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
say I am sick would cure them they think complaints a good charme for guiltiness I hope ye are wrestling strugling on in this dead age wherin folks have lost tongue and legs and armes for Christ. I urge upon you Madam a neerer communion with Christ and a growing communion There are curtains to be drawn by in Christ that we never saw and new foldings of love in him I despair that ever I shall win to the far end of that love there are so many plies in it Therefore dig deep and sweat and labour and take paines for him and set by so much time in the day for him as you can he will be win with labour I his exiled prisoner sought him and he hath rued upon me and hath made a moan for me as he doth for his own Jer. 31 20. Isa 45 11. and I know not what to doe with Christ his love surroundeth and surchargeth me and burdened with it but O how sweet lovely is that burden I dow not keep it within me I am so in love with his love that if his love were not in heaven I would be unwilling to goe there O what weighing what telling is in Christs love I fear nothing now so much as the laughing of Christs crosse the love-showers that accompany it I wonder what he meaneth to put such a slave at the board-head at his own elbow Oh that I should lay my black mouth to such a fair fair fair face as Chriâ—…s but I dare not refuse to be loved the cause is not in me why he hath looked upon me loved me for he got neither budde nor hire of me it coâ—t me nothing it is good cheap love O the many pound-weights of his love under which I am sweetly pressed Now Madam I perswade you the greatest part but play with Christianity they put it by hand easily I thought it had been an easie thing to be a Christian and that to seeâ— God had been at the next door but oh the windings the turnings the up's the down's that he hath led me through and I see yet much way to the foord he speaketh with my reins in the night season and in the morning when I awake I finde his love-arrowes that he shot at me sticking in my heart who will help me to praise who will come lift with me set on high his great love and yet I finde that a firâ—-flaught of challanges will come in at mid-summer and question me but it is onely to keep a â—inner in order As for Friends I shall not think the world to be the world if that well goe not drie I trust in God to use the world as a Canny or Cunning-master doâ—th a knave-servant at lest God give me grace to doe so he giveth him no handling or credit onely he intrusteth him with common errands wherin he cannot play the knave I pray God I may not give this world credit of my joyes and comforts and confidence that were to put Christ out of his office nay I counsel you Madam from a little experience let Christ keâ—p the great seal intrust him so as to hing your vessels great and small and pin your burdens upon the nail fastened in Davids house Isai. 22 23. Lâ—t me not bâ— well if ever they get thâ— tutouring of my comforts away away with irresponsall Tutours that would play me a slip then Christ would laugh at me say well-wared try again ere ye trust Now woe is me for my whorish mother the Kirk of Scotland Oh who will bewaile her Now the presence of the great Angel of the covenant to be with you that sweet childe Aberd. March 7. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To the right honourable Christian Lady my Lady KENMURE 12 MADAM UPon the offered opportunity of this worthy bearer I could not omit to answer the heads of your letter 1. I think not much to set down in paper some good things anent Christ that sealed and holy thing to feed my soul with raw wishes to be one with Christ for a wish is but broken half-love but verily to obey this come see is a harder matter but oh I have rather smoak then fire guessings rather then reall assurances of him I have little or nothing to say that I am as one who hath found favour in his eyes but ther is some pining mismannered hunger that maketh me miscall and nickname Christ as a changed Lord but alace it is ill flitten I can not belâ—eve without a pledge I cannot take Gods word without a Caution as if Christ had lost and sold his credit and were not in my books responsall and law-biding but this is my way for his way is Ephes. 1 13. after that ye beleeved ye were sealed with the holy spirit of promise 2. Ye write that I am filled with knowledge and stand not in need of these warnings but certainly my light is dim when it cometh to handy-grips and how many have full coffers yet empty bellies light and the saving use of light are far different O What need have I to have the ashes blowen away from my Dying-out fire I may be a book-man and be an Idiot stark fool in Christs way learning will not beguile Christ the Bible beguiled the Pharasees so may I be misted Therefore as night watches hold one another waking by speaking to one another so have we need to hold one another on foot sleep stealeth away the light of watching even the light that reproveth sleeping I doubt not but moe should fetch heaven if they beleeved not heaven to be at the next door the worlds negative holiness no adulterer no murderer no thief no Cousiner maketh men beleeve they are already glorified saints but the 6. Chap. to the Heb may affright us all when we hear that men may take of the gifts and common graces of the holy spirit and a taste of the powers of the life to come to hell with them here is reprobate silver which yet seemeth to have the Kings Image and superscription upon it 3. I finde you complaining of your self it becometh a sinner so to doe I am not against you in that sense of death is a sib friend and of kin and blood to life the more sense the more life the more sense of sin the lesse sin I would love my pain sorness my wounds howbeit these should bereave me of my nights sleep better then my wounds without pain O how sweet a thing is it to give Christ his handfull of broken armes legs disjointed bones 4. Be not afraid for little grace Christ soweth his livingseed he will not lose his seed if he have the guiding of my stock and state it shall not miscarry Our spilt works losses deadness coldness wretchedness are the ground which the good husband-man laboureth 5. Ye write that his compassions faile not
satisfie thy desire nor answer thy expectation It 's not my present work to tell thee that he was a Gentleman by extraction That he was educat at Scholes Colleges where he was admired for the Pregnancy of his parts deservedly looked upon even then as a person of whom great things might be expected Of his being pitched upon for a Profession of Philosophy by the College of Edinburgh where he was educat when he was yet very young Of his being called thence to the Ministery in Anwoth to which charge be entered by the means of that worthy Noble-man my Lord Kenmur without giving any engagment to the Bishop where he laboured night day with great success the whole countrey being to him accounting themselves as his particular flock There it was where he wrote that great Master-piece of Learning against the Arminians wich yet was but a compend of what he then intended his Exercitationes Apologeticae Of his persecution by the Prelats who were so sound in the faith as to challenge and accuse him for writting that book Being called before their high Commission court he appeared declined it as none of the Courts of Christ nor was there need of any thing else for a confirmation that it came not from on high but from below save it 's procedor for it's Acts had the very dy and visage of hell upon them If they will plead that it is from above they will be pusled to pitch upon a period or fix upon any other time when it came down except with the fallen Angels but it may be this please such Angells of the Church so they will be called for they boast much of Antiquity And truely that which gives ground â—or this conjecture that it came down from heaven in that company is that it persecuts the saints and servants of the most high if there were none such upon earth it would have no work was by this high Commission put from his ministery sent to Aberdeen where the Doctors found to their confusion that the Puritans were Clergy-men aswell as they Of his returning to his former Charge upon that happy change of affairs in the Yeer 1638 his being shorthly after sent to the profession of Theology in the Vniversity of St Andrews by the Generall Assembly where he was also called to be worthy Mr Blair's Collegue in the Ministery which being the seat of the Arch-preâ—ate was the very Nursery of all superstition in worship Errour in Doctrine the sink of all Profanity in conversation amongst the Students where God did so singularly second his servants indefatigable pains both in teaching in the Schooles preaching in the Congregation that it became forth with a Lebanon out of which were taken Cedars for building the house of the Lord through the whole land Not a few of whom are this day amongst these who have obtained mercy of the Lord to be his faithfull witnesses against Scotland's present shamfull unparaleelled defection Of his being sent with other worthy Ministers by the Generall Assembly to the famous Synod at London where during the time of his aboad he published severall pieces In a word of his unparaleelled painfullness holy Zeal in being about his Master's business so that he seemed to pray Constantly to preach constantly to catechise constantly to be still in visiting the sick in exhorting from house to house to teach as much in the schooles spend as much time with the young men as if he had been sequestrat from all the world besids withall to write as much as if he had been constantly shut up in his closet sufficient proof whereof hath been given to the world by the many pieces he hath published but the great bulk of Manuscripts which he hath left behinde him must lie buried with himself will put this further out of doubt so that one Mr Rutherfoord seemed to be many able godly men in one or one who was furnished with the grace and abilities of many It is not I say my present purpose to give any particular account to the world of these or of the many things he had to wrestle with especially towards the end of his dayes of his edifying death that may be done herafter by a more dexterous hand skillfull pen with much advantage edification to the Church of God Onely I may say that if amongst the heathens Hercules was looked upon as so far both above the applause of any who undertook to commend him beyond the reach of the obloquie reproach of any who had so fallen out with his wits as to derogat from his worth that it was a Probleme amongst them whether he who undertook to praise him or he who vented any thing to his prejudice did commit the greatest Soloecisme though it was but Belluina gloria whereof he could boast I suppose with more reasoÌ„ among them who know better to make the true paralleel betwixt things that differ are more fit to judge of that which is of true worth great price in the sight of God I should seem more ridiculous to say much to the advantage of the Author whose praise without the help of my blunt pen is in all the Churches of Christ whose manner of life in all Godliness holy conversation rendered him dear to the lovers of holmess who hath left his name for a blessing to the chosen of God he was a true Iohn the Baptist indeed totus vox a voice in habit gesture conversation in a word in his life at his death he obtained that mercy of the Lord even when he said nothing to preach to all who beheld his conversation which was observed to be in heaven while he conversed amongst men that their was nothing good but to draw near to God And now being got up above amongst these pages of honour who wait upon the King 's own person having taken up his place amongst the spirits of just men made perfect after which this saint often panted for which he prayed night day he doth by these Epistles which he hath left behinde him wherein thou wilt perceive how his soul was drawn forth in uncessant longings after that whereof he is now possessed cry aloud to you his companions the saints that are in the world to come up hither see that which cannot be seen while ye are there that which is onely worth the seeing that which if it were known would make you quarrel with death for delaying to shut your eyes upon other objects Leave the dark world doth he say come up hither to this blessed land of light where all our childish thoughts of God are gone evanished in this noon-day-vision where the understanding is fully illuminat there is no cloud to be-night or eclipse the soul in it's uptakings of God where the will hath a through compliance with a perfect complacencie in the will
apparent courseness of some phrases and commonness of some words made use of by the Author who all alongst sets himself to make use of the most ordinary expressions which are in use among the common sort of people Something I say of this kinde may probably be belched forth by this carping criticizing profane prejudicat age But If they would remember what was said by men much more knowing then themselves more able to discerne what ought to be spoken both as to matter words to the commendation of Plautus who made use of the most common words that were in use amongst the most common sort of people in Rome Si ipsae Musae loquerentur ore Plautino uterentur they would see reason rather to commend a dexterous making use of common phrases in writing to people of no extraordinary capacity then take because of this any occasion to quarrel at or cry down that which is so usefull excellent And if in the opinion of men faithfull famous in their generation he be the best preacher to a people and consequently writter too Qui quam maxime trivialiter pueriliter populariter docet as to words phrases I see no great reason such have to carpe or necessity I have to make an Apology But their is sufficient to be said if not for silencing of bablers whose tongue hath moe dimensions then their reason which maks it not worth the while to take notice of their barking yet for satisfying of the more sober minded First Consider that this disciple learned at his Master both so to write speak as not to hide his purpose in a cloud of new coined words He consulted his own reputation so little while he sought his Master's honour that he would rather seem a Babler to them who minded nothing but words then a Barbarian to the meanest who was taken with spiritual matter If Christ's example who taught these high heavenly mysteries of salvation by plain obvious similitudes be not sufficient to silence such persons who have habituat their tongue to drope satyrs against what is good whether persons or things yet it is enough to guard against the prejudice of what they take liberty to say 2. Consider that the most common word 's ordinary phrases in use amongst a people may by the greatest Oratour be very pertinently used for illustrating pressing his purpose Nay in some cases these have a special emphasis beyond what can be wrapt up in a great many more compt words seemingly neat expressions then they are so far from being a blemish to a discourse that they seem to give a kinde of life adde a certain Iustre to the whole frame thou wilt finde it often fall out here that the Author hath so happy a dexterity in making the most common somtimes contemptible-like phrase with a gracefull sweetness subservient to his purpose that let the greatest master of words alter but one of these words or change one of these expressions which if they stood not there might almost seem a Barbarisme he marres what he undertooke to mend while he endeavours to coâ—…ct the Author he leaves himself to be put in amongst the Errata 3. Consider that a great many of the persons to whom he wrote were no schollers nay had so little acquaintance With that which passeth in the world for elegancy of speech that he had as good have said nothing at all to them as have made use of any other words then what are pitched upon in expressing his purpose so his designe being to make affection or to move it in the hearts of these to whom he wrote there was a necessity to suit his stile to their capacity which condescension in him is yet managed with so much spirituall prudence discretion as it is without debasing high matter or giving the least rational ground to mock at spiritual mysteries Yea I may say further that there is so much majesty in the straine as that the lowness of the stile is aboundantly thereby made up And further I might aske thee if thou who maks the challenge doest pretend to be a Master of reason whether he is the best Oratour who can with the least noise cast fire into the affections of these to whom he speaks or writs bring down the highest mysteries in religion to the capacity of the meanest hearer reader or he who wraps up plain truths obvious purposes in such an obscurity of phrase perplexing intricacy of words as carryes the matter quite beyond the reach of a vulgar capacity without making any other impression upon the minde of the hearer then that the man hath forgotten his message while he seeks himself flights his Master's business It often creats also a suspicion that the writter or speaker either desires not to be understood or while he endeavours to sore too high above others that is he hath fallen into such a confusion as he knowes not where to finde himself if thou concede here what with reason thou canst not deny thou hast granted all against thy self which I need seek for putting thee to silence 4. Consider that though there be some here written to of the greatest quality in the Nation a great many others who are eminent for their understanding parts aswell as their grace yet as these of the greatest quality parts may reap advantage by what hath been written to the meanest most obscure person God in his providence led his servant to speak to these of understanding parts so that what was particularly intended for them might be of speciall use advantage to every one And thus all occasion of carping is taken away unless amongst the rest of the regularites of this time Episcopall Authority be interposed to make us read understand that axiome backward bonum quo communius eo melius which if it be I have no more to say but that it is of a peece with the rest of their Reformation I suppose by this time it may be thought I have said too much upon this head since it would seem that something ought rather to be said for making many things in them plain that are mysterious darke then to say so much for taking off prejudice because of some common words expressions but as to that I shall not undertake it For there are many things in them onely intelligible by tasting he who wants that commentary will never understand this text I have no more to say either for the one or the other but if any dislike them he may let them alone for I intend to obtrude them upon none who distasts them yet I cannot for bear to advise even such so far to consult their owne reputation as by speaking against what the Author hath here written not to discover that secret to the world that they are persons void of a gracious principle to whom the things that are
acceptable to them for whom they were at first written to these for whom they are now principally intended because the life emphasis of the Phrase is often found to lie in that very word But having kept thee under too long an arrest in the entry I leave thee now to peruse these profitable Epistles which are an account of the many sweet hours comfortable soliloquies which that eminent saint sufferer had with God in the furnace of his affliction Wherein there is much to be seen beyond the ordinary attainment of a Christian even who hath made some remarkable progress is no small proficient in the wayes of God I nothing doubt but when thou perceivest while thou readest how much pure zeal to God doth burne in these lines thou wilt Lament the lose of such a blessed instrument now when the Church of God is brought so very low there are so few of all the sons whom she hath nourished brought up to take her by the hand I grant it is both a rational religious sorrow for when we remember the many eminent lights the removal of whom hath brought a sad darke night upon the Church which did laâ—ly shine amongst us most say they are gone who were our faithfull guids it would almost seem pardonable to abandon our selves to sorrow refuse to be comforted Quis â—alia fando tempereâ— a lachrimis Yet give me leave to suggest these things 1 Let not the tear so blinde thine eye as not to observe the goodness of God who gave us such It was a saying of an eminent excercised Christian worthy to be remembred in this present case to be put upon record for posterity perceiving many sorrowfull upon the removal of one of the most burning shining lights that Britain had to boast of that great Interpreter Mr Durhame I mean turne your tears sighes for this loss said that worthy person though it seem to you almost irreeparable an age hardly producing such an other into songs of praises doe not so indulge your sorrow because the Master hath called home an Ambassadour who did so faithfully successfully negotiat for him as ye forget in the mean time to praise the Lord of the harvest who thrust forth such a labourer into his vinyard Let not the greatness of your grief make you forget the riches of his goodness to the Church of Christ in Scotland in that there was a Mr Durhame to die out of it So I say when in reading of these thou remembers that the worthy Author is gone to his rest yet be not guilty of so much ingratitude through the excess of thy grief as to froget God's care of kindness to the Church of Scotland who amongst others gave her a Mr Rutherfoord one who was not onely famous at home abroad for his great Learning but such a Minister of the Gospel as I suppose there is not a godly Minister in the Nation who knew his painfulness his tenderness his zeal his shining Gospel adorning Conversation that will think he wrongs himself in giving the presence to him whose watching weeping unwearied pains to propagate the truth profite the souls of men made him without a match or equal Left deep convictions of short-coming even upon them who may with a rational confidence expect the approbation of well done good faithfull servants at the day of their appearance die in the faith of this that when the great shepherd shall appear they shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away 2 If no other consideration can dâ—y up thy tears or divert thy sorrow while thou doest remember thy own the Churches loss yet remember that this is sufficient to make the mourne in hope that the residâ—e of the spirit is with him We cannot I grant weep back again though it 's like some would be content to weep themselves blinde if that were lawfull would doe it our famous faithfull Knoxes Davidsons Welshes Bruces Hendersons Rutherfoords Gilâ—spies Guthries with a great many 〈◊〉 sids of their brethren companions who did build fight with them were the restorers of the breaches amongst us whereby they obtained a good report are at this day of blessed memory indeed but is there no hope to see them alive in other mens persons I grant their is but little appearance of that for the present For Alas may we say where is theâ—e a man of that spirit to be found Yet let us not adde this to all the rest of our provocations in this wilderness-lot to limit the holy one of Israel since these had nothing but what they did receive he can furnish the Church with men of the same parts zeal With men who will shine in light so that their enemies must lay their hand upon their mouth when they have spoken burne in love to God his interests truely it concerns all the people of God to be much in importuning him that he would again give us such standard bearers that that he would remember us now in our low estate by raising up such who may be as the Charets horsemen of Israel when the spirit of most is under such a faint the men of might doe not finde their hands If we were up doing in this which is one great part of our work in such a sad time gave him no rest who knowes but he would yet breath upon many who are now as dry bones without life or motion make them stand up for him plead his cause against them who have lifted up their head against heaven their heel against his people They who by falling asleep till their hair was cut that they were not in case to shake themselves as at other times when their enemies were upon them might yet spil their adversaries sport bring down their Babel about their ears if the spirit of the Lord came upon them as at othertimes Or if this were not to be expected he could raise up a generation who would serve him with more zeal faithfulness then we have done that in such a number as should make his Church say who hath begotten me all these And where have they been It my be that he who waits to be gracious is waiting to be enâ—…ated to doe this good thing for us Surely if we were a people of prayer particularly for this Church Nation-mercy we might be surprised now when we have scarce a tokenn for good when our lukwarme temper hath banished the faith of such a mercy almost out of the earth with such a reâ—urâ—â— aâ— that I will clothethy Priests with salvation thy saiâ—…s â—all yet shout aloud for joy I will pour down such a plentifull the â—sure of the spirit upon them that by their zeal faithfulness the years which thiâ— cankerworme caterpillar of luke warness hath eaten up
set rent O how many rich off-fallings are in my Kings house I am perswaded dare pawnd my salvation on it that it is Christs truth I now suffet for I know his comforts are no dreams he would not put his seal on blank paper nor deceive his afflicted ones that trust in him Your La wrote to me that ye are yet an ill scholler Madam ye must goe in at heavens gates and your book in your hand still learning you have had your own large share of troubls a double portion but iâ— saith your Father counteth you not a baâ—tard fuâ—-begotten bairns are nurtured Heb. 12. 8. I long to hear of the childe I write the blessings of Christs prisoner the mercies of God to him let him be Christs yours betwixt you but let Christ â—e whole play-maker let him be the lender ye the borrower not an owner Madam it is not long since I did write to your La that Christ is keeping mercy for you I bide by it still now I write it under my hand love him dearly win in to see him there is in him that which you never saw he is aâ—â—igh he is a tree of life green blossoming both summer and winter there is a nick in Christianity to the which whosoever cometh they see and feel more then others can doe I invite you of new to come to him Come See will speak better things of him then I can doe come neerer come neerer wil say much God thought never this world a portion worthy of you he would not even you to a gift of dirt clay nay he will not give you Esaâ—'s portion but reserves the inheritance of Jacob for you are ye not well married now have you not a good husband now my heart cannot expresse what sad nights I have for the virgin daughter of my people woe is me for our time is coming Ezek. 7 10. behold the day behold it is come the morning hath gone forth the rod hath blossomed pride hath buâ—ded violence is risen up in a rod of wickedness the sun is gone down upon our prophets A drie wind upon Scotland but neither to fan nor to cleanse but out of all question when the Lord hath cut down his forrest the after-growth of Lebanon shall flourish they shall plant vines in our mountains and a cloud shall yet fill the Temple Now the blessing of our dearest Lord Jesus the blessing of him that is seperat from his brethren come upon you Yours at Aberden the prisoner of Christ S. R. To the honourable truly noble lady the VICOUNTESSE of KENMURE 7 MADAM GRace mercy peace be to your La I long to hear from you I am here waiting if a good wind long-looked for shaâ—â— at length blow in Christs sailes in this land But I wonder if Jesus be not content to suffer more yet in his members cause beauty of his house rather then he should not be avenged upon this land I hear many worthy men who see more in the Lords dealing then I can take up with my dim sight are of a contrait minde doe beleeve the Lord is coming home again to his house in Scotland I hope he is on his journey that way yet I look not but that he shall feed this land with their own blood before he establish his throne amongst us I know your Honour is not looking after things here-away ye have no great cause to think that your stock principall is under the roof of these visible heavens I hope ye would think your self a beguiled and coâ—sened Soul if it were so I would be sorry to counsell your La to make a covenant with time this life but rather desire you to hold in fair generals far off from this ill founded heaven that is on this side of the water It speaketh some what when our Lord bloweth the bloome off our daft hopes in this life loppeth the branches of our worldly joyes well nigh the root on purpose that they should not thrive Lord spill my fools heaven in this life that I may be saved for ever A forfeiture of the saints part of the yolke and marrow of short-laughing happinesse worldly is not such a real evil as our blinded eyes doe conceive I am thinking long now for some deliverance more then before but I know I am in an errour It is possible I am not come to that measure of triall that the Lord is seeking in his work If my friends in Galloway would effectualy doe for my deliverance I would exceedingly rejoyce but I know not but the Lord hath a way whereof he will be the only reaper of praises Let me know with the bearer how the childe is the Lord be his Father Tutour your onely comforter There is nothing here where I am but profanitie atheisme Grace grace be with your La. Aberd. Feb. 13. 1637. Your La at all oblidged obedience in Christ S. R. To the noble Christian lady the VICOUNTESSE of KENMURE 8 MADAM GRace mercy peace be to you I would not omit the occasion to write to your La with the bearer I am glad the childe is well Gods favour even in the eyes of men be seen upon him I hope your La is thinking upon these sad woefull dayes wherein we now live when our Lord in his righteous judgment is sending the kirk the gate she is going to Romes brothell house to seek a lover of her own seeing she hath given up with Christ her husband O what sweet comfort what rich salvation is laid up for these who had rather wash and roll their garments in their own blood then break out from Christ by Apostasie keep your self in the love of Christ stand far aback from the pollutions of the vvorld side not with these times and hold off from coming nigh the signs of a conspiracie with these that are now come out against Christ that ye may be One keept for Christ onely I know your La thinketh upon this and how ye may be humbled for your self this backsliding land for Iavouch that wrath from the Lord is gone out against Scotland I think ay the longer the better of my Royall and worthy master he is become a new welbeloved to me now in renewed consolations by the presence of the spirit of grace and glory Christs garments smell of the powder of the marchant when he cometh out of his Ivory chambers O his perfumed face his fair face his lovely kindly kisses have made me a poor prisoner see there iâ— more to be had of Christ in this life then I beleeved we think all is but a little earnest a four hours a small tasting we have or is to be had in this life which is true compared with the inheritance but yet I know it is more It is the Kingdom of God within us Woe woe is me that I have not ten loves for that one
with the want of what we are obliged to give him even the glory of his grace by beleeving yet a poor covenanted sinner wanteth not but if guiltiness were removed doubtings would find no friend nor life and yet faith is to beleeve the removal of guiltiness in Christ. A reason why ye get less now as ye think then before as I take it is because at our first conversion our Lord putteth the meat in young bairns mouthes with his own hand but when we grow to some further perfection we must take heaven by violence and take by violence from Christ what we get and he can and doeth hold because he will have us to draw Remenber now ye must live upon violent plucking laziness is a greater fault now then long since we love alwayes to have the pape put in our mouth No for my self alace I am not the man I goe for in this nation men have not just weights to weigh me 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but I am a liâ—â—yâ—â—â—less Body and ove◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whom 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 If Christ would refer the matter to 〈◊〉 in his presence I speak it I might think shame to vote my own salvation I think Christ might say thinkâ—â— thou not shame to claim heaven who does so 〈◊〉 for it I am very often so that I know not whether 〈◊〉 â—â—nk oâ— swine in the water I find my self a bag of light froth I would bear no weight but vanities nothing's weigh in Christs balance if my Lord cast not in borrowed weight metall even Christs righteousness to weigh for me the stock I have is not mine own I am but the merchand that traffiques with other folks goods if my creditor Christ would take from me what he hath lent I would not long keep the causey but Christ hath made it mâ—â—e his I think it manhood to play the coward jouke in the lee-side of Christ and thus I am not onely saved from my enemies but I obtain the victory I am so empty that I think it were an almes-deed in Christ if he would win a poor prisoners blessing for evermore and fill me with his love I complain when Christ cometh he cometh alwayes to fetch fire he is ever in haste he may not tarry poor 〈◊〉 a beggerly Dyvour get but a standing visit a standing kiss but how doest thou in the by-going I dare not say he is lordly because he is made a King now at the right hand of God or is grown miskenning dry to his poor freinds for he cannot make more of his kisses then they are worth but I think it my happiness to love the love of Christ when he goeth away the memory of his sweet presence is like a feast in a dear summer I have comfort in this that my soul desireth that every hour of my imprisonment were a company of heavenly tongues to praise him on my behalf howbeit my bonds were prolonged for many hundred yeers O that I could be the man who could procure my Lords glory to flow like a full sea blow like a mighty wind upon all the four Airths of Scotland England Ireland O if I could write a book of his praises O fairest among the sons of men why stayest thou so long away O heavens move fast O time run run hasten the marriage-day for love is tormented with delayes O Angels O Seraphims who stand before him O blessed Spirits who now see his face set him on high for when ye have worn your harps in his praises all is too little is nothing to cast the smel of the praise of that fair flower that fragrant rose of Sharon through many worlds Sir take my hearty commendations to him tell him that I am sick of love Grace be with you Aberd. June 16. 1637. Yours in his sweet L. Iesus S. R. To his Honoured Dear Brother ALEXAND GORDON of KNOCKGRAY 28 Dearest truly honoured Brother GRace mercy peace be to you I have seen no letter from you since I came to Aberdeen I will no tinterpret it to be forgetfulness I am here in a fair prison Christ is my sweet honourable fellow-prisoner I his sad joyful Lord-prisoner if I may speak so I think this cross becometh me well is suitable to me in respect of my duty to suffer for Christ howbeit not in regard of my deserving to be thus honoured However it be I see Christ is strong even lying in the dust in prison and in banishment Losses disgraces are the wheels of Christs triumphing chariot In the sufferings of his own saints as he intendeth their good so he intendeth his own glory that is the butte his arrowes shoot at Christ shooteth not at the tovers he hitteth what he purposeth to hit Therefore he doeth make his own feckless weak nothing's these who are the contempt of men a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth to thresh the mountains beat them small to make the hills as chaff to fan them Isa. 51 15 16. What harder stuff or harder grain for threshing out then high and rockie mountains But the Saints are Gods threshing instruments to beat them all in chaff are we not Gods leem vessels yet when they cast us over an house we are not broken in sheards we creep in under our Lords wings in the great shower the water cannot goe thorow these wings It is folly then for men to say this is not Christs plea he will lose the wed-fee men are like to beguile him that were indeed a strange play Nay I dare pledge my soul lay it in pawne on Christs side of it be half-tiner half-winner with my Master Let fools laugh the foolslaughter scorn Christ bid the weeping captives in Babylon sing us one of the songs of Zion play a spring to chear up your sad-hearted God We may sing upon lucks head before hand even in our winter-storme in the expectation of a summer-sun at the turn of the yeer no created powers in hell or out of hell can mar our L. Jesus his musick nor spill our song of joy let us then be glad rejoyce in the salvation of our Lord for faith had never yet cause to have wet cheeks hingingdown browes or to droup or die what can aile faith seeing Christ suffereth himself with reverence to him be it spoken to be commanded by it Christ commandeth all things faith may dance because Christ sings we may come in the Quite lift our hoarse rough voices chirp sing shout for joy with our Lord Jesus We see oxen goe to the shambles leaping startling We see Gods fed oxen prepared for the day of slaughter goe dancing singing down to the black chambers of hell why should we goe to heaven weeping as if we were like to fall down thorow the earth for sorrow If God were dead if I may speak so with
to set it right ere the string be drawn but when once it is shot in the air the flight begun then ye have no power at all to command it It were a blessed thing if your love could now levell onely at Christ that his fair face were the black of the marke ye shot at For when your love is loosed and out of your grips in its motion to fetch home anâ— Idol hath taken a whorish gading-journey to seek an unknown strange lover ye shall not then have power to call home the arrow or to be master of your love ye shall hardly give Christ what ye scarcely have your self I speak not this as if youth it self could fetch heaven Christ. Beleeve it my Lo It is hardly credible what a nest of dangerous tentations youth iâ— how inconsiderat foolish proud vain heady rash profane careless of God this piece of your life is so that the devil findeth in that age a garnished swept house for himself seven devils worse then himself for then affections are on horse-back lofty stirring then the old man hath blood lust much will little wit and hands feet wanton eyes profane ears as his servants as a Kings officers at command to come goe at his will Then a green conscience is as souple as the twig of a young tree it is for every way every religion every lewd course prevaileth with it And therefore O what a sweet couple what a glorious yoke are youth and Grace Christ a young-man This is a meeting not to be found in every town None who have been at Christ can bring back to your Lo a report answerable to his worth for Christ cannot be spoken of or commended according to his worth Come see is the most faithfull messenger to speak of him little perswasion would prevail where this were It is impossible in the setting out of Christ's love to lye and passe over truth's line The discourses of Angels or Love-books written by the congregation of Seraphims all their wits being conjoyned and melted in one would for ever be in the nether side of truâ— and plentifully declaring the thing as it is The infinitness the boundlesness of that incomparable excellency that is in Jesus is a great word God send me if it were but the relicts and leavings or an ounce weight or two of his matchless love and suppose I never got another heaven providing this blessed fire were evermore burning I could not but be happy forever Come hither then and give out your money wisely for bread Come here and bestow your love I have cause to speak this because except ye enjoy and possess Christ ye will be a cold friend to his spouse For it is love to the husband that causeth kindness to the wife I dare swear it were a blessing to your House the honour of your Honour the flower of your credit now in your place and as far as ye are able to lend your hand to your weeping Mother even your oppressed and spoiled Mother-kirk If ye love her and bestir your self for her hazard the Lordship of Boyd for the recovery of her vail which the smiting-watchmen have taken from her then surely her husband will scorn to sleep in your common or reverence Bits of Lordships are little to him who hath many crownes on his head the Kingdoms of the world in the hollow of his hand Court Honour Glory riches Stability of houses Favour of Princes are all on his finger ends O what glory were it to lend your honour to Christ and to his Jerusalem Ye are one of Zions born sons your Honourable and Christian Parents would venture you upon Christ's errands Therefore I beseech you by the mercies of God by the death and wounds of Jesus by the hope of your glorious inheritance and by the comfort hope of the joyfull presence ye would have at the water-side when ye are putting your foot in the dark grave take courage for Christ's truth the Honour of his free Kingdom for howbeit ye be a young flower and green before the sun ye know not how soon death will cause you cast your bloom and wither root and branch leaves And therefore write up what ye have to doe for Christ and make a treasure of good works and begin in time by appearance ye have the advantage of the brae see what ye can doe for Christ against these who are waiting while Christ's Tabernacle fall that they may run away with the boards thereof and build their nests on Zion's ruines They are blinde who see not lowns now pulling up the stakes and breaking the cords renting the curtains of Christ's some times beautifull tent in this land Antichrist is lifting that tent up upon his shoulders and going away with it when Christ the Gospel are out of Scotland dream not that your houses shall thrive that it shall goe well with the Nobles of the land As the Lord liveth the streams of your waters shall become pitch and the dust of your land brimstone and your land shall become burning pitch and the Owl and the Raven shall dwell in your houses and where your table stood there shall grow briers nettles Isa. 34 9 11. The Lord gave Christ and his Gospel as a pawne to Scotland the watchmen have fallen foul lost their part of the pawne who seeth not that God hath dryed up their right eye their right arme hath broken the shepherds staves men are treading in their hearts upon such unsavoury salt that is good for nothing else If ye the Nobles put away the pawne also refuse to plead the controversie of Sion with the professed enemies of Jesus ye have done with it Oh where is the courage zeal now of the ancient Nobles of this land who with their swords hazard of life honour houses brought Christ to our hands And now the Nobles cannot be but guilty of shouldering out Christ murthering of the souls of the posterity if they shall hide themselves lurk in the lee-side of the hill till the wind blow down the temple of God It goeth now under the name of wisdom for men to cast their cloak over Christ their profession as if Christ were stolen goods durst not be avouched though this be reputed a piâ—ce of policy yet God estemeeth such men to be but State-fool Court-gooks what ever they or other Heads of wit like to them think of themselves since their damnable silence is the ruine of Christs Kingdom Oh but it be true honour glory to be the fast friends of the bridegroom to own Christ's bleeding head his forsaken cause to contend legally in the wisdom of God for our sweet Lord Jesus his Kingly crown But I will beleeve your Lo will take Christs honour to heart be a man in the streets as the
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
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
beleeve me I thought not the hundred part of Christ long since that I doe now though alas my thoughts are still infinitely below his worth I have a dwining sickly and pained life for a reall possession of him and am troubled with lovebrashes and love-fevers but it is a sweet pain I would refuse no conditions not hell excepted reserving alwayes God's hatred to buy possession of Jesus but alas I am not a merchant who have any money to give for him I must either come to a good cheap market where wares are had for nothing else I goe home empty But I have casten this work upon Christ to get me himself I have his faith truth promise as a pawne of his all engaged that I shall obtain that which my hungry desires would be at I esteem that the choice of my happiness And for Christ's cross especially the garland the flower of all crosses to suffer for his name I esteem it more then I can write or speak to you And I write it under mine own hand to you it is one of the steps of the ladder up to our countrey Christ who ever be one is still at the heavy end of this black tree so it is but as a feather to me I need not run at leisure because of a burthen on my back my back never bare the like of it the more heavily crossed for Christ the soul is still the lighter for the journey Now would to God all cold-blooded faint-hearted souldiers of Christ would look again to Jesus to his love when they look I would have them to look again again fill themselves with beholding of Christ's beauty I dare say then that Christ should come in great court request with many The virgins would flock fast about the Bridegroom they would embrace and take hold of him not let him goe But when I have spoken of him till my head rive I have said just nothing I may begin again A God-head a God-head is a world's wonder Set ten thousand thousand new made worlds of angels and elect men double them in number ten thousand thousand thousand times let their heart tongues be ten thousand thousand times more agile large then the heart tongues of the Seraphims that stand with six wings before him Isa. 6. 2. When they have said all for the glorifying praising of the Lord Jesus they have but spoken little or nothing his love will bide all possible creatures to praise Oh if I could wear this tongue to the stump in extolling his highness but it is my daily growing sorrow that I am confounded with his incomparable love he doeth so great things for my soul he got never yet any thing of me worth the speaking of Sir I charge you help me to praise him It is a shame to speak of what he hath done for me what I doe to him again I am sure Christ hath many drowned Dyvours in heaven beside him when we are conveened man angel at the great day in that fair last meeting we are all but his drowned Dyvours It is hard to say who oweth him most If men could doe no more I would have them to wonder If we cannot be filled with Christ's love we may be filled with wondering Sir I would I could perswade you to grow sick for Christ to long after him be pained with love for himself but his tongue is in heaven who can doe it To him his rich grace I recommend you I pray you pray for me forget not to praise Aberd. June 17. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To the Lady GAITGIRTH 144 MISTRESS GRace mercy peace be to you I long to know how matters stand betwixt Christ and your soul I know ye finde him still the longer the better time cannot change him in his love ye may your self ebbe flow rise fall wax wane but your Lord is this day as he was yesterday it is your comfort that your salvation is not rolled upon wheels of your own making neither have ye to doe with a Christ of your own shaping God hath singled out a Mediator strong mighty if ye your burdens were as heavy as ten hills or hells he is able to bear you save you to the uttâ—rmost Your often seeking to him cannot make you a burden to him I know Christ compassionateth you maketh a moan for you in all your dumps under your downcastings but it is good for you that he hideth himself sometimes it is not niceness driness nor coldness of love that causeth Christ withdraw slip in under a curtain a vail that ye cannot see him but he knoweth ye could not bear with up-sailes a fair gaile a full moon a high spring-tide of his felt love alwayes a fair summer-day a summer-sun of a felt possâ—ssed embracing Lord Jâ—sus His kisses his visits to his dearest oâ—es are thin sowen He could not let out his rivers of love upon his own but thâ—se rivers would be in hazard to loose a young plant at the root he knoweth this of you Ye should therefore first Christ's kindness as to it 's sensible and full manifeâ—â—ations till ye and he be above sun moon that is the countrey where ye will be enlarged for that love which ye dow not now contain Cast the burden of your sweet babes upon Christ lighten your heart by laying your All upon him he will be their God I hope to sâ—e you up the mountain yet glad in the salvation of God Frame your self for Christ gloom not upon his cross I finde him so sweet that my love suppose I would charge it to remove from Christ it would not obey me His love hath stronger fingers then to let goe it's grips of us bairns who cannot goe but by such a hold as Christ. It is good that we want legs of our own since we may borrow from Christ it is our happiness that Christ is under an act of cautionry for heaven that Christ is booked in heaven as the principal debter for such poor bodies as we are I request you give the Laird your husband thanks for his care of me that he hath appeared in publike for a prisoner of Christ I pray write mercy peace blessings to him his Grace grace be with you for ever Aberd. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To Mr JOHN FER GUSHILL 145. Reverend Dear Brother GRace mercy peace be to you My longings desires for a sight of the new builded tabernacle of Christ again in Scotland that tabernacle that came down from heaven hath now taken some lâ—fe again when I see Christ making a mint to sow vengeance among his enemies I care not if this land be ripe for such a great wonderfull mercy but I know he must
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
hay stubble But let me my very dear worthy Lord most humbly beseech you by the mercies of God by the consolations of his Spirit by the dear blood wounds of your lovely Redeemer by the salvation of your soul by your compearance before the awfull face of a sin-revenging dreadfull Judge not to set in comparison together your soul's peace Christ's love his Kingly honour now called in question with your place honour house or ease that an inch of time will make out of the way I verily beleeve Christ is now begging a testimony of you is saying And will ye also leave me It is possible the wind shall not blow so fair for you all your life for coming out appearing before others to back countenance Christ the fairest among the sons of men the Prince of the Kings of the earth Isa. 51. 7. Fear ye not the reproach of men neither be afraid of their revilings v. 8. For the moth shall eat them up like a garment the worm shall eat them like wool When the Lord shall begin he shall make an end mow down his adversaries and they shall lie before him like withered hay their bloom shaken off them Consider how many thousands in this Kingdom veshall cause to fall stumble if ye goe with them that ye shall be out of the prayers of many who doe stand before the Lord for you your house further when the time of your accounts cometh your one foot shall be within the border of eternity the eye-strings shall break the face wax pale the soul shall look out at the windows of the house of clay longing to be out ye shall finde your self arraigned before the Judge of quick dead to answer for the putting to your hand with the rest confederate against Christ to the overturning of his Ark the loosing of the pins of Christ's tabernacle in this land shall certainly sâ—e your self mired in a course of Apostasie then then a King's favour your worm-eaten honour shall be miserable comforters to you The Lord hath enlightened you with the knowledge of his will as the Lord liveth they lead you and others to a communion with great Babel the mother of fornications God said of old continueth to say the same to you Come out of her my people lest ye be partakers of her plagues will ye then goe with them set your lip to the whore 's golden cup drink of the wine of the wrath of God Almighty with them O poor hungry honour O cursed pleasures And O damnable ease bought with the loss of God! How many shall pray for you What a sweet presence shall â—…efinde of Christ under your sufferings if ye shall lay down your honour place at the feet of Christ What a fair recompence of reward I avouch before the Lord that I am now shewing you a way how the house of Craighall may stand on sure pillars If ye will set it on rotten pillars ye cruelly wrong your posterity Ye have the word of a King for an hundred fold more in this life if it be good for you for life everlasting also Make not Christ a liar in distrusting his promise Kings of clay cannot back you when ye stand before him a straw for them their hungry heaven that standeth on this side of time a fig for the dayes-smile of a woâ—m Consider who have gone before you to eternity would have given a world for a new occasion of a vouching that truth It 's true they call it not substantial and we are made a scorn to these that are at ease for suffering these things for it but it is not time to judge of our losses by the morning stay till the evening we shall count with the best of them I have found by experience since the time of my imprisonment my witness is above Christ fealing this honourable cause with another a nearer fellowship then ever I knew before and let God weigh me in an even ballance in this if I would exchange the cross of Christ or his truth with the fourteen Prelacies or what else a King can give My dear Lord venture to take the wind on your face for Christ I beleeve if he should come from heaven in his own person seek the charters of Craighall from you a dimission of your place ye saw his face ye would fall down at his feet and say Lord Iesus it is too little for â—…ee If any man think it not a truth to die for I am against him I dare goe to eternity with it that this day the honour of our royal Law-giver King in the Government of his own free Kingdom who should pay tribute to no dying King is the true state of the question My Lord be ye upon Christ's side of it take the word of a poor prisoner nay the Lord Jesus be surety for it ye have incomparably made the wisest choice for my own part I have been in this prison that I would be half a hamed to seek more till I be up at the well-head Few know in this world the sweetness of Christ's breath the excellency of his love which hath neither brim nor bottom the world hath raised a slander upon the cross of Christ because they love to goe to heaven by dry land love not sea-storms But I write it under my hand would say more if possibly a reader would not deem it hypocrisie My obligation to Christ for the smell of his garments for his love-kisses these thirty weeks standeth so great that I should I desire also to chuse to suspend my salvation to have many tongues loosed in my behalf to praise him suppose in person I never entered within the gates of the new â—erusalem yet sobeing Christ may be set on high I had the liberty to cast my love praises for ever over the wall to Christ I would be silent content But O he is more then my narrow praises O time time flee swiftly that our communion with Jesus may be perfected I wish your Lo would urge Mr L. to give his minde in the Ceremonies be pleased to let me sâ—e it as quickly as can be it shall be answered To his rich grace I recommend your Lo shall remain Aberd. Juny 8. 1637. Yours at all respective obedience in Christ S. R. To the Lady CULROSS 211 MADAM YOur letter came in due time to me now a prisoner of Christ in bonds for the Gospel I am sentenced with deprivation confinement within the town of Aberdeen but Oh my guiltiness the follies of my youth the neglects in my calling especially in not speaking more for the Kingdom crown scepter of my royal princely King Iesus doe so stare me in the face that I apprehend anger in that which is a crown of rejoycing to
of many noble many holy many learned worthy ones in our neighbour Churches about are upon you This poor Church your mother Christ's spouse is holding up her hands heart to God for you and doeth beseech you with tears to plead for her husband his Kingly Scepter for the liberties that her Lord King hath given to her as to a free Kingdom that oweth spiritual tribute to none on earth as being the free-born Princess daughter to the King of Kings This is a Cause that before God his Angels the World before Sun Moon needeth not to blush O what glory true honour is it to lend Christ your hand service to be amongst the repairers of the breaches of Sion's walls to help to â—uild the old waste places and stretch forth the curtains strengthen the stakes of Christ's tent in this land O blessed are they who when Christ is driven away will bring him back again lend him lodging And blessed are ye of the Lord your name honour shall never rot or wither in heaven at least if ye deliver the Lord's sheep that have been scattered in the dark cloudy day out of the hands of strange Lords hirelings who with rigour cruelty have caused them to eat the pastures troden upon with their foul feet to drink muddy water who have spun out such a world of yards of â—ndifferencies in God's Worship to make weave a web for the Antichrist that shall not keep any from the cold as they minde nothing else but that by the bringing in of the Pope's foul tail first upon us their wretched and beggerly Ceremonies they may thrust in after them the Antichrist's legs thighs his belly head shoulders then cry down Christ the Gospel up the merchandise wares of the great whore Fear not my worthy Lord to give your self all ye have out for Christ his Gospel No man dare say who ever did thus hazard for Christ that Christ payed him not his hundred fold in this life duely in the life to come life everlasting This is his own truth ye now plead for for God and man cannot but commend you to beg justice from a just Prince for oppressed Christ to plead that Christ who is the King's Lord may be heard in a free court to speak for himself when the standing established laws of our nation can strongly plead for Christ's crown in the pulpits his chair as Law-giver in the free Government of his own house But Christ shall never be content pleased with this land neither shall his hot fiery indignation be turned away so long as the Prelate the man that lâ—y in Antichrist's foul womb the Antichrist's Lord Bailiffe shall sit Lord-carver in the Lord Jesus his courts The Prelate is both the egge the nest to cleck bring forth Popery Plead therefore in Christ's behalf for the plucking down of the nest crushing of the egge let Christ's Kingly Office suffer no more unworthy indignities Be valiant for your royal King Jesus contend for him your adversaries shall be moth-eaten worms and shall die as men Christ and his honour now lieth upon your shoulders let him not fall to the ground Cast your eye upon him who is quickly coming to decide all the controversies in Zion remember the sand in your night-glass will run out Time with wings will flye away Eternity is hard upon you what will Christ's love-smiles the light of his lovely soul delighting countenance be to you in that day when God shall take up in his right hand this little lodge of heaven like as a shepherd lifteth up his little tent sold together the two leaves of his tent put the earth all the plenishing of it into a fire turn this clay-Idol the god of Adam's sons in to smoke white ashes O what hire how many worlds would many then give to have a favourable decreet of the Judge Or what moneyes would they not give to buy a mountain to be a grave above both soul body to hide them from the awsom looks of an angry Lord Judge I hope your Lo thinketh upon this that ye minde loyalty to Christ to the King both Now the very God of peace the onely wise God establish strengthen you upon the rock laid in Zion Aberd. Jan. 4. 1638. Your Lo at all obedience in Christ S. R. To a Christian Gentlewoman 2â—5 MISTRESS GRace mercy peace be to you Though not acquainted yet at the desire of a Christian brother I thought good to write a line unto you intreating you in the Lord Jesus under your trials to keep an ear open to Christ who can speak for himself howbeit your visitations and your own sense should dream hard things of his love and favour Our Lord never getteth so kinde a look of us nor our love in such a degree nor our faith in such a measure of stedfastness as he getteth out of the furnace of our tempting fears sharp trials I verily beleeve too sad proofs in me say no less that if our Lord would grind our whorish lust in powder the very old ashes of our corruption should take life again and live and hold us under so much bondage that may humble us make us sad till we be in that countrey where we shall need no Physick at all O what violent means doth our Lord use to gain us to him as if indeed we were a prize worthy his fighting for And be sure if leading would doe the turn he would not use pulling of hair and drawing But the best of us will bide a strong pull of our Lord 's right arm ere we follow him Yet I say not this as if our Lord alwayes measured afflictions by so many ounce weights answerable to the grain weights of our guiltiness I know he doeth in many and possibly in you seek nothing so much as faith that can endure summer and winter in their extremity O how precious to the Lord is faith and love that when threshed beaten and chased away and boasted as it were by God himself doeth yet look warm-like love-like kindlike and life-like home-over to Christ would be in at him ill well as it may be Think not much that your husband or the dearest to you in the world proveth to have the bowels mercy of the Ostrich hard rigourous cruel For Psal. 27. 10. The Lord taketh up such fallen ones as these I could not wish a more sweet life nor more satisfying expressions of kindness till I be up at that Prince of kindness then the Lord's saints finde when the Lord taketh up mens refuse lodgeth this world's out-lawes whom no man seeketh after His breath is never so hot his love casteth never such a flame as when this world and these who should be the helpers of our
against the stroke of death Now in the strength of Jesus dispatch your business that debt is not forgiven but fristed Death hath not bidden you fare-well but hath onely left you for a short season End your journey ere the night come upon you have all in readiness against the time that ye must sail through that black impetuous Iordan Jesus Jesus who knoweth both these depths the rocks all the coasts be your Pilot That last tide will not wait for you one moment if ye forget any thing when your sea is full your foot in that ship there is no returning again to fetch it What ye doe amiss in your life to day ye may amend it to morrow for as many suns as God maketh to arise upon you ye have as many new lives but ye can die but once if ye mar or spill that business ye cannot come back to mend that piece of work again No man sinneth twice in dying ill As we die but once so we die but ill or well once Ye see now the number of your moneths is written in God's book as one of the Lord's hirelings ye must work till the shadow of the evening come upon you ye shall run out your glass even to the last pickle of sand fulfill your course with joy for we take nothing to the grave with us but a good or evil conscience And although the skie clear after this storm yet clouds will engender another Ye contracted with Christ I hope when first ye began to follow him that ye would bear his cross fulfill your part of the Contract with patience break not to Jesus Christ Be honest Brother in your bargaining with him for who knoweth better how to bring up children then our God For to lay aside his knowledge of the which there is no searching out he hath been practised in bringing up his heirs these 5000 years his bairns are all well brought up many of them are honest men now at home up in their own house in heaven are entred heirs to their father's inheritance Now the form of his bringing up was by chastisements scourging correcting nurturing See if he maketh exception of any of his bairns Rev. 3. 19. Heb. 12. 7 8. No His eldest Son his heir Iesus is not excepted Heb. 2. 10. Suffer we must ere we were born God dcreed it it is easier to complain of his decree then to change it It is true terrors of conscience cast us down yet without terrors of conscience we cannot be raised up again fears doubtings shake us yet without fears doubtings we would soon sleep and loose our grips of Christ tribulation tentations will almost loose us at the root yet without tribulations temptations we can now no more grow then herbs or corn without rain Sin Satan the World will say cry in our ear that we have a hard reckoning to make in Judgement yet none of these three except they lye dare say in our face that our sin can change the Tenour of the new Covenant Forward then dear Brother lose not your grip hold fast the Truth for the world sell not one dram weight of God's truth especially now wheÌ„ most meÌ„ measure Truth by time like young sea-men setting their Compass by a cloud For now Time is father mother to Truth in the thoughts practices of our evil Time The God of Truth establish us for Alas Now there are none to comfort the prisoners of hope the mourners in Zion We can doe little except pray mourn for Iosepâ— in the stocks And let their tongue cleave to the roof of their mouth who forget Ierusalem now in her day And the Lord remember Edom render to him as he hath done to us Now Brother I will not weary you but I intreat you remember my dearest love to Mr David Dickson with whom I have small acquaintance yet I bless the Lord I know he both prayeth doeth for our dying Kirk Remember my dearest love to Iohn Stuart whom I love in Christ show him from me I doe alwayes remember him hope for a meeting The Lord Jesus establish him more more though he be already a strong man in Christ. Remember my heartiest affection in Christ to â—illiam Rodger whom I also remember to â—od I wish the first newes I hear of him you all that love our common Saviour in these bounds may be that ye are so knit linked kindly fastened in love with the Son of God that ye may say now if we would never so fain escape out of Christ's hands yet love hath so bound us that we cannot get our â—ands fâ—ce again he hath so ravished our hearts that there is no loosing of his grips the chains of his soul-ravishing love are so sâ—rong that the Crave nor Death will not bâ—â—â—k them I hope Brother yea I doubt not of it but ye lay me my first entry to the Lord's vineyard my flock before him who hath put me in his work as the Lord knoweth since first I saw you I have been mindfull of you Marion Mcknaught doeth remember most heartily her love to you to Iohn Stuart Blessed be the Lord that in God's mercy I found in this countrey such a woman to whom Jesus is dearer then her own heart when there be so many that cast Christ over their shoulder Good Brother call to minde the memory of your worthy father now asleep in Christ as his custom was pray continually wrestle for the life of a dying breathless Kirk And desire Iohn Stuart not to forget poor Zion she hath â—ew friends few to speak one good word for her Now I commend you your whole soul body spirit to Jesus Christ his keeping hoping ye will die live stand fall with the cause of our Master Jesus The Lord Jesus himself be with your spirit Anwoth Feb. 2. 1637. Your loving Brother in our Lord Iesus S. R. To my Lady KENMURE 7 MADAM I Have longed exceedingly to hear of your life health growth in the grace of God I lacked the opportunity of a bearer in respect I did not understand of the hasty departure of the last by whom I might have saluted your La therefore I could not write before this time I intreat you Madam let me have two lines from you concerning your present condition I know ye are in grief heaviness if it were not so ye might be afraid because then your way should not be so like the way that our Lord saith leadeth to the new Ierusalem Sure I am if ye knew what were before you or if ye saw but some glances of it ye would with gladness swim through the present floods of sorrow spreading forth your arms out of desire to be at land If God have given you the earnest of the Spirit as
part of payment of God's principal summe ye have to rejoyce for our Lord will not lose his earnest neither will he goe back or repent him of the bargain If ye finde at some time a longing to see God joy in the assurance of that sight howbeit that feast be but like the Passover that cometh about onely once a year peace of conscience liberty of prayer the doors of God's treasure casten up to the soul a clear sight of himself looking out saying with a smiling countenance Welcome in to me afflicted soul this is the earnest that he giveth sometimes which maketh glad the heart is an evidence that the bargain will hold But to the end ye may get this earnest it were good to come oft in terms of speech with God both in prayer hearing of the word For this is the house of wine where ye meet with your Welbeloved here it is where he kisseth you with the kisses of his mouth and where ye feel the smell of his garments and they have indeed a most fragrant glorious smell Ye must I say wait upon him be often communing with him whose lips are as lilies dropping sweet smelling myrrhe by the moving thereof he will asswage your grief for the Christ that saveth you is a speaking Christ the Church knoweth him Cant. 2. By his voice she can discern his tongue amongst a thousand I say this to the end ye should not love thâ—se dumb masks of Antichristian Ceremonies that the Church where ye are for a time hath casten over the Christ whom your soul loveth This is to set before you a dumb Christ â—ut when our Lord cometh â—e speaketh to the heart in the simplicity of the Gospel I have neither tongue nor pen to express to you the happiness of such as are in Christ When ye have sold all that ye have bought the field wherein this pearl is ye will think it no bad market for if ye be in him all his is yours ye are in him therefore because he liveth ye shall live also Ioh. 14. 19. And what is that else But as if the Son had said I will not have heaven except my redeemed ones be with me they I cannot live asunder Abide in me I in you Ioh. 15. 5. O sweet communion when Christ we are through other are no longer two Father I will that these whom thou hast given me be with me where I am to behold my glory that thou hast given me Ioh. 17. 24. Amen dear Jesus let it be according to that word I wonder that ever your heart should be casten down if ye beleeve this truth they are not worthy of Jesus Christ who will not suffer forty years troubles for him since they have such glorious promises But we fools beleeve these promises as the man that read Plato's writings concerning the immortality of the soul so long as the book was in his hand he beleeved all was true that the Soul could not die but so soon as he laid by the book presently he began to imagine that the Soul is but a smoke or airy vapour that perisheth with the expiring of the breath So we at starts doe assent to the sweet precious promises but laying aside God's book we begin to call all in question It is faith indeed to beleeve without a pledge to hold the heart constant at this work when we doubt to run to the Law to the Testimony stay there Madam hold you here here is your father's Testament read it in it he hath left to you Remission of sins life everlasting If all that ye have here be crosses troubles down-castings frequent desertions departure of the Lord who is suiting you in marriage courage he who is wooer and suiter should not be an houshold-man with you till ye and He come up to his father's house together He purposeth to doe you good at your latter end Deut. 8 16. to give you rest from the dayes of adversity Psal. 94 13. It is good to bear the yoke of God in your youth Lam. 3 27. Turn in to your strong hold as a prisoner of hope Zech. 9 12. For the vision is for an appointed time but at the end it shall speak not lye though it tarry wait for it because it will surely come it will not tarry Hab 2 3. Hear himself saying Isa 26 20. Come my people rejoyce he calleth on you enter thou into thy chambers shut thy doors about thee hide thy self as it were for a little moment till the indignation be past Beleeve then beleeve be saved think not hard â—f â—e get not your will nor your delights in this life God will have you to rejoyce in nothing but himself God forbid that ye should rejoyce in any thing but in the cross of Christ Gal 4. 16. Our Church Madam is decaying she is like Ephraim's cake gray hairs are here there upon her she knoweth it not Hos. 7 9. She is old gray haired near the grave no man taketh it to heart her wine is sowre is corrupted Now if Phinehas wife did live she might travel in birth die to see the Ark of God taken the glory departing from our Israel The power and life of religion is away Woe be to us for the day goeth away for the shadows of the evening are stretched out Ier 6 4. Madam Zion is the ship wherein ye are carried to Canaan if she suffer shâ—p-wrack ye will be casten over-board upon death life to swim to land upon broken boards It were time for us by prayer to put upon our Master-pilot Iesus to cry Master save us we perish Grace grace â—e with you We would think it a blessing to our Kirk to see you here but our sins withold good things from us The great Messenger of the covenant preserve you in body spirit Anwoth Feb. 1. 1630. Yours in the Lord S. R. To my Lady KENMURE 8 MADAM GRace mercy peace be multiplied upon you I received your La letter in the which I perceive your case in this world smelleth of a fellowship communion with the Son of God in his sufferings Ye cannot ye must not have a more pleasant or more easie condition here then he had who through afflictions was made perfect Heb. 2 10 We may indeed think Cannot God bring us to heaven with ease prosperity Who doubteth but he can But his infinite wisdom thinketh decreeth the contrary and we cannot see a reason of it yet he hath a most just reason We never with our eyes saw our own soul yet we have a soul we see many rivers but we know not their first spring original fountain yet they have a beginning Madam when ye are come to the other side of the water have set down your foot on the shore of glorious Eternity look
his face with joy my prayer to our Lord is that ye may be sick of love for him who died of love for you I mean your Saviour Jesus And O sweet were that sickness to be soul-sick for him And a living death it were to die in the fire of the love of that soul-lover Iesus And Madam if ye love him ye will keep his commandements this is not one of the least to lay your neck cheerfully willingly under the yoke of Jesus Christ For I trust your La did first contract and bargain with the Son of God to follow him upon these terms that by his grace ye should endure hardship suffer affliction as the souldier of Christ They are not worthy of Jesus who will not take a blow for their Master's sake For our glorious peace-maker when he came to make up the friendship betwixt God us God bruised him strooke him the sinfull world also did beat him and crucifie him yet he took buffets of both the parties and honour to our Lord Jesus he would not leave the field for all that till he had made peace betwixt the parties I perswade â—y self your sufferings are but like your Saviour's yea incomparably less lighter which are called but a bruising of his â—eel Gen. 3. 15 a wound far from the heart Your life is hid with Christ in God Col. 3. 3. And therefore ye cannot be robbed of it Our Lord handleth us as fathers doe their young children they lay up jewels in a place above the reach of the short arm of bairns else â—aiâ—ns would put up their hands take them down lose them soon So hath our Lord done with our spiritual life Jesus Christ is the high coffer in the which our Lord hath hid our life we children are not able to reach up our arm so high as to take down that life lose it it is in our Christ's hand O long long may Jesus be Lord-keeper of our life happy are they that can with the Apostle 2 Tim. 1. lay their soul in pawne in the hand of Jesus for he is able to keep that which is committed in pawne to him against that day Then Madam so long as this life is not hurt all ether troubles are but touches in the heel I trust ye will soon be cured Ye know Madam Kings have some servants in their court that receive not present wages in their hand but live upon their hopes The King of Kings also hath servants in his court that for the present get little or nothing but the heavie cross of Christ troubles without terrours within but they live upon hope when it cometh to the parting of the inheritance they remain in the house as heirs It is better to be so then to get present payment a portion in this life an inheritance in this world God forgive me that I should honour it with the name of an inheritance it is rather a farme-room then in the end to be casten out of God's house with this word Ye have received your consolation ye will get no more Alas What get they The rich glutton's heaven Oh but our Lord Luk. 16. maketh it a sillie heaven He fared well saith our Lord delicately every day Oh no more A sillie heaven Truly no more except that he was clothed in purple that is all I perswade my self Madam ye have joy when ye think that your Lord hath dealt more graciously with your soul. Ye have gotten little in this life It is true indeed Ye have then the more to crave yea ye have all to crave For except some tastings of the first fruits some kisses of his mouth whom your soul loveth ye get no more But I cannot tell you what is to come yet I may speak as our Lord doeth of it The foundation of the city is pure gold clear as crystall the twelve ports are set with precious stones If orchards rivers commend a soil upon earth there is a Paradise there wherein groweth the tree of life that beareth twelve manner of fruits every moneth which is seven score four harvests in the year there is there a pure river of water of life proceeding out of the throne of God of the Lamb the city hath no need of the light of the sun or moon or of a candle for the Lord God Almighty the Lamb is the light thereof Madam beleeve and hope for this till ye see enjoy Jesus is saying in the Gospel Come see he is come down in the chariot of Truth wherein he rideth through the world to conquer mens souls Psal. 45. 4. is now in the word saying Who will goe with me will ye goe my Father will make you welcome give you house-room for in my Father's house are many dwelling places Madam consent to goe with him Thus I rest commending you to God's dearest mercy Anwoth Yours in the Lord Iesus S. R. To my Lady KENMURE 16. MADAM I Am afraid now as many others are that at the sitting down of our Parliament our Lord Jesus his Spouse shall be roughly handled And it must be so since false deelining Scotland whom our Lord took off the dunghill out of hell made a fair Bride to himself hath broken her faith to her sweet husband hath put on the forehead of a whore therefore he saith he will remove would God we could stir up our selves to lay hold upon him who being highly provoked with the handling he hath met with is ready to depart Alas we doe not importune him by prayer supplication to abide amongst usâ— If we could but weâ—p upon â—â—m in the holy pertinacy of faith wrestle witâ—… say We will not let thee goe it may be that then he who is easy to be intreated would yet notwithstanding of our high provocations condescend to stay feed among the lilies till that fair desirable day break and the shadows flâ—e away Ah! What cause of mourning is there When our gold is become dim the visage of our Nazarites sometimes whiter then snow is now become blacker then a coal Levi's house once comparable to fine gold is now changed become like vessels in whom he hath no pleasure Madam think upon this that when our Lord who hath his handkerchief to wipe the face of the mourners in Zion shall come to wipe away all tears froÌ„ their eyes he may wipe yours also in the passing amongst others I am confident Madam that our Lord will yet build a new house to himself of our rejected and scattered stones for our bridegroom cannot want a wife Can he live a widow Nay he will embrace both Us the little young sister the elder sister The church of the Iews there will yet be a day of it therefore we have cause to rejoyce yea to sing shout for joy The Church hath been â—nce
fetch home all your love to himself it is but too narrow short for him if it were more if ye were before pouring all your love if it had been many gallons more in upon your Lord if drops fell by in the in-pouring he forgiveth you he hath done now all that can be done to win beyond it all hath left little to wooe your love from himself except one onely childe what is his purpose herein he knoweth best who hath taken your soul in tutouring Your faith may be boldly charitable of Christ that however matters goe the worst shall be a tired traveller a joyfull sweet welcome-home the back of your winter-night is broken Look to the East the day skie is breaking think not that Christ loseth time or lingereth unsutably O fair fair sweet morning We are but here as sea-passengers if we look right we are upon our countrey-coast our Redeemer is fast coming to take this old worm-eaten world like an old moth-eaten garment in his two hands to roll it up lay it by him These are the last dayes an oath is given Rev. 10. by God himself that Time shall be no more when Time it self is old gray-haired it were good we were away Thus Madam ye see I am as my custom is tedious in my lines your La will pardon it The Lord Jesus be with your spirit Anwoth January 18. 1636. Your La at all obedience in Christ. S. R. To my Lady KENMURE 24 Right honourable I Cannot finde time for writing some things I intended on Iob I have been so taken up with the broils that we are incumbered with in our calling for our Prelat will have us either to swallow our light over digest it contrary to our stomacks howbeit we should vomit our conscience all in this troublesom Conformity or then he will try if Deprivation can convert us to the Ceremonial faith I write to your La Madam not as distrusting your affection or willingnesse to help me as your La is able by your self or others but to advertise you that I hang by a small threed for our learned Prelat because we cannot see with his eyes so far in a mil-stone as his light doeth will not follow his Master meek Jesus who waiteth upon the wearied short-breathed in the way to heaven where all see not alike some are weaker he carrieth the lambs in his bosom leadeth gently these that are with young But we must either see all the evill of Ceremonies to be but as indifferent strawes or suffer no loss then to be easten our of the Lord's inheritance Madam if I had time I would write more at length but your La will pardon me till a fitter occasion Grace be with you and your childe and bear you company to your best home Anwoth June 8. 1636. Your La in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To EARLESTOWN Elder 25. Much honoured Sir I Have heard of the minde malice of your adversaries against you It 's like they will extend the law they have in length breadth answerable to their heat of minde but it is a great part of your glory that the cause is not yours but your Lord's whom ye serve I doubt not but Christ will count it his honour to back his weak servant it were a shame for him with reverence to his holy Name that he should suffer himself to be in the common of such a poor man as ye are that ye should give out for him not get in again Write up your depursments for your Master Christ keep the count what ye give out whether name credit goods or life suspend your reckoning till nigh the evening remember that a poor weak servant of Christ wrote it to you ye shall have Christ a King caution for your incomes all your losses Reckon not from the fore-noon Take the word of God for your warrand and for Christ's act of cautionry howbeit body life goods goe for Christ your Lord though ye should lose the head for him yet Luk 21. 18. There shall not one hair of your head perish ver 19. in patience therefore possess your soul because ye are the first man in Galloway called out questioned for the name of Jesus his eye hath been upon you as upon one whom he hath designed to be among his witnesses Christ hath said Alexander Gordon shall lead the ring in witnessing a good confession therefore he hath put the garland of suffering for himself first upoÌ„ your head think your self so much the more obliged to him fear not for he layeth his right hand on your head He who was dead is alive will plead your cause will look attentively upon the process from the beginning to the end the Spirit of glory shall rest upon you Rev. 2 10. Fear none of these things which thou shalt suffer behold the Devil shall cast some â—f you into prison that ye may be tried ye shall have tribuâ—â—tion ten dayes Be thou faithfull unto the death I will give thee the crown of life That lovely one esus who also became the Son of man that he might take strokes for you write the cross-sweetning soul-supporting sense of these words in your heart These rumbling wheels â—f Scotland's ten dayes tribulation are under his look who hath seven eyes Take a house on your head slip your self by faith in under Christ's wings till the storm be over And remember when they have drunken us down Ierusalem will be a Cup of trembling of poison Zech. 12 2. They shall be fain to vomit out the saints for Iudah v. 6. Shall be a hearth of â—ire in a sheaf they shall devour all the people round about on the right band on the â—ft Woe to Zion's enemies they have the worst or it for we have write for the victory Sir ye were never honourable till now this is your glory that Christ hath put you in the roll with himself and the rest of the witnesses who are come out of great tribulation have washen their garments made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Be not cast down for what the servants of Antichrist cast in your tâ—eth that Yeare ahead to and favourer of the Puritanes leader to thâ—â—â—â—ct if your conscience say Alas here is much din little done is the proverb is because ye have not done so much service to Christ that way as ye might should Take courage from that same temptation for â—our Lord Christ looketh â—poâ— that very challenge as an hungring desire in you to have done more then ye did that filleth up the blank he will accept of what ye have done in that kinde If great men be kinde to you I pray you overlook them if they smile on you Christ but borroweth their face to smile through them upon his afflicted
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-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
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
to glory though their spirits having the advantage of yours have had now the fore-start of the shore before you I dare say nothing against his dispensation I hope to follow quickly The heirs that are not there before you are posting with haste after you none shall take your lodging over your head Be not heavy the life of faith is now called for doing was never reckoned in your accounts though Christ in by you hath done more then by twenty yea an hundred gray-haired godly Pastors beleeving now is your last Look to that word Gal. 2 v. 20. Nevertheless I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me Ye know the I that liveth the I that liveth not It is not single Ye that liveth Christ by law liveth in the broken debter It is not a life by doing or holy walking but the living of Christ in you If ye look to your self as divided from Christ ye must be more then heavy All your wants dear Brother be upon him ye are his debter Grace must summe subscribe your accounts as paid stand not upon Items small or little Sanctification ye know inherent Holiness must stand by when imputed is all I fear the clay-house is a-taking down undermining but it is nigh the dawning look to the East the dawning of glory is near your Guide is good company knoweth all the miles the up's down's in the way the nearer the morning the darker Some traveller seeth the city 20 miles off at a distance yet within the eight part of a mile he cannot see it It is all keeping that ye would now have till ye need it if sense fruition come both at once it is not your loss let Christ tutour you as he thinks good ye cannot be marred nor miscarry in his hand Want is an excellent qualification no money no price to you who I know dare not glory in your own righteousness is ritness warrantable enough to cast your self upon him who justifieth the ungodly Some see the gold once never again till the race's end it is coming all in a summe together when ye are in a more gracious capacity to tell it then now Ye are not come to the mount that burneth with fire nor unto blackness darkness tempest but ye are come to mount Zion unto the city of the living God the heavenly Ierusalem to an innumerable company of Angels to the general Assembly Church of the first-born which are written in heaven to God the Iudge of all the Spirits of just men made perfect to Iesus the Mediator of the new Covenant to the blood of sprinkling c. Ye must leave the wife to a more choice husband the children to a better father If ye leave any testimony to the Lord's work Covenant against both Malignants Sectaries which I suppose may be needfull let it be under your hand subscribed before faithfull witnesses St Andrews Sept. 27. 1648. Your loving afflicted Brother S. R. To Mistress GILLESPIE 56 Dear Sister I have heard how the Lord hath visited you in removing the childe Archibald I hope ye see the setting down of the weight of your confidence affection upon any created thing whether husband or childe is a deceiving thing that the Creature is not able to bear your weight but sinketh down to very nothing under your confidence and therefore ye are Christ's debter for all providences of this kinde even in that he buildeth an hedge of thorns in your way for so ye see his gracious intention is to save you If I may say so whether ye will or not It is a rich mercy that the Lord Christ will be Master of your will and of all your delights and that his way is so fair for the landing of husband children before-hand in the countrey wherherto ye are journeying No matter how little ye be ingaged to the world since ye have such experience of cross-dealing in it had ye been a childe of the house the world would have dealt more warmly with it's own there is less of you out of heaven that the childe is there and the husband is there but much more that your Head and Kinsman Redeemer doeth fetch home such as are in danger to be lost from this time forward fetch not your comforts from such broken cisterns dry wells if the Lord pull at the rest ye must not be the creature that shall hold when he draweth Truly to me your case is more comfortable then if the fire-side were well plenished with ten children the Lord saw ye was able by his grace to bear the loss of husband and childe that ye are that weak and tender as not to be able to stand under the mercy of a gracious husband living flourishing in esteem with Authority and in reputation for Godliness and Learning for he knoweth the weight of these mercies would crush you and break you and a there is no searching out of his understanding so he hath skill to know what providence will make Christ dearest to you and let not your heart say it is an ill waâ—led dispensation sure Christ who hath seven eyes had before him the good of a living husband and children for Margaret Murray the good of a removed husband and children translated to gloâ—y now he hath opened his decree to you say Christ hath made for me a wise and gracious choice and I have not one word to say on the contrary Let not your heart charge any thing or Unbeleef libell injuries upon Christ because he will not let you alone nor give you leave to play the idolatress with such as have not that right to your love that Christ hath I should wish at the reading of this that ye may fall down and make a surrender of these that are gone and these that are yet alive to him and for you let him have all and wait for himself for he will come will not tarry live by faith and the peace of God guard your heart he cannot die whose ye are My wife suffers with you remembreth her love to you St Andrews August 14. 1649 Your brother in Christ S. R. To the worthy much honoured Collonel G. KER 57 Much honoured truely worthy I hope I shall not need to shew you that ye are in greater hazard from yourself and your own spirit which would be watched over that your actings for God may be clean spirituall purely for God for the Prince of the Kings of the earth then ye can be in danger from your enemies O how hard is it to get the intentions so cut off from and raised above the creature as to be without mixture of creature and carnall-interests to have the soul in heavenly actings onely onely eveing himself and acting from love to God revealed to us in Jesus Christ Ye will finde your self your delights your solid