still in tops all the world shall fall before him as God liveth every arm lifted up to take the crown off his royal head or that refuseth to hold it upon his head shall be broken from the shoulder-blad the eyes that behold Christ weep in sackcloth wallow in his blood will not help even these eyes shall rot away in their eye-holes O if ye the Nobles of this land saw the beauty of that worlds wonder Jesus our King the glory of him who is Angels wonder heavens wonder for excellency Oh what would men count of clay-estates of time-eaten life of worm-eaten moth-eaten worldly glory in comparison of that fairest fairest of Gods creation the son of the father's delights I have but small experience of suffering for him but let my Judge witness in heaven lay my soul in the ballance of justice if I finde not a young heaven a little Paradise of glorious comforts soul-delighting love-kisses of Christ here beneath the moon in suffering for him his truth that glory joy peace fire of love I thought had been kept while supper time when we shall get leisure to feast our fill upon Christ I have felt it in glorious beginnings in my bonds for this princely Lord Jesus Oh it is my sorrow my daily pain that men will not come see I would now be ashamed to beleeve that it should be possible for any soul to think that he could be a loser for Christ suppose he should lend Christ the Lordship of Lindsay or some such great worldly estate Therefore my worthy Dear Lord set your face against the opposits of Jesus let your soul take courage to come under his banner to appeare as his souldier for him the blessings of a falling Kirk the prayers of the prisoners of hope who wait for Sions joy the good will of him that dwelt in the bush it burned not shall be with you To his saving Grace I recommend your Lo your House am still Christs prisoner Aberd. Sept. 7. 1637. Your Lo obliged servant in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To my Lord Boyd 39 My very honourable good Lord. GRace mercy peace be to you I am glad to hear that ye in the morning of your short day minde Christ that ye love the honour of his crown Kingdom I beseech your Lo begin now to frame your love to cast it in no mould but one that it may be for Christ onely For when your love is now in the framing making it will take best with Christ if any other then Jesus get a grip of it when it is green young Christ will be an uncouth strange world to you Promise the lodging of your soul first away to Christ stand by your first covenant keep to Jesus that he may finde you honest It is easie to master an arrow
as would goe round about the earth over the heaven yea the heaven of heavens ten thousand worlds that I might let all out upon fair fair onely fair Christ But alas I have nothing for him yet he hath much for me it is no gain to Christ that he getteth my little feckless span-length hand-breadth of love If men would have something to doe with their hearts their thoughts that are alwayes rolling up down like men with oares in a boat after sinfull vainities they may finde great sweet employment to their thoughts upon Christ If these frothie fluctuaring restless hearts of ours would come all about Christ look in to his love to bottomless love to the depth of mercy to the unsearchable riches of his grace to enquire after search into the beauty of God in Christ they would be swallowed up in the depth height length breadth of his goodness Oh if men would draw the curtains look in to the inner side of the arke behold how the fulness of the Godhead dwelleth in him bodily O who would not say let me die let me die ten times to see a sight of him ten thousand deaths were no great price to give for him I am sure sick fainting love would highten the market raise the price to the double for him But alas if men Angels were rouped sold at the dearest price they would not all buy a night's love or a four twentie hours sight of Christ O how happy are they who get Christ for nothing God send me no more for my part of Paradise but Christ and surely I were rich enough as well heaven'd as the best of them if Christ were my heaven I can write no better thing to you then to desire you if ever ye laid Christ in a count to take him up count over again and weigh him again and again And after this have no other to court your love and to wooe your soul's delight but Christ he will be found worthy of all your love howbeit it should swell upon you from the earth to the uppermost circle of the heaven of heavens To our Lord Jesus his love I commend you Aberd. 1637 Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To JONET KENNEDY 91 MISTRESS GRace mercy peace be unto you Ye are not a little obliged to his rich grace who hath separat you for himself for the promised inheritance with the saints in light from this condemned guilty world Hold fast Christ contend for him it is a lawfull plea to goe to holding drawing for Christ it is not possible to keep Christ peaceably having once gotten him except the devil were dead It must be your resolution to set your face against Satan's northern tempests stormes for salvation Nature would have heaven come sleeping to us in our beds we would all buy Christ sobeing we might make price our selves but Christ is worth more blood lives then either ye or I have to give him When we shall come home enter to the possession of our brother's fair kingdom when our heads shall finde the weight of the eternall crown of glory when we shall look back to pains sufferings then shall we see life sorrow to be less then one step or stride from a prison to glory that our little inch of time-suffering is not worthy of our first night's welcome-home to heaven O what then will be the weight of every one of Christ's kisses O how weighty of what worth shall every one of Christ's love-smiles be O when once he shall thrust a wearied traveller's head betwixt his blessed breasts the poor soul shall think one kiss of Christ hath fully paid home fourtie or fiftie yeers wet feet all it's sore hearts light sufferings it had in following after Christ O thrice blinded souls whose hearts are charmed betwitched with dreams shadows feckless things night-vanities night fancies of a miserable life of sin Shame on us who sit still fettered with the love liking of the loan of a piece dead clay O poor fools who are beguiled with painted things this world's fair weather smooth promises rotten worm-eaten hopes may not the devil laugh to see us give out our souls get in but corrupt counterfeit pleasures of sin O for a sight of eternity's glory a little tasting of the Lamb's marriage-supper halt a draught or a drop of the wine of consolations that is up in our banquetting house out of Christ's own hand would make our stomacks loath the brown bread the sowre drink of a miserable life O how far are we berest or wit to chase hunt run till our souls be out of breath after a condemned happiness of our own making doe we not sit far in our own light to make it a matter of bairns-play to skink drink over paradise the heaven that Christ did sweat for even for a blast of smoke for Esau's morning break-fast O that we were out of ourselves dead to this world this world dead crucified to us then we should be close out of love conceit of any masked fairded lover whatsoever then Christ would win conquer to himself a lodging in the inmost yolk of our heart then Christ should be our night-song our morning-song then the very noise din of our welbeloved's feet when he cometh his first knock or rap at the door should be as the newes of two heavens to us Oh that our eyes our soul's-smelling should goe after a blasted sun-burnt flower even this plaistered fair out-sided world then we have neither eye nor smell for the flower of Iâ—sse for that plant of renown for Christ the choisest the fairest the sweetest rose that ever God planted O let some of us die to feel the smell of him let my part of this rotten world be forfeited sold for evermore providing I may anchor my tottering soul upon Christ I know it is sometimes at this Lord what wilt thou have for Christ But O Lord canst thou be budded or propined with any gift for Christ O Lord can Christ be sold or rather may not a poor needy sinner have him for nothing If I can get no more O let me be pained to all eternity with longing for him The joy of hungring for Christ should be my heaven for evermore Alas that I cannot draw souls Christ together but I desire the coming of his KingdoÌ„ that Christ as I assuredly hope he shall would come upon withered Scotland as rain upon the new mowen grass O let the king come O let his Kingdom come O let their eyes rot in their eye holes who will not receive him home again to reign rule in Scotland Grace grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord. Iesus S. R. To his
Christ every day so sweet comfortable lovely Kinde as three things onely trouble me 1. I see not how to be thankfull or how to get help to praise that royall King who raiseth up these that are bowed down 2. His love paineth me woundeth my soul so as I am in a fever for want of reall presence 3. An excessive desire to take instruments in God's name that this is Christ his truth I now suffer for yea the apple of the eye of Christ's honour even the Soveraignity royall priviledges of our King law-giver Christ therefore let no man scar at Christ's cross or raise an ill report upon him or it for he beareth the sufferer it both I am here troubled with the disputes of the great Doctors especially with D. B. in Ceremoniall Arminian controverâ—â—es for all are corrupt here but I thank God with no detriment to the truth or discredit to my profession So then I see that Christ can triumph in a weaker man nor I who can be more weak But his grace is sufficient for me Brother remember our old Covenant pray for me write to me your case The Lord Jesus be with your spirit Aberd. March 13. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To JOHN MEINE 116 Dear Brother GRace mercy peace be unto you I wonder ye sent me â—ot an answer to my last letter for I stand in need of it I am still 〈◊〉 some piece of court with our great King whose love would cause a dead man speak live whether my court will continue or not I cannot well say but I have his ear frequently to his glory onely I speak it no penurie of the love-kisses of the Son of God He thinketh good to cast apples to me in my prison to play withall lest I should think long faint I must give over all attempts to fathom the depth of his love all I can doe is but to stand beside his great love look wonder my debts of thankfulness affright me I fear my Creditor get a Dyvour-bill a ragged account I would be much the better of help O for help that ye would take notice of my case Your not writing to me maketh me think ye suppose that I am not to be bemoaned because he is comfortable but I have pain in my unthankfulness pain in the feeling of his love while I am sick again for real presence reall possession of Christ yet there is no gooked if I may speak so nor fond love in Christ He casteth me down sometimes with challenges for old faults I know he knoweth well that sweet comforts are swelling therefore sorrow must make a vent to the wind my dumb sabbaths are undercotting wounds The condition of this oppressed kirk my brother's case I thank you your wife for your kindness to him hold my sore smarting keep my wounds bleeding but the ground-work standeth sure Pray for me Grace be with you Remember meto your wife Aberd. March 14. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To Mr THOMAS GARVEN 117 Reverend and dear Brother I Blesse you for your letter it was a shower to the new mowen grass The Lord hath given you the tongue of the Learned Be fruitfull humble It is possible ye come to my case or the like but the water is neither so deep nor the stream so strong as it is called I think my fire is not hot my water dry land my loss rich loss O if the walls of my prison be high wide large the place sweet No man knoweth it no man I say knoweth it my Dear Brother so well as he I no man can put it down in black white as my Lord hath sealed it in my heart My poor stock is growen since I came to Aberden And if any had known the wrong I did in being jealous of such an honest lover as Christ who witheld not his love from me they would think the more of it but I see he must be above me in mercy I will never strive with him To think to recompense him is folly If I had as many Angel's tongues as there have fallen drops of rain since the creation or as there are leaves of trees in all the forrests of the earth or stars in the heaven to praise yet my Lord Jesus would ever be behinde with me We will never get our accounts sitted A pardon must close the reckoning for his comforts to me in this his honourable cause have almost put me beyond the bounds of modesty howbeit I will not let every one know what is betwixt us Love love I mean Christ's love is the hottest coal that ever I felt O but the smoke of it be hot Cast all the salt sea on it it will flame hell cannot quench it Many many waters will not quench love Christ is turned over to his poor prisoner in a masse globe of love I wonder he should waste so much love upon such a waster as I am but he is no waster but abundant in mercy He hath no niggards almes when he is pleased to give O that I could invite all the nation to love him Free grace is an unknown thing This world hath heard but a bare name of Christ no more There are infinite plyes in his love that the saints will never win to unfold I would it were better known that Christ got more of his own due then de doeth Brother ye have chosen the good part who have taken part with Christ Ye will see him win the field ye shall get part of the spoile when he divideth it They are but fools who laugh at us for they see but the backside of the moon yet our moon-light it better thâ—n their twelve-hours-sun We have gotten the new heavens as a pledge of that the bridegroom's love-ring The children of the wedding chamber have cause to skip leap for joy for the marriage supper is drawing nigh we finde the fours-hours sweet comfortable O time be not slow O sun move speedily hasten our banquet O bridegroom be like a roe or a young hart upon the mountains O welbeloved run fast that we may once meet Brother I contain my self for want of time Pray for me I hope to remember you The goodwill of him who dwelt in the bush the tender mercies of God in Christ enrich you Grace be with you Aberd. March 14. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To BETHAIA AIRD. 118 Worthy Sister GRace mercy peace be unto you I know ye desire news from my prison I shall shew you news At my first entry hither Christ I agreed not well upon it The devil made a plea in the house I laid the blame upon Christ for my heart was fraughted with challenges I feared that I was an outcast that I was but a withered tree in
once cometh nigh hand taketh a hearty look of Christ's inner side shall never wring nor wrestle themselves out of his love-grips again I would rest contented in my prison yea in a prison without light of sun or candle providing Christ I had a love-bed not of mine but of Christ his own making that we might lie together among the lilies till the day break the shadows flee away Who knoweth how sweet a drink of Christ's love is O but to live on Christ's love is a King's life The worst things of Christ even that which seemeth to be the refuse of Christ his hard cross his black cross is white fair the cross receiveth a beautifull lustre a perfumed smell from Jesus Mydear Brother scar not at it While ye have time to stand upon the watch tower to speak contend with this land plead with your harlot-mother who hath been a treacherous half-marrow to her husband Iesus For I would think liberty to preach one day the root top of my desires would seek no more of the blessings that are to be had on this side of time till I be over the water but to spend this my crazed clay-house in his service saving of souls But I hold my peace because he hath done it my shallow ebbe thoughts are not the compass Christ saileth by I leave his wayes to himself for they are far far above me Onely I would contend with Christ for his love and be bold to make a plea with Jesus my Lord for a heart-fill of his love for there is no more left to me What standeth beyond the far end of my sufferings and what shall be the event he knoweth and I hope to my joy shall make me know when God shall unfold his decrees concerning me for there are windings and too 's and fro's in his wayes which blinde bodies like us cannot see This much for further acquaintance So recommending you what is before you to the grace of God I rest Aberd. June 16. 1637. Your very loving Brother in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To Mr WILLIAM DALGLEISH 125 Reverend welbeloved Brother GRace mercy peace be unto you I have heard somewhat of your trials in Galloway I bless the Lord who hath begun first in that corner to make you a new Kirk to himself Christ hath the less adoe behinde when he hath refined you Let me entreat you my dearly beloved to be fast to Christ My witness is above My dearest Brother that ye have added much joy to me in my bonds when I hear that ye grow in the grace and zeal of God for your Master Our ministery whether by preaching or suffering will cast a smell through the world both of heaven hell 2 Cor. 2 15 16. I perswade you my dear Brother there is nothing out of heaven next to Christ dearer to me then my ministery the worth of it in my estimation is swelled paineth me exceedingly yet I am content for the honour of my Lord to surrender it back again to the Lord of the vineyard let him doe with me it both what he thinketh good I think my self too little for him let me speak to you how kinde a fellow prisoner is Christ to me Beleeve me this kinde of cross that would not goe by my door but would needs visite me is still the longer the more welcome to me It 's true my silent sabbaths have been are still as glassy yee whereon my faith can scarce hold it's feet I am often blowen on my back and off my feet with a storm of doubting yet truly my bonds all this time cast a mighty and ranck smell of high and deep love in Christ I cannot indeed see through my cross to the far end Yet I beleeve I am in Christ's books in his decree not yet unfolded to me a man triumphing dancing singing over on the other side of the red sea laughing praising the lamb over beyond time sorrow deprivation prelat's indignation losses want of friends death Heaven is not a foul flying in the air as men use to speak of things that are uncertain nay it is well paid for Christ's comprizement lieth on Glory for all the mourners in Zion shall never be loosed Let us be glad rejoyce that we have blood losses wounds to show our Master Captain at his appearance and what we suffered for his cause Woe is me my dear Brother that I say often I am but dry bones which my Lord will not bring out of the grave again that my faithless fears say Oh I am a dry tree that can bear no fruit I am an useless body who â—an beget no children to the Lord in his house Hopes of deliverance look cold uncertain afar off as if I had done with it it is much for Christ if I may say so to get Lawborrows of my sorrow of my quarrelous heart Christ's love playeth me fair play I am not wronged at all but there is a tricking and false heart within me that still playeth Christ foul play I am a cumbersom neighbour to Christ It is a wonder that he dwelleth beside the like of me yet I often get the advantage of the hill above my temptations then I despise the temptation even hell it self the stink of it the instruments of it and am proud of my honourable Master And I resolve whether contrary winds will or not to fetch Christ's harbour I think a willfull stiff contention with my Lord Jesus for his love very lawfull it 's sometimes hard to me to win my meat upon Christ's love because my faith is sick my hope withereth my eyes wax dim unkinde comfort-eclipsing clouds goe over the fair bright light Sâ—n-Jesus And then when I my temptation tryste the matter together we spill all through unbelief Sweet sweet for evermore would my life be if I could keep faith in exercise But I see my fire cannot alwayes cast light I have even a poor man's hard world when he goeth away But surely since my entry hither many a time hath my fair sun shined without a cloud Hot burning hath Christ's love been to me I have no vent to the expression of it I must be content with stoln smothered desires of Christ's glory O how far is his love behinde the hand with me I am just like a man who hath nothing to pay his thousands of debt All that can be gotten of him is to seâ—â—e upon his person Except Christ would seâ—â—e upon my self make the readiest payment that can be of my heart love to himself I have no other thing to give him If my sufferings could doe beholders good edifie his Kirk proclaim the incomparable worth of Christ's love to the world O then how would my soul be overjoyed my sad heart cheered and calmed Dear
to trust in him When Christ hath sleeped out his sleep if I may speak so of him who is the watch-man of Israel that neither slumbereth nor sleepeth and his own are tried he will arise as a strong man after wine and make bare his holy arm and put on vengeance as a cloak and deal vengeance thick double amongst the haters of Zion It may be we see him sow and send down maledictions vengeances as thick as drops of rain or hail upon his enemies For our Lord oweth them a black day he useth duely to pay his debts neither his friends followers nor his foes adversaries shall have it to say that he is not faithfull exact in keeping his word I know no bar in God's way but Scotland's guiltiness he can come over that impediment break that bar also then say to guilty Scotland as he said Ezek. 36. Not for your sakes c. On-waiting had ever yet a blessed issue to keep the word of God's patience keepeth still the saints dry in the water cold in the fire breathing blood-hot in the grave What are prisons of iron walls gates of brass to Christ Not so good as feal dikes fortifications of straw or old tottering walls If he give the word then the chains will fall off the arms legs of his prisoners God be thanked that our Lord Jesus hath the tutouring of King and Court and Nobles and that he can dry the gutters and the mires in Sion and lay causeys to the Temple with the carcases of bastard Lord-Prelats idol-shepherds The corn on the house-tops got never the husband-man's prayers so is seen on it for it filleth not the hand of mowers Christ truth innocency worketh even under the earth verily there is hope for the righteous We see not what conclusions pass in heaven anent all the affaris of God's house we need not give hire to God to take vengeance of his enemies for Justice worketh without hire O that the seed of hope would grow again and come to maturity And that we could importune Christ double our knocks at his gate cast our cries shouts over the wall that he might come out make our Ierusalem the praise of the whole earth give us Salvation for walls bulwarks If Christ bud grow green and bloom bear seed again in Scotland his father send him two summers again in one year bless his crop O what cause have we to rejoyce in the free salvation of our Lord to set up our banners in the name of our God! O that he would hasten the confusion of the leprous strumpet the mother mistress of abominations in the earth take graven images out of the way come in with the Iews in troops agree with his old out cast forsaken wife take them in again to his bed of love Grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Yours in our Master and Lord S. R. To the Lady LARGIRIE 129. MISTRESS GRace mercy peace be to you I exhort you in the Lord to goe on in your journey to heaven to be content of such fare by the way as Christ his followers have had before you for they had alwayes the wind on their faces our Lord hath not changed the way to us for our ease but will have us following our sweet guide Alas how doeth sin dog us in our journey retard us What fools are we to have a by-god or an other lover or match to our souls beside Christ It were best for us like ill bairns who are best heard at home to seek our own home to sell our hopes of this little clay Innes idol of the earth where we are neither well summered nor well wintered Oh that our souls would fall so at oddes with the love of this world as to think of it as a traveller doeth of a drink of water which is not any part of his treasure but goeth away with the using for ten miles journey maketh that drink to him as nothing O that we had as soon done with this world and could as quickly dispatch the love of it But as a childe cannot hold two apples in his little hand but the one putteth the other out of it's room so neither can we be masters and Lords of two loves Blessed were we if we could make our selves masters of that invaluable treasure the love of Christ or rather suffer our selves to be mastered and subdued to Christ's love so as Christ were our all things all other things our nothings the refuse of our delights O let us be ready for shipping against the time our Lord's wind tide call for us Death is the last thief that shall come without din or noise of feet take our souls away we shall take our leave at Time fâ—ce Eternity our Lord shall lay together the two sides of this earthly Tabernacle fold us lay us by as a man layeth by his clothes at night put the one half of us in a house of clay the dark grave the other half of us in heaven or hell Seek to be found of your Lord in peace gather in your flitting put your soul in order for Christ will not give a nail-breadth of Time to our little sand-glass Pray for Zion for me his prisoner that he would be pleased to bring me amongst you again full of Christ fraughted laden with the blessings of his Gospel Grace grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Yours in his onely Lord and Master S. R. To EARLESTOWN Younger 130 Worthy dearly beloved in the Lord. GRace mercy peace be to you I long to hear from you I remain still a prisoner of hope doe think it service to the Lord to wait on still with submission till the Lord's morning-skie break his summer day dawn for I am perswaded it is a piece of the chief errand of our life that God sent us for some years down to this earth among devils men the fire-brands of the devil temptations that we might suffer for a time here amongst our enemies otherwise he might have made heaven to wait on us at our coming out of the womb and have carried us home to our countrey without letting us set down our feet in this knotty and thorny life but seeing a piece of suffering is carved to every one of us less or more as infinite wisdom hath thought good our part is to harden and habituat our soft and thin skinned nature to endure fire and water devils lions men losses woe hearts as these that are looked upon by God Angels men devils O what folly is it to sit down weep upon a decree of God that is both dumb deaf at our tears must stand still as unmovable as God who made it for who can come behinde our Lord to
border of time shall put your foot within the march of eternity all your good things of this short night-dream shall seem to you like the ashes of a bleaze of thorns or straw your poor soul shall be crying Lodging lodging for God's sake Then shall your soul be more glad at one of your Lord 's lovely homely smiles then if ye had the charters of three worlds for all eternity Let pleasures gain will desires of this world be put over in God's hands as arrested and fenced goods that ye cannot intromet with Now when ye are drinking the ground of your cup ye are upon the utmost ends of the last link of time old age like death's long shadow is casting a covering upon your days it is no time to court this vain life to set love heart upon it It is near after supper seek rest ease for your soul in God through Christ Beleeve me I finde it hard wrestling to play fair with Christ to keep good quarters with him keep love to him in integrity life to keep a constant course of sound solid daily communion with Christ temptatations are daily breaking the threed of that course it is not easie to cast a knot again many knots make evil work O how fair have many ships been plying before the wind that in an hour's space have been lying in the sea bottom How many professours cast a golden lustre as if they were pure gold yet are under that skin cover but base reprobate mettall And how many keep breath in their race many miles yet come short of the prize the garland Dear Sir my soul would mourn in secret for you if I knew your case with God to be but false work Love to have you anchored upon Christ maketh me fear your tottering slips False under-water not seen in the ground of an enlightned conscience is dangerous so is often failing sinning against light Know this that these who never had sick nights nor days in conscience for sin cannot have but such a peace with God as will undercot break the flesh again and end in a sad war at death O how fearfully are thousands beguiled with false hide growen over old sins as if the soul were cured and healed Dear Sir I saw ever nature mighty lofty heady strong in you it was more for you to be mortified dead to the world then another common man Ye will take a low ebbe a deep cut a long lancâ— to goe to the bottom of your wounds in saving humiliation to make you a won prey for Christ Be humbled walk softly down down for God's sake my dear worthy Brother with your topsail Stoop Stoop it is a low entry to goe in at heaven's gates There is infinite Justice in the party ye have to doe with it is his nature not to acquit the guilty the sinner The Law of God will not want one farthing of the sinner God forgetteth not both the Cautioner the sinner every man must pay either in his own person O Lord save you from that payment or in his cautioner Christ. It is violence to corrupt nature for a man to be holy to lie down under Christ's feet to quite will pleasure wordly love earthly hope an itching of heart after this fairded overguilded world to be content that Christ trample upon all Come in come in to Christ and see what ye want finde it in him He is the short cut as we use to say and the nearest way to an outgate of all your burdens I dare avouch ye shall be dearly welcome to him my soul would be glad to take part of the joy ye should have in him I daresay Angels pens Angels tongues nay as many worlds of Angels as there are drops of water in all the seas fountains and rivers of the earth cannot paint him out to you I think his sweetness since I was a prisoner hath swelled upon me to the greatness of two heavens O for a soul as wide as the outmost circle of the highest heaven that containeth all to contain his love And yet I could hold little of it O world's wonder O if my soul might but lie within the smell of his love suppose I could get no more but the smell of it O but it is long to that day when I shall have a free world of Christ's love O what a sight to be up in heaven in that fair orchard of the new Paradise to see and smell and touch and kiss that fair field-flower that ever green tree of life His bare shadow were enough for me a sight of him would be the earnest of heaven to me Fy sy upon us that we have love lying rusting beside us or which is worse wasted away upon loathsom objects Christ should lie his alone Woe woe is me that Sin hath made so many mad men seeking the fool's Paradise fire under ice some good and desireable thing without and apart from Christ Christ Christ nothing but Christ can cool our love's burning languor O thirsty love wilt thou set Christ the well of life to thy head drink thy fill drink and spare not drink love be drunken with Christ Nay alas the distance betwixt us and Christ is a death O if we were clasped in other's arms We should never twin again except heaven twinned and sundered us that cannot be I desire your children to seek this Lord Desire them from me to be requested for Christ's sake to be blessed happy and come take Christ all things with him Let them beware of glassy slippery youth of foolish young motions of worldly lusts of deceivable gain of wicked company of cursing lying blaspheming and foolish talking Let them be filled with the Spirit acquaint themselves with daily praying with the store-house of wisdom and comfort the good word of God Help the souls of the poor people O that my Lord would bring me again among them that I might tell uncouth great tales of Christ to them Receive not a stranger to preach any other doctrine to them Pray for me his prisoner of hope I pray for you without ceasing I write my blessing earnest prayers the love of God the sweet presence of Christ to you and yours and them Grace grace grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Your lawful and loving Pastor S. R. To the Earle of LOTHIAN 141 Right honourable my very worthy and Noble Lord. OUt of the honourable good report that I hear of your Lo goodwill kindness in taking to heart the honourable cause of Christ his afflicted Church wronged truth in this land I make bold to speak a word in paper to your Lo at this distance which I trust your Lo will take in good part It is your Lo honour credit to put to
in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To WILLIAM GLENDINING 155. Dear Brother YE are heartily welcome to that honour that Christ hath made common to us both which is to suffer for his name Verily I think it my garland crown if the Lord should ask of me my blood life for this cause I would gladly in his strength pay due debt to Christ's honour glory in that kinde Acquaint your self with Christ's love ye shall not miss to finde new goldeÌ„ mines treasures in Christ Nay truly we but stand beside Christ we goe not in to him to take our fill of him But if he should doe two things 1. Draw the curtains make bare his holy face then 2. Clear our dim bleared eyes to see his beauty glory he should finde many lovers I would seek no more happiness but a sight of him so near hand as to see hear smell touch embrace him But oh closed doors vails curtains thick clouds hold me in pain while I finde the sweet burning of his love that many waters cannot quench O what sad hours have I when I think that love of Christ scarreth at me bloweth by me If my Lord Jesus would come to bargaining for his love I think he should make price himself I should not refuse ten thousand years in hell to have a wide soul enlarged made wider that I might be exceedingly even to the running over filled with his love O what am I to love such an one or to be loved by that high lofty One I think the Angels may blush to look upon him what am I to file such infinite brightness with my sinfull eyes O that Christ would come near stand still give me leave to look upon him For to look seemeth the poor man's priviledge since he may for nothing without hire behold the sun I should have a King's life if I had no other thing to doe but for evermore to behold eye my fair Lord Jesus Nay suppose I were holden out at heaven's fair entry I should be happy for evermore to look through an hole in the door see my dearest fairest Lord's face O great King why standest thou aloof Why remainest thou beyond the mountains O welbeloved why doest thou pain a poor soul with delayes a long time out of thy glorious presence is two deaths two hells to me We must meet I must see him I dow not want him hunger longing for Christ hath brought on such a necessity of enjoying Christ that cost me what it will I cannot but assure Christ I will not I dow not want him For I cannot master or command Christ's love nay hell as I now think all the pains in it laid on me alone would not put me from loving Yea suppose my Lord Jesus would not love me it is above my strength or power to keep back or imprison the weak love I have but it must be out to Christ I would set heaven's joy aside live upon Christ's love it 's alone Let me have no joy but the warmness fire of God's love I seek no other God knoweth if this love be taken from me the bottom is fallen out of all my happiness joy therefore I beleeve Christ will never doe me that as to bereave a poor prisoner of his love it were cruelty to take it from me he who is kindness it self cannot be cruel Dear Brother weary not of my sweet Master's chains we are so much the sibber to Christ that we suffer Lodge not a hard thought of my royal King rejoyce in his cross Your deliverance sleepeth not he that will come is not slack of his promise Wait on for God's timeous salvation ask not when or How long I hope he shall lose nothing of you in the furnace but dross Commit your cause in meekness forgiving your oppressours to God and your sentence shall come back from him laughing Our Bridegroom's day is posting fast on this world that seemeth to goe with a long and a short foot shall be put in two ranks Wait till your ten dayes be ended and hope for the crown Christ will not give you a blinde in the end Commend me to your wife and father to Bailiffe M. A. And send this letter to him The prayers of Christ's prisoner be upon you the Lord's presence accompany you Aberd. July 6. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To ROBERT LENNO X. of Disdove 156. Dear Brother GRace mercy peace be to you I beseech you in the Lord Jesus make fast and sure work of life eternall Sow not rotten seed every man's work will speak for it self what his seed hath been O how many see I who sow to the flesh Alas what a crop will that be when the Lord shall put in his hook to reap this world that is ripe white for judgement I recommend to you holiness sanctification that ye keep your self clean from this present evil world We delight to tell our own dreams to flatter our own flesh with the hope we have It were wisdom for us to be free plain honest sharp with our own souls and to charge them to brew better thâ—t they may drink well and fare well when time is melted away like snow in a hot summer O how hard a thing is it to get the soul to give up with all things on this side of death and doomsday We say we are removing and going from this world but our heart stirreth not one foot off it's seat Alas I see few heavenly minded souls that have nothing upon the earth but their body of clay going up and down this earth because their soul the powers of it are up in heaven there their hearts live desire enjoy rejoyce Oh mens souls have no wings and therefore night and day they keep their nest and are not acquaint with Christ Sir take you to your one thing to Christ that ye may be acquainted with the taste of his sweetness excellency charge your love not to dote upon this world for it will not doe your business in that day when nothing will come in good stead to you but God's favour Build upon Christ some good choice fast work for when your soul for many years hath taken the play hath posted wandered through the creatures ye will come home again with the wind They are not good at least not the souls good it is the infinite Godhead that must allay the sharpness of your hunger after happiness otherwise there shall still be a want of satisfaction to your desires And if he would cast in ten worlds in your desires all shall fall thorow your soul shall still cry red hunger black hunger But I am sure there is sufficient for you in Christ if ye had seven souls seven desires in you Oh if I could make my
Lord Jesus market-sweet lovely desireable fair to all the world both to Jew and Gentil O let my part of heaven goe for it sobeing he would take my tongue to be his instrument to set out Christ in his whole braveries of love vertue grace sweetness matchless glory to the eyes hearts of Jews Gentiles But who is sufficient for these things O for the help of Angels tongues to make Christ eye-sweet and amiable to many thousands O how little doeth this world see of him how far are they from the love of him seeing there is so much loveliness beauty and sweetness in Christ that no created eye did ever yet see I would that all men knew his glory and that I could put many in at the bridegroom's chamber door to see his beauty to be partakers of his high and deep and broad and boundless love O let all the world come nigh and see Christ and they shall then see more then I can say of him O if I had had a pledge or pawne to lay down for a sea-full of his love that I could come by somuch of Christ as would satisfie griening and longing for him or rather increase it till I were in full possession I know we shall meet therein I rejoyce Sir stand fast in the truth of Christ that ye have received Yeeld not to winds but ride out let Christ be your anchor the onely He whom ye shall look to see in peace Pray for me his prisoner that the Lord would send me among you to feed his people Grace grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To JOHN FLEMING Bailiffe of Leith 157 Worthy Sir GRace mercy and peace be to you The Lord hath brought me safe to this strange town Blessed be his holy name I finde his cross easie and light and I hope he shall be with his poor sold Joseph who is separated from his brethren His comforts have abounded towards me as if Christ thought shame if I may speak so to be in the common of such a poor man as I am and would not have me lose any thing in his errands My enemies have beside their intention made me more blessed and have put me in a sweeter possession of Christ then ever I had before Onely the memory of the fair dayes I had with my welbeloved amongst the flock intrusted to me keepeth me low and sowreth my unseen joy But it must be so and he is wise who tutoureth me this way For that which my brethren have and I want and others of this world have I am content my faith will frist God my happiness No Son offendeth that his father giveth him not hire twice a year for he is to abide in the house when the inheritance is to be divided It is better God's children live upon hope then upon hire Thus remembring my love to your worthy and kinde wife I bless you and her and all yours in the Lord's name Aberd. Sept 20. 1637. Yours in his onâ—ly onely Lord Iesus S. R. To WILLIAM GLENDINING Bailiffe of Kirkcudbright 158 Worthy Sir GRace mercy peace be to you I am well honour be to God aswell as a râ—joycing prisoner of Christ can be hoping that one day He for whom I now suffer shall enlarge me put me above the threatnings of men I am sometimes sad heavy casten down at the memory of the fair dayes I had with Christ in Anwoth Kirk cudbright cet The remembrance of a feast encreaseth hunger in a hungry man but who knoweth but our Lord will yet cover a table in the wilderness to his hungry bairns build the old waste places in Scotland bring home Zion's captives I desire to see no more glorious sight till I see the Lamb on his throne then to see Mount Zion all green with grass the dew lying upon the tops of the grass the crown put upon Christ's head in Scotland again And I beleeve it shall be so that Christ shall mowe down his enemies fill the pits with their dead bodies I finde people here dry uncouth A man pointed at for suffering dare not be countenanced so that I am like to sit mine alone upon the ground But my Lord payeth me well home again for I have neither tongue nor pen nor heart to express the sweetness excellency of the love of Christ Christ's honey-combs drop hony sloods of consolation upon my soul My chains are gold Christ's cross iâ— all overguilded and perfumed His prison is the garden and orchard of my delights I would goe through burning quick to my lovely Christ I sleep in his arms all the night my head betwixt his breasts My welbeloved is altogether lovely This is all nothing to that which my soul hath felt Let no man for my cause scar at Christ's cross If my stipend place countrey credit had been an Earledom a Kingdom ten Kingdoms and a whole earth all were too little for the crown and scepter of my royall King Mine enemies mine enemies have made me blessed They ave sent me to the bridegroom's chamber Love is his banner over me I live a Kings life I want nothing but heaven and the possession of the crown my earnest is great Christ is no niggard to me Dear Brother be for the Lord Jesus and his heart-broken bride I need not I hope remember my distressed brother to your care Remember my love to your wife Let Christ want nothing of us His garments shall be rolled in the blood of the slain of Scotland Grace grace be with you pray for Christ's prisoner Aberd. Sept. 21. 1637 Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To ROBERT GORDON Of Knockbrex 159 Dear Brother GRace mercy peace be to you I am by God's mercy come now to Aberden the place of my confinement setled in an honest man's house I finde the town's-men cold generall dry in their kindness yet I finde a lodging in the heart of many strangers My challenges are revived again I finde old sores bleeding of new so dangerous painfull is an undercotted conscience yet I have an eye to the blood that is physick for such sores But verily I see Christianity is conceived to be more easie lighter then it is so that I sometimes think I never knew any thing but the letters of that name for our nature contenteth it self with little in godliness Our Lord Lord seemeth to us ten Lord Lords little holiness in our ballance is much because it is our own holâ—ness we love to lay small burdens upon our soft natures to make a fair courtway to heaven And I know it were necessary to take more pains then we doe not to make heaven a city more easily taken then God hath made it I perswade my self many runners shall come short get a disappointment Oh how easie is it to deceive our selves
when the wind turneth into the North he goeth away I die till the wind change in the West he visite his prisoner But he holdeth me not often at his door I am richly repayed for suffering for him O if all Scotland were as I am except my bonds O what pain I have because I cannot get him praised by my sufferings O that heaven within and without the earth were paper all the rivers fountains sâ—as were ink I able to write all the paper within without full of his praises love excellency to be read by man Angel Nay this is little I ow my heaven for Christ to desire howbeit I should never enter in at the gates of the new Ierusalem to send my love my praises over the wall to Christ. Alas that Time Days lie betwixt him me adjourn our meeting It is my part to cry O when will the night be past the day dawn that we shall see one another Be pleased to remember my service to my Lord to whom I wrote shew him that for his affection to me I cannot but pray for him earnestly desire that Christ miss him not out of the roll of these who are his witnesses now when his kingly honour is called in question It is his honour to hold up Christ's royal train to be an instrument to hold the crown upon Christ's head Shew him because I love his true honour standing that this is my earnest desire for him Now I bless you the prayers of Christ's prisoner come upon you his sweetest presence whom ye serve in the spirit accompany you Aberd. June 23. 1637. Yours at all obliged obedâ—ince in Christ S. R. To Mr JOHN ROW 204 Reverend dear Brother I Received yours I bless his high great name I like my sweet Master still the longer the better A sight of his cross is more awsom then the weight of it I think the worst things of Christ even his reproaches his cross when I look on these not with bleared eyes far rather to be chosen then the laughter worm-eaten joys of my adversaries Oh that they were as I am except my bonds My witness is above my Ministery next to Christ is dearest to me of any thing but I lay it down at Christ's feet for his glory his honour as supreme Law-giver which is dearer to me My dear Brother if ye will receive the testimony of a poor prisoner of Christ who dare not now dissemble for the world I beleeve certainly expect thanks from the Prince of the Kings of the earth for my poor hazards such as they are for his honourable cause whom I can ever enough extoll for his running-over love to my sad soul since I came hither O that I could get him set on high praised I seek no more as the top root of my desires but that Christ may make glory to himself edification to the weaker out of my sufferings I desire ye would help me both to pray praise Grace be with you Aberd. July 8. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To the Lady CULROSS 205 MADAM GRace mercy peace be to you I am much refreshed with your letter now at length come to me I finde my Lord Jesus cometh not in that precise way that I lay wait for him he hath a gate of his own O how high are his wayes above my wayes I see but little of him It is best not to offer to learn him a lesson but to give him absolutely his own will in coming going ebbing flowing in the manner of his gracious working I want nothing but a back burtheâ— of Christ's love I would goe through hell the thick of the damned Devils to have a hearty feast of Christ's love for he hath fettered me with his love run away left me a chained man Woe is me that I was so loose rash vain graceless in my unbeleeving thoughts of Christ's love But what can a soul under a non-entry when my rights were wod-set and lost doe else but make a false libel against Christ's love I know your self Madam and many moe will be witnesses against me if I repent not of my unbelief for I have been seeking the Pope's wares some hire for grace within my self I have not learned as I should doe to put my stock all my treasure in Christ's hand but I would have a stock of mine own ere I was aware I was taking hire to be the Law 's advocate to seek Justification by works I forgot that grace is the onely garland that is worn in heaven upon the heads of the glorified And now I half rejoyce that I have sickness for Christ to work upon since I must have wounds well's my soul I have a day's work for my Physician Christ I hope to give Christ his own calling it setteth him full well to cure diseases My ebbings are very low the tide is far out when my Beloved goeth away then I cry Oh cruelty to put out the poor man's one eye that that was my joy next to Christ to preach my welbeloved then I make a noise about Christ's house looking uncouth-like in at his window casting my love my desires over the wall till God send better I am often content my bill lie in heaven till the day of my departure providing I had assurance that mercy shall be written on the back of it I would not care for on-waiting but when I draw in a tired arm empty hand withall it is much to me to keep my thoughts in order but I will not get a gate for Christ's love When I have done all I can I would fain yeeld to his stream row with Christ not against him But while I live I see that Christ's Kingdom in me will not be peaceable so many thoughts in me rise up against his honour kingly power Surely I have not expressed all his sweet kindness to me I spare to doe it lest I â—e deemed to seek my self but his breath hath sinelled of the powder of the merchants of the King's spikenard I think I conceive new thoughts of heaven because the Carde the Mappe of Haven that he letteth me now see is so fair so sweet I am sure we are niggards sparing bodies in seeking I verily judge we know not how much may be had in this life there is yet something beyond all we see that seeking would light upon O that my love-sickness would put me to a business when all the world are sound sleeping to cry knock But the truth is since I came hither I have been wondering that after my importunity to have my fill of Christ's love I have not gotten a reall sign but have come from him crying hunger hunger I think Christ letteth me see meat in my extremity of hunger giveth me
joy cast water on our coal It is a sweet thing to see them cast out God take in to see them throw us away as the refuse of men God take us up as his jewels his treasure Often he maketh gold of dross as once he made the cast-away stone the stone rejected by the builders the head of the corner The Princes of this world would not have our Lord Jesus a pinning in the wall or to have any place in the building but the Lord made him the Master-stone of power place God be thanked that this world hath not power to cry us down so many pounds as rulers cry down light gold or light silver We shall stand for as much as our master-coiner Christ whose coin arms stamp we bear will have us Christ hath no miscarrying ballance Thank your Lord who chaseth your love through two Kingdoms followeth you it over sea to have you for himself as he speaketh Hos. 3. For God layeth up his saints as the waile the choice of all the world for himself this is like Christ his love O what in heaven or out of heaven is comparable to the smell of Christ's garments Nay suppose our Lord would manifest his art make ten thousand heavens of good glorious things of new joyes devised out of the deep of infinite wisdom he could not make the like of Christ for Christ is God God cannot be made therefore let us hold us with Christ howbeit we might have our waile will of an host of lovers as many as three heavens could contain O that he we were together O when Christ ye shall meet about the outmost march borders of time the entry into eternity ye shall see heaven in his face at the first look salvation glory sitting in his countenance betwixt his eyes Faint not the miles to heaven are but few short he is making a green bed as the word speaketh Cant. 1. of love for himself you There are many heads lying in Christ's bosom but there is room for yours among the rest And therefore goe on let hope goe before you Sin not in your trials the victory is yours pray wrestle beleeve ye shall overcome prevail with God as Iacob did No windle-straws no bits of clay no temptations which are of no longer life then an hour will then be able to withstand you when once ye have prevailed with God Help me with your prayers that it would please the Lord to give me house-room again to speak of his righteonsness in the great congregation if it may seem good in his sight Grace grace be with you Aberd. Jan. 6. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. THE SECOND PART Containing Some letters of the same Author from Anwoth before his confinement at Aberdeen And others from St Andrevvs London c. after his enlargement To the Vicountess of Kenmure 1. MADAM ALL dutifull obedience in the Lord remembred I have heard of your La Infirmity and sickness with grief yet I trust ye have learned to say It is the Lord let him doe whatsoever seemeth good in his eyes It is now many years since the Apostate Angels made a question whether their will or the will of their Creator should be done since that time frâ—ward mankinde hath alwayes in that same sute of Law compeared to plead with them against God in a dayly repining against his will but the Lord being both party Judge hath obtained a decreet saith Isa. 46. 10. My counsel shall stand I will doe all my pleasure It is then best for us in the obedience of faith in an holy submission to give that to God which the Law of â—is almighty just power will have of us Therefore Madam your Lord willeth you in all states of life to say Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven herein shall ye have comfort that he who seeth perfectly through all your evils knoweth the frame constitution of your nature what is most healthfull for your soul holdeth every cup of affliction to your head with his own gracious hand Never beleeve that your tender-hearted Saviour who knoweth the strength of your stomack will mix that cup with one dram weight of poison Drink then with the patience of the saints the God of patience bless your Physick I have heard your La complain of deadness want of the bestirring power of the life of God but courage he who walked in the garden made a noise that made Adam hear his voice will also at sometimes walk in your soul make you hear a more sweet word Yet ye will not alwayes hear the noâ—se the din of his feet when he walketh Ye are at such a time like Iacob mourning at the supposed death of Ioseph when Joseph was living The new creature the image of the second Adam is living in you yet ye are mourning at the supposed death of the life of Christ in you Ephraim is bemoaning mourning Ier. 31. 18. When he thinketh God is far off heareth not yet God is like the Bridegroom Cant. 2. standing onely behinde a thin wall laying to his ear for he saith himself ver 18. I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself I have good confidence Madam that Christ Jesus whom your soul through forrests mountains is seeking is within you And yet I speak not this to lay a pillow under your head or to disswade you from an holy fear of the losse of your Christ or of provoking stirring up the beloved before he please by sin I know in spiritual confidence the Devil will come in as in all other good works cry half mine so endeavour to bring you under a fearfull sleep till he whom your soul loveth be departed from the door have left off knocking therefore here the Spirit of God must hold your souls feet in the golden mid-line betwixt confident resting in the arms of Christ presumptuous and drousie sleeping in the bed of fleshly security Therefore worthy Lady so count little of your self because of your own wretchedness and sinfull drousiness that ye count not also little of God in the course of his unchangeable mercy For there be many Christians most like unto young sailers who think the shore the whole land doeth move when the ship they themselves are moved just so not a few doe imagine that God moveth saileth changeth places because their giddy souls are under sail subject to alteration to ebbing flowing but the foundation of the Lord abideth sure God knoweth that ye are his own Wrestle fight goe forward watch fear beleeve pray then ye have all the infallible symptomes of one of the elect of Christ within you Ye have now Madam a sickness before you also after that a death gather
due value were put on that worthy worthy Prince Iesus O who can weigh him Ten thousand thousand heavens would not be one scale or the half of the scale of the ballance to lay him in O black Angels in comparison of him O dim dark lightless Sun in regard of that fair Sun of Righteousness O feckless worthless heaven of heavens when they stand beside my worthy lofty high excellent Welbeloved O weak infirm clay-Kings O soft feeble mountains of brass weak created strength in regard of our mighty strong Lord of armies O foolish wisdom of men Angels when it is laid in the ballance beside that spotless substantial wisdom of the Father If heaven earth ten thousand heavens even round about these heavens that now are were all in one garden of Paradise decked with all the fairest roses flowers trees that can come forth from the art of the Almighty himself yet set but our one flower that groweth out of the root Iesse beside that orchard of pleasure one look of him one view one taste one smell of his sweet Godhead would infinitely exceed goe beyond the smell colour beauty loveliness of that Paradise O to be with childe of his love to be suffocate if that could be with the smell of his sweetness were a sweet fill lovely pain O worthy worthy loveliness O less of the creatures more of thee O open the passage of the well of love glory on us dry pits withered trees O that jewel flower of heaven If our Beloved were not mistaken by us unknown to us he would have no scarcity of wooers suiters he would make heaven earth both see that they cannot quench his love for his love is a sea O to be a thousand fathoms deep in this sea of love He He Himself is more excellent then heaven for Heaven as it cometh into the souls spirits of the glorified is but a creature He is something a great something more then a Creature Oh what a life were it to sit beside this well of love drink sing sing drink then to have desires soul-faculties stretched extended out many thousand fathoms in length breadth to take in seas rivers of love I earnestly desire to recommend this love to you that this love may cause you to keep his commandments to keep clean fingers make clean feet that ye may walk as the redeemed of the Lord. Woe woe be to them that put on his name shame this love of Christ with a loose prophanelife their feet tongue hands eyes give a shameless lye to the holy Gospel which they profess I beseech you in the Lord keep Christ walk with him let not his fairness be spotted stained by godless living Oh who can finde in their heart to sin against love And such a love as the glorified in heaven shall delight to dive into drink of for ever for they are evermore drinking-in love the cup is still at their head yet without loathing for they still drink still desire to drink for ever ever is not this a long lasting supper Now if any of our countrey-people professing Christ Jesus have brought themselves under the stroke wrath of the Almighty by yeelding to Antichrist in an hair-breadth but especially by swearing subscribing that blasphemous Oath which is the Church of Ireland's black hour of temptation I would intreat them by the mercies of God at their last summonds to repent openly confess before the world to the glory of the Lord their denial of Christ Or otherwise if either man or woman will stand abide by that Oath then in the name authority of the Lord Jesus I let them see that they forfeit their part of heaven let them look for no less then a back-burden of the pure unmixed wrath of God the plague of Apostates deniers of our Lord Jesus Let not me a stranger to you who never saw your face in the flesh be thought bold in writing to you For the hope I have of a glorious Church in that land and the love of Christ constraineth me I know the worthy servants of Christ who once laboured among you cease not to write to you also I shall desire to be excused that I doe joyn with them Pray for your Sister Church in Scotland let me entreat you for the aid of your prayers for my self flock ministery my fear of a transportation from this place of of the Lord's vineyard Now the very God of peace sanctifie you throughout Grace be with you all Anwoth 1639. Your brother and companion in the Kingdom and patience of Iesus Christ S. R. To his reverend much honoured Brother Dr WILLIAM LIGHTON Christ's prisoner in bonds at London 28 Reverend much honoured prisoner of hope GRace mercy peace be to you It was not my part whom our Lord hath enlarged to forget you his prisoner When I consider how long your night hath been I think Christ hath a minde to put you in free grace's debt so much the deeper as your sufferings have been of so long a continuance But what if Christ minde you no joâ— but publike joy with enlarged triumphing Zion I think Sir ye would love it best to share divide your song of joy with Zion to have mystical Chriâ—â— in Eritain halfer compartner with your enlargement I am sure your joy bordering neighbouring with the joy of Christ's Bride would be so much the sweeter that it were publike I thought if Christ had halved my mercies and delivered his Bride and not me that his praises should have been double to what they are But now two rich mercies conjoyned in one have stoln from our Lord more then half-praises Oh that mercy should so beguile us and steal away our counts and acknowledgements Worthy Sir I hope I need not exhort you to goe on in hoping for the salvation of God There hath not been so much taken from your time of ease created joyes as Eternity shall adde to your heaven Ye know when one day in heaven hath paved you yea overpayed your blood bonds sorrow sufferings that it would trouble Angels understanding to lay the count of that superplus of glory which Eternity can will give you O but your sand-glass of sufferings losses cometh to little when it shall be counted and compared with the glory that bideth you on the other side of the water Ye have no leisure to rejoyce fing here while time goeth about you where your Psalms will be short therefore ye will think Eternity the long day of heaven that shall be measured with no other sun nor horologe then the long life of the Ancient of dayes to measure your praises little enough for you if your span-length
of time be cloudy ye cannot but think your Lord can no more take your blood your band without the in-come reeompence of free grace hâ—…e would take the sufferings of Paul his other dear servants that were well paid home beyond all counting Rom. 8 18. If the wisdom of Christ hath made you Antichrist's eye-sore his envy ye are to thank God that such a piece of clay as ye are is made the field of glory to work upon it was the potter's aim that the clay should praise him I hope it satisfieth you that your clay is for his glory Oh who can suffer enough for such a Lord who can lay out in bank enough of pain shame losses tortures to receive in again the free interest of eternall glory 2 Cor. 4 17. O how advantagious a bargaining is it with such a rich Lord If your hand pen had been at leisure to gain glory in paper it had been but paper-paper-glory but the bearing of a publike cross so long for the now controverted priviledges of the crown scepter of free King Jesus the Prince of the Kings of the earth is glory booked in heaven Worthy dear Erother if ye goe to weigh Jesus his sweetness excellency glory beauty say fore-against him your ounces or drams of Suffering for him ye shall be straitned two wayes 1. It will be a pain to make the comparison the disproportion being by no understanding imaginable nay if heaven's Arithmetick Angels were set to work they should never number the degrees of difference 2. It should straiten you to finde a scale for the ballance to lay that High Lofty One that overtranscending Prince of excellency into If your minde could fancy as many created heavens as time hath had minutes trees have had leaves clouds have had rain drops since the first stone of the creation was laid they should not make half a scale to bear weight boundless excellency it to And therefore the King whose marks ye are bearing whos 's dying ye carry about with you in your body is out of all cry consideration beyond above all our thoughts For my self I am content to feed upon wondering sometimes at the beholding but of the borders skirts of the incomparable glory which is in that exalted Prince I think ye could wiâ—h for more ears to give him then ye have since ye hope these ears ye now have give him shall be passages to take in the musick of his glorious voice I would fain both beleeve pray for a new Bride of Iews Gentiles to our Lord Jesus after the land of graven images shall be laid waste that our Lord Jesus is on horse-back hunting pursuing the beast that England Ireland shall be well sweeped chambers for Christ and his righteousness to dwell in for he hath opened our graves in Scotland the two dead buried witnesses are risen again are prophesying O that Princes would glory boast themselves in carrying the train of Christ's tobe royal in their arms Let me die within an half-hour after I have seen the Son of God his temple enlarged the cords of Iâ—rusalem's tent lengthned to take in a more numerous company for a Bride to the Son of God Oh if the corner or foundation-stone of that house that new house were laid above my grave O who can adde to him who is that great ALL If he would create suns moons new heavens thousand thousand degrees more perfect then these that now are again make a new creation ten thousand thousand degrees in perfection beyond that new creation again still for eternity multiplie new heavens they should never be a perfect resemblance of that infinite excellency order weight measure beauty sweetness that is in him O how little of him doe we see O how shallow are our thoughts of him Oh if I had pâ—in for him shame losses for him more clay spirits for him that I could goe upon earth without love desire hope because Christ hath taken away my love desire hope to heaven with him I know Worthy Sir your sufferings for him are your glory therefore weary not his salvation is near hand and shall not tarry Pray for me his grace be with you St Andrewes Nov. 22. 1639. Yours in his sweet Lorâ— Iesus S R. To Mr HENRY STUART his Wife two Daughters all Prisoners of Christ at Dublin Rev. 2 10. Fear none of these things which ye shall suffer c. 29. Truly Honoured Dearly beloved GRace mercy peace be to you from God our father our Lord Jesus Christ. Think it not strange beloved in our Lord Iesus that Satan can command keyes of prisons bolts chains this is a piece of the Devil's Princedom that he hath over the world interpret understand our Lord well in this be not jealous of his love though he make devils and men his under-servants to scour the rust off your faith purge you from your dross And let me charge you O prisoners of hope to open your window to look out by faith behold heavens post that speedy swift salvation of God that is coming to you it is a broad river that faith will not look over it is a mighty a broad sea that they of a lively hope cannot behold the furthest bank other shore thereof Look over the water your anchor is fixed within the vail the one end of the cable is about the prisoner of Christ the other is entred within the vail whither the forerunner is entred for you Heb. 6 19 20. It can goe straight thorow the flames of the fire of the wrath of men devils losses tortures death and not a threed of it be either singed or burnt men and devils have no teeth to bite it in two Hold fast till he come Your cross is of the colour of heaven Christ pasmented over with the faith comforts of the Lord 's faithfull Covenant with Scotland that dy colour will abide the foul weather neither be stained nor cast the colour yea it reflects a scad like the cross of Christ whose holy hands many a day lifted up to God praying for sinners were fettered and bound as if these blessed hands had stoln shed innocent blood When your lovely lovely Jesus had no better then the thief's doom it is no wonder that your process be lawless and turned upside down for he was taken fettered buffetted whipped spitted upon before he was convicted of any fault or sentenced Oh such a pair of sufferers and witnesses as high and royal Jesus and a poor piece guilty clay marrowed together under one yoke O how lovely is the cross with such a second I beleeve that your prison is enacted in God's court not to keep you till your hope breath out it's life last Your cross is under law
me leave to wish to love thee O flower and bloom of heaven earth's love O Angels wonder O thou the Father 's eternally sealed love O thou God's old delight give me leave to stand beside thy love look in wonder give me leave to wish to love thee if I can doe no more 2. We being born in atheism bairns of the house that we are come off it is no new thing my dear Brother for us to be under jealousies mistakes about the love of God what think ye of this that the man Christ was tempted to beleeve there were but two Persons in the blessed Godhead that the Son of God the substantial coerernal Son was not the lawfull Son of God Did not Satan say If thou be the Son of God 3. Ye say that ye know not what to doe Your Head said once that same word or not far from it Ioh. 12. 27. Now is my soul troubled what shall I say faith answered Christ's What shall I say with these words O tempted Saviour askest thou What shall I say say pray Father save me from this hour What course can ye take but pray first Christ his own comforts He is no dyvour take his word Oh say ye I cannot pray Ans. Honest sighing is faith breathing whispering him in the ear the life is not out of faith where there is sighing looking up with the eyes breathing towards God Eam 3 36. Hide not thine ear at my breathing But what shall I doe in spiritual exercises say ye Ans. 1. If ye knew particularly what to doe it were not a spiritual exercise 2. In my weak judgement ye would first say I will lorifie God in beleeving David's Salvation the Bride's Marriage with the Lamb love the Church's stain husband although I cannot for the present beleeve mine own Salvation 3. Say I will not pass from my claim suppose Christ would pass from his claim to me it shall not goe back upon my side howbeit my love to him be not worth a drink of water yet Christ shall have it such as it is 4. Say I shall rather spill twenty prayers then not pray at all let my broken words goe up to heaven when they come up into the great Angel's golden censer that compassianat Advocate will put together my broken prayers perfume them Words are but Accidents of Prayer Oh say y I am slain with hardness of heart troubled with confused and melancholious thoughts Ans. My dear Brother What would ye conclude thence that ye know not well who ought you I grant Oh my heart is hard Oh my thoughts of faithless sorrow Ergo I know not who ought me were good Logick in heaven amongst Angels the glorified but down in Christ's Hospital where sick and distempered souls are under cure it is not worth a straw Give Christ time to end his work in your heart hold on in feeling bewailing your hardness for that is softness to feel hardness 2. I charge you to make Psalms of Christ's praises for his begun work of Grace make Christ your Musick your song for Complaining feeling of want doeth often swallow up your Praises What think ye of these who goe to hell never troubled with such thoughts If your exercise be the way to hell God help me I have a cold coal to blow at and a blank paper for heaven I give you Christ caution my heaven surety for your Salvation Lend Christ your Melancholy for Satan hath no right to make a chamber in your Melancholy borrow joy comfort from the Comforter bid the Spirit doe his office in you remember that faith is one thing and the feeling notice of faith another God forbid that feeling were Proprium quarto modo to all the Saints that this were good reasoning No feeling no grace I am sure ye were not alwayes these twenty years by-past actually knowing that ye live yet all this time ye are living so is it with the life of faith But Alas Dear Brother it is easie for me to speak words syllables of peace but Isa. 57. 19. telleth you I create peace there is but one Creator ye know O that ye may get a Letter of peace sent you from heaven Pray for me for grace to be faithfull gifts to be able with tongue pen to glorifie God I forget you not St. Andrewes Jan 8. 1640. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To my Lady BOYD. 32 MADAM I Received your La letter but because I was still going through the countrey for the affairs of the Church I have had no time to answer it I had never more cause to fear then I have now when my Lord hath restored me to my second created heaven on earth hath turned my apprehended fears into joyes and great deliverance to his Church whereof I have my share and part Alas that weeping prayers answered and sent back from heaven with joy should not have laughing praises O that this land would repent and lay burthens of praises upon the top of fair mount Zion Madam except this land be humbled a Reformation is rather my wonder then belief at this time but surely it must be a wonder and what is done already is a wonder our Lord must restore beauty to his Churches without hire for we were sold without money and now our buyers repent them of the bargain and would gladly give again better cheap then they bought us they devoured Iacob and eat up his people as bread now Iacob is grown a living childe in their womb and they would fain be delivered of the childe and render the birth Our Lord shall be midwife O that this land be not like Ephraim an unwise son that stayeth too long in the place of breaking forth of children Your La is blessed with children who are honoured to build up Christ's waste places again I beleeve your La will think them well bestowed on that work and that Zion's beauty is your joy this is a mark and evidence for heaven which helpeth weak ones to hold their grip when other marks fail them I hope your La is at a good understanding with Christ and that as becometh a Christian ye take him up aright for many mistake and misshape Christ in his comings and goings Your wants and falls proclaim ye have nothing of your own but what ye borrow nay your self is not your own but Christ hath given himself to you Put Christ to the bank and heaven shall be your interest and income Love him for ye cannot over-love him Take up your house in Christ let him dwell in you and abide ye in him then ye may look out of Christ and laugh at the clay-heavens that the sons of men are seeking after in this side of the water Christ mindeth to make your losses grace's great advantage Christ will lose nothing of you nay not your sins for he
is incomprehensible love that Christ saith If I enjoy the glory of my father the crown of heaven far above men Angels I must use all means though never so violent to have the company of such an One for ever ever If with the eyes of wisdom as a childe of wisdom ye justifie your mother The wisdom of God whose childe ye are ye shall kiss embrace this loss see much of Christ in it Beleeve submit referre the income of the consolations of Jesus the event of the trial to your heavenly father who numbereth all your hairs And put Christ in his own room in your Love It may be he hath either been out of his own place or in a place of love inferiour to his worth Repair Christ in all his wrongs done to him love him for a husband he is a husband to the widdow shall be that to you which he hath taken from you Grace be with you London Octob. 15. 1645. Your sympath Zing Brother S. R. To BARBARA HAMILTON 44 Loving Sister GRace mercy peace be to you I have heard with grief that Newcastle hath taken one more in a bloody account then before even your Son in Law my friend But I hope ye have learned that much of Christ as not to look to wheels rolled round about on earth Earthen vessels are not to dispute with their Former peices of sinning-clay may by reasoning contending with the Potter mar the work of him who hath his fire in Zion and his furnace in Jerusalem as bullocks sweating wrestling in the furrow make their yoke more heavie In quietness rest ye shall be saved If men doe any thing contrary to our heart we may ask both who did it And what is done And why When God hath done any such thing we are to enquire who hath done it And to know that this cometh from the Lord who is wonderfull in counsel but we are not to ask what or why If it be from the Lord as certainly their is no evil in the city without him Amos. 3. 6. it is enough the fairest face of his spotless way is but coming ye are to beleeve his works aswell as his word Violent death is a sharer with Christ in his death which was violent it maketh not much what way we goe to heaven the happie home is all where the roughness of the way shall be forgotten He is gone home to a friend's house and made welcome and the race is ended Time is recompensed with eternity and copper with gold God's order is in wisdom the husband goes home before the wife and the throng of the marker shall be over ere it be long and another generation where we now are and at length an emptie house and not one of mankinde shall be upon the earth within the sixth part of an hour after the earth and the works that are therein shall be burnt up with fire I fear more that Christ is about to remove when he carrieth home so much of his plenishing before hand we cannot teach the Almighty knowledge when he was directing the bullet against his servant to fetch out the soul no wise man could cry to God Wrong wrong Lord for he is thine own There is no mist over his eyes who is wonderfull in counsel If Zion be builded with your son in law's blood the Lord deep in counsel can glew together the stones of Zion with blood and with that blood which is precious in his eyes Christ hath fewer labourers in his vineyard then he had but some moe witnesses for his cause and the Lord's Covenant with the three Nations What is Christ's gain is not your loss Let not that which is his holy and wise will be your unbeleeving sorrow Though I really judge I had interest in his dead servant yet because he now liveth to Christ I quite the hops I had of his succesfull labouring in the ministery I know he now praiseth the grace that he was to preach And if there were a better thing on his head now in heaven then a crown or any thing more excellent then heaven he would cast it down before his feet who sitteth on the throne Give glory therefore to Christ as he now doeth and say Thy will be done The grace and consolation of Christ be with you London Nov 15. 1645. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To the vicountesse of KENMURE 45 MADAM GRace mercy peace be to your La though Christ lose no time yet when sinfull men drive his chariot the wheels of 〈◊〉 chariot move slowly The woman Zion as soon as she travelled brought forth her children yea Isa. 66 7. before she travelled she brought fâ—rth before her pain came she was delivered of a man-childe Yet the deliverance of the people was with the woman's going with childe seventy years that is more then nine moneths There be many oppositions in carrying on the work but I hope the Lord will build his own Zion evidence to us that it is done not by might not by power but by the Spirit of the Lord. Madam I have heard of your infirmities of body sickness I know the issue shall be mercy to you that God's purpose which lieth hidden underground to you is to commend the sweetness of his love care to you from your youth And if all the sad losses trials sicknesses infirmities griefs heaviness inconstancie of the creature be expounded as sure I am they are the rods of the jealousie of an husband in heaven contending with all your lovers on earth though there were millions of them for your love to fetch more of your love home to heaven to make it single unmixt chast to the fairest in heaven earth to Jesus the Prince of ages ye will forgive to borrow that word every rod of God not let the Sun goe down on your wrath against any messinger of your afflicting correcting Father Since your La cannot but see that the mark at which Christ hath aimed at these twenty four years and above is to have the company fellowship of such a sinfull creature in heaven with him for all eternity and because he will not such is the power of his love enjoy his father's glory and that crown due to him by eternall generation without you by name Ioh. 17 24. Ioh. 10 16. Ioh. 14 3. Therefore Madam beleeve no evil of Christ Listen to no hard reports that his rods make of him to you He hath loved you washed you from your sins what would ye have more Is that too little except he adjourne all crosses till ye be where ye shall be out of all capacity to sigh or to be crossed I hope ye can desire no more no greater nor more excellent sute then Christ the fellowship of the Lamb for evermore And if that desire be answered in heaven as I am sure it is ye cannot
peace be to you If Death which is before you us all were any other thing but a friendly dissolution a change not a destruction of Life it would seem a hard voyage to goe through such a sad dark trance so thorny a valley as is the wages of sin but I am confident the way ye know though your foot never trode in that black shadow the loss of life is gain to you if Christ Jesus be the period the end lodging-home at the end of your journey there is no fear ye goe to a friend since ye have had a communion with him in this life he hath a pawne pledge of yours even the largest share of your love heart ye may look Death in the face with joy If the heart be in heaven the remnant of you cannot be kept the prisoner of the second Death But though he be the same Christ in the other life ye found him to be here yet he is so far in his excellency beauty sweetness irradiations beams of Majesty above what he appeared here when he is seen as he is that ye shall misken him he shall appear a new Christ his kisses breathings embracements the perfume the oyntment of his name poured out on you shall appear to have more of God a stronger smell of heaven of eternity of a Godhead of Majesty glory there then here As water at the fountain apples in the orchard beside the tree have more of their native sweetness taste beauty then when transported to us some hundred miles I mean not that Christ can lose any of his sweetness in the carrying or that he in his Godhead and lovileness of presence can be changed to the worse betwixt the little spot of the earth ye are in and the right hand of the father far above all heavens but the change will be in you when ye shall have new senses and the soul shall be a more deep more capacious vessel to take in more of Christ and when means the chariot the Gospel that he is now carried in and ordinances that conveigh him shall be removed sure ye cannot now be said to see him face to face or to drink of the wine of the highest fountain or to take in seas and tides of fresh love immediately without vessels mids's or messengers at the fountain it self as ye shall doe a few dayes hence when ye shall be so near as to be with Christ Luk. 23 43 Ioh 17 24. Phil. 1 23. 1 Thess. 4 17. ye would no doubt bestow a dayes journey yea many dayes journey on earth to goe up to heaven and fetch down any thing of Christ how much more may ye be willing to make a journey to goe in person to heaven it is not lost time but gained eternity to enjoy the full Godhead then in such a manner as he is not there in his week-dayes apparel as he is here with us in a drop or the tenth part of a night's dewing of grace sweetness but he is there in his Marriage-robe of glory richer more costly more precious in one hem or button of that garment of fountain-majesty then a million of worlds O the well is deep ye shall then think that Preachers sinfull Ambassadors on earth did but spill mar his praises when they spoke of him and preached his beauty Alas we but make Christ black less lovely in making such insignificant dry cold low expressions of his highest and transcendent super-excellency to the daughters of Ierusalem Sure I have often for my own part sinned in this thing No doubt Angels doe not fulfill their task according to their obligation in that Christ kept their feet from falling with the lost Devils though I know they are not behinde in going to the utmost of created power but there is sin in our praising sin in the quantity besides other sins but I must leave this it is too deep for me Goe see we desire to goe with you But we are not masters of our own diet If in that last journey ye tread on a serpent in the way thereby wound your heel as Jesus Christ did before you the print of the wound shall not be known at the resurrection of the just Death is but an awâ—om step over Time Sin to sweet Jesus Christ who knew felt the worst of Death for Death's teeth hurt him We know Death hath no teeth now no jaws for they are broken it is a free prison Citizens pay nothing for the Grave the Jaylor who had the power of Death is destroyed praise glory be to the first begotten of the dead The worst possibly that may be is that ye leave behinde you children husband the Church of God in miseries but ye cannot get them to heaven with you for the present ye shall not miss them Christ cannot miscount one of the poorest of his lambs no lad no girle no poor one shall be a missing ere ye see them again in the day that the Son shall render up the Kingdom to his Father The evening the shadow of every poor hireling is coming the Church of Christ's Sun in this life is declining Low not a soul of the Militant company will be here within few Generations our Husband will send for them all It is a rich mercy we are not married to Time longer then the course be finished Ye may rejoyce that ye goe not to heaven till ye know that Jesus is there before you that when ye come thither at your first entry ye may finde the smell of his oyntments his Myrrhe AloeÌ„s Cassia and this first salutation of his will make you finde it is no uncomfortable thing to die Goe and enjoy your gain live on Christ's love while ye are here and all the way as for the Church ye leave behinde you the Government is upon Christ's shoulders and he will plead for the blood of his Saints The bush hath been burning above five thousand years we never yet saw the ashes of this fire yet a little while the vision shall not tarry it shall speak not lye I am more afraid of my duty then of the Head Christ's government he cannot fail to bring judgement to victory O that we could wait for our hidden life O that Christ would remove the covering draw aside the curtain of time and rent the heavens come down O that shadows night were gone that the day would break he that feedeth among the lilies would cry to his heavenly trumpetters marke ready let us goe down fold together the four corners of the world marry the Bride His grace be with you Now if I have found favour with you if ye judge me faithfull my last sute to you is that ye would leave me a legacy that is that my name be at the very last in your prayers as I desire
of their Adversaries are driven from their flocks which to a godly Minister is the greatest of afflictions such I say may see for strengthning of their hands while they are put to contend with these that are too strong for them how this noble witness who suffered for the same cause carried how he acquit himself overcame the Archers shot sore at him but his bow abod in it's strengthâ—… The armes of his hands were made so strong by the hand of the mighty God of Jacob that he was too hard for all that entered the lists with him when they thought they had done sufficient either to force him to a compliance or to make him faint under the effects of their fury by depriving him of his ministery which was dearer to him then his life he was not by all this so much put to suffering to speak properly as he was for a season a little removed from the noise distraction that is abroad in the world to be alone with God O blessed solitude O sweet societie he was taken out of the clamour confusion that is here below up to the mount where he was admitted to a neer familiarity experienced the sweetness of that fellowship with God which he had preached unto others Though he was not taken from the earth yet he was not onely keeped from the evill that was then and is now in the world but he injoyed such a heaven under his heavy pressurs that if the being about of his Master's business had not been prized by him as preferable to his own consolation he would have been in hazard of forgetting the troubles of Zion and of saying it 's good for me to be here but he was such a servant as made is his meat drink to doe his Masters will he had so learned Christ as to prefer his concernments to his Chief joy therefore ye will finde him often in these Epistles feasting upon the consolations of God with the tear in his eye while he remembers Zion calls to mind the desolat condition of the flocks of Christ particularly his own for whom nothing was prepared He found in his solitude such a measure of presence as could hardly have been expected out of the chamber of presence where there is fulnesse of joy pleasures for evermore he know more in this happy retirement of the excercise of them who are above who being made Kings unto God have crowns upon their head being made priests also sacrifice these to the giver then he could have learned by revolving all the volumes that are written in many ages amidst the greatest outward calme tranquillity This is the summer fruit which grew out of the hard tree of the cross of Christ that he was put to bear which was so sweet to his taste that it made him disdain the dainties of his Adversaries disrelish these sowre unsavoury delights of the sons of men which however they may at first seem to have some petty sweet in them yet they quickly set the teeth of the eater on edge are found bitter in the belly of a bad digestion These were the quiet fruits of ighteousness that his servant reaped by hi sufferings for Christ that in such plenty that out of his abundance he sends some baskets of these sweet fruits abroad amongst his friends both to bring up a good report upon his liberall Lord Master who allowes on his followers while they are pinched with penury of other comforts full measure heaped up running over shaken together And upon the cross of Christ also to the end it might appear that this burden is so far from imbittering the life of a suffering saint that by the contrary as the sufferings of Christ abound in him so his consolation also aboundeth by Jesus Christ. The publication then I say of these Epistles seems in providence to be trysted on purpose with the sufferings of his servants at this time that we may be encouraged by his example to a Zealous faithfulnesse a cheerfull suffering may wax bold by his bonds under in which he did experience much of the glorious liberty of the sons of God How oft doe we finde him preferring his confinement to all the sublunary contentments of his persecurers here did he feed upon these pure unmixed delights which put such gladness in the heart as expells all the Latent lurking griefs that are there and causeth the soul while surrounded with all outward trouble to sing while they feed upon ashes fill their belly with the east wind who feast upon the tears of the people of God and seem to have nothing else to interrupt their tranquillity but how they may trouble the children of peace It was under this restraint in this house of his bondage when being shut up from and spoiled of all creatur-comforts that he found the surpassing sweetness of the consolations of God which taste best when they are most free of the mud mixture of other injoyments there it was where he found the truth of that saying of Augustin Tanta est dulcedo caelestis gaudii ut si una guttula difflueret in infernum totam amaritudinem inferâ—…i absorberet If one drop of heavenly joy should fall into hell it would swallow up or sweeten all thâ— bitterness of that place of torment The love of God and the joy of the Holy Ghost was so abundantly shed abroad in his heart while he was in the furnace that his cross was not onely made there by light easie his life pleasant but ye have him often saying because he found by these foretasts what inconceivable consolation must be in the immediat vision and full fruition of God that if there were no other way to come at the possession of that blessedness he would not onely chuse to swime through a sea of outward troubles but he would wade through the lake of fire brimstone to be possessed of God himself and there is none who knew the gracious sobriety of this holy man that will judge he complemented in saying so nay there are none who have found what a cool refreshing shade aboundant consolation the soul finds in the company of the son of man while they walk with him amdist the flames of the most scorching fiery trials but they would think strange if he spake otherwise Let us then be ashamed to scare at the cross or at Christ's company because of it since it bears the man who bears it Let us resolve to take joyfully the â—os of all things life it self not being excepted in the service of such a Master who maks us gainers by our loses and then in a speciall way maks up all our wants according to his riches in glory when we have forsaken all to follow him Let us study to carry in the sight of Adversaries as men who cannot be made miserable by affliction for if we be but indeed
satisfied with the testimony of the Physicans nor the Magistrats nor the Ministers of the place certifying that he was not able to travell to Edinburgh as by the sâ—quel was too sadly confirmed he was confined in his own house when he was not able to goe a broad put to shame in that place where he had deservedly gained the reput of one of the most learned succesfully laborious Doctors that ever had filled that chair of one of the most faithfull diligent Minister that ever watched over or laboured amongst a people Ah Scotland Scotland whither hast thou caused thy shame to goe If it had been an enemy who had sought to deal thus with thy Secrs faithfull Prophets it had become thee better to have hide these by fifties in caves from the fury of their enemiâ—s or if thou couldest not have preserved the lives of such worthies either to have died with them or to have made it appear thou onely lived to lament the loss of a greater treasure then if thou hadst lost all the gold of Indie and Ophir but for thy own sword to devour thy own Prophets that under the colour of law what canst thou say for this that will satisfie what Apology canst thou make to God for misusing his Prophets shedding the blood of the just in the midst of thee What canst thou say for satisfying the Nations who have heard of the renown of these men these precious sons of Zion comparable to fine gold who have been dashed in pieces in the midst of thee delt with as earthen pitchers the work of the hands of the potter wilt thou not be speechlesse not have wherewith to Answer him that reproveth reprocheth thee Canst thou look fordward not blush to think what succeeding generations will say of thee What wilt thou say when it shall be asked by one whom thou must Answer what manner of men were these whose blood thou didst had however thou hast represented them now as malefactors that thou mightest deal so with them yet then must thou say all of them were as the sons of Kings Ah Scotland Scotland the most solemnly ingaged to God the most guilty ungrate of all the nations under the heaven Doest thou not fear after all this the cry of the souls under the Altar Saying with a loud voice how long O Lord holy and true doest thou not judge avenge our blood on them that dwel on the earth Thou was once made use of as a Carpenter to fâ—ay the hornes of them who did push the in heritance of the Lord but now the spirit of the hornes hath entered into the Carpenters doest thou think thy self secure after all this It 's true their is no visible power or party upon earth of whom thou hast much reason to be a afraid but remember that he who is higher then the highest regardeth who will mak inquisition for the blood of his saints which thou hast shed his interests If thou wilt feare nothing else let me recommend the Scythian fear unto thee of whom it is reported that they fear nothing but that the heavens should fall upon them Alas if thy enemy be above thee how wilt thou guard thy head oâ— secure thy heart when he gives the blow recompences thy way upon thine own head but if thou wilt still goe on in stead of smiting on thy thigh saying what have I done harden thy self think to prosper I shall desire Grace to have such a frame of soul as to weep for thee in secret But to returne to my purpose from which this sad meditation hath a little withdrawn me though such I say was the tenderness of his master to this servant yet when he had nothing else to complain of being for many dayes together before his death filled with as much joy of the Holy Ghost as he could hold he went away regrating this though with a sweet submission to his Master's will that he died not in that bed of honour and was not brought forth to breath out his life last upon a scaffold since his Master was dealing such favours amongst his followers for to some and blessed be he eternally who carried them honourably through it was given not onely to beleeve but also to suffer and to the conviction of their enemies as men who seemed rather to triumph over that King of terrours then to de daunted by it's dreadfull aspect since he was taking such proofs of the fidelitie affection of some of his followers It will not be amiss for this purpose to insert his own words which were taken from his mouth not once but often reiterat Now said that faithfull servant even when he was upon the threshold of glory ready to receive the immortall crown my tabernacle is weak I would think it a more glorions way of going hence to lay down my life for the cause at the Cross of Edinburgh or St Andrews but I submit to my Master's will Is it any wonder then I say since he these other worthy mens way in witnessing for God was so unlike ours so far beyond what is to be found in our faint appearances for him as the one keeps no proportion with the other that there should be so remarkable a difference betwixt his bearing witness to testifying his complacencie in what they did what we doe if there be for the most part some proportion betwixt the dispensation of God the disposition of men What wonder that he who admitted them to the nearest familiarity with himself deal thus with us so let us know his breach of promiseâ— nay if there be any thing strange to be wondered at in this It is rather that he hath not been more terrible to us by writting his displeasure against our lukwarmness in greater Characters then that we have not been more indulgently dealt with It is exceedingly of all our concernments to lay this to heart seriously to consider whether this be not the very thing that maks him keep a distance from us I suppose upon a very overly search survey of our way it will be found that by our unworthy carriage in his matters we have rewarded this evil to our own souls Our suffering if it deserve that name is with less edification advantage to the Church and less comfort to our own souls because of our testimony be weighed in the ballance of the sanctuary it will be found light and to want many pounds not onely of what it ought to have but what theirs had whose work was found perfect before God But if we be really desireous to be dealt with as they were what is so desirable next to heaven the coming of the Kingdom of the son of God upon the earth let us endeavour to carry as they did were they not men of the like passions infirmities with us why then should not we
you I instructed you of the superstition Idolatry of kneeling in the instant of receiving the Lords supper crosseing in baptisme and the observing of mens dayes vvithout any vvarrant of Christ our perfect lawgiver Countenance not the Surplice the attire of the Massâ— preist the garment of Baals preists the abominable bovving to altars of tree is comeing upon you hate keep your selves from idols forbear in any case to hear the reading of the new fatherlesse service-book full of grosse heresees popish and superstitious errors vvithout any vvarrant of Christ tending to the overthrovv of preaching you ovv no obedience to the bastard Canons they are unlavvfull blasphemous and superstitious all the ceremonies that lie in the Antichrists foul vvomb the vvares of that great mother of fornications the kirk of Rome are to be refused ye see vvhither they lead you Continue still in the Doctrine vvhich ye have recieved ye heard of me the vvhole counsell of God so we no clâ—â—ts upon Christs robe take Christ in his ragges losses as persecuted by men be content to sigh and pant up the mountain vvith Christs crosse on your back let me be repute a false prophet your conscience once said the contrair if your Lord Jesus shall not stand by you and mantaine you and mantaine your cause aganst your enemies I have heard and my soul is greived for it that since my departure from you many among you are turned back from the good old way to the dogs vomite again let me speak to these men it vvas not vvithout Gods speciall direction that the first sentence that ever my mouth uttered to you vvas that of John Chap. 9 39. And Iesus said for judgment came I into the world that they which see not might see they which see might be made blind It is possible my first meeting yours be when vve shall both stand before the dreadfull judge of the World in the name authoritie of the Son of God my great King Master I write by these presents summonds to these men I arrest their souls bodies to the day of our compearance their eternall damnation stands subscribed and sealed in heaven by the hand-write of the great Judge of quick dead and I am ready to stand up as a preaching witnesse against such to their face that day to say Amen to their condemnation except they repent The vengeance of the Gospel is heavier nor the vengeance of the law the Mediators malediction and vengeance is tvvice vengance that vengeance is the due portion of such men there I leave them as bound men ay while they repent amend You vvere vvitnesses hovv the Lords day vvas spent vvhile I vvas among you O sacrilegious robber of Gods day vvhat vvill thou ansvver the Almightie vvhen he seeketh so many Sabbaths back again from thee What vvill the Curser Svvearer Blasphemer doe vvhen his tongue shall be rosted in that broad and burning lake of fire brimstone And what will the drunkard doe when tongue lights liver bones all shall boile frye in a torturing fire for he shall be far from his barrels of strong drinke then there is not a cold well of vvater for him in hell What shall be the case of the wretch the covetous man the opperssor the deceaver the earth worme who can never get his vvombfull of clay when in the day of Christ Gold and Silver must lie burnt in ashes and he must compear and answer his judge and quite his clayie and naughtie heaven woe woe for ever more be to the time-turning Atheist that hath one God and one religion for summer and another God and another religion for winter and the day offanning when Christ fanneth all that is in his barn floor who hath a conscience for every faire and mercat and the soul of him runneth upon these oiled wheels Time Custome the world and Command of men O if the carelesse Atheist and sleeping man who edgeth by all with God forgive our Pastors if they lead us wrong we must doe as they command and layes down his head upon times bosome and giveth his conscience to a deputy and sleepeth so while the smoak of hell fire flie up in his throat and cause him start out of his dooleful bed O if such a man would awake many woes are for the over-guilded and gold-plastered Hypocrite a heavie doom is for the liar and white tongued flatterer and the fleing book of Gods irefull vengeance twentie cubits long and twentie cubits broad that goeth out from the face of God shall enter into the house and in upon the soul of him that stealeth and sweareth falsely by Gods name Zechar. 5 ver 23. I denounce eternall burning hotter then Sodoms flames upon the men that boile in their filthie lusts of fornication adultery incest and the like wickednesse no Room no not a foot-broad for such viledogs within the clean Jerusalem Many of you put off all with this God forgive us we know no better I renew my old answer 2 Thess. 1. the judge is coming in flaming fire with all his mighty Angels to render vengeance to all these that know not God and beleeve Not. I have often told you security shall slay you all men say they have faith as many men and women now as many saints in heaven and all beleeve say ye every foul dog is clean enough good enough for the clean new Jerusalem above Every man hath conversion the new birth but it is not â—â—el come they had never a sick night for sin conversion came to them in a night dream in a word hell will be empty at the day of judgement and heaven panged full Alace it is neither easie nor ordinarie to beleeve to be saved many must stand in the end at heavens gates when they goe to take out their faith they take out a fair nothing or as ye use to speak a blâ—â—â—ume O lamentable Disappointment I pray you I charge you in the name of Christ make fast work of Christ and salvation I know there are some beleevers among you and I write to you O poor broken hearted beleevers all the comforts of Christ in the New and Old Testament are yours O what a father husband you have O if I had pen and ink and ingine to write of him Let heaven and earth be consolidat in massie and pure gold it will not weigh the thousand part of Christs love to a soul even to me a poor prisoner O that is a massie and marvellous love Men and Angels unit your force and strength in one ye shall not heave nor poise it off the ground Ten thousand thousand worlds as many worlds as Angels can number and then as a new world of Angels can multiply would not all be the balk of a ballance to weigh Christs excellencie sweetnesse and love Put ten earth's in one and let a rose grow
greater then ten whole earths or ten worlds O what beauty would be in it and what a smell would it cast but a blast of the breath of that fairest rose in all Gods Paradise even of Christ Jesus our Lord one look of that fairest face would be infinitly in beauty and smell above all imaginable and created glory I wonder that men dow bide off Christ I would esteem my self blessed if I could make an open proclamation and gather all the world that are living upon the earth Jew and Gentile and all that shall be borne to the blowing of the last trumpet to flock round about Christ and to stand looking wondering admiring and adoring his beauty and sweetnesse for his fire is hotter then any other fire his love sweeter then common love his beauty surpasseth all other beauty When I am heavie and sad one of his love-looks would do me meekel worlds good o if ye would fall in love with him Hovv blessed were I how glad would my soul be to help you to love him but amongst us all we could not love him enough he is the Son of the Fathers love and Gods delight the Fathers love lieth all upon him o if all mankind would fetch all their love and lay it upon him invit him and take him home to your houses in the exercise of prayer morning and evening as I often desired you especially now let him not want lodgeing in your houses nor lie in the feilds when he is shut out of pulpits and Kirks If ye will be content to take heaven by violence the wind on your face for Christ and his crosse I am here one who hath some tryall of Christs crosse I can say that Christ was ever kind to me but he overcometh himself if I may speak so in kindness vvhile I suffer for him I give you my word for it Christs crosse is not so evil as they call it it is sweet light and comfortable I would not want the visitations of love and the very breathings of Christs mouth when he kisseth and my Lords delightsome smiles and love-embracements under my sufferings for him for a mountain of fine gold nor for all the honours court and grandour of velvet-kirk-men Christ hath the yolke and heart of my love I am my beloveds and my welbeloved is mine O that ye were all handfasted to Christ o my Dearly beloved in the Lord I would I could change my voice and had a tongue tuned with the hand of my Lord and had the art of speaking of Christ that I might paint out unto you the worth and highnesse and greatnesse and excellencie of that fairest and renowned bridegroom I beseech you by the mercies of the Lord by the sighes tears heart blood of our Lord Jesus by the salvation of your poor and precious souls set up the mountain that ye and I may meet before the Lambs throne amongst the congregation of the first borne Lord grant that that may be the trysting place that ye and I may put up our hands together and pluck and eat the apples oâ— the tree of life and we may feast together and drink together of that pure river of the water of life that cometh out from under the throne of God and from the Lamb O how little is your hand-breadth and span length of dayes here your inch of time is Lesse then when ye and I parted eternitie eternitie is comeing posting on with wings then shall every mans black 's and whit's be brought to light O how low will your thoughts be of this fair-skined but heart roten apple the vain vain fecklesse world when the wormes shall make their houses in your eye holes and shall eat aâ—â— the flesh from the ball of your cheeks and shall make that body a number of drie bones think not the common gate of serving God as neighbour and others doe will bring yow to heaven few few are saved the Devils court is thick and many he haththe greatest number of mankind for his vassels I know this world is a great forrest of thornes in your way to heaven but ye most through it acquaint your selves with the Lord hold fast Christ hear his voice only blesse his name sanctifie and keep his day keep the new commandment love one another let the Holy Spirit dwell in your bodies and be clean and holy love not the worldly not love and follow truth learn to know God keep in mind what I taught you for God will seek ane account of it when I am far from you abstain from all evil and all appearance of evil follow good carefully and seek peace and follow after it honour your King and pray for him remember me to God in your prayers I dow not forget you I told you often while I was with you and now I write it again heavie sad and sore is that strok of the Lords wrath that is comeing upon Scotland woe woe woe to this Harlotland for they shall take the cup of Gods wrath from his hand and drink and spue and fall and net rise again In In In with speed to your strong hold ye prisoners of hope hide you there while the anger of the Lord passe Follow not the Pastors of this Land for the sun is gone down upon them as the Lord liveth they lead you from Christ and from the good old way yet the Lord will keep the holy Citie and make this withered Kirk to bud again like a rose and a field blessed of the Lord. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all The prayers and blessing of a prisoner of Christs in bonds for him and for you be with you all AMEN Aberden July 14. 1637. Your Lawfull and loving Pastor S. R. To the Honourable Reverend and Welbeloved Professors of Christ his Truth in sincerity in Ireland 3 DEarly beloved in our Lord partakers of the heavenly calling Grace mercy peace be to you from God our father from our Lord Jesus Christ I alwayes but most of all now in my bonds most sweet bonds for Christ my Lord rejoyce to hear of your faith and love to hear that our King our welbeloved our bridegroom without tireing stayeth still to wooe you as his wife and that persecutions mockings of sinners have not chased away the wooer from the house I perswade you in the Lord the men of God now Scattered driven from you put you upon the right sent and pursuit of Christ my salvation on it if ten heavens were mine if this way this way that I now suffer for this way that the world nicknameth and reproacheth no other way be not the Kings gate to heaven I shall never see Gods face and alace I were a beguiled wretch if it were so if this be not the only saving way to heaven Oh that you would take a prisoner of Christs word for it nay I know you have the greatest Kings word for it
but cold comfort in my sufferings I would not beguile others I would have told you plainly but the truth is Christs crown his scepter and the freedom of his Kingdom is that which is now called in question because we will not allow that Christ pay tribute and be a vassall to the shields of the earth therefore the sons of our mother are angry at us but it becometh not Christ to hold any mans stirâ—up It were a sweet and honourable death to die for the honour of that royall princely King Jesus his love is a mystery to the world I would not have beleeved that there was so much in Christ as there is Come see maketh Christ to be known in his excellency glory I wish all this Nation knew how sweet his breath is it is little to see Christ in a book as men doe the world in a card they talke of Christ by the book the tongue no more but to come nigh Christ and hausse him embrace him is another thing Madam I write to your Honour for your encouragement in that honourable profession Christ hath honoured you with Ye have gotten the Sunny side of the brae the best of Christs good things he hath not given you the bastard's portion howbeit ye get strokes sowre looks from your Lord yet beleeve his love more then your own feeling for this world can take nothing from you that is truly yours death can doe you no wrong your rock doeth not ebbe flow but your sea that which Christ hath said he will bide by it he will be your tutour you shall not get your charters of heaven to play you with It is good that ye have lost your credit with Christ that Lord frâ—ewill shall not be your tutour Christ will lippen the taking of you to heaven neither to your self nor any deputy but onely to him self blessed be your tutour When your head shall appear your bridegroom Lord your day shall then dawn it shall never have an afternoon nor an evening shadow Let your childe be Christs let him stay beside you as the lords pledge that you shall willingly render again if God will Madam I finde folks here kind to me but in the night under their breath my masters cause may not come to the crown of the causey others are kind according to their fashion many think me a strange man my cause not good but I care not much for mans thoughts or approbation I think no shame of the crosse The preachers of this town pretend great love but the Prelats have added to the rest this gentle cruelty for so they think of it to discharge me of the pulpits of this town the people murmur cry out against it and to speak truly howbeit Christ is most indulgeat to me otherwise yet my silence on the Lords day keeps me from being exalted above measure froÌ„â—â—artling in the heat of my Lords love Some people affect me for the which cause I hear the preachers here purpose to have my confinement changed to another place so cold is northern love but Christ and I will bear it I have vvrestled long with this sad silence I said what aileth Christ at my service and my soul hath been at a pleading with Christ at yea nay but I will yeeld to him providing my suffering may preach more then my tongue did for I gave not Christ an inch but for twice as good again in a word I am a fool he is God I will hold my peace hereafter Let me hear from your La your Dear Childe pray for a prisoner of Christ who is mindfull of your La Remember my obliged obedience to my good Lady Marre Grace Grace be with you I write pray blessings to your sweet childe Aberd. Nov. 22. 1636. Yours in all Dutiefull obedience in his onely Lord Iesus S. R. To the right honourable Christian Lady my Lady VICOUNTESSE of KENMURE 6 MADAM GRace Mercy peace be to you I received your La letter it refreshed me in my heavinesse the blessing prayers of a prisoner of Christs come upon you Since my coming hither Galloway sent me not a line except what my Brother Earlstoun his son did write I cannot get my papers transported but Madam I want not kindnesse of one who hath the gate of it Christ if he had never done more for me since I was borne hath ingaged my heart gained my blessing in this house of my pilgrimage It pleaseth my welbeloved to dine with a poor prisoner and the Kings spiknard casteth a fragrant smell nothing grieveth me but that I eat my feasts my alone and that I cannot edifie his saints O that this Nation knew what is betwixt him and me none would skar at the crosse of Christ my silence eates me up but he hath told me he thanketh me no lesse then if I were preaching daily he sees how gladly I would be at it therefore my wages are going to the fore up in heaven as if I were still preaching Christ. Captains pay duely bedfast souldiers howbeit they dow not march nor carry armour Though â—srael be not gathered yet shall 〈◊〉 be glorious in the eyes of my Lord my lord shall be my strength Ifâ—â— 49 5. my garland The Banished Minister the teâ—ne of Aberden ashameth me not I have seen the white side of Christs crosse lovely hath he been to his oppressed servant Psal. 146 7. The Lord executeth judgement for the oppressed he giveth food to the hungry the Lord looseth the prisoner the Lord raisetâ— them that are bowed down the Lord preserveth the stranger If it were come to exchanging of crosses I would not exchange my crosse with any I am wel-pleased with Christ he with me I hope none shall hear us It 's true for all this I get my meat with many stroks and am seven times a day up down am often anxious cast down for the case of my oppressed brother yet I hope the Lord will be surty for his servant But now upon some weak very weak experience I am come to love a rumbling and raging devil beit seeing we must have a devil to hold the saints waking I wish a cumbersome devil rather then a secure sleeping one At my first coming hither I took the dorts at Christ and took up a stomaâ—k against him I said he had cast me over the dike of the vineyard like a drie tree but it was his mercy I see that the fire did not burn the drie tree now as if my Lord Jesus had done the fault not I who belied my Lord he hath made the first mends he spake not one word against me but hath come again quickned my soul with his presence nay now I think the very aâ—â—uety and casualities of the crosse of Christ Jesus my Lord these comforts that accompany it better then the worlds
Lord Jesus and that love fâ—ileth dâ—ieth up in loving him that I finde no way to spend my love-desires and the yolke of my heart upon that fairest dearest one I am far behinde with my narrow heart O how ebbe a soul have I to take in Christs love for let worlds be multiplied according to Angels understanding in millions while they weary themselves these worlds would not contain the thousand part of his love O if I could yoke in amongst the thick of Angels Seraphims now-glorified Saints could raise a new love-song of Christ before all the world I am pained with wondering at new opened treasures in Christ if every finger member bone and joynt were a torch burning in the hottest fire in hell I would they could all send out love-praises high songs of praise for evermore to that plant of renown to that royall high Prince Jesus my Lord but alace his love swelleth in me findeth no vent alace what can a dumb prisoner doe or say for him O for an ingine to write a book of Christ and his love nay I am left of him bound chained with his love I cannot finde a loosed soul to lift up his praises and give them out to others but oh my day light hath thick clouds I cannot shine in his praises I am often like a ship plying about to seek the wind I saile at great leisure and cannot be blowne upon that lovliest Lord. O if I could turn my sailes to Christs right arth that I had my hearts wishes of his love But I but marre his praises nay I know no comparison of what Christ is and what his worth is all the Angels all the glorified praise him not so much as in halfes who can advance him or utter all his praises I want nothing unknown faces favour me enemies must speak good of the truth my masters cause purchaseth commendation The hopes of my enlargement from appearances are cold my faith hath no bed to sleep upon but omnipotency The goodwill of the Lord his sweetest presence be with you and that childe Grace peace be yours Aberden 1637. Your Lae in all duty in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To the right honourable Christian Lady the VICOUNTESSE of KENMURE 9 MADAM GRace mercy peace be to your La I would not omit to write a line with this christian bearer one in your La own case driven neer to Christ in and by her affliction I wish that my friends in Galloway forget me not however it be Christ is so good that I will have no other tutour suppose I could have waile choise of ten thousand beside I think now five hundred heavie hearts for him too little I wish Christ now weeping suffering contemned of men were more dear desirable to many souls then he is I am sure if the saints wanted Christs crosse so profitable so sweet they might for the gain and glory of it wish it were lawfull either to buy or borrow his crosse but it iâ— a mercy that the saints have it laid to their hand for nothing for I know no sweeter way to heaven then through free grace hard trials together one of these cannot well want another O that time would Post faster hasten our long-looked for communion with that fairest fairest among the sons of men O that the day would favour us come and put Christ us in others armes I am sure a few yeers will doe our turn the souldiers hour-glasse will soon run out Madam look to your lamp and look for your Lords coming let your heart dwell aloof from that sweet childe Christs jealousie will not admit two equall loves in your La heart he must have one that the greatest a little one to a creature may must suffice a soul married to him your maker is your husband Isa. 54. I would wish you well my obligation these many yeers by gone speak no lesse to me but more I can neither wish nor pray nor desire for to your La then Christ singled wailed out from all created good things or Christ howbeit wet in his own blood and wearing a crown of thorns I am sure the saints at their best are but strangers to the weight worth of the incomparable sweetnesse of Christ He is so new so fresh in excellency every day of new to these that search more and more in him as if heaven could furnish as many new Christs If I may speak so as there are dayes betwixt him us yet he is one and the same Oh we love an unknown lover when we love Christ Let me hear how the childe is every way the Prayers of a prisoner of Christ be upon him grace for evermore even while glory perfect it be with your La Aberd. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To the noble Christian lady the VICOUNTESSE of KENMURE 10 MADAM NOtwithstanding the great haste of the bearer I would blesse your La in paper desiring that since Christ hath ever envied that the world should have your love by him that ye give your self out for Christ and that ye may be for no other I know none worthy of you but Christ Madam I am either suffering for Christ and this is either the sure and good way or I have done with heaven and will never see Gods face which I blesse him cannot be I write my blessing to that sweet childe that ye have borrowed from God he is no heritage to you but a loan love him as folks doe borrowed things my heart is heavie for you They say the Kirk of Christ hath neither son nor heir and therefore her enemies shall possesse her but I know she is not that ill friended her husband is her heir and she his heritage If my Lord would be pleased I would desire some were dealt with for my return to Anwoth but if that never be I thank God Anwoth is not heaven preaching is nor Christ I hope to wait on Let me hear how the childe is and your La minde hopes of him for it would ease my heart to know that he is well I am in good terms with Christ but oh my guiltinesse yet he bringeth not plea's betwixt him and me to the streets and before the sun Grace grace for evermore be with your La Aberd. 1637. Your La at all obedience in Christ S. R. To the right honourable Christian Lady my Lady VICOUNTESSE of KENMURE 11 MADAM GRace mercy peace to you I am refreshed with your Letter the right hand of him to whom belong the issues from death hath been gracious to that sweet childe I dow not I doe not forget him your La in my prayers Madam for your own case I love carefull and withall doing-complaints of want of practice because I observe many who think it holiness enough to complain and set themselves at nothing as if to
in the loof of their hand Cur Lord maketh delicates and dainties of his sweet presence and love-visits to his own but Christs love under a vaile is love if ye get Christ howbeit not the sweet and pleasant way you would have him it is enough for the wel-beloved cometh not our way he must waile his own gate himself For worldly things seeing they are medows and fair flowers in your way to heaven a smell in the by-going is sufficient he that would reckon and tell all the stones in his way in a journey of three or four hundred miles and write up in his count book all the herbs and flowers growing in his way might come short of his journey you cannot stay in your inch of time to lose your day seeing you are in haste and the night and your after-noon will not bide you in setting your heart on this vain world it were your wisdom to read your count book to have in readinâ—sâ— your bussinesse against the time you come to deaths water-side I know your lodging is taken your forerunner Christ hath not forgotten that therefore you must set your self to your one thing which ye cannot well want In that our Lord took your husband to himself I know it was that he might make room for himself he cuteth off your love to the creature that ye might learn that God onely is the right owner of your love sorrow losse sadnesse death or the worst things that are except sin but Christ knoweth well what to make of them can put his own in the crosses common that we shall be obliged to affliction thank God who learned us to make our acquaintance with such a rough companion who can hale us to Christ you must learn to make evils your great good and to spin out comforts peace joy communion with Christ out of your troubls that are Christs wooers sent to speak for you to himself It is easie to get good words and a comfortable message from our Lord even from such rough serjeants as diverse temptations Thanks to God for crosses when we count and reckon our losses in seeking God we finde godliness is great gain Great partners of a shipfull of gold are glad to see the ship come to the harbour surely we and our Lord Jesus together have a shipfull of gold coming home and our gold is in that ship Some are so in love or rather in lust with this life that they sell their part of the ship for a little thing I would counsel you to buy hope but sell it not and give not away your crosses for nothing the inside of Christs crosse is white and joyfull and the far end of the black crosse is a fair and glorious heaven of ease and seeing Christ hath fastned heaven to the far end of the crosse he will not loose the knot him self none else can for when Christ casteth a knot all the world cannot loose it let us then count it exceeding joy when we fall into diverse temptations Thus recommending you to the tender mercy grace of our Lord I rest Aberd. Your Loving Brother S. R. To JOHN GORDON Of Card nes Younger 25 Honoured Dear Brother I Wrote of late to you multitudes of letters burden me now I am refreshed with your letter I exhort you in the bowels of Christ set to work for your soul let these bear weight with you and ponder them seriously 1. Weeping gnasâ—ing of teeth in utter-darkness or heaven's joy 2. Think what ye would give for an hour when ye shall lie like dead cold blackned clay 3. there is sand in your glass yet your sun is not gone down 4. Consider what joy peace is in Christs service 5. Think what advantage it will be to have Angels the world life death crosses yea and devils all for you as the Kings serjeants and servants to doe your bussinesse 6. To have mercy on your seed a blessing on your house 7. To have true honour a name on earth that casts a sweet smell 8. How ye will rejoyce when Christ layeth down your head under his chinne betwixt his brests dryeth your face welcometh you to glory happyness 9. Imagine what pain torture is a guilty conscience What slavery to carry the Devils unhonest loads 10. Sins joyes are but night-dreames thoughts vapours imaginations and shadowes 11. What dignity it is to be a son of God 12. Dominion and mastery over tentations over the world and sin 13. That your enemies should be the taile and you the head For your bairns now at their rest I speak to you and your wife and cause her read this 1. I am a witness of Barbara's glory in heaven 2. For the rest I write it under my hand there are dayes coming on Scotland when barren wombs dry breasts and childless parents shall be pronounced blessed they are then in the lee of the harbour ere the storm come on 3. They are not lost to you that are laid up in Christs treasury in heaven 4. At the Resurrection ye shall meet with them there they are sent beâ—ore but not sent away 5. Your Lord loveth you who is homely to take and give borrow and lend 6. Let not bairns be your Idols for God will be jealouse and take away the Idol because he is greedy of your love wholly I bless you your wife and children Grace for evermore be with you Aberd. Your Loving Pastor S. R. To JOHN GORDON Of Cardoness elder 26 HOnourable dearest in the Lord. Your Letter hath refreshed my soul. My joy is fulfilled if Christ and ye be fast together ye are my joy my crown ye know I have recommended his love to you I defie the world Satan sin His love hath neither brim nor bottome in it My dearest in Christ I write my souls desire to you heaven is not at the next door I finde Christianity an hard task set to it in your evening we would all keep both Christ our right eye our right hand foot but it will not be with us I beseech you by the mercies of God and your compearance before Christ look Christs count book and your own together and collation them give the remnant of your time to your soul this great Idol-god the world will be lying in white ashes in the day of your compearance why should night-dreames and day-shaddowes water-froth May-flowers run away with your heart when we win to the water-side and black deaths river brinke and put our foot in the boat we shall laugh at our folly Sir I recommend you unto the thoughts of death and how ye would wish your soul to be when ye shall lie cold blew ill-smelling clay For any hireling to be intruded I being the Kings prisoner can not say much but as Gods minister I desire you to read Act. 2 15 16. to the end Act. 6. 2 3 4 5.
ye shall finde God's people should have a voice in chusing Church-rulers teachers I shall be sorry if willingly ye shall give way to his unlawful intrusion upon my labours The onely wise God direct you God's grace be with you Aberd. Your loving Pastor S. R. To EARLESTOUN YOUNGER 27 Much honoured welbeloved in the Lord. GRace mercy and peace be to you Your letters give a dash to my laziness in writing I must first tell you there is not such a glassie Icie slippery piece of way betwixt you and heaven as Youth I have experience to say with me here and seal what I assert the old ashes of the sins of my youth are new fire of sorrow to me I have seen the Devil as it were dead buried yet rise again be a worse Devil then ever he was Therefore my brother beware of a green young Devil that hath never been buried the Devil in his flowers I mean the hot fiery lusts passions of youth is much to be feared better yoke with an old gray-haired withered dry Devil For in youth he findeth dry sticks dry coals and an hot hearth-stone and how soon can he with his flint cast fire and with his bellows blow it up and fire the house sanctified thoughts thoughts made conscience of and called in and kept in aw are green fewel that burn not are a water for Satans coal Yet I must tell you the whole saints now triumphant in heaven and standing before the throne are nothing but Christs forlorn and beggerly Dyvours What are they but a pack of redeemed sinners But their redemption is not onely past the seals but compleated and yours is on the wheels and in doing All Christs good bairns go to heaven with a broken brow and with a crooked leg Christ hath an advantage of you and I pray you let him have 't he shall finde employment for his calling in you if it were not with you as you write grace should finde no sale nor mercat in you but ye must be content to give Christ somewhat adoe I am glad that he is employed that way let your bleeding soul and your sores be put in the hand of this expert physician let young and strong corruptions and his free grace be yoked together and let Christ your sins deal it betwixt them I will be loath to put you off your fears and your sense of deadness I wish it were more there be some wounds of that nature that their bleeding should not be soon stoped ye must take a house beside the Physician it shall be a miracle if ye be the first sick man he put away uncured worse then he found you nay nay Christ is honest and in that flyting free with sinners Ioh. 6. 37. And him that cometh to me I will in no case cast out Take ye that It cannot be presumption to take that as your own when ye find your wounds stound you presumption is ever whole at the heart and hath but the truant-sickness and groaneth onely for the fashion faith hath sense of sickness and looketh like a friend to the promise and looking to Christ therein is glad to see a known face Christ is as full a feast as ye can have to hunger nay Christ I say is not a full mans leavings his mercy sends alwayes a letter of defiance to all your sins if there were ten thousand moe of them I grant you it is a hard matter for a poor hungry man to win his meat upon hidden Christ for then the key of his pantrie door and of the house of wine is a seeking cannot be had but hunger must break thorow ironlocks I be moan them not who can make a din all the fields adoe for a Lost Saviour ye must let him hear it to say so upon both the sides of his head when he hideth himself it is no time then to be bird-mouth'd and patient Christ is rare indeed and a delicate to a sinner he is a miracle and a world's wonder to a seeking and a weeping sinner but yet such a miracle as will be seen by them who will come and see the seeker and sigher is at last a singer and enjoyer nay I have seen a dumb man get an almes from Christ. He that can tell his tale and send such a letter to heaven as he hath sent to Aberden it is very like he will come speed with Christ. It bodeth Gods mercy to complain heartily for sin Let wrestling be with Christ till he say How is it Sir that I cannot be quite of your bills your mislâ—arned crys And then hope for Christs blessing and his blessing is better then other ten blessings Think not shame because of your guiltiness necessity must not blush to beg it standeth you hard to want Christ and therefore that which idle on-waiting cannot doe misâ—urâ—ured crying and knocking will doe And for doubtings because ye are not as ye were long since with your master consider three things 1. What if Christ had such tottering thoughts of the bargain of the new covenant betwixt you him as you have 2. Your heart is not the compass Christ saileth by He will give you leave to sing as ye please But he will not dance to your daft spring It is not referred to you and your thoughts what Christ will doe with the charters betwixt you and him your own misbeleef hath torn them but he hath the principal in heaven with himself your thoughts are no parts of the New covenant dreams change not Christ. 3. Doubtings are your sins but they are Christs dâ—ugges ingâ—â—dients that the Phisician maketh use of for the cuâ—ing of your pride Is it not suitable for a begger to say at meat God reâ—ard the winners for then he sayeth he knoweth who beareth the charges of the house It is also meet ye should know by experience that faith is not natur's il gotten bastard but your Lords free gift that lay in the womb of Gods free grace praised be the winner I may adde a 4. In the passing of your bill your charters when they went through the Mediators great seal and were concluded faith's advice was not sought saith hath not a vote beside Christs merits blood blood dear blood that came from your cautioners holy body maketh that sure work The use then which ye have of faith now having already closed with Jesus Christ for justification is to take out a copy of your pardon so ye have peace with God upon the account of Christ for since faith apprehendeth pardon but never payeth a penny for it no marvel that Salvation doeth not die and live ebbe or flow with the working of faith but because it is your Lords honour to beleeve his mercy and his fidelity it is infinit goodness in our Lord that misbeleef giveth a dash to our Lords glory and not to our Salvation and so who ever want yea howbeit God here bear
put to exercise I kept low Worthy dear Brother in our Lord Jesus I write that from my heart which ye now read 1. I avouch that Christ sweating sighing under his cross is sweeter to me by far then all the Kingdoms in the world could possibly be 2. If you my dearest acquaintance in Christ reap any fruit by my sufferring let me be weighed in God's even ballance if my joy be not fulfilled What am I to carry the marks of such a great King But howbeit I am a sink sinfull mass a wretched captive of sin my Lord Jesus can hew heaven out of worse timber then I am if worse can be 3. I now rejoyce with joy unspeakable glorious that I never purposed posed to bring Christ noâ— the least hoof or hair-breadth of truth under 〈◊〉 I desired to have keep Christ all alone that he should never rub clothes with that black-skin'd harlot of Rome I am now fully payed home so that nothing aileth me for the present but love-sickness for a â—â—all possession of my faire â—t welbeloved I would give him my bond under my faith hand to frist heaven an hundred yeers longer so being he would lay his holy face to my sometimes wet cheeks Oh who would not pity me to know how fain I would have the King shaking the tree of life upon me or letting me in to the well of life with my old dish that I might be drunken with the fountain here in the house of my pilgrimage I cannot nay I would not be quite of Christs love Hâ— hath left the marke behinde him where he gripped He goeth away leaveth me his burning love to wrestle together I can scarce win my meat of his love because of absence My Lord giveth me but hungry half-kisses which serve to feed pain increase hunger but doe not satisfie my desires His dieting of my soul for this race maketh me lean I have gotten the waile choice of Christ's crosses even the â—ithe the flower of the gold of all crosses to bear witness to the truth herein finde I liberty joy access life comfort love â—aith submission patience resolution to take delight in on-waiting with all in my race he hath come near me let me see the gold crown What then want I but fruition reall enjoyment which is reserved to my countrey Let no man think he shall lose at Christs hands in suffering for him 4. For these present trials they are most dangerous for people shall be stolen off their feet with well washen white-skin'd pretences of indifferency but it is the power of the great Antichrist working in this land Woe woe woe be to Apostat Scotland there is wrath a cup of the red wine of the wrath of God Almighty in the Lords hand that they â—hall drink and spue and fall and not rise again The star called Wormwood Gall is fallen in the fountaines and rivers hath made them bitter the sword of the Lord is â—ourbished against the Idol-shepherds of the lâ—nd women shall bless the barren womb miscarrying breasts all hearts shall be faint and all knees shall tremble an end is coming the leopard and the lion shall watch over our cities houses great fair shall be desolate without an inhabitant the Lord hath said Pray not for this people for I have taken my pâ—ace from them yet the Lord's third part shall come through the fire as refined gold for the treasure of the Lord the out-casts of Scotland shall be gathered together again the wilderness shall blossome as the flower bud grow as the rose oâ— Sharon great shall be the glory of the Lord upon Scotland 5. 〈◊〉 am here asâ—aulted with the learned pregnant wits of this Kingdom but all honour be to my Lord truth but laugheth at beâ—isted blinded Scribes disputers of this world Gods wisdom confoundeth them Christ triumpheth in his own strong truth that speaketh for it self 6. I doubt not but my Lord is preparing me for heavier trialâ— I am most ready at the good pleasure of my Lord in the strength of his grace for any thing he shall be pleased to call me to neither shall the last black-faced messenger Death be holden at the door when it shall knock If my Lord will take honour of the like of me how glad joyâ—ull shall my soul be Let Christ come out with me to an hotter battell then this I shall fear no flesh I know that my master will win the day that he hath taken the ordering of my sufferings in his own hand 7. As for my deliverance that miscarrieth I am here by my Lords grace to lay my hand on my mouth to be silent wait on my Lord Jesus is on his Journey for my deliverance I will not grudge that he runneth not so fast as I would have him On-waiting till the swelling rivers fall till my Lord arise as a mighty man after strong wine shall be my best I have not yet resisted to blood 8. O how often am I laid in the dust and urged by the tempter who can ride his own errands upon our lying apprehensions to sin against the unchangeable love of my Lord. When I think upon the sparrowes swallowes that build their nests in the Kirk of Anwoth and of my dumb sabbaths my sorrowfull blâ—ired eyes look asquint upon Christ and present him as angry But in this triall all honour to our princely and â—oyall â—ing faith â—aileth â—â—ir before the wiâ—d with top â—aile up and carrieth the poor passâ—nger through I â—ay inhibitions upon my thoughts that they receive no slanders of my onely onely Beloved let him even â—ay out of his own mouth There is no hope yet I will die in that sweet beguile 〈◊〉 is not so Iâ— all see the Salvation of God Let me be deceived really and never win to dry land it is my joy to beleeve under the water to die with faith in my hand gripping Christ let my conceptions of Christs love goe to the grave with me to hell with me I may not I dare not quite them I hope to keep Christs pawne if he never come to loose it let him see to his own promise I know Presumption howbeit it be made of stoutness will not thus be wilfull in heavie trials Now my dearest in Christ the great messenger of the Covenant the onely wise alsufficient Iehovah establish you to the end I hear the Lord hath been at your house hath called home your 〈◊〉 to her rest I know Sir ye see the Lord loosing the pâ—â—s of your tabernacle wooing your love from this plaistered over-guilded world calling upon you to be making your self ready to goe to your fathers countrey which shall be a sweet fruit of that visitation Ye know to send the Comforter was a King word when he
to follow cannot be blowen away with winds either from hell or the evil smelled air of this polluted world Sir for aback from the walls of this pest-house even the pollutions of this defiling world Keep your taste your love and hope in heaven it 's not good your love your Lord should be in two sundry countreys Up up after your lover that ye he may be together A King from heaven hath sent for you by faith he sheweth you the new Jerusalem taketh you alongst in the Spirit thorow all the ease-rooms dwelling-houses in heaven saith All these are thine this palace is for thee Christ if ye onely had been the chosen of God Christ would have built that one house for you and himself Now it is for you many also take with you in your journey what ye may carry with you your conscience faith hope patience meekness goodness brotherly kindness for such wares as these are of great price in the high new countrey whether ye goe As for other things that are but the world's vanity trash since they are but the house-sweepings ye shall doe best not to carry them with you ye found them here leave them here and let them keep the house Your Sun is well turned low be nigh your lodging against night We goe one one out of this great market till the town be empty the two lodgings Heaven Hell be filled At length there will be nothing in the earth but room walls burnt ashes therefore it is best to make away Antichrist his Master are busie to plenish Hell to seduce many Stars great church-lights are falling from heaven many are missed seduced make up with their faith sell their birth-right by their hungry hunting for I know not what Fasten your grips fast upon Christ I verily esteem him the best aught that I have He is my second in prison having him though my cross were as heavie as ten mountains of iron when he putteth his sweet shoulder under me it my cross is but a feather I please my self in the choice of Christ he is my waile in heaven earth I rejoyce that he is in heaven before me God send a joyfull meeting in the mean time the traveller's charges for the way I mean a burden of Christ's love to sweeten the journey to encourage a breathless runner for when I lose breath climbing up the mountain he maketh new breath Now the very God of peace establish you to the day of his appearance Aberd. Sept. 9 1637. Yourâ— in his onely Lord Iesus S. R. To MARGARET REID 49 My very Dear worthy Siâ—â—er GRace mercy peace be to you Ye are truly blessed of the Lord however a lowre world gloom upon you if ye continue in the faith grounded settled be not moved away from the hope of the Gospel it is good there is a heaven it is not a night dream or a fancy It is a wonder that men deny not that there is a heaven as they deny there is a way to it but of mens making You have learned of Christ that there is a heaven contend for it contend for Christ bear well submissivily the hard cross of this step-mother world that God will not have to be yours I confess it is hard I would I were able to ease you of your burthen But beleeve me this world which the Lord will not have to be yours is but the dross the refuse scum of God's creation the portion of the Lord 's poor hired servants the moveables not the heritage a hard bone casten to the dogs holden out of the new Jerusalem whereupon they rather break their teeth then satisfie their appetite It is your father's blessing Christ's birth-right that our Lord is keeping for you I perswade you your seed also shall inherit the earth if that be good for them for that iâ— promised to them God's bond is as good and better then if men would give every one of them a bond for thousand thousands Ere ye was born crossâ—s in number measure weight were written for you your Lord will lead you thorow them make Christ sure the blessings of the earth shall be at Christ's back I see many professors for the fashion follow on but they are professors of glass I would cause a little knock of persecution ding them in twenty pieces so the world should laugh at the sheards Therefore make fast work see that Christ lay the ground-stone of your profession for wind rain speats will not wash away his building his works have no shorter date then to stand for evermore I should tweâ—ty times have perished in my affliction if I had not leaned my weak back laid my pressing burthen both upon the stone the foundation-stone the corner-stone laid in Zion I desire never to rise off this stone Now the very God of peace confirm establish you unto the day of the blessed appearance of Christ Jesus God be with you Aberd. Yours in his dearest Lord Iesus S. R. To JAMES BAUTIE 50 Loving Brother GRace mercy peace be unto you I received your letter renders you thanks for the same but I have not time to answer all the heads of it as the bearer can inform you 1. Ye doe well to take your self at the right stot when ye wrong Christ by doubting misbeleef for this is to nick-name Christ terme him a liar which being spoken to our Prince would be hanging or heading but Christ hangeth not alwayes for treason It is good that he may registrat a beleevers bond a hundred times more then seventy times a day have law against us yet he spareth us as a man doeth his son that serveth him No tender hearted mother who may have law to kill her sucking childe would put in execution that law 2. For your failings even ye have a set tryst with Christ when ye have a fair seen advantage by keeping your appointment with him Salvation cometh to the very passing of the seals I would say two things 1. Concluded sealed Salvation may goe through be ended suppose ye write your name to the tail of the Covenant with ink that can hardly be read Neither think I ever any man's Salvation passed the seals but there was an odde trick or slip in less or more upon the fools part who is infested in heaven In the most grave serions work of our Salvation I think Christ had ever good cause to laugh at our filliness to put on us his merits that we might bear weight 2. It is a sweet law of the new Covenant a priviledge of the new burgh that the citizens pay according to their means for the new covenant saith not so much obedience by ounce weights no less under the pain of damnation Christ taketh as
crave my minde whether found comfort may be found in prayer when conviction of a known idol is present I answer an idol as an idol can not stand with found comfort for that comfort that is gotten at Dagon's sect is a cheat or blea-flumme yet sound comfort conviction of an eye to an idol may as well dwell together as tears joy But let this doe you no ill I speak it for your encouragement that ye may make the best out of your joyes ye can albeit ye finde them mixed with motes 2. Sole conviction if alone without remorse and grief is not enough therefore lend it a tear if ye dow win at it 7. Ye question when ye win to more fervency sometimes with your neighbour in prayer then your alone whether hypocrisie be in it or not I answer if this be alwayes no question a spice of hypocrisie in in it which would be taken head to out possibly desertion may be in privat presence in publike then the case is clear 2. A fit of applause may occasion by accident a rubbing of a cold heart so heat life may come but it is not the proper cause of that heat hence God of his free grace will ride his errands upon our stinking corruption but corruption is but a meer occasion accident as the playing on a pipe removed anger from the prophet made him fitter to prophesie 2. King 3 v. 15. 8. Ye complain of Christ's short visits that he will not bear you company one night but when ye lie down warm at night ye rise cold at morning Ans. I cannot blame you nor any other who knoweth that sweet guest to bemoan his withdrawings to be most desirous of his abode company for he would captivat engage the affection of any creature that saw his face since he looked on me gave me a sight of his fair love he gained my heart wholly got away with it Well well may he brook it he shall keep it long ere I fetch it from him But I shall tell you what ye shall doe treat him well give him the chair the board-head make him welcome to the mean portion ye have a good supper kind entertainment maketh the guest love the innes the better Yet sometimes Christ hath an errand elsewhere for meer trial then though ye give him king's-chear he will away as is clear in desertions for meer trial not for sin 9. Ye seek the difference betwixt the motions of the Spirit in their least measure the natural joyes of your own heart Ans. as a man can tell if he joy delight in his wife as his wife or if he delight joy in her for satisfaction of his lust but hating her person so loving her for her her flesh not grieving when ill befalleth her so will a man's joy in God and his who â—ish naturall joy be discovered if he sorrow for any thing that may offend that Lord it will speak the singleness of his love to him 10. Ye aske the reason why sense overcometh faith Ans. because sense is more naturall neer of kin to our own selfish soft nature Ye aske if faith in that ease be found Ans If it be chased away it is neither sound nor unsound because it is not faith but it might be was faith before sense did blow out the act of beleeving Lastly ye aske what to doe when promises are born in upon you sense of impenitency for sins of youth hindereth application I answer if it be living sense it may stand with application in this case put to your hand eat your meat in God's name if false so that the sins of youth are not repented of then as faith impenitency cannot stand together so neither that sense application can consist Brother excuse my brevity for time straitneth me that I get not my minde said in these things but must refer that to a new occasion if God offer it Brother Pray for me Grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Yours in his dearest Lord Iesus S. R. To JOHN STUART Provest of Ayr now in Ireland 51 Much honoured Sir GRace mercy peace be unto you I long to hear from you being now removed from my flock the prisoner of Christ at Aberd I would not have you to think it strange that your journey to New-England hath gotten such a dash It indeed hath made my heart heavie yet I know it is no dumb providence but a speaking one whereby our Lord speaketh his minde to you though for the present ye doe not well understand what he saith however it be he who sitteth upon the floods hath showen you his marvellous kindness in the great depths I know your loss is great your hope is gone far against you But I entreat you Sir expound aright our Lord 's laying an hinderance is the way I perswade my self your heart aimeth at the footsteps of the flock to feed beside the shepherds tents to dwell beside him whom your soul loveth that it is your desire to remain in the wilderness where the woman is kept from the Dragon this being your desire remember that a poor prisoner of Christ said it to you that That miscarried journey is with childe to you of mercy consolation and shall bring forth a fair birth and the Lord shall be midwife to the birth wait on he that beleeveth maketh not haste Isa 28. 16. I hope ye have been asking what the Lord meaneth what further may be his will in reference to your return my dear Brother let God make of you what he will he will end all with consolation shall make glory out of your sufferings would ye wish better work this water was in your way to heaven written in your Lord's book ye behooved to cross it therefore kisse his wise unerring providence Let not the censures of men who see but the out side of things scarce well that abate your courage rejoycing in the Lord howbâ—it your faith seeth but the black side of providence yet it hath a better side God shall let you see it Learn to beleeve Christ better then his strokes himself his promises better then his gloomes dashes disappointments are not Canonick scripture fighting for the promised land seemed to cry to God's promise thoulyest If our Lord rideupon a straw his horse shall neither stumble nor fall Rom. 8. 28. For we know that all things work together for good to them that love God Ergo shipwrak losses c work together for the good of them that love God Hence I inferre that losses disappointments ill tongues losse of friends houses or countrey are God's work men set on work to work out good to you out of every thing that befalleth you let not the Lord's dealing seem harsh rough ot unfatherly because it is unpleasant when the Lord
Beware of lying swearing uncleanness the rest of the works of the flesh because for these things the wrath of God cometh upon the children of disobedience how sweet soever they may seem for the present yet the end of these courses is the eternall wrath of God utter darkness where there is weeping gnashing of teeth Grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Your Loving Pastor S. R. To Mr THOMAS GARVEN 56 Reverend Dear Brother GRace mercy peace be unto you I am sorry that what joy sorrow drew from my imprisoned pen in my love-fits hath made you many of God's children beleeve that there is something in a broken reed the like of me except that Christ's grace hath bought such a sold body I know not what else any may think of me or expect from me my stock is less my Lord knoweth I speak truth then many beleeve my empty sounds have promised too much I would be glad to lie under Christ's feet keep receive the off-fallings or the old pieces of any grace that fall from his sweet fingers to forlorn sinners I lie often uncouth-like looking in at the King's windowes surely I am unworthy of a seat in the King's hall-floor I but often look afar off both feared and framed-like to that fairest face fearing he bid me look away from him my guiltiness riseth up upon me I have no answer for it I offered my tongue to Christ my pains in his house what know I what it meaneth when Christ will not receive my poor propine when love will not take we expone it will neither take nor give borrow nor lend Yet Christ hath another sea-compass he saileth by then my short raw thoughts I leave his part of it to himself I dare not expound his dealing as sorrow misbelief often dictateth to me I look often with bleared and blinde eyes to my Lords cross when I look to the wrong-side of his cross I know I miss a step slide surely I see I have not legs of my own for carrying me to heaven I must goe in at heavens gates borrowing strength from Christ. I am often thinking Oh if he would but give me leave to love him if Christ would but open up his wares the infinite infinite plyes windings corners of his soul-delighting-love let me see it back-side fore-side give me leave but to stand beside it like an hungry man beside meat to get my fill of wondering as a preface to my fill of enjoying but verily I think my foul eyes would defile his fair love to look to it Either my hunger is over humble if that may be said or else I consider not what honour it is to get leave to love Christ. O that he would pity a prisoner let out a flood upon the dry ground it is nothing to him to fill the like of me one of his looks would doe me meekle world's good him no ill I know I am not at a point yet with Christ's love I am not yet fitted for so much as I would have of it my hope sitteth neighbour with meekle black hunger certainly I dow not but think there is more of that love ordained for me then I yet comprehend I know not the weight of the pension the King will give me I shall be glad if my hungry bill get leave to lie beside Christ waiting on an answer now I would be full rejoyce if I got a poor man's almes of that sweetest love but I confidently beleeve there is a bal made for Christ me that we shall take our fill of love in it I often think when my joy is run out at the lowest ebbe that I would seek no more but my rights past the King 's great seal that these eyes of mine could see Christ's hand at the pen. If your Lord call you to suffering be not dismayed there shall be a new allowance of the King for you when ye come to it One of the softest pillowes Christ hath is laid under his witnesses head though often they must set down their bare feet among thorns He hath brought my poor soul to desire wish O that my ashes the powder I shall be dissolved into had well tuned tongues to praise him Thus in haste desiring your prayers praises I recommend you to my sweet sweet Master my honourable Lord of whom I hold all Grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To JEAN BROWN 57. MISTRESS GRace mercy peace be to you I am glad that ye goe on at Christ's back in this dark cloudy time It were good to sell other things for him for when all these dayes are over we shall finde it our advantage that we have taken part with Christ. I confidently beleeve his enemies shall be his footstool that he shall make green flowers dead withered hay when the honour glory shall fall off them like the bloom or flower of a green herb shaken with the wind It were not wisdom for us to think that Christ the Gospel will come sit down at our fire side nay but we must goe out of our warm houses seek Christ his gospel It is not the sunny side of Christ that we must look to we must not forsake him for want of that but must set our face against what may befall us in following on till he we be through the briers buâ—hes on the dry ground Our soft nature would be born through the troubles of this miserable life in Christ's arms it is his wisdom who knoweth our mould that his bairns goe wet-shod cold-footed to heaven O how sweet a thing were it for us to learn to make our burdens light by framing our hearts to the burthen and making our Lord's will a law I finde Christ his cross not so ill to please nor yet such troublesom guests as men call them Nay I think patience should make Christ's water good wine this dross good mettall we have cause to wait on for ere it be long our Master will be at us bring this whole world out before the sun the day-light in their black 's white 's Happy are they who are found watching Our sand-glass is not so long as we need to weary time will eat away root out our woes sorrow our heaven is in the bud growing up to an harvest why then should we not follow on seeing our span length of time will come to an inch Therefore I commend Christ to you as your last living longest living husband the staff of your old age let him have now the rest of your dayes think not much of a storm upon the ship that Christ saileth in there shall no passenger fall over board but the craised ship the sea-sick passenger shall come to land safe I am
in as sweet communion with Christ as a poor sinner can be am onely pained that he hath much beauty and fairness and I little love he great power mercy I little faith he much light I bliered eyes Oh that I saw him in the sweetness of his love in his marriage clothes were over head ears in love with that princely one Christ Jesus my Lord Alas my riven dish running-out vessel can hold little of Christ Jesus I have joy in this that I would not refuse death before I put Christ's lawfull heritage in mens trysting what know I if they would have pleased both Christ me Alas that this land hath put Christ to open rooping to an any man more bâ—â— Blessed are they who would hold the crown on his head buy Christ's honour with their own losses I rejoyce to hear your son Iohn is coming to visit Christ taste of his love I hope he shall not lose his pains or rue of that choice I had alwayes as I said often to you a great love to dear Mr Iohn Brown because I thought I saw Christ in him more then in his brethren fain would I write to him to stand by my sweet Master I wish ye would let him read my letter the joy I have if he will appeare for side with my Lord Jesus Grace grace be with you Aberd. March 13. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To JEAN M c MILLAN 58 Loving Sister GRace mercy peace be to you I cannot come to you to give you my counsel howbeit I would come I cannot stay with you but I beseech you keep Christ for I did what I could to put you within grips of him I told you Christ's Testament latterwill plainly I kept nothing back that my Lord gave me I gave Christ to you with good will I pray you make him your own goe not from that truth I taught you in one hair breadth that truth shall save you if ye follow it salvation is not an easie thing soon gotten I often told you few are saved many many damned I pray you make your poor soul sure of salvation make the seeking of heaven your daily task if ye never had a sick night a pained soul for sin ye have not yet lighted upon Christ look to the right marks of having closed with Christ if ye love him better then the world would quite all the world for him then that saith the work is sound O if ye saw the beauty of Jesus felt the smell of his love ye would run through fire water to be at him God send you him Pray for me for I cannot forget you Grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Your loving Pastor S. R. To the Lady Busbie 59 MISTRESS GRace mercy peace be to you I am glad to hear that Christ ye are one that ye have made him your one thing Whereas many are painfully tâ—…iled in seeking many things their many things are nothing It 's onely best ye set your self apart as a thing laid up out of the gate for Christ alone for ye are good for no other thing but Christ he hath been going about you these many years by afflictions to engage you to himself it were a pity a loss to say him nay Verily I could wish that I could swim through hell all the ill weather in the world Christ in my arms but it is my evil folly that except Christ come unsent for I dow not goe to seek him When he I fall in reckoning we are both behinde he in payment I in counting so marches lie still unrid counts uncleared betwixt us O that he would take his own blood for counts miscounts that I might be a free man none had any claim to me but onely onely Jesus I will think it no bondage to be rooped comprised possessed by Christ as his bond-man Think well of the visitations of your Lord For I finde one thing I saw not well before that when the saints are under trials well humbled little sins raise great cryes war-shouts in the conscience in prosperity conscience is a Pope to give dispensations let out in give latitude elbow-room to our heart O how little care we for pardon at Christ's hand when we make dispensations And all is but bairns-play till a cross without beget an heavier cross within then we play no longer with our Idols It is good still to be severe against ourselves for we but transform God's mercy into an Idol an Idol that hath a dispensation to give for turning of the grace of God into wantonness Happy are they who take up God wrath justice sin as they are in themselves For we have miscarrying light that parteth with childe when we have good resolutions But God be thanked that Salvation is not rolled upon our wheels O but Christ hath a saving eye Salvation is in his eye-lids When he first looked on me I was saved It cost him but a look to make hell quite of me O merits free merits the dear blood of God was the best gate that ever we could have gotten of hell O what a sweet O what a safe sure way is it to come out of hell leaning on a Saviour That Christ a sinner should be one have heaven betwixt them be halvers of Salvation is the wonder of Salvation What more humble could love be what an excellent smell doeth Christ cast on his lower garden where there grow but wilde flowers if we speak by way of comparison but there is nothing but perfect garden flowers in heaven the best plenishing that is there is Christ We are all obliged to love heaven for Christ's sake he graceth heaven all his father's house with his presence He is a rose that beautifieth all the upper garden of God a leaf of that rose of God for smell is worth a world O that he would blow his smell upon a withered dead soul let us then goe on to meet with him to be filled with the sweetness of his love Nothing will hold him from us he hath decreed to put time sin hell devils men death out of the way to rid the rough way betwixt us him that we may enjoy one another It 's strange wonderfull that he would think long in heaven without us that he would have the company of sinners to solace delight himself withall in heaven now the supper is abiding us Christ the bridegroom with desire is waiting on till the bride the Lamb's wife be busked for the marriage the great hall be rid for the meeting of that joyfull couple O fools what doe we here why sit we still Why sleep we in the prison Were it not best to make us wings
that ye write to of that Oh light findeth not that reverence fear as a plant of God's setting should finde in our soul How doe we by nature as others detain captivat the truth of God in unrighteousness so make God's light a bound prisoner even when the prisoner breaketh the jayle cometh out in belief of a Godhead in some practice of holy obedience how often doe we of new lay hâ—nds on the prisoner and put our light again in fetters Certainly there cometh great mist clouds from the lower part of our soul our earthly affections to the higher part which is our conscience either naturall or renewed as smoke in a lower house breaketh up defileth the house above If we had more practice of obedience we should have more sound light I think lay aside all other guiltiness this one the violence done to God's candle in our soul were a sufficient dittay against us for there is no helping of this but by striving to stand in aw of God's light lest light tell tales of us we deâ—re little to hear but since it is not without God that light sitteth neighbour to will a lawless Lord no marvel that such a neighbour should lâ—aven our Judgement darken our light I see there is a necessity that we protest against the doings of the old man raise up a party against our worst half to accuse condemn sentence with sorrow bemoan the dominion of sin's Kingdom withall make Law in the new Covenant against our guiltness for Christ once condemned sin in the flesh we are to condemn it over again if there had not been such a thing as the grace of Jesus I should have long since given up with heaven with the expectation to see God But grace grace free grace the merits of Christ for nothing white fair large Saviour-mercy which is another sort of thing then creature-mercy or law-mercy yea a thousand degrees above Angel-mercy hath been and must be the rock that we drowned souls must swim to New washing renewed application of purchased redemption by that sacred blood that sealeth the free Covenant is a thing of daily and hourly use to a poor sinner Till we be in heaven our issue of blood will not be quite dryed up therefore we must resolve to apply peace to our soul from the new living way Jesus who cleanseth cureth the leprousâ—â—oul lovely Jesus must be our song on this side of heavens gates even when we have won the castle then must we eternally sing Worthy worthy is the Lamb who hath saved us washed us in his own blood I would counsel all the ransomed ones to learn this song to drink be drunk with the love of Jesus O fairest O highest O loveliest one open the well O water the burnt withered travellers with this love of thine I think it 's possible on earth to build a young new Jerusalem a little new heaven of this surpassing love God either send mâ— more of this love or take me quickly over the water where I may be filled with his love My softness cannot take with want I profess I bear not hunger of Christ's love fair I know not if I play foul play with Christ but I would have a link of that chain of his providence mended in pining delaying the hungry on-waiters For my self I could wish that Christ would let out upon me more of that love Yet to say Christ is a niggard to me I dare not if I say I have abundance of his love I should lye I am half straitned to complain cry Lord Iesus hold thy hand no longer Worthy Sir let me have your prayers in my bonds Grace be with you Aberd. 7 Septr 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord. Iesus S. R. To JAMES LINDSAY 62. Dear Brother THe constant daily observing of God's going alongst with you in his coming going ebbing flowing embracing kissing glooming striking giveth me a witless lazie observer of the Lord's way working an heavie stroke could I keep sight of him know when I want carry as became me in that condition I would blesse my case But. 1. For desertions I think them like lying-lay of lean weak land for some yeers while it gather sap for a better crope It is possible to gather gold where it may be had with moon light Oh if I could but creep one foot or half a foot neerer in to Jesus in such a dismal night as that when he is away I should think it an happy absence 2. If I knew the beloved were onely gone away for triall for further humiliation not smoked out of the house with new provocations I would forgive desertions hold my peace at his absence but Christ's bought absence that I bought with my sin is two running boils at once one upon either side what side then can I lie on 3. I know as night shaddows are good for flowers moonlight dews are better then a continuall sun so is Christ's absence of speciall use it hath some nourishing vertue in it giveth sap to humility putteth an edge on hunger furnisheth a fair field to faith to put forth it self to exercise it's fingers in gripping it seeth not what 4. It is mercy's wonder grace's wonder that Christ will lend a piece of the lodging a back-chamber beside himself to our lusts that he such swine should keep house together in our soul For suppose they couch contract themselves into little room when Christ cometh in seem to lie as dead under his feet yet they often break out again And that a foot of the old man or a leg or arm nailed to Christ's cross looseth the naile or breaketh out again yet Christ beside this unruly misnurtured neighbour can still be making heaven in the saints one way or other may not I say Lord Iesus what doest thou here Yet here he must be but I will but lose my feet to goe on into this depth wonder for free mercy infinite merits took a lodging to Christ us beside such a loath some guest as sin 5. Sanctification mortification of our lusts are the hardest part of Christianity It is in a manner as naturall to us to leap when we see the new Jerusalem as to laugh when we are tickled joy is not under command or at our nod when Christ kisseth but O how many of us would have Christ divided in two halves that we might take the half of him onely take his office Iesus salvation but Lord is a cumbersome word to obey work out our own salvation to perfect holyness is the cumbersome stormy north-side of Christ that we eshew shift 6. For your question the accesse that reprobats have to Christ which is none at all for to the Father in
he will have none of their service Now he is asking if your Lo will help him against the mighty of the earth when men are setting their shoulders to Christ's fair beautifull tent in this land to loose it's stakes to break it down certainly such as are not with Christ are against him blessed shall your Lo be of the Lord blessed shall your house seed be blessed shall your Honour be if ye empawnd lay in Christ's hand the Earledom of Cassills it is but a shaddow in comparison of the city made without hands and lay it even at the stake rather then Christ born-down truth want a witness of you against the apostasie of this land Ye hold your lands of Christ your charters are under his seal he who hath many crownes on his head dealeth cutteth carveth pieces of this clay-heritage to men at his pleasure It is little your Lo hath to give him he will not sleep long in your common but shall surely pay home your losses for his cause It is but our bliered eyes that look thorow a false glass to this idol-god of clay think some thing of it They who are past with their last sentence to heaven or hell and have made their reckoning departed out of this smoky inne have now no other conceit of this world but as a piece of beguiling wel-lustred clay how fast doeth time like a flood still in motion carry your Lo out of it is not eternity coming with wings Court goeth not in heaven as it doeth here Our Lord who hath all you the Nobles lying in the shell of his ballance esteemeth you accordingly as ye are the bridegroom's friends or foes Your Honourable Ancestors with the hazard of their lives brought Christ to our hands it shall be cruelty to the posterity if ye lose him to them One of our tribes Levi's Sons the watchmen are fallen from the Lord have sold their mother their father also and the Lord's truth for their new velvet-world and there satin-church If ye the Nobles play Christ a slip now when his back is at the wall if I may so speak then may we say that the Lord hath casten water upon Scotland's smoking coal But we hope better things of you It is no wisdom however it be the State-wisdom now in request to be silent when they are casting lots for a better thing then Christ's coat All this land every man's part of the play for Christ the tears of poor friendless Zion now going doollike in sackcloth are up in heaven before our Lord there is no question but our king Lord shall be master of the fields at length we would all be glad to divide the spoile with Christ to ride in triumph with him but Oh how few will take a cold bed of straw in the camp with him How fain would men have a wel-thatched house above their heads all the way to heaven And many now would goe to heaven the land way for they love not to be sea-sick riding up to Christ upon foot-mantles ratling coaches rubbing their velvet with the Princes of the Land in the highest seats If this be the way Christ called strait narrow I quite all skill of the way to salvation Are they not now rooping Christ the Gospel Have they not put our Lord Jesu to the market he who outbideth his fellow shall get him O my Dear Noble Lord goe on howbeit the wind be in your face to back our princely Captain be couragious for him fear not these who have no subscribed lease of dayes the worms shall eat kings let the Lord Jehovah be your fear And then as the Lord liveth the victory is yours It is true many are striking up a new way to heaven but my soul for theirs if they finde it if this be not the onely way whose end is Christ's father's house And my weak experience since the day I was first in bonds hath confirmed me in the truth assurance of this Let doctors learned men cry the contrair I am perswaded this is the way the bottom hath fallen out of both their wit conscience at once their book hath beguiled them for we have fallen upon the true Christ. I dare hazard if I alone had ten souls my salvation upon this stone that many now break their bones upon Let them take this fat world Oh poor and hungry is their paradise Therefore let me entreat your Lo By your compearance before Christ now while this piece of the afternoon of your day is before you for ye know not when your sun will turn eternity shall benight you let your glory honour might worldly be for our Lord Jesus And to his rich grace tender mercy and to the never-dying comforts of his gracious Spirit I recommend your Lo And Noble house Aberd. Sept. 9. 1637. Your Lo at all obedience S R. To the Lady Largirie 64 MISTRESS GRace Mercy Peace be to you I hope ye know what conditions past betwixt Christ you at your first meeting Ye remember he said your summer dayes would have clouds and your rose a prickly thorn bende it Christ is unmixt in heaven all sweetness and honey here we have him with his thorny and rough cross yet I know no tree beareth sweeter fruit then Christ's cross except I would raise a lving report on it It is your part to take Christ as he is to be had in this life Sufferings are like a wood planted round about his house over door and window If we could hold fast our grips of him the field were won Yet a little while and Christ shall triumph Give Christ his own short time to spin out these two long threeds of heaven and hell to all mankind for certainly the threed will not break and when he hath accomplished his work in mount Zion and hath refined his silver he will bring new vessels out of the furnace and plenish his house and take up house again I counsel you to free your self of clogging temptations by overcoming some contemning others and watching over all abide true and loyal to Christ for few now are fast to him they give Christ blank paper for a bond of service and attendance now when Christ hath most adoe to waste a little blood with Christ and to put out part of this drossie world in pawne over in his hand as willing to quite it for him is the safest cabinet to keep the world in But these who would take the world all their flitring on their back run away from Christ they will fall by the way leave their burden behinde them be taken captive themselves Well were my soul to put all I have life soul over in Christ's hands let him be forth-coming for all If any ask how I doe I answer none can be but well that are in
our cup in which there is no taste of hell My dear Brother ye know all these better then I I send water to the sea to speak of these things to you But it easeth me to desire you to help me to pay tribute of praise to Jesus O what praises I ow him I would I were in my free heritage that I might begin to pay my debts to Jesus I entreat for your prayers praises I forget not you Aberd. Sept. 17. 1637 Your brother and fellow sufferer in and for Christ. S. R. To Mr DAVID DICKSON 73 Reverend and welbeloved brother in the Lord. I Bless the Lord who hath so wonderfully stopped the on-going of that lawless process against you The Lord reigneth hath a saving eye upon you your ministery therefore fear not what men can doe I bless the Lord that the Irish ministers finde employment the professors comfort of their ministery Beleeve me I durst not as I am now disposed hold an honest brother out of the pulpit I trust the Lord shall guard you hide you in the shadow of his hand I am not pleased with any that are against you in that I see this in prosperity mens conscience will not start at small sins But if some had been where I have been since I came from you a little more would have caused their eye water troubled their peace O how ready are we to incline to the world's-hand Our arguments being well examined are often drawn from our skin the whole skin a peaceable tabernacle is a topick maxime in great request in our Logick I finde a little breirding of God's seed in this town for the which the Doctors have told me their minde that they cannot bear with it and have examined and threatned the people that haunt my company I fear I get not leave to winter here and whether I goe I know not I am ready at the Lord's call I would I could make acquaintance with Christ's cross for I finde comforts lie to follow upon the cross I suffer in my name by them I take it as a part of the crucifying of the old man Let them cut the throat of my credit doe as they like best with it when the wind of their calumnies hath blown away my good name from me in the way to heaven I know Christ will take my name out of the mire wash it restore it to me again I would have a minde if the Lord would be pleased to give me it to be a fool for Christ's sake Sometimes while I have Christ in my arms I fall asleep with the sweetness of his presence he in my sleep stealeth away out of my arms when I awake I misâ— him I am much comforted with my Lady Piâ—sligo a good woman acquainted with God's wayes Grace be with you Aberd. Sept. 11. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord. Iesus S. R. To the right honourable my Lord LOWDOUN 75. Right honourable GRace mercy peace be to your Lo I rejoyce exceedingly that I hear your Lo hath a good minde to Christ his now-born-down truth My very dear Lord goe on in the strength of the Lord to carry your honour worldly glory to the new Ierusalem For this cause your Lo received these of the Lord this is a sure way for the establishment of your house if ye be of these who are willing in your place to build Zion's old waste places in Scotland Your Lo wanteth not God's man's law both now to come to the streets for Christ suppose the bastard laws of man were against you it is an honest zealous errour if here ye slip against a point or punctilio of standing policy when your foot slippeth in such known ground as is the royal prerogative of our high most truly dread â—overaign who hath many crowns on his head the liberties of his house he will hold you up Blessed shall they be who take Babel's little ones dash their heads against stones I wish your Lo have a share of that blessing with other worthy Nobles in our land It is true it is now accounted wisdom for men to be partners in pullin up the stakes looâ—ng the cords of the tent of Christ but I am peswaded that that wisdom is cried down in heaven shall never passe for true wisdom itâ— the Lord whose word crieth shame upon wit against Christ truth accordingly it shall prove shame confusion of face in the end Our Lord hath given your Lo 〈◊〉 of a better stamp learning also wherein yeare not behinde th disputer and the sâ—â—be O what a blessâ—d thing iâ— it to see Noâ—ility Learning Sanctification all co curre in one For these ye ow your sel to Christ his â—ingdom God hath be-wildered bâ—-misted the wit the learning of the scribes disputer of this time they look asquint to the Bible This blinding be-â—…ing world blindfoldeth mens light that they are affraid to se straight out bâ—fore them nay their very light playeth the knave or woâ—s to truth Your Lo knoweth within a little while Policy against trutâ— will bluâ—h the works of men shall burn even their spider-wâ—b who spin out many hundred ells webs of indifferencie in the Lord's worship moe then ever â—oses who would have anâ—oof mâ—â—t rial Daniel who would have a look out at a wiâ—dow a matter of life death then ever I say these men of God dreamed of Alas that men dare shape carve cut clippe our King 's princâ—ly Testament in length and breadth and in all dimensions answerable to the conceptions of such policy as a h ad-of-wit thinketh a safe and trim way of serving God How have men forgotten the Lord that they dà re goe against even that truth which once they preached themselves howbeit their sermons now be as thin sown as strav-berriâ—s in a wood or wilderness Certainly the sâ—eetest safest course is for this short time of the afternoon of this olâ— declining world to stand for Jesus he hath said it it is our part to beleeve it that ere is be long Time shall be no more and the heaven shall wax old as a garment 〈◊〉 Doe we not see it already an old hollie threed-bare garment doeth not or ple laâ—e ature tâ—â—l us that the Lord will fold up the old garment 〈◊〉 and lay it aside that the heavens shall be folded together as a scroll this pest-house shall be burnt with fire that both plenishing walls shall melt with fervent heat for at the Lord 's coming he will doe with this earth as men doe with a leper house he wil burn the walls with fire the plenishing of the house also 2 Pet. 3 10 11 12. My very Daer Lord how shall ye rejoyce in that day to have Christ Angels heaven your own conscience to smile upon you I am perswaded one
sick night through the terrors of the Almighty would make men whose conscience hath such a wide throat as an image like a Chathedral Church would goe down it have other thoughts of Christ and his worship then now they please themselves with The scarcity of faith in the earth saith We are hard upon the last nick of time Blessed are these who keep their garments clean against the bridegroom's coming There shall be spotted clothes many defiled garments at his last coming therefore few found worthy to walk with him in white I am perswaded my Lord this poor travelling woman our pained Church is with childe of victory shall bring forth a man-childe that shall be caught up to God his throne howbeit the Dragon in his followers be attending the childe-birth-pain as an Egyptian midwife to receive the birth strangle it Isa. 29 8. But they shall be disappointed who thirst for the destruction of Zion they shall be as when a hungry man dreameth that he eateth but behold he awaketh his soul is empty or when a thirsty man dreameth that he drinketh but behold he awaketh is faint his soul is not satisfied so shall it be I say with the multitude of all the nations that fight against mount Zion Therefore the weak feeble these that are as signes wonders in Israel have chosen the best side even the side that victory is upon I think this is no evil policy Verily for my self I am so well pleased with Christ his noble honest-born cross this cross that is come of Christ's house is of kin to himself that I should weep if it should come to niffering barâ—â—ring of lots condition with these that are at ease in Zion I hold still my choice blesse my self in it I see I beleeve there is salvation in this way that is every where spoken against I hope to goe to eternity to venture upon the last evil to the saints even upon death fully perswaded that this onely even this is the saving way for rackel consciences for weary laden sinners to finde ease peace for evermore into indeed it is not for any worldly respect that I speak so of it the weather is not so hot that I have great cause to startle in my prison or to boast of that â—ntertainment that my good friends the Prelats intend for me which is banishment if they shall obtain their desire effectu at what they design but let it come I rue not that I made Christ my waile my choice I think him ay the longer the better My Lord It shall be good service to God to hold your noble friend Chief upon a good course for the truth of Christ. Now the very God of peace establish your Lo in Christ Jesuâ— unto the end Aberd. Sept 10. 1637. Your Lo in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To the Laird of GAITGIRTH 76 Much honoured Sir GRace mercy peace be to you I can doe no more but thank you in paper remember you to him whom I serve for your kindness care of a prisoner I bleâ—s the Lord the cause I suffer for needeth not to bluâ—h before Kings Christs white honest fair truth needeth neither wax pale for fear nor blush for shame I bless the Lord who hath graced you to own Christ now when so many are affraid to profess him hide him for fear they suffer loss by avouching him Alas that so many in these dayes are carried with the times As if their conscience rolled upon oyled wheels so doe they goe any way the wind bloweth them because Christ is not market-sweet men put him away from them Worthy much honoured Sir goe on to own Christ his oppressed truth The end of sufferings for the Gospel is rest and gladness light joy is sown for the mourners in Zion and the harvest which is of God's making for time manner is neer Crosses have right claim to Christ in hs members till legs arms whole mystical-Christ be in heaven There will be rain hail stormâ—â—n the saints clouds ever till God cleanse with fire the works of creation till he burn the botch-house of heaven earth that mens sin hath subjected unto vanity They are blessed who suffer sin not for suffering is the badge that Christ hath put upon his followers Take what way we can to heaven the way is hedged up with crosses there is no way but to break through them wit wiles shifts laws will not finde out a way about the cross of Christ but we must through one thing by experience my Lord hath taught me that the waters betwixt this heaven may all be ridden if â—e be well hors'd I mean if we be in Christ not one shall drown by the way but such as love their own destruction Oh if we could wait on for a time beleeve in the dark the salvation of God! At least we are to beleeve good of Christ till he give us the slip which is impossible to take his word for caution that he shall fill up all the blanks in his promises give us what we want but to the unbeleever Christ's Testament is white blank unwritten paper worthy and dear Sir set your face to heaven make you to stoop at all the low entries in the way that ye may receive the Kingdom as a childe without this he that knew the way said there is no entry in O but Christ be willing to lead a poor sinner O what love my poor soul hath found in him in the house of my pilgrimage Suppose love in heaven and earth were lost I dare swear it may be found in Christ. Now the very God of peace establish you till the day of the glorious appearance of Christ. Aberd. Sept. 7. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To the Lady GAITGIRTH 77 Much honoured Christian Lady GRace mercy peace be to you I long to hear how it goeth with you your children I exhort you not to lose breath nor to faint in your journey The way is not so long to your home as it was it will wear to one step or an inch at length ye shall come ere long to be within your arm-length of the glorious crown Your Lord Jesus did sweat pant ere he got up that mount he was at father save me with it it was he who Psal. 22 14. said I am poured out like water all my bones are out of joynt Christ waâ— as if they had broken him upon the wheel my heart is like wax it is melted in the midst of my bowels v. 15. My strength is dried up like a poâ—sheard I am sure ye love the way the better that his holy feet trod it before you Crosses have a smell of crossed pained Christ. I beleeve your Lord will not leave you to
vessel again to bear Christ's name to the world I am sure that love bottomed seated upon the faith of his love to me would desire endure this would even claim thriep kindness upon Christ's strokes kiss his lovely glooms both spell read salvation upon the wounds made by Christ's sweet hands Oh that I had but a promise from the mouth of Christ of his love to me then howbeit my faith were as tender as paper I think longing dwining griening of sick desires would cause it bide out the siege till the Lord came to fill the soul with his love I know also in that case faith should abide green sappy at the root even at mid winter and stand out against all stormes However it be I know Christ winneth heaven in dispite of hell But I ow as many praises thanks to free grace as would lie betwixt me the utmost border of the highest heaven suppose ten thousand heavens were all laid above other But oh I have nothing that can hire or bud grace for if grace would take hire it were no more grace but all our stability the strength of our salvation is anchored fastened upon free grace and I am sure Christ hath by his death blood casten the knot so fast that the fingers of devils hel-fuls of sins cannot loose it that bond of Christ that never yet was nor never shall nor can be registrated standeth surer then heaven or the dayes of heaven as that sweet pillar of the covenant whereupon we all hang Christ and all his little ones under his two wings in the compasse or circle of his arms is so sure that cast him and them in the ground of the sea he shall come up again not loose one An odde one cannot nor shall not be lost in the telling This was alwayes God's aime since Christ came in the play betwixt him us to make men dependent creatures and in the work of our salvation to put created strength arms legs of clay quit out of play out of office court now God hath substituted in our room accepted his Son the mediator for us all that we can make If this had not been I would have skinked over foregone my part of paradise salvation for a break-fast of dead moth-eaten earth but now I would not give it nor let it go for more then I can tell truly they are silly fools and ignorant of Christ's worth so full ill trained and tutoured who tell heaven Christ over the board for two feathers or two straws of the devil's painted pleasures onely lustred in the utter side This is our happiness now that our reckonings at night when eternity shall come upon us cannot be told we shall be so far gainers so far from being super expended as the poor fools of this world are who give out their money get in but black hunger that Angels cannot lay our counts nor summe our advantage in-comes Who knoweth how far is it to the bottom of our Christ to the ground of our heaven Who ever weighed Christ in a pair of ballances Who hath seen the foldings plyes and the heights and depths of that glory which is in him and kept for us Oh for such a heaven as to stand afar off and see love and long for him while time 's threed be cut and this great work of creation dissolved at the coming of our Lord Now to his Grace I recommend you I beseech you also pray for a re-entry to me into the Lord's house if it be his good will Aberd. Jan. 6. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To ELIZABETH KENNEDY 90 MISTRESS GRace mercy and peace be unto you I have long had a purpose of writing to you but I have been hindred I heartily desire that ye would minde your journey consider to what airth your soul setteth it's face for all come not home at night who suppose they have set their face heaven-ward it is a woefull thing to die misse heaven to lose house-room with Christ at night It is an evil journey where travellers are benighted in the fields I perswade my self that thousands shall be deceived ashamed of their hope because they cast their anchor in sinking sands they must lose it Till now I knew not the pain labour nor difficulty that there is to win home nor did I understand so well before this what that meaneth The righteous shall scarcely be saved Oh how many a poor Professor's candle is blowen out never lighted again I see ordinary profession to be ranked amongst the children of God to have a name among men is now thought good enough to carry professors to heaven but certainly a name is but a name will never bide a blast of God's storm I counsell you not to give your soul or Christ rest nor your eyes sleep till ye have gotten something that will bide the fire stand out the storm I am sure if my one foot were in heaven then he would say fend thy self I will hold my grips of thee no longer I should goe no further but presently fall down in as many Pieces of dead nature They are happy for evermore who are over head ears in the love of Christ know no sickness but love-sickness for Christ feel no pain but the pain of an absent hidden welbeloved We run our souls out of breath tire them in coursing galloping after our own night-dreams such are the rovings of our miscarrying hearts to get some created good thing in this life on this side of death We would fain slay spin out a heaven to our solves in this side of the water but sorrow want changes crosses sin are both woof warp in that ill-spun web O how sweet dear are these thoughts that are still upon the things which are above how happy are they who are longing to have little sand in their glass to have time's threed cut can cry to Christ Lord Iesus have over come fetch the driry passenger I wish our thoughts were more frequently then they are on our countrey O but heaven casteth a sweet smell afar off to these who have spirituall smelling God hath made many fair flowers but the fairest of them all is heaven the flower of all flowers is Christ. O why doe we not flee up to that lovely one Alas that there is such scarcity of love lovers of Christ amongst us all Fy fy upon us who love fair things as fair gold fair houses fair lands fair pleasures fair honours fair persons and doe not pine melt away with love for Christ. O would to God I had more love for his sake O for as much love as would lie betwixt me heaven for his sake O for as much love
wisdom made choice of it for me it must be best because it was his choice O that I may wait for him till the morning of this benighted Kirk break out This poor afflicted Kirk had a fair morning but her night came upon her before her noon-day she was like a traveller forced to take house in the morning of his journey now her adversaries are the chief men in the land her wayes mourn her gates languish her children sigh for bread and there is none to be instant with the Lord that he would come again to his house dry the face of his weeping spouse comfort Zion's mourners who are waiting for him I know he shall make corn to grow upon the top of his withered mount Zion again Remember my bonds forget me not Oh that my Lord would bring me again amongst you with abundance of the Gospel of Christ But O that I may set down my desires where my Lord biddeth me Remember my love in the Lord to your husband God make him faithfull to Christ my blessing to your three children Faint not in prayer for this Kirk Desire my people not to receive a stranger intruder upon my ministery let me stand in that right station that my Lord Jesus gave me Grace grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord and Master S. R. To JOHN GORDON At Risco 127 Dear Brother I Earnestly desire to know the case of your soul to understand that ye have made sure work of heaven salvation 1. Remember Salvation is one of Christ's dainties he giveth but to a few 2. That it is violent sweating striving that taketh heaven 3. That it cost Christ blood to purchase that house to sinners to set mankinde down the King 's free tenants free-holders 4. That many make a start toward heaven who fall on their back win not up to the top of the mount it plucketh heart legs from them they sit down give it over because the devil setteth a sweet smelled flower to their nose this fair busked World wherewith they are bewitched so forget or refuse to goe forward 5. Remember many goe far on reform many things can finde tears as Esau did suffer hunger for the truth as Iudas did wish desire the end of the righteous as Balaam did profess fair fight for the Lord as Saul did desire the saints of God to pray for them as Pharaoh Simon Magus did prophesie speak of Christ as Caiaphas did walk softly mourn for fear of judgement as Ahab did put away gross sins idolatry as Iehu did hear the word of God gladly reform their life in many things according to the word as Herod did say Master to Christ I will follow thee whither soever thou goest as the man who offered to be Christ's servant Math. 8. may taste of the vertues of the life to come be partaker of the wonderfull gifts of the holy spirit taste of the good word of God as the Apostates who sin against the Holy Ghost Heb 6. yet all these are but like gold in clink colour watered brass base mettall These are written that we should try our selves not rest till we be a step nearer Christ then sun-burnt withering professors can come 6. Consider it is impossible that your Idol-sins ye can goe to heaven together that they who will not part with these can indeed love Christ at the bottom but onely in word shew which will not doe the business 7. Remember how swiftly God's post time flieth away that your forenoon is already spent your afternoon will come then your evening at last night When ye cannot see to work let your heart be set upon finishing of your journey summing laying your accounts with your Lord. O how blessed shall ye be to have a joyfull welcome of your Lord at night How blessed are they who in time take sure course with their soul Bless his great name for what ye possess in goods children ease worldly contentment that he hath given you seek to be like Christ in humility lowliness of minde be not great intire with the world make it not your God nor your lover that ye trust into for it will deceive you I recommend Christ his love to you in all things let him have the flower of your heart your love set a low price upon all things but Christ cry down in your thoughts clay dirt that will not comfort you when ye get summonds to remove compear before your Judge to answer for all the deeds done in the body The Lord give you wisdom in all things I beseech you sanctifie God in your speaking for holy and reverend is his name be temperate sober companionry as it is called is a sin that holdeth men out of heaven I will not beleeve that ye will receive the ministry of a stranger who will preach a new uncouth doctrine to you Let my salvation stand for it if I delivered not the plain whole counsel of God to you in his word Read this letter to your wife remember my love to her request her to take heed to doe what I write to you I pray for you yours Remember me in your prayers to our Lord that he would be pleased to send me amongst you again Grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Your lawfull loving Pastor S. R. To Mr HUGH HENDERSON 128 Reverend and dear Brother WHo knoweth but the wind may turn in to the West again upon Christ his desolate bride in this land And that Christ may get his summer by course again for he hath had ill weather this long time could not finde law or justice for himself his truth these many years I am sure the wheels of this crazed broken Kirk run all upon no other axel-tree nor is there any other to roll them cogge them drive them but the wisdom good pleasure of our Lord And it were a just trick glorious of never-sleeping providence to bring our brethrens darts they have shot at us back upon their own heads Suppose they have two strings in their bow can take one as another saileth them yet there are moe then three strings upon our Lord's bowe and besides he cannot miss the white that he shooteth at I know he shuffleth up down in his hand the great body of heaven earth that Kirk Commonwealth are in his hand like a stock of Cards that he dealeth â—he play to the mourners in Zion and these that say lye down that we may goe over you at his own soveraign pleasure And I am sure Zion's adversaries in this play shall not take up their own stakes again O how sweet a thing it is
alter or better what he hath decreed done It were better to make windows in our prison to look out to God our countrey Heaven to cry like fettered men who long for the King 's free air Lord let tâ—y Kingdom come O let the Bridegroom come And O day O fair day O everlasting summer day dawn and shine out break out from under the black night skie and shine I am perswaded if every day a little stone in the prison walls were broken thereby assurance given to the chained prisoner lying under twenty stone of irons upon arms legs that at length his chain should wear in two pieces a hole should be made at length as wide as he might come safely out to his long desired liberty he would in patience wait on till time should hole the prison wall break his chains The Lord 's hopefull prisoners under their trials are in that case Years moneths will take out now one little stone then another of this house of clay at length time shall win out the breadth of a fair door and send out the imprisoned soul to the free air in heaven and time shall filâ— off by little and little our iron bolts which are now on legs and arms out-date and wear our troubles threed-bare and hollie and then wear them to nothing For what I suffered yesterday I know shall never come again to trouble me O that we could breath out new hope and new submission every day in Christ's lap For certainly a weight of glory well weighed yea encreasing to a far more exceeding and eternall weight shall recompence both weight and length of light and clipped and short-dated crosses Our waters are but ebbe and come neither to our chin nor to â—he stopping of our breath I may see if I would borrow eyes from Christ dry land and that near Why then should we not laugh at adversity and scorn our short-born and soon-dying temptations I rejoyce in the hope of that glory to be revealed for it is no uncertain glory we look for our hope is not hung upon such an untwisted threed as I imagine so or it is likely but the cable the strong tow of our fastened anchor is the oath and the promise of him who is eternall verity our Salvation is fastened with God's own hand and with Christ's own strength to the strong stoup of God's unchangeable nature Mal 3. 6. I am the Lord I change not and therefore ye sons of Iacob are not consumed We may play and dance and leap upon our worthy and immoveable rock the ground is sure and good and will bide hell's brangling and devils brangling and the world's assaults Oh if our faith could ride it out against the high and proud winds and waves when our sea seemeth all to be on fire O how oft doe I let my grips goe I am put to swimming and half sinking I finde the devil hath the advantage of the ground in this battel for he fighteth in known ground in our corrupt nature Alas that is a friend neer of kin and blood to himself and will not fail to fall foul upon us And hence it is that he who saveth to the uttermost and leadeth many sons to glory is still righting my salvation and twenty times a day I ravel my heaven then I must come with my ill raveled work to Christ to cumber him as it were to right it to seek again the right end of the threed to fold up again my eternall glory with his own hand to give a right cast of his holy gracious hand to my marred spilt salvation Certainly it is a cumbersom thing to keep a foolish childe from falls broken brows weeping for this that toy rash running sickness bairns diseases ere he win through them all and win out of the mires he costeth meekle black cumber and fashrie to his keepers And so is a beleever a cumbersom piece of work and an ill raveled hesp as we use to say to Christ But God be thanked for many spilt salvations and many ill raveled hesps hath Christ mended since first he entered tutour to lost mankinde O what could we bairns doe without him how soon would we mar all But the less of our weight be upon our own feeble legs and the more that we be on Christ the strong Rock the better for us It is good for us that ever Christ took the cumber of us it is our heaven to lay many weights and burdens upon Christ and to make him all we have root and top beginning and ending of our salvation Lord hold us â—ere Now to this tutour and rich Lord I recommend you Hold fast till he come and remember his prisoner Grace grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Yours in his and your Lord Iesus S. R. To Mr WILLIAM DALGLEISH 131 Reverend dear Brother GRace mercy peace be to you I received your letter I bless our high and onely wise Lord who hath broken the sâ—are that men had laid for you I hope that now he shall keep you in his house in despite of the powers of hell Who knoweth but the streets of our Ierusalem shall yet be filled with young men with old men boyes women with childe that they shall plant vines in the mountains of Samaria I am sure the wheels paces motions of this poor Church are tempered ruled not as men would but according to the good pleasure infinite wisdom of our onely wise Lord. I am here waiting in hope that my innocency in this honourable cause shall melt this cloud that men have casten over me I know my Lord had his own quarrels against me that my dross stood in need of this hot furnace but I rejoyce in this that fair truth beautifull truth whose glory my Lord cleareth to me more more bearth me company that my weak aimes to honour my Master in bringing guests to his house now swell upon me in comforts that I am not affraid to want a witness in heaven that it was my joy to have a crown put upon Christ's head in that countrey O what joy would I have to see the wind turn upon the enemies of the cross of Christ to see my Lord Jesus restored with the voice of praise to his own fâ—ee throne again to be brought amongst you to see the beauty of the Lord's house I hope that countrey will not be so silly as to suffer men to pluck you away from them that ye will use means to keep my place empty to bring me back again to the people to whom I have Christs right and his Church's lawfull calling Dear Brother let Christ be dearer dearer to you let the conquest of souls be top and root flower and bloom of your joyes and desires in this side of sun and moon and in the day when the Lord shall
Lord. Is not Christ now crying Who will help me Who will come out with me to take part with me share in the honour of my victory over these mine enemies who have said Wee â—ill not have this man to rule over us My very honourable and dear Lord joyn joyn aâ— ye doâ— with Christ he is more worth to you your posterity then this world's May flowers withering Riches Honour that shall goe away as smoke evanish in a night-vision shall in one half hour after the blast of the Archangel's trumpet lie in white ashes Let me beseech your Lo to draw by the lap of Time's curtain look in through that window to great endless Eternity consider if a worldly price suppose this little round clay globe of this ashie dirty earth the dying idol of the fools of this world were all your own can be given for one smile of Christ's God-like soul ravishing countenance in that day when so many joints and knees of thousand thousands wailing shall stand before Christ trembling shouting making their prayers to hills mountains to fall upon them and hide them from the face of the Lamb. O how many would sell Lordships Kingdoms that day buy Christ But Oh the market shall be closed ended ere then Your Lo hath now a blessed venture of winning court with the Prince of the Kings of the earth He himself weeping truth born down fallen in the streets an oppressed Gospel Christ's bride with watery eyes spoiled of her vail her hair hanging about her eyes forced to goe in ragged apparel the banished silenced imprisoned prophets of God who have not the favour of liberty to prophesie in sackcloth all these I say call for your help Fear not worms of clay the moth shall eat them as a garment let the Lord be your fear he is with you shall fight for you thus shall ye cause the blessing of these who are ready to perish come upon you ye shall make the heart of this your mother-Church to sing for joy The Lamb his armies are with you the Kingdoms of the earth are the Lord 's I am perswaded there is not another Gospel nor another saving truth then that which ye now contend for I dare hazard my heaven salvation upon it that this is the onely saving way to glory Grace grace be with your Lo Aberd. 1637. Your Lo at all respective obedience in Christ. S. R. To ROBERT GORDON Bailiffe of Ayr. 135 Worthy Sir GRace mercy peace be to you I long to hear from you Our Lord is with his afflicted Kirk so that this burning bush is not consumed to ashes I know submissive on-waiting for the Lord shall at length ripen the joy deliverance of his own who are truly blessed on-waiters What is the dry miscarrying hope of all them who are not in Christ but confusion wind O how pitifully and miserably are the children of this world beguiled whose wine cometh home to them water their gold brass tin And what wonder that hopes builded upon sand should fall sink It were good for us all to abandon the forlorn blasted withered hope we have had in the creature let us henceforth come drink water out of our own well even the fountain of living waters build our selves our hope upon Christ our rock But alas that naturall love that we have to this borrowed home that we were born in and that this clay-city the vain earth should have the largest share of of our heart Our poor lean and empty dreams of confidence in some-thing beside God are no further travelled then up down the naughty feckless creatures God may say of us as he said Amos 6 13. Ye rejoyce in a thing of nougâ—t Surely we spin our spider's web with pain and build our rotten and tottering house upon a lye and falshood and vanity O when will we learn to have thoughts higher then the sun and moon and learn our joy hope confidence and our soul's desires to look up to our best countrey and to look down to clay tents set up for a night's lodging or two in this unknown land laugh at our childish conceptions imaginations that suck our joy out of creatures woe sorrow losses grief O sweetest Lord Jesus O fairest Godhead O flower of man angels why are we such strangers to far-off beholders of thy glory O it were our happiness for evermore that God would cast a pest a botch a leprosie upon our part of this great whore a fair and well busked World that clay might no longer deceive us but O that God may burn and blast our Hope hereaway rather then our Hope should live to burn us Alas the wrong side of Christ to speak so his blackside his suffering side his wounds his bare coat his wants his wrongs the oppressions of men done to him are turned towards mens eyes they see not the best fairest side of Christ nor see they his amiable face and his beauty that man and angels wonder at Sir lend your thoughts to thâ—se things learn to contemn this world to turn your eyes and heart away from beholding the masked beauty of all things under Time's law and doom See him who is invisible and his invisible things draw by the curtain and look in with liking and longing to a Kingdom undefiled that fadeth not away reserved for you in the heaven This is worthy of your pains and worthy of your soul 's sweating and labouring seeking after night and day Fire will flee over the earth and all that is in it even destruction from the Almighty Fy fy upon that hope that shall be dryed up by the root Fy upon the drunken night-bargains And the drunken and mad covenant that sinners make with death and hell after cups and when mens souls are mad and drunken with the love of this lawless life They think to make a nest for their hopes and take quarters and conditions of hell and death that they shall have ease long life peace in the morning when the last trumpet shall awake them then they rue the block It is time high time for you to think upon death and your accounts and to remember what ye are where ye will be before the year of our Lord 1700. I hope ye are thinking upon this pull upon your soul and draw it aside from the company that it is with and round whisper in to it newes of eternity death judgement heaven and hell Grace grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To ALEXANDER GORDON Of Earlestown 136 Much honoured Sir GRace mercy peace be to you It is like if ye the Gentry Nobility of this nation be men in the streets as the word speaketh for the Lord that he will now deliver his flock
am but withered dry bones But since ye desire me to write to you either help me to set Christ on high for his running-over love in that the heat of his sweet breath hath melted a frozen heart else I think ye doe nothing for a prisoner I am fully confirmed that it is the honour of our Law-giver I suffer for now I am not ashamed to give out letters of recommendation of Christ's love to as many as will extoll the Lord Jesus his cross If I had not sailed this sea-way to heaven but had taken the land-way as many doe I should not have known Christ's sweetness in such a measure But the truth is let no man thank me for I caused not Christ's wind to blow upon me His love came upon a withered creature whether I would or not yet by coming it procured from me a welcome A heart of iron iron doors will not hold Christ out I give him leave to break iron locks come in that is al now I know not whether pain of love for want of possâ—ssion or sorrow that I dow not thank him paineth me most but both work upon me For the First O that he would come satisfie the longing soul fill the hungry soul with these good things I know indeed my guiltiness may be a bar in his way but he is God ready to forgive And for the other woe woe is me that I cannot finde a heart to give back again my unworthy little love for his great sea-full of love to me O that he would learn me this piece of gratitude O that I could have leave to look in thorow the hole of the door to see his face sing his praises or could break up one of his chamber windows to look in upon his delighting beauty till my Lord send more any little communion with him one of his love-looks should be my begun heaven I know he is not Lordly neither is the bridegroom's love proud though I be black unlovely unworthy of him I would seek but leave withall grace to spend my love upon him I counsel you to think highly of Christ of free free grace more then ye did before for I know that Christ is not known amongst us I think I see more of Christ then ever I saw yet I see but little of what may be seen O that he would draw by the curtains that the King would come out of his gallerie his palace that I might see him Christ's love is young glory young heaven It would soften hell's pains to be filled with it What would I refuse to suffer if I could but get a draught of love at my hearts desire O what price can be given for him Angels cannot weigh him O his weight his worth his sweetness his overpassing beauty If men Angels would come look to that great Princely one their ebbeness would never take up his depth their narrowness would never comprehend his breadth height length If ten thousand thousand worlds of Angels were created they might all tire themselves in wondering at his beauty begin again to wonder of new O that I could win nigh him to kiss his feet to hear his voice to finde the smell of his ointments But Oh alas I have little little of him yet I long for more Remember my bonds help me with your prayers for I would not niffer or exchange my sad hours with the joy of my velvet-adversaries Grace be with you Aberd. June 10. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To Mr JAMES FLEMING 138 Reverend welbeloved in our Lord. GRace mercy peace be to you I received your letter which hath refreshed me in my bonds I cannot but testifie unto you my dear Brother what sweetness I finde in our Master's cross but alas what can I either doe or suffer for him If I my alone had as many lives as there have been drops of rain since the creation I would think them too little for that lovely one our welbeloved but my pain and my sorrow is above my sufferings that I finde not wayes how to set out the praises of his love to others I am not able by tongue pen or sufferings to provoke many to fall in love with him but he knoweth whom I love to serve in the spirit what I would doe suffer by his own strength sobeing I might make my Lord Jesus lovely sweet to many thousands in this land I think it amongst God's wonders that he will take any praise or glory or any testimony to his honourable cause from such a forlorn sinner as I am But when Christ worketh he needeth not ask the question by whom he will be glorious I know seeing his glory at the beginning did shine out of poor nothing to set up such a fair house for man Angels so many glorious creatures to proclaim his goodness power wisdom if I were burnt to ashes out of the smoke and powder of my dissolved body he could raise glory to himself His glory is his end Oh that I could joyn with him to make it my end I would think that fellowship with him sweet glorious But alas few know the guiltiness that is on my part it is a wonder that this good cause hath not been marred and spilt in my foul hands But I rejoyce in this that my sweet Lord Jesus hath found something adoe even a ready market for his free grace and incomparable and matchless mercy in my wants Onely my loathsom wretchedness and my wants have qualified me for Christ and the riches of his glorious grace he behooved to take me for nothing or else to want me Few know the unseen private reckonings betwixt Christ and me yet his love his boundless love would not bide away nor stay at home with himself yet I dow not make it welcome as I ought when it 's come unsent for and without hire How joyfull is my heart that ye write ye are desirous to joyn with me in praising for it is charity to help a Dyvour to pay his debts but when all have helped me my name shall stand in his count-book under ten thousand thousands of summes unpayed But it easeth my heart that â—is dear servants will but speak of my debts to such a sweet creditour I desire he may lay me in his own ballance weigh me if I would not fain have a feast of his boundless love made to my own soul and to many others One thing I know we shall not all be able to come neer his excellency with eye heart or tongue for he is above all created thoughts All nations before him are as nothing as less then nothing he â—itteth in the circuit of heaven and the inhabitants of the earth are as grashoppers before him O that men would praise him Ye complain of your private case Alas I am not the
they who have past their hard and wearisom time of apprentiship and are now free-men and citizens in that joyfull high city the new Ierusalem Alas that we should be glad of and rejoyce in our fetters our prison-house this dear Innes a life of sin where we are absent from our Lord and so far from our home O that we could get bonds law-suretiship of our love that it fasten not it self on these clay-dreams these clayshadows and worldly vanities We might be oftener seeing what they are doing in heaven and our heart more frequently upon our sweet treasure above We smell of the smoke of this lower house of the earth because our heart and our thoughts are here If we could haunt up with God we should smell of heaven and of our countrey above we should look like our countrey and like strangers or people not born or brought up hereaway Our crosses would not bite upon us if we were heavenly minded I know no obligation the saints have to this world seeing we fare but upon the smoke of it if there be any smoke in the house it bloweth upon our eyes all our part of the table is scarce worth a drink of water when we are striken we dare not weep but steal our grief away betwixt our Lord and us and content our selves with stoln sorrow behinde backs God be thanked we have many things that so stroake us against the hair as we may pray God keep our better home God bless our Father's house not this smoke that bloweth us to seek our best lodging I am sure this is the best fruit of the cross when we from the hard fare of the dear Innes cry the more that God would send a fair wind to â—…nd us hungred oppressed strangers at the door of our Father's house which now is made in Christ our kindly heritage O then let us pull up the stakes stoups of our tent take our tent on our back goe with our flitting to our best home for here we have no continuing city I am waiting in hope here to see what my Lord will doe with me Let him make of me whath he pleaseth providing he make glory to himself out of me I care not I hope yea I am now sure that I am for Christ all that I can or may make is for him I am his everlasting debter or dyvour still shall be for alas I have nothing for him he getteth little service of me Pray for me that our Lord would be pleased to give me house-room that I may serve him in the calling he hath called me unto Grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To ROBERT STUART 143. My Very dear Brother GRace mercy peace be to you Ye are heartily welcome to my world of suffering heartily wel-come to my Master's house God give you much joy of your new Master If I have been in the house before you I were not faithfull to give the house an ill name or to speak evil of the Lord of the family I rather wish God's Holy Spirit O Lord breath upon me with that Spirit to tell you the fashions of the house One thing I can say by on-waiting ye will grow a great man with the Lord of the house Hang on till ye get some good from Christ Lay all your loads your weights by faith upon Christ Ease your self let him bear all he can he dow he will bear you howbeit hell were upon your back I rejoyce that he is come hath chosen you in the furnace it was even there where ye he set tryst that is an old gate of Châ—ist's he keepeth the good old fashion with you that was in Hosea's days Hos. 2 14. Therefore behold I will allure her bring her to the wilderness and speak to her heart There was no talking to her heart while he she were in the fair flourishing city at ease but out in the cold hungry waste wilderness he allureth her he whispered in newes into her ear there said Thou art mine What would ye think of such a bed Ye may soon doe worse then say Lord holds all Lord Iesus a bargain be it it shall not goe back on my side Ye have gotten a great advantage in the way to heaven that ye have started to the gate in the morning Like a fool as I was I suffered my sun to â—e high in the heaven and near afternoon before ever I took the gate by the end I pray you now keep the advantage ye have My heart be not lazie set as quickly up the bâ—ae on hands feet as if the last pickle of sand were running out of your glass death were coming to turn the glass be very carefull to take heed to your feet in that slippery dangerous way of youth that ye are walking in The devil temptations now have the advantage of the brae of you are upon your wand-hand your working hand Dry timber will soon take fire Be covetous greedy of the grace of God beware that it be not holiness that cometh onâ—ly from the cross for too many are that way disposed Psal. 78. 34. When he slew them then they sought him they râ—turned enquired early after God v. 35. Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth and they lyed unto him with their tongues It is a part of our hypocrisie to give God â—air white words when he hath us in his grips if I may speak so to flatter him till we win to the fair fields again Try well green godliness and exâ—mine what it is ye love in Christ if ye love but Christ's sunny side would have onely summer-weather a land-gate not a sea-way to heaven your profession will play you a slip and the winter-well will goe dry again in summer Make no sports nor bairns-play of Christ But labour for a sound lively sight of sin that ye may judge your self an undone man a damned slave of hell sin one dying in your own blood except Christ come and rue upon you take you up and therefore make sure fast work of conversion Cast the earth deep and down down with the old work the building of confusion that was there before let Christ lay new work make a new creation within you look if Christ's rain goeth down to the root of your withered plants and if his love wound your heart while it bleed with sorrow for sin if ye can pant fall a swoon be like to die for that lovely one Jesus I know Christ will not to be hid where he is grace will ever speak for it self be fruitfull in weldoing The sanctified cros is a fruitfull tree it bringeth forth many apples If I should tell you by some weak experience what I have found in Christ ye or others could hardly
the first I shall stand up as witness against you if ye doe not amend your wayes and your doings and turn to the Lord with all your heart I beseech you also my beloved in the Lord my joy my Crown offend not at the sufferings of me the prisoner of Jesus Christ I am filled with joy and with the comforts of God Upon my salvation I know am perswaded it is for God's Truth and the Honour of my King Royall Prince Jesus I now suffer and howbeit this town be my prison yet Christ hath made it my palace a garden of pleasures a field orchard of delights I know likewise albeit I be in bonds that yet the word of God is not in bonds my spirit also is in free ward Sweet svveet have his comforts been to my soul my pen tongue and heart have not vvords to express the kindness love mercy of my vvelbeloved to me in this house of my pilgrimage I charge you to fear love Christ to seek a house not made vvith hands but your father's house above This laughing and white skinned world beguileth you if ye seek it more then God it shall play you a slip to the endless sorrow of your heart Alas I could not make many of you fall in love with Christ howbeit I endeavoured to speak much good of him to commend him to you which as it was your sin so it is my sorrow yet once again suffer me to exhort beseech obtest you in the Lord to think of his love to be delighted with him who is altogether lovely I give you the word of a King ye shall not repent it ye are in my prayers night day I cannot forget you I doe not eat I doe not drink but I pray for you all I entreat you all every one of you to pray for me Grace grace be with you Aberd. Sept. 23. 1636. Your lawfull loving Pastor S. R. To the Lady CARDONNESS 150 MISTRESS I Beseech you in the Lord Jesus make every day more more of Christ try your growth in the grace of God what new ground ye win daily on corruption for travellers are day by day either advancing further on nearer home or else they goe not right about to compass their journey I think still the better better of Christ Alas I know not where to set him I would so fain have him high I cannot set heavens above heavens till I were tired with numbering set him upon the highest step story of the highest of them all But I wish I could make him great through the world suppose my loss pain shame were set under the soles of his feet that he might stand upon me I request you faint not because this world ye are at yea nay because this is not a home that laugheth upon you The wise Lord who knoweth you will have it so because he casteth a net for your love to catch it gather it in to himself therefore bear patiently the loss of children and burdens and other discontentments either within or without the house Your Lord in them is seeking you and seek ye him Let none be your love choice the flower of your delights but your Lord Jesus Set not your heart upon the world since God hath not made it your portion for it will not fall you to get two portions and to laugh twice and to be happy twice and to have an upper-upper-heaven and an under-under-heaven too Christ our Lord his saints were not so therefore let goe your grip of this life of the good things of it I hope your heaven groweth not hereaway Learn daily both to possess miss Christ in his secret bridegroom-smiles He must goe come because his infinite wisdom thinketh it best for you we will be together one day We shall not need to borrow light from sun moon or candle There shall be no complaints on eiher side in heaven There shall be none there but He we the bridegroom the bride Devils temptations trials desertions losses sad hearts pain death shall all be put out of play the Devil must give up his office of Tempting O blessed is the soul whose hope hath a face looking straight out to that day It is not our part to make a treasure here Any thing under the covering of heaven we can build upon is but ill ground a sandy foundation Every good thing except God wanteth a bottom cannot stand it's alone how then can it bear the weight of us Let us not lay a load upon a windlestraw there shall nothing finde my weight or found my happiness but God I know all created power should sink under me if I should lean down upon it therfore it is better to rest on God then sink or fall we weak souls must have a bottom being-place for we cannot stand our alone let us then be wise in our choice chuse waile our own blessedness which is to trust in the Lord Each one of us hath a whore idol besides our husbend Christ But it is our folly to divide our narrow little love It will not serve two best then hold it whole together give it to Christ for then we get double interest for our love when we lend it to lay it out upon Christ we are sure besides that the stock cannot perish Now I can say no more remember me I have God's right to that people howbeit by the violence of men stronger then I I am banished from you chased away The Lord give you mercy in the day of Christ It may be God clear my sky again howbeit there is small appearance of my deliverance But let him doe with me what seemeth good in his own eyes I am his clay let my porter frame fashion me as he pleaseth Grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Your lawfull loving Pastor S. R. To SIBILLA Mc ADAM 151 MISTRESS GRace mercy peace be to you I can bear witness in my bonds that Christ is still the longer the better no worse yea inconceivably better then he is or can be called I think it half an heaven to have my fill of the smâ—ll of his sweet breath to sleep in the arms of Christ my Lord with his left hand under my head his right hand embracing me There is no great reckoning to be made of the withering of my flower in comparison of the foul manifest wrongs done to Christ Nay let never the dew of God lie upon my branches again let the bloom fall from my joy and let it wither let the Almighty blow out my candle sobeing the Lord might be great among Jews Gentiles and his oppressed church delivered Let Christ fare well suppose I should eat ashes I know he must be sweet himself when his cross is so sweet And it is
the part of us all if we marrie Himself to marrie the crosses losses reproaches also that follow him for mercy followeth Christ's cross His prison for beauty is made of marble ivory his chains that are laid on his prisoners are golden chains the fighes of the prisoners of hope are perfumes with comforts the like whereof cannot be bred of found in this side of sun moon Follow on after his love â—ire not of Christ but come in and see his beauty excellency feed your soul upon Christ's sweetness This world is not yours neither would I have your heaven made of such mettall as mire clay Ye have the choice waile of all lovers in heaven or out of heaven when ye have Christ the onely delight of God his father Climb up the mountain with joy faint not for time will cut off the men who pursue Christ's followers Our best things here have a worm in them Our joyes besides God in the inner half are but woes sorrowes Christ Christ is that which our love and desires can sleep sweetly rest safely upon Now the very God of peace establish you in Christ Help a prisoner with your prayers and entreat that our Lord would be pleased to visite me with a fight of his beauty in his house as he hath sometimes done Grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To the Laird of CALLY 152 Worthy Sir GRace mercy peace be to you I have been too long I confess in writing to you My sute now to you in paper since I have no access to speak to you as formerly is that ye would lay the foundation sure in your youth When ye begin to seek Christ try I pray you upon what terms ye covenant to follow him and lay your accounts what it may cost you that summer nor winter nor well nor woe may not cause you change your master Christ Keep fair to him be honest and faithfull that he finde not a crack in you Surely ye are now in the throng of temptations When youth is come to it's fairest bloom then the Devil the lusts of a deceiving world sin are upon horse-back and follow with up sails If this were not Paul needed not to have written to a sanctified holy youth Timothy a faithfull preacher of the Gospel flee the lusts of youth Give Christ your virgin-love ye cannot put your love heart in a better hand O if ye knew him saw his beauty Your love your liking your heart your desires would close with him cleave to him Love by nature when it seeth cannot but cast out it 's spirit and strength upon amiable objects good things things love-worthy and what fairer thing then Christ O fair sun and fair moon and fair stars and fair flowers and fair roses and fair lilies and fair creatures but O ten thousand thousand times fairer Lord Jesus Alas I wronged him in making the comparison this way O black sun moon but O fair Lord Jesus O black flowers black lilies roses but O fair fair ever fair Lord Jesus O all fair things black deformed without beauty when ye are beside that fairest Lord Jesus O black heaven but O fair Christ O black Angels but O surpassingly fair Lord Jesus I would seek no more to make me happy for evermore but a through clear sight of the beauty of Jesus my Lord Let my eyes enjoy his fairness store him for ever in the face I have all that can be wished Get Christ rather then gold or silver seek Christ howbeit ye should lose all things for him They take their marks by the moon look asquint in looking to fair Christ who resolve for the world their ease for their honour court credit or for fear of losses a sore skin that they will turn their back upon Christ his truth Alas how many blinde eyes squint-lookers look this day in Scotland upon Christ's beauty they see a spot in Christ's fair face Alas they are not worthy of Christ who look this way upon him see no beauty in him why they should desire him God send me my fill of his beauty if it be possible that my soul can be full of his beauty here But much of Christ's beauty needeth not abate the eager appetite of a soul sick of love for himself to see him in the other world where he is seen as he is I am glad with all my heart that ye have given your greenest morning age to this Lord Jesus Hold on weary not faint not resolve upon suffering for Christ but fear not ten dayes tribulation for Christ's sowre cross is sugared with comforts hath a taste of Christ himself I esteem it my glory my joy my crown I bless him for this honour to be yoked with Christ married with him in suffering who therefore was born therefore came into the world that he might bear witness to the truth Take pains above all things for salvation for without running fighting sweating wrestling heaven is not taken O happy soul that crosseth nature's stomack delighteth to gain that fair garland crown of glory What a feckless loss is it for you to goe through this wilderness never taste of sin's sugared pleasures What poorer is a soul to want pride lust love of the world the vanities of this vain worthless world Nature hath no cause to weep at the want of such toyes as these Esteem it your gain to be an heir of glory O but that is an eye-look to a fair rent The very hope of heaven under troubles is like wind sails to the soul like wings when the feet come out of the share O for what stay we here Up up after our Lord Jesus this is not our rest nor our dwelling What have we to doe in this prison except onely to take meat house-room in it for a time Grace grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Your soul's welwisher Christ prisoner S. R. To WILLIAM GORDON At Kenmure 153 Dear Brother GRace mercy peace be to you I have been long in answering your letter which came in good time to me It is my aim hearty desire that my furnace which is of the Lord 's kindling may sparkle fire upon standers by to the warming of their hearts with God's love The very dust that falleth from Christ's feet his old ragged clothes his knotty black cross is sweeter to me then Kings golden crowns their time-eaten pleasures I should be a liar false witness if I should not give my Lord Jesus a fair testimonial with my whole soul my word I know will not heighten him he needeth not such props under his feet to raise his glory high But Oh that I could raise him the height of heaven the breadth length often heavens in the
to sleep wish that heaven may fall down in our laps Yet for all my Lord's glooms I finde him sweet gracious loving kinde I want both pen words to set forth the fairness beauty sweetness of Christ's love the honour of this cross of Christ which is glorious to me though the world thinketh shame thereof I verily think that the cross of Christ would blush think shame of these thin-skined worldlings who are so married to their credit that they are ashamed of the sufferings of Christ. O the honour to be scourged stoned with Christ to goe through a furious-faced death to life eternall But men would have Lawborrows against Christ's cross Now My dear Brother forget not the prisoner of Christ for I see very few here who kindely fear God Grace be with you Let my love in Christ hearty affection be remembred to your kinde wife to your Brother Iohn to all friends The Lord Jesus be with your Spirit Abed Sept. 20. 1636. Yours in his onely onely Lord Iesus S. R. To EARLESTOWN Younger 160. Much Honoured Sir GRace mercy peace be to you I am well Christ triumpheth in me blessed be his name I have all things I burden no man I see this earth and the fullness thereof is my father's sweet sweet is the cross of my Lord The blessing of God upon the cross of my Lord Jesus My enemies have contributed beside their designe to make me blessed This is my palace not my prison especially when my Lord shineth smileth upon his poor afflicted sold Joseph who is separated from his brethen But often he hideth himself there is a day of law court of challenges within me I know not if fenced in God's name but Oh my neglects Oh my unseen guiltiness I imagined that a sufferer for Christ kept The keys of Christ's treasure might take out his womb-full of comforts when he pleased but I see a sufferer witness will be holden at the door aswell as another poor sinner be glad to eat with the bairns to take the by-board This cross hath let me see that heaven is not at the next door that it is a castle not soon taken I see also it is neither pain nor art to play the hyprocrite We have all learned to sell our selves for double price to make the people who call ten twenty twenty an hundred esteem us half-gods or men fallen out of the clouds But Oh sincerity sincâ—rity if I knew what sincerity meaneth Sir lay the foundation thus ye shall not soon shrink nor be shaken Make tight work at the bottom your ship shall ride against all storms if with all your anchor be fastned upon good ground I mean with in the vail verily I think this is All to gain Christ All other things are shadows dreams fansies nothing Sir remember my love to your mother I pray for mercy grace to her I wish her on-going toward heaven As I promised to write so shew her I want nothing in my Lord's service Christ will not be in such a poor man's common as mine Grace grace be with you Aberd. Sept. 22. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To JOHN GORDON 161 Worthy dear Brother GRace mercy and peace be to you I have been too long in writing to you but multitude of letters taketh much time from me I bless his great name whom I serve in the spirit if it came to voting amongst Angels and men how excellent and sweet Christ is even in his reproaches and in his cross I cannot but vote with the first that all that is in him both cross crown kisses glooms embracements and frownings and strokes are sweet and glorious God send me no more happiness in heaven or out of heaven but Christ For I finde this world when I have looked upon it on both sides within without when I have seen even the laughing and lovely-like side of it to be but a fool's idol a clay prison Lord let it not be the nest that my hope buildeth in I have now cause to judge my part of this earth not worth a blast of smoke or a mouth-full of brown bread I wish my Hope may take a running-leap skip over Time's pleasures Sin 's plaistering gold-â—oâ—e this vain earth rest upon my Lord. O how great is our night-darkness in this wilderness To have any conceit at all of this world is as a man would close his handfull of water and holding his hand in the river say all the water of the flood is his as if it were indeed all within the compass of his hand Who would not laugh at the thoughts of such a crack-brain Verily they have but an handfull of water are but like a childe clasping his two hands about a night-shadow who idolize any created hope but God I now ligh lie put the price of a dream or fable or black nothing upon all things but upon God that desireable love-worthy one my Lord Jesus Let all the world be nothing for nothing was their seed mother let God be all things My very dear Brother know ye are as near heaven as ye are far from your self far from the love of a bewitching whorish world For this World in it's gain and glory is but the great and notable common whore that all the sons of men have been in fancy lust withall these 5000 years the children that they have begotten with this uncouth lustfull lover are but vanity dreams golden imaginations night-thoughts For there is no good ground here under the covering of heaven for men poor wearied souls to set down their foot upon O he who is called God that one whom they term Iesus Christ is worth the having indeed even ifâ— had given away all without my eye-holes my soul and my self for sweet Jesus my Lord O let the claim be cancelled that the creatures have to me except that claim my Lord Iesus hath to me Oh that he would claim poor me my silly light worthless soul O that he would pursue his claim to the utmost point not want me For it is my pain remediless sorrow to want him I see nothing in this life but sinks mires dreams beguiling ditches ill ground for us to build upon I am fully perswaded of Christs victory in Scotland but I fear this land be not yet ripe and white for mercy Yet I dare be halfer upon my salvation with the losses of the church of Scotland that her foes afternoon shall sing dole sorrow for evermore and that her joy shall once again be cried up her skie shall clear But vengeance burning shall be to her adversaries the sinners of this land Oh that we could be awakened to prayers humiliation Then should our sun shine like seven suns in the heaven then
to be Christ's ransomed sinner sick one His relation to me is that I am sick He is the physician of whom I stand in need Alas how often play I fast loose with Christ He bindeth I loose he buildeth I cast down he tâ—immeth up a salvation for me I mar it I cast out with Christ he agreeth with me again twenty times a day I forfeit my Kingdom heritage I lose what I had but Christ is at my back and following on to stoop take up that falleth from me Were I in heaven had the crown on my head if Freewill were my tutour I should lose heaven seeing I lose my self what wonder I should let goe lose Jesus my Lord O well to me for evermore that I have cracked my credit with Christ cannot by law at all borrow from him upon my feckless worthless bond faith for my faith reputation with Christ is that I am a creature that God will not put any trust into I was am bewildered with temptations wanted a guide to heaven O what have I to say of that excellent surpassing supereminent thing they call The Grace of God the way of free redemption in Christ And when poor poor I dead in law was sold fettered imprisoned in Justice's closest ward which is hell damnation when I a wretched one lighted upon noble Iesus eternally kinde Iesus tender hearted Iesus nay when he lighted upon me first knew me I found that he scorned to take a price or any thing like hire of Angels or Seraphims or any of his creatures and therefore I would praise him for this that the whole armie of the redeemed ones sit rent-free in heaven Our holding is better then Blench We are all Free-holders seeing our eternall feuduty is but thanks Oh woefull me that I have but spilt thanks broken lame miscarried praises to give him so my silver is not good current with Christ were it not that free merites have stamped it washen it me both And for my silence I see somewhat better through it now If my high lofty one my princely Royall Master say Hold hold thy peace I lay bonds on thee thou speak none I would fain be content let my fire be smothered under ashes without light or flame I cannot help it I take laws from my Lord but I give none As for your journey to F. ye doe well to follow it The camp in Christ's ordinary bed A carried bed is kindly to the Beloved down in this lower house It may be who knoweth but our Lord hath some Centurions ye are sent to Seeing your angry mother denieth you lodging house-room with her Christ's call to unknown faces must be your second wind seeing ye cannot have a first O that our Lord would water again with a new visite this piece withered dry hill of our widow-mount Zion my Dear Brother I will think it comfort if ye speak my name to our welbeloved wherever ye are I am mindefull of you O that the Lord would yet make the light of the moon in Scotland like the light of the sun and the light of the sun seven fold brighter For my self as yet I have received no answer whither to goe I wait on O that Jesus had my love Let matters frame as they list I have some more to doe with Christ yet I would fain we were nearer Now the great shepherd of the sheep the very God of peace establish confirm you till the day of his coming Aberd. Sept. 9 1637. Yours in his lovely sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To the Lady CARLETON 173 MISTRESS GRace mercy and peace be to you My soul longeth once again to be amongst you to behold that beauty of the Lord that I would see in his house But I know not if he in whose hands are all our waves seeth it expedient for his glory I ow my Lord I know submission of spirit suppose he should turn me into a stone or pillar oâ— salt Oh that I were He in whom my Lord could be glorified suppose my little heaven were forfeited to buy glory to him before men and Angels suppose my want of his presence and separation from Christ were a pillar as high as ten heavens for Christ's glory to stand upon above all the world What am I to him How little am I though my feathers stood out as broad as the morning lighâ— to such a high to such a lofty to such a never-enough admired glorious Lord My trials are heavy bâ—cause of my sad sabbaths but I know they are less then my high provocations I seek no more but that Christ may be the gainer and I the loser that he may be raised and hightned and I cryed down and my worth made dust before his glory Oh that Scotland all with one shout would cry up Christ and that his name were high in this land I finde the very utmost borders of Christ's high excellency and deep sweâ—tness heaven and earth's wonder O what is he if I could win in to see his inner side Oh I am run dâ—y of loving and wondering and adoring of that greatest most admirable one Woe woe is me I have not half-love for him Alas what can my drop doe to his great sea What gain is it to Christ that I have casten my little sparkle in his great fire What can I give to him Oh that I had love to fill a thousand worlds that I might emptie my soul of it all upon Christ I think I have now just reason to quite my part of any hope or love that I have to this scum and the refuse of the dross of God's work-manâ—hip this vain earth I ow to this stormy world whose kindness 〈◊〉 heart to me hath been made of iron or of a piece of a wilde sea-Island that never a creature of God yet lodged in not a look I ow it no love no hope therefore Oh if my love were dead to it my soul dead to it What am I obliged to this house of my pilgrimage A straw for all that God hath made to my soul's liking except God that lovely one Iesus Christ Seeing I am not this world's debter I desire I may be striped of all confidence in any thing but my Lord that he may be for me I for my onely onely onely Lord that he may be the morning evening-tide the top the root of my joyes the heart flower yolk of all my soul's delights O let me never lodge any creature in my heart confidence Let the house be for him I rejoyce that sad dayes cut off a piece of the lease of my short life that my shadow even while I suffer weareth long my evening hasteneth on I have cause to love home with all my heart to take the opportunity of the day to hasten to the
but too lazie and careless in seeking of it It is all our riches we have here glory in the bud I wish I could set out â—ree Grace I was the Law 's man under the Law under a curse but Grace brought me from under that hard Lord I rejoyce that I am Grace's Free-holder I pay tribute to none for heaven seeing my land heritage holdeth of Christ my new King Infinite wisdom hath devised this excellent way of Free-holding for sinners It is a better way to heaven then the old way that was in Adam's dayes It hath this fair advantage that no man's emptiness want layeth an inhibition upon Christ or hindereth his salvation that is far best for me but our new Land-Lord putteth the names of Dyvours Adam's forlorn Heirs beggers crooked blinde in the free charters Heaven Angels may wonder that we have gotten such a gate of sin hell Such a back-entry out of hell as Christ made brought out the captives by is more then my poor shallow thoughts can comprehend I would think sufferings glory I am sometimes not far from it if my Lord would give me a new almes of free grace I hear that the Prelats are intending banishment for me but for more grace no other hire I would make it welcome The bits of this clay-house the earth the other side of the sea are my father's If my sweet Lord Jesus would bud my sufferings with a new measure of grace I were a rich man But I have not now of a long time found such high spring-tides as formerly The sea is out the wind of his Spirit calm I cannot buy a wind or by requesting the sea cause it to flow again onely I wait on upon the banks shore-side till the Lord send a full sea that with up-sailes I may lift up Christ Yet sorrow for his absence is sweet sighes with Saw ye him whom my soul loveth have their own delights Oh that I might gather hunger against his long-looked for return Well were my soul if Christ were the element mine own element that I loved breathed in him if I could not live without him I allow not laughter upon my self when He is away yet He never leaveth the house but the leaveth drink-money behinde him a pawne that he will return Woe woe to me if he should goe away take all his flitting with him Even to dream of him is sweet To build a house of pining wishes for his return to spin out a web of sorrow care languishing sighes either dry or wet as they may be because he hath no leisure if I may spâ—aâ— so to make a visite or to see a poor friend sweetneth refreâ—heth the thoughts of the heart A mistie dew will stand for rain doe some good keep some greenness in the herbs till our Lord's clouds â—ue upon the earth send down a watering of rain Truly I think Christ's mistie dew a welcome message from heaven till my Lorâ—'s rain fall Woe woe is me for the Lord's vineyard in Scotland Howbeit the Father of the house embrace a childe feed him kiss him yet it is sorrow and sadness to the children that our poor mother hath gotten her leave that our Father hath given up house It is an unheartsom thing to see our Father mother agree so ill yet the Bastards if they be fed care not O Lord cait not water on Scotland's smoking coal It is a strange gate the saints goe to heaven our enemies often eat drink us we goe to heaven through their bellies stomacks they vomit the church of God undigested among their hands even while we are shut up in prisons by them we advance in our jâ—urney Remember my service to my Lord your kinde Son who was kinde to me in my bonds was not ashamed to own me I would be glad that Christ got the morning-service of his life now in his young years It would sute him well to give Christ his young green love Christ's stamp and seal would goe far down in a young soul If he would receive the thrust of Christ's stamp I would desire him to make search for Christ for Nobles now are but dry friends to Christ. The Grace of God our Father the goodwill of him who dwelt in the bush be with your La. Aberd. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To the Lady CARDONNESS ELDER 180. Worthy welbeloved in the Lord GRace mercy peace be to you I long to hear from you in paper that I may know how your soul prospereth My desire longing in to hear that ye walk in the truth that ye are content to follow the despised but most lovely Son of God I cannot but recommend him unto you as your husband your welbeloved your portion your comfort your joy I speak this of that lovely one because I praise commend the foord as we use to speak as I finde it He hath watered with his sweet comforts an oppressed prisoner He was alwayes kinde to my soul but never so kinde as now in my greatest extremittes I dine sup with Christ He visiteth my soul with the visitations of love in the night-watches I perswade my soul that this is the way to heaven his own Truth I now suffer for I exhort you in the name of Christ to continue in the truth which I delivered to you Make Christ sure to your soul for your day draweth nigh to an end Many slide back now who seemed to be Christ's friends prove dishonest to him But be ye faithfull to the death ye shall have the crown of life This span-length of your dayes whereof the Spirit of God speaketh Psal. 39. will within a short time come to a finger-breadth at length to nothing O how sweet comfortable shall the feast of a good conscience be to you when your eye-strings shall break your face wax pale the breath turn cold your poor soul come sighing to the windows of the house of clay of your dying body shall long to be out to have the jaylor to open the door that the prisoner may be set at liberty Ye draw nigh the water-side look your accounts Ask for your guide to take you to the other side Let not the world be your portion What have ye to doe with dead clay Ye are not a bastard but a lawfull begotten childe therefore set your heart on the inheritance Goe up before hand and see your lodging Look through all your father's rooms in heaven in your father's house are many dwelling-places Men take a sight of lands ere they buy them I know Christ hath made the bargain already But be kinde to the house ye are going to see it often Set your heart on things that are above where Christ is at the right
hand of God Stir up your husband to minde his own countrey at home Counsel him to deal mercifully with the poor people of God under him They are Christ's not his therefore desire him to shew them mercifull dealing kindness to be good to their souls I desire you to write to me It may be that my Parish forget me but my witness is in heaven I dow not I doe not forget them They' are my sighes in the night my tears in the day I think my self like an husband plucked from the wife of his youth O Lord be my Judge what joy it would be to my soul to hear that my ministery hath left the Son of God among them that they are walking in Christ Remember my love to your Son and Daughtre Desire them from me to seek the Lord in their youth and to give him the morning of their dayes Acquaint them with the word of God prayer Grace be with you Pray for the prisoner of Christ In my heart I forget you not Aberd. March 6. 1637. Your lawfull loving Pastor in his onely Lord Iesus S. R. To Mr. JAMES HAMILTON 181 Reverend dearly beloved in our Lord. GRace mercy peace be to you Our acquaintance is neither in bodily presence nor in paper but as sons of the same father sufferers for the same truth Let no man doubt but the state of our question we are now forced to stand to by suffering exile imprisonment is If Iesus should reign over his Kirk or not Oh if my sinfull arm could hold the crown on his head howbeit it should be striken off from the shoulder-blade For your ensuing feared trial my very dearest in our Lord Iesus Alas what am I to speak to comfort a souldier of Christ who hath done an hundred times more for that worthy honourable cause then I can doe But I know these whom the world was not worthy of wandered up down in deserts in mountains in dens caves of the earth that while there is one member of mystical Christ out of heaven that member must suffer strokes till our Lord Jesus draw in that member within the gates of the new Ierusalem which he will not fail to doe at last for not one toe or finger of that body but it shall be take in within the city What can be our part in this pitched battel betwixt the Lamb the Dragon But to receive the darts in patience that rebound off us on upon our sweet Master or rather light first upon him then rebound off him upon his servants I think it a sweet North-wind that bloweth first upon the fair face of the chief among ten thousand then lighteth upon our sinfull black faces When once the wind bloweth off him upon me I think it hath a sweet smell of Christ so must besome more then a single cross I know ye have a guard about you your attendance train for your safety is far beyond your pursuers force or fraud It is good under feud to be near our war-house strong hold We can doe but little to resist them who persecut us oppose him but keep our blood our wounds to the next Court-day when our complaints will be read If this day be not Christ's I am sure the morrow shall be his As for any thing I doe in my bonds when now then a word falleth from me alas it is very little I am exceedingly grieved that any should conceive any thing to be in such a broken emptie reed let no man impute it to me that the free unbought wind for I gave nothing for it bloweth upon an empty reed I am his overburdened debter I cry down with me down down with all the excellency of the world up up with Christ Long long may that fair One that holy One be on high My curse be upon them that love him not O how glad would I be if his glory would grow out spring up out of my bonds sufferings Certainly since I became his prisoner he hath won the yolk heart of my soul Christ is even become a new Christ to me his love greener then it was now I strive no more with him his love shall carry it away I lay down my self under his love I desire to sing to cry to proclaim my self even under the water in his common eternally indebted to his kindness I will not offer to quite commons with him as we use to say for that will not be All all for evermore be Christ's What further trials are before me I know not but I know Christ will have a saved soul of me over on the other side of the water in the yonder side of crosses beyond mens wrongs I had but one eye that they have put out My one joy next to the flower of my joyes Christ was to preach my sweetest sweetest Master and the glory of his Kingdom and it seemed no cruelty to them to put out the poor man's one eye And now I am seeking about to see if suffering will speak my fair One's praises I am trying if a dumb man's tongue can raise one note or one of Zion's springs to advance my Welbeloved's glory Oh if he would make some glory to himself out of a dumb prisoner I goe with childe of his word I cannot be delivered none here will have my Master Alas What aileth them at him I bless you for your prayers adde to them praises As I am able I pay you home I commend your diving in Christ's Testament I would I could set out the dead man's goodwill to his friends in his sweet Testament Speak a prisoner 's hearty commendations to Christ fear not your ten dayes will over These that are gathered against mount Zion their eyes shall melt away in their eye-holes and their tongues consume away in their mouthes Christ's withered garden shall grow green again in Scotland My Lord Jesus hath a word hid in heaven for Scotland not yet brought out Grace be with you Aberd. July 7. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To MISTRESS STUART 182 MISTRESS GRace mercy peace be to you I am sorry that ye take it so hardly that I have not written to you I am judged to be that which I am not I fear if I were put in the fire I should melt away fall down in sheards of painted nature For truly I have little stuff at home that is worth the eye of God's servants If there be any thing of Christ's in me as I dare not deny some of his work it is but a spunk of borrowed fire that can scarce warm my self hath little heat for standers by I would sain have that which ye and others beleeve I have but ye are onely witnesses to my utter side and to some words in paper Oh that he would give me
The supper will be great chear that is up in the great hall with the royal King of glory when the four-hours the standing drink in this driery wilderness is so sweet When he bloweth a kiss a far off to his poor heart broken mourners in Zion and sendeth me but his hearty commendations till we meet I am confounded with wonder to think what it shall be when the fairest among the sons of men shall lay a King 's sweet soft cheek to the sinfull cheeks of poor sinners O time time goe swiftly hasten that day Sweet Lord Jesus post come flying like a young Hart or a Roe upon the mountains of separation I think we should tell the hours carefully look often how low the sun is For love hath no ho it is pained pained in it self till it come in grips with the party beloved 2. I finde Christ's absence love's sickness love's death The wind that bloweth out of the airth where my Lord Jesus reigneth is sweet-smelled soft joyfull heartsom to a soul burnt with absence It is a painfull battel for a soul sick of love to fight with absence delayes Christ's not yet is a stounding of all the joynts liths of the soul a nod of his head when he is under a mask would be half a pawne to say fool what aileth thee He is coming would be life to a dead man I am often in my dumb sabbaths seeking a new plea with my Lord Jesus God forgive me I care not if there be not two or three ounce weight of black wrath in my cup. For the 3 Thing I have seen my abominable vileness If I were well known there would none in this Kingdom ask how I doe Men take my ten to be an hundred but I am a deeper hypocrite shallower professour then every one beleeveth God knoweth I feigne not But I think my reckonings on the one page written in great letters his mercy to such a forlorn wretched Dyvour on the other more then a miracle If I could get my finger ends upon a full assurance I trow I should grip fast But my cup wanteth not gall upon my part despair might be almost excused if every one in this land saw my inner side But I know I am one of them who have made great sale a free market to free grace If I could be saved as I would fain beleeve sure I am I have given Christ's blood his free grace the bowels of his mercy a large field to work upon Christ hath manifested his art I dare not say to the uttermost for he can if he would forgive all the Devils damned reprobates in respect of the wideness of his mercy I say to an admirable degree 4. I am striken with fear of unthankfulness This Apostate Kirk hath played the harlot with many lovers they are spitting in the face of my lovely King and mocking him and I dow not mend it they are running away from Christ in troops and I dow not mourn be grieved for it I think Christ lieth like an old forecasten castle forsaken of the inhabitants all men run away now from him Truth innocent Truth goeth mourning wringing her hands in sackcloth ashes Woe woe woe is me for the virgin-daughter of Scotland Woe woe to the inhabitants of this land for they are gone back with a perpetual backsliding These things take me so up that a borrowed bed another man's fire-side the wind upon my face I being driven from my lovers dear acquaintance my poor flock finde no room in my sorrow I have no spare of odde sorrow for these Onely I think the sparrows and swallows that build their nests in the Kirk of Anwoth blessed birds Nothing hath given my faith a harder back-set till it crack again then my closed mouth But let me be miserable my self alone God keep my dear brethren from it But still I keep breath when my royal and never never-enough praised King returneth to his sinfull prisoner I ride upon the high places of Iacob I divide Shechem I triumph in his strength If this Kingdom would glorifie the Lord in my behalf I desire to be weighed in God's even ballance in this point if I think not my wages payed to the full I shall crave no more hire of Christ. Madam pity me in this help me to praise him For what ever I be the chief of sinners a devil a most guilty devil yet it is the apple of Christ's eye his honour glory as the head of the church that I suffer for now that I will goe to eternity with I am greatly in love with Mr M. M. I see him stamped with the image of God I hope well of your son my Lord Boyd Your La and your children have a prisoner's prayers Grace grace be with you Aberd. May. 1. 1637. Your La at all obedience in Christ S. R. To Mr THOMAS GARVEN 188. Dear Brother GRace mercy peace be to you I rejoyce that ye cannot be quite of Christ if I may speak so but he must he will have you Betake your self to Christ my dear Brother It is a great business to make quite of superfluities of these things which Christ cannot dwell with I am content with my own cross that Christ hath made mine by an eternal lot because it is Christ's mine together I marvel not that winter is without heaven for there is no winter within it All the saints therefore have their own measure of winter before their eternal summer Oh for the long day the high sun the fair garden the King 's great citie up above these visible heavens What God layeth on let us suffer For some have one cross some seven some ten some half a cross yet all the saints have whole full ioy seven crosses have seven ioyes Christ is cumbred with me to speak so my cross but he falleth not off me we are not at variance I finde the very glooms of Christ's wooing a soul sweet lovely I had rather have Christ's buffet and love-stroke then another King's kiss Speak evil of Christ who will I hope to die with love-thoughts of him Oh that there are so few tongues in heaven and earth to extoll him I wish his praises goe not down amongst us Let not Christ be low lightly esteemed in the midst of us but let all hearts all tongues cast in their portion contribute something to make him great in mount Zion Thus recommending you to his grace remembring my love to your wife mother your kinde brother R. entreating you to remember my bonds I rest Aberd. Sept. 8. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To the Laird of MONCRIEFE 189 Much honoured Sir GRace mercy peace be to you Although not acquaint yet at the desire of your worthy sister the Lady Ley's upon the report of your kindness
giving and count not much of being mocked for Christ Jesus was mocked before you Perswade your self that this is the way of peace and comfort I now suffer for I dare goe to death in to eternity with it though men may possibly seek another way Remember me in your prayers the state of this oppressed Church Grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Your soul's Well-wisher S. R. To CARDONNESS Elder 191 Much honoured Sir I long to hear how your soul prospereth I wonder that ye write not to me for the holy Ghost beareth me witness I cannot I dare not I dow not forget you nor the souls o these with you who are redeemed by the blood of the greaf Shepherd Ye are in my heart in the night watches ye are my◠joy crown in the day of Christ O Lord bear witness if my soul thirsteth for any thing out of heaven more then for your salvation Let God lay me in an even ballance try me in this Love heaven let your heart be on it Up up visit the new land view the fair city the white throne the Lamb the bride 's husband in his bridegroom's clothes sitting on it It were time your soul should cast it self all your burdens upon Christ. I beseech you by the wounds of your Redeemer by your compearance before him by the salvation of your soul lose no more time run fast for it is late God hath sworn by himself who made the world and time that time shall be no more Rev. 10 Ye are now upon the very border of the other life your Lord cannot be blamed for not giving you warning I have taught the truth of Christ to you delivered unto you the whole counsel of God I have stood before the Lord for you I shall yet still stand awake awake to doe righteously Think not to be eased of the burthens debts that are on your house by oppressing any or being rigorous to these that are under you remember how I endeavoured to walk before you in this matter as an example behold here am I witness against me before the Lord his Anointed whose ox or whoseass have I taken Whom have I defrauded Whom have I oppressed Who knoweth how my soul feedeth upon a good conscience when I remember how I spent this body in feeding the lambs of Christ At my first entry hither I grant I took a stomack against my Lord because he had casten me over the dike of the vineyard as a dry tree would have no more of my service My dumb sabbaths broke my heart and I would not be comforted but now he whom my soul love this come again and it pleaseth him to feast me with the kisses of his love A King dineth with me and his spikenard casteth a sweet smell The Lord my witness is above that I write my heart to you I never knew by my nine years preaching so much of Christ's love as he hath taught me in Aberden by six moneths imprisonment I charge you in Christ's name help me to praise shew that people countrey the loving kindness of the Lord to my soul that so my sufferings may someway preach to them when I am silent He hath made me know now better then before what it is to be crucified to the world I would not now give a drink of cold water for all the world's kindness I ow no service to it I am not the flesh's debter My Lord Jesus hath dâted his prisoner hath thoughts of love concerning me I would not exchange my sighs with the laughing of my adversaries Sir I write this to inform you that ye may know it is the truth of Christ I now suffer for he hath sealed nay sufferings with the comforts of his spirit on my soul I know he putteth not his seal upon blank paper Now Sir I have no comfort earthly but to know that I have espoused and shall present a bride to Christ in that congregation The Lord hath given you much and therefore he will require much of you again Number your talents see what ye have to render back again ye cannot be enough perswaded of the shortness of your time I charge you to write to me in the fear of God be plain with me whether or no ye have made your salvation sure I am confident hope the best but I know your reckonings with your Judge are many and deep Sir be not beguiled neglect not your one thing Philip. 3 13 your one necessary thing Luke 10 42 the good part that shall not be taken from you Look beyond time things here are but moon-shine they have but Childrens wit who are delighted with shadows deluded withfeathers flying in the air Desire your children in the morning of their life to begin seek the Lord to remember their Creator in the dayes of their youth Eccles. 12 1. to cleanse their way by taking heed thereto according to God's word Ps. 119 9. youth is a glassy age Satan findes a swept chamber for the most part in youth-hood a garnished lodging for himself his train Let the Lord have the flower of their age The best sacrifice is due to him Instruct them in this that they have a soul that this life is nothing in comparison of eternity They will have much need of God's conduct in this world to guide them by these rocks upon which most men split but far more need when it cometh to the hour of death their compearance before Christ. O that there were such a heart in them to fear the name of the great dreadfull God who hath laid up great things for these that love fear him I pray that God may be their portion Show others of my parishoners that I write to them my best wishes and the blessings of their lawfull Pastor Say to them from me that I beseech them by the bowels of Christ to keep in minde the Doctrine of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ which I taught them that so they may lay hold on eternal life striving together for the faith of the Gospel making sure salvation to themselves Walk in love doe righteousness seek peace love one another wait for the coming of our Master Judge Receive no doctrine contrary to that which I delivered to you If ye fall away forget it that Catechisme which I taught you so forsake your own mercy the Lord be judge betwixt you me I take heaven earth to witness that such shall eternally perish but if they serve the Lord great will their reward be when they I shall stand before our Judge Set forward up the mountain to meet with God climb up for your Saviour calleth on you It may be God call you to your rest when I am far from you but ye have my love the desires of my heart for your souls wel-fare
my ashes could proclaim the worth excellency love of my Lord Jesus There is much telling in Christ I give over the weighing of him Heaven would not be the beam of a ballance to weigh him in What eyes be on me or what wind of tongues be on me I care not Let me stand in this stage in the fools coat act a fools part to the rest of this nation If I can set my welbeloved on high witness fair for him a fig for their Hosanna If I can roll my self in a lap of Christ's garment I will â—e there laugh at the thoughts of dying bits of clay Brother we have cause to weep for our harlot-mother her husband is sending her to Rome's brothell-house which is the gate she liketh well Yet I perswade you there shall be a fair after-growth for Christ in Scotland this Church shall sing the Bridegroom's welcome-home again to his own house The worms shall eat them first ere they cause Christ take good-night at Scotland I am here assaulted with the Doctors gun but I bless the father of lights they draw not blood of truth I finde no lodging in the heart of natural men who are cold friends to my Master I pray you Remember my love to that Gentleman A. C. My heart is knit to him because he I have one Master Remember my bands present my service to my Lord my Lady I wish Christ may be dearer to them then to many of their place Grace be with you Aberd. July 5. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To my Lady BOYD. 202. GRace mercy peace be to you Few I beleeve knâ—w the pain torment of Christ's fristed love fristing of Christ's presence is a matter of torment I know a poor soul that would lay all oars in the water for a banquet or feast oâ—â— Christ's love I cannot think but it must be uptaking sweet to see the white red of Christ's fair face for he is white ruddy the chiefest among ten thousands Cant 5 10. I am sure that must be a well made face of his heaven must be in his visage glory glory for evermore must â—it on his countenance I dare not curse the mask covering that is on his face but O if there were a hole in it O if God would tear the mask Fy fy upon us we were never shamed till nowâ— that we doe not proclaim our pining languishing for him I am sure nevâ—r tongue spake of Christ as he is I am still of that minde and still will be that we wrong undervalue that holy holy One in having such short and shallow thoughts of his weight worth O if I could have but leave to stand beside see the Father weigh Christ the Son if it were possible But how every one of them comprehendeth another we who have eyes of clay cannot comprehend But it is pity for evermore more then shame that such an one as Christ should sit in heaven his alone for us To goe up thither one's errand and on purpose to see were no small glory O that he would strike out windows fair and great lights in this old house this fallen down soul and then set the soul near hand Christ that the rays beams of light th soul-delighting glances of the fair fair God-head might shine in at the windows fill the house A fairer more near direct sight of Christ would make room for his love for we are but pinched straitned in his love Alas it were easy to measure weigh all the love that we have for Christ by inches and ounces Alas that we should love by measure weight and not rather have floods feasts of Christ's love Oh that Christ would break down the old narrow vessels of these narrow ebbe souls make fair deep wide broad souls to hold a sea a full tide flowing over all it's banks of Christ's love Oh that the Almighty would give me my request That I might see Christ come to his temple again as he is minting it's like minding to doe if the land were humbled the judgements threatned are with this reservation I know if we shall turn and repent O what heaven should we want on earâ—h to see Scotland's moon like the light of the Sun Scotland's sun-light seven fold like the light of seven days in the day that the Lord bindeth up the breach of his people healeth the stroke of their wounds Isa. 30 26. Alas that we will not pull draw Christ to his old tents again to come feed among the lilies till the day break shadows flee away O that the Noblâ—s would goe on in the strength courage of the Lord to bring our lawfull King Jesus home again I am perswaded he shall return again in glory to this land but happy â—ere they who could help to convoy him to his sanctuary set him again up upon the mercy-seat betwixt the Cherâ—bâ—ms O Sun return to darkned Britain O fairest among all the sons of men O most excellent One come home again come home win the praises blessings of the mourners in Zion the prisoners of hope that wait for thee I know he can also triumph in suffering weep reign die triumph remain in prison yet subdue his enemies But how happy were I to sâ—e the coronation day of Christ to see his mother who bare him put the crown upon his head again cry with shouting till the earth should ring Let Iesus our King live reign for evermore Grace grace be with your La. Aberd. 1637. Your La at all obedience in Christ S. R. To Mr ALEXANDER COLVILL Of Blair 203. Much honoured Sir GRace mercy peace be to you I would desire to know how my Lord took my letter I sent him how he is I desire nothing but that he be fast and honest to my royal Master King I am well every way all praise to him in whose books I must stand for ever as his debter Onely my silence paineth me I had one joy out of heaven next to Christ my Lord that was to preach him to this faithless generation they have taken that from me It was to me as the poor man's one eye they have put out that eye I know the violence done to me his poor be-rest Bride is come up before the Lord suppose I see not the other side of my cross or what my Lord will bring out of it yet I beleeve the vision shall not tarry that Christ is on his journey for my deliverance he goeth not slowly but passeth over ten mountains at one stride In the mean time I am pained with his love because I want reall possession when Christ cometh he stayeth not long but certainly the blowing of his breath upon a poor soul is heaven upon earth
friend although ye should never see her again your care for her would be but small Oh now is she not with a dear friend gone higher upon a certain hope that ye shall in the Resurrection see her again when be ye sure she shall neither be hectick nor consumed in body Ye would be sorry either to be or to be esteeemed an Atheist yet not I but the Apostle 1 Thess. 4â— 13. thinketh these to be hopeless Atheists who mourn excessively for the dead but this is not a challenge on my part I doe speak this onely fearing your weakness for your daughter was a part of yourself therefore nature in you being as it were cut halved will indeed be grieved but ye have to rejoyce that when a part of you is on earth a great part of you is glorified in heaven Follow her but envy her not for indeed it is self-love in us that maketh us mourn for them that die in the Lord Why because for them we cannot mourn since they are never happy till they be dead therefore we mourn for our own private respect take heed then that in shewing your affection in mourning for your daughter ye be not out of self-affection mourning for your self Consider what the Lord is doing in it your daughter is plucked out of the fire she resteth from her labours your Lord in that is trying you casting you in the fire Goe through all fires to your rest now remember that the eye of God is upon you beholding your patience faith he delighteth to see you in the burning bush not consumed he is gladly content that such a weak woman as ye should send Satan away frustrate of his design Now honour God shame the strong roaring lion when ye seem weakest Should such a one as ye faint in the day of adversity Call to minde the dayes of old the Lord yet liveth trust in him although he should stay you faith iâ— exceeding charitable beleeveth no evil of God Now is the Lord laying in the one scale of the ballance your making conscience of submission to his gracious will in the other your affection love to your daughter which of the two will ye then chuse to satisfie Be wise then as I trust ye love Christ better then a sinfull woman pass by your daughter kiss the Lord's rod. Men doe lop the branches off their trees round about to the end they may grow up high tall The Lord hath this way lopped your branch in taking from you many children to the end ye should grow upward like one of the Lord's cedars setting your heart above where Christ is at the right hand of the father what is next but that your Lord cut down the stock after he hath cutted the branches Prepare your self ye are nearer your daughter this day then ye were yesterday while ye prodigally spend time in mourning for her ye are speedily posting after her Run your race with patieÌ„ce let God have his own ask of him in stead of your daughter which he hath taken from you the daughter of faith which is Patience in patience possess your soul. Lift up your head ye doe not know how near your redemption doeth draw Thus recommending you to the Lord who is able to establish you â—â—â—st Anwoth April 23. 1628. Your loving affects not fâ—… in the Lord Iesus S. R. To the elect noble Lady my Lady Kenmure 4 MADAM SAluting your La with grace mercy from God our father from om Lord Jesus Christ I was sorry at my departure leaving your La in grief would still be gâ—…d at it if I were not assured that ye have one with you in the â—urnace 〈◊〉 visage is like unto the Son of God I am glad that ye have been acquainted from your youth with the wrestlings of God that ye getscarce liberty to swallow down your spittle being casten from furnace to furnace knowing if ye were not dear to God and if your health did not require so much of him he would not spend so much Physick upon you All the brethren sisters of Christ must be conform to his image copy in suffering Rom 8 And some doe more vively resemble the copy then others Think Madam that it is a part of your glory to be enrolled among these whom one of the Elders Rev. 7 14. pointeth out to Iohn thâ—se are they which came out of great tribulation have washed their robes made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Behold your forerunner going out of the world all in a lake of blood it is not ill to die as he did Fulfill with joy the remnant of the grounds remainders of the afflictions of Christ in your body Ye have lost a childe Nay She is not lost to you who is found to Christ she is not sent away but onely sent before like unto a star which going out of our sight doeth not die evanish but shineth in another hemisphere ye see her not yet she doeth shine in another countrey If her glass was but a short hour what she wanteth of time that she hath gotten of eternity ye have to rejoyce that ye have now some plenishing up in heaven Build your nest upon no tree here for ye see God hath sold the forrest to death and every tree whereupon we would rest is ready to be cut down to the end we may flee mount up build upon the rock dwell in the holes of the rock What ye love besides Jesus your husband is an adulterous lover Now it is God's special blessing to Iudah that he will not let her finde her paths in following her strange lovers Hos. 2 6. Therefore behold I will hedge up her way with thorns make a wall that she shall not finde her paths v. 7. And she shall follow after her lovers but she shall not overtakè them O thrice happy Iudah when God buildeth a double stone-wall betwixt her the fire of hell The World the things of the World Madam is the lover ye naturally affect beside your own husband Christ The hedge of thorns the wall which God buildeth in your way to hinder you from this lover is the thorny hedge of daily grief loss of children weakness of body iniquity of the time uncertainty of estate lack of worldly comfort fear of God's anger for old unrepented of sins What lose ye if God twist â—let the hedge daily thicker God be blessed the Lord will not let you finde your paths Return to your first husband Doe not weary neither think that Death walketh towards you with a slow pace ye must be riper ere ye be shaken your daves are no longer then Iob's that were swifter then a post passed away as the ships of desire as the Eagle that hasteth for the prey Iob. 9 25 26. There is less sand in
that death to drown in such a well Your grief taketh liberty to work upon your minde when ye are not busied in the meditation of the eveedelighting all-blessed Godhead If ye would lay the price ye give out which is but some few years pain trouble beside the commodities ye are to receive ye would see they are not worthy to be laid in the ballance together but it is Nature that maketh you look what ye give out weakness of Faith that hindereth you to see what ye shall take in Amend your hope frist your faithfull Lord a while he maketh himself your debter in the new Covenant he is honest take his word Naâ—um 1. 9. Affliction â—hail not sprâ—…g up the second time Rev. 21. 7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things Of all thing then which ye want in this life Madam I am able to say nothing if that be not beleeved which ye have Rev. 2 7. Rev. 3. 5. the overcomer shall be clothed in white raiment c. ver 8. 〈…〉 the overcomer I will give to sit â—ite me 〈◊〉 my throne 〈◊〉 I overcame am set down with my father in his throne Consider Madam if ye are not high up now far ben in the palace of our Lord when ye are upon a throne in white raiment at lovely Christ's elbow O th ice fools are we who like new born Princes weeping in the cradle know not that there is a Kingdom before them Then let our Lord 's sweet hand square us and hammer us strike off the knots of pride self-love world-worship infidelity that he may make us stones and pillars in his father's house Rev. 3 12. Madam what think ye to take binding with the fair corner-stone Iesus The Lord give you wisdom to beleeve hope your day is coming I hope to be a witness of your joy as I have been a hearer beholder of your grief Think ye much to follow the heir of the crown who had experience of sorrows was acquainted with grief Isa 53. It were pride to aime to be above the King's son It is more then we deserve that we are equals in glory in a manner Now commending you to the dearest grace mercy of God I rest Anwoth Jan. 4. 1632. Your La at all obedience in Christ S. R. To my Lady KENMURE 11 MADAM UNderstanding a little after the writing of my last letter of the going of this bearer I would not omit the oppornity of remembring your La still harping upon that string which in our whole life-time is never too often touched upon nor is our lesson well enough learned that there is a necessity of advancing in the way to the Kingdom of God of the contempt of the world of denying our self bearing of our Lord's cross which is no less needfull for us then daily food among many marks that we are on this journey under sail toward heaven this is one when the love of God so filleth our hearts that we forget to love care too much for the having or wanting of other things as one extreme heat burneth out another By this Madam ye know ye have betrothed your soul in marriage to Christ when ye doe make but small reckoning of all other suiters or wooers when ye can having little in hand but much in hope live as a young heir during the time of his non-age Minority being content to be as hardly handled under as precise a reckoning as servants because his hope is upon the inheritance For this cause God's bairns take well with spoiling of their goods Heb. 10. 34. knowing in themselves that they have in heaven a better an enduring substance That day that the earth the works therein shall be burnt with fire 2 Pet. 3. 10. your hidden hope your hidden life shall appear therefore since ye have not now many years to your endless eternity know not how soon the skie above your head will rive the Son of man will be seen in the clouds of heaven what better wiser course can ye take then to think that your one foot is here your other foot in the life so come to leave off loving desiring or grieving for the wants that shall be made up when your Lord ye shall meet when ye shall give in your bill that day of all your wants here If your losses be not made up ye have place to challenge the Almighty but it shall not be so Ye shall then rejoyce with joy unspeakable full of glory your joy shall none take from you Ioh. 16 22. It is enough that the Lord hath promised you great things onely let the time of bestowing them be in his own carving It is not for us to set an houâ—-glass to the creator of time since he we differ onely in the tâ—…e of payment Since he hath promised payment we beleeve it it is no great matter we will put that in his own will as the frank buyer who cometh near to what the seller seeketh useth at last to refer the difference to his will so cutteth off the course of mutuall prigging Madam doe not prigge wish your frank-hearted gracious Lord about the time of the fulfilling of your joyes it will be God hath said it bide his harvest wait on upon his Whitsorday His day is better then your day he putteth not the hook in the corn till it be ripe full-eared The great Angel of the covenant bear you company till the trumpet shall sound the voice of the Archangel awaken the dead Ye shall finde it your onely happiness under whatever thing disturbeth â—â—â—sseth the peace of your minde in this life to love nothing for it self but onely God for himself It is the crcoked love of some harlots that they love bracelets ear-rings rings better then the lover that sendeth them God will not be so loved for that were to behave as harlots not as the chaste Spouse to abate from our love wheÌ„ these things are pulled away Cur love to him should begin on earth as it shall be in heaven for the Bride taketh not by a thousand degrees so much delight in her wedding garment as she doeth in her Bridegroom so we in the life to come howbeit clothed with glory as with a robe shall not be so much affected with the glory that goeth about us as with the Bridegroom 's joyfull face presence Madam if ye can win to the here the field is won your minde for anything ye want or for any thing your Lord can take from you shall soon be calmed quieted Get himself as a pawne keep him till your dear Lord come loose the pawne â—ue upon you give you all again that he took from you even a thousand talents for oâ—e penny It is not ill to lend God willingly who otherwise both will may
take from you against your will It is good to play the â—surer with him take in in stead of ten of the hundred an hundred often an hundred of one Madam fearing to be tedious to you I break off here commending you as I trust to doe while I live your person wayes burdens all that concerneth you to that Almighty who is able to bear you your burdens I still remember you to him who will cause you one day to laugh I expect that what ever ye can doe by word or deed for the Lord 's friendless Zion ye will doe it She is your mother forget her not for the Lord intendeth to melt try this land it is high time we were all upon our feet falling about to try what claim we have to Christ It is like the the Bridegroom will be taken from us then we shall mourn Dear Iesus remove not else take us with thee Grace grace be with you for ever Anwoth 14. Jan. 1632. Your La at all dutifull obedience S. R. To my Lady KENMURE 12 MADAM YOur La will not I know weary nor offend though I trouble you with many letters the memory of what obligations I am under to your La is the cause of it I am possibly impertinent in what I write because of my ignorance of your present estate But for all that is said I have learned of M W. D. that ye have not changed upon nor wearied of your sweet Master Christ his service neither were it your part to change upon him who resteth in his love Ye are among honourable company such as affect grandour court But Madam thinking upon your estate I think I see an improvident wooer coming too late to seek a Bride because she is contracted already promised away to another so the wooer's busking bravery who cometh to you as who but he is in vain the outward pomp of this busie wooer a beguiling world is now coming in to sute your soul too late when ye have promised away your soul to Christ many years agoe And I know Madam what answer ye may now justly make to the late suter even this Ye are to long of coming my soul the Bride is away already the contract with Christ subscribed I cannot cause but I must be honest faithfull to him Honourable-Lady keep your first love hold the first match with that soul-delighting lovely Bridegroom our sweet sweet Jesus fairer then all the children of men the Rose of Sharon the fairest sweetest smelled Rose in all his father's garden there is none like him I would not exchange one smile of his lovely face with Kingdoms Madam let others take their silly feckless heaven in this life envy them not but let your soul like a tarrowing misiearned childe take the dorts as we use to speak or cast at all things disdain them except one onely either Christ or nothing your welbeloved Jesus will be content that ye be here devotely proud ill to please as one that contemneth all husbands but himself Either the King's son or no husband at all this is humble worthy ambition What have ye to doe to dally with a whorish foolish world Your jealous husband will not be content that ye look by him to another he will be jealous indeed offend if ye kiss another but himself What weights doe burden you Madam I know not but think it great mercy that your Lord from your youth hath been hedging in your out-straying affections that they may not goe a whoring from himself If ye were his bastard he would not nurture you so If ye were for the slaughter ye would be fatned But be content ye are his wheat growing in our Lord's field Matth. 13 v. 25 38. And if wheat ye must goe under our Lord's threshing instrument in his barn-â—oor through his sieve Amos 9 v. 9. And through his mill to be bruised as the Prince of your salvation Iesus was Isa. 53 9. that ye may be found good bread in your Lord's house Lord Jesus bless the spiritual husbandry separate you from the chaff that dow not bide the wind I am perswaded your glass is spending it self by little little if ye knew who is before you ye would rejoyce in your tribulations Think ye it a small honour to stand before the throne of God and the Lamb to be clothed in white to be called to the Marriage-supper of the Lamb to be led to the fountain of living waters to come to the well-head even God himself get your fill of the clear cold sweet refreshing water of life the King 's own well to put up your now sinfull hand to the tree of life take down eat the sweetest apple in all God's heavenly Paradise Jesus Christ your life your Lord Up your heart shout for joy your King is coming to fetch you to his father's house Madam I am in exceeding great heaviness God thinking it best for my own soul thus to exercise me thereby it may be to fit me to be his mouth to others I see hear at home abroad nothing but matter of grief discouragement which indeed maketh my life bitter And I hope in God never to get my will in this world I expect ere long a fiery trial upon the Church for as many men almost in England Scotland as many false friends to Christ as many pulling and drawing to pull the crown off his holy head for fear that our Beloved stay amongst us as if his room were more desirable then himself men are bidding him goe seek his lodging Madam if ye have a part in silly friendless Zion as I know ye have speak a word on her behalf to God man If ye can doe nothing else speak for Jesus ye shall thereby be a witness against this declining age Now from my very soul laying leaving you on the Lord desiring a part in your prayers as my Lord knoweth I remember you I deliver over your body spirit all your necessities to the hands of our Lord remains for ever Answeth Febr. 13. 1632. Your La. in your sweet Lord Iesus mine S. R. To my Lady KENMURE 14 MADAM THe cause of my not writing to your La is not my forgetfulness of you but the want of the opportunity of a convenient bearer for I am under more then a simple obligation to be kinde in paper at least to your La I bless our Lord through Christ who hath brought you home again to your countrey from that place where ye have seen with your eyes that which our Lord's truth taught you before to wit that worldly glory is nothing but a vapour a shadow the foam of the water or something less lighter even nothing that our Lord hath not without cause said in his word 1 Cor. 7. 31. The
to restore you again safe to your brethren sisters in Christ take heaven and Christ's back-bond for a fair back-door out of your suffering The Saviour is on his journey with salvation and deliverance for mount Zion the sword of the Lord is drunk with blood and made fat with fatness his sword is bathed in heaven against Babylon for it is the day of the Lord's vengeance and the year of recompences for the comtroversie of Zion And perswade your selves the streams of the rivers of Babylon shall be pitch and the dust of the land brimstone and burning pitch Isa. 34 8. And if your deliverance be conjoyned with the deliverance of Zion it shall be two salvations to you It were good to be armed before hand for death or bodily tortures for Christ and to think what a crown of honour it is that God hath given you pieces of living clay to be tortured witnesses for saving truth and that ye are so happy as to have some pints of blood to give out for the crown of that royal Lord who hath caused you to avouch himself before men If ye can lend fines of three thousand pound sterling for Christ let heaven's register and Christ's count-book keep in reckoning your depursments for him It shall be engraven printed in great letters upon heaven's throne what you are willing to give for him Christ's papers of that kinde cannot be lost or fall by Doe not wonder to see clay boast the great potter to see blinced men to threaten the Gospel with death burial to raze out Truth 's name but where will they make a grace for the Gospel the Lord's bride Earth hell shall be but little bounds for their burial lay all the clay rubbish of this inch of the whole earth above our Lord's spouse yet it will not cover her nor hold her down she shall live not die she shall behold the salvation of God Let your faith frist God a little be not afraid for a smoking fire-brand there is more smoke in Babylon's furnace then there is fire till dooms-day shall come they shall never see the Kirk of Scotland our Covenant burnt to ashes or if it should be thrown in tho fire yet it cannot be so burnt or buried as not to have a resurrection angry clay 's wind shall shake none of Christ's corn he will gather in all his wheat into his barn onely let your fellowship with Christ be renewed ye are sibber to Christ now when you are imprisoned for him then before for now the stroakes laid on you doe come in remembrance before our Lord he can owne his own wounds a drink of Christ's love which is better then wine is the drink-silver which Suffering for his majesty leaves behinde it it is not your sins which they persecute in you but God's grace loyalty to King Jesus they see no treason in you to your Prince the King of Britain albeit they say so but it is heaven in your that earth is fighting against Christ is owning his own cause grace is a party that fire will not burn not water drown when they have eaten drunken you their stomack shall be sick they shall spue you out alive O what glory is it to be suffering abjects for the Lord's glory royalty Nay though his servants had a body to burn for ever for this Gospel so being that triumphing exalted Jesus his high glory did rise out of these flames out of that burning body Oh what a sweet fire O what soul-refreshing torment should that be What if the pickles of dust ashes of the burnt dissolved body were musicians to sing his praises the highness of that never-enough-exalted Prince of ages O what love is it in him that he will have such musicians as we are to tune that Psalm of his everlasting praises in heaven Oh what shining burning flames of love are these that Christ will divide his share of life of heaven glory with you Luk. 22. 29. Ioh. 17 24. Rev. 3 21. A part of his throne one draught of his wine his wine of glory life that comes from under the throne of God of the Lamb one apple of the tree of life will doe more then make up all the expences charges of clay lent out for heaven Oh! Oh but we have short narrow creeping thoughts of Jesus doe but shape Christ in our conceptions according to some created portraiture O Angels lend in your help to make love-books songs of our fair white ruddy standard-bearer amongst ten thousand O heavens O heaven of heavens O glorified tennants triumphing house-holders with the Lamb put in new Psalms love-sonnets of the excellency of our bridegroom help us to set him on high O indwellers of earth heaven sea air O all ye created beings within the bosom of the outmost circle of this great world O come help to set on high the praises of our Lord O fairness of creatures blush before his uncreated beauty O created strength be amazed to stand before your strong Lord of hosts O created love think shame of thy self before this unparalleled love of heaven O angel-wisdom hide thy self before our Lord whose understanding passeth finding out O sun in thy shining beauty for shame put on a web of darkness cover thy self before thy brightest master maker O who can adde glory by doing or suffering to this never-enough-admired and praised lover Oh we can but bring our drop to this sea and our candle dim and dark as it is to this clear and lightsom sun of heaven and earth Oh but we have cause to drink ten deaths in one cup dry to swim through ten seas to be at that land of praises where we shall see that wonder of wonders enjoy this jewel of heavens jewels O death doe thy outmost against us O torments O malice of men devils waste thy-strength on the witnesses of our Lord's testament O devils bring hell to help you in tormenting the followers of the Lamb we will defie you to make us too soon happy to waft us too soon over the water to the land where the noble plant the plant of venown groweth O cruel Time that torments us suspends our dearest enjoyments that we wait for when we shall be bathed steeped soul body down in the depths of this love of loves O Time I say run fast O motions mend your pace O Welbeloved be like a young Roe upon the mountains of Separations Post post hasten our desired hungered-for meeting love is sick to hear tell of to morrow And what then can come wrong to you O honourable witnesses of his Kingly truth Men have no more of you to work upon but some few inches and span-lengths of fick coughing and flegmatick clay your spirits are above their benches courts or High
Commissions your souls your love to Christ your faith cannot be summoned not sentenced nor accused nor condemned by Pope Deputy Prelat Ruler or Tyrant your faith is a free Lord cannot be a captive all the malice of hell earth can but hurt the scabbard of a beleever death at the worst can get but a clay-pawne in keeping till your Lord make the King's keys open your graves Therefore upon luck's head as we use to say take your sill of his love and let a post way or a causey be laid betwixt your prison and heaven and goe up visit your treasure Enjoy your Beloved dwell upon his love till Eternity come in Time's room possess you of your eternal happiness Keep your love to Christ lay up your faith in heaven's keeping follow the chief of the house of the Martyrs that witnessed a fair confession before Pontius Pilate your cause and his is all one The opposers of his cause are like drunken Judges transported who in their cups would make Acts Lawes in their drunken courts that the Sun should not rise and shine on the earth and send their Officers Pursevants to charge the Sun and Moon to give no more light to the world would enact in their Court-bookes that the Sea after once ebbing should never flow again But would not the Sun Moon Sea break these Acts keeep their Creator's directions The Devil the great fool father of these under-fools is older more malicious then wise that sets the spirits in earth on work to contend clash with heaven's wisdom and to give mandats and law summonds to our Sun to our great Star of heaven Iesus not to shine in the beauty of his Gospel to the chosen and bought ones O thou fair and fairest Sun of righteousness arise and shine in thy strength whether earth and hell will or not O Victorious O Royal O stout Princely soul-conqueror ride prosperously upon truth stretch out thy Scepter as far as the Sun shines the Moon waxeth â—…aineth Put on thy glistering crown O thou maker of Kings make but one stride or one step of the whole earth travell in the greatness of thy strength Isa. 63 1 2. let thy apparel be red all dyed with the blood of thy enemies Thou art fallen righteous heir by line to the Kingdoms of the world Laugh ye at the giddy-headed clay pots stout brain-sick worms that dare say in good earnest this man shall not reign over us as though they were casting the dice for Christ's crown who of them shall have it I know ye beleeve the coming of Christ's Kingdom and that their is a hole out of your prison through which ye see day-light let not faith be dazled with the temptation from a dying Deputy from a sick Prelat beleeve under a cloud wait for him when there is no moon-light nor star-light Let faith live breath and lay hold on the sure salvation of God when clouds and darkness are about you and appearance of rotting in the prison before you take heed of unbeleeving hearts which can father lies upon Christ beware of Doeth his promise fail for evermore Psal. 77. 8. For is was a man and not God that said it who dreamed that a promise of God could fail fall a-swoon or die we can make God sick or his promises weak when we are pleased to seek a plea with Christ. O sweet O stout word of faith Iob. 13. v. 15. Though he slay me yet will I trust in him O sweet Epitaph written on the grave-stone of a dying beleever To wit I died hoping my dust ashes beleevelife Faith's eyes that can see thorow a mill-stone can see thorow a gloom of God and under it read God's thoughts of love and peace Hold fast Christ in the dark surely ye shall see the savation of God Your adversaries are ripe and dry for the fire yet a little while and they shall goe up in a flame the breath of the Lord like a river of brimstone shall kindle about them Isa. 30 33. What I write to one I write to you all that are sound hearted in that Kingdom whom in the bowels of Christ I would exhort not to touch that Oath albeit the adversaries put a fair meaning on it yet the swearer must swear according to the professed intent godless practise of the oath-breakers which is known to the world otherwise I might swear that the Creed is false according to yet this private meaning sense put upon it Oh let them not be beguiled to wash petjury and the denial of Christ and the Gospel with ink-water some foul and rotten distinctions Wash and wash again and again the devil the lye it shall be long ere their skin be white I profess it should beseem men of great parts rather then me to write to you but I love your Câ—use desires to be excused and must intreat for the help of your prayers in this my weighty charge here for the University and Pulpit that ye would intreat your acquaintance also to help me Grace be with you all Amen St. Andrewes 1640. Your brother companion in the patience Kingdom of Iesus Christ S. R. For Mistress PONT prisoner at Dublin 30 Worthy dear Mistress GRace mercy peace be to you The cause ye suffer for 〈◊〉 your willingness to suffer is ground enough of acquaintance for me to write to you although I doe confess my self unable to speak for a prisoner of Christ's encouragement I know ye have advantage beyond us who are not under suffering for your sighing Psal. 102. 20. is a witten bill for the ears of your Head the Lord Jesus your breathing Lam. 3. 51. and your looking up Psal. 5. 3. 69. 3. And therefore your meaning half spoken half unspoken will seek no jaylor's leave but will goe to heaven without leave of Prelat or Deputy be heartily welcome so that ye may sigh and groâ—n out your mind to him who hath all the keyes of the King 's three Kingdoms and dominions I dare beleeve your hope shall not die your trouble is a part of Zion's burning and ye know who guides Zion's furnance and who loves the ashes of his burnt Bride because his servants love them Psal. 102. 14. I beleeve your ashes if ye were burnt for this cause shall praise him For the wrath of men their malice shall make a psalm to praise the Lord Psal. 76 10. therefore stand still behold see what the Lord is to doe for this Island his work is perfect Deut. 32 4. the nations have not seen the last end of his work his end is more fair more glorious then the beginning Ye have more honour then ye can be able to guide well in that your bonds are made heavy for such an honourable cause The seals of a controlled Gospel the seals by
hath an use for them aswell as for your service howbeit ye are to loath your self for these I hope ye fetch all the heaven ye have here in this life from that which is up above and that your anchor is casten as high and deep as Christ O but it 's far many a mile to his bottom If I had known long since as I doe now though still alas I am ignorant what was in Christ I would not have been so late in starting to the gate to seek him O what can I doe or say to him who hath made the North render me back again A grave is no sure prison to him for the keeping of dry bones Woe 's me that my foolish sorrow and unbelief being on horse-back did ride so produly witlesly over my Lord's Providence but when my Faith was asleep Christ was awake now when I am awake I say he did all things well O infinite wisdom O incomparable loving kindness Alas that the heart I have is so little worthless for such a Lord as Christ is O what oddes finde the saints in hard trials when they feel sap at their roots betwixt them and sun-burnt withered professors crosses and storms cause them to cast their blooms and leaves poor worldlings what will ye doe when the span-length of your forenoon's laughter is ended and when the weeping side of Providence is turned to you I put up all the favours ye have bestowed on my Brother upon Christ's score in whose book are many such counts who will requite them I wish you to be builded more and more upon the stone laid in Zion then ye shall be the more fit to have a hand in rebuilding our Lord 's fallen tabernacle in this land in which ye shall finde great peace when ye come to grips with Death the King of terrouis The God of peace be with your La and keep you blameless till the day of our Lord Jesus St Andrews Your La at all obedience in his sweet Lord Master S. R. To his very dear friend JOHN FENNICK 33 Much honoured dear friend GRace mercy peace be to you The necessary impediments of my calling have hitherto kept me from making a return to your letter the heads whereof I shall now briefly answer As. 1. I approve your going to the fountain when your own Cisterne is dry A difference there must be betwixt Christ's well your borrowed water why but ye have need of emptiness drving up aswell as ve have need of the well want a hole there must be in our vessel to leave room to Christ's art his well hath it's own need of thirsty drinkers to commend infinite love which from eternity did brew such a cellar of living waters for us Ye commend his free love it 's well done Oh if I could help you if I could be master-conveener to gather an earth-full an heaven-full of tongues dipped and steeped in my Lord 's well of love or his wine of love even tongues drunken with his love to raise a song of praises to him betwixt the East West-end furthest points of the broad heavens If I were in your case as alas my dry dead heart is not now in that garden I would borrow leave to come stand upon the banks coasts of that sea of love be a feasted soul to see Love's fair tide free Love's high and lofty waves each of them higher then ten earths flowing in upon pieces of lost clay O welcome welcome great sea O if I had as much love for wideness and breadth as twenty outmost shells and spheres of the heaven of heavens that I might receive in a little flood of his free love Come come dear Friend be pained that the King's wine-cellar of free love his banquetting house O so wide so stately O so God-like so glory-like should be so abundant so overflowing your shallow vessel so little to take in some part of that love but since it cannot come in you for want of room enter your self in this sea of love breath under these waters die of love live as one dead drowned of this Love But why doe ye complain of waters going over your soul that the smoke of the terrors of a wrathfull Lord doeth almost suffocate you bring you to death's brink I know the fault is in your eyes not in him it s not the rock that fleeth moveth but the green sailer if your sense apprehension be made judge of his love there is a graven image made presently even a changed God a foe-God who was once when ye washed your steps with butter the rock poured you out rivers of oyl Iob. 29. 6. a friend-God either now or never let God work ye had never since ye was a man such a fair field for faith for a painted hell an apprehension of wrath in your father is faith's opportunity to try what strength is in it now give God as large a measure of charity as ye have of sorrow now see faith to be faith indeed if ye can make your grave betwixt Christ's feet say Though he should flay me I will trust in him his beleeved love shall be my winding-sheet all my grave-cloaths I shall roll sowe in my soul my slain soul in that web his sweet free love let him write upon my grave Here lieth a beleeving dead man breathing out and making an hole in death's broad side the breath of faith cometh forth through the hole See now if ye can overcome prevail with God wrestle God's tempting to death quit out of breath as that renowned wrestler did Hos 12. 3. And by his strength he had power with God v. 4. Yea he had power over the Angel prevailed He is a strong man indeed who overmatcheth heaven's strength and the holy One of Israel the strong Lord which is done by a secret supply of divine strength within wherewith the weakest being strengthned overcome and conquer It shall be great victory to blow out the flame of that furnace yeare now in with the breath of faith when hell men malice cruelty falshood Devils the seeming glooms of a sweet Lord meet you in the teeth if ye then as a captive of Hope as one fettered in Hope's prison run to your strong hold even from God glooming to God glooming beleeve the salvation of the Lord in the dark which is your onely victory your enemies are but pieces of malitious clay they shall die as men be confounded But that your troubles are many at once arrows come in from all airths from countrey friends wife children foes estate right down from God who is the hope stay of your soul I confess is more very heavy to be born yet all these are not more then Grace all these bits of coals casten in your sea of
not but goeth with even equal legs yet are they not the greatest sinners upon whom tower of Siloam fell was not time's lease expired the sand of heaven's sand-glass set by our Lord run out Is not he an unjust debter who payeth due debt with chiding I beleeve Christian Lady your faith leaveth that much charity to our Lord's judgements as to beleeve how beit ye be in blood sib to that cross that yet ye are exempted freed from the gall wrath that is in it I dare not deny but Iob. 18 15. the King of terrors dwelleth in the wicked man's tabernacle brimstone shall be scattered on his habitation yet Madam it is safe for you to live upon the faith of his love whose arrows are over-watered pointed with love mercy to his own who knoweth how to take you yours out of the roll book of the dead Our Lord hath not the eyes of flesh in distributing wrath to the thousand generation without exception Seeing ye are not under the Law but under Grace married to another husband Wrath is not the Court that ye are liable to As I would not wish neither doe I beleeve your La doeth despise so neither faint read spell aright all the words syllabes in the visitation miscall neither letter nor syllabe in it Come along with the Lord see lay no more weight upon the Law then your Christ hath laid upon it If the Law 's bill get an answer from Christ the curses of it can doe no more And I hope ye have resolved that if he should grind you to powder your dust powder shall beleeve his salvation And who can tell what thoughts of love peace our Lord hath to your children I trust he shall make them famous in excuting the written judgements upon the enemies of the Lord this honour have all his saints Psal. 149 9. that they shall bear stones on their shoulders for building that city that is called Ezek. 46 35. The Lord is there happy shall they be who have a hand in the sacking of Babel come out in the year of vengeance for the controversy of Zion against the land of graven images Therefore Madam let the Lord make out of your father's house any work even of judgement that he pleaseth What iâ— wrath to others is mercy to you your house It is Faith's work to claim and challenge loving kindness out of all the roughest strokes of God Doe that for the Lord which ye will doe for time time will calme your heart at that which God hath done let our Lord have it now What love ye did bear to friends now dead seeing they stand now in no need of it let it fall as just legacy to Christ. O how sweet to put out many strange lovers to put in Christ It is much for our half-slain affections to part with that which we beleeve we have right unto but the servant's will should be our will he is the best servant who retaineth least of his own will most of his Master's That much wisdom must be ascribed to our Lord that he knoweth how to lead his own in-through and out-through the little time-hells and the pieces of time-during wraths in this life yet keep safe his love without any blurre upon the old great seal of free Election And seeing his mountains of brass the mighty strong decrees of free grace in Christ stand sure the Covenant standeth fast for ever as the dayes of heaven let him strike nurture his striking must be a very act of saving seeing strokes upon his secret ones come from the soft heavenly hand of the Mediatour his rods are steeped watered in that flood river of love that cometh from the God-man's heart of our soul-loving soul-redeeming JESUS I hope ye are content to frist the Cautioner of mankinde his own conquest heaven till he pay it you bring you to a state of glory where he shall never crook a finger upon nor lift a hand to you again And be content withall greedily covetous of Grace the interest pledge of Glory If I did not beleeve your crop to be on the ground your part of that heaven of the saints heaven white ruddy fair fair beautifull Jesus were come to the bloom the flower near your hook I would not write this but seeing time ' threed is short ye are upon the entry of heaven's harvest Christ the field of heaven's glory is white ripe-like the losses that I write of to your La are but summer-showers that will onely wet your garments for an hour or two and the Sun of the new Ierusalem shall quickly dry the wet coat especially seeing rains of Affliction cannot stain the image of God or cause Grace cast the colour And since ye will not alter upon him who will not change upon you I durst in weakness think my self no spiritual Seer if I should not prophesie that day-light is neer when such a morning-darkness is upon you that this trial of your Christian minde towards him whom ye dare not leave howbeit he should slay you shall close with a doubled mercy It is time for faith to hold fast as much of Christ as ever ye had to make the grip stronger to cleave closer to him seeing Christ loveth to be beleeved in trusted to The glory of laying strength upon one that is mighty to save is more then we can think That piece of service of beleeving in a smiting Redeemer is a precious part of obedience O what glory to him to lay over the burden of our heaven upon him that purchased for us an eternal Kingdom O blessed soul who can adore kiss his lovely free Grace The rich grace of Christ be with your spirit St. Andrews Octob. 15. 1640. Yours at all obedience in Christ Iesus S. R. To AGNES MCMATH 38 Dear Sister IF our Lord hath taken away your childe your lease of him is expired seeing Christ would want him no longer it is your part to hold your peace worship adore the soveraignty liberty that the potter hath over the clay pieces of clay-nothings that he gave life unto And what is man to call summond the Almighty to his lower Court down here For he giveth account of none of his doings And if ye will take a loan of a childe give him back again to our Lord laughing as his borrowed goods should return to him beleeve he is not gone away but sent before that the change of the countrey should make you think he is not lost to you who is found to Christ that he is now before you that the dead in Christ shall be raised again A going down star is not annihilat but shall appeare again If he have casten his bloom flower the bloom is fallen
this life but not satisfie it Your La is a debter to the Son of God's Cross that is weaâ—ing out love and affiance in the creature out of your heart by degrees or rather the obligation standeth to his free grace who careth for your La in this gracious dispensation and who is preparing making ready the garments of Salvation for you who calleth you with a new name that the mouth of the Lord hath named purposeth to make you a crown of glory a royal diadem in the hand of your God Isa. 62. 2. 3. Ye are obliged to frist him more then one heaven yet he craveth not a long day it is fast coming is sure payment though ye gave no hire for him yet hath he given a great price ransom for you if the bargain were to make again Christ would give no less for you then what he hath already given he is far from ruing I shall wish you no more till Time be gone out of the way then the earnest of that which he hath purchased prepared for you which can never be fully preached written or thought of since it hath not entered into the heart to consider it So recommending your La to the rich grace of our Lord Jesus I am rests St Andrews Your La at all respective observance in Christ Iesus S R. To Mistress TAYLOR 41 MISTRESS GRace mercy peace be to you Though I have no relation worldly or acquaintance with you yet upon the testimony importunity of your Elder son now at London where I am but chiefily because I esteem Jesus Christ in you to be in place of all relations I make bold in Christ to speak my poor thoughts to you concerning your Son lately fallen asleep in the Lord who was some time under the ministery of the worthy servant of Christ my fellow-labourer Mr Blair and by whose ministery I hope he reaped no small advantage I know grace rooteth not out the affections of a mother but putteth them on his wheel who maketh all things new that they may be refined therefore sorrow for a dead childe is allowed to you though by measure ounce-weights the redeemed of the Lord have not a dominion or Lordship over their sorrow other affections to lavish out Christ's goods at their pleasure for ye are not your own but bought with a price your sorrow is not your own nor hath he redeemed you by halves therefore ye are not to make Christ's cross no cross He commandeth you to weep that Princely one who took up to heaven with him a man's heart to be a compassionat high priest became your fellow companion on earth by weeping for the dead Ioh. 11 35. And therefore ye are to love that cross because it was once on Christ's shoulders before you so that by his own practice he hath overguilded and covered your cross with the Mediator's lustre The cup ye drink was at the lip of sweet Jesus he drank of it so it hath a smell of his breath And I conceive ye love it not the worse that it is thus sugared therefore drink beleeve the resurrection of your Son's body If one coal of hell could fall off the exalted head Iesus Jesus the Prince of the Kings of the earth burn me to ashes knowing I were a partner with Christ a fellow-sharer with him though the unworthiest of men I think I should die a lovely death in that fire with him The worst things of Christ even his cross have much of heaven from himself so hath your Christian sorrow being of kin to Christ's in that kinde If your sorrow were a Bastard not of Christ's house because of the relation ye have to him in conformity with his death sufferings I should the more compassionat your condition but kinde compassionat Jesus at every sigh ye give for the loss of your now-glorified childe so I beleeve as is meet with a man's heart cryeth halfe mine I was not a witness to his death being called out or the Kingdom but ye shall credit these whom I doe credit I dare not lye he died comfortably It is true he died before he did so much service to Christ on earth as I hope heartily desire your Son Mr Hugh very dear to me in Jesus Christ shall doe But that were a reall matter of sorrow if this were not to counterballance it that he hath changed service-houses but hath not changed services or master Rev. 22 3. And there shall be no more curse but the throne of God of the Lamb shall be in it his servants shall serve him What he could have don in this lower house he is now upon that same service in the higher house it is all one it is the same service the same Master onely there is a change of conditions And ye are not to think it a bad bargain for your beloved son where he hath gold for copper brass Eternity for Time I beleeve Christ hath taught you for I give credit to such a witness of you as your Son Mr Hugh not to sorrow because he died All the knot must be he died too soon he died too young he died in the morning of his life this is all but soveraignity must silence your thoughts I was in your condition I had but two children both are dead since I came hither The supream and absolut former of all things giveth not an account of any of his matters The good husband-man may pluck his roses gather in his lilies at midsummer for ought I dare say in the beginning of the first summer-moneth he may transplant young trees out of the lower-ground to the higher where they may have more of the sun a more free air at any season of the year what is that to you or me The goods are his own The Creator of time winds did a mercifull injurie if I dare borrow the word to nature in landing the passenger so early They love the sea too well who complain of a fair wind a desirable tide and a speedy coming ashore especially a coming ashore in that land where all the inhabitants have everlasting joy upon their heads He cannot be too earely in heaven His twelve hours were not short hours And withall if ye consider this had ye been at his bed-side and should have seen Christ coming to him ye would not ye could not have adjourned Christ's free love who would want him no longer And dying in an other land where his mother could not close his eyes is not much who closed Mose's eyes And who put on his winding-sheet For ought I know neither father nor mother nor friend but God onely And there is as expedite fair easie a way betwixt Scotland heaven as if he had died in the very bed he was born in The whole earth is his father's Any corner of his
father's house is good enough to die in It may be the living childe I speak not of Mr. Hugh is more grief to you then the dead Ye are to wait on if at any time God shall give him repentance Christ waited as long possibly on you me certainly longer on me if he should deny repentance to him I could say some thing to that but I hope better things of him It seemeth that Christ will have this world your step-dame I love not your condition the woâ—se it may be a proof that ye are not a childe of this lower house but a stranger Christ seeth it not good onely but your onely good to be lead thus to heaven think this a favour that he hath bestowed upon you Free free grace that is mercy without hire ye paid nothing for it And who can put a price upon any thing of Royal and Princely Jesus Christ And that God hath given to you to suffer for him the spoiling of your goods esteem it as an act of free grace also Ye are no loser having himself And I perswade my self if ye could prize Christ nothing could be bitter to you Grace grace be with you London 1645. Your Brother Well-wisher S. R. To BARBARA HAMILTON 42 Worthy Friend GRace be to you I doe unwillingly write unto you of that which God hath done concerning your son in law onely I beleeve ye look not below Christ and the higest and most supream act of providence which moveth all wheels And certainly what came down enacted concluded in the great book before the throne signed subscribed with the hand which never did wrong should be kissed adored by us we see God's decrees when they bring forth their fruits all actions good ill sweet sowre in their time But we see not presently the after-birth of God's decree to wit his blessed end the good that he bringeth out of the womb of his holy spotless counsel we see his working we sorrow The end of his counsel working lieth hidden underneath the ground therefore we cannot beleeve Even amongst men we see hewen stones timber an hundred scattered parcels pieces of an house all under-tools hammers axes saws yet the house the beauty ease of so many lodgings ease-rooms we neither see nor understand for the present these are but in the minde head of the builder as yet wee see red earth unbroken clods furrows stones but we see not summer-lilies roses the beauty of a garden If ye give the Lord time to work as often he that beleeveth not maketh haste but not speed his end is under the ground ye shall see it was your good that your Son hath changed dwelling-places but not his Master Christ thought good to have no more of his service here yet Rev. 22 3. His servants shall serve him He needeth not us or our service either in earth or in heaven But ye are to look to him who giveth the hireling both his leave his wages for his naked aim purpose to serve Christ as well as for his labours It is put up in Christ's account such a labourer did sweat fourty years in Christ's vineyard howbeit he got not leave to labour so long because he who accepteth of the will for the deed counteth so None can teach the Lord to lay an account He numbereth the drop of rain knoweth the stars by their names It would take us much studying to give a name to every star in the firmament great or small See Lev. 13 13. And Aaron held his peace Ye know his two Sons were â—â—ain whilst they offered strange fire to the Lord Command your thoughts to be silent If the souldiers of Newcasile had done this ye might have stomacked but the weapon wa in another hand Hear the rod what it preacheth see the name of God Mâ—… 6. 9. And know that there is somewhat of God Heaven in the â—od The Majesty of the unsearchable bottomless wayes judgements of God is not seen in the rod the seeing of them râ—quireth the eyes of the man of wisdom If the sufferings of some other with you in that loss could ease you ye want them not But He can doe no wrong he cannot halt his goings are equal who hath done it I know our Lord aimeth at more mortification let him not come in vain to your house lose the pâ—ins of a mercifull visite God the founder never melteth in vain howbeit to us he seemeth often to lose both fire mettall But I know yeare more in this work then I can be There is no cause to faint or weary Grace be with you the rich consolations of Jesus Christ sweeten your cross support you under it I rest London Octob. 15. 1645. Yours in his Lord Master S. R. To Misâ—ress HUME 43. Loving Sister GRace mercy peace be to you If ye have any thing better then the husband of your youth ye are Jesus Christ's deâ—ter for it Pay not then your debts with grudging Sorrow may diminish from the sweet fruit of righteousness but quietness silence submission faith put a crown upon your sad losses ye know whose voice the voice of a crying rod is Micah 6. 9. The name majesty of the Lord is written on the rod read be instructed Let Christ have the room of the husband he hath now no need of you or of your love for he enjoyeth asmuch of the love of Christ as his heart can be capable of I confess it is a dear-bought experience to teach you to undervalue the creature yet it is not too dear if Christ think it so I know that the disputing of your thoughts against his going thither the way manner of his death the instruments the place the time will not ease your spirit except ye rise higher then second causes be silent because the Lord hath done it If we measure the goings of the Almighty his wayes the bottom whereof we see not we quite mistake God O how little a portion of God see we He is far above our ebbe narrow thoughts He ruled the world in wisdom ere we creatures of yesterday were born shall rule it when we shall be lodging beside the worms corruption Onely learn heavenly wisdom self-deniall mortification by this sad loss I know that it is not for nothing except ye deny God to be wise in all he doeth that ye have loâ— one in earth There hath been too little of your love heart in heaven therefore the jealousie of Christ hath done this It is a mercy that he contendeth with you all your lovers I should dâ—sire no greater savour for my self then that Christ laid a necessity took on such bonds upon himself Such an one I must have such a soul I cannot live in heaven without Ioh. 10. 16. And beleeve it it
denie but it is made sure to you the want of these poor accidents of a living husband of many children of an healthfull body of a life of case in the world without one knot in the rush are nobly made up may be comfortably born Grace grace be with your La London October 16. 1645. Your La at all obedience in Christ. S. R. To a Christian friend upon the death of his wife 46 Worthy friend I Desire to suffer with you in the loss of a loving good wife now gone before according to the method order of him of whose understanding there is no searching out whither ye are to follow He that made yesterday to goe before this day the former generation in birth life to have been before this present generation hath made some flowers to grow and die wither in the moneth of May others in Iune cannot be challenged in the order he hath made of things without souls And some order he must keep also here that one might bury another Therefore I hope ye shall be dumb silent because the Lord hath done it what creatures or under-causes doe in sinfull mistakes are ordered in wisdom by your Father at whose feet your own soul your heaven lieth so the dayes of your wife If the place she hath left were any other then a prison of sin the home she is gone to any other then where her â—ead Saviour is King of the land your grief had been more rationall But I trust your faith of the resurrection of the dead in Christ to glory immortality will lead you to suspend your longing for her till the morning dawning of that day when the Archangel shall descend with a shout to gather all his prisoners out of the grave up to himself To beleeve this is best for you to be silent because he hath done it iâ— your wisdom It is much to come out of the Lord's School of trial wiser more experienced in the wayes of God And it is our happiness when Christ openeth a veine he taketh nothing but ill blood from his sick ones Christ hath skill to doe and if our corruption mar not the art of mercy in correcting we cannot of our selves take away the tin the lead the scum that remaineth in us And if Christ be not Master-of-work if the furnace goe it's alone he not standing nigh the melting of his own vessel the labour were lost the founder should melt in vaine God knoweth some of us have lost much fire sweating pains to our Lord Jesus the vessel is almost marred the furnace rod of God spilt day-light burnt the reprobat mettall not taken away so as some are to answer to the Majesty of God for the abuse of many good crosses rich afflictions lost without the quiet fruit of righteousness And it is a sad thing when the rod is cursed that never fruit shall grow on it except Christ's dâ—w fall down his summer-sunshine his grace follow afflictions to cause them bring fâ—rth fruit to God they are so fruitless to us that our evil ground rank fat enough for briers casteth up a crope of noisome weeds The rod as the prophet saith Ezek 7 10 11. blossometh pride buddeth forth violence riseth up into a rod of wickedness all this hath been my case under many rods since I saw you Grace be with you London 1645. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To a Christian Brother 47 Reverend beloved in the Lord. IT may be I have been too long silent but I hope ye will not impute it to forgetfulness of you As I have heard of the death of your daughter with heaviness of minde on your behalf so am I much comforted that she hath evidenced to your self other witnesses the hope of the resurrection of the dead as sown corn is not lost for there is more hope of that which is sown then of that which is eaten 1 Cor. 15. 42. so also is it in the resurrection of the dead the body is sown in corruption it is raised in incorruption it is sown in dishonour it is raised in glory I hope ye wait for the crope harvest 1 Thess. 4. 14. For if we beleeve that Iesus died rose again even so also them which sleep in Iesus will God bring with him then they are not lost who are gathered in to that Congregation of the first-born the General Assembly of the Saints though we cannot outrun nor overtake them that are gone before yet we shall quickly follow them the difference is that she hath the advantage of some moneths or years of the Crown before you her mother we doe not take it ill if our children outrun us in the life of grace why then are we sad if they outstrip us in the attainment of the life of glory It would seem that there is more reason to grieve that childreÌ„ live behinde us then that they are glorified die before us all the difference is in some poor hungry accidents of-time less or more sooner or later so the godly childe though young died of an hundred years old ye could not now have bestowed her better though the choise was Christ's not yours I am sure Sir ye cannot now say she is married against the will of her parents she might more readily if alive fall in the hand of a worse husband but can ye think that she could have fallen in the hands of one better and if Christ marry with your house it is your honour not any cause of grief that Jesus should portion any of yours ere she enjoy your portion is it not great love the patrimony is more then any other could give as good a husband is unpossible to say a better is blasphemy The King Prince of ages can keep them better then ye can doe while she was alive ye could intrust her to Christ recommend her to his keeping now by an after-faith ye have resigned her unto him in whose bosom doe sleep all that are dead in the Lord ye would havelent her to glorifie the Lord upon earth he hath borrowed her with promise to restore her again 1 Cor. 15 53. 1 Thess. 4 15. 16 to be an organ of the immediate glorifying of himself in heaven sinless glorifying of God is better then sinfull glorifying of him And sure your prayers concerning her are fulfilled I shall desire if the Lord shall be pleased the same way to dispose of her mother that ye have the same minde Christ cannot multiply injuries upon you if the fountain be the love of God as I hope it is ye are enriched with losses Ye know all I can say better before I was in Christ then I can express it Grace be with you London Jan. 6. 1646. Yours in Christ Iesus S. R. To a Christian Gentlewoman 48 MISTRESS GRace mercy
moon are black and think shame to shine before his fairness Isa. 24 23. Base heavens excellent Jesus weak Angels strong mighty Jesus foolish angel-wisdom onely wise Jesus short-living creature long living everliving Ancient of dayes miserable sickly wretched are these things that are within times circle onely onely blessed Jesus If ye can wynd-in in his love and he giveth you leave â—o love him allurements also what a second heaven's paradise a young heaven's glory is it to be hot burned with fevers of love-sickness for him the more your La drink of this love there is the more room the greater delight desire for this love be homely hunger for a feast fill of his love for that 's the borders march of heaven nothing hath a nearer resemblance to the colour hew lustre of heaven then Christ loved to breath out love-word love-sighs for him Remember what he is when twenty thousand millions of heavens lovers have worn their hearts threed-bare of love all is nothing yea less then nothing to his matchless worth excellency O so broad so deep as the sea of his desireable loveliness is Glorified spirits triumphing Angels the crowned exalted lovers of heaven stand without his loveliness cannot put a cricle on it O if sin time were from betwixt us that royall King's love That high Majesty eternitie's bloom flower of high-lustred beauty might shine upon pieces of created spirits might bedew and overflow us who are portions of endless misery lumps of redeemed sin Alas what doe I I but spill lose words in speaking highly of him who will bide be above the musick songs of heaven never be enough praised by us all to whose boundless bottomless love I recommed your La am St Andrews March 27. 1640. Your La in Christ Iesus S. R. To his reverend dear Brother Mr DAVID DICKSON 36 Reverend dear Brother YE look like the house whereof ye are a branch the Cross is a part of the life rent that lieth to all the sons of the house I desire to suffer with you if I take a lift of your housetrial off you but ye have preached it ere I knew any thing of God your Lord may gather his roses shake his apples at what season of the year he pleaseth each husbandman cannot make harvest when he pleaseth as He can doe ye are taught to know adore his soveraignity which he exerciseth over you which yet is lustered with mercy the childe hath but changed a bed in the garden is planted up higher nearer the sun where he shall thiiveÌ„ better then in this out-held moor-ground Ye must think your bold would not want him one hour longer since the 〈◊〉 of your loan of him was expired as it is if ye read the â—easâ— let him have his own with gain as good reason were I read on it an exaltation a richer measure of grace as the sâ—…t fruit of your cross and I am bold to say that that College where your Master hath set you now shall finde it I am content that Chirst is so homely with my dear Brother David Dickson as to borrow lend take give with him ye know what are called the visitations of such a friend it ' s to come to the house be homely with what is yours I perswade my selâ— upon his credit he hath left drink-money and that he hath made the house the better of him I envie not his waking love who saw that this water was to be past through that now the number of crosses lying in your way to glory are fewer by one then when I saw you they must decrease it is better then any ancient or modern commentary on your Text that ye preach upon in Glasgow read and spell right for he knoweth what he doeth he is onely lopping snedding a fruitfull tree that it may be more fruitfull I congratulate heartily with you his new welcome to your new charge Dearest Brother goe on faint not something of yours is in heaven beside the flesh of your exalted Saviour ye goe on after your own time 's threed is shorter by one inch then it was an oath is sworn past the seals whether afflictions will or not ye must grow swell out of your shell live triumph reign be more then conquerour for your captain who leadeth you on iâ— more then conquerour and he makes you a partaker of his conquest and Victory Did not love to you compell me I would not fetch water to the well speak to one who knoweth bâ—…ter then I can doe what God is doing with him Remember my love to your wife to Mr Iohn all friends there Let us be helped by your prayers for I cease not to make mention of you to the Lord as I dow Grace be with you St Andrews May. 28. 16â—0 Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To my Lady BOYD. 37 MADAM GRace mercy peace be to you Impute it not to a disrespective forgetfulness of your La who ministred to me in my bonds that I write not to you I wish I could speak or write what might doe good to your La especially now when I think ye cannot but have deep thoughts of the deep bottomless wayes of our Lord in taking away with a sudden wonderfull stroke your brethren friends Ye may know all that die for sin die not in sin that none can teach the Almighty knowledge he answereth none of our Courts no man can say What doest thou It 's true your brethren saw not many summers but adore fear the soveraignty of the great Potter who maketh marreth his clay-vessels when how it pleaseth him This under-garden is absolutely his own all that groweth in it his absolute liberty is law-biding the flowers are his own if some be but summer-apples he may pluck them down before others O what wisdom is it to beleeve not to dispute to subject the thoughts to his Court not to repine at any act of his justice He hath done it all flesh be silent it is impossible to be submissive religiously patient if ye stay your thoughts down among the confused rollings wheels of second causes as Oh the place Oh the time Oh if this had been this had not followed Oh the linking of this accident with this time place Look up to the Master-motion the first wheel see read the decree of heaven the Creator of men who breweth death to his children the manner of it they see far in a mill-stone have eyes that make a hole to see through the one side of a mountain to the other who can take up his wayes How unsearchable are his judgements his wayes past finding out His Providence halteth