from her head and her gold waxed dim our white Nazarites are become black as the coal Blessed are they who will come out and help Christ against the mighty The shields of the earth the Nobles are debters to Christ for their honour should bring their glory and honour to the new Ierusalem Rev. 21 24. Alas that great men should be so far from subjecting themselves to the sweet yoke of Christ that they burst his bonds asunder and think they dow not goe on foot when Christ is on horseback and that every nod of Christ commanding as a King is a load like a mountain of iron and therefore they say This man shall not reign over us we must have another King then Christ in his own house Therefore kneel to Christ and kiss the Son and let him have your Lo vote as your alone Law-giver I am sure when you leave this old waste Jâ—nes of this perishing life and shall reckon with your hoste depart hence and take shipping make over for eternity which is the yonder side oâ— time a sand-glass of threescore short yeers is running out To look over your shoulder then to that which ye have done spoken suffered for Christ his dear bride that he ransomed with that blood which is more precious then gold for truth the freedom of Christ's Kingdom your accounts shall more sweetly smile laugh upon you then if you had two world's of gold to leave to your posterity O my dear Lord consider that our Master eternity judgement the last reckoning will be upon us in the twinckling of an eye The blast of the last trumpet now hard at hand will cry down all Acts of Parliaments all the determinations of pretended Assemblies against Christ our Law-giver There will be shortly a proclamation by one standing in the clouds that time shall be no more and that court with Kings of clay shall be no more prisons confinements forfeiturs of Nobles wrath of Kings hazard of lands houses name for Christ shall be no more This world's span-length of time is drawn now to less then half an inch and to the point of the evening of the day of this old and gray-haired world And therefore be fixed fast for Christ his truth for a time fear not him whose life goeth out at his nostrils who shall die as a man I am perswaded Christ is responsall and law-biding to make recompence for any thing that is hazardeâ— or given out for him losses for Christ are but our goods given out in bank in Christs hand Kings earthly are well-favoured little clay gods and tim's-idol but a sight of our invisible King shall decry and darken all the glory of this world At the day of Christ truth shall be truth and not treason Alas it is pitiful that silence when the thatch of our Lord's house hath taken fire is now the flower and the bloom of court and state-wisdom And to cast a covering over a good profession as if it blushed at light is thought a canny and sure way through this life But the safest way I am perswaded is to tine win with Christ to hazard fairly for him for heaven is but a company of Noble venturers for Christ. I dare hazard my soul Christ shall grow green and blossom as the rose of Sharon yet in Scotland howbeit now his leaf seemeth to wither and his root to dry up Your noble Ancestors have been inrolled amongst the worthies of this nation as the sure friends of the bridegroom and valiant for Christ I hope ye will follow on to come to the streets for the same Lord the world is still at yea nay with Christ it shall be your glory the sure foundation of your house now when houses are tumbling down birds building their nests thorns briers are growing up where Nobles did spread a table if you engage your estate nobility for this noble King Jesus with whom the created Powers of the world are still in tops all the world shall fall before him as God liveth every arm lifted up to take the crown off his royal head or that refuseth to hold it upon his head shall be broken from the shoulder-blad the eyes that behold Christ weep in sackcloth wallow in his blood will not help even these eyes shall rot away in their eye-holes O if ye the Nobles of this land saw the beauty of that worlds wonder Jesus our King the glory of him who is Angels wonder heavens wonder for excellency Oh what would men count of clay-estates of time-eaten life of worm-eaten moth-eaten worldly glory in comparison of that fairest fairest of Gods creation the son of the father's delights I have but small experience of suffering for him but let my Judge witness in heaven lay my soul in the ballance of justice if I finde not a young heaven a little Paradise of glorious comforts soul-delighting love-kisses of Christ here beneath the moon in suffering for him his truth that glory joy peace fire of love I thought had been kept while supper time when we shall get leisure to feast our fill upon Christ I have felt it in glorious beginnings in my bonds for this princely Lord Jesus Oh it is my sorrow my daily pain that men will not come see I would now be ashamed to beleeve that it should be possible for any soul to think that he could be a loser for Christ suppose he should lend Christ the Lordship of Lindsay or some such great worldly estate Therefore my worthy Dear Lord set your face against the opposits of Jesus let your soul take courage to come under his banner to appeare as his souldier for him the blessings of a falling Kirk the prayers of the prisoners of hope who wait for Sions joy the good will of him that dwelt in the bush it burned not shall be with you To his saving Grace I recommend your Lo your House am still Christs prisoner Aberd. Sept. 7. 1637. Your Lo obliged servant in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To my Lord Boyd 39 My very honourable good Lord. GRace mercy peace be to you I am glad to hear that ye in the morning of your short day minde Christ that ye love the honour of his crown Kingdom I beseech your Lo begin now to frame your love to cast it in no mould but one that it may be for Christ onely For when your love is now in the framing making it will take best with Christ if any other then Jesus get a grip of it when it is green young Christ will be an uncouth strange world to you Promise the lodging of your soul first away to Christ stand by your first covenant keep to Jesus that he may finde you honest It is easie to master an arrow
none of it When I am near the apple he draweth back his hand goeth away to cause me follow And again when I am within an arm-length to the apple he maketh a now break to the gate I have him to seek of new He seemeth not to pity my dwining my swooning for his love I dare sometimes put my hunger over to him to be judged if I would not buy him with a thousand years in the hottest furnace in hell sobeing I might enjoy him But my hunger is fed with want absence I hunger I have not but my comfort is to lie wait on to put my poor soul my sufferings in Christ's hand Let him make any thing out of me sobeing he be glorified in my salvation for I know I am made for him O that my Lord may win his own gracious end in me I will not be at ease while I but stand so far aback O if I were near him with him that this poor soul might be satisfied with himself Your son in law W. G. is now truly honoured for his Lord and Master's cause when the Lord is fanning Zion it is a good token that he is a true branch of the vine that the Lord beginneth first to dress him He is strong in his â—â—râ— as he hath written to me and his wife is his encourager which should make you rejoyce For your son who is your grief your Lord waited on you and me till we were â—ipe and brought us in It is your part to pray wait upon him When he iâ— ripe he will bâ— spoken for who can command our Lord's wind to blow I know it shall be your good in the latter end That is one of your waters to heaven ye could not goe about it there are the fewer behinde I remember you him yours as I am able But alas I am beleeved to be something I am nothing but an emptie reed Wants are my best riches because I have these suppâ—…ed by Christ Remember my dearest love to your brother I know he pleadeth with his harlot-mother for her Apostasie I know also ye are kinde to my worthy Lady Kenmure a woman beloved of the Lord who hath been very mindfull of my bonds The Lord give her to finde mercy her childe in the day of Christ. Great men are dry and cold in doing for me the tinckling of chains for Christ affrighteth them but let my Lord break all my idols I will yet bless him I am obliged to my Lord Lorâ— I wish him mercy Remember my bonds with praises and pray for me that my Lord my leaven the North by my bands sufferings Grace be with you Aberd. July 9. 1637 Yours â—his s swe Lord Iesus S. R. To ALEXANDER GORDON Of Knockgray 206. Dear Brother GRace mercy peace be to you There is no question but our mother-church hath a father that she shall not die withont an heir that her enemies hall not make mount Zion theâ— heritage We see whethersoever Zion's enemies goe suppose they dig many miles under the ground yet our Lord findeth them out and he hath vengeances laid up in â—orâ— for them the poor needy shall not alwayes be forgotten Our hope was drouping withering man was saying what can God make out of the old dry bones of this buried Kirk The Prelats their followers were a grave above us it is like our Lord is to open our graves purposeth to cause his two slain witnesses rise the third day O how long wait I to hear our weeping Lord Jesus sing again triumph rejoyce divide the spoil I finde it hard work to beleeve when the course of providence goeth cross-wayes to our faith when misted souls in a dark night cannot know East by West our sea Compass seemeth to fail us Every man is a beleever in day-light A fair day seemeth to be made all of faith hope What a trial of gold is it to smoke it a little above the fire But to keep gold perfect â—ellow-coloured amidst the flames to be turned from vessel to vessels yet to cause out furnace sound speak cry the praises of the Lord is another matter I know my Lord made me not for fire howbâ—it he hath fitted me in some measure for the fire I bless his high name that I wax not pale neither have I lost the colour of gold and that his fire hath made me somewhat thin that my Lord may pour me in any vessel he pleaseth For a small wager I may justly quite my part of this world's laughter give up with time cast out with the pleasures of this world I know a man who wondered to see any in this life laugh sport surely our Lord seeketh this of us as to any rejoycing in present perishing things I see above all things that we may sit down fold legs arms stretch our selves upon Christ laugh at the feathers that children are chasing here For I think the men of this world like children in a dangerous storm in the sea that play make sport with the white foam of the waves thereof coming in to sink drown them so are men making fool's sports with the white pleasures of a stormy world that will sink â—em But alas what have we to doe with their sports that they make If Solomon said of Laughter that it was madness what may we say of this world 's laughing sporting themselves with gold silver honours court broad large conquests but that they are poor souls in the height and rage of a fever gone mad Then a straw a fig for all created sports and rejoycing out of Christ Nay I think that this world at it's prime perfection when it is is come to the top of it's excellency and to the bloom might be bought with an half penny that it would scarce weigh the worth of a drink of water There is nothing better then to esteem it our crucified idol that is dead slain as Paul did â—al 6 14. Then let pleasures be crucified riches be crucified court honour be crucified since the Apostle faith the world is crucified to him we may put this world to the hanged man's doom and to the gallowes who will give much for a hanged man as little should we give for a hanged crucified world Yet what a sweet smell hath this dead carrion to many fools in the world and how many wooers and suiters findeth this hanged carrion Fools are pulling it off the gallowes and contending for it O when shall we learn to be mortified men to have our fill of these things that have but their short summer-quarter of this life If we saw our father's house and that great and fair citie the new Ierusalem which is up above sun moon we would cry to be over the water
countenance or fashion of this world passeth away In which place our Lord compareth it to an Image in a looking-glass for it is the looking-glass of Adam's sons Some come to the glass see in it the picture of Honour and but a picture indeed for true Honour is to be great in the sight of God others see in it the shadow of Riches but a shadow indeed for durable Riches stand as one of the maids of Wisdom upon her left hand Prov. 3. 16. a third sort see in it the face of painted Pleasures the beholders will not beleeve but the Image they see in this glass is a living man till the Lord come break the glass in pieces remove the face then like Pharaoh awakened they say And behold it was a dream I know your La thinketh your self little in the common of this world for the favourable aspect of any of these three painted faces blessed be our Lord that it is so the better for you Madam they are not worthy to be wooers to sute in marriage your soul that looks to an higher match then to be married upon painted clay know therefore Madam the place whither our Lord Jesus cometh to wooe a Bride it is even in the furnace for if ye be one of Zion's daughters which I ever put beyond all question since I first had occasion to see in your La such pregnant evidences of the grace of God the Lord who hath his fire in Zion his furnace in Ierusalem Isa. 31 9. is purifying you in the furnace And therefore be content to live in it and every day to be adding sowing-to a pasment to your wedding garment that ye may be at last decored trimmed as a Bride for Christ a Bride of his own busking beautified in the hidden man of the heart forgetting your Father's house so shall the King greatly desire your beauty Psal. 45 11. If your La be not changed as I hope ye are not I beleeve ye esteem your self to be of these whom God hath tried these many years refined as silver But Madam I will shew your La a priviledge that others want ye have in this case Such as are in prosperity are fatted with earthly joyes encreased with children friends though the Word of God is indeed written to such for their instruction yet to you who are in trouble spare me Madam to say this from whom the Lord hath taken many children whom he hath exercised otherwise there are some chapters some particular promises in the Word of God made in a most special manner which should never have been yours so as they now are if ye had your portion in this life as others therefore all the comforts promises mercies God offereth to the afflicted they are as many love-letters written to you take them to you Madam claim your right be not robbed It is no small comfort that God hath written some Scriptures to you which he hath not written to others ye seem rather in this to be envied then pitied ye are indeed in this like people of another world these that are above the ordinary rank of mankinde whom our King Lord our Bridegroom Iesus in his love-letter to his welbeloved Spouse hath named beside all the rest hath written comforts and his hearry commendations in the 56 of I saiah vers 4 5. Bsal. 147 2 3 to you Read these the like think your God is like a friend that sendeth a letter to a whole house family but speaketh in his letter to some by name that are dearest to him in the house Ye are then Madam of the dearest friends of the Bridegroom If it were lawfull I would envie you that God honoured you so above many of his dear children Therefore Madam your partis in this case seeing God taketh nothing from you but that which he is to supply with his own presence to desire your Lord to know his own room take it even upon him to come in in the room of dead children Iehovah know thy own place take it to thee is all ye have to say Madam I perswade my self that this world is to you an uncouth Innes that ye are like a traveller who hath his bundel upon his back his staff in his hand his feet upon the door-threshold Goe forward honourable elect Lady in the strength of your Lord let the world bide at home keep the house with your face toward him who longeth more for a sight of you then ye can doe for him ere it be long he will see us I hope to see you laugh as cheerfully after-noon as ye have mourned before-noon The hand of the Lord the hand of the Lord be with you in your journey What have ye to doe here This is not your mountain of rest arise then and set your foot up the mountain goe up out of the wilderness leaning upon the shoulder of your Beloved Caent 8 v. 5 If ye knew the welcome that abideth you when ye come home ye would hasten your pace for ye shall see your Lord put up his own holy hand to your face wipe all tears from your eyes I trow then ye shall have some joy of heart Madam paper willeth me to end before affection Remember the estate of Zaon pray that Ierusalem may be as Zechariah prophesied Ch. 12 3. A burdensom stone for all that whosoever boweth down to roll the stone out of the way may hurt break the joynts of their back strain their arms disjoynt their shoulder-blades pray Iehovah that the stone may lie still in it's own place keep bond with the corner-stone I hope it shall be so he is a skilled Master-builder who laid it I would Madam under great heaviness be refreshed with two lines from your La pen which I refer to your own wisdom Madam I would seen undutifull not to shew you that great solistation is made by the town of Kircudbright for to have the use of my poor labours amongst them If the Lord shall call his people cry who am I to resist but without his seen calling till the flock whom I now oversee be planted with one to whom I dare intrust Christ's Spouse gold nor silver nor favour of men I hope shall not loose me I leave your La praying more earnestly for grace mercy to be with you multiplied upon you here hereafter then my pen can express The Lord Jesus be with your spirit Kirkcudbright Your La at all obedience in the Lord S. R. To my Lady KENMURE 15. MADAM HAving saluted you with grace mercy from God our father from our Lord Jesus Christ I long both to see your La to hear how it goeth with you I doe remember you present you your necessities to him who is able to keep you present you blameless before
is incomprehensible love that Christ saith If I enjoy the glory of my father the crown of heaven far above men Angels I must use all means though never so violent to have the company of such an One for ever ever If with the eyes of wisdom as a childe of wisdom ye justifie your mother The wisdom of God whose childe ye are ye shall kiss embrace this loss see much of Christ in it Beleeve submit referre the income of the consolations of Jesus the event of the trial to your heavenly father who numbereth all your hairs And put Christ in his own room in your Love It may be he hath either been out of his own place or in a place of love inferiour to his worth Repair Christ in all his wrongs done to him love him for a husband he is a husband to the widdow shall be that to you which he hath taken from you Grace be with you London Octob. 15. 1645. Your sympath Zing Brother S. R. To BARBARA HAMILTON 44 Loving Sister GRace mercy peace be to you I have heard with grief that Newcastle hath taken one more in a bloody account then before even your Son in Law my friend But I hope ye have learned that much of Christ as not to look to wheels rolled round about on earth Earthen vessels are not to dispute with their Former peices of sinning-clay may by reasoning contending with the Potter mar the work of him who hath his fire in Zion and his furnace in Jerusalem as bullocks sweating wrestling in the furrow make their yoke more heavie In quietness rest ye shall be saved If men doe any thing contrary to our heart we may ask both who did it And what is done And why When God hath done any such thing we are to enquire who hath done it And to know that this cometh from the Lord who is wonderfull in counsel but we are not to ask what or why If it be from the Lord as certainly their is no evil in the city without him Amos. 3. 6. it is enough the fairest face of his spotless way is but coming ye are to beleeve his works aswell as his word Violent death is a sharer with Christ in his death which was violent it maketh not much what way we goe to heaven the happie home is all where the roughness of the way shall be forgotten He is gone home to a friend's house and made welcome and the race is ended Time is recompensed with eternity and copper with gold God's order is in wisdom the husband goes home before the wife and the throng of the marker shall be over ere it be long and another generation where we now are and at length an emptie house and not one of mankinde shall be upon the earth within the sixth part of an hour after the earth and the works that are therein shall be burnt up with fire I fear more that Christ is about to remove when he carrieth home so much of his plenishing before hand we cannot teach the Almighty knowledge when he was directing the bullet against his servant to fetch out the soul no wise man could cry to God Wrong wrong Lord for he is thine own There is no mist over his eyes who is wonderfull in counsel If Zion be builded with your son in law's blood the Lord deep in counsel can glew together the stones of Zion with blood and with that blood which is precious in his eyes Christ hath fewer labourers in his vineyard then he had but some moe witnesses for his cause and the Lord's Covenant with the three Nations What is Christ's gain is not your loss Let not that which is his holy and wise will be your unbeleeving sorrow Though I really judge I had interest in his dead servant yet because he now liveth to Christ I quite the hops I had of his succesfull labouring in the ministery I know he now praiseth the grace that he was to preach And if there were a better thing on his head now in heaven then a crown or any thing more excellent then heaven he would cast it down before his feet who sitteth on the throne Give glory therefore to Christ as he now doeth and say Thy will be done The grace and consolation of Christ be with you London Nov 15. 1645. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To the vicountesse of KENMURE 45 MADAM GRace mercy peace be to your La though Christ lose no time yet when sinfull men drive his chariot the wheels of 〈◊〉 chariot move slowly The woman Zion as soon as she travelled brought forth her children yea Isa. 66 7. before she travelled she brought fâ—rth before her pain came she was delivered of a man-childe Yet the deliverance of the people was with the woman's going with childe seventy years that is more then nine moneths There be many oppositions in carrying on the work but I hope the Lord will build his own Zion evidence to us that it is done not by might not by power but by the Spirit of the Lord. Madam I have heard of your infirmities of body sickness I know the issue shall be mercy to you that God's purpose which lieth hidden underground to you is to commend the sweetness of his love care to you from your youth And if all the sad losses trials sicknesses infirmities griefs heaviness inconstancie of the creature be expounded as sure I am they are the rods of the jealousie of an husband in heaven contending with all your lovers on earth though there were millions of them for your love to fetch more of your love home to heaven to make it single unmixt chast to the fairest in heaven earth to Jesus the Prince of ages ye will forgive to borrow that word every rod of God not let the Sun goe down on your wrath against any messinger of your afflicting correcting Father Since your La cannot but see that the mark at which Christ hath aimed at these twenty four years and above is to have the company fellowship of such a sinfull creature in heaven with him for all eternity and because he will not such is the power of his love enjoy his father's glory and that crown due to him by eternall generation without you by name Ioh. 17 24. Ioh. 10 16. Ioh. 14 3. Therefore Madam beleeve no evil of Christ Listen to no hard reports that his rods make of him to you He hath loved you washed you from your sins what would ye have more Is that too little except he adjourne all crosses till ye be where ye shall be out of all capacity to sigh or to be crossed I hope ye can desire no more no greater nor more excellent sute then Christ the fellowship of the Lamb for evermore And if that desire be answered in heaven as I am sure it is ye cannot
may be as we are confident in the Lord of you and in humility boast of his grace in you savoury convincing and like unto this honourable cause that will prevail in Britain contrary to all the Machinations and counsels of Devils men though there were no other ink in the pen I now write with but some dewing of my last cooling blood this I purpose his grace whose I am enabling me to Stand too Sir we desire to adore no instruments yet we conceive the shining rayes of grace from the fountain Iesus Christ the fulness of the Godhead bestowed on sinfulmen hold forth the good thoughts of Christ to this poor land whose multipied graves and whose souls under the Altar slain by Sestaries Malignants cry aloud to heaven I see nothing Sir if the Lord be not near though I dare not say how soon to awak for the year of Zion's controversie Isai. 34 5. for my sword shall be bathed in heaven behold it shall come down upon England and the residue of his enemies in Scotland Woe is me for England that land shall be soaked with blood and their dust made fat with fatness That pleasant land shall be wildernesse the dust of their land pitch A judgement upon their walled towns ' thâ—… pleasant feilds their strong ships c if they doe not repent Ye have not I conceive seen such searching trying times as now these are yet the question will be drawn to a more narrow state multitudes will yet leave the cause for we took all in to the Covenant that offered to build with us but Christ must have but a small remnant few Nobles if any few Ministers few Professors though our way standeth unchanged 2 Cor. 6 8. by honour di honour by good report evil report as deceâ—…ers yet true as unknown and yet well known as dying and behold we live as chastned and yet not killed Neither is this your condition alone but the experienced lot of all the saints that have gone before you It is one the same cross of Christ but there be sundry faces diverse circumstances in the same remnant the sufferings of Christ yours Sir to be delivered to Souldiers in captivity looketh like his sufferings of whom Isaiah saith Chap. 53 8. he was taken from prison from judgement yea taken bound Ioh. 18 12. when the cause is the truth of God the lustre and face of suffering is somuch the more lovely that it hath the hew colour of Christ's sufferings who endured contradiction of sinners and despised the shame O it is a great word Christ shamed and Christ abased but thus was the Head so are the members dealt with in the world and truely any thing of Christ even the worst of him to speake so his reproach and shame are lovely Though superstitious love to the materiall crosse he suffered upon be foolery doting upon the holy grave be cursed idolatry yet is there a communion with him in his sufferings most desirable 1 Pet. 4 15. but rejoyce in as much as ye are Partakers of Christ's sufferings in which sense the cup that his lip touched hath thâ— sweeter taste even though death were in it The grave because He did lie in it is so much the softer the more refreshfull a bed of rest And that part of the sky clouds that the Beloved shall break through come to judgement it is as lovely a piece of the created heaven as any is if we may love the ground he goeth on the better But all this is to be understood in a spirituall manner The Lord calleth you Sir upon whom the Spirit of God his glory resteth to put your soul 's Amen to this dispensation requireth of us that our desires follow the now-declared decree of God concerning the desolation of our sinfull land so many wayes guilty of a despised Gospel and a broken Covenant and that with all submission Certainly no man hath failed more in this thing then he who writeth to you for I have brought my health in great hazard and tormented my spirit with excessive grief so our present provocations the rentings of our Kirk and I see it is a challenging of a bold pleading against him upon whose â—…er the government is Isa. 22 2â— The Father hath â—ut a glorious 〈◊〉 〈…〉 Christ v. 23. I will fasten him as a naâ—… a sure place and he shall be for a glorious throne to his Father's house v. 24. And they shall hang upon him all the glory of his Father's house the offspring and the issue all vessels of small quantity from the vessels of cups even to all the vessels of slagons Our unbeleeving apprehensions doe so quarrel at the prosperity of enemies in an evil cause that we wrestle with defeatâ— spoiling captivity of the Godly killing of his people the wasting of our land starving and famishing of the Kingdom which is worse then the sword but this is a sinfull coutradicting of the Lord 's revealed decree His wisdom saith Spoiling desolation is best for Scotland we say Not so accuse Christ of misgovernment of not being true to the trust put upon him But since he doeth not drag the government at his heels but hath it upon his shoulder since the 〈◊〉 fastned in a sure place cannot be broken nor can the smallest vessel fail to finde sweet security in dependence upon him since all the weight of heaven earth of redeemed saints confirmed Angels is upon his shoulder I am a fool brutish to imagine that I can adde any thing to Christ's speciall care of tenderness to his people He who keepeth the basons knives of his house bringâ—th the vessels back again to the second temple Ezra 1 8 9 10. must have a more tender care of his redeemed ones then of a spoon or of Peter's old shoes which yet must not be lost in his captivity Act. 12 8. O for grace to suffer Christ to tutour his own Minors young Heirs But we cannot endure to be under the actings of his government We love too much to be our own O how sweet to be wholly Christ's wholly in Christ To be out of the creatures owning made compleat in Christ to live by faith in Christ to be once for all cloâ—… with the 〈◊〉 Majesty glory of the Son of God wherein he makes all his friends and followers sharers To dwell in Immanuel's high and blessed land and live in that sweetest air where no wind bloweth but the breathings of the Holy Ghost No seas or sloods flow but the pure water of life that proceedeth from under the throne and from the Lamb No planting but the tree of life that yeeldeth twelve manner of fruits every moneth What doe we here but fin and suffer O when shall the night be gene the shadows 〈◊〉 away and the morning of that long
shall be restored unto you seven fold which would carry alongst with it the accomplishment of that other great Gospel promise his enemies will I clothe with shame but upon himself shall his crown flourish Faxit Deus â—esâ—â—ness should be the constant Echo of our hearts Reader there is one thing more I have to acquaint thee with so I have done that is to tell thee that I have made bold for this once to send these Epistles abroad into the world without the Prelat's Imprimatur If he please to take this for an Apology that the Author sought not his permission to write them which emboldned me to transmit them to thy hands without his approbation he may for I am not in an humor to give him any other account of this action I know it 's very probable that the fat of these may be the fire for our late fulious Prelats that Draco volans which being got upon the wing spouts down fire upon the Church wherby the Tabernacles of God are burnt up through the land For the appearance of this fiery meteor did alwayes portend somwhat fatall to the Church to follow upon it are a little more hot then their predecessors It 's true these went so high in their persecution drave so hard that it was thought scarce possible for any to out-doe them in persecuting for they run them selves out of breath never drew bridle till they fell in the ditch we thought they had died their without succession but Alas The Church finds this day that 〈◊〉 respect of their successors they were mere novices had scarce served their Aprentiship in the blake Art And this puts me to think whether the people of God should not rather submit to be chastised even with this scourge of scorpions then to wish that he would throw the â—od in the fire lest if they were gone we not fit for a delivery as indeed we are not it should fall out with us according to the story of the old wife of Syracuse who was afraid of Dyon sius his death lest the devil should succeed him but if any should say to me what if be allready come For if the Holy Ghost call these men such Rev. 2 10. Who did But cast in prison did but cast some in prison may he not be said to be allready come down now having great wrath when deposition imprisonment banishment yea any thing less then declared worthy to die is thought a savour If any should urge me with this I say I confess he would pose me into an absolut silence or force an acknowledgment from me If the Prelats themselves who are of age be in case to make a reply let them answer it For the truth is they are so hot upon their work that if it be a heresy to think so of them they who plead the necessity of their office for preventing of schisme heresy are like to turne the better part of the world hereticks but to my purpose I say their is some reason to fear that this be thought very sit fewel to make a fire in Cajapcas his hall However though it should be so yet this is not the first time that some of the worthy Author's works have got such entertainment truely their is so much zeal to the interests of Christ so much love to God the salvation of men burning in these lines that that spirit whose element is fire will endeavour to blow the bellowes seek this as a sacrifice at their hands whose once professed sincerity personat zeal for God his interests is now broken out in such high Acts of rebellion against him hatred against his servants whereby the proverb is become plain Scottish or Inglish or both if ye will Omnis Apostata secta suae Osor But if the Prelats would take a poor Presbyter's advice they wouâ— even let it alone lest the smoak of that fire wherein they burne this kindle a flame of just indignation against them in the hearts of all the lovers of God as men who have a very perfect hatred against piety but if they care not to be so looked upon I have no more to say be it so It 's like nothing that I can say will hinder them from puttingh this peece in his hands to whom as I heare they have committed the revising of learned worthy Mr. Wood's Testimony c. who it seems is made choice of by them as Secretary in Chief for fevising all such peeces to â—iâ— Ioannes Dunmuraeus cum Fratriâ—â—â—â— Collegis suis And therefore I must leave them to their own liberty which I onely doe because I cannot help it I am afraid besids lest if I should work too hard in carrying water to cool them I over-heat my self leave them at last nothing cooler then I found them But as for thee Christian Reader it will be a sufficent imprimatur to tell thee that these are MR. RUTHERFOORD'S LETTERS Wherein he gives thee an account of many a good day joyfull hour he had in his Master's company while his fellow-servants did beat thrust him out of the vineyard he invits thee to take a share of his feast truely I wish that both of us would goe try taste since neither of us are like to have very good entertainment any where else I have but one word more to say for I know it 's long since thou expected I should have made an end it 's onely to crave the pardon that I have not done it sooner when I wrote the first nes I thought to have made the end the beginning so contiguous that I should neither have put thee to this trouble nor my self to the necessity of an Apology in order to that I did really forbear what as I told thee at first I intended am carryed this length besids my designe but if the length of what is here offend thee thou art in case without doing me any wrong to give thy self the same satisfaction as if I had said nothing by passing it as so much waste paper turning over to the Epistles themselves If thy soul be profited by these as I hope it shall I have my designe all I seek of the be side is that thou wouldest wish his soul's welfare who was at this little pains in order to thine who desires to be reockened by thee amongst the meanest most unworthy of The favourers of the dust of Zion And thy Wellâ—â—â—kers AD LECTOREM IN EPISTOLAS QVOD Chebar Patmos divinis Vatibus olim Hoc fuerant Sancto claustra Abredaea Viro Profuit ut quondam tibi plus Ecclesia carcer Libera quam patuli copia facta fort Hic tibi sic scriptis carcer plus profuit ist is Pulpita quam raucâ quae sonuere tuba Pharmaca in hoc prostant contritis corde libello Hic crucis Elâ—sâ—s est via sâ—rata râ—sis
with the want of what we are obliged to give him even the glory of his grace by beleeving yet a poor covenanted sinner wanteth not but if guiltiness were removed doubtings would find no friend nor life and yet faith is to beleeve the removal of guiltiness in Christ. A reason why ye get less now as ye think then before as I take it is because at our first conversion our Lord putteth the meat in young bairns mouthes with his own hand but when we grow to some further perfection we must take heaven by violence and take by violence from Christ what we get and he can and doeth hold because he will have us to draw Remenber now ye must live upon violent plucking laziness is a greater fault now then long since we love alwayes to have the pape put in our mouth No for my self alace I am not the man I goe for in this nation men have not just weights to weigh me 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but I am a liâ—â—yâ—â—â—less Body and ove◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whom 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 If Christ would refer the matter to 〈◊〉 in his presence I speak it I might think shame to vote my own salvation I think Christ might say thinkâ—â— thou not shame to claim heaven who does so 〈◊〉 for it I am very often so that I know not whether 〈◊〉 â—â—nk oâ— swine in the water I find my self a bag of light froth I would bear no weight but vanities nothing's weigh in Christs balance if my Lord cast not in borrowed weight metall even Christs righteousness to weigh for me the stock I have is not mine own I am but the merchand that traffiques with other folks goods if my creditor Christ would take from me what he hath lent I would not long keep the causey but Christ hath made it mâ—â—e his I think it manhood to play the coward jouke in the lee-side of Christ and thus I am not onely saved from my enemies but I obtain the victory I am so empty that I think it were an almes-deed in Christ if he would win a poor prisoners blessing for evermore and fill me with his love I complain when Christ cometh he cometh alwayes to fetch fire he is ever in haste he may not tarry poor 〈◊〉 a beggerly Dyvour get but a standing visit a standing kiss but how doest thou in the by-going I dare not say he is lordly because he is made a King now at the right hand of God or is grown miskenning dry to his poor freinds for he cannot make more of his kisses then they are worth but I think it my happiness to love the love of Christ when he goeth away the memory of his sweet presence is like a feast in a dear summer I have comfort in this that my soul desireth that every hour of my imprisonment were a company of heavenly tongues to praise him on my behalf howbeit my bonds were prolonged for many hundred yeers O that I could be the man who could procure my Lords glory to flow like a full sea blow like a mighty wind upon all the four Airths of Scotland England Ireland O if I could write a book of his praises O fairest among the sons of men why stayest thou so long away O heavens move fast O time run run hasten the marriage-day for love is tormented with delayes O Angels O Seraphims who stand before him O blessed Spirits who now see his face set him on high for when ye have worn your harps in his praises all is too little is nothing to cast the smel of the praise of that fair flower that fragrant rose of Sharon through many worlds Sir take my hearty commendations to him tell him that I am sick of love Grace be with you Aberd. June 16. 1637. Yours in his sweet L. Iesus S. R. To his Honoured Dear Brother ALEXAND GORDON of KNOCKGRAY 28 Dearest truly honoured Brother GRace mercy peace be to you I have seen no letter from you since I came to Aberdeen I will no tinterpret it to be forgetfulness I am here in a fair prison Christ is my sweet honourable fellow-prisoner I his sad joyful Lord-prisoner if I may speak so I think this cross becometh me well is suitable to me in respect of my duty to suffer for Christ howbeit not in regard of my deserving to be thus honoured However it be I see Christ is strong even lying in the dust in prison and in banishment Losses disgraces are the wheels of Christs triumphing chariot In the sufferings of his own saints as he intendeth their good so he intendeth his own glory that is the butte his arrowes shoot at Christ shooteth not at the tovers he hitteth what he purposeth to hit Therefore he doeth make his own feckless weak nothing's these who are the contempt of men a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth to thresh the mountains beat them small to make the hills as chaff to fan them Isa. 51 15 16. What harder stuff or harder grain for threshing out then high and rockie mountains But the Saints are Gods threshing instruments to beat them all in chaff are we not Gods leem vessels yet when they cast us over an house we are not broken in sheards we creep in under our Lords wings in the great shower the water cannot goe thorow these wings It is folly then for men to say this is not Christs plea he will lose the wed-fee men are like to beguile him that were indeed a strange play Nay I dare pledge my soul lay it in pawne on Christs side of it be half-tiner half-winner with my Master Let fools laugh the foolslaughter scorn Christ bid the weeping captives in Babylon sing us one of the songs of Zion play a spring to chear up your sad-hearted God We may sing upon lucks head before hand even in our winter-storme in the expectation of a summer-sun at the turn of the yeer no created powers in hell or out of hell can mar our L. Jesus his musick nor spill our song of joy let us then be glad rejoyce in the salvation of our Lord for faith had never yet cause to have wet cheeks hingingdown browes or to droup or die what can aile faith seeing Christ suffereth himself with reverence to him be it spoken to be commanded by it Christ commandeth all things faith may dance because Christ sings we may come in the Quite lift our hoarse rough voices chirp sing shout for joy with our Lord Jesus We see oxen goe to the shambles leaping startling We see Gods fed oxen prepared for the day of slaughter goe dancing singing down to the black chambers of hell why should we goe to heaven weeping as if we were like to fall down thorow the earth for sorrow If God were dead if I may speak so with
sick night through the terrors of the Almighty would make men whose conscience hath such a wide throat as an image like a Chathedral Church would goe down it have other thoughts of Christ and his worship then now they please themselves with The scarcity of faith in the earth saith We are hard upon the last nick of time Blessed are these who keep their garments clean against the bridegroom's coming There shall be spotted clothes many defiled garments at his last coming therefore few found worthy to walk with him in white I am perswaded my Lord this poor travelling woman our pained Church is with childe of victory shall bring forth a man-childe that shall be caught up to God his throne howbeit the Dragon in his followers be attending the childe-birth-pain as an Egyptian midwife to receive the birth strangle it Isa. 29 8. But they shall be disappointed who thirst for the destruction of Zion they shall be as when a hungry man dreameth that he eateth but behold he awaketh his soul is empty or when a thirsty man dreameth that he drinketh but behold he awaketh is faint his soul is not satisfied so shall it be I say with the multitude of all the nations that fight against mount Zion Therefore the weak feeble these that are as signes wonders in Israel have chosen the best side even the side that victory is upon I think this is no evil policy Verily for my self I am so well pleased with Christ his noble honest-born cross this cross that is come of Christ's house is of kin to himself that I should weep if it should come to niffering barâ—â—ring of lots condition with these that are at ease in Zion I hold still my choice blesse my self in it I see I beleeve there is salvation in this way that is every where spoken against I hope to goe to eternity to venture upon the last evil to the saints even upon death fully perswaded that this onely even this is the saving way for rackel consciences for weary laden sinners to finde ease peace for evermore into indeed it is not for any worldly respect that I speak so of it the weather is not so hot that I have great cause to startle in my prison or to boast of that â—ntertainment that my good friends the Prelats intend for me which is banishment if they shall obtain their desire effectu at what they design but let it come I rue not that I made Christ my waile my choice I think him ay the longer the better My Lord It shall be good service to God to hold your noble friend Chief upon a good course for the truth of Christ. Now the very God of peace establish your Lo in Christ Jesuâ— unto the end Aberd. Sept 10. 1637. Your Lo in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To the Laird of GAITGIRTH 76 Much honoured Sir GRace mercy peace be to you I can doe no more but thank you in paper remember you to him whom I serve for your kindness care of a prisoner I bleâ—s the Lord the cause I suffer for needeth not to bluâ—h before Kings Christs white honest fair truth needeth neither wax pale for fear nor blush for shame I bless the Lord who hath graced you to own Christ now when so many are affraid to profess him hide him for fear they suffer loss by avouching him Alas that so many in these dayes are carried with the times As if their conscience rolled upon oyled wheels so doe they goe any way the wind bloweth them because Christ is not market-sweet men put him away from them Worthy much honoured Sir goe on to own Christ his oppressed truth The end of sufferings for the Gospel is rest and gladness light joy is sown for the mourners in Zion and the harvest which is of God's making for time manner is neer Crosses have right claim to Christ in hs members till legs arms whole mystical-Christ be in heaven There will be rain hail stormâ—â—n the saints clouds ever till God cleanse with fire the works of creation till he burn the botch-house of heaven earth that mens sin hath subjected unto vanity They are blessed who suffer sin not for suffering is the badge that Christ hath put upon his followers Take what way we can to heaven the way is hedged up with crosses there is no way but to break through them wit wiles shifts laws will not finde out a way about the cross of Christ but we must through one thing by experience my Lord hath taught me that the waters betwixt this heaven may all be ridden if â—e be well hors'd I mean if we be in Christ not one shall drown by the way but such as love their own destruction Oh if we could wait on for a time beleeve in the dark the salvation of God! At least we are to beleeve good of Christ till he give us the slip which is impossible to take his word for caution that he shall fill up all the blanks in his promises give us what we want but to the unbeleever Christ's Testament is white blank unwritten paper worthy and dear Sir set your face to heaven make you to stoop at all the low entries in the way that ye may receive the Kingdom as a childe without this he that knew the way said there is no entry in O but Christ be willing to lead a poor sinner O what love my poor soul hath found in him in the house of my pilgrimage Suppose love in heaven and earth were lost I dare swear it may be found in Christ. Now the very God of peace establish you till the day of the glorious appearance of Christ. Aberd. Sept. 7. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To the Lady GAITGIRTH 77 Much honoured Christian Lady GRace mercy peace be to you I long to hear how it goeth with you your children I exhort you not to lose breath nor to faint in your journey The way is not so long to your home as it was it will wear to one step or an inch at length ye shall come ere long to be within your arm-length of the glorious crown Your Lord Jesus did sweat pant ere he got up that mount he was at father save me with it it was he who Psal. 22 14. said I am poured out like water all my bones are out of joynt Christ waâ— as if they had broken him upon the wheel my heart is like wax it is melted in the midst of my bowels v. 15. My strength is dried up like a poâ—sheard I am sure ye love the way the better that his holy feet trod it before you Crosses have a smell of crossed pained Christ. I beleeve your Lord will not leave you to
the vineyard but held the sun off the good plants with my idle shadow therefore my Master had given the evil servant â—he fields to fend him Old guiltiness said as witness all is true My apprehensions were with childe of faithless fears unbelief put a seal Amen to all I thought my self in a hard case Some said I had cause to rejoyce that Christ had honoured me to be a witness for him I said in my heart these are words of men who see but mine outside cannot tell if I be a false witness or not If Christ had in this matter been as wilfull short as I was my faith had gone over the brae broken it's neck But we were well met a hastie fool a wise patient meek Saviour he took no law-advantage of my folly but waited on till my ill blood was fallen my drumbled troubled well began to clear He was never a whit angry at the feverravings of a poor tempted sinner but he mercifully forgave came as it well becometh him with grace new comfort to a a sinner who deserved the contrary And now he is content to kiss my black mouth to put his hand in mine to feed me with as many consolations as would feed ten hungry souls Yet I dare not say he is a waster of comforts for no less would have born me up one grain weight less would have casten the ballance Now who is like to that royall king crowned in Zion where will I get a seat for royall Majesty to set him on If I could set him as far above the heavens as thousand thousands of heights devised by men Angels I would think him but too low I pray you for God's sake my dear Sister help me to praise His love hath neither brim nor bottom His love is like himself it passâ—th all naturall understanding I goe to fathom it with my arms but it is as if a childe would take the globe of sea land in his two short arms Blessed holy is his name This must be his truth I now suffer for for he would not laugh upon a lye nor be witness with his comforts to a night-dream I entreat for your prayers the prayers blessing of a prisoner of Christ be upon you Grace be with you Aberd. March 14. 1637. Yours in his sâ—eet Lord Iesus S. R. To ALEXANDER GORDON Of Knockgray 119 Dear Brother I Have not leisure to write to you Christ's wayes were known to you long before I who am but a childe knew any thing of him What wrong violence the Prelats may by God's permission doe unto you for your trial I know not but this I know that your ten dayes tribulation will end Contend to the last breath for Christ. Banishment out of these Kingdomes is determined against me as I hear this land dow not bear me I pray you recommend my case bonds to my brethren sisters with you I intrust more of my spirituall comfort to you them that way my dear Brother then to many in this Kingdom besides I hope ye will not be wanting to Christ's prisoner Fear nothing for I assure you Alexander Gordon of Knockgray shall win away get his soul for a prey And what can he then want that 's worth the having Your friends are cold as ye write so are these in whom I trusted much Our husband doeth well in breaking our idols in pieces dry wells send us to the fountain My life is not dear to me sobeing I may fulfil my course with joy I fear you must remove if your new hireling will not bear your discountenancing of him for the Prelat is affraid Christ get you that he hath no will of Grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Master S. R. To JOHN FLEMING Bailisse of Leith 120 Worthy dearly beloved in the Lord. GRace mercy peace be unto you I received your letter I wish I could satisfie your desire in drawing up and framing for you a Christian directory But the learned have done it before me more judiciously then I can especially Mr Rodgers Greenhame Perkins not withstanding I shall shew you what I would have been at my self howbeit I I came alwayes short of my purpose 1. That hours of the day less or more time for the word prayer be given to God not sparing the twelfth hour or midday howbeit it should then be the shorter time 2. In the midst of wordly employments there would be some thoughts of sin judgement death eternity with a word or two of ejaculatory prayer at least to God 3. To beware of wandering of heart in privat prayers 4. Not to grudge howbeit ye come from prayer without sense or joy Down-casting sense of guiltiness hunger is often best for us 5. That the Lord's day from morning to night be spent alwayes either in private or publike worship 6. That words be observed wandering and idle thoughts be avoided sudden anger desire of revenge even of such as persecute the truth be guarded against for we often mix our zeal with our own wilde fire 7. That known discovered revealed sins that are against the conscience be eshewed as most dangerous preparative to hardness of heart 8. That in dealing with men faith truth in covenants traffiquing be regarded that we deal with all men in sincerity that conscience be made of idle lying words that our carriage be such as that they who see it may speak honourably of our sweet Master and profession 9. I have been much challenged 1. For not referring all to God as the last end That I doe not eat drink sleep journey speak and think for God 2. That I have not benefited by good company that I left not some word of conviction even upon naturall and wicked men as by reproving swearing in them or because of being a silent witness to their loose carriage because I intended not in all companies to doe good 3. That the woes calamities of the Kirk particular professors have not moved me 4. That the reading of the life of David Paul the like when it humbled me I coming so far short of their holiness laboured not to imitate them afar off at least according to the measure of God's grace 5. That unrepented sins of youth were not looked to lamented for 6. That sudden stirrings of pride lust revenge love of honours were not resisted mourned for 7. That my charity was cold 8. That the experiences I had of God's hearing me in this the other Particular being gathered yet in a new trouble I had alwayes once at least my faith to seek as if I were to begin at A. B. C. Again 9. That I have not more boldly contradicted the enemies speaking against the truth either in publike church-meetings or at tables or ordinary conference 10. That in great
to trust in him When Christ hath sleeped out his sleep if I may speak so of him who is the watch-man of Israel that neither slumbereth nor sleepeth and his own are tried he will arise as a strong man after wine and make bare his holy arm and put on vengeance as a cloak and deal vengeance thick double amongst the haters of Zion It may be we see him sow and send down maledictions vengeances as thick as drops of rain or hail upon his enemies For our Lord oweth them a black day he useth duely to pay his debts neither his friends followers nor his foes adversaries shall have it to say that he is not faithfull exact in keeping his word I know no bar in God's way but Scotland's guiltiness he can come over that impediment break that bar also then say to guilty Scotland as he said Ezek. 36. Not for your sakes c. On-waiting had ever yet a blessed issue to keep the word of God's patience keepeth still the saints dry in the water cold in the fire breathing blood-hot in the grave What are prisons of iron walls gates of brass to Christ Not so good as feal dikes fortifications of straw or old tottering walls If he give the word then the chains will fall off the arms legs of his prisoners God be thanked that our Lord Jesus hath the tutouring of King and Court and Nobles and that he can dry the gutters and the mires in Sion and lay causeys to the Temple with the carcases of bastard Lord-Prelats idol-shepherds The corn on the house-tops got never the husband-man's prayers so is seen on it for it filleth not the hand of mowers Christ truth innocency worketh even under the earth verily there is hope for the righteous We see not what conclusions pass in heaven anent all the affaris of God's house we need not give hire to God to take vengeance of his enemies for Justice worketh without hire O that the seed of hope would grow again and come to maturity And that we could importune Christ double our knocks at his gate cast our cries shouts over the wall that he might come out make our Ierusalem the praise of the whole earth give us Salvation for walls bulwarks If Christ bud grow green and bloom bear seed again in Scotland his father send him two summers again in one year bless his crop O what cause have we to rejoyce in the free salvation of our Lord to set up our banners in the name of our God! O that he would hasten the confusion of the leprous strumpet the mother mistress of abominations in the earth take graven images out of the way come in with the Iews in troops agree with his old out cast forsaken wife take them in again to his bed of love Grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Yours in our Master and Lord S. R. To the Lady LARGIRIE 129. MISTRESS GRace mercy peace be to you I exhort you in the Lord to goe on in your journey to heaven to be content of such fare by the way as Christ his followers have had before you for they had alwayes the wind on their faces our Lord hath not changed the way to us for our ease but will have us following our sweet guide Alas how doeth sin dog us in our journey retard us What fools are we to have a by-god or an other lover or match to our souls beside Christ It were best for us like ill bairns who are best heard at home to seek our own home to sell our hopes of this little clay Innes idol of the earth where we are neither well summered nor well wintered Oh that our souls would fall so at oddes with the love of this world as to think of it as a traveller doeth of a drink of water which is not any part of his treasure but goeth away with the using for ten miles journey maketh that drink to him as nothing O that we had as soon done with this world and could as quickly dispatch the love of it But as a childe cannot hold two apples in his little hand but the one putteth the other out of it's room so neither can we be masters and Lords of two loves Blessed were we if we could make our selves masters of that invaluable treasure the love of Christ or rather suffer our selves to be mastered and subdued to Christ's love so as Christ were our all things all other things our nothings the refuse of our delights O let us be ready for shipping against the time our Lord's wind tide call for us Death is the last thief that shall come without din or noise of feet take our souls away we shall take our leave at Time fâ—ce Eternity our Lord shall lay together the two sides of this earthly Tabernacle fold us lay us by as a man layeth by his clothes at night put the one half of us in a house of clay the dark grave the other half of us in heaven or hell Seek to be found of your Lord in peace gather in your flitting put your soul in order for Christ will not give a nail-breadth of Time to our little sand-glass Pray for Zion for me his prisoner that he would be pleased to bring me amongst you again full of Christ fraughted laden with the blessings of his Gospel Grace grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Yours in his onely Lord and Master S. R. To EARLESTOWN Younger 130 Worthy dearly beloved in the Lord. GRace mercy peace be to you I long to hear from you I remain still a prisoner of hope doe think it service to the Lord to wait on still with submission till the Lord's morning-skie break his summer day dawn for I am perswaded it is a piece of the chief errand of our life that God sent us for some years down to this earth among devils men the fire-brands of the devil temptations that we might suffer for a time here amongst our enemies otherwise he might have made heaven to wait on us at our coming out of the womb and have carried us home to our countrey without letting us set down our feet in this knotty and thorny life but seeing a piece of suffering is carved to every one of us less or more as infinite wisdom hath thought good our part is to harden and habituat our soft and thin skinned nature to endure fire and water devils lions men losses woe hearts as these that are looked upon by God Angels men devils O what folly is it to sit down weep upon a decree of God that is both dumb deaf at our tears must stand still as unmovable as God who made it for who can come behinde our Lord to
but too lazie and careless in seeking of it It is all our riches we have here glory in the bud I wish I could set out â—ree Grace I was the Law 's man under the Law under a curse but Grace brought me from under that hard Lord I rejoyce that I am Grace's Free-holder I pay tribute to none for heaven seeing my land heritage holdeth of Christ my new King Infinite wisdom hath devised this excellent way of Free-holding for sinners It is a better way to heaven then the old way that was in Adam's dayes It hath this fair advantage that no man's emptiness want layeth an inhibition upon Christ or hindereth his salvation that is far best for me but our new Land-Lord putteth the names of Dyvours Adam's forlorn Heirs beggers crooked blinde in the free charters Heaven Angels may wonder that we have gotten such a gate of sin hell Such a back-entry out of hell as Christ made brought out the captives by is more then my poor shallow thoughts can comprehend I would think sufferings glory I am sometimes not far from it if my Lord would give me a new almes of free grace I hear that the Prelats are intending banishment for me but for more grace no other hire I would make it welcome The bits of this clay-house the earth the other side of the sea are my father's If my sweet Lord Jesus would bud my sufferings with a new measure of grace I were a rich man But I have not now of a long time found such high spring-tides as formerly The sea is out the wind of his Spirit calm I cannot buy a wind or by requesting the sea cause it to flow again onely I wait on upon the banks shore-side till the Lord send a full sea that with up-sailes I may lift up Christ Yet sorrow for his absence is sweet sighes with Saw ye him whom my soul loveth have their own delights Oh that I might gather hunger against his long-looked for return Well were my soul if Christ were the element mine own element that I loved breathed in him if I could not live without him I allow not laughter upon my self when He is away yet He never leaveth the house but the leaveth drink-money behinde him a pawne that he will return Woe woe to me if he should goe away take all his flitting with him Even to dream of him is sweet To build a house of pining wishes for his return to spin out a web of sorrow care languishing sighes either dry or wet as they may be because he hath no leisure if I may spâ—aâ— so to make a visite or to see a poor friend sweetneth refreâ—heth the thoughts of the heart A mistie dew will stand for rain doe some good keep some greenness in the herbs till our Lord's clouds â—ue upon the earth send down a watering of rain Truly I think Christ's mistie dew a welcome message from heaven till my Lorâ—'s rain fall Woe woe is me for the Lord's vineyard in Scotland Howbeit the Father of the house embrace a childe feed him kiss him yet it is sorrow and sadness to the children that our poor mother hath gotten her leave that our Father hath given up house It is an unheartsom thing to see our Father mother agree so ill yet the Bastards if they be fed care not O Lord cait not water on Scotland's smoking coal It is a strange gate the saints goe to heaven our enemies often eat drink us we goe to heaven through their bellies stomacks they vomit the church of God undigested among their hands even while we are shut up in prisons by them we advance in our jâ—urney Remember my service to my Lord your kinde Son who was kinde to me in my bonds was not ashamed to own me I would be glad that Christ got the morning-service of his life now in his young years It would sute him well to give Christ his young green love Christ's stamp and seal would goe far down in a young soul If he would receive the thrust of Christ's stamp I would desire him to make search for Christ for Nobles now are but dry friends to Christ. The Grace of God our Father the goodwill of him who dwelt in the bush be with your La. Aberd. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To the Lady CARDONNESS ELDER 180. Worthy welbeloved in the Lord GRace mercy peace be to you I long to hear from you in paper that I may know how your soul prospereth My desire longing in to hear that ye walk in the truth that ye are content to follow the despised but most lovely Son of God I cannot but recommend him unto you as your husband your welbeloved your portion your comfort your joy I speak this of that lovely one because I praise commend the foord as we use to speak as I finde it He hath watered with his sweet comforts an oppressed prisoner He was alwayes kinde to my soul but never so kinde as now in my greatest extremittes I dine sup with Christ He visiteth my soul with the visitations of love in the night-watches I perswade my soul that this is the way to heaven his own Truth I now suffer for I exhort you in the name of Christ to continue in the truth which I delivered to you Make Christ sure to your soul for your day draweth nigh to an end Many slide back now who seemed to be Christ's friends prove dishonest to him But be ye faithfull to the death ye shall have the crown of life This span-length of your dayes whereof the Spirit of God speaketh Psal. 39. will within a short time come to a finger-breadth at length to nothing O how sweet comfortable shall the feast of a good conscience be to you when your eye-strings shall break your face wax pale the breath turn cold your poor soul come sighing to the windows of the house of clay of your dying body shall long to be out to have the jaylor to open the door that the prisoner may be set at liberty Ye draw nigh the water-side look your accounts Ask for your guide to take you to the other side Let not the world be your portion What have ye to doe with dead clay Ye are not a bastard but a lawfull begotten childe therefore set your heart on the inheritance Goe up before hand and see your lodging Look through all your father's rooms in heaven in your father's house are many dwelling-places Men take a sight of lands ere they buy them I know Christ hath made the bargain already But be kinde to the house ye are going to see it often Set your heart on things that are above where Christ is at the right
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
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
me now so as God maketh an honest cross my daily sorrow and for fear of scandal and stumbling I must hide this day of the law 's pleading I know not if this court kept within my soul be fenced in Christ's name If certainty of salvation were to be bought God knoweth if I had ten earths I would not prig with God like a fool I beleeved under suffering for Christ that I my self should keep the key of Christ's treasures and take out comforts when I listed and eat and be fat But I see now a sufferer for Christ will be made to know himself and will be holden at the door as well as another poor sinner and will be fain to eat with the bairns and to take the by-board and glad so my blessing on the cross of Christ that hath made me see this Oh if we could take pains for the Kingdom of heaven but we sit down upon some ordinary markes of God's children thinking we have as much as will seperat us from a Reprobat and thereupon we tak the play and cry Holy-day thus the devil casteth water on our fire blunteth our zeal and care but I see heaven is not at the next door I see howbeit my challenges be many I suffer for Christ dare hazard my salvation upon it for some times my Lord cometh with a fair hour O but his love be sweet delightfull comfortable half a kiss is sweet but our doting love will not be content of a right to Christ unless we get posfession like the man who will not be content of rights to bought land except he get also the ridges and acers laid upon his back to carry home with him However it be Christ is wise and we are fools to be browden and fond of a pawne in the loof of our hand living on trust by faith may well content us Madam I know your La knoweth this and that made me bold to write of it that others might reap some what by my bonds for the truth for I should desire and I aime at this to have my lord well spoken of and honoured howbeit he should make nothing of me but a bridge over a water Thus recommending your La your son and children to his grace who hath honoured you with a name and room among the living in Jerusalem and wishing Grace to be with your La I rest Aberd. Your La in his sweetest Lord Iesus S. R. To Mr. DAVID DICKSON 21 Reverend Dear Brother GRace mercy and peace be unto you I finde great men especially old friends skar to speak for me but my kingly Royall Master biddeth me try his moyen to the uttermost I shall finde a friend at hand I still depend on him his court is as before the prisoner is welcome to him the black crabbed tree of my Lord's cross hath made Christ and my soul very entire he is my song in the night I am often laid in the dust with challenges and apprehensions of his anger and then if a mountain of iron were laid upon me I cannot be heavier and with much wrestling I win in to the Kings house of wine and for the most part my life is joy and such joy through his comforts as I have been afraid to shame my self and to cry out for I can scarce bear what I get Christ giveth me a measure heaped up pressed down and running over and beleeve it his love paineth me more then prison and banishment I cannot get a gate of Christ's love had I known what he was keeping for me I would never have been so faint-hearted In my heaviest times when all is lost the memory of his love maketh me think Christ's gloomes are but for the fashion I seek no more but a vent to my wine I am smothered and ready to burst for want of a vent Think not much of persecution it is before you but it is not as men conceive of it my suggared-cross forceth me to say this to you ye shall have wailed meat the sick bairn is often times the spilt baâ—rn ye shall command all the house I hope ye help a tired prisoner to pray and praise had I but the annuell of annuell to give to my Lord Jesus it should ease my pain but Alace I have nothing to pay he will get nothing of poor me but I am woe I have not room enough in my heart for such a stranger I am not cast down to goe further North I have good cause to work for my Master for I am well paid before the hand I am not behinde howbeit I should not get one smile more till my feet be up within the Kings dining-hall I have gone through yours upon the Covenant it hath edified my soul and refreshed an hungry man I judge it sharp sweet quick and profound take me at my word I fear it get no lodging in Scotland The Brethren of Ireland write not to me chide with them for that I am sure that I may give you and them a commission and I will bide by it that you tell my beloved I am sick of love I hope in God to leave some of my rust and superfluites in Aberd I cannot get an house in this town wherein to leave drink-silver in my Master's name save one onely there is no sale for Christ in the North he is like to lie long on my hand ere any accept him Grace be with you Aberd. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To Mr MATHEW MOWAT 22 REverend and dear brother I am a very far misstaken man if others knew how poor my stock were they would not think upon the like of me but with compassion for I am as one kept under a strict Tutour I would have more then my Tutour alloweth upon me but it is good that a bairns wit is not the rule which regulateth my Lord Jesus let him give what he will it shall ay be above merit my ability to gain therewith I would not wish a better stock while heaven be my stock then to live upon credit at Christs hands daily borrowing surely running over love that vast hudge boundlesse love of Christ that there is telling in for man and Angel is the onely thing I fainest would be in hands with He knoweth I have little but the love of that love that I shall be happy suppose I never get another heaven but onely an eternall lasting feast of that love but suppose my wishes were poor He is not poor Christ all the seasons of the yeer is dropping sweetnesse if I had vessels I might fill them but my old riven holly and running out dish even when I am at the well can bring little away Nothing but Glory will make tight and fast our looking and rifty vessels Alace I have skailed more of Christs Grace love faith humility and godly sorrow then I have brought with me How little of the sea can a childe carry in his hand as little