satisfie thy desire nor answer thy expectation It 's not my present work to tell thee that he was a Gentleman by extraction That he was educat at Scholes Colleges where he was admired for the Pregnancy of his parts deservedly looked upon even then as a person of whom great things might be expected Of his being pitched upon for a Profession of Philosophy by the College of Edinburgh where he was educat when he was yet very young Of his being called thence to the Ministery in Anwoth to which charge be entered by the means of that worthy Noble-man my Lord Kenmur without giving any engagment to the Bishop where he laboured night day with great success the whole countrey being to him accounting themselves as his particular flock There it was where he wrote that great Master-piece of Learning against the Arminians wich yet was but a compend of what he then intended his Exercitationes Apologeticae Of his persecution by the Prelats who were so sound in the faith as to challenge and accuse him for writting that book Being called before their high Commission court he appeared declined it as none of the Courts of Christ nor was there need of any thing else for a confirmation that it came not from on high but from below save it 's procedor for it's Acts had the very dy and visage of hell upon them If they will plead that it is from above they will be pusled to pitch upon a period or fix upon any other time when it came down except with the fallen Angels but it may be this please such Angells of the Church so they will be called for they boast much of Antiquity And truely that which gives ground â—or this conjecture that it came down from heaven in that company is that it persecuts the saints and servants of the most high if there were none such upon earth it would have no work was by this high Commission put from his ministery sent to Aberdeen where the Doctors found to their confusion that the Puritans were Clergy-men aswell as they Of his returning to his former Charge upon that happy change of affairs in the Yeer 1638 his being shorthly after sent to the profession of Theology in the Vniversity of St Andrews by the Generall Assembly where he was also called to be worthy Mr Blair's Collegue in the Ministery which being the seat of the Arch-preâ—ate was the very Nursery of all superstition in worship Errour in Doctrine the sink of all Profanity in conversation amongst the Students where God did so singularly second his servants indefatigable pains both in teaching in the Schooles preaching in the Congregation that it became forth with a Lebanon out of which were taken Cedars for building the house of the Lord through the whole land Not a few of whom are this day amongst these who have obtained mercy of the Lord to be his faithfull witnesses against Scotland's present shamfull unparaleelled defection Of his being sent with other worthy Ministers by the Generall Assembly to the famous Synod at London where during the time of his aboad he published severall pieces In a word of his unparaleelled painfullness holy Zeal in being about his Master's business so that he seemed to pray Constantly to preach constantly to catechise constantly to be still in visiting the sick in exhorting from house to house to teach as much in the schooles spend as much time with the young men as if he had been sequestrat from all the world besids withall to write as much as if he had been constantly shut up in his closet sufficient proof whereof hath been given to the world by the many pieces he hath published but the great bulk of Manuscripts which he hath left behinde him must lie buried with himself will put this further out of doubt so that one Mr Rutherfoord seemed to be many able godly men in one or one who was furnished with the grace and abilities of many It is not I say my present purpose to give any particular account to the world of these or of the many things he had to wrestle with especially towards the end of his dayes of his edifying death that may be done herafter by a more dexterous hand skillfull pen with much advantage edification to the Church of God Onely I may say that if amongst the heathens Hercules was looked upon as so far both above the applause of any who undertook to commend him beyond the reach of the obloquie reproach of any who had so fallen out with his wits as to derogat from his worth that it was a Probleme amongst them whether he who undertook to praise him or he who vented any thing to his prejudice did commit the greatest Soloecisme though it was but Belluina gloria whereof he could boast I suppose with more reasoÌ„ among them who know better to make the true paralleel betwixt things that differ are more fit to judge of that which is of true worth great price in the sight of God I should seem more ridiculous to say much to the advantage of the Author whose praise without the help of my blunt pen is in all the Churches of Christ whose manner of life in all Godliness holy conversation rendered him dear to the lovers of holmess who hath left his name for a blessing to the chosen of God he was a true Iohn the Baptist indeed totus vox a voice in habit gesture conversation in a word in his life at his death he obtained that mercy of the Lord even when he said nothing to preach to all who beheld his conversation which was observed to be in heaven while he conversed amongst men that their was nothing good but to draw near to God And now being got up above amongst these pages of honour who wait upon the King 's own person having taken up his place amongst the spirits of just men made perfect after which this saint often panted for which he prayed night day he doth by these Epistles which he hath left behinde him wherein thou wilt perceive how his soul was drawn forth in uncessant longings after that whereof he is now possessed cry aloud to you his companions the saints that are in the world to come up hither see that which cannot be seen while ye are there that which is onely worth the seeing that which if it were known would make you quarrel with death for delaying to shut your eyes upon other objects Leave the dark world doth he say come up hither to this blessed land of light where all our childish thoughts of God are gone evanished in this noon-day-vision where the understanding is fully illuminat there is no cloud to be-night or eclipse the soul in it's uptakings of God where the will hath a through compliance with a perfect complacencie in the will
hath my heart for evermore but alas it is over little for him O if it were better more worthy for his sake O if I might meet with him face to face in this side of eternity might have leave to plead with him that I am so hungred famished here with the niggardly portion of his love that he giveth me O that I might be carver steward my selâ— at mine own will of Christ's love if I may lawfully wish this then would I enlarge my vessel alas a narrow ebbe soul take in a sea of i love My hunger for it is hungry lean in beleeving that ever I shall be satisfied with that love so fain would I have what I know I cannot hold O Lord Jesus delightest thou delightest thou to pine torment poor souls with the want of thy incomparable loved O if I durst call thy dispensation cruell I know thou thy self aâ—t mercy without either brim or bottom I know thoâ— art a God bankfull of mercy love but Oh alas little of it cometh my way I die to look a far off to that love because I can get but little of it But hope saith this providence shall ere long look more favourably upon poor bodies me also Grace be with your La Spirit Aberd. Sept. 10. 1637. Yours La in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To Mr JAMES HAMILTON 71 Reverend dear Brother PEace be to you from God our father and from our Lord Jesus I am laid low when I remember what I am and that my out-side casteth such a lustre when I finde so little within It is a wonder that Christ's glory is not defiled in running through such an unclean impure channel But I see Christ will be Christ in the dreg and refuse of men his art his shining wisdom his beauty speaketh loudest in blackness weakness deadness yea in nothing I see nothing no money no worth no good no life no deserving is the ground that omnipotency delighteth to draw glory out of O how sweet is the inner side of the walls of Christ's house and a room beside himself my distance from him maketh me sad O that we were in others arms O that the middle things betwixt us were removed I finde it a difficult matter to keep all stots with Christ when he laugheth I scarce beleeve it I would so fain have it true But I am like a low man looking up to a high mountain whom weariness and fainting overcometh I would climb up but I finde that I doe not advance in my journey as I would wish Yet I trust he shall take me home against night I marvel not that Antichrist in his slaves is so busie but our crowned King seeth and beholdeth and will arise for Zion's safety I am exceedingly distracted with letters and company that vilite me what I can doe or time will permit I shall not omit Excuse my brevity for I am straitned Remember the Lord's prisoner I desire to be mindfull of you Grace grace be with you Aberd. Sept. 7. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To Mr GEORGE DUMBAR 72 Reverend Dearly beloved in the Lord. GRace mercy peace be to you Because your words have strengthened many I was silent expecting some lines from you in my bonds this is the cause why I wrote not to you but now I am forced to break off and speak I never beleeved till now that there was so much to be found in Christ in this side of death and of heaven O the ravishments of heavenly joy that may be had here in the small gleanings of comforts that fall from Christ what fools are we who know not and consider not the weight and the telling that is in the very earnest-penny the first fruits of our hoped for harvest How sweet how sweet is our infeftment O what then must personal possession be I finde that my Lord Jesus hath not miscooked or spilt this sweet cross he hath an eye on the fire and the melting gold to separate the mettall and the dross O how much time would it take me to read my obligations to Jesus my Lord who will neither have the faith of his own to be burnt to ashes nor yet will have a poor beleever in the fire to be half raw like Ephraim's unturned cakeâ— this is the wisdom of him who hath his fiâ—elâ— Zion and his furâ—ace in Jerusaâ—em I need not either bud or flatter temptations crâ—sses nor strive to buy the Devil or this malicious world by or râ—deem their kindness with half a han-breadth of truth He who is surâ—ty for his servant for good doeth power fully over-rule all that I sâ—e my prison hath neither lock nor door I am free in my bonds and my chains are made of rotten straw they shall not bide one pull of faith I am sure they are in hell who would exchange their torments with our crosses suppose they should nevâ—r be delivered give twenty thousand years torment to boot to be in our bonds for ever therefore we wrong Christ who siâ—…h fear doubt despond in them Our suffâ—â—ings are washen in Christ's blood as well as our souls for Christ's merits bought a blessing to the crosses of the sons of God and Jesus hath a back-bond of all our temptations that the free warders shall come out by law and justice in respect of the infinite and great summe that the Redeemer paid Our troubles ow us a free passage through them devils and men and crosses are our debters and death and all storms are our debters to blow our poor tossed bark over the water fraught-frâ—e to set the travellers in their own known ground Therefore we shall die yet live we are over the water some way already we are married our tocher-good is payed we are already more then conquerours If the devil and the world knew how the court with our Lord shall goe I am sure they would hire death to take us off their hand our sufferings are the onely wâ—ack ruine of the black Kingdom and yet a little the Antichrist must play himself with the bones slain bodies of the Lamb's followers but withall we stand with the hundred fourty four thousand who are with the Lamb upon the top of â—ount Sion Antichrist his followers are down in the valley ground we have the advantage of the hill our temptation are alwayes beneath our waters are beneath our breath as dying and behold we live I never heard before of a living death or a quick death but ours our death iâ— not like the common death Christ's skill his handy work a new cast of Christ's admirable art may be seen in our quick death I bless the Lord that all our troubles come through Christ's singers that he casteth sugar among them and casteth in some ounce weights of heaven and of the spirit of glory that resteth on suffering beleevers in
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
not but goeth with even equal legs yet are they not the greatest sinners upon whom tower of Siloam fell was not time's lease expired the sand of heaven's sand-glass set by our Lord run out Is not he an unjust debter who payeth due debt with chiding I beleeve Christian Lady your faith leaveth that much charity to our Lord's judgements as to beleeve how beit ye be in blood sib to that cross that yet ye are exempted freed from the gall wrath that is in it I dare not deny but Iob. 18 15. the King of terrors dwelleth in the wicked man's tabernacle brimstone shall be scattered on his habitation yet Madam it is safe for you to live upon the faith of his love whose arrows are over-watered pointed with love mercy to his own who knoweth how to take you yours out of the roll book of the dead Our Lord hath not the eyes of flesh in distributing wrath to the thousand generation without exception Seeing ye are not under the Law but under Grace married to another husband Wrath is not the Court that ye are liable to As I would not wish neither doe I beleeve your La doeth despise so neither faint read spell aright all the words syllabes in the visitation miscall neither letter nor syllabe in it Come along with the Lord see lay no more weight upon the Law then your Christ hath laid upon it If the Law 's bill get an answer from Christ the curses of it can doe no more And I hope ye have resolved that if he should grind you to powder your dust powder shall beleeve his salvation And who can tell what thoughts of love peace our Lord hath to your children I trust he shall make them famous in excuting the written judgements upon the enemies of the Lord this honour have all his saints Psal. 149 9. that they shall bear stones on their shoulders for building that city that is called Ezek. 46 35. The Lord is there happy shall they be who have a hand in the sacking of Babel come out in the year of vengeance for the controversy of Zion against the land of graven images Therefore Madam let the Lord make out of your father's house any work even of judgement that he pleaseth What iâ— wrath to others is mercy to you your house It is Faith's work to claim and challenge loving kindness out of all the roughest strokes of God Doe that for the Lord which ye will doe for time time will calme your heart at that which God hath done let our Lord have it now What love ye did bear to friends now dead seeing they stand now in no need of it let it fall as just legacy to Christ. O how sweet to put out many strange lovers to put in Christ It is much for our half-slain affections to part with that which we beleeve we have right unto but the servant's will should be our will he is the best servant who retaineth least of his own will most of his Master's That much wisdom must be ascribed to our Lord that he knoweth how to lead his own in-through and out-through the little time-hells and the pieces of time-during wraths in this life yet keep safe his love without any blurre upon the old great seal of free Election And seeing his mountains of brass the mighty strong decrees of free grace in Christ stand sure the Covenant standeth fast for ever as the dayes of heaven let him strike nurture his striking must be a very act of saving seeing strokes upon his secret ones come from the soft heavenly hand of the Mediatour his rods are steeped watered in that flood river of love that cometh from the God-man's heart of our soul-loving soul-redeeming JESUS I hope ye are content to frist the Cautioner of mankinde his own conquest heaven till he pay it you bring you to a state of glory where he shall never crook a finger upon nor lift a hand to you again And be content withall greedily covetous of Grace the interest pledge of Glory If I did not beleeve your crop to be on the ground your part of that heaven of the saints heaven white ruddy fair fair beautifull Jesus were come to the bloom the flower near your hook I would not write this but seeing time ' threed is short ye are upon the entry of heaven's harvest Christ the field of heaven's glory is white ripe-like the losses that I write of to your La are but summer-showers that will onely wet your garments for an hour or two and the Sun of the new Ierusalem shall quickly dry the wet coat especially seeing rains of Affliction cannot stain the image of God or cause Grace cast the colour And since ye will not alter upon him who will not change upon you I durst in weakness think my self no spiritual Seer if I should not prophesie that day-light is neer when such a morning-darkness is upon you that this trial of your Christian minde towards him whom ye dare not leave howbeit he should slay you shall close with a doubled mercy It is time for faith to hold fast as much of Christ as ever ye had to make the grip stronger to cleave closer to him seeing Christ loveth to be beleeved in trusted to The glory of laying strength upon one that is mighty to save is more then we can think That piece of service of beleeving in a smiting Redeemer is a precious part of obedience O what glory to him to lay over the burden of our heaven upon him that purchased for us an eternal Kingdom O blessed soul who can adore kiss his lovely free Grace The rich grace of Christ be with your spirit St. Andrews Octob. 15. 1640. Yours at all obedience in Christ Iesus S. R. To AGNES MCMATH 38 Dear Sister IF our Lord hath taken away your childe your lease of him is expired seeing Christ would want him no longer it is your part to hold your peace worship adore the soveraignty liberty that the potter hath over the clay pieces of clay-nothings that he gave life unto And what is man to call summond the Almighty to his lower Court down here For he giveth account of none of his doings And if ye will take a loan of a childe give him back again to our Lord laughing as his borrowed goods should return to him beleeve he is not gone away but sent before that the change of the countrey should make you think he is not lost to you who is found to Christ that he is now before you that the dead in Christ shall be raised again A going down star is not annihilat but shall appeare again If he have casten his bloom flower the bloom is fallen
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
his joyes my losses with his own presence I finde it a sweet rich thing to exchange my sorrows with Christs joyes my afflictions with that sweet peace I have with himself Brother this is his own truth I now suffer for he hath sealed my sufferings with his own comforts I know he will not put his seal upon blank paper his seals are not dumb nor delusive to confirm imaginations lyes Goe on my dear Brother in the strength of the Lord not fearing man that is a worm or the son of man that will die Providence hath a thousand keys to open a thousand sundry doors for the deliverance of his own when it is even come to a conclamatum est Let us be faithfull and care for our own part which is to doe suffer for him lay Christs part on himself leave it there duties are ours events are the Lord's when our faith goeth to medle with events to hold a court if I may so speak upon Gods providence and begineth to say how wilt Thou do this that we lose ground we have nothing to doe there it is our part to let the Almighty exerce his own office and stir his own helme there is nothing left to us but to see how we may be approved of him and how we may roll the weight of our weak souls in wel-doing upon him who is God Omnipotent and when what we thus essay miscarrieth it shall neither be our sin nor cross Brother remember the Lord's word to Peter Simon lovest thou me Feed my sheep no greater testimony of our love to Christ can be then to feed painfully and faithfully his lambs I am in no better neighbourhood with the Ministers here then before they cannot endure that any speak of me or to me thus I am in the mean time silent which is my greatest grief Dr Barron hath often disputed with me especially about Arminian-controversies and for the Ceremonies three yokings laid him by and I have not been troubled with him since now he hath appointed a dispute before witnesses I trust Christ and truth shall doe for themselves I hope Brother ye will help my people and write to me what ye hear the Bishop is to doe to them Grace be with you Aberd. Your Brother in bonds S. R. To Mr HUGH M C KAILL Minister of the Gospel 19 Reverend Dear Brother I bless you for your Letter he is come down as rain upon the mowen grasse he hath revived my withered root and he is as the dew of herbs I am most secure in this prison salvation is for walls in it and what think ye of these walls he maketh the dry plant to bud as the lilie and to blossome as Lebanon the great husband man's blessing cometh down upon the plants of righteousness who may say this my dear Brother if I his poor exiled stranger prisoner may not say it Howbeit all the world should be silent I cannot hold my peace O how many black counts hath Christ and I rounded over together in the house of my pilgrimage and how sat a portion hath he given to a hungry soul I had rather have Christs four-hours then have dinner and Supper both in one from any other his dealing and the way of his judgements passe finding out No preaching no book no learning could give me that which I behooved to come and get in this Town but what of all this if I were not misted confounded and astonished how to be thankfull and how to get him praised for evermore And which is more he hath been pleased to pain me with his love and my pain groweth through want of reall possession Some have written to me that I am possibly too joyfull of the cross but my joy over-leapeth the cross it is bounded and terminat upon Christ I know the sun will over-cloud eclipse and I shall again be put to walk in the shaddow but Christ must be welcome to come and goe as he thinketh meet yet he would be more welcome to me I trow to come then goe I hope he pitieth and pardoneth me in casting apples to me at such a fainting time as this holy and blessed is his name It was not my flattering of Christ that drew a kiss from his mouth but he would send me as a spie into this wilderness of suffering to see the land and to try the foord and I cannot make a lye of Christs cross I can report nothing but good both of him it lest others should faint I hope when a change cometh to cast anchor at midnight upon the rock which he hath taught me to know in this day light whether I may run when I must say my lesson without book beleeve in the dark I am sure it is sin to tarrow of Christs good meat not to eat when he saith eat O welbeloved drink abundantly If he bear me on his back or carry me in his armes over this water I hope for grace to set down both my feet on dry ground when the way is better but this is slippery ground my Lord thought good I should goe by an hold lean on my welbeloved's shoulder it 's good to be ever taking from him I desire he may get the fruit of praises for dâting and thus dandling me upon his knee I may give my bond of thankfulness sobeing I have Christ's back-bond again for my relief that I shall be strengthned by his powerfull grace to pay my vowes to him But truly I finde we have the advantage of the brae upon our enemies we are more then conquerours through him who hath loved us they know not wherein our strength lieth Pray for me grace be with you Aberd. Your Brother in Christ S. R. To my Lady Boyd 20 MADAM GRace mercy peace be unto you the Lord hath brought me to Aberd where I see God in few This town hath been advised upon of purpose for me It consisteth either of Papists or men of Gallio's naughtie faith it is counted wisdom in the most not to countenance a confined Minister but I finde Christ neither strange nor unkind for I have found many faces smile upon me since I came hither I am heavie and sad considering what is betwixt the Lord my soul which none seeth but he I finde men have mistaken me it would be no art as I now see to spin small and make hypocrisie seem a goodly web and to goe through the mercat as a saint among men yet steal quietly to hell without observation So easie is it to deceive men I have disputed whether or noe I ever knew any thing of Christianity save the letters of that name Men see but as men and they call ten twenty and twenty an hundred but O to be approved of God in the heart in sincerity is not an ordinary mercy my neglects while I had a pulpit other things whereof I am ashamed to speak meet
that ye write to of that Oh light findeth not that reverence fear as a plant of God's setting should finde in our soul How doe we by nature as others detain captivat the truth of God in unrighteousness so make God's light a bound prisoner even when the prisoner breaketh the jayle cometh out in belief of a Godhead in some practice of holy obedience how often doe we of new lay hâ—nds on the prisoner and put our light again in fetters Certainly there cometh great mist clouds from the lower part of our soul our earthly affections to the higher part which is our conscience either naturall or renewed as smoke in a lower house breaketh up defileth the house above If we had more practice of obedience we should have more sound light I think lay aside all other guiltiness this one the violence done to God's candle in our soul were a sufficient dittay against us for there is no helping of this but by striving to stand in aw of God's light lest light tell tales of us we deâ—re little to hear but since it is not without God that light sitteth neighbour to will a lawless Lord no marvel that such a neighbour should lâ—aven our Judgement darken our light I see there is a necessity that we protest against the doings of the old man raise up a party against our worst half to accuse condemn sentence with sorrow bemoan the dominion of sin's Kingdom withall make Law in the new Covenant against our guiltness for Christ once condemned sin in the flesh we are to condemn it over again if there had not been such a thing as the grace of Jesus I should have long since given up with heaven with the expectation to see God But grace grace free grace the merits of Christ for nothing white fair large Saviour-mercy which is another sort of thing then creature-creature-mercy or law-law-mercy yea a thousand degrees above angel-Angel-mercy hath been and must be the rock that we drowned souls must swim to New washing renewed application of purchased redemption by that sacred blood that sealeth the free Covenant is a thing of daily and hourly use to a poor sinner Till we be in heaven our issue of blood will not be quite dryed up therefore we must resolve to apply peace to our soul from the new living way Jesus who cleanseth cureth the leprousâ—â—oul lovely Jesus must be our song on this side of heavens gates even when we have won the castle then must we eternally sing Worthy worthy is the Lamb who hath saved us washed us in his own blood I would counsel all the ransomed ones to learn this song to drink be drunk with the love of Jesus O fairest O highest O loveliest one open the well O water the burnt withered travellers with this love of thine I think it 's possible on earth to build a young new Jerusalem a little new heaven of this surpassing love God either send mâ— more of this love or take me quickly over the water where I may be filled with his love My softness cannot take with want I profess I bear not hunger of Christ's love fair I know not if I play foul play with Christ but I would have a link of that chain of his providence mended in pining delaying the hungry on-waiters For my self I could wish that Christ would let out upon me more of that love Yet to say Christ is a niggard to me I dare not if I say I have abundance of his love I should lye I am half straitned to complain cry Lord Iesus hold thy hand no longer Worthy Sir let me have your prayers in my bonds Grace be with you Aberd. 7 Septr 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord. Iesus S. R. To JAMES LINDSAY 62. Dear Brother THe constant daily observing of God's going alongst with you in his coming going ebbing flowing embracing kissing glooming striking giveth me a witless lazie observer of the Lord's way working an heavie stroke could I keep sight of him know when I want carry as became me in that condition I would blesse my case But. 1. For desertions I think them like lying-lay of lean weak land for some yeers while it gather sap for a better crope It is possible to gather gold where it may be had with moon light Oh if I could but creep one foot or half a foot neerer in to Jesus in such a dismal night as that when he is away I should think it an happy absence 2. If I knew the beloved were onely gone away for triall for further humiliation not smoked out of the house with new provocations I would forgive desertions hold my peace at his absence but Christ's bought absence that I bought with my sin is two running boils at once one upon either side what side then can I lie on 3. I know as night shaddows are good for flowers moonlight dews are better then a continuall sun so is Christ's absence of speciall use it hath some nourishing vertue in it giveth sap to humility putteth an edge on hunger furnisheth a fair field to faith to put forth it self to exercise it's fingers in gripping it seeth not what 4. It is mercy's wonder grace's wonder that Christ will lend a piece of the lodging a back-chamber beside himself to our lusts that he such swine should keep house together in our soul For suppose they couch contract themselves into little room when Christ cometh in seem to lie as dead under his feet yet they often break out again And that a foot of the old man or a leg or arm nailed to Christ's cross looseth the naile or breaketh out again yet Christ beside this unruly misnurtured neighbour can still be making heaven in the saints one way or other may not I say Lord Iesus what doest thou here Yet here he must be but I will but lose my feet to goe on into this depth wonder for free mercy infinite merits took a lodging to Christ us beside such a loath some guest as sin 5. Sanctification mortification of our lusts are the hardest part of Christianity It is in a manner as naturall to us to leap when we see the new Jerusalem as to laugh when we are tickled joy is not under command or at our nod when Christ kisseth but O how many of us would have Christ divided in two halves that we might take the half of him onely take his office Iesus salvation but Lord is a cumbersome word to obey work out our own salvation to perfect holyness is the cumbersome stormy north-side of Christ that we eshew shift 6. For your question the accesse that reprobats have to Christ which is none at all for to the Father in
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