who hath skill to melt his own mettall and knoweth well what to doe with his surnace let your heart be willing that God's fire have your tin and brass and dross to consent to want corruption is a greater mercy then many professors doe well know and to refer the manner of God's Physick to his own wisdom whither it be by drawing blood or giving sugared drinks that cure sick folks without pain it is a great point of faith and to beleeve Christ's cross to be a friend as he himself is a friend is also a special act of faith but when ye are over the water this case shall be a yesterday past an hundred years ere ye were born the cup of glory shall wash the memory of all this away and make it as nothing Onely now take Christ in with you under your yoke and let patience have her perfect work for this haste is your infimity The Lord is rising up to doe you good in the latter end put on the faith of his salvation see him posting hasting towards you Sir my employments being so great hinder me to write at more length excuse me I hope to be mindfull of you I shall be obliged to your if ye help me with your prayers for this people this College my own poor soul. Grace be with you Remember my love to your wife St Andrews Feb. 13. 1640. Yours in Christ Iesus S. R. To the much honoured PETER STIRLING 34 Much honoured worthy Sir I Received yours cannot but be ashamed that mistaking love hath brought me in court account in the heart of God's children especially of another nation I should not make a lye of the grace of God if I should think I have little share of it my self O how much better were it for me to stand in the counting table of many for a half-penny to be estemed a liker rather than a lover of Christ If I were weighed vanity should bear down the scale as having weight in the ballance above me except my lovely Saviour should cast in beside me some of his borrowed worth Oh if I were writing now sincerely in this extenuation which may be I fear is subtile coosening pride I would I could love something of heaven's worth in you all of your mettall O how happy were I if I could regain conquer back from the creature my sold lost love that I might lay it upon heaven's jewel that ever ever blooming flower of the highest garden even my soul-redeeming never-enoughprized Lord Jesus O that he would wash my love put it on the Mediator's wheel refine it from it's dross tin that I might propine gift that Lord so love-worthy with all my love Oh if I could set a lease of thousands of years a suspension of my part of heaven's glory frist till a long day my desired salvation sobeing I could in this lower kitchin under-vault of his creation be feasted with his love that I might be a footstool for his glory before men Angels Oh if he would let out heaven's fountain upon withered me dry sapless me If I were but sick of love for his love O how would that sickness delight me How sweet would that easing refreshing pain be to my soul I shall be glad to be a witness to behold the Kingdom of the world become Christ's I could stay out of heaven many years to see that victorious triumphing Lord act that prophesied part of his soul-conquering love in taking in to his Kingdom the greater Sister that Kirk of the Iews who sometimes courted our Welbeloved for her little Sister Cant. 8 8. to behold him set up as an ensign a banner of love to the ends of the world And truly we are to beleeve that his wrath is ripe for the land of graven images for the falling of that mill-stone in the midst of the sea Grace be with you St Andrews March 6. 1640. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To the Lady FINGASK 35. MADAM GRace mercy peace be to you Though not acquainted yet at the desire of a Christian I make bold to write a line or two unto you by way of counsel howbeit I be most unfit for that I hear and I blesse the father of lights for it that ye have a spirit set to seek God and that the posture of your heart is to look heaven-ward which is a work and cast of the Mediator Christ's right hand who putteth on the heart a new frame for the which I would have your La to see a tye bond of obedience laid upon you that all may be done not so much from obligation of Law as from the tye of free love that the law of ransom-paying by Christ may be the chief ground of all your obedience seeing that ye are not under the Law but under Grace withall know that unbeleef is a spiritual sin so not seen by nature's light that all that Conscience saith is not Scripture Suppose your heart bear witness against you for sins done long agoe yet because many have pardon with God that have not peace with themselves ye are to stand fall by Christ's esteem verdict of you not by that which your heart saith Suppose it may by accident be a good signe to be jealouse of your heavenly husband's love yet it is a sinful sign as there be some happy sins If may speak so not of themselves but because they are neighboured with faith and love and so worthy Lady I would have you hold by this that the ancient love of an old husband standeth firm and sure and let faith hing by this small threed that he loved you before he laid the corner-stone of the world therefore he cannot change his minde because he is God and rests in his love neither is sin in you a good reason wherefore ye should doubt of him or think because sin hath put you in the courtesie and reverence of justice that therefore he is wroth with you Neither is it presumption in you to lay the burden of your salvation upon one mighty to save so being ye lay aside all confidence in your self-worth righteousness True faith is humble seeth no way to escape but onely in Christ And I beleeve ye have put an esteem high price upon Christ they cannot but beleeve so be saved who love Christ and to whom he is precious for the love of Christ hath chosen Christ as a lover it were not like God if ye should chuse him as your liking he not chuse you again nay he hath prevented you in that for ye have not chosen him but he hath chosen you O consider his loveliness beauty that there is nothing which can commend make fair heaven or earth or the creature that is not in him in infinite perfection for fair sun and fair
moon are black and think shame to shine before his fairness Isa. 24 23. Base heavens excellent Jesus weak Angels strong mighty Jesus foolish angel-wisdom onely wise Jesus short-living creature long living everliving Ancient of dayes miserable sickly wretched are these things that are within times circle onely onely blessed Jesus If ye can wynd-in in his love and he giveth you leave â—o love him allurements also what a second heaven's paradise a young heaven's glory is it to be hot burned with fevers of love-sickness for him the more your La drink of this love there is the more room the greater delight desire for this love be homely hunger for a feast fill of his love for that 's the borders march of heaven nothing hath a nearer resemblance to the colour hew lustre of heaven then Christ loved to breath out love-word love-sighs for him Remember what he is when twenty thousand millions of heavens lovers have worn their hearts threed-bare of love all is nothing yea less then nothing to his matchless worth excellency O so broad so deep as the sea of his desireable loveliness is Glorified spirits triumphing Angels the crowned exalted lovers of heaven stand without his loveliness cannot put a cricle on it O if sin time were from betwixt us that royall King's love That high Majesty eternitie's bloom flower of high-lustred beauty might shine upon pieces of created spirits might bedew and overflow us who are portions of endless misery lumps of redeemed sin Alas what doe I I but spill lose words in speaking highly of him who will bide be above the musick songs of heaven never be enough praised by us all to whose boundless bottomless love I recommed your La am St Andrews March 27. 1640. Your La in Christ Iesus S. R. To his reverend dear Brother Mr DAVID DICKSON 36 Reverend dear Brother YE look like the house whereof ye are a branch the Cross is a part of the life rent that lieth to all the sons of the house I desire to suffer with you if I take a lift of your housetrial off you but ye have preached it ere I knew any thing of God your Lord may gather his roses shake his apples at what season of the year he pleaseth each husbandman cannot make harvest when he pleaseth as He can doe ye are taught to know adore his soveraignity which he exerciseth over you which yet is lustered with mercy the childe hath but changed a bed in the garden is planted up higher nearer the sun where he shall thiiveÌ„ better then in this out-held moor-ground Ye must think your bold would not want him one hour longer since the 〈◊〉 of your loan of him was expired as it is if ye read the â—easâ— let him have his own with gain as good reason were I read on it an exaltation a richer measure of grace as the sâ—…t fruit of your cross and I am bold to say that that College where your Master hath set you now shall finde it I am content that Chirst is so homely with my dear Brother David Dickson as to borrow lend take give with him ye know what are called the visitations of such a friend it ' s to come to the house be homely with what is yours I perswade my selâ— upon his credit he hath left drink-money and that he hath made the house the better of him I envie not his waking love who saw that this water was to be past through that now the number of crosses lying in your way to glory are fewer by one then when I saw you they must decrease it is better then any ancient or modern commentary on your Text that ye preach upon in Glasgow read and spell right for he knoweth what he doeth he is onely lopping snedding a fruitfull tree that it may be more fruitfull I congratulate heartily with you his new welcome to your new charge Dearest Brother goe on faint not something of yours is in heaven beside the flesh of your exalted Saviour ye goe on after your own time 's threed is shorter by one inch then it was an oath is sworn past the seals whether afflictions will or not ye must grow swell out of your shell live triumph reign be more then conquerour for your captain who leadeth you on iâ— more then conquerour and he makes you a partaker of his conquest and Victory Did not love to you compell me I would not fetch water to the well speak to one who knoweth bâ—…ter then I can doe what God is doing with him Remember my love to your wife to Mr Iohn all friends there Let us be helped by your prayers for I cease not to make mention of you to the Lord as I dow Grace be with you St Andrews May. 28. 16â—0 Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To my Lady BOYD. 37 MADAM GRace mercy peace be to you Impute it not to a disrespective forgetfulness of your La who ministred to me in my bonds that I write not to you I wish I could speak or write what might doe good to your La especially now when I think ye cannot but have deep thoughts of the deep bottomless wayes of our Lord in taking away with a sudden wonderfull stroke your brethren friends Ye may know all that die for sin die not in sin that none can teach the Almighty knowledge he answereth none of our Courts no man can say What doest thou It 's true your brethren saw not many summers but adore fear the soveraignty of the great Potter who maketh marreth his clay-vessels when how it pleaseth him This under-garden is absolutely his own all that groweth in it his absolute liberty is law-biding the flowers are his own if some be but summer-apples he may pluck them down before others O what wisdom is it to beleeve not to dispute to subject the thoughts to his Court not to repine at any act of his justice He hath done it all flesh be silent it is impossible to be submissive religiously patient if ye stay your thoughts down among the confused rollings wheels of second causes as Oh the place Oh the time Oh if this had been this had not followed Oh the linking of this accident with this time place Look up to the Master-motion the first wheel see read the decree of heaven the Creator of men who breweth death to his children the manner of it they see far in a mill-stone have eyes that make a hole to see through the one side of a mountain to the other who can take up his wayes How unsearchable are his judgements his wayes past finding out His Providence halteth
down hungry in waiting for the mariage-supper of the lamb neverthelesse I think it the Lords wise love that feeds us with hunger and makes us fat with wants and desertions I know not my deare brother if our worthy brethren be gone to sea or not they are on my heart and in my prayers if they be yet with you salute my deare friend John Stuart my weilbeloved brethren in the Lord Mr Blair Mr Hamilton Mr Livingston and Mr Mak-Cleland and acquaint them with my troubles and intreat them to pray for the poor afflicted prisoner of Christ They are deare to my soul I seek your prayers and theirs for my flock their remembrance breaks my heart I desire to love that people and others my deare acquantance in Christ with love in God and as God loveth them I know that he who sent me to the west and south sends me also to the north I will Charge my soul to beleeve and to wait for him and will follow his providence and not goe before it nor stay behind it Now my deare brother taking farewell in paper I commend you all to the word of his grace and to the work of his spirit to him who holdeth the seven stars in his right hand that you may be keept spotlesse till the day of Jesus our Lord. I am From Irwing being on my Iourney to Christs palace in Aberden August 4. 1636. Your Brother in affliction in our sweet Lord Jesus S. R. To his Parochiners 2 DEarly beloved longed for in the Lord my crown my joy in the day of Christ Grace be to you and peace from God our father and our Lord Jesus Christ. I long exceedingly to know if the oft-spoken-of match betwixt you Christ holdeth and if you follow on to know the Lord. My day thoughts and my night thoughts are of you while ye sleep I am afraid of your souls that they be off the rock next to my Lord Jesus and this fallen kirk ye have the greaest share of my sorrow and also of my joy ye are the matter of the tears care fear and daily prayers of an oppressed prisoner of Christ as I am in bonds for my high and lofty one my Royall and princely master my Lord Jesus so I am in bonds for you for I should have sleeped in my warme nest kept the fat world in my armes and the cords of my tabernacle should have been fastned more strongly I might have sung an Evangel of Ease to my soul and you for a time with my brethren the sons of my mother that were angry at me have thrust me out of the vineyard if I should have been broken and drawn on to mire you the Lords flock to cause you eat pastures troden upon with mens feet and to drink foul and muddie waters But truly the almighty was a rerror to me his fear made me afraid O my Lord judge if my ministry be not deare to me but not so dear by many degrees as Christ Jesus my Lord God knoweth the heavie sad Sabbaths I have bad since I laid down at my Masters feet my two shepherds staves I have been often saying as it is writen Lam. 3 52. my enemies chased me sore like a bird without cause they have cut off my life in the dungeon cast a stone upon me for next to Christ I had but one joy the apple of the eye of my delights to preach Christ my Lord and they have violently plucked that away from me it was to me like the poor mans one eye they have put out that eye and quenched my light in the inheritance of the Lord but my eye is toward the Lord I know I shall see the salvation of God and that my hope shall not alwayes be forgotten And my sorrow shall want nothing to compleat it and to make me say what availeth it me to live if ye follow the voice of a stranger of one that cometh in to the sheepfold not by Christ the door but climbeth up another way if the man build his hay and stuble upon the golden foundation Christ Iesus already laid among you ye follow him I assure you the mans work shall burn never bide Gods fire and ye he both shall be in danger of everlasting burning except ye repent O if any pain any sorrow any losse that I can suffer for Christ and for you were laid in pledge to buy Christs love to you and that I could lay my dearest joyes next to Christ my Lord in the gap betwixt you eternall destruction O if I had paper as broad as heaven and earth and inke as the sea and all the rivers and fountaines of the earth were able to write the love the worth the excellency the Sweetnesse and due praises of our dearest and fairest welbeloved and then if ye could read understand it what could I want if my ministry among you should make a marriage between the little bride in that bounds the bridegroom O how rich a prisoner were I if I could obtaine of my Lord before whom I stand for you the salvation of you all O What a prey had I gotten to have you catched in Christs net O then I had cast out my Lords lines his net with a rich gain O then wel-wared pained breast and sore back and a crased body in speaking early and late to you my witnesse is above your heaven would be two heavens to me the salvation of you all as two salvations to me I would subscribe a suspension and a fristing of my heaven for many hundred yeers according to Gods good pleasure if ye were sure in the upper lodging in our fathers house before me I take to witnesse heaven and earth against you I take instruments in the hands of that sun day light that beheld us in the hands of the timber walls of that kirk if I drew not up a fair contract of mariage betvvixt you Christ if I went not with offers betwixt the bridegroome you your conscience did bear you witnesse your mouths confessed that there were many fair trysts meetings drawn on betwixt Christ and you at communion-feasts other occasions there were braclets jewels rings and love-letters sent to you by the bridegroom it was told you what a fair dowrie ye should have and what a house your husband and ye should dwell in and what was the bridgroomes excellencie Sweetnesse might Power The Eternitie and glory of his Kingdome the exceeding deepnesse of his love who sought his black wife through pain fires shame death the grave and swimmed the salt sea for her undergoeing the curse of the law then was made a curse for you ye then consented and said Even so I take him I counsell you beware of the new strange leaven of mens inventions beside and against the word of God contrair to the oath of this kirk novv comeing among
Lord Jesus and that love fâ—ileth dâ—ieth up in loving him that I finde no way to spend my love-desires and the yolke of my heart upon that fairest dearest one I am far behinde with my narrow heart O how ebbe a soul have I to take in Christs love for let worlds be multiplied according to Angels understanding in millions while they weary themselves these worlds would not contain the thousand part of his love O if I could yoke in amongst the thick of Angels Seraphims now-glorified Saints could raise a new love-song of Christ before all the world I am pained with wondering at new opened treasures in Christ if every finger member bone and joynt were a torch burning in the hottest fire in hell I would they could all send out love-praises high songs of praise for evermore to that plant of renown to that royall high Prince Jesus my Lord but alace his love swelleth in me findeth no vent alace what can a dumb prisoner doe or say for him O for an ingine to write a book of Christ and his love nay I am left of him bound chained with his love I cannot finde a loosed soul to lift up his praises and give them out to others but oh my day light hath thick clouds I cannot shine in his praises I am often like a ship plying about to seek the wind I saile at great leisure and cannot be blowne upon that lovliest Lord. O if I could turn my sailes to Christs right arth that I had my hearts wishes of his love But I but marre his praises nay I know no comparison of what Christ is and what his worth is all the Angels all the glorified praise him not so much as in halfes who can advance him or utter all his praises I want nothing unknown faces favour me enemies must speak good of the truth my masters cause purchaseth commendation The hopes of my enlargement from appearances are cold my faith hath no bed to sleep upon but omnipotency The goodwill of the Lord his sweetest presence be with you and that childe Grace peace be yours Aberden 1637. Your Lae in all duty in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To the right honourable Christian Lady the VICOUNTESSE of KENMURE 9 MADAM GRace mercy peace be to your La I would not omit to write a line with this christian bearer one in your La own case driven neer to Christ in and by her affliction I wish that my friends in Galloway forget me not however it be Christ is so good that I will have no other tutour suppose I could have waile choise of ten thousand beside I think now five hundred heavie hearts for him too little I wish Christ now weeping suffering contemned of men were more dear desirable to many souls then he is I am sure if the saints wanted Christs crosse so profitable so sweet they might for the gain and glory of it wish it were lawfull either to buy or borrow his crosse but it iâ— a mercy that the saints have it laid to their hand for nothing for I know no sweeter way to heaven then through free grace hard trials together one of these cannot well want another O that time would Post faster hasten our long-looked for communion with that fairest fairest among the sons of men O that the day would favour us come and put Christ us in others armes I am sure a few yeers will doe our turn the souldiers hour-glasse will soon run out Madam look to your lamp and look for your Lords coming let your heart dwell aloof from that sweet childe Christs jealousie will not admit two equall loves in your La heart he must have one that the greatest a little one to a creature may must suffice a soul married to him your maker is your husband Isa. 54. I would wish you well my obligation these many yeers by gone speak no lesse to me but more I can neither wish nor pray nor desire for to your La then Christ singled wailed out from all created good things or Christ howbeit wet in his own blood and wearing a crown of thorns I am sure the saints at their best are but strangers to the weight worth of the incomparable sweetnesse of Christ He is so new so fresh in excellency every day of new to these that search more and more in him as if heaven could furnish as many new Christs If I may speak so as there are dayes betwixt him us yet he is one and the same Oh we love an unknown lover when we love Christ Let me hear how the childe is every way the Prayers of a prisoner of Christ be upon him grace for evermore even while glory perfect it be with your La Aberd. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To the noble Christian lady the VICOUNTESSE of KENMURE 10 MADAM NOtwithstanding the great haste of the bearer I would blesse your La in paper desiring that since Christ hath ever envied that the world should have your love by him that ye give your self out for Christ and that ye may be for no other I know none worthy of you but Christ Madam I am either suffering for Christ and this is either the sure and good way or I have done with heaven and will never see Gods face which I blesse him cannot be I write my blessing to that sweet childe that ye have borrowed from God he is no heritage to you but a loan love him as folks doe borrowed things my heart is heavie for you They say the Kirk of Christ hath neither son nor heir and therefore her enemies shall possesse her but I know she is not that ill friended her husband is her heir and she his heritage If my Lord would be pleased I would desire some were dealt with for my return to Anwoth but if that never be I thank God Anwoth is not heaven preaching is nor Christ I hope to wait on Let me hear how the childe is and your La minde hopes of him for it would ease my heart to know that he is well I am in good terms with Christ but oh my guiltinesse yet he bringeth not plea's betwixt him and me to the streets and before the sun Grace grace for evermore be with your La Aberd. 1637. Your La at all obedience in Christ S. R. To the right honourable Christian Lady my Lady VICOUNTESSE of KENMURE 11 MADAM GRace mercy peace to you I am refreshed with your Letter the right hand of him to whom belong the issues from death hath been gracious to that sweet childe I dow not I doe not forget him your La in my prayers Madam for your own case I love carefull and withall doing-complaints of want of practice because I observe many who think it holiness enough to complain and set themselves at nothing as if to
one And O what a fair one what an onely one what an excellent lovely ravishing one is Jesus Put the beauty of ten thousand thousand worlds of Paradises like the garden of Eden in one put all trees all flowers all smels all colours all tastes all joyes all sweetness all lovelyness is one O what a fair and excellent thing would that be yet it should be less to that fair dearest welbeloved Christ then one drop of rain to the whole seas rivers lakes fourtains of ten thousand earths O but Christ is heavens wonder earths wonder what marvel that his bride saith Cant 5 v. 16. He is altogether lovely Oh that black souls will not come fetch all then love to this fair one O if I could invite perswade thousands ten thousand times ten thousand of Adam's sons to flock about my Lord Jesus to come take their fill of love Oh pity for evermore that there should be such an one as Christ Jesus so boundless so bottomless so incomparable in infinite excellency sweetness and so few to take him Oh oh ye poor dry dead souls why will ye not come hither with your toom vessels your empty souls to this huge fair deep sweet well of life fill all your toom vessels Oh that Christ should be so large in sweetness worth we so narrow so pinched so ebbe so void of all happiness and yet men will not take him They lose their love miserably who will not bestow it upon this lovely one Alas these five thousand yeers Adam's fools his waster-heirs have been wasting lavishing out their love and their affections upon black lovers and black harlots upon bits of dead creatures and broken idols upon this that feckless creature have not brought their love and their heart to Jesus O pity that fairness hath so few lovers O woe woe to the fools of this world who run by Christ to other lovers Oh misery misery misery that comeliness can scarce get three or four hearts in a town or a countrey Oh that there is so much spoken so much written and so much thought of creature-vanity and so little spoken so little written so little thought of my great and incomprehensible and never-enough-wondered-at Lord Jesus Why should I not curse this forlorn and wretched world that suffereth my Lord Jesus to lie his alone O damned souls O miskenning world O blind O beggerly and poor souls O bewitched fools what aileth you at Christ that you run so from him I dare not challenge providence that there are so few buyers and so little sale for such an excellent one as Christ. O the depth and O the hight of my Lords wayes that passe finding out But oh if men would once be wise and not fall so in love with their own hell as to pass by Christ and misken him But let us come near and fill our selves with Christ and let his friends drink and be drunken and satisfie our hollow and deep desires with Jesus Oh come all and drink at this living well come drink live for ever more come drink welcome welcome saith our fairest Bridegroom no man getteth Christ with ill will no man cometh is not welcome no man cometh and rueth his voyage all men speak well of Christ who have been at him men and Angels who know him will say more then I dow doe think more of him then they can say O if I were misted and bewildered in my Lords love Oh if I were fettered chained to it O sweet pain to be pained for a sight of him O living death O good death O lovely death to die for love of Jesus Oh that I should have a sore heart a pained soul for the wanting of the love of this that idol woe woe to the mistakings of my miscarrying heart that gapeth cryeth for creatures is not pained cutted tortured in sorrow for the want of a souls-fill of Christ. Oh that thou would'st come near my Beloved O my fairest one why standest thou a far come hither that I may be satiat with thy excellent love O for an union O for a fellowship with Jesus O that I could buy with a price that lovely one suppose hells torments for a while were the price I cannot beleeve but Christ will ruâ— upon his pained lovers come ease sick hearts who sigh and swoond for the want of Christ who dow bide Christs love to be nice What heaven can there be liker to hell then to lust and grein and dwine and fall a swoon for Christs love and to want it is not this hell heaven woven thorow other Is not this pain and joy sweetness and sadness to be in one web the one the woft the other the warp Therefore I would Christ would let us meet and joyn together the soul Christ in others arms O what meeting is like this to see blackness and beauty contemptibleness and glory highness and baseness even a soul and Christ kiss one another Nay but when all is done I may be wearied in speaking and writing but O how far am I from the right expression of Christ oâ— his love I can neither speak nor write feeling nor â—alling nor smelingâ— come feel smel taste Christ his love 〈…〉 d ye shall call it more then can be spoken to write how sweet the honey-comb it is not so lovely as to eat suck the honey comb â—nd nights rest in a bed of love with Christ will say more then he 〈…〉 can think or tongue can utter Neither need we fear crosses or sigh or be sad for any thing that is on this side of heaven if we have Christ our crosses will never draw blood of the joy of the holy Ghost peace of conscience ouâ— joy iâ— laid up in such a high place as temptations cannot climb up to take it down this world may boast Christ but they dare not strike or if they strike they break their arm in fetching a stroke upon a rock O that we could put our treasure in Christ's hand give him our gold to keep our crown Stâ—ivâ— Mistress to throng thorow the thorns of this life to be at Christ â—inâ— not sight of him in this cloudy dark day Sleep with him in your heart in the night Learn not at the world to serve Christ but speir at himself the way the world is a false copy a lying guide to follow Remember my love to your husband I wish all to him I have written here The sweet presence the long lasting goodwill of our God the warmely lovely comforts of our Lord Jesus be with you Help me his prisoner in your prayers For I remember you Aberd. Agust 8. 1637. Yours iâ— his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To the Lady Forreâ— 30 Worthy Mistress GRace mercy peace be to you I long
the whole ordering and disposing of my sufferings Let him tutour me tutour my crosses as he thinketh good there is no danger nor hazard in following such a guide howbeit he should lead me through hell if I could put faith foremost fill the fieldwith a quiet on-waiting beleeving to see the salvation of God I know Christ is not obliged to let me see both the sides of my cross turn it over over that I may see all My faith is richer to live upon credit Christ's borrowed money then to have much in my hand Alas I have forgotten that faith in times past hath stopped a lek in my crazed barke hath filled my sailes with a fair wind I see it a work of God that experiences are all lost when summonds of improbation to prove our Charters of Christ to be counterfit are raised against poor souls in their heavie trials but let me be a sinner worse then the chief of sinners yea a guilty devil I am sure my welbeloved is God when I say Christ is God my Christ is God I have said all things I can say no more I would I could build as much on this my Christ is God as it would bear I might lay all the world upon it I am sure Christ untried and untaken up in the power of his love Kindness mercies goodness wisdom long-suffering greatness is the rock that dim-sighted travellers dash their foot against so stumble fearfully But my wounds are sorest pain me most to sin against his love his mercy if he would set me my conscience by the ears together resolve not to rid the plea but let us deal it betwixt us my spitting upon the fair face of Christ's love mercies by my Jealousies unbelief and doubting would be enough to sink me Oh oh I am convinced O Lord I stand dumb before thee for this Let me be mine own Judge in this and I take a dreadfull doom upon me for it for I still misbeleeve though I have seen that my Lord hath made my cross as if it were all Crystal so as I can see thorow it Christs fair face and heaven and that God hath honoured a lump of sinfull flesh and blood the like of me 〈◊〉 to be Christ's honourable Lord-prisoner I ought to esteem the walls of the theeves-hole if I were shut up in it or any stinking dungeon all hung with tapestrie most beautifull for my Lord Jesus yet I am not so shut up but that the sun shineth upon my prison the fair wide heaven is the covering of it But my Lord in his sweet visits hath done more for he make me finde that he will be a confined prisoner with me he lieth down riseth up with me when I sigh he sigheth When I weep he suffereth with me I confesse here is the blessed issue of my sufferings already begun that my heart is filled with hunger desire to have him glorified in my sufferings Blessed ye of the Lord Madam if ye would help a poor Dyvour cause others of your acquaintance in Christ help me to pay my debt of love even reall praises to Christ my Lord. Madam let me charge you in the Lord as ye will answer to him help me in this duty which he hath tyed about my neck with a chain of such singular expressions of his loving kindness to set on high Christ to hold in my honesty at his hands for I have nothing to give him O that he would arrest comprise my love my heart for all I am a Dyvour who have no more free goods in the world for Christ save that it is both the whole heritage I have all my movables besides Lord give the thirsty man a drink Oh to be over the ears in the well Oh to be swattering swimming over head ears in Christ's love I would not have Christ's love entering in me but I would enter into it be swallowed up of that love But I see not my self here for I fear I make more of his love then of himself whereas himself is far beyond much better then his love Oh if I had my sinfull armes filled with that lovely one Christ Blessed be my rich Lord Jesus who sendeth not away beggers from his house with a toom dish He filleth the vessels of such as will come seek We might beg our selves rich if we were wise if we could but hold out our withered hands to Christ learn to suit seek aske knock I ow my salvation for Christ's glory low it to Christ desire that my hell yea a new hell seven times hotter then the old hell might buy praises before men and Angels to my Lord Jesus providing alwayes I were free of Christ's hatred displeasure What am I to be forfeited sold in soul body to have my great royall King set on high and extolled above all O if I knew how high to have him set all the world far far beneath the soles of his feet Nay I deserve not to be the matter of his praises far less to be an agent in praising of him But he can win his own glory out of me out of one worse then I if any such be if it please his holy Majesty so to doe he knoweth that I am not now flattering him Madam let me have your prayers as ye have the prayers blessing of him that is separated from his Brethren Grace Grace be with you Aberd. June 15. 1637. Your own in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To the Earle of Cassills 42 My very Noble honourable Lord. I make bold out of the honourable Christian report I hear of your Lo having no other thing to say but that which concerneth the honourable cause which the Lord hath enabled your Lo to professe to write this that it is your Lo crown your glory your honour to set your shoulder under the Lords glory now falling to the ground to back Christ now when so many think it wisdom to let him send for himself the shields of the earth ever did doe still beleeve that Christ is a cumbersom neighbour that it is a pain to hold up his yea's nay's They fear he take their chariots their crownes their honour from them but my Lord standeth in need of none of them all But it is your glory to own Christ his buried truth for let men say what they please the plea with Sion's enemies in this day of Jacob's trouble is If Christ should be King no mouth steak lawes but his It concerneth the apple of Christ's eye his royall priviledges what now is debated Christ's Kingly honour is come to yea nay But let me be pardoned my my dear Noble Lord to beseech you by the mercies of God by the comforts of the Spirit by the wounds of your dear
Saviour by your compearance before the Judge of quick dead to stand for Christ and to back him Oh if the Nobles had done their part been zealous for the Lord it had not been as it is now but men think it wisdom to stand beside Christ till his head be broken sing dumb there is a time coming when Christ will have a thick court he will be the glory of Scotland he shall make a diadem a garland a seal upon his heart a ring on his finger of these who have avouched him before this faithlesse generation Howbeit ere that come wrath from the Lord is ordained for this land My Lord I have cause to write this to your Lo for I dare not conceal his kindness to the soul of an afflicted exiled prisoner Who hath more cause to boast in the Lord then such a sinner as I Who am feasted with the consolations of Christ have no pain in my sufferings but the pain of soul-sickness of love for Christ sorrow that I cannot get help to sound aloud the high praises of him who hath heard the fighing of the prisoner is content to lay the head of his oppressed servant in his bosome under his chinne let him feel the smell of his garments This I behooved to write that your Lo might know Christ is as good as he is called to testifie to your Lo the cause your Lo now professeth before this faithless world is Christ's your Lo shall have no shame of it Grace be with you Aberd. March 13. 1637. Your Lo obliged Servant S. R. To the much honoured JOHN OSBURN Provest of Ayr. 43 Much honoured Sir GRrace mercy peace be to you Upon our small acquaintance the good report I hear of you I could not but write to you I have nothing to say but Christ in that honourable place lie hath put you in hath intrusted you with a dear pledge which is his own glory hath armed you with his sword to keep the pledge make a good account of it to God Be not affraid of me Your master can mowe down his enemies make with red hay of fair flowers your time will not be long after your after 〈…〉 will come your evening after evening night serve Christ back him lethis cause be your cause give not an hair breadth of 〈◊〉 away for it is not yours but God's then since ye are going take Christ's tâ—â—tiâ—cat with you out of this life Well done good faithfull servant His well done is worth a shipfull of Good-dayes earthly honours I have cause to say this because I finde him truth it self In my sad dayes Christ laugheth cheerfully saith All will be well Would to God all this Kingdom ye all that know God knew what is betwixt me Christ in this prison what kisses embracements love-communings I take his cross in my armes with joy I blesse it I rejoyce in it suffering for Christ is my garland I would not exchange Christ for ten thousand worlds nay if the comparison could stand I would not exchange Christ with heaven Sir pray for me the prayers blessing of a prisoner of Christ meet you in all your straits Grace be with you Aberd. March 14. 1637. Yours in Christ Iesus his Lord. S. R. To ROBERT GORDON Bailiffe of Ayr. 44 Worthy Sir GRace mercy peace be to you I long to hear from you in paper Remember your Chief's speeches on his death-bed I pray your Sir sell all buy the pearle time will cut you from this world's glory Look what will doe you good when your glasse shall be run out let Christ's love bear most court in your soul that court will bear down the love of other things Christ seeketh your help in your place give him your hand Who hath more cause to encourage others to own Christ then I have for he hath made me sick of love leâ—t me in pain to wrestle with his love love is like to fall a swoon through his absence I mean not that he deserteth me or that I am ebbe of comforts but this is an uncouth pain Oh that I had a heart a love to render to him back again O if principalities powers thrones dominions all the world would help me to praise Praise him in my behalf Remember my love to your wife I thank you most kindly for your love to my brother Grace be with you Aberd. March 13. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To JOHN KENNEDY Bailiffe of Ayr. 45 GRace mercy and peace be unto you Your nor writing to me cannot binde me up from remembring you now then that at least ye may be a witness a third man to behold in paper what is betwixt Christ me I was in his eyes like a young Orphan wanting known parents casten out in the open fields either Christ behooved to take me up to bring me home to his house and fire-side else I had dyed in the fields now I am homly with Christ's love so that I think the house mine own the master of the house mine also Christ enquired not when he began to love me whether I was fair or black sun-burnt love taketh what it may have He loved me before this time I know but now I have the flower of his love his love is come to a fair bloom like a young rose opened up out of the green leaves it casteth a strong fragrant smell I want nothing but wayes of expressing Christ's love A full vessel would have a vent O if I could smoke out cast out coales to make a fire in many brests of this land Oh it is a pity that there were not many imprisoned for Christ for no other purpose but to write books love-songs of the love of Christ. This love would keep all created tongues of men Angels in exercise busie night day to speak of it Alas I can speak nothing of it but wonder at three things in his love First Freedome O that lumps of sin should get such love for nothing Secondly The Sweetness of his love I give over either to speak or write of it but these that feel it may better bear witness What it is but it is so sweet that next to Christ himself nothing can match it nay I think a soul could live eternally blessed onely on Christ's love feed upon no other thing yea when Christ in love giveth a blow it doeth a soul good it is a kinde of comfort joy to it to get a cuff with the lovely sweet soft hand of Jesus And Thirdly what power strength is in his love I am perswaded it can climb aâ—stâ—ep hill hell upon it's back swim through the water not droâ—n sing in the fire finde no pain triumph in losles prisons sorrows exile disgrace laugh
troubles I have received false reports of Christ's love misbeleeved him in his chastning whereas the event hath said all was in mercy 11. Nothing more moveth me weighteth my soul then that I could never for my heart in my prosperity so wrestle in prayer with God nor be so dead to the world so hungry sick of love for Christ so heavenly minded as when ten stone weight of a heavy cross was upon me 12. That the cross extorted vows of new obedience which ease hath blowen away as chaff before the wind 13. That practice was so short narrow light so long broad 14. That death hath not been often meditated upon 15. That I have not been carefull of gaining others to Christ. 16. That my grace gifts bring forth little or no thankfulness There are somethings also whereby I have been helped As 1. I have benefited by riding alone a long journey in giving that time to prayer 2. By abstinence giving dayes to God 3. By praying for others for by making an errand to God for them I have gotten something for my self 4. I have been really confirmed in many particulars that God heareth prayers and therefore I used to pray for any thing of how little importance soever 5. He enabled me to make no question that this mocked way which is nicknamed is the onely way to heaven Sir these many moe occurrences in your life would be looked unto 1. Thoughts of Atheisme would be watched over as If there be a God in heaven Which will trouble assault the best at some times 2. Growth in grace would be cared for above all things falling from our first love mourned for 3. Conscience made of praying for the enemies who are blinded Sir I thank you most kindly for your care of my brother me also I hope it is laid up for you and remembred in heaven I am still ashamed with Christ's kindness to such a sinner as I am He hath left a fire in my heart that hell cannot cast water on to quench or extinguish it Help me to praise and pray for me for ye have a prisoner's blessing prayers Remember my love to your wife Grace be with you Aberd. March 15. 1367. Yours in Christ Iesus S. R. To ROBERT GORDON of Knokbrex 121 My very dear Brother GRace mercy peace be unto you I thought to have answered your two letters upon this occasion though I cannot say all that I would Your timeous word not to delight in the cross but in him who sweetneth it came to me in due time I finde the consolations off-fallings that follow the cross of Christ so sweet that I almost forget my self my desire purpose is when Christ's honey combs drop neither to refuse to receive feed upon his comforts nor yet to make joy my bastard-god or my new found heaven But what shall I say Christ very often in his sweet comforts cometh unsent for it were a sin to close the door upon him It is not unlawfull to love delight in Christ's apples when I am not dottingly wooing nor eagerly begging kisses but when they come clean from the timber like kindness it self that cometh of it's own accord then I cannot but laugh upon him who laugheth upon me If joy comforts came single alone without Christ himself I think I would send them back again the gate they came and not make them welcome But when the King's train cometh and the King in the midst of the company O how am I overjoyed with floods of love I fear not that too great speats of love wash away the growing corn loose my plants at the roots Christ doeth no skaith where he cometh but certainly I would wish such spirituall wisdom as to love the bridegroom better then his gifts his propines or drink-money I would be further in upon Christ then at his joyes they but stand in the utter side of Christ I would wish to be in as a seal on his heart in where his love mercy lodgeth beside his heart My welbeloved hath ravished me but it is done with consent of parties it is allowable enough But my dear Brother ere I part with this subject I must tell you that ye may lift up my King in praises with me Christ hath been keeping something these fourteen years for me that I have now gotten in my heavy dayes that I am in for his name sake even an opened coffer of perfumed comforts fresh joyes coming new green powerfull from the fairest fairest face of Christ my Lord. Let the sowre law let crosses let hell be cryed down Love love hath shamed me from my old wayes Whether I have a race to run or some work adoe I see not but I think Christ seemeth to leave heaven to say so his court come down to laugh play sport with a daft bairn I am not this plain with many I write to It is possible I be misconstructed deemed to seek a name but my witness above knoweth I seek to have a good name raised upon Christ. I observe it to be our folly to seek little from Christ because our four-hours may not be our supper nor our propine sent by the Bridegroom our tocher-good nor our earnest our principal summe But I trow few of us know how much may be had of Christ for a four-hours a propine earnest We are like the young heir who knoweth not the whole bounds of his own Lordship Certainly it is more then my part to say O sweetest Lord Iesus what hoâ— beit I were split broken in five thousand sheards or bits of clay so being every sheard â—ad a heart to love thee every one as many tongues as there are stars in heaven to sing praises to thee before man angel for evermore Therefore if my sufferings cry goodness praise honour upon Christ my stipend is well payed Each one knoweth not what a life Christ's love is Scar not at suffering for Christ for Christ hath a chair a cushion sweet peace for a sufferer Christ's trencher from the first mess of the high-table is for a sinfull witness O then Brother who but Christ Who but Christ Hold your tongue of lovers where he cometh out O all flesh O dust ashes O Angels O glorified spirits O all the shields of the world be silent before him come hither behold our Bridegroom stand still wonder for evermore at him Why cease we to love wonder to kiss adore him It is a hard matter that dayes lie betwixt me him hold us asunder O how long how long O how many miles are there to my Bridegroom 's dwelling house It is a pain to frist Christ's love any longer But it may be a drunken man lose his feet miss a step Ye write to me hall biâ—ks are slippery I doe not think my dâting world
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
the first I shall stand up as witness against you if ye doe not amend your wayes and your doings and turn to the Lord with all your heart I beseech you also my beloved in the Lord my joy my Crown offend not at the sufferings of me the prisoner of Jesus Christ I am filled with joy and with the comforts of God Upon my salvation I know am perswaded it is for God's Truth and the Honour of my King Royall Prince Jesus I now suffer and howbeit this town be my prison yet Christ hath made it my palace a garden of pleasures a field orchard of delights I know likewise albeit I be in bonds that yet the word of God is not in bonds my spirit also is in free ward Sweet svveet have his comforts been to my soul my pen tongue and heart have not vvords to express the kindness love mercy of my vvelbeloved to me in this house of my pilgrimage I charge you to fear love Christ to seek a house not made vvith hands but your father's house above This laughing and white skinned world beguileth you if ye seek it more then God it shall play you a slip to the endless sorrow of your heart Alas I could not make many of you fall in love with Christ howbeit I endeavoured to speak much good of him to commend him to you which as it was your sin so it is my sorrow yet once again suffer me to exhort beseech obtest you in the Lord to think of his love to be delighted with him who is altogether lovely I give you the word of a King ye shall not repent it ye are in my prayers night day I cannot forget you I doe not eat I doe not drink but I pray for you all I entreat you all every one of you to pray for me Grace grace be with you Aberd. Sept. 23. 1636. Your lawfull loving Pastor S. R. To the Lady CARDONNESS 150 MISTRESS I Beseech you in the Lord Jesus make every day more more of Christ try your growth in the grace of God what new ground ye win daily on corruption for travellers are day by day either advancing further on nearer home or else they goe not right about to compass their journey I think still the better better of Christ Alas I know not where to set him I would so fain have him high I cannot set heavens above heavens till I were tired with numbering set him upon the highest step story of the highest of them all But I wish I could make him great through the world suppose my loss pain shame were set under the soles of his feet that he might stand upon me I request you faint not because this world ye are at yea nay because this is not a home that laugheth upon you The wise Lord who knoweth you will have it so because he casteth a net for your love to catch it gather it in to himself therefore bear patiently the loss of children and burdens and other discontentments either within or without the house Your Lord in them is seeking you and seek ye him Let none be your love choice the flower of your delights but your Lord Jesus Set not your heart upon the world since God hath not made it your portion for it will not fall you to get two portions and to laugh twice and to be happy twice and to have an upper-heaven and an under-heaven too Christ our Lord his saints were not so therefore let goe your grip of this life of the good things of it I hope your heaven groweth not hereaway Learn daily both to possess miss Christ in his secret bridegroom-smiles He must goe come because his infinite wisdom thinketh it best for you we will be together one day We shall not need to borrow light from sun moon or candle There shall be no complaints on eiher side in heaven There shall be none there but He we the bridegroom the bride Devils temptations trials desertions losses sad hearts pain death shall all be put out of play the Devil must give up his office of Tempting O blessed is the soul whose hope hath a face looking straight out to that day It is not our part to make a treasure here Any thing under the covering of heaven we can build upon is but ill ground a sandy foundation Every good thing except God wanteth a bottom cannot stand it's alone how then can it bear the weight of us Let us not lay a load upon a windlestraw there shall nothing finde my weight or found my happiness but God I know all created power should sink under me if I should lean down upon it therfore it is better to rest on God then sink or fall we weak souls must have a bottom being-place for we cannot stand our alone let us then be wise in our choice chuse waile our own blessedness which is to trust in the Lord Each one of us hath a whore idol besides our husbend Christ But it is our folly to divide our narrow little love It will not serve two best then hold it whole together give it to Christ for then we get double interest for our love when we lend it to lay it out upon Christ we are sure besides that the stock cannot perish Now I can say no more remember me I have God's right to that people howbeit by the violence of men stronger then I I am banished from you chased away The Lord give you mercy in the day of Christ It may be God clear my sky again howbeit there is small appearance of my deliverance But let him doe with me what seemeth good in his own eyes I am his clay let my porter frame fashion me as he pleaseth Grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Your lawfull loving Pastor S. R. To SIBILLA Mc ADAM 151 MISTRESS GRace mercy peace be to you I can bear witness in my bonds that Christ is still the longer the better no worse yea inconceivably better then he is or can be called I think it half an heaven to have my fill of the smâ—ll of his sweet breath to sleep in the arms of Christ my Lord with his left hand under my head his right hand embracing me There is no great reckoning to be made of the withering of my flower in comparison of the foul manifest wrongs done to Christ Nay let never the dew of God lie upon my branches again let the bloom fall from my joy and let it wither let the Almighty blow out my candle sobeing the Lord might be great among Jews Gentiles and his oppressed church delivered Let Christ fare well suppose I should eat ashes I know he must be sweet himself when his cross is so sweet And it is
estimation of all his young lovers for we have all shapen Christ but too narrow too short formed conceptions of his love in our conceit very unworthy of it Oh that men were taken catched with his beauty fairness They would give over playing with idols in which there is not halfroom for the love of one soul to exspatiat itself man's love is but heart-hungered in gnawing upon bare bones sucking at dry breasts It is well wared they want who will not come to him who hath a world of love goodness bounty for all We seek to thawe our frozen hearts at the cold smoke of the short-timed creature our souls gather neither heat nor life nor light for these cannot give to us what they have not in themselves Oh that we could thrust in through these thorns this throng of bastardlovers be ravished sick of love for Christ We should sinde some footing some room sweet ease for our tottering wirless souls in our Lord. I wish it were in my power after this day to cry down all love but the love of Christ to cry down all Gods but Christ all Saviours but Christ all welbeloveds but Christ all soul-suters all love-beggers but Christ. Ye complain that ye want a mark of the sound work of grace love in your soul. For answer consider for your satisfaction till God send more 1. Ioh. 3 14. And as for your complaint of Deadness Doubtings Christ I hope will take your deadness you together They are bodies full of holes running boils broken bones that need mending that Christ the Physician taketh up whole vessels are not for the Mediator Christ's art Publicans sinners whores harlots are ready market-wares for Christ The onely thing that will bring sinners within a cast of Christ's drawing arm is that which ye write of some feeling of death Sin that bringeth forth complaints therefore out of sense complain more be more acquaint with all the cramps stitches soul-swoonings that trouble you The more pain the more night-watching the moe fevers the better A soul bleeding to death till Christ were sent for cried for in all haste to come stem the blood close up the hole in the wound with his own hand balm were a very good disease when many are dying of a whole heart We have all too little of hell-pain terrours that way Nay God send mesuch a hell as Christ hath promised to make a heaven out of Alas I am not come that far on in the way as to say in sad earnest Lord Iesus great soveraign Physician here is a pained patient for thee But the thing that we mistake is the want of victory we hold that to be the mark of one that hath no grace Nay I say the want of fighting were a mark of no grace but I shall not say the want of victory is such a mark If my fire the Devil's water make crackling like thunder in the air I am the less feared for where there is fire it is Christ's part that I lay binde upon him to keep in the coal and to pray the father that my faith fail not if I in the mean time be wrestling doing and sighing and mourning For prayer putteth not Paul's devil the prick in the flesh the messenger of Satan to the door at first but our Lord will have them trying every one another and let Paul send himself by God's help God keeping the stakes moderating the play And ye doe well not to doubt if the ground-stone be sure but to try if it be so for there is great ods between doubting that we have grace trying if we have grace the former may be sin but the latter is good We are but loose in trying our free-holding of Christ making sure work of Christ Holy fear is a searching the camp that there be no enemy within our bosom to betray us a seeing that all be fast sure For I see many lecking vessels fair before the wind professours who take their conversion upon trust they goe on securely see not to the under-water till a storm sink them Each man had need twice a day oftner to be ryped searched with candles pray for me that the Lord would give me house-room again to hold a candle to this dark world Grace grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Master S. R. To MARGARET FULLERTON 154 MISTRESS GRace mercy peace be to you I am glad that ever ye did cast your love on Christ fasten more and more love every day upon him O if I had a river of love a sea of love that would never goe dry to bestow upon him But alas the pity Christ hath beauty for me but I have not love for him O what pain is it to see Christ in his beauty then to want a heart love for him But I see want we must till Christ lend us never to be payed again O that he would empty these vaults and lower houses of these poor souls of these bastard and base lovers which we follow And verily I see no object in heaven or in earth that I could ware this much of love upon that I have but upon Christ. Alas that clay and time and shadows run away with our love which is ill spent upon any but upon Christ each fool at the day of judgement shall seek back his love from the creatures when he shall see them all in a fair fire but they shall prove irresponsall debters And therefore best here look ere we leap and look ere we love I finde now under his cross that I would fain give him more then I have to give him if giving were in my power But I rather wish him my heart then give him it except he take it and put himself in possession of it for I hope he hath a market-right to me since he hath ransomed me I see not how Christ can have me O that he would be pleased to be more homely with my soul's love and to come in to my soul and take his own But when he goeth away hideth himself all is to me that I had of Christ as if it had fallen in the seabottom Oh that I should be so fickle in my love as to love Christ onely by the eyes and the nose That is to love him onely in as far as fond foolish sense carrieth me no more And when I see not smell not and touch not then I have all to seek I cannot love parquier nor rejoyce parquier But this is our weakness till we be at home shall have aged mens stomacks to bear Christ's love Pray for me that our Lord would bring me back to you with a new blessing of the Gospel of Christ. I forget not you Grace grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Yours
must be taken with violence Your afternoon's sun is wearing low Time will eat up your frail life like a worm gnawing at the root of a May-flower Lend Christ your heart Set him as a seal there Take him in within let the world and children stand at the door they are not yours make you and them for your proper owner Christ It is good He is your husband and their father What missing can there be of a dying man when God filleth his chair Give hours of the day to prayer Fash Christ If I may speak so and importune him be often at his gate give his door no rest I can tell you he will be found O what sweet fellowship is betwixt him and me I am imprisoned but he is not imprisoned He hath shamed me with his kindness He hath come to my pâ—ison run away with my heart all my love Well may he brooke it I wish my love get never an owner but Christ Fy fy upon old lovers that held us so long asunder We shall not parr now He I shall be heard before he win out of my grips I resolve to wrestle with Christ ere I quite him But my love to him hath casten my soul in a fever there is no cooling of my fever till I get râ—all possession of Christ O strong strong love of Jesus thou hast wounded my heart with thine arrows O pain O pain of love ioâ— Christ Who will help me to praise Let me have your prayers Grace be with you Aberd. March 13. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To GRISSAL FULLERTON 176 Dear Sister I Exhorr you in the Lord to seek your one thing Marie's good part that shall not be taken from you Set your heart soul on the Childrens inheritance This clay-idol the world is but for Bastards ye are his lawfull begotten childe Learn the way as your dear mother hath hath gone before you to knock at Christ's door Many an almes of mercy hath Christ given to Her hath abundance behinde to give to you Ye are the seed of the faithfull born within the Covenant claim your right I would not exchange Christ Jesus for ten worlds of glory I know now blessed be my teacher how to shut the lock unbolt my welbeloved's door he maketh a poor stanger welcome when he cometh to his house I am swelled up satisfied with the love of Christ that is better then wine It is a fire in my soul let hell the world cast water on it they will not mend themselves I have now gotten the right gate of Christ I recommend him to you above all things Come finde the smell of his breath See if his kisses be not sweet He desireth no better then to be much made of Be homely with him ye shall be the more welcome Ye know not how fain Christ would have all your love Think not this is imaginations bairns-play we make din for I would not suffer for it if it were so I dare pawnd my heaven for it that it is the way to glory Think much of truth abhorre these wayes devised by men in God's worship The Grace of Christ be with you Aberd. March 14. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To PATRICK CARSEN 177 Dear loving friend I Cannot but upon the opportunity of a bearer exhort you to reâ—gnâ— the love of your youth to Christ in this day while your sun is high and your youth serveth you to seek the Lord and his face for there is nothing out of heaven so necessary for you as Christ And ye cannot be ignorant but your day will end the night of death will call you from the pleasures of this life a doom given out in death standeth for ever as long as God liveth Youth ordinarily is a Post ready servant for Satan to run errands for it is a nest for lust cursing drunkenness blaspheming of God lying pride vanitie O that there were such an heart in you as to fear the Lord to dedicate your soul body to his service When the time cometh that your eye-strings shall break your face wax pale and legs arms tremâ—le your breath grow cold your poor soul look out at youâ— prison-housâ— of clay to be set at liberty then a good conscience your Lord's favour shall be worth all the world's glory Seek it as your garland crown Grace be with you Aberd. March 14. 1636. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To JOHN CARSEN 178 My welbeloved dear friend EVery one â—eeketh not God far fewer finde him because they seek amiss He is to be sought for above all things if men would finde what they seek Let feathers shadows alone to children goe seek your welbeloved Your onely errand to the world is to wooe Christ therefore put other lovers from about his house let Christ have all your love without miniching or dividing it It is little enough if there were more of it The serving of the world sin hath but a base reward smoke in stead of pleatures but a night-dream for true case to the soul Goe where ye will your soul shall not sleep sound but in Christ's bosom Come in to him lie down rest you on the slain Son of God enquire for him I sought him now a fig for all the worm-eaten pleasures moth-eaten glory out of heaven since I have found him in him all I can want or â—ish He hath made me a King over the world Princes cannot overcome me Christ hath given me the marriage-kiss he hath my maâ—â—ing love We have made up a full bargain that shall not goe back on either side O if ye and all in that countrey knew what sweet terms of mercy are betwixt him me Grace be with you Aberd. March 11. 1637 Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To my Lady BOYD. 179 MADAM I Would have written to your La ere now but peoples beleeving there is in me that which I know there is not hath put me out of love with writing to any for it is easie to put religion to a market publick fair but alas it is not so soon made eye-sweet for Christ My Lord seeth me a tired man far behinde I have gotten much love from Christ but I give him little or none again My whiteside cometh out in paper to men but at home within I finde much black work great cause of a low sail of little boasting yet Howbeit I see challenges to be true the manner of the Tempter's pressing of them is unhonest in my own thoughts knavish-like My peace is that Christ may finde sale â—uting of his wares in the like of me I mean for saving grace I wish all professors to fall in love with Grace All ouâ— songs should be of his free-Grace We are
hand of God Stir up your husband to minde his own countrey at home Counsel him to deal mercifully with the poor people of God under him They are Christ's not his therefore desire him to shew them mercifull dealing kindness to be good to their souls I desire you to write to me It may be that my Parish forget me but my witness is in heaven I dow not I doe not forget them They' are my sighes in the night my tears in the day I think my self like an husband plucked from the wife of his youth O Lord be my Judge what joy it would be to my soul to hear that my ministery hath left the Son of God among them that they are walking in Christ Remember my love to your Son and Daughtre Desire them from me to seek the Lord in their youth and to give him the morning of their dayes Acquaint them with the word of God prayer Grace be with you Pray for the prisoner of Christ In my heart I forget you not Aberd. March 6. 1637. Your lawfull loving Pastor in his onely Lord Iesus S. R. To Mr. JAMES HAMILTON 181 Reverend dearly beloved in our Lord. GRace mercy peace be to you Our acquaintance is neither in bodily presence nor in paper but as sons of the same father sufferers for the same truth Let no man doubt but the state of our question we are now forced to stand to by suffering exile imprisonment is If Iesus should reign over his Kirk or not Oh if my sinfull arm could hold the crown on his head howbeit it should be striken off from the shoulder-blade For your ensuing feared trial my very dearest in our Lord Iesus Alas what am I to speak to comfort a souldier of Christ who hath done an hundred times more for that worthy honourable cause then I can doe But I know these whom the world was not worthy of wandered up down in deserts in mountains in dens caves of the earth that while there is one member of mystical Christ out of heaven that member must suffer strokes till our Lord Jesus draw in that member within the gates of the new Ierusalem which he will not fail to doe at last for not one toe or finger of that body but it shall be take in within the city What can be our part in this pitched battel betwixt the Lamb the Dragon But to receive the darts in patience that rebound off us on upon our sweet Master or rather light first upon him then rebound off him upon his servants I think it a sweet North-wind that bloweth first upon the fair face of the chief among ten thousand then lighteth upon our sinfull black faces When once the wind bloweth off him upon me I think it hath a sweet smell of Christ so must besome more then a single cross I know ye have a guard about you your attendance train for your safety is far beyond your pursuers force or fraud It is good under feud to be near our war-house strong hold We can doe but little to resist them who persecut us oppose him but keep our blood our wounds to the next Court-day when our complaints will be read If this day be not Christ's I am sure the morrow shall be his As for any thing I doe in my bonds when now then a word falleth from me alas it is very little I am exceedingly grieved that any should conceive any thing to be in such a broken emptie reed let no man impute it to me that the free unbought wind for I gave nothing for it bloweth upon an empty reed I am his overburdened debter I cry down with me down down with all the excellency of the world up up with Christ Long long may that fair One that holy One be on high My curse be upon them that love him not O how glad would I be if his glory would grow out spring up out of my bonds sufferings Certainly since I became his prisoner he hath won the yolk heart of my soul Christ is even become a new Christ to me his love greener then it was now I strive no more with him his love shall carry it away I lay down my self under his love I desire to sing to cry to proclaim my self even under the water in his common eternally indebted to his kindness I will not offer to quite commons with him as we use to say for that will not be All all for evermore be Christ's What further trials are before me I know not but I know Christ will have a saved soul of me over on the other side of the water in the yonder side of crosses beyond mens wrongs I had but one eye that they have put out My one joy next to the flower of my joyes Christ was to preach my sweetest sweetest Master and the glory of his Kingdom and it seemed no cruelty to them to put out the poor man's one eye And now I am seeking about to see if suffering will speak my fair One's praises I am trying if a dumb man's tongue can raise one note or one of Zion's springs to advance my Welbeloved's glory Oh if he would make some glory to himself out of a dumb prisoner I goe with childe of his word I cannot be delivered none here will have my Master Alas What aileth them at him I bless you for your prayers adde to them praises As I am able I pay you home I commend your diving in Christ's Testament I would I could set out the dead man's goodwill to his friends in his sweet Testament Speak a prisoner 's hearty commendations to Christ fear not your ten dayes will over These that are gathered against mount Zion their eyes shall melt away in their eye-holes and their tongues consume away in their mouthes Christ's withered garden shall grow green again in Scotland My Lord Jesus hath a word hid in heaven for Scotland not yet brought out Grace be with you Aberd. July 7. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To MISTRESS STUART 182 MISTRESS GRace mercy peace be to you I am sorry that ye take it so hardly that I have not written to you I am judged to be that which I am not I fear if I were put in the fire I should melt away fall down in sheards of painted nature For truly I have little stuff at home that is worth the eye of God's servants If there be any thing of Christ's in me as I dare not deny some of his work it is but a spunk of borrowed fire that can scarce warm my self hath little heat for standers by I would sain have that which ye and others beleeve I have but ye are onely witnesses to my utter side and to some words in paper Oh that he would give me
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
Dear Brother I Fear ye have never known me well If ye saw my inner-side it is possible ye would pitie me but ye would hardly give me either love or respect Men mistake me the whole length of the heavens My sins prevaile over me the terrors of their guiltiness I am put often to ask if Christ I did ever shake hands together in earnest I mean not that my feast-dayes are quite gone but I am made of extremities I pray God ye never have the woefull driery experience of a closed mouth for then ye shall judge the sparrows that may sing in the Church of Irwin blessed birds But my soul hath been refreshed watered when I hear of your courage zeal for your never-enough-praised praised Master in that ye put the men of God chased out of Ireland to work O if I could confirm you I dare say in God's presence That this shall never hasten your suffering but shall be David Dickson's feast and speaking joy that while he had time and leisure he put many to work to lift up Iesus his sweet Master high in the skies O man of God goe on goe on be valiant for that plant of renown for that chief among ten thousands for that Prince of the Kings of the earth It is but little that I know of God yet this I dare write Christ shall be glorified in David Dickson howbeit Scotland be not gathered I am pained pained that I have not more to give my sweet bridegroom His comforts to me are not dealt with a niggard's hand but I would fain learn not to idolize comfort sense joy and sweet felt-presence All these are but creatures and nothing but the kingly robe the Gold-ring and the Bracelets of the Bridegroom The Bridegroom himself is better then all the ornaments that are about him Now I would not so much have these as God him sâ—lâ— to be swallowed up of love to Christ I see in delighting in a communion with Christ we may make moe Gods then oneâ— but however all was but baiâ—ns-play between Christ me till now If one would have sworn unto me I would not have beleeved what may be found in Christ I hope ye pitie my pain that much in my prison as to help me your self to cause others help me a Dyvour a sinfull wretched Dy your to pay some of my debts of praise to my great King Let my God be judge witness if my soul would not have sweet ease comfort to have many hearts confirmed in Christ enlarged with his love many tongues set on work to set on high my Royal princely welbeloved O that my sufferings could pay tribute to such a King I have given over wondering at his love for Christ hath manifested a piece of art upon me that I never revealed to any living He hath gotten fair and rich employment sweet sale a goodly market for his honourable calling of showing mercy on me the chief of sinners Every one knoweth not so well as I doe my woefully oftenbroken covenants My sins against light working in the very act of sinning hath been met with admirable mercy But Alas He will get nothing back again but wretched unthankfulness I am sure if Christ pitie any thing in me next to my sin it is pain of love for an armfull soul-full of himself in faith love begun fruition My sorrow is that I cannot get Christ lifted off the dust in Scotland set on high above all the skies heaven of heavens Aberd. May. 1. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To His Reverend dear Brother Mr JOHN LIVINGSTONE 198 My Reverend dear Brother GRace mercy peace be to you I long to hear from you to be refreshed with the comforts of the bride of our Lord Jesus in Ireland I suffer with you in grief for the dash that your desires to be at N. E have received of late But if our Lord who hath skill to bring up his children had not seen it your best it should not have befallen you Hold your peace stay your selves upon the holy one of Israel hearken what he saith in crossing of your desires he will speak peace to his people I am here removed from my flock silenced confined in Aberden for the testimony of Jesus And I have been confined in spirit also with desertions challenges I gave in a bill of quarrels complaints of unkindness against Christ who seemed to cast me over the dike of the vineyard as a dry tree separated me from the Lord's inheritance But high high loud praises be to our royal crowned King in Zion that he hath not burnt the dry branch I shall yet live see his glory Your Mother-church for her whoredom is like to be cast off The bairns may break their heart to see such chiding betwixt the husband the wife Our Clergie is upon a Reconciliation with the Lutherians the Doctors are writing books drawing up a Common Confession at the Councel's command Our Service-book is proclaimed with sound of trumpet The night is fallen down upon the P'rophets Scotland's day of visitation is come It is time for the bride to weep while Christ is a saying He will chuse another wife But our skie will clear again The dry branch of cut-down Lebanon will bud again be glorious they shall yet plant vines upon our mountains Now My dear Brother I write to you for this end that ye may help me to praise and seek help of others with you that God may be glorified in my bonds My Lord Jesus hath taken the withered dry stranger his broken-in-heart prisoner in to his house of wine O! O If ye all Scotland all our brethren with you knew how I am feasted Christ's honâ—combs drop comforts He dineth with his prisoner the King's spikenard casteth a smell The Devil cannot get it denied but we suffer for the apple of Christ's eye his royal prerogatives as King Law-giver Let us not fear or faint He will have his Gospel once again rouped in Scotland have the matter going to voices to see who will say let Christ be crowned King in Scotland It is true Antichrist stirreth his tail but I love a rumbling raging Devil in the kirk â—ncâ— the Church militant cannot or may not want a Devil to trouble her rather then a subtile or sleeping Devil Christ never yet goâ— a bride without stroke of sword It is now nigh the bridegroom's entring in to his chamber let us awake goe in with him I bear your name to Christ's door I pray you Dear Brother forget me not Let me hear from you by Letter I charge you smother not Christ's bounty towards me I write what I have found of him in the house of my pilgrimage Remember my love to all our brethren sisters there The keeper of the vineyard watch for
his besieged city for you Aberd. Feb. 7. 1637. Your brother fellow sufferer S. R. To Mr EPHRAIM MELVIN 199 Reverend dear Brother I Received your letter am contented with all my heart that our acquaintance in our Lord continue I am wrestling as I dow up the mount with Christ's cross My second is kinde able to help As for your questions because of my manifold distractions letters to multitudes I have not time to answer them What shall be said in common for that shall be imparted to you for I am upon these questions therefore spare me a little for the Service-book would take a great timeâ— but I think Sicut deosculatio religio sà imaginis aut etiam elâ—mentorum est in se idololatria externa etsi intentio deosculandi tota quanta in actu est feratur in Deum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it a geniculatio coram pane quando nempe ex instituto totus homo externus internus ver sarâ— debeat circa elementaria signa est adoratio relativa adoratioâ— sius panis Ratio Intentio adorandi objectum materiale non est de essentiâ externae adorationis ut pateâ— iâ— deosculatione religio sà Sic geniculatio coram imagine Babylonicâ est externa adoratio imaginis etsitrâ—s pueri mente intendissent adorare Iehovam Sic qui ex metu solo aut spe pretij aut inanis gloria geniculatur coram aureo vitulo Ieroboami quod ab ipso rege qui nullà religione inductâ—s sed libidine dominâ—ndi tantum vitulumerexit factitatum esse textus satis luculenter clamat adorat vitulum externâ adoratione esto quod putaret vitulum esse meram creaturam honore nullo dignum quia geniculatio sive nos nolumâ—s sive volumus ex instituto Dei naturae in actu religioso est symbolum religiosae adorationis Ergo sicut panis signat corpus Christi etsi absit actus omnis nostrae intentionis sic religiosae geniculatio sublatâ omni intentione humanâ est externae adoratio paniscoram quo adoramus ut coram signo vicario repraesentativo Dei Thus recommending you to God's tender mercy I desire that ye would remember me to God sanctification shall settle you most in the truth Grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Your Brother in Christ Iesus S. R. To a Gentle woman upon the death of her husband 200 MISTRESS GRace mercy peace be to you I cannot but rejoyce and withall be grieved at your case It hath pleased the Lord to remove your husband my friend this Kirk's faithfull professor soon to his rest but shall we be sorry that our losse is his gain seeing his Lord would want his company no longer think not much of short summonds for seeing he walked with his Lord in his life desired that Christ should be magnified in him at his death ye ought to be silent and satisfied When Christ cometh for his own he runneth fast mercy mercy to the saints goeth not at leisure love love in our Redeemer is not slow withall he is homely with you who cometh at his own hand to your house and intrometeth as a friend with any thing that is yours I think he would fain borrow lend with you Now he shall meet with the solacious company the fair flock and blessed bairn-time of the first-born banquetting at the marriage-supper of the Lamb. It is mercy that the poor wand iâ—g sheep get a dike-fide in this storn iâ— day and a lecking ship a safe harbrie a sea-sick passenger a sound and soft bed a shore Wrath wrath wrath from the Lord iâ— coming upon this land that he hath left behinde him know therefore that your Lord Jesus his wounds are the wounds of a lover and that he will have compassion upon a sad hearted servant and that Christ hath said he will have the husband's room in your heart he loved you in your first husband's time and he is but wooeing you still give him heart and chair house and all he will not be made companion with any other love is full of Jealousies he will have all your love and who should get it but He I know ye allow it upon him there are comforts both sweet satisfying laid up for you wait on first Christ he is an honest debter Now for mine own case I think some poor body would be glad of a dâted prisoner's leavings I have no scarcitie of Christ's love he hath wasted moe comforts upon his poor banished servant then would have refreshed many souls my burden was once so heavie that one cunce weight would have casten the ballance broken my back but Christ said hold hold to my sorrow hath wiped a bluchered face which was foul with weeping I may joyfully goâ— my Lord's errands with wages in my hands deferred hopes need not to make me dead swier as we use to say my crosse is both my crosse my reward Oh that men would sound his high praises I love Christ's worst reproaches his glooms his crosse better then all this world 's plastered glory my heart is not longing to be back again from Christ's countrey it ' a sweet soil I aâ— coâ—e to I if any in the world have good cause to speak much good of him O Hell were a good cheap price to buy him aâ— Oh if all the three Kingdoms were witnesses to â—y pained pained soul overcome wounded with Christ's love I thank you most kindly my dear Sister for your love render care to my brother I will think my self obliged to you if ye continue his friend he is more to me then a brother now being engaged to suffer for so honourable a master and cause pray for Christ's prisoner and Grace grace be with you Aberd. March 7. 16â—6 Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To His reverend dear Brother Mr JOHN NEVAY 201 My reverend dear Brother GRace mercy peace be to you I have exceeding many â—wâ—ite to else I would be kinder in paper I rejoyce that my sweet Master hath any to oack him Thick thick may my royal Kings Court be O that his Kingdom might grow It were my joy to have his house full of guests Except that I have some cloudy dayes for the most part I have a King's life with Christ he is all perfumed with the powders of thâ— marchant he hath a King's face a King'â— smell his chariot wherein be carrieth his poor prisoneri of the wood of Lebanon it is paved with love is not that soft ground to walk or lie on I think better of Christ then ever I did my thoughts of his love grow swell on me I never write to any of him so much as I have felt Oh if If could write a book of Christ of his love Suppose I were made white ashes burnt for this same truth that men count but as knots of straws it were my gain if
mercy cannot dry it up your troubles are many great yet not an ounce-weight beyond the measure of infinite wisdom I hope not beyond the measure of grace that he is to bestow for our Lord never yet brake the back of his childe nor spilt his own work nature's plastering counterfit work he doeth often break in sheards putteth out a candle not lighted at the Sun of righteousness but he must cherish his own reeds handle them softly never a reed getteth a thrust with the Mediator's hand to lay together the two ends of the reed O what bonds ligaments hath our Chirurgion of broken spirits to binde up all his lame bruised ones with cast your disjoynted spirit in his lap lay your burden upon one who is so willing to take your cares your fears off you to exchange niffer your crosses to give you new for old gold for iron even to give you garments of praise for the spirit of heaviness It 's true in a great part what ye write of this Kirk that the letter of Religion onely is reformed scarce that I doe not beleeve out Lord will build his Zion in this land upon this skin of Reformation so long as our scum remaineth our heart-idols are keeped this work must be at a stand and therefore our Lord must yet sift this land and search us with candles and I know he shall give and not sell us his Kingdom his Grace and our remaining guiltiness must be compared the one must be seen in the glory of it and the other in the sinfulness of it But I desire to beleeve and would gladly hope to see that the glancing and shining luster of glory coming from the diamonds and stones set in the crown of our Lord Jesus shall cast rayes and beams many thousand miles about I hope Christ is upon a great Marriage and that his wooing and suting of his excellent Bride doeth take it's beginning from us the ends of the earth O what joy and what glory would I judge it if my heaven should be suspended till I might have leave to run on foot to be a witness of that Marriage-glory see Christ put on the glory of his last married Bride and his last Marriage-love on earth when he shall enlarge his love-bed and set it upon the top of the mountains and take in the elder Sister the Iewes and the fulness of the Gentiles It were heaven's honour glory upon earth to be his lackey to run at his horse-foot and hold up the train of his Marriage-roberoyal in the day of our high aâ—d royal Solomon's espousals But O what glory to have a seat or â—eâ— in King Iesus his chariot that is bottomed with gold paved and lined over and floored within with Love fâ— the daughters of Ierusalem Cant. 3. 10. To lie upon such a King's love were a bed next to the flower of heaven's glory I am sorry to hear you speak in your Letter of a God anâ—ry at you and of the sense of his indignation which onely ariseth from suffering for Jesus all that is now come upon you Indeed apprehended wrath flameth out of such ashes as apprehended sin but not from suffering for Christ But suppose ye were in hell for by-gones and for old debt I hope ye ow Christ a great summe of charity to beleeve the sweetness of his love I know what it is to sin in that kinde it is to sin our if it were possible the unchangeableness of a Godhead out of Christ to sin away a lovely unchangeable God Put more honest apprehensions upon Christ put on his own mask upon his face and not your vail made of unbelief which speaketh as if he borrowed love to you from you and your demerits sinfull deservings Oh no! Christ is man but he is not like man he hath man's love in heaven but it is lustered with God's love it is very God's love ye have to doe with When your wheels goe about he standeth still Let God be God and be ye a man and have ye the deserving of man the sin of one who hath suffered your Welbeloved to slip away nay hath refused him entrance when he was knocking till his head and locks were frozen Yet what is that to him his book keepeth your name and is not printed and reprinted and changed and corrected And why but he should goe to his place hide himself Howbeit his Departure be his own good work yet the belief of it in that manner is your sin But wait on till he return with Salvation and cause you rejoyce in the latter end It is not much to complain but rather beleeve then complain and sit in the dust and close your mouth till he make your sown light grow again for your afflictions are not eternal Time will end them so shall ye at length see the Lord's salvation his love sleepeth not but is still in working for you his Salvation will not tarry nor linger Suffering for him is the noblest cross that is out of heaven Your Lord had the waile choice of ten thousand other crosses beside this to exercise you withall but his wisdom his love wailed and choosed out this for you beside them all take it as a choice one make use of it so as ye look to this world as your step-mother in your borrowed prison For it is a love-look to heaven and the other side of the water that God seeketh this is the fruit the flower bloom growing out of your cross that ye be a dead man to time to clay to gold to countrey to friends wife children all pieces of created nothings for in them there is not a seat nor bottom for your soul's love O what room is for your Love if it were as broad as the sea up in heaven and in God! and what would not Christ give for your love God gave so much for your soul blessed are ye if ye have a love for him can call in your soul's love from all idols and can make a God of God a God of Christ draw a line betwixt your heart and him If your deliverance come not Christ's presence and his beleeved love must stand as caution and surety for your deliverance till your Lord send it in his blessed time for Christ hath many Salvations if we could see them and I would think it better born comfort and joy that cometh from the faith of deliverance and the faith of his love then that which cometh from deliverance it self It is not much matter if ye finde ease to your afflicted soul what be the means either of your own wishing or of God's choosing the latter I am sure is best and the comfort strongest and sweetest let the Lord absolutely have the ordering of your evils troubles and put them off you by recommending your cross and your furnace to him
in heaven in Christ's lap And as he was lent a while to Time so is he given now to Eternity which will take yourself And the difference of your shipping his to heaven Christ's shore the land of life is onely in some few years which weareth every day shorter some short soon-reckoned summers will give you a meeting with him but what with him â—â—y with better company with the chief leader of the heavenly troups that are riding on white horses that are triumphing in glory If Death were a sleep that had no wakening we might sorrow But our Husband shall quickly be at the bed-sides of all that lie sleeping in the grave shall raise their mortal bodies Christ was Death's Cautioner who gave his word to come loose all the clay-pawnes set them at his own right hand our Cautioner Christ hath an Act of Law-surety upon Death to render back his captives And that Lord Jesus who knoweth the turnings windings that is in that black trance of Death hath numbered all the steps of the stair up to heaven he knoweth how long the turnpike is or how many pair of stairs high it is for he ascended that way himself Rev. 1 18. I was dead am alive now he liveth at the right hand of God and his garments have not so much as a smell of death Your afflictions smell of the childrens case the bairns of the house are so nurtured Suffering is no new life it is but the rent of the sons bastards have not so much of the rent take kindly heartsomly with his cross who never yet slew a ehilde with the cross He breweth your cup therefore drink it patiently with the better will Stay wait on till Christ loose the knot that fasteneth his cross on your back for he is coming to deliver I pray you Sister learn to be worthy of his pains who correcteth let him wring be ye waâ—hen for he hath a father's heart a father's hand who is training you up making you meet for the high hall This School of Suffering is a preparation for the King 's higher house let all your visitations speak all the letters of your Lord summonds they cry 1. O vain World 2. O bitter Sin 3 O short uncertain Time 4. O fair Eternity that is above sickness Death 5. O Kingly Princely Bridegroom Hasten Glorie's Marriage shorten Time's short-spun soon-broken threed conquer Sin 6. O happy blessed Death that golden bridge laid over by Christ my Lord betwixt Time's clay-banks heaven's shore the Spirit the Bride say Come answer ye with them Even so come Lord â—esus Come quickly Grace be with you St Andrews Octob. 15. 1640. Your brother in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To Mr MATHEW MOWAT 39 Reverend dear Brother WHat am I to answer you Alas my books are all bare shew me little of God I would fain goe beyond books in to his house of love to see himself Dear Brother neither ye nor I are parties worthy of his love or knowledge Ah! how hath sin bemisted blinded us that we cannot see him But for my poor sâ—lf I am pained like to burst because he will not take down the wall fetch hiâ— uncreated beauty bring his matchless white ruddy face out of heaven one's errand that I may have heaven meeting me ere I goe to it in such a wonderfull sight ye know that Majesty Love doe humble because homely love to sinners dwelleth in him with Majesty Ye should give him all his own court-stiles his high heaven-names What am I to shape conceptions of my highest Lord How broad how high how deep he is above beyond what these conceptions are I cannot tell but for my own weak practice which alas can be no rule to one so deep in love-sickness with Christ as ye are I would fain adde to my thoughts esteem of him make him more high would wish an heart love ten thousand times wider then the outmost circle curtain that goeth about the heaven of heavens to entertain him in that heart with that love But that which is your pain my dear Brother is mine also I am confounded with the thoughts of him I know God is casten if I may speak so in a sweet mould lovely image in the person of that heaven's jewel the man Christ that the steps of that steep ascentâ— stair to the Godhead is the flesh of Christ the new living way there is footing for faith in that curious Ark of the humanity therein dwelleth the Godhead married upon our Humanity I would be in heaven suppose I had not another errand but to see that dainty golden Ark God personally looking out at ears eyes a body such as we sinners have that I might wear my sinfull mouth in kisses on him for evermore I know all the Three blessed Persons should be well pleased that my piece of faint created love should first coast upon the man Christ I should see them all through him I am called from writing by my great imployments in this town have said nothing but what can I say of him Let us goe see St Andrews 1640. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To my Lady KENMURE 40 MADAM GRace mercy peace be to your La I am heartily sorry that your La is deprived of such an husband the Lord's Kirk of so active faithfull a friend I know your La long agoe made acquaintance with that wherein Christ will have you joyned in a fellowship with himself even with his own Cross hath taught you to stay your soul upon the Lord's goodwill who giveth not account of his matters to any of us When he hath led you through this water that was in your way to glory there are fewer behinde his order in dismissing us sending us out of the market one before another is to be reverenced One year's time of heaven shall swallow up all sorrows even beyond all comparison What then will not a duration of blessedness so long as God shall live fully and abundantly recompense It is good that our Lord hath given a debter obliged by gracious promises for more in Eternity then Time can take from you I beleeve your La hath been now many years advising thinking what that Glory will be which is abiding the pilgrims strangers on the earth when they come home which we may think of love thirst for but we cannot comprehend it nor conceive of it as it is far less can we over-think or over-love it O so long a Chapter or rather so large a Volume as Christ is in that Divinity of Glory There is no more of him let down now to be seen enjoyed by his children but as much as may feed hunger in
thou wouldest yet think on thy way remember this before he come to enter the lists with thee who quickly puts his enemies out of a posture of defence O if thou would yet kneel before him whom God had made King in Zion kisse the son lest he be angry For if he be angry thou must perish there is no way to prevent this but to remember from whence thou art fallen repent doe the first works As for the letters themselves I shall not offer to commend them they had letters of recommendation deeply engraven on the hearts of all who have seen them can savour the things that are of God this they had I say amongst them who have their senses exercised to discern good evil long before they were made thus publike in the world so they need not my commendation nor will the detraction of any who have a minde for that blast their reput as they are above the one so they dispise the other but sure I am this may besaid if thou hast any acquaintance with the sweet breathings of the spirit of God if thou hast ever seen by tasting how good he is or hast found what soul-anguish doth follow upon the hiding of his face from a person who hath placed his satisfaction so entirly in the light of his countenance lifted up upon the soul that the man cannot enjoy himself when he doth not enjoy him but carries as one deprived of all that which made life more desirable then death if thou be such I say then thou wilt finde somwhat hereto take thee here thou wilt perceive both these conditions set before thine eye examplified in an eminent saint thou wilt both finde what a heaven the saints have or is to be had in this side of glory how as a sensible presence maks them forget all their sorrowes so a felt absence doth imbitter aâ—l their other enjoyments In Generall I may say this of these Epistles it may be after thou hast perused them thou wilt seal it that thou hast many volumes wrapt up together in a few words a great soul shut up in a little body much of the marrow of real religion inclosed in every line If thou be onely taken delighted with obstruse high-flown notions which have not a native connexion with inflaming the heart with love to God but are rather the Ignis fatuus of the age being for the most part smoak for light or at best a dime flash rising out of the darkned understanding of men whose light till they be illuminat from above as it arises out of a darke dungeon so it leads to destruction in stead of directing the man who followes it to a place of rest it leads him to the pit leaves him there to perish If thou be taken I say with such kinde of stuffe I shall not bide thee but I know thou wilt goe else where but if thou be one who loves not to feed upon ashes hast no minde to fill thy belly with that east winde which in stead of nourishment produceth nothing but much torment in the inward parts I know thou wilt welcome this piece as that which hath both meat medicine for thy soul in it Here thou wilt meet with one warmed with the love of God shining reflecting heat upon all that are about him letting thee know from his own experience what is to be found in a fellowship with God desireous of nothing so much as that thou others may share with him in that same love which is better then life be partakers of that same blessedness which made him boast of God all the day blesse him self in his afflicted lot He would have thee taste of that which made him cheerfull under the cross put him in case not onely to look but to laugh all his troubles out of countenance And if thou wilt but converse with him a little it may be thou finde thy heart burne within the while thou talkest with this warme soul whose words seem as they drop to cast fire in the affections set the heart in a flame The Author in his other writtings which have alwayes a special tincture of holyness for even in following the most obstruse notion apparently remot from practice thou wilt still perceive him spirare sanctitatem he is much above many men but in these how low soever at the first look they may appear he is above himself being often either as a man elevate above the pitch of mortality caught up allready into the Quire of Angels or as an Angel come down amongst men shewing the inhabitants of this lower world somwhat of that which will be still a great secret while we are here to wit what a life they live who see God as he is enjoy him For the subject matter thou wilt meet with in these Epistles I shall not say much there is a sweet pleasant variety of purpose to be found in them whereof thou canst onely expect a just account by a perusall of the whole but mostly thou wilt finde these things insisted upon 1. What high spring-tides of joy consolation did fill overflow the soul of this sufferer so as sometimes ye have him expressing himself as pained with a surcharge of love O rare blessed disease having nothing else to seek there are earnest longings after a more capacious soul to contain more of that infinit Ocean which hath neither brime nor bottome This is the gain of one who can suffer the loss of all things for Christ This is the cool refresing shade that they finde in the furnace which not onely keeps the fire of affliction from scorching them or consuming them into ashes but maks it a more desirable lot then what others account the best of lives the soul amidst these flames being admitted to such a neerness with God as causeth joy to overflow all it's banks perfumes the heart with delight is so far from complaining because of the fiery triall that the cross of Christ is more desirable to it then a crown and since it is there where nex to heaven his people enjoy most of himself it maks them sing sweetly amidst all the outward sorrowes that befall them puts them in case to command a consort of Musick within while others in their fool's paradise laugh as they list have sadness at their heart finde themselves peirced through with many sorrowes 2. Ye have sometimes a felt emptiness for this full feast is not or cannot be the ordinary diet it may well be the extraordinary disert of the people of God while they walk by faith not by sight the constancy of that joy aswell as the fullness of it is reserved for the chamber of presence no saint how eminent soever even in suffering for Christ can expect that all tears shall be wiped from his eyes till he come to that land where
greater then ten whole earths or ten worlds O what beauty would be in it and what a smell would it cast but a blast of the breath of that fairest rose in all Gods Paradise even of Christ Jesus our Lord one look of that fairest face would be infinitly in beauty and smell above all imaginable and created glory I wonder that men dow bide off Christ I would esteem my self blessed if I could make an open proclamation and gather all the world that are living upon the earth Jew and Gentile and all that shall be borne to the blowing of the last trumpet to flock round about Christ and to stand looking wondering admiring and adoring his beauty and sweetnesse for his fire is hotter then any other fire his love sweeter then common love his beauty surpasseth all other beauty When I am heavie and sad one of his love-looks would do me meekel worlds good o if ye would fall in love with him Hovv blessed were I how glad would my soul be to help you to love him but amongst us all we could not love him enough he is the Son of the Fathers love and Gods delight the Fathers love lieth all upon him o if all mankind would fetch all their love and lay it upon him invit him and take him home to your houses in the exercise of prayer morning and evening as I often desired you especially now let him not want lodgeing in your houses nor lie in the feilds when he is shut out of pulpits and Kirks If ye will be content to take heaven by violence the wind on your face for Christ and his crosse I am here one who hath some tryall of Christs crosse I can say that Christ was ever kind to me but he overcometh himself if I may speak so in kindness vvhile I suffer for him I give you my word for it Christs crosse is not so evil as they call it it is sweet light and comfortable I would not want the visitations of love and the very breathings of Christs mouth when he kisseth and my Lords delightsome smiles and love-embracements under my sufferings for him for a mountain of fine gold nor for all the honours court and grandour of velvet-kirk-men Christ hath the yolke and heart of my love I am my beloveds and my welbeloved is mine O that ye were all handfasted to Christ o my Dearly beloved in the Lord I would I could change my voice and had a tongue tuned with the hand of my Lord and had the art of speaking of Christ that I might paint out unto you the worth and highnesse and greatnesse and excellencie of that fairest and renowned bridegroom I beseech you by the mercies of the Lord by the sighes tears heart blood of our Lord Jesus by the salvation of your poor and precious souls set up the mountain that ye and I may meet before the Lambs throne amongst the congregation of the first borne Lord grant that that may be the trysting place that ye and I may put up our hands together and pluck and eat the apples oâ— the tree of life and we may feast together and drink together of that pure river of the water of life that cometh out from under the throne of God and from the Lamb O how little is your hand-breadth and span length of dayes here your inch of time is Lesse then when ye and I parted eternitie eternitie is comeing posting on with wings then shall every mans black 's and whit's be brought to light O how low will your thoughts be of this fair-skined but heart roten apple the vain vain fecklesse world when the wormes shall make their houses in your eye holes and shall eat aâ—â— the flesh from the ball of your cheeks and shall make that body a number of drie bones think not the common gate of serving God as neighbour and others doe will bring yow to heaven few few are saved the Devils court is thick and many he haththe greatest number of mankind for his vassels I know this world is a great forrest of thornes in your way to heaven but ye most through it acquaint your selves with the Lord hold fast Christ hear his voice only blesse his name sanctifie and keep his day keep the new commandment love one another let the Holy Spirit dwell in your bodies and be clean and holy love not the worldly not love and follow truth learn to know God keep in mind what I taught you for God will seek ane account of it when I am far from you abstain from all evil and all appearance of evil follow good carefully and seek peace and follow after it honour your King and pray for him remember me to God in your prayers I dow not forget you I told you often while I was with you and now I write it again heavie sad and sore is that strok of the Lords wrath that is comeing upon Scotland woe woe woe to this Harlotland for they shall take the cup of Gods wrath from his hand and drink and spue and fall and net rise again In In In with speed to your strong hold ye prisoners of hope hide you there while the anger of the Lord passe Follow not the Pastors of this Land for the sun is gone down upon them as the Lord liveth they lead you from Christ and from the good old way yet the Lord will keep the holy Citie and make this withered Kirk to bud again like a rose and a field blessed of the Lord. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all The prayers and blessing of a prisoner of Christs in bonds for him and for you be with you all AMEN Aberden July 14. 1637. Your Lawfull and loving Pastor S. R. To the Honourable Reverend and Welbeloved Professors of Christ his Truth in sincerity in Ireland 3 DEarly beloved in our Lord partakers of the heavenly calling Grace mercy peace be to you from God our father from our Lord Jesus Christ I alwayes but most of all now in my bonds most sweet bonds for Christ my Lord rejoyce to hear of your faith and love to hear that our King our welbeloved our bridegroom without tireing stayeth still to wooe you as his wife and that persecutions mockings of sinners have not chased away the wooer from the house I perswade you in the Lord the men of God now Scattered driven from you put you upon the right sent and pursuit of Christ my salvation on it if ten heavens were mine if this way this way that I now suffer for this way that the world nicknameth and reproacheth no other way be not the Kings gate to heaven I shall never see Gods face and alace I were a beguiled wretch if it were so if this be not the only saving way to heaven Oh that you would take a prisoner of Christs word for it nay I know you have the greatest Kings word for it
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
in the loof of their hand Cur Lord maketh delicates and dainties of his sweet presence and love-visits to his own but Christs love under a vaile is love if ye get Christ howbeit not the sweet and pleasant way you would have him it is enough for the wel-beloved cometh not our way he must waile his own gate himself For worldly things seeing they are medows and fair flowers in your way to heaven a smell in the by-going is sufficient he that would reckon and tell all the stones in his way in a journey of three or four hundred miles and write up in his count book all the herbs and flowers growing in his way might come short of his journey you cannot stay in your inch of time to lose your day seeing you are in haste and the night and your after-noon will not bide you in setting your heart on this vain world it were your wisdom to read your count book to have in readinâ—sâ— your bussinesse against the time you come to deaths water-side I know your lodging is taken your forerunner Christ hath not forgotten that therefore you must set your self to your one thing which ye cannot well want In that our Lord took your husband to himself I know it was that he might make room for himself he cuteth off your love to the creature that ye might learn that God onely is the right owner of your love sorrow losse sadnesse death or the worst things that are except sin but Christ knoweth well what to make of them can put his own in the crosses common that we shall be obliged to affliction thank God who learned us to make our acquaintance with such a rough companion who can hale us to Christ you must learn to make evils your great good and to spin out comforts peace joy communion with Christ out of your troubls that are Christs wooers sent to speak for you to himself It is easie to get good words and a comfortable message from our Lord even from such rough serjeants as diverse temptations Thanks to God for crosses when we count and reckon our losses in seeking God we finde godliness is great gain Great partners of a shipfull of gold are glad to see the ship come to the harbour surely we and our Lord Jesus together have a shipfull of gold coming home and our gold is in that ship Some are so in love or rather in lust with this life that they sell their part of the ship for a little thing I would counsel you to buy hope but sell it not and give not away your crosses for nothing the inside of Christs crosse is white and joyfull and the far end of the black crosse is a fair and glorious heaven of ease and seeing Christ hath fastned heaven to the far end of the crosse he will not loose the knot him self none else can for when Christ casteth a knot all the world cannot loose it let us then count it exceeding joy when we fall into diverse temptations Thus recommending you to the tender mercy grace of our Lord I rest Aberd. Your Loving Brother S. R. To JOHN GORDON Of Card nes Younger 25 Honoured Dear Brother I Wrote of late to you multitudes of letters burden me now I am refreshed with your letter I exhort you in the bowels of Christ set to work for your soul let these bear weight with you and ponder them seriously 1. Weeping gnasâ—ing of teeth in utter-darkness or heaven's joy 2. Think what ye would give for an hour when ye shall lie like dead cold blackned clay 3. there is sand in your glass yet your sun is not gone down 4. Consider what joy peace is in Christs service 5. Think what advantage it will be to have Angels the world life death crosses yea and devils all for you as the Kings serjeants and servants to doe your bussinesse 6. To have mercy on your seed a blessing on your house 7. To have true honour a name on earth that casts a sweet smell 8. How ye will rejoyce when Christ layeth down your head under his chinne betwixt his brests dryeth your face welcometh you to glory happyness 9. Imagine what pain torture is a guilty conscience What slavery to carry the Devils unhonest loads 10. Sins joyes are but night-dreames thoughts vapours imaginations and shadowes 11. What dignity it is to be a son of God 12. Dominion and mastery over tentations over the world and sin 13. That your enemies should be the taile and you the head For your bairns now at their rest I speak to you and your wife and cause her read this 1. I am a witness of Barbara's glory in heaven 2. For the rest I write it under my hand there are dayes coming on Scotland when barren wombs dry breasts and childless parents shall be pronounced blessed they are then in the lee of the harbour ere the storm come on 3. They are not lost to you that are laid up in Christs treasury in heaven 4. At the Resurrection ye shall meet with them there they are sent beâ—ore but not sent away 5. Your Lord loveth you who is homely to take and give borrow and lend 6. Let not bairns be your Idols for God will be jealouse and take away the Idol because he is greedy of your love wholly I bless you your wife and children Grace for evermore be with you Aberd. Your Loving Pastor S. R. To JOHN GORDON Of Cardoness elder 26 HOnourable dearest in the Lord. Your Letter hath refreshed my soul. My joy is fulfilled if Christ and ye be fast together ye are my joy my crown ye know I have recommended his love to you I defie the world Satan sin His love hath neither brim nor bottome in it My dearest in Christ I write my souls desire to you heaven is not at the next door I finde Christianity an hard task set to it in your evening we would all keep both Christ our right eye our right hand foot but it will not be with us I beseech you by the mercies of God and your compearance before Christ look Christs count book and your own together and collation them give the remnant of your time to your soul this great Idol-god the world will be lying in white ashes in the day of your compearance why should night-dreames and day-shaddowes water-froth May-flowers run away with your heart when we win to the water-side and black deaths river brinke and put our foot in the boat we shall laugh at our folly Sir I recommend you unto the thoughts of death and how ye would wish your soul to be when ye shall lie cold blew ill-smelling clay For any hireling to be intruded I being the Kings prisoner can not say much but as Gods minister I desire you to read Act. 2 15 16. to the end Act. 6. 2 3 4 5.
to hear from you I hear Christ hath been that Kind as to visit you with sickness to bring you to the door of the grave but ye found the door shut blessed be his glorious name while ye be riper for eternity He will have more service of you therefore he seeketh of you that hence forth ye be honest to your new husband the Son of God We have all Idol-love are wh 〈…〉 y inclined to love other things beside our Lord and therefore our Lord hunteth for our love moe wayes then one or two Oh that Christ had his own of us I know he will not want you that is a sweet wilfulness in his Love ye have as good cause oâ— the other part to be head strong peremptory in your love to Christ not to part or divide your love betwixt Him the world if it were more it is little enough yea too little for Christ. I am now every way in good terms with Christ he hath set a banished prisoner as a seal on his heart and as a bracelet on his arme that crabbed and black tree of the cross laugheth upon me now the alarming noise of the cross is worse then it self I love Christs glooms better then the world 's worm-eaten joyes Oh if all the Kingdom were as I am except these bonds my losse is gain my sadness joyfull my bonds liberty my tears comfortable This world is not worth a drink of cold water O but Christ's love casteth a great heat 〈◊〉 hell all the salt sea and the rivers of the earth cannot quench it I remember you to God ye have the prayers of a prisoner of Christ Grace grace be with you Aberd. March 9. 1637. Yours â—n his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To the Lady Caskiberry 31 MADAM GRace mercy peace be to you I long to hear how your La is I know not how to requite your La kindness but your love to the Saints Madam is Laid up in heaven I know it is for your welbeloved Christs sake that ye make his friends so dear to you concerne your self somuch in them I am in this house of my pilgrimage every way in good case Christ is most kind and loving to my soul it pleaseth him to feast with his unseen consolations a stranger and an exiled prisoner and I would not exchange my Lord Jesus with all the comfort out of heaven his yoke is easie and his burden light This is his truth I now suffer for for he hath sealed it â—ith his blessed presence I know Christ shall yet win the day and gaine the battell in Scotland Grace be with you Aberd. March 7. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To Mr. JAMES BRUCE Minister of the Gospel 32 Reverend welbeloved Brother GRace mercy and peace be to you Upon the nearest acquaintance that we are fathers children I thought good to write to you My case in my bonds for the honour of my royall Prince and King Jesus iâ— as good as becometh the witness of such a Soveraign King At my first coming hither I was in great heaviness wrestling vvith challenges being burdened in heart as I am yet for my silent Sabbaths and for a bereft people young ones new-borne plucked from the breasts the Childrens table drawn I thought I was a drie tree cast over the dike of the vine-yard but my secret conceptions of Christs love at his sweet long-desired return to my soul were found to be a lye of Christs love forged by the tempter and my own heart and I am perswaded that it was so Now there is greater peace and security within then before the court is raised and dismissed for it was not fenced in God's name I was far mistaken who should have summoned Christ for unkindness misted faith my sever conceived amiss of him novv novv he is pleased to feast a poor prisoner and to refresh me vvith joy unspeakable and glorious so as the holy Spirit is witness that my sufferings are for Christs truth and God forbid I should deny the testimony of the holy Spirit and make him a false witness Now I testify under my hand out of some small experience that Châ—ists cause even with the cross is better then the Kings crown that his reproaches are sweet his cross perfumed the walls of my prison fair large my losses gain I desire you my dear Brother help me to praise and remember me in your prayers to God Grace grace be with you Aberd. March 14. 1637. Yours in our Lord Iesus S. R. To the Lady Earlstoun 33 MISTRESS GRace mercy peace be to you I long to hear how your soul prospereth I exhort you to go on in your journey your day is short your afternoon-sun will soon goe down make an end of your accounts with your Lord for Death and Judgement are tides that bide no man salvation is supposed to be at the door and Christianity is thought an easie task but I finde it hard and the way strait and narrow were it not but my guide is content to wait on me and to care for a tired traveller Hurt not your conscience with any known sin let your children be as so many flowers borrowed from God if the flowers die or wither thank God for a summers-loan of them keep good neighbourhood to borrow lend with him Set your heart upon heaven and trouble not your spirit with this clay-Idol of the world which is but vanity and hath but the lustre of the Rain-bow in the air which cometh and goeth with a flying March-shower Clay is the Idol of bastards not the inheritance of the children My Lord hath been pleased to make many unknown faces laugh upon me and hath made me well content of a borrowed fire-side and a borrowed bed I am feasted with the joyes of the holy Ghost my royal King beareth my charges honourably I love the smell of Christ's sweet breath better then the worlds gold I would I had help to praise him The great Messenger of the Covenant the Son of God establish you on your rock keep you to the day of his coming Aberd. March 7. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To CARLETOUN 34 Worthy much honoured GRace mercy peace be to you I received your letter from my Brother to the which I now answer particularly I confess two things of my self 1. Woe woe is me that men should think there is any thing in me He is my witness before whom I am as crystall that the secret housâ—-devils that bear me too oft company that this sink of corruption which I finde within maketh me goe with low sailes if otherâ— saw what I see they would look by me but not to me 2. I know this shower of his free grace behooved to be on me otherwayes I would have withered I know also I have need of a buffeting tempter that grace may be
heavens gates it is a castle taken by force many shall strive to enter in shall not be able I beseech obtest you in the Lord make conscience of rash passionat oathes of raging sudden revenging anger of night-drinking of needless companionry of Sabbath-breaking of hurting any under you by word or deed of hating your very enemies Except ye receive the Kingdom of God as a little childe be as meek sober-minded as a babe ye cannot enter into the Kingdom of God That is a word which should touch you near and make you stoop cast your self down and make your great spirit fall I know this will not be easily done but I recommend it to you as you tender your part of the Kingdom of heaven Brother I may from new experience speak of Christ to you Oh if ye saw in him what I see a river of God's unseen joyes hath flowed from bank to brae over my soul since I parted with you I wish I wanted part so being ye might have that your soul might be sick of love for Christ or rather satiat with him this clay-idol the world would seem to you then not worth a fig time will eat you out of possession of it when the eye strings break the breath groweth cold the imprisoned soul looketh out at the windowes of the clay house ready to leap out into eternity what would ye then give for a lamp full of oyl Oh seek it now I desire you to correct curb banning swearing lying drinking sabbath-breaking idle spending of the Lords day in absence from the Kirk as far as your Authority reacheth in that Parish I hear a man is to be thrust in to that place to the which I have God's right I know ye should have a voice by God's word in that Act. 1 15 16. to the end and Act. 6 3 5. Ye would be loath that any Prelat should put you out of your possession earthly this is your right What I write to you I write to your wife Grace be with you Aberd. March 14 1637. Your loving Pastor S. R. To the Lady HALHILL 37. DEar Christian Lady Grace mercy peace be to you I longed much to write to your La But now the Lord offering a fit occasion I would not omit to doe it I cannot but acquaint your Lae with the Kind dealing of Christ to my soul in this house of my pilgrimage that your La May know Christ is as good as he is called For at my first entry into this triall being easten down troubled with challenges jealousies of his love whose name testimony I now bear in my bonds I feared nothing more then that I was casten over the dike of the vineyard as a dry tree but blessed be his great name the dry tree was in the fire was not burnt his dew came down quickned the root of a withered plant now he is come again with joy hath been pleased to feast his exiled afflicted prisoner with the joy of his consolations now I weep but am not sad I am chastned but I die not I have losse but I want nothing this water cannot drown me this fire cannot burn me because of the goodwill of him that dwelt in the bush The worst things of Christ his reproaches his crosse is better then Egypt's treasures He hath opened his door taken into his house of wine a poor sinner hath leâ—t me so sick of love for my Lord Jesus that if heaven were at my disposing I would give it for Christ would not be content to goe to heaven except I were perswaded Christ were there I would not give nor exchange my bonds for the I'relats velvets nor my prison for their coaches nor my sighs for all the world's laughter this clay idol the world hath no great court in my soul Christ hath come run away to heaven with my heart my love so that neither heart nor love is mine I pray God Christ may keep both without reversion In my estimation as I am now disposed if my part of this world's clay were rooped sold I would think it dear of a drink of water I see Christ's love is so Kingly that it will not abide a marrow it must have a throne all alone in the soul I see apples beguile bairns howbeit they be worm-eaten the moth-eaten pleasures of this present world make bairns beleeve ten is a hundred yet all that are here are but shaddowes if they would draw by the curtain that is hanged betwixt them Christ they should think themselves fools who have so long miskenned the Son of God I seek no more next to heaven but that he may be glorified in a prisoner of Christ that in my behalf many would praise his high glorious name who heareth the sighing of the prisoner Remember my service to the Laird your husband to your son my aquaintance I wish Christ had his young love that in the morning he would start to the gate to seek that which this world knoweth not therefore doeth not seek it The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you Aberd. March 14. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To the right honourable my Lord LINDSAY 38 Right honourable my very good Lord. GRace mercy peace be to your Lo Pardon my boldness to express my self to your Lo At this so needful a time when your wearied friendless mother-kirk is looking round about her to see if any of her sons doeth really bemoan her desolation Therefore my dear worthy Lord I beseech you in the bowels of Christ pity that widow-like sister spouse of Christ. I know her husband iâ— not dead but he seemeth to be in another countrey seeth well beholdeth who are his true tender hearted friends who dare venture under the water to bring out to dry land sinking truth who of the Nobles will cast up their arm to warde a blow off the crowned head of our Royal law-giver who reigneth in Zion who will plead contend for â—acob in the day of his controversie It iâ— now time my worthy noble Lord for you who are the little nurse-fathers under our Soveraign Prince to put on courage for the Lord Jesus to take up a fallen orphan speaking out of the dust to embrace in your arms Christ's Bride he hath no more in Scotland that is the delight of his eyes but that one little sister whose breasts were once well fashioned She once ravished her welbeloved with her eyes and overcame him with her beauty She looked forth as the morning fair as the moon clear as the sun terrible as an army with banners Her stature was like the palm-tree and her breasts like clusters of grapes she held the King in his galleries Cant. 4 9. 6 10. 7 5 7. But now the crown is fallen
prophet speaketh for the Lord his truth To his rich grace sweet presence the everlasting consolation of the promised comforter I recomend your Lo am Aberd. Sept. 7. 1637. Your Lo in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To my Lady Boyd 40. My Very Honourable Christian Lady GRace mercy peace be to you I received your letter am well pleased that your thoughts of Christ stay with you that your purpose still is by all means to take the Kingdom of heaven by Violence which is no small conquest and it is a degree of watchfulness thankfulness also to observe sleepiness unthankfulness we have all good cause to complain of false light that playeth the thief stealeth away the lantern when it cometh to the practice of constant walking with God our journey is ten times a day broken in ten pieces Christ getteth but onely broken halfed and tired work of us alas too often against the hair I have been some what neerer the bridegroom but when I draw nigh see my vileness for shame I would be out of his presence again but yet desire of his soul-refreshing love puteth blushing-me under an arrest O what am I so loathsom a burden of sin to stand beside such a beautifull holy Lord such an high lofty one who inhabiteth eternity but since it pleaseth Christ to condescend to such an one as me let shamefaâ—â—eness be laid aside lose it self in his condescending love I would heartily be content to keep a corner of the Kings hall Oh if I were at the yonder end of my weak desires then should I be where Christ my Lord lover lives reigns there I should be overlastingly solaced with the sight of his face satisfied with the surpassing sweetness of his matchless love But truly now I stand in the nether side of my desires with a drowping head panting heart I look up to fair Jesus standing a far off from us while corruption death shall scour refine the body of clay rot out the bones of the old man of sin In the mean time we are blessed in sending word to the beloved that we love to love him and till then there is joy in wooing suiting lying about his house looking in at the windows sending a poor souls groans wishes thorow a hole of the door to Jesus till God send a glad meeting And blessed be God that after a low-ebbe so sad a word Lord Iesus it is long since I saw thee That even then our wings are growing the absence of sweet Jesus breedeth a new fleece of desires longings for him I know no man hath a velvet cross but the cross is made of that which God will have it But verily howbeit it be no warrantable market to buy a cross yet I dare not say O that I had liberty to sell Christs cross lest therewith also I should sell joy comfort sense of love patience the kind visits of a bridegroom And therefore blessed be God we get crosses unbought good cheap Sâ—â—â— I am it were better to buy crosses for Christ then to sell them howbeit neither be allowed to us And for Christ's joyfull coming going which your La speaketh of I bear with it as love can permit it should be enough to me if I were wise that Christ will have joy sorrow halfers of the life of the saints and that each of them should have a share of our dayes as the night and the day are kindly partners and halfers of Time and take it up betwixt them But if sorrow be the greediest halfer of our dayes here I know joy's day shall dawn doe more then recompense all our sad hours Let my Lord Jesus since he will doe so weave my bit and span-length of time with white black well and woe with the bridgroom's coming and his sad departure as warp woof in one web let the rose be neighboured with the thorn yet hope that maketh not ashamed hath written a letter and lines of hope to the mourners in Zion that it shall not be long so when we are over the water Christ shall cry down crosses and up heaven for evermore down hell down death down sin down sorrow up glory up life up joy for evermore In this hope I sleep quietly in Christ's bosome while he come who is not slack would sleep so were it not that the noise of the devil Sin 's feet the cryes of an unbeleeving heart awaken me but for the present I have nothing whereof I can accuse Christ's cross Oh if I could please my self in Christ onely I hope Madam your Sons will improve their power for Jesus for there is no danger neither is there any question or justling betwixt Christ Authority though our enemies falsly state the question as if Christ and Authority could not abide under one roof the question onely is betwixt Christ and men in Authority Authority is for from Christ sib to him how then can he make a plea with it Nay the truth is wormes Gods of clay are risen up against Christ. If the fruit of your La Womb be helpers of Christ ye have good ground to rejoyce in God All your La can expect for your goodwill to me my Brother a wronged stranger for Christ is the prayers of a prisoner of Iesus to whom I recommend your La house children in whom I am Aberd. Sept. 8. 1637. MADAM Your 〈◊〉 in Christ. S. R. To the Lady Culross 41 MADAM GRace mercy peace be to you I dare not say I wonder that ye have never written to me in my bonds because I am not ignorant of the cause yet I could not but write to you I know not whether joy or heaviness in my soul carrieth it away sorrow without any mixture of sweetness hath not often love-thoughts of Christ but I see the devil can insinuat himself ride his errands upon the thoughts of a poor oppressed prisoner I am woe that I am making Christ my unfriend by seeking pleas against him because I am the first in the Kingdom put to utter silence because I cannot preach my Lord's righteousness in the great congregation I am notwithstanding the less solicitous how it goe if there be not wrath in my cup. But I know I but claw my wounds when my physician hath forbidden me I would beleeve in the dark upon luck's head take my hazard of Christ's goodwill rest on this that in my fever my Physician is at my bed-side that he sympathizeth with me when I sigh My borrowed house another man's bed fire-side other losses have to room in my sorrow a greater heat to eat out a less fire is a good remedie for some burning I beleeve when Christ draweth blood he hath skill to cut the right veine that he hath taken
rejoyce in death Oh for a yeer's lease of the sense of his love without a cloud to try what Christ is Oh for the coming of the bridegroom Oh when will I see the bridegroom the bride meet in the clouds kisse each other Oh when will we get our day our hearts full of that love Oh is it were lawfull to complain of the fâ—mine want of that love of the immediat vision of God! O time time how doest thou torment the souls of these that would be swallowed up of Christ's love because thou movest so slowly Oh if he would pity a poor prisoner blow love upon me give a prisoner a taste or draught of that surpassing sweetness which is glory as it were begun to be a confirmation that Christ I shall have our fill of other for ever Come hither O love of Christ that I may once kisse thee before I die what would I not give to have time that lieth betwixt Christ me taken out of the way that we might once meet I cannot think but â—t the first sight I shall see of that most lovely fairest face love shall come out of his two eyes fill me with astonishment I would but desire to stand at the utter side of the gates of the new Jerusalem look thorow a hole of the door see Christ's face a borrowed vision in this life would be my borrowed begun heaven while the long long-looked for day dawn It is not for nothing that it is said Colos. 1. 27. Christ in you the hope of glory I will be content of no pawne of heaven but Christ himself for Christ possessed by faith here is young heaven glory in the bud If I had that pawne I would bide horning hell both ere I gave it again All we have here is scarce the picture of glory Should not we young bairns long look for the expiring of our minority It were good to be daily begging propines love-gifts the bridegroom's favours if we can doe no more seek Crumbs hungry dinners of Christ's love to keep the taste of heaven in our mouth while supper time I know it is far afternoon and nigh the marriage-supper of the Lamb the table is covered already O welbeloved run run fast O fair day when wil't thou dawn O shaddows flee away I think hope love woven thorow other make our absence from Christ spirituall torment It is a pain to wait on but hope that maketh not a hamed swalloweth up that pain It is not unkindness that keepeth Christ us so long asunder What can I say to Christ's love I think more then I can say To consider that when my Lord Jesus may take the air if I may so speak goe abroad yet he will be confined keep the prison with me but in all this sweet communion with him what am I to be thanked for I am but a sufferer whether I will or not he will be kind to me as if he had defied my guiltiness to make him unkind so he beareth in his love on me Here I die with wondering that justice hindereth not love for there are none in hell nor out of hell more unworthy of Christ's love Shame may confound and scar me once to hold up my black mouth to receive one of Christ's undeserved kisses If my inner-side were turned out all men saw my vileness they would say to me It is a shame for thee to stand still while Christ kiss thee embrace thee It would seem to become me rather to run away from hi love as ashamed at my own unworthiness Nay I may think shame to take heaven who have so higly provoked my Lord Jesus But seeing Christ's love will shame me I am content to be shamed My desire is that my Lord would give me broader deeper thoughts to feed my self with wondering at his love I would I could weigh it but I have no ballance for it When I have worn my tongue to the stump in praising of Christ I have done nothing to him I must let him alone for my withered armes will not goe about his high wide long and broad love What remaineth then but that my debt to the love of Christ lie unpaid for all eternity All that are in heaven are black sham'd with his love as well as I we must all be Dyvours together the blessing of that house-full or heaven-full of Dyvours shall rest for ever upon him Off this Land Nation would come stand beside his inconceivable glorious perfections look in love wonder adore would to God I could bring in many lovers to Christ's house But this Nation hath forsaken the fountain of living waters Lord cast not water on Scotland's coal Woe woe will be to this Land because of the day of the Lord 's fierce anger that is so fast coming Grace be with you Aberd. Your affectionat Brother in our Lord Iesus S. R. To JOHN KENNEDY Bailiffe of Ayr. 46 Worthy Dear Brother GRace mercy peace be to you I long to see you in this Northerne world in paper I know it is not forgetfulness that ye write not I am every way in good case both in soul body all honour glory be to my Lord I want nothing but a further revelation of the beauty of the unknown Son of God Either I know not what Christianity is or we have stinted a measure of so many ounce weights no more upon holiness there we are at a stay drawing our breath all our life a moderation in God's way now is much in request I profess I have never taken pains to finde out him whom my soul loveth there is a gate yet of finding out Christ that I have never lighted upon Oh if I could finde it out Alas how soon are we pleased with our own shaddow in a glass It were good to be beginning in sad earnest to finde out God to seek the right tread of Christ time custome a good opinion of our selves our good meaning our lazie desires our fair showes the world's glistering lustres these broad passements buskings of religion that bear bulk in the Kirk is that wherewith most satisfie themselves but a watered bed with tears a dry throat with praying eyes a fountain of tears for the sins of the land is rare to be found among us Oh if we could know the power of godliness This is one part of my case an other is that I like a fool once summoned Christ for unkindness complained of his sickelness unconstaney because he would have no more of my service nor preaching had casten me out of the inheritance of the Lord And I confess now this was but a bought plea I was a fool yet he hath born with me I gave him a fair advantage against me but love mercy would not let him take it
's blessed will bloweth cross your desires it is best in humility to strike saile to him and to be willing to be led any way our Lord pleaseth it is a point of denial of your self to be as if ye had not a will but had made a free disposition of it to God had sold it over to him to make use of his will for your own is both true holiness your ease peace ye know not what the Lord is working out of this but ye shall know it hereafter what I write to you I write to your â—…ife I compassionat her case but intreat her not to fear or faint this journey is a part of her wilderness to heaven the promised land and there are sewer miles behinde it is neerer the dawning of the day to her then when she went out of Scotland I would be glad to hear that ye she have comfort courage in the Lord. Now as concerning our Kirk Our Service-book is ordained by open proclamation sound of trumpet to be read in all the Kirks of this Kingdom Our Prelats are to meet this moneth for It our Canons for a Reconciliation betwixt us the Lutherians The Professors of Aberden-Universitie are charged to draw up the Articles of an Uniform Confession But Reconciliation with Popery is intended this is the day of Jacob's Visitation the wayes of Zion mourn our gold is become dim the sun is gone down upon our Prophets a dry wind but neither to fan nor to cleanse is coming upon this land all our ill is coming from the multiplied transgressions of this land and from the friends lovers of Babel amongst us Jer 31 35. The violence done to me my flesh be upon thee Babylon shall the inhabitants of Zion say my blood upon the inhabitants of Caldea shall Ierusalem say Now for my self I was three dayes before the High Comission accused of treason preached against our King A Minister being witness went well nigh to swear it God hath saved me from their malice 1. They have deprived me of my Ministery 2. Silenced me that I exercise no part of the Ministeriall function within this Kingdom under the pain of Rebellion 3. Confined my person within the town of Aberden where I finde the Ministers working for my confine ment in Caithnesse or Orknay far from them because some people here willing to be edified resort to me At my first entry I had heavie challenges within me a court fenced but I hope not in Christ's name wherein it was asserted that my Lord would have no more of my service was tired of me And like a fool I summoned Christ also for unkindness my soul fainted I refused comfort said what ailed Christ at me for I desired to be faithfull in his house thus in my rovings mistakings my Lord Jesus bestowed mercy on me who am less then the least of all saints I lay upon the dust bought a plea from Satan against Christ he was content to sell it but at length Christ did show himself friends with me in mercy pardoned past my part of it onely complained that a court should be holden in his bounds without his own allowance now I passe from my compearance as if Christ had done the fault he hath made the mends returned to my soul so that now his poor prisoner feedeth on the feast of love my adversaries know not what a courtier I am now with my Royall King for whose crown I now suffer it iâ— but our soft lazie flesh that hath raised an ill report of the cross of Christ. O sweeet sweet is his yoke Christ's chains are of pure gold sufferings for him are perfumed I would not give my weeping for the laughing of all the fourteen Prelats I would not exchange my sadness with the world's joy O lovely lovely Jesus how sweet must thy kisses be when thy cross smelleth so sweetly O if all the three Kingdoms had part of my love-feasts of the comforts of a dated prisoner Dear Brother I charge you to praise for me seek help of our acquaintance there to help me to praise Why should I smother Christ's honesty to me my heart is taken up with this that my silence and sufferings may preach I beseech you in the bowels of Christ to help me to praise Remember my love in Christ to your wife to Mr Blair Mr Livingston Mr Cuninghame let me hear from you for I am anxious what to doe If I saw a call for New-England I would follow it Grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Yours in our Lord Iesus S. R. To JOHN STUART Provest of Ayr. 52. Much honoured Dearest in Christ. GRace mercy peace from God our father from our Lord Jesus Christ be upon you I expected the comfort of a letter to a prisoner from you ere now I am here Sir putting off a part of my inch of time when I awake first in the morning which is alwayes with great heaviness sadness this question is brought to my minde Am I serving God or not Not that I doubt of the truth of this honourable cause wherein I am engaged I dare venture in to eternity before my judge that I now suffer for the truth because that I cannot endure that my Master who is a free-born King should pay tribute to any of the shields or pot-sheards of the earth Oh that I could hold the crown upon my Princely King's head with my sinfull arm howbeit it should be stroke from me in that service from the shoulder blade but my closed mouth my dumb Sabbaths the memory of my communion with Christ in many fair fair dayes in Anwoth whereas now my master gotteth no service of my tongue as then hath almost broken my faith in two halves yet in my deepest apprehensions of his anger I see thorow a cloud that I am wrong he in love to my soul hath taken up the controversie betwixt faith apprehensions and a decret is past on Christ's side of it I subscribe the decret The Lord is equal in his wayes but my guiltiness often overmastereth my beleeving I have not been well known for except as to open out-breakings I want nothing of what Judas Cain had onely he hath been pleased to prevent me in mercy to cast me into a fever of love for himself his absence maketh my fever most painfull beside he hath visited my soul watered it with his comforts but yet I have not what I would the want of reall and felt possession is my onely death I know Christ pitieth me in this The great men my friends that did for me are dried up like winter brooks of water All say no dealing for that man â—is best will be to be gone out of the Kingdom so I see they tire of me but beleeve me I am most gladly content that
in as sweet communion with Christ as a poor sinner can be am onely pained that he hath much beauty and fairness and I little love he great power mercy I little faith he much light I bliered eyes Oh that I saw him in the sweetness of his love in his marriage clothes were over head ears in love with that princely one Christ Jesus my Lord Alas my riven dish running-out vessel can hold little of Christ Jesus I have joy in this that I would not refuse death before I put Christ's lawfull heritage in mens trysting what know I if they would have pleased both Christ me Alas that this land hath put Christ to open rooping to an any man more bâ—â— Blessed are they who would hold the crown on his head buy Christ's honour with their own losses I rejoyce to hear your son Iohn is coming to visit Christ taste of his love I hope he shall not lose his pains or rue of that choice I had alwayes as I said often to you a great love to dear Mr Iohn Brown because I thought I saw Christ in him more then in his brethren fain would I write to him to stand by my sweet Master I wish ye would let him read my letter the joy I have if he will appeare for side with my Lord Jesus Grace grace be with you Aberd. March 13. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To JEAN M c MILLAN 58 Loving Sister GRace mercy peace be to you I cannot come to you to give you my counsel howbeit I would come I cannot stay with you but I beseech you keep Christ for I did what I could to put you within grips of him I told you Christ's Testament latterwill plainly I kept nothing back that my Lord gave me I gave Christ to you with good will I pray you make him your own goe not from that truth I taught you in one hair breadth that truth shall save you if ye follow it salvation is not an easie thing soon gotten I often told you few are saved many many damned I pray you make your poor soul sure of salvation make the seeking of heaven your daily task if ye never had a sick night a pained soul for sin ye have not yet lighted upon Christ look to the right marks of having closed with Christ if ye love him better then the world would quite all the world for him then that saith the work is sound O if ye saw the beauty of Jesus felt the smell of his love ye would run through fire water to be at him God send you him Pray for me for I cannot forget you Grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Your loving Pastor S. R. To the Lady Busbie 59 MISTRESS GRace mercy peace be to you I am glad to hear that Christ ye are one that ye have made him your one thing Whereas many are painfully tâ—…iled in seeking many things their many things are nothing It 's onely best ye set your self apart as a thing laid up out of the gate for Christ alone for ye are good for no other thing but Christ he hath been going about you these many years by afflictions to engage you to himself it were a pity a loss to say him nay Verily I could wish that I could swim through hell all the ill weather in the world Christ in my arms but it is my evil folly that except Christ come unsent for I dow not goe to seek him When he I fall in reckoning we are both behinde he in payment I in counting so marches lie still unrid counts uncleared betwixt us O that he would take his own blood for counts miscounts that I might be a free man none had any claim to me but onely onely Jesus I will think it no bondage to be rooped comprised possessed by Christ as his bond-man Think well of the visitations of your Lord For I finde one thing I saw not well before that when the saints are under trials well humbled little sins raise great cryes war-shouts in the conscience in prosperity conscience is a Pope to give dispensations let out in give latitude elbow-room to our heart O how little care we for pardon at Christ's hand when we make dispensations And all is but bairns-play till a cross without beget an heavier cross within then we play no longer with our Idols It is good still to be severe against ourselves for we but transform God's mercy into an Idol an Idol that hath a dispensation to give for turning of the grace of God into wantonness Happy are they who take up God wrath justice sin as they are in themselves For we have miscarrying light that parteth with childe when we have good resolutions But God be thanked that Salvation is not rolled upon our wheels O but Christ hath a saving eye Salvation is in his eye-lids When he first looked on me I was saved It cost him but a look to make hell quite of me O merits free merits the dear blood of God was the best gate that ever we could have gotten of hell O what a sweet O what a safe sure way is it to come out of hell leaning on a Saviour That Christ a sinner should be one have heaven betwixt them be halvers of Salvation is the wonder of Salvation What more humble could love be what an excellent smell doeth Christ cast on his lower garden where there grow but wilde flowers if we speak by way of comparison but there is nothing but perfect garden flowers in heaven the best plenishing that is there is Christ We are all obliged to love heaven for Christ's sake he graceth heaven all his father's house with his presence He is a rose that beautifieth all the upper garden of God a leaf of that rose of God for smell is worth a world O that he would blow his smell upon a withered dead soul let us then goe on to meet with him to be filled with the sweetness of his love Nothing will hold him from us he hath decreed to put time sin hell devils men death out of the way to rid the rough way betwixt us him that we may enjoy one another It 's strange wonderfull that he would think long in heaven without us that he would have the company of sinners to solace delight himself withall in heaven now the supper is abiding us Christ the bridegroom with desire is waiting on till the bride the Lamb's wife be busked for the marriage the great hall be rid for the meeting of that joyfull couple O fools what doe we here why sit we still Why sleep we in the prison Were it not best to make us wings
die your alone in the way I know ye have sad hours when the comforter is hid under a vail when ye inquire for him finde but a toom nest This I grant is but a cold good-day when the seeker misseth him whom the soul loveth but even his unkindness is kind his absence lovely his mask a sweet fight till God send Christ himself in his own sweet presence make his sweet comforts your own be not strange shame fast with Christ homely dealing is best for him it is his liking When your winter storms are over the summer of your Lord shall come Your sadness is with childe of joy he will doe you good in the latter end Take no heavier lift of your children then your Lord alloweth give them room beside your heart but not in the yolk of your heart where Christ should be for then they are your idols not your bairns if your Lord take any of them home to his house before the storm come on take it well the owner of the orchard may take down two or thrâ—…â—pples off his own trees before midsummer ere they get the harvest sun it would not be seemly that his servant the gardiner should chide him for it Let our Lord pluck his own fruit at any season he pleaseth they are not lost to you they are laid up so well as that they are coffered in heaven where our Lord 's best jewely lie They are all free goods that are there death can have no law to arrest any thing that is within the walls of the new Ierusalem All the saints because of sin are like old rusty horologies that must be taken down the wheels scoured mended set up again in better case then before Sin hath rusted both soul body our dear Lord by death taketh us down to scour the wheels of both to purge us perfectly from the root and remainder of sin we shall be set up in better case then before Then pluck up your heart heaven is yours that is a word few can say Now the great Shepherd of the sheep the very God of peace confirm establish you to the day of the appearance of Christ our Lord. Aberd. 7 Sept. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To his revend very dear brother Mr GEORGE GILLESPIE 78 My very Dear Brother I Received yours I am still with the Lord his cross hath done that which I thought impossible once Christ keepeth tryst in the fire water with his own cometh ere our breath goe out ere our blood grow cold Blessed are they whose feet escape the great golden net that is now spread it is our happiness to take the crabbed rough poor side of Christ's world which is a lease of crosses losses for him for Christ's in comes casualities that follow him are many it is not a little one that a good conscience may be had in following him this is true gain most to be laboured for loved Many give Christ for a shadow because Christ was rather beside their conâ—cience in a dead reprobate light then in their conscience Let us be ballasted with grace that we be not blowen over that we staggar not Yet a little while Christ his redeemed ones shall fill the field come out victorious Christ's glory of triumphing in Scotland is yet in the bud in the birth but the birth cannot prove an abortive He shall not faint nor be discouraged till he have brought forth judgement unto victory Let us still minde our Covenant the very God of peace be with you Aberd. 9. Sept. 1637. Your Brother in Christ. S. R. To Mr MATHEW MOWAT 79 Reverend Dear Brother I Am refreshed with your letters I would take all well at my Lord's hands that he hath done If I knew I could doe my Lord any service in my suffering suppose my Lord would make a stop-hole of me to fill a hole in the wall of his house or a pinning in Zion's new work For any place of trust in my Lord's house as steward or chamberlain or the like surely I think my self my very dear brother I speak not by any proud figure or trope unworthy of it nay I am not worthy to stand behinde the door if my head feet body were half out half in in Christ's house so I saw the fair face of the Lord of the house it would still my grieuing love-sick desires When I hear that the men of God are at work speaking in our Lord Jesus his name I think my self but an out-cast or out-law chased from the City to lie on the hills live amongst the rocks out-fields O that I might but stand in Christ's out-house or hold a candle in any low vault of his house But I know this is but the vapours that arise out of a quarrellous unbeleeving heart to darken the wisdom of God And your fault is just mine that I cannot beleeve my Lord's bare naked word I must either have an apple to play me with shake hands with Christ have seal caution witness to his word or else I count my self loose how beit I have the word faith of a King Oh I am made of unbelief cannot swim but where my feet may touch the ground Alas Christ under my temptations is presented to me as lying-waters as a dyvour a cousener We can make such a Christ as temptations casting us in a night-dream doeth feign devise tempeations represent Christ ever unlike himself we in our folly listen to the tempter If I could minister one saving word to any how glad would my soul be But I my self which is my greatest evil often mistake the cross of Christ For I know if we had wit knew well that ease slayeth us fools we would desire a market where we might barter or niffer our lazie ease with a profitable cross howbeit there be an out-cast natural betwixt our desires tribulation But some give a dear price gold for physick which they love not buy sickness howbeit they wish rather to have been whole then to be sick But surely Brother ye shall not have my advice howbeit alas I cannot follow it my self to contend with the honest faithfull Lord of the house for goe he or come he he is ay gracious in his departure There are grace mercy loving kindness upon Christ's back-parts When he goeth away the proportion of his face the image of that fair sun that staveth in eyes senses heart after he is gone leaveth a mass of love behinde it in the heart The sound of his knock at the door of his beloved after he is gone past leaveth 〈◊〉 share of joy sorrow both So we have something to feed upon till he return he is more loved in his departure after he is gone then
see Christ can borrow a cross for some hours set his servants beside it rather then under it win the plea too yea make glory to himself shame to his enemies comfort to his children out of it But whether Christ buy or borrow crosses he is King of crosses King of Devils King over hell King over malice When he was in the grave he came out brought the keys with him he is Lord-Jaylor nay what say I he is Captain of the castle he hath the keys of deaths hell what are our troubles but little deaths he who commandeth the great castle commandeth the little also 2. I see a hardned face two skins upon our browes against the winter hail stormy wind is meetest for a poor traveller in a winter journey to heaven O what art is it to learn to endure hardness to learn to goe bare footed either through the devil's fiery coals or his frozen waters 3. I am perswaded a sea-venture with Christ maketh great riches Is not our King Jesus his ship coming home shall not we get part of the gold Alas we fools miscount our gain when we seem losers Beleeve me I have no challenges against this well-born cross for it is come of Christ's house is honourable his propine To you it is given to suffer O what fools are we to undervalue his gifts to lightlie that which is true honour For if we could be faithfull our tackling shall not loose nor our mast break nor our sails blow into the sea The bastard crosses the kinless base-born crosses of worldlings for evil doing must be heavie grievous but our afflictions are light momentany 4. I think my self happy that I have lost credit with Christ that in this bargain I am Christ's sworn dyvour to whom he will lippen nothing no not one pin in the work of my salvation Let me stand in black and white in the Dyvourbook be ore Christ I am happy that my salvation is concredited to Christ's mediation Christ oweth no faith to me to lippen any thing to me but O what faith credit I ow to him Let my name fall let Christ's name stand in honour with man angel Alas I have no room to spread out my affection before God's people I see not how I can shout out cry out the loveliness the high honour the glory of my fairest Lord Jesus Oh that he would let me have a bed to lie in to be delivered of my birth that I might paint him out in his beauty to men as I dow 5. I wondered once at providence called white providence black unjust that I should be smothered in a town where no soul will take Christ off my hand But providence hath another lustre with God then with my bliered eyes I proclaim my self a blinde body who know not black white in the uncouth course of God's providence Suppose Christ would set hell where heaven is devils up in glory beside the elect Angels which yet cannot be I would I had a heart to acquiesce in his way without further dispute I see infinite wisdom is the mother of his judgements his wayes pass finding out 6. I cannot learn but I desire to learn to bring my thoughts will lusts in under Christ's feet that he may trample upon them But alas I am still upon Christ's wrong side Grace be with you Aberd. Sept. 12. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To ROBERT LENNOX Of Disdove 83 Worthy dear Brother I Forget you not in my bonds I know ye are looking to Christ I beseech you follow your look I can say more of Christ now by experience though he be infinitly above beyond all that can be said of him then when I saw you I am drowned over head ears in his love Sell sell sell all things for Christ. If this whole world were the balk of a ballance it should not be able to bear the weight of Christ's love man angels have short arms to fathom it Set your feet upon this piece blew base clay of an over-guilded fair plaistered world an hours kissing of Christ is worth a world of worlds Sir make sure work or your salvation build not upon sand lay the foundation upon the rock in Zion strive to be dead to this world to your will lusts Let Christ have a commanding power a King throne in you Walk with Christ howbeit the wind should take the hide off your face I promise you Christ will win the field Your pastors cause you to erre except you see Christ's word goe not one foot with them Countenance not the reading of that Romish Service-book Keep your garments clean as ye would walk with the Lamb clothed in white The wrongs I suffer are upon record in heaven our great Master Judge will be upon us all bring us before the sun in our black 's white 's Blessed are they who watch keep themselves in God's love Learn to discern the Bridegroom's tongue to give your self to prayer reading Ye was often a hearer of me I would put my heart blood upon the doctrine I taught as the onely way to salvation goe not from it my dear Brother What I write to your self I write to your wife also Minde heaven Christ keep the spunk of the love of Christ you have gotten Christ shall blow on it if ye entertain it your end shall be peace There is a fire in our Zion but our Lord is but seeking a new Bride refined purified out of the furnace I assure you howbeit we be nick-named Puritans all the powers of the world shall not prevail against us Remember though a sinfull man write it to you these people shall yet be in Scotland as a green olive-tree a field blessed of the Lord it shall be proclaimed up up with Christ down down with all contrary powers Sir pray for me I name you to the Lord for further evil is determined against me Remember my love to Christian Murray her daughter I desire her in the edge of her evening to wait a little the King is coming he hath something that she never saw with him heaven is no dream Come see will teach her best Grace grace be with you Aberd. Sept. 13. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To MARION McKNAUGHT 84 Dearest in our Lord Iesus COunt it your honour that Christ hath begun at you to fine you first Fear not saith the Amen the true faithfull witness I write to you as my Master liveth upon the word of my royal King continue in prayer in watching your glorious deliverance is coming Christ is not far off a fig a straw for all the bits of clay that are risen against us Ye shall thresh the mountains fan then like
chaff Isa. 41. If ye slack your hands at your meetings your watching to prayer then it would seem our rock hath sold us but be dililigent be not discouraged I charge you in Christ rejoyce give thanks beleeve be strong in the Lord That burning bush in Galloway Kirkâ—…dbright shall not be burnt to ashes for the Lord is in the bush Be not discouraged that banishment is to be procured by the King's warrand to the Councel against me the earth is my Lord's I am filled with his sweet love running over I rejoyce to hear ye are in your journey such newes as I hear of all your faith love rejoyce my sad heart Pray for me for they seek my hurt but I give my self to prayer The blessing of my Lord a prisoner of Christ's blessing be with you O chosen greatly beloved woman faint not Fy fy if ye faint now Ye lose a good cause double your meetings cease not for Zion's sake hold not your peace till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth Aberd. 1637. Yours in Christ Iesus his Lord. S. R. To THOMAS CORBET 85 Dear friend I Forget you not It shall be my joy that ye follovv after Christ till ye finde him My conscience is a feast of joy to me that I sought in singleness of heart for Christ's love to put you upon the King's high-vvay to our Bridegroom our father's house Thrice blessed are ye my dear Brother if ye hold the way I beleeve ye and Christ once met I hope ye will not sunder with him Follovv the counsel of the man of God Mr William Dalglâ—ish If ye depart from what I taught you in a hair-breadth for fâ—ar or favour of men or desire of ease in this world I take heaven earth to witness that ill shall come upon you in end Build not your nest here This world is an hard ill made bed no rest in it for your soul awake awake make haste to seek that pearl Christ that this world seeth not Your night and your Master Christ will be upon you within a clap your hand-breadth of time will not bide you Take Christ hovvbeit a storm follow him howbeit this day be not yours Christ's the morrow will be yours his I would not exchange the joy of my bonds imprisonment for Christ with all the joy of this dirty soul-skinned world I have a love-bed with Christ am filled with his love I desire your vvife to doe what I write to you Let her remember how dear Christ would be to her when her breath turneth cold the eye-strings shall break O how joyfull should my soul be to know that I had brought on a marriage betvvixt Christ that people fevv or many if it be not so I vvill be woe to be a vvitness against them Use prayer love not the world be humble and esteem little of your self love your enemies pray for them make conscience of speaking truth when none knoweth but God I never eat but I pray for you all Pray for me Ye I shall see one another up in our father's house I rejoyce to hear that your eye is upon Christ. Follow on hing on quite him not The Lord Jesus be with your spirit Aberd. 1637. Your affectionat Brother in our Lord Iesus S. R. To ALEXANDER GORDON of Earlestoun 86. Much honoured Sir GRace mercy peace be to you I received your letter which refreshed me Except from your son my brother I have seen few lâ—tters from my acquaintance in that countrey which maketh me heavie But I have the company of a Lord who can teach us all to be kind hath the right gate of it though for the present I have seven up's down's every day yet I am abundantly comforted feasted with my King welbeloved dâ—ily It pleaseth him to come dine with a sad prisoner a solitary stranger His spikenard casteth a smell yet my sweet hath some sowre mixed with it wherein I must acquiesce for there is no reason that his comforts be too cheap seeing they are delicates why should he not make them so to his own But I verily think now Christ hath led me up to a nick in Christianity that I was never at before I think all before vvas but child-hood bairns-play Since I departed from you I have been scalded vvhile the smoak of hell's fire vvent in at my throat I vvould have bought peace vvith a thousand years torment in hell I have been up also after these deep dovvn-castings sorrovvs before the Lamb 's vvhite throne in my father's inner court the great King'â— dining-hall Christ did cast a coveâ—ing of love over me he hath casten in a coal in my soul it is sâ—oking â—mong the stravv keeping the hearth warme I look back to what I vvas before I laugh to see the sand-houses I built vvhen I vvas a childâ— At first the remembrance of many fair feast-dayes vvith my Lord Jesus in publike wich are now changed into silent sabbaths raised a great tempest if I may speak so made the Devil a doe in my soul the devil came in would prompt me to make a plea with Christ to lay the blame on him as a hard master But now these mists are blowen away I am not onely silenced as to all quarrelling but fully satisfied Now I wonder that any man living can laugh upon the world or give it a hearty good-day The Lord Jesus hath handled me so that as I am now disposed I think never to be in this world 's common again for a night's lodging Christ beareth me good company he hath eased me when I saw it not lifting the cross off my shoulders so that I think it to be but a feather because underneath are everlasting arms God forbid it came to bartering or niffering of crosses for I think my cross so sweet that I know not where I would get the like of it Christ's honey-combs drop so abundantly that they sweeten my gall Nothing breaketh my heart but that I cannot get the daughters of Ierusalem to tell them of my bride-groom's glory I charge you in the name of Christ that ye tell all ye come to of it yet it is above telling understanding Oh if all the kingdom were as I am except my bonds they know not the love-kisses that my onely Lord Jesus wasteth on a dâted prisoner On my salvation this is the onely way to the new city I know Christ hath no dumb seals would he put his privy seal upon blank paper he hath sealed my sufferings with comforts I write this to confirm you I write now what I have seen as well as heard Now then my silence burneth up my spirit But Christ hath said thy stipend is running up with interest in heaven as if thou wert preaching And this from a King's mouth rejoyceth my heart At other
times I am sad for dwelling in Kedar's tents There are none that I yet know of but two persons in this town that I dare give my word for And the Lord hath removed my brethren my acquaintance far from me it may be I be forgotten in the place where the Lord made me the instrument to doe some good But I see this is vanity in me Let him make of me what he pleaseth if he make salvation out of it to me I am tempted troubled that all the fourteen Prelats should have been armed of God against me onely while the rest of my brethren are still preaching But I dare not say one word but this it is good Lord Iesus beacuse thou hast done it Wo is me for the virgin daughter wo is me for the desolation of the virgin daughter of Scotland O if my eyes were a fountain of tears to weep day night for that poor widow Kirk that poor miserable harlot Alas that my father hath put to the door my poor harlot mother Oh for that cloud of black wrath fury of the indignation of the Lord that is hanging over the Land Sir write to mel beseech you I pray you also be kind to my â—fflicted brother Remember my love to your wife The prayers the blessinâ— of the prisoner of Christ be on you Frequent your meetings for prayer communion with God they would be sweet meerings to me Aberd. 16. Febr. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To ROBERT GORDON of Knockbrex 87 My Dear Brother GRace mercy peace be multiplied upon you I am almost wearying yea wondering that ye write not to me though I know it is not forgetfulness As for my self I am every way well all glory to God I was before at a plea with Christ but it was bought by me unlawfull because his whose providence was not yea nay to my yea nay because I beleeved Christ's outward look better then his faithfull promise Yet he hath in patience waited on while I'be come to my self hath not taken advantage of my weak apprehensions of his goodness Great holy is his name He looketh to what I desire to be not to what I am One thing I have learned If I had been in Christ by way of adhesion onely as many branches are I should have beene burnt to ashes this world should have seen a suffering minister of Christ turned of something once in shew into unsavoury salt But my Lord Jesus had a good eye that the tempter should not play foul play blow out Christ's candle he took no thought of my stomacke fretting grudging humour but of his own grace when he burnt the house he saved his own goods And I beleeve the devil the persecuting world shall reap no fruit of me but burnt ashes for he will see to his own gold save that from being consumed with the fire O what ow I to the file to the hammer to the furnace of my Lord Jesus Who hath now let me see how good the wheat of Christ is that goeth through his mill his oven to be made bread for his own table Grace tried is better then grace it is more then grace it is glory in it's infancy I now see godliness is more then the out-side this world's passements their buskings Who knoweth the truth of grace without a trial O how little getteth Christ of us but that which he winneth to speak so with much toil pains And how soon would faith frieze without a cross How many dumb crosses have been laid upon my back that had never a tongue to speak the sweetness of Christ as this hath when Christ blesseth his own crosses with a tongue they breath out Christ's love wisdom kindness care of us Why should I start at the plough of my Lord that maketh deep furrows on my soul I know he is no idle husbandman he purposeth a crop O that this white withered lay-ground were made fertile to bear a crop for him by whom it is so painfully dressed that this fallow ground were broken up Why was I a fool grieved that he put his garland his rose upon my head the glory honour of his faithfull witnesses I desire now to make no moe pleas with Christ Verily he hath not put me to a loss by what I suffer he oweth me nothing for in my bonds how sweet comfortable have the thoughts of him been to me where in I finde a sufficient recompence of reward How blinde are my adversaries who sent me to a banquetting house to a house of wine to my lovely Lord Jesus his love-feasts not to a prison or place of exile Why should I smother my husband's honesty or sin against his love or be a niggard in giving out to others what I get for nothing Brother eat with me give thanks I charge you before God that ye speak to others invite them to help me to praise Oh my debt of praise how weighty is it how far run up Oh that others would lend me to pay learn me to praise Oh I a drowned Dyvour Lord Jesus take my thoughts for payment Yet I am in this hot summer-blenk with the tear in my eye for by reason of my silence sorrow sorrow hath filled me My harp is hanged upon the willow trees because I am in a strange land I am still kept in exercise with envious brethren My mother hath born me a man of contention Write to me your minde anent Y. C. I cannot forget him I know not what God hath to doe with him your minde anent my Parishoners behaviour how they are served in preaching or if there be a Minister as yet thrust in upon them which I desire greatly to know which I much fear Dear Brother ye are in my heart to live to die with you Visite me with a letter Pray for me Remember my love to your wife Grace grace be with you God who heareth prayer visite you set it be unto you according to the prayers of Aberd. Jan. 1. 1367. Your own Brother Christ's Prisoner S. R. To my welbeloved reverend brother Mr ROBERT BLAIR 88 Reverend dearly beloved Brother GRace mercy peace from God our father from our Lord Jesus Christ be to you It is no great wonder my Dear Brother that ye be in heaviness for a season that God's will in crossing your design desires to dwell amongst a people whose God is the Lord should move you I deny not but ye have cause to enquire what his providence speaketh in this to you but God's directing commanding will can by no good logick be concluded from events of providence The Lord sent Paul many errands for the spreading of his Gospel where he found lions in his way a promise was made to his people of the holy land yet many
as would goe round about the earth over the heaven yea the heaven of heavens ten thousand worlds that I might let all out upon fair fair onely fair Christ But alas I have nothing for him yet he hath much for me it is no gain to Christ that he getteth my little feckless span-length hand-breadth of love If men would have something to doe with their hearts their thoughts that are alwayes rolling up down like men with oares in a boat after sinfull vainities they may finde great sweet employment to their thoughts upon Christ If these frothie fluctuaring restless hearts of ours would come all about Christ look in to his love to bottomless love to the depth of mercy to the unsearchable riches of his grace to enquire after search into the beauty of God in Christ they would be swallowed up in the depth height length breadth of his goodness Oh if men would draw the curtains look in to the inner side of the arke behold how the fulness of the Godhead dwelleth in him bodily O who would not say let me die let me die ten times to see a sight of him ten thousand deaths were no great price to give for him I am sure sick fainting love would highten the market raise the price to the double for him But alas if men Angels were rouped sold at the dearest price they would not all buy a night's love or a four twentie hours sight of Christ O how happy are they who get Christ for nothing God send me no more for my part of Paradise but Christ and surely I were rich enough as well heaven'd as the best of them if Christ were my heaven I can write no better thing to you then to desire you if ever ye laid Christ in a count to take him up count over again and weigh him again and again And after this have no other to court your love and to wooe your soul's delight but Christ he will be found worthy of all your love howbeit it should swell upon you from the earth to the uppermost circle of the heaven of heavens To our Lord Jesus his love I commend you Aberd. 1637 Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To JONET KENNEDY 91 MISTRESS GRace mercy peace be unto you Ye are not a little obliged to his rich grace who hath separat you for himself for the promised inheritance with the saints in light from this condemned guilty world Hold fast Christ contend for him it is a lawfull plea to goe to holding drawing for Christ it is not possible to keep Christ peaceably having once gotten him except the devil were dead It must be your resolution to set your face against Satan's northern tempests stormes for salvation Nature would have heaven come sleeping to us in our beds we would all buy Christ sobeing we might make price our selves but Christ is worth more blood lives then either ye or I have to give him When we shall come home enter to the possession of our brother's fair kingdom when our heads shall finde the weight of the eternall crown of glory when we shall look back to pains sufferings then shall we see life sorrow to be less then one step or stride from a prison to glory that our little inch of time-suffering is not worthy of our first night's welcome-home to heaven O what then will be the weight of every one of Christ's kisses O how weighty of what worth shall every one of Christ's love-smiles be O when once he shall thrust a wearied traveller's head betwixt his blessed breasts the poor soul shall think one kiss of Christ hath fully paid home fourtie or fiftie yeers wet feet all it's sore hearts light sufferings it had in following after Christ O thrice blinded souls whose hearts are charmed betwitched with dreams shadows feckless things night-vanities night fancies of a miserable life of sin Shame on us who sit still fettered with the love liking of the loan of a piece dead clay O poor fools who are beguiled with painted things this world's fair weather smooth promises rotten worm-eaten hopes may not the devil laugh to see us give out our souls get in but corrupt counterfeit pleasures of sin O for a sight of eternity's glory a little tasting of the Lamb's marriage-supper halt a draught or a drop of the wine of consolations that is up in our banquetting house out of Christ's own hand would make our stomacks loath the brown bread the sowre drink of a miserable life O how far are we berest or wit to chase hunt run till our souls be out of breath after a condemned happiness of our own making doe we not sit far in our own light to make it a matter of bairns-play to skink drink over paradise the heaven that Christ did sweat for even for a blast of smoke for Esau's morning break-fast O that we were out of ourselves dead to this world this world dead crucified to us then we should be close out of love conceit of any masked fairded lover whatsoever then Christ would win conquer to himself a lodging in the inmost yolk of our heart then Christ should be our night-song our morning-song then the very noise din of our welbeloved's feet when he cometh his first knock or rap at the door should be as the newes of two heavens to us Oh that our eyes our soul's-smelling should goe after a blasted sun-burnt flower even this plaistered fair out-sided world then we have neither eye nor smell for the flower of Iâ—sse for that plant of renown for Christ the choisest the fairest the sweetest rose that ever God planted O let some of us die to feel the smell of him let my part of this rotten world be forfeited sold for evermore providing I may anchor my tottering soul upon Christ I know it is sometimes at this Lord what wilt thou have for Christ But O Lord canst thou be budded or propined with any gift for Christ O Lord can Christ be sold or rather may not a poor needy sinner have him for nothing If I can get no more O let me be pained to all eternity with longing for him The joy of hungring for Christ should be my heaven for evermore Alas that I cannot draw souls Christ together but I desire the coming of his KingdoÌ„ that Christ as I assuredly hope he shall would come upon withered Scotland as rain upon the new mowen grass O let the king come O let his Kingdom come O let their eyes rot in their eye holes who will not receive him home again to reign rule in Scotland Grace grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord. Iesus S. R. To his
them and our Nobles bid Christ send for himself if he be Christ It were good we should learn in time the way to our strong hold Sir howbeit not acquainted remember my love to your wife I pray God establish you Aberd. March 9 1637 Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To JOHN EWART Bailiffe of Kirkcudbright 94 My very worthy dear Friend I Cannot but most kindly thank you for the expressions of your love your love respect to me is a great comfort to me I blesse his high glorious name that the terrors of great men have not affrighted me from open avouching of the Son of God nay his cross is the sweetest burden that ever I bare It is such a burden as wings are to a bird or sailes to a ship to carry me forward to my harbour I have not much cause to fall in love with the world but rather to wish that he who sitteth upon the floods would bring my broken ship to Land keep my conscience safe in these dangerous times for wrath from the Lord is coming on this sinfull Land It were good that we prisoners of hope knew of our strong hold to run to before the storm come on Therefore Sir I beseech you by the mercies of God and comforts of his Spirit by the blood of your Saviour by your compearance before the sin-revenging Judge of the world keep your garments clean stand for the truth of Christ which ye professe When the time shall come that your eye strings shall break your face wax pale your breath grow cold this house of clay shall totter your one foot shall be over the march in eternity it shall be your comfort joy that ye gave your name to Christ. The greatest part of the world think heaven at the next door that Christianity is an easie task but they will be beguiled Worthy Sir I beseech you make sure work of salvation I have found by experience that all I could doe hath had much adoe in the day of my trial therefore lay up a sure foundation for the time to come I cannot requite you for your your undeserved favours to me my nowafflicted brother but I trust to remember you to God remember me heartily to your kinde wife Aberd. March 13. 1637. Yours in his onely Lord Iesus S. R. To VVILLIAM FULLERTON Provest of Kirkcudbright 95 Much honoured Sir GRace mercy and peace be to you I am obleiged to your love in God I beseech you Sir let nothing be so dear to you as Christ's truth for salvation is worth all the world therefore be not afraid of men that shall die the Lord shall doe for you in your suffering for him shall blesse your house seed ye have God's promise that ye shall have his presence in fire water in seven tribulations Your day will wear to an end your sun goe down in death it will be your joy that ye have ventured all ye have for Christ there is not a promise of heaven made but to such as are willing to suffer for it it is a Castle taken by force This earth is but the clay-portion of bastards therefore no wonder the world smile on it's own but better things are laid up for hiâ— lawfully begotten bairnes whoÌ„ the world hateth I have experience to speak this for I would not exchange my prison sad nights with the court honour ease of my adversaries My Lord is pleased to make many unknown faces to laugh upon me to provide a lodging for me he himself visiteth my soul with feasts of spiritual comforts O how sweet a Master is Christ Blessed are these who lay down all for him I thank you kindly for your love to my distressed brother Ye have the blessing prayers of the prisoner of Christ to you your Wife Children Remember my love blessing to William Samuel I desire them in their youth to seek the Lord fear his great name to pray twice a day at least to God to read God's word to keep themselves from cursing lying filthie talking Now the onely wise God the presence of the Son of God be with you all Aberd. March 13. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To the worthy much honoured Mr ALEXANDER COLVILL Of Blair 96 Much honoured Sir GRace mercy peace be to you The bearer hereof M. R. F. is most kinde to me I desire you to thank him But none is so kinde as my onely royal King Master whose cross is my garland The King dineth with his prisoner his spikenard casteth a smell He hath led me up to such a pitch nick of joyfull communion with himself as I never knew before When I look back to by-gones I judge my self to have been a childe at A B C. with Christ. Worthy Sir pardon me I dare not conceal it from you it is as a fire iâ— my bowels In hiâ— presâ—nce who seeth me I spâ—ak it I am pained pained with the love of Christ he hath made me sick wounded me Hunger for Christ out-runneth faith I miss faith more then love O if the three Kingdoms would come see O if they knew his kindness to my soul It hath pleased him to bring me to this that I will not strike sails to this world nor flatter it nor adore this clay idol that fools worship As I am now disposed I think I will neither borrow nor lend with it yet I get my meat from Christ with nurture for seven times a day I am lifted up casten down My dumb Sabbaths burthen my heart make it bleed I want not fearful challenges jealousies sometimes of Christ's love that he hath casten me over the dike of the vineyard as a dry tree But this is my infirmity By his grace I take my self in these ravings It is kindly that faith love both be sick fevers are kindly to most joyful communion with Christ. Ye are blessed who avouch Christ openly before the Princes of this Kingdom whose eyes are upon you It is your glory to lift him up on his throne to carry his trâ—in bear up the hem of his robe royal He hath an hiding place for M. A. C. against the storm goe on fear not what man can doe The saints seem to have â—he worst of it for apprehensions can make a lye of Christ of his love but it is not so Providence is not rolled upon unequal crooked wheels All things work togâ—ther for the good of these who love God are called according to his purpose Ere it be long we shall see the white side of God's Providence My Brother's case hath moved me not a little He wrote to me your care kindness Sir the prisoner's blessings prayers I trust shall not goe by you He that is able to keep you to present you before
the presence of his face with joy establish your heart in the love of Christ. Aberd. 19. Febr. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To EARLESTOWN Younger 97 Honoured Dear Brother GRace mercy peace be to you I received your letter which refreshed my soul. I thank God the court is closed I think shame of my part of it I pass now from my unjust summonds of unkindness libelled against Christ my Lord He is not such a Lord Master as I took him to be verily he is God I am dust ashes I took Christ's glooms to be as good as Scripture speaking wrath but I have seen the other side of Christ the white side of his cross now I behooved to come to Aberdeen to learn a new mystery in Christ that his promise is better to be beleeved then his looks that the devil can cause Christ's glooms speak a lie to a weak man Nay verily I was a childe before all by-gones are but bâ—irns play I would I could begin to be a Christian in sad earnest I nâ—ed not blame Christ if I be not one for he hath shewed me heaven hell in Aberdeen But the truth is for all my sorrow Christ is nothing in my debt for his comforts have refreshed my soul I have heard sâ—en him in his sweetness so as I am almost saying it is not he that I was wont to meet with He laugheth more chearfully his kisses are more sweet soul-refreshing then the kisses of the Christ I saw before were though he be the same or rather the King hath led me up to a measure of joy communion with my Bridegroom that I never attained to before so that often I think I will neither borrow nor lend with this world I will not strike sail to crosses nor flatter them to be quite of them as I have done Come all crosses welcome welcome So I may get my heartfull of my Lord Jesus I have been so near him as I have said I take instruments this is the Lord leave a token behinde thee that I may never forget this Now what can Christ doe more to dâte one of his poor prisoners Therefore Sir I charge you in the name of my Lord Jesus praise with me shew to others what he hath done unto my soul. This is the fruit of my sufferings that I desire Christ's name may be spread abroad in this Kingdom in my behalf I hope in God not to slander him again yet in all this I get not my feasts without some mixture of gall neither am I free of old jealousies for he hath removed my lovers friends far from me he hath made my congregation desolate taken away my crown my dumb sabbaths are like a stone tied to a bird's foot that wanteth not wings they seem to hinder me to fleo Were it not that I dare not say one word but Well done Lord Iesus We can in our prosperity sport our selves be too bold with Christ yea be that insolent as to chide with him but under the water we dare not speak I wonder now of my sometimes boldness to chide quarrell Christ to nickname Providence when it stroaked me against the hair but now swimming in the waters I think my will is fallen to the ground of the water I have lost it I think I would fain â—et Christ alone give him leave to doe with me what he pleaseth if he would smile upon me Verily we know not what an evil it is to spill indulge our selves to make an idol of our will I was once I would not eat except I had wailed meat now I dare not complain of crumbs pairings under his table I was once that I would make the house adoe if I saw not the world carved set in order to my liking now I am silent when I see God hath set servants on horseback is fatning feeding the children of perdition I pray God I never finde my will again Oh if Christ would subject my will to his trample it under his feet liberate me from that lawless Lord. Now Sir in your youth gather fast your sun will mount to the Meridian quickly thereafter decline Be greedy of grace Study above any thing my dear Brother to mortifie your lusts Oh but pride of youth vainty lust idolizing of the world charming pleasures take long time to root them out As far as ye are advanced in the way to heaven as neer as ye are to Christ as much progress as ye have made in the way of mortification ye will finde that ye are far behinde have most of your work before you I never took it to be so hard to be dead to my lusts to this world When the day of visitation cometh your old idols come weeping about you ye will have much adoe not to break your heart it 's best give up in time with them so as ye could at a call quite your part of this world for a drink of water or a thing of nothing Verily I have seen the best of this world a moth-eaten threed bare coat I purpose to lay it aside being now hollie old O for my house above not made with hands Pray for Christ's prisoner write to me Remember my love to your mother Desire her from me to make for removing the Lord's tide will not bide her to seek an heavenly minde that her heart may be often there Grace be with you Aberd. Feb. 20. 1637. Yours Christ's prisoner S. R. To ROBERT GLENDINING 98 My Dear Friend GRace mercy peace be to you I thank you most kindly for your care of me your love and respective kindness to my brother in his distresse I pray the Lord ye may finde mercy in the day of Christ I entreat you Sir to consider the times ye live in that your soul is of more worth to you then the whole world which in the day of the blowing of the last trumpet shall lie in white ashes as an old castle burnt to nothing Remember that judgement eternity is before you My dear worthy friend let me entreat you in Christ's name by the salvation of your soul by your compearance before the dreadful sin-revenging judge of the world make your accounts ready read them ere ye come to the water side for your after-noon will wear short your sun fall low and goe down ye know that this long time your Lord hath waited on you O how comfortable a thing shall it be to you when time shall be no more your soul shall depart out of the house of clay to vaste endlesse eternity to have your soul dressed up prepared for your bridegroom No losse is comparable to the losse of the soul there is no hope of regaining that losse O how joyfull would my soul be to hear that ye would start to
the gate contend for the crown leave all vanities make Christ your garland Let your soul put away your old lovers let Christ have your whole love I have some experience to write of this to you My witnesse is in heaven I would not exchange my chains bonds for Christ my sighs â—or ten worlds glory I judge this clay-idol that Adam's sons are rouping selling their souls for not worth a drink of cold water O if your soul were in my soul's stead how sick would ye be of love for that fairest one that fairest among the sons of men Mayflowers morning vapours summer mist posteth not so fast away as these worm-eaten pleasures that we follow We build castles in the air night dreams are our day idols that we dote on Salvation Salvation is our onely one necessarie thing Sir call home your thoughts to this work to inquire for your welbeloved This earth is the portion of bastards seek the sons inheritance let Christ's truth be dear to you I pawnd my salvation on it that this is the honour of Christ's Kingdom I now suffer for this world I hope shall not come between me my garland that this is the way to life When ye I shall lie lumps of pale clay upon the cold ground our pleasures that we now naturally love shall be lesse then nothing in that day dear Brother fulfill my joy betake you to Christ without further delay ye will be fain at length to seek to him or doe infinitly worse Remember my love to your wife grace be with you Aberd. March 13. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To WILLIAM GLENDINING 99 Welbeloved dear Brother GRace mercy and peace be to you I thank you most kindly for your care love to me in particular to my brother in hiâ— distresse in Edinburgh Goe on thorow your waters without wearying your guide knoweth the way follow him cast your caâ—es tentation upon him let not wormes the sons of men affright you they shall die the moth shall eat them keep your garland there is no lesse at the stake in this game betwixt us the world then our conscience salvation we have need to take heed to the game not to yield to them Let them take other things from us but here in matters of conscience we must hold draw with Kings set our selves in termes of opposition with the shields of the earth O the sweet communion for evermore that hath been between Christ his poor prisoner He wearieth not to be kinde He is the fairest sight I see in Aberd or any part that ever my feet were in Remember my hearty kindness to your wife I desire her to beleeve lay her cares on God make fast work of salvation Grace be with you Aberd. March 13. 1637. Yours in his onely Lord Iesus S. R. To JEAN BROWN 100 Welbeloved and dear Sister GRace mercy peace be to you I received your letter which I esteem an evidence of your Christian affection to me of your love to my honourable Lord Master My desire is that your communion with Christ may grow that your reckonings may be put by hand with your Lord ere ye come to the water side O who knoweth how sweet Christs ' kisses are who hath been more kindly embraced kissed then I his banished prisoner If the comparison could stand I would not exchange Christ with heaven it self He hath left a dart arrow of love in my soul it paineth me till he come take it out I finde pain of these wounds because I would have possession I know now this worm-eaten apple the plaistered rotten world that the silly Children of this world are beating buffetting pulling others ears for is a portion for bastards good enough that is all they have to look for I offend not that my adversaries stay at home at their own fire-side with more yearly rent then I should I be angry that the good-man of this house of the world casteth a dog a bone to hurt his teeth he hath taught me to be content with a borrowed fire-side an uncouth bed I think I have lost nothing the in come is so great O what telling is in Christ O how weighty is my fair garland my crown my fair supping-hall in glory where I shall be above the blowes and buffettings of Prelats Let this be your desire let your thoughts dwell much upon that blessednesse that abideth you in the other world The fair side of the world will be turned to you quickly when ye shall see the crown I hope ye are neer your lodging O but I would think my self blessed for my part to win the house before the shower come on For God hath a quiver full of arrowes to shoot at shower down upon Scotland Ye have the prayers of a prisoner of Christ. I desire Patrick to give Christ his young love even the flower of it and put it by all others it were good to start soon to the way He should thereby have a great advantage in the evil day Grace be with you Aberd. March 7. 1637. Yours in his onely Lord Iesus S. R. To Mr JOHN FERGUSHILL 101 Reverend and welbeloved in the Lord. I Was refreshed with your letter I am sorry for that lingering and long some visitation that is upon your wife but I know ye take it as a mark of a lawfully begotten childe not of a bastard to be under your father's rod till ye be in heaven it will be but foul weather one shower up another down The lintel-stones pillars of the new Jerusalem suffer moe knocks of God's hammer tool then the common side-wall stones if twenty crosses be written for you in God's book they will come to ninteen then at last to one after that nothing but your head betwixt Christ's breasts for evermore his own soft hand to dry your face wipe away your teares As for publike sufferings for his truth your Master also will see to these Let us put him in his own office to comfort deliver the gloom of Christ's crosse is worse then it self I cannot keep up what he hath done to my soul My dear Brother will I not get help of you to praise to lift Christ up on high He hath pained me with his love hath left a love arrow in my heart that hath made a wound swelled me up with desires so that I am to be pitied for want of reall possession love would have the company of the party loved my greatest pain is the want of him not of his joyes comforts but of a neer union communion This is his truth I am fully perswaded I now suffer for For Christ hath taken upon him to be witnesse to it by his sweet comforts to my soul
Christ but his coat Oh how forlorn desolate is the Bride of Christ made to all passers by Who seeth not Christ buried in this land his prophets hidden in caves silenced banished imprisoned Truth weeping in sackcloth before the Judges Parliament the Rulers of the land But her bill is cast by them Holiness hideth it self fearing the streets for the reporoaches persecution of men Justice is fallen a swoon in the gate the long shadows of the evening are stretched out upon us Woe woe to us for our day flyeth away what remaineth but that the Antichrist set down his tent in the midst of us except your Lo others with you read Christ's supplication give him that which the most lewd and scandalous wretches in this land may have before a judge even the poor man's due law and justice for God's sake O therefore my noble dear Lord as ye have begun goe on in the mighty power and strength of the Lord to cause our Lord in his Gospel and afflicted members laugh to cause the Christian Churches whose eyes are all now upon you to sing for joy when Scotland's moon shall shine like the light of the sun the sun like the light of seven dayes in one ye can doe noless then run bear up the head of your dying swooning mother-Church plead for the production of her ancient charters They hold out and put out they hold in and bring in at their pleasure men in God's house they stole the keys from Christ and his Church and came in like the thief the robber not by the door Christ now their song is Authority Authority obedience to Church-Governours When such a bastard lawless pretended step-dame as our prelacy is gone mad it is your place who are the Nobles to rise binde them at least law should fetter such wilde bulls as they are who push all who oppose themselves to their domination Alas What have we lost since Prelats were made Master coiners to change our gold in brass and to mix the Lord's wine with their water Blessed for ever shall ye be of the Lord if ye help Christ against the mighty and shall deliver the flock of God scattered upon the mountains in the dark cloudy day out of the hands of these idol-shepherds Fear not men that shall be moth-eaten-clay that shall be rolled up in a chest casten under the earth Let the holy one of Israel be your fear be couragious for the Lord and his truth Remember your accounts coming upon you with wings as fast as time posteth away Remember what peace with God in Christ the presence of the Son of God in the revealed felt sweetness of his love will be to you when eternity shall put time to the door ye shall take good-night at Time this little shepherd's tent of clay this Innes of a borrowed earth I hope your Lo is now then sending out thoughts to view this world's naughtiness vanity the hoped-for glory of the life to come that ye resolve that Christ shall have your self all yours at command for him his honour Gospel Thus trusting your Lo Will pardon my boldness I pray that the onely wise God the very God of peace may preserve strengthen establish you to the end Aberd. 1637. Your Lo at all command obedience in Chrst. S. R. To the Lady ROVVALAND 107 MADAM THough not acquainted I am bold in Christ to speak to vour La in paper I rejoyce in our Lord Jesus on your behalf that it hath pleased him whose love to you is as old as himself to manifest the savour of his love in Christ Jesus to your soul in the revelation of his will minde to you now when so many are shut up in unbelief O the sweet change ye have made in leaving the black kingdom of this world sin coming over to our bridegroom 's new kingdom to know to be taken with the love of the beautifull Son of God I beseech you Madam in the Lord make now sure work see that the old house be casten down razed from the foundation and that the new building of your soul be of Christ's own laying for then wind and storm shall neither loose it nor shake it asunder Many now take Christ by guess Be sure that it be he and onely he whom ye have met with His sweet smell his lovely voyce his fair face his sweet working in the soul will not lye they will soon tell if it be Christ indeed I think your love to the saints speaketh that it is he therefore I say be sure that ye take Christ himself take him with his father's blessing his father alloweth him well upon you your lines are well fallen it could not have been better nor so well with you if they had not fallen in these places In heaven or out of heaven there is nothing better nothing so sweet excellent as the thing ye have lighted on therefore hold you with Christ Joy much joy may ye have of him But take his cross with himself cheerfully Christ and his cross are not separable in this life howbeit Christ his cross part at heaven's door for there is no house-room for crosses in heaven one tear one sigh one sad heart one fear one losse or thought of trouble cannot finde lodging there they are but the markes of our Lord Jesus down in this wide innes stormy countrey on this side of death Sorrow the saints are not married together of suppose it were so heaven shall make a divorce I finde his sweet presence eateth out the bitterness of sorrow suffering I think it a sweet thing that Christ saith of my cross Halfmine that he divideth these sufferings with me taketh the largest share to himself nay that I my whole cross are wholly Christ's O what a portion is Christ O that the saints would dig deeper in the treasures of his wisdom excellency Thus recommending your La to the goodwill tender mercies of our Lord I rest Aberd. Sept. 7. 1637 Yours La in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To ROBERT GORDON Of Knockbrex 108 My very worthy dear Friend GRace mercy peace be unto you Though all Galloway should have forgotten me I would have expected a letter from you ere now But I will not expound it to be forgetfulness of me Now My dear Brother I cannot shew you how matters goe betwixt Christ and me I finde my Lord going and coming seven times a day His visits are short but they are both frequent sweet I dare not for my life think of a challenge of my Lord I hear ill tales hard reports of Christ from the Tempter and my flesh but love beleeveth no evil I may swear that they are lyars and that apprehensions make lyes of Christ's honest and unalterable love to me
I dare not say that I am a dry tree or that I have no room at all in the vineyard but yet I often think that the sparrows are blessed who may resort to the house of God in Anwoth from which I am banished Temptations that I supposed to be striken dead and laid upon their back rise again and revive upon me yea I see that while I live temptations will not die The devil seemeth to brag boast as much as if he had more court with Christ then I have as if he had charmed blasted my ministery that I shall doe no more good in publike but his wind shaketh no corn I will not beleeve Christ would have made such a mint to have me to himself and have taken so much pains upon me as he hath done and then slip so easily from possession and lose the glory of what he had done Nay since I came to Aberden I have been taken up to see the new land the fair palace of the Lamb And will Christ let me see heaven to break my heart never give it to me I shall not think my Lord Jesus giveth a dumb earnest or putteth his sealâ— to blank paper or intendeth to put me off with fair and false promises I see that now which I never saw well before 1. I see faith's necessity in a fair day is never known aright but now I miss nothing somuch as faith Hunger in me runneth to fair and sweet promises but when I come I am like a hungry man that wanteth teeth or a weak stomack having a sharp appetite that is filled with the very sight of meat or lik one stupified with cold under the water that would fain come to land but cannot grip any thing casten to him I can let Christ grip me but I cannot grip him I love to be kissed and to sit on Christ's knee but I cannot set my feet to the ground for afflictions bring the cramp upon my faith All I dow doe is to hold out a lame faith to Christ like a begger holding out a stump in stead of an arm or leg and cry Lord Iesus work a miracle O what would I give to have hands arms to grip strongly fold heart somly about Christ's neck to have my claim made good with reall possession I think my love to Christ hath feet abundance ruinneth swiftly to be at him but it wanteth hands and fingers to apprehend him I think I would give Christ every morning my blessing to have as much faith as I have love hunger at least I miss faith more then love hunger 2. I see mortification to be crucified to the world is not so highly accounted of by us as it should be O how heavenly a thing is it to be dead dumb deaf to this world 's sweet musick I confess it hath pleased his Majesty to make me laugh at children who are wooing this world for their match I see men lying about the world as Nobles about a King's court I wonder what they are a doing there As I am at this present I would scorn to court such a feckless petty Princesse or buy this world's kindness with a bow of my knee I scarce now either hear or see what it is that this world offereth me I know it 's little it can take from me as little it can give me I recommend Mortification to you above any thing For alas we but chase feathers flying in the air tire our own spirits for the froth overguilded clay of a dying life One sight of what my Lord hath let me see within this short time is worth a world of worlds 3. I thought courage in the time of trouble for Christ's sake a tâ—ing that I might take up at my foot I thought the very remembrance of the honesty of the cause would be enough but I was a fool in so thinking I have much adoe now to win to one smile but I see joy groweth up in heaven it is above our short arm Christ will be steward dispenser himself nonâ— else but He Therefore now I count much of one dram weight of spirituall joy one smile of Christ's face is now to me as a Kingdom yet he is no niggard to me of comforts Truly I have no cause to say that I am pinched with penury or that the consolations of Christ are dried up for he hath poured down rivers upon a dry wilderness the like of me to my admiration in my very swoonings he holdeth up my head stayeth me with flagons of wine comforteth me with apples My house bed is strowed with kisses of love Praise praise with me O if ye I betwixt us could lift up Christ upon his throne howbeit all Scotland should cast him down to the ground My Brother's case toucheth me neer I hope ye will be kinde to him give him your best counsel Remember my love to your Brother to your wife G. M. desire him to be faithfull repent of his hypocrisie and say that I wrote it to you I wish him salvation Write to me your minde anent C. E. And C. Y. And their wives I. G. Or any others in my parish I fear I am forgotten amongst them but I cannot forget them The prisoner's prayers and blessing come upon you Grace grace be with you Aberd. Feb 9. 1637. Your Brother in the Lord Iesus S. R. To my Lord. BALMERINOCH 109 My very Noble truly honourable Lord. I Make bold to write newes to your Lo from my prison though your Lo have experience more then I can have At my first entry here I was not a little casten down with challenges for old unrepented of sins Satan my own apprehensions made a lye of Christ that he had casten a dry withered tree over the dike of the vineyard but it was my folly blessed be his great name the fire cannot burn the dry tree He is pleased noâ— to feast the exiled prisoner with his lovely presence for it suiteth Christ well to be kinde he dineth suppeth with such a sinner as I am I am in Christ's tutouring here He hath made me content with a borrowed fire-side it casteth as much heat as mine own I want nothing at all but reall possession of Christ And he hath given me a pawne of that also which I hope to keep till he come himself to loose the pawne I cannot get help to praise his high name He hath made me a King over my losses imprisonment banishment onely my dumb sabbaths stick in my throat But I forgive Christ's wisdom in that I dare not say one word He hath done it I will lay my hand upon my mouth If any other had done it to me I could not have born it Now My Lord I must tell your Lo That I would not give a drink of cold water for this clay idol this plaistered
that will not doe it For my self I am as well as Christ's prisoner can be For by him I am master King of all my crosses I am above the prison the lash of mens tongues Christ triumpheth in me I have been casten down heavie with fears hunted with challenges I was swimming in the depths but Christ had his hand under my chin all the time took good heed that I should not lose breath And now I have gotten my feet again there are love-feasts of joy spring-tides of consolation betwixt Christ me We agree well I have court with him I am still welcome to his house O my short arms cannot fathom his love I beseech you I charge you help me to praise Ye have a prisoner's prayers therefore forget me not I desire Sibilla to remember me dearly to all in that Parish who know Christ as if I had named them Grace grace be with you Aberd. March 13. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To my very dear Brother VVILLIAM LIVINGSTONE 113 My very dear Brother I Rejoyce to hear that Christ hath run away with your young love that ye are so early in the morning matched with such a Lord for a young man is often a dressed lodging for the devil to dwell in be humble and thankfull for grace weigh it not so much by weight as if it be true Christ will not cast water on your smoking coal he never yet put out a dim candle that was lighted at the sun of righteousness I recommend to you prayer watching over the sins of your youth for I know missive letters goe between the Devil young blood Satan hath a friend at court in the heart oâ— youth there pride luxury lust revenge forgetfulness of God are hired as his agents happy is your soul if Christ man the house take the keys himself command all as it suiteth him full well to rule all where ever he is keep him entertain Christ well cherish his grace blow upon your own coal let him tutour you Now for my self know I am fully agreed with my Lord Christ hath put the father me in other's arms many a sweet bargain he made before he hath made this among the rest I reign as King over my crosses I will not flatter a temptation nor give the Devil a good word I defie Hell's iron gates God hath past over my quarrelling of him at my entry here now he feedeth feasteth with me praise praise with me let us exalt his name together Aberd. March 13. 1637. Your brother in Christ S. R. To WILLIAM GORDON of VVhite parke 114 Worthy Sir GRace mercy peace be unto you I long to hear from you I am here the Lord's prisoner patient handled as softly by my Physician as if I were a sick man under cure I was at hard terms with my Lord pleaded with him But I had the worst side It is a wonder he should have suffered the like of me to have nicknamed the Son of his love Christ to call him a changed Lord who had forsaken me but misbelief hath never a good word to speak of Christ. The dross of my cross gathered a scum of fearsin the fire doubtings impatience unbelief challenging of providence as sleeping not regarding my sorrow but my gold smith Christ was pleased to take off the scum burn it in the fire And blessed be my finer he hath made the metall better furnished new supply of grace to cause me hold out weight I hope hath not loosed one grain weight by burning his servant Now his love in my heart casteth a mighty heat He knoweth that the desire I have to be at himsâ—lf paineth me I have sick nights frequent fits of love-fevers for my welbeloved Nothing paineth me now but want of presence I think it long till day I challenge time as too slow in it's pace that holdeth my onely onely fair one my love my welbeloved from me O if we were together once I am like an old crazed ship that hath endured many storms that would fain be in the lee of the shore feareth new storms I would be that nigh heaven that the shadow of it might break the force of the storm the crazed ship might win to land My Lord's sâ—n casteth a heat of love beam of light on my soul. My blessing thrice every day upon the sweet cross of Christ I am not ashamed of my garland The banished â—inister which is the term of Aberden Love Love defieth reproaches The love of Christ hath a croslet of proof on it arrows will not draw blood of it We are more then conquerours through the blood of him that hath loved us Rom. 8. The devil the world they cannot wound the love of Christ. I am further from yeelding to the course of defection then when I came hither sufferings blunt not the fiery edge of love Cast love in the floods of hell it will swim above it careth not for the world 's busked and plaistered offers It hath pleased my Lord so to lyne my heart with the love of my Lord Jesus that as if the field were already won I on the other side of time I laugh at the world 's golden pleasures at this dirtie Idol that the sons of Adam worship This worm-eaten God is that which my soul hath fallen out of love with Sir ye were once my hearer I desire now to hear from you your wife I salute her your children with blessings I am glad that ye are still hand-fasted with Christ goe on in your journey take the city by violence Keep your garments clean Be clean virgins to your husband the Lamb the world shall follow you to heaven's gates ye would not wish it to goe in with you Keep fast Christ's love Pray for me as I doe for you the Lord Jesus be with your Spirit Aberd. March 13. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To Mr GEORGE GILLESPIE 115 Reverend dear Brother I Received your letter as for my case Brother I bless his glorious name my losses are my gain my prison a palace my sadness joyfulness At my first entry my apprehensions wrought so upon my cross that I becâ—me jealouse of the love of Christ as being by him thrust out of the vineyard I was under great challenges as ordinarily melted gold casteth first a drossie scum Satan our corruption form the first words that the heavy cross speaketh say â—od is angry He loveth you not But our apprehensions are not cannonicall they dite lyes ' of God Christ's love but since my spirit was setled the clay fallen to the bottom of the well I see better what Christ was doing And now my Lord is returned with salvation under his wings now I want little of half a heaven I finde
Christ every day so sweet comfortable lovely Kinde as three things onely trouble me 1. I see not how to be thankfull or how to get help to praise that royall King who raiseth up these that are bowed down 2. His love paineth me woundeth my soul so as I am in a fever for want of reall presence 3. An excessive desire to take instruments in God's name that this is Christ his truth I now suffer for yea the apple of the eye of Christ's honour even the Soveraignity royall priviledges of our King law-giver Christ therefore let no man scar at Christ's cross or raise an ill report upon him or it for he beareth the sufferer it both I am here troubled with the disputes of the great Doctors especially with D. B. in Ceremoniall Arminian controverâ—â—es for all are corrupt here but I thank God with no detriment to the truth or discredit to my profession So then I see that Christ can triumph in a weaker man nor I who can be more weak But his grace is sufficient for me Brother remember our old Covenant pray for me write to me your case The Lord Jesus be with your spirit Aberd. March 13. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To JOHN MEINE 116 Dear Brother GRace mercy peace be unto you I wonder ye sent me â—ot an answer to my last letter for I stand in need of it I am still 〈◊〉 some piece of court with our great King whose love would cause a dead man speak live whether my court will continue or not I cannot well say but I have his ear frequently to his glory onely I speak it no penurie of the love-kisses of the Son of God He thinketh good to cast apples to me in my prison to play withall lest I should think long faint I must give over all attempts to fathom the depth of his love all I can doe is but to stand beside his great love look wonder my debts of thankfulness affright me I fear my Creditor get a Dyvour-bill a ragged account I would be much the better of help O for help that ye would take notice of my case Your not writing to me maketh me think ye suppose that I am not to be bemoaned because he is comfortable but I have pain in my unthankfulness pain in the feeling of his love while I am sick again for real presence reall possession of Christ yet there is no gooked if I may speak so nor fond love in Christ He casteth me down sometimes with challenges for old faults I know he knoweth well that sweet comforts are swelling therefore sorrow must make a vent to the wind my dumb sabbaths are undercotting wounds The condition of this oppressed kirk my brother's case I thank you your wife for your kindness to him hold my sore smarting keep my wounds bleeding but the ground-work standeth sure Pray for me Grace be with you Remember meto your wife Aberd. March 14. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To Mr THOMAS GARVEN 117 Reverend and dear Brother I Blesse you for your letter it was a shower to the new mowen grass The Lord hath given you the tongue of the Learned Be fruitfull humble It is possible ye come to my case or the like but the water is neither so deep nor the stream so strong as it is called I think my fire is not hot my water dry land my loss rich loss O if the walls of my prison be high wide large the place sweet No man knoweth it no man I say knoweth it my Dear Brother so well as he I no man can put it down in black white as my Lord hath sealed it in my heart My poor stock is growen since I came to Aberden And if any had known the wrong I did in being jealous of such an honest lover as Christ who witheld not his love from me they would think the more of it but I see he must be above me in mercy I will never strive with him To think to recompense him is folly If I had as many Angel's tongues as there have fallen drops of rain since the creation or as there are leaves of trees in all the forrests of the earth or stars in the heaven to praise yet my Lord Jesus would ever be behinde with me We will never get our accounts sitted A pardon must close the reckoning for his comforts to me in this his honourable cause have almost put me beyond the bounds of modesty howbeit I will not let every one know what is betwixt us Love love I mean Christ's love is the hottest coal that ever I felt O but the smoke of it be hot Cast all the salt sea on it it will flame hell cannot quench it Many many waters will not quench love Christ is turned over to his poor prisoner in a masse globe of love I wonder he should waste so much love upon such a waster as I am but he is no waster but abundant in mercy He hath no niggards almes when he is pleased to give O that I could invite all the nation to love him Free grace is an unknown thing This world hath heard but a bare name of Christ no more There are infinite plyes in his love that the saints will never win to unfold I would it were better known that Christ got more of his own due then de doeth Brother ye have chosen the good part who have taken part with Christ Ye will see him win the field ye shall get part of the spoile when he divideth it They are but fools who laugh at us for they see but the backside of the moon yet our moon-light it better thâ—n their twelve-hours-sun We have gotten the new heavens as a pledge of that the bridegroom's love-ring The children of the wedding chamber have cause to skip leap for joy for the marriage supper is drawing nigh we finde the fours-hours sweet comfortable O time be not slow O sun move speedily hasten our banquet O bridegroom be like a roe or a young hart upon the mountains O welbeloved run fast that we may once meet Brother I contain my self for want of time Pray for me I hope to remember you The goodwill of him who dwelt in the bush the tender mercies of God in Christ enrich you Grace be with you Aberd. March 14. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To BETHAIA AIRD. 118 Worthy Sister GRace mercy peace be unto you I know ye desire news from my prison I shall shew you news At my first entry hither Christ I agreed not well upon it The devil made a plea in the house I laid the blame upon Christ for my heart was fraughted with challenges I feared that I was an outcast that I was but a withered tree in
will still last that feasts will be my ordinary food I would have humlity patience faith to set down both my feet when I come to the north-side of the cold thorny hill It is ill my common to be swier to goe an errand for Christ to take the wind upon my face for him Lord let me never be a false witness to deny that I saw Christ take the pen in his hand subscribe my writes My Dear Brother ye complain to me ye cannot hold sight of me but were I a footman I should goe at leisure but sometimes the King taketh me into his coach draweth me then I ontrun myself but alas I am still a forlorn transgressour O how unthankfull I will not put you off your sense of deadness but let me say this who gave you Proctor-fee to speak for the law that can speak for it self better then ye can doe I would not have you to bring your dittay in your own bosom with you to Christ Let the old man the new man be summoned before Christ's white throne let them be confronted before Christ let each one of them speak for themselves I hope howbeit the new man complain of his lying among the pots which maketh the beleever look black yet he can say also I am comely as the tents of Kedar Ye shall not have my advice not to bemoan your deadness but I finde by some experience which ye knew before I knew Christ it suiteth not a ransomed man of Christ's buying to goe plea for the sowre law our old forecasteâ— husband for we are now not under the law as a covenant but under grace Ye are in no man's common but Christ's I know he bemoaneth you more then ye doe your self I say this because I am wearied of complaining I thought it had been humility to imagine that Christ was angry with me both because of my dumb sabbaths my hard heart but I feel now nothing but aking wounds my grief whether I will or not swelleth upon me But let us die in Grace's hall-floor pleading before Christ I deny nothing that the Mediator will challenge me of but I turn it all back upon himself Let him look his own old counts if he be angry for he will get no more of me when Christ saith I want Repentance I meet him with this True Lord but thou art made a King Prince to give me Repentance Act. 5â— 31. When Christ bindeth a challenge upon us we must binde a promise back upon him Be woe lay your self in the dust before God which is suitable but withall let Christ take payment in his own hand pay himself off the first end of his own merits else he will come behinde for any thing we can doe I am every way in your case as hard hearted dead as any man but yet I speak to Christ through my sleep Let us then proclaim a free market for Christ swear our selves bare desire cry on him to come without money buy us take us home to our ransom-payer's fire-side let us be Christ's free-boarders because we dow not pay the old we may not refuse to take on Christ's new debt of mercy Let us doe our best Christ will still be behinde with us many terms will run together For my part let me stand for evermore in his book for a forlorn Dyvour I must desire to be this far in his common of new as to desire to kiss his feet I know not how to win to a heartsom fill feast of Christ's love for I dow neither buy nor beg nor borrow yet I cannot want it I dow not want it O if I could praise him yea I would rest content with a heart submissive dying of love for him howbeit I won never personally in at heaven's gates O would to God I could send in my praises to my incomparable welbeloved or cast my love-songs of that matchless Lord Jesus over the walls that they might light in his lap before men Angels Now grace grace be with you Remember my love to your wife daughter brother Iohn Aberd. June 11. 1638. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To ALEXANDER GORDON Of Earlestown 122 Much honoured worthy Sir GRace Mercy peace be unto you I long to hear from you I received few letters since I came hither I am in need of a word A dry plant would have some watering My case betwixt Christ my Lord me standeth between love jealousie faith suspicion of his love It is a marvel he keepeth house with me I make many pleas with Christ but he maketh as many agreements with me I think his unchangeable love hath said I defie thee to break me change me If Christ had such changeable new thoughts of my salvation as I have of it I think I should then be at a sad loss He humoureth not a fool like me in my unbelief but rebuketh me â—athereth kindness upon me Christ is rather like the poor friend needy prisoner begging love then I am I cannot for shame get Christ said Nay of my whole love for he will not want his errand for the seeking God be thanked my bridegroom tireth not of wooing Honour to him he is a wilfull suiter of my soul But as love is his pain is mine that I have nothing to give him His count-book is full of my debts of mercy kindness free love towards me Oh that I might read with watery eyes O that he would give me the interest of interest to pay back Or rather my soul's desire is that he would comprize my person soul body love joy confidence fear sorrow desire drive the Puynd let me be rouped sold to Christ taken home to my creditor's house his fire-side The Lord knoweth if I could I would sell my self without reversion to Christ. O sweet Lord Jesus make a market over-bid all my buyers I dare swear there is a Mystery in Christ which I never saw A mystery of love O if he would lay by the lap of the covering that is over it let my griening soul see it I would break the door be in upon him to get an wombfull of love for I am an hungered â—amished soul. Oh Sir if ye or any other would tell him how sick my soul is dying for want of a hearty draught of Christ's love Oh if I could dote if I may make use of that word in this case as much upon himself as I doe upon his love It is a pity that Christ himself should not rather be my heart's choice then Christ's manifested love It would satisfie me in some measure if I had any bud to give for his love shall I offer him my praises Alas he is more then praises I give it over to get him exalted according to his worth which is above what
once cometh nigh hand taketh a hearty look of Christ's inner side shall never wring nor wrestle themselves out of his love-grips again I would rest contented in my prison yea in a prison without light of sun or candle providing Christ I had a love-bed not of mine but of Christ his own making that we might lie together among the lilies till the day break the shadows flee away Who knoweth how sweet a drink of Christ's love is O but to live on Christ's love is a King's life The worst things of Christ even that which seemeth to be the refuse of Christ his hard cross his black cross is white fair the cross receiveth a beautifull lustre a perfumed smell from Jesus Mydear Brother scar not at it While ye have time to stand upon the watch tower to speak contend with this land plead with your harlot-mother who hath been a treacherous half-marrow to her husband Iesus For I would think liberty to preach one day the root top of my desires would seek no more of the blessings that are to be had on this side of time till I be over the water but to spend this my crazed clay-house in his service saving of souls But I hold my peace because he hath done it my shallow ebbe thoughts are not the compass Christ saileth by I leave his wayes to himself for they are far far above me Onely I would contend with Christ for his love and be bold to make a plea with Jesus my Lord for a heart-fill of his love for there is no more left to me What standeth beyond the far end of my sufferings and what shall be the event he knoweth and I hope to my joy shall make me know when God shall unfold his decrees concerning me for there are windings and too 's and fro's in his wayes which blinde bodies like us cannot see This much for further acquaintance So recommending you what is before you to the grace of God I rest Aberd. June 16. 1637. Your very loving Brother in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To Mr WILLIAM DALGLEISH 125 Reverend welbeloved Brother GRace mercy peace be unto you I have heard somewhat of your trials in Galloway I bless the Lord who hath begun first in that corner to make you a new Kirk to himself Christ hath the less adoe behinde when he hath refined you Let me entreat you my dearly beloved to be fast to Christ My witness is above My dearest Brother that ye have added much joy to me in my bonds when I hear that ye grow in the grace and zeal of God for your Master Our ministery whether by preaching or suffering will cast a smell through the world both of heaven hell 2 Cor. 2 15 16. I perswade you my dear Brother there is nothing out of heaven next to Christ dearer to me then my ministery the worth of it in my estimation is swelled paineth me exceedingly yet I am content for the honour of my Lord to surrender it back again to the Lord of the vineyard let him doe with me it both what he thinketh good I think my self too little for him let me speak to you how kinde a fellow prisoner is Christ to me Beleeve me this kinde of cross that would not goe by my door but would needs visite me is still the longer the more welcome to me It 's true my silent sabbaths have been are still as glassy yee whereon my faith can scarce hold it's feet I am often blowen on my back and off my feet with a storm of doubting yet truly my bonds all this time cast a mighty and ranck smell of high and deep love in Christ I cannot indeed see through my cross to the far end Yet I beleeve I am in Christ's books in his decree not yet unfolded to me a man triumphing dancing singing over on the other side of the red sea laughing praising the lamb over beyond time sorrow deprivation prelat's indignation losses want of friends death Heaven is not a foul flying in the air as men use to speak of things that are uncertain nay it is well paid for Christ's comprizement lieth on Glory for all the mourners in Zion shall never be loosed Let us be glad rejoyce that we have blood losses wounds to show our Master Captain at his appearance and what we suffered for his cause Woe is me my dear Brother that I say often I am but dry bones which my Lord will not bring out of the grave again that my faithless fears say Oh I am a dry tree that can bear no fruit I am an useless body who â—an beget no children to the Lord in his house Hopes of deliverance look cold uncertain afar off as if I had done with it it is much for Christ if I may say so to get Lawborrows of my sorrow of my quarrelous heart Christ's love playeth me fair play I am not wronged at all but there is a tricking and false heart within me that still playeth Christ foul play I am a cumbersom neighbour to Christ It is a wonder that he dwelleth beside the like of me yet I often get the advantage of the hill above my temptations then I despise the temptation even hell it self the stink of it the instruments of it and am proud of my honourable Master And I resolve whether contrary winds will or not to fetch Christ's harbour I think a willfull stiff contention with my Lord Jesus for his love very lawfull it 's sometimes hard to me to win my meat upon Christ's love because my faith is sick my hope withereth my eyes wax dim unkinde comfort-eclipsing clouds goe over the fair bright light Sâ—n-Jesus And then when I my temptation tryste the matter together we spill all through unbelief Sweet sweet for evermore would my life be if I could keep faith in exercise But I see my fire cannot alwayes cast light I have even a poor man's hard world when he goeth away But surely since my entry hither many a time hath my fair sun shined without a cloud Hot burning hath Christ's love been to me I have no vent to the expression of it I must be content with stoln smothered desires of Christ's glory O how far is his love behinde the hand with me I am just like a man who hath nothing to pay his thousands of debt All that can be gotten of him is to seâ—â—e upon his person Except Christ would seâ—â—e upon my self make the readiest payment that can be of my heart love to himself I have no other thing to give him If my sufferings could doe beholders good edifie his Kirk proclaim the incomparable worth of Christ's love to the world O then how would my soul be overjoyed my sad heart cheered and calmed Dear
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
pull up the four stakes of this clay tent of the earth the last pickle of sand shall be at the nick of falling down in your watch-glass the master shall call the servants of the vincyard to give them their hire ye will esteem the bloom of this world's glory like the colours of the rain-bow that no man can put in his purse treasure Your labours pains shall then smile upon you My Lord now hath given me experience howbeit weak small that our best fare here is hunger we are but at God's by-board in this lower house we have cause to long for supper-time the high table up in the high palace This world deserveth nothing but the utter court of our soul. Lord hasten the marriage-supper of the Lamb. I finde it still peace to give up with this present world as with an old decourted cast-off lover My bread drink in it is not so much worth that I should not loath the Innes pack up my desires for Christ that I have sent out to the feckless creatures in it Grace grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Your affectionat Brother Crhist's prisoner S. R. To the Laird of CALLY 132 Much honoured Sir GRace mercy peace be to you I long to hear how your soul prospereth I have that confidence that your soul mindeth Christ salvation I beseech you in the Lord give more pains diligence to fetch heaven then the countrey-sort of lazie professors who think their own faith their own godliness because it is their own best content themselves with a coldrife custom course with a resolution to summer winter in that sort of profession that the multitude and the times favour most and are still shaping and clipping and carving their faith according as it may best stand with their summer-sun and a whole skin and so breath out both hot and cold in God's matters according to the course of the times This is their compass they sail toward heaven by in stead of a better Worthy dear Sir separate your self from such and bend your self to the utmost of your strength breath in running fast for salvation and in taking Christ's Kingdom use violence It cost Christ and all his followers sharp showers and hot sweats ere they won to the top of the mountain But still our soft nature would have heaven coming to our bed-side when we are sleeping lving down with us that we might goe to heaven in warm clothes but all that came there â—ound wet feet by the way sharp storms that did take the hide off their face â—ound to 's fro's up's down's many enemies by the way It is impossible a man can take his lusts to heaven with him such wares as these will not be welcome there O how loath are we to forgoe our packalds burdens that hinder us to run our race with patience It is no small work to displease anger nature that we may please God O if it be hard to win one foot or half an inch out of our own will out of our own wit out of our own ease worldly lusts so to deny our self to say It is not I but Christ not I but grace not I but God's glory not I but God's love constraining me not I but the Lord's word not I but Christ's commanding power as King in me O what pains what a death is it to nature to turn me my self my lust my ease my credit over in my Lord my Saviour my King my God my Lord's will my Lord's grace But alas that idol that whorish creature my self is the master-idol we all bow to What made Evah miscarry what hurried her headlong upon the forbidden fruit but that wretched thing her self What drew that brother-murtherer to kill Abel That wilde himself What drove the old world on to corrupt their wayes Who but themselves their own pleasure What was the cause of Solomon's falling into idolatry multiplying of strange wives What but himself whom he would rather pleasure then God What was the hook that took David snared him first in adultery but his self-lust then in murther but his self-credit self-honour What led Peter on to deny his Lord Was it not a piece of himself self-love to a whole skin What made Iudas sell his Matter for 30 pieces of money but a piece of self-self-love idolizing of avaritions self What made Demas to goe off the way of the Gospel to embrace this present world even self love love of gain for himself Every man blameth the devil for his sins but the great devil the house-devil of every man the house-devil that eateth lieth in every man's bosom is that idol that killeth all himself O blessed are they who can deny themselves put Christ in the room of themselves O would to the Lord I had not a my self but Christ nor a my lust but Christ noâ— a my ease but Christ nor a my honour but Christ O sweet word Gal. 2 20. I live no more but Christ liveth in me O if every one would put away himself his own self his own ease his own pleasure his own credit his own twenty things his own hundred things that he setteth up as idols above Christ Dear Sir I know ye will be looking back to your old self to your self-lust self-idol that ye set up in the lusts of youth above Christ. Worthy Sir pardon this my freedom of love God is my witness that it is out of an earnest desire after your soul 's eternal welfare that I use this freedom of speech Your sun I know is lower your evening skie and sun-setting nearer then when I saw you last Strive to end your task before night and to make Christ your-self and to acquaint your love and your heart with the Lord Stand now by Christ and his truth when so many fail foully and are false to him I hope ye love him and his truth let me have power with you to confirm you in him I think more of my Lord 's sweet cross then of a crown of gold and a free Kingdom lying to it Sir I remember you in my prayers to the Lord â—…ding to my promise Help me with your prayers that our Lord would be pleased to bring me amongst you again with the Gospel of Christ Grace grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Yours in his sweetest Lord and Master S. R. To JOHN GORDON Of Cardoness younger 133 Dearly beloved in our Lord. GRace mercy peace be to you I long exceedingly to hear of the case of your soul which hath a large share both of â—y prayers carefull thoughts Sir remember that a precious treasure prize is upon this short play that ye are now upon even the eternity of well or woe to your soul standeth upon the little point of your ill or well employed short swift
am but withered dry bones But since ye desire me to write to you either help me to set Christ on high for his running-over love in that the heat of his sweet breath hath melted a frozen heart else I think ye doe nothing for a prisoner I am fully confirmed that it is the honour of our Law-giver I suffer for now I am not ashamed to give out letters of recommendation of Christ's love to as many as will extoll the Lord Jesus his cross If I had not sailed this sea-way to heaven but had taken the land-way as many doe I should not have known Christ's sweetness in such a measure But the truth is let no man thank me for I caused not Christ's wind to blow upon me His love came upon a withered creature whether I would or not yet by coming it procured from me a welcome A heart of iron iron doors will not hold Christ out I give him leave to break iron locks come in that is al now I know not whether pain of love for want of possâ—ssion or sorrow that I dow not thank him paineth me most but both work upon me For the First O that he would come satisfie the longing soul fill the hungry soul with these good things I know indeed my guiltiness may be a bar in his way but he is God ready to forgive And for the other woe woe is me that I cannot finde a heart to give back again my unworthy little love for his great sea-full of love to me O that he would learn me this piece of gratitude O that I could have leave to look in thorow the hole of the door to see his face sing his praises or could break up one of his chamber windows to look in upon his delighting beauty till my Lord send more any little communion with him one of his love-looks should be my begun heaven I know he is not Lordly neither is the bridegroom's love proud though I be black unlovely unworthy of him I would seek but leave withall grace to spend my love upon him I counsel you to think highly of Christ of free free grace more then ye did before for I know that Christ is not known amongst us I think I see more of Christ then ever I saw yet I see but little of what may be seen O that he would draw by the curtains that the King would come out of his gallerie his palace that I might see him Christ's love is young glory young heaven It would soften hell's pains to be filled with it What would I refuse to suffer if I could but get a draught of love at my hearts desire O what price can be given for him Angels cannot weigh him O his weight his worth his sweetness his overpassing beauty If men Angels would come look to that great Princely one their ebbeness would never take up his depth their narrowness would never comprehend his breadth height length If ten thousand thousand worlds of Angels were created they might all tire themselves in wondering at his beauty begin again to wonder of new O that I could win nigh him to kiss his feet to hear his voice to finde the smell of his ointments But Oh alas I have little little of him yet I long for more Remember my bonds help me with your prayers for I would not niffer or exchange my sad hours with the joy of my velvet-adversaries Grace be with you Aberd. June 10. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To Mr JAMES FLEMING 138 Reverend welbeloved in our Lord. GRace mercy peace be to you I received your letter which hath refreshed me in my bonds I cannot but testifie unto you my dear Brother what sweetness I finde in our Master's cross but alas what can I either doe or suffer for him If I my alone had as many lives as there have been drops of rain since the creation I would think them too little for that lovely one our welbeloved but my pain and my sorrow is above my sufferings that I finde not wayes how to set out the praises of his love to others I am not able by tongue pen or sufferings to provoke many to fall in love with him but he knoweth whom I love to serve in the spirit what I would doe suffer by his own strength sobeing I might make my Lord Jesus lovely sweet to many thousands in this land I think it amongst God's wonders that he will take any praise or glory or any testimony to his honourable cause from such a forlorn sinner as I am But when Christ worketh he needeth not ask the question by whom he will be glorious I know seeing his glory at the beginning did shine out of poor nothing to set up such a fair house for man Angels so many glorious creatures to proclaim his goodness power wisdom if I were burnt to ashes out of the smoke and powder of my dissolved body he could raise glory to himself His glory is his end Oh that I could joyn with him to make it my end I would think that fellowship with him sweet glorious But alas few know the guiltiness that is on my part it is a wonder that this good cause hath not been marred and spilt in my foul hands But I rejoyce in this that my sweet Lord Jesus hath found something adoe even a ready market for his free grace and incomparable and matchless mercy in my wants Onely my loathsom wretchedness and my wants have qualified me for Christ and the riches of his glorious grace he behooved to take me for nothing or else to want me Few know the unseen private reckonings betwixt Christ and me yet his love his boundless love would not bide away nor stay at home with himself yet I dow not make it welcome as I ought when it 's come unsent for and without hire How joyfull is my heart that ye write ye are desirous to joyn with me in praising for it is charity to help a Dyvour to pay his debts but when all have helped me my name shall stand in his count-book under ten thousand thousands of summes unpayed But it easeth my heart that â—is dear servants will but speak of my debts to such a sweet creditour I desire he may lay me in his own ballance weigh me if I would not fain have a feast of his boundless love made to my own soul and to many others One thing I know we shall not all be able to come neer his excellency with eye heart or tongue for he is above all created thoughts All nations before him are as nothing as less then nothing he â—itteth in the circuit of heaven and the inhabitants of the earth are as grashoppers before him O that men would praise him Ye complain of your private case Alas I am not the
they who have past their hard and wearisom time of apprentiship and are now free-men and citizens in that joyfull high city the new Ierusalem Alas that we should be glad of and rejoyce in our fetters our prison-house this dear Innes a life of sin where we are absent from our Lord and so far from our home O that we could get bonds law-suretiship of our love that it fasten not it self on these clay-dreams these clayshadows and worldly vanities We might be oftener seeing what they are doing in heaven and our heart more frequently upon our sweet treasure above We smell of the smoke of this lower house of the earth because our heart and our thoughts are here If we could haunt up with God we should smell of heaven and of our countrey above we should look like our countrey and like strangers or people not born or brought up hereaway Our crosses would not bite upon us if we were heavenly minded I know no obligation the saints have to this world seeing we fare but upon the smoke of it if there be any smoke in the house it bloweth upon our eyes all our part of the table is scarce worth a drink of water when we are striken we dare not weep but steal our grief away betwixt our Lord and us and content our selves with stoln sorrow behinde backs God be thanked we have many things that so stroake us against the hair as we may pray God keep our better home God bless our Father's house not this smoke that bloweth us to seek our best lodging I am sure this is the best fruit of the cross when we from the hard fare of the dear Innes cry the more that God would send a fair wind to â—…nd us hungred oppressed strangers at the door of our Father's house which now is made in Christ our kindly heritage O then let us pull up the stakes stoups of our tent take our tent on our back goe with our flitting to our best home for here we have no continuing city I am waiting in hope here to see what my Lord will doe with me Let him make of me whath he pleaseth providing he make glory to himself out of me I care not I hope yea I am now sure that I am for Christ all that I can or may make is for him I am his everlasting debter or dyvour still shall be for alas I have nothing for him he getteth little service of me Pray for me that our Lord would be pleased to give me house-room that I may serve him in the calling he hath called me unto Grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To ROBERT STUART 143. My Very dear Brother GRace mercy peace be to you Ye are heartily welcome to my world of suffering heartily wel-come to my Master's house God give you much joy of your new Master If I have been in the house before you I were not faithfull to give the house an ill name or to speak evil of the Lord of the family I rather wish God's Holy Spirit O Lord breath upon me with that Spirit to tell you the fashions of the house One thing I can say by on-waiting ye will grow a great man with the Lord of the house Hang on till ye get some good from Christ Lay all your loads your weights by faith upon Christ Ease your self let him bear all he can he dow he will bear you howbeit hell were upon your back I rejoyce that he is come hath chosen you in the furnace it was even there where ye he set tryst that is an old gate of Châ—ist's he keepeth the good old fashion with you that was in Hosea's days Hos. 2 14. Therefore behold I will allure her bring her to the wilderness and speak to her heart There was no talking to her heart while he she were in the fair flourishing city at ease but out in the cold hungry waste wilderness he allureth her he whispered in newes into her ear there said Thou art mine What would ye think of such a bed Ye may soon doe worse then say Lord holds all Lord Iesus a bargain be it it shall not goe back on my side Ye have gotten a great advantage in the way to heaven that ye have started to the gate in the morning Like a fool as I was I suffered my sun to â—e high in the heaven and near afternoon before ever I took the gate by the end I pray you now keep the advantage ye have My heart be not lazie set as quickly up the bâ—ae on hands feet as if the last pickle of sand were running out of your glass death were coming to turn the glass be very carefull to take heed to your feet in that slippery dangerous way of youth that ye are walking in The devil temptations now have the advantage of the brae of you are upon your wand-hand your working hand Dry timber will soon take fire Be covetous greedy of the grace of God beware that it be not holiness that cometh onâ—ly from the cross for too many are that way disposed Psal. 78. 34. When he slew them then they sought him they râ—turned enquired early after God v. 35. Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth and they lyed unto him with their tongues It is a part of our hypocrisie to give God â—air white words when he hath us in his grips if I may speak so to flatter him till we win to the fair fields again Try well green godliness and exâ—mine what it is ye love in Christ if ye love but Christ's sunny side would have onely summer-weather a land-gate not a sea-way to heaven your profession will play you a slip and the winter-well will goe dry again in summer Make no sports nor bairns-play of Christ But labour for a sound lively sight of sin that ye may judge your self an undone man a damned slave of hell sin one dying in your own blood except Christ come and rue upon you take you up and therefore make sure fast work of conversion Cast the earth deep and down down with the old work the building of confusion that was there before let Christ lay new work make a new creation within you look if Christ's rain goeth down to the root of your withered plants and if his love wound your heart while it bleed with sorrow for sin if ye can pant fall a swoon be like to die for that lovely one Jesus I know Christ will not to be hid where he is grace will ever speak for it self be fruitfull in weldoing The sanctified cros is a fruitfull tree it bringeth forth many apples If I should tell you by some weak experience what I have found in Christ ye or others could hardly
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
the part of us all if we marrie Himself to marrie the crosses losses reproaches also that follow him for mercy followeth Christ's cross His prison for beauty is made of marble ivory his chains that are laid on his prisoners are golden chains the fighes of the prisoners of hope are perfumes with comforts the like whereof cannot be bred of found in this side of sun moon Follow on after his love â—ire not of Christ but come in and see his beauty excellency feed your soul upon Christ's sweetness This world is not yours neither would I have your heaven made of such mettall as mire clay Ye have the choice waile of all lovers in heaven or out of heaven when ye have Christ the onely delight of God his father Climb up the mountain with joy faint not for time will cut off the men who pursue Christ's followers Our best things here have a worm in them Our joyes besides God in the inner half are but woes sorrowes Christ Christ is that which our love and desires can sleep sweetly rest safely upon Now the very God of peace establish you in Christ Help a prisoner with your prayers and entreat that our Lord would be pleased to visite me with a fight of his beauty in his house as he hath sometimes done Grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To the Laird of CALLY 152 Worthy Sir GRace mercy peace be to you I have been too long I confess in writing to you My sute now to you in paper since I have no access to speak to you as formerly is that ye would lay the foundation sure in your youth When ye begin to seek Christ try I pray you upon what terms ye covenant to follow him and lay your accounts what it may cost you that summer nor winter nor well nor woe may not cause you change your master Christ Keep fair to him be honest and faithfull that he finde not a crack in you Surely ye are now in the throng of temptations When youth is come to it's fairest bloom then the Devil the lusts of a deceiving world sin are upon horse-back and follow with up sails If this were not Paul needed not to have written to a sanctified holy youth Timothy a faithfull preacher of the Gospel flee the lusts of youth Give Christ your virgin-love ye cannot put your love heart in a better hand O if ye knew him saw his beauty Your love your liking your heart your desires would close with him cleave to him Love by nature when it seeth cannot but cast out it 's spirit and strength upon amiable objects good things things love-worthy and what fairer thing then Christ O fair sun and fair moon and fair stars and fair flowers and fair roses and fair lilies and fair creatures but O ten thousand thousand times fairer Lord Jesus Alas I wronged him in making the comparison this way O black sun moon but O fair Lord Jesus O black flowers black lilies roses but O fair fair ever fair Lord Jesus O all fair things black deformed without beauty when ye are beside that fairest Lord Jesus O black heaven but O fair Christ O black Angels but O surpassingly fair Lord Jesus I would seek no more to make me happy for evermore but a through clear sight of the beauty of Jesus my Lord Let my eyes enjoy his fairness store him for ever in the face I have all that can be wished Get Christ rather then gold or silver seek Christ howbeit ye should lose all things for him They take their marks by the moon look asquint in looking to fair Christ who resolve for the world their ease for their honour court credit or for fear of losses a sore skin that they will turn their back upon Christ his truth Alas how many blinde eyes squint-lookers look this day in Scotland upon Christ's beauty they see a spot in Christ's fair face Alas they are not worthy of Christ who look this way upon him see no beauty in him why they should desire him God send me my fill of his beauty if it be possible that my soul can be full of his beauty here But much of Christ's beauty needeth not abate the eager appetite of a soul sick of love for himself to see him in the other world where he is seen as he is I am glad with all my heart that ye have given your greenest morning age to this Lord Jesus Hold on weary not faint not resolve upon suffering for Christ but fear not ten dayes tribulation for Christ's sowre cross is sugared with comforts hath a taste of Christ himself I esteem it my glory my joy my crown I bless him for this honour to be yoked with Christ married with him in suffering who therefore was born therefore came into the world that he might bear witness to the truth Take pains above all things for salvation for without running fighting sweating wrestling heaven is not taken O happy soul that crosseth nature's stomack delighteth to gain that fair garland crown of glory What a feckless loss is it for you to goe through this wilderness never taste of sin's sugared pleasures What poorer is a soul to want pride lust love of the world the vanities of this vain worthless world Nature hath no cause to weep at the want of such toyes as these Esteem it your gain to be an heir of glory O but that is an eye-look to a fair rent The very hope of heaven under troubles is like wind sails to the soul like wings when the feet come out of the share O for what stay we here Up up after our Lord Jesus this is not our rest nor our dwelling What have we to doe in this prison except onely to take meat house-room in it for a time Grace grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Your soul's welwisher Christ prisoner S. R. To WILLIAM GORDON At Kenmure 153 Dear Brother GRace mercy peace be to you I have been long in answering your letter which came in good time to me It is my aim hearty desire that my furnace which is of the Lord 's kindling may sparkle fire upon standers by to the warming of their hearts with God's love The very dust that falleth from Christ's feet his old ragged clothes his knotty black cross is sweeter to me then Kings golden crowns their time-eaten pleasures I should be a liar false witness if I should not give my Lord Jesus a fair testimonial with my whole soul my word I know will not heighten him he needeth not such props under his feet to raise his glory high But Oh that I could raise him the height of heaven the breadth length often heavens in the
in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To WILLIAM GLENDINING 155. Dear Brother YE are heartily welcome to that honour that Christ hath made common to us both which is to suffer for his name Verily I think it my garland crown if the Lord should ask of me my blood life for this cause I would gladly in his strength pay due debt to Christ's honour glory in that kinde Acquaint your self with Christ's love ye shall not miss to finde new goldeÌ„ mines treasures in Christ Nay truly we but stand beside Christ we goe not in to him to take our fill of him But if he should doe two things 1. Draw the curtains make bare his holy face then 2. Clear our dim bleared eyes to see his beauty glory he should finde many lovers I would seek no more happiness but a sight of him so near hand as to see hear smell touch embrace him But oh closed doors vails curtains thick clouds hold me in pain while I finde the sweet burning of his love that many waters cannot quench O what sad hours have I when I think that love of Christ scarreth at me bloweth by me If my Lord Jesus would come to bargaining for his love I think he should make price himself I should not refuse ten thousand years in hell to have a wide soul enlarged made wider that I might be exceedingly even to the running over filled with his love O what am I to love such an one or to be loved by that high lofty One I think the Angels may blush to look upon him what am I to file such infinite brightness with my sinfull eyes O that Christ would come near stand still give me leave to look upon him For to look seemeth the poor man's priviledge since he may for nothing without hire behold the sun I should have a King's life if I had no other thing to doe but for evermore to behold eye my fair Lord Jesus Nay suppose I were holden out at heaven's fair entry I should be happy for evermore to look through an hole in the door see my dearest fairest Lord's face O great King why standest thou aloof Why remainest thou beyond the mountains O welbeloved why doest thou pain a poor soul with delayes a long time out of thy glorious presence is two deaths two hells to me We must meet I must see him I dow not want him hunger longing for Christ hath brought on such a necessity of enjoying Christ that cost me what it will I cannot but assure Christ I will not I dow not want him For I cannot master or command Christ's love nay hell as I now think all the pains in it laid on me alone would not put me from loving Yea suppose my Lord Jesus would not love me it is above my strength or power to keep back or imprison the weak love I have but it must be out to Christ I would set heaven's joy aside live upon Christ's love it 's alone Let me have no joy but the warmness fire of God's love I seek no other God knoweth if this love be taken from me the bottom is fallen out of all my happiness joy therefore I beleeve Christ will never doe me that as to bereave a poor prisoner of his love it were cruelty to take it from me he who is kindness it self cannot be cruel Dear Brother weary not of my sweet Master's chains we are so much the sibber to Christ that we suffer Lodge not a hard thought of my royal King rejoyce in his cross Your deliverance sleepeth not he that will come is not slack of his promise Wait on for God's timeous salvation ask not when or How long I hope he shall lose nothing of you in the furnace but dross Commit your cause in meekness forgiving your oppressours to God and your sentence shall come back from him laughing Our Bridegroom's day is posting fast on this world that seemeth to goe with a long and a short foot shall be put in two ranks Wait till your ten dayes be ended and hope for the crown Christ will not give you a blinde in the end Commend me to your wife and father to Bailiffe M. A. And send this letter to him The prayers of Christ's prisoner be upon you the Lord's presence accompany you Aberd. July 6. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To ROBERT LENNO X. of Disdove 156. Dear Brother GRace mercy peace be to you I beseech you in the Lord Jesus make fast and sure work of life eternall Sow not rotten seed every man's work will speak for it self what his seed hath been O how many see I who sow to the flesh Alas what a crop will that be when the Lord shall put in his hook to reap this world that is ripe white for judgement I recommend to you holiness sanctification that ye keep your self clean from this present evil world We delight to tell our own dreams to flatter our own flesh with the hope we have It were wisdom for us to be free plain honest sharp with our own souls and to charge them to brew better thâ—t they may drink well and fare well when time is melted away like snow in a hot summer O how hard a thing is it to get the soul to give up with all things on this side of death and doomsday We say we are removing and going from this world but our heart stirreth not one foot off it's seat Alas I see few heavenly minded souls that have nothing upon the earth but their body of clay going up and down this earth because their soul the powers of it are up in heaven there their hearts live desire enjoy rejoyce Oh mens souls have no wings and therefore night and day they keep their nest and are not acquaint with Christ Sir take you to your one thing to Christ that ye may be acquainted with the taste of his sweetness excellency charge your love not to dote upon this world for it will not doe your business in that day when nothing will come in good stead to you but God's favour Build upon Christ some good choice fast work for when your soul for many years hath taken the play hath posted wandered through the creatures ye will come home again with the wind They are not good at least not the souls good it is the infinite Godhead that must allay the sharpness of your hunger after happiness otherwise there shall still be a want of satisfaction to your desires And if he would cast in ten worlds in your desires all shall fall thorow your soul shall still cry red hunger black hunger But I am sure there is sufficient for you in Christ if ye had seven souls seven desires in you Oh if I could make my
Lord Jesus market-sweet lovely desireable fair to all the world both to Jew and Gentil O let my part of heaven goe for it sobeing he would take my tongue to be his instrument to set out Christ in his whole braveries of love vertue grace sweetness matchless glory to the eyes hearts of Jews Gentiles But who is sufficient for these things O for the help of Angels tongues to make Christ eye-sweet and amiable to many thousands O how little doeth this world see of him how far are they from the love of him seeing there is so much loveliness beauty and sweetness in Christ that no created eye did ever yet see I would that all men knew his glory and that I could put many in at the bridegroom's chamber door to see his beauty to be partakers of his high and deep and broad and boundless love O let all the world come nigh and see Christ and they shall then see more then I can say of him O if I had had a pledge or pawne to lay down for a sea-full of his love that I could come by somuch of Christ as would satisfie griening and longing for him or rather increase it till I were in full possession I know we shall meet therein I rejoyce Sir stand fast in the truth of Christ that ye have received Yeeld not to winds but ride out let Christ be your anchor the onely He whom ye shall look to see in peace Pray for me his prisoner that the Lord would send me among you to feed his people Grace grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To JOHN FLEMING Bailiffe of Leith 157 Worthy Sir GRace mercy and peace be to you The Lord hath brought me safe to this strange town Blessed be his holy name I finde his cross easie and light and I hope he shall be with his poor sold Joseph who is separated from his brethren His comforts have abounded towards me as if Christ thought shame if I may speak so to be in the common of such a poor man as I am and would not have me lose any thing in his errands My enemies have beside their intention made me more blessed and have put me in a sweeter possession of Christ then ever I had before Onely the memory of the fair dayes I had with my welbeloved amongst the flock intrusted to me keepeth me low and sowreth my unseen joy But it must be so and he is wise who tutoureth me this way For that which my brethren have and I want and others of this world have I am content my faith will frist God my happiness No Son offendeth that his father giveth him not hire twice a year for he is to abide in the house when the inheritance is to be divided It is better God's children live upon hope then upon hire Thus remembring my love to your worthy and kinde wife I bless you and her and all yours in the Lord's name Aberd. Sept 20. 1637. Yours in his onâ—ly onely Lord Iesus S. R. To WILLIAM GLENDINING Bailiffe of Kirkcudbright 158 Worthy Sir GRace mercy peace be to you I am well honour be to God aswell as a râ—joycing prisoner of Christ can be hoping that one day He for whom I now suffer shall enlarge me put me above the threatnings of men I am sometimes sad heavy casten down at the memory of the fair dayes I had with Christ in Anwoth Kirk cudbright cet The remembrance of a feast encreaseth hunger in a hungry man but who knoweth but our Lord will yet cover a table in the wilderness to his hungry bairns build the old waste places in Scotland bring home Zion's captives I desire to see no more glorious sight till I see the Lamb on his throne then to see Mount Zion all green with grass the dew lying upon the tops of the grass the crown put upon Christ's head in Scotland again And I beleeve it shall be so that Christ shall mowe down his enemies fill the pits with their dead bodies I finde people here dry uncouth A man pointed at for suffering dare not be countenanced so that I am like to sit mine alone upon the ground But my Lord payeth me well home again for I have neither tongue nor pen nor heart to express the sweetness excellency of the love of Christ Christ's honey-combs drop hony sloods of consolation upon my soul My chains are gold Christ's cross iâ— all overguilded and perfumed His prison is the garden and orchard of my delights I would goe through burning quick to my lovely Christ I sleep in his arms all the night my head betwixt his breasts My welbeloved is altogether lovely This is all nothing to that which my soul hath felt Let no man for my cause scar at Christ's cross If my stipend place countrey credit had been an Earledom a Kingdom ten Kingdoms and a whole earth all were too little for the crown and scepter of my royall King Mine enemies mine enemies have made me blessed They ave sent me to the bridegroom's chamber Love is his banner over me I live a Kings life I want nothing but heaven and the possession of the crown my earnest is great Christ is no niggard to me Dear Brother be for the Lord Jesus and his heart-broken bride I need not I hope remember my distressed brother to your care Remember my love to your wife Let Christ want nothing of us His garments shall be rolled in the blood of the slain of Scotland Grace grace be with you pray for Christ's prisoner Aberd. Sept. 21. 1637 Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To ROBERT GORDON Of Knockbrex 159 Dear Brother GRace mercy peace be to you I am by God's mercy come now to Aberden the place of my confinement setled in an honest man's house I finde the town's-men cold generall dry in their kindness yet I finde a lodging in the heart of many strangers My challenges are revived again I finde old sores bleeding of new so dangerous painfull is an undercotted conscience yet I have an eye to the blood that is physick for such sores But verily I see Christianity is conceived to be more easie lighter then it is so that I sometimes think I never knew any thing but the letters of that name for our nature contenteth it self with little in godliness Our Lord Lord seemeth to us ten Lord Lords little holiness in our ballance is much because it is our own holâ—ness we love to lay small burdens upon our soft natures to make a fair courtway to heaven And I know it were necessary to take more pains then we doe not to make heaven a city more easily taken then God hath made it I perswade my self many runners shall come short get a disappointment Oh how easie is it to deceive our selves
to be Christ's ransomed sinner sick one His relation to me is that I am sick He is the physician of whom I stand in need Alas how often play I fast loose with Christ He bindeth I loose he buildeth I cast down he tâ—immeth up a salvation for me I mar it I cast out with Christ he agreeth with me again twenty times a day I forfeit my Kingdom heritage I lose what I had but Christ is at my back and following on to stoop take up that falleth from me Were I in heaven had the crown on my head if Freewill were my tutour I should lose heaven seeing I lose my self what wonder I should let goe lose Jesus my Lord O well to me for evermore that I have cracked my credit with Christ cannot by law at all borrow from him upon my feckless worthless bond faith for my faith reputation with Christ is that I am a creature that God will not put any trust into I was am bewildered with temptations wanted a guide to heaven O what have I to say of that excellent surpassing supereminent thing they call The Grace of God the way of free redemption in Christ And when poor poor I dead in law was sold fettered imprisoned in Justice's closest ward which is hell damnation when I a wretched one lighted upon noble Iesus eternally kinde Iesus tender hearted Iesus nay when he lighted upon me first knew me I found that he scorned to take a price or any thing like hire of Angels or Seraphims or any of his creatures and therefore I would praise him for this that the whole armie of the redeemed ones sit rent-free in heaven Our holding is better then Blench We are all Free-holders seeing our eternall feuduty is but thanks Oh woefull me that I have but spilt thanks broken lame miscarried praises to give him so my silver is not good current with Christ were it not that free merites have stamped it washen it me both And for my silence I see somewhat better through it now If my high lofty one my princely Royall Master say Hold hold thy peace I lay bonds on thee thou speak none I would fain be content let my fire be smothered under ashes without light or flame I cannot help it I take laws from my Lord but I give none As for your journey to F. ye doe well to follow it The camp in Christ's ordinary bed A carried bed is kindly to the Beloved down in this lower house It may be who knoweth but our Lord hath some Centurions ye are sent to Seeing your angry mother denieth you lodging house-room with her Christ's call to unknown faces must be your second wind seeing ye cannot have a first O that our Lord would water again with a new visite this piece withered dry hill of our widow-mount Zion my Dear Brother I will think it comfort if ye speak my name to our welbeloved wherever ye are I am mindefull of you O that the Lord would yet make the light of the moon in Scotland like the light of the sun and the light of the sun seven fold brighter For my self as yet I have received no answer whither to goe I wait on O that Jesus had my love Let matters frame as they list I have some more to doe with Christ yet I would fain we were nearer Now the great shepherd of the sheep the very God of peace establish confirm you till the day of his coming Aberd. Sept. 9 1637. Yours in his lovely sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To the Lady CARLETON 173 MISTRESS GRace mercy and peace be to you My soul longeth once again to be amongst you to behold that beauty of the Lord that I would see in his house But I know not if he in whose hands are all our waves seeth it expedient for his glory I ow my Lord I know submission of spirit suppose he should turn me into a stone or pillar oâ— salt Oh that I were He in whom my Lord could be glorified suppose my little heaven were forfeited to buy glory to him before men and Angels suppose my want of his presence and separation from Christ were a pillar as high as ten heavens for Christ's glory to stand upon above all the world What am I to him How little am I though my feathers stood out as broad as the morning lighâ— to such a high to such a lofty to such a never-enough admired glorious Lord My trials are heavy bâ—cause of my sad sabbaths but I know they are less then my high provocations I seek no more but that Christ may be the gainer and I the loser that he may be raised and hightned and I cryed down and my worth made dust before his glory Oh that Scotland all with one shout would cry up Christ and that his name were high in this land I finde the very utmost borders of Christ's high excellency and deep sweâ—tness heaven and earth's wonder O what is he if I could win in to see his inner side Oh I am run dâ—y of loving and wondering and adoring of that greatest most admirable one Woe woe is me I have not half-love for him Alas what can my drop doe to his great sea What gain is it to Christ that I have casten my little sparkle in his great fire What can I give to him Oh that I had love to fill a thousand worlds that I might emptie my soul of it all upon Christ I think I have now just reason to quite my part of any hope or love that I have to this scum and the refuse of the dross of God's work-manâ—hip this vain earth I ow to this stormy world whose kindness 〈◊〉 heart to me hath been made of iron or of a piece of a wilde sea-Island that never a creature of God yet lodged in not a look I ow it no love no hope therefore Oh if my love were dead to it my soul dead to it What am I obliged to this house of my pilgrimage A straw for all that God hath made to my soul's liking except God that lovely one Iesus Christ Seeing I am not this world's debter I desire I may be striped of all confidence in any thing but my Lord that he may be for me I for my onely onely onely Lord that he may be the morning evening-tide the top the root of my joyes the heart flower yolk of all my soul's delights O let me never lodge any creature in my heart confidence Let the house be for him I rejoyce that sad dayes cut off a piece of the lease of my short life that my shadow even while I suffer weareth long my evening hasteneth on I have cause to love home with all my heart to take the opportunity of the day to hasten to the
more then papergrace or tongue-grace Were it not that want paineth me I should have skailed house gone a begging long since but Christ hath left me with some hunger that is more hot then wise is ready often to say If Christ longed for me as I doe for him we should not be long in meeting and if he loved my company aswell as I doe his even while I am writing this letter to you we should flee in other's arms But I know there is more will then wit in this languor pining love for Christ no marvel for Christ's love would have hot harvest long ere mid-summer But if I have any love to him Christ hath both love to me wit to guide his love I see the best thing I have hath as much dross beside it as might curse me it both if it were for no more we have need of a Saviour to pardon the very faults and diseases weakness of the new man to take away to say so our godly sins or the sins of our sanctification the dross scum of spiritual love woe woe is me O what need is there then of Christ's calling to scour cleanse wash away an ugly old body of sin the very image of Satan I know nothing surer then that there is an office for Christ among us I wish for no other heaven in this side of the last sea that I must cross then this service of Christ to make my blackness beauty my deadness life my guiltiness sanctification I long much for that day when I will be holy O what spots are yet unwashen O that I could change the skin of the leopard and the Moor and niffer it with some of Christ's fairness Were my blackness Christ's beauty carded through other as we use to speak his beauty holiness would eat up my filthiness But Oh I have not casten old Adam's hew colour yet I trow the best of us hath a smell yet of the old loathsom body of sin guiltiness Happy are they for evermore who can employ Christ set his blood death on work to make clean work to God of foul souls I know it is our sin that we would have sanctification on the sunny side of the the hill holiness with nothing but summer no crosses at all Sin hath made us as tender as if were made of paper or glass I am often thinking what I would think of Christ burning quick together of Christ torturing hot melted lead poured in at mouth navel yet I have some weak experience but very weak indeed that suppose Christ hell's torments were married together if there were no finding of Christ at all except I went to hell's furnace that there in no other place I could meet with him I trow if I were as I have been since I was his prisoner I would beglodging for God's sake in hell hottest furnace that I might rub souls with Christ But God be thanked I shall finde him in a better lodging We get Christ better cheap then so when he is rouped to us we get him but with a shower of summertroubles in this life as sweet as soft to beleevers as a May-dew I would have you my self helping Christ mystical to weep for his wife O thatf we could mourn for Christ buried in Scotland for his two slain witnesses killed because they prophesied If we could so importune solicit God our buried Lord his two buried witnesses should rise again Earth clay and stone will nto bear down Christ the Gospel in Scotland I know not if I will see the second temple the glory of it but the Lord hath deceived me if it be not to be reared up again I would wish to give Christ his welcome-home again My blessing my joy my glory love be on the home-comer I finde no better use of suffering then that Christ's winnowing putteth chaff corn in the saints to sundry places and discovereth our dross from his gold so as corruption and grace are so seen that Christ saith in the furnace that is mine this is yours The scum the grounds thy stomack against the persecuters thy impatience thy unbelief thy quarreling these are thine And faith on-waiting love joy courage are mine Oh let me die one of Christ's on-waiters one of his attendants I know your heart Christ are married together it were not good to make a divorce Rue not of that meeting marriage with such a husband Pray for me his prisoner Grace grace be with you Aberd. 1637 Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To Mr HUGH Mc KAILL 183 Reverend dear Brother GRace mercy peace be to you I received your letter I bless you for it My dry root would take more dew summer-rain then it getteth were it not Christ will have driness deadness in us to work upon If there were no timber to work upon art would die never be seen I see grace hath a field to play upon to course up down in our wants so that I am often thanking God not for guiltiness but for guiltiness for Christ to whet sharpen his grace upon I am half content to have boils for my Lord Jesus's plaisters sickness hath this advantage that it draweth our sweet Physician 's hand his holy soft fingers to touch our withered leper skins it is a blessed fever that fetcheth Christ to the bed-side I think my Lord's How doest thou with it sick body Is worth all my pained nights Surely I have no more for Christ but emptiness want take or leave he will get me no other wise I must sell my self my wants to him but I have no price to give for him If he would put a fair a real seal upon his love to me bestow upon me a larger share of Christ's love which I would fainest be in hands with of any thing I except not heaven it self I should goe on sighing singing under his cross But the worst is many take me for some-body because the wind bloweth upon a withered prisoner But the truth is I am both lean and thin in that wherein many beleeve I abound I would if bartering were in my power niffer joy with Christ's love faith in stead of the hot sun-shine becontent to walk under a cloudy shadow with more grief sadness to have more faith a fair occasion of setting forth commending Christ to make that lovely One that fair One that sweetest and dearest Lord Jesus market-sweet for many ears hearts in Scotland and if it were in my power to roup Christ to the three Kingdoms withall to perswade buyers to come and to take such sweet wares as Christ I would thinâ— to have many sweet bargains betwixt Christ the sons of men I would I could be humble goe with a
low sail I would I had desires with wings running upon wheels swift active speedy in longing for Christ's honour But I know my Lord is as wise here as I dow be thirsty infinitely more zealous of his honour then I can be hungered for the manifestation of it to men angels But Oh that my Lord would take my desires off my hand adde a thousand-fold more unto them and sowe spiritual inclinations upon them for the coming of Christ's Kingdom to the sons of men that they might be higher and deeper longer broader For my longest measures are too short for Christ my depth is ebbe the breadth of my affections to Christ narrow pinched Oh for an ingine a wit to prescribe wayes to men how Christ might be all in all the world Wit is here behinde affection affection behinde obligation Oh how little dow I give to Christ and how much hath he given me Oh that I could sing grace's praises love's praises Seeing I was like a fool solisting the Law making moyen to the Law 's court for mercy found challenges that way but now I deny that Judge's power for I am Grace's man I hold not worth a drink of water of the Law or of any Lord but Jesus And till I bethought me of this I was slain with doubtings and fears terrours I praise the new court the new Land-lord the new Salvation purchased in Jesus his name at his instance Let the old man if he please goe make his moan to the Law seek acquaintance thereaway because he is condemned in that Court I hope the new man I Christ together shall not be heard and this is the more soft and the more easie way for me for my cross together Seeing Christ singeth my welcome-home and taketh me in maketh short counts short work of reckoning betwixt me my Judge I must be Christ's man his Tennant subject to his Court I am sure suffering for Christ could not be born otherwise But I give my hand my faith to all who would suffer for Christ they shall be well handled fare well in the same way that I have found the cross easie light Grace be with you Aberd. July 8. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To ALEXANDER GORDON Of Garlock 184 Dear Brother GRace mercy peace be to you If Christ were as I am that time could work upon him to alter him or that the morrow could be a new day to him or bring a new minde upon him as it is to me a new day I could not keep a house or a covenant with him But I finde Christ to be Christ that he is far far even infinite heavens height above man And that is all our happiness Sinners can doe nothing but make wounds that Christ may heal them and make debts that he may pay them and make falls that he may raise them make deaths that he may quicken them spin out dig hells to themselves that he may ransom them Now I will bless the Lord that ever there was such a thing as the free Grace of God a free ransom given for sold souls Onely alas guiltiuess maketh me ashamed to apply Christ to think it pride in me to put out my unclean withered hand to such a Saviour but it is neither shame nor pride for a drowning man to swim to a rock nor for a ship-broken soul to run himself a shore upon Christ Suppose once I be guilty need force I cannot I dow not goe by Christ We take in good part that pride that beggers beg from the richer who is so poor as we who is so rich as he who selleth fine gold Rev. 3 18. I see then it is our best let guiltiness plead what it listeth that we have no mean under the covering of heaven but to creep in lowly submissively with our wants to Christ I have also cause to give his cross as good name report O how worthy is Christ of my feckless light suffering how hath he deserved it at my hands that for his honour glory I should lay my back under seven hells pain in one if he call me to that but alas my soul is like a ship run on ground through ebbeness of water I am sanded and and my love is sanded I finde not how to bring it on float again it is so cold and dead that I see not how to bring it to a flame Fy fy upon the meeting that my love hath given Christ woe woe is me I have a lover Christ yet I want love for him I have a lovely desirable Lord who is love-worthy who beggeth my love heart I have nothing to give him Dear Brother come further in on Christ see a new treasure in him come in look down see Angels wonder heaven earth's wonder of love sweetness majesty excellency in him I forget you not pray for me that our Lord would be pleased to send me among you again fraughted full of Christ. Grace grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To JOHN BELL Elder 185 My very loving friend GRace mercy peace be to you I have very often long expected your letter but if ye be well in soul body I am the less solicitous I beseech you in the Lord Jesus to minde your country above now when old age the twilight going before the darkness of the grave the falling low of your sun before your night is now come upon you advise with Christ ere ye put your foot in the ship turn your back on this life Many are beguiled with this that they are tree of scandalous crying abominations but the tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is for the fire the man that is not born again cannot enter into the kingdom of God common honesty will not take men to heaven Alas that men should think they ever met with Christ who had never a sick night through the terrours of God in their soul or a sore heart for sin I know the Lord hath given you light the knowledge of his will but that is not all neither will that doe your turn I wish you an awakned soul that ye beguile not your self in the matter of your salvation My dear Brother search your self with the candle of God try if the life of God Christ be in you Salvation is not casten to every man's door Many are carried over see land to a far countrey in a ship whileas they sleep much of all the way but men are not landed at heaven sleeping The righteous are scarcily saved and many run as fast as either ye or I who miss the prize and the crown God send me salvation and save me from a disappointment
The supper will be great chear that is up in the great hall with the royal King of glory when the four-hours the standing drink in this driery wilderness is so sweet When he bloweth a kiss a far off to his poor heart broken mourners in Zion and sendeth me but his hearty commendations till we meet I am confounded with wonder to think what it shall be when the fairest among the sons of men shall lay a King 's sweet soft cheek to the sinfull cheeks of poor sinners O time time goe swiftly hasten that day Sweet Lord Jesus post come flying like a young Hart or a Roe upon the mountains of separation I think we should tell the hours carefully look often how low the sun is For love hath no ho it is pained pained in it self till it come in grips with the party beloved 2. I finde Christ's absence love's sickness love's death The wind that bloweth out of the airth where my Lord Jesus reigneth is sweet-smelled soft joyfull heartsom to a soul burnt with absence It is a painfull battel for a soul sick of love to fight with absence delayes Christ's not yet is a stounding of all the joynts liths of the soul a nod of his head when he is under a mask would be half a pawne to say fool what aileth thee He is coming would be life to a dead man I am often in my dumb sabbaths seeking a new plea with my Lord Jesus God forgive me I care not if there be not two or three ounce weight of black wrath in my cup. For the 3 Thing I have seen my abominable vileness If I were well known there would none in this Kingdom ask how I doe Men take my ten to be an hundred but I am a deeper hypocrite shallower professour then every one beleeveth God knoweth I feigne not But I think my reckonings on the one page written in great letters his mercy to such a forlorn wretched Dyvour on the other more then a miracle If I could get my finger ends upon a full assurance I trow I should grip fast But my cup wanteth not gall upon my part despair might be almost excused if every one in this land saw my inner side But I know I am one of them who have made great sale a free market to free grace If I could be saved as I would fain beleeve sure I am I have given Christ's blood his free grace the bowels of his mercy a large field to work upon Christ hath manifested his art I dare not say to the uttermost for he can if he would forgive all the Devils damned reprobates in respect of the wideness of his mercy I say to an admirable degree 4. I am striken with fear of unthankfulness This Apostate Kirk hath played the harlot with many lovers they are spitting in the face of my lovely King and mocking him and I dow not mend it they are running away from Christ in troops and I dow not mourn be grieved for it I think Christ lieth like an old forecasten castle forsaken of the inhabitants all men run away now from him Truth innocent Truth goeth mourning wringing her hands in sackcloth ashes Woe woe woe is me for the virgin-daughter of Scotland Woe woe to the inhabitants of this land for they are gone back with a perpetual backsliding These things take me so up that a borrowed bed another man's fire-side the wind upon my face I being driven from my lovers dear acquaintance my poor flock finde no room in my sorrow I have no spare of odde sorrow for these Onely I think the sparrows and swallows that build their nests in the Kirk of Anwoth blessed birds Nothing hath given my faith a harder back-set till it crack again then my closed mouth But let me be miserable my self alone God keep my dear brethren from it But still I keep breath when my royal and never never-enough praised King returneth to his sinfull prisoner I ride upon the high places of Iacob I divide Shechem I triumph in his strength If this Kingdom would glorifie the Lord in my behalf I desire to be weighed in God's even ballance in this point if I think not my wages payed to the full I shall crave no more hire of Christ. Madam pity me in this help me to praise him For what ever I be the chief of sinners a devil a most guilty devil yet it is the apple of Christ's eye his honour glory as the head of the church that I suffer for now that I will goe to eternity with I am greatly in love with Mr M. M. I see him stamped with the image of God I hope well of your son my Lord Boyd Your La and your children have a prisoner's prayers Grace grace be with you Aberd. May. 1. 1637. Your La at all obedience in Christ S. R. To Mr THOMAS GARVEN 188. Dear Brother GRace mercy peace be to you I rejoyce that ye cannot be quite of Christ if I may speak so but he must he will have you Betake your self to Christ my dear Brother It is a great business to make quite of superfluities of these things which Christ cannot dwell with I am content with my own cross that Christ hath made mine by an eternal lot because it is Christ's mine together I marvel not that winter is without heaven for there is no winter within it All the saints therefore have their own measure of winter before their eternal summer Oh for the long day the high sun the fair garden the King 's great citie up above these visible heavens What God layeth on let us suffer For some have one cross some seven some ten some half a cross yet all the saints have whole full ioy seven crosses have seven ioyes Christ is cumbred with me to speak so my cross but he falleth not off me we are not at variance I finde the very glooms of Christ's wooing a soul sweet lovely I had rather have Christ's buffet and love-stroke then another King's kiss Speak evil of Christ who will I hope to die with love-thoughts of him Oh that there are so few tongues in heaven and earth to extoll him I wish his praises goe not down amongst us Let not Christ be low lightly esteemed in the midst of us but let all hearts all tongues cast in their portion contribute something to make him great in mount Zion Thus recommending you to his grace remembring my love to your wife mother your kinde brother R. entreating you to remember my bonds I rest Aberd. Sept. 8. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To the Laird of MONCRIEFE 189 Much honoured Sir GRace mercy peace be to you Although not acquaint yet at the desire of your worthy sister the Lady Ley's upon the report of your kindness
He that is holy keep you from falling establish you till his own glorious appearance Aberd. 1637. Your affectionat lawfull Pastor S. R. To CARDONNESS Younger 192. Much honoured Sir I Long to hear whether or not your soul be hand-fasted with Christ Lose your time no longer Flee the follies of youth Gird up the loins of your minde make you ready for meeting the Lord. I have often summoned you now I summond you again to compear before your Judge to make a reckoning of your life while ye have Time look upon your papers consider your wayes O that there were such an heart in you as to think what an ill conscience will be to you when yeare upon the border of eternity your one foot out of time O then ten thousand thousand floods of tears cannot extinguish these flames or purchase to you one hour's release from that pain O how sweet a day have ye had But this is a fair day that runneth fast away see how ye have spent it consider the necessity of salvation tell me in the fear of God if ye have made it sure I am perswaded ye have a conscience that will be speaking somewhat to you Why will ye die destroy yourself I charge you in Christ's name to rouze up your conscience begin to indent contract with Christ in time while salvation is in your offer This is the accepted time this is the day of salvation play the marchant for ye cannot expect another market-day when this is done therefore let me again beseech you to consider in this your day the things that belong to your peace before they be hid from your eyes Dear Brother fulfill my joy begin to seek the Lord while he may be found Forsake the follies of deceiving vain youth Lay hold upon eternall life Whoring night-drinking mispending of the sabbath neglecting of prayer in your house refusing of an offered salvation will burn up your soul with the terrours of the Almighty when your awakened conscience shall flee in your face Be kinde loving to your wife make conscience of cherishing her and not being rigidly austere Sir I have not a tongue to express the glory that is laid up for you in your father's house if ye reform your doings and frame your heart to return to the Lord. Ye know this world is but a shadow a short-living creature under the law of time within less then fifty yeers when ye look back to it ye shall laugh at the evanishing vanities thereof as feathers flying in the air and at the houses of sand within the sea-mark which the children of men are building Give up with courting of this vain world Seek not the bastard's moveables but the Son's heritage in heaven Take a trial of Christ look unto him his love shall so change you that ye shall be taken with him never chuse to goe from him I have experience of his sweetness in this house of my pilgrimage here My witness who is above knoweth I would not exchange my sighs tears with the laughing of the fourteen Prelats There is nothing will make you a Christian indeed but a taste of the sweetness of Christ come and see will speak best to your soul I would fain hope good of you be not discouraged at broken spilt resolutions but to it to it again Wooe about Christ till ye get your soul espoused as a chaste virgin to him Use the means of profiting with your conscience Pray in your family read the word Remember how our Lord's day was spent when I was among you It will be a great challenge to you before God if ye forget the good that was done within the walls of your house on the Lord's dayes if ye turn aside after the fashions of this world if ye goe not in time to the kirk to wait on the publike worship of God if ye tarry not at it till all the exercises of religion be ended Give God some of your time both morning evening afternoon in so doing rejoyce the heart of a poor oppressed prisoner Rue upon your own soul from your heart fear the Lord. Now he that brought again from the dead the great Shepherd of his sheep by the blood of the eternall Covenant establish your heart with his grace present you before his presence with joy Aberd. 1637. Your affectionat loving Pastor S. R. To CARLETOWN 193 Much honoured Sir I Will not impute your not writing to me to forgetfulness how ever I have one above who forgetteth me not nay he groweth in his kindess It hath pleased his holy Majesty to take me from the pulpit teach me many things in my exile prison that were mysteries to me before As 1. I see his bottomless boundless love kindness my jealousies ravings which at my first entry into this furnace were so foolish bold as to say to Christ who is truth it self in his face thou liest I had well nigh lost my grips I wondered if it was Christ or not for the mist smoke of my perturbed heart made me mistake my Master Jesus My faith was dim hope frozen cold my love which caused jealousies it had some warmness heat smoke but no flame at all yet I was looking for some good of Christ's old claim to me I thought I had forfeited all my rights but the tempter was too much upon my counsels was still blowing the coal Alas I knew not well before how good skill my Intercessor and advocate Christ hath of pleading and pardoning me such follies Now he is returned to my soul with healing under his wings and I am nothing behinde with Christ now for he hath overpaid me by his presence the pain I was put to by on-waiting and any little loss I sustained by my witnessing against the wrongs done to him I trow it was a pain to my Lord to hide himself any longer In a manner he was challenging his unkindness repented him of his glooms now what want I on earth that Christ can give to a poor prisoner O how sweet and lovely is he now Alas that I can get none to help me to lift up my Lord Jesus upon his throne above all the earth 2. I am now brought to some measure of submission and I resolve to wait till I see what my Lord Jesus will doe with me I dare not now nick name or speak one word against the all-seeing over-watching providence of my Lord I see providence runneth not on broken wheels but I like a fool carved a providence for mine own ease to die in my nest to sleep still till my gray hairs and to lie on the sunny side of the mountain in my ministery at Anwoth But now I have nothing to say against a borrowed fire-side another man's house nor Kedars tents where I
live being removed far from my acquaintance my lovers my friends I see God hath the world on his wheels casteth it as a potter doeth a vessel on the wheel I dare not say that there is any inordinat or irregular motion in Providence The Lord hath done it I will not goe to law with Christ for I would again nothing of that 3. I have learned some greater mortification not to mourn after or seek to suck the world's dry breasts Nay my Lord hath filled me with such dainties that I am like to a full banquettor who is not for common chear What have I to doe to fall down upon my knees worship mankind's great idol The World I have a better God then any clay-God Nay at present as I am now disposed I care not much to give this world a discharge of my life-rent of it for bread water I know it is not my home nor my father's house it is but his footstool the outer cloâ—ster of his house his out-field moor-ground Let bastards take it I hope never to think my self in it's common for honour or riches nay now I say to laughter Thou art madness 4. I finde it most true that the greatest tempâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is to live without temptations if my waters should stand they would rot Faith is the better of the free air of the sharp winter-storm in it's face Grace withereth without adversity The Devil is but God's Master-fencer to teach us to handle our weapons 5. I never knew how weak I was till now when he hideth himself when I have him to seek seven times a day I am a dry withered branch a piece of a dead carcase dry bones not able to step over a straw The thoughts of my old sins are as the summonds of death to me And of late my Brother's case hath striken me to the heart when my wounds are closing a little rifle causeth them to bleed afresh So thin-skin'd is my soul that I think it is like a tender man's skin that may touch nothing ye see how short I would shoot of the prize if his grace were not sufficient for me Woe 's me for the day of Scotland Woe woe is me for my harlot-mother for the decree is gone forth women of this land shall call the childless miscarrying wombs blessed The anger of the Lord is gone forth shall not return till he perform the purpose of his heart against Scotland Yet he shall make Scotland a new sharp instrument having teeth to thresh the mountains fan the hills as chaff The prisoners blessing be upon you Aberd. March 14. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To the Lady BUSBIE 194 MTSTRESS I Know ye are thinking sometimes what Christ is doing in Zion that the haters of Zion may get the bottom of our cup the burning coals of our furnace that we have been tryed in these many yeers by gone O that this Nation would be awakened to cry mightily unto God for the setting up of a new â—abernacle to Christ in Scotland O if this Kiâ—gdom kneâ— how worthy Christ were of his room His worth waâ— eveâ— above man's â—stimation of him And for my self I aâ— pained at the heart that I cannot finde my self disposed to leavâ— myself goe wholly in to Christ Alas that there should bâ— oâ—e bit oâ— me out of him and that we leave too much liberty and latitude for our selves and our own ease and credit pleasures so little room for All-love-worthy Christ O what pains charges it costeth Christ ere he get us when all is done we are not worth the having It is a â—ondâ—r that he should seek the like of us but love overlooketh blacknes and â—ecklesness for if it had not been so Christ would never have made so fair blessed a bargain with us as the covenant of Grace is I finde that in all our sufferings Christ is but â—iddiâ—g marches that every one of us may say Mine Tâ—ine and that men may know by their crosses how weak a bottom nature is to stand under a trial that then which our Lord intendeth in all our sufferings is to bring Graâ—e in â—â—uit aâ—d râ—quâ—st amongst us I would succumb and â—â—me shoâ—t of hea en if I had no more but my own strength to sâ—pport me and if Christ should say to me Eitâ—â—r doe or die it were easie to determine what should become of me the châ—ice were easie for I bâ—hooved to die if Christ should passe by witâ— straiâ—ned bowel and who then would take us up in our strâ—its I know we may say that Christ is kindest in his love when we are at our weakest and that if Christ had not been to the fore in our sad dayes the waters had gone over our soul His mercy haâ—h a â—et period and appointed place how far no further the sâ—a of affliction shall flow and where the waves thereof shall be stâ—yed he prescribeth how much pain and sorrow both for weight and measure we must have Ye have then good cause to râ—call your love from all lovers and give it to Christ He who is afflicted in all your afflictions looketh not oâ— you iâ— your sad hours with an insensible heart or dry eyes All the Lords saints may see that it is lost love whâ—ch is bestowed upon this perishing world death judgement will make men lament that ever their miscarrying heart â—arryed them to lay lavish out their love upon false appearances right-dreams Alas that Christ should fare the worse because o◠〈◊〉 own goodness in making peace the gospel to ride together that wâ— have never yet weighed the worth of Christ in his ordinances that now we are like to be deprived of the well ere we have tasted the sweetness of the water it may be with waterâ— eyes 〈◊〉 a wâ—t face and weaâ—iâ—d feet we seek Christ shall not findâ— him â—h that this land were humbled in time and by prayers â—â—ye humiliation would bring Christ in at the churchdoor again now when his back is turned toward us and he is gone to the threshold his one foot as it werâ— is out of the â—oor I am sure his departure is our deserving we have bought it with our iniquities for even the Lord 's own children are fallen asleep And alas professours are made all of shews fashions and are not at pains to recover themselves again Every one hath his set measure of faith holiness and coâ—teâ—teth himself with a stinted measure of godliness as if that were â—â—ough to bring them to heaven We forget that as our gifts and light grow so God's gain and the interest of his talents should grow also and that we cannot pay God with the old use and wont as we use to speak which we gave him seven yeers agoe for this were to mock the Lord and to make price with him as
my ashes could proclaim the worth excellency love of my Lord Jesus There is much telling in Christ I give over the weighing of him Heaven would not be the beam of a ballance to weigh him in What eyes be on me or what wind of tongues be on me I care not Let me stand in this stage in the fools coat act a fools part to the rest of this nation If I can set my welbeloved on high witness fair for him a fig for their Hosanna If I can roll my self in a lap of Christ's garment I will â—e there laugh at the thoughts of dying bits of clay Brother we have cause to weep for our harlot-mother her husband is sending her to Rome's brothell-house which is the gate she liketh well Yet I perswade you there shall be a fair after-growth for Christ in Scotland this Church shall sing the Bridegroom's welcome-home again to his own house The worms shall eat them first ere they cause Christ take good-night at Scotland I am here assaulted with the Doctors gun but I bless the father of lights they draw not blood of truth I finde no lodging in the heart of natural men who are cold friends to my Master I pray you Remember my love to that Gentleman A. C. My heart is knit to him because he I have one Master Remember my bands present my service to my Lord my Lady I wish Christ may be dearer to them then to many of their place Grace be with you Aberd. July 5. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To my Lady BOYD. 202. GRace mercy peace be to you Few I beleeve knâ—w the pain torment of Christ's fristed love fristing of Christ's presence is a matter of torment I know a poor soul that would lay all oars in the water for a banquet or feast oâ—â— Christ's love I cannot think but it must be uptaking sweet to see the white red of Christ's fair face for he is white ruddy the chiefest among ten thousands Cant 5 10. I am sure that must be a well made face of his heaven must be in his visage glory glory for evermore must â—it on his countenance I dare not curse the mask covering that is on his face but O if there were a hole in it O if God would tear the mask Fy fy upon us we were never shamed till nowâ— that we doe not proclaim our pining languishing for him I am sure nevâ—r tongue spake of Christ as he is I am still of that minde and still will be that we wrong undervalue that holy holy One in having such short and shallow thoughts of his weight worth O if I could have but leave to stand beside see the Father weigh Christ the Son if it were possible But how every one of them comprehendeth another we who have eyes of clay cannot comprehend But it is pity for evermore more then shame that such an one as Christ should sit in heaven his alone for us To goe up thither one's errand and on purpose to see were no small glory O that he would strike out windows fair and great lights in this old house this fallen down soul and then set the soul near hand Christ that the rays beams of light th soul-delighting glances of the fair fair God-head might shine in at the windows fill the house A fairer more near direct sight of Christ would make room for his love for we are but pinched straitned in his love Alas it were easy to measure weigh all the love that we have for Christ by inches and ounces Alas that we should love by measure weight and not rather have floods feasts of Christ's love Oh that Christ would break down the old narrow vessels of these narrow ebbe souls make fair deep wide broad souls to hold a sea a full tide flowing over all it's banks of Christ's love Oh that the Almighty would give me my request That I might see Christ come to his temple again as he is minting it's like minding to doe if the land were humbled the judgements threatned are with this reservation I know if we shall turn and repent O what heaven should we want on earâ—h to see Scotland's moon like the light of the Sun Scotland's sun-light seven fold like the light of seven days in the day that the Lord bindeth up the breach of his people healeth the stroke of their wounds Isa. 30 26. Alas that we will not pull draw Christ to his old tents again to come feed among the lilies till the day break shadows flee away O that the Noblâ—s would goe on in the strength courage of the Lord to bring our lawfull King Jesus home again I am perswaded he shall return again in glory to this land but happy â—ere they who could help to convoy him to his sanctuary set him again up upon the mercy-seat betwixt the Cherâ—bâ—ms O Sun return to darkned Britain O fairest among all the sons of men O most excellent One come home again come home win the praises blessings of the mourners in Zion the prisoners of hope that wait for thee I know he can also triumph in suffering weep reign die triumph remain in prison yet subdue his enemies But how happy were I to sâ—e the coronation day of Christ to see his mother who bare him put the crown upon his head again cry with shouting till the earth should ring Let Iesus our King live reign for evermore Grace grace be with your La. Aberd. 1637. Your La at all obedience in Christ S. R. To Mr ALEXANDER COLVILL Of Blair 203. Much honoured Sir GRace mercy peace be to you I would desire to know how my Lord took my letter I sent him how he is I desire nothing but that he be fast and honest to my royal Master King I am well every way all praise to him in whose books I must stand for ever as his debter Onely my silence paineth me I had one joy out of heaven next to Christ my Lord that was to preach him to this faithless generation they have taken that from me It was to me as the poor man's one eye they have put out that eye I know the violence done to me his poor be-rest Bride is come up before the Lord suppose I see not the other side of my cross or what my Lord will bring out of it yet I beleeve the vision shall not tarry that Christ is on his journey for my deliverance he goeth not slowly but passeth over ten mountains at one stride In the mean time I am pained with his love because I want reall possession when Christ cometh he stayeth not long but certainly the blowing of his breath upon a poor soul is heaven upon earth
it must be a rueing a pitifull a melting-hearted love But suspension of that love I think it half a hell the want of it more then a whole hell When I look to my guiltiness I see my salvation one of our Saviour's greatest miracles either in heaven or earth I am sure I may defie any mâ—n to shew me a greater wonder but seeing I have no wares no hire no money for Christ he must either take me with want misery corruption or then want me O if he would be pleased to be compassionat and pitifull hearted to my pining fevers of longing for him oâ— then give me a reall pawne to keep out of his own hand till God send a meeting betwixt him me But I finde neither as yet howbeit he who is absent be not cruel nor unkinde yet his absence is cruel and unkinde His love is like it self his love is his love but the coveâ—ing the cloud the vail the mask of his love is more wise then kinde if I durst speak my apprehensions I lead no process now against the suspension delay of God's love I would with all my heart frist till a day ten heavens and the sweet manifestations of his love Certainly I think I could give Christ much on his word But my whole pleading is about intimated born-in assurance of his love O if he would perswade me of my heart's desire of his love at all he should have the term-day of payment at his own carving But I know raving unbeleef speaketh it's pleasure while it looketh upon guiltinesse and this body of corruption O how loathsom burdensom is it to carry about a dead corps this old carrion of corruption O how steadable a thing is a Saviour to make a sinner rid of his chains fetters I have now made a new question Whether Christ be more to be loved for giving Sanctification or for free Justification And I hold he is more most to be loved for Sâ—nâ—tification it is in some respect greater love in him to sanctifie then to justifie for he maketh us most like himself in his own essential pourtraiture image in sanctifying us Justification doth but make us happy which is to be like the Angels onely Neither is it such a misery to lie a condemned man under unforgiven guiltiness as to serve sin work the works of the Devil therefore I think Sanctification cannot be bought it 's above all price God be thanked for ever that Christ was a told down price for Sanctification Let a sinner if possible lie in hell for ever if he make him truly holy let him lie there burning in love to God rejoycing in the Holy Ghost hanging upon Christ by faith hope that is heaven in the heart and bottom of hell Alas I finde a very thin harvest here few to be saved Grace grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Yours in his lovely longed-for Lord â—â—sus S. R. To my Lord CRAIGHALL 209 My Lord. I Perswade my self notwithstanding of the greatness of this temptation ye will not let Christ want a witness of you to avow him before this evil generation And if ye advise with God's truth the perfect testament of Christ that forbiddeth all mens additions to his worship with the truly learned withall the sanctified in this land with that warner within you that will not fail to speak against you in God's time if ye be not now fast fixed for Christ I hope then your Lo will acquit your self as a man of courage for Christ refuse to bow your knee superstitiously idolatrously to wood or stone or any creature whatsoever I perswade my self when ye shall take good-night at this world ye shall think it God's truth I now write Some fear your Lo have obliged your self to his Maj by promise to satisfie his desire If it be so my dear worthy Lord hear me for your soul 's good Think upon swimming a shore after this ship wrack be pleased to write your humble Apologie to his Majestie it may be God give you favour in his eyes However it be far be it from you to think a promise made out of weakness extorted by the terrour of a King should binde you to wrong your Lord Jesus But for my self I give no faith to that report but I beleeve ye shall prove fast 〈◊〉 Christ To his grace I recommend you Aberd. July 8. 1637. Your Lo at all obedience in Christ. S. R. To my Lord CRAIGHALL 210. My Lord. GRace mercy peace be to you I am not onely content but I exceedingly rejoyce that I finde any of the Rulers of this Land especially your Lo so to affect Christ and his truth as ye dare for his name come to yea nay with Monarchs in their face I hope he who hath enabled you for that will give more if ye shew your self couragious as his word speaketh a man in the streets for the Lord But I pray your Lo give me leave to be plain with you as one who loveth both your honour your soul. I verily beleeve there was never Idolatry at Rome never Idolatry condemned in God's word by the Prophets if religious kneeling before a consecrate creature standing in room of Christ crucified in that very act that for reverence of the Elements as our Act cleareth be not Idolatry Neither will your intention help which is not of the essence of Worship for then Aaron saying To morrow shall be afeast for Iehovah that is for the golden Calf should not have been guilty of Idolatry for he intended onely to decline the lash of the people's fury not to honour the Calf Your intention to honour Christ is nothing seeing religious kneeling by God's institution doeth necessarily import religious divine adoration suppose our intention were both dead sleeping Otherwise kneeling before the Image of God directing prayer to God were lawfull if our intention goe right My Lord I cannot in this bounds dispute but if Cambridge Oxford the learning of Britain will answer this argument the argument from active scandal which your Lo seemeth to stand upon I will turn a formalist call my self an arrant fool by doing what I have done in my suffering for this truth I doe much reverence Mr Ls. learning but my Lo I will answer what he writes in that to pervert you from the truth else repute me beside an hypocrite an ass also I hope ye shall see something upon that subject if the Lord permit that no sophistry in Britain shall answer Courtiers arguments for the most part are drawn from their own skin are not worth a straw for your conscience A Marquess or a King's word when ye stand before Christ's tribunal shall be lighter then wind The Lord knoweth I love your true honour the standing of your house but I would not your honour or house were established upon sand
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
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
servant know the well-head for all that learn the way to the well it self Thank God that Christ came to your house in your absence took with him some of your children He presumed that much on your love that ye would not offend howbeit he should take the rest he cannot come upon your wrong side I question not if they were children of gold but ye think them well bestowed upon him Expound well two rods on you one in your house at home another on your own person abroad Love thinketh no evil If ve were not Christ's wheat appointed to be bread in his house he would not grind you thus But keep the middle line neither despise nor faint Hebr 12. 6. Ye see your father is homely with you Strokes of a father evidence kindness care take them so I hope your Lord hath manifâ—sted himself to you and suggested these or more choice thoughts about his dealing with you we are using our weak moyen credit for you up at our own court as we dow we pray the King to hear us the Son of man to goe side for side with you hand in hand in the fiery oven to quicken encourage your unbeleeving heart when ye droop despond Sir to the honour of Christ be it said my faith goeth with my pen now I am presently beleeving Christ shall bring you out Truth in Scotland shall keep the crown of the causey yet the saints shall see Religion goe naked at noonday free from shame fear of men We shall yet divide Sechem ride upon the high places of Iacob Remember my obliged respects love to my lady Kenmure her sweet childe Anwoth July 6. 1636. Yours ever in his sweet Lord Iesus S R. To the Vicountess of KENMURE 26 MADAM GRace mercy peace be to you I know ye are near many comforters that the promised comforter is near hand also yet because I found your La comfortable to my self in my sad dayes that are not yet over my head it is my part and more in many respects howbeit I can doe little God knoweth in that kinde to speak to you in your wilderness-lot I know Dear Noble Lady this loss of your dear childe came upon you one piece part of it after another that ye was looking for it that now the Almighty hath brought on you that which ye feared that your Lord gave you lawfull warning I hope for his sake who brewed masked this cup in heaven ye will gladly drink and salute welcome the cross I am sure it is not your Lord's minde to fâ—ed you with judgement worm wood to give you waters of gall to drink Ezek. 34. 16. Ier. 9. 15. I know your cup is sugared with mercy that the withering of the bloom the flower even the white red of worldly joyes is for no other end but to buy out at the ground the reversion of your heart and love Madam subscribe the Almightie's will put your hand to the pen let the crosse of your Lord Jesus have your submissive and resolute AMEN If ye ask and try whose this cross is I dare say it is not all your own the best half of it is Christ's then your cross is no born bastard but lawfully begotten It sprang not out of the dust Iob. 5. 6. if Christ ye be halvers of this suffering he say half mine what should aile you I am sure I am here right upon the stile of the word of God Phil. 3. 10. The fellowship of Christ's sufferings Col. 1. 29. The remnant of the afflictions of Christ. Heb. 11. 28. The reproach of Christ. It were but to shiâ—t the comforts of God to say Christ had never such a cross as mine he had never a dead childe so this is not his crosse neither can he in that meaning be the owner of this cross but I hope Christ when he married you married you and all the crosses woâ—-hearts that follow you the word maketh no exception Isa. 63. 9. In all their afflictions he was afflicted Then Christ bore the first stroke of this cross it rebounded off him on upon you ye got it at the second hand ye and he are halvers in it And I shall beleeve for my part he mindeth to destill heaven out of this loss and all others the like for wisdom devised it and love laid it on and Christ owneth it as his own and putteth your shoulder onely beneath a piece of it take it with joy as no bastard cross but as a vintation of God well born and spend the rest of your appointed time till your change come in the work of beleeving and let faith that never yet made a lye to you speak for God's part of it he will not he doth not make you a sea or a whalefish that he keepeth you inward lob 7. 12. It may be ye think not many of the children of God in such a hard case as your self but what would ye think of some who would exchange afflictions give you to the boot but I know yours must be your own alone and Christ's together I confess it seemed strange to me that your Lord should have done that which seemeth to ding out the bottom of your comforts worldly but we see not to the ground of the Almightie's soveraignity he goeth by on our right hand on our left hand we see him not We see but pieces of the broken links of the chain of his providence and he coggeth the wheels of his own providence that we see not O let the former work his own clay in what frame he pleaseth Shall any teach the Almighty knowledge If he pursue dry stubble who dare say what doest thou doe not wonder to see the Judge of the world weave in one web your mercies the judgements of the house of the Kenmure he can make one web of contraries But my weak advice with reverence correction were for you Dear worthy Lady to see how far mortification goeth on what scum the Lord's fire casteth out of you I know ye see your knottiness since our Lord whyteth heweth plaineth you the glanceing of the furnace is to let you see what scum or refuse ye must want what froath is in nature that must be boiled out taken off in the fire of your trials I doe not say heavier afflictions prophesie heavier guiltiness a cross is often but a false prophet in this kinde but I am sure our Lord would have the tin the bastard mettall in you removed least the Lord say the bellowes are burnt the lead is consumed in the fare the founder melteth in vain Ier. 6 29 And I shall hope that grief shall not so far smother your light as not to practize this so necessary a duty to concur with him in this blessed design I would gladly plead for the
comforter's part of it not against you Madam for I am sure ye are not his party but against your grief which will have it 's own violent incursions in your soul I think it be not in your power to help it But I must say there are comforts allowed upon you therefore want them not When ye have gotten a running-over soul with joy now that joy will never be missed out of the infinite Ocean of delight which iâ— not diminished by drinking at it or drawing out of it It is a Christian art to Comfort your self in the Lord to say I was obliged to render back again this childe to the giver if I have had four years loan of him Christ eternitie's possession of him the Lord hath keeped condition with me If my Lord would not have him me to tryst both in one hour at death's door threshold together it is his wisdom so to doe I am satisfied my tryst is suspended not broken off nor given up Madam I would I could divide sorrow with you for your ease But I am but a beholder it is easie to me to speak The God of comfort speak to you allure you with his feasts of love My removal from my flock is so heavy to me that it maketh my life a burden to me I had never such a longing for death The Lord help hold up sad clay I fear ye sin in drawing Mr William Dalgleish from this countrey where the labourrers are few and the harvest great Madam desire my Lord Argyle to see for provision to a Pastor for this poor people Grace be with you Kircudbright Octob. 1. 1639. Your La at all obedience in Christ S. R. To the persecuted Church in Ireland 27 Much honoured reverend dearly beloved in our Lord. GRace mercy peace be to you all I know there are many in this Nation more able then I to speak to the sufferers for witnesses of Jesus Christ yet pardon me to speak a little to you who are called in question for the Gospel once committed to you I hope ye are not ignorant that if peace was left to you in Christ's Testament so the other half of the Testament was a legacy of Christ's sufferings Ioh. 16 35. These things I have spoken that in me ye might have peace in the world ye shall have trouble Because then ye are made assignayes heâ—â—s to a life-rent of Christ's Cross think that fiery trial no strangething For the Lord Jesus shall be no loser by purging the dross tin out of his Church in Ireland his wine press is out squising out the dreg the scum the froath refuse of that Church I had once the proof of the sweet smell the honest honourable peace of that slandered thing the Cross of our Lord Jesus But though Alas that these golden dayes that then I had be now in a great part gone yet I dare say that the issue outgate of your sufferings shall be the advantage the golden reign dominion of the Gospel the high glory of the never-enough-praised Prince of the Kings of the earth the changing of the brass of the Lord's temple among you into gold the iron into silver the wood into brass your officers shall yet be peace your exactors righteousness Isa. 60 v. 17 18. Your old fallen walls shall get a new name the gates of your Ierusalem shall get a new stile they shall call your walls Salvation your gates Praise I know that Deputy Prelats Papists temporizing Lords proud mockers of our Lord crucifiers of Christ for his coat all your enemies have neither fingers nor instruments of war to pick out one stone out of your wall for each stone of your wall is Salvation I dare give you my royal Princely Master's word for it that Ireland shall be a fair Bride to Jesus Christ shall build on her a palace of silver Cant. 8 9. Therefore weep not as if there were no hope fear not put on strength put on your beautifull garments Isa. 52 1. Your foundation shall be saphires Isa. 54 11 12. Your windows gates precious stones Look over the water behold see who is on the dry land waiting for your landing Your deliverance is concluded subscribed sealed in heaven Your goods that are taken from you for Christ his truth's sake are but arrested laid in pawne not taken away There is much laid up for you in his store-house whose the earth the fulness thereof is your garments are spun your flocks are feeding in the fields your bread is laid up for you your drink is browen your gold silver is at the bank the interest goeth on groweth yet I hear that your task-masters doe robe spoil you fine you your prisons my brethren have two keyes the Deputy Prelats Officers keep but the iron keyes of the prison wherein they put you but he that hath created the smith hath other keyes in heaven therefore ye shall not die in the prison other mens ploughs are labouring for your bread your enemies are gathering in your rents He that is kissing his Bride on this side of the sea in Scotland is beating her beyond the sea in Ireland and feeding her with the bread of adversity and the water of affliction and yet he is the same Lord to both Alas I fear that Scotland be undone and slain with this great mercy of Reformation because there is not here that life of Religion answerable to the huge greatness of the work that dazleth our eyes For the Lord is rejoycing over us in this land as the Bridegroom rejoyceth over the Bride the Lord hath changed the name of Scotland they call us now no more Forsaken nor Desolate but our land is called Heph Zibah Beislah Isa. 62 4 for the Lord delighteth in us this land is married to himself there is now an high way made through our Zion it is called the way of holiness the unclean shall not pass over it the wayfaring men though fools shall not erre in it the wilderness doth rejoyce blossom as the rose the ransomed of the Lord are returned back unto Zion with songs everlasting joy up on their heads Isa. 35. The Canaanite is put out of our Lord's house there is not a beast left to doe hurt at least professedly in all the holy mountain of the Lord our Lord is fallen to wrestle with his enemies hath brought us out of Egypt we have the strength of an Unicorn Numb 23 22. The Lord hath eaten up the sons of Babel he hath broken their bones hath pierced them through with his arrows we take them captives whose captives we were we rule over our oppressors Isa 14 2. It is not brick nor clay nor Babel's cursed timber stones that is in our second temple but our Princely King â—esus is
due value were put on that worthy worthy Prince Iesus O who can weigh him Ten thousand thousand heavens would not be one scale or the half of the scale of the ballance to lay him in O black Angels in comparison of him O dim dark lightless Sun in regard of that fair Sun of Righteousness O feckless worthless heaven of heavens when they stand beside my worthy lofty high excellent Welbeloved O weak infirm clay-Kings O soft feeble mountains of brass weak created strength in regard of our mighty strong Lord of armies O foolish wisdom of men Angels when it is laid in the ballance beside that spotless substantial wisdom of the Father If heaven earth ten thousand heavens even round about these heavens that now are were all in one garden of Paradise decked with all the fairest roses flowers trees that can come forth from the art of the Almighty himself yet set but our one flower that groweth out of the root Iesse beside that orchard of pleasure one look of him one view one taste one smell of his sweet Godhead would infinitely exceed goe beyond the smell colour beauty loveliness of that Paradise O to be with childe of his love to be suffocate if that could be with the smell of his sweetness were a sweet fill lovely pain O worthy worthy loveliness O less of the creatures more of thee O open the passage of the well of love glory on us dry pits withered trees O that jewel flower of heaven If our Beloved were not mistaken by us unknown to us he would have no scarcity of wooers suiters he would make heaven earth both see that they cannot quench his love for his love is a sea O to be a thousand fathoms deep in this sea of love He He Himself is more excellent then heaven for Heaven as it cometh into the souls spirits of the glorified is but a creature He is something a great something more then a Creature Oh what a life were it to sit beside this well of love drink sing sing drink then to have desires soul-faculties stretched extended out many thousand fathoms in length breadth to take in seas rivers of love I earnestly desire to recommend this love to you that this love may cause you to keep his commandments to keep clean fingers make clean feet that ye may walk as the redeemed of the Lord. Woe woe be to them that put on his name shame this love of Christ with a loose prophanelife their feet tongue hands eyes give a shameless lye to the holy Gospel which they profess I beseech you in the Lord keep Christ walk with him let not his fairness be spotted stained by godless living Oh who can finde in their heart to sin against love And such a love as the glorified in heaven shall delight to dive into drink of for ever for they are evermore drinking-in love the cup is still at their head yet without loathing for they still drink still desire to drink for ever ever is not this a long lasting supper Now if any of our countrey-people professing Christ Jesus have brought themselves under the stroke wrath of the Almighty by yeelding to Antichrist in an hair-breadth but especially by swearing subscribing that blasphemous Oath which is the Church of Ireland's black hour of temptation I would intreat them by the mercies of God at their last summonds to repent openly confess before the world to the glory of the Lord their denial of Christ Or otherwise if either man or woman will stand abide by that Oath then in the name authority of the Lord Jesus I let them see that they forfeit their part of heaven let them look for no less then a back-burden of the pure unmixed wrath of God the plague of Apostates deniers of our Lord Jesus Let not me a stranger to you who never saw your face in the flesh be thought bold in writing to you For the hope I have of a glorious Church in that land and the love of Christ constraineth me I know the worthy servants of Christ who once laboured among you cease not to write to you also I shall desire to be excused that I doe joyn with them Pray for your Sister Church in Scotland let me entreat you for the aid of your prayers for my self flock ministery my fear of a transportation from this place of of the Lord's vineyard Now the very God of peace sanctifie you throughout Grace be with you all Anwoth 1639. Your brother and companion in the Kingdom and patience of Iesus Christ S. R. To his reverend much honoured Brother Dr WILLIAM LIGHTON Christ's prisoner in bonds at London 28 Reverend much honoured prisoner of hope GRace mercy peace be to you It was not my part whom our Lord hath enlarged to forget you his prisoner When I consider how long your night hath been I think Christ hath a minde to put you in free grace's debt so much the deeper as your sufferings have been of so long a continuance But what if Christ minde you no joâ— but publike joy with enlarged triumphing Zion I think Sir ye would love it best to share divide your song of joy with Zion to have mystical Chriâ—â— in Eritain halfer compartner with your enlargement I am sure your joy bordering neighbouring with the joy of Christ's Bride would be so much the sweeter that it were publike I thought if Christ had halved my mercies and delivered his Bride and not me that his praises should have been double to what they are But now two rich mercies conjoyned in one have stoln from our Lord more then half-praises Oh that mercy should so beguile us and steal away our counts and acknowledgements Worthy Sir I hope I need not exhort you to goe on in hoping for the salvation of God There hath not been so much taken from your time of ease created joyes as Eternity shall adde to your heaven Ye know when one day in heaven hath paved you yea overpayed your blood bonds sorrow sufferings that it would trouble Angels understanding to lay the count of that superplus of glory which Eternity can will give you O but your sand-glass of sufferings losses cometh to little when it shall be counted and compared with the glory that bideth you on the other side of the water Ye have no leisure to rejoyce fing here while time goeth about you where your Psalms will be short therefore ye will think Eternity the long day of heaven that shall be measured with no other sun nor horologe then the long life of the Ancient of dayes to measure your praises little enough for you if your span-length
to restore you again safe to your brethren sisters in Christ take heaven and Christ's back-bond for a fair back-door out of your suffering The Saviour is on his journey with salvation and deliverance for mount Zion the sword of the Lord is drunk with blood and made fat with fatness his sword is bathed in heaven against Babylon for it is the day of the Lord's vengeance and the year of recompences for the comtroversie of Zion And perswade your selves the streams of the rivers of Babylon shall be pitch and the dust of the land brimstone and burning pitch Isa. 34 8. And if your deliverance be conjoyned with the deliverance of Zion it shall be two salvations to you It were good to be armed before hand for death or bodily tortures for Christ and to think what a crown of honour it is that God hath given you pieces of living clay to be tortured witnesses for saving truth and that ye are so happy as to have some pints of blood to give out for the crown of that royal Lord who hath caused you to avouch himself before men If ye can lend fines of three thousand pound sterling for Christ let heaven's register and Christ's count-book keep in reckoning your depursments for him It shall be engraven printed in great letters upon heaven's throne what you are willing to give for him Christ's papers of that kinde cannot be lost or fall by Doe not wonder to see clay boast the great potter to see blinced men to threaten the Gospel with death burial to raze out Truth 's name but where will they make a grace for the Gospel the Lord's bride Earth hell shall be but little bounds for their burial lay all the clay rubbish of this inch of the whole earth above our Lord's spouse yet it will not cover her nor hold her down she shall live not die she shall behold the salvation of God Let your faith frist God a little be not afraid for a smoking fire-brand there is more smoke in Babylon's furnace then there is fire till dooms-day shall come they shall never see the Kirk of Scotland our Covenant burnt to ashes or if it should be thrown in tho fire yet it cannot be so burnt or buried as not to have a resurrection angry clay 's wind shall shake none of Christ's corn he will gather in all his wheat into his barn onely let your fellowship with Christ be renewed ye are sibber to Christ now when you are imprisoned for him then before for now the stroakes laid on you doe come in remembrance before our Lord he can owne his own wounds a drink of Christ's love which is better then wine is the drink-silver which Suffering for his majesty leaves behinde it it is not your sins which they persecute in you but God's grace loyalty to King Jesus they see no treason in you to your Prince the King of Britain albeit they say so but it is heaven in your that earth is fighting against Christ is owning his own cause grace is a party that fire will not burn not water drown when they have eaten drunken you their stomack shall be sick they shall spue you out alive O what glory is it to be suffering abjects for the Lord's glory royalty Nay though his servants had a body to burn for ever for this Gospel so being that triumphing exalted Jesus his high glory did rise out of these flames out of that burning body Oh what a sweet fire O what soul-refreshing torment should that be What if the pickles of dust ashes of the burnt dissolved body were musicians to sing his praises the highness of that never-enough-exalted Prince of ages O what love is it in him that he will have such musicians as we are to tune that Psalm of his everlasting praises in heaven Oh what shining burning flames of love are these that Christ will divide his share of life of heaven glory with you Luk. 22. 29. Ioh. 17 24. Rev. 3 21. A part of his throne one draught of his wine his wine of glory life that comes from under the throne of God of the Lamb one apple of the tree of life will doe more then make up all the expences charges of clay lent out for heaven Oh! Oh but we have short narrow creeping thoughts of Jesus doe but shape Christ in our conceptions according to some created portraiture O Angels lend in your help to make love-books songs of our fair white ruddy standard-bearer amongst ten thousand O heavens O heaven of heavens O glorified tennants triumphing house-holders with the Lamb put in new Psalms love-sonnets of the excellency of our bridegroom help us to set him on high O indwellers of earth heaven sea air O all ye created beings within the bosom of the outmost circle of this great world O come help to set on high the praises of our Lord O fairness of creatures blush before his uncreated beauty O created strength be amazed to stand before your strong Lord of hosts O created love think shame of thy self before this unparalleled love of heaven O angel-wisdom hide thy self before our Lord whose understanding passeth finding out O sun in thy shining beauty for shame put on a web of darkness cover thy self before thy brightest master maker O who can adde glory by doing or suffering to this never-enough-admired and praised lover Oh we can but bring our drop to this sea and our candle dim and dark as it is to this clear and lightsom sun of heaven and earth Oh but we have cause to drink ten deaths in one cup dry to swim through ten seas to be at that land of praises where we shall see that wonder of wonders enjoy this jewel of heavens jewels O death doe thy outmost against us O torments O malice of men devils waste thy-strength on the witnesses of our Lord's testament O devils bring hell to help you in tormenting the followers of the Lamb we will defie you to make us too soon happy to waft us too soon over the water to the land where the noble plant the plant of venown groweth O cruel Time that torments us suspends our dearest enjoyments that we wait for when we shall be bathed steeped soul body down in the depths of this love of loves O Time I say run fast O motions mend your pace O Welbeloved be like a young Roe upon the mountains of Separations Post post hasten our desired hungered-for meeting love is sick to hear tell of to morrow And what then can come wrong to you O honourable witnesses of his Kingly truth Men have no more of you to work upon but some few inches and span-lengths of fick coughing and flegmatick clay your spirits are above their benches courts or High
hath an use for them aswell as for your service howbeit ye are to loath your self for these I hope ye fetch all the heaven ye have here in this life from that which is up above and that your anchor is casten as high and deep as Christ O but it 's far many a mile to his bottom If I had known long since as I doe now though still alas I am ignorant what was in Christ I would not have been so late in starting to the gate to seek him O what can I doe or say to him who hath made the North render me back again A grave is no sure prison to him for the keeping of dry bones Woe 's me that my foolish sorrow and unbelief being on horse-back did ride so produly witlesly over my Lord's Providence but when my Faith was asleep Christ was awake now when I am awake I say he did all things well O infinite wisdom O incomparable loving kindness Alas that the heart I have is so little worthless for such a Lord as Christ is O what oddes finde the saints in hard trials when they feel sap at their roots betwixt them and sun-burnt withered professors crosses and storms cause them to cast their blooms and leaves poor worldlings what will ye doe when the span-length of your forenoon's laughter is ended and when the weeping side of Providence is turned to you I put up all the favours ye have bestowed on my Brother upon Christ's score in whose book are many such counts who will requite them I wish you to be builded more and more upon the stone laid in Zion then ye shall be the more fit to have a hand in rebuilding our Lord 's fallen tabernacle in this land in which ye shall finde great peace when ye come to grips with Death the King of terrouis The God of peace be with your La and keep you blameless till the day of our Lord Jesus St Andrews Your La at all obedience in his sweet Lord Master S. R. To his very dear friend JOHN FENNICK 33 Much honoured dear friend GRace mercy peace be to you The necessary impediments of my calling have hitherto kept me from making a return to your letter the heads whereof I shall now briefly answer As. 1. I approve your going to the fountain when your own Cisterne is dry A difference there must be betwixt Christ's well your borrowed water why but ye have need of emptiness drving up aswell as ve have need of the well want a hole there must be in our vessel to leave room to Christ's art his well hath it's own need of thirsty drinkers to commend infinite love which from eternity did brew such a cellar of living waters for us Ye commend his free love it 's well done Oh if I could help you if I could be master-conveener to gather an earth-full an heaven-full of tongues dipped and steeped in my Lord 's well of love or his wine of love even tongues drunken with his love to raise a song of praises to him betwixt the East West-end furthest points of the broad heavens If I were in your case as alas my dry dead heart is not now in that garden I would borrow leave to come stand upon the banks coasts of that sea of love be a feasted soul to see Love's fair tide free Love's high and lofty waves each of them higher then ten earths flowing in upon pieces of lost clay O welcome welcome great sea O if I had as much love for wideness and breadth as twenty outmost shells and spheres of the heaven of heavens that I might receive in a little flood of his free love Come come dear Friend be pained that the King's wine-cellar of free love his banquetting house O so wide so stately O so God-like so glory-like should be so abundant so overflowing your shallow vessel so little to take in some part of that love but since it cannot come in you for want of room enter your self in this sea of love breath under these waters die of love live as one dead drowned of this Love But why doe ye complain of waters going over your soul that the smoke of the terrors of a wrathfull Lord doeth almost suffocate you bring you to death's brink I know the fault is in your eyes not in him it s not the rock that fleeth moveth but the green sailer if your sense apprehension be made judge of his love there is a graven image made presently even a changed God a foe-God who was once when ye washed your steps with butter the rock poured you out rivers of oyl Iob. 29. 6. a friend-God either now or never let God work ye had never since ye was a man such a fair field for faith for a painted hell an apprehension of wrath in your father is faith's opportunity to try what strength is in it now give God as large a measure of charity as ye have of sorrow now see faith to be faith indeed if ye can make your grave betwixt Christ's feet say Though he should flay me I will trust in him his beleeved love shall be my winding-sheet all my grave-cloaths I shall roll sowe in my soul my slain soul in that web his sweet free love let him write upon my grave Here lieth a beleeving dead man breathing out and making an hole in death's broad side the breath of faith cometh forth through the hole See now if ye can overcome prevail with God wrestle God's tempting to death quit out of breath as that renowned wrestler did Hos 12. 3. And by his strength he had power with God v. 4. Yea he had power over the Angel prevailed He is a strong man indeed who overmatcheth heaven's strength and the holy One of Israel the strong Lord which is done by a secret supply of divine strength within wherewith the weakest being strengthned overcome and conquer It shall be great victory to blow out the flame of that furnace yeare now in with the breath of faith when hell men malice cruelty falshood Devils the seeming glooms of a sweet Lord meet you in the teeth if ye then as a captive of Hope as one fettered in Hope's prison run to your strong hold even from God glooming to God glooming beleeve the salvation of the Lord in the dark which is your onely victory your enemies are but pieces of malitious clay they shall die as men be confounded But that your troubles are many at once arrows come in from all airths from countrey friends wife children foes estate right down from God who is the hope stay of your soul I confess is more very heavy to be born yet all these are not more then Grace all these bits of coals casten in your sea of
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
round about us we lay it not to heart Gray hairs are upon us we know it not It were now a desireable life to send away our love to heaven well becometh it us to wait on for the appointed change yet so as we should be meditating thus Is there a new world above the Sun moon is there such a blessed company harping singing Hallelujahs to the lamb up above Why then are we taken with a vain life of sighing sinning O where is our wisdom that we sit still laughing eating sleeping prisoners doe not pack up all our best things for the journey desiring alwayes to be clothed with our house from above not made with hands Ah we savour not the things that are above nor doe we smell of glory ere we come thither but we transact agree with Time for a new lease of clay-mansions Behold he cometh we sleep turn all the work of duties into a dispute of events for deliverance but the greatest haste to be humbled for a broken a buried Covenant is first last forgotten And all our grief is the Lord lingers enemies triumph Godly ones suffer Atheists blaspheme Ah we pray not but wonder that Christ cometh not the higher way by might by power by garments rolled in blood What if he come the lower way sure we sin in putting the book in his hand as if we could teach the Almighty knowledge we make haste we beleeve not Let the onely wise God alone he stirs well he drawes straight lines though we think say they are crooked It is right that some should die their breasts full of milk yet we are angry that God dealeth so with them O if I could adore him in his hidden wayes when there is darkness under his feet darkness his pavilion clouds about his throne Madam hoping beleeving patient praying is our life he loâ—â—s no time The Lord Jesus be with your spirit St Andrews 12 Sept. 16â—5 Yours at all oblidged observance in Christ. S. 〈◊〉 To his reverend dear Brethren M R GUTHRIE M R TRAIL And the rest of their Brethren imprisoned in the Castell of Edinburgh 70. Reverend Very Dear now much honoured Prisoners for Christ. I Am as to the point of light at the out-most of perswassion in that kinde that this is the cause of Christ ye now suffer for not mens interest If it be for men let us leave it but if we plead for God our own personal saâ—… and man's deliverance will not be peace There is a sâ—lvâ—tion called the salvation of God which is cleanly pure spiritual unmixed near to the holy Word of God it is that which we would seek even the favour of God that he beares to his people not simple gladness but the gladness goodness of the Lord 's chosen And sure though I be the weakest of his witnesses unworthy to be among the meanest of them 〈◊〉 afraid the Cause be hurt but it cannot be lost by my unbeleeving faintness I should not desire a deliverance separated from the deliverance of the Lord's Cause People It is enough to me to sing when Zion sings to triumph when Christ triumpheth I should judge it an unhappy joy to rejoyce when Zion sigheth Not one hoof will be your peace If Christ doeth owne me let me be in the grave in a bloody winding-sheet goe from the scaffold in four quarters to a grave or no grave I am his debter to seal with sufferings this precious truth but Oh when it comes to the push I dare say nothing considering my weakness wickedness faintness But fear not ye ye are not ye shall not be alone the Father is with you It was not an unseasonable but a seasonable necessary duty ye were about Fear him who is Soveraign Christ is Captain of the Castle Lord of the keyes The cooling well-spring refreshment from the promises is more then the â—â—ownings of the furnace I see snares temptations in capitulating composing ceding minching with distinctions of circumstances formalities complements extenuations in the Cause of Christ A long spoon the broth is hell's hot Hold a distance from carnal compositions much nearness to the fountain to the favour refreshing light from the Father of lights speaking in his oracles this is sound health salvation Angels men Zion's Elders eye us but what of all these Christ is by us looks on us writes up all Let us pray more look less to men Remember me to Mr Scot all the rest Blessings be upon the head of such as are separated from their Brethren Ioseph is a fruitfull bough by a well Grace be with you S. Andrewes 1660. Your loving Brother companion in the Kingdom patience of Iesus Christ S. R. To Mr ROBERT CAMPBELL 71. Reverend dear Brother YE know this is a time in which all men almost seek their own things not the things of Jesus Christ yeare your alone as a beacon on the top of a mountain but saint not Christ is a numerous multitude himself yea millions though all the nations were conveened against him round about yet doubt not but he will at last arise for the cry of the poor needy For me I am now near to eternity for ten thousand worlds I dare not adventure to pass from the Protestation against the corruptions of the time nor go alongst with the shameless apostacy of the many silent dumb watchmen of Scotland but I think it my la â—â—my to enter a Protestation in heaven before the righteous Judge against the practical legal breach of Covenant and all Oaths imposed on the consciences of the Lord's people all Popish superstitious and idolattous mandats of men Know that the overthrow of the 〈◊〉 Reformation the introducing of Popery the Mystery of Iniquity is now set on foot in the three Kingdoms whosoever would keep their garments clean are under that command Touch not 〈◊〉 not handle not The Lord calls you Dear Brother to be still stedfast unmoveable aâ—d aboundant in the work of the Lord. Our royal Kingly Master is upon his journey will come will not â—â—rry blâ—ssed is the servant who shall be found watching when he cometh fear not men for the Lord is your light salvation It is true it 's somewhat sad comfortless that ye are your alone but so it was with our precious Master nor are ye your alone for the father is with you It is possible I shall not be an eye-witness to it to the flesh but I beleeve he comes quickly who will remove our darkness will shine gloriously in the Isle of Britain as a crowned King either in a formally sworn Covenant or in his own glorious way which I leave to the determination of his infinite wisdom and goodness this is the hope confidence of a dying man who is longing fainting for the salvation of God Beware of the ensuaring bonds and obligations by any hand-writ or other waves to give unlimited obedience to any authority but onely in the Lord for all innocent self-defence which is according to the Covenant the Word of God the laudable example of the Reformed Churches is now intended to be utterly subverted and condemned and what is taken from Christ as the slower of his Prerogative Royall is now put upon the head of a mortal power which must be that great idol of 〈◊〉 that provokâ—… the eyes of his glory Dear Brother let us 〈◊〉 the rich promises that are made to these that overcome knowing that these that endure to the end shall be saved Thus recommending you to the rich grace of God I remain St. Andrews 1661. Your affectionat Brother in Christ. FINIS
Brother I cannot tell what is become of my labours among that people If all that my Lord builded by me be casten down the bottom fallen out of the profession of that parish none stand by Christ whose love I once preached as clearly plainly as I could though far below it's worth excellency to that people if so how can I bear it If another make a foul harvest where I have made a painfull honest sowing it will not soon digest with me but I know his wayes pass finding out Yet my witness both within me above me knoweth my pained breast upon the Lord's day at night my desire to have had Christ awfull amiable sweet to that people is now my joy it was my desire aime to make Christ them one If I see my hopes die in the bud ere they bloom a little come to no fruit I die with grief O my God seek not an account of the violence done to me by my brethren whose salvation I love desire I pray that they I be not heard as contrary parties in the day of our compearance before our judge in that process led by them against my ministery which I received from Christ I know a little inch less then the third part of this span-length hand-breadth of time which is posting away will put me without the stroke above the reach of either brethren or foes And it is a short-lasting injurie done to me to my pains in that part of my Lord's vineyard O how silly an advantage is my deprivation to men seeing my Lord Jesus hath many wayes to recover his own losses is irresistible to compass his own glorious ends that his lilie may grow amongst thorns his little Kingdom exalt it self even under the swords spears of contrary powers But my dear Brother goe on in the strength of his rich grace whom ye serve Stand fast for Christ Deliver the Gospel off your hand your ministery to your Master with a clean undefiled conscience Loose not a pin of Christ's tabernacle Doe not so much as picke with your naile at one board or border of the ark Have no part or dealing upon any terms in a hoof in a closed window or in a bowing of your â—…nce in casting down of the temple But be a mourning speaking witness again them who now ruine Zion Our Master will be on us all in a clap ere ever we wit That day will discover all our white 's our black 's concerning this controversie of poor oppressed Zion Let us make our part of it good that it may be able to abide the fire when hay and stuble shall be burnt to ashes Nothing nothing I say nothing but sound sanctification can abide the Lord's fan I stand to my testimony that I preached often of Scotland Lamentation mourning woe abideth thâ—â— O Scotland O Scotland the fearfull quarrell of a broken Covenant standeth good with thy Lord. Now remember my love to all friends to all my parishoners as if I named each one of them particularly I recommend you God's people committed by Christ to your trust to the rich grace of our alsufficient Lord. Remember my bonds Praise my Lord who beareth me up in my sufferings As ye sinde occasion accorcording to the wisdom given you shew our acquaintance what the Lord hath done to my soul This I seek not verily to hunt my own praise but that my sweetest dearest Master may be magnified in my sufferings I rest Aberd. June 17. 1637. Your brother in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To MARION MCKNAUGHT 126 Dearly beloved in our Lord Iesus Christ. GRace mercy peace be to you Few know the heart of a stranger prisoner I am in the hands of mine enemies I would honest lawfull means were essayed for bringing me home to my charge now when Mr A. R. Mr H. R. are restored It concerneth you of Galloway most to use supplications and addresses for this purpose and try if by fair means I can be brought back again As for liberty without I be restored to my flock it is little to me for my silence is my greatest prison However it bâ— I wait for the Lord I hope not to rot in my sufferings Lord give me submission to wait on my heart is sad that my dayes flee away I doe no service to my Lord in his house now when his harvest and the souls of perishing people require it but his ways are not like my wayes neither can I finde him out O that he would shine upon my darkness and bring forth my morning light from under the thick cloud that men have spread over me O that the Almighty would lay my cause in a ballance and weigh me if my soul was not taken up when others were sleeping how to have Christ betrothed with a Bride in that part of the land but that day that my mouth was most unjustly and cruelly closed the bloom fell off my branches and my joy did cast the flower How beit I have been casting my self under Christ's feet and wrestling to beleeve under a hidden and covered Lord yet my fainting cometh before I eat and my faith hath bowed with the sore cast and under this almost insupportable weight O that it break not I dare not say that the Lord hath put out my candle and hath casten water upon my poor coal and broken the stakes of my tabernacle But I have tasted bitterness and eaten gall wormwood since that day my Master laid bonds upon me to speak no more I speak not this because the Lord is uncouth to me but because beholders that stand on dry land see not my sea-storm The witnesses of my cross are but strangers to my sad dayes nights O that Christ would let me alone speak love to me come home to me bring summer with him O that I might preach his beauty glory as once I did before my clay-tent be removed to darkness that I might lift Christ off the ground my branches might be watered with the dew of God my joy in his work might grow green again bud send out a flower But I am but a short sighted creature my candle casteth not light afar off He knoweth all that is done to me how that when I had but one joy no more one green flower that I esteemed to be my garland he came in one hour dried up my flower at the root took away mine onely eye mine onely one crown garland What can I say Surely my guiltiness hath been remembered before him he was seeking to take down my sails to land the flower of my delights and to let it lie on the coast like an old broken ship that is no more for the sea But I praise him for this wailed stroke I welcome this surnace God's