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CONTENTS.
Adreititeiiieiit ••..••• ., « vii
Sketch of Samael Rotherfiyid and hb Letlen .». ^ is
1.
S.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
a
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
la
19.
20.
31.
22.
33.
U.
25.
26.
27.
28.
2!J.
30.
31.
32.
33.
31.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
iO.
41.
42.
43.
41.
45.
16.
47.
48.
49.
50.
To Marion Macknanglit 31
To a Oentlewoman 31
To a Christian Oentlewoman ... 32
Td LadjT Kenmnie 34
Tothetame. 36
Tothetame. 38
To Marion HacknanglU 39
To Lady Kenmure. 40
Tothetame 42
To Marion Macknaoght 44
To the fame 47
Tothetame 48
Tothetame 49
Tothetame 51
To Lady Kenmure 51
Tothetame 53
Tothetame 56
Tothetame 58
To Marion Macknau^t 59
Tothetame 62
Tothetame 64
Tothetame 65
Tothetame 66
To Lady Kenmnre 67
Tothetame 70
Tothetame 71
To Marion Maeknaught 73
To Lady Kenmore. 74
Tothetame , 75
To Marion Macknaoght 77
To the tame 78
Tothetame 79
To Lady Kenmure 80
To Manon Macknaoght 82
To Lady Kenmure 82
To Manon Maeknaught 84
To Lady Kenmure 85
Tothetame 87
To Marion Maeknaught 87
Tothetame 89
91
91
93
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
To the 1
To the I
To the tame .
To the tame .
To the tame
To the tame .
To the tame .
To the tame .
Td the tame .
Tothetame .
51. To Marion Maeknaught 102
52. Tothetame 102
53. To Earltton, Ekier. 103
54. To Marion Maeknaught 105
55. To Lady Kenmure 106
56. Tothetame 107
57. To Marion Maeknaught 106
58. Tothetame Ill
59. Tothetame 112
60. Tothetame 113
61. To Lady Kenmure 114
62. To Lady Cuboit 115
63. T6 Mr. Robert Cunningham ... 117
64. To Alexander Gkwdon 119
65. To Robert Gordon 120
66. Tothetame 120
67. To WiUiam PuUerton 121
68. To hit Parithionert at Anwoth. 199
69. To Lady Kenmure. 124
70. Tothetame 126
71. To Hugh Mackail 128
72. To John Fleming 129
73. To Earltton, Elder. 130
74. To Lady Culroit l3l
75. To Wilham Gordon 132
76. To John Kennedy 134
77. To Lord Boyd 135
78. To Margaret Ballantyne 136
79. To Robert Gordon 138
80. To Marion Maeknaught 140
81. To Mr. John Meine 140
82. ToCardoneta, Elder 141
83. To the Earl of Lothian 144
84. To Jean Brown. 146
85. To John Kennedy ^. 148
86. To Elizabeth Kennedy 150
87. To Jonet Kennedy 152
88. To a Chrittian Gentlewoman... 153
89. To Lord CraighaU 155
90. To John Kennedy 157
91. To Mr. Robert Blair 159
92. To Mr. John LiTintgton 161
93. To Mr. Ephraim Mjsmn 162
94. To Robert Gordon 163
95. To Lady Kenmure 166
96. Tothetame 167
97. Tothetame 168
9a Tothetame 169
99. To Alexander Gordon 170
100. To Mr. Alexander Coif rile 178
IV
CONTENTS.
LBTTBE PAOK
101. To Earlfton, Younger. 173
102. To Lady Cardoness 175
103. To Jonet MaccuUoch 176
104. To Alexander Gordon 177
105. To Lady CardoneM 178
106. To^Lady Kenmure 179
107. To a Gentlewoman 181
108. To Lady Kenmare 182
109. To Lady Boyd 184
110. To Lady Kaskibeny 185
111. ToLady Earbton 186
1 12. To Mr. David Dickion 187
113. To Jean Brown 188
1 14. To Mr. John Ferguthill 189
115. To Mr. Robert Douglas 190
116. To William RigM 191
117. To Mr. Alexander HenderM>n .. 192
118. To Lord Loudon 193
119. To Mr. WUUam Dalgleish 195
120. To Mr. Hugh Mackail 196
121. To Lady Boyd 197
122. To Mr. David Dickion 199
123. To Mr. Matthew Mowat 200
124. To WilUam HalUday 202
125. To a Gentlewoman 203
126. To John Gordon, Younger. 204
127. To John Gordon, Elder 205
128. ToLady Forrct 206
129. To Manon Hacknaught 207
130. To JohnCarsen 207
131. ToLady Boyd 208
132. To the Earl of CaatilHfl 210
133. To Robert Gordon 211
134. To John Kennedy 212
135. To Jean Brown 214
136. To Jean Macmillan 216
137. To Lady Busbie 216
138. To John Ewart 218
139. To WilUam Fullerton 219
140. To Robert Glendinning 219
141. To William Glendinning 221
142. To Mr. Hugh Henderson 221
143. To the Earl of CassUlis. 222
144. To Lord Babnerino 224
145. To Lady Mar, Younger 225
146. To James Macadam 225
147. To William Livingston 226
148. To WilUam Gordon 227
149. To Mr. George GiUespie 228
150. To Jean Gordon 229
151. To Mr. James Bruce 230
152. To John Goidon 230
153. To Lady HaUhUl 231
154. To John Osbum 232
155. To John Henderson 233
156. To John Meine 234
157. To Mr. Thomas Garven 234
158. To Bethaia Aird 236
159. To Alexander Gordon 237
160. To Grizzel Fullerton 237
161. To Patrick Garsen 238
162. ToCarhon 238
163. To Lady Busbie 240
164. To John Fleming 242
166. To Alexander Gordon 244
LBTTBE PAOB
166. ToLady Boyd 246
167. To Mr. David Dickson 248
168. To the Laird of Carlton 249
169. To Robert Gordon 251
170. To the Laird of Moncrieff. 253
171. To John Clark 255
172. To Cardoness, EUer 256
173. To Cardoness, Younger 258
174. To Lord CraighaU 259
175. To John Laurie 262
176. To Carlton 264
177. To Marion Macknaught 267
178. To Lady Culross 269
179. To Mr. John Nevay 271
180. To John Gordon, Elder. 274
181. To Earlston, Younger 278
182. To Alexander Gordon 281
183. To Mr. J. R 284
184. To Mr. William Dalgleish 296
185. To Marion Macknaught 289
186. To John Gordon 290
187. To Mr. Hugh Henderson 292
188. To Lady Larffirie 293
189. To Earlston, Younger 294
190. To Mr. WilUam Dalgleish 296
191. To the Laiid of Cally 298
192. To John Gordon, Younger 299
193. To Robert Gordon 301
194. To Alexander Gordon 303
195. To Robert Stuart 305
196. To Lady Gaitgirth 308
197. To Mr. John Pergushill 309
198. ToJohn Stuart 311
199. ToCaisluth 313
200. To Cassincarrie 315
201. To Lady Cardoness 317
202. To Sibylla Macadam 318
203. To the Laird of Cally 319
204. To WiUiam Gordon 321
205. To Margaret Fullerton 323
206. To Lady Kenmure 324
207. To the same 325
208. ToJohn Henderson 328
209. To Mr. Alexander Colville 328
210. To Mr. John Nevay 329
211. ToLady Boyd 330
212. To Wilham Glendinning 332
213. To Robert Lennox 333
214. To Mr. James HamUton 335
215. To Mistress Stuart 337
216. To Mr. Hugh Mackail 338
217. To Alexander Gordon 340
218. ToJohn Bell Ekier 341
219. To Mr. John Row 342
220. To Lord CraighaU 343
221 . To Marion Macknaught 343
222. To Lady Cuhross 344
223. To Alexander Gordon 346
224. To Fulwood, Younger. 348
225. To his Parishioners 349
226. To Lady Kilconquhair 355
227. To Lord Craighall 359
228. To Mr. James Fleming 361
229. To Mr. Hugh Mackail 363
830. To Lady Kenmure 364
CONTENTS.
Lrmm taqz
231. To Lord Lindsay 366
235J. To Lord Boyd 368
233. ToPulkEliea 371
234. To James Lindsay 373
235. To Lord Craighall 376
236. To Mr James Hamilton 377
237. To ihe Laird of Oaitgirth 378
238. To Lady Gaitgirth 379
239. To Mr. MaUhcw Mowat 380
240. To Mr. John Meine 382
241. To John Fleming 382
942. To Lady lUwalUin 383
^13. To Manon Macknaught 384
a44. To the same 385
«5. To Lady Boyd 387
246. To Mr. Thomas Garren 389
'2i'i. To Jonct Kennedy 389
248. To Margaret Reid. 391
249. To James Baatie 392
250. To John Stuart 396
251. To the same 399
252. To the same 400
253. To Lady Busbie 403
254. To Ninian Mure 404
255. To Mr. Thomas Garven 405
956. Tothe EarlofCassiUis 406
257. To Lady Largirie. 408
258. To Lady Dungueigh 409
26B, To Jonet Macculloch 410
960. To Mr George Gillespie 41 1
96L To Mr. Robert Blair. . . ., 411
962. To Lady Carlton 413
263. To William Rigge 414
264. To Lady Craighall 416
965. To Lord Loudon. 417
266. To Mr. David Dickson 420
267. To Alexander Gordon 421
268. To Lady Kilconquhair 422
969. To Robert Lennox 423
270. To Marion Macknaught 425
271. To Thomas Corbet 425
272. To Mr. George Dunbar 426
273. To John Fleming 428
274. To William Glendinning 428
275. To Earlston, Younger 429
27r». To John Gordon 430
977. To William Rigge 432
278. To James Murray. . ; 433
979. To Mr John Fergushill 433
2H0. To William Glendinning 436
281. To Marion Macknaught 438
2R2. To Ladv Robertland 438
983. To Lord Loudon 440
284. To ProfeMorsofChrist in Ireland 442
2H5. To Robert Gordon 448
28ii. To Parishioners of Kilmalcolm. 451
3H7. To Lady Kenmure 456
99S. To Persecuted Church in Ireland 458
9H9. To Dr. Alexander Leighton 464
290 To Mr. Henry Stuart, etc 466
2IH. To Mn.. Ponl 471
LUTTKR FAOB
292. To Mr. James Wilson 473
293. To Lady Boyd 475
294. To John Fenwick 477
295. To Peter Stirling 481
296. To Lady Fingask 482
297. To Mr. David Dickson 484
298. To Lady Boyd 485
299. To Agnes Macmath 488
300. To Mr. X atthew Mowat 489
301. To Lady Kenmure 490
302. To Lady Boyd 491
303. To James Murray's Wife 492
304. To Lady Kenmure 493
305 To the same 494
306. To Lady Boyd 495
307. To Mistress Taylor 496
308. To Barbara Hamilton 498
309. To Mistress Hume 500
310. To Lady Kenmure. 501
311. To Barbara Hamilton 502
312 To a Christian Friend 503
313. To a Christian Brother 504
314. To a Christian Gentlewoman... 505
315. To Lady Kenmure 508
316.ToMr.J.G 509
317. To Lady Kenmure 510
318. To Lady Ardross 511
319. To MO 612
3*20. To Earlston, Elder 514
321. To Mr. George Gillespie 515
322. To Mistress Gillespie 516
323. To Col. Gilbert Ker 517
324. To the same 519
325. To Mr. William Guthrie 520
326. To Col. Gilbert Ker 521
327. To the same 522
328. To the same 524
329. To the same 527
330. To Lady Kenmure 528
331. To the same 529
332. To Grizzel Fullerton 530
333. To Lady Kenmure 531
334. To Col. Gilbert Ker 632
335. To Mr. John Scott 534
336. To Lady Kenmure 535
337. To the same 536
338. To the same 536
339. To Mr. John Scott 537
340. To the same 537
341. To Mr. James Durham 538
342. To Mr. John Scott 539
343. To Lady Kenmure 539
344. To the same 540
345. To Mr. Guthrie, Mr. Traill, etc. 542
346. To some Brethren 543
347. On Petitioning Charles II 544
348. To Lady Kenmure 546
349. To Mistress Craig 547
350. To Mr. James Guthrie 549
351. To Mr Robert Campbell 550
352. To Aberdeen 551
ADVERTISEMENT.
Ik thb Bdition of "The Letten" of that exmnently holy mbbter of th#
Gospel, who suffered so much persecution for the Word of God» and for
ScoUand's Covenanted Work of Reformation, the Bey. Samuel Ruther*
ford, the text — ^which, in later editions, had, through cajrelesuiefle of print-
ing, unacquamtance with the Scotdsh dialect, and attempts to substitute
Ec^lish words and phrases for Scotch ones, become very corrupt — has,
by a careful collation of the earliest editions, been corrected and restored ;
while the Scottish words, allusions, and idiomatic phrases are explained in
notes at the bottom of the page ; and the Letters, which, in some of the
former editions, had been very much mutilated, and had, in all of them,
been printed without any r^ard to arrangement, have been arranged
accomung to the dates, in as lar as these could be ascertained, at* which
they were written, and are given without omission, abridgment, suppres-
sion, or mutilation.
It is not anticipated that any apology needs to be made for this
endeavor to offer to the Christian Public ''The Letters" of Rutherford,
in a form somewhat worthy of their author's reputation, and of their own
intrinsic excellence. It may, perhaps, indeed, be thought by some per-
sons, that it would have been better nad English words and phrases been
substituted, m the text, for those peculiar to the Scottish dialect ; but,
had this been attempted, much of the spirit of Rutherford wodd, in
many instances, have evaporated, and the energy of his diction been
impaired ; while the style, naving ceased to be S^tch without becoming
English, would have been ereatly debased, enfeebled, and vulgarized. By
the plan which has been adopted, it b hoped that the languaffe, idlowed
to remain as Rutherford wrote it, will be rendered at once, and perfecUy,
intelligible to the southern reader, even though he never before may have
seen or heard a word of the northern speech. No Scotchman can find
the slightest difficulty m the diction.
Other persons may, perhaps, think that some of the Letters might
have been omitted, some of the sentences suppressed, and certain " homely
and familiar expressions, which," Wodrow observes, " have been jested
oo b^ profane wits of his affe," might have been altered^ with advantage
to this edition. It is true that there are some of the Letters not so valu-
able to the Christian reader as others ; but, perhaps there is not one of
them which does not present some useful, if not important instruction,
respectii^ other doctrme or duty. There are, indeed, not a few repeti-
tions, as was to be expected in familiar letters, written to friends and
acquaintances, without the remotest anticipation of their ever b«ng pub-
lithed ; bttt» Uiose repetitions are generally statements of facts or feelings
reganling matters or absorbing interest to the Christian; and by those;
TUl ADTXRTI8XMBNT.
therefore, who peruse these Letters with the view of spiritually profiting
therehj, will not he complained of: and it must he confessed that there
are some expressions which " profane wits" miffht, perhaps, succeed in
turning into ridicule ; hut, as there is no danger Uiat they will be so dealt
with hj any one who can appreciate the poetic and evangelical beauty of
the Song of Solomon, and as it is not very likely that any " profane wit"
of this age will ever condescend to look into the Letters of the Rev.
Samuel Rutherford, they have been allowed to stand as they came from
thepen of that eminently pure and heavenly minded man.
This edition, then, is thus offered respectfully to the Church of God,
with humble but fervent supplication, that the Holy Ghost, who so fully
dwelt in the venerable Author of these Letters, would bless it, to the
promotion of His own glory, by rendering it the means of arousing some
thoughtless sinners to consider the things which concern their evenasting
peace, before they be forever hid from their eyes, and of building up
some of the sabts and edifying them m their most holy Faith.
Edrob.
SKETCH OF SAMUEL RUTHERFORD
AND HIS LETTERS.
In the history of the Reformation we read of Brother Martin,
a poor monk at Basle, whose hope of salvation rested solely on
the Lord Jesus, long before Luther arose. Having written out
his confession of reliance on the righteousness of Christ alone,
the monk placed the parchment in a wooden box, and shut up the
wooden box in a hole of the wall of his cell. It was not till last
century that this box with its interesting contents was discovered ;
bat it was brought to light when the old wall of the monastery
was taken down. And is it not an incident fitted to suggest to
us that Basle may have been made a focus of light in its day
very much in answer to the prayers, and in acknowledgment of
the faith of this << hidden one," and others like him, who cried day
and night to the Lord ?
Now, there is a fact not unlike this in the history of the district
where Samuel Rutherford labored so lovingly. The people of
that shire tell that there was found, some generations ago, in the
wall of the old chapel of Earlston, in Kirkcudbrightshire, a copy
of Wickliffe^s Bible. It seems to have been shut into that recep-
tacle in order to be hid from the view of enemies, but no doubt it
was the lamp of light to some godly souls — who, perhaps in the
silence of night, found opportunity in that chapel to draw it out
of its ark and peruse its pages. It seems that the Lollards of
Kyle (which is the adjoining district,) had brought it to Earlston ;
and there were friends or members of the family of Earlston who
embraced the gospel even in those days.^ May we not believe that
the Gordons of Earlston, in Rutherford's days, were not a little
indebted to the faith and prayers of these ancient witnesses who
hid the sacred treasure in the chapel wall ? Like the monk of
I Some of the anoeston of Yiscomit Kenmori embraced the principles of Wickliflt
tetbe lethcuotory.
X SKETCH OF RUTHERFORD
Basle, their faith and patience were acknowledged in after days
by the blessing sent down on that quarter, when the Lord, in re-
membrance of his '' hidden ones," ' both raised up the Gordons of
Eariston, with many others of a like spirit, and also sent thither
his servant Samuel Rutherford, to sound the silver trumpet and
make the lamp of truth, blaze like a torch all over that, region.
Samuel Rutherford was born about the year 1600. His
father is supposed to have been a respectable farmer, and he had
two brothers, James and George. The place of his birth was not
near the scene of his after labors. It is almost certain that Nisbet,
a village of Roxburghshire, close to the Teviot, in the parish of
Crailing, was his birth-place ; not long ago, there were some old
people in the parish who remembered the gable-end of the house
in which he was born, and which, from respect to his memory,
was permitted to stand as long as it could keep together. Some
one may yet light upon the well where, when very young, Samuel
nearly lost his life. He had been amusing himself with some
companions when he fell in, and was left there till they ran aiid
procured assistance ; but on reaching the spot, they found him
seated on a knoll, cold and dripping, yet uninjured. He told them
that " A bonnie white man came and drew him out of the well !"
Whether or not he really fancied that an angel had delivered him
we cannot tell, but it is plain that at all events his boyish thoughts
were already wandering in the region of the sky.
He owed little to his native place. There was not so much of
Christ known in that parish then as there is now. For in after
days he writes, <' My soul's desire is, that the place to which I
owe my first birth — in which I fear Christ was scarcdy named as
touching any reality of the power of godliness, — may blossom as
the rose." We have no account of his revisiting these scenes of
his early life, though he thus wrote to his firiend, Mr. Scott, min-
ister of the adjoining parish of Oxnam. Like Donald GargiU,
bom in Perthshire, yet never known to preach there even once, —
Rutherford's labors were all in other parts of the land. In this
arrangement we see the Master's Sovereignty the better; the
sphere thus appears evidently to be one of God's choosing for the
man, and not the man's gratifying his natural predilections. It
accords, too, with the Master's own example. He having never
returned to Bethlehem, where he was bom, to do any of his
works.
Jedburgh is a town three or four mUes distant from Nbbet, and
1 Gkazix.89.
AND HIS LETTERS. XJ
thither Samuel m ent for his education ; either walking to it and
returning home at evening, — as a school-boy would scarcely
grudge to do, — or residing in the town for a season. The school
at that time met in a part of the ancient abbey, called from this
drcumstance the Latiners* Abbey. In the year 1617, we find
him &rther from home — removed to Edinburgh, which, forty
years befbre, had become the seat of a College, though not as yet
a University. There he obtained, in 1621, the degree of A.M.
Soon after, he was appointed Regent or Professor of Humanity,
Uiough there were three other competitors ; for his talents had
attracted the notice of many. But, on occasion of a rumor that
charged him with some irregularity, — whether with or without
foundation, it is now difficult to ascertain, — he demitted his office
in 1625, and led a private life, attending prelections on theology,
and devoting himself to that study.
It is not unlikely that this may have been the time of which
be says in a lettler, '' I knew a man who wondered to see any in
this life laugh or sport." It may have been then that he was led
by the Spirit to know the things that are freely given us of God.
We have no proof that he was converted at an earlier period, but
rather the opposite. He writes, <^ Like a fool as I was, I suffisred
my sun to be high in the heaven and near afternoon, before ever
I took the gate by the end." And again, " I had stood sure, if in
my youth I had borrowed Christ for my bottom." Affliction fol-
low^ ; the clouds returned after the rain ; family trials seemed
to have been used by the Lord to promote the better growth of
the plant of grace. All these dealings of Providence combined
to form his character as a man of God and as a pastor.
In 1627 he was settled at Anwoth, a parish situated in Kircud-
brightshire, and though at this period Episcopacy had been ob-
truded upon Scotland, and many faithful ministers were suffering
on account of their resistance to its ceremonies and services, yet
be appears to have been allowed to enter on his charge without
any compliance being demanded, and '^ without giving any en-
gagement to the Bishop." — He began his ministry from the text
John ix. 99. The same Lord that would not let Paul and Timo-
thy preach in Asia,' nor in Bithynia, and yet sent to the one
region the beloved John," and to the other the scarcely less be-
loved Peter," in this instance prevented John Livingstone going to
Anw>th, (though the patron had designed it for him,) and sent
Rutherford instead. This was the more remarkable, because
>Aeli,ZTl<,l «BeT.LlL *lPet6r,Ll.
XU SKETCH OF RUTHERFORD
Livingstone was sent to Ancium, the parish that borders on Nis*
bet, while he who was by birth related to that place was dis-
patched to another spot. This is the Lord's doing. Ministers
must not choose according to the flesh.
During the first years of his labors here the sore illness of his
wife was a bitter grief to him. Her distress was very severe.
He writes of it: — "She is sore tormented night and day. — My
life is bitter unto me. — She sleeps none, and cries as a woman
travailing in birth ; my life was never so wearisome." She con-
tinued in this state for no less than a year and a month, ere she
died. Besides ail this, his two children had been taken from him.
Such was the discipline by which he was trained for the duties
of a pastor, and by which a shepherd's heart of true sympathy
was imparted to him.
Anwolh had no large village near the church. The people
were scattered over a hilly district, and were quite a rural flock.
But their shepherd found their souls worth the caring for, and did
not feel that his learning and talents would be ill spent if laid
out in seeking souls, obscure and unknown. See him setting out
to visit ! passing along yonder field, or climbing that hill in his
way to some cottage, his " quick eyes" occasionally glancing on
the objects around, but his " face upward" for the most part, as if
he were gazing into heaven. He has time to visit, for he rises at
three in the morning, and then meets his God in prayer and
meditation, and has space for study besides. He takes some days
for catechizing. He never fails to be found at the sick-beds of his
people. Men said of him, "He ia always praving, always preach-
ing, always visiting the sick, always catechiizng, cUways writing
and studying." He was known to fall asleep at night speaking
of Christ, and even to speak of him during his sleep. Indeed,
himself speaks of his dreams being of Christ.
His preaching could not but arrest attention, though his elocu-
tion was not good, and his voice rather shrill. He was, — accord-
ing to Wodrow, — "one of the most .moving and aflfectionate
preachers in his time, or perhaps in any age of the Church."*
Especially when he came to dwell upon the subject he so de-
lighted in, Jesus Christ, his manner grew so animated that it
seemed as if he would have flown out of the pulpit. An English
merchant said of him in days when controversy might have
turned him to other themes, "I went to St. Andrew's, where I
heard a sweet, nmjestic looking man (R. Blair,) and he sliowed
> Wodrow 8 Church Hisi I 206.
AND HIS LETTERS. XIU
me the majesty of God. After him I heard a little fair man,
(Rutheiford,) and he showed me the loveliness of Christ J^^
Anwoth was dear to him ' as the sphere appointed him by his
Master, more than because of the fruits of his labors. Two years
after being settled there, he writes, " I see exceedingly small fruit
of my ministry. I would be glad of one soul, to be a crown of
joy and rejoicing in the day of Christ." His people were " like
hot iron, which cooleth when out of the fire." Still he labored in
hope, and labored often almost beyond his strength. Once he
says, '< I have a grieved heart daily in my calling." He speaks
of his pained breast, at another time, on the evening of the Lord's
Day, when his work was done. But he had seasons of refreshing
to his own soul at least — especially when the Lord's Supper was
dispensed. Of these seasons he frequently speaks. He asks his
friend, Marion Macknaught, to help with her prayers on such aa
occasion, " that being one of the days wherein Christ was wont
to make merry with his friends." It was often then that with
special earnestness he besought the Father to distribute '^ the great
Loaf, Christ, to the children of his family."
Anwoth church was filled, but not altogether by parishioners.
Many came from great distances ; among others, several that
were converted, seventeen years before, under John Welsh, at
Ayr. These all helped him by their prayers, as did also a goodly
number of godly people in the parish itself, who were the fruit of
the ministry of his predecessor. Yet over the unsaved he yearned
most tenderly. At one time we hear him say, " I would lay my
dearest joys in the gap between you and eternal destruction." At
another, " My witness is in heaven, your heaven would be two
heavens to me, and your salvation two salvations." He could ap-
peal to his people, "My day-thoughts and my night-thoughts are
of you ;" — and he could appeal to God, " O my Lord, judge if my
ministry be not dear to me ; but not so dear by many degrees as
Christ ray Lord."
AU classes of people of Anwoth were objects of his care. He
maintained a friendly intercourse with people of high rank, and
1 irCrM*t Sketdies.
* The oak pulpit out of which he preached is still preserred The old church is in
die shape of a bam, and could hold only 250 sitters. The years 1681 and 1688 are
cmrrad oo some of the seats,— perhaps the seats of the Gkirdoos, or other heritors. We
may add,— whili speaking of this old edifice where " the swallows building their nest,"
teemed to the exiled pastor " blessed birds," — ^that the rusty key of that kirk door is
now in the keeping of Mr. Rowan, Librarian to the New College, Edinburgh, sent U
tbe ooQflge as a predoos reHc three years ago by a friend through Dr. Welsh.
XIV SKETCH OF RUTHERFORD
many of his letters are addressed to such persons. — But the herd
boys were not beneath hb special attention. He writes of them
when at Aberdeen, and exclaims, " Oh if 1 might but speak to thee
or your herd boys, of my worthy Master." He had a heart for the
young of all classes, so that he would say of two children of one
of his friends, "I pray for them by name," and could thus take
time to notice one, " Your daughter desires a Bible and a gown.
I hope she shall use the Bible well, which if she do the gown is
the better bestowed." He lamented over the few that cry " Ho-j
sanna" in their youth. '^ Christ is an unknown Christ to young
ones, and therefore they seek him not because they know him
not." He dealt with individual parishioners so closely and so per-
sonally as to be able to appeal to them that he had so done. He
addresses one of them, Jean McMillan : " I did what I could to
put you within grips of Christ; I told you Christ's testament and
latter-will plainly." He so carried them about with him (like the
priest with the twelve tribes on his breast-plate,) that he could
declare to Gordon of Cardoness, " Thoughts of your soul depart
not from me in my sleep." *^My soul was taken up when others
were sleeping, how to have Christ betrothed with a bride in that
^ part of the land," viz. Anwoth. He so prayed over them and for
] them, that he fears not to say, " There I wrestled with the angel
and prevailed. Woods, trees, meadows, and hills, are my wit-
nesses that I drew on a fair match betwixt Christ and Anwoth."
It is related that on first coming to the parish, there was a piece
of ground on Mossrobin farm, where on Sabbath afternoon the
people used to play at foot-ball. On one occasion he repaired to
the spot and pointed out their sin, calling on the objects round to
be witness against them if they persevered, especially three large
stones,* two of which still remain, and are called ^< RuiherfonPs
witnesses.^^
Once in Anwoth his labors were interrupted by a tertian fever
which laid him aside for thirteen weeks. Even when well re-
covered, he could only preach on the Sabbaths ; visiting and cate-
chizing were at a stand. This was just before his wife's death in
/ 1630, and he writes in the midst of it, '^ Welcome, welcome, cross
of Christ, if Christ be with it." " An afflicted life looks very like
the way that leads to the kingdom." And some years thereafter,
when his mother, who resided with him six years after his first
wife's death, was in a dangerous illness, he touchingly informs
one of bb correspondents, to whom he writes from Anwoth, '^ Mjf
> Josh. zziT. 27.
AXD HIS LETTERS. XV
mother is weak, and I think shall leave me alone, but I am not
alone, because Chrisfs Faiher is with me."
' The manse of Anwoth had many visits of kind friends, who in
Rutherford's fellowship felt that saying verified, *' They that dwell
Under hisshadow shall return ; they shall revive as the corn." ^ The
righteous compassed him about, because the Lord had dealt boun-
tifully with him. His letters would be enough of themselves to
show thai his company was sought by the godly on all sides.
But besides this evidence, we have notices of such visitors as his
own brother George, at Kirkcudbright This good man was a
teacher in that town, and often repaired to Anwoth to take sweet
counsel with Samuel ; and then together, they often talked of
and prayed for their only other brother James, an officer in the
Dutch service, who had sympathy wiCh their views, and in after
days conveyed to Samuel the invitation to become Professor at
Utrecht. Visits of those friends who resided near were not un-
frequent, such as the Gordons, Yiscount Kenmure and his lady,
and in humbler life, Marion Macknaught. But at times Anwoth
manse was lighted up by the glad visit of unexpected guests.
There is a tradition that Archbishop Usher, passing through Gal- v^
loway, turned aside on a Saturday to enjoy the congenial society
of Rutherford. He came, however, in disguise, and being wel-
comed as a guest, took his place with the rest of the family when
they were catecbiased, as was usual that evening. The strangei
was asked, " How many commandments are there ?' His reply
was ^^ Eleven?^ The pastor corrected him; but the stranger
maintained his position, quoting our Lord's words, '^ A new com-
mandment / give unto you, ihcU you love one another J^ They
retired to rest, all interested in the stranger. Sabbath morning
dawned, Rutherford arose and repaired for meditation to a walk
that bordered on a thicket,* but was startled by hearing the voice
of prayer, — prayer too, from the heart, and in behalf of the souls
of the people that day to assemble. It was no other than the
holy Archbishop Usher ; and soon they came to an explanation,
for Rutherford had beg^n to suspect he had *^ entertained angels
unawares." With great mutual love they conversed together, and
at the request of Rutherford, the Archbishop went up to the pulpit,
conducted the usual service of the presbyterian pastor, and
preached on '' the New Commandment."
Scarcely less interesting is the record of one of those incidental
« HiML zir 7.
• ThB plaee k rtfll pointed oat bj tnditioD, at ** RutherfanTs WaUl"
XVI SKETCH OF RUTHERFORD
meetings that are often so refreshing to the saints in their pilgri-
mage. Rutherford had one day left home to go to the neighbor
ing town of Kirkcudbright, the next day being a day of humilia*
tion in that place. Having no doubt spent some time with his like-
minded brother, he had turned his steps to the house of another
friend, Provost Fullerton, whose wife was Marion Macknaught.
While silting with them a knock at the door was heard, and then
a step on the threshold. It was worthy Mr. Blair, who, on bis
way from London to Port Patrick, had sought out some of his
godly friends, that with them he might be refreshed ere he returned
to Ireland. He told them, when seated, that '<he had a desire to
visit both Mr. Rutherford at Anwoth, and Marion Macknaught at
Kirkcudbright, but not knowing how to accomplish both, he had
prayed for direction at the parting of the road, and laid the bridle
on the horse's neck. The horse took the way to Kirkcudbright,
and there he found both the friends he so longed to see.'' It was
a joyful and refreshing meeting on all sides.
In 1634 he attended the remarkable death-bed of Lord Ken-
mure, a narrative of which he published fifteen years after, in
"The last heavenly speeches and glorious departure of John
Viscount Kenmure."" The inroads of Episcopacy were at this
time threatening to disquiet Anwoth. His own domestic afflic-
tions were still aflecting him ; for he writes that same year, in re-
ferring to his wife's death many years before, '< which wound is
not yet fully healed and cured." About that time, too, there was
a proposal never carried into eflect to call him to Cramond, near
Edinburgh.
Meanwhile he persevered in study as well as in labors, and
with no common success. He had himself a metaphysical turn,
as well as a great readiness in using the accumulated learning of
other days. It might be instructive to inquire why it is that
wherever GodUness is healthy and progressive we jalmost invari-
ably find Learning in the Church of Chrbt attendant on it; while
on the other hand, an illiterate state is attended sooner or later
by decay of vital godliness. Not that all are learned in such
i Referring to tho prerioas tempest that swept through Lord Kefimiire*8 soul, the
prefiMe says that we may be taught that, " the wound of a wounded conscience i^ a
most inexpressible terror ; none can describe it but he who has tried and tasted the
■ame. It impaireih the health, drieth op the blood, wasteth away the marrow, pineth
away the flesh, oonsumeth away the bones, maketh pleasure pamful, and shorteoeth
life. No wiMldm can counsel it, no counsel can adrise it, no advice can persuade i^
DO assuagement can cure it, no eloquence can more it^ no power caa oreroorae it» no
■pectrc affray it. no enchanter charm if
AND HIS LETTERS. XVU
times; but there is always an ingredient of the kind among some
of those whom the Lord is using. It may be that the energy of
soul created by a revival leads on to ihe study of whatever is
likely to be useful in the defence or propagation of the truth,
whereas, when decay is progressing in a church, sloth and ease
prevail, and are causes why theological learning is thought too
heavy to be plodded through. With Samuel Rutherford and his
contemporaries we find learning side by side with vital, and singu-
larly deep godliness. Gillespie, Henderson, Blair, Dickson, and
others, are well-known proofs. Circumstances led Rutherford in
1636 to publish his elaborate defences of grace against the Arniin-
uois, in Latin. Its title is " Exercitationes de Gratia.'^ So highly
was it esteemed at Amsterdam, where it was published, that a
second edition was printed that very year ; and invitations were
addressed soon after to the author to come over and occupy the
chair of Professor of Divinity in Utrecht. The university of
Hardewyi;k bad already offered him both its chair of Divinity and
Hebrew.
The contest for Chrises Kingly office had become hot and
keen. To Rutherford it appeared no small matter. "I could
wish many pounds added to my cross to know that by my suffer-
ing Christ was set forward in his Kingly office in this land."
July 27, 1636, was a day that put his principles to the test. He
was called before the High Commission Court, because of non-con-
formity to the acts of Episcopacy, and because of his work against
the Arrainians. The issue was not doubtful, though Lord Lorn
made every exertion in his behalf, — they deprived him of his min-
isterial office, which he had exercised at Anwoth for a period of
nine years, and banished him to Aberdeen. The next day, writ-
ing at evening on the subject, he tells of his sentence, and sub-
joins, '^ The honor that I have prayed for these sixteen years."
He made up his mind to leave Anwoth at once, observing, with a
submissiveness which we cannot help wondering at in the author
of Lex Rex, " I purpose to obey the king, who has power over my
body." ^ His only regret was lest this separation from his flock
> The foUowing it his nwn aeooant of thit whole matter, as given in a speech <!••
firered heibre the General Assembly of 29th Nor. 1638. When asked by the Mod-
erator, " Were joa not sent to Aberdeen by the High Commis-vioo f" his reply wai,
* Most tma. I was sent in and summoned by the High Commission for diverse poitits
the Bisbop of Galloway libelled against me, and there was nothing at all provivi
against me, notwithstanding three several days I was before them ; and the third day
ihmj had do other qoestion to propose, but those wherewith they attempted me the
irst two days,— only the matter of non-conformity, which I stand by; and upon this
2
XTIU • SKETCH OF RUTHERFORD
was a chastisement on him from the Lord, <' Because I have not
been so faithful in the end as I was in the two first years of my
ministry, when deep departed from mine eyes through care for
Christ's iambs:'
On leaving Anwoth he directed his steps by Irvine, spending a
night there with his beloved friend David Dickson. What a night
it would be ! To hear these two in solemn converse ! The one
could not handle the harp so well as the other ; for David Dick-
son could express his soul's weary longings and its consoling hopes
in such strains as that which has made his name familiar in Scot-
land, " O mother dear Jemsalem^^^ &c. But Rutherford, never-
theless, had so much of poetry and sublime enthusiasm in his soul,
that any poet could sympathize with him to the full. Many of
his let^ters '< from Christ s palace in Aberdeen" have strains of
true poetry. What else is such an effusion as this, when rising on
eagles' wltigs, he exclaims, "A land that has more than four
summers :n the year ! What a singing life is there ! There is
i^ot a dumb bird in all that large field, but all sing and breathe
lut heaven, joy, glory, dominion, to the High Prince of that new-
ound land. And verily the land is sweeter that He is the glory
>f that land." ''O how sweet to be wholly Christ's, and wholly
n Christ — to dwell in Immanuel's high and blessed land, and
iive in that sweetest air, where no wind bloweth but the breath-
nigs of the Holy Ohoet — no sea nor floods flow but the pure water
of life that floweth from under the throne and from the Lamb —
no planting, but the tree of life that yieldeth twelve manner of
fruits every month ! What do we here but sin and suffer? O
when shaH the night be gone, the shadows flee away, and the
morning of the long, long day, without cloud or night, dawn ?
thej Mnt«Med mt, afUr I dedared by writ, the mikwfbliMM ot ihaii act, and thai I
dant not be antwerabU to tha Jdng to acknowledge thai Judioatory, beeanae it waa
against the standing Uw of the kingdom. Kotwithstanding of this, thej proceeded
against me, depriTed me of mj ministry in Anwoth, and confined me in Aberdeen.
I watdied oo in Edinboigfa, deidring the derk to gire me an extract of the aentence,
bat coold not get it; and tha reason why he shifted me was, becaoae the Bishop of
Oalloway caused him to add a point to mj sentence thai I was not senieDoed for, tie.
that I should exercise no ministerial fonctians within the king^s dominiona. The derk
denied it was a point of my sentence, notwithstanding the Bishop of Oalloway caosed
to add that point, and I coold nerer have tha extract of it, only I got a copy.** — lU^
tofdtoftktOmrekof SeoOm^^lW, Baillie says, ** He was silenced and confined
to Aberdeen for preaching aganisi tha Artides of Perth, and soch things. It la tnM
he reftwed to gire tha Chancellor or any of tha Bishops their styles. They wera
aofanaialso agahisi turn for taxing Oameron m his book, and mora for his
rafliiV at J icksoa**— Baa(. L p. 8.
AND HIS LETTERS. XIX
The Spirit and the bride say ^ Come !' O when shall the Lamb's
wife be ready, and the Bridegroom say, Come ?" Whoever com-
pares such breathings as this with David Dickson's hymn, will at
once see how very congenial were their feelings and their hopes,
and even their mode of expressing what they felt and hoped,
though the one used prose and the other tried more memorable
verse.
We follow Rutherford to Aberdeen, the capital of the North,
whither he was accompanied by a deputation of his affectionate
parishioners from Anwoth, in whose company he would forget the
length and tediousness of the way. He arrived here in Septem-
ber, 1636. This town was at that time the stronghold of Episco-
pacy and Arminianism, and in it the state of religion was very
low. ^ It consisted of Papists, and men of Gallio's naughty faith." >
The clergy and doctors took the opportunity of Rutherford's arrival,
to commence a series of attacks on the doctrines he held. But in
disputation he foiled them ; and when many began to feel drawn
to his earnest dealings or private exhortations, there was a proposal
made to remove him from the town. '< So cold," writes he, ^' is
northern love I But (added he) Christ and I wUl bear itf^ deeply
feeling his union to him who said to Saul, *' why persecutest thou
me 7" Often on the streets,* he was pointed out as ''the Ban^
ished Minisierf and hearing of this, he remarked, ^ I am not
ashamed of my garland." He had visitors from Orkney, and from
Caithness, to the great annoyance of his persecutors. Some
blamed him for not being ^^ prudent enough" as we have seen
men ready to do in the case of Dr. Kalley at Madeira in our day ;
but he replies, '' It is ordinary thcU that should be part of the cross
^ those who suffer for him." Still he enjoyed, in his sditude,
occasional intercourse with some of the godly ones, among whom
were Lady Pitsligo, Lady Burnet of Largs, Andrew Cant, and
James Martin. His deepest affliction was separation from his
flock at Anwoth. Nothing can exceed his tender sorrow over this
flock.
It was a saying of his own, " Oold may be gold and bear the
king's stamp upon it, when it is trampled upon by men." And
> Dr. Jamet Sibbald, Mid to hare been a mao of great learning, was minister in one
of the cfaorclies of what was then called New Aberdeen, and Rutherford was a hearer
of Ui ; he tai^fai Arminianism, and Rutherford afterwards testified against him on
Ihfa point tnok irtiat he had himself listened to^-^OordaiCs 8eoU Affttir, iil 280.
• The impression ci some readers might be that he was mprtsoM. But he never
WM8& He was til «*i^; hot the wfa(de town was his prison, like Shiniei ooofioed to
XX SKETCH OF RUTHERFORD
this was true of himself. But he came out of his trial unhnrt ;
or rather, as his many letters from Aberdeen show, greatly io-
creased in every grace.
He was part of two years closely confined to that town ; but ia
1638 public events had taken another turn. The Lord bad
stirred up the spirit of the people of Scotland, and the Covenant
was again triumphant in the land. Rutherford hastened biuJe to
Anwoth. During his absence, '* for six quarters of a year," say
his parishioners, '' no sound of the word of Ood was heard in our
kirk." The swallows had made their nests undisturbed for two
summers.
His letters do not refer to the proceedings of the Glasgow As-
sembly of 1638 ; still it is well known that he was no mere indif-
ferent spectator to what then took place, but was member of sev-
eral committees which at that time sat on the affairs of the
Church ; and Presbytery being fully restored by that Assembly,
it was thought right that one so gifted should now be brought
forward to a more important sphere. He was sent by the Church
to several districts to promote the cause of reformation and the
covenant : and at length, in spite of his reluctance, arising chiefly
from love to his flock, — his rural flock at Anwoth, — he was con-
strained by the united opinion of his brethren to remove to the
Professor's Chair in Si. Andrew's, in '1639. He baigained to bo
allowed to preach regularly every Sabbath in his new sphere ; for
he could not endure silence when he might speak a word for his
Lord. He seems to have preached, as occasion offered, in the
parishes around, especially at Scoonie, where the village of Leven
stands. His hands were necessarily filled with work in his new
sphere ; yet still he relaxed nothing of his diligence in study.
Nor did he lose anything of former blessing. It was here the
English merchant heard him preach so affectingly on the loveli-
uess of Christ while such was his success as a Professor that " the
university became a Lebanon out of which were taken cedars for
building the house of God throughout the land."
In the year 1640, he married his second wife, << a woman," says
one, " of such worth, that I never knew any among men exceed
him, nor any among women exceed her. He who heard either
of them pray or speak might have learnt to bemoan his owa
ignorance. Oh how many times I have been convinced by ob-
serving them, of the evil of unseriousness unto God, and unsa-
TorinesB in discourse." They had seven children ; bat only oao
AND HIS LKTTERS. XXi
survived the father, a little daughter Agnes, who does not seem
to have been a comfort to her godly mother.
In July, 1643, the Westminster Assembly sat ; and to it he was
sent up as one of the Commissioners from Scotland. There exists
in MS. in the Ubrary of the Edinburgh University, a sketch of
the Shorter Catechism, in Rutherford's handwriting, very much
resembling the Catechism as it now stands, as if he had had the
principal hand in drawing it up for the Assembly. He continued
four years attending the sittings of this famous synod, and was of
much use in their deliberations. So prominent a part did he take,
that the great Milton has singled him out for attack* in his lines,
" On the new forcers of conscience, under the Long Parliament."
Miltoo knew him only as an opponent of his sectarism and Inde-
pendent principles, and so could scorn measures proposed by '' Mere
A. S. and Rutherford." But had^e known the soul of the man,
would not even Milton have found that there was a sublimity of
thought and feeling in his adversary, that at times might ap-
proach his own lofty poesy ? Yet how interesting, in any point of
view, to find the devoted Pastor of Anwoth, on the streets of Lon-
don, crossing the path of the greatest poet of modern times !
During his residence in London, several of his family died ; yet
amid the trials and bustle of that time be wrote *' the Due Right
of Presbytery," '^Lex Rex," and "Trial and Triumph of Faith."
Returning home to St. Andrew's he resumed his labors both
in the college and in the pulpit with all his former zeaL' He
1 * 1651, Jolj ISw — ^The oomm. wa/i given at Sooonie. Mr. Alex. Moncrief!^ m.
there, did preach the Preparation Sermon, and on Monday morning, Mr. Sa. Ruther-
ford did preach ; his text at both occasions was Luke vii. 36 till 89 v. At ^lis time
was preseat, beiides Mr. Sa. Rutherford, Mr. Ja. Guthrie, and Mr. David Bennet, Mr.
Ephraim Melven, and Mr. William OUphant, m. in Dumfermlia Thither did resort
many strangera, so that the throng was great Mr. Ephraim, and Mr. D. Bennet both
did ftit within the pulpit while the minister had his sermon.** ** 1654, Jan. 4. — Being
Saturday, there was a Preparation Sermon for a Thanksgiving preached at Sooonie
in Fjfe, for the ooniinuanoe of the Gospel in the land, and for the spreading of it in
•ome places of the Highlnnds in ScotJand, where in some fomilies two, and in some
fiunilies one, began to call on God by prayer. Mr. Samud Rutherford, M in St An-
dreVm preached on Saturday ; his text, IsaL xlix. 9, 10, 11, 12. On the Sabbath, Mr
Alex. MoDcriefl^ M then preached ; his lecture, 1 The^. L ch. ; his text, Ooloss. i 27.
In the aftemooQ of the Sabbath, Mr. Samuel preadied again upon his forementioiied
text Ob Monday morning, Mr. Samuel had a Lecture on PsaL Ixxxviil He did
read the whole Psalm. Observe, that on Saturday Mr. Samuel had this expression in
his prayer after sermon, desiring that the Lord would rebuke Presbyteries and others
that had taken the keys and the power in their hands, and keeped out, and would suf*
fsr Dooe to enter (meaning in the ministry) but such as said as they said."— Xaipioiil*4
XXU SKETCH OF RUTHBRFORD
joined tlie Protesters in determinedly opposing the proceedings of
the Commission of Assembly, who had censured such as pro-
tested against the admission to power of persons in the class of
Malignants. His friend David Dickson keenly opposed him, and
Mr. Blair also, though less violently. It was this controversy that
made John Livingstone say in a letter to Blair, ^ " Your and Mr.
D. Dickson's accession to these resolutions, is the saddest thing 1
have seen in my time. My wife and I have had more bitterness
in this respect, these several months, than' ever we had since we
knew what bitterness meant." Rutherford wrote too violently on
this matter ; for all parties were greatly excited. Still he did not
lose his brotherly love, the same brotherly love that led him to
embrace Archbishop Usher as a fellow-believer. We may get a
lesson for our times from his remarks on occasion of these bitter
controversies. It is in 1646, that he writes ; '' It is hard when
saints rejoice in the suflerings of saints, and redeemed ones hurt,
and go nigh to hate, redeemed ones. For contempt of the com-
munion of saints, we have need of new-born crosses scarce ever
heard of before. — Our star-light hideth us from ourselves, and
hideth us from one another, and Christ from us all." And then
he subjoins, (and is he not borne out by the words of the Lord in
John xvii. 22.) "A doubt it is if we shall have fully one heart, till
we shall enjoy one heaven." The stale of things lay heavy on
his mind : '*I am btoken and wasted by the wrath that is upon
this land."
Milton sings, *' They also serve who only stand and wait ;" and
Rutherford was longing now for such service. He sometimes
refers to this desire ; he wishes for a quiet harbor in his latter
days ; only, adds he, '' sailing is serving" — and he did delight in
serving his Lord.
In 1660, his published woric, " Lex Rex," was taken notice of
by the government ; for reasonable as it is in defence of the lib-
erty of subjects, its spirit of freedom was intolerable to rulers who
were gradually advancing to acts of cruelty and death. Indeed,
it was so hateful to them, that they burnt it, first at Edinburgh
by the hands of the hangman ; and then some days after by the
hands of the infamous Sharpe, under the windows of its author's
^ College in Su Andrew's. He was next deposed from all his offices ;
: and last of all summoned to answer at next Parliament on a
charge of high treason. But the summons was too late. He
was already on his death-bed, and on hearing of the summons,
> Wodrow Select Biogrmphiee.
AND HIS LETTERS. XXIU
calmly remarked, that be bad got another summons before a su« *
perior Judge and Judicatory, and sent the message, '' I behove to
answer my first summons ; and ere your day arrive, I will be
where few kings and great folks come."
All that is told us of his death-bed is characteristic of the man.
He said when asked, " What think ye now of Christ?"—" I shall
live and adore him. Glory dwelleth in ImmanuePs land." The
same afternoon he said, " I shall sleep in Christ, and when I
awake I shalf be satisfied with his likeness." Once be cried
aloud, " O for arms to embrace Him ! O for a well-tuned harp !"
This last expression he used more than once, as if already stretch-
ing out his hand to get his golden harp, and join the redeemed in
their new song. He also said on another occasion, " I hear him
saying to me, * Come up hither.' " His little daughter, Agnes,
only eleven years of age, stood by his bed-side ; he looked ou her,
and said, " I have left her upon the Lord." Well might the man
say so, who could so fully testify of his portion in the Lord, as a
goodly heritage. To four of his brethren, who came to see him,
be said, " My Lord and Master is chief of ten thousands of thou-
sands. None is comparable to Him in heaven, or in earth. Dear
brethren, do all for Him. Pray /or Christ. Preach /or Christ J^
He seemed to know the hour of his departure, not perhaps so
surely as Paul, 2 Tim. iv. 6, or Peter, 2 Peter i. 14, yet still in a
manner that seems to indicate that the Lord draws very near his
servants in that hour, and gives glimpses of what he is doiug.
On the last day of his life, in the afternoon, he said, "This night
will close the door, and fasten my anchor within the veil, and I
shall go away in a sleep by five o'clock in the morning." And so
it was. He entered Immanuel's land at that very hour, March
20, 1661, at his house in St. Andrew's, and is now (as himself
would have said) " sleeping in the bosom of the Almighty," till
the Lord come. One of his dying sayings was, " There is noth-
ing now between me and the resurrection but, ' This day thou
shalt be with me in Paradise.' " And Livingstone records that
his last words were, "Glory, glory dwelleth in Immanuel's land !" >
— as if he had caught a glimpse of its mountain tops.*
Had he lived a few weeks, his might have been the cruel death
1 ^'leei, liar. 29, (a mUtake for 20.) Mr. Samuel Rutherford, Principal of Um
Vew CoUege io St Andrew's, departed out of thi^ life, at hb dwelling-houie there^
and wa» interred the 30th of Mar. at the ordinary burial place of the said city. Some
wtekM before be had a daughter that departed out of this life likewise. Also, th«
awl SO of Mar. Mr. Andrew Honey man's mother-in-law was inteired likewise. They
t both carried at one time to their long home." — Lamontt JXarjf.
ZXIT SKETCH OP RUTHERFORD
endured by his friend James Guthrie, whom he had encourage
hj his letters to steadfastness to tlie end. The vote which th
Parliament passed when told that he was dying did him no dig
honor. When they had voted that he should not die in the Col
lege, Lord Burleigh rose and said, '' Ye cannot vote him out oi
heaven.''
If ever there was any portrait of him, it is not now known
We are most familiar with the likeness of his soul. There is oq<
expressive line in the epitaph on his tombstone, in thechurchyan
of the Chapel of St Regulus :
What tac^e» what pen, or skill of men.
Can famous Rutherford commeDd 1
His learning justly raised his fame,
True greatness did adorn hn name.
He did ooDTerse with things aboTC,
Acquainted with JmmanueCt love.
His memory wns long cherished, and it is said that so grea
was the reverence which some of the godly had for this venerable
man, that they requested to be buried near where his body was laid
It is also mentioned, that an old man in the parish of Crailiii<
remembers the veneration entertained for him by the great-grand
father of the present Marquis of Lothian. This good Marquis use<
to lift his hat as he passed the spot where stood ihe^ cottage ii
which Samuel Rutherford was born.
His " Letters" have long been famous among the godi)
The collector was godly Mr. M*Ward, who, as a student, beinj
much beloved by Rutherford, went to the Westminster Assembl;
with him as his secretary. He was afterwards successor to An
drew Gray in Glasgow, and finally minister in Rotterdam. H
published them with an enthusiastic recommendation ; but seem
sometimes to have given us erroneous readings. At least, ther
are occasionally expressions or clauses that are obscure, as the
stand in print. The first letter is dated April 23, 1628 ; and on
ward from that dale, we have occasional pieces up to the year ol
his death. It will be noticed, that at times, the pen of the read;
writer ran on most rapidly. He has written many in one da}
when his heart was overflowing. It was easy to write when ih
Lord was pourinsT on him the tmction that teacheth all things
He would sometimes have written still more, but he had hear
that people looked up to him and overpraised his letters. Durin]
bis confinement at Aberdeen, he wrote about 220.
There are a few unpleasant expressions in the letters, whicl
AND HIS LETTERS. XXT
are the sparks of a fancy that sought to appropriate everything
to sfririluai purposes ; but as to extravagance in the thoughts con*
reyed, there is none. The extravagance alleged against them by
•ome, is just that of Paul, when he spoke of knowing '< the height
and depth, length and breadth," of the love of Christ ; or that of
Solomon, when the Holy Ghost inspired him to write '' The Song
of Songs." Rather would we say of these letters, what Living-
stone in a letter says of John Welsh's dying words, " O for a sweet
fillof this fanatic humor P In modern days, Richard Cecil has
said of Rutherford : " He is one of my classics ; he is a real origi-
nal f and in older times, Richard Baxter, some of whose theo-
logical leanings might have prejudiced him, if anything could,
said of his letters : '< Hold oflf the Bible, such a book the world
never saw." They were long ago translated into Dutch, and of late
years they have been translated into German. Both in these, and
in his other writings, we see sufficient proof that had he cultivated
literature as a pursuit, he might have stood high in the admira-
tion of men.'
The letters often, by a few strokes, suggest very much that is
edifying and impressive. There is something not easily forgotten
in the words used to express the Church's indestnictibleness in
that letter, where he says, " the bush has been burning these five
thousand years, and no man yet saw the ashes of thatfireP How
mnch truth is conveyed by that saying, '^ Losses for Christ are
but goods given out in bank in Christ's hand." There is an in-
genious use of Scripture that often delights the reader, as when
he speaks of " the corn on the house-tops that never got the hus-
bandman's prayer," or of " Him that counteth the basons and
knives of his house, (Ezra i. 9, 10,) and bringeth them back safe
to hb second temple." But the general characteristics of his let-
ters are still more worthy of attentive consideration.
' His otlier works bear the stamp of the same lofty soul. In his Treatise, ** De
DiTiDa ProTidenUa," Uie iollowiog paragraph oocurs extoUing the glory of Godhead
visdoiiL ** Comparentur cum ilia increata sapieatia Dei Patris umbratiles scintiUidai
cretta^glorioIiB qootquot Dominis oelebntate indaruerunt Dftlirat Plato. Mentitnr
ArittoteU$, Cicero balbulit, haeitat, nescit Latine loqol Demosthenes mutus et
cliDguis obstepeadt ; yirtutli viam ignorat Seneea, nihil canit Hotnerus^ — male canii
yirgilius! Aocedaot ad Christum qui rirtutis gloria ftilgeotl Aristides virtuteiA
mendtor. Fabius cespitat, a via justitis deviat Socrates do hoc quidem 8cit» se nihQ
Kire. Cato levts-et futilis est, Solon est mundi et yoluptutum servos et maucipiuni,
BOQ legislator. Pytkagoras nee sophos, nee philosophus est Bias nee mundi aao
Mb gkm rootemptor. Alexander Maeedo ignavus ett»* ^
ZZVl SKETCH OF RUTHERFORD
These Letters will ever be precious to : —
1. All who are sensible of their awn^ and the Church% decaj
and corruptions. The wound and the cure are therein so full)
opened out; self is exposed, even spiritual self . He will tel
you, '< There is as much need to watch over grace, as to watch
over sin." He will show you Grod in Christ, to fill up the place
usurped by self. The subtleties of sin, idols, snares, temptations,
self-deceptions, are dragged into view from time to time. And
what is better still, the cords of Christ are twined round the roots
of these bitter plants, that they may be plucked up.
Nor is it less so in regard to corruption in public, and in the
Church. We do not mean merely the open corruption of error,
but the secret '^ gray hairs" of deciLy. How it suits our day tc
hear him cry, '' There is universal deadness on all that fear God
Oh where are the sometime quickening breathings^ and influ-
ences from heaven that have refreshed his hidden ones r And
then, how like our day when his complaint laments, in the name
of the saints, '' We are half-satisfied with our vntheredness ; noi
have we so much of his strain who doth eight times breathe out
that suit (Psa. 119,) duicken me !" We live far from the well
and complain but dryly of our dryness." '
2. All who delight in the Surety's imputed righteousness. If
thoroughly aware of the body of sin in ourselves, we cannot bu(
feel that we need a person in our stead, — the person of the God-
man in the room of our guilty person. This is fijU salvation from
guilt. " To us a Son is given ;" not salvation only, but a Saviour,
The person of Jesus is given us, '< he gave himself for usJ'
These LiCtters are ever carrying us to the Surety and his right-
eousness. The eye never gets time to rest long on anything
apart from Him and his righteousness. We are shown the del
uge- waters undried up, in order to lead us into the ark again ; '^ ]
had fainted, had not want and penury chased me to the storehouse
of all," says he on one occasion.
3. All who rejoice in the gospel of free grace. Lord Kenrour<
once said to him, '^ Sin causeth me to be jealous of His love tc
such a man as I have been ;" he replied, '*Be jealous of yourself
my lord, but not of Jesus Christ." In his "Trial and TriuinpL
• of Faith," he remarks, " As holy walking is a duty coming frore
' us, it is no ground of true peace. Believers often seek in them
( selves what they should seek in Christ." U is to the like efieci
AND HIS LETTERS.
XX VU
kesaysinaletieri "Your heart is not the compass that Christ
nileth by," turning away his friends from looking inward, to look
apon the heart of Jesus. And this is his meaning, when he thus
lays the whole burden of salvation on the Lord, and leaves noth-
ing for us but acceptance, ''Take ease to thyself, and let him bear
alL" Then pointing us to the risen Saviour as our pledge of com-
plete redemption, ''Faith may dance, because Christ singeth;"
"Faith apprehendeth pardon, but never payeth a penny for it."
Oq his death-bed he said to hb friends, " I disclaim all that ever
God made me will or do, and I look upon it as defiled and imper
feet" And so in his letters he will admit of no addition, or in-
termixture of other things ; " The Grospel is like a small hair that
hath 00 breadth, and will not cleave in two." He exhorts to as-
larance as being the way to be humbled very low before God :
"Often in us, complaining is but a humble backbiting and tra-
ducing of Christ's new work in the souL" " Make meikle of as-
surance, for it keepeth your anchor fixed." He warns us, in his
Trial and Triumph of Faith, " not to be too desirous of keen
awakenings to chase us to Christ. Let Christ tutor me as he
tbinketh good. He has seven eyes : I have but one, and that too
dim." In a similar strain he writes : — " The law shall never be
my doomster, by Christ's grace ; I shall find a sure enough doom
in the gospel to humble and cast me down. There cannot be a
fnore humble soul than a believer. It is no pride in a drowning
man to catch hold of a rockJ^ How much truth there is here !
Naaman never was humble in any degree, until he felt himself
completely healed of his scaly leprosy : but truly he was humbled
and humble then. And what one word is there, that suggests so
many humbling thoughts as that word " Chraeel^
s/^
4. All who seek to grow in holiness. The Holy Ghost delights
to 8how us the glorious Godhead, in the face of Jesus. And this
is a very frequent theme in these letters. He often seems to be i
standing in immovable contemplation of Christ, and so becom- '
ing holier and holier ; "changed into the same image from glory I
to glory." "Take Christ for sanctification, as well as justifica-.
tioD," is often his theme. And in him we see a man who seems !
to have sought for holiness as unceasingly and as eagerly as other
men seek for pardon and peace. In him, " holiness to the LordP
seems written on every affection of the heart, and on every fresh-
springing thought.
Fellowship with the living God is a distinguishing feature in
ZZVl 8KBTCH OF RUTHERFORD
These Letters will ever be precious to : —
1. All who an sensible of their own^ and the ChureKs, deca%
and corruptions. The wound and the cure are therein so fuUj
opened out; self is exposed, even spiritual self . He will tel
you, '' There is as much need to watch over grace, as to watch
over sin." He will show you Grod in Christ, to fill up the place
usurped by self The subtleties of sin, idols, snares, temptations,
self-deceptions, are dragged into view from time to time. And
what is better still, the cords of Christ are twined round the roots
of these bitter plants, that they may be plucked up.
Nor is it less so in regard to corruption in public, and in the
Church. We do not mean merely the open corruption of error,
but the secret '' gray hairs" of decity. How it suits our day tc
hear him cry, " There is universal deadness on all that fear God.
Oh where are the sometime quickening breathings^ and influ-
ences from heaven that have refreshed his hidden ones P^ And
then, how like our day when his complaint laments, in the name
of the saints, " We are half-satisfied with our witheredness ; not
have we so much of his strain who doth eight times breathe out
that suit (Psa. 119,) duicken me !" We live far from the well,
and complain but dryly of our dryness." '
2. All who delight in the Surety^s imputed righteousness. If
thoroughly aware of the body of sin in ourselves, we cannot but
feel that we need a person in our stead, — the person of the Crod-
man in the room of our guilty person. This is fi|ll salvation from
guilt. '^ To us a Son is given ;" not salvation only, but a Saviour.
The person of Jesus is given us, " he gave himself for us.^
These Letters are ever carrying us to the Surety and his right-
eousness. The eye never gets time to rest long on anything
apart from Him and his righteousness. We are shown the del-
uge-waters undried up, in order to lead us into the ark again ; ^^ 1
had fainted, had not want and penury chased me to the storehouse
of all," says he on one occasion.
3. All who rejoice in the gospel of free grcux. Lord Kenraure
once said to him, '^ Sin causeth me to be jealous of His love tc
such a man as I have been ;" he replied, '*Be jealous of yourself
my lord, but not of Jesus Christ." In his " Trial and Triumpli
' of Faith," he remarks, ^^ As holy walking is a duty coming frun:
' us, it is no ground of true peace. BeUevers often seek in them
( selves what they should seek in Christ." U b to the like eOeci
AND HIS LETTERS.
XX VU
he says in a letieri "Your heart is not the compass that Christ
nileih by," turning away his friends from looking inward, to look
apon the heart of Jesus. And this is his meaning, when he thus
lays the whole burden of salvation on the Lord, and leaves noth-
ing for us but acceptance, "Take ease to thyself, and let him bear
ill'' Then pointing us to the risen Saviour as our pledge of com-
plete redemption, "Faith may dance, because Christ siogeth;"
" Faith apprehendeth pardon, but never payeth a penny for it."
On his death-bed he said to his friends, " I disclaim all that ever
God made me will or do, and I look upon it as defiled and imper
feet" And so in his letters he will admit of no addition, or in-
termixture of other things ; " The Gospel is like a small hair that
bath no breadth, and will not cleave in two." He exhorts to as-
surance as being the way to be humbled very low before God :
"Often in us, complaining is but a humble backbiting and tra-
ducing of Christ's new work in the soul." " Make meikle of as-
surance, for it keepeth your anchor fixed." He warns us, in his
Trial and Triumph of Faith, " not to be too desirous of keen
awakenings to chase us to Christ. Let Christ tutor me as he
ihiuketh good. He has seven eyes : I have but one, and that too
dim." In a similar strain he writes : — " The law shall never be
my doomster, by Christ's grace ; I shall find a sure enough doom
in the gospel to humble and cast me down. There cannot be a
more humble soul than a believer. It is no pride in a drowning
man to catch hold of a rockJ^ How much truth there is here !
Naainan never was humble in any degree, until he felt himself
completely healed of his scaly leprosy : but truly he was humbled
and humble then. And what one word is there, that suggests so
many humblmg thoughts as that word " Chraeel^
K/^
4. AU who seek togro^o in holiness. The Holy Ghost delights
to show us the glorious Godhead, in the face of Jesus. And this
is a very frequent theme in these letters. He often seems to be |
standing in immovable contemplation of Christ, and so becom- ■
ing holier and holier ; "changed into the same image from glory I
to glory." " Take Christ for sanctification, as well as justifica- ,
tion," is often his theme. And in him we see a man who seems !
to have sought for holiness as unceasingly and as eageriy as other
men seek for pardon and peace. In him, " holiness to the LordP
seems written on every affection of the heart, and on every fresh*
springing thought.
Fellowship with the living God is a distinguishing feature in
XXVIU SKETCH OF RUTHERFORD
the holiness given by the Holy Ghost, '< access by one Spirit to
tae Father through him.'* It must be with the Living One we
meet, and then the sympathies of a living heart are felt Ruth-
erford could sometimes say, '' I have been so near Him, that I
have said, ' I take instruments that this is the Lord.' " And ho
/ could from experience declare, ^' I dare avouch the saints know
not the length and largeness of the sweet Earnest, and of the
sweet green sheaves before the harvest, that might be had on this
side of the water, if%De would take more pains *^ "I am every
way in your case, as hard-hearted and dead as any man, but yet
I speak to Christ through my sleep." All this is from the pen of
a man who was a metaphysician, a controversialist, a leader in
the Church, and learned in ancient lore. Why are there not such
gracious, as well as great men now ?
6. AU afflicted persons. He abounds in ricli words to such ;
indeed, here he had the very '^ tongue of the learned, to speak a
word in season to him that was weary." And with what tender
sympathy does he speak, leading the moui*ner so gently to the
heart of Jesus ! He knew the heart of a stranger, for be had
been a stranger. " Let no man after me slander Christ for bis
cross." Yes, says he, his most loved are often his most tried ;
''The lintel-stone and pillars of his New Jerusalem sufler more
knocks of God's hammer and tools, than the common side-wall
stones." Even as to reproach and calumny, ''I love Christ's
worst reproaches."
It was to Hugh M'Kail, he wrote, '' Some have written me that
I am possibly too joyful of the cross, but my joy overleapeth the
cross, — it is bounded and terminated on Christ." And there it
was he found a well of comfort never dry.
6. AU who lave the Person of Christ. Our age and country
have been tempted to be satisfied with speculative,- abstract doc-
trine. On the one hand, the orthodox have too often rested in the
statements of otu* Catechisms and Confession ; and, on the other,
the '< Election-doubters," (as Bunyan would have called them,)
have gone about with their favorite dogma, that Christ died for
all men, as if mere assent to a proposition would save the soul.
Rutherford ever places the truth before us in a savory way — full
of life and warmth. The person of Him who gave himself for
his church is held up in all its attractiveness. With him, it is
ever the Person as much as the work done ; or rather, never the
AND HIS LETTERS. XXIX
ODe apart from the other. Like Paul, he would fain know Him.^
and the power of his resurrection.
Once when Lord Kenmure asked him, "What will Christ be ^/^
Wkt when he cometh?" his reply was, " All lovely J^ And this is
everywhere the favorite theme with him. At times be tells of
his love. " His love surroundeth and surchargeth me." "If his
love was not in heaven, I should be unwilling to go thither."
But often he checks his pen to tell of Christ himself. " Wel-
come, welcome, sweet, sweet cross of Christ ;" — then correct-
ing his language, — " Welcome, fair, lovely, royal King, with
thine own eross.''^ " Oh if I could doat as much upon Himself as
I do upon his love." " I fear I make more of his love than of
Himself" How peculiar, and how true is thid remark, "I see
that in communion with Christ we may make more Gods than
one," meaning, that we may be tempted to make the enjoyment
itself our God. It was his habitual aim to pass through privi-
leges, joys, even fellowship, to God himself; "I have casten this
work upon Christ, to get me himself ^ " I would be farther in
apoQ Christ than at his joys — in, where love and mercy lodgeth
—beside his heart." " He who sitteth on the throne is his lone
a suflkient heaven." " Sure I am He is the far best half of /
heaven."
In one word, such was his soul's view of the living Person, that ^
he writes, " Holiness is not Christ, nor the blossoms and flowers
of the tree of life, nor the tree itself." He had found out the true
fountain-head, and would direct all Zion's travellers thither. And i
let a man try this, — let the Holy Spi rit Jead a man to this Person^ /
—and surely his experience will be, "None ever came up dry I
from David's well."
AU^Dho love that blessed hope, the glorious appearing of the
great Ood our Saviour. The more we love the person of Christ,
the more ought we to love his appearing, and the more we cherish
both feelings, the holier shall we become. Rutherford abounds
in aspirations for that day ; he is one who '' looks for and hastens
unto the coming of the day of God !" While in exile at Aber- ^
deen in 1637, he writes, "O when will we meet ! O how long is
it to the dawning of the marriage day? O sweet Jesus, take
wide steps ! O my Lord, come over mountains at one stride ! O
my Beloved, flee as a roe or young hart upon the mountains of
separation." Now and then he has the expression of an intense
desire for the restoration of Israel to their Lord, and the fulness
XZZ SKETCH OP RUTHERFORD.
of die Gentiles ; but far oftener his desires go forth to his L«oi
himself. '^O fairest among the sons of men, why stayest th<i
so long away ? O heavens, move fast ! O time, run, run, an
hasten the marriage day !" To Lady Kenmure his words ar
'' The Lord hath told you what you should be doing till he com*
'Wait and hasten,' saith Peter, *for the coming of the Lor^
Sigh and long for the dawning of that morning and the breakin
of that day of the coming of the Son of Man, when the shadoM
shall flee away. Wait with the wearied night-watch for tli
breaking of the eastern sky." Saints who feel their exile and a1
sence most are those who will most fervently love their Lord's a|
pearing. It was thus with Daniel on the banks of Ulai, and Joh
in Patmos ; and Samuel Rutherford's most intense aspirations f<
that day are breathed out in Aberdeen.
His description of himself on one occasion is, — " A man ofie
borne down and hungry, and waiting for the marriage supper c
the liamb." He is now gone to the " mountain of myrrh an
the hill of frankincense ;" and there he no doubt still wonders t
the unopened treasures of Christ But O for his insatiable di
sires Christward in our day ! O for ten such men ^ in Scotland i
stand in the gap, men who all day long find nothing but Chri
to rest in, and whose very sleep is a pursuing after Christ in dream
and who intensely desire to ^ awake with his likeness.**
1 OmzfiiLSl
RELiaiOTJS LETTERS.
LETTER n.
TO A GENTLEWOMAN.
1
LETTER I.
FOR MARION MACKNAUGHT.
Well-beloved and Dear Sister, — My love in Christ remem-
oered — ^I have sent to vou your daughter, Grizzel, with Robert Gor*
don, who came to fetch her. I am in good hopes that the seed of
God is in her, as in one bom of God, and God's seed will come to
God's harvest I have her promise that she will be Christ's, for
I have told her that she may promise much in his worthy name ;
for he becometh caution^ to his Father for all such as resolve and i
promise to serve him. I shall remember her to God. I trust that
voQ will acquaint her with good company, and be diligent to
know with whom she loveth to haunt
Remember Zion, and our necessities. I bless your daughter
from our Lord, and pray the Lord to give you joy and comfort of
her. Remember my love to your husband, to W illiatn and Sam-
uel, your sons.
The Lord Jesus be with your spirit
Yours, at all power in the Lord Jesusi S. R.
AairoUi, Jime 6th, 1634.
Mistress, — ^I beseech you to have me excused if the daily em-
foyments of my calling shall hinder me to see you, according as
would wish ; ior I dare not go abroad, since many of my people
are sick, and the time of our communion' draweth near. But fre-
Suent the company of your worthy and honest-hearted pastor,
Ir. Robert, to whom the Lord hath given the tongue of the
learned, to minister a word in due season to the weary. Remem-
ber me to him, and to your husband.
The Lord Jesus be with vour spirit
Your affectionate Friend, S. R.
1 teetjr. i Diipentation of the Lord's Supper.
ZXIT SKETCH OP RUTHERFORD
endured by his friend James Guthrie, whom he had encouraged
by his letters to steadfastness to the end. The vote which the
Parliament passed when told that he was dying did him no dis-
honor. When they had voted that he should not die in the Col-
lege, Lord Burleigh rose and said, " Ye cannot vote him out of
heaven."
If ever there was any portrait of him, it is not now known.
We are most familiar with the likeness of his soul. There is one
expressive line in the epitaph on his tombstone, in the churchyard
of the Chapel of St Regulus :
What toDgue» what pen, or skill of men,
Can famous Rutherford commend I
His learning justly raised his fame.
True greatness did adorn his name.
He did oooYerse with things abore,
Acquainted with ImmanueCt love.
His memory was long cherished, and it is said that so great
was the reverence which some of the godly had for this venerable
man, that they requested to be buried near where his body was laid.
It is also mentioned, that an old man in the parish of Crailing
remembers the veneration entertained for him by the great-grand-
father of the present Marquis of Lothian. This good Marquis used
to lift his hat as he passed the spot where stood the^ cottage in
which Samuel Rutherford was born.
His "Letters" have long been famous among the godly.
The collector was godly Mr. M*Ward. who, as a student, being
much beloved by Rutherford, went to the Westminster Assembly
with him as his secretary. He was afterwards successor to An-
drew Gray in Glasgow, and finally minister in Rotterdam. He
published them with an enthusiastic recommendation ; but seems
sometimes to have given us erroneous readings. At least, there
are occasionally expressions or clauses that are obscure, as they
stand in print. The first letter is dated April 23, 1628 ; and on-
ward from that date, we have occasional pieces up to the year of
his death. It will be noticed, that at times, the pen of the ready
writer ran on most rapidly. He has written many in one day,
when his heart was overflowing. It was easy to write when the
Lord was pouring on him the unction that teacheth all things.
He would sometimes have written still more, but he had heard
that people looked up to him and overpraised his letters. During
his confinement at Aberdeen, he wrote about 220.
There are a few unpleasant expressions in the letters, which
AND HIS LETTERS. XXT
ire the sparks of a fancy that sought to appropriate everything
to spiritual purposes ; but as to extravagance in the thoughts con-
Teyed, there is none. The extravagance alleged against them by
Boine, is just that of Paul, when he spoke of knowing '' the height
and depth, length and breadth," of the love of Christ ; or that of
Solomon, when the Holy Ghost inspired him to write '^ The Song
of Songs." Rather would we say of these letters, what Living-
Btone in a letter says of John Welsh's dying words, " O for a sweet
fillof this fanatic humor !" In modern days, Richard Cecil has
said of Rutherford : " He is one of my classics ; he is a real origi-
nal i^ and in older times, Richard Baxter, some of whose theo-
logical leanings might have prejudiced him, if anything could,
said of his letters : ^ Hold off the Bible, such a book the world
never saw." They were long ago translated into Dutch, and of late
years they have been translate into German. Both in these, and
in his other writings, we see sufficient proof that had he cultivated
literature as a pursuit, he might have stood high in the admira-
tion of men.'
The letters often, by a few strokes, suggest very much that is
edifying and impressive. There is something not easily forgotten
in the words used to express the Church's indestructibleness in
that letter, where he says, ^^ the bush has been burning these five
thousand years, and no man yet saw the ashes of thatjire" How
much truth is conveyed by that saying, " Losses for Christ are
but goods given out in bank in Christ's hand." There is an in-
genious use of Scripture that often delights the reader, as when
he speaks of ^^ the corn on the house-tops that never got the hus-
bandman's prayer," or of " Him that counteth the basons and
knives of his house, (Ezra i. 9, 10,) and bringeth them back safe
to hb second temple." But the general characteristics of his let-
ters are still more worthy of attentive consideration.
' His other works bear the stamp of the same lofty soul. In his Treatise, ** De
Dirina ProTidentia,** the iollowiog paragraph occurs extoUiog the glory of Gtodhead
"visdoin. ** Gomparentur cum ilia increata sapieotia Dei Patris umbratilea sdntillulai
creat«^gU)rioliB quotquot nominis celehrttate inclaruerunt Dftlirat Plato. Mentitur
AriitoieUi, Cicero balbulit, tuBsitat, nescit Latine loquL Demosthenes mutus ei
clioguis obetepeadt ; yirtutis viam ignorat Seneca, nihil canit Hotnerus, — male canii
yirgiliust Accedant ad Christum qui yirtutis gloria ftilgent! Aristidea virtuteu
inentitQr. Falnus cespitat, a ria justitia deviat Socrates ne hoc quidem sdt^ se nihQ
•ore. Cato levis-et futilis est, Solon est mundi et voluptatum servus et maocipiuni,
BOO legislator. Pythagoras Dec sophos, nee philosophus est Bias nee mundi aao
ttois gloria rootemptor. Alexander Maeedo ignavus est^* Ac.
ZZVl SKETCH OF RUTHERFORD
These Letters will ever be precious to : —
1. All who art sensible of their own^ and the ChureKs^ decay
and corruptions. The wound and the cure are therein so full/
opened out ; self b exposed, even spiritual self. He will tell
you, '' There is as much need to watch over grace, as to watch
over sin." He will show you Grod in Christ, to fill up the place
usurped by self The subtleties of sin, idols, snares, temptations,
self-deceptions, are dragged into view from time to time. And
what is better still, the cords of Christ are twined round the roots
of these bitter plants, that they may be plucked up.
Nor is it less so in regard to corruption in public, and in the
Church. We do not mean merely the open corruption of error,
but the secret '' gray hairs" of decity. How it suits our day to
hear him cry, '' There is universal deadness on all that fear God.
Oh where are the sometime quickening breathings^ and influ'
ences from heaven that have refreshed his hidden ones P^ And
then, how like our day when his complaint laments, in the name
of the saints, " We are half-scUisfied with our witheredness ; nor
have we so much of his strain who doth eight times breathe out
that suit (Psa. 119,) duicken me !" We live far from the well,
and complain but dryly of our dryness." '
2. AU who delight in the Surety*s imputed righteousness. If
thoroughly aware of the body of sin in ourselves, we cannot but
feel that we need a person in our stead, — the person of the God-
man in the room of our guilty person. This is fijll salvation from
guilt. '* To us a Son is given ;" not salvation only, but a Saviour.
The person of Jesus is given us, " he gave himself for us.^
These Lictters are ever carrying us to the Surety and his right-
eousness. The eye never gets time to rest long on anything
apart from Him and his righteousness. We are shown the del-
uge-waters undried up, in order to lead us into the ark again ; '^ I
had fainted, had not want and penury chased me to the storehouse
of all," says he on one occasion.
3. All who rejoice in the gospel of free grcux. Lord Kenmure
once said to him, " Sin causeth me to be jealous of His love to
such a man as I have been ;" he replied, '*Be jealous of yourself,
my lord, but not of Jesus Christ." In his "Trial and Triumph
' of Faith," he remarks, " As holy walking is a duty coming from
''' us, it is no ground of true peace. Believers often seek in them-
( selves what they should seek in Christ." U is to the like effect
AND HIS LETTERS.
XX VU
he says in a letieri "Your heart is not the compass that Christ
saileth by," turning away his friends from looking inward, to look
upon the heart of Jesus. And this is his meaning, when he thus
lays the whole burden of salvation on the Lord, and leaves noth-
ing for us but acceptance, " Take ease to thyself, and let him bear
alL" Then pointing us to the risen Saviour as our pledge of com-
plete redemption, << Faith may dance, because Christ singeth;"
** Faith apprehendeth pardon, but never payeth a penny for it."
Od his death-bed he said to his friends, '< I disclaim all that ever
God made me will or do, and I look upon it as defiled and imper
feet." And so in his letters he will admit of no addition, or in-
termixture of other things ; " The Gospel is like a small hair that
hath no breadth, and will not cleave in two." He exhorto to as-
surance as being the way to be humbled very low before God :
" Often in us, complaining is but a humble backbiting and tra-
ducing of Christ's new work in the soul." " Make meikle of as-
surance, for it keepeth your anchor fixed." He warns us, in his
Trial and Triumph of Faith, " not to be too desirous of keen
awakenings to chase us to Christ. Let Christ tutor me as he
ihinketh good. He has seven eyes : I have but one, and that too
dim." In a similar strain he writes : — '< The law shall never be
my doomster, by Christ's grace ; I shall find a sure enough doom
in the gospel to humble and cast me down. There cannot be a
more humble soul than a believer. It is no pride in a drowning
man to catch hold of a rockJ^ How much truth there is here !
Naaman never was humble in any degree, until he felt himself
completely healed of his scaly leprosy : but truly he was humbled
and humble then. And what one word b there, that suggests so
many humbling thoughts as that word " Cfrace?^^
K/^
4. All who seek to grow in holiness. The Holy Ghost delights
to show us the glorious Godhead, in the face of Jesus. And this
is a very frequent theme in these letters. He often seems to be j
standing in immovable contemplation of Christ, and so becom- >
ing holier and holier ; '< changed into the same image from glory I
to glory." " Take Christ for sanctification, as well as justifica- \
tion," is often his theme. And in him we see a man who seems .
to have sought for holiness as unceasingly and as eagerly as other
men seek for pardon and peace. In him, " holiness to the LordP
seems written on every affection of the heart, and on every fresh*
springing thought.
Fellowship with the living God is a distinguishing feature in
XXVIU SKETCH OF RUTHERFORD
the holiness given by the Holy Ghost, ^ access by one Spirit to
tae Father through hiin.'* It must be with the Living One we
meet, and then the sympathies of a living heart are felt Ruth-
erford could sometimes say, *^ I have been so near Him, that I
have said, ' I take instruments that this is the Lord.' " And ho
/ could from experience declare, '^ I dare avouch the saints know
not the length and largeness of the sweet Earnest, and of the
sweet green sheaves before the harvest, that might be had on this
side of the water, if we would take more pains.*^ "I am every
way in your case, as hard-hearted and dead as any man, but yet
I speak to Christ through my sleep." All this is from the pen of
a man who was a metaphysician, a controversialist, a leader in
the Church, and learned in ancient lore. Why are there not such
g^cious, as well as great men now ?
6. All afflicted persons. He abounds in ricli words to such ;
indeed, here he had the very '* tongue of the learned, to speak a
word in season to him that was weary.'' And with what tender
sympathy does he speak, leading the mourner so gently to the
heart of Jesus ! He knew the heart of a stranger, for be had
been a stranger. '^ Let no man after me slander Christ for his
cross." Yes, says he, his most loved are often his most tried ;
" The lintel-stone and pillars of bis New Jerusalem sufler more
knocks of God's hammer and tools, than the common side-wall
stones." Even as to reproach and calumny, *'I love Christ's
worst reproaches."
It was to Hugh M^Kail, he wrote, '^ Some have written me that
I am possibly too joyful of the cross, but my joy overleapeth the
cross, — it is bounded and terminated on Christ." And there it
was he found a well of comfort never dry.
6. AU who love the Person of Christ. Our age and country
have been tempted to be satisfied with speculative, abstract doc-
trine. On the one hand, the orthodox have too often rested in the
statements of our Catechisms and Confession ; and, on the other,
the " Election-doubters," (as Bunyan would have called them,)
have gone about with their favorite dogma, that Christ died for
all men, as if mere assent to a proposition would save the soul.
Rutherford ever places the truth before us in a savory way — full
of life and warmth. The person of Him who gave himself for
his church is held up in all its attractiveness. With him, it is
ev€rr the Person as much as the work done ; or rather, never the
AND HIS LETTERS. XXIX
one apart from the other. Like Paul, he would fain know Him.
and the power of his resurrection.
Once when Lord Kenmure asked him, "What will Christ be ^/^
like when he cometh?" his reply was, " All lovely J*^ And this is
ererywherc the favorite theme with him. At times be tells of
his love. "His love surroundeth and surchargeth me." "If his
love was not in heaven, I should be unwilling to go thither."
But often he checks his pen to tell of Christ himself. " Wel-
come, welcome, sweet, sweet cross of Christ ;" — then correct-
ing his language, — " Welcome, fair, lovely, royal King, with
thhie oum erossP " Oh if I could doat as much upon Himself as
I do upon his love." " I fear I make more of his love than of
Himself^ How peculiar, and how true is this remark, " I see
that in communion with Christ we may make more Gods than
one," meaning, that we may be tempted to make the enjoyment
itself our God. It was his habitual aim to pass through privi-
leges, joys, even fellowship, to God himself; "I have casten this
work upon Christ, to get me himself J^ " I would be farther in
upon Chrbt than at his joys — in, where love and mercy lodgeth
—beside his heart." " He who sitteth on the throne is his lone
a sufiicient heaven." " Sure I am He is the far best half of
heaven."
In one word, such was his soul's view of the living Person, that
be writes, "Holiness is not Christ, nor the blossoms and flowers
of the tree of life, nor the tree itself" He had found out the true
fountain-head, and would direct all Zion's travellers thither. And t
let a man try this, — let the Holy Spi rit Jead a man to this Per^onj /
— and surely his experience will be, " None ever came up dry I
from David's well."
All'Who love that blessed hope, the glorious appearing of the
great Ood our Saviour. The more we love the person of Christ,
the more ought we to love his appearing, and the more we cherish
both feelings, the holier shall we become. Rutherford abounds
in aspirations for that day ; he is one who " looks for and hastens
unto the coming of the day of God !" While in exile at Aber- ^
deen in 1637, he writes, "O when will we meet ! O how long is
it to the dawning of the marriage day? O sweet Jesus, take
wide steps ! O my Lord, come over mountains at one stride ! O
nay Beloved, flee as a roe or young hart upon the mountains of
separation." Now and then he has the expression of an intense
desire for the restoration of Israel to their Lord, and the fulness
V
XZX SKETCH OF RUTHERFORD.
of ilie Gentiles ; but far oftener his desires go forth to bis Lord
himself. " O fairest among the sons of men, why stayest thou
so long away ? O heavens, move fast ! O time, run, run, and
hasten the marriage day !^ To Lady Kenmure his words are,
" The Lord hath told you what you should be doing till he come.
'Wait and hasten,' saith Peter, 'for the coming of the Lord.'
Sigh and long for the dawning of that morning and the breaking
of that day of the coming of the Son of Man, when the shadows
shall flee away. Wait with the wearied night-watch for the
breaking of the eastern sky.'' Saints who feel their exile and ab-
sence most are those who will most fervently love their Lord's ap-
pearing. It was thus with Daniel on the banks of tJlai, and John
in Patmos ; and Samuel Rutherford's most intense aspirations for
that day are breathed out in Aberdeen.
His description of himself on one occasion is, — '' A man often
borne down and hungry, and waiting for the marriage supper of
the liamb." He is now gone to the '' mountain of myrrh and
the hill of frankincense ;" and there he no doubt still wonders at
the unopened treasures of Christ. But O for his insatiable de-
sires Christward in our day ! O for ten such men ^ in Scotland to
stand in the gap, men who all day long find nothing but Christ
to rest in, and whose very sleep is a pursuing after Christ in dreamS|
and who intensely desire to ^ awake with his likeness.**
iGttxriiLSl
RELIGIOUS LETTERS.
LETTER I.
POR MARION MACKNAUGHT.
Well-beloved and Dear Sister, — My love in Christ remem-
oered — ^I have sent to vou your daughter, Grizzel, with Robert 6or-
don, who came to fetch her. I am in good hopes that the seed of
God is in her, as in one bom of God, and Goa's seed will come to
God's harvest. I have her promise that she will be Christ's, for I
I have told her that she may promise much in his worthy name ; i
for he becometh caution^ to nis Father for all such as resolve and )
promise to serve him. I shall remember her to God. I trust that
you will acquaint her with good company, and be diligent to
know with whom she loveth to haunt
Remember Zion, and our necessities. I bless your daughter
from our Lord, and pray the Lord to give you joy and comfort of
her. Remember my love to your husband, to William and Sam-
uel, your sons.
The Lord Jesus be with your spirit
Yours, at all power in the Lord Jesusi S. R.
Anwoth, June 6tli, 1634.
LETTER n,
TO A gentlewoman.
Mistress, — ^I beseech you to have me excused if the daily em-
ployments of my calling shall hinder me to see you, according as
1 would wish ; for I dare not go abroad, since many of my people
are sick, and the time of our communion* draweth near. But fre-
quent the company of your worthy and honest-hearted pastor,
Mr. Robert, to whom the Lord hath given the tongue of the
learned, to minister a word in due season to the weary. Remem-
ber me to him, and to your husband.
The Lord Jesus be with vour spirit
Your affectionate Friend, S. R.
> 8««^. i DkpeiiMtioD of the Lord's Sopper.
32 Rutherford's letters
LETTER in.
TO A CHRISTIAN GENTLEWOMAN.
Mistress, — My love in Christ remembered to you : — ^I was in-
deed sorrowful at my departure from you, especially smce ye were
in such heaviness after your daughter's death ; yet I do peVsuade
myself that ve know that the weightiest end of the cross of Christ,
which is laid upon you, lieth upon your strong Saviour ; for Isaiah
saith, (chap. Ixiii. 9,) *^In all your afflictions he is afflicted." O
blessed Second, who suflereth with you ! and glad may your soul
be. even to walk in the fiery furnace, with One like unto the Son
of Man, who is aldo the Son of God. Courage ! up your heart !
when ye do tire, he will bear both you and your burden. (Ps. Iv.
22.) Yet a little while, and ye shall see the salvation of God.
Kemember of what age your daughter was ; so long was your
lease of her. If she was eighteen, nineteen, or twenty years old
I know not ; but sure I am, seeing her term was come, and your
lease run out, ye can no more justly quarrel with your great Supe-
rior for taking his own, at his just term-day, than a poor farmer
can complain that his master taketh a portion of his own land to
himself when his lease is expired. Good mistress, if ye would not
be content that Christ should hold from you the heavenly inher-
itance, which is made yours by his death, shall not that same
Christ think hardly of you, if you refuse to give him your daugh-
ter willingly, who is a part of his inheritance and conquest?* 1
pray the Lord to give you all your own, and to grace you with
patience, to give God his also. He is an ill debtor who paveth
that which he hath borrowed with a grudge. Indeed that long
loan of such a good daughter, an heir of grace, a member of Christ,
(as I believe,) deserveth more thanks at vour Creditor's hands,
than that ye should gloom' and murmur when he craveth but his
own. 1 believe ye would judge them to be but thankless neigh-
bors who would pay you a sum of money after this manner. But
what? Do ye think her lost, when she is but sleeping in the
bosom of the Almighty ? Think not her absent who is in such a
, friend's house. Is she lost to you, who is found to Christ? If
/ she were with a dear friend, although ye should never see her
) again, your care of her would be but small. Oh, now, is she not
\ with a dear Friend, and gone higher, upon a certain hope that ve
j shall, in the Resurrection, see hei again, when (be ye sure) she
. shall neither be hectic, nor consum^ in body? le would be
I sorry either to he, or be esteemed, an atheist ; and yet not I, but
: the Apostle, (1 Thess. iv. 13,^ thinketh those to be hopeless atheists
1 who mourn excessively for tne dead. But this is not a challenge*
' on my part ; I do speak this only fearing your weakness, for your
I Aoqikitioii hj porehate or indoitfy. i Let your cooDtenaiiee fidL
* AocvmUoh.
Rutherford's letters. 33
daughter was a part of yourself; and, therefore, nature *ii you
being, as it were, cut and halved, will indeed be grieved : but we
have to rejoice, that when a part of you is on earJh, a great part
of you is glorified in Heaven. Follow her, but envy her not; for, /
indeed, it is self-love in us thatinaketh us mourn for them that
die in the Lord. Why 1 Because for them we cannot mourn, ^
pince they are never happy till they be dead ; therefore, we mourn
for our own private respect. Take heed, then, that in showing
your affection in mourning for your daughter, ye be not, out of
self-affection, mourning for yourself. Consider what the Lord is
doing in it. Your daughter is plucked out of the fire, and she
resteth from her labors ; and your Lord in that is trying you, and
casting you into the fire. Go through all fires to your rest : and
now remember that the eye of GihI is upon you, beholding your
patience and faith ; he delightelh to see you in the burning bush
and not consumed ; and he is gladly content that such a weak
i^oman as ye should send Satan away, frustrated of his design.
Now honor God, and shame tiie strong Roaring Lion, when ye
eeem weakest. Should such an one as ye faint ip the day of ad-
versity ? Call to mind the days of old : the Lord yet liveth : trust
in him, although he should slay you. Faith is exceedingly char-
itable, and believeth no evil of God. Now is the Lord laying in
the one scale of the balance your making conscience of submission
to his gracious will : and, in the other, your affection and love to
your daughter — which of the two will ye then choose to satisfy?
Be wise, then; and, as T trust that ye love Christ better than a
sinful woman, pass by your daughter, and kiss the Lord's rod.
Men do lop the branches off their trees round about, to the end
they may grow up high and tall ; the Lord hath, in this way,
lopped your branch, in taking from you many children, to the end
ye should grow upward, like one of the Lord's cedars, setting your
heart above, where Christ is at the right hand of the Father.
What is next, but that your Lord cut down the stock after he
hath cut the branches? Prepare yourself; ye are nearer your
daughter this day than you were yesterday ; while ye prodigally
3«nd time in mourning for her, ye are speedily posting after her.
un your race with patience ; let God have his own, and ask of
him, instead of your aau^hter, whom he hath taken from you, the
daughter of faith, which is patience ; and in patience possess your
soul. Lift up your head ; ye do not know how near your redemp-
tion doth draw.
Thus, recommending you to the Lord, who is able to establish
you, I rest,
Your loving and affectionate Friend,
In the Lord Jesus, S. R.
jUiwolk, April 23, 1628.
% J
34
LETTER 17.
TO THE VISCOUNTESS OP KENMDRE.*
Madam, — AH dutiful obedience in the Lord remembered — I have
heard of your Ladyship's infirmity and sickness with grief; yet I
trust that ye have learned to say, " It is the Lord, let him do what-
soever seemeth good in bis eyes." It is now many years since the
apostate angels made a question, whether their will or the will of
their Creator should be done ; and since that time, froward man-
kind hath always, in that same suit of law, compeared' to plead
with them against God, in daily repining against his will : but
the Lord, being both party and judge, hath obtained a decreet,*
and saith, (Isaiah xlvi. 10,^ <'My courisel shall stand, and I will
do all my pleasure." It is then best for us, in the obedience of
faith, and in a l^oly submission, to give that to God which the law
of his almighty and just power will have of us. Therefore, madam,
your Lord willeth you, in all states of life, to say, "Thy will be
done in earth, as it is in Heaven ;" and herein shall ye have com-
fort, that He, who seeth perfectly through all your evils, and know-
eth the frame and constitution of your nature, and what is most
healthful for your soul, holdeth every cup of affliction to your head
with his own gracious hand. Never believe that your tender-
hearted Saviour, who knoweth the strength of your stomach, will
mix that cup with one dram-weight of poison. Drink then with
the patience of the saints ; and the God of patience bless your
physic.
I have heard your Ladyship complain of deadness, and want of
the bestirring power of the life of God ; but, courage I He, who
walked in the garden, and made a noise that made Adam hear
bis voice, will also, at some times, walk in your soul, and make
you hear a more sweet word — yet ye will not always hear the
noise and the din of his feet when he walketh. Ye are, at such a
time, like Jacob mourning at the supposed death of Joseph, when
Joseph was living. The new creature, the iniage of the Second
Adam, is living in you ; and yet ye are mourning at the supposed
death of the life of Christ in you. Ephraim is bemoaning and
mourning, (Jer. xxxi. 18,) when be thmketh God is far off, and
heareth not; and yet God is like the Bridegroom, (Cant ii.,)
standing onW behind a thin wall, and laying to his ear ; for he
saith himself, (yer. 18,) " I have surely heard Ephraim bemoan-
ing himself." I have good confidence, madam, tnat Christ Jesus,
whom your soul, through forests and mountains, is seeking, ia
within you : and yet I speak not this to lay a pillow under your
head, or to dissuade you from a h<dy fear oi the loss of your
> Lftdj Jean, third daughter of Arehibald CAmpbekl, MTenth Earl of Argyll, uni
the tifter of the Martyr Archibald, Marquie of Argyll.
s Appeared at in ooort. * Sentence.
Rutherford's letters. 35
Christ, or of provoking and stirring up tlie Beloved before he
please, by sin I know that in spiritual confidence, the Devil will
come in, as in all other good works, and cry, ''Half mine!" and
so endeavor to bring you under a fearful sleep, till He, whom
your soul loveth, be departed from the door, and have left off
knocking ; and, therefore, here the Spirit of God must hold your
soul's feet in the golden mid-line, betwija confident resting in the
arms of Christ, and presumptuous and drowsy sleeping in the
bed of fleshly security. Therefore, worthy Lady, so count little
of yourself, because of your own wretchedness and sinful drowsi-
ness, that ye count not also Uttle of Grod in the course of his un-
changeable mercy ; for there be many Christians, most like unto
young sailors, who think the shore and the whole land do move,
when the ship and they themselves are moved ; just so, not a
few do imagine that Grod moveth, and saileth, and changeth
places, because their giddy souls are under sail, and subject to
alteration, to ebbing and flowing — but the foundation of the
Lord abideth sure. God knoweth that ye are his own. Wrestle,
fight, go forward, watch, fear, believe, pray ; and then ye have all '
the iniallible symptoms of one of the elect of Christ within you.
Ye have now, madam, a sickness before you ; and also after that,
a death : gather then now food for the journey. God give you
eyes to see through sickness and death, and to see something
beyond death. I doubt not that if Hell were betwixt you and
Christ, as a river which ye behooved to cross ere ye could come
at him, but ye would willingly put in your foot, and make
through to be at him, upon hope that he would come in himself
into tne deepest of the river, and lend you his hand. Now I
believe that your hell is dried up, and that ye have only these
two shallow brooks, sickness and death, to pass through; and
ye have also a promise that Christ will do more than meet you,
even that he will come himself and so with you foot for foot,
yea, and bear you in his arms. Oh then ! oh then ! for the joy
that is set before you, for the love of the Man (who is also God
over all, blessed forever,) that is standing upon the shore to
welcome you ; run your race with patience. The Lord go with
you. Your Lord will not have vou, nor any of his servants, to
exchange for the worse. Death, in itself, includeth both the
death oi the soul and the death of the body ; but to God's children
the bounds and the limits of death are abridged, and drawn into
a more narrow compass : so that when ye die, a piece of death
shall only seize upon you, or the least part of you shall die,
and that is, the dissolution of the body : for in Christ ye are
delivered from the Second Death; and, therefore, as one bom
of God, commit not sin, (although ye cannot live and not sin,)
and that serpent shall but eat your earthly part — as for your
soul, it is above the law of death. But it is fearful and dangerous
to be a debtor and a servant to sin ; for the count of sin ye will
not be able to make good before God, except Christ both count
and pay for you.
86 Rutherford's letters.
I trust alsO) madam, tliat ye will be careful to present to tke
Lord the present estate of this decaying Kirk;* for what shall
be concluded in Parliament auent' her, the Lord knoweth. Sure
I am that the decree of a most fearful Parliament in Heaven ki
at the very point of coming forth, because of the sins of the land ;
for we have cast away the law of the Lord, and despised the
words of the Holy One of Israel, (Isaiah v. 24.) " Judgment is
turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off; for truth is
fallen in the streets, and equity cannot enter." (Isaiah lix. 14.)
Lo, the Prophet, as if he had seen us and our Kirk,* resembletli
justice to be handled as an enemy, holden out at the ports of our
city, so is she ba,nished ; and truth to a person sickly and dis-
eased, fallen down in a deadly swooning fit in the streets before
be can come to an house. The priests have caused many to
stumble at the Law, and have corrupted the Covenant of Levi,
(Mai. ii. 8.) But what will they do in the end ? (Jer. v. 31.^
Therefore give tlie Lord no rest for Zion.
Stir up your htisband, your brother, and all with whom ye are
in favor and credit, to stand upon the Lord's side against Baal. I
have good hope that your husband loveth the peace and prosperity
of Zion. The peace of God be upon him for his intended courses
anent' the establishment of a powerful ministry in this land.
Thus, not wiUing to weary your Ladyship farther, I commend
you, now and always, to the grace and mercy of that God who is
able to keep you that ye fall not. The Lord Jesus be with your
spirit.
Your Ladyship's servant, at all dutiful obedience in Christ,
Anwoth, July 3T, 163a S. R.
LETTER V.
TO THE ELECT AND NOBLE LADY, M7 LADY KENMURE.
Madam, — Saluting your Ladyship with grace and mercy from
God our Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ — I was sorry at
my departure, leaving your Ladyship in grief; and should still be
grieved at it, if I were not assured that ye have One with you in
the furnace, whose visage is like unto the Son of God. I am glad
that ye have been acquainted, from your youth, with the wrest-
lings of Grod ; and that ye get scarce liberty to swallow down your
spittle, being casten' from furnace to furnace, knowing that if ye
were not dear to Grod, and if your health did not require so much
of him, he would not spend so much physic upon you. All the
brethren and sisters of Christ must be conformea to his image and
copy in suffering. (Rom. viii.,) and some do more vively* resemble
the copy than otners. Think, madam, that it is a part of your
1 Church. * Concerning.
* To«ed. « In a lively
37
glory to be enrolled among those whom one of the elders (Rev. vii.
14,) pointed out to John, '*• These are they which came out of great
tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in
the blood of the Lamb." Behold your Forerunner going out of
the world, all in a lake of blood ; and it is not ill to die as he did.
Fulfil, with joy, the remnant of the grounds and remainders of the
afflictions of Christ in your body.
Ye have lost a child — nay, she is not lost to you, who is found
to Christ; she is not sent away, but only sent before; like unto
a star, which, going out of our sight, doth not die and vanish, but
shineth in another hemisphere ; ye see her not^ yet she doth shine
io another country. If her glass was but a short hour, what she
wanteth of time, that she bath gotten of eternity ; and ye have
to rejoice that ye have now some plenishing* up in Heaven.
Build your nest upon no tree here ; for ye see God hath sold the
forest to death ; and every tree, whereupon we would rest, is ready
to be cut down, to the end that we might flee* and mount up, and
build upon the Rock, and dwell in the boles of the Rock. What
ye love besides Jesus, your husband, is an adulterous lover : now
it is God's special blessing to Judah, that he will not let her find
her paths in following her strange lovers. (^Hos. ii. 6,^ " There-
fore behold, I will hedge up thy way with tnorns, and make a
wall, that she shall not find her paths." (Yer. 7,) *<And she shall
follow after her lovers, but she shall not overtake them." Oh
thrice happy Judah, when God buikleth a double-stoae wall be-
twixt her and the fire of Hell ! The world, and the things of the
world, madam, is the lover that ye naturally affect, beside your
own husband, Christ The hedge of tboms, and the wall which
God buikleth in your way, to hinder you from this lover, is the
thorny hedge of daily grief, loss of children, weakness of body, in-
iquity of the time, uncertainty of estate, lack of wordly comfort,
fear of God's anger for old unrepented-of sins. What lose ye if
God twist and plait the hedge daily thicker ? God be blessed !
the Lord will not let you find your paths. Return to your first
husband. Do not weary, neither think that death walketh toward
you with a slow pace. Ye must be riper ere ye be shaken ; your
days are no longer than Job's, that were swifter than a post, and
passed away as the ships of desire, and as the eagle that hasteth
for the prey. (Job ix. 25, 26,) There is less sand in your glass
now than there was yesterday ; this span-length of ever-posting
time will soon be ended ; but the greater is the mercy of God, the
more years ye get to advise upon what terms, and upon what con-
ditions, ye cast your soul into the huge gulf of never-ending eter-
nity. The Liord hath told you what ye should be doing till he
come : wait and hasten, saith Peter, for the coming of our Lord.
All is night that is here, in respect of ignorance and daily ensuing
trouUes, one always making way to another, as the ninth wave
of thtt aea to the tenth ; therefore, sigh and long for the dawning
» Foraitiira. • Fhr.
38 Rutherford's letters.
of that morning, and the breaking of that day of the coming of
the Son of Man, when the shadows shall flee away. Persuade
yourself that the King is coming. Read his letter sent before him,
(Rev. iii. 11,) "Behold, I come quickly." Wait, with the wearied
night-watch, for the breaking of the eastern sky, and think that
ye have not a morrow ; as the wise father said, who, being invi-
ted against to-morrow to dine with his friends, answered, "These
many days I have had no morrow at all." I am loath to weary
you. Show yourself a Christian, by suffering without murmuring,
for which sin fourteen thousand and seven hundred were slain.
(Numb. xvi. 49.) In patience possess your soul — ^they lose nothing
who gain Christ.
Thus, remembering my brother's and my wife's humble service
to your Ladyship, I commend you to the mercy and grace of our
Lord Jesus, assuring you that your day is poming, and that God's
mercy is abiding you.
The Lord Jesus be with your spirit.
Yours, in the Lord Jesus, at all dutiful obedience, S. R.
Anwoth, Jan. 15, 1629.
' LETTER VI.
TO MT LADY KENMURE.
Madam, — Saluting you in Jesus Christ — to my grief I must bid
you (it may be) forever farewell, on paper, having small assurance
ever to see your face again till the last general assembly, where
the whole Church universal shall meet; yet promising, by his
grace, to present your Ladyship, and your buraens to Him, who
is able to save you, and to give you an inheritance with the saints,
after a more special manner than ever I have done before.
Ye are going to a countrv where the Sun of righteousness in
the Gospel shineth not so clearly as in this kingdom ; but if ye
would know where He, whom your soul loveth, doth rest, and
where he feedeth at the noon-tide of the day, wherever ye be, get
ye forth by the footsteps of the flock, and feed yourself beside the
shepherds' tents, (Cant. i. 7, 8.) that is, ask for some of the watch-
men of the Lord's city, who will tell you truly, and will not lie,
where you shall find Him, whom your soul loveth. I trust that
ye are so betrothed in marriage to tne true Christ, that ye will not
give your love to any false Christ Ye know not how soon your
marriage-day will come ; nay, is not eternity hard upon you ? It
were time, then, that ye had your wedding-garment in readiness.
Be not sleeping at your Lord's coming : I pray God that ye may
be upon your feet standing when he knocketh. Be not discouc-
aged to go from this country to another part of the Lord's earth —
the earth is his, and the fulness thereof (Psalm xxiv. 1.) This is
the Lord's lower house ; and, while we are lodged here, we have
Rutherford's letters. 39
no assurance to lie ever in one chamber, but must be content to
remove from one corner of our Lord's netber-house to another,
resting in hope that, when we come up to the Lord's upper city,
Jerusalem thdt is above, we shall remove no more ; because then
we shall be at home. And, go whithersoever ye will, if your Lmd
go with you, ye are at home ; and your lodging is ever taken before
night, so long as He, who is Israel's dwelling-house, is your home.
(Psalm xc. 1.) Believe me, madam, my mind is, that ye are well
lodged, and that in your house there are fair ease-rooms^ and
Eleasaut lights, if ye can in faith lean down your head upon the
reast of Jesus Christ; and till this be, ye will never get a sound
sleep. Jesus, Jesus, be your shadow and your covering — it is a
sweet soul-sleep to lie in the arms of Christ, for his breath is very
sweet.
Pray for poor friendless Zion ! Alas ! no man will speak foi
her now, although at home, in her own country, she hath good
friends, her husband, Christ, and his Father, her father-in-law.
Beseech your husband to be a friend to Zion, and to pray for her.
I have received many and divers dashes and heavy strokes since
the Lord called me to the ministry ; but, indeed, I esteem yout
departure from amongst us the weightiest : but I perceive that
God will have us to be deprived of whatsoever we idolize, that he
may have his own room. I see exceedingly small fruit of my
ministry, and would be glad to know of one soul to be my crown
and rejoicing in the day of Christ. Though I spend my strength
in vain, yet my labor is with my God. (Isaiah xlix. 4.) I wish
and pray that the Lord would harden my face against all, and
make me to learn to go with my face against a storm.
Again, I commend you, body and spirit, to Him, who hath loved
us, and washed us from our sins, in his own blood. Grace, grace,
grace, forever, be with you. Pray, pray continually.
Your Ladyship's, at all dutiful obedience in Christ, S. R.
Anwoth, Sept 14, 1639.
LETTER VIL
FOR MARION MACKNAUGHT.
Loving and Dear Sister, — If ever you would pleasure me,
entreat the Lord for me, now when I am so comfortless, and so
full of heaviness, that I am not able to stand under the burden
any longer. The Almighty hath doubled his stripes upon me ;
for my wife is so sore tormented, night and day, that I have won-
dered why the Lord tarrieth so long. My life is bitter unto me,
and I fear that the Lord be my contrary party. It is (I now know
by experience) hard to keep sight of God in a storm, especially
when he liideth himself for the trial of his children. If he would
1 Rooms for repote.
40 Rutherford's letters.
be pleased to remove his band, I have a purpose to seek him mora
than I have done. Happy are they that can win away' with their
soul : I am afraid of his judgments. I bless my Crod, that there
is a death and a heaven. I would weary to begin "again to be a
Christian, so bitter is it to drink of the cup that Christ drank of,
if I knew not that there is no poison in it. God give us not of it
whill* we vomit again, for we have sick souls when Crod's physic
worketh not. Pray that God would not lead my wife into tempta-
tion. Wo* is my heart that I have done so little against the kmg-
dorn of Satan in my calling ; for he would fain attempt to make
me blaspheme Grod in his face. I believe, I believe, in the strength
of Him, who hath put me into his work, that he shall foil in that
which he seeketh. I have comfort in this, that my Captain, Christ,
hath said I must fight and overcome the world, (John xvi. 33,) and
with a weak, spoiled, weaponless devil, (John xiv, 30.) "The
Prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me."
Desire Mr. Robert to remember me, if he love me. Grace, gilEu^
be with you, and all yours. Remember Zion.
There is a letter procured from the King, by Mr. John Maxwell,
to urge cor>formity, to give the Communion at Christmas, in Ekiin-
burgh. Hold fast that which ye have, that no man take the crown
from you.
The Lord Jesus be with your spirit.
Yours, in the Lord, S. R.
Anwotb, Not. 17, 1639.
LETTER VIIL
TO MY LADY KENMURE.
Madam, — ^I have longed exceedingly to hear of your life and
health, and growth in the svace of God. I lacked the opportunity
of a bearer, m respect I did not understand of the hasty departure
of the last, by whom I might have saluted your Ladyship ; and,
therefore, I could not write before this time. I entreat you, madam,
to let me have two lines from you, concerning your present condi-
tion. I know that ye are in grief and heaviness ; and if it were
not so, ye might be afraid, because then vour way should not be
so like the way that our Lord saith leadeth to the New Jerusalem.
Sure I am that, if ye knew what was before you, or if ye saw but
some glances of it, ye would with gladness swim through the
present floods of sorrow, spreading forth your arms out of desire
to be at land. If God has given you the earnest of the Spirit, as
part of payment of God^s principal sum, ye have to rejoice ; for
our Lord will not lose his earnest, neither will he go back nor re-
pent him of the bargain. If ye find, at some time, a longing to
see God, joy in the assurance of that sight, howbeit that feast be
> EK«pe. > TUL » Otkwtd.
41
bat like the Passover, that cometh about only once a year. Peace
of coi^.science, liberty of prayer, the doors of God's tieasure casten
up* to the soul, and a clear sight of himself looking out, and say-
ing, with a smiling countenance, *' Welcome to me, afflicted soul,"
this is the earnest that he giveth sometimes, and which maketh
glad the heart, and is an evidence that the bargain will hold.
But to the end that ye may get this earnest, it were good to
coaie oft into terms of speech with God, both in prayer and hear-
ing of the word ; for this is the house-of-wine, where ye meet with
your Well-beloved, Here it is where he kisseth you with the
kisses of his mouth, and where ye feel the smell of his garments ;
and they have indeed a most fragrant and glorious smell. Ye
must, 1 say,* wait upon him, and be often communing with Him,
whose lips are as lilies, dropping sweet-smelling myrrh, and by
the moving whereof be will assuage your grief; for the Christ,
that saveth you, is a speaking Christ; the Church knoweth him
(Cant ii.) by his voice, and can discern his voice among a thou-
sand. I say this, to the end that ye should not love those masks
of Anti-christian ceremonies, whicn the Church, where ye are foi
a time, hath casten' over the Christ, whom your soul loveth.
This is to set before you a dumb Christ. But when our Lord
cometh, he speaketh to the heart in the simplicity of the Gospel
I have neither tongue nor pen, to express to you the happiness
of such as are in Christ. When ye have sold all that ye have,
and bought the field wherein this pearl is, ye will think it no bad
market : for if ye be in him, all his is yours ; and ye are in him ;
" therefore, because he liveth, ye shall live also." (John xiv. 19.)
And what is that else, but as if the Son had said, '^ I will not have
Heaven, except my redeemed ones be with me ? they and I can-
not live asunder — abide in me and I in you." (John xv. 4.) Oh
sweet communion, when Christ and we are through other,' and
are no longer two ! " Father, I will that those whom thou hast
E'ven me, be with me where I am, to behold my glory, that thou
ist given me." (John xvii. 24.) Amen : dear Jesus, let it be
according to that word.
I wonder that ever your heart should be casten^ down, if ye be-
lieve this truth. And they are not worthy of Jesus Christ, who
will not suffer forty years' trouble for him, since they have such
glorious promises. But we fools believe those promises as the
man that read Plato's writings concerning the immortality of the
soul. So long as the book was in his hand, he believed that all
was true, and that the soul could not die ; but so soon as he laid
by the book, presently he be^an to imagine, that the soul is but a
smoke or airy vapor, that pensheth with the expiring of the breath :
so we at starts do assent to the sweet and precious promises ; but
laying aside God's book, we begin to call all in question. It is
faith, mdeed, to believe without a pledge, and to hold the heart
constant at thb work, and when we doubt, to run to the Law and
> Thrown open. * Thrown. * Prombeuoiuly nnitod. * C«A
42 Rutherford's letters.
to the, TeslioiOQy, aad stay there. Madam, hold ypu here. Here
is your Father's testament, read it : in it he hath left to you re-
mission of sins and life everlasting. If all that ye have here be
crosses and troubles, downcastings, frequent desertions, and depart-
ure of the Lord, who is suiting' you in marriage, courage ! He,
who is wooer and suiter, should not be an household-man with
you, till ye and he come up to his Father's house together. Ho
purposeth to do you good at your latter end, (Deut. viii. 16,) and
to give you rest from the days of adversity. (Psalm xciv. 13.) It
is good to bear the yoke of Grod in your youth. (Lam. iii. 27.^
Turn in to your strong-hold as a prisoner of hope. (Zee. is. 12.)
'^ For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it
shall speak and not lie : though it tarry, wait for it ; because it
will surely come, it will not tarry." (Hab. ii. 3.) Hear himself
saying, (Isa. xxvi. 20,) " Come my people," — rejoice, he calleth on
you — ^^ Enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about
thee ; hide thyself, as it were foi* a little moment, till the indigna-
tion be overpast." Believe then, " believe and be saved." Think
it not hard, if ye get not your will, nor your delights in this life ;
God will have you to rejoice in nothing but himself. Ood forbid
that ye should rejoice in anything but in the cross of Christ (OaL
vi. 16.)
Our Church, madam, is decaying ; she is like Ephraim's cake,
and gray hairs are here and there upon her, and she knoweth it
not. (Hos. vii. 9.) She is old and gray-headed, near the grave,
and no man layeth it to heart — her wine is sour, and is corrupted.
Now if the wife of Phineas did live, she might travail in birth and
die, to see the Ark of Grod taken, and the glory departing from our
Israel — the power and life of religion is away. " Wo unto us, for
the day goeth away, for the shadows of the evening are stretched
out." (Jer. vi. 4.) Af adam, Zion is the ship wherein ye are carried
to Canaan. If she suffer shipwreck, ye will be casten* overboard,
upon death and life, to swim to land upon broken boards. It were
time for us, by prayer, to put upon' our Master-pilot, Jesus, and to
cry, " Master, save us, we perish !"
Grace, grace be with you. We would think it a blessing to our
Kirk* to see you here ; but our sins withhold good things from us.
The great Messenger of the covenant preserve you, in body and
in spirit.
Yours, in the Lord, S. R.
Aiiw«th, Feb. 1, 1630.
LETTER IX.
TO THE LADY KEXMURE.
Madam, — Grar.e, mercy, and peace be multiplied upon you — I
received your Ladyship's letter, m the which I perceive that your
> Wooing. * Cait * Importune. « Chureh.
Rutherford's letters. 43
case in this world smelleth ol worship and communion with the
Son of God in his sufferings. Ye cannot, ye must not, have a
more pleasant or more easy condition here, than He had, who,
through afBictions, was made perfect. (Heb. ii. 10.) We may
indeed think, cannot God bring us to Heaven with ease and pros-
perity ? Who doubteth that he can ? But his infinite wisdom
thinketh, and decreeth the contrary ; and we cannot see a reason
for it, yet he hath a most just reason. We never with our eyes
saw our own soul, yet we have a soul ; we see many rivers, but
we know not their first spring and original fountain, yet they
have a beginning. Madam, when ye are come to the other side
the water, and have set down your foot on the shore of glorious
eternity, and look back again to the waters, and to your wearisome
journey, and shall see, in that clear glass of endless glory, nearer
to the bottom of God's wisdom, ve shall, then, be forced to say,
"If Crod had done otherwise with me than he hath done, I had
never come to the enjoying of this crown of glory." It is your
part now to beHeve, and suffer, and hope, and wait on : for I pro-
test, in the presence of that all-discerning Eye, who knoweth what
I write, and what I think, that I would not want the sweet ex-
perience of the consolations of God, for all the bitterness of afiiic-
tion : nsnr, whether God come to his children with a rod or a
crown, if he come himself with-it, it is well. Welcome, welcome
Jesus, what way soever thou comest, if we can get a sight of thee.
And sure I am that it is better to be sick, providing Christ come to
the bed-side, and draw by the curtains, and say, " Courage ! I am
thy salvatiob !" than to enjoy health, being lusty and strong, and
never to be visited of God.
Worthy and dear Lady, in the strength of Christ, fight and
overcome. Ye are now your lone ; * but ye may have, for the
seeking. Three always in your company, the Father, Son, and
Holy Spirit — I trust they are near you. Ye are now deprived of
the comfort of a lively ministry, so was Israel in their captivity :
yet hear God's promise to them, (Ez. xi. 16,) " Therefore say,
thus saith the liord God, 'Although I have cast them far off among
the heathen, and although I have scattered them among the
countries, yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary, in the coun-
tries where they shall come.' " Behold a sanctuary ! for a sanc-
tuary God himself, in the place and room of the Temple of Jeru-
salem. I trust in God that, carrying this temple about with you,
ve shall see Jehovah's beauty in his house.
We are in great fears of a great and fearful trial to come upon
the Kirk* of God ; for those, who would build their houses and
nests on the ashes of mourning Jerusalem, have drawn our Kins
upon hard and dangerous conclusions, against such as are termed
Puritans, for the rooting of them .out. Our prelates — the Lord
take the keys of his house from these bastard porters ! — assure us
that for such as will not conform, there is nothing but imprison-
1 By yoq^ielf a|one. > Choieli.
44 butherford's letters.
ment aad depnvation. The Spouse of Jesus rfhall ever be in the
fire ; hut I trust in my God that she shall not be consumed, because
of the gond-will of Him, who dwelleth in the bush, for hedwelletb
in it with good-will. All sorts of crying sins, without controlment,
abound in our land. The glory of the Lord is departing from
Israel, and the Lord is looking back over his shoulder to see if any
will say, '^Lord! tarry," and no man reauesteth him to stay.
Corrupt and false doctrine is openly preachea by the idol-shepherds
of the land. For myself I have daily griefs, through the disobe-
dience unto, and contempt of the word of Grod.
I was summoned before the Hiffb Commission by a profligate
person in this Parish, convicted of incest In the business, Mr.
Alexander Colville, for respect to your Ladyship, was my great
friend, and wrote a most kind letter to me. — ^^Fhe Lord give him
mercy in that day. Upon the day of ray compearance,* the sea,
and winds, refused to give passage to the Bishop of St. Andrew's.
I entreat your Ladyship, to thank Mr. Alexander Colville, with
two lines of a letter.
My wife now, after a long disease and torment, for the space of
a year and a month, is departed this life ; — the Lord hath clone it ;
blessed be his name. I have been diseased of a fever tertian for
the space of thirteen weeks, and am yet in that sickness, so that
I preach but once on the Sabbath with great difficulty. I am not
able either to visit, or examine the congregation.
The Lord Jesus be with your spirit.
Your Ladyship's, at all obediencoi S. R.
Aawoth, June 96U, 1630.
LETTER X
FOR MARION MACKNAUOHT.
Well-beloved and Dear Sister, — My love, in the Lord
Jesus, remembered — I understand that you are still under the
Lord's visitation, in your former business with your enemies, which
is God's dealing. For, till He take his children out of the furnace,
who knoweth now long they should be tried, there is no deliver-
ance ; but after God's highest and fullest tide, that the sea of
trouble is gone over the souls of his children, then cometh the
gracious long-hoped-for ebbing, and drying up of the waters. Dear
sister, do not faint ; the wicked may hokl the bitter cup to your
head, but God mixeth it, and there is no poison in it ; they strike,
but God moveth the rod ; Shimei cursetn, but it is because the
Lord biddeth him.
I tell you, and I have it from Him before whom I stand for
God's people, that there is a decreet* given out in the Great Court
of the Highest Heavens, that your present troubles shall be dis*
1 Appeanuiee, l» obedience to a legal citation. » • Sentenet.
45
persed as the morning cloud, and God will bring forth } our right-
eousness as the light of the noontide of the day. Let me entreat
you in Christ's name, to keep a good conscience in your proceed-
ings in that matter, and beware of yourself— yourself is a more
dangerous enemy than I, or any without you. Innocence, and an
upright cause, is a good advocate before God, and will plead for
you, and shall win your cause ; and count much of your Master's
approbation, and his smiling. He is now as the king that is gone
to a far country. God seemeth to be from home, (if I may say so,)
yet he seeth the ill servants, who say, " Our Master deferreth his
coming," and so strike their fellow-servants. But patience, my
beloved, Christ, the King, is coming home ; the evening is at
hand, and he will ask an account of his servants. Make a fair
clear count to him. So carry yourself, as at night you may say,
"Master, I have wronged none : behold, ye have your own with
advantage." Oh your soul then will esteem much one of GodNs
kissed and embracements, in the testimony of a good conscience !
The wicked, howbeit they be casting many evil thoughts, bitter
words, and sinful deeds behind their back, yet they are, in so doing,
clerks to their own process, and doing nothing all their lives, but
gathering dittays> against themselves; for God is angry at the
wicked every day. And I hope your present process shall be
sighted' one day by Him who knowelh your just cause ; and the
bloody tongues, crafty foxes, double-ingrained hypocrites, shall
appear as they are before his Majesty, when he shall take (he
mask off their faces: and oh! thrice happy will your soul be
then, when God findeth you covered with nothing but the white
robe of the saints' innocence, and the righteousness of Jesus Christ.
You have been of late in the King's wine-cellar, where you
were welcomed by the Lord of the inn, upon a condition that you
would walk in love. Put on love, and brotherly kindness, and
long suffering. Wait as long upon the favor and turned hearts
of enemies as your Christ waited upon you, and as dear Jesus
stood at your soul's door with dewy and rainy locks, the long,
cold night. Be angry, but ^n not. I persuade myself that that
holy unction within you, which teachetn you all things, is also
saying, *^ Overcome evil with good." If that had not spoken in
your soul, at the tears of your aged Pastor, you would not have
a^eed, and forgiven his foolish son who wronged you: but my
aster bade me tell you, that God's blessing shall be upon you
for it ; and from him I say, ^^ Grace, grace, and everlasting peace
b*5 upon you." It is my prayer for you, that your carriage may
race and adorn the Gospel of that liord who hath graced you.
hear that your husband also was sick, but I beseech you, in the
bowels of Jesus, to welcome every rod of God ; for I nnd not, in
the whole book of God, a greater note of the child of God, than to
(all down and kiss the feet of an angry God ; and when he seem-
9th to put you away from him, and to loose your hands that grip'
> Indictmentf. > Examined. * Grasp.
46
him, to look up in faith, and ssiy, '^I shall not, I will not be put
away from thee : howbeit thy Majesty draw to free thjrself of me,
yet, Lord ! give me leave to hold and cleave uuto thyself." I
shall pray that your husband may return in peace. Your de-
creet^ cometh from Heaven, look up thither; for many (saitii
Solomon) seek the face of the ruler, but every man's judgment
cometh of the Lord ; and be glad that it is so, for Chcist is the
clerk of your process, and will see that all go right : and I per-
suade myself, that he is saying, '< Yonder servants of mine are
wronged ; for my blood. Father, give them justice." Think you
not, dear sister, but our High Priest, our Jesus, the Master of re-
quests, presenteth our bills of complaint to the great Lord Justice ?
Yea, I oelieve it, since he is our Advocate, and Daniel callerh him
the Spokesman, whose hand presenteth all to the Father.
For other businesses, I say nothing, whill* the Lord give me to
see your face. I am credibly informed, that multitudes of Eng-
land, and especially worthy preachers, and silenced preachers of
London, are gone to New England ; and I know one learned holy
preacher, who hath written against the Arminians, who is gone
thither. Our blessed Lord Jesus, who cannot get leave to sleep
with his Spouse in this Land, is going to seek an inn where he
will be better entertained; and what marvel? Wearied Jesus,
after he had travelled from Geneva, by the ministry of worthy Mr.
Knox, and was laid down in his bed, and reformation begun, and
the curtains drawn, had not gotten his dear eyes well together,
when irreverent bishops came in, and, with the din and noise of
ceremonies, holy-days, and other Romish corruptions, awoke our
Beloved. Others came to hb bed-side, and drew the curtains, and
put hands on his servants, banished, deprived and confined them ;
and for the pulpit, they got a stool and a cold fire in the Black-
ness :' and the nobility drew the covering off him, and have made
him a poor naked Christ, in spoiling his servants of the tithes and
* kirk-rents : and now there is such a noise of crying sins in the
land, as the want of a knowledge of God, of mercy and truth,
such swearing, whoring, lying, and blood touching blood, that
Christ is putting on his clothes, ana making him, like an ill-han-
dled stranger, to ffo to other lands. Pray liim, dear sister, to ly
down again with his Beloved.
Remember my dearest love to John Gordon, to whom I shall
, write when I am strong ; and to John Brown, Grizzei, Samuel,
and William-:— Grace upon them. As you love Christ, keep
Christ's favor; and put not upon' him when he sleepeth. to
'iwake him before he please.
The Lord Jesus be with your spirit.
Your Brother in Christ, S. R.
Anwoth, Jalj *2l, 1630.
> Sentence. t TilL * Blaeknett Castle, on the Firth of Forth.
« Chareh. * TVpW i^om, to impottune.
Rutherford's letters. 47
LETTER XI.
FOR MARION MACKNAUGHT.
Well-beloved Sister, — I have been thinking, since my de-
parture from you, of the pride and malice of your adversaries :
and ye may not (since ye have heard the Book of the Psalms so
oflen) take hardly with this ; for David's enemies snuflTed at him,
and through the pride of their hearts said, ''The Lord will not
require it," (Psalm x. 13.) I beseech you, therefore, in the bowels
of Christ, to set before your eyes the patience of your Fore-runner,
Jesus, ''Who, when he wjas reviled, reviled not again ; when he
suffered he threatened not, but committed himself to Him that
judgeth righteously." (1 Pet. ii. 23.) And, since our Lord and
Kedeemer with patience received many a black stroke on his glo-
rious body, and many a buffet of the unbelieving world, and saith
of himself (Isaiah 1. 6,) " I gave my back to the smiters, and my
cheeks to them that plucked off* the hair ; I hid not my face from
shame and spittine," follow him, and think it not hard that you
receive a blow with your Lord : take part with Jesus of his suffer-
ings, and glory in the marks of Christ. If this storm were over,
you must prepare yourself for a new wound. For, five thousand
years ago, our Lord proclaimed deadly war betwixt the Seed of
the Woman and the seed of the Serpent. And marvel not that
one town cannot keep the children of God and the children of the
Devil ; for one belly could not keep Jacob and Esau ; one house
could not keep peaceably together Isaac the Son of the Promise,
and Ishmael the Son of the Hand-maid. Be you upon Christ's
side of it, and care not what flesh can do. Hold yourself fast by
your Saviour, howbeit ye be buffeted, and those that follow him.
" Yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be." See 2 Cor. iv.
8, ** We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed ; we are per-
plexed, but not in despair ;" ^ver. 9,) " persecuted, but not forsaken ;
cast down, but not destroyea." If you can possess your soul in
patience, their day is comme.
Worthy and Dear Sister, know how to carry yourself in trouble :
and when ve^re hated and reproached, the Lord showeth it to
you. (Psalm xliv. 17.) " All this is come upon us, yet have we
not forgotten thee, neither have we dealt fakely in thy covenant"
(Psalm cxix. 92.) "Unless thy law had been my delights, I had
eirished in mine afliiction." Keep God's covenant in your trials.
old you by his blessed word, and sin not. Flee anger, wrath,
rrudging, envying, fretting. Forgive an hundred pence to your
fcUow-servant, because your Lord hath forgiven you ten thou-
sand talents. For, I assure you by the Lord, that ^our adversa-
ries shall ^t no advantage against you except ye sm, and offend
your Lord in your sufferings. But the way to overcome is, by
patience, forgiving, and praying for your enemies, in doing
48 Rutherford's letters.
whereof you heap coals upon their heads, and your Lord will
open a door to you in your trouble. Wait upon him, as the night-
watch waiteth for the morning, lie will not tarry ; go up to your
watch-tower, and come not down, but by prayer, and faith, and
hope, wait on. When the sea is full, it will ebb again ; and, so
soon as the wicked are come to the top of their pride, and aro
waxed high and mighty, then is their change approaching — They
that believe make not haste.
Remember Zion, forget her not ; for her enemies are many, for
the nations are gathered t(^ether against her; ''But they know
not the thoughts of the Lord, neither understand they his coun-
sel ; for he shall gather them as the sheaves into the floor. Arise
and thresh, O Daughter of Zion." (Micah iv. 12, 13.) Behold,
God hath gathered his enemies togethcur as sheaves to the thresh-
ing — let us stay and rest upon these promises. Now again, I
trust in our Lord, that ye shall by faith sustain yourself, and com-
fort yourself in your Lord, and be strong in his power ; for you
are in the beaten/ and common way to Heaven, when you are
under our Lord's crosses. Ye have reason to reioice in it more
than in a crown of gold, ahd to rejoice, and be glad to bear the
reproaches of Christ.
I rest — recommending you, and yours, forever, to the grace and
mercy of Grod.
Yours, in Christ, S. R.
Anwoth, Feb. 11, 1631.
LETTER Xn.
FOR MARION MACKNAUGHT.
Well-beloved in the Lord, — Ye are not unacquainted
with the day of our Communion. I entreat, therefore, the aid of
your prayers for that great work, which is one of our feast-days,
wherein our Well-beloved, Jesus, rejoiceth, and is merry with his
friends. Good cause have we to wonder at his love, since the day
of his death was such a sorrowful day to him, even the day when
his mother, the Kirk' crowned him with thorns, and he had many
against him, and compeared' his lone* in the open fields against
them all — yet he delighteth with us to remember that day. Let
us love him, and be glad and rejoice in his salvation. I am con-
fident that you shall see the Son of God that day ; and I dare, in
his name, invite you to his banquet. Many a time you have been
well entertained in his house, and he cliangeth not upon his
friends, nor chideth them for too great kindness. Yet I speak not
this to make you leave off* to pray for me, who have nothing of
myself, but in so far as daily I receive from Him, who is made of
his Father a running-over fountain, at which I and others may
1 Choiok. s Appeared. > Bj himseir alone.
Rutherford's letters. 49
oimie with thirsty souls, and fill our vessels. Long hath this well
been standing open to us. Lord Jesus, lock it not up again upon
us. I am sorry for' our desolate Kirk ;' yet I dare not but trust,
that so lonff as there be any of God's lost money here, he will not
blow out the candle. The Lord make fair candlesticks in his
house, and remove the^lind lights !
I have been, this time by-passed, thinking much of the incoming
of the Kirk* of the Jews. Pray for them. When they were
in their Lord's house, at their Father's elbow, they were long-
ing for the coming of their Little Sister, the Kirk * of the Gren-
lilcs. They said to their Lord, (Cant. viii. ver. 8,) " We have a
little Sister, and she hath no breasts ; what shall we do for our
Sister in the day when she shall be spoken for?" Let us give
them a meeting. What shall we do for our elder Sister, the
Jews? Lord. Jesus give them breasts ! That were a ^tad day,
to see us and them lK>th set down at one table, and Christ at the
head of the table. Then would our Lord come shortly with his
fair guard, to bold his great court.
Dear sister, be patient for the Lord's sake, under the wrongs
that you sufler of the wicked. Your Lord shall make ye see your
desire on your enemies ; some of them shall be cut off. ^Job xv.
^er. 33,) They shal^ shake off their unripe grapes as the vme, and
cast off their flower as the olive : God will make them like unripe
Bour grapes, shaken off the tree with the blast of God's wrath ;
and, therefore, pity them, and pray for them. Others of them
must remain to exercise you ; God hath said of them, Let the tares
erow up whilP harvest. (Matt, xiii.) It proveth you to be your
Lord's wheat. Be patient, Christ went to Heaven with many a
wrong. His visage and countenance were all marred more than
the sons of men. Ye may not be above your Master. Many a
black stroke received innocent Jesus, and he received no mends,*
but referred them all to the great Court-day, when all things shall
be righted.
I desire to hear from you within a day or two, if Mr. Robert re-
main in his purpose to come and help us. God will give you joy
of your children. I pray for them, by their names. I bless you,
from the Lord, vour husband and children. — Grace, grace and
mercy be multiplied upon you.
Yours, in the Lord, forever, S. R.
Anwoth, May 7, 1631.
LETTER Xni.
FOR MARION MACKNAUOHT.
Well-beloved Sister, — My love in Christ remembered — I
have received a letter from Edinburgh, certainly informing me,
1 Clrafch. > im. » RepMnboii.
4
60 Rutherford's letters.
that the English service, and the organs, and King James's Psalms,
are to be imposed upon our Kirk/ and that the Bishops are deal-
ing for a General Assembly. A. R. hath confirmed the news also,
and saith, he spoke with Sir William Alexander, who is to come
down with his Prince's warrant to that eflTect. I am desired, in
the received letter, to acquaint the best affected about me w iih
that storm ; therefore, I entreat you, and charge you, in the Lord's
name, to pray ; but do not communicate this to any whilP I see
you. My heart is broken at the remembrance of it ; and it was
my fear, and answereth to my last letter, except one, that I wrote
unto you.
Dearly beloved, be not casten' down, but let us, as the Lord's
doves, take us to our wings, for other armor we have none, and
flee into the hole of the Rock. It is true that A. R. saith that the
worthiest men in England are banished and silenced, about the
number of sixteen or seventeen choice Grospel-preachers, and that
the persecution is already begun. Howbeit, 1 do not write this
unto you with a dry face, vet I am confident in the Lord's strength,
that Christ and his side shall overcome ; and you shall be assured
that the Kirk' were not a Kirk,' if it were not so. As our dear
husband, in wooing his Kirk,' received many a black stroke, so
his bride in wooing him getteth many blows ; and in this wooing
there are strokes upon both sides. Let it be so. The Devil shaU
not make the marriage go back, neither can he tear the contract ;
the end shall be mercy. Yet, notwithstanding all this, we have
no warrant of God to leave oflT all lawful means. I have been
writing to you the counsels and draughts of men against the Kirk ;■
but they know not, as Micah saith, the counsel of Jehovah. The
great men of the world may make ready the fiery furnace for Zion,
but, trow ye that they can cause the fire to burn? No. He that
made the fire, I trust, will not say Amen to their decreets.* I trust
in my Lord, that Grod hath not subscribed their bill, and that their
conclusions have not yet passed our Great King's seal. There-
fore, if ye think good, address yourself first to the Lord, and then
to A. R., anent* the business that you know.
I am most unkindly handled by the Presbytery ; and, as if I
had been a stranger, and not a member of that seat to sit in judg-
ment with them, I was summoned, by their order, as a witness
against B. A. ; but they have got no advantage in that matter.
Other particulars yon shall hear, God willing, at meeting.
Anent* the (natter betwixt you and J. E., I remember it to God.
I entreat you in the Lord, to be submissive to bis will; for the
higher that their pride mount up, they are the nearer a fall : the
Lord will more and more discover that man. Let your husband,
in all matters of judgment, take Christ's part for the defence of the
poor, and needy, and oppressed, for the maintenance of equity and
lustice in the town. And take you no fear that He will take yout
1 Chmeh. t tUL > CUL « Seateoeoa.
* Concfrning.
Rir therford's letters. 51
party and then yoa are strong enough. What ? Howbeit ye re-
ceive indignities, for your Lord's sake let it be so. When he will
put His holy hand up to your face in Heaven, and dry your face,
and wipe the tears irom your eyes, judge ye if ye will not have
cause tnen to rejoice?
Anent' other particulars, if ye would speak with me, appoint
any of the first three days of the next week, in Carlton, when
Carlton is at home, and acauaint me with your desires.
Remember me to God, ana my dearest affection to your husband :
and, for Zion's sake, hold not your peace.
The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you, and your husband,
and childien.
Tours, in the Lord, S. R.
Anwoth, June S, 1631.
LETTER XIV.
FOR MARION MACKNAXTOHT.
Dear Mistress, — I have not time, this day, to write to you ;
but God, knowing my present state, and the necessities of my call-
ing, will, I hope, spare my mother's life for a time — for the which
I have cause to thank my Lord. I entreat you not to be cast
down, for that which I wrote before to you, anent' the planting
of a minister in your town. Believe, and you shall see the sal*
▼ation of God. 1 write this because, when you suffer, my heart
sufiereth with you. I do believe that your soul shall have joy
in your labors and holy desires for that work.
drace upon you, and your husband, and your children.
Yours ever, in Christ, S. R,
Anwolh.
LETTER XV.
TO MY LADT KENMURE.
Madam, — ^Having saluted you in the Lord Jesus — I thought
it my duty, having the occasion of this bearer, to write again
onto your Ladyship. Though I have no new purpose, but what
I wrote of beiore, yet ye cannot be too often awakened to go
ferward toward your city, since your way is long, and, (for any-
thing ye know,) your day is short ; and your Lord requireth of
yoo, as ye advance in years, and steal forward insensiblv towards
eternity, that your &ith mav grow and ripen for the Lord's
harvest. For the great Husbandman givetn a season to his
fruita, that tliey may come to maturity ; and having got then
1 ConoeniDf .
S2
fill of the tree, that they may be then shaken, and gathered in
for his use; whereas the wicked rot upon the tree, and their
branch shall not be green; (Job xv. 33,) ''He shaU shake oflT
his unripe grapes as the vine, and shall cast off his flower as
the olive." It is God's mercy to you, madam, that he gjiveth you
your fill, even to loathing, of this bitter world, that ye may
willingly leave it, and, like a full and satisfied banqueter, long
tor the drawing of the table ; and at last, having trampled under
your feet all the rotten pleasures that are under sun and moon,
and having, "rejoiced as though ye rejoiced not, and having
bought as though ye possessed not," (1 Cor. vii. 30,) ye may,
like an old crazy ship, arrive at your Lord's harbor, and be made
welcome, as one of those who have ever had one foot loose from
this earth, longing for that place where your soul shall feast
and banquet forever and ever upon a glorious sight of the in-
comprehensible Trinity, and where ye shall see the fair face of
the Man, Christ, even the beautiful face, that was once, for your
cause, more marred than any of the visages of the sons of men,
(Isa. Hi. 14,) and was all covered with spitting and blood. Be
content to wade through thb waters betwixt you and glory with
him, holding his right hand fast; for he knoweth all the fords.
Howbeit ye may be ducked, yet ye cannot drown, being in his
company ; and ye may, all the way to glory, see the way bedewed
with His blood, who is the Forerunner. G^e not afraid, therefore^
when ye come even to the black and swelling river of death, to
put in your foot, and wade after him. The current, how strong
soever, cannot carry you down the water to Hell: I he death and
resurrection of the Son of God are stepping-stones, and a stay to
you ; set down your feet by faith upon these stones, and eo through
as on dry land. If ye knew what he is preparing tor you, ye
would be too glad. Hewill not, ^it may be,) give you a full
draught till ye come up to the well-head, and drink, yea, drinl^
abundantly, of the pure river of the water of life, "that piocecdeth
out from the throne of God, and from the Lamb." (Rev. rxii. l.J
Madam, tire not, weary not. I dare find you the Son of God
caution ^ that when ye are got up thither, and have casten * your
eyes to view the golden city, and the fair and never withering
Tree of Life, which beareth twelve manner of fruits every month,
ye will then say, " Four-and- twenty hours' abode in that place is
worth threescore and ten years' sorrow upon earth." If ye can
but say that ye long earnestly to be carried up thither, (as I hope
ye cannot for shame deny him the honor of having wrought that
desire in your souU then hath your Lord given you an earnest :
and, madam, do ye believe that our Lord will lose his earnest, and
rue of the bargain, and change his mind, as if he were a man,
that can lie, or the son of man that can repent? Nay, he ij un<
chan{^eable, and the same this year that he was the former year.
And his Son, Jesus, who upon earth ate and drank with pubhcans
%nd sinners, and spake and conferred with whores ana harlot^
& SoretT. * CmL
rtttherford's letters. 53
and put ou« his holy hand and touched the leper's filthy skin, and
came evermore nigh sinners, even now, in jE^Iory, is yet that same
Lord: his honor and his great court* in Heaven have not made
him forget his poor friends on earth ; in him honors change not
manners, and he doth yet desire your company. Take him for
the old Christ, and claim still kindness to him, and say, "Oh, it
is so ! he is not changed, but I am changed :" nay, it is a part of
his unchangeable love, and an article of the New Covenant, to
keep you that ye cannot dispone* him nor sell him. He hath
not played fast and loose with us, in the Covenant of grace, so
that we may run from him at our pleasure. His love hath made
the bargain surer than so ; for Jesus, as the cautioner,' is bound
for us, (Heb. vii. 22,) and it cannot stand with his honor to die in
the borrows,* (as we use to say,) and lose thee, whom he must
render again to the Father, when he shall give up the kingdom
to him. Consent, and say "Amen" to the promises, and ye
have sealed that God is true, and Christ is yours. This is an
easy market : ye but look on with faith ; for Christ suffered all,
and paid alL
Madam, fearing lest I he tedious to ypur Ladyship, I must stop
here, desiring always to hear that your Ladyship is well, and that
ye have still your face up the mountain. Pray for us, madam,
and for Zion, whereof ye are a part. We expect a trial. God's
wheat in this land must go through Satan's sieve, but their faith
shall not fail. I am still wrestling in our Lord's work, and have
been tried and tempted by brethren, who look awry to the gospel.
Now He, that is able to keep you until that day, preserve youi
soul body and spirit, and present you before hb face with his own
Bride, spotless and blameless.
Your Ladyship's,
To be commanded always in the Lord Jesus, S. R.
AnwoCh, Not. 96, 1S31.
LETTER XVL
TO MT LADY KENMURE.
Madam, — ^I am grieved exceedingly that your Ladyship should
think, or have cause to think, that such as love you in God, in
this country, are forgetful of you. For myself, madam, I owe to
your Ladyship all evidences of my high respect (in the sight of
my Lord, whose truth I preach, I am bold to say it,) for bis rich
grace in you.
My communion, put off till the end of a longsome and rainy
Harvest, and the presbyterial exercbe (as the l>earer can inform
your Ladyship) hindered me to see you. And for my people's
I Pa^or, influence. * Dbpoee. ' Surety.
« TodUinttu herrmM, to foil while the 6orr9i0, or pledge, or mrety, for anotlMtt
u
sake ^finding tbem like hot iroD, that cooleth being out of the fire,
and tnat is pliable to no work,) I do not stir abroad, neither have
I left them at all since your Ladyship was in the countrv, save at
one time only, about two years ago ; ^et I dare not say but it is a
fault, howbeit no defect in my affection ; and I trust to make il
up again so soon as possibly I am able to wait upon you.
Madam, I have no new purpose to write unto you, but of that
which I think, nay, which our Lord thinketb, needful that one
thing, Mary's good 'part, which ye have chosen. (Luke x. 42.)
Madam, all that God hath, both himself and /the creatures, he is
dealing and parting amongst the sons of Adam. There are none
so poor as that they can say in his face that he hath ffiven them
nothing; but there is no small odds^ betwixt the gifts given to
lawful bairns* and to bastards ; and the more greedy ye are in
suiting,* the more willing is he to give, delighting to be called
open-handed.
I hope that your Ladyship laboreth to get assurance of the
surest patrimony, even God himself. Ye will find in Christianity
that God aimeth, in all his dealings with his children, to bring
them to a high contempt of, and deadly feud with the world ; and
to set a high price upon Christ, and to think him one who cannot
be bought for gold, and well worthy the fighting for. And for no
other cause, madam, doth the Lord withdraw from you the child-
ish toys and the earthly delights that he giveth unto others, but
that he may have you wholly to himself. Think, therefore, of
the Lord, as of one who comcth to woo you in marriage, when ye
are in the furnace ; he seeketh his answer of you in affliction, to
see if ye will say, <^ Even so I take him." Madam, give him this
answer presently, and in your mind do not secretly grudge nor
murmur. When he is striking you in love, beware to strike
again ; that is dangerous, for those who strike again shall get the
last blow.
If I hit not upon the right string, it is because I am not ac-
quainted with your Ladyship's present condition ; but I believe
that your Ladyship goeth on loot laughing, and putting on a
good countenance before the world, and yet ye carry heaviness
about with you. Ye do well, madam, not to make them witnesses
of your grief who cannot be curers of it ; but be exceedingly chari-
table of your dear Lord. As there be some friends worldly, of
whom ye will not entertain an ill thought, far more ought ye to
believe good evermore of your dear Friend, that lovely fair person,
Jesus Christ The thorn is one of the most cursed, and angry,
and crabbed weeds that the earth yieldeth, and yet out of it
springeth the rose, one of the most sweetly smelled flowers, and
most delightful to the eye, that the earth hath. Your Lord will
make joy and gladness out of your afflictions ; for all his rose^
have a fragrant smell. Wait for the time when his own holy
hand shall hold them to your nose ; and, if ye would have present
comfort under the croas, be much in prayer ; for at that time ycur
1 Childfen. t Ufgiog a rait
Rutherford's lltters. 6S
bith kisseth Christ, and he kisselh the soul — and oh ! if the
breath of bis holy mouth be sweet ! I dare be caution/ out of
some small experience, that ye shall not be beguiled; for the
world Tyea not a few* number of God's children,) know not weU
what that is which they call a godhead. But, madam, come near
to the Godhead, and look down to the bottom of the well : there
is much in bun, and sweet were that death to drown in such a
welL Your grief taketh liberty to work upon your mind, when
ye are not busied in the meditation of the ever-delighting and all-
blessed Godhead. If ye would lay the price ye give out (which is
but some few years' pain and trouble,) beside the commodities ye
are to receive, ye would see that they were not worthy to be laid
in the balance together ; but it is nature that maketh you look to
what ye give out, and weakness of faith that hindereth you to
see what ye shall take in. Amend your hope, and frist'^ your
faithful Lord awhile. He maketh himself your debtor in the New
Covenant : he is honest — take his word. (Nahum i. 9,) " Afflic-
tion shall not spring up the second time." (Rev. xxi. 7,) " He
that overcometh shall inherit all things." Of all things, then,
which ye want in this life, madam, I am able to say nothing, if
that be not believed which ye have. (Rev. ii. 7, and Rev. iii. 5,)
" The overcomer shall be clothed in white raiment," <fcc. ; and,
(ver. 21,) " To the overcomer I will give to sit with me on my
throne, as I overcame and am set down with my Father in his
throne." Consider, madam, if ye are not high up now, and far
ben^ in the palace of our Lord, when ye are upon a throne, in
white raiment, at lovely Christ's elbow. Oh, thrice fools are we,
who, like new-bom princes weeping in the cradle, know not that
there is a kingdom before them ! Then let our Lord's sweet hand
square us, and hammer us, and strike off the knots of pride, self-
love, and world-worship, and infidelity, that he may make us
stones and pillars in his Father's house. (Rev. iii. 12.) Madam,
what think ^e to take binding with the fair Corner-stone, Jesus?
The Lord give you wisdom to believe and hope that your day is
coming. I hope to be a witness of your joy, as I have been a
hearer and benolder of your grief. Think ye it much to follow
the Heir of the crown, who hath experience of sorrows, and was
acquainted with grief? (Isaiah liii.) It were pride to aim to be
above the King*s Son : it is more than we deserve that we are
equals in glory, in a manner.
Now, commending you to the dearest grace, and mercy of God,
I rest.
Tour Ladyship's, at all obedience in Ch*ist, S. R.
Anwolh, Jan. 4, 16
s Safety. * Small * Credit
« Adnuttad to freat fkmiliaiity.
66 Rutherford's letters.
LETTER XVIL
TO MT LADY KENMVRE.
Madam, — Understanding, a little after the writing of my last
•etter, of the going of this hearer, I would not omit the opportu-
nity of remembering your Ladyship, still harping upon that string
which, in our whole lifetime, is never too often touched upon, nor
is our lesson well enough learned, that there is a necessity of ad-
vancing in the way to the Kingdom of God, of the contempt of
the world, of denying ourself, and of bearing of our Lord's cross ;
which is no less needful for us than daily food. And among many
marks that we are on this journey, and under sail toward Heaven,
this is one, when the love of God so fiUeth our hearts that we for-
get to love ^nd care too much for the having or wanting of other
things; as one extreme heat burneth out another. By thi^,
madam, ye know that ye have betrothed your soul in marriage to
Christ, when ye do make but small reckoning of all other suitors
or wooers, and when ye can, (having little in hand, but much in
hope) live as a young heir during the time of his non-age and
minority, being coptent to be as hardly handled, and under as
precise a reckoning as servants, because his hope is upon the in-
neritance. For this cause, God's bairns* take well witn the spoil-
ing of their goods, (Heb. x. 34,) knowing in themselves that they
have in Heaven a better and an enduring substance. That day
that the earth and the works therein shall be burned with fire,
(2 Pet. iii. 10,^ your hidden hope and your hidden life shall ap-
pear. And, tnerefore, since ye have not now many years of your
endless eternity, and know not how soon the sky above your head
shall rive, and the Son of Man be seen in the clouds of Heaven,
what better and wiser course can ye take than to think that your
one foot is here, and your other foot in the life to come, and to
leave off loving, desiring, or grieving for the wants that shall be
made up, when your Lord and ye shall meet, and when ye shall
give in your bill that day of all your wants here ? If your losses
be not made up, ye have place to challenge the Almighty ; but it
shall not be so. Ye shall then rejoice with joy unspeakable and
full of glory, and your joy shall none take from you, (1 Pet. i. 8;
John xvi. 22.)
It is enough, that the Lord hath promised you great things ;
only let the time of bestowhig them be in his own carving. It is
not for us to set an hour-glass to the Creator of time, since he and
we differ only in the term of payment. Since he hath promised
payment, and we believe it, it is no great matter, we will put that
m his own will ; as the frank buyer, who cometh near to what
the seller seeketh, useth at last to refer the difference to his vill,
nnh so cutteth off the course of mutual prigging.* Madam, do not
> Children. t Cliaffering.
rittherford's letters. 57
prig' with your frank-hearted and gracious Lord about the time
of the fulfilling of your joy^. It shall be — God hath said it. Bide
his harvest, wait upon his whitsunday.' His day is better than
your day. He putteth not the hook ' into the com till it be ripe
and full-eared. The great Angel of the Covenant bear you com-
pany, till the trumpet shall sound and the voice of the Archangel
awaken the dead. Ye shall find it your only happiness, under
whatever thing disturbeth and crosseth the peace of your mind in
this life, to love nothing for itself, but only God for himself. It is
the crooked love of some harlots, that they love bracelets, ear-
rings, and rings, better than the lover that sendeth them : but
God will not be so loved : for that were to behave as harlots, and
not as the chaste spouse, to abate from our love when these things
are pulled away. Our love to him should begin on earth, as it
shall be in Heaven. For, as the bride taketh not by a thousand
d^rees so much delight in her wedding-garment as she doth in
her bridegroom, so we, in the life to come, howbeit clothed with
glory as with a robe, shall not be so much aifected with the glory
that goeth about us as with the Bridegroom's ioyful face and pres-
ence. Madam, if ye can win* to this here, the field is won ; and
your mind, for anything ye want, or for anything your Lord can
take from you, shall soon be calmed and quieted. Get l;)imself as
a pawn, and keep him, till your dear Lord come and loose the
pawn^rue upon you, and give you all again that he took from
you, even a thousand talents for one penny. It is not ill to lend
Gdi' willingly, who otherwise both will and may take from you
against your will. It is good to play the usurer with him, and
take in, instead of ten of the hundred, an hundred of ten, often an
hundred of one.
Madam, fearing to be tedious to you, I break off here, commend-
ing you, as I trust to do while I live, your person, ways, burdens,
and all that concerneth you, to that Almighty, who is able to bear
you and your burdens. I still remember you to Him, who will
cause you one day to laugh. I expect that whatever ye can do
by word or deed, for the Lord's friendless Zion, ye will do it. She
is your Mother, forget her not, for the Lord intendeth to melt and
try this land ; and it is high time that we were all upon our feet,
and falling about' to try what claim we have to Christ. It is like
that the Bridegroom will be taken from us, and then we shall
mourn. Dear Jesus, remove not, else take us with thee !
Grace, grace be with you forever.
Your Ladyship's, at all dutiful obedience, S. R.
ADWoCh, Jan. 14, 1693.
s a^gfe. * Termday. » SkUa. « IttalB.
« Searehing about /
98 rutherpord's letters.
LETTER XVIIL
TO MY LADT KENMURB.
Madam, — Your Ladyship will not, I know, weary nor be of-
fended, though I trouble you .with many letters: the memory of
what obligations I am under to your Ladyship is the cause of it.
I am possibly impertinent in what I write, because of ray igno-
rance 01 your present estate; but, for all that is said, I have
learned of Mr. William Dalgleish that ye have not changed upon,
nor wearied of your sweet Master, Cbrbt, and his service ; neither
were it your part to change upon Him, who resteth in his love.
Ye are among honorable company, and such as affect grandeur
and court But, madam, thinking upon your estate, I think that
I see an improvident wooer, coming too late to seek a bride, be-
cause she is contracted already, and promised away to another ;
and so the wooer's busking' and bravery (who cometh to you as,
who but he !) is in vain. The outward pomp of. this busy wooer,
a beguiling world, is now coming in to suit* your soul too late,
when ye have promised away your soul to Christ many years ago.
And I know, madam, what answer ye may justly make to tne
late suitor ; even this, " Ye are too long in coming. My soul, the
bride, is away already, and the contract with Christ subsoribed ;
and I cannot choose but I must be honest and faithful to him.''
Honorable Lady, keep your first love, and hold the first match
with that soul-delighting, lovely Bridegroom, our sweet, sweet
Lord, Jesus, fairer than all the children of men, the Rose of Sha-
ron, and the fairest and sweetest-smelled rose in all his Father's
garden. There is none like him. I would not exchange one
smile of his lovely face with kingdoms. Madam, let others take
their silly* feckless^ heaven in this life. Envy them not; but let
your soul, like a tarrowing' and mislearned* child, take the dorts,^
as we use to speak, or cast at' all things, and disdain them, ex-
cept one only — either Christ or nothing. Your Well-belovcMi,
Jesus, will be content, that ye be here devoutly proud, and ill * to
please, as one that contemneth all husbands but himself Either
the King's Son or no husband at all — this is humble and worthv
ambition. What have ye to do to dally with a whorish and fool-
ish world ? Your jealous husband will not be content that ye
look by '" him to another: he will be jealous indeed, and offended,
if ye kiss another than himself
What weights do burden you, madam, I know not, but think it
great mercy that your Lord from your youth hath been hedging-iu
your out-straying affections, that they may not go a-whoring from
himself. If ye were his bastard, he would not nurture you so : if
1 Deckini^. * Coart > Contemptible. * Poor, unreal.
> 7\» tarrow, to feel relncUnee, etpeciallj to lake one*a ibod, arising (Vom
Mtifh humor. • lUbred. t Pet • Object to.
» Hard. •• Pait.
69
jre were for the slaughter, ^e would be fattened ; but be content,
ye are bis wheat growing in our Lord's field, (Matt xiii. 26, 38.)
And if wheat, ye must go under our Lord's threshing instrument,
in his barn-floor, and go through his sieve, (Amos ix. 9,) and
through his mill to be bruised, as the Prince of our salvation,
Jesus, was,*(Isa. Uii. 10,) that ye may be found good bread in your
Lord^s house. Lord Jesus, bless the spiritual husbandry, and
separate you from the chaff that dow not bide' the wind. I am
persuaded that your glass is spending itself by little and little, and
that if ye knew who is before you, ye would rejoice in your tribu-
lation. Think ye it a small honor to stand fciefore the throne of
God and the Lamb, and to be clothed in white, and to be called
to the marriage-supper of the Lamb, and to be led to the Fountain
of living wat^jrs, and to come to the well-head, even God himself,
and get your fill of the clear, cold, sweet, refreshing Water of life,
the King's own well, and to put up your own sinuil hand to the
Tree of Life, and take down and eat the sweetest apple in all
God's heavenly paradise, Jesus Christ, your Life and your Lord ?
Up your heart ! shout for joy ! your Kmg is coming to fetch you
to his Father's house.
Madam, I am in exceeding great heaviness ; God thinking it
best for my own soul thus to exercise me, thereby, it may be, to
fit me to be his mouth to others ; I see and hear, at home and
abroad, nothing but matter of grief and discouragement, which
indeed maketh my life bitter — and I hope in God never to get my
.will in this world. And I expect ere long a fiery trial upon the
Church ; for as many men almost in England and Scotland, as .
many false friends to Christ, and as many pulling and drawing to
puU the crown off his holy head ; and for fear that our Beloved
stay amongst us, (as if hb room were more desirable than himself,)
men are bidding him go seek his lodging. Madam, if ye have a
Eart in silly* friendless Zion, as I know ye have, speak a word on
er behalf to Grod and man. If ye can do nothing else, speak for
Jesus, and ye shall therebv be a witness against this decHnmg age.
Now, firom my very soul, laying and leaving you on the Lord, and
desiring a part in your prayers, (as my Lord knoweth that I re-
member you,^ I deliver over your body, spirit, and all your neces-
sities, to the nands of our Lord, and remain forever.
Your Ladyship's, in your sweet Lord Jesus, and mine, S. R.
AnwoUi, Feb. 13, 1632.
LETTER XIX.
FOR MARION MACKNAUOHT.
Belotbd Mistress, — My dearest love in Christ remembered
Co you — know that Mr. Abraham showed me that there is to be a
> U Bol able to lUnd. * Poor, in Uie eente of exciling co mpft wio n .
60 RirrHEaFoaD*8 letters.
meeting of the Bishops at Edinburgh shortly. The causes are
known to themselves ; it is our part to hold ud our hands for Zion.
Howbeit it is reported that they came sad from court It is our
Lord's wisdom that his Kirk should ever hing* by a thread ; and
yet the thread breaketh not, being hung upon Him, who is the
sure Nail in David's house, dsaiah xxii. ver. 23,) upon whom all
the vessels, great and small, do hang: and the Nail (God be
thanked) neither crooketh, nor can be broken. Jesus, that Flower
of Jesse, set without hands, getteth many a blast, and yet wither-
eth not, because he is his Father's noble Rose, casting a sweet
smell through Heaven and earth, and must grow; and in the
same garden with him grow the saints, Grod's fair and beautiful
lilies, under wind and rain, and all sun-burned, and yet life re-
maineth at the root. Keep within his garden, and /e shall grow
with them, till the great Husbandman, our dear Master-gardener,
come, and transplant you from the lower part of his vineyard up
to the higher, to the very h^art of his garden, above the wrongs
of the rain, sun, or wind ; and then wait upon the times of the blow-
ing of the sweet south and north wind of his gracious Spirit, that
may make you cast a sweet smell in your Beloved's nostrils ; and
bid your Beloved come down to his garden, and eat of his pleasant
fruits. (Cant. iv. ver. 16.) And he will come. Ye will get no
more than this, until ye come up to the Well-head, where he shall
put up your hand, and take down the apples of the Tree of Life^
and eat under the shadow of that Tree — these apples are sweeter
up beside the Tree, than they are down here, m this piece cf a
clay prison-house. I have no joy but in the thoughts of these
times. Doubt not of your Lord's part, and the Spouse's part — she
shall be in goDd case. That word shall stand, (Hosea xiv. 6,) ''I
will be as the dew to Israel, he shall grow up as the lily ; and cast
out his roots as Lebanon." (Ver. 6,) "His branches shall spread,
his beauty shall be as the olive-tree, and his smell as Lebanon."
i Isaiah xi. ver. 12,) Christ shall set up his colors,* and his ensign
or the nations, and shall gather together the outcasts of Israel.
fBzek. xxxvii. 11,) "Then the Lord said to me. Son of man, these
aead bones are the whole House of Israel ; behold, they say. Our
bones are dried, our hope is lost, we are cut off for our parts." (Ver.
12,) " Therefore prophesy unto them, and say. Thus saith the
Lord God, Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and
cause you come up out of your graves, and bring you unto the
land of Israel." These promises are not wind, but the breast of
our Beloved, Chrbt, which we must suck, and draw comfort out of.
We have cause to pity those poor creatures, that stand out
against Christ, and the building of his house. Silly men, they
have but a feckless* and silly* heaven, nothing but meat and
clothes ; and they laugh a day or two in the world, and then in a
moment go down to the grave. And they shall not be able to
1 Huf. • Unwihitanrtal,
rvtberford's letters. 6t
hinder Christ's building; he that is Master of the work, will
lead stones* to the wall over their belly.
And for that present tumult, that the children of this world
raise anent* the planting of your town with a pastor, believe and
stay upon God (as ye still shame us all in believing j) go forward
in (he strength of the Lord, and from my Lord I say, before
whom I stand, have your eyes upon none but the Lord of armies;
and the Lord will either let ye see what ye long to see, or then
fulfil your joy more abundantly another way. Ye and yours,
and the children of God whom ye care for, in that town, shall
have as much of the Son of Grod's supper, cut and laid down upon
your trenchers, be he who he will that carveth, as shall feed you
to eternal life. And be not cast down for all that is done, your
reward is laid up with God. I hope to see ye laugh and leap
for joy. Will the temple be built without din and tumult? No !
God's stones of his house in Grermany are laid with blood ; and
the Son of God no sooner beginneth to chop and hew stones with
his hammer, but as soon the sword is drawn. If the work were
of men, the world would set their shoulders to yours; but in
Christ's work, two or three must fight against a presbytery,
(though his own court,) and a city. This proveth that it is
Christ's errand, and, therefore, that it shall* thrive. Let them lay
iron chains cross over the door, — stay, and believe, and wait, whill*
the Lion of the tribe of Judah come. And He, that coraeth from
Heaven clothed with the rainbow, and hath the little bbok in his
hand, when he taketh a grip* of their chains, will lay the door
upon the broad-side,* and come in, and go up to the pulpit, and
take the man with him whom he hath chosen for his work. .There-
fore, let me hear from you, whether you be in heaviness, or re-
joicing- under hope, that I may take part of your grief, and bear
it with you, and get part of your joy, which is to me also as my
own joy.
And as to what are your fears anent* the health or life of your
dear children, lay it upon Christ's shoulders ; let him bear alL
Loose your grips* of them all ; and, when your dear Lord pulleth,
let them go with faith and joy ; it is a tried faith, to kiss a Lord
that is taking from you. Let them be careful, during the short
tirae that they are here, to run, and get a grip* of the prize. Christ
is standing in the end of their way, holding up the garland of end-
less glory to their eyes, and is crying, " Run fast, and come,, and
receive :" happy are they, if their breath serve them to run, and
not to weary, whill* their Lord, with his own dear hand, put the-
crown upon their head. It is not long days, but good days, that
make the life glorious and happy ; and our dear Lord is gracious
to U8, who shorteneth, and hath made the way to glory shorter
than it was: so that the crown that Noah did fight for five hun-
dred years, children may now obtain in fifteen years. And Heaven
it in some sort better for us now than it was to Noah : for the
' TV Uad 9Umt», to carry ttonei in a cart from one place to another.
> CoaatfBing. » ViU. « Oripe, hold. • Fhit on the lid*.
t8 Rutherford's letters.
Man, Christ, is there now, who was not come in the fleah in
Noah's days.
You will show this to ypur children, whom my soul in Christ
blesseth ; and entreat them, by the mercies of God, and the bowels
of Jesus Christ, to covenant with Jesus Christ to be his, and to
make up the bond of friendship betwixt their souls and their Christ,
that they may have acquaintance in Heaven, and a friend at God's
right hand — such a friend at court is much worth.
Now I take my leave of you, praying my Christ, and your
Christ, to fulfil our joy, and moe graces and blessings from our
sweet Lord Jesus to your soul, your husband's, and children, than
ever I wrote of letters of A, B, C, to you.
Grace, grace, be with you.
Yours, in my sweet Master, Jesus Christ, S. R.
AnwoCh, Much 9, 1632.
LETTER XX-
FOR MARION MACKNAUGHT.
Dearly beloved Mistress, — My love in Christ remembered
— Ye are not ignorant what our Lord, in his love-visitation, hath
been doing with your soul, even letting you see a little sight of
that dark trance which ye must go through ere you come to glory.
Your life hath been near the grave, and ye were at the door, and
ye found the door shut fast ; your dear Christ thinking it not time
to open these gates to you, whiU^ ye have fought some longer in
his camp. And, therefore, he willeth you to put on your armor
again, and to take no truce with the Devil, or this present world.
Ye are little obliged to any of the two : but I rejoice in this, that
when any of the two cometh to suit' your soul in marriage, ye
have an answer in readiness to tell them — "Ye are too long
a-coming : I have many a year since promised my soul to another,
even to my dearest Lord Jesus, to wnom I must be true." And,
therefore, ye are come back to us again, to help us to pray for
Christ's fair Bride — a marrow* dear to him.
Be not cast down in heart, to hear that the world barketh at
Christ's strangers, both in Ireland and in this land. They do it
because their Lord hath chosen them out of this world ; and this
is one of our Lord's reproaches, to be hated and ill-entreated bv
men: the silly* stranger in an unco* country, must take with
smoky inn, and coarse cheer, and a hard bed, and a barking ill-
tongued host. It is not long to-day, and he will to his journey
upon the morrow, and leave them alL Indeed our fair morning
is at hand, the day-star is near the rising, and we are not many
miles from home ; what matter of ill entertainment in the smoky
1 TUL • Coait • PaiUMT. « Poor.
RUTIIERFORD'a LETTERS. 63
ioQ ot this miserable life ? We are not to stay here, and we shall
be dearly welcome to Him whom we go to. And I hope, that
when I shall see you clothed in white raiment, washen ' in the
blood of the Lamb, and shall see you even at the elbow of your
dearest Lord and Redeemer, and a crown upon your head, and
following our Lamb, and lovely Lord whithersoever he goeth, ye
will think nothing of all these days, and ye will then rejoice, and
no man shall take your joy from you. And it is certain there is
not much sand to run in your Lord's sand-glass, and that day is
at hand, and, till then, your Lord in this life is giving you some
little feasts. It is true that ye see him not now, as ye shall see
him then. Your Well-belov^ standeth now behind the wall,
looking out at the window, (Cant. ii. 9,) and ye see but a little of
bis £Eice ; then ye shall see all his face, and all the Saviour, — a
loDg, and high, and broad Lord Jesus, the most lovely person
among the childien of men. O joy of joys ! that our souls know
there is such a great supper preparing lor us ; even bowbeit we be
but hali-bungered' of Christ here, and many a time dine behind
noon,* yet the supper of the Lamb shall come in time, and will be
set before us, before we famish, and lose our stomachs. Ye have
cause to hcid up your heart in remembrance, and hope of that fair,
long, summer-day ; for in this night of your life, wnerein ye are
in the body, absent from the Lord, Christ's &ir mooo-light, in his
word and sacraments, in prayer, feeling, and holy conference,
hath shined upon you, to let you see the way to the city.
I confess that our diet here is but sparing ; we get but tastingf
of our Lord's comforts ; but the cause of that is not because our
Steward, Jesus, is a niggard, and narrow-hearted, but because our
stomachs are weak, and we are narrow-hearted : but the peat
feast is coming, when our hearts shall be enlarged, and the cham-
bers of them made fair and wide, to take in the great Lord Jesoc
— <x>roe in, then. Lord Jesus, to hungry souls, gaping for thee'
.Li this journey take the Brid^room, as ye may have him, and be
greedy of his smallest crumbs : but, dear mistress, boy oooe of
Christ's delicates spiritual with sin, or fieisting against your weak
body. Remember that ye are in the body, and it is the lodging'
hoi^ and ye may not, without offeaAmg the Lord, ntSkt the oU
walls of that house to fall down, through want of necesmnr fbodL
Your body is the dweUfaig-house of the Spirit ; «id, therefore, for
the love ye carry to the sweet GaesI, give a due regard to his
house of clay. When he looseth the wall, why not? welcome^
Lord Jesus ! but it is a fearful sin in us, by halting the body by
fasting, to loose one stone, or the least piece of timber io it ; far
'^he house is not our own^ the Bridegroom is with yoo yet ; so buH,
>s that, also, ye may feast and rgoice in him.
I think upon your magistrates ; but He, thai is daubed in Unen^
^oA hath the writer's ink-horn by his side, hath wnuea «p tkcir
Barnes in Heaven already— pray, and be comeot with bis wilL
> WidHd. f ifglffcJ
64 Rutherford's letters.
God hath a council-house io Heaven, and the end will be mercy
unto you. For the planting of your town with a godly minister,
have your eye upon the Lord of the harvest. I dare promise you
that God, in this life, will fill your soul with the fatness of his
house, for your care to see Christ^s bairns fed ; and your posterity
shall know it, to whom I pray for mercy, and that they may get
a name among the living in Jerusalem ; and if Grod portion them
with his bairns, their rent is fair^ and I hope it shall be so.
The Lord Jesus be with your spirit.
Yours^ ever in Christ, S. R.
Anwolh, Sept 19, 1633.
LETTER XXI.
FOR MARION MACKNAUGHT.
Wbll-beloved Sister in Christ, — ^Ye shall understand
that I have received a letter from Edinburgh, that it is suspected
that there will be a General Assembly, or then ^ some meetmg of
the Bishops; and that at this Synod there will be some commis-
sioners chosen by the Bishop ; which news have so taken up my
mind, that I am not so settled for studies as I have been before ;
and, therefore, was never in such fear for the work. But, because
it is written to me as a secret, I dare not reveal it to any, but to
yourself whom I know : and, therefore, I entreat you, not for any
comfort of mine, who am but one man, but for the glory and
honor of Jesus Christ, the Master of the banquet, be more earnest
with God, and, in general, show others of your Christian acquaint-
ance my fears for myself. I can be content of shame in that work,
if my Lord and Master be honored : and, therefore, petition oui
Lord, especially to see to his own glory, and to give bread to hi«
hungry bairns, howbeit I go hungrv away from the feast.
Request Mr. Robert from me, if he come not, to remember us tc
our Lord.
I have neither time, nor a free disposed mind, to write to you
anent* your own case. Send me word if all your children anfi
CLir husband be well. Seeing they are not yours, but your deai
rd's, esteem them but as borrowed, and laj^ them down at God's
feet — your Christ to you is better than they all.
You will pardon my unaccustomed short letter ; and remembei
roe, and that honorable feast, to our Lord Jesus. He was with w
before : I hope he will not change upon us, but I fear that I havi
changed upon him — but, Lord ! let old kindness stand.
Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Youra, in his sweet Lord, Jesus, S. R.
Aawoth.
> OUierwiML * CoooeniBg.
Rutherford's letters. 66
LETTER XXn.
POR MARION MACKNAUGHT.
Well-beloved, and Dear Sister, — My tender affection ia
Christ remembered — I left you in as great heaviness as I was in
since I came to this country ; but I know that ye doubt not that
(as the truth in Christ is) my soul is knit to your soul, and to the
souls of all yours, and would, if I could, send you the largest part
of my heart inclosed in this letter. But by fervent calling upon
my liord, I have attained some victory over my heart, which run-
neth often not knowing whither, and of my beguiling hopes, which
I know now better than I did. And I trust in my Lord to hold
aloof from the enticings of a seducing heart, bv which I am daily
cozened ; and I mind not, by His grace, who hath called me ac-
cording to his eternal purpose, to come so far within the grips ' of
my foolish mind, gripping about* any folly coming its way, as the
woodbine or ivy goeth about the tree.
I adore and kiss the providence of my Lord, who knoweth well
vhat is most expedient for me, and for you, and your children :
inA I think of you, as of myself, that the Lord, who turaeth about,
in h\9 deep wisdom, all the wheels and turnings of such changes,
will also dispose of that for the best to you and yours. In the pres-
ence of my Lord, I am not able, howbeit I would, to conceive
amiss of you in that matter. Grace, grace forever upon yoa and
your seed ; and it shall be your portipn, in despite of all the powers
of darkness: do not make more question of this. But the Lord
taw a nail in my heart loose, and be hath now fastened it — honor
be lo his Majesty.
I bear that your son is entered to the school If I had known
of the day, I would have begged from our Lord, that be would
liave put the book in his hand, with his own hand I trust in
my Lord it is so, and I conceive a hope to see him a star to
give light in some room -of our Lord's house; and purpoM, by
the Lord's grace, as I am able, (if our Lord call you to rest be-
fore me,) when vou are at your home, to do the uttermost of mj
power to help him every way, in grace and learning, and bis
brother, and all your children — and I hope that ye would expect
that of me.
Further, ye shall know that Mr. William Dalgletsh is come
home; who saith it is a miracle that your busba^ in this pro-
cess before the Coimcil, escaped both discredit and damage. Let
it not be forgotten that he was, in our apprehension, to our grief^
cast down and humbled in the Lord's work, in that matter betwixt
him and the baillie;* now the Lord hath honored btro, and made
him famous for virtue, honesty, and integrity, two several timesi
1 Orup. t CUspcDg abMl
< A aagMUate in a SeoCtkh borough, milar to an aklenwui in England
5
66 Rutherford's letters.
before tlie nobles of this kingdom. Your Lord ''""^^^t**"'!!^
go to hU tlirone of grace again ; his arm is not short* "5im»«wil"«
The King is certainly expected. Ill is feared. W^ "'^*Vf ^
for our sins, to fear that the Bridegroom shall be taJf^****"^J
by our sins, we have rent his fair garments, and we i ~
up and awakened our Beloved. Pray him to tarry, or it
us with him. It were good that we should knock auc
Lord's door : we may not tire to knock oftener than twi.
— ^he knoweth the knock of his friends.
I am still what I was ever to your dear children,
their souls' happiness, and praying that grace, grace, gi.
and peace from God, even God our Father, and our L
may be their portion ; and that now, while they are ^
young, their hearts may take band* with Jesus, the Co;i
and win* once in, into our Lord and Saviour's house, .
they will not get leave to flit.
Pray for me, and especially for humility and thankfi.
have always remembrance of you and your husband,
children. The Lord, Jesus, be with your spirit
Yours evermore, in my dear Lord Jesus, and yours,
Anwotb.
LETTER XXni.
TO MARION MACKNAUGHT.
Well-beloved, and Dear Sister, — ^My love in Chri?
roembered — God hath brought me home from a place, wh
have been exercised with great heaviness ; and I nave foui
home a new matter of heaviness, yet dare not but in all th
give thanks.
In my business in Edinburgh, I have not sinned, nor wron
my party; by his own confession, and by the confession of
friends. I have given of my goods for peace, and the saving
my Lord's truth from reproaches, which m dearer to me than al.
have. My mother is weak, and I think shall leave me alone ; bi
I am not alone, because Christ's Father is with me.
For your business anent* your town, I see gn^eat evidences ; bi.
Satan and his instruments are against it, and few set their should
ers to Christ's shoulder to help him. But he will do all bis lone ;
and I dare not but exhort you to believe, and persuade you, that
the hungry in your city shall be fed ; and as for the rest, that
want a stomach, the parings of God's loaf will suffice them — and.
therefore, believe it snail Im well. I may not leave m^ mother
to come and confer with you of all particulars : I have given such
> Otherwiae.
• TV teib band, U UDito. lAmt \m ttid to Uke band whh Ui« iloMt in a bnildini
when it unites with them.
• Get « Conoenibig. • By I^^bmIT alooe.
wraw«l«
kMiiii'.|nttk«
ERS.
^n«e in, in th^ ^
'» place, and l.ci.£
'»*W is to you »^^
^^ath his bur^^;
•^ feet upoa ♦m^
\Lady irs, j-^^
^^nd keep tU^
•re for a sia^wT
■vill8eeus.^*Y- 1
liavemourxx,
•le Lord, b^
^^'^ this is ^^
-Iioulder or ^^
'»e that al>i^^
:ce; for y^ ^^
'face, atid ^^i
be, as Zech
^•»i' all ; that
irarnas, and
It the stone
he Corner-s
• who laid i
l with t%;%ro
-tlom.
vou, that g
• » have the
l call, and
' seen call
I with om
nor favo
>r grace
•' aad h
S. I
ic united
60
meeting of the Bishops at Edinburgh shortly. The causes are
known to themselves ; it is our part to hold up our hands for Zion.
Howbeit it is reported that they came sad from court It is our
Lord's wisdom that his Kirk should ever hing* by a thread ; and
yet the thread breaketh not, being hung upon Him, who is the
sure Nail in David's house, Tlsaiah xxii. ver. 23,) upon whom all
the vessels, great and small, do hang: and the Nail (Qod be
thanked) neither crooketh, nor can be broken. Jesus, that Flower
of Jesse, set without hands, getteth many a blast, and yet wither-
eth not, because he is his Father's noble Rose, casting a sweet
smell through Heaven and earth, and must grow; and in the
same garden with him grow the saints, God's fair and beautiful
lilies, under wind and rain, and all sun-burned, and yet life re-
maineth at the root. Keep within his garden, and /e shall grow
with them, till the great Husbandman, our dear Master-gardener,
come, and transplant you from the lower part of his vineyard up
to the higher, to the very h^art of his garden, above the wrongs
of the rain, sun, or wind ; and then wait upon the times of the blow-
ing of the sweet south and north wind of his gracious Spirit, that
may make you cast a sweet smell in your Beloved's nostrils ; and
bid your Beloved come down to his garden, and eat of his pleasant
fruits. (Cant. iv. ver. 16.) And he will come. Ye will get no
more than this, until ye come up to the Well-head, where he shall
put up your hand, and take down the apples of the Tree of Life,
and eat under the shadow of that Tree — these apples are sweeter
up beside the Tree, than they are down here, m this piece cf a
clay prison-house. I have no joy but in the thoughts of these
times. Doubt not of your Lord's part, and the Spouse's part — she
shall be in goDd case. That word shall stand, (Hosea xiv. 6,) "I
will be as the dew to Israel, he shall grow up as the lily ; and cast
out his roots as Lebanon." (Ver. 6,) '^His branches shall spread,
his beauty shall be as the olive-tree, and his smell as Lebanon."
i Isaiah xi. ver. 12,) Christ shall set up his colors,' and his ensign
or the nations, and shall gather together the outcasts of IsraeL
fEzek. xxxvii. 11,) "Then the Lord said to me, Son of man, these
aead bones are the whole House of Israel ; behold, they say. Our
bones are dried, our hope is lost, we are cut off for our parts." (Ver.
12,) " Therefore prophesy unto them, and say. Thus saith the
Lord God, Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and
cause you come up out of your graves, and bring you unto the
land of Israel." These promises are not wind, but the breast of
our Beloved, Chrbt, which we must suck, and draw comfort out of.
We have cause to pity those poor creatures, that stand out
against Christ, and the building of his house. Silly men, they
have but a feckless* and silly* heaven, nothing but meat and
clothes ; and they laugh a day or two in the world, and then in a
moment go down to the grave. And they shall not be able to
1 Huf. • UnrabfUnlid. i lV|nirnMt
Rutherford's letters. 61
hinder Christ's building; he that is Master of the work, will
lead stones* to tlie wall over their belly.
And for that present tumult, that the children of this world
raise anent* the planting of your town with a pastor, believe and
stay upon God (as ye still shame us all in believing go forward
in (he strength of the Lord, and from my Lord I say, before
whom I stand, have ^our eyes upon none but the Lord of armies;
and the Lord will either let ye see what ye long to see, or then
fulfil your joy more abundantly another way. Ye and yours,
and the children of God whom ye care for, in that town, shall
have as much of the Son of Gkxl's supper, cut and laid down upon
your trenchers, be he who he will that carveth, as shall feed you
to eternal life. And be not cast down for all that is done, your
reward is laid up with God, I hope to see ye laugh and leap
for joy. Will the temple be built without din and tumult? No !
God's stones of his house in Germany are laid with blood ; and
the Son of God no sooner beginneth to chop and hew stones with
his hammer, but as soon the sword is drawn. If -the work were
of men, the world would set their shoulders to yours; but in
Christ's work, two or three must fight against a presbytery,
^though his own court,) and a city. This proveth that it is
Christ's errand, and, therefore, that it shall' thrive. Let them lay
iron chains cross over the door, — ^stay, and believe, and wait, whill*
the Lion of the tribe of Judah come. And He, that cometh from
Heaven clothed with the rainbow, and hath the little book in his
hand, when he taketh a grip* of their chains, will lay the door
upon the broad-side,* and come in, and go up to the pulpit, and
take the roan with him whom be hath chosen for his work. .There-
fore, let me hear from you, whether you be in heaviness, or re-
ccing- under hope, that I may take part of your grief, and bear
It with you, and get part of your joy, which is to me also as my
own joy.
And as to what are your fears anent' the health or life of your
dear children, lay it upon Christ's shoulders ; let him bear all.
Loose your grips* of them all ; and, when your dear Lord pulleth,
let them go with faith and joy ; it is a tried faith, to kiss a Lord
that is taking from you. Let them be careful, during the short
time that they are here, to run, and ^et a grip* of the prize. Christ
is standing in the end of their way, holding up the garland of end-
less glory to their eyes, and is crying, " Run fast, and come,, and
receive :" happy are they, if their breath serve them to run, and
not to weary, whill* their Lord, with his own dear hand, put the
crown upon their head. It is not long days, but good days, that
make the life glorious and happv ; and our dear Lord is gracious
to us, who shorteneth, and hath made the way to glory shorter
than it was: so that the crown that Noah did fight for five hun-
dred years, children may now obtain in fifteen years. And Heaven
18 in some sort better for us now than it was to Noah : for the
> Th Uad 9icn€», to eanr ttonei in a cart from one place to another.
• CoacmuDg. » Till « Oripe, hold. • Flat oo the lida.
t8 Rutherford's letters.
Man, Christ, is there now, who was not come in the flesh io
Noah's days.
You will show this to ypur children, whom my soul in Christ
blesseth ; and entreat them, by the mercies of God, and the bowels
of Jesus Christ, to covenant with Jesus Christ to be his, and to
make up the bond of friendship betwixt their souls and their Christ,
that they may have acquaintance in Heaven, and a fnend at God's
right hand — such a friend at court is much worth.
Now I take my leave of you, praying my Christ, and your
Christ, to fulfil our joy, and moe graces and blessing from our
sweet Lord Jesus to your soul, your husband's, and children, than
ever I wrote of letters of A, B, C, to you.
Grace, grace, be with you.
Yours, in my sweet Master, Jesus Christ, S. R.
Anwodi, Much 9, 1632.
LETTER XX.
FOR MARION MACKNAUGHT.
Dearly beloved Mistress, — My love in Christ remembered
— Ye are not ignorant what our Lord, in his love-visitation, hath
been doing with your soul, even letting you see a little sight of
that dark trance which ye must go through ere you come to glory.
Your life hath been near the grave, and ye were at the door, and
ye found the door shut fast ; your dear Christ thinking it not time
to open these gates to you, whill ^ ye have fought some longer in
his camp. And, therefore, he willeth you to put on your armor
a^ain, and to take no truce with the Devil, or this present world.
Ye are little obliged to any of the two : but I rejoice in this, that
when any of the two cometh to suit' your soul in marriage, ye
have an answer in readiness to tell them — <<Ye are too long
a-coming : I have many a year since promised my soul to another,
even to my dearest Lord Jesus, to wnom I must be true." And,
therefore, ye are come back to us again, to help us to pray for
Christ's fair Bride — a marrow* dear to him.
Be not cast down in heart, to hear that the world barketh at
Christ's strangers, both in Ireland and in this land. They do it
because their Lord hath chosen them out of this world ; and this
is one of our Lord's reproaches, to be hated and ill-entreated bv
men: the silly* stranger in an unco* country, must take with
smoky inn, and coarse cheer, and a hard bed, and a barking ill-
tongued host. It is not long to-day, and he will to his journey
upon the morrow, and leave them all. Indeed our fair morning
is at hand, the day-star is near the rising, and we are not many
miles from home ; what matter of ill entertainment in the smoky
1 TUL • Coait • Paitaw.
RUTIIERFORD'a LETTERS. 63
inn of this miserable life? We are not to stay here, and we shall
be dearly welcome to Him whom we go to. And I hope, that
when I shall see you clothed in white raiment, washen ^ in the
blood of the Lamb, and shall see you even at the elbow of your
dearest Lord and Redeemer, and a crown upon your head, and
following our Lamb, and lovely Lord whithersoever he goeth, ye
will think nothing of all these days, and ye will then rejoice, and
no man shall take your joy from you. And it is certain there is
not much sand to run in your Lord's sand-glass, and that day is
at hand, and, till then, your Lord in this life is giving you some
little feasts. It is true that ye see him not now, as ye shall see
him then. Your Well-beloved standeth now behind the wall,
looking out at the window, (Cant. ii. 9,) and ye see but a little of
his face ; then ye shall see all his &ce, and all the Saviour, — a
long, and high, and broad Lord Jesus, the most lovely person
amon^ the childien of men. O joy of joys ! that our souls know
there is such a great supper preparing for us ; even howbeit we be
but half-hungered* of Christ here, and many a time dine behind
noon,* yet the supper of the Lamb shall come in time, and will be
set before us, before we famish, and lose our stomachs. Te have
cause to hold up your heart in remembrance, and hope of that fair,
loDff, summer-day ; for in this night of your life, wherein ye are
in the body, absent frcnn the Lord, Christ's fair moon-light, in his
word and sacraments, in prayer, feeling, and holy conference,
hath shined upon you, to let you see the way to the city.
I confess that our diet here is but sparing ; we get but tasting?
of our Lord's comforts ; but the cause of that is not because our
Steward, Jesus, is a niggard, and narrow-hearted, but because our
stomachs are weak, and we are narrow-hearted : but the ^reat
feast is coming, when our hearts shall be enlarged, and the cham-
bers of them made fair and wide, to take in the great Lord Jesus
— come in, then. Lord Jesus, to hungry souls, gaping for thee!
Jn this journey take the Bridegroom, as ye may have him, and be
greedy of his smallest crumbs : but, dear mistress, buy none oi
Christ's delicates spiritual with sin, or fasting against your weak
body. Remember that ye are in the body, and it is the lodging-
house, and ye may not, without offending the Lord, suffer the old
walls of that house to fall down, through want of necessary food.
Your body is the dwelling-house of the Spirit ; and, therefore, for
the love ye carry to the sweet Quest, give a due regard to his
house of clay. When he loose! h the wall, why not? welcome,
Lord Jesus ! but it is a fearful sin in us, by hurting the body by
fiBwting, to loose one stone, or the least piece of timber in it ; for
the house is not our own, the Bridegroom is with you yet ; so fast,
as that, also, ye may feast and rejoice in him.
I think upon your magistrates ; but He, that is clothed in linen,
and hath the writer's ink-horn by his side, hath written up their
names in Heaven already — pray, and be content with his wilL
■ WadMd. ■ HalAM.
* Dinotr, i& Ibe days of Rutherfind, was never later than noon.
64 Rutherford's letters.
God hath a council-house in Heaven, and the end will be merey
unto you. For the planting of your town with a godly minister,
have your eye upon the Lord of the harvest. I dare promise you
that God, in this life, will fill your soul with the fatness of his
house, for your care to see Christ's bairns fed ; and your posterity
shall know it, to whom I pray for mercy, and that they may get
a name among the living m Jerusalem ; and if Grod portion them
with his bairns, their rent is fair, and I hope it shall be so.
The Lord Jesus be with your spirit.
Yours^ ever in Christ, S. R.
Anwolh, Sept 19, 1633.
LETTER XXI.
FOR MARION MACKNAUGHT.
Wbll-beloved Sister en Christ, — Ye shall understand
that I have received a letter from Edinburgh, that it is suspected
that there wili be a General Assembly, or then ^ some meetmg of
the Bishops ; and that at this Synod there will be some commis-
sioners chosen by the Bishop ; which news have so taken up my
mind, that I am not so settled for studies as I have been before ;
and, therefore, was never in such fear for the work. But, because
it is written to ine as a secret, I dare not reveal it to any, but to
yourself whom I know : and, therefore, I entreat you, not for any
comfort of mine, who am but one man, but for the glory and
honor of Jesus Christ, the Master of the banquet, be more earnest
with God, and, in general, show others of your Christian acquaint-
ance my fears for myself I can be content of shame in that work,
if my Lord and Master be honored : and, therefore, petition our
Lord, especially to see to his own glory, and to give bread to his
hungry bairns, howbeit I go hungrv away from the feast. ^
Request Mr. Robert from me, if he come not, to remember us to
our Lord.
I have neither time, nor a free disposed mind, to write to you
anent* your own case. Send me word if all your children and
Cjr husband be well. Seeing they are not yours, but your dear
rd^s, esteem them but as borrowed, and laj^ them down at God's
feet — your Christ to you is better than they all.
You will pardon my unaccustomed short letter ; and remember
roe, and that honorable feast, to our Lord Jesus. He was with urn
before : I hope he will not change upon us, but I fear that I have
changed upon him — but, Lord ! let old kindness stand.
Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Youra, in his sweet Lord, Jesus, S. R.
Aawoth.
> OtherwiNL * CoooeniBg.
Rutherford's letters. 66
LETTER XXII.
POR MARION MACKNAUGHT.
Well-beloved, and Dear Sister, — My tender affection in
Christ remembered — I left you in as great heaviness as I was in
since I came to this country ; but I know that ye doubt not that
(as the truth in Christ is) my soul is knit to your soul, and to the
souls of all yours, and would, if I could, send you the largest part
of my heart inclosed in this letter. But by fervent calling upon
my Lord, I have attained some victory over my heart, which run-
neth oflen not knowing whither, and of my beguiling hopes, which
I know now better than I did. And I trust in my Lord to hold
aloof from the enticings of a seducing heart, by which I am daily
cozened ; and I mind not, by His grace, who hath called me ac-
cording to his eternal purpose, to come so far within the grips * of
my foolish mind, gripping about' any folly coming its way, as the
woodbine or ivy goeth about the tree. ^
I adore and kiss the providence of my Lord, who knoweth well
what is most expedient for me, and for you, and your children :
and I think of you, as of myself, that the Lord, who turneth about,
in his deep wisdom, all the wheels and turnings of such changes,
will also dispose of that for the best to you and yours. In the pres-
ence of my Lord, I am not able, howbeit I would, to conceive
amiss of you in that matter. Grace, grace forever upon you and
your seed ; and it shall be your portipn, in despite of all the powers
of darkness : do not make more question of this. But the Lord
saw a nail in my heart loose, and he hath now fastened it — honor
bo I o his Majesty.
I hear that your son is entered to the school. If I had known
of the day, I would have begged from our Lord, that he would
liave put the book in bis hand, with his own hand. I trust in
my Lord it is so, and I conceive a hope to see him a star to
give light in some room* of our Lord's house; and purpose, by
Uie Lord's grace, as I am able, (if our Lord call you to rest be-
fore me,) when vou are at your home, to do the uttermost of my
power to help him every way, in grace and learning, and his
brother, and all your children — and I hope that ye would expect
that of me.
Further, ye shall know that Mr. William Dalgleish is come
home; who saith it is a miracle that your husband, in this pro-
cess before the Council, escaped both discredit and damage. Let
it not be forgotten that he was, in our apprehension, to our grief,
cast down and humbled in the Lord's work, in that nuitter betwixt
him and the baiUie;* now the Lord hath honored bim, and m^e
him laraous for virtue, honesty, and integrity, two several times,
1 Qtwmp. * Clasping aboot
* A nwigiitrate in a Scottbh boroagh, iimilar to an aklennaD ui England
5
66 Rutherford's letters.
before the nobles of ihis kingdom. Tour Lord liveth; we wiD
go to hU tlirone of grace again ; his arm is not shortened.
The King is certainly expected. Ill is feared. We have cause,
for our sins, to fear (hat the Bridegroom shall be taken from us ;
by our sins, we have rent his fair garments, and we have stirred
up and awakened our Beloved. Pray him to tarry, or then' to take
us with him. It were good that we should knock and rap at the
Lord's door : we may not tire to knock oftener than twice or thrice
— ^he knoweth the knock of his friends.
I am still what I was ever to your dear children, tendering
their souls' happiness, and praying that grace, grace, grace, mercy
and peace from God, even God our Father, and our Lord Jesus,
may be their portion ; and that now, while they are green and
young, their hearts may take band* with Jesus, the Comer-stone,
and win* once in, into our Lord and Saviour's house, and then
they will not get leave to flit
Pray for me, and especially for humility and thankfulness. I
have always remembrance of you and your husband, and deai
children. The Lord, Jesus, be with your spirit
Yours evermore, in my dear Lord Jesus, and yours, S. R.
Anwotb.
LETTER XXra.
TO MARION MACKNAUGHT.
Well-belovbd, and Dear Sister, — My love in Christ re-
membered — God hath brought me home from a place, where I
have been exercised with great heaviness ; and I nave found at
home a new matter of heaviness, yet dare not but in all things
give thanks.
In my business in Edinburgh, I have not sinned, nor wronged
my party; by his own confession, and by the confession of nk
friends. I have given of my goods for peace, and the saving of
my Lord's truth mm reproaches, which is dearer to me than all I
have. My mother is weak, and I think shall leave me alone ; but
I am not alone, because Christ's Father is with me.
For your business anent* your town, I see great evidences ; but
Satan and his instruments are against it, and few set their should*
ers to Christ's shoulder to help him. But he will do all bis lone ;*
and I dare not but exhort you to believe, and persuade you, that
the hungry in your city shall be fed ; and as for the rest, that
want a stomach, the parings of God's loaf will suffice them — and,
therefore, believe it snail l^ well. I may not leave m^ mother
to come and confer with you of all particulars : I have given such
1 Otherwiae.
• TV teib band, U UDito. Lime U ttid to Uke band with the iloBet in a baildinf
when it onitcs with them.
» Get « ConoenOng. • By I^^bmIT dfloe.
67
diretUonfl to our dear friend as I can, but the event is in our
Lord's hand.
God's Zion abroad flourisheth ; and his arm is not shortened
with us, if we could believe. There is a scarcity and famine of
the word of Grod, in Edinburgh. «
Your sister Jean laboreth mightily in our business ; but hath
not as yet gotten an answer from J. P. Mr. A. C. will' work what
he can. My Lady saith she can do little, and that it suiteth not
her nor her husband well to speak in such an afiair. I told her
my mind plainly.
I long to know of your estate. Remember me heartily to your
dear husband : grace be the portion of your bairns. I know that
Jou are mindful of the green wound of our sister kirk in Ireland,
lid our Lord lay a plaister to it ; be hath good skill to do so, and
■et others to work.
Grace, grace, upon your soul and body, and all yours.
Yours, in Christ, S. R.
AawtCh.
LETTER XXIV.
TO MT LADT KENMURB.
Madam, — ^The cause of my not writing to your Ladyship, is
not my forgetfulness of you, but the want of the opportunity of a
convenient bearer; for I am under more than a simple obligation
to be kind (on paper at least) to your Ladvship.
I bless our Lord, through Christ, who hath brought you home
again to your country, from that place, where ye have seen with
your eyes that which our Lord's truth taught you before, to wit,
that worldly glory is nothing but a vapor, a shadow, the foam of
the water, or something less and lighter, — even nothing ; and that
our Lord hath not without cause said in his word, (l Cor. vii. 31,)
" The 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-fflass of Adam's sons. Some come to the glass,
and see in it the picture of honor, and but a picture indeed, for
true hoiv>r is to be great in the sifht of God ; and others see in it
the shadow of riches, and but a shadow indeed, for durable riches
stand, as one of the maids of Wisdom, upon her left hand, (Prov.
liL 16 ;) and a third sort see in it the face of painted pleasures, and
the beholders will not believe, but the image whicn thev see 'in
this glass is a living man, till the Lord come and break the glass
in pieces, and remove the face ; and then, like Pharaoh awakened,
they say, "And, behold^ it was a dream."
1 know that your Ladvship thinketh yourself little in the com-
mon o< - this world, fcr the favorable aspect of any of these tbret
1 Uiide obligatiMi to.
68 Rutherford's letters.
painted faces ; and blessed be our Lord that it is so ; the heUer
for you, madam ; they are not worthy to be wooers to suit * in
marriage your soul, — that looketh to an higher match than to be
married upon painted clay. Know, therefore, madam, thai the
place whitner our Lord Jesus cometh to woo a bride, it is even ic
the furnace: for if ye' be one of Zion's daughters, (which I ever
Eut beyond all question, since I first had occasion to see in your
ladyship such pregnant evidences of the grace of God,) the Lord,
who hath his fire in Zion, and his furnace in Jerusalem, (Isa. xxxL
9,) is purifying you in the furnace. And, therefore, be content to
live in it ; and every day to be adding and sewing a passment' to
your wedding garment, that ye may be at last decored' and trim-
med 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 beaiUy, f Psalm xlv. IL)
If your Ladyship be not changed, as I nope that ye are not, I
believe that ye esteem yourself to be of those whom God hath
tried these many years, and refined as silver. But, madam, I
shall show your Ladyship a privilege that others want, and which
ye have, in this case. Such as are in prosperity, and are fatted
with earthly joys, and increased with children and 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, and whom he
hath exercised otherwise, there are some chapters, some particular
promises in the word of God, made in a most especial manner,
which should never have been yours, so as they now arc, if >e
had had your portion in this life as others have: and, therefore,
all the comforts, promises, and mercies, which God offereth to the
afilicted, are as so many love-letters written to you : take them to
you, madam, and claim your right, and 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
than pitied ; and ye are, indeed, in this, like people of another
world, and those that are above the ordinary rank of mankind,
whom our King and Lord, our Bridegroom, Jesus, in his love-let-
ter to his well-beloved Spouse, hath named, beside all the rest, and
hath written comforts and his hearty commendations, in the iVi.
of Isa., ver. 4, 5, and Ps. cxlvii. 2, 3, to you. Read these, and the
like, and think that your God is like a friend, who sendeth a letter
to a whole house and family, but speaketh in his letter to some,
by name, that are dearest to him in the house^ye arc then,
madam, of the dearest friends of the Bridegroom. Ii it were law-
ful, I would envy you, that God honored you so above many of
his dear children. Therefore, madam, your part is, in this case,
(seeing God taketh nothing from you but that which he is to sup-
ply with his own presence,) to desire your Lord to know his own
^ To urge a mit
* An ornannent PatnunU are ■tript of lace tewed upon clothea.
* Deooc^ted. « Decking.
Rutherford's letters. 69
room, and to take it even upon him to come in, in the room of
dead children. " Jehovah, know thy own place, and take it to
thee !" is all ye have to say.
Madam, I persuade myself, that this world is to you an unco'
inn: and that ye are like a traveller, who hath his bundle upon
his back, and his staff in his hand, and his feet upon the door-
threshoid. Go forward, honorable and elect Lady, in the strength
of your Lord, (let the world bide at home and keep the house,)
with your face toward him, who longeth more for a sight of you
than ye can do 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 do here? this is not your
mountain of rest. Arise then, and set your foot up the mountain ;
!^o up out of the wilderness leaning upon the shoulder of your Be-
oved, (Cant. viii. 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, and wipe all
tears from your eyes ; and I trow that then ye shall have some
joy of heart
Madam, paper willeth me to end, before affection. Remember
the estate of Zion. Pray that Jerusalem may be, as Zechariah
prophesied, (chap. xii. 3,) a burdensome stone for all ; that who-
soever boweth down to roll the stone out of the way, may hurt
aod break the joints of their back, and strain' their arms, and dis-
joint their shoulder-blades : and pray Jehovah, that the stone may
ue still in its own place, and keep band* with the Corner-stone.
I hope it will be so ; He is a skilled master-builder who laid it. I
should, madam, under ^reat heaviness, be refreshed with two lines
from your Ladyship, which I refer to your own wisdom.
Madam, I should seem undutiful not to show you, that great
solicitation is made by the town of Kirkcudbright to have the use
of my poor labors amongst them. If the Lord will call, and his
people cry, who am I to resist? But, without his seen calling,
and till the flock, whom I now oversee, be planted with one to
whom I dare intrust Christ's Spouse, gold nor silver, nor favor of
men, I hope, shall loose me.
I leave your Lad3'ship, praving more earnestly for grace and
mercy to be with you, and multiplied upon you, here and here-
after, than my pen can express.
The Lord Jesus be with your spirit.
Your Ladyship's, at all obedience in the Lord, S. R.
Cfkeodbrifht.
I strange. t Sprafai. > Contmso niiittd
▼0
LETTER XXV.
TO MT LADT KBNMURE.
Madam, — Having saluted you with grace and mercy from
God, our Father, and from our Lord, Jesus Christ — I long both to
see your Ladyship, and to hear how it goeth with you.
I do remember you, and present you and your necessities to
Him, who is able to keep you, and to present you blameless before
his face with joy : and my prayer to our Lord is, that ye may be
sick of love for Him, who died of love for you, I mean your Sa-
viour, Jesus : — And, oh ! sweet were that sickness, to be soul-sick
for him ! and a living death it were to^lie in the fire of the love of
that Soul-lover, Jesus ! And, madam, if ye love him, ye will keep
his commandments ; and this is not one of the least, to lay your
neck cheerfully and willingly under the yoke of Jesus Christ : for
I trust that your Ladyship did first contract and bargain with the
Son of God, to follow him upon these terms, that by his grace ye
should endure hardship, and suffer afiliction as the soldier of
Christ. They are not worthy of Jesus, who will not take a blow
for their Master's sake. As for our glorious Peace-maker, when
he came to make up the friendship betwixt God and us, God
bruised him, and struck him, the sinful world, also, did beat him,
and crucify him ; yet he took buffets of both the parties : and —
honor to our Lord, Jesus ! — he would not leave tne field for all
that, till he had made peace betwixt the parties. I persuade ray-
self that your sufferings are but like your Saviour's, (yea, incom-
[>arably less and lighter,) which are called but a bruising of his
leel, (Gen. iii. 15,) a wound far from the heart. Your life is hid
I with uhrist, in God,' (Col. iii. 3,) and, therefore, ye cannot be rob-
bed of it. Our Lord handleth us as fathers do their young chil-
dren. They lay up jewels in a plac^ above the reach of the short
arms of bairns, else bairns would put up their hands, and take
them down, and lose them soon. So hatn our Lord done with our
spiritual life. Jesus Christ is the high coffer, in the which our
Lord hath hid our life ; we, children, are not able to reach up our
arm so high as to take down that life and lose it; it is in our
Christ's hand. Oh long, long may Jesus be lord-keeper of our
life ! and happy are they that can, with the Apostle, (2 Tim. i.)
lay their soul m pawn in the hand of Jesus ; for tie is able to keep
that which is committed in pawn to him aeainst that day. Then,
madam, so long as this life is not hurt, all other troubles are but
touches in the beel. I trust that ye shall soon be cured.
Ye know, madam, that kings have some servants in their courts
who receive not present wages in their hand, but live upon their
hopes : the King of kings, also, hath servants in his court, that,
for the present, get little or nothing, but the heavy cross of Christ,
troubles without, and terrors within ; but they ive upon hope, apd
RirTHERPORO's LETTERS. 71
vben it comexa to the parting of the inheritance, they remain in
the house as heirs : it is better to be so than to get present pay-
ment, and a portion in this life, an inheritance in this world, TGod
forgive me, that I should honor it with the name of an iuneri-
tance, it is rather a farm-room,*) and then in the end to be casten*
out of God's house, with this word, "Ye have received your con-
eolation, ye shall get no more." Alas ! what get they? The rich
glutton's heaven. Oh, but our Lord, (Luke xvi.) maketh it a silly"
heaven ! He fared well, (saith our Lord,J and delicately every
day. Oh, no more? a silly heaven ! Truly no more, except that
he was clothed in purple, and that is all. I persuade myself, ma-
dam, that ye have joy when ye think that our Lord hath dealt
more graciously with vour soul. Ye have gotten little in this life,
it is true, indeed : ye have, then, the more to crave ; yea, ye have
all to crave ; for, except socfte tastings of the first fruits, and some
kisses of His mouth, whom your soul loveth, ye get no more. But
I cannot tell you what is to come ; yet I may speak as our Lord
doth of it. The foundation of the Citjr is pure gold, clear as crys-
tal : the twelve ports are set with precious stones : if orchards and
rivers commend a soil upon earth, there is a paradise there,
wherein groweth the Tree of Life that beareth twelve manner of
fruits every month, which is seven-score and four harvests in the
year: and there is there a pure river of water of life, proceeding
out of the throne of God and of the Lamb: and the city hath no
need of the light of the sun, or moon, or of a candle ; for the Lord
God Almighty and the Lamb are the light thereof. Madam, be-
lieve and hope for this, till ye see and enjoy. Jesus is saying in
the Gospel, " Come and see ; and he is come down in the chariot
of truth, wherein he rideth through the world, to conauer men*:*
souls, (Ps. xlv. 4,) and is now in the world, saying, " Who will go
with me? Will ye go? My F'ather will make you welcome, and
give you house-room ; for in my Father's house are many dwell-
mg-places." Madam, consent to go with him.
Thus I rest, commending you to God's dearest mercy.
Yours, in the Lord Jesus, S. R.
AnwoUi.
LETTER XXVL
TO MY LADY KENMURB.
Madam, — I am afraid now, (as many others are,) that at the
sitting down of our Parliament, the Spouse of our Lord Jesus shall
be roughly handled ; and it must be so, since false and declining
Scotland, whom our Lord took off the dunghill, and out of hell,
and made a fair bride to himself, hath 'broken her faith to her
sweet Husband, and hath put on the forehead of a whore ; and,
» A raHad f^om. « CuL • Poor, contempUble.
72
therefore, he saith that he will remove. Would to God, we could stir
up ourselves to lay hold upon Him, who, being highly provoked with
the handling he hath met with, is ready to depart ! Alas, we do
not importune him, by prayer and supplication, to abide amongst
us ! If we could but weep upon him, and, in the holy pertinacy ^
of faith, wrestle with him, and say, " We will not let thee go ;" it
might be that then He, who is easy to be entreated, would yet,
notwithstanding our high provocations, condescend to stay, and
feed among the lilies, tiU that fair and desirable day break, and
the shadows flee away. Ah ! what cause of mourning is there,
when our gold is become dim, and the visage of our Nazarites,
Eometimes^ whiter than snow, is become blacker than a coal ; and
Levi's house, once comparable to fine gold, is now changed, and
become like vessels in which he hath no pleasure ! Madam, think
upon this, that when our Loi*d, who hath his handkerchief to
wipe the face of the mourners in Zion, shall come to wipe away
all tears from their eyes, he may wipe yours also, in passing,
amongst others. I am confident, madam, that our Lord will yet
build a new house to himself of our rejected and scattered stones ;
for our Bridegroom cannot want a wife. Can he live a widower ?
Nay he will embrace both us, the Little young Sister, and the
Elder Sister, the Church of the Jews; and there will yet be a day
of it : and, therefore, we have cause to rejoice, yea, to sing and
shout for joy. The Church hath been, since the world began,
ever hanging by a small thread, and all the hands of Hell and of
**he wicked have been drawing at the thread ; but, God be thanked,
they, only break their arms by pulling, but the thread is not broken,
for the sweet fingers of Christ our Lord have spun and twisted it.
-Lord, hold the thread whole !
Madam, stir up your husband, to lay hold upon the covenant,
and to do good. What hath he to do with the world ? It is not
his inheritance : desire him to make home-over,» and put-to his
hand to lay one stone or two upon the wall of God's house, before
he go hence. I have heard also, madam, that your child is re-
moved ; but to have or want is best, as He pleaseth. Whether
she be with you, or in God's keeping, think it all one ; nay, think
it the better of the two by far, that she is with him. I Xrust in
ourvLord, that there is^omething laid up and kept for you ; for
our kind Lord, who hath wounded you, will not be so cruel, as
not to allay the pain of your green wound ; and, therefore, claim
Christ still as your own, and own him as your One thing.
So resting, I commend your Ladyship, your soul and spirit, in
pawn to Him, who keepeth his Father's pawns, and will make an
account of them faithfully, even to that Fairest amongst the sons
of men, our sweet Lord, Jesus, the fairest, the sweetest, the most
delicious Rose in all his Father's great field. The smell of that
Rose perfume your soul !
Your Ladyship's, in his sweetest Lord, Jesus, S. R.
Anwoih, April 1, 1G33.
1 Peitiaacity. * Ponnerlj > HomewardB.
Rutherford's letters. 73
LETTER XXVII.
lOR MARION MACKNAUGHT.
Dear Sister, — I loiiged much to have conferred with you at
this tinie. I am grieved at anything in your house that grieveth
yoiu and shall, by my Lord's grace, suit * my Lord to help you to
bear your burden, and to conra in behind you, and give you and
your burdens a putt* up the mountain. Know you not that Christ
wooeth his wife in the furnace, (Isa. xlviii. 10,) " Behold, I have
refined thee, but not with silver ; I have chosen thee in the fur-
nace of affliction. He casteth his love on you when ye are in the
furnace of affliction : ye might, indeed, be casten down, if he
brought you in and left you there; but when he leadeth you
through the waters, think ye not that he has a sweet soft hand?
You know his love grip • already : you shall be delivered; wait
on : Jesus will make a road, and come and fetch home the cap-
tive : ye shall not die in prison, but your strokes are such as were
your Husband's, who was wounded in the house of his friends —
strokes were not ne wings* to him, and neither are they to you.
But your winler-night is near spent; it is near-hand' the dawn-
ing. I shall see you leap for joy. The Kifk shall be delivered ;
this wilderness snail bud and grow up like a rose ; Christ got a
charter of Scotland from his Father, and who will bereave him of
his heritage, or put our Redeemer out of his mailing,* until his
tack^ be run out?
I must have you praying for me; I am black-shamed* for ever-
more with Christ's goodness; and in private, on the 17lh and 18th
of August, I got a full answer of my Lord, to be a graced minister,
and a chosen arrow hidden in his own quiver. But know that
this assurance is not kept but by watching and prayer; and,
therefore, dear mistress, help me. I have gotten now — honor to
my Lord ! — the gate* to open the slot,'* and shute'^ the bar of his
door; and I think it easy to get anything from the King by
Erayer, and to use holy violence with him. Christ was in Carsp-
airn Kirk, and opened the people's hearts wonderfully : Jesus is
looking up that water, >' and minting ** to dwell amongst them. I
would that we could give him his welcome-home to the Muirs.**
Now peace and grace be upon you, and all vours.
Yours, in Christ, S. R.
Anwoth, AogaM 20, 1633.
«
■ Urge. * A ftrong push. * Grasp.
« NorehiM. • Near. • Farm.
7 LeaM. ' • Utterly adiamed. • Waj.
^ A bar running firom one side of a door to the other, and let, at both endr, into
the wall 1' Push aikle. >• River.
tt tfrtn«Mitf'»g bj ngna, an intentioa. M A diatast of healthy nplanda.
74 RUTBSRFORD'fl LSTTBB8.
LETTER XXVIII.
TO MT LADT KBNMURB.
Madam, — I determined, and was desirous, also, to have seen
your Ladyship, but, because of a pain in my arm, I coild not. I
know that ye will not impute it to any unsuitable forgetfulnws of
your Ladyship, from whom, at my first entry to my calling in this
country, and since also, I received such comfort in my affliction as
I trust in God never to forget, and shall labor, by his grace, to
recompense in the only way possible to me, and that is, by pre-
senting your soul, person, house, and all your necessities, in
prayer to Him, whose I hope you are, and who is able to keep you
till that day of appearance, and to present you before his face with
joy-
I am confident that your Ladyship is going forward in the be-
^un journey to your Lord and Father's home and Kingdom;
howbeit, ye want not temptations within and without. And who,
among the saints, hath ever taken that castle without stroke of
sword? the Chief of the house, our Elder Brother, our Lord Jesus,
not being excepted, who won his own house at home, due to him
by birth, with much blood and many blows. Your Ladyship hath
the more need to look to yourself, because our Lord hath placed
you higher than the rest, and your way to Heaven lieth through
a more wild and waste wilderness than the way of many of your
fellow-travellers, not only through the midst pf this wood of thorns,
the cumbersome world, but also through these dangerous paths,
the vain-glory of it — the consideration whereof hath often moved
me to pity your soul, and the soul of your worthy and noble hus-
band. And it is more to you to win* Heaven, being ships of greater
burden, and in the main sea, than for little vessels, that are not
so much in the mercy and reverence of the storms, because they
may come quietly to their port by launching along the coast ; for
the which cause ye do much, if, in the midst of such a tumult of
business and crowd of temptations, ye shall give Christ Jesus his
own court,* and his own due place in your soul. I know and am
Eersuaded that that lovely One, Jesus, is dearer to you than many
ingdoms ; and that ye esteeip him your Well-beloved, and the
Standard-bearer among ten thousand. (Cant. v. 10.) And it be-
cometh him full well to take the place, and the board-head in your
soul, before all the world. I knew and saw him with you in the
furnace of affliction — for there he wooed you to himself, and chose
ou to be his ; and now he craveth no other hire of you but your
ove, and that he get no cause to he jealous of you. And, there-
fore, dear and worthy Lady, be like to the fresh river, that keepeth
its own fresh taste m the salt sea. This world is not worthy of
your soul; give it not a good-day, when Christ cometh into
1 Reach. * InHaence.
Ic
Rutherford's lbttbrs. 75
eompetitioii with it Be like one of another country. Home ! and
stay, not; for the sun is fallen low, and nigh the tops of the moun-
tains, and the shadows are stretched out in great length. Linger
not by the way. The world and sin would train you on, and
make you turn aside : leave not the way for them, — and the Lord
Jesus be at the voyage !
Madam, many eyes are upon you, and many would be glad that
your Ladyship should spill ^ a Christian, and mar a good professor.
Lord Jesus, mar their godless desires, and keep the conscience
whole without a crack I If there be a hole in it, so that it take
in water at a leek,' it will with difficulty mend again. It is a
dainty delicate creature, and a rare piece of the workmanship of
your Maker ; and, therefore, deal gently with it, and keep it en-
tire, that, amidst this world's glory, your Ladyship may learn
to entertain Christ; and that wnatsoever creature your Ladyship
findeth not to smell of him may have no better relish to you
than the while of an egg.
Madam, it is a part of the truth of your profession to ^rop
words into the ears of your noble husband continually of eternity,
judgment, death, Hell, Heaven, the honorable profession, the sins
of nis father's house. He must reckon with God for his father's
debt ; forgetting of accounts payeth not debt ; nay, the interest
of a foi^otten bond runneth up with God to interest upon in-
terest. I know that he looketh nomeward, and loveth the truth ;
but I pity him with my soul, because of his many temptations. Sa-
tan layeth upon men a burden of cares above a load, and maketh
a pack-horse of -men's souls, when they are wholly set upon this
world. We owe the Devil no such service. It were wisdom to
throw off that load into a mire, and cast all our cares over upon
God.
Madam, think that ye have no child. Subscribe a bond to
your Lord, that she shall be his, if he take her ; and thanks,
and praise, and glory to his holy name shall be the interest for
a year's loan of her. Look for crosses ; and, while it is fair
weather, mend the sails of the ship.
Now, hoping that your Ladyship will pardon my tediousness,
I commend your soul and person to the grace and mercy of our
iweet Lord, Jesus, in whom I am
Your Ladyship's, at all dutiful obedience in Christ, S. R.
AAwolh, Nor 15, 1633.
LETTER XXIX.
TO MT LADT KBNMURB.
Madam, — Having received a letter from some of the worthiest
of the ministry in this kingdom, the contents whereof I am de-
SpoU. * Leak.
76 rittherpord's letters.
•ired to communicate to such professors, in these parts, as, I
know, love the beauty of Zion, and are afflicted to see the Lord's
vineyard trodden under foot by the wild boars out of the wood,
which lay it waste, I could not but also desire your Ladyship's
help to join with the rest, desiring you to impart it to my Lord,
your husband ; and, if ye think it needful, I shall write to hU
Lordship, as Mr. G. G. shall advertise me.
Know, therefore, that the best affected of the ministry have
thought it convenient and necessary, at such a time as this, that
all who love the truth should join their prayers together, and cry
to God with humiliation andf fasting. The times, which are
agreed upon, are the first two sabbaths of February next, and
the six days intervening betwixt these sabbaths, as they may
conveniently be had, and the first sabbath of every quarter : — and
the causes, as they are written to me, are these —
I. Besides the distresses of the reformed churches abroad, the
many reigning sins of unclea^ness, ungodliness, and unrighteous-
ness in this land : the present judgments on the land, and many
more hanging over us, whereot few are sensible, or yet know the
right and true cause of them.
IL The lamentable and pitiful estate of a glorious Church, (in so
short a time, and against so many bonds,) in doctrine, sacrament,
and discipline, so sore persecuted, in the persons of faithful pas-
tors and professors, and the door of God's house kept so strait by
bastard porters, in so much that worthy instruments, able for the
work, are held at the door: thel*ulers having turned over religion
into policy, and the multitude ready to receive any religion that
shall be enjoined by authority.
in. In our humiliation, besides that we are under a necessity
of deprecating God's wrath, and vowing to God sincerely new
obedience, the weakness, coldness, silence, and lukewarmness of
some of the best of the ministry, and the deadness of professors,
who have suffered the truth both secretly to be stolen away, and
openly to be plucked from us, should be confessed.
lY. Atheism, idolatry, profanity, and vanity should be confessed;
our King's heart, recommended to God ; and God entreated that
he would stir up the nobles, and the people to turn from their evil
ways.
Thus, madam, hoping that your Ladyship will join with others,
that such a work be not slighted at such a necessary time, when
our Kirk is at the overturning, I shall promise to myself your
help, as the Lord, in secrecy and prudence will enable you, that
your Ladyship may rejoice with the Lord's people when de-
liverance shall come; for true and sincere humiliation cometh
always speed' with God : — and when authority. King, court, and
churchmen oppose the truth, what other armor have we than
prayer and faith? whereby, if we wrestle with him, there is ground
to hope that those who would remove the burdensome Stone out
I ItfoeoeMftiL
Rutherford's letters. 77
of iu place, shall but hurt their back, and the Stoae i^hah not be
moved, at least, not removed, (Zech. xii. 3.)
Grace, grace be with you from Him, who hath called you to the
inheritance of the saints io lighL
Your Ladyship's,
At all submissive obedience in his sweet Lord, Jesus, S. E.
AawoCh, Jab. 93, 1634.
LETTER yXX.
FOR MARION M3CKNAUOHT.
Mistress, — My love in Christ icmembered — I am in oa(y, /.hd
fear for this work of our Lord'c, now near approaching, because
of the danger of the time, and 1 dare not for my soiii oe silent
lo see my Lord's house burning and not cry, "Fire i lire !'! there-
fore, seek from our Lord wisdom spiritual, and not black policy,
to speak with liberty our Lord's truth. I am caFt down, ana
would fain have access and presence to the K\l/j that day, even
howbeit I should break up iron doors. I belitve that you will
not forget me ; and you will desire Jean Browa, Thomas Carson,
and Marion Carson, to help me. Pray for w<*ii-cooked meat, and
a heartsome* Saviour, with joy crying, " Wr.joome, in my Father's
name !"
I am confident that Zion shall be wc)\ : the bush shall burn
and not consume, for the good-will of liim that dwelleth in the
bush. But the Lord is making on a (iie* in Jerusalem, and pur-
poseth to blow the bellows, and to meic the tin and brass, and to
bring out a fair beautiful bride of the furnace, that will be married
over again upon the new Husband, aad sing as in the days of her
fouth, when the contract of marriage is written over again. But
fear that the Bride be hidden for a time from the Dragon, that
pursueth the woman with child ; but what, howbeit wego hirk in
the wilderness for a time? for the Lord will take his Kirk to the
wilderness and speak to her heart.
Nothing casteth me down, but only that I fear the Lord >vill
cast down the shepherds' tents, and feed his own in a secret place ;
buj let us, however matters frame, cast over the affairs of the
Bride upon the Bridegroom ; the government is upon his shoulders,
and he dow» bear us all well enough. That fallen star, the Prince
of the Bottomless Pit, knoweth it is near the time when he shall
be tormented; and now in his evening he hath gathered his
armies to win one battle or two, in the edge of the evening « at the
sun's going down. And when our Lord has been watering his
vinevards in France, and Gennany, and Bohemia, how can we
think ourselves Christ's Sister, if we be not like him, and our other
> CheerftiL * TV mak* on ajtr€, pot the fbel in onlef.
i Is able. « Twilight.
T8 RUTHEAFORO^S LBTTER8.
great Histers ? I cannoC but tliink, seeing the ends of the earth are
given to Christ, Ps. iL 8, and Scotland is the end of the earth,
{atkd so we are in Christ's charter-tailzie/) that our Lord «rill keep
his possession. We fall by promise and law to Christ: he wan us
with the sweat of his brows, (if I may say so,) his Father promised
him his life-rent of Scotland. Glory, glory to our King; kmg'
may he wear his Crown! O Lord, let us never see another
King!' Oh, let him come down like rain upon the new-mown
grass!
I had you in remembrance on Saturday last, in the morning, in
a great measure, and was brought thrice on end, in remembrance
of you in my prayer to God.
Grace, grace be your portion.
Yours, m hb sweet Lord, Jesus, S. R.
Anwoth, Maich S, 1634.
LETTER XXXL
FOR MARION MACK.NAUOHT.
Mistress, — My love in Christ remembered — please vou to un-
derstand that, to nay grief, our communion is delayed till Sabbath
come eight days ; for the Laird and Lady have earnestly desired
me to delay it, because the Laird is sick, and he feareth he be not
able to travel, because he hath lately taken physic. The Lord
bless that work. Commend it to God, as you love me : for I love
not Satan's thorns cast in the Lord's way. The Lord rebuke him.
I trust in God's mercv that Satan has gotten but a delay, but no
free discharge that his Kingdom shall not be hurt Commend the
Laird to your God. I pray you to advertise your people, that they
be not disappointed in coming hither. Show such of them as you
love in Christ, from me, that Jesus Christ will be welcoraer when
he cometh, in that he has sharpened their desires for eight days'
space. Your daughter is well, I hope, every way. Forget not
God's Kirk; they are but bastards, and not sons and daughters,
that mourn not for Zion. Lord, hear us !
No further. Jesus Christ be with your spirit I shall remem-
ber you, and your new house.
Lord Jesus, go from the one house to the other !
Yours, at all power in the Lord, S. R.
Anwoth.
> Charier of entail.
t That if, in apiritiial mattera, ftr Rntherftud, M appean (torn thaae Leitafa, waa a
lat loyal askyect to hia eaith/r kiaf*
Rutherford's letters. 79
LETTER XXXII.
FOR .MARION MACKNAUOI T.
Wkll-beloved Sister, — My old and d^are.H love in CLrist
remembered — Know that I have been visiting my Lady Kenmure.
Her child is with the Lord. I entreat you to visit her, and desire
the Good-wife ' of Barcapple to visit her, and Knockbrex, if you
see him in the town. My Lord, her husband, is absent, and I
think that she will be heavy.
You know what Mr. W. Dalgleish and I desired you to deal for,
at mv Lord Kirkcudbright's hand. Send me word if you obtained
anything at my Lord's hands, anent the giving up of our names to
the Hira Commission ; for I hear it is not for nothing that the
Bishop hath taken that course. Our Lord knoweth best what is
S^ood for an old Kirk, that is fallen from her first love, and hath
orgotten her Husband, days without number. A trial is like to
come on ; but I am sure, that our Husbandman, Christ, shall lose
chaff, but no com at all. Yet there is a dry wind coming, but
neither to fan nor to purge. Happy are they who are not blown
away with the chaff: for we shall but suffer temptation for ten
days : but those who are faithful to the death shall receive the
crown of life. I hear daily what hath been spoken of myself most
unjustly and falsely ; and no n^arvel, the Dragon, with the swicg
of his tail, hath made the third part of the stars to fall from Heii-
▼en, and the fallen would have many to fall with them. If ever
Satan was busy, now, when he knoweth that bis time is but
short, he is busy. Yet a little while, and He that shall come, will
come, and will not tarry. I know, that, ere it be long, the Lord
will come, and red all pleas* betwixt us and his enemies. Now,
welcome Lord Jesus, go fast !
Send me word about Grizzel, your daughter, whom I remember
in Christ; and desire her to cast herself into His arms, who was
bom of a woman, and, being the Ancient of davs, was made a
young weeping Child. It was not for nothing that our Brother,
Jesus, was an infant. It was, that he might pity infant believers,
who were to come out of the womb into the world. I believe that
our Lord Jesus will be waiting on with mercy, mercy, mercy to
the end of that battle, and bring her through with life and peace,
and a sign of God's fkvor. I shall expect advertisement from } ou,
and especially if you fear her.
Mistress, you remember that I said to you, anent' your love to
me and my brother, be^un in Christ ; ye know that we are here
but strangers, and you have not yet found us a dry well, as others
* Chod-iman, and g9od-wif€ were tpedet of titles in tbrmer tiniM in Seotland, indi-
■■rin^ that tlie ^cncma thiw deiignated were among the moat respectable of tbtmallef
pfopncton oflajid, or of the yeomanrr, both for wealth and worth.
i Settle an dispotea, by deciding which ^aity is in the wrong. > Tovehing.
8U Rutherford's letters.
have been. Be not overcome of any suspicion ; I trust in God
that the Lord, who knit us together, will keep us together. It is
time now that the lambs of Jesus should all run together, whea
the wolf is barking at them : yet I know, that, ere God's bairns
want a cross, their love amongst themselves shall be a cross ; but
our Lord giveth lovq^for another end. I know that ye will with
love cover infirmities ; and our Lord give you wisdom in all things.
I think love hath broad shoulders, and wUl bear many things, and
yet neither faint, nor sweat, nor fall under the burden.
Commend me to your husband, and dear GrizzeL I think on
her : Lord Jesus be in the furnace with her, and then she shall but
smoke, and not burn. Desire Mr. Robert to excuse mv not seeing
of him at his house ; I have my own reasons therefor.'
Grace, mercy, and peace be to you.
Yours, in bis sweet Lprd, Jesus, S. R.
Anwoth, April 25, 1634.
LETTER XXXIII.
TO MT LADT KENMURB.
Madam, — All submissive and dutiful obedience in our Lord,
Jesus, remembered, — I trust that I need not much entreat your
Ladyship to look to Him, who hath stricken you at this time; but
my duty, in the memory of that comfort which I found in your
Ladyship^s kindness, when I was no less heavy, in a case not un-
like that, speaketh to me, to say something now ; and I wish I
could ease your Ladyship at least with words. I am persuaded
that your Physician will not slay you, but purge you ; and seeing
he calleih himself the Chirurgeon, who maketh the wound and
bindeth it up again, (for to lance a wound is not to kill, but to
cure the patient,) (Deut. xxxii. 39, 1 Sam. v. 6, Job vi. 18, Hos.
vi. 1,) I believe that faith will teach you to kiss a striking Lord,
and so to acknowledge the sovereignty of God, in the death of a
child, to be above the power of us mortal men, who may pluck up
a flower in the bud, and not be blamed for it. If our dear Lord
pluck up one of his roses, and pull down sour and green fruit be-
fore the harvest, who can challenge him : for he sendeth us to his
world, as men to a market, wherein some stay many hours, and
eat and drink, and buy and sell, and pass through the fair, till
they be weary; and such are those who live lon^, and get a
hearty fill of this life : and others again come slippmg in to the
morning market, and do neither sit nor stand, nor buy nor sell,
but look about them a little, and pass presently home again ; and
these are infants and young ones, who end their short market in
the morning, and get but a short view of the fair. Our Lord, who
hath numbered man's months, and set him bounds that he cannot
Rutherford's letters. 8t
pats, ([Job xiv. 5,^ hath written the length of our market ; and it
IS easier to complain of the decree than to change it.
I verily believe, when I write this, that your Lord hath taught
your Ladyship to lay your hand on your mouth : but I shall be
far from desinng your Ladyship or any others to cast by* a cross,
like an old useless bill, that is only for the fire ; but would rather
wish that each cross were looked in the face seven times, and
were read over and over again. It is the messenger of the Lord,
and speaketh something; and the man of understanding will
hear the rod, and Him that hath appointed it. Try what is the
taste of the Lord's cup, and drink with God's blessing, that ye
may grow thereby. I trust in God that whatever speech it utter
to vour soul, this is one word in it, (Job v. 17,) ^'Behold, blessed
is the man whom God correcteth :" and that it saith to you, "Ye
are from home while here : ye are not of this world, as your Re-
deemer, Christ, was not of this world." There is something keep-
ing for you, which is worth the having. All that is here is con-
demned to die, to pass away like a snow-ball before a summer-
sun ; and since death took first possession of yours, it hath been
and daily is creeping nearer and nearer to yourself, howbeit with no
noise of feet. Your Husbandman, and Lord, hath lopped off some
branches already; the tree itself is to be transplanted to the hi^h
garden. — In a good time be it— -our Lord ripen your Ladyship.
All these crosses, (and indeed when I remember them, they are
heavy and many — peace, peace be the end of them !) are to make
you white and ripe for the Lord's harvest hook.' I nave seen the
Lord weaning you from the breasts of this world. It was never
his mind that it should be your patrimony, and God be^ thanked
for that ; ye look the liker one of the heirs. Let the movables
go, — why not? they are not yours, — fasten your grips' upon the
heritage ; and our Lord, Jesus, make the charters sure, — and give
your Ladyship to grow as a palm tree on God's Mount Zion ;
howbeit shaken with winds, yet the root is fast.
This is all I can do, to recommend your case to your Lord, who
hath you written upon the palms of his hands. If I were able to
do more, your Ladyship may believe me, that gladly I would. I
trust shortly to see your Ladyship. Now He, who hath called you,
confirm and establish your heart in grace unto the day of the
liberty of the sons of God.
Your Ladyship's,
At all submissive obedience in his sweet Lord, Jesus, S. R.
Anwoth, Aphl 99, 1634.
t Siekk. • Orhie.
6
82 b^therford's lettrrs.
LETTER XXXIT.
FOR MARION MACKNAUGHT.
Well-beloved Mistress, — My love in Christ remembered —
I hear this day that your town is to choose a commissioner for the
Parliament, and I was written to from Edinburgh, to see that
good men should be chosen in your bounds : and I have heard,
this day, that Robert Glendonnin^, or John Ewart, look to be
chosen. I beseech you to see that this be not. The Lord's cause
craveth other witnesses to speak for him than such men ; and,
therefore, let it not be said tnat Kirkcudbright, which is spoken
of in this kingdom for their religion, hath sent a man to be their
mouth that will speak against Christ. Such a time as this will
not fall out once in half an age. I would entreat your husband
to take it upon him ; it b an honorable and necessary service for
Christ ; and show him that I wrote unto you for that effect. I
fear that William Glendonning hath not skill and authority. I
am in great heaviness. Pray for me ; for we must take our life
in our hand in this ill time. Let us stir up ourselves to lay our
Lord's Bride, and her wrongs, before our Husband and Lord.
Lord Jesus be with your spirit !
Yours, in his sweet Lord, Jesus, S. R.
Anwoth, May 20.
LETTER XXXT.
TO MT LADY KENMURE.
My very Noble and Worthy Lady, — So oft as I call to
mind the comforts that I myself^ a poor friendless stranger, re-
ceived from your Ladyship here in a strange part of the country,
when my Lord took from me the Delight of mine ej'es, as the
word speaketh in Ezek. xxiv. 16, (which wound is not yet fully
healed and cured,) I trust your Lord will remember that, and give
Cii comfort now, at such a time as this, wherein your dearest
rd hath made you a widow, that ye may be a free woman for
Christ, who is now suiting for marriage-love of you ; and, there-
fore, since you lye alone in your bed, let Christ be as a bundle of
myrrh, to sleep and Ive all the night betwixt your breasts, (CanL
i. 13,) and then your bed is better filled than before. And, seeing
that amon|^ all crosses spoken of in our Lord's word, this giveth
you a particular right to make God your Husband, (who was not
so yours while } our husband was alive,) read God's mercy out of
this visitation. And, albeit I must out of some experience say,
that the moumine for the husband of your vouth be, by God'a
own mou'h, the heaviest worldly sorrow, (Joel i. 8,) and, though
rutherford'6 letters. 83
thii oe the wmghtiest burden that ever lay upon your back, yet
ye know when the fields are emptied, and your husband now
asleep in the Lord, if ye will wait upon Him, who hideth his face
for awhile, that it lyeth upon God's honor and truth to fill the field,
and to be a husband to the widow. See, and consider, then, what
ye have lost, and how little it is. Therefore, madam, let me en-
treat you in the bowels of Christ Jesus, and by the comforts of
his Spirit and your appearance before him, let 06d, and men, and
angels, now see what is in you. The Lord hath pierced the
vessel, it will be known whether there be in it wine or water : let
your £aiith and patience be seen, that it may be known that your
only beloved, first and last, hath been Christ : and, therefore, now,
were your whole love upon him, that he alone is a suitable object
for your love and all the affections of your soul. God hath dried
up one channel of your love, by the removal of your husband :
let now that spait' run upon Christ. Your Lord and Lover hath
graciously taken out your husband's name, and your name, out
of the summonses, that are raised at the instance of the terrible
sin-revenging Judge of the world, against the House of Kenmure.
And I dare say that God's hammering of you from your youth,
is only to make you a fair carved stone, in the high upper temple
of the New Jerusalem. Your Lord never thought this world's
vain-painted glory a gift worthy of you ; and, therefore, would not
bestow you, l^cause he is to propine* you with a better portion.
I^et the movables go, the inheritance is yours. Ye are a child
of the house, and Joy is laid up for you. It is long in coming,
but not the worse for that I am now expecting to see, and that
with jov and comfort, that which I hoped of you, since I knew
you fully ; even that ye have laid such strength upon the Holy
One of Israel, that ye defy troubles; and that your soul is a castle
that may be besieged, but cannot be taken. What have you to
do here ? This world never looked like a friend upon you. Ye
owe it little love, it looked ever sour-like upon you ; howbeit ye
should woo it, it will not match with you ; and, therefore, never
seek warm fire under cold ice. This is not a field where your
happiness groweth ; it is up above, where fRev. vii. 9,) there are
a great multitude, which no man can numuer, of all nations, and
kindreds, and pe<^le, and tongues, standing before the throne and
before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their
hands : — ^what ye could never get here, ye shall find there. And
withal consider, how in all these trials (and truly they have been
many) your Lord hath been loosing you at the root from perishing
things, and hunting after you, to grip' your soul. Madam, for
the sake of the Son of God, let him not miss his grip,* but stay
and abide in the love of God, as Jude saith, (verse 21.)
Now, madam, I hope that vour Ladyship will take these lines
in good part ; and wherein I have fallen short and failed to your
Ladyship, in not evidencing what I was obliged to your more than
* Flood. t PreMot • Gsteli. « ^nap.
84 ruthbrfo&d's lbtters.
deserved love and respect, I request a full pardon for iu Again,
my dear and noble Lady, let me beseech you to lift up your head,
for the day of your redemption draweth near; and remember thai
that star which shined in Galloway is now shining in another
world. Now I pray that God may answer his own style to your
soul ; and that ue may be to you the God of all consolations.
Thus I remain your Ladyship's,
At all dutiful obedience in the Lord, S. R.
Anwolh, Sept 14« 1634.
LETTER XXXVL
TO MARION MACKNAUGHT.
Mistress, — My dearest love in Christ remembered — ^I entreat
you to charge your soul to return to rest, and to glorify your
dearest Lord in believing: and know that, for the good-wiU of
Him, that dwelleth in the bush, the burning Kirk shall not be
consumed to ashes : but, f Deut. xxxiii. 16,J " Blessing shall come
on the head of Joseph, ana upon the top or the head of him who
was separated from his brethren." And are not the saints sepa-
rated from their brethren, and sold, and hated ? for, (Gen. xlix. 23A
" The archers have sorely grieved Joseph, and shot at him, and
hated him." (Ver. 24,) " But his bow abode in strength, and the
arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty
God of Jacob : from him is the Shepherd and the Stone of Israel."
The Stone of Israel shall not be broken in pieces. It is hammered
upon by the children of this world, and we shall live, and not die.
Our Lord hath done all this, to see if we will believe, and not give
over ; and I am persuaded that ye must of necessity stick by your
work. The eye of Christ hath been upon all this business ; and
he taketh good heed, too, who is for him and who is against him.
Let us do our part, as we would be approved of Christ. The Son
of God is near to his enemies ; if they were not deaf, they may
hear the din of his feet : and he will come with a start, upon his
weeping bairns, and take them on his knee, and lay their nead in
his bosom, and dry their watery eyes — and this day is fast coming.
Yet a little time, and the vision will speak, it will not tarry, (Habb
ii.) These questions betwixt us and our adversaries shall all be
decided in yonder day, when the Son of God will come and red all
fleas;* ana it shall be seen whether we or they have been for
*hrist, and who have been pleading for Baal. It is not known
what we are now : but when our Life shall appear in glory, then
we shall see who laugheth fastest that day ; therefore, we must
possess our souls in patience, and go into our chamber, and re«4
until the indignation be past. We shall not weep long, when our
liord will take us up in tne day that he gathereth his jewek : anc^
1 8«tUe all di^ntflt, bj deciding whkh pany if In Um wioag .
86
(HaL iii. 16,) " They that feared the Lord spake often one to an-
other; and the Lord hearkened and heard il, and a book of
remembrance was written before him, for them that feared the
Lord, and that thought upon his name."
And 1 shall never be of another faith, than that our Lord is
heating a furnace for the enemies of his Kirk in Scotland. It in
true that the Spouse of Christ hath played the harlot, and hath
left her first Husband ; and the enemies think that they offend
not, for we have sinned against the Lord, but they shall get the
Devil to their thanks. The rod shall be cast into the fire, that we
may sing as in the days of our youth. My dear friend, therefore,
lay down your head upon Christ's breast : weep not, the Lion of
the tribe of Judah will arise. The sun is gone down on the pro-
phets, find our gold is become dim ; and the Lord feedeth his peo-
ple with waters of gall and wormwood ; yet Christ standeth but
behind the wail, his bowels are moved for Scotland : he w^aiteth,
(as Isaiah saith,) that he may show mercy. If we could go home,
and take our brethren with us, weeping with our faces toward
Zion, asking the way thitherward, he would bring back our cap-
tivity. We may not think that God has no care of his own honor,
while men tread it under their feet ; he will clothe himself with
vengeance, as with a cloak, and appear against our enemies for
iKir deliverance. Ye were never yet beguiled, and God will not
aow begin with you. Wrestle still with the Angel of the cove-
nant, and you shall get the blessing : fight, he delighteth to be
overcome by wrestling.
Commend me to Giizzel. Desire her to learn to know the ad-
versaries of the Lord, and to take them as her adversaries ; and to
learn to know the right gate * in to the Son of God ! Oh, but ac-
quaintance with the Son of God, to say, "My Well-beloved is
mine, and I am his," is a sweet and glorious course of life, that
none know but those who are sealed and marked in the forehead
with Christ's mark, and the new name that Christ writeth upon
hw own.
Grace, grace and mercy be with you.
Yours, in Christ, S. R.
ABwoth, Sept 96, 1634.
LETTER XXXVII.
TO MY LADY KBNMURE.
Madam, — ^All dutiful obedience in our Lord remembered — I
know that ye are, now, near one of those straits in which ye have
been before : but, because your outward comforts are fewer, I pray
Him, whose ye are, to supply what ye want, another way. For,
bowbeit we canno* win* to the bottom of His wise providence,
I Wajr. > RMch.
86 Rutherford's letters.
who ruleth all ; yet it is certain that this is not only good, which
the Almighty hath done, but that it is best : and he hath reckooed
all your steps to Heaven ; and if your Ladyship were through this
water, there are the fewer behind ; and, if this were the last, I
hope that your Ladyship hath learned by on-waiting to niake
your acquaintance with death, which, being to the Lord, the wo-
man's Seed, Jesus, only a bloody heel, and not a broken head,
(Gen. iii. 15,) cannot be ill to his friends, who get far less of death
than hin^lf. Therefore, madam, seeing ye know not but that
the journey is ended, and that ye are come to the water-side, in
God's wisdom, look all your papers and your counts, and whether
ye be ready to receive the Kmgdom of Heaven as a little child, in
whom there is little haughtiness, and much humility. I would be
far from discouraging your Ladyship; but there is an absolute ne-
cessity, that, near eternity, we look ere we leap, seeing no man
winneth * back again to mend his leap. I am confident that your
Ladyship thinketh often upon it, and that your old Guide wiU go
before you and take vour hand — his love to you will not grow
sour, nor wear out of aate, as the love of men, which groweth old
and gray-headed often before themselves. Ye have so much the
more reason to love a better life than this, because this world hath
been to you a cold fire, with little heat to the body, and as little
light, and much smoke to hurt the eyes. But, madam, your Lord
would have you thinking it but dry breasts, full of wind, and
empty of food. In this late visitation that hath befallen your La-
dyship, ye have seen God's love and care, in such a measure, that
I thought our Lord brake the sharp point off the cross, and made
us, and your Ladyship see Christ take possession and infeftment
upon earth of Him, wno is now reigning and triumphing with the
hundred and forty and four thousand, who stand with the Lamb
on Mount Zion. I know that the sweetest of it is bitter to you ;
but your Lord will not give you painted crosses. He pareth not
all the bitterness from the cross, neither taketh he the sharp edge
quite from it; then* it should be of your waling* and not of his,
which would have as little reason in it, as it would have profit for
us. Only, madam, Grod commandeth you now to believe, and
cast anchor in the dark night, and climb up the mountain. He
who hath called you, estabUsh you and connrm you to the end.
I had a purpose to have visited your Ladyship; but when I
thought better upon it, the truth is, 1 could not see what my com-
pany could profit you : and this hath broken off my purpose, and
no other thing. I know that many honorable friends and woi.hv
professors will see your Ladyship ; and that the Son of God is > ith
you, to wliose love and mercy, from my soul, I commend j .ur
Ladyship, and remain. Your Ladyship's,
At all dutiful obedience, in his sweet Lor^ Jesus, S. 1
AnwoUi, Not. 39, 1634.
» GktteUi. t For fai Chat iMo. * SeUeCii^t.
butherford's letters. 87
LETTER XXXVm.
TO MT LADY KENMURE.
Madam, — My humble obedience ia the Lord reme.nbered-
know that it hath pleased the Lord to let me see, by all appe&i
ance, my labors, in God's house here, are at an end ; and I mu**
now learn to suflfer, in the which I am a dull scholar. By a Strang*
providence, some of my papers anent the corruptions of lliid time
are come to our King's hand. I know that by the wise aod well-
affected I shall be censured, as not wise nor circumspect enough ;
but it is ordinary that that should be a part of the crosd of tliose
who suffer for Him. Yet I love and pardon the instrument ; I
would commit my life to him, howbeit by him this hath befallen
me — but I look higher than to him.
I make no question of your Ladyship's love and care to do what
ye can for my help ; and I am persuaded that in my adversities
your Ladyship will wish me well. I seek no other thing than that
my Lord may be honored by me in giving a testimony. I was
\rilling to do him more service ; but seeing he will have no more
of my labors, and this Land will thrust me out, 1 pray for grace
to leam to be acquainted with misery, if I may give so rough a
name to such a mark of those who shall be crowned with Christ.
And, howbeit I may possibly prove a faint-hearted, unwise man in
that, yet I dare to say that I intend otherwise : and I desire not to
go on the lee-side, or sunny-side of religion, to put truth betwixt
me and a storm — my Saviour did not so for me, who ia his suffer-
ing took the windy side of the hill.
No further, but the Son of God be with you.
Your Ladyship's in the Lora, Jesus, S. R.
ABwoth, Dee. 5, 1634.
LETTER XXXIX.
FOR MARION MACKNAUOHT.
Well-beloved and Dear Sister, — I know that your heart
b cast down for the desolation like to come upon this Kirk, and
the appearance that a hireling shall be thrust in upon Christ's
flock m that towh— but send a heavy heart up to Christ; it will
be welcome. Those that are with the Beast and the Dragon
must make war with the Lamb : but the Lamb shall overcome
them ; for he is the Lord of lords, and King of kings ; and the^
who are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful, (Rev. xvii.
14.) Our ten days shall have an end ; all the former things will
be forgotten, when we shall be up before the throne. Christ hath
boen ever thus in the world, he nath always the defender's part.
88 ritherford's letters.
and hath been still in the camp, fighting the Church's batileB.
The enemies of the Son of Grod shall be (ed with their own flesh,
and shall drink their own blood : and, therefore, their part of it
shall at last be found hard enough — so that we may look forward
and pity them. Until the number of the elect be fulfilled, Christ's
garments must be rolled in blood ; he cometh from Edom, from the
slaughter of his enemies, (Isa. Ixiii. 1,) clothed with dyed gar-
ments, glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his
strength. " Who is this, (saith he,) that appeareth in this glorious
posture ?'* Our great He,» that He,* who is mighty to save ; whose
glory shineth, while he sprinkleth the blood of his adversaries upoa
his garments, and staineth all his raiment. The glory of his
righteous revenges shineth forth in these stains. But seeing that
our world is not hereaway,* we poor children, far from home, must
steal through many waters, weeping as we go, and withal believ-
ing that we do the Lord's faithfulness no wrong, seeing he hath
said, (Isaiah li. 12,) " I, even I, am he that comforteth you : who
art thou that art afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of
man who shall be made as grass ?" (Isaiah xliii. 2,) " When thou
passest through the waters, I will be with thee ; and through the
rivers, they shall not overflow thee : when thou walkest through
the fire, thou shalt not be burnt, neither shall the flame kindle
upon thee."
There is a cloud gathering, and a storm coming. Thb Land
shall be turned upside down : and, if ever the Lord spake to me —
think on it — Christ's bride shall be glad of a hole to nide her head
in ; and the Dragon may so far prevail as to chase the Woman
and her Man-child over sea. But there shall be a gleaning, two
or three berries left in the top of the olive tree, of which Grod will
say, " Destroy them not, for there is a blessing in them." There-
after there shall be a fair sun-blink* on Christ's old Spouse, and a
clear sky, and she shall sing as in the days of her youth. The
Antichrist and the great red Dragon will lop Christ's branches, and
bring his vine to ^ low stump, under the feet of those who carry
the mark of the beast ; but tne Plant of Renown, the Man, whose
name is the Branch, shall bud forth again and blossom as the
rose, and there shall be fair white flourishes « again, with most
Eleasant fruits upon that Tree of Life. , A fair season may he
ave! Grace, grace be upon that blessed and beautiful Tree!
under whose shadow we shall sit, and his fruit shall be sweet to
our taste. But Christ will woo his handful in the fire, and choose
his own in the furnace of affliction. But, be it so, he dow not,* be
will not slay his children. Love will not let him' make a full end.
The Covenant will cause him to hold his hand. '^ Pear not,
then," saith the First and the Last, He who was dead, and is
alive. We see not Christ sharpening and fui1)ishing his sword
for his enemies ; and, therefore, our faithless hearts say, as Zioo
> He 11 often used in the ScoUiih dialect, af Min k in the Hebrew, as a name of
God. * In thb pfetent lift.
* Sun-gleam. < BIomoom. • Is not able.
Rutherford's letters. 89
did, '' The Lord hath forsaken me." But God reproveth her, and
saith, ^^ Well, well, Zion, is that well said 1 Think again on it ;
ye are in the wrong to me.' (Isaiah xlix. 16,) "Can a woman
forget her sucking child, tha . she should not have compassion on
the fruit of her womb? Yea, she may ; yet will I not forget thee.
(Ver.- 16,) Behdd, I have engraven thee upon the palms of my
bands." Ye break your heart, and grow heavy, and forget that
Christ hath your name engraven on the palms of his hands, in
great letters. In the name of the Son of God, believe that buried
Scotland, dead and buried in her dear Bridegroom, shall rise the
third day again, and there shall be a new growth after the old
timber is cut down.
I commend you, and your burdens, and heavy heart, to the sup-
portings of His grace and ^ood-will, who dwelt in the bush, to Him,
who was separated from his brethren. Try your husband afar off,
to see if he can be induced to think upon going to America.
Oh, to see the sight next to Christ's coming in the clouds, the
most joyful ! our elder brethren, the Jews, and Christ fall upon one
anothePs necks, and kiss each other ! They have been long
asunder, they will be kind to one another when they meet : O
day ! O longed for, and lovely day, dawn ! O sweet Jesus, let me
see that sight that will be as life from the dead, thee and thy an-
cient people in mutual embraces !
Desire your daughter to close with Christ, upon terms of suffer-
ing for him ; for the cross is an old mailing * and plot of ground
that lieth to Christ's house: our dear Chief had always that rent
lying to his inheritance. But tell her, that the day is near the
dawning ; the sky is riving, our Beloved will be on us ere ever
we be aware. The Antichrist, and death and Hell, and Christ's
enemies, and ours, shall be bound, and cast into the Bottomless
Pit.
The Lord Jesus be with your spirit.
Yours, in bis sweet Lord, Jesus, S. R.
Anwoth, April 23, 1635.
LETTER XL.
TO MARION MACKNAUOHT.
Loving and Dbar Sister, — For Zion's sake hold not yotu
peace, neither be discouraged for the on-going of this persecution ;
Jehovah is in this burning bush. The floods may swell and roar,
but our ark shall swim above the water : it cannot sink, because
a Saviour is in it. Because our Beloved was not let in by his
Spouse, when he stood at the door with his wet and frozen bead;
therefore, he will have us to seek him a while ; and, while we are
seeking, the watchmen, that go about the walls, have stricken the
1 Farm.
90 Rutherford's letters.
poor woman, and have taken away her veil from her : but yet a
little while, and our Lord will come again ; Scotland's sky shall
clear again ; her moment must go over. I dare, in faith, say, and
Write — I am not now dreaming — that Christ is but seeking, (what
he will have, and make,^ a clean, glistering bride out of the fire :
God send him his errand ; but he cannot want what he seeketh.
In the mean time, one way or other, he will find, or make a nest
for his mourning dove. What is this that we are doing, breaking
the neck of our faith ? We are not come, as yet, to the mouth of
the Red Sea ; and howbeit we were, for his honor's sake he must
drv it up. It is our part to die gripping* and holding fast his faith-
ful promise. If the Beast should ^et leave to ride through the
land, and to seal such as are his, he will not get one lamb with
him ; for these are secured, and sealed as the servants of God.
In God's name, let Christ take his barn-floor, and all that is in it,
to a hill, and winnow it ; let him sift his corn, and sweep his house,
and seek his gold. The Lord shall cog* the rumbling wheels, or
turn them ; for the remainder of wrath doth he restrain. He can
loose the belt of kings; to God, their belt, wherewith they are girt,
is knit with a single draw-knot.*
As for a pastor to your town, your conscience can bear you
witness that ye have done your part. Let the Master of the
vineyard now see to his garden, seeing ye have gone on till he
hath said "Stand still." The will of the Lord be done. But
a trial is not to give up with God, and believe no more.
I thank my God, in Christ, that I find the force of my tempta-
tion abated, and its edge blunted, since I spoke to you last. I
know not if the tempter be hovering^ until he find the dam
gather again, and me more secure ; but it hath been my burden ;
and I am yet more confident that the Lord will succor and de-
liver.
I intend, God willing, that our communion shall be celebrated
the first sabbath after Pasch ;* our Lord, that great Master of
the feast, send us one hearty and heartsome* supper; for I look
that it shall be the last. But we expect that when the shadows
shall flee away, and the day dawn, and oqr Lord come to his
garden, he will feed us in green pastures without fear ; — the dogs
then shall not be hounded out amongst the sheep. I earnestly
desire your prayers for assistance at our work, and put others
with you to do the same.
Remember me to your husband; and desire your daughter* to
be kind to Christ, and seek to win near him. He will give her
a welcome into his house-of-wine, and bring her into the King's
* Grasping.
s T\t eos^ a wfutl. is to place a stone or a piece of wood wedfewise between it And
t le |pt>un<i, to prevent it iVom moving.
* A slip-knot, which can be loosened bj simpljr polling hj ome of the ends.
« Tarrying.
* Raster, the season of the Paaso%er, from np^ 'lUadb, be passed over.
* Oladsome.
Rutherford's t.ettbrs. 91
diambere. Oh how will the s;ght of his face, and the smell of
his garments allure and ravish her heart !
Now the love of the lovely Son of God be with jrou.
Yours, in his sweet Lord, Jesus, S. &.
Aawolh, 1635.
LETTER XLL
FOR MARION MACKNATTOHT.
Mistress, — My love in Christ remembered — having appointed
a meeting with Mr. David Dickson, and knowing that B. will not
keep the presbytery, I cannot see you now. Commend my journey
to God. My soul blesseth you for your last letter.
Be not discouraged ; Christ will not want the Isles-men ; the Isles
shall wait for his law : we are his inheritance, and he will sell no
part of his inheritance. For the sins of this land, and our breach
of the Covenant, contenifjt of the Gospel, and our defection from
the truth, he hath set up a burning furnace in Mount Zion ; but
I say it, and will abide oy it, "The grass shall yet grow green on
our Mount Zion. There shall be dew all the night upon the lilies,
amongst which Christ feedeth, until the day break ana the shadows
flee away : and the moth shall eat up the enemies of Christ," (Isa.
L 9.) Let them make a fire of their own, and walk in the light
thereof^ it shall not let them see to go to their bed ; but they shall
lye down in sorrow ; therefore, rejoice and believe.
This in haste. Grace, grace be with you and yours.
Yours, in Christ, S. R.
AnwociL
LETTER XLH.
FOR MARION MACKNAUOHT.
LoviNO AND Dear Sister, — I fear that ye be moved and cast
down because of the late wrong, that your husband received in
your town-council. But, I pray you, comfort yourself in the Lord :
for a just cause bideth under the water only as long as wicked men
bold their hand above it; their arm will weary, and then the just
cause shall swim above, and the light that is sown for the right-
eous shall spring and grow up. If ye were not strangers here,
the dogs of the world would not bark at vou, (2 Cor. vi. 8.) Ye
shall see all the windings and 'urnings that are in your way to
Heaven, out of God's word : for he will not lead you to the Kmg-
dom at the nearest; but you must go through ^' honor and dis-
honor, by evil report and good report : as deceivers, and yet true ;
98 KUTHBaFORD's LETTERS.
(ver. 9,) as unkoown, and yet well knowD ; as dyin;, and beliokl
we live ; as chastened, and not killed ; (ver. 10,) as sorrowful, and
yet always rejoicing.'* The world is one of the enemies that we
have to fight with, but a vanquished and overcome enemy, and
like a beaten ana forlorn soldier ; for our Jesus hath taken the
armor from it. Let me then speak to you in his words : *^ Be of
good courage," saith the Captain of our salvation, " for I have
overcome the world." Ye shall neither be free of the scourge of
the tongue, nor of disgraces, even if it were buffeting, and spittings
upon the face, as was our Saviour's case, if ye follow Jesus Christ.
I beseech you, in the bowels of our Lord Jesus, to keep a good
conscience, as I trust ye do. Ye live not upon men's opinion ;
gold may be gold, and have the King's stamp upon it, when it is
trampled upon by men. Happy are ye if, when the woiid tramp-
leth upon you in your credit and good name, yet, ye are the
Lord's gold, stamped with the King of Heaven's image, and sealed
by his Spirit unto the day of your redemption. Pray for the spirit
of love. (1 Cor. xiii. 7,) Love ^'beareth all things, believeth all
things, hopeth all things, and endureth all things."
And I pray you and your husband, yea, I charge you before
God, and the Lord, Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, to pray for
these your adversaries, and read this to your husband from me ;
and let both of you put on, as the' elect of God, bowels of mercies.
And, sister, remember how many thousands of talents of sins
your Master hath forgiven you ; forgive ye, therefore, your fellow-
servants one talent. Follow God's command in this, and seek not
after your own heart, and after your own eyes in this matter, as
the Spirit speaketh, (Numb. xv. 39.^ Ask never the counsel of
your own heart here ; the world will blow up your heart now,
and cause it to swell, except the grace of God cause it to falL
Jesus, even Jesus, the eternal Wisdom of the Father, give you
wisdom. I trust that God shall be glorified in you ; and a door
shall be opened unto you, as the Lord's prisoners of hope, as
Zechariah speaketh. It is a benefit to you that the wicked are
God's fan to purge you ; and I hope that they will blow away no
corn, or spiritual graces, but only your chaflT. I pray you, in your
pursuit, to have so recourse to the law of men, that ye wander not
from the law of God. Be not cast down : if ye saw Him, who is
standing on the shore, holdine out his arms to welcome you to
land, ye would wade, not only through a sea of wrongs, but through
Hell Itself, to be at him ; and I trust in God, that ye see him
sometimes.
The Lord Jesus be with your spirit, and all yours.
Your Brother, in the Lord, S. R.
Anwoth.
buthebfobd's lbttebs. 9S
LETTER XLIII.
FOB MABION MACKNAUGHT.
WoBTHY AND Deab Sisteb, — My dearest love in Christ re-
membered — as to that business, which I know you would so fain
have to take eflfect, my earnest desire is, that you stand still. Haste
not, and you shall see the salvation of God. The great Master-gard-
ener, the Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ, in a wonderful provi-
dence, with his own hand — I dare, if it were to edification, swear
it, — planted me here, where, by his grace, in this part of his Vine-
yard, I g^ow — I dare not say, but Satan and the world (one of his
pages, whom he sendeth bis errands,) have said otherwise — and
nere I will abide, till the great Master of the Vineyard think fit to
transplant me. But when he seetb meet to loose me at the root,
and to plant me where I may be more useful, both as to fruit and
shadow ; and when he who planted puUeth up that he may trans-
plant, who dare put-to their hand and hinder 1 If they do, God
will break their arm at the shoulder-blade, and do his turn. When
our Lord is going west, the Devil and the world go east : and do
you not know, that it hath been ever this way betwixt God and
the world, God drawing and they holding ; God, ^* yea," and the
world, "nay T' — but they fall on their back and are irustrated, and
our Lord holdeth his grip.'
Wherefore doth the word say, that our Christ, the Goodman
of this house, his dear Kirk, hath feet like fine brass, as if they
burned m a furnace? (Rev. i. 15.) For no other cause, but be-
cause where our* Lord setteth down his brazen feet, he will for-
ward ; and whithersoever he looketh, he will follow his look ; and
bis feet burn all under them, like as fire doth stubble and thorns.
I think that he hath now given the world a proof of his exceed-
ing great power, when he is doing such great things, wherein
Zion is concerned, by the sword of the Swedish king,* as of a
Gideon.
As you love the glory of God, pray instantly, yea, enjgage all
your praying acauaintance, and take their faithful promise to do
the like for this king, and every one that Zion's King armeth to
execute the written vengeance on Babylon. Our Lord bath be-
gun to loose some of Babylon's comer stones : pray him to hold
on ; for that city must fall, and the birds of the air and the beasts
of the earth must make a banquet of Babylon : for he hath invi-
ted them to eat the flesh of that whore, and to drink her blood ;
and the cup of the Lord's right-hand shall be turned unto her,
and shameful spuing shall be upon her glory. He, whose word
roust stand, hath said, '^Take this cup at the band of the Lord,
and drink, and be drunken, and spue and fall, and rise no more.'*
(Jcr. XXV. 27.)
> GMpe, s GofUTut AdolpbiM.
94 BUTHKRFORD's LETTBB8«
Our Jesus is setting up himself as his Father's ensign, (Tsa. xL
10,) as Ood's fair white colors, that his soldiers may flock about
him. Long, long may thi^se colors stand ! It is long since, be
displayed a banner against Babylon, in the sight of men aad
angels. Let us rejoice and triumph in our God, the victory is cer-
tain : for when Christ and Babel wrestle, then angels and saints
may prepare themselves to sing, '' Babylon the great is fallen, is
fallen !" Howbeit that Prince of renown, precious Jesus, be nowr
weeping and bleeding in his members, yet Christ will laugh
again ; and it is time enough for us to laugh when our Lord
Christ laugheth — and that will be shortly. For when we hear of
wars and rumors of wars, the Judge's feet are then before the
door, and he must be in Heaven, giving order to the angels to
make themselves ready, and prepare their hooks ' and sickles for
that great harvest Christ will be upon us in haste. Watch but
a little, and, ere long, the skies shall rend, and that fair lovely
Person, Jesus, will come in the clouds, fraughted* and loaded
with glory ; and then all those knaves and foxes, that destroyed
the vines, shall call to the hills, and cry to the mountains to cover
them, and hide them from the face of Him, who sitteth upon the
throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb.
Remember me to your husband : and desire him from me to
help Christ, and to take his part, and in judgment to side ever
with him, and to receive a blow patiently tor nis sake ; for he is
worthy to be suflfered for, not only to blows, but also to blood. He
will find, that innocency and uprightness in judgment shall hoM
his feet, and make him happy, when jouking* will not do it. I
speak this, because a person said to me, '^ I pray God that the
country be not in worse case now, when the provost and baillics*
are agreed, than formerly :" to whom I replied, I trust the provost
is agreed with the man's person, but not with his faults.
I pray for you with my whole soul, and desire that your children
may walk in the truth : and that the Lord may shine upon them,
and make their faces to shine when the faces of others shall blush.
I dare promise them, in His name, whose truth I preach, that if
they will but try Grod's service, they shall find him the sweetest
Master that ever they served. Desire them from me but to try
for a while the service of this blessed Master, and then if his ser-
vice be not sweet, if it aflTord not what b pleasant to the soul's
taste, change him, upon trial, and seek a better. Christ is an
unknown Christ to young ones, and, therefore, they seek him
not, because they know him not. Bid them come and see, and
seek a kiss of his mouth ; and then they will find his mouth is so
sweet, that they will be everlastingly chained unto him, by their
* Im| Iem«nU for r«apin|(. t Prmodht
* Th iouk fudilenly to inc ine the bod j forwards in order to atom a blow ; meu*
phoricalij. to whid ground in mattera of principle in order to AToid tome present eril ;
hence the tarcatUc proverbial exhortation addre«ed to one who ade ftom expedienej,
*' Jouk, an* Itt the jaw fSang ower.'*
i Magistrates in a Scottiih burgh, analogous to the major and aldemea In ab
English one.
RCTHERFOltD's LETTERS. 96
own consent. If I have any credit with your children, I entreat
them in Christ's name to try what truth and reahty is in what I
say, and not to leave his service till they have found me a liar.
I give you, your husband, and them, to His keeping, to whom
I dare venture and have ventured myself and soul, even to our
dear Friend, Jesus Christ, in whom I am.
Yours, S. R.
AnwoCh.
LETTER XLIT.
FOR MARION MACKNATTGHT.
Well-belovbd Sister, — My dearest love in Christ remem-
bered to you — know that I am in great heaviness for the pitiful
case of our Lord's Kirk. I hear that the cause, why Dr. Burton
is committed to prison, is his writing and preaching against the Ar-
minians ; I, therefore, entreat the aid of your prayers for myself,
and the Lord's captives of hope, and for Zion. The Lord hath
let, and daily letteth, me see clearly how deep furrows Arminian-
ism, and the followers of it shall draw upon the back of God's
Israel — but our Lord cutteth the cords of the wicked. ^Isa. xlix.
14,) *< But Zion said. The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord
halJh forgotten me." (Lam. i.*2,) Zion " weepeth sore in the
night, and her tears are upon her cheeks ; amongst her lovers she
hath none to comfort her, all her friends have dealt treacherously
with her, and are become her enemies." (Isa. i. 22,) " Our silver
is become dross, our wine is mixed with water." (Lam. iv. 1,J
"How is the gold become dim? How is the most fine gola
changed? the stones of the sanctuary are poured out in the top
of every street" ( Ver. 2,) " The precious sons of Zion, compara-
ble to fine gold, bow are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the
work of the hands of the potter !" It is time now for the Lord's
secret ones, who favor the dust of Zion, to cry, "How long, O
Lord ?" and to go up to their watch-tower, and to stay there, and
not to come down, until the vision speak ; for it will speak, (Hab.
ii.) In the mean time, the "just shall live by his faith." Let us
wait on, and not weary. I have not a thread to hang upon and
rest, but this one, (Isa. xlix. 15,) " Can a woman forget her
sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of
her womb? yea, she may forget, yet will I not forget thee?"
(Yet. 16,^ "Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my
hands, tn^ walls are continually before me:^' for all outwara
helps do fail. It is time, therefore, for us to hang ourselves, as
our Lord's vessels, upon the rail that is fastened in a sure place.
We would make stakes of our own fastening, but they will break.
Our Lord will have Sion on his own nail. Ekiom is busy within
lis, and Babel without us, against the handful of Jacob's seed. It
96
were best that we were upon Christ's side of it, for his enemies
will get the stakes to keep, as the proverb is. Our greatest diffi-
culty will be, to win on upon the Hock now, when the wind and
waves of persecution are so lofty and proud. Let sweet Jesus
take us by the hand; neither must we think that it will be other-
wise, for it is told to the souls under the altar, (Rev. vi.,) that
their fellow-servants must be killed, as they were. Surely it can-
not be long till day. Nay, hear him say, '^ Behold, I come, my
dear Bride; think not long,* I shall be at you at once; I hear
you, and am coming." Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus, come
quickly ; for the prisoners of hope are looking out at the prison-
windows, to see if they can behold the King^s Ambassador com*
ing with the King^s warrant, and the keys. I write not to you by
guess now, because I have a warrant to say unto vou that the
il^arments of Christ's Spouse mujst be once again dyed in blood, as
ong ago her Husband's was. Bat our Father seeth his bleeding
Son. What I write unto you show to L G.
Grace, grace, grace and mercy be with you, your husband, and
children. Yours, in the Lord, S. R.
Aawoth.
LETTER XLT.
FOR MARION MACKNATTOHT.
Well-beloved and Dear Sister is Christ, — I could
not get an answer written to your letter till now, in respect of my
wife's disease, and she is yet mightily pained. I hope that all
shall end in God's mercy. I know that an afQicted lite lookelh
very like the w^y that leadetb to the Kingdom ; for the Apostle
(Acts xiv. 22,) hath drawn the line, and the King's market-way,
throudi much tribulation, to the Kingdom. /The Lord grant us
the whole armor of God.
Ye write to me concerning your people's disposition, how their
hearts are inclined toward the man ye know, and whom ye desire
most earnestly yourself. He would most gladly have the Lord's
call for transplantation, for he knoweth that afl God's plants, set
by his own hand, thrive well ; and if the work be of God, he can
make a stepping-stone of the Devil himself, for setting forward the
work. For yourself, I would advise ^ou to ask of (^ a submis-
sive heart Your reward shall be with the Lord. Although the
people be not gathered, as the prophet speaketh, and suppose the
word do not prosper, God shall account you a repairer of the
breaches. And take Christ caution* that ye shall not lose your
reward. Hold your grip* fast. If ye knew the mind of the glori-
fied in Heaven — they think Heaven came to their hand at an
easy market, when they have got it for threescore or fourscore years
1 Long sot. • Saoufi^. > Oiipe.
Rutherford's letters. 97
wrestling with God. When' ye are come thilher, ye shall think
that all which I did in respect of my rich reward, now enjoyed of
free grace, was too little. Now, then, for the love of the Prince of
your salvation, who is standing at the end of your way, holding
up in his hand the prize and the garland to the race-runners, for-
ward ! forward ! faint not ! Take as many to Heaven with you,
as ye are able to draw ; the moe ye draw with you, ye shall be
the welcomer yourself. Be no niggard, or sparing churl of the
g^race of God ; and employ all your endeavors for establishing an
honest ministry in your town, now when ye have so few to speak
a good word for you. I have many a grieved heart daily in my
calling : I would be undone, if I had not access to the King's
chamber-of-presence, to show him all the business. The Devil
rageth, and is mad to see the water drawn from his own mill ;
but would to God that we could be the Lord's instruments to build
the Sou of God's house !
Pray for me. If the Lord furnish not new timber from Leba-
non, to build the house, the work will cease. I look to Him, who
hath begun well with me ; I have His hand- writ that He will not
change. '
Your daughter is well, and longeth for a Bible. The Lord es-
tablish you in peace. The Lord Jesus be with your Spirit.
Yours, at all power in Christ, S. R.
Anwoth.
LETTER XLVL
FOR MARION MACKNAUGHT.
Mistress, — My love in Christ remembered — our communion is
^ on Sabbath come eight days. I will entreat you to recommend it
* to God, and to pray for me in that work. I have more sins upon
me now than the last time ; therefore, I will beseech you, in Christ,
seek this petition to me from God, that the Lord would give me
l^race to vow, and perform new obedience. I have cause to suit »
tins of you, and show it to 'Thomas Carson, Fergus and Jean
Brown, for I have been, and am exceedingly cast down, and am
fighting against a malicious Devil, of whom I can win little
ground ; and I would think a spoil plucked from him and his
trusty servant, sin, a lawful and just conquest — and it were no sin
to take from him.
In the name of the Goodman of our house. King Jesus, I invite
Jou to the banquet ; He saith that ye shall be dearly welcome to
liiii. And I desire to believe (howbeit not without great fear)
that He will be as hearty in His own house as He has been before.
For me it is but small reckoning ; but I would fain have our Fa-
ther and Lord to break the great fair Loaf, Christ, and to distrib-
1 To urge a reqoeit
7
98 Rutherford's letters.
ute His slain Son amongst the bairns of His house ; and that, if anj
were a step-bairn in respect of comfort and sense, it were lather
myself than His poor bairns. Therefore, bid our Well-beloved
come to His garden, and feed among the lilies.
And as concerning Zion, I hope that our Lord, who (Zech. ii.,)
sent His angel with a measuring-line in his hand, to measure the
length and breadth of Jerusalem, in token that He would not
want a foot length or inch of His own free heritage, will take order
with those who have taken away many acres of His own land
from Him ; and that God will build Jerusalem in the old sted * and
place where it was before. In this hope, rejoice, and be glad.
Christ's ^rment was not dipped in blood for nothing, but for Hb
Bride, whom he bought with strokes. I will desire you to remem-
ber my old suits to God, God's glory, and increase of light, that I
dry not up. For your town, hope and believe that the Lord will
gather in His loose sheaves among you to His barn, and send one
with a well-toothed, sharp hook,' and strong^ gardies,' to reap His
harvest. And the Lord Jesus, be Husbandman, and oversee the
growing !
Remember lAy love to your husband, and to Samuel. Grace
upon you, and your children. Lord make them comer-stones in
Jeru-talem, and give them grace in their youth to take band* with
the fair, chief Comer-stone, who was hewed out of the mountain,
without hands, and ffot many a knock with his Father^s fore-ham-
mer. * and endured them all, and the Stone did neither cleave not
break. — Upon that Stone your soul doth well to lie.
King Jesus be with vour spirit
Your Friend, in his well-beloved, Jesus, S. R.
Anwoth.
LETTER XLVn.
FOR MARION MACKNAUOHT.
Much Honored and Dear Mistress, — My love in Christ
remembered — I am grieved at the heart to write anything to you,
to breed heaviness to you ; and what I have written, I wrote it
with much heaviness. But I entreat you in Christ's name, when
ray soul is under wrestlings, and seeking direction from our Lord,
(to whom this Yineyard belongeth,) whither I shall go, give nue
liberty to advise, and try all airts* and paths, to see whether He
goeth before me and leadeth me ; for if I were assured of Gk>d's
call to your town, let my arm fall from mv shoulder-blade and
lose power, and my right eye be dried up, which is the judgment
of the idol shepherd, (Zech. xi. 17,) if I would not swim through
1 Site. t Sickle. » The ntm.
« To tah9 handwUk, to vnito with, ae the morter doee to the eloiiet in m huildiiig.
Sledge-haomer. • QaaiCen, pointa of the ~~—
Rutherford's letters. 99
the water withou; a boat, ere I sat his bidding. * But, if ye knew
my doubtings and fears in that, ye would suffer with me. W hether
they be temptations, or impediments cast in by God, I know not.
But ye have now cause to thank God ; for, seeing the Bishop hath
given you such a promise, he will give you an honest man, more
willingly than he will permit me to come to you. And, as I ever
entreated you, put the business out of your hand into the Lord's
reverence ; and try of him, if ye have warrant of him, to seek no
man io the world, but one only when there are choice of good men
to be had — howbeit they be too scarce, yet they are. And what
God saith to me in the business, I resolve, by his grace, to do ;
for I know not what he will do with me, but Grod will fill you
with joy ere the business be ended ; for I persuade myself that our
Lord Jecus hath stirred you up already to do good in the business,
and ye shall not lose your reward.
I have heard that vour husband, and Samuel have been sick.
The Man who is called the Branch and God's Fellow, and stand-
eth before His Father, will be your stay and help, (Zech. xiii. 7.)
I would that I were able to comfort vour soul ; but have patience
and stand, still he that believeth maketh not haste.
This matter of Crammond, cast in at this time, is either a temp-
tation, having fallen out at this time, or then* it vrill clear all my
doubts, and let you see the Lord's will. But I never knew my
own part in the business till now; I thought I was mere willing to
have embraced the charge in your town than I am, or am able to
win to.* I know that ye pray that God would resolve me what
to do ; and will interpret me as love biddeth you, which thinketh
not ill, and believeth all things, and hopeth all things. Would
ye have more than the Son of God ? ana ye have Him alreadv,
and ye shall be fed by the carver of the meat, be that who he will ;
and those who are hungry, look more to the meat than to the
carver.
I cannot see you the next week. If my Lady come home, I
must visit her. The week thereafter there will be a presbytery at
GKrtbon ; God will dispose of the meeting.
Grace upon you, ana your seed, and husband. The Lord Jesus
be with your spirit.
Yours, m Christ, S. R.
LETTER XLVHL
FOR MARION MACKNAUOHT.
Worthy and Well-beloved Mistress, — My love in Chnst
remembered— I have sent you a letter from Mr. David Dickson,
> 7^ tii 0im'0 bidding, nol prampUr to do what hai been commanded.
iOUieiwiie. ^ <^ <^ tAtUinto.
100 Rutherford's letters.
concerning the placing of Mr. Hugh MacKaii with themselves ;
therefore, I write to you now only to entreat vou in Christ not to
be discouraged thereat. Be submissive to tne will of your dear
Lord, who knoweth best what is good for your soul and your town
Doth : for God can come over greater fountains than these, we
believe ; for he worketh his greatest works contrary to carnal
reason and means. "My ways are not," saith our Lord, "as
Jrour ways ; neither are my thoughts as your thoughts." (Isaiah
v.) I am.no whit put from my belief for all that : — believe, pray,
and use means.
We shall cause Mr. John Ker, who convoyed myself to Lochia-
var, to use means to seek a man, if Mr. Hugh fail us. Our Lord
hath a httle bride among you, and I trust he will send one to woo
her to our sweet Lord Jesus. He will not want his wife for the
suiting ; ^ and he hath means in abundance in his hand to open
all the slots' and bars that Satan draweth over the door. He
Cometh to his bride leaping over the mountains, and skipping over
the hills. His way to his spouse is full of stones, mountains, and
waters ; yet he putteth in his foot, and wadeth through ; he will
not want Jier ; and, therefore, refresh me with two words, concern-
ing your confidence and courage in our Lord, both about that, and
about his own Zion ; for he wooeth his wife in the burning bush :
and for the good-will of Him that dwelleth in the bush, the bush
is not consumed. It is better to weep with Jerusalem in the fore-
noon, than to weep with Babel after noon, in tlie eiul of the day.
Our day of laughter and rejoicing is coming ; yet a little while,
and ye shall see the salvation of God.
I long to see you and to hear how your children are, especially
Samuel. Grace be their heritage, and portion from the Lord ; and
the Lord be their lot, and then their inheritance shall please them
well.
Remember my love to your husband. — The Lord Jesus be with
your spirit. Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R.
Anwoth.
LETTER XLIX.
FOR MARION MACKNAUGHT.
Well-beloved Sister, — My love in Jesus Christ remembered
— your daughter is well, thanks be to God ; I trust in him that ye
shall have joy of her. The Lord bless her. I am now presently
going about catechizing.
The bearer is in haste. Forget not poor Zion, and the Lord
remember you, for we shall be shortly winnowed. Jesus, pray for
I Courting.
s A aloC is a itTonj^ moTabte boH or bar, which is drawn out of a aoeket on Ch«
mde of a door till the end entera into a tocket on the other side of the door, and thaa
the door is secared by each end of the slot resting in a socket in the waJi In thii
qfianner were the gates of the ancient Scottish keeps and strong-holds sectured.
Rutherford's letters. 101
us, thai our faith fail not. I would wish to see you a Sabbath vrith
us, and we shall stir up one another, God willing, to seek the
Lord ; for it may be that he hide himself from us ere it be long*.
Keep that which you have, ye will get more in Heaven. The
Lord send us- to the shore out of all the storms, with our silly souls
whole and sound with us ; for if hberty of conscience come, as is
rumored, the best of us all will be put to our wits to seek how to
be freed. But we shall be with those who have their chamber to
go in unto, spoken of, (Isa. xxvi. 20.) Read the place yourself,
and keep you wi*iiin your house whill the storm be past. If you
can learn a di^tay * against C, try, and cause to try, that we may
see the Ijord's righteous judgment upon th« Opvil's instruments.
We are not much obliged to his kmdtiesa ; I wish that all such
wicked doers were cut off.
Thepe in haste; I bless you m God's name, and all yours.
Yowr daughter desireth a Bible and p gown. I hope that she will
us*^ the Bible well, which, if she do^ the gown is the better be-
p'-rwred.
The Lord Jesus be with your spirit.
yourg. forever, in Christ, S. R.
Anwoth.
LETTER L.
FOR MARION MACKNAUGHT.
Mistress, — My love in Jesus Christ remembered — I am in good
health, honor to my Lord ; but my wife's disease increaseth daily,
to her great torment and pain night and day. She hath not been
in God's house since our communion, neither out of her bed. 1
have hired a man to Edinburgh, to Dr. Jeally, and to John Ham-
ilton : I can hardly believe her disease is ordinary, for her life is
bitter to her. She sleepeth none, but crieth, as a woman travail-
ing in birth; what will be the event He that hath the keys of the
prave knoweth. I have been many times since I saw you, that I
have besought the Lord to loose her out of the body, and to take
her to her rest I believe that the Lord's tide of afBictions will
ebb again ; but at present I am exercised with the wrestlings of
God, being afraid of nothing more than this, that God hath let
loose the Tempter upon my nouse. God rebuke him and his in-
strument Because Satan is not cast out but by fasting and prayer,
I entreat you to remember our estate to our Lord, and entreat all
^ood Christians, whom ye know, but especially your Pastor, to do
the same. It becoraeth us still to knock, and to lie at the Lord's
door, whiil we die knocking. If he will not open, it is more than
he hath said in his word ; but he is faithful. I look not to win
ttway to my home without wounds, and blood. Welcome, wel-
> Groo«d of indictment.
102 Rutherford's letters.
come cross of Christ, if Christ be with it ! I have not a calm
spirit in the work of my calling here, being daily chastised ; yet
God hath not put out my candle, as he doth to the wicked.
Grace, grace be with you and all yours.
Yours, in his Lord^ S. R.
Anwoth.
LETTER LI.
FOR MARION MACKNAUOHT.
Worthy and Well-beloved Mistress, — My love in Christ
remembered — I know that ye have heard of the purpose of my
adversaries, to try what they can do against me at this synod, for
the work of God in your town, when I was at your communion.
They intend to call me in question at the synod, for treasonable
doctrine ; therefore, help me with your prayers, and desire your
acquaintance to help me also. Your ears heard how Christ was
there. If he suffer his servant to get a broken head, in his own
kingly service, and not either help or revenge the wrong, I never
saw the like of it. There is not a night-drunkard, time-serving,
idle idol-shepherd to be spoken against — I am the only man : and
because it is so, and I know that God will not help them, lest they
be proud, I am confident that their process shall fall asunder.
Only be ye earnest with God for hearing, for an open ear, and
reading of the bill, that he may in Heaven hear both parties, and
judge accordingly : and doubt not, fear not, that they shall not,
who now ride highest, put Christ out of his kingly possession in
Scotland. The pride of man, and his ra^e, shall turn to the
praise of our Lord. It is an old feud, that the rulers of the earth,
the Dragon and his angels, have carried to the Lamb and his fol-
lowers ; but the followers of the Lamb shall overcome by the word
of God : and believe this, and wait on a little, till they have got
their womb-ful * of clay and gravel, and they shall know, f how-
beit stolen waters be sweet,) that Esau's portion is not wortn bis
hunting.
Commend me to your husband, and send me word how Grizzel
is. The Son of God lead her through the water.
The Lord Jesus be with your spirit.
Yours, in his only, only Lord Jesus, S. R.
Anwoth.
LETTER LU.
FOR MARION MACKNAUOHT.
Mistress, — My love in Christ remembered — at the desire of
iBeUv/blL
Rutherford's letters. 103
this bearer, whom 1 love, I thought to request you, if ye can help
bis wife with your advice, for she is in a most dangerous and
deadly-like condition ; for I have thought that she was far changed
in her carriage and life this sometime by-passed, and had hoped
that God would have brought her home ; and now, by appear-
ance, she will depart this Ufe, and leave a number of children be-
hind her. If ye can be entreated to help her, it is a work of mercy.
My own wife is in exceeding great torment, night and day. Pray
for us, for my Ufe was never so wearisome to me. God hath filled
me with gall and wormwood ; but I believe, which holdeth my
head above the water. " It is good for a man," saith the Spirit of
God, (Lam. iil,) " that he bear the yoke in his youth."
I do remember you. I pray you be humble and believe ; and I
entreat you in Jesus Christ, pray for John Stuart and his wife, and
desire your husband to do tne same. Remember me heartily to
Jean Brown. Desire her to pray for me and my wife : I do re-
member her. Forget not Zion ! Grace, grace and peace, upon
them that pray fo Zion ! She is the ship we sail in to Canaan ;
if she broken on a rock, we shall be cast overboard, to swim to land
betwixt death and life.
The grace of Jesus be with your husband, and children.
Yours, in our Christ, S. R.
Anwoth.
LETTER Lin.
TO EARLSTON, ELDER.
Much Honored Sir, — I have heard of the mind and malice
of your adversaries against you. It is like that they will extend
the law which they have, in length and breadth, answerable to
their heat of mind ; but it is a great part of your glory, that the
cause is not yours, but your Lord's whom ye serve ; and I doubt
Dot but Christ will count it his honor to back his weak servant, —
and it were a shame for him, with reverence to his holy name,
that he should suffer himself to be in the common of" such a poor
man as ye are, and that ye should gl^e out for him, and not get
in again. Write up your depursements* for your Master, Christ,
and keep count of what ye give out, whether name, credit, goods,
or life, and suspend your reckoning till nigh the evening; and
remember that a po^r weak servant of Christ wrote it to you, that ye
shall have Christ, a King, caution* for your incomes and all your
losses. Reckon not from the forenoon. Take the word of God
for your warrant, and for Christ's act of cautionry,* howbeit body,
Ufe and goods go for Christ your Lord, and though ye should lose
the head for him ; yet, (Luke xxi. 18,) there shall not one hair of
I Under obligation to. * Disburtements.
» Secnritj. * Suretyihip.
104 Rutherford's letters.
your head perish, (vcr. 19,) in patience, therefore, possess your
soul. And because ye are the first man in Galloway called out
and questioned for the name of Jesus, his eye hath been upon you,
as upon one whom he designed to be among his witnesses. Christ
hatii said, "Alexander Gordon shall lead the ring, in witnessing a
good confession ;" and, therefore, he hath put the garland of suf-
fering for himself, first upon your head. Think yourself so much
the more obliged to him, and fear not ; for he layeth his right
hand on your head. He who was dead and is alive, will plead
your cause, and will look attentively upon the process from the
beginning to the end ; and the spirit of glory shall rest upon you,
(Rev. ii. 10.) ** Pear none of those things which thou shalt suffer;
behold, the Devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may
be tried, and ye shall have tribulation ten days. Be thou faithful
unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life." That lovely
One, Jesus, who also became the Son of man, that he might take
strokes for you, write the cross-sweetening and soul-supporting
sense of these words in your heart.
These rumbling wheels of Scotland's ten-days' tribulation are
under His look, who hath seven eyes. Take a house on your
head, and slip yourself by faith under Christ's wings, till the storm
be over. And remember that when they have drunk us down,
Jerusalem will be a cup of trembling and of poison, (Zech. xii. 2.)
They shall be fain to vomit out the saints ; for Judah, (ver. (>,)
shall be an hearth of fire in a sheaf, and they shall devour all the
people round about, on the right hand and on the left. Wo to the
enemies of Zion. They have the worst of it: for we have writ'
for the victory.
Sir, yti were never so honorable as ye are now. This is your
glory, that Christ hath put you into the roll with hfmself, and the
rest of the witne.^scs, who are come out of great tribulation, and
have wasiied their garments, and made them white in the blood
of the Lamb. Be not cast down for what the servants of Anti-
christ cast in your teeth, that ye are a head to, and favorer of the
Puritans, and leader to that sect. If your conscience say, "Alas,
here is much din and little done," (as the proverb is,) becau^ie ye
have not done so much service to Christ that way as ye might and
should, take courage from that same temptation ; for your Lord,
Christ, looketh upon that very challenge,* as a hungering desire in
you to have done more than ye did ; and that filleth up the blank,
and he will accept of what ye have done in that kind. If great
men be kind to you, I pray you to overlook* them: if they smile
on you, Christ but borroweth their face, to smile through them
upon his afilicted servant. Know the well-head ; and for all that,
learn the way to the well itself.
Thank God that Christ came to your house in your absence,
and took with him some of your children. He presumed that
much on your love, that ye would not be offended; and howbeit
1 Writing under the hand. < AccoMition. * Look orcr.
105
he should take the rest, he cannot come upon your wrong side. I
question not, if they were children of gold, but ye would think them
well bestowed upon him.
Expound well these two rods on you, one on your house at
home, another on your own person abroad. Love thinker h no
evil ; if ye were not Christ's wheat, appointed to be bread in his
house, he would not grind you. But keep the middle Une, neither
despise nor faint, (Heb. xii. 6.) Ye see that your Father is homely »
witn you. Strokes of a father evidence kindness and care — take
them so. I hope that your Lord hath manifested himself to you,
and suggested these or more choice thoughts about his dealing
with you. We are using our weak moyen* and credit for you up
at our own court, as we dow ; » we pray the King to hear us, and
the Son of Man to go side for side with you, and band in hand, in
the fiery oven, and to quicken and encourage your unbelieving
heart, when ye droop and despond.
Sir, to the honor of Christ be it said, that my faith goeth with
my pen now. I am presently believing that Christ will bring you
out. Truth in Scotland shall keep the crown of the causeway *
yet. The saints shall see religion go naked at noon-day, free
from shame and fear of men. We shall divide Shechem, and ride
upon the high places of Jacob.
Remember my obliged respects and love to my Lady Kenmure
and her sweet child.
Yours ever, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R.
Anwoth, July 6, 1G36.
LETTER LIY.
FOR MARION MACKNAUOHT.
Well-beloved Mistress, — I charge you, in the name of
ilie Son of God, to rest upon your Rock, that is higher than your-
self ; be not afraid of a man wlio is a worm, nor for the son of
man who shall die ; let God be your fear. Encourage your bus*
band. I would counsel you to write to Edinburgh to some advis-
ed lawyers, to understand what your husband, as the head-
magistrate, may do, in opposing any intruded minister, and as to
his carnage toward the new Prelate, if he command him to ira-
Erison or lay hands upon any, and, in a word, how far he may in
is office dbobey a prelate, without danger of law : for if- the
Bishop come to your town, and find not obedience to his heart, it
is hke that he will command the provost to assist him against God
and the truth — ^ye will have more courage under the persecution.
Fear not take Christ caution,* who said, (Luke xxi. 18,) "There
* ParailUr. * Interest * Are able.
4 Th keep the crown qf the catuewty^ to appear in public withoot either ihame or ftar
• Security.
106 ruthbrford's lbttbrs.
sbal lot one hair of your head perish." Christ will not be in
your tornmon,' to have you giving out anything for him, and
not give you all incomes, with advantage. It is his honor that
his servants should not be berried * and undone in his service.
Ye were never honored till now. And if your husband be the first
magistrate who shall suffer for Christ's name in this persecution,
he may rejoice that Christ hath put the first garland upon his
head, and upon yours. Truth will yet keep the crown of the
causeway in Scotland. Christ and truth are strong enough.
They judge us now ; we shall one day judge them, and sit on
twelve thrones, and judge the Twelve Tribes. Believe, believe ;
for thev dare not pray, they dare not look Christ in the face.
They have been false to Christ, and he will not sit with* the
wrong. Ye know, that it is not our cause ; for if we would quit
, our £ord, we might sleep, for the present, in a sound skin, and
keep our place, means and honor, and be dear to them also. But
let us once put all we have over into Christ's hands.
Fear not for my papers, I shall dispatch them ; but ye will bf
examined for them. The Spirit of Jesus give you inward peace
Desire your husband, from me, to prove honest to Christ ; he shal
not be a loser at Christ's hand.
Yours, ever, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R.
Anwoth, July 8, 1635.
LETTER LV.
TO MY LADT KENMURE.
Madam, — I cannot find a time for writing some things which
I intended on Job, I have been so taken up with the broils that
we are encumbered with in our calling : for our Prelate will have
us cither to swallow our light over, and digest it, contrary to our
stomachs, howbeit we should vomit our conscience and all, in this
troublesome Conformity ; or then < he will try if deprivation can
convert us to the ceremonial faith.
I write to your Ladyship, madam, not as distrusting your affec-
tion, or willingness to help me, as your Ladyship is able by your-
self, or others, but to advertise you, that I hang by a small thread.
For our learned Prelate, because we cannot see with his eyes so
far into a millstone as his light doth, will not follow his Master,
meek Jesus, who waited upon the we*' ried and short-breathed to
the way to Heaven, — and where all see not alike, and some are
weaker, he carrieth the lambs in his bosom, and leadeth gently
those that are with young, — but we must either see all the evil
of ceremonies to be but as indifferent straws, or suffer no less than
to be casten out of the Lord's inheritance.
J Undwr obligation to yoo. « Pillaged, ruined by extortion or •crere ezactioM
* 1\>nt with, to bear with in rileoee. 4 Otherwke.
LETTERS. 107
Madam, if I had time I would write more at length ; but your
Ladyship will pardon me, till a fitter occasion. Grace be with
you, and your cnild, and bear you company to your best home.
Tour Ladyship's, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R.
lawoth, Jan. 8, 1636. x
LETTER LVI.
TO MY LADT KENMURE.
Madam, — I received your Ladyship's letter from J. Gordon. I
thank our Lord, that ye are as well, at least, as one may be, who
is not come home. It is a mercy, in this stormy sea, to get a
second wind ; for none of the saints get a first, but they must take
the winds as the Lord of the seas causeth them to blow ; and the
inn, as the Lord and Master of the inns hath ordered it: If con-
tentment were here. Heaven were not heaven. Whoever seek
the world to be their bed, shall at best find it short and ill made,
and a stone under their side to hold them waking, rather than a
soft pillow to sleep upon. Ye ought to bless your Lord that it is
not worse : we live in a sea where many have suffered shipwreck,
and have need that Christ sit at the helm of the ship. It is a
mercy to Mrin to Heav.en, though with much hard toil and heavy
labor and to take it by violence, ill and well as it may be. Better
go swimming and wet through our waters, than drown by the
way; especially now when truth sufTereth, and great men bid
Christ sit lower, and contract himself into less bounds, as if he
took too much room.
I expect that our new Prelate will try my sitting. I hang by a
thread, but it is (if I may speak so) of Christ's spinning. There
is no quarrel more honest or honorable than to suffer for truth ;
but the worst is, that this Kirk is like to sink, and all her lovers
and friends stand afar off; none mourn with her, and none mourn
for her. But the Lord Jesus will not be put out of his conquest *
so soon in Scotland. It will be seen, that the Kirk and truth
shall rise again within three days, and Christ again will ride upon
his white horse — howbeit his horse seem now to stumble, yet he
cannot fall. The fulness of Christ's harvest in the end of the
earth is not yet coma in. I speak not this, because I would have
it so, but upon better grounds than my naked liking. But enough
of this sad subject.
I long to be fully assured of your Ladyship's welfare, and that
your soul prospereth, especially now in your solitary life, when
your comforts outward are few, and when Christ hath you for the
verv uptaking. I know that his love to you is still running over ;
and bis love hath not so bad a memory as to forget you and your
dear cbil 1, who hath two fath^ in Heaven the one the Anc'ent
1 Acqubilion bj inheriUnce or pr fohate.
108 Rutherford's letters.
of days, I trust in his mercy, that he hath something laid up for
him above, however it may go with him here. I know that it ia
long since your Ladyship saw that this world had turned youi
step-mother, and had forsaken you. Madam, }e have reason to
take in good part a lean dinner and spare diet in this life, seeing
your large supper of the Lamb's preparing will recompense all.
Let it go which was never yours, but only in sight, not in pro|>er-
ty : the time of your loan wHl wear shorter and shorter, and time
is measured to you by ounct -weights : and then I know that youi
hope shall be a full ear of corn, and not blasted with wind. It
may be your joy, that your anchor is up within the veil, and that
the ground it is cast upon is not false, but firm. God hath done
his part : and I hope tnat ye will not deny to fish and fetch home
all your love to himself; and it is but too narrow and short for
him, if it were more. If ye Werft before pouring all your love (if
it had been many gallons more) in upon your Lord, if drops fell
by ^ in the in-pouring, he forgiveth you ; he hath done now all
that can be done, to win beyond it all, and hath left little to woo
your love from himself, except one only child. What is his pur-
pose herein. He knoweth best, who hath taken your soul in tutor-
ing. Your faith may be boldly charitable of Christ, that, how-
ever matters go, the worst shall be a tired traveller, and a
joyful and a sweet welcome-home. The back of your winter
night is broken.* Look to the east, the day sky is breaking ;
think not that Christ loseth time, or lingeret-h unsuitably. O fair,
fair and sweet morning! We are but as sea-passengers; if we
look right we are upon our country coast. Our Redeemer is
fast coming, to take this old worm-eaten world, like an old moth-
eaten garment, in his two hands, and to roll it up, and lay it by '
him. These are the last days, and an oath is given, (Rev. x. 6,)
by God himself, that time shall be no more : and when time itself
is old and gray-haired, it were good we were away.
Thus, madam, ye see I am, as my custom is, tedious in my
line^. Your Ladyship will pardon it.
The Lord Jesus be with your spirit.
Your Ladyship's, at all obedience in Chrbt, S. R.
Anwoth, Januaxy 18, 1636.
LETTER LVIL •
FOR MARION MACKNAUGHT.
Well-beloved Sister,— My love in Christ remembered — I
hear of good news anent our Kirk, but I fear that our King will
not be resisted, and, therefore, let us not be secure and careless.
I do wonder if this Kirk come not through our Lord's fan, since
there is so much chaff in it howbeit ; I persuade myself that the
' Past s That ia, more than half ipent. » Past, beside.
LETTERS. 109
Son of God's wheat f^iall not be blown away. Let U8 be puUing
on God's armor, and oc strong in the liord. If the Devil, and
Zion'd enemies, strike a hole in that armor, let our Lord see to
that ; let us put it on, and stand ; we have Jesus on our side, and
they are not worthy of such a Captain, who would not take a blow
at his back. We are in sight of his colors ; his bainier over us is
love : look up to that white banner, and stand : I persuade you,
in the Lord, of victory.
My brother writeth to me of your heaviness, and of temptations
that press you sore. I am content it be so. You bear about with
you the marks of the Lord Jesus: so was it with our Lord's Apostle,
when he was to come, with the Gospel, to Macedonia, (2 Cor.
vii. 5,) his flesh had no rest, he was troubled on every side, and
knew not what side to turn him unto ; without were fightings,
and within were fears. In the great work of our redemption,
your lovely, beautiful and glorious Friend and Well-beloved,
Jesus, was brought to tears and strong cries, so as his face was
wet with tears and blood, arising from a holy fear, and the weight
of the curse. Take a drink of the Son of God's cup, and love it
the better that he drank of it before you — there is no poison in it.
I wonder many times that ever a child of God should have a sad
heart, considering what their Lord is preparing for them.
Is your mind troubled anent that business, which we have in
hand in Edinburgh ? I trust in my Lord, that the Lord will in
the end give to you your heart's desire, even, howbeit, the business
frame not. The Lord will feed your soul, and all the hungry
souls in that town ; therefore, I request you in the Lord to pray
for a submissive will ; and pray, as your Lord Jesus biddeth you,
'• Thy will be done in earth, as it is in Heaven !" And, let it be that
your faith be brangled * with temptations : believe ye that there is a
tree in our Lord's garden that is not often shaken with the wind
from all the four airts ?' — surely there is none, liebuke your soul,
as tlje Lord's prophet doth, (Psalm xlii.,) " Why ait thou cast down,
O my soul ! why art thou disquieted within me ?" That was the
word of a^an, who was at the very overgoing of the brae' and
mountain; but God held a grip* of him. Swim through your
temptations and troubles, to be at that lovely amiable Person,
Jesus, to whom your soul is dear. In your temptations, run to the
promises ; they be our Lord's branches hanging over the water,
that our Lord's silly* half-drowned children may take a grip of
them ; if you let that grip go, you will go to the ground.*
Are ye troubled with the case of God's Kirk ? Our Lord will
evermore have her betwixt the sinking and the swimming : he
will have her going through a thousand deaths, and through hell,
as a cripple' woman, halting, and wanting the power of her own
side. (Micah iv. 6, 7,) that God may be her staff. That broken
■hip will come to land, because Jesus is the pilot. Faint not, you
> Shaken, thrown into ditttder. 3 Quarters. * Preciptice.
* Gripe, grasp. » Poor, in the gensc of exciting companion.
* Bottom. f Lame.
110 Rutherford's letters.
shall see the salvation of Grod ; else say that (Sod i ever spake His
word by my mouth, and I had rather never have been born, ere it
were so with me — but my Lord hath sealed me.
I dare not deny, that I have, also, been in heaviness since I
came from you, fearing, for my unthankfulness, that I am de
sorted ; but the Lord will be kind to me, whether I will or noL
I repose that ' much in his grace that he will be loath to change
upon me. As you love me, pray for me in this particular.
After advising wit)^ Carlton, I have written to Mr. David Dick-
son, aneut Mr. Hugh Mackail, and desired him to write his mind
to Carlton, and Carlton to Edinburgh, that they may particularly
remember Mr. Hugh to the Lord ; and I happened upon a conve-
nient trusty bearer, by God's wonderful proviaence.
No further. I recommend you to the Lord's grace, and youi
husband and children.
The Lord Jesus be with your spirit.
Yours, in the Lord, S. R.
Edioburgh.
A POSTSCRIPT.
Mistress, — ^I had not time to give my advice to your daughter
Grizzel ; you shall carry my words, therefore, to her. Show her
now, that, in respect of her tender age, she is, in a manner, as clean
paper, residy to receive either good or ill ; and that it were a
sweet and glorious thing for her to give herself up to Christ, that
He may write upon her His Father's name, ana His own new
name. And desire her to acquaint herself with the Book of
Grod ; the promises that our Lord writeth upon His own, and per-
formeth in them, and for them, are contained there. I persuade
you, that, when she is in the company of such parents, and hath
occasion to learn Christ, I think Christ b wooine her soul ; and I
fray Grod that she may not refuse such a Husband. And, therefore,
charge her, and beseech her, by the mercies of Grod, by the wounds
and blood of Him who died for her, hy the word of truth, which
she heareth and can read, by the coromg of the Son of GUxl to
judge the world, that she would fulfil your joy, and learn Christ,
and walk in Christ. She will think this the truth of God many
years after this ; and I shall promise to mvself in respect of the
beginnings that I have seen, that she will give herself to Him
who gave Himself for her. Let her begin at prayer j for if she re-
member her Creator in the days of her youth, He will claim kind-
ness to her in her old age. It shall be a part of my prayers, that
this may be effectuated in her, by Him, who is able to do exceed-
ingly abundantly ; to whose grace I again recommend you, and
her, and all yours.
iSo.
Rutherford's letters. HI
LETTER LVIII.
FOR MARION MACKNAUOHT.
Well-beloved Sister, — I know that ye have heard of the
success of our business in Edinburgh. I do every presbytery*day
see the faces of my brethren smiling upon me, but their tongues
convey reproaches and lies of me a hundred miles off, and have
made me odious to the Bishop of St. Andrew's, who said to Mr.
William Dalgleish, that ministers in Galloway were his informers ;
whereupon no letters of favor could be procured from him for effect-
uating of our business : only I am brought into the mouths of men,
who, otherwise, knew me not, and have power (if God will permit)
to harm me ; yet I entreat you in the bowels of Christ Jesus, be not
cast down. I fear that your sorrow exceed because of this ; and
I am not so careful of myself in the matter as for you. Take
courage; your dearest Lord will light your candle, which the
wicked would fain blow out ; and as sure as our Lord Uveth your
soul shall find joy and comfort in this business ; howbeit ye see
all the hounds m Hell let loose to mar it. Their iron chains to
our dear and mighty Lord are but straws, which he can easily
break. Let not this temptation stick in your throat ; swallow it,
and let it ^o down — our Lord give you a drink of the consolations
of His Spirit, that it may digest. Ye never knew one in God^s
Book who put their hand to the Lord's work for his Kirk, but the
world, and Satan, did bark against them, and bite also, where
they had power. Ye will not lay one stone on Zion's wall but
they will labor to cast it down again.
And for myself, the Lord letteth me see now greater evidences
of a calling to Kirkcudbright than ever he did before ; and, there-
fore, prRy« and possess your soul in patience. Those that were
doers in the busmess have good hopes that it will yet go forward,
and prosper.
As for the death of the King of Sweden, (which is thought to be
too true,) we can do nothing else but reverence our Lord, who
doth not ordinarily hold Zion on her rock by the sword and arm
of flesh and blood, but by his own might and out-stretched arm.
Her King, that leigneth in Zion, yet liveth, and they are plucking
him round about to pull him off his throne ; but his Father hath
crowned him, and who dare say '' It is ill done ?" The Lord's
Bride will be up and down, above the water swimming, and under
the water sinking, until her lovely and mighty R^eemer and
Husband set his head through these skies, and come, with his fair
court, to red all their pleas,* and give them the hoped-for inheri-
tance — and then, we snail lay down our swords, ana triumph, and
fi^t no more. But do not think, for all this, that our Lord and
chief Shepherd will want one weak sheep, or the silliest dying
1 Btttle all their dHpatet.
112 RUTHERFORD'S LETTERS.
Iamb he hath redeemed. He will tell his flock, and gather them
all together, and make a faithful account of them to his Father,
who gave them to him. Let us now learn to turn our eyes off
men, that our whorish hearts dote not on them, and woo our old
Husband and make him our darHng ; for (Jer. xxv. 27,) thus saith
the Lord to the enemies of Zion, ^^ Drink ye and be drunk, and
spue, and fall, and rise no more, because of the sword that I send
amongst you." (Ver. 28,) " And it shall be, if they refuse to take
the Clip at thy hand to drink, then shalt thou say to them, Thui^
saith the Lord of hosts. Ye shall certainly drink."
You see our Lord brewing a cup of poison for his enemies,
which they must drink, and because of this have sore bowels and
sick stomachs, yea, burst. But, (Jer. I. 4,) when Zion's captivity
is at an end, " the Children of Israel shall come, they and the
Children of Judah, together, going and weeping ; they shall go,
and seek the Lord their God." (Ver. 5,) ** They shall ask the way
to Zion, with their faces thitherward, saying. Come and let us join
ourselves to the Lord, in an everlasting covenant that shall not l>e
forgotten." This is spoken to us. and for us, who, with wo* heart:?,
ask, " What is the way to Zion ?" It is our part, who know how
to go to our Lord's door, and to knock by prayer, and how to lift
Christ's slot,' and shute « the bar of his chamber door, to complain,
and tell him how the world handleth us, and how our King's
business goeth, that he may get up and lend^ them a blow, who
are tigging' and playing with Christ, and his spouse.
Ye have also, dear mistress, house troubles, in sickness of your
husband and bairns, and in spoiling of your house by thieves.
Take these fods in patience, from your Lord : he must still move
you from vessel to vessel, and grind you as our Lord's wheat, to
be bread in his house ; but when all these strokes are over your
head^ what will you say to eee your well-beloved Christ's white
and ruddy face, even His face, who is worthy to bear the colors
amongst ten thousand, (Cant, v.) Hope and believe to the end.
Grace, for evermore, be multiplied upon you, your husband, and
children.
Your own, in his dearest Lord Jesus, S. R.
Edinburgh.
LETTER LIX.
TO MARION MACKNAUOHT.
My Dear, and Well-beloved in Christ, — I am yet under
trial, and have appeared before Christ's forbidden Lords' for a tes-
timony against them. The Chancellor and the rest tempted me
» Orieved.
* A strong bar, running IVom tide to tide or a door, and having the ends eatenaf
into tockeU m the wall * Puih aside. « Give.
• Toying. • PaMed and gone. t The pielatea, 1 Pet ▼. 3.
113
with questions nothing belonging to ray summons, which I wh( Hy
declined, notwithstanding his threats. My newly-printed book
against the Arminians was one challenge,^ not lording' the pre-
lates another: the most part of the bishops, when I came in,
looked more astonished than I, and heard me with silence. Some
spoke for me ; but my Lord ruled it so, as I am filled with joy in
my sufferings, and I find Christ's cross sweet. What they intend
the next day, I know not. Be not secure, but pray. Our Bishop
of Galloway said, if the Commission would not give him his will
of me, with an oath, he said, that he would write to the King.
The Chancellor summoned me in judgment, to appear that day
eight days. My Lord has brought me a friend from the High-
lands of Argyll, my Lord of Lorn,* who hath done as much as was
within the compass of his power. God ffave me favor in his eyes.
Mr. Robert Glendonning is silenced, till he accept a colleague.
We hope to deal yet for him. Christ is worthy to be intrusted.
Your husband will get an easy and good way of his business.
Ye and I both shall see the salvation of God upon Joseph, sepa-
rated from his brethreUv
Grace be with you.
Yours, in Christ, S. R.
LETTER LX.
FOR MARION MACKNAUOHT.
Honored, and Dearest in the Lord, — Grace, mercy and
peace be to you. — I am well, and my soul prospereth. I find
Christ with me. I burden no man: I want nothing: no face
looketh on me but it laugheth on me. Sweet, sweet is the Lord's
cross. I overcome mv heaviness. My Bridegroom's love-blinks*
fatten my weary soul. I go to my King's palace at Aberdeen.
Tongue, and pen, and wit cannot express my joy.
Remember my love to Jean Gordon, to ray sister, Jean Brown,
to Grizzel, to your husband.
Thus in baste. Grace be with you.
Yours, in his only, only Lord Jesus, S. R.
Kdinbuigh. April 5. 1636.
A POSTSCRIPT.
My charge is to you to believe, rejoice, sing and triumplu
Christ has said to me, " Mercy, mercy, grace and peace, for Ma-
rion Macknaught."
> Aecutatioii. > QMng the titit •* lord."
* AichilMild Campbell, Afterwards Marquis of Arffjrll, and maitrr for the Word of
God, and SeoCtand'fl eoTenanted Work of Reformation. i Ijoro-gkiiMf.
8
114 Rutherford's letters.
LETTER LXI.
TO THE TRULY NOBLE, AND ELECT LADY, M^ LADY VIS-
COUNTESS OF KENMURE.
Noble, and Elect Lady, — That honor that I have prayed
for these sixteen years, with submission to my Lord's will, ray
kind Lord hath now bestowed upon me ; even to suffer for my
royal and princely King, Jesus, and for his Kingly crown, and the
freedom of his Kingdom, that his Father hath given him. The
forbidden lords* have sentenced me with deprivation and confine-
ment within the town of Aberdeen. I am charg^ed in the King's
name, to enter against the twentieth day of August next, and
there to remain during the King's pleasure, as they have g^ven it
out. Howbeit Christ's g^reen cross, newly laid upon me, he some-
what heavy, while I call to mind the many fair days, sweet and
comfortable to my soul, and to the souls of many others, and how
young ones in Christ are plucked from the breast, and the inheri-
tance of Grod laid waste; yet that sweet-smelled and perfumed
cross of Christ is accompanied with sweet refreshment, with the
kisses of a King, with the joy of the Holy Ghost, with faith that
the Lord heareth the sighing of a prisoner, with undoubted hope,
ras sure as my Lord liveth,) afler this night to see day-l^ht, and
Uhrist's sky to clear up again upon me, and his poor Kirk, and
that in a strange land, amongst strange faces. He will give favor
in the eyes of men to his poor oppressed servant, who dow not*
but love that lovely One, tnat princely One, Jesus, the Comforter
of his soul. All would be well, if I were free of old challenges * for
guiltiness, and for neglect in my calling, and for speaking too lit-
tle for my Well-beloved's crown, honor, and Kingdom. Oh, for a
day in the assembly of the saints to advocate for King Jesus ! If
my Lord go on now to quarrels, also, I die. I cannot endure it :
but I look for peace from him : because he knoweth I dow« bear
men's feud, but I dow not' bear his feud. This is my only exer-
cise, that I fear I have done little good in my ministry ; but I dare
not but say, I loved the bairns of the wedding chamber, and prayed
for, and desired the thriving of the marriage, and coming of his
kingdom.
1 apprehend no less than a judgment upon Gralloway ; and thai
the Lord will visit this whole nation, for the quarrel of the Cove-
nant. But what can be laid upon me, or any the like of me, is
too light for Christ ; Christ dow* bear more, and would bear death
and burning quick, in his weak servants, even for this honorable
cause, that I now suffer for. Yet, for all my complaints, (and he
knoweth that I dare not now dissemble,) he was never sweeter
and kinder than be is now ; one kiss now is sweeter than ten long
I TIm prelates, 1 Pet. ▼. 3. « Is not able to. i StU^aeeoaatioM.
« Aa able to. • If able to.
Rutherford's letters. 116
tince ; sweet sweet is his cross ; light, light and easy is his yoke.
Ob, what a sweet step were it up to my Father's house, through
ten deaths, for the truth and cause of that unknown, and so not
half well-loved, Plant of Renown, the Man called the Branch, the
Chief among ten thousand, the Fairest among the sons of men !
Oh what unseen joys, how many hidden heart-burnings of love
are in the remnants of the sufferings of Christ ^ My dear, worthy
Lady, I give it to your Ladyship, under my own hand, (my heart-
writmg as well as my hand,) welcome, welcome, sweet, sweet, and
glorious cross of Christ : welcome, sweet Jesus, with thy light
cross ; thou hast now gained and gotten all my love from me ;
keep what thou hast gotten. Only, wo, wo is me, for my bereaved
flock, for the lambs of Jesus, which I fear shall be fed with dry
breasts ; but I i^re now, madam, I dare not promise to see your
Ladyship, because of the little time I have allotted me, and I pur-
pose to obey the King, who hath power over my body ; and rebel-
lion to kings is unbeseeming Christ's ministers.
Be plea^ to acquaint my Lady Mar with my case : I will look
that your Ladyship, and that good lady be mindful to God of the
Lord's prisoner, not for my cause, but for the Gospel's sake.
Madam, bind me more, fif more can be,) to your Laayship, and
write thanks to your brotner, my Lord of Lorn,* for what he hath
done for me, a poor unknown stranger to his Lordship. I shall
Eray for him and his house while I Uve. It is his honor to open
is mouth in the streets for his wronged and oppressed Mastery
Christ Jesus.
Now, madam, commending your Ladyship, and the sweet child.^
to the tender mercies of mine own Lord Jesus, and the good-will
i/ Him, who dwelt in the bush ; I rest,
Yours, in his own sweetest Lord Jesus, S« R.
Edmbmgh, July S8, 1636.
LETTER LXIL
TO THE LADT CULR088«
Madam, — ^Your letter came in due time to me, now a prisoner
of Christ, and in bonds for the Gospel
I am sentenced with deprivation and confinement within the
town of Aberdeen-^but oh, my. guiltiness, the follies of my youth,
the neglects in my calling, and especially in not speaking more for
the Kingdom, zr .wn, and sceptre of my royal and princely King,
Jesus, do so sta.e me in the face, that 1 apprehend danger in that
which is a crown of rejoicing to the dear saints of God ! This,
before my compearance,' (which was three several days,) did
IrouUe me, and burdeneth me more now ; howbeit Christ, and, in
> Archibald Campbell, afterwards Marquis of Argyll
> Appearance in obedience to legal citat*oft.
116 rutherfor'ds letters.
him, Qod, reconciled, met me with open arms, an J trysted* me,
precisely at the entry of the door of the Chancelk r's hall, and
assisted me to answer so as the advantage that is, is not theirs,
but Christ's. Alas ! it is no cause of wondering, that I am thus
borne down with challenges ;* for the world hath mistaken me,
and no man knoweth what guiltiness is in me, so well as these
two, (who keep my eyes now waking, and ray heart heavy,) I
mean, my heart and cot^cience, and my Lord, who is greater than
my heart.
Show your brother that I desire him, while he is on the watch-
tower, to plead with his mother, and to plead with this land, and
to spare not to cry, for the fair crown of my sweet Lord Jesus, that
the interdicted and forbidden lords* are plucking off his royal head
If I were free of challenges* and a High Commission within mv
0oul, I would not give a straw to go to my Father's house, through
ten deaths, for the truth and cause of my lovely, lovely Que,
Jesus ! but I walk in heaviness now.
If ye love me, and Christ in me, my dear Lady, pray, pray for
this only, that bygones < betwixt my Lord and me, mav be by-
gones ]* and that he would pass from the summons of his High
Commission, and seek nothing from me, but what he will do for
me, and work in me. If your Ladyship knew me, as I do myself,
ye would say, " Poor soul ! no marvel." It is not my apprehen>
sion that createth this cross to me ; it is too real, and hath sad and
certain grounds. But I will not believe that God will take this
advantage of me when my back is at the wall.* He, who forbid-
^deth to add affliction to affliction, will he do it himself? Why
should he pursue a dry leaf and stubble? Desire him to spare
me now. Also the memory of the fair feast-days that Christ and
I had in his banqueting house-of-wine, and of the scattered flock
once committed to me, and now taken off my hand by himself
because I was not so faithful in the end, as I was in the first two
years of my entry, when sleep departed from my eyes, because my
soul was taken up with a care for Christ's Lambs ; even these add
sorrow to my sorrow.
Now, my Lord hath only given me this to say, and I write it
under mine own hand, (be ye the Lord's servant's witness,^ wel-
come, welcome, sweet, sweet cross of Christ : welcome, welcome,
fair, fair, lovely, royal King, with thine own cross ! Let us all
three go to Heaven together. Neither care I much to go from the
south of Scotland to the north ; and to be Christ'9 prisoner amongst
unco* faces, — a place of this kingdom which I have little reason
to be in love with. I know that Christ will ma''e Aberdeen my
farden of delights. I am fully persuaded that S« otiand shall eat
Szekiel's book, that is written within and without with lamenta-
tion, and mourning, and wo, (Ezek. ii. 10,) but the saints shall
1 Appointed a meeting with me. * Self-accosatioiit.
> 1 Pet ▼. 3. 4 That past offences may be fbniTen and IbrgaCtaA.
< That it, when I am in this distressed condit <on. t Strange.
Rutherford's letters. 117
ffet a drink of the well, that goeth through the streets of the New
Jerusalem, to put it down.
Thus, ' hoping that ye will think upon the poor Prisoner of
Christ, I pray that grace, grace be with you.
Your Ladyship's, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R.
Edinbiugh, July 30, 1636.
LETTER LXIII.
TO MR. ROBERT CUNNINGHAM,
MINISTER OP THE GOSPEL AT HOLYWOOD, IN IRELAND.
Well-beloved, and Reverend Brother, — Grace, mercy,
and peace, be to you — Upon acquaintance in Christ, I thought good
to take the opportunity of writing to you. Seeing it hath seenled
good to the Lord of the harvest to take the hooks > out of our hands
for a time, and so lay upon us a more honorable service, even to
suffer for his name, it were good to comfort one another in writing.
I have had a desire to see you in the face, yet now, being the
Prisoner of Christ, it is taken away. I am greatly comforted to
hear of your stately spirit, for your princely and royal Captain,
Jesus Christ, our Lord, and of the grace of God in the rest of our
dear brethren with you.
You have heard of my trouble I suppose. It hath pleased oui
sweet Lord, Jesus, to let loose the malice of these interaicted lords*
in his house, to deprive me of my ministry at Anwoth, and to con-
fine me, eightscore miles from thence, to Aberdeen ; and, also,
(which was not done to any before,) to inhibit me to speak at all
in the name of Jesus, within this kingdom, under the pain of re-
bellion. The cause that ripened their hatred was my book against
the Arminians, whereof they accused me those three days on
which I appeared before them; but, let our crowned King in
Zton reign ! by his grace the loss is theirs, the advantage is
Christ's and truth's. Albeit this honest cross gained some ground
on me by my heaviness, and my inward challenges' of conscience
for a time were sharp, yet now, for the encouragement of you all,
I dare say it, and write it under my hand, " Welcome^ welcome^
^tteei, sweet cross of Christ, ^^ I verily think that the chains of
my Lord Jesus are all overlaid with pure gold, and that his cross
is perfumed, and that it smelleth of Christ ; and that the victory
shall be by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of his truth ;
and that Christ lying on his back, in his weak servants and op-
pressed truth, shall ride over his enemies' bellies, and shall " strike
through kings in the day of his wrath." It is time that we lauffh
wh«[i he laugheth; and seeing he is now pleased to sit with ^
I Siekles. t The pi«UtM, 1 Pet ▼. 3.
* SeU^accotrndoiM. < Bear wUh io nlenee.
118 rutherforl's letters.
wrongs for a time, it becometh us to be silent, until the Lord hath
let the enemies enjoy their hungry, lean, and feckless ' paradise.
Blessed are they who are content to take strokes with weeping
Christ ; faith will trust the Lord, and is not hasty, nor headstrong ;
neither is faith so timorous as to flatter a temptation, or to bud*
and bribe the cross. It is little up or little down* that the Lamb
and his followers can |^et no law-surety, nor truce with crosses ; it
must be so, till we be up in our Father's house.
My heart is wo^ indeed for my mother church, that hath played
the harlot with many lovers ; for her Husband hath a mmd to
sell her for her horrible transgressions, and heavy will the hand
of the Lord be upon this backsliding nation. The ways of our
Zion mourn ; her gold is become dmi, her white Nazarites are
black like a coal; how shall the children not weep, when the
husband and the mother cannot agree ! Yet I beUeve Scotland's
sky will clear again, and that Christ will build again the old
waste places of Jacob ; and that our dead and dry bones shall be-
come an army of living men ; and that our Well-beloved may yet
feed among the lilies, until the day break, and the shadows flee
away.
My dear brother, let us help one another with our prayers.
Our King will mow down his enemies, and will come from bozrah,
with his garments all dyed in blood, and for our consolation will
he appear, and call his wife Hephzibah,* and his land Beulah;*
for he will rejoice over us, and marry us, and Scotland will say,
" What have I to do any more with idols ?" Only let us be faith-
ful to Him who can ride through Hell upon a windlestrae^ and
his horse never stumble: — and let him make of me a bridge over
a water, so that his high and holy name may be glorified in me.
Strokes with the sweet Mediator's hand are very sweet ; he has
always been sweet to my soul, but since I suffered for him his
breath hath a sweeter smell than before. Oh, that every hair of
my head, and every member, and every bone in my body, were a
man, to witness a fair confession for him ! I should think all too
little for him. When I look over beyond the line, and beyond
death, to the laughing side of the world, I triumph and ride upon
the high places of Jacob, howbeit, otherwise 1 am a faint, dead-
hearted, cowardly man, often borne down, and hungry in waiting
for the marriage-supper of the Lamb. Nevertheless, 1 think it
the Lord's wise love that feedeth us with hunger, and maketh us
fat with wants and desertions.
I know not, my dear brother, if our worthy brethren be gone to
1 Unsubstantial, unreal.
* Bud, bribe. 7b bud and bribe, at it were to force bribes upon. These alUterativt
phrases express, in the Scottish dialect, intensity of meaning.
t A small matter, of no importance. * GrieTOa.
s That is, my ddight is in her, • That is, marriad, Isaiah zfii 4.
T A dead, and withered stalk of crested do{^s-tail grass. {Cynoninu critiahu. —
Lin.) The meaning of Rutherford is, tl atChnst can, bj the very feeblest and noit
oontemptible instrumentality, triumphantly conquer all the united poweis of Death
and He IL
119
■ea or not : they are on my heart, and in my prayers. If they be
yet with you, salute my dear friend John Stuart ; my well-
beloved brethren in the Lord, Mr. Blair, Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Liv-
mgston, and Mr. Macleland, and acquaint them with my troubles,
and entreat them to pray for the poor afBicted Prisoner of Christ,
they aYc dear to my soul. I seek your prayers and theirs for my
flock ; the remembrance of them breaks my heart. I desire to
love that people, and others of my dear acquaintance in Christ,
with love in God, and as God loveth them. I know that He, who
sent me to the West and South, sendelh me also to the North. I
shall charge my soul to believe and to wait for him, and shall
follow his providence, and not go before it, nor stay behind it.
Now, my dear brother, taking farewell on paper, I commend
you to all the word of his grace, and to the work of His Spirit, to
Him, who holdeth the Seven Stars in his right hand, that you may
be kept spotless till the day of Jesus, our Lord.
I am your brother in affliction,
In our sweet Lord Jesus, S. R.
From Inrin^, being on my journey to
Chrbt't Palace in Aberdeen.
August 4, 1636.
LETTER LXIV.
TO ALEXANDER GORDON, OF EARLSTON.
Much Honored Sir, — 1 find small hopes of Q.'s business. — I
intend, after the council-day, to go on to Aberdeen. The Lord is
with me ; I care not what man can do. I burden no man, and I
want nothing. No king is better provided than I am. Sweet,
sweet, and easy is the cross of my Lord. All men whom I look
in the face, (of whatsoever rank, nobles and poor, acquaintance
and strangers,) are friendly to me. My Well- beloved is some
kinder and more warmly* than ordinary, and conieth and visiteth
my soul. My chains are over-gilded with gold. Only the remem-
brance of my fair days with Christ in Anwoth, and of my dear
flock (whose case is my heart's sorrow,) is vinegar to my sugared
wine — yet both sweet and sour feed my soul. No pen, no words,
no ingine,' can express to you the loveliness of my only, only
Lord, Jesus.
Thus, in haste, making for my palace at Aberdeen, I bless you,
your wife, your eldest son, and other children.
Grace, grace be with you.
Yours, in his only, only Lord Jesus, S. R.
Edbit^jrgli, Sept 5, 1636.
1 WAim. s Qenni.
130 Rutherford's lbttbrs.
LETTER LXV.
TO RiBERT GORDON, OP KNOCKBREX.
My Dearest Brother, — ^I see Christ thinking shame,* (if I
may speak eo,) to be in such a poor man's common* as mine. I
burden no man. 1 want nothing. No face bath gloomed* upon
me since I left you. God's sun and fair weather conveyeth me to
my time-paradise in Aberdeep. Christ hath so handsomely fitted
for my shoulders this rough tree of the cross, as that it burteth me
nowise. My treasure is up in Christ's coffers ; my comforts are
greater than ye can believe ; my pen shall lye for penury of words
to write of thiem. God knoweth that I am filled with the joy of
the Holy Ghost. Only the memory of you, my Dearest in the
Lord, my flock, and others, keepeth me under, and from being ex-
alted above measure. Christ's sweet sauce hath this sour mixed
witb it ; but oh, such a sweet and pleasant taste !
I find small hopes of Q.'s matter. Thus in haste. Remember
me to your wife, and to William Gordon.
Grace be with you.
Yours, in his only, only Lord Jesus, S. R.
Edinbarghj Sept. 5, 1636.
LETTER LXVI.
TO ROBERT GORDON, OF KNOCKBREX.
Dear Brother, — Grace, mercy and peace be to you — I am,
by God's mercy, come now to Aberdeen, the place of my confine-
ment, and settled in an honest man's house. I find the townsmen
cold, and general, and dry, in their kindness ; yet I find a lodging
in the heart of many strangers. My challenges^ are revived
again, and I find old sores are bleeding of new ; so dangerous and
Eainful is an undercoted* conscience ; yet I have an eye to the
lood that is physic for such sores. JBut verily, I see that Chris-
tianity is conceived to be more easy and lighter than it is; so
that I sometimes think, that I never knew anything but the let-
ters of that name ; for our nature contenteth itself with little iu
godliness. Our " Lord, Lord," seemeth to us, ten " Lords, Lords."
Little holiness in our balance is much because it is our holiness ;
and we love to lay small burdens on our sod natures, and to make
a fair court-way to Heaven ; and I know it were necessary to take
more pains than we do, and not to make Heaven a city more
easily taken than God hath made it. I persuade myself thai
I Ashamed. * Under obfigation to. * Piowned.
« Self-aocusatioM. ' Fettering under the skin.
RUTBBRF<<RO's LETTERS. 121
many runoers will come 8h%«rt and shall get a di8api>oiDtinent
Oh ! how easy is it to deceive ourselves, and to sleep and wish
that Heaven may fall down into our laps !
Yet for all my Lord's glooms, * I find him sweet, gracious, lov-
ing, kind ; and I want both pen and words to set forth the fair-
ness, beauty, and sweetness, of Christ's love, and the honor of this
cross of Christ, which is glorious to me, though the world thinketh
shame* thereof. I verily think that the cross of Christ would
olush and think shame' of those thin-skinned worldUngs, who are
so married to their credit that they are ashamed of the sufferings
of Christ. Oh the honor to be scourged and stoned with Christ,
and to go through a furious faced death to life eternal ! — but men
would have law-burrows* against Christ's Cross.
Now, my dear brother, forget not the prisoner of Christ ; for I
see very few here who kindly fear God. Grace be with you. Let
my love in Christ, and hearty affection, be remembered to your
kind wife, and to your brother, John, and to all friends. The
Lord Jesus be with your spirit.
Yours, in his only, only Lord Jesus, S. R.
Abeideen, Sept 90, 1636.
LETTER LXVIL
FOR WILLIAM PULLERTON, PROVOST OP KIRKCUDBRIGHT.
Much Honored, and very Dear Friend, — Grace, mercy
and peace be to you — I am in good case, blessed be the Lord, re-
maining here in this unco* town,, a prisoner for Christ and His
truth : and I am not ashamed of His cross ; my soul is comforted
with the consolations of His sweet presence for whom I suffer.
I earnestly entreat you to give your honor and authority to
Christ, and for Christ ; and be not dismayed for flesh and blood,
while you are for the Lord, and for His truth and cause. And,
howbeit, we see truth put to the worse for the time, yet Christ will
be a fiiend to truth, and will do for* those, who dare hazard all that
they have for Him, and for His glory. Sir, our fair day is coming,
and the court will change, and wicked men shall weep after noon,
aCnd sorer than the sons of God, who weep in the morning. Let
us believe and hope for God's salvation.
Sir, I hope that I need not write to you for your kindness and
love to my brother, who is now to be distressed for the truth of
God, as well as 1 am. I think myself obliged to pray for you and
your worthy and kind bed-fellow and children, for your love to Him
and me also. I hope your pains for us in Christ shall not be
V08t.
> Frowns. t Is ashamed. * Be asbamiKi,
« Security o1)Caiiied fVom one on swearing the peace againat him.
• Strange • Act for.
122 Rutherford's letters.
Thus recommending you to the tender mercy and loving-ktud-
ness of God, I rest,
Yonr very loving and affectionate brotler, S. R.
Aberdeen, Sept 31, 1636.
LETTER LXYIII.
TO HIS PARISHIONERS AT ANWOTH.
Dearly Beloved in our Lord, — Grace, mercjr and peace
from God our Father, and from our Lord, Jesus Chnst, be multi-
plied upon you. •
I long exceedingly to hear of your on-going and advancement
in your journey to the Kingdom of Qod. My only joy out of
Heaven is to hear that the seed of God sown among you is grow-
ing, and comi|ig to a harvest ; for I ceased not, while I was
among you, in season and out of season, (according to the meas-
ure of grace given unto me,) to warn and to stir up your minds ;
and 1 am free from the blood of all men ; for I have communicated
to you the whole counsel of Grod. And I now, again, charge, and
warn you, in the great, and dreadful name, and in the sovereign
authority of the King of kings and Lord of lords ; and I beseech
you also by the mercies of God, and by the bowels of Christ, by
your appearance before Christ Jesus, our Lord, by all the plagues
that are written in Grod's book, by your part of the holy city, the
New Jerusalem, that ye keep the truth of God as 1 delivered it to
you before many witnesses, in the sight of God and His holy ao-
gels ; for now the last days are come and coming, when many
forsake Christ Jesus, and He saith to you, " Will ye also leave
me?"
Remember that I forewarned you to forbear the dishonoring of
the Lord's blessed name, in swearing, blaspheming, cursing, and
the profaning of the Lord's Sabbath ; willing you to give that day
from morning to night to praying, praising, hearing of the Word,
conferring, and speaking, not your own words, but God's words ;
thinking and meditating on Qod's nature, word and works : and
that every day, at morning and at night, (at least,) ye should sanc-
tify the Lord, by praying in your houses, publicly, in the hearing
of all ; that ye should in any sort forbear the receiving the Lord's
Supper but after the form that I delivered it to you, according to
the example of Christ our Lord ; that is, that ye should sit, as
banqueters, at one table with our King, and eat and drink, and
divide the elements one to another : — the timber and stones of
the church walls shall bear witness that my soul was refreshed
with the comforts of God in that supper : — and that crossing in
oaptism was unlawful, and against Christ's ordinance ; and that
no day, (besides the Sabbath, which is (f his o^^ appointment^)
should be kept holy, and sanctified with preaching and the pubUc
123
worship of God, for the memory of Christ's birth, death, resurrec-
tion, and ascension ; seeing such days so observed are unlawful,
wilt-worship, and not warranted in Christ's word : and that every-
thing in God's worship, not warranted by Christ's testament and
word, was unlawful : and, also, that idolatry, worshipping of God
before hallowed creatures, and adoring of Christ, by kneeling be-
fore bread and wine, was unlawful : and that ye should be humble,
sober, modest, forbearine pride, envy, malice, wrath, hatred, conten-
tion, debate, lying, slandering, stealing, and defrauding your neigh-
bors, in grass, corn or cattle, in buying or selling, borrowmg or lend-
ing, taking or giving, in bargains or covenants : and that ve should
work with your own hands, and be content with that wnich God
nath given you : that ye should study to know God, and His will,
and keep in mind the doctrine of the Catechism, which I taught you
carefully, and speak of it in your houses, and in the fields, when
ye lie down at night, and rise in the morning : that ye should be-
lieve in the Son of dod, and obey His commandments, and learn
to make your accounts in time with the Judge ; because death
and jud^ent are before you.
And if ye have now penury, and want of that word which I
delivered to you in abundance — yea, (to God's hoaor I speak it,
without arrogating anvthing to myself, who am but a poor, empty
man,) ye had as much of the word, in nine years, while 1 was
among you, as some others have had in many — mourn for your
loss of time and repent. My soul pitieth you, that you should suck
dry breasts, and be put to draw at dry wells. Oh, that ye would
esteem highly the Lamb of Grod, your Well-beloved, Christ Jesus,
whose virtues and praises I preached unto you with joy, and which
He did countenance and accompany with some power ; and that
ye would call to mind the many fair days and glorious feasts
in our Lord's house-of-wine, that ye and I have had with Christ
Jesus !
But if there be any among you who take liberty to sin, because
I am removed from amongst you, and forget that word of truth
which ye heard, and turn the grace of God into wantonness, I
here, under my hand, in the name of Christ, my Lord, write to
such persons all the plagues of God, and all the curses that ever I
preacned in the pulpit of Anwoth against the children of disobe-
dience: and, as the Lord liveth, the Lord Jesus will make good
what I write unto you. Therefore, dearly-beloved, fulfil my joy :
fear the great and dreadful name of the Lord : seek God with me.
Scotland's judgment sleepeth not : awake, and repent ! The
sword of the Lord shall go from the north to the south, from the
east to the west, and through all the corners of the land; and that
sword shall be drunk with your blood among the first ; and I shall
stand up as a witness against vou, if ve do not amend your ways
and your doings, and turn to the Lord with all your heart.
I beseech you also, my dearly-belovei in the Lord, my joy, and
my crown, be not offended at the sufierin^s of me, the prisoner of
Jesus Christ I am filled with joy and with the comforts of God.
in BUTHBRFORP'S LETTBR8.
Upon my salvation, I know and am persuaded, that it is for God's
truth, and the honor of my King and royal Prince, Jesus, that I
now suffer : — and howbeit this town be my prison, yet Christ hatli
made it my palace, a garden of pleasures, a field and orchard of
delights. I know likewise, albeit 1 be in bonds, hat yet the word
of God is not in bonds ; my spirit also is in free-ward.' Sweet,
sweet hav» bis comforts been to my soul ; my pen, tongue, and
heart, have not words to express the kindness, love and mercy, of
my Well-beloved' to me, in this house of ray pilgrimage.
I charge you to fear and to love Christ ; and to seek a house
not made with hands, your Father's house above. This laughing
and white-skinned world beguileth you ; and if ye seek it more
than God, it will play you a slip, to the endless sorrow of your
heart. Alas, I could not make many of you to fall in love with
Christ ; howbeit I endeavored to speak much good of him, and to
commend him to you, which as it was your sin, so it is my sor-
row ! yet, once again, suffer me to exhort, beseech, and obtest vou,
in the Lord, to think of his love, and to be delighted with him,
who is altogether lovely : — I give you the word of a King, that ye
will not repent it.
Ye are in my prayers night and day ; I cannot forget you : I do
not eat, I do not drink, but I pray for you all. **
1 entreat you all, and every one of you, to pray for me. Grace,
grace be with you.
Tour lawful, and loving pastor, S. R.
Aberdeen, Sept. S3, 1637.
LETTER LXIX.
TO THE NOBLE, AND CHRISTIAN LADT, THE VISCOUNTESS OP
KENMURE.
My VERY Honorable, and dear Lady, — Grace, mercy, and
peace be to you— I cannot forget your Ladyship, and that sweet
child. I desire to hear what the Lord is doing to you and him :—
to write to me were charity. I cannot but write to my friends,
that Christ hath trysted ' me in Aberdeen ; and my adversaries
have sent me here to be feasted with love-banquets, with my royal,
high, high, and princely King, Jesus. Madam, why should I
smother Christ's honesty ? I dare not conceal his goodness to my
soul ; lie looked fremm^* and unco like^ upon me, when I came
first here ; but I believe himself better than his looks. I shall not
again quarrel with Christ for a gloom,' now that he hath taken
the mask off his face, and saith, <* Kiss thy fill ;" and what can I have
more, whill I get great heaven in my little arms ? Oh, how sweet
» HaUi Kbcrty of cgrew. f Appointed me to aeel hn.
> Diitant, strange in manner.
^ AppaFBotly etomge and icaenred in manner. • A ftown.
Rutherford's letters. 126
&re the sufferings of Christ, for Christ! God forgive them that
raise an ill report upon the sweet cross of Christ ; it is but our
weak and dim eyes, that look but to the black side, that maketh
us mistake. Those who can take that crabbed tree handsomely
upon their back, and fasten it on cannily,' shall find it such a bur-
den as wings are unto a bird, or sails to a ship. Madam, rue not
of your having chosen the better part. Upon my salvation, this
is Christ's truth which I now suffer for. If I found but cold com-
fort* in my sufferings, I would not beguile others ; I should have
told you plainly. But the truth is, Christ's crown, his sceptre, and
the freedom of his kingdom, is that which is now called in ques-
tion ; because we will not allow that Christ ought to pay tribute,
and be a vassal to the shields of the earth ; therefore, the sons of
our mother are angry at us. But it becometh not Christ to hold
any man's stirrup. It were a sweet and honorable death to die
for the honor of that royal and princely king, Jesus. His love is
as a mystery to the world. I would not have believed that there
was so much in Christ as there is. "Come and see," maketh
Christ to be known in his excellency and glory. I wish all this
nation knew how sweet his breath is. It is little to see Christ in
a book, as mea do the world in a card ; • they talk of Christ by
the book and the tongue, and no more, but to come nigh Christ,
and hause* him, and embrace him, is another thing. Madam,
I write to. your honor, for your encouragement in that honorable
profession which Christ hath honored you with. Ye have gotten
the sunny side of the brae,» and the best of Christ's good things ;
he hathjoot given you the bastard's portion; and, howbeit ye get
strokes, and sour looks from your Lord, yet believe his love more
than your own feeling, for this world can take nothing from you
that is truly yours, and death can do you no wrong. Your rock
doth not ebb and flow, but your sea. That which Christ hath
said, he will bide by.« He will be your tutor. Ye shall not get
Jour charters of Heaven to play yourself with. It is good that ye
ave lost your credit with Christ, and that Lord Freewill shall
not be your tutor. Christ will lippen^ the taking of you to Hea-
ven neither to yourself nor any deputy, but only to himself —
blessed be your Tutor! When your Head shall appear, your
Bridegroom and Lord, your day shall then dawn, and it will never
have an afternoon, nor an evening shadow. Let your child be
Christ's : let him stay beside you as the Lord's pledge, that you
shall willingly render again, if God will. Madam, I find folks
here kind to me, but in the night and under their breath. My
Master's cause may not come to the crown of the causeway.*
Others are kind according to their fashion. Many think me a
I Pradently, with skilful adaptation. t Dbcoura^ment.
^ Chart. « Claap around the neck, embrace.
• Slope, decBWty. Swmy Me qf itu brae^ a proTerbial ezpreistoa, denoting the
iM ahehered, warm, plentiful, and comfortable ntnation.
• Stand to. v Introat
• 7>> earns i9 Hu ercwn qfiiu oniftiM^, to appear openlj in pabUc mUMMit ftar of
126 RUTHEB ford's LETTERS.
Strange maD, aad iny cause not good ; but I care not much foi
man's thoughts or approbation.
I think no shame ' of the cross. The preachers of this town
pretend great love, but the prelates have added to the rest this
gentle cruelty, (for so they think it,) to discharge me of the pulpits
of this town. The people murmur and cry out against it: and to
speak truly, (howbeit Christ is most indulgent to me otherwise,)
my silence on the Lord's day keepeth me from being exalted above
measure, and from startling* in the heat of my Lord's love. Some
people affect me ; for the which cause, I hear the preachers here
propose to have my confinement changed to another place ; so
cold is northern love : but Christ and 1 will bear it I have wres-
tled long with this sad silence. I said, What aileth Christ at my
service 7 and my soul hath been at a pleading with Christ, and at
yea and nay ; but I will yield to him, providing my suffering may
preach more than my tongue did ; for I gave not Christ an iDcb,
but for twice as good again: — in a word, I am a fool, and he is
God. I shall hold my peace hereafter.
Let me hear from your Ladyship, and your dear child. Pray
for a prisoner of Christ, who is mindful of your Ladyship. Re-
member my obliged obedience to my good Lady Mar. Grace,
grace be with you. 1 write and pray blessings to your sweet child.
Yours, in all dutiful obedience, in his only Lord Jesus, S. R.
Abeideen, Ifov. 22, 1636.
LETTER LXX.
TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE, AND CHRISTIAN LADY, MY LADT
VISCOUNTESS OF KENMURE.
Madam, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you — ^I received your
Ladyship's letter. It refreshed me in my heaviness. The bless-
ing and prayers of a prisoner of Christ come upon you. Since
my coming hither, GbUoway hath sent me not a hne, except what
my brother, Earlston, and his son did write. I cannot get my
Eapers transported : but madam, I want not kindness of One Vi ho
ath the gate* of it; Christ, (if he had never done more for roe
since I was born,) hath engaged my heart, and gained my blessing,
in this house of my pilgrimage. It pleaseth my Well-beloved to
dine with a poor prisoner, and the King's spikenard casteth a
fragrant smell. Nothing grieveth me but that I eat my feasts
alone, and that I cannot edify his saints. Oh, that this nation
knew what is betwixt him and me; none would scaur ^ at the
cross of Christ ! My silence eateth me up : but he hath told me
t Am not afhamed.
• TV wtartU, to run about in a wild and excited manner, as cattle do in hot weather
when Btani{ hj the gadfly. Ratherford meana that hit fbroed silence oo the Lord*e
day kept mm from being eialted, by hia peiaecutiona, ab rrt meaaare.
* Way. « Boggle.
ruthlrford's letters . 127
thai he tbanketh ine no less than if I were preaching daily. He
seelh how gladly I would be at it ; and, therefore, my wages are
going to the fore' up in Heaven, as if I were still preaching Christ.
Captains pay duly bedfast soldiers, howbeit they dow not' march
nor carry armor. " Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be
glorious in the eyes of my Lord, and my Lord shall be my
strength, (Isa. xlix. 5.) My garland, — the ." Banished Minister--
— the terra of Aberdeen — ashameth me not. I Ijave seen the white
side of Christ's cross — lovely hath he been to his oppressed ser-
vant ! (Psal. cxlvi. 7, 8, 9,) "The Lord executeth judgment for
the oppressed ; he giveth food to the hungry : the Lord looseth the
prisoner ; the Lord raiseth them that are bowed down : the Lord
preserveth the stranger." If it were come to exchanging of
crosses, I would not exchange my cross with any : I am well
pleased with Christ, and he with me ; I hope that none shall hear
us. * It is true, that for all this I get my meat with many strokes,
and am seven times a day up and down, and am often anxious and
cast down for the case of my oppressed brother ; yet I hope that
the Lord will be surety for his servant. But now, upon some
weak, very weak experience. I am come to love a rumbling, and
raging devil best : seeing we must have a devil to hold the saints
waking, I wish a cumbersome devil, rather than a secure and
sleeping one. At my first coming hither, I took the dorts^ at
Christ, and took up a stomach against him. I said he had cast
me over the dyke* of the vineyard like a dry tree. But it was his
mercy, I see, that the fire did not burn the dry tree : and now, as
if my Lord Jesus had done that fault, and not I who belied my
Lord, be hath made the first mends,* and he spake not one word
a^^iDst me ; but he hath come again and quickened my soul with
his presence; nay, now I think the very annuity^ and casualties
of the cross of Christ Jesus, my Lord, and those comforts that ac-
company it, better than the world's set rent.* O how many rich
oflf-fallings are in my King's house ! I am persuaded, and dare
pawn my salvation on it, that it is Christ's truth which I now
suffer for. I know that his comforts are no dreams ; he would not
put his seal on blank paper, nor deceive his afflicted ones that
trust in him. Your Ladyship wrote to me that ye are an ill
scholar. Madam, ye must go m at Heaven's gates, and your book
in your hand, still learning. Ye have had your own large share
of troubles, and a double portion ; but it saith that your Father
counteth you not a bastard — full-begotten bairns* are nurtured,'*
(Heb. xii. 8.)
I lof^ to hear of the child. I write the blessings of Christ's
Piisoner and the mercies of God to him. Let him be Christ's and
> Ranning to aeeoont, io the coune of being laid op in itore.
• HATe not abilitj. > Prov. xiv. 10. « Pet, fuOii.
• Wall * Pint made amends. i Qaitrrent. • Pull rent
• Legitimate ehildien^ bj the tame parents on both fide*, in eontradtttinction to
children who are by the tame palint on the one tide, but by different parents on the
•Iher. » Correeted.
128
yours betwixt you, but let Christ be whole play-raaker ; ' let him
be the lender, and ye the borrower, not an owner.
Madam, it is not long since I wrote to your Ladyship, that
Christ is keeping mercy for you ; and I bide by it still, and now I
write it under my hand. Love him dearly. Win in' to see him.
There is in him that which you never saw. He is aye nigh, he
is a tree of life, green and blossoming, both summer and winter.
There is a nick^ in Christianity, to the which whosoever cometh
thcyr see and feel more than others can do. I invite you of new
to come to him. ^' Come and see" will speak better things of him,
than I can do: " Come nearer" will say much. God never thought
this world a portion worthy of you ; he would not even" you to a
gift of dirt and clay ; nay, he will not give you Esau's portion ;
but reserve the inheritance of Jacob for you. Are ye not well
married now ? Have ye not a good husband now 1
My heart cannot express what sad nights I have for the Yirgin
Daughter of my people ; wo is me, for our time is coming. (Gzek.
vii. 10,) '< Behold, the day, behold, it is come, the morning is gone
forth, the rod hath blossomed, pride hath budded: violence is
risen up into a rod of wickedness ;" the sun is gone down upon
(Alt propliets. A dry wind upon Scotland, but neither to fan nor
cleanse ; but out of all question, when the Lord hath cut down
his forest, the after-growth of Lebanon shall flourish. They shall
Slant vines in our mountain, and a cloud shall yet fill the Temple.
Tow the blessing of our dearest Lord, Jesus, and the blessing of
him that is separated from his brrethen, come upon you.
Yours, at Aberdeen, the Prisoner of Christ, S. R.
Aberdeen.
LETTER LXXI.
TO MR. HUGH MACKAIL.
Reverend and Dear Brother, — 1 thank you for your letter.
I cannot but show you, that as I never expected anything from
Christ but much good and kindness, so he bath made me to find
it in the house of my pilgrimage. And believe me, brother, I
give it to you under mine own hand-writ, that, whoso looketh to
the white side of Christ's cross, and can take it up handsomely
with faith and courage, will find it such a burden as sails are to a
ship or wings to a bird. I find that my Lord hath over-gilded
that black tree, and hath perfumed it, and oiled it, with joy and
consolation. Like a fool, once I would chide and plead with
Christ, and slander him to others of unkindness : but I trust in
God, not to call his glooms* unkind again; for he hath taken
from me my sackcloth ; and I, verily, cannot tell you, what a
t Sole director. * Qti in. • Notch, degree.
« Tb event diipangiiiglj to eqoal to. i Frowns.
aUTHERFORD's LETTERS. 129
poor, sold Joseph and prisoner, (with whom my mother's children
were angrj^,) doth now think of kind Christ. I shall chide no
more, providing he will quit me all by-gones,* for I am poor. I
am taught, in this ill-weather, to go on the lee-side of Christ, and
to put him in between me and the storm. I thank God I walk
ou the sunny side of the brae.* I write it, that ye may speak in
my behalf the praises of my Lord to others, that my bonds may
preach. Oh if* all Scotland knew the feasts, and love-blinks,*
and visits, that the prelates have sent me to ! I will verily give
my Lord Jesus a free discharge of all, that I, like a fool,, laid to
his charge, and beg him pardon to the mends.* God grant, that,
in my temptations, I come not on his wrong side again, and never
again fall a raving against my Physician, in my fever !
Brother, plead with your mother, while ye have time. A pulpit
would be a hish ftast to me ; but I dare not say one word against
Him, who hath done it. I am out of the house as yet ; my sweet
Master saith I shall have house-room at his own elbow, albeit
their synagogue will need-force • cast me out.
A letter were a work of charity to me. Grace be with you.
Pray for me
Your brother, and Christ's Prisoner, S. R.
Abeideen, Nov. 22, 1636.
LETTER LXXII.
TO JOHN FLEBfINO, B A I L L I E^ OF LEITH.
My very Dear Friend, — Grace, mercy and peace be to you.
I received your letter. I bless my Lord that, through Jesus Christ,
I find his word good, (Isa. xlviii. 10,) " I have chosen thee in the
furnace of affliction ;" and, (Psal. xci. 15,) "I will he with him in
trouble." I never expected other at Christ's hand than much
good and comfort ; and I am not disappointed. I find my Lord's
cross over-gilded and oiled with com/orts. My Lord hath now
shown nie the white side of his cross. I would not exchange my
weeping in prison with the Fourteen Prelates' laughter, amidst
their hungrjr and lean joys. This world knoweth not the sweet-
ness of Christ's love : it is a mystery to them.
At my first coming here, I found great heaviness, especially be-
cause it had pleased the prelates to add this gentle cruelty to my
former suflerings, (for it is gentle to them,) to inhibit the ministers
of the town to give me the liberty of a pulpit. I said. What aileth
Christ at my service? but I was b^ 'ool; he hath chided himself
friends with me. If ye, and others of God's children will praise
I Fonotr oHeooet.
s Slope. Sunny nde qft/u brae, the most thelterfd, warm, and comfoitable ntnatioii.
> Oh that * GUeama. gKmpeea. ' • To boot • Under plea o( neceiutj.
T A ma^Mtrata in a Scottiah borough, analogoua to an alderman in an EngUeh one.
130 RUTHERr'ORD*S LETTERS.
His great name, who maketh worthless men witnesses for him, my
silence and sufferings shall preach more than my tongue could
do. If his glory he seen in me, I am satisfied. I want for no
kindness of Christ. And, sir, I dare not smother his liberality. I
write it to you, that ye may praise, and desire your brother and
others to join with me in this work.
This land shall be made desolate. Our iniquities are fulL
The Lord saith that we shall drink, and spue, and falL Remem-
ber my love to your good, kind wife. Grace be with you.
Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R.
Abeideen, Nov. 23, 1636.
LETTER LXXIII.
TO EARLSTON, ELDER.
" And they overeame the Dragon bj the blood of the Lamb, and brthe word of theif
tesdmonj: and thej loved not their lives unto the death.*' — (Rev. xn. 11.)
Much Honored Sir, — Grace, mercy and peace be to you — I
long to see you on paper, and to be refreshed by you.
I cannot but desire you, and charge you, to help me to praiae
Him, who feedeth a poor prisoner with the fatness of his house.
Oh, how weighty is his love ! Oh, but there is much telling in
Christ's kindness ! The Amen, the Faithful and True Witness,
hath paid me my hundred-fold, well-told and one to the hundred.
I complained of him, but he is owing me nothing now. Sir, I
charge you to help me to praise his gc^ness, and to proclaim to
others my Bridegroom's kmdness, whose love is better than wine.
I took up an action against Christ, and bought a plea^ against
his love, and libelled unkindness against Christ, my Lord ; and I
said, " This is my death, he hath forgotten me," but- my meek
Lord held his peace, and beheld me, and would not contend for the
last word of fly ting,* and now he hath chided himself friends with
me ; and now I see that he must be God, and I must be flesh. I
pass from my summons. I acknowledge that he might have given
me my fill of it, and never troubled nimself ; but now he hath
taken away the mask; I have been comforted; he could not
smother his love any longer to a prisoner and a stranger — God
grant that I may never buy a plea ' against Christ again, but may
keep good quarters with him !
I want no' kindness, no love-tokens ; but oh, wise is his love !
for, notwithstanding this hot summer-blink,* I am. kept low with
the grief of my silence ; for his word is in me as a fire in ray
bowels ; and I see the Lord's vineyard laid waste, and the heathen
entered into the sanctuary ; and my belly is pained, and my soul
t Co a ^rawen j , • Soolding. * Am not in waal •t
• ^CHaam of the ann braaking thraogh &e eiooda.
Rutherford's lettek?. 131
in h^ayiness, because the Lord's people are gone ii lo captivity,
and because of the furv of the Lord, and that wind (but neither
to fan nor purge) which is coming upon apostate Scotland. I am
also kept awake with the late wrong- done to my brother; but I
trust that ye will counsel and comfort him. Yet in this mist, I
see, and believe, that the Lord will heal this halting kirk, and will
lay her stones with fair colors, and her foundations with sapphires,
and will make her windows of agates, and her gates carbuncles,
(Isa, liv. 11, 12,) and for brass he will bring gold. He hath created
the smith that formed the sword ; no weapon in war shall prosper
against us. Let us be glad, and rejoice in the Lord, for his salva-
tion is near to come.
Remember me to your wife and your son, John : and I entreat
you to write to me. Grace, grace be with you.
Tours, in his only, only Lord Jesus, S. R.
Aberdeen, Dec. 30, 1636.
LETTER LXXIV.
TO THE LADY CULR088.
^ These are thty which came <mt of great tribulation, and have washed their robes,
and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." — (Rev. Til 14.)
Madam, — Grace, mercy, and peace be multiplied upon you. I
greatly lon^ to be refreshed with your letter.
I am now, (all honor and glor^ to the King eternal, immortal,
and invisible !) in better terms with Christ than I was. I, lilce a
fool, summoned my Husband and Lord, and libelled unkindness
against him : but now I pass from that foolish pursuit, I give over
the plea * — he is God, and I am man. I was loosing a fast stone,
and digging at the ground-stone,* the love of my Lord, to shake
and unsettle it ; but, God be thanked, it is fast : all is sure. In my
prison, he hath shown me day-light ; he dought not* hide his love
any longer. Christ was disguised and masked, and I apprehended
it was not he ; and he hath said, '^ It is I, be not afraid !" and
now his love is better than wine.
Oh, that all the virgins had part of the Bridegroom's love,
whereupon he maketh me to feed ! Help me to praise : I charge
you, madam, help me to pay praises ; and tell others, the daugh-
ters of Jerusalem, how kind Christ is to a poor prisoner. He hath
paid me my hundred-fold ; it is well told me, and one to the hun-
dred. I am nothing behind with Christ. Let not fools, because
of their lazy and soft flesh, raise a slander and an ill report upon
the cross of Christ : it is sweeter than fair.
I see that grace groweth best in winter. This poor persecuted
kirk, this lily amon? the thorns, shall blossom and laugh upon the
GajTdener ; the Husbandman's blessing shall light upon it. Oh,
> Cootfoveipy. * Foundation. * Wai not able to.
132 Rutherford's letters.
ifi I could be free of jealousies^ of Christ after this ; and beUevei
and keep good quarters with my dearest Husband ! for be hath
been kind to the stranger ; and yet, in all this fair, hot summer-
weather, I am kept from saying, " It is good to be here," with my
silence, and with grief to see my Mother wounded, and her veil
taken from her, and the fair temple casten down ; and my b^lly
is pained, my soul is heavy for tne captivity of the Daughter of
my people, and because of the fury of the Lord, and his fierce in-
dignation against apostate Scotland.
I pray you, madam, to let me have that which is my prayer
here, that my sufferings may preach to the four quarters of this
land ; and, therefore, tell others how open-handed Christ hath been
to the prisoner, and the oppressed stranger — why should I conceal
it? I know no other way how to glorify Christ, than to make an
open proclamation of bis love, and of his soft and sweet kisses to
me in the furnace, and of his fidelity to such as suffer for him.
Give it me under your hand, that ye will help me to pray, and
praise ; but rather to praise and rejoice in the salvation of God.
Grace, grace be with you.
Yours, in his dearest, and only Lord Jesus, S. R.
Aberdeen, Dee. 30, 1636.
LETTER LXXV.
TO WILLIAM GORDON, OF ROBERTON.
Dear Brother, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you — So often
as I think on our case, in our soldier's night-watch, and of our
fighting-life in the fields, while we are here, I am forced to say,
prisoners in a dungeon, condemned by a judge to want the light
of the sun, and moon, and candle till their dying day, are no more,
nay, not so much, to be pitied as we are. For they are weary of
their life, they hate their prison ; but we fali-to, in our prison,
where we see little, to drink ourselves drunk with the night-plea-
sures of our weak dreams ; and we long for no better nfe than
this : but, at the blast of the Last Trumpet, and the shout of the
Archangel, when God shall take down the shepherd's tent of this
fading world, we shall have not so much as a arink of water of all
the dreams that we now build on. Alas! that the sharp and
bitter blasts on face and sides, which meet us in this life, have not
learned us mortification, and made us dead to this world ! We
buy our own sorrow, and we pay dear for it, when we spend out
our love, our joy,'our desires, our confidence, upon a handful of
snow and ice, which time shall melt away to nothing, and f^
thirsty out of the drunken inn when all is done. Alas 1 that we
inquire not for the clear fountain ! but are so foolish as to drink
foul, muddy, and rotten waters, even till our bed-time ; and then,
1 Oh that • Sospicioiiiu
hutherford's letters. 133
m the Resurrection, when we shall be awakened, our yesternight's
sour drink, and swinish dregs shall rift* up upon us; and sick,
sick shall ma,ny a soul be then.
I know not a wholesome fountain but one : I know not a thing
worth the buying, but Heaven. And my own mind is, that if
comparison were made betwixt Christ and Heaven, I would sell
Heaven with my blessing to buy Christ. Oh, if I could raise the
market for Christ, and heighten the market a pound for a penny,
and cry up Christ in men's estimation ten thousand talents more
than men think of him ! But they are shaping him, and crying
him down, to valuing him at their unworthy halfpenny ; or else
exchanging and bartering Christ with the miserable old fallen
house of this vain world : or then ' they lend him out upon inter-
est, and play the usurers with Christ. Because they profess him,
and give out before men that Christ is their treasure and stock ;
and, in the meantime, praise of men, and a name, and ease, and
the summer-sun of the Gospel, is the usury they would be at ; so
when the trial cometh, they quit the stock for the interest, and
lose alL Happy are they who can keep Christ by himself alone,
and keep him clean and whole till God come and count with
them«
I know that in your hard and heavy trials long since, ye thought
well and highly of Christ. But truly no cross should be old to us ;
we should not forget them because years are come betwixt us and
^them, and cast them by hand,^ as we do old clothes. We may
make a cross old in time, new in use, and as fruitful as in the be-
ginning of it. God is wnere, and what he was seven years ago,
whatever change be in us. I speak not this as if I thought that
ye had forgotten what God did to have your love long since ; but
that ye may awake yourself, in this sleepy age, and remember
fruitfully Christ's first wooing and suiting* of your love, both with
fire and water ; and try if he got his answer, or if ye be yet to
give k him. For I find in myself that water runneth not faster
through a sieve than our warnings slip from us ; for I have lost
and casten by-hand* many summonses which the Lord hath sent
me ; and, therefore, the Lord hath given me double charges, that
I trust in God shall not rive me. I bless His great name, who is
no niggard in holding in crosses upon me, but spendeth largely
his rc^s, that he may save me from this perishing world. How
plentiful God is in means of this kind is esteemed, by many, one
of God's unkind mercies ; but Christ's cross is neither a cruel nor
an unkind mercy, but the love-token of a father. I am sure that
a lover, chasing us for our well, and to have our love, should not
be run away from, nor fled from. God ^end me no worse mercy
than the sanctified cross of Christ portendeth, and I am sure that
I should be happy and blessed.
Pray for me, that I may find house-room in the Lord's house to
t Belch. i Ob that > OUitrwiae.
• Aiftde. • Urging a tuit • Cast tiUe.
134
speak in his name. Remember, my dearest love, in Christ, to
your wife. Grace, grace be with you.
Yours, in his sweet Lord, Jesus, S. R.
Aberdeen, 1636.
LETTER LXXVI.
TO JOHN KENNEDY, BAILLIE OP AYR.
Worthy, and Dear Brother, — Grace, mercy, and peace b«
to you — I long to see you in this northern world on paper; I know
it is not forgetfuiness that ye write not. I am every way in good
case, both in soul and body ; all honor and glory be to my Lord :
I want nothing but a further revelation of the beauty of the un-
known Son of God. Either I know not what Christianity is, or
we have stinted a measure of so many ounce weights and no more
upon holiness ; and there we are at a stand, drawing our breath
all our life — a moderation in God's way, now, is much in request.
I profess that I have never taken pains to find out Him whom my
soul loveth ; there is a gate^ yet of finding out Christ that I have
never lighted upon. Oh if I could find it out ! Alas, how soou
are we pleased with our own shadow in a glass ! It were good to
be beginning in sad earnest' to find out God, and to seek the right
tread of Christ. Time, custom, and a good opinion of ourselves,
our good meaning, and our lazy desires, our fair shows, and the
world's glistering lustres, and these broad passments* and busk-
ings' of religion, that bear bulk in the Kirk, is that wherewith
most satisfy themselves ; but a bed watered with tears, a throat
dry with praying, eyes as a fountain of tears for the sins of the
land, are rare to be found among us. Oh if we could know the
power of godliness !
This is one part of my case ; and another is, that I like a fool,
once summoned Christ for unkindness, and complained of h»
fickleness and inconstancy, because he would have no more of my
service nor preaching, and had casten me out of the inheritance
of the Lord ; and now I confess that this was but a bought plea,
and I was a fool ; yet he hath borne with me. I gave him a fair
advantage against me, but love and mercv would not let him take
it ; and the truth is, now he hath chided himself firiends with roe,
and hath taken away the mask, and hath renewed his wonted
favor in such a manner, that he hath paid me my hundred-fold in
this life, and one to the hundred. This prison is my banqueting
house ; I am handled as softly and delicately as a dawted * child.
I am nothing behind, (I see,) with Christ ; he can, in a month,
make up a year's losses. And I write this to you, that I may
entreat, nay, abjure and charge you, by the love of our WelUbe-
1 War. « Oh that * Sober eaneiL
* StriM of laee tewed on garmeDta, gaudj omamenU
• Deekiogt. • Fondled.
Rutherford's letters. 135
loved, to help me to praise ; and to tell all your Christian acquaint-
ance to help me, for I am as deeply drowned in his debt as any
dyvour* can be: and yet in this fair sunblink,« I have something
to keep me from startling,' or being exalted above measure — his
word is as fire shut up in my bowels, and I am weary with for-
bearing. The ministers in this town are saying that they will
have my prison changed into less bounds, because they see God
with me. My mother hath borne me a man of contention, one that
striveth with the whole earth. The late wrongs and oppressions
done to my brother keep my sails low : yet I defy crosses to em-
bark me in such a plea against Christ as I was troubled with of
late. I hope to over-hope and over-believe my troubles ; I have
cause now to trust Christ's promise more than bis gloom.^
Remember my hearty affection to your wife. My soul is grieved
for the success of our brethren's journey to New England ;• but
God hath somewhat to reveal that we see not Grace be with
you. Pray for the prisoner.
Yours, in hb only Lord Jesus, S. R.
Aberdeen, Jan. 1, 1637.
LETTER LXXVn.
TO MY LORD BOYD.
My very Honorable, and Good Lord, — Grace, mercy, and
peace be to your Lordship. — Out of the worthy report I hear of
your Lordship's zeal for this borne-down and oppressed Gospel, I
am bold to write to your Lordship, beseeching you by the mercies
of God. by the honor of our royal and princely King, Jesus, by the
sorrows, tears, and desolation of your afflicted Mother-church, and
by the peace of your conscience, and your joy in the day of Christ,
that your Lordship would go on, in the strength of your Lord, and
in the power of his might, to bestir yourself, for the vindicating of
the fallen honor of your Lord Jesus. Oh, blessed hands for ever-
more, that shall help to put the crown upon the head of Christ
again in Scotland ! I dare promise in the name of our Lord, that
this will fasten and fix the pillars and the stakes of your honora-
ble house upon earth if you lend and lay in pledge in Christ's
hand, (upon spiritual hazard,) life, estate, house, honor, credit,
nioyen,* friendb, the favor of men, (suppose kings with three
crowns,) so being that ye may bear witness, and acquit yourself
as a man of valor and courage, to the Prince of your salvation,
for the purging of his temple, and sweeping out the lordly Diotre-
pheses, time-courting Demases, corrupt Hymaneuscs and Phile-
luses, and other such oxen, that with tneir dung defile the Temple
1 Banknipt. ' Gleam of the ton.
* Over excHeoMent, an alliition to the wild and excited running about of cattle in •
h0C daj. « Frown. ^ See Letter CCL. • Interoet
136 Rutherford's letters.
of the Lord. Is not Christ now crying, '' Who will help me? who
will come out with me, to take part with me, and share in the
honor of my victory over these mine enemies, who have said, Wo
will not have this Man to rule over us '"
My very honorable, and dear Lord, join, join as ye do with
Christ ; he is more worth to you, and your posterity, than this
world's may-flowers, and withering riches and honor, that shall go
away as smoke, and evanish in a night vision, and shall in one
half-hour, after the blast of the Archangel's trumpet, lye in white
ashes. Let me beseech your Lordship to draw by ' the lap of
time's curtain, and to look in, through the window, to great and
endless eternity, and consider, if a worldly price, (suppose this liule
round clay globe of this ashy and dirty earth, the dying idol of
the fools of this world, were all your own,) can be given for one
smile of Christ's Grod-like and soul-ravishing countenance, in that
day, when so many joints and knees of thousand thousands wail-
ing shall stand before Christ, trembling, shouting, and making
their prayers to hills and mountains, to fall upon them, and hide
them from the face of the Lamb: Oh, how many would sell lord-
ships and kingdoms that day, and buy Christ ! But, oh, the mar-
ket shall be closed and ended ere then ! Your Lordship hath now
a blessed venture of winning court with the Prince of the kings of
the earth : he himself weeping, truth borne down and fallen in
the streets, and an oppressed Gospel, Christ's bride with watery
eyes, and spoiled of her veil, her hair hanging about her eyes,
forced to go in ragged apparel, the banished, silenced, and impri-
soned prophets of God, who have not the favor of liberty to pro-
phesy m sackcloth ; all these, I say, call for your help. Fear not
worms of clay, the moth shall eat them as a garment. Let the
Lord be your fear ; he is with you, and shall fight for you ; thus
shall ye cause the blessing of those, who are ready to perish, to
come upon you ; and ye shall make the heart of this your Mother-
church to sing for joy. The Ljamb and his armies are with you,
and the kingdoms of the earth are the Lord's. I am persuaded
that there is not another gospel, nor another saving truth, than
that which ye now contend for. I dare hazard my heaven and
salvation upon it, that this is the only saving way to glory.
Grace, grace be with your Lordship.
Your Lordship's,
At all respectful obedience in Christ| S. R.
Aberdeen, 1631
LETTER LXXVIIL
TO MARGARET BALLANTYNE.
Mistress, — Grace, mercy, and peace be unto you. — It is more
than time that I should have written to you, but it is yet good
1 Pait « DeltMkm.
Rutherford's letters. 137
tune, if I could help your soul to mend your pace, and to go more
swiftly to your heavenly country : for truly ye have need to make
all haste, because the inch of your day that remaineth will auickly
slip away ; for whether we sleep or wake, our glass runnetn — the
tide bideth no man. Beware of a beguile ' in the matter of your
salvation. Wo, wo for evermore, to them that lose that prize.
For what is behind, when the soul is once lost, but that sinners
warm their bits of clay-houses at a fire of their own kindling, for
a day or two, which doth rather suffocate with its smoke than
wann them ; and at length they lie down in sorrow, and are
clothed with everlasting shame I I would seek no further mea-
sure of faith to begin withal than to believe really and stedfastly
the doctrine of God's justice, his all-devouring wrath and ever-
lasting burning, where sinners are burnt, soul and body, in a
river and great lake of fire and brimstone : then they would wish
no more goods than the thousandth part of a cold fountain-well to
cool their tongue ; they would then buy death with enduring of
pain and torment for as many years as God hath created drops of
rain since the creation ; but there is no market of buying or selling
life or death there. Oh, alas ! the greatest part of this world run
to the place of that torment rejoicing and dancing, eating, drink-
ing, and sleeping. My counsel to you is, that ye start in time to
be after Christ ; for if ye go quickly, Christ is not far before you,
ye shall overtake him. O Lord God, what is so needful as this 1
'^ Salvation, salvation !" Fy upon this condemned, and foolish
world, that' would give so little for salvation ! Oh, if there were
a free market for salvation proclaimed in that day, when the
trumpet of God shall awake the dead, how many buyers would
be then ! God send me no more happiness than that salvation
which the blind world, (to their eternal wo,) letteth slip through
their fingers. Therefore, look if ye can give out your money (as
Isaiah speaketh, ch. Iv. 2,) for bread, and lay Christ and his blood
in wadset' for Heaven. It is a dry and hungry bairn's part of
goods that Esaus are hunting for here. I see thousands following
the chase, and in the pursuit of such things, while in the mean-
time they lose the blessing ; and, when all is done, they have
caught nothing to roast for supper, but lie down hungry ; and,
besides, they go to bed when they die, without a candle : for God
saith to them, "This shall ye have at my hand, ye shall lie down
in sorrow." (Isaiah 1. 11.) And truly this is as ill-made a bed
to lie upon as one could wish ; for he caonot sleep soundly, nor
rest sweetly, who hath sorrow for his pillow. Rouse, rouse up,
therefore, your soul, and speer* how Uhrist and your soul met
together. I am sure that they never got Christ, who were not
once sick at the yolk of the heart for him. Too, too many whole
souls think that' they have' met with Christ, who had never a
wearied night for the want of him : but alas ! what richer are
men, that they dreamed the last night they had much gold, and,
> Delusion. * AlMnadoa ander revenioii. * Inqnira.
138 Rutherford's letters.
when they awoke in the morning, they found it was but a dream ?
What are all the sinners in the world, in that day when heaven
and earth shall go up in a flame of fire, but a number of beguiled
dreamers? Every one shall say of his hunting and his conquest,^
'< Behold, it was a dream !" every man in that day will tell bia
dream. I beseech you, in the Lord Jesus, beware, beware of un-
sound work in the matter of your salvation : ye may not, ye can-
not, ye dow not * want Christ ; then, after this day, convene all
your lovers before vour soul, and give them their leave;* and
strike hands with Christ, that, thereafter, there may be no happi-
ness to you but Christ ; no hunting for anything but Christ ; no
bed at night, when death cometh, but Christ — Christ, Christ, who
but Christ ! I know this much of Christ, that he is not ill ^ to be
found, nor lordly of his love. Wo had been mv part of it for
evermore, if Christ had made a dainty of himself to me. But,
God be thanked, I gave nothing for Christ ; and now I protest,
before men and angels, that Christ cannot be exchanged, t]iat
Christ cannot be sold, that Christ cannot be weighed. Where
would angels, or all the world find a balance to weigh him in?
All lovers blush when ye stand beside Christ ! Wo upon all love
but the love of Christ ; hunger, hunger for evermore, be upon all
heaven but Christ ; shame, shame for evermore be upon all glory
but Christ's glory. I cry death, death upon all lifes* but the life
of Christ. Oh, what is it that holdeth us asunder? Oh, that
once we could have a fair meeting.
Thus recommending Christ to you, and you to him, for ever-
more, I rest. Grace be with you.
Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R.
Aberdeen, 1637.
LETTER LXXIX.
TO ROBERT GORDON, OF KNOXBREX.
My Dear Brother, — Grace, mercy and peace be multiplied
upon you — I am almost wearying, yea, wondering, that ye write
not to me ; though I know it is not forgetfulness.
As for myself, I am every way well, all glory to God. I was
before at a plea with Christ, but it was bought by me, and unlawful,
because his whole providence was not yea and nay to my yea and
nay, and, because 1 believed Christ's outward look better than his
faithful promise. Yet he hath in patience waited on, whill I be come
to myself, and hath not taken advantage of my weak apprehensions
of his goodness, — great, and holy is his name ! He looketh to what I
desire to be, and not to what I am. One thing I have learned. If I
1 Acquiaidon bj porchMe or indoilry. t Are not able.
* Ducharge. « Difficult, hanl.
* That k, all manner of lift, bat the lifb of Chriat in the eoaL
RUTHERFORiys LETTERS. 139
bad been in Christ, by way of adhesion only, as many branches
are, I should have been burnt to ashes, and this world would have
seen a suffering minister of Christ, (of something once in show,)
turned into unsavory salt. But my Lord Jesus had a good eye
that the Tempter should not play foul play, and blow out Christ's
candle. He took no thought of my stomach, and fretting and
erudging humor, but of his own grace. When he burnt the
house, he saved his own goods. And I believe that the Devil,
and the persecuting world shall reap no fruit of me, but burned
ashes : for he will see to his own gold, and save that from being
consumed with the fire.
Oh what owe I to the file, to the hammer, to the furnace of my
Lord Jesus ! who hath now let me see how good the wheat of
Christ is, that goeth through his mill, and his oven, to be made
bread for his own table. Grace tried is better than grace, and it
is more than grace, it is glory in its infancy. I now see that god-
liness is more than the outside, and this world's passments ^ and
th^r buskings.' Who knoweth the truth of grace without a
trial? Oh how little getteth Christ of us, but that which he win-
neth, (to speak so,) with much toil and pains ! And how soon
would faith freeze without a cross! How many dumb crosses
havQ been laid upon my back, that had never a tongue to speak
the sweetness of Christ, as this hath? When Christ blesseth his
own crosses with a tongue, they breathe out Christ's love, wisdom,
kindness, and care of us. Why should I start at the plough of
ray Lord, that maketh deep furrows on my soul ? I know that
he is no idle husbandman, he purposeth a crop. Oh, that this
white withered lea-ground ' were made fertile to bear a crop for
Him, by whom it is so painfully dressed ; and that this fallow-
ground were broken up ! Why was I (a fool !) grieved that he
put his garland, and his rose upon my head — the glory, and honor
of his faithful witnesses? I desire now to make no more pleas ^
with Christ. Verily he hath not put me to a loss by what I
suffer ; he oweth me nothing : for in my bonds how sweet and
comfortable have the thoughts of him been to me, wherein I find
a sufficient recompense of reward !
How blind are my adversaries, who sent me to a banqueting-
house, to a house-of-wine, to the lovely feasts of my lovely liOrd
Jesus, and not to a prison, or place of exile ! Why should I
smother my Husband's honesty, or sin against His love ? or be a
niggard in giving out to others what I get for nothing ? — Brother,
eat with me, and give thanks. I charge you before God, that ye
speak to others, and invite them to help me to praise ! Oh my debt
of praise, how weighty it is, and how lar run up ! Oh that others
would lend me to pay, and learn me to praise ! Oh I am a drowned
dyvour!* Lord Jesus, take my thougnts for payments. Yet I am
in this hot summer-blink* with the tear in my eye; for, by reason
> Oaudj trappings: pawneDts are strip* of lace aewed on mnnentt.
* Deekmga. > Land in gra«, as opposed to rtd^ or tilled groond.
< Unarrels. • BankmiS. < Oleam of the sun.
140 rutherfoie^d's letters.
of my silence, sorrow, sorrow hath filled me : iny h&rp k hanged
upon the willow trees, because I am in a strange land. I am still
kept in exercise with envious brethren ; my Mother hath borne
me a man of contention.
Write to me your mind anent Y. C. — I cannot forget him ; 1
know not what God hath to do with him : — and your mind anent
my parishioners' behavior ; and how they are served in preach-
ing, or if ther« be a minister as yet thrust in upon them, which I
deeire greatly to know, and which I much fear.
Dear brother, ye are in my heart, to live and to die with you.
Visit me with a letter. Pray for me. Remember my love to
your wife. Grace, grace be with you: and God, who heareth
prayer, visit you, and let it be unto you according to the prayers of
Your own brother, and Christ's prisoner, S. R.
Aberdeen, Januaiy h 1^7.
LETTER LXXX.
FOR MARION MACKNAUGHT.
My Dearly-beloved Sister, — Grace, mercy, and peace be
to you — I complain that Galloway is not kind to me on paper ; I
have received no letters these sixteen weeks, but two.
I am well. My prison is a palace to me, and Christ's banquet-
ing-honse. My Lord Jesus is as kind as they call Him. Oh, that
all Scotland knew my case, and had part of my feast ! I charge
you, in the name of God, I charge you to believe. Fear not the
sons of men, the worms shall eat them. To pray and believe
now, when Christ seemeth^ to give you a nay-say, * is more than it
was before. Die believing, die with Christ's promise in your hand.
I desire, I request, I charge your husband, and that town to
stand for the truth of the Grospel. Contend with Christ's enemies:
and I pray you to show all professors that you know mv case.
Help me to praise. The ministers here envy^me ; they will have
my prison changed. My mother hath borne me a man of conten-
tion, and one that striveth with the whole earth.
Remember my love to your husband. Grace be with you.
Yours, in the Lord, S. R<
Aberdeen, Jan. 3, 1$37.
LETTER LXXXL
TO MR. JOHN M E I N B .
Worthy and Dear Brother, — Grace, meicy, and peace be
to you — I have been too long in answering your letter, but other
I A deniaL
rotherford's letters. 141
business took me up. I am here waiting, U the fair wind will
turn upon Christ's sails in Scotland ; and if deliverance be break-
ing out over this overclouded and benighted Kirk. Oh, that we
could contend, by prayers and supplications, with our Lord for that
effect ! I know that He hath not given out His last doom against
this land. I have little of Christ, in this prison, but groanings, and
longings, and desires. All my stock of Christ is some hunger for
Him, (and yet I cannot say but I am rich in that ;) my faith, and
hope, and holy practice of new obedience, are scarce worth the
speaking of: but blessed be my Lord, who taketh me, light, and
clipped, and noughty,^ and feckless,* as I am. I see that^ Christ
will not prig' with me, nor stand upon stepping-stpnes,^ but com-
eth in at the broadside* without ceremonies, or making it nice,* to
make a poor ransomed one His own. Oh, that I could feed upon
His breathing, and kissing, and embracing, and upon the hopes
of my meeting and His, when love-letters shall not go betwixt us,
but He will be messenger himself ! But there is required patience
on'our part, till the summer fruit in Heaven be ripe for us. It is
in the bud^ but there be many things to do before our harvest
come : and we take ill with it, and can hardly endure to set our
paper-face to one of Christ's storms, and to go to Heaven with wet
feet, and pain, and sorrow. We love to carry a heaven to Heaven
with us, and would have two summers in one year, and no less
than two heavens ; but this will not do for us : — one, and such a
one ! may suffice us well enough : — the Man, Christ, got but oniB
only, and shall we have two ?
Remember my love, in Christ, to your father; and help me with
your prayers. If ye would be a deep divine, I recommend to }ou
sanctification. Fear Him, and He will reveal His Covenant to
you. Grace be with you.
Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R.
Aberdeen, Jan. 5, 1637,
LETTER LXXXII.
TO CARDONESS, ELDER.
Much Honored Sir, — Grace, mercy and peace be to you — 1
liave longed to hear from you, and to know the estate of your soul,
and the estate of that people with you.
I beseech you, sir, by the salvation of your precious soul, and
the mercies of (Jod, to make good and sure work of your salvation,
and try upon what ground-stone^ ye have builded. Worthy, and
dear sir, if ye be upon sinking sand, a storm of death, and a blast
» Of nought. « WorthleM. • Chaffer.
* Th stand upon ttepping-aUmes, to heettate. * Frankly,
i J\» make U niet m doing a thUig^ to be veiy gingerly about the doing of it.
V Foundatioa.
142
will loose Christ and you, and wash you close ^ off the rock. Oh,
for the Lord's sake, look narrowly to the work !
Read over your life, with the light of God's day-l'giit and sun ;
for salvation is not casten down at every man's door. It is good
to look to your compass, and all ye have need of, ere you take
shipping ; for no wind can blow you back again. Remember,
when the race is ended, and the play either won or lost, and ye
are in the utmost circle and border of time, and shall put your
foot within the march* of eternity, and all your good tnings of
this short night-dream shall seem to you like the ashes of a bleeze*
of thorns or straw, and your poor soul shall be crying, '* Lodging,
lodging, for God's sake !" then shall your soul be more ^lad at one
of your Lord's lovely, and homely smiles, than if ye had the char-
ters of three worlds for all eternity. Let pleasures and gain, will
and desires •£ this world, be put over into God's hands, as arrested
and fenced goods, that ye cannot intromit* with. Now, when ye
are drinking the grounds of your cup, and ye are upon the utmost
end of the last link of time, and old age, like death's long shadow,
is casting a covering upon your days, it is no time to court this
vain life, and to set love and heart upon it. It is near after-sup-
per ; • seek rest and ease for your soul, in Gtod through Christ
Believe me that I find it to be hard wrestling to play fair with
Christ, and to keep good quarters with him, and to love him in
integrity and life, and to keep a constant course of sound, and solid
daily communion with Christ : temptations are daily breaking the
thread of that course, and it is not easy to cast a knot again, and
many knots make evil work. Oh, how fairly have many ships
been plying before the wind, that, in an hour's space, have beea
lying in the sea-bottom! How many professors cast a goldea
lustre, as if they were pure gold, and yet are, under that skin and
cover, but base and reprobate metal ! And how many keep breath
in their race many miles, and yet come short of the prize and the
garland ! Dear sir, my soul would mourn in secret for you, if I
knew your case with God to be but false work : love to have you
anchored upon Christ maketh me fear your tottering and slips.
False under-water,* not seen in the ground^ of an enlightened
conscience, is dangerous ; so is often failing, and sinning against
light. Know this, that those who never had sick nights or days
in conscience for sin, cannot have but such a peace with Gtod as
will undercoat* and break the flesh again, and end in a sad war
at death. Oh, how fearfully are thousands beguiled with false
hide-grown-over old sins, as if the soul were cured and healed !
Dear sir, I always saw nature mighty, lofty, heady, and strong
in you ; and, that it was more for you to be mortified and dead to
the world, than another common man. Ye will take a low ebb,
> Altogether. > Bouiulaiy.
* Anything which barns op tnddenly, and is quickly consamed, with a Uainif
flame. < Intermeddle.
* The intenral between supper an I bed-thne. • Bilge-water^
V Bottom. * Fester, after haTing skinned over.
Rutherford's letters. 143
and a deep cut, and a long lance, to go to the bottom of your
wounds, in saving humiliation, to make you a won prey for Christ.
Be humbled ; walk softly; down, down, for God's sake, my dear,
and worthy brother, with your top-sail ; stoop, stoop ! it is a low
entry to go in at Heaven's gate. There is infinite justice in the
Party ye have to do with ; it is His nature not to acquit the guilty,
and the sinner. The law of God will not want one farthing of the
sinner. God forgetteth not both the cautioner ^ and the sinner ;
and every man must pay, either in his own person, ^oh, Lord save
iron from that payment \) or in his cautioner,^ Christ. It is vio-
ence to corrupt nature for a man to be holy, to lye down under
Christ's feet, to quit will, pleasure, worldly love, earthly hope, and
an itching of heart after this farded' and over-gilded world, and to
be content that Christ trample upon all. Come in, come in to
Christ, and see what ye want, and find it in him : — he is the short
cut, (as we used to say,) and the nearest way tb an outgate' of
all your burdens. I dare avouch that ye shall be dearly welcome
to him ; my soul would be glad to take part of the joy ye should
have in him. I dare say that angels' pens, angels' tongues, nay,
as many worlds of angels, as there are drops of water in all the
seas, and fountains, and rivers of the earth, cannot paint him out
to you. I think his sweetness, since I was a prisoner, hath swelled
upon me to the greatness of two heavens. Oh, for a soul, as wide
as the utmost circle of the highest Heaven that containeth all, to
cvntain his love ! And yet I could hold little of it Oh, world's
wonder ! Oh, if* my soul might but lye within the smell of his
love, suppose I could get no more but the smell of it ! Oh, bit it
is long to that day when I shall have a free world of Christ's love !
Oh, what a sight'to be up in Heav^en, in that fair orchard of the
New Paradise ; and to see, and smell, and touch, and kiss, that
fair Field-flower, that ever-green Tree of Life ! His bare shadow
were enough for me ; a sight of him would be the earnest of
Heaven to me. Fy, fy upon us ! that we have love lying rusting
beside us, or, which is worse, wasting upon some loathsome objects,
and that Christ should lie his lone.* Wo, wo is me ! that sin hath
made so many madmen, seeking the fool's paradise, fire under ice,
and some good and desirable things, without, and apart from
Christ. Christ, Christ, nothing but Christ, can cool our love's
burning languor. O thirsty love ! wilt thou set Christ, the well
of life, to thy head, and drink thy fill. Drink, and spare not ;
drink love, and be drunken with Christ ! Nay, alas ! the distance
betwixt us and Christ is a death. Oh, if « we were clasped in
other's arms! We should never twin* again except Heaven
twinned* and sundered us — and that cannot be.
I desire your children to seek this Lord. Desire them from me,
to be requested, for Christ's sake, to be blessed and happy, and to
corae and take Christ, and all things with him. Let them beware
I Snwtj. t DiifiiiMd with paint • Egraw. « Oh, that.
• Bj hmnlf alood. • Part. » Parted.
144 RUTHERFORD^S LETTERS.
of glassy and slippery youth, of foolish young notions, of worldly
lusts, of deceivaole gain, of wicked company, of cursing, lying*
blaspheming, and foolish talking : let them be filled with the Spirit,
acquaint themselves with daily praying, and with the store-house
of wisdom ^nd comfort, the good word of God. Help the souls of
the poor people ; oh, that my Lord would bring me again anion^
them, that I might tell unco * and great tales of Christ to them !
Receive not a stranger to preach any other doctrine to them.
Pray for me. His prisoner of hope. I pray for you without ceas-
ing. I write my blessing, earnest prayers, the love of God, and the
sweet presence of Christ to you, and yours, and them.
Grace, grace, grace be with you.
Your lawful, and loving pastor^ S. R.
Aberdeen, 1637.
LETTER LXXXIH.
to the earl of lothian.
Right Honorable, and my very Worthy, and Noble
Lord, — Out of the honorable and good report that I hear of your
Lordship's good-will and kindness, in takmg to heart the honor-
able cause of Christ, and his afflicted church and wronged truth ia
this land. I make bold to speak a word, on paper, to your Lord*
ship, at this distance, which 1 trust your Lordship will take in good
part. It is your Lordship's honor and credit, to put-to your hand,
(as ye do — all honor to God !) to the falling and tottering taber-
nacle of Christ, in this your mother-church, and to own Christ's
wrongs as your own wrongs. O blessed hand, which shall wipe
and dry the watery eyes of our weeping Lord, Jesus, now going
mourning in sackcloth in his members, in his spouse, in his truth,
and in the prerogative royal of his kingly power ! He needeth
not service and help from men; but it pleaseth his wisdom to
make the wants and losses, the sores and wounds of his spouse a
field and an office-house for the zeal of his servants to exercise
themselves in ; therefore, my noble and dear Lord, go on, go on in
the strength of the Lord, against all opposition, to side with
wronged Christ. The defending and warding of strokes off Christ's
bride, the King's daughter, is like a piece of the rest of the way to
Heaven, knottv, rough, stormy, and full of thorns. Many would
follow Christ, but with a reservation that, by open proclamatioD,
Christ would cry down crosses, and cry up fair weather, and a
summer sky and sun, till we were all fairly landed at Heaven. I
know that your Lordship hath not so learned Christ, but that ^ e
intend to fetch Heaven, suppose that your father were standing in
your way ; and to take it with the wind on your face ; for so both
storm and wind were on the fair face of your lovely Fore-runner
1 Strange.
RUTHERFORD'S LETTERS. 145
Christ, all his way. It is possible that the success answer not
vour desire, in this worthy cause : what then ? Duties are ours,
but events are the Lord's ; and I hope, if your Iiordship, and
others with you, will go on to dive to the lowest ground and bottom
of the knavery and perfidious treachery to Christ of the accursed,
and wretched prelates, th5 Antichrist's first-born, and the first fruit
of his foul womb, and shall deal with our Sovereign, (law going
before you,) for the reasonable, and impartisLi hearing of Christ's
bill of complaints, and set yourselves singly to seek the Lord and
his face, that your righteousness shall break through the clouds
which prejudice hath drawn over it, and that ye shall, in the
strength of the Lord, bring our banished, and departing Lord Jesus
home again to his sanctuary. Neither must your Lordship advise
with flesh and blood in this ; but wink, and in the dark reach your
hand to Christ, and foUoV him. Let not men's fainting discourage
you, neither be afraid of men's canny » wisdom, who, in this storm,
take the nearest shore, and go to the lee and calm side of the
Gospel, and hide Christ, if ever they had him, in their cabinets,
as if they were ashamed of him, or, as if Christ were stolen wares,
and would blush before the sun.
My very dear, and noble Lord, ve have rejoiced the hearts of
many, that ye have made choice oi Christ, and his Gospel, whereas
such great temptations do stand* in your way : but I love your
profession the better, that it endureth winds. If we knew our-
selves well, to want temptations is the greatest temptation of all.
Neither is father nor mother, nor court, nor honor, in this over-
lustred world, with all its paintry* and farding,' anything else,
when they are laid in the balance with Christ, but feathers,
shadows, night-dreams, and straws. Oh, if this world knew the
excellency, sweetness, and beauty of that high and lofty One, that
Fairest among the sons of men, verily they would see that if their
love were bigger than ten heavens, all in circles beyond each other,
it were all too little for Christ, our Lord ! I hope that your choice
will not repent you, when life shall come to that twilight betwixt
time and eternity, and ye shall see the utmost border of time, and
shall draw the curtain, and look into eternity, and shall one day
see God take the heavens in his hands, and fold them together
like an old worn-out garment, and set on fire this clay part of the
creation of God, and consume away, into smoke and ashes, the
tdol-hope of poor fools, who think that there is not a better coun-
try than this low country of dying clay. Children cannot make
comparison aright betwixt this life and that which is to come ;
and, therefore, the babes of this world, who see no better, mould,
ia (heir own brain, a heaven of their own coining, because they
see no further than the nearest side of time.
I dare lay in pawn my hope of Heaven, that this reproached
way is the only way of peace. I find it is the way that the Lord
hath sealed with his comforts, now in my bonds for Christ ; and I
> Prodent < Painted decoratioDS. * Painted diegaitea.
10
146
verily esteem, and find chains and fetters for that kurely Onei
Christ, to be watered^ over with sweet consolations, and the love*
smiles of that lovely Bridegroom, for whose coming we wait.
And when he cometh, then shall the blacks and whites of all men
come before the sun ; then shall the Lord put a final decision
upon the pleas that Zion hath with her adversaries. And as
fast as time posteth away, (which neither sitteth, nor standeth,
nor sleepeth,) .as fast is our hand-breadth of this short winter-
night flying away, and the sky of our long-lasting day drawing*
near its breaking.
Except your Lordship be pleased to plead for me, against the
tyranny oi prelates, I snail be forgotten in this prison ; for thev
did shape my doom according tp their new, lawless canons, which
is, that a deprived minister ^all be utterly silenced, and not
preach at all ; which is a cruelty, contrary to their own former
'practices.
Now, the only wise Gpd, the very Grod of peace, confirm,
strengthen, and establish your Lordship upon the Stone laid in
Zion, and be with you, forever.
Your Lordship's,
At all respectful obedience in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R.
Aberdeen, 1637.
LETTER LXXXIV.
TO JEAN BROWN.
Mistress, — Grace, mercy and peace be to you — ^I long to hear
how your soul prospereth. I earnestly desire vour on-going to-
ward your country. I know that ye see your day melteth away
by little and little, and that in a short time ye shall be put bevond
time's bounds; for Ufe is a post that standeth not still, and our
joys here are bom weeping, rather than laughing, and they die
weeping. Sin, sin, this body of sin and cprruption embittereth<»
and poisooeth all our enjoyments. Oh, that I were where I shall
sin no more ! Oh, to be freed of these chains and iron fetters,
which we carry about with us ! Lord, loose the sad prisooere.
Who of the children of God have not cause to say, that tney have
their fill of this vain life, and like a full and sick stomach, to wish
at mid-supper, that the supper were ended, and the table drawn,
that the sick man might wm* to bed, and enjoy rest? We have
cause to tire at mid-supper, of the best messes that this worid can
dress up for us ; and to cry to God, that he would remove the
table, and put the sin-sick souls to rest with himselC Oh, for a
long play-nay with Christ, and our long-lasting vacance' of rest !
Gla^ may their souls be that are safe over the firth,^ Christ having
1 Plated. t Oet • Taeation. « Frkh, eiiiMiy.
Rutherford's letters. J47
paid the fraught.* Happy are thev who have passed their hard
and wearisome time of apprenticeship, and are now freemen and
citizens in that joyful, high city, the New Jerusalem. Alas ! that
we should be glad of, and rejoice in our fetters, and our prison*
house, and this dear inn, a life of sin, where we are absent from
our Lord, and so far from our home. Ob, that we could get bonds
and law-suretyship of our love, that it fasten not itself on these
clay-dreams, these clay-shadows, and worldly vanities ! We .
might be oftener seeing what they are doing in Heaven, and our
hearts more frequently upon our sweet treasure above. We smell
of the smoke of this lower house of the earth, because our hearts
and our thoughts are here. If we could haunt up with God, we
should smell of Heaven and of our country above, and we should
look like our country, and like strangers or people not born or
brought up hereaway.* Our crosses would not oite upon us* if
we were heavenly-minded. I know of no obligation which the
saints have to this world, seeing we fare but upon the smoke of
it ; and, 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 ;
and, when we are stricken, we dare not weep, but steal our grief
away betwixt our Lord and us, and content ourselves with stolen
sorrow behind backs. God be thanked that we have many things
that so stroke us against the hair, as we iriay pray, *< God keep
our better home, CSod bless our Father's house ; and not this
smoke, that bloweth us to seek our best lodging." I am sure that
this is the best fruit of the cross, when we, from the hard fare of
the dear inn, cry the more, that God would send a fair wind, to
land us, hungered and oppressed strangers, at the door of our Fa-
ther's house, which now is made in Christ our kindly heritage.
Oh ! then, let us pull up the stakes and stoups* of our tent, and
take our tent on our back, and go 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 do with
me. Let him make oi me what 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, and all that I can, or may make is for
him. I am his everlasting debtor, or dyvour,* and still shall be ;
for, alas, I have nothing for him, and he getteth but little service
of me ! Pray for me, that our Lord would be pleased to give me
hoQse-room, that I may serve him in the calling which he hath
called me unta
Grace be with you.
Tours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R.
Aberdeen, 1637.
1 Prekht. t in UibjpreMat lift.
* Woiud not be able eren to make tlie leaet mark with their teeth upon ne.
« Pons. < Pnnutiire which may be remored firom one itiUeiiee to asether.
148
LETTER LXXXV.
TO JOHN KENNEDY, BAILLIE OP AYR.
Worthy, and Well-beloved Brother, — Grace, mercy and
feace be unto you — I am yet waiting what our Lord will do for
is afflicted Church, and for my re-entry to my liord's house. Oh
that 1 could hear the forfeiture of Christ, (now casten out of his
inheritance,) recalled, and taken off by open proclamation ; and
that Christ were restored to be a free-holder and a landed heritor '
in Scotland: and that the courts fenced* in the name of the bas-
tard prelates, (their godfather the Pope's bailiffs and sheriffs) were
cried down ! Oh how sweet a sight were it, to see all the Tribes
of the Lord in this land fetching home again our banished King,
Christ, to his own palace, his sanctuary, and his throne ! I shall
think it mercy to my soul, if my faith will out-watch all this win-
ter night, and not nod nor slumber till my Lord's summer-day
dawn upon me. It is much if faith, and hope, in the sad nights
of our heavy trial, escape with a whole skin, and without crack,
or crook. I confess that unbelief hath not reason to be either
father, or mother to it, (for unbelief is always an irrational thing ;)
but how can it be, but that such* weak eyes as ours must cast
water in a great smoke, or, that a weak head should not turn
giddy when the water runneth deep, and strong ? But Giod be
thanked, that Christ, in his children, can endure a stress and a
storm, howbeit soft nature would fall down in pieces.
Oh that I had that confidence as to rest on this, though hf
grind me into small powder, and bray me into dust and scatter
the dust to the four winds of heaven, that my Lord would gather
up the powder, and make me up a new vessel again, to bear
Unrist's name to the world ! I am sure that love, bottomed, and
seated upon the faith of his love to me, would desire and endure
this, and would even claim, and thrcep* kindness upon Christ's
strokes, and kiss his love-glooms,^ and both spell, and read salva-
tion upon the wounds made by Christ's sweet hands. Oh that I
had but a promise made from the mouth of Christ of his love to
me \ and then, howbeit my faith were as tender as paper, I think
longing, and d wining,* and greening* of sick desires would cause
it to bide^ out the siege till the Lord came to fill the soul with hb
love; and I know, also, that, in that case, faith would bide' green
and sappy at the root, even at mid-winter, and stand out against
all storms. However it be, I know that Christ winneth Heavea
in despite of Hell. But I owe as many praises and thanks to free
grace, as would lye betwixt me and the utmost border of the high*
est Heaven, suppose ten thousand heavens were all laid above
1 A propriekir of land. < Coottllitted and ofwned.
* T\t thrtep, pertinacio«uly to penevera in aaaerting, in contradiction to denial
* LoTo-frowna. * Pining. * Longing with greedy duriiii.
T Hdd. • ConHnue.
KUTHERFORO'S LkTTERS. 149
Other. Bui oh ! I have nothing that can hire, or bud ' grace ; for
if grace would take hire it were no more grace ; but all our stabil-
ity, and th& strength of cur salvation is anchored and fastened
upon free grace ; and I am sure that Christ hath, by his death
and blood, casten * the knot so fast, that the fingers of the devils,
and hell-fuls of sins cannot loose it : and that bond of Christ,
(that never yet was, nor ever shall, nor can be regist rated,') stand-
eth surer than Heaven, or the days of Heaven, as that sweet
eillar of the Covenant whereon we all hang. Christ, with all his
ttle ones under his two wings, and in the compass or circle of his
arms, is so sure, ^at cast him and them into the ground^ of the
sea, he shall come up again, and not lose one. An odd one can-
not, nor shall be lost in the telling.
This was always God's aim, since Christ came into the play
betwixt him and us, to make men dependent creatures, and, in
the work of our salvation, to put created strength, and arms, and
legs of clay quite out of play, and out of office and court ; and
now God hath substituted, in our room, and accepted his Son, the
Mediator, for us, and all that we can make. If tnis had not been,
I would have skinked over^ and foregone my part of Paradise and
salvation, for a breakfast of dead, moth-eaten earth ; but now I
would not give it, nor let it go, for more than I can tell ; — and
truly they are silly fools, and ignorant of Christ's worth, and so,
full ill-trained and tutored, who tell Heaven and Christ over the
board, for two feathers, or two straws of the Devil's painted plea-
sures, only lustred on the outer side. This is our happiness now,
that our reckonings at night, when eternity shall come upon us,
cannot be told : we shall be so far gainers, and so far from being
super-expended, (as the poor fools of this world arc, who give out
their money, and get in but black hunger,) that angels cannot
lay our counts, nor sura our advantage and incomes. Who know-
eth how far it is to the bottom of our Christ's fulness, and to the
ground * of our heaven ? Who ever weighed Christ in a pair of
balances ? Who hath seen the foldings and plies, and the heights
and depths of that glory which is in him, and kept for us ? Oh
for such a heaven as to stand afar off, and see, and love, and long
for him, whill time's thread be cut, and this great work of crea-
tion dissolved, at the coming of our Lord !
Now to his grace I recommend you. I beseech you also, to
pray for a re-entry to me into 'the Lord's house, if it be his good
wilL
Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R.
Aberdeen, Jan. 6, 1637.
> Bfibe. t Tied. • Noted, proteited. « Bottom.
* Formally renouneed : an allation to the practice of a ■eller't drinking the health
•f a parehaaer, and wishing him ludc in hia bargain.
160 RUTHERFORD'S LETTERS.
letteIr LXXXVI. /^-CcU/
TO ELIZABETH KENNEDY.
I
Mistress, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you — ^I have loM
had a purpose of writing unto you, but I have been hindered. I
heartily desire that ye would mind your country, and consider to
what airth^ your soul setteith its face; for all come not home at
night, who suppose that they have set their face heavenward. It
is a woful thing to die, and miss Heaven, and fo lose house-room
with Christ at night ; — it is an evil journey where travellers are
benighted in the fields. I persuade myself that thousands shall
be deceived and ashamed of their hope : because they cast their
anchor in sinking sands, they must lose it. Till now, I knew not
the pain, labor, nor difficulty that there is to win at* home: nor
did I understand so well, before this, what that meaneth, "The
righteous shall scarcely be saved." Oh, how many a poor profes-
sor's candle is blown out, and never lighted agam ! I see that
ordinary profession, and to be ranked amongst the children of
God, and to have a name among men, is now thought good
enough to carry professors to Heaven ; but certainly a name is
but a name, and will never bide* a blast of God's storm. I coun-
sel you not to give your soul, or Christ rest, nor your eyes sleeps
till ye have gotten something that will bide the fire, and stand out
the storm. I am sure, that if my one foot were in Heaven, and,
if then, he should say, "Fend* thyself, I will hold my grips* of
thee no longer," I should go no farther, but presently fall down in
as many pieces of dead nature.
They are happy for evermore who are over head and ears in
the love of Christ, and know no sickness but love-sickness for
Christ, and feel no pain but the pain of an absent, and hidden
Well-beloved. We run our souls out of breath, and tire them in
coursing and galloping after our night-dreama, (such are the rov-
ings of our miscanying hearts,) to get some created good thing in
this life, and on this side of death. We would fain stay and spin
out a heaven to ourselves, on this side of the water ; but sorrow,
want, changes, crosses, and sin are both woof and warp in that
ill-spun web. Oh, how sweet and dear are these thoughts that
are still upon the things which are above ! and how happy are
they who are longing to have little sand in their glass, and to
have time's thread cut, and can cry to Christ, " Lord Jesus, have
over :• come and fetch the dreary passenger !" I wish that our
thoughts were more frequently than they are, upon our country.
Oh, but Heaven casteth a sweet smell afar off, to those who have
spiritual smelling ! Grod hath made raanv fair flowers, but the
fairest of them all is Heaven, and the flower of all flowers is
1 Point of Uie compaM. • * Reach. * EadurB.
« Shift for. < Keep hold. • Have '
151
Christ Oh ! why do we not flee up to that lovely One? Alag,
that there is such a scarcity of love, and of lovers of Christ
amongst us all ! Fy, fy upon us, who love fair things, as fair
gold, fair houses, fair lands, fair pleasures, fair honors, and fair
persons, and do not pine and melt away with love to Christ ! Oh,
would to God, I had more love for his sake ! Oh, for as much as
would lye betwixt me and Heaven, for his sake ! Oh, for as much
as would go round about the earth, and over the Heaven, yea, the
Heaven of heavens, and ten thousand worlds, that I might let all
out upon fair, fair, onlv fair Christ ! But alas, I have nothing for
him, yet he hath much for me. It is no gain to Christ, that he
getteth my little feckless,^ span-length, and hand-breadth of love.
If men would have something to do with their hearts and their
thoughts, that are always rolling up and down like men with oars
in a boat, after sinful vanities, they might find great and sweet
employment to their thoughts upon Christ. If those frothy, fluc-
tuating, and restless hearts of ours would come all about Christ,
and look into his love, to bottomless love, to the depth of mercy,
to the unsearchable riches of his grace, to inauire after, and search
into the beauty of God in Christ, they would be swallowed up in
the depth and height, length and breadth of his goodness. Oh,
if* men would draw the curtains, and look into the inner side of
the ark, and behold how the fulness of the Godhead dwelleth in
him bodily ! Oh ! who would not say, "Let me die, let me die
ten times, to see a sight of him?" Ten thousand deaths were no
great price to give for him. I am sure that sick, fainting love
would heighten the market, and raise the price to the double for
bim. But, alas, if men and angels were rouped,* and sold at the
dearest price, they would not all buy a night's love, or a four-and-
twenty-hours' sight of Christ. Oh, how nappy are they who get
Christ for nothing ! God send me no more for my part of para-
dise than Christ; — and surely I were rich enough, and as well
beavened as the best of them, if Christ were my heaven.
I can write no better thing to you, than to desire you, if ever ye
laid Christ in a count, to take him up and count him again ; and
weigh him over again and again : and after this, have no other to
court your love, and to woo your soul's delight, than Christ. Ho
will be found worthy of all your love, howbeit it should swell upon
you from the earth to the uppermost circle of the Heaven of
heavens.
To our Lord Jesus, and his love, I c6mmend you.
Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R.
Aberdeen, 1037.
> Feeble, woithleM. t Oh, that > Scld bjr public audioii
162
LETTER LXXXVn.
TO JONET KENNEDY.
MisTRESs,-^Grace, mercy, and peace be unto you — ^Ye arc not
a litlle obliged to His rich grace, wno hath separated you for him-
self, and for the promised inheritance with the saints in light, from
this condemned and guilty world. Hold fast Christ, contend for
him : it is a lawful plea^ to go to holding and drawing for Christ ;
and it is not possible to keep Christ peaceably, having once gotten
him, except the Devil were dead. It must be your resolution to
set your face against Satan's northern tempests and storms, for
salvation : — nature would have heaven come to us while sleeping
in our beds. We would all buy Christ, so being wc might make
price ourselves ; but Christ is worth more blood and lives than
either ye or I have to give him. When we shall come home, and
enter to the possession of our Brother's fair Khigdom, and when
our heads shall find the weight of the eternal crown of glory, and
when we shall look back to pains and sufferings, then shall we see
life, and sorrow, to be less than one step or stride from a prison to
glory ; and that our little inch of time-suffering is not worthy of
our first night's welcome-home to Heaven. Oh, what then will
be the weight of every one of Christ's kisses ! Oh, how weighJy,
and of what worth shall every one of Christ's love-smiles be ! Oh,
when once he shall thrust a wearied traveller's head betwixt his
blessed breasts, the poor soul will think one kiss of Christ hath
fully paid home forty, or fifty years' wet feet, and all its sore*
hearts, and light sufferings, it had in following after Christ ! Oh,
thrice-blinded souls, whose hearts are charmed and bewitched with
dreams, shadows, feckless* things, night- vanities, and night-fancies
of a miserable life of sin ! Shame on us, who sit still, fettered with
the love and liking of the loan of a piece of dead clay ! Oh, poor
fools, who are beguiled with painted things, and this world's fair-
weather, and smooth promises, and rotten worm-eaten hopes !
May not the Devil laugh to see us give out our souls, and get in
but corrupt and counterfeit pleasures of sin? Oh for a siglit of
eternity's glory, and a little tasting of the Lamb's marriage-sup-
per ! Half a draught, or a drop of the wine of consolation, that is
up at our banqueting house, out of Christ's own hand, would make
our stomachs loathe the brown bread, and the sour drink of a mis-
erable life. Oh, how far are we bereaved of wit, to chase, and
hunt, and run, till our souls be out of breath, after a condemned
happiness of our own making ! And do we not sit far in our own
light, to make it a matter of bairns' play, to skink and drink over*
paradise, and the heaven that Christ did sweat for, even for a blast
1 duairel. t Aching. * UiMiibaUiitiaL
* To skink and drink over, rormally and finaHy to renounce all claim to ; in altoaiMi
to the practice ot a aeller't drinking the health of a purchaser, and wishing him lock
of hit bargain.
Rutherford's letters. 153
of smoke, and for Esau's morning oreakfast? Oh thai we were
out of ourselves, and dead to this world, and this world dead and
crucified to us ! And, when we should be close * out of love and
conceit of any masked and farded' lovef whatsoever, then 0hrist
would win and conquer to himself a lodging in the inmost yolk
of our heart ; then Christ should be our night-song, and our morn-
ing-song : then the very noise and din of our Well-beloved's feet,
when he cometh, and his first knock or rap at the door should be
as news of two heavens to us. Oh that our eyes and our soul's
smelling should go after a blasted and sun-burnt flower, even this
plastered, fair outsided* world ; and then we have neither eye, nor
smell for the Flower of Jesse, for that Plant of renown, for Christ,
the choicest, the fairest, the sweetest Rose that ever God planted !
Oh, let some of us die to smell the fragrance of him ! and let my
part of this rotten world be forfeited and sold for evermore, pro-
viding I may anchor my tottering soul upon Christ ! f 'know that
it is sometimes at this, " Lord, what wilt thou have for Christ ?"
But. O Lord, canst thou be budded, and propined* with any gift
for Christ? O Lord, can Christ be sold? or rather, may not a
poor needy sinner have him for nothing? If I can get no more,
oh, let me be pained to all eternity, with longing for him ! The
joy of hungering for Christ should be my heaven for evermore.
Alas, that I cannot draw souls and Christ together ! But I desire
the coming of his Kingdom, and that Christ, as I assuredly hope
he will, would come upon withered Scotland, as rain upon the
new-mown grass. Oh, let the King come ! Oh, let his Kingdom
come ! " Oh, let their eyes rot in their eye-holes,* who will not re-
ceive him home again to reign and rule in Scotland.
Grace, grace be with you.
Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S.' R.
▲berdeea, 1637.
LETTER LXXXVIIL
TO A CHRISTIAN GENTLEWOMAN.
Mistress, — Grace, mercy and peace be to you — Though not
acquainted, yet at the desire of a Christian brother, I thought
good to write a line unto you, entreating you, in the Lord Jesus,
under your trials, to keep an ear open to Christ, who can speak
for himself, howbeit your\isitations, and your own sense should
dream hard things of His love and favor. Our Lord never get-
teth so kind a look of us, nor our love in such a degree, nor our
Gsiith in such a measure of steadfastness, as he getteth out of the
furnace of our tempting fears and sharp trials. I verily believe,
« Ak4)fefher. • Painted.
* Empty, hollow ; having nothiDa but an outnde»
« Bribed and proMnted. * Zceh ziv. 19. .
154
(and too sad proofs in me say no less,) that if our lord wouc
grind our whorish lust into powder, the very old ashes of our cor-
ruption would take life again, and Uve, and hold us under so much
bondage, that may humble us, and make us sad, till we be in that
country where we shall need no physic at alL Oh, what violent
means doth our Lord use to gain us to Him, as if, indeed, we were
a prize worthv his fighting for ! And be sure, if leading would
do the turn, that he would not use pulling of the hair, and draw-
ing : but the best of us would bide * a strong pull of our Lord's right
arm ere we follow Him. Yet I say not this as if our Lord always
measured afBictions by so many ounce-weights, answerable to the
grain- weights of our guiltiness : I know that He doth in many, (and
possibly in you,) seek nothing so miuch as faith, that can endure
summer and winter in their extremitv. Oh, how precious to the
Lord are faith and love, that when tnreshed, beaten, and chased
away, and boasted,' (as it were,) by^-God himself, doth yet look
warm-like, love4ike, kind-like, and life-like, home-over* to Christ,
and would be in at him, ill and well as it may be !
Think it not much, that your husband, or the nearest to you in
the world, proveth to have the bowels and mercy of the ostrich,
hard, and rigorous, and cruel : for, (Psalm xxviL 10,) the Lord
taketh up such fallen ones as these. I could not wish a sweeter
life, or more satisfying expressions of kindness, till I be up at that
Prince of kindness, than the Lord's saints find, when the Lord
taketh up men's refuse, and lodgeth this world's outlaws, whom
no man seeketh after. His breath is never so hot. His love cast-
eth never such a flame, as when this world, and those who should
be the helpers of our joy, cast water on our coal. It is a sweet
thing to see them cast out, and God take in ; and to see them
throw^us away, as the refuse of men, and God take us up as His
Swels and His treasure. Often He maketh gold of dross, as once
e made the cast-away Stone, the Stone rejected by the builders,
the Head of the corner. The princes of this world would not have
our Lord Jesus as a pinning^ in the wall, or to have any place in
the building ; but the Lord made Him the Master-stone of power
and of place. God be thanked, that this world has not power to
cry us down so many pounds, as rulers cry down light gold, or
light silver : we shall stand for as much as our Master-coiner,
Christ, whose coin, arms, and stamp we bear, will have us — Christ
hath no miscarrying balance. Thank your Lord, who chasetb
your love through two kingdoms, and followeth you and it over
sea, lo have you for himself, as he speaketh, (Hos. iii.) For Grod
layeth up his saints, as the wale ana the choice' of all the world
for himself; and this is Uke Christ and His love. Oh, what in
Heaven, or out of Heaven, is comparable to the smell of Cbrisit's
garmenU ! Nay, suppose that our Lord would manifest His art,
and make ten thousand heavens of good and glorious things, and
> Stand. t Threatened with looks or gesture*. * Homewarda.
* A unall stone used in building to fill up the interstieea belweaii Inrgei stones.
* The very best selection that could be made.
Rutherford's letters. 166
of new joys, devised out of the* deep of infinite wisdom, He could
not make the like of Christ ; for Christ is God, and God cannot
be made: and, therefore, let U8 hold us with Christ, howbeit
we might have our wale and will* of a host of lovers, as many
as three heavens could contain. Oh, that He and we were to-
gether ! Oh, when Christ and ye shall meet about the utmost
march,' and borders of time, and the entry into eternity, ye shall
see heaven in his face at the first look, and salvation and glory
sitting in his countenance, and betwixt his eyes. Faint not ;
the miles to Heaven are but few and short ; he is making a
green bed ^as the word speaketb, Cant, i.,) of love for himself
and you. There are many heads lying in Christ's bosom, but
there is room for yours amongst the rest; and, therefore, go
on, and let hope go before you. Sin not in your trials, and the
victory is yours. Pray, wrestle, and believe, and ye shall over*
come and prevail with God,* as Jacob did. No windlestraws,* no
bits of clay, no temptations, which are of no longer life than an
hour, will then be able to withstand you, when once ye have pre-
vailed with God.
Help me with your prayers, that it would please the Lord to
give me house room again, to speak of His righteousness in the
great congregation, if it may seem good in His sight.
Grace, grace be with you.
Yours in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R.
Abeideeo, July 6, 1637.
LETTER LXXXIX.
TO MY LORD CRAIQHALL.
My Lord, — I received Mr. L.'s letter with your Lordship's, and
his learned thoughts in the matter of ceremonies. I owe respect to
the man's learning, for that I hear him to be opposed to Arminian
heresies : but, ^with reverence of that worthy man,^ I wonder to
hear such popish-like expressions as he hath in nis letter, as
^Your Lordship may spare doublings, when the King and Church
have agreed in the settling of such orders ; and the Church's di-
rection in things indifierent and circumstantial, (as if indiflferent
and circumstantial were all one,) should be the rule of every pri-
vate Christian." I only viewed the papers two hours' space, the
bearer hastening me to write. I find the worthf man not so
seen^ in this controversy, as some turbulent men of our country,
whom he calleth refusers of conformity : and let me say it, I am
more confirmed in nonconformity, when I see such a great wit
play the agent so slenderly ; but I will lay the blame on the
- Proe and ample Ubeity of ehoice. > Boandaiy.
* Withered itaika of grass; metaphorically, weak and worthlew things.
« Vosant, skilled.
1S6 Rutherford's letters.
weakness of the cause, not on the -meanness of Mr. L.'8 learning.
I have been, and still am confident, that Britain cannot answer
one argument a scandalo : and I longed much to hear Mr. L.
speak to the cause : and I would say, if some ordinary* divine had
answered as Mr. L. doth, that he understood not the nature of a
Scandal ; but I dare not vilify that worthy man so. I am now
upon the heat of some other employment. I shall, ^but God wil-
ling,) answer this, to the satisfying of any not prejudiced.
I will not say that every one is acquainted with the reason, in
my letter, from God's presence a:nd bright shining face, in suffer-
ing for this cause. Aristotle never knew the medium of the con-
clusion : and Christ saith few know it (see Rev. ii. 17.) I am
sure that conscience standing in awe of the Almighty, and fearing
to make a little hole in the bottom for fear of under-water, is a
strong medium to hold off an erroneous conclusion in the least
wing or lith> of sweet, sweet truth, that concerneth the royal pre-
rogative of our kingly and highest Lord Jesus ; and my witness
is in Heaven, that I saw neither pleasure, nor profit, nor honor,
to hook me, or catch me, in entering into prison for Christ ; but
the wind on my face for the present ; and if I had loved to sleep
in a whole skin, with the ease and present delight that I saw on
this side of sun and moon, I should have lived at ease, and in
good hopes to fare as well as others. The Lord knoweth that I
preferred preaching of Christ, and still do, to anything next to
Christ hhnself. And their new canons took my one, my only
joy from me, which was to me as the poor man's one eye, that
ad no moe ; and, alas ! there is little lodging in their hearts for
pity or mercy, to pluck out a poor man's one eye for a thing in-
different ; id est, for knots of strav/, and things, (as they mean,)
off the way to Heaven. I desire not that my name take journey,
and go a pilgrim to Cambridge, for fear I come into the ears of
authority — I am sufficiently burnt already.
In the mean time, be pleased to try if the Bishop of St An-
drew's, and Glasgow, (Galloway's Ordinary,) will be pleased to
abate from the heat of tneir wrath, and let me go to my charge.
Few know the heart of a prisoner ; yet I hope that the Lord will
hew his own glory out of as knotty timber as I am. Keep Christ,
my dear and worthy Lord. Pretended paper-arguments from
angering the Mother-church, that can reel, and nod, and stagger,
are not of such weight as peace with the Father, and Husbimd.
Let the wife gloom,^ I care not, if the Husband laugh.
Remember my service to my Lord ycur father, and mother,
and your lady. Grace be with you.
Yours, at all obedience in Christ, S. R.
Aberdeen, Jan. 34, 1637.
1 JoiaL < Knit her bro«re
t
Rutherford's letters. 167
LETTER XC.
to john kennedy.
My Loving, and most Affectionate Brother im Christ,
— ^I salute you with grace, mercy and peace from God, cur Father,
and from our Lord, Jesus Christ.
I promised to write to you, and although late enough, yet I
now make it good. I heard with grief of your great danger of
perishing by the sea, and of your merciful deliverance with joy.
Sure I am, "brother, that Satan will leave no stone unrolled, as
the proverb is, to roll you off your Rock, or at least to shake and un-
settle you : for, at that same time, the mouths of wicked men were
opened in hard speeches against you, by land, and the Prince
of the power of the air was angry with you, by sea. See
then how much ye are obliged to that malicious Murderer, who
would beat you with two rods at one time ; but, blessed be God !
his arm is short ; if the sea and winds would have obeyed him,
ye had never come to land. Thank your God, who saith, (Rev.
i. 18,) " I have the keys of Hell, and of death ;" (Deut. xxxii. 39,)
"I kill and I make alive;" (1 Sam. ii. 6,) "The Lord bringeth
down to the grave, and bringeth up." If Satan were jailer, and
had the keys of death and of the grave, they should be stored with
moe prisoners. Ye were knocking at these black gates, and yc
found the doors shut ; and we do all welcome you back again.
I trust that ye know it is not for nothing that ye are sent to us
again. The Lord knew, that ye had forgotten something that
was necessary for your journey ; that your armor was not as yet
thick enough against the stroke of death. Now, in the strength
of Jesus dispatch your business ; that debt is not forgiven, but
fristed : » death hath not bidden you farewell, but hath only left
you for a short season. End your journey, ere the night come
upon you : have all in readiness against the time that ye must
sail through that black and impetuous Jordan ; and Jesus, Jesus,
who knoweth both those depths and the rocks, and all the coasts,
be your pilot. The last tidfe will not wait for you one moment :
if ye forget anything, when your sea is full, and your foot in that
ship, there is no returning again to fetch it. What ye do amiss
in your life to-day, ye may amend it to-morrow : for as many suns
as God maketh to arise upon you, ye have as many new lives ;
but yc can die but once, ana if ye mar or spill" that business, ye
cannot come back to mend that piece of work again. No man
sinneth twice in dying ill ; as we die but once, so we die but ill or
well once. Ye see how the number of your months is written in
God's book ; and as one of the Lord's hirelings, ye must work
till the shadow of the evening come upon you, and ye sb^ll run
your glass even to the last pickle' of sand. Fulfil your course
I Cndited. t Spoil * Ormin.
158 Rutherford's lettbrs.
with ioy ; for we take nothiog to the grave with us, but a good
or evil conscience. And, although the sky clear after this storm
yet clouds will engender another.
Ye contracted with Christ, I hope, when first ye began to fol-
low him, that ye would bear his cross. Fulfil your part of the
contract with patience, and brlsak not to Jesus Christ. Be hon-
est, brother, in your bargaining with him : for who knoweth
better how to bring up children than our Grod? For, (to lay
aside his knowledge, of the which there is no finding out,) be
hath been practised in bringing up his heirs these five thousand
years, and his bairns are all well brought up, and many of them
are honest men now at home, up in their own house in Heaven,
and are entered heirs to their Father's inheritance. Now, the
form of his bringing-up was by chastisements, scourging, correct-
ing, nurturing: and see if he maketh exception of any of his
bairns, (Rev. iii. 19 ; Heb. xii. 7, 8,) No : his eldest Son, and
his Heir, Jesus, is not excepted, (Heb. ii. 10.) Suflfer we must :
ere we were born, God decreed it ; and it is easier to complain of
his decree, than to change iL It is true, terrors of conscience
cast us down ; and yet without terrors of conscience we cannot
be raised up again ; fears and doubtings shake us ; and yet with-
out fears and doubtings we would soon sleep, and lose our grips
of Christ : tribulation and temptations will almost loosen us at
the root ; and yet, without tribulations and temptations, we can now
no more grow, than herbs or corn without rain. Sin and Satan,
and the world, will say, and cry in our ears, that we have a hard
reckoning to make in judgment ; and yet none of these three,
except they lie, dare say in our face, that our sin can change the
tenor of the New Covenant Forward then, dear brother, and
lose not your grips. Hold fast the truth ; for the world, sell not
one dram-weight of Grod's truth, especially now, when most men
measure truth by time, like young seamen setting their compass
by a cloud : for now Time is father and mother to Truth, in the
thoughts and practices of our evil time. The Grod of truth estab-
lish us ; for, alas ! now there are none to comfort the prisoners of
hope, and the mourners in Zion. We can do little, except pray and
mourn for Joseph in the stocks. And let their tongue cleave to the
roof of their mouth who forget Jerusalem now in her day : and the
Lord remember Eklom, and render to him as he hath done to us.
Now, brother, I shall not weary you ; but I entreat you to re-
member my dearest love to Mr. David Dickson, with whom I have
small acquaintance ; yet, I bless the Lord, I know that he both
prayeth and doeth for our dying Kirk. Remember my dearest love
to John Stuart, whom I love in Christ; and show him from me,
that I do always remember him, and hope for a meeting. The
Lord, Jesu*}, establish him more and more, though he be already
a strong man in Christ. Remember my heartiest aflection in
Christ to WiUiam Rodger, whom I also remember to Giod. I wish
that the first news I hear of him, and you, and all that love our
common Savi >ur, in those bounds, may be, that they are so knit
rutherpord'3 letters. 159
and linked, aiul kindly fastened in love \vi»h the Son of God, that
ye may say, " Now if we would ever so fain escape out of Christ's
hands, yet love hath so bound us, that we cannot get our hands
free again ; he hath so ravished our hearts, that there is no loos-
ening of his grips ; the chains of his soul-ravishing love arc so
strong, that the grave nor death will break them." I nope, brother,
yea, I doubt not of it, that ye lay me, and my first entry to the
Lord's vineyard, and my flock, before Him who hath put me into
bis work ; as the Lord knowetb, since first I saw you, I have been
mindful of you. Marion Macknaught doth remember most heartily
her love to you, and to John Stuart Blessed be the Lord ! that
in God's mercy, I found in this country such a woman, to whom
Jesus is dearer than her own heart, when there be so many that
cast Christ over their shoulder. Good brother, call to mind the
memory of your worthy father, now asleep in Christ ; and, as his
custom was, pray continually, and wrestle for the life of a dying
breathless kirk : and desire John Stuart not to forget poor Zion,—
she hath few friends, and few to speak one good wora for her.
Now I commend you, your whole soul, and body and spirit, to
Jesus Christ and his keeping, honing that ye wiU live and die,
stand and fall, with « the cause of our Master, Jesus. The Lord
Jesus himself be with your spirit
Tour loving brother in our Lord Jesus, S. R
Anwoth, Feb. 3, 1637.
LETTER XCL
TO MY WBLL-BELOVEO, AND REVEREND BROTHER, MR.
ROBERT BLAIR.
Reverend, and dearly-beloved Brother, — Grace, mercy,
and peace from God our Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,
be unto you.
It is no great wonder, mv dear brother, that ye be in heaviness
for a season, and that God's will, in crossing your design and de
sires to dwell amongst a people whose God is the Lord, should
move you. I deny not that ye have cause to inquire what his
providence speaketh in this to you ; but God's directing and com-
manding will can, by no good logic, be concluded from events of
providence. The Lord sent Paul on many errands for the spread-
mg of his Gospel, where he found lions m his way. A promise
was made to his people of the Holy Land, and yet many nations
were in the way, fighting against, and ready to kill them who had
the promise, or to keep them from possessing that good land which
the Lord their God had given them. I know that ye have most
to do with submission of spirit ; but I persuade myself that ye
have learned, in every condition wherein ye are cast, therein to be
content, and to say "Good is the will of the Lord, let it be done.'
160 Rutherford's letters
I believe that the Lord tackleth * his ship often to fetch the wind,
and that he purposeth to bring mercy out of your sufferings and
silence, whicn, (i know from mine own experience,) is grievous to
you. Seeing that he knoweth our willing mind to serve him, our
wages and stipend is running to the fore * with our God, even as
some sick soldiers get pay when they are bedfast, and not able to
go to the field with others. " Though Israel be not gathered, yet
shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord, and my Grod shall be
my strength," (Isa. xlix. 6.) And we are to believe it shall be
thus ere all the play be played. (Jer. li. 35,) " The violence done
to me and my flesh be upon Babylon," and the Great Whore's
lovers, ^' shall the inhabitants of Zion say ; and my blood be upon
Chaldea, shall Jerusalem say." And, (Zecb. xii. 2,) " Behold I
will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling to all the people round
about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and
against Jerusalem ;" (ver. 3,) " And in that day will I make Jeru-
salem a burdensome stone for a?* people; they that burden them-
selves with it shall be broken in pieces, though all the people of
the earth be gathered against it." When they have eaten and
swallowed us up, they shall be sick, and vomit us out living men
again : — the Devil's stomach cannot digest the Church of Grod
Suffering is the other half of our ministry, howbeit the hardest :
for we would be content that our King, Jesus, should make an
open proclamation, and cry down crosses, and cry up joy, gladness,
ease, honor, and peace; but it must not be so; through many
afllictions we must enter into the Kingdom of God. Not only by
them, but through them must we go ; and wiles will not take us
past the cross : — it is folly to think to steal to Heaven with a whole
skin.
For myself, I am here a prisoner confined in Aberdeen, threat-
ened to be removed to Caithness, because I desire to edify in this
town : and am openly preached against in the pulpits in my hear-
ing, and tempted with disputations by the doctors, especially by
D. B. Yet I am not ashamed of the garland and crown of my
Lord Jesus. I would not exchange my weeping with the painted
laughter of the Fourteen Prelates. At my first coming here I
took the dorts ' at Christ, and would, forsooth, summon him for
unkindness. I sought a plea^ of my Lord, and was tossed with
challenges' whether he loved me or not; and disputed over again
all that he had done to me, because his word was a fire shut up in
my bowels and I was weary with forbearing, because I said I was
cast out of the Lord's inheritance ; but now I see that I was a
fool. My Lord miskent* all, and did bear with my foolish jeal-
ousies, and miskent* that ever I wronged his love ; and now he is
come again with mercy under his wings. I passed from my Toll,
thoughtless !) summons : he is Grod, I see, and I am man. Now
it hath pleased him to renew his love to my soul, and to dawi' his
poor prisoner. Therefore, dear brother, help me to praise; and
» Tackrth. • To aecount • Pet. * QaaireL
* QuefcUoningt. * Woald not know. ^ Fondle.
161
fifaow the Lord's people with you what he hath done to my soul,
that they may pray and praise ; and I charge you, in the name
of Christ, not to omit it : for this cause I write to you, that my
suffering may glorify ray royal King, and edify his church in Ire-
land. He knoweth how one of Christ's love-coals^hath burnt my
soul with a desire to have my bonds to preach bis glory, whose
cross I now bear. God forgive you if you do it not; but I hope
the Lord will move your heart, to proclaim in my behalf the sweet-
ness, excellency, and glory of my royal King. It is but our soft
flesh that hath raised a slander on the cross of Christ : I see now
the white side of it ; my Lord's chains are all over-gilded. Oh,
if ^ Scotland and Ireland had part of my feast ! And yet I get not
my meat but with many strokes. There are none here to whom
I can speak : I dwell in Kedar's tents. Refresh me with a letter
from you. Pew know what is betwixt Christ and me.
Dear brother, upon my salvation, this is his truth that we suffer
for. Christ would not seal a blank charter to souls. Courage,
courage, joy, joy for evermore ! Oh joy unspeakable and glorious !
Oh for help to set my crowned King on high ! Oh for love to Him
who is altogether lovely! that love which many waters cannot
quench, neither can the floods drown !
I remember you, and bear your name on my breast to Christ.
I beseech you forget not his afflicted prisoner. Grace, mercy, and
peace be with you. Salute, in the Lord, from me, Mr. Cunning-
nam, Mr. Livingston, Mr. Ridge, Mr. Colwart, d&c.
Tour brother, and fellow-prisoner, S. R.
Aberdeen, Feb. 7, 1637.
LETTER XCIL
TO iriS REVEREND AND DEAR BROTHER, MR. JOHN LIVINGSTON.
My Reverend and Dear Brother, — Grace, mercy, and
peace be to you — I lon^ to hear from you, and 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 would not have befallen you.
Hold your peace, and stay yourself upon the Holy One of Israel.
Hearken to what He hath said in crossing of your desires. He will
speak peace to His people.
I am here removed from my flock, and silenced, and confined in
Aberdeen, for the testimony of Jesus ; and I have been confined
in spirit also with desertions and challenges.* I gave in a bill of
qaarreb, and complaints of unkindness against Christ, who seemed
to have cast me over the dyke ' of the vineyard, as a dry tree, and
separated me from the Lord's inheritance : but high, high and
I Oh, that s Aecnutioiii. * Wall
11
162 Rutherford's lftters.
loud praises be to our royal crowned King in Zion, that He hath
not burnt the dry branch — I shall yet live, and see His glory.
Your Mother-church, for her whoredom, is like to be cast off
The bairns may break their hearts, to see such chiding betwixt
the husband and the wife. Our clergy is upon a reconciliation
with the Lutherans, and the doctors are writing books, and draw-
ing up a Oomroon Confession at the Council's conftmand. Our
Service-book ' is proclaimed witl^ sound of tmmpeL The night is
fallen down upon the prophets ; Scotland's nay of visitation is
come : it is tim^ for the bride to weep, while Christ is a-saying
that He will choose another wife. But our sky will clear again.
The dry branch of cut-down Lebanon will bud again and be glo-
rious, and 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
be glorified in my bonds. My Lord Jesus hath taken the with-
ered dry stranger, and His prisoner broken in heart, into His house-
of-wine. Oh! if* ye, and all Scotland, and all our brethren with
you, knew how I am feasted ! Christ's honeycombs drop com-
forts. He dineth with His prisoner, and the King's spikenard
casteth a smell. The Devil cannot get it denied that we suffer
for the apple of Christ's eye, His royal prerogatives as King and
Law-giver. Let us not fear or faint. He will have His Gospel
once again rouped'in Scotland, and have the matter going to
voices, to see who will say^ " Let Christ be crowned King in lS»t-
land." It is true that Antichrist stirreth his tail ; but I love a
rumbling or raging devil in the Kirk, (since the Church militant
cannot or may not want a devil to trouble her,) rather than a
subtile or sleeping devil. Christ never yet got a bride without
stroke of sword. It is now nigh the Bridegroom's entering into
His chamber, let us awake and go 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, and I charge yon,
smother not Christ's bounty towards me. I write what I have
found of Him in the house of my pilgrimage. Remember my love
Co all our brethren and sisters there.
The Keeper of the vineyard watch for His besieged dty, and
for you.
Your brother, and fellow-suflerer, S. R.
Aberdeen, Feb. 7, 1637.
LETTER XCm.
TO MR. EPHRAIM M E L y I N,
Rbvbrend, and Dear Brother, — ^I received your letter, and
am contented, with all my heart, that our acquaintance in oiir
Lord continue.
I Book of CommoQ Prayer. • Oh that * Put vp to tale by aMdeii.
RPTHERPORD's LRTIBRS. ' 163
I am wrestling, as I dow,' up the mount with Christ^s cross :
my Second is kind, and able to help.
As for your questions, because oi my manifold distractions, and
letters to multitudes, I have not time to answer them. What shall
be said, in common for that, shall be imparted to you : for I am
upon these Questions : therefore, spare me a little, for the Service-
book* woula take a great time. But I think, Sicut deosculatio
religiosa imaginis, aut etiam elementorum, est in se idololatria ex-
terna, etsi intentio deosculandi, tota, quanta in actu est, feratur in
Deum n(fonoivnd¥ ' ita, geniculatio coram pane, quando, nempe, ex
institute, totus homo extemus et internus versari debeat circa ele-
mentaria signa, est adoratio relativa, et adoratio ipsius panis.
Ratio : Intentio adorandi objectum materiale, non est de essentia
extemiB adorationis, ut patet in desoculatione religioslt. Sic geni-
culatio coram imagine Babylonit^ est externa adoratio imaginis,
etsi tres pueri mente intendissent adorare Jehovam. Sic, qui ex
metu solo, aut spe pretii, aut inanis gloriee, geniculatur coram
aureo vitulo Jeroboami, (quod ab ipso rege, qui null& religione in-
ductus, sed libidine dominandi tantum, vitulum erexit, factitatum
esse, textus satis luculenter clamat,) fidorat vitulum extern^ ado-
ratione ; esto quod putaret vitulum esse meram creaturam, et ho-
Dore nuUo dignum': quia geniculatio, sive nos nolumus, sive
voluraus, ex institute Dei et naturae, in actu religioso, est symbo-
lum religiose adorationis: ergo, sicut panis significat corpus
Christi, etsi absit actus omnis nostra intentionis ; sic religiosa
geniculatio, sublat4 omni intentione humane, est externa adoratio
panb, coram quo adoramus, ut coram signq vicario et reprsesenta-
tivo Dei.
Thus recommending you to God's tender mercy, I desiie that
ye would remember me to God. Sanctification will settle you
most in the truth.
Grace be with you.
Tour brother in Christ Jesus, S. R.
Ab6tvo6ii| 1637*
LETTER XCIV.
TO ROBERT GORDON, OF KNOCKBRBZ.
My very Worthy, and Dear Friend, — Grace, mercy, and
rtace be to you — Though all Gralloway should have forgotten me,
would have expected a letter from you ere now : — but I will not
expound it to be forgetfulness of me.
Now, my dear brother, I cannot show you how matters go be-
twixt Christ and me. I find my Lord going and coming seven
limes a-day. His visits are short; but they are both frequent and
nweet. I dare not for my life think of a challenge of my Lord.
t Am able. > Book of CkNmnon Prajer.
164 RUTHERFORD^S LETTERS.
I hear ill tales, and hard reports of Christ, from the Tempter, and
my flesh : but love believetn no evil. I may swear that they are
liars, and that apprehensions make lies of Christ's honest and un-
alterable love to me. I dare not say that I am a dry tree, or that
I have no room at all in the vineyard : but yet I often think that
the sparrows are blessed, who may resort to the House of God in
Anwoth, from which I am banished.
Temptations, that I supposed to be stricken dead, and laid upon
their back, rise again, and revive upon me ; yea, I see that, while
I live, temptations will not die. The Devil seemeth to brag and
boast as much, as if he had more court with Christ than I have ;
and as if he had charmed and blasted my ministry, that I shall
do no more good in public : but this wind shaketh no com.^ 1
will not believe that Christ would have made such a mint* to
have me to himself, and have taken so much pains upon me ns
He hath done, and then slip away so easily from possession,
and lose the glory of what He hath done. Nay, since I came to
Aberdeen, I have been taken up to see the New Land, the fair
palace of the Lamb : and, will Christ let me see I^eaven, to break
my heart, and never give it to me ? I shall not think my Ijord
Jesus giveth a dumb earnest, or putteth His seals to blank paper,
or intendeth to put me off with fair and false promises.
I see that now, which I never saw well before. — 1. I see faith's
necessity in a fair day is never known aright ; but now I miss
nothing so much as faith. Hunger in me runneth to fair and
sweet promises ; but, when I come, I am like a hungry man that
wanteth teeth, or a weak stomach having a sharp appetite that
is filled with the very sight of meat, or like one stupifiea with cold
Under the water, that would fain come to land, but cannot grip*
anything casten^ to him. I can let Christ grip me, but I cannot
grip him. I love to be kissed and sit on Uhrist's knee ; but I
cannot set mv feet to the ground, for afllictions bring the cramp
upon my faith. All that I dow* do is to hold out a lame faith to
Christ, like a beggar holding out a stump, instead of an arm, or
leg, and crying, " Lord Jesus work a miracle !" Oh, what would
I give to have bands and arms, to grip * strongly, and fold heart-
somely,* about Christ's neck, and to have my claim made good
with real possession ! I think that my love to Christ hath feet in
abundance, and runneth swiftly to be at him, but it wanteth
hands and fingers to apprehend him. I think that I would give
Christ every morning my blessing, to have as much faith as I
have love and hunger ; at least, I miss faith more than love or
hunger.
2. I see that mortification, and to be crucified to the world, is
not so highly accounted of by us as it should be. Oh, how heaven-
ly a thing it is to be dead, and dumb, and deaf to this world's
9weet music ! I confess it hath plersed his Majesty to make me
> A proverbial expreMion, intimating that his eflbrtt avail nothing.
* Intimation, by word or ligna, of an intention. * Lay hold oC
« Thrown. • Am able to. • CovdiaOy.
ruthbrford's letters. 165
laugh at children, who are wooing this world fo* the r match. I
see men l3nng about the world, as nob e% about a king's court ;
and I wonder what they are all doing there. As I am at this
present I would scorn to court such a feckless ^ and petty princess,
or buy this world's kindness with a bow of my knee. I scarce
now either hear or see what it is that this world offereth me ; I
know that it is little which it can take from me, and as little that
it can give me. I recommend mortification to you above any-
thing ; for, alas ! we but chase feathers flying in the air, and tire
our own spirits for the froth and over-gilded clay of a dying life.
One sight of what my liOrd hath let me see within this short
time, is worth a world of worlds.
3. I thought courage in the time of trouble for Christ's sake, a
thing that I might take up at my foot ; I thought that the very
remembrance or the honesty of the cause would be enough ; but I
was a fool in so thinking. I have much ado now to win to* one
smile. But I see that joy groweth up in Heaven, and it is above
our short arm. Christ will be steward and dispenser himself, and
none else but he ; therefore, now, I count much of one drachm-
weight of spiritual joy. One smile of Christ's face is now to me
as a kingdom, and yet he is no niggard to me of comforts. Truly
I have no cause to say that I am pinched with penury, or that
the consolations of Christ are dried up : for he hath poured down
rivers upon a dry wilderness, the like of me, to my admiration :
and in my very swootiings, he holdeth up my head, and stayeth
me with flagons of wine, and comforteth me with apples. My
bouse and bed are strewed with kisses of love. Praise, praise
with me. Oh, if ye and I betwixt us could lift up Christ upon his
throne, howbeit all Scotland should cast him down to the ground!
My brother's case toucheth me near. I hope that ye will be
kind to him, and give him your best counsel.
Remember my love to your brother, to your wife, and G. M.
Desire him to be faithful, and to repent of his hypocrisy ; and say
that I wrote it to you. I wish him salvation. Write to me your
mind anent C. E., and C. Y., and their wives, and I. G., or any
others in my parish. I fear that I am forgotten amongst them ;
but I cannot forget them.
The prisoner's prayers and blessings come upon you. GracOj
grace be with you.
Tour brother, in the Lord Jesus, S. R.
AbodMa, Ftb. 9, 1637.
1 WorthkM. * To attain to.
166 ruthbrford's letters.
LETTER XCV.
TO THE HONORABLE, AND TRULY NOBLE LADY, THE VISCOUNT
ESS OF KENMURB.
Madam, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to your Ladyship — )
long to hear from you. I am here waiting, if a good wind, long-
looked-for, will at length blow into Christ's sails, in this land
But I wonder if Jesus be not content to suffer more yet in hi?
members and cause, and in the beauty of his hous^ rather than
he should not be avenged upon this land. I hear that many
worthy men, (who see more in the Lord's dealings, than I can
take up with my dim sight,) are of a contrary mind, and do be-
lieve that the Lord is coming home again, to his House in Scot-
land. I hope he is on his journey that way ; yet I look not bu(
that he will feed this land with their own blood, before he estab
lish his throne amongst us. I know that your Honor is not look-
ing after things hereaway.' Ye have no great cause to thinh
that your stock and principal is under the roof of these visible
heavens ; and I hope that ye would think yourself a beguiled anc
cozeped soul if it were so. I should be sorry to counsel yooi
Ladyship, to make a covenant wiih time, and this life ; but rathei
desire you to hold in fair generals, and afar off from this ill-
founded heaven, that is on thb side of the water. It speaketfa
somewhat, when our Lord bloweth the bloom* off our daft' hope«
in this life, and loppeth the branches off our worldly joys, well
nigh the root, on purpose that they should not thrive. Lord
spilP my fool's heaven in this life, that I may be saved forever.
A forfeiture of the saint's part of the yolk and marrow of short*
laughing worldly happiness, is not such a real evil as our blinded
eyes conceive.
I am thinking long* now for some deliverance more than be
fore. But I know that I am in an error. It is possible I am not
come to that measure of trial which the Lord is seeking in hb
work. If my friends in Gralloway would effectually do' for m)
deliverance, I should exceedingly rejoice ; but I know not but tht
Lord hath a way, whereof he will be the onlv reaper of prabes.
Let me know with the bearer how the child is. The Lord bf
his tutor, and your only comforter. There is nothing here wher*
I am, but profanity, and atheism. Grace, grace be with your
) ladyship.
Your Ladyship's, at all obliged obedience, in Christ, S. R.
Aberdeen, Feb. 13, 1637.
^ In thb precent itata. > BIomooh. > Inaane, ibofitK.
• Spoil, ruin. • Longing c Ezeit th mel to.
Rutherford's letters. 167
LETTER XCYI.
TO THE NOBLE, AND CHRISTIAN LADY, THE VISCOUNTESS OF \
KENMURE.
Madam, — Grace, mercy and peace be to you — I would not
omit the occasion to write to your Ladyship with the bearer. I
am glad that the child is well. God's favor, even in the eyes of
men, be seen upon him !
I hope that your Ladyship is thinking upon these sad and
woful days wherein we now live; when our Lord, in his right-
eous judgment, is sending the Kirk the gate ' she is going, to
Rome's brothel-house, to seek a lover of her own, seeing that she
hath given up with Christ her husband. Oh, what sweet com-
fort, what rich salvation, are laid up for those who had rather
wash and roll their garments in their own blood, than break out
from Christ by apostasy ! Keep yourself in the love of Chjist,
and stand far aback from the pollutions o^the world. Side not
with these times, and hold off from coming nigh the signs of a
conspiracy with those that are now coirie out against Christ, that
mp may be one kept for Christ only. I know that your Ladyship
cninketh upon this, and how you may be humbled for yourself,
and this backsliding land ; for I avouch, that wrath from the
' Lord is gone out against Scotland. I think aye the longer the
better of my royal and worthy Master. He is become a new
Well-beloved to me now, in renewed consolations, by the presence
of the Spirit of grace and glory. Christ's garments smell of the
powder of the merchant, when he cometh out of his ivory cham-
bers. Oh, bis perfumed face, his fair face, his lovely and kindly
kisses, have made me, a poor prisoner, see, that there is more to
be had of Christ in this Ufe than I had believed ! We think all
is but a little earnest, a four-hours',' a small tasting, which we
have, or that is to be had in this life, (which is true compared
with the inheritance ;) but yet I know it is more, it is the King-
dom of God within us. Wo, wo is me, that I have not ten loves
for that one Lord Jesus ; and that love faileth, and drieth up in
loving him : and that I find no way to spend my love desires, and
the yolk of my heart upon that fairest and dearest One. I am
far behind with my narrow heart. Oh, how ebbi a soul have I
to take in Christ's love ! for, let worlds be multiplied, according to
angels' understanding, in millions, whill* they weary themselves,
these worlds would not contain the thousandth part of his love.
Oh, if* I could yoke in« amongst the 4hick' of angels, and sera-
phims, and now glorified saints, and could raise a new love-song
of Christ, before all the world ! — I am pained with wondering at
new-opened treasures in Christ. If every finger, member, bone,
1 Roftd. t A flight fidernoon refreshment * Shallow. * Till
• Oh, that • To yoke in, to join in with energy. ^ Throng.
166 Rutherford's lkptbrs.
and joint, were a torch burning in the hottest fire in Hell, I wouU
Uiat they could all send out love praises, high songs of praise, for
evermore, to that Plant of Renown, to that royal and high Prince,
Jesus my Lord. But alas ! his love swelleth in me and findeth
no vent Alas ! what can a dumb prisoner do, or say for him !
Oh, for an ingine* to write a book of Christ and his love ! Nay,
I am left of him bound, and chained with his love. I cannot find
a loosed soul to lift up his praises and give them out to others.
But, oh ! my day-light hath thick clouds ; I cannot shine in his
praises. I am often like a ship plying about to seek the wind : I
sail at great leisure, and cannot be blown upon that loveliest Lord.
Oh, if I could turn my sails to Chrbt's right airth :» and thai I
had my heart's wishes of his love ! But, I but roar his praises :
nay, I know no comparison of what Christ is, and what his worth
is ; all the angels, and all the glorified, praise him not so much
as in halves — who can advance him, or utter all his praises 1 I
want nothing: unknown faces favor me: enemies must speak
good of the truth : my Master's cause purchaseth commendations.
The hopes of my enlargement, from appearances, are cold. My
faiAi hath no bed to silep upon but omnipotency. The good-will
of the Lord, and his sweetest presence, be with you and that child.
Grace, and peace, be yours.
Your Ladyship's, in all duty in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. ^
Aberdeen, 1637.
LETTER XCVIL
TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE AND CHRISTIAN LADY, THE VIS-
COUNTESS OF KENMURG.
Madam, — Grace, mercy, and peace, be to your Ladyship — I
would not omit to write a line with this Christian bearer, one in
your Ladyship's own case, driven near to Christ, in, and by her
affliction. I wish that my friends in Galloway forget me not
However it be, Christ is so good that I will have no other tutor,
suppose I could have wale^ and choice of ten thousand beside. I
think now, five hundred heavy hearts for him too little. I wish
that Christ, now weeping, suffering, and contemned of men, were
more dear and desirable to many souls than he is. I am sure
that if the saj^ikts wanted' Christ's cross, so profitable, and so
sweet, they might, for the gain and glory of it, wish it were law-
ful, either to buy or borrow his cross. But it is a mercy that the
saints have it laid to their hand for nothing ; for I know no sweeter
way to Heaven, than through free grace, and hard trials together ;
and one of these cannot well want* another. Oh, that lime would
post faster, and hasten our looked-for communion with that Pair-
t OenitM. t Oh, that. t Point of the eompus. directkm.
* Choice . WaU and ehoiet, hbeiiy of choice, with fall and ample atora to chooaa fioai
• Were without. • Do without
Rc^therford's letters. 169
est, Fairest among the sods of men ! Oh, that the day would
&vor us and come, and put Christ and us into each other's arms I
lam sure that a few years will do our turn, and the soldier's hour-
glass will soon run out
Madam, look to your lamp, and look for your Liord's coming,
and let your heart dwell aloof from that sweet child. Christ's
C* ^lousy will not admit of two equal loves in your Ladyship's
eart. He must have one, and that the greatest ; a little one to
a creature, may, and must suffice a soul married to him. '^ Thy
maker is thy Husband," (Isa. hv. 5.) I would wish you well, and
my obligations these many years by-gone > speak no less to me ;
but more I can neither wish nor pray, nor desire for your Lady-
ship, than Christ singled and waled * out from all created good
things, or Christ, howbeit, wet in his own blood, and wearing a
crown of thorns. I am sure that the saints, at their best, are but
strangers to the weight and worth of the incomparable sweetness
of Christ. He is so new, so fresh in excellency, every day so new,
to those that search more and more in him, as if Heaven could
furnish us as many new Christs, (if I may so speak,) as there are
days betwixt him and us, and yet he is one and the same. Oh,
we love an unknown lover, when we love Christ !
Let me hear how the child is every w|iy. The prayers of a
prisoner of Christ be upon him. — Grace for evermore, even whill
glory perfect it, be with your Ladyship.
Yours, in his sweet Jjord Jesus, S. R.
Aberdeen, 1637.
LETTER XCVin.
TO THE NOBLE, AND CHRISTIAN LADY, THE VISCOUNTESS OP
KENMURE.
Madam, — Notwithstanding the great haste of the bearer, I
would bless your Ladyship on paper, desiring, that since Christ
hath ever envied that the world should have your love by ' him,
that ye give yourself out for Christ, and that ye may be for no
other. I know none worthy of you but Christ.
Madam, I am either suffering for Christ, and this is either the
sure and good wav, or I have done with Heaven, and shall never
see God's face, (which I bless him cannot be.) *•
I write my blessing to that sweet child, that ye have borrowed
from God. He is no heritage to you, but a loan : love him as
folks do borrowed things. My heart is heavy for you.
They say that the Kirk of Christ hath neither son nor heir,
and, therefore, that her enemies shall possess her. But I know
that she is not that * ill-friended ;• her Husband is her heir, and
she his heritage.
> By WMT. s ChoMfi, culled. • PmI.
« S« ' • Destitute of relatives.
110 Rutherford's lsttbrs.
If my Lord would be pleased, I should desire that some were dealt
with, for my return to Anwoth : but if that never be, I thank God
Anwoth is not Heaven ; preaching is not Christ — ^I hope to wait on.
Let me hear how the child is, and your Ladyship's mind and
hopes of him ; for it would ease my heart to know that he is welL
I am in good terms with Christ ; but oh, my guiltiness ! yet he
bringeth not pleas betwixt him and me to the streets, and before
the sun.
Grace, grace for evermore, be with your Ladyship.
Your Ladyship's, at all obedience in Christ, 8. R.
Aberdeen, 1637.
LETTER XCEL
TO ALEXANDER GORDON, OF EARLSTON.
Much Honored Sir, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you — I
received your letter, which refreshed me. Except from your son,
and my brother, I have seen few letters from my acquaintance in
that country, which niaketh me heavy. Bui I have the company
of a Lord, who can teach us all to be kind, and hath the right
gate ^ of it ; for though, for the present, I have severe ups and
downs every day, yet I am abundantly comforted and feasted with
my King and Well-beloved daily. It pleaseth him to come and
dine with a sad prisoner, and a solitary stranger ; his spikenard
casteth a smell; yet my sweet hath some sour mixed with it,
wherein I must acquiesce ; for there is no reason that his comforts
be too cheap, seeing they are delicates ; — why should he not make
them so to nis own ? But I verily think now that Christ hath led
me up to a nick' in Christianity that I was never at before ; I think
all before was but childhood and bairns' play. Since I departed
from you, I have been scalded, whill the smoke of Hell's fire went
in at my throat, and I would have bought peace with a thousand
years' torment in Hell ; and I have been up also, after these deep
down-castings and sorrows, before the Lamb's white throne, in my
Father's inner court, the Great King's dining-hall ; and Christ did
cast a covering of love on me ; he hath casten a coal into my soul,
and it is smoking among the straw, and keeping the hearth warm.
I look back to what I was before, and I laugh to see the sand*
houses* I built when I was a child.
At first, the remembrance of the many fair feast-days with my
Lord Jesus in public, which are now changed into silent sabbaths,
raised a great tempest, and, (if I may speak so,) made the Devil
ado in my soul. The Devil came in, and would prompt me to
make a plea with Christ, and to lay the blame on tiim as a hard
master : but now these mists are 1 lown away, and I am not only
> Way. « Notch, degree.
* Hoaeef buik by children of the tand on tfn sea-tbore, which are awepi away bf
the returning tide : metaphorically, illuiory, fleeting expectattona.
Rutherford's letters. If]
sOenced as to all quarreling, but fully satisfied. Now, I wonder
that any mm living can laiigh upon the world, or give it a hearty
Sood-day. The Lord Jesus hath Handled me so, that, as I am now
isposed, I think never to be in this world's commons' again for a
night's lodging. Christ beareth me good company ; he hath eased
me, when I saw it not, lifting the cross off my shoulders, so that I
think it to be bu^ a feather, because underneath are everlasting
arms. God forbid it come to bartering or niffering* of crosses;
for I think my cross so sweet, that I know not where I would get
the like of it. Christ's honey-combs drop so abundantly, that they
sweeten my gall. Nothing breaketh my heart, but that I cannot
get the daugnters of Jerusalem, to tell them of my Bridegroom's
glory. I charge you in the name of Christ, that ye tell all that ye
come to of it ; — and yet it is above telling and understanding.
Oh, if* all the kingdom were as I am, except my bonds ! They
know not the love-kisses that my only Lord Jesus wasteth on a
dawted* prisoner. On my salvation, this is the only way to the
New City. I know that Christ hath no dumb seals. Would he
put his privy-seal upon blank paper? He hath sealed my suffer-
mgs witn his comforts. I write this to confirm you. I write now
what I have seen as well as heard. Now and then my silence
burneth up mv spirit ; but Christ hath said, " Thy stipend is run-
ning up with mterest in Heaven, as if thou wcrt preaching ;" and
this from a King's mouth rejoiceth my heart. At other times, I
am sad, dwelling in Kedar's tents.
There are none, (that I yet know oQ but two persons in this
town that I dare give my word for ; ana the Lord hath removed
my brethren and my acquaintance far from me ; and it may be,
that I shall be forgotten in the place where the Lord made me the
instrument to do some good. But I see that this is vanity in me ;
let him make of me what he pleaseth, if he make salvation out
of it to me. I am tempted and troubled, that all the Fourteen
Prelates should have been armed of God against me only, while
the rest of my brethren are still preaching ; but I dare not say one
word but this — " It is good. Lord Jesus, because thou hast done it."
Wo is me for the Virgin-daughter ! wo is me for the desolation
of the Virgin-daughter of Scotland ! Oh, if my eyes were a
fountain of tears, to weep day and night for that poor Widow-kirk,
that poor miserable Harlot ! Alas, that my Father hath put-to the
door my poor Harlot-mother ! Oh for that cloud of black wrath, and
fury of the indignation of the Lord, that is hanging over the land.
Sir. write to me, I beseech you : I pray you also, be kind to my
afilicted brother. Remember my love to your wife ; and the prayer
and blessing ^{ the prisoner of Christ be on you. Frequent your
meetings for prayer and communion with God : — they would be
■weet meetings to me.
Yours, in his sweet Lo*d Jesus, S. R.
Abcideer, Fib. 16, 1637.
> Tluit b, under obfisaHon to thk world. • * Exehangliit.
a Oh, that. « Pondlod.
vm
LETTER C.
TO THE WORTHY, AND MUCH-HONORED MR. ALEXANDER
COLVILLE, OF BLAIR.
Much Honored Sir, — Grace, mercy, aud peace be to you —
The bearer hereof, Mr. R. F., is most kind to me : I desire you to
thank him. But none is so kind as my only royal King and
Master, whose cross is my garland. The King dineth with bis
prisoner, and his spikenard casteth a smell. He hath led me up
to such a pitch ana nick * of joy ful communion with himself, as i
never knew before. When I look back to by-gones,« I judge my-
self to have been a child at A, B, C, with Christ. Worthy sir,
Cardon me, I dare not conceal it from you, it is as a fire in mv
owels, in His presence who seeth me I speak it ! I am paineo,
pained with the love of Christ ; he hath made me sick, and wounded
me ; hunger for Christ outrunnettufaith ; I miss faith more than
love. Oh, if* the Three Kingdoms would come and see ! Oh, if*
they knew his kindness to my soul ! It h^th pleased him to bring
me to this, that I will not strike sails to this world, nor flatter it,
nor adore this clay-idol that foiols worship. As I am now disposed,
I think that I shall neither borrow nor lend with it ;^ and vet I
get my meat from Christ with nurture ;' for seven times a day I
am lifted up, and casten down. My dumb sabbaths burden my
heart, aod make it bleed. I am not without fearful challenges*
and jealousies^ sometimes of Christ's love, that he hath casten
me over the dyke* of the vineyard as a dry tree. But this is my
infirmity ; by his grace I take myself* in these ravings : it is kindly
that faith and love both be sick, and fevers are kindly to most
joyful communion with Christ.
Ye are blessed who avouch Christ openly before the Prince <rf
this Kingdom, whose eyes are upon you. It is your glory to lift
him up on his throne, to carry his train, and bear up the hem of
his royal robe. He hath an hiding-place for Mr. Alex. ColvtUe
against the storm : go on, and fear not what man can da The
saints seem to have the worst of it, (for apprehensions can make
a lie of Christ and his love,) but it is not so. Providence is not
rolled upon unequal and crooked wheels ; all things work together
for the good of those who love God, and are called according to
his purpose. Ere it be long, we shall see the white side of God's
providence.
My brother's case hath moved me not a little. He wrote to me
four care and kindness. Sir, the prisoner's blessing and prayers,
trust, shall not go past you. He that is able to keep you, and tc
> Degree. > MaUen by-paned. * Oh, that
< Shall have no dealings whateTer with. * C o trcc ti oa.
* daeitioningi. ^ Soffmciona. * Wafl.
* 7b iak* 09iM«l^t to retract one*e wora.
rvtherford's letters. 173
present you before the presence of his face with joy, establish your
neart in the love of Christ.
Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R.
AbeidMn, 19 Feb., 1637.
LETTER CI.
TO EARLSTON, TOUNOER.
Honored, and dear Brother, — Grace, mercy, and peace be
to you — ^I received your letter, which refreshed my soul.
I thank God, that the court is closed, I think shame of my part
of it ; I pass now from my unjust summons of unkindness, libelled
against Christ my Lord. He is not such a Lord and Master as I
took him to be ; verily he is God, and I am dust and ashes. I took
Christ's glooms * to be as good as Scripture speaking wrath ; but
I haveing the chil-
dren of perdition. I pray God, that I may never find my will
again. Oh, if ^ Christ would subject my will to his, and trample
it under his feet, and liberate me from that lawless lord !
Now, sir, in vour youth gather fast ; your sun will mount to the
meridian quickly, and thereafter decline. Be greedy of grace.
Study above anvthin^, my dear brt>ther, to mortify your lusts.
Oh, but pride of youth, vanity, lust, idolizing of the world, and
charming pleasures, take long time to root them out ! As far as
ye are advanced in the way to Heaven, as near as ye are to Christ,
as much progress as ye have made in the way of mortification, ye
will find that ye are far behind, and have most of your work before
you. I never took it to be so hard to be dead to my lusts and to
this world. When the day of visitation cometh, and your old idols
come weeping about you, ye will have much ado not to break your
heart : it is l^t to give up in time with them, so as ye could at a
call quit your part of this world for a drink of water, or a thing of
nothing. Verily I have seen the best of this world, a moth-eaten,
thread-bare coat ; I purpose to lay it aside, bein^ now old and fiiU
of holes. Oh, for my house above, not msule with hands !
Pray for Christ's prisoner; and write to me. Remember my
love to your mother. Desire her, from me, to make ready for re-
moving ; the Lord's tide will not bide her ; and to seek an heav-
enly mind, that her heart may be often there. Grace be with vou
Yours, and Christ's Prisoner, S. ft.
Abenleeo, Feb. 90, 1C37.
« To ly. « So. » ForiLer. «
• To ^oiL * CafcfbUjT oelected. v Oh, that
&.vTherford's letters. 176
LETTER CII.
to the lady card0nes8.
My Dearly-beloved, and Longed-for in the Lord, —
Grace, mercy, and peace be to you — I long to hear how your
soul prospereth, and how the Kingdom of Christ thriveth in you.
I exhort you and beseech you in the bowels of Christ, faint not,
weary not. There is a great necessity of Heaven ; ye. must needs
have it: all other things, as houses, lands, children, husband,
friends, country, credit, health, wealth, honor, may be wanted ;
but Heaven is your one thing necessary, the good part that shall
not be taken from you. See that ye buy the field where the Pearl
is* Sell all, and make a purchase of salvation. Think it not
easy, for it is ^ steep ascent to eternal glory : many are lying dead
by the way, that are slain with security.
I have now been led by my Lord Jesus to such a nick * in Chris-
tianity, as I think little of former things. Oh, what I want ! I
want so many things, that I am almost asking if I have anything
at all. Every nuin thinketh he is rich enough in grace, till he
take out his purse, and tell his money, and then he findeth his
fack but poor and light in the day of a heavy trial. I found that
had not to bear my expenses, and I should have fainted, if want
and penury had not chased me to the Store-house of aU. I be-
seech you make conscience of your wavs. Deal kindly, and with
conscience with your tenants. To fill a breach, or a hole, make
not a greater breach in the conscience. I wish plenty of love to
your soul. Let the world be the portion of bastards, make it not
yours : after the last trumpet is blown, the world and all its glory
will be like an old house that is burnt to ashes, and like an old
fallen castle, without a roof. Fy, fy upon us, fools ! who think
ourselves debtors to the world ! My Lord hath brought me to this,
that I would not dve a drink of cold water for this world's kind-
ness. I wonder uiat men long after, love, or care for these feath-
ers. It is almost an unco* world to me, to think, that men are so
mad as to block* with dead earth :* to give out conscience, and get
in clay again, is a strange bargain.
I have written my mind, at length, to your husband. Write to
me again his case. 1 cannot forget him in my prayers : I am look-
ing.* Christ hath some claim to him. My counsel is, that ye
bear with him when passion overtaketh him. A soft answer put-
tath away wrath. Answer him in what he speaketh, and apply
yourself in the fear of God to him ; and then ye will remove a
pound weight of your heavy cross, that way, and so it shall be«
come light
When Christ hideth himself^ wait on, and make din till he re-
I Degree. ^ * Strange. * Baigaia.
« That is, fiir on UMwer. Pt. ▼. 3.
176 Rutherford's letters.
turn ; it is not time then to be carelessly patient I love to be
grieved when he hideth his smiles ; yet believe his love in a pa-
tient on-waiting and believing in the dark. Ye must learn to
swim and bold up your head above the water, even when the
sense of his presence is not with you to hold up your chin : I trust
in God that he will bring your ship safe to land. I counsel you
to study sanctification, and to be dead to this world. Urge kind-
ness on Knockbrex. Labor to benefit by his company — the man
is acquainted with Christ.
I beg the help of your prayers, for I forget not you. Counsel
vour husband to fulfil my joy, and to seek the Lord's face. Show
him, from me, that my joy and desire is to hear that be is in the
Lord. God casteth him often in my mind ; I cannot forget hinu
I hope Christ and he have something to do together. Bless John
from me. I write blessings to him, and to vour husband, and to
the rest of your children. Let it not be said, " I am not in your
house," through neglect of the sabbath-exercise. «
Your lawful, and loving pastor in his only, only Lord, S. R.
Aberdeen, Feb. 20, 1637.
LETTER cm.
TO JONET MACCULLOCH.
Dear Sister, — Grace, mercy, and peace, be to you — ^I long to
bear how your soul prospereth.
I am as well as a prisoner of Christ can be, feasted and made
fat with the comforts of God. Christ's kisses are made sweeter to
my soul than ever they were. I would not change my Master
with all the kings of clay upon the earth. Oh ! my Weil-beloved
is altogether lovely, and loving. I care not what flesh can do.
I persuade my soul that I delivered the truth of Christ to yoa.
Slip not firom it for any boasts ^ or fear of men. If ye go a^nst
the truth of Christ that I now suffer for, I shall bear witneoi
against you in the day of Christ
Sister, fasten your grips fast on Christ Follow not the guises
of this sinful world. Let not this clay portion of earth take up
your soul : it is the portion of bastards, and ye are a child of God ;
and, therefore, seek your Father's heritage. Send up your heari
to see the dwelling house and fair rooms in the New City. Fy, fy,
upon those who cry, ^< Up with the world, and down with con-
science and Heaven !" We have bairns' wits, and therefore we
cannot prize Christ aright Counsel your husband, and mother to
make them ready for eternity — that day is drawing nigh.
Pray for me, the prisoner of Christ ; I cannot forget yoo.
Your lawful pastor, and brother, S. R.
Aberdeen, Feb. 90, 1637.
> ThreAteninge.
RUTHERFORD d LETTERS. 177
LETTER CIV.
TO ALEXANDER GORDON OF KNOCKGRAY.
Dear Brother, — Grace, mercy and peace be to you — I long
to hear how your soul prospereth. I expected letters from you
ere now.
As for myself, I am here in good case, well feasted with a great
King. At mv first coming here, I was that * bold as to take up a
jealousy of Christ's love. I said I was cast over the dyke • of the
Lord's vineyard, as a dry tree ; but I see that if I had been a
withered branch, the fire would have burned me long ere now : —
blessed be His high name, who hath kept sap in the dry tree.
And now, as if Christ had done the wrong, he hath made amends,
and hath miskent ' my ravings ; (for a man under the water can-
not well command his judgment, far less his faith and love ;) be-
cause it was a fever, my Lord Jesus forgave me that amongst the
rest. He kooweth that in our afllictions we can find a spot in the
fairest face that ever was, even in Christ's face. I would not
have believed that a gloom* should have made me to misken*
my old Master ; but we must be whiles sick. Sickness is but
kindly to both faith and love. But oh, how exceedingly is a poor
dawted» prisoner obliged to sweet Jesus ! My tears are sweeter
to me than the laughter of the Fourteen Prelates is to them. The
worst of Christ, even his chaff, is better than the world's corn.
Dear brother, I beseech you, I charge you in the name and au-
thority of the Son of God, to help me to praise his Highness ; and
I charge you, also, to tell all your acquaintance, that my Master
may get many thanks. Oh, if* my hairs, all my members, and
all my bones, were well-tuned tongues, to sing the high praises of
ray great and glorious King ! Help me to lift Christ up upon his
throne, and to lift Him up above all the thrones of the clay-kings,
the dving sceptre-bearers of this world. The prisoner's blessing,
the blessing of him that is separate from his brethren,* be upon
them all who will lend me a lift in this work. Show this to that
people with you to whom I sometimes preached.
Brother, my Lord hath brought me to this, that I will not flatter
the world for a drink of water. I am no debtor to clay ; Christ
hath made me dead to that ; I now wonder that ever I was such
a child, long since, as to beg at such beggars ! Fy upon us, who
woo such a black-skinned harlot, when we may get such a fair,
lair match in Heaven ! Oh, that I could give up with this clay-
idol, this masked, painted, over-gilded dirt, that Adam's sons
adore ! We make an idol of our will. As many lusts in us, as
laany gods ; we are all god-makers : we are all like to lose Christ
the true Qod, in the throng of these new, and false gods. Scot-
I8a
iWaU.
• Th muktn^ not to know.
«PlOWII.
• Fondled.
12
• Oh. that
178
land hath cast her crown oflf her head ; tHe Yirgia-daufi'hter bath
lost her garland. Wo, wo to our Harlot-mother. Our day is com-
ing, a time when women shall wish they had been childless, and
fathers shall bless miscarrying wombs and dry breasts ; — many
houses great and fair shall be desolate. This Kirk shall sit oa
the ground all the night, and the tears shall run down her cheeks.
The sun hath gone down upon her prophets. Blessed are the
prisoners of hope, who can run into their stronghold, and hide
themselves for a little till the indignation be overpast
Commend me to your wife, your daughters, your son in-law,
and to A. T. Write to me the case of your Kirk. Grace be with
you.
I am much moved for ray brother. I entreat for your kindness
and counsel to him.
Yours, in kis sweet Lord Jesus, S. R.
Aberdeen, Feb. 23, 1637.
LETTER CV.
TO THE LADY CARD0NES8, ELDER.
Worthy, and Well-bbloved in the Lord, — Grace, mercy,
and peace be to you — I long to hear from you on paper, that I
may know how your soul prospereth. My desire and longing is,
to hear that ye walk in the truth, and that ye are content to fmlow
the despised, but most lovelv Son of God.
I cannot but recommend him unto you, as your Husband, your
Well-beloved, your Portion, your Comfort, and your Joy. I speak
this of that lovely One, because I praise and commend the fora, (as
we use to speak,) as I find it He hath watered with bis sweet
comforts an oppressed prisoner : He was always kind to my soul,
but never so kind as now, in my greatest extremities. I dine and
sup with Christ : He visiteth my soul with the visitations of love,
in the night-watches.
I persuade my soul that this is the way to Heaven, and bis
own truth I now suffer for. I exhort you, in the name of Christ,
to continue in the truth, which I deUvered unto you. Make Christ
sure to your soul ; for your day draweth nkh to an end. Many
slide back now, who seemed to be Christ's mends, and prove dis-
honest to Him ; but be ye faithful to the death, and ye snail have
the crown of life. This span-length of your days, whereof the
Spirit of God speaketh, (Psalm xxxix.,) shall, withm a short lime,
come to a finger-breadth, and at length to nothing. Ob, bow
sweet and comfortable will the feast oi a good conscience be to
you, when your eye-strings shall break, your face wax pale, and
the breath turn cold, and your poor soul come sighing to the
windows of the house of ciav of your dying body, and shall loni^
to be out, and to have the jailer to open the door, that the prisoner
179
may be set at liberty ! Te 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 do with dead
clay ? Ye are not a bastard, but a lawfully begotten child ; there-
fore, set your heart on the inheritance. Go 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 view of lands ere they buy them. I know that Christ hath
made the bargain already ; but be kind to the house ye are going
to, and see it often. Set your heart on things that are above,
where Christ is at the right hand of God.
Stir up your husband to mind his own country at home. Coun-
sel him to dpal mercifully with the poor people of God under him.
They are Christ's, and not his ; therefore, desire him to show them
merciful dealing and kindness, and to be good to their souls. I de-
sire you to write to me. It may be, that my parish forget me ;
but my witness is in Heaven that I dow' not, I do not forget them :
they are my siffhs in the night, and my tears in the day. I think
myself like a husband plucked from the wife of his youth. O
Lord, be my Judge, what joy it would be to mv soul, to hear that
my ministry hath left the Son of God among them, and that they
are walking in Christ ! Remember my love to your son and
daughter. Desire them from me to seek the Lord in their youth,
and to give him the morning of their days. Acquaint them with
the woi^ of God and prayer.
Grace be with you. Fray for the prisoner of Christ : in my
heart I forget you not.
Your lawful, and loving pastor,
# In his only Lord Jesus. S. R.
Aberdeen, Maich 6, 1S37.
LETTER CTI.
TO THB RIGHT HONORABLE, AND CHRISTIAN LADY, MT LADT
TI8C0UNTE8S OF KENMURE.
Madam, — Grace, mercv, and peace to you — ^I am refreshed with
your letter. The right hand ot Him, to whom belong the issues
from death, hath been gracious to that sweet child : I dow* not, I
do not forget him and your Ladyship in my prayers.
Madam, as to your own case, I love careful, and withal doing
complaints * of want of practice ; because I observe many whc
think it holiness enough to complain, and set themselves at noth-
ing ; as if to sav " I am sick," could cure them — they think com-
plaints a good charm for guiltiness. I hope that ye are wrestling
and struggling on, in this dead age, wherem folks have lost tongue,
9nd legs, and arms for Christ. I urge upon you, madam, a nearer
> Am not aUe. * CompUtnto accompanied bj ezertioik.
180 Rutherford's letters.
communion with Christ, and a growing communion. There are .
curtains to be drawn by' in Christ, that we never saw, and new
foldings of love m him. I despair that ever I shall win* to the far-
end' of that love, there are so many plies in it. Therefore, dig
deep ; and sweat and labor, and take pains for him ; and set by
as much time in the day for him as you can : he will be won with
labor.
I, his exiled prisoner, sought him and he hath rued upon me,
and hath made a moan for< me, as he doth for his own,
rjer. xxxi. 20 ; Isaiah xlv. 11 ;) and I know not what to do with
Christ ; his love surroundeth and surchargeth me. I^m burdened
with it, but oh, how sweet and lovely is that burden ! I cannot
keep it within me : I am so in love with his love, that if his love
were not in Heaven, I should be unwilling to go thither. Oh,
what weighing, and what telling is in Christ's love ! I fear noth-
ing now so much as the laughing of Christ's cross, and the love-
showers that accompany it. I wonder what he meaneth to put
such a slave at the board-heard,* at his own elbow. Oh, that
I should lay my black mouth to such a fair, fair, fair face af
Christ's ! But I dare not refuse to be loved : the cause is not in
me, why he hath looked upon me, and loved me ; for he got neither
bud,* nor hire of me ; it cost me nothing, it is good-cheap^ love.
Oh, the many pound-weights of his love, under which I am sweetly
pressed !
Now, madam, I persuade you, that the greatest part but play
with Christianity ; they put it by-hand<> easily. I thought it had
been an easy thing to be a Christian, and that to seek God had
been at the next door ; but oh, the windings, the turnings, the ups
and the downs that he hath led me through ; and I see yet much*
way to the ford. He speaketh with my reins in the night season ;
and in the morning, when I awake, I find his love-arrows, that
he shot at me, sticking in my heart. Who will help me to praise ?
who will come to lift up with me, and set on high his great love?
and yet I find that a fire-flaught* of challenges will come out at
midsummer, and question me — but it is only to keep a sinner in
order.
As for friends, I will not think the world to be\he world, if that
well go not dry. I trust in God, to use the world as a cdnny ■* or
cunning master doth a knave-servant, (at least God give me
grace to do so ;) he giveth him no handling nor credit, only he
entrusteth him with common errands, wherein he cannot play
the knave. I pray God that I may not give this world the credit
of my joys, and comforts, and confidence — that were to put Christ
out of his ofllce. Nay, I counsel you, madam, from a little ex-
perience, let Christ keep the great seal, and entrust him so as to
fling*' your vessels great and small, and pin your burdens upon
> Ande. > Get * Farther end. « Bemoaned.
• Head of the table. • Bribe. ▼ OratottoM.
• BaiiljT, bat haatiljr, and in a raperficial manner, discharge iU duties.
• Lightning-laah. ^ Pradent, akiliul. u Hanf .
RUTHERFORD'S LETTERS. 181
' ihe Nail fastened in David's house, (Isaiah xxii. 23.) Let me not
he well, if ever they get the tutoring of my comforts. Away,
away with irresponsal * tutors, that would play me a slip, and then
Christ would laugh at me, and say, " Well- wared ; * try again ere
ye trust." Now wo is me, for my whorish Mother, the Kirk of
Scotland ! Oh, who will bewail her !
Now the presence of the great Angel of the Covenant be with
you, and that sweet child.
Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R.
Abefdeen, March 7, 1637.
LETTER CVn.
TO A GENTLEWOMAN, UPON THE DEATH tfp HER HUSBAND.
Mistress, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you — ^I cannot but
rejoice, and withal be grieved, at your case. It hath pleased the
Lord to remove your husband, (my friend, and this Kirk's faithful
Erofessor,) soon to his rest ; but, shall we be sorry that our loss is
is gain, seeing his Lord would want his conipany no longer ?
Think not much of short summons ; for, seeing, he walked with
his Lord in his life, and desired Chat Christ should be magnified
in him, at his death,' ye ought to be silent and satisfied. When
Christ Cometh for his own, he runneth fast : mercy, mercy to the
saints goeth not at leisure ; love, love in our Redeemer is not
slow, and withal he is homely* with you, who cometh at his
own hand to your house, and intromitteth,^ as a friend, with any-
thing that is yours. I think he would fain borrow and lend with
you. Now he shall meet with the solacious* company, the fair
flock and blessed baim-teme * of the first-bom, banqueting at the
raarriage-s\]pper of the Lamb. It is a mercy that the poor wan-
dering sheep get a dyke-side in this stormy day, and a leaking
ship a safe harbor, and a sea-sick passenger a sound and soft bed
ashore. Wrath, wrath, wrath from the Lord, is coming upon this
land, that he hath left behind him. Know, therefore, tnat the
wounds of your Lord Jesus are the wounds of a lover, and that
he will have compassion upon a sad-hearted servant ; and that
Christ hath said, he will have the husband's room in your heart:
he loved you in your first husband's time, and he is but wooing
vou still. Give him heart and chair, house and all ; he will not
be made companion with any other ; love is full of jealousies ; he
will have all your love — and who should get it but he ? I know
that ve allow it upon him. There are comforts both sweet and
satisfying, laid up for you : wait on. Frist ^ Christ ; he is an hon*
est debtor.
Now for mine own case, I think some poor body would be glad
> Irresponsible. * WelMeteired. * FamilUr. * Inteniieddleth.
• Solacing. * Whole family of children. ^ Give credit to.
182
3f a dawted ' prisoner's leavings. I have no scarcity of ChristV
love : he hath wasted more comforts upon his poor hanished ser*
vant, than would have refreshed many souls. My burden was
once so heavy, that one ounce-weight would have casten the bal-
ance, and broken my back ; but Christ said, '^ Hold, hold !" to mv
sorrow, and hath wiped a bluthered' face, which was foul with
weeping. I may joyfully go my Lord's errands, with wages in
my hands. Deferred hopes need not make my dead-sweir,* (as
we use to say ;) my cross is both my cross and my reward. Oh,
that men would sound his high praises ! I love Christ's ^orst re-
proaches, his glooms,* his cross, oetter than all the world's plastered
glory ; my heart is not longing to be back again from Christ's
country ; it is a sweet soil I am come to. I, (if any in the world,)
have good cause to speak much good of him. Oh, Hell were a
good-cheap' price to buy him at ! Oh, if* all the Three King-
doms were witness^ to my pained, pained soul, overcome with
Christ's love !
I thank, you most kindly, my dear sister, for vour love to, and
tender care of my brother. I'shall think myself obliged to you, if
ye continue his friend. He is more to me than a brother uow^
being engaged to suffer for so honorable a Master and cause.
Pray for Christ's Prisoner ; and grace, grace be with you.
Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R.
Abefdeen, March 7, 1637.
LETTER CTin.
TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE AND CHRISTIAN LADT,
MY LADY KENMURE.
Madam, — Upon the offered opportunity of this worthy bearer, I
could not omit to answer the heads of your letter.
Istly, I think not much to set down on paper some good things
anent Christ, that Sealed and Holy Thing ; and to feed my soul
with raw wishes to be one with Christ ; for a wish is but broken
and half love ; but verily to obey this, " Come and see," is a hard-
er matter ! But oh, I have rather smoke than fire, and guessings
rather than real assurances of him. I have little or nothing to
say, that I am as one who hath found favor in his eyes ; but there
is some pining and mismannered' hunger, that maketh me mis-
call* and nickname Christ as a changed Lord; but alas! it is
ill-flilten.* I cannot believe without a pledge. I cannot take
God's word without a caution,** as if Christ had lost and sold his
I Cockered. < Blurred. * Rxtremeljr relacUDt « Ptowim.
' Gratuitous. ' Oh, that ^ Unmaniicriy.
I TV miseail, to call nainet, to almae.
• Denoting that the criminations or reprehensions of a rehaker coma with a iroy
bad grace from hiu, because of his being supposed to be equally, or more guilty i& IM
same, or in a similar fS'tpecl. ^ Surety.
Rutherford's letters. 183
credit, and were not in my books responsal/ ^i^d law-biding:* but
this is my way; for his way is, (Eph. i. 13,] '* After that ye be-
lieved, ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit oi promise."
2ndly, Ye wr^te that I am filled with knowledge, and stand not
in need of these warnings ; but certainly my light is dim, when
it Cometh to handy-grips ; ■ and how many have full coffers and
yet empty bellies ! Light, and the saving use of light, are far
different. Oh, what need then have I to have the ashes blown
away from ipv dying-out fire ! I may be a bookman, and be an
idiot and stark fool in Christ's way ! Learning will not beguile
Christ. The Bible beeuiled the Pharisees, and so may I be mis-
led. Therefore, as night-watchers hold one another waking, by
speaking to one another, so have we need to hold one another on
foot : sleep stealeth away the light of watching, even the light
that reproveth sleeping. I doubt not but moe would fetch Heaven,
if they believed not Heaven to be at the next door. The world's
negative holiness, no adulterer, no murderer, no thief, no cozener,
maketh men believe they are already glorified saints: but the
sixth chapter to the Hebrews may affright us all, when we hear
that men may take of the gifts and common graces of the Holy
Spirit, and a taste of the powers of the life to come, to Hell with
them. Here is reprobate silver, which yet seemeth to have thcr
king's image and superscription upon it.
3rdly, I find you complaining of yourself, and it becometh a
sinner so to do. I am not against you in that ; sense of death is
a sib friend,^ and of kin and blood to life ; the more sense, the
more Ufe ; the more sense of sin, the less sin. I would love my
pain and soreness, and my wounds, howbeit these should bereave
me of my night's sleep, better than my wounds without pain.
Oh, how sweet a thing it is, to give Christ his handful of broken
arms and legs, and disjointed bones !
4thly, Be not afraid for little grace ; Chrisj^ soweth his living
seed, and he will not lose his seed : if he have the guiding of my
stock and state, it shall not miscarry. Our spelled' works, losses,
deadness, coldness, wretchedness, are the ground upon which the
Good Husbandman laboreth.
Sthly, Ye write that his compassions fail not, notwithstanding
that your service to Christ miscarrieth ; to the which I answer,
*'God forbid that there were buying and selling, and blocking* for
as good again, betwixt Christ and us : for then free grace might
go to play, and a Saviour sing dumb,^ and Christ go to sleep. But
we go to Heaven with light shoulders, and all the bairn-teme,* and
the vessels great and small that we have, are fastened upon the
safe Nail," (Isa. xxii. 23, 24.) The only danger is, that we give
^race more to do than God giveth it, that is, by turning his grace
mto wantonness.
6thly, Ye write, that few see your guiltiness, and that ye can-
* Rpspofinble. * Awaiting, or standing by a sentence of law.
, * CloM straggling. « Near relative. * Spoiled, rained.
* Planning cf bugaina 7 Be silenced. * Whole ikaulj of childmk
184
not be free with many, as with me : I answer, '^ Blessed be Grod,
that Christ and we are not heard before men's courts ; it b at home
betwixt him and us, that pleas are taken away."
Grace be with you.
Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesos, S. R.
Aberdeen.
LETTER CIX.
AND CHRISTIAN LADT, MT
LADY BOYD.
Madam, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you, from God our
Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ
I cannot but thank your Ladyship, for your letter, that hath re-
freshed my soul. I think myself many ways obliged to your Lady-
ship for your love to my affli^ed brother, now embarked with me
in that same cause. His Lord hath been pleased to put him on
truth's side. I hope that your Ladyship will befriend him with
your counsel and countenance in that country, where he is a
stranger; and your Ladyship needeth not fear but your kindness
to his own will be put up into Christ's accounts.
Now, madam, for your Ladyship's case, I rejoice exceedingly,
that the Father of lights hath made you see that there is a nick*
in Christianity, which ye contend to be at ; and that is, to quit the
right eye, and the right hand, and to keep the Son of God. I hope
your desire is to make him your garland, and that your eye look-
eth up the mount, which certainly is nothing but the new creature.
Fear not, Christ will not cast water upon your smoking coal ; and
then, who else dare do it if he say nay ? Be sorr^ at corruption,
and be not secure. That companion lay with you m your mother's
womb, and was as early friends with you as the breath of life ;
and Christ will not have it otherwise ; for he delighteth to take up
fallen bairns, and to mend broken brows ; — binding up of wounds
is his office, (Isaiah, Ixi.) First, I am glad that Christ will get
employment of his calling in you. Many a whole soul is in
Heaven, which was sicker than ye are. He is content, that ye lay
broken arms and legs on his knee, that he may spelk* them
Secondly, Hiding of his face is wise love, — his love is not fond,
doting, and reasonless, — to give your head no other pillow, whill
ye be in at Heaven's gates, but to lye between his breasts, and lean
upon his bosom. Nay, his bairns must often have the frosty cold
side of the hill, and set down both their bare feet among thorns
his love hath eyes, and in the meantime is looking on. Our pride
must have winter weather to rot it. But I know that Christ and
ye will not be heard. Ye will whisper it over betwixt yourselves,
and agree again ; for the anchor-tow ' abideth fast within the veil :
the end of it is in Christ's ten fingers — who dare pull if he hold 1
* > Notch, degree. * 7b tptik, to bind up with splints. * Cable.
Rutherford's letters. 185
% the Lord thy God, will hold thy right hand, saying, Fear not,
I will help thee. Fear not, Jacob." (Isa. xli. 13, 14.) The sea-
sick passenger shall come to land-^Christ will be the first that w31
meet you on the shore. I hope that your Ladyship will keep the
King*8 highway. Go on, in the strength of the Lord, in haste, as
if ye had not leisure to speak to the inn-keepers by the way — He
is over beyond time on tne other side of the water, who thinketh
long * for you.
For my unfaithful self, madam, I must say a word. At my first
coming hither, the Devil made many a black lie of my Lord Jesus,
and said' the court was changed, and he was angry, and would
give an evil servant his leave • at mid-term. But he gave me
grace not to take my leave ;^ I resolved to bide summons, and sit,
howbeit it was suggested and said, ^^ What should be done with a
withered tree, but over the dyke* with it?" But now, now, (I
dare not, I dow not* keep it up,) who is feasted as his poor exileid
prisoner? I think shame of the board-head' and the first-mess,
and the royal King's dining-hall, and that my black hand should
come upon such a ruler's table. But I cannot mend it, Christ
roust have his will : only he paineth my soul so, sometimes with
his love, that I have been nigh to pass modesty, and to cry out, he
hath left a smoking, burning coal in my heart, and gone to the
dcjor himself, and left me and it together. Yet it is not desertion :
I know not what it is, but I was never so sick for him as now. I
durst not challenge* my Lord, if I got no more for Heaven, it is a
dawting^ cross. I know he hath other things to do than to play
with me, and trindle' an apple with me, and that this feast will
end. Oh, for instruments* m God's name, that this is he ! and
that I may make use of it, when it may be, a near friend within
noe will say, and when it will be said by a challenging *•. devil,
" Where is thy God ?" Since I know that it will not last, I desire
but to keep broken meat: but let no man after me slander Christ
for his cross.
The great Lord of the Covenant, who brought from the dead
the great Shepherd of his sheeg, by the blood of the Eternal Covc-
nanty establisn you, and keep you and yours, to his appearance !
Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R.
Aberdeen, March 7, 1637.
LETTER OX.
TO THE LADY KASKIBERRT.
Madam, — Grace, mercy, and peace, be to you — I long to hear
I ow your Ladyship is. I know not how to requite your Lady-
1 LoQfeth. * Ducharge from •enrice. * Wall. * Am not able.
• Head of the table. • Upbraul. ▼ Fondling.
• To tnwdle. • Documenti in prooC ^ Upbraiding.
186
ship's kindness ; but your love to the saints, madam, b laid up in
Heaven : I know it is for your well-beloved Christ's sake, that ye
make his friends so dear to you, and concern yourself so much in
them.
I am in this house of pilgrimage, eveiy way in good case :
Christ is most kind and loving to my soul It pleaseth him to
feast, with his unseen consolations, a stranger and an exiled
prisoner : and I would not exchange my Lord Jesus with all the
comfort out of Heaven.— His yoke is easv, and his burden is light
This is his truth which I now suffer for : for he hath seal^ it
with his blessed presence: I know that Christ shall yet win the
day, and gain the battle in Scotland. Grace be with you.
Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R.
Aberdeen, March 7, 1637.
LETTER CXL
TO THE LADY EARL8TON.
Mistress, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you — I lon^ to hear
how your soul prospereth. I exhort you to go on in your journey ;
your day is short, and your afternoon-sun will soon go down.
Make an end of your accounts with your Lord ; for death and
judgment are tides that bide * no man. Salvation is supposed to
be at the door, and Christianity is thought an easy task : but I
find it hard, and the way strait and narrow, were it not that my
Guide is content to wait on me, and to care for a tired traveller.
Hurt not your conscience with any known sin. Let your children
be as so many flowers, borrowed from God. If the flowers die or
wither, thank God for a summer loan of them, and keep good
neighborhood, to borrow and lend * with him. Set your heart upon
Heaven, and trouble not your spirit with this clay-idol of the world,
which is but vanity, and hath but the lustre of the rainbow in the
air, which cometh and goeth with a flying March-shower :^-cIay
is the idol of bastards, not the inheritance of the children.
My Lord hath been pleased to make many unknown faces laneh
upon me, and hath made me well-content of a borrowed fire-side,
and a borrowed bed. I am feasted with the joys of the Holy
Ghost, and my royal King beareth my charges honorably. I love
the smell of Chrbt's sweet breath better than the world's gold. I
would I had help to praise him.
The great Messenger of the Covenant, the Son of Grod, establish
you on your Rock, and keep you to the day of his coming.
Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R.
Aberdeen. March 7, 1637.
1 7b bid€t to wait for. * To be on the moat intiiiiate temii with.
Rutherford's letters. 187
LETTER CXII.
TO HIS l-EYEREND, AND DEAR BROTHER, MR. DAVID DICKSON.
Reverend, and 'Dearest Brother, — What joy have I out
of Heaven's gates, but that my Lord Jesus be glorified in ray
bonds? Blessed be ye of the Lord, who contribute anything to
my obliged and indebted praises. Dear brother, help me, a poor
dyvour,* to pay the interest, for I cannot come nigh to render the
principal. It. is not jest nor sport which maketh me to speak and
write as I do : I never before came to that nick » or pitcn of com-
munion with Christ, that I have now attained to. For my con-
firmation, I have been these two Sabbaths or three in private,
taking instruments * in the name of God, that my Lord Jesus and
I have kissed each other in Aberdeen, the house of my pilgrimage
I seek not an apple Co play me with. He knoweth, whom I serve
in the Spirit, but a seal. I but beg earnest, and am content to
suspend and frist * glory whill supper-time. I know that this
world will not last with me ; for my moonlight is noon-day light,
and my four-hours ' above my feasts, when I was a preacher ; at
which times, also, I was embraced very often in his arms. But
who can blame Christ to take me on behind him, if I may say so,
on his white horse, or in his chariot, paved with love, through a
water 1 Will not a father take his little dawted Davie • in his
arms, and carry him over a ditch or a mire ? My short legs could
not step over this lair,^ or sinking mire ; and, therefore, my Lord
Jesus will bear me through. If a change come, and a dark day,
so being that he will keep my faith without flaw or crack, I dare
not blame him, howbeit I get no more whill I come to Heaven.
But ye know that the physic behooved to have sugar ; my faith
was fallen aswoon,' and Christ but held up a swooning man's
head. Indeed I pray not for a dawted * bairn's diet ; he knoweth
that I would have Christ, sour or sweet ; *any way, so being it be
Christ indeed. I stand not now upon pared apples, or sugared
dishes ; but I cannot blame him to give. I must gape and make
a wide mouth. Since Christ will not pantry up'» joys, he must be
welcome, who will not bide away. I seek no other fruit, than that
he may be glorified ; he knoweth that I would take hard fare to
have his name set on high.
I bless you for your counsel. I hope to live by faith, and swim
without a mass or bundle of joyful sense under my chui ; at least
to venture, albeit I should be ducked.
1 BttJikrapl. * Notch, degree,
s 7V lak§ inMntmentMf k for a penon who hot an intereet in a coort to declare, apon
a d jekton, that he claims the benefit of that deciiion, and views the matter as finished
« Th/risi, to postpone, in the hope, however, of nltimatel? possessing.
* Slight afternoon's repasts. * Little fondled boy.
V Bog, in which one most sink. • In a swoon.
* Fondled >* That b, lock up in the pantij.
188 Rutherford's letters.
Now for my case i I thiak that tlie coimcil should be essayed,
and the eveoL referred lo God : — duties are ours, and evetita are
God's,
I shall go (h rough yours upon the Coveuant at leisure^ and
write to you my mind there-auent ; ^ and aueiit the Armiiiian
contract betwixt the Father and the 8on. 1 beseech you, set Ld^*
to go through Scripture. Youra on the Hebrews! is iti great re-
quest with ail who would be acquainted with Christ's Tesiameot*
1 purpose, God wilKng, to set about Hasea^ and lo try if I can get
it to the press here.
It refresheth me much, that ye are so kind to my brother I
hope your council will do him good. 1 recommend him to you^
Bince I am bo fur from hiui. 1 aiu glad that the dying servant of
Godj famous and faithful Mr. Cunningham, sealed your ministry
before he fell asleep.
Grace, grace be with you.
Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R,
Aberdeen, March 7, 1637.
LETTER CXIIL
TO JEAN BROWN,
Well-beloved, AND Dear Sister, — Grace, mercy, and peace
he to you — I received your Iptter, which I esteem an evidence uf
your Christian aflTection to me, and of your love lo my honorable
Lord and Master. My desire is^, (hat your couimunion with C^lIist
may grow, and tliat your reckonings may be put by hand* with
your Lord ere ye come to the watcr-^^ide.
Oh, who knowelh how sweet Christ's ki^ises are ! Who hatb
been more kindly embraced and kissned than I, his bani§hed pri»*
oner? If the cooiparison could §land, 1 would not escctuinge
Christ with Heaven itself. He hath left a dart and arrow of love
in iTiy soul, and it paineth me till he come and lakoth U iniL 1
find pain of tliese woundd, because I would have |H>s^esi9ion. 'I
know now ihat this worm-eaten apple, the plastered^ rotten world,
which the silly children of this world are beating and bnffetin<ri
and pulling each otiier's ears for, i^ a portion for bastardi good
enough ; and that it is all they have to look for. ! am not of-
fended that my advert^aries stay at home at their own fireside* with
more yearly rent than L Should I Ijm? an^ry that the Good-
man of tills house of the world cartel h a dog a luMie to hurt
his teeth ? He hath taught me to be conti^nt with a borroiwiad
fireside, and an unco* bed ; and I think I have lost nothing, tlie
income is so great. Oh, what telling is in Christ ! Oh, how
> weighty is my fair garland, my crown, my fair supping-hall in
I Concerning it * Thwd to, to detenniiie, to bcfia.
* Conclncled. < Strani^c.
189
^loiyi where I shall be above the blows and bufletings of prelates 1
Let this be your desire, and let your thoughts dwell much upon
that blessedness that abideth you in the other world. The fair
• side of the world will be turned to you quickly, when ye shall
see the crown. I hope that ye are near your lodging. Oh! but
I would think myself blessed, for my part, to win to? the house
before the shower come on ! for God hath a quiver full of arrows
to shoot at, and shower down upon Scotland.
Ye have the prayers of a prisoner of Christ. I desire Patrick
to give Christ his young love, even the flowers of it, and to put it
by all others. It were good to start soon to the way ; he snould
thereby have a great advantage in the evil day. Grace be with
you.
Yours, in his only Lord Jesus, S. R.
Aberdeen, March 7, 1637.
LETTER CXIY.
TO MR. JOHN FEROUSHILL.
Reverend, and Well-beloved in the Lord, — I was re-
freshed with your letter. I am sorry for that lingering and long-
soroe visitation that is upon your wife ; but I know that ye take
it as the mark of a lawfully begotten child, and not of a bastard,
to be under your Father's rod. Till ye be in Heaven, it will be
but foul weather — one shower up and another down. The lintel-
stone and pillars of the New Jerusalem suffer more knocks of
God's hammer and tool than the common side-wall stones: and
if twenty crosses be written for you in God's book, they will come
to nineteen, and then, at last, to one, and after that to nothing ;
but your head shall lie betwixt Christ's breasts for evermore, and
his own soft hand shall dry your face ; and wipe away your tears.
Aa for public sufferings for his truth, your Master ako will see to
these. Let us put him into his own office, to comfort and deliver.
The gloom* of Christ's cross is worse than itself.
I cannot keep up what he hath done to my soul My dear
brother, will I not get help of you to praise, and to lifl Christ up
on high ? He hath pained me with his love, and hath left a love-
arrow m my heart, tnat hath made a wound, and swelled me up
with desires, so that I am to be pitied for want of real possession.
Love ^ oiild have the company of the party loved : and my great-
est pain is the want of him, not of his joys and comforts, but of a
near union and communion.
This is his truth, I am fully persuaded, which I now suflTer for :
for Christ bath taken upon him to be witness to it by bis sweet
comforts to my soul ; and shall I think him a false witness, or
that he would subscribe blank paper? I thank his high and
> Reach. * Frown.
190
dreadful name for what h^ hath given. I hope to keep his seal
and his pawn till he come and loose it himself. I defy Hell to put
me off it But he is Christ, and he hath met with his prisoner,
and I took instruments in his own hand ^ that it was he, and none
other for him. When the Devil fenceth * a bastard-court in my
Lord's ground, and giveth me forged summons, it will be my
shame to misbelieve,' after such a fair, broad seal : and yet Satan
and my apprehension sometimes make a lie of Christ, as if he
hated me ; but I dare believe no evil of Christ. If he would cool
my love-fever for himself with real presence and possession, I would
be rich ; but I dare not be mislearned,* and seek more in that kind,
howbeit it be no shame to beg at Christ's door. I pity my adver-
saries. I grudge not that my Lord keepeth them at their own
fire-side, and hath given me a borrowed bed and a borrowed fire-
side : — let the good-man of the house cast the dog a bone ! why
should I take offence? I rejoice that the broken bark shall come
to land, and that Christ will, on the shore, welcome the sea-sick
passenger. We have need of a great stock against this day of
trial that is coming. There is neither chaff nor corn in Scotland
but it shall once pass through Grod's sieve. Praise, praise, and
pray for me ; for 1 cannot forget you. I know that ye wUl be
friendly to my afllicted brother, who is now embarked in the same
cause with me. Let him have your counsel and comforts.
Remember my love in Christ to your wife ; her health is coming,
and her salvation sleepeth not. Ye have the prayers and blessing
of a prisoner in Christ. Sow fast, deal bread plentifully. The
pantry-door will be locked on the bairns, in appearance, ere long.
Grace, grace be with you.
Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R.
Aberdeen, Uaidi 7, 1637.
LETTER CXY.
TO HIS REVEREND AND DEAR BROTHER, MR. ROBERT DOUGLAS.
My very Reverend, and Dear Brother, — Grace, mercy,
and peace be to vou — I long to see you on paper. I cannot but
write you, that this which I now suffer for is Christ's truth ; be-
cause he hath been pleased to seal my sufferings with joy an-
speakable and glorious. I know that he will not put his seal upon
blank paper ; Christ hath not dumb seals, neither will he be a
witness to a lie. I beseech you, my dear brother, to help roe to
praise, and to lift Christ up on his throne above the shields of
the earth. I am astonished and confounded at the greatness of
his kindness to such a sinner. I know that Christ and I shaL
never be even ;' I shall die in his debt He hath left an arrow in
> That If, I declared, and claimed that the declaration dught be reooffded for w^
denee. * OpeneUi. * Not to beUere alight.
« lU-bred. • aoita.
191
my heart that paineth me for want of real possession ; and Hell
cannot quench this coal of God's kindling. I wish no man to
slander Christ, or his cross, for my cause : for I have much cause
Co speak much good of him ; he hath brought me to a nick' and
degree of communion with himself that I knew not before. The
din and gloom* of our Lord's cross is more fearful and hard than
the cross itself. He taketh the bairns in his arms when they come
to a deep water; at least, when they lose ground, and are put to
ewjm, then his hand is under their chin.
Let me be helped by your prayers ; and remembei my love to
your kind wife. Grace be with you.
Your Brother, and Christ's Prisoner, S. R.
Aberdeen, March 7, 1637.
LETTER CXVI.
TO THE MUCH HONORED WILLIAM RIGGE, OF ATHERNIE.
Much Honored Sir, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you — I
received your long-looked-for and short letter ; I would that ye had
fipoken more to me, who stand in need. I find Christ, as ye write^
aye the longer the better, and, therefore, cannot but rejoice in His
saltation, who hath made my chains my wings, and hath made
me a king over my crosses, and over my adversaries : — glory, glory,
glory to his high, high and holy name ! Not one ounce, not one
grain-weight more is laid on me than he hath enabled me to bear ;
and I am not so' much wearied to suffer as Zion's haters are to
persecute. Oh, if* I could find a way in any measure, to strive
to be even with Christ's love ! but that I must give over. Oh,
who would help a dyvour* to pay praises to the King of saints,
who triumpheth in his weak servants !
I see that if Christ but ride upon a worm or feather, his horse
will neither stumble nor fall. The worm Jacob is made by him a
new, sharp, threshing instrument, having teeth to thresh the
mountains, and beat them small, and to make the hills as chaff,
and to fan them, so as the wind shall carry them away, and the
whirlwind shall scatter them, (Isa. xli. 14, 15, 16.) Christ's ene-
mies are but breaking their own heads in pieces, upon the Rock
laid in Zion, and the Stone js not removed out of its place. Faith
hath cause to take courage from our very afflictions ; the Devil is
but a whetstone to sharpen the faith and patience of the saints.
I know that he but heweth and polisheth stones all this time for
the New Jerusalem.
But in all this, three things have much moved me, since it hath
E leased ray Lord to turn my moon-light into day-light First he
atb yoked' me to work, to wrestle with Christ's love of longingi
I D«free. • Prown. • Ob, that
« Banknipt • Bound.
192 Rutherford's letters.
wherewith I am sick, pained, fainting, and like to die, because I
cannot get himself, which I think a strange sort of desertion; for
I have not himself, (whom if I had, my love-sickness would cool,
and my fever go away ; at least, I should know the heat of the
fire of complacency, which would cool the scorching heat of the
fire of desire,) and yet I have no penury of his love ; and so I
dwine,^ I die, and he seemeth not to rue on me. 1 take instru-
ments in his hand,* that I would have him, but I cannot get him ,
and my best cheer is black hunger ; — I bless him for that feast
Secondly, Old challenges* now and then revive, and cast all
down ; I go halting and sighing, fearing there be an unseen pro-
cess yet coming out, and that heavier than I can answer. I can-
not read distinctly my surety's act of cautionry * for me in partic-
ular, and my discharge ; and sense, rather than faith, assureth
me of what I have ; — so unable am I to go,^ but by a hold. 1
could, with reverdice of my Lord, forgive Christ, if he would give
me as much faith as 1 have hunger K»r him. I hope the pardon
id now obtained, but the peace is not so sure to me as I would
wish : yet, one thing I know, there is not a way to Heaven but
the way which he hath graced me to profess and suffer for.
Thirdly, Wo, wo is me for the Virgin-daughter of Scotland,
and for the fearful desolation and wrath appointed for this land ;
and yet all are sleeping, eating, and drinking, laughing and sport-
ing, as if all were well. Oh our dim gold ! our dumb, blind pas-
tors ! the sun is gone down upon them, and our nobles bid Christ
fend for* himself, if he be Christ. It were good, that we should
learn in time, the way to our stronghold.
Sir, howbeit not acquainted, remember my love to your wife.
I pray God to estabUsb you.
Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R.
Aberdeen, March 9, 1637.
LETTER CXVn.
TO MR. ALEXANDjgR HENDERSON.
My Reverend, and Dear Brother, — I received your letters.
They are as apples of gold to me, for with my sweet feasts, (and
they are above the deserving of such a sinner, high and out of
measure,^ I have sadness to ballast me, and weight^ me a little.
It is but nis boundless wisdom, which hath taken the tutoring of
His witless child ; and, be knoweth that to be drunken with
comforts is not safest for our stomachs. However it be, the din,
and noise, and glooms* of Christ's cross are weightier than iuelf
• Pine away.
i That k, I declare in Cbrut't court, and I claim that the declaration be recofded
m order that it may become eridence. * Self-accotationt. « SaretrebiBL
• Walk. * Shift fi>r. t Depre«. • Prowu.
Rutherford's letters. 193
I protest to you, (my witness is in Heaven,) that I could wish
many pound-weights added to my cross, to know that by my
sufferings Christ were set forward in his kingly office in this
land. Oh ! what is my skin to his glory ; or my losses, or my
sad heart, to the apple of the eye of our Lord, and his beloved
spouse, his precious truth, his roval privileges, the glory of mani-
fested justice in giving of his foes a dash, the testimony of his'
faithful servants, wlio do glorify him, when he rideth upon poor
weak worms, and triumpheth in them ? I desire you to pray,
that I may come out of this furnace with honesty, and that I may
leave Christ's truth no wor^e than I found it ; and that this most
honorable cause may neither be stained nor weakened.
As for your cause, my reverend, and dearest brother, ye are the
talking of the north and south ; and looked to so as if ye were all
crystal glass. Your motes and dust would soon be proclaimed,
and trumpets blown at your slips ; but I know that ye have laid
help upon One that is mighty. Intrust not your comforts to men's
airy and frothy applause, neither lay your down-castings on the
tongues of salt ^ mockers and reproachers of godliness. ^' As de-
ceivers, and yet true ; as unknown, and yet stiU known," God hath
called you to Christ's side, and the wind is now in Christ's face in
this land ; and seeing ye are with him, ye cannot expect the lee-
side, or the sunny side of the brae.< But I know tnat ye have
resolved to take Christ upon any terms whatsoever. I hope that
ye do not rue, though your cause be hated, and prejudices are
taken up against it. The shields of the world think our Master
cumbersome wares, and that he maketh too great din, and that
his cords and yokes make blains and deep scores in their neck ;
therefore, they kick. They say " This man shall not reign over
us."
Let us pray one for another. He, who hath made you a chosen
arrow in bis quiver, hide you in the hollow of his hand ! I am
Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R.
Abefd«eii, Uaidi 9, 1637.
LETTER CXYHL
TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE MT LORD LOUDON.
My very Noble, and Honorable Lord, — Grace, mercy,
and peace be to you. I make b«>ld to write to your Lordship, that
you may know the honorable cause which ye are graced to pro-
IC88, is Christ's own truth. Ye are many ways blessed of uod,
who have taken upon you to come out to the streets with Christ
on your forehead, when so many are ashamed of him, and hide
him, as it were, under their cloak, as if he were a stolen Christ.
I Bitter.
* Slope. Smmf rid$ ^Uu bmt, the moii wana, ehelteied, «o4 comfbitable eitiia-
13
194
If this faithless generation, (and especially the nohles of this king-
dora,) thought not Christ dear wares, and religion ekpensive.
hazardous, and dangerous, they would not slip from his cause a^
they do, and stand looking on with their hands folded behind
their back when louns ^ are running with the spoil of Zion on
their back, and the boards of the Son of God's tabernacle. Law
and justice are to be had by any, etjpecially for money and moyen ;•
but Christ can get no law, good-cheap,' or dear. It were the glory
and honor of you, who are the nobles of this land, to plead for
your wronged Bridegroom, and his oppressed spouse, as far as
zeal, and standing law will go with you. Your ordinary logic
from the event, that it will do no good to the cause, and, therefore,
silence is best, till the Lord put-to his own hand, is not, (with rev-
erence to your Lordship's learning,) worth a straw. Events are
God's. Let us do, and not plead against God's office. Let Him
sit at his own helm, who moderatetn all events. It is not a good
course to complain that we cannot get a providence of gold, when
our laziness, cold zeal, temporizing, and taithless fearfulness spil-
leth * good providence.
Your Lordship will pardon me ; I am not of that mind, that
tumults or arms is the way to put Christ on his throne : or that
Christ will be served, and truth vindicated, only with the arm of
flesh and blood : nay, Christ doth his turn with less din, than
with garments rolled in blood. But I would that the zeal of God
were in the nobles to do their part for Christ : and I must be par-
doned to write to your Lordship this.
I dow not,* I dare not, but speak to others what Grod hath done
to the soul of his poor, afflicted exile Prisoner. His comfort is
more than I ever knew before; he hath sealed the honoraUe
cause which I now suffer for, and I shall not believe that Christ
will put his amen, and ring* upon an unagination. He bath
made all his promises good to me, and hath filled up all the blanks
with his own hand. I would not exchange my bonds with the
plastered joy of this whole world. It hath pleased him to make a
sinner, the like of me, an ordinary banqueter in his house-of-wine,
with that royal princely One, Christ Jesus. Oh what weighing J
Oh what telling is in his love ! How sweet must he be, when
that black and burdensome tree, his own cross, is so perfuoied
with joy and gladness ! Oh, for help to lift him up by praises on
his royal throne ! I seek no more than that his name roav be
spread abroad in me, that meikle' good may be spoken of Cnriat
on my behalf; and thb being .done, my losses, place, siipead,
credit, ease, and Uberty, shall all be made up to my full content*
ment and joy of heart
I shall be confident that your Lordship will go on in the strtogth
of the Lord, and keep Christ, and avouch him, that he may read
> Seoandreb. km, woithlett feflowt. t IntereiL
* Veiy cheap. gnitiiitoa«. « Spoileth.
* I am not able, indeed I have not coQra|e to fefrain ftoB gpaa knig.
* AMure as by the mairiaffi covenant v Mveh.
Rutherford's letters. 196
your name publicly before men and angels. I shall entreat your
Lordship to exhort and encourage that Nobleman, your Chief,* to
do the same ; but T am wo * that many of you find a new wisdom,
which d^serveth not such a name-— it were better that men would
see that their wisdom be holy, and their holiness wise.
I must be bold to desire your Lordship to add. to your former
favors to me, (for the which your Lordship hath a prisoner's bless-
ing and prayers,) this, that ye would be pleased to befriend my
brother, now suffering for the same cause ; for as he is to dwell
nigh your Lordship's bounds, your Lordship's word and counte-
nance may help him.
Thus recommending your Lordship to the saving grace, and
tender mercy of Christ Jesus, our Lord, I rest,
Your Lordship's obliged servant in Christ| S. R.
Aberdeen, Match 9, 1637.
LETTER CXIX.
TO MR« WILLIAM DALGLEI8H, MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL.
Reverend, and Dear Brother, — Grace, mercy, and peace
be to you — I am well. My Lord Jesus is kinder to me than ever
he was. It pleaseth him to dine and sup with his afflicted prisoner :
a Kine feasteth me, and his spikenard casteth a sweet smell. Put
Christ's love to tl^e trial, and put upon it our burdens, and then it
will appear love mdeed : we employ not his love, and, therefore,
we know it not. I verily count the sufferings of my Lord more
than this world's lustred ' and over-gilded glory.. I dare not say
but my Lord Jesus hath fully recompensed my sadness with his
joys, ray losses with his own presence. I find it a sweet and rich
thing to exchange my sorrows with Christ's joys, 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, and I know that he will not
pat his seal upon blank paper ; his seals are not dumb nor delu-
sive, to confirm imaginations and lies. Go on, my dear brother, in
the strength of the Lord, not fearing man, who is a worm, nor the
son of man that shall 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 condatnatutn est.* Let us be faithful ; and
care for our own part, which is to do and suffer for him, and lay
Christ's part on nimself, and leave it there. Duties are ours,
> The Eari of Argyll, Chief of the Clan Campbell * Griered.
* LofllroiM.
« That k, when it b quite deeperate, when it is given up fbr loet A form of epMeh
taken from a cnetoni amon|r the Romans, of caliinj^ upon a peison. who had died,
eereral times hj his name. Henee those, who had gnren np a mend ior loK, or who
j o w>ost d htm to be dead, were said turn emdamavitM f in nke manner it was said af
a thinf when it was reckoned quite desperate, eondwmatum ut^ *'jdl is OTer."
196
events are the Lord's. When our faith goeth tc meddle with
events, and to hold a court (if I may so speak) upon God's provi-
dence, and beginneth to say, '^How wilt thou do this and that?"
we lose ground. We have nothing to do there. It is our part to
let the Almighty exercise his own office, vand steer his own helm.
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
well-doing upon Him, who is God omnipotent : and when what
we thus essay miscarrieth, it will neither be our sin nor cross.
Brother, remember the Lord's word to Peter ; ''Simon, lovest
thou me 1 Feed my sheep." No greater testimony of our love to
Christ can be, than to feed carefully and faithfully his lambs.
I am in no better neighborhood with the ministers here than
before : they cannot endure that any speak of me, or to me. Thus
I am, in the meantime, 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 that Christ and truth
will do for themselves.
I hope, brother, that ye will help my people ; and write to me
what you hear the Bishop is to do with them. Grace be with you.
Your brother in bonds, S. R.
Aberdeen.
LETTER CXX.
TO MR. HUGH MACKAIL, MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL.
Reverend, and Dear Brother, — I bless you for your lettei.
— He' is come down as rain upon the mown grass; he bath re-
vived my withered root ; and he is the dew of herbs. I am most
secure in this prison : salvation is for walls in it ; and what thmk
ye of these walls? He maketh the dry plant to bud as the luy,
and to blossom as Lebanon ; — the great Husbandman's blessing
Cometh down upon the plants of righteousness. Who may say
this, my dear brother, if 1, his poor exiled stranger and prisoner,
may not say it? Howbeit all the world should l^ silent, I cannot
hold my peace. » Oh, how many black accounts have Christ and
I rounded over together in the house of my pilgrimage ! and how
fat a portion he hath given to a hungry soul ! I had rather have
Christ's four-hours,' than have dinner and supper both in one from
any other — his dealing, and the way of his judgments are past
finding out No preaching, no book, no learning could give me
that, which it behooved me to come and get in this town. But
what of all this, if I were not misted,^ and confounded, and aston-
> A Mt-to. Yoking it properly Uie time dnriiif which a hone b in the yokt,
• In the ScotUtb dialect, He b often oied, as Bfiri b in Hebrew, ae a name of Oa^
* Slight afternoon refireshment. « BcwiU«n4.
19T
idled how to be thankful, and how to get him praised foi ever*
more ? And, what is more, he hath been pleased to pain me with
his love, and my pain groweth through want of real possession.
Some have written to me, that I am possibly too joyful of the
cross ; but my joy overleapeth the cross, it is bounded and termi-
nated upon Christ I know that the sun will over-cloud and
eclipse, and that I shall again be put to walk in the shadow : but
Christ must be welcome to come and go, as he thinketh meet
Yet he would be more welcome to me, 1 trow, to come, than to go;
and 1 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 spy into this wilderness of suffering,
to see the land, and try the ford ; and I cannot make a lie of
Christ's cross ; I can report nothing but good both of him and 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,) whither 1 may run, when I must say my
lesson without book, and believe in the dark. I am sure it is sin
to tarrow' at Christ's good meat, and not to eat when he saith,
" Eat, O well-beloved, and drink abundantly." If he bear me on
bis back, or carry me jn his arms over this water, I hope for grace
to set down my feet on dry ground, when the way is better : but
this is slippery ground ; my Lord thought good I should go by a
hold, and lean on my WeU-beloved's shoulder — it is good to be
ever taking from him. I desire that he may get the fruit of
prabes, for dawting,* and thus dandling me on his knee : and I
may give my bond of thankfulness, so being I have Christ's back-
bond' again for my relief, that I shall be strengthened by his
Eowerful grace, to pay my vows to him. But, truly, I find that we
ave the advantage of the brae« upon our enemies : we are more
than conquerors through Him who loved us ; and they know not
wherein our strength lyeth.
Pray for me. Grace be with you.
Your brother in Christ, S. R.
Aberdeen.
LETTER CXXL
TO MY LADY BOYD.
Madam, — Grace, mercy, and peace be unto you — The Lord hath
bfought me to Aberdeen, where I see God in few. This town hath
been advised upon of purpose for roe ; it consisteth of Papists, or
* To M reluctance, etpeciallj from loAe pettish humor.
* Poodling. making much of.
* A bood given by one who has received a preTioas bond, engagmg thai the persoa
wlio gave the pievious bond shall not, in consequence of it^ come to any low or dasi*
•ga. « Siope, declivity
198 Rutherford's letters.
men ot Gallio's noughty > faith. It is counted wisdom, in the most,
not to countenance a confined minister ! but I find Christ neither
strange nor unkind ; for I have found many faces smile upon me
since I came hither. •
I am heavy and sad, considering what is betwixt the Lord and
my poul, which none seeth but he. I find men have mistaken me ;
it would be no art (as 1 now see) to spin small,' and make hypoc-
risy seem a goodly web, and go through the market as a saint
among men, and yet steal quietly to Hell, without observation ; so
easy is it to deceive men. I have disputed whether or no I ever
knew anything of Christianity, save the letters of that name.
Men see but as men, and they call ten twenty, and twenty a hun-
dred ; but, oh ! to be approved of God in the heart and in sincer-
ity, is not an ordinary mercy. Mv neglects while I had a pulpit,
and 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 plead-
ing : I know not if thb court, kept within my soul, be fenced * in
Christ's name. If certainty of salvation were to be bought, God
knoweth that if I had ten earths, I would not prig^ with God.
Like a fool, I believed, under sufferings for Christ, that I myself
should keep the key of Christ's treasures, and take out comforts
when I listed, and eat, and be fat ; but I see now that a sufferer
for Christ shall be made to know himself, and shall be holden at
the door, as well as another poor sinner : and will be fain to eat
Mrith the bairns and take the by-board,' and glad to do so. My
blessing on the cross of Christ, that hath m^de me to see this.
Oh, if* we could take pains for the Kingdom of Heaven ! But we
sit down upon some ordinary marks of God's children, thinking we
have as much as will separate us from a reprobate, and thereupon
we take the play, and cry " Holiday ;" and thus the Devil casteth
water on our fire, and blunteth our zeal and care. But I see that
Heaven is not at the next door ; and I see that, howbeit mv chal-
lenges^ be many, I suffer for Christ and dare hazard my salvatioa
upon it ; for sometimes my Lord cometh with a fair hour, and, oh !
but his love is sweet, delightful, and comfortable ! Half a kiss is
sweet : but our doting love will not be content with a right to
Christ, unless we get possession ; like the man who will not be
content with rights' to bought land, except he get also the ridges
and acres 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 pawn in the loof >' of our hand : living on trust by faith may well
content us. Madam, I know that your Ladyship 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 would desire, and aim at
> Having nothing in it ' Pin«.
* Th fence, to open a coart hj proclaiming the principlM on which it it constitalaJ.
« Higgk chaffer. • Siae-tabie. • Oh, that
V SeUhaccusations. ' Titk-deeda.
• UnreaeonablT, and aomewhat childiahlj intent upon a thing.
I* The pala of the hand.
Rutherford's letters. 19S
this, to have my Lord well-spoken of and hcuored, howbeit he
should make nothing of me but a bridge over a water.
Thus recommendmg your Ladyship, your son and children, to
His grace, who hath honored you with a name and room among
the living in Jerusalem ; and wishing grace to be with your Lady-
ship, I rest,
Your Ladyship's m his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R.
Aberdeen.
LETTER CXXIL
TO MR. DAVID DICKSON.
Reverend, and Dear Brother, — Grace, mercy, and peace
be unto you — I find that great men, especially old friends, scaur '
to speak for me ; but my kingly and royal Master biddeth me to
try nis moyen' to the uttermost, and I shall find a friend at hand.
I still depend upon 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 appre-
hensions of His anger, and then, if a mountain of iron were laid
upon me, I cannot be heavier ; and with much wrestling I win'
into the king's house-of-wine, and then, for the most part, my life
is joy, and such joy through his comforts, as I have been afraid
lest I should shame myself and cry out, for I can scarce bear what
I get. Christ giveth me a measure heaped up, pressed down, and
running over ; and, believe it, his love paineth more than prison
and banishment. I cannot get the way of Christ's love. Had I
known what He was keeping for me, I should never have been so
faint-hearted. In my heaviest times, when all is lost, the memory
of His love maketh me think Christ's glooms* are but for the
fashion.' I seek no more than a vent to my wine ; I am smoth-
ered and ready to burst for want of vent. Think not much of
persecution. It is before you ; but it is not as men conceive of it;
my sugared cross forceth me to say this to you, ye shall have
waled 'meat — the sick bairn is ofttimes the spilled* bairn — ye shall
command all the house. I hope that ye help a tired prisoner to
Caise and pray. Had I but the annual of annual *' to give to my
>rd Jesus, it would ease my pain. But, alas ! I have nothing to
pay, he will get nothing of poor me ; but I am wo'^ that I have
not room enough in my heart for such a stranger. I am not cast
down to go farther north. I have good cause to work for my Mas*
» Boggle. « Intewil.
* That b, hath united them in most intimate acquaintance and fHtnd»hip.
* Seir-aceiuationfl. > Qet. • Frowns.
^ For the coitomary appearance. * CareAilly aelected.
* Spoiled. ^ Quit rent of quit-rent, that b, the tmalleit ana.
"Grieved.
200 RUTHERFORD S LETTERS.
ler, for I am well-paid before-hand ; I am not behind, howbcit I
should get one smile more, till my feet be up within the King's
dining-hall.
I have gone through yours upon the Covenant ; it hath edified
my soul, and refreshed a hungry man. I judge it sharp, sweef,
quick, and profound. Take me at my word, I fear that 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 abide by it,^ that you tell my Beloved that I am sick
of love. I hope in God to leave some of my rust and superfluities
in Abekleen. I cannot get a house in this town wherein to leave
drink-silver' in my Master's name, save one only : there is no sale
for Christ in the north ; he is like to lye long on my band, ere any
accept him.
Grace be with you.
Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, 8. R.
Aberdeen.
LETTER CXXm.
TO MR. MATTHEW MOWAT..
Reverend, and Dear Brother, — ^I am a very far mistaken
man. If others knew how poor my stock was, they would not
think upon the like of me but with compassion ; for I am as one
kept under a strict tutor ; I would have more than my tutor al*
loweth me, but it is good that a bairn's wit is not the rule which
regulateth my Lord Jesus. Let him give what he will, it shall
aye be above merit, and my ability to gain therewith. I would
not wish a better stock, whill Heaven be my stock, than to live
upon credit at Christ's hands, daily borrowing. Surely, running-
over love, that vast, huge, boundless love of Christ, (that there k
telling in for man and angels,) is the only thing I most fain would
be in hands with. He knoweth that I have little but the love of
that love ; and that I shall be happy, suppose I never get another
heaven, but only an eternal, lasting feast of that love. But sup-
pose my wishes were poor, he is not poor ; Christ, all the seasons
of the vear, is dropping sweetness. If I had vessels, I might fill
them, but my old, riven, and running-out dish, even when I am
at the well, can bring little away. Nothing but glory will make
tight and fast our leaking and rifty* vessels. Alas! I have
skailed* more of Christ's grace, love, faith, humility, and godly
sorrow than I have brought with me. How little of the sea can
a child carry in his hand ! as little dow « I take wty of my great
Sea, my boundless and running-over Christ Jesus.
> Drink money. Rathf rford mean* that he could not 6nd any houM, save onlj one,
in which he could leave, on hin departure from it.anv expreaaion or token of hi* refaitl
for Christ. « Full of riiU or rents. * Spilled, acattered. « Am abk loc
201
I have not lighted upon the right gate ' of putting Christ to the
bank, and making myself rich with him : my misguiding and
childish trafficking with that matchless Pearl, that Heaven's Jewel,
the Jewel of the Father's delights, hath put me to a great loss.
Oh, that he would take a loan of me, and my stock, and put his
name in all my bonds, and serve himself heir to the poor mean
portion which I have, and be accountable for the talent himself I
Gladly would I put Christ into my room, to guide all ; and let me
be but a servant to run errands, and act by his direction — let me
be his interdicted heir. Lord Jesus work upon my minority, and
let him win a pupil's blessing. Oh, how would I rejoice to have
this work of my salvation legally fastened upon Christ I A back-
bond' of my Lord Jesus that it should be forthcoming* to the or-
phan, would be my happiness : dependency on Christ w^ere my
sarest wav ; if Christ were my foundation I were sure enough. I
ibougbt the guiding of grace had been no art ; * I thought it would
come of will ;* but I would spill* my own heaven yet, if I had not
burdened Christ with all. I but lend my bare name to the sweet
covenant ; Christ, behind and before, and on either side, maketh
all sure. God will not take an Arminian cautioner.^ Free-will,
a weather-cock, turning at a serpent's tongue, a tutor that cowped'
our father, Adam, unto us ; and brought down the house, and sold
the land ; and sent the father, the mother, and all the bairns
through the earth, to heg their bread ; nature in the Gospel, hath
but cracked a credit. On, well to my poor soul for evermore, that
my Lord called grace to the council, and put Christ Jesus with
free merits, and the blood of God foremost in the chase, to draw
sinners after a Ransomer ! Oh, what a sweet block * was it, by
way of buying and selling, to give, and tell down a ransom for
grace and glory to dyvours ! *' Oh, would to my Lord that I could
cause paper and ink to speak the worth and excellency, the high
and loud praises of a Brother-ransomer ! The Ransomer needeth
not my report ; but oh, if he would take it, and make use of it !
I should be happy, if I had an errand to this world, but for some
few years, to spread proclamations and outcries, and love-letters,
of the highness, the highness for evermore, the glory, the glory for
evermore, of the Ransomer, whose clothes were wet and dyed in
blood ; albeit, after I had done that, my soul and body should go
back to the mother. Nothing that their Creator brought them
ODce out from, as from their Beginning. But why should I pine
away, and pain myself with wishes ; and not believe rather,
that Christ will hire such an outcast as I am, a masterless body,'^
put out of the house by the sons of my mother, and give me em-
* Wajr, manner.
* A bond, given by one who has received a preTiooi bond, engaging that the
person nrho gave the preTioai bond ehall not, in ooneeqaence of it, come to any lots
ar damage.
s Prodadble. < That is, required no ikilL * Spontaneously.
* Spoil, ruin. ▼ Surety. * Overturned, Qpaet.
* Plan, or scheme of a bargain. >* Bankrupts.
u A servant whom no master will hire.
203 eutherfo&d's letters.
Cloyment and a calling, one way or other, to set out Christ and
is wares to country buyers, and purpose Christ unto, and press
him upon some poor souls, that fainer than their life would receive
him?
You complain heavilyof your short-coming in practice, and ven-
turing on suffering for Christ: you have many marrows.* For
the first, I would not put you off a sense of wretchedness. Hold
on ! Christ never yet slew a sighing, groaning child : more of
that would make you won goods, and a meet prey for Christ
Alas ! I have too little of it, for venturing on suffering. I had not
so much free gear,* when I came to Christ's camp as to buy a
sword — a wonder that Christ should not laugh at such a soldier.
I am no better yet ; but &ith liveth and spendeth upon our Cap-
tain's charges, who is able to pay for all: we need not pity him,
he is rich enough. Ye desire me also not to mistake Christ under
a mask. I bless you, and thank Grod for it : but alas ! masked,
or bare-faced, kissine or glooming,* I mistake him : yea, I mistake
him farthest when the mask is off; for then I play me with his
sweetness. I am like a child, that hath a gilded book, that play-
eth with the ribbons, and the gilding, and the picture on the first
page, but readeth not the contents of it. Certainly if my desires
to my Well-beloved were fulfilled, I could provoke devils, and
crosses, and the world, and temptations to the field ; but, oh ! my
poor weakness maketh me lye behind the bush and hide me.
Remember ray service and my blessing to my Lord. I am
mindful of him as I am able. Desire him from a prisoner, to
come and visit my good Master, and feel but the smell of his love.
It setteth* him well, howbeit he be young, to make Christ his gar-
land. I could not wish him in a better case, \han in a fever of
love-sickness for Christ.
Remember my bonds. The Lord Jesus be with your spirit
Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R.
Aberdeen, 1637.
LETTER CXXIV.
TO WILLIAM HALLIDAY.
Loving Friend, — ^I received your letter. I wish that ye take
pains for salvation. Mistaken grace, and somewimt like conver-
sion which is not conversion, is the saddest and mosTdoleful thing
in the world. Make sure of salvation, and lay the foundation sure,
for many are beguiled. Put a low price upon the world's clay ;
Eut a high price upon Christ Temptations will come, but if they
e not made welcome by you, ye have the best of it Be jealous
over yourself and your own heart, and keep touches * with God.
1 Equab» companions. * Money. * Frovming.
« Becomes. • Keep (kith.
Rutherford's letters. 203
Let him not have a faint and feeble soldier ^f you. Fear not to
back Christ, for he will conquer and overcome. Let no man scaur '
at Christ, for I have no quarrels at his cross ; he and his cross are
two good quests, and worth the lodging. Men would fain have
Christ good-cheap,* byt the market will not come down. Acquaint
Jourself with prayer. Make Christ your Captain and your armor,
lake conscience of sinning when no eye seeth you. Grace be
with you.
Yours, in Christ Jesus, S. R.
Aberdaen.
LETTER CXXV.
TO A GENTLEWOMAN, AFTER THE DEATH OF HER HUSBAND.
Dear, and Loving Sister, — I know that ye are minding your
sweet country, and not taking your inn (the place of your banish-
ment) for your home. This life is not worthy to be the thatch or
outer wall of the paradise of your Lord Jesus, that he did sweat
for to you, and that he keepeth for you. Short, and silly, and
sand-blind were our hope, if it could not look over the water to
our best heritage, and if it stayed only at home about the doors
of our clay house.
I marvel not, my dear sister, that ye complain that ye come
short of your old wrestlings, which ye had' for a blessing, and that
DOW ye find it not so. Bairns are but hired to learn their lesson,
when they first go to school : and it is enough that these who run
a race see the gold only at the starting-place ; and possibly they
see little more of it, or nothing at all till they win • to the rinks-
end,* and get the gold in the loof « of their hand. Our Lord maketh
delicates and dainties of his sweet presence and love-visits to his
own ; but Christ's love, under a veil, is love. If ye get Christ,
howbeit not the sweet and pleasant way ye would have him, it is
enough; for the Well-beloved cometh not our way ; he must wale*
his own gate' himself. For worldly things, seeing they are mead-
ows and fair flowers in your way to Heaven, a smell in the by-
going' is sufiicient. He that would reckon and tell all the stones
m his way, in a journey of three or four hundred miles, and write
up in his count-book ' all the herbs and the flowers growing in his
way, might come short of his journey. You cannot stay, m your
inch of time, to lose your day, (seeing that you are in haste ; and
the night, and your afternoon will not bide ** you,) in setting your
heart on this vain world. It were your wisdom to read your ac-
count-book, and to have in readhiess your business, against the
> Boggle.
* OratiiiUmsly. Rutherford meani without any triab or tribalatioDi.
* Get « End of the oootm. * The paki.
• ChooM, oeleot ▼ Waj. • P«miii||.
• TbatkihkdiarforjotimaL >• Wailnr.
304
time you come to death's water-side. I know that yout lodfing
is taken ; your forerunner, Christ, hath not forgotten that : an^
therefore, you must set yourself to your " ode thing," which you
cannot well want.
In that our .Lord took your husband to himself, I know it was
that he might make room for himself. He cutteth off your love
to the creature, that ye might learn that God only is the right
owner of your love, sorrow, loss, sadness, death, or the worst things
that are, except sin. But Christ knoweth well what to make of
them, and can put his own in the cross's common,' that we shall
be obliged to affliction, and thank God, who taught us to make our
acquaintance with such a rough companion, who can hale us to
Christ. You must learn to make your evils your great good ; and
to spin comforts, peace, joy, communion with Christ, out of vour
troubles, that are Christ's wooers, sent to speak for' you to him-
self. It is easy to set good words, and a comfortable message
from our Lord, even u-om such rough serieants, as divers tempta-
tions. Thanks to God for crosses ! When we count and reckon
our losses in seeking God, we find that godliness is great gain.
Great partners of a shipful of gold are glad to see the ship come to
the harbor ; — surely we and our Lord Jesus together, have a ship-
ful of gold coming home, and our gold is in that ship. Some are
so in love, or rather in lust, with this life, that they sell their pari
of the ship for a little thing. I would counsel you to buy hope,
but sell it not, and give not away your crosses for nothing ; the
inside of Christ's cross is white and joyful, and the far-end * of the
black cross is a fair' and glorious heaven of ease: and seeing
Christ hath fastened Heaven to the far-end * of the cross, and he
will not loose the knot himself, and none else can, (for when Christ
casteth^ a knot, all the world cannot loose it :) let us then count
it exceeding joy, when we fall into divers temptations.
Thus recommending you id the tender mercy, and grace of our
Lord, I rest,
Your loving brother, S. R.
Aberdeea.
LETTER CXXVL
TO JOHN GORDON OP CARD0NB88, YOUNOBR.
Honored, and Dear Brother, — I wrote of late to you. Mul-
titudes of letters burden me now. I am refreshed with your letter.
I exhort you in the bowels of Christ, set to work for your soul,
apd let these bear weight with you, and ponder them seriously :
1st, Weeping and gnashing of teeth in utter darkness or Heaven's
joy. 2ndly, Think what ye would give for an hour, when ye
> That b, Chrift can so place hiinaelf aoder, or connect himeelf wHh, Uie oov, at
that we ihall be obliged or indebted to the croee ibr our being brought to him.
• To bespeak. » Farthest end. « Tiilh.
RUTHERFOPD's LEITERS. 20d
0hall lye like dead, cold, blackened clay. 3rdly, There is sand in
your glass yet, and your sun is not gone do#n. 4thly, Consider
what joy and peace are in Christ's service. 5thly, Think what
advantage it will be, to have angels, the world, life and death,
crosses, yea, and devils, all for you, as the King's Serjeants and
servants, to do your business. 6thly, To have mercy on your
seed, and a blessing on your house. 7thly, To have true honor,
and a name on earth that casteth a sweet smell. Sthly, How ye
will rejoice when Christ layeth down your head under his chin,
and betwixt his breasts, and drieth your face, and welcometh you
to glory and happiness. 9thly, Imagine what pain and torture is
a guilty conscience ; what slavery to carry the Devil's dishonest
loads. lOthly, Sin's joys are but night-dreams, thoughts, vapors,
imaginations, and shadows, llthly, What dignity it is to be a
son of God. 12ihly, Dominion and mastery over temptations,
over the world and sin. ISthly, That your enemies should be the
tail and you the head.
For your bairns, now at rest, I speak to you and your wife, (and
cause her to read this.) 1st, I am a witness for Barbara's glory in
Heaven. 2ndly, For the rest, I write it under my hand, there are
days coming on Scotland, when barren wombs, and dry breasts,
and childless parents shall be pronounced blessed — they are then,
in the lee of the harbor, ere the storm come on. 3rdly, They are
not lost to you, that arc laid up in Christ's treasury in Heaven.
4tfaly, At the Resurrection, ye shall meet with them ; thither they
are sent before, but not sent away. 5thly, Your Lord loveth you,
who is homely * to take and give, borrow an;l lend.' 6thly, Let
not bairns be your idols ; for G^ will be iealous,and take away the
idol, because he is greedy of your love wholly.
I bless you, your wife and children. Grace for evermore be
with you.
Tour loving pastor, S. R.
Aberdeen.
LETTER CXXVn.
TO JOHN GORDON OF CARDONESS, ELDER.
Honorable, and Dearest in the Lord, — ^Your letter hath
refreshed mv soul. Mjr joy is fulfilled, if Christ and ye be fast
together. Ye are my joy and crown. Ye know that I have reb-
ommended his love to you. I defy the world, Satan, and sin.
Hi^ love hath neither brim, nor bottom in it. My dearest in
Christ, I write my soul's desire to you. Heaven is not at the next
door. I find Christianity to be a hard task : set to it in your
ereniiig. We would all keep both Chrbt and our right eye, our
* Affible, eondeacending.
• TV borrow or Und, to be on the moat intimate and familiar tenna.
206 rutherford'^s letters.
Kglit hand and foot ; but it will not do with us. I beseech yon,
by the mercies of GM, and your compearance > before Christ, took
Christ's account-book and your own together, and collate them.
Give the remnant of your time to your soul. This great idol-god,
the world, will be lying in white ashes, on the day of your com-
pearance ; ^ and why should night-dreams, and day-shadows, aad
water-froth, and May-flowers run away with your heart? When
we win to' the water-side, and black death's river-brink, and put
our foot into the boat, we shall laugh at our folly. Sir, I recom-
mend unto you the thoughts of death, and how ye would wish
your soul to oe, when ye shall lye cold, blue, ill-smeDing clay.
For any hireling to be intruded, I, bein^ the King's prisoner,
cannot say much ; but as God's minister, I desire you to read Acts
i. 15, 16, to the end, and Acts vi. 2, 3, 4, 6, and ye shall find that
God's people should have a voice in choosing church-rulers and
teachers. I shall be sorry, if willingly ye shall give way to his
unlawful intrusion upon my labors. The only wise God direct
you.
God's grace be with you.
Your loving pastor, S. R.
LETTER CXXVin.
TO THE LADT FORRET.
Worthy Mistress, — Grace, mercy, and peace be unto yoa —
I long to hear from you. I hear Christ hath been that' kmd as
to visit you with sickness, and to bring you to the door of the
grave : but ye found the door shut, blessed be his glorious name !
whill* ye be riper for etcraity. He will have more service of
you : and, therefore, he seeketh of you, that henceforth ye be hon-
est to your new Husband, the Son of God. We have all idol-love,
and are whorishly inclined to love other things beside our Lord,
and, therefore, our Lord hunteth for our love moe ways than one
or two. Oh that Christ had bis own of us ! I know he will not
want you, and that is a sweet wilfulness in his love ; and ye have
as good cause, on the other part, to be headstrong and peremptory
in your love to Christ, and not to part, nor divide your love be>
twixt him and the world — if it were more, it is little enough, yea,
too little for Christ
I am now, every way, in good terms with Christ He bath set
a banished prisoner as a seal on his heart, and as a bracelet on
his arm: that crabbed and black tree of the cross laugbeth upon
me now ; the alarming noise of the cross b worse than itself. 1
love Christ's glooms* better than the world's worm-eaten joys.
Oh, if* all the kingdom were as I am, except these bonds ! My
1 Appearance ia obedience to legal citation.
* So. « Until i PiowM.
• Oh,UMt.
Rutherford's letters. 207
loss is gain; my sadness joyful ; my boncl:^, liberty ; my tears com
fortable. This world is not worth a drink of cold water. Oh, but
Christ's love casteth a great heat ! Hell, and all the salt sea, and
the rivers of the earth, cannot quench it.
I remember you to God ; ye have the prayers of a prisoner of
<>hrist. Grace, grace be with you.
Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R.
Aberdeen, March 9, 1637.
LETTER CXXIX.
FOR MARION MACKNAUGHT.
Loving, and Dear Sister, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to
you. — ^Your letter hath refreshed my souL You shall not have
my advice to malce haste to go out of that town ; for if you re-
move out of Kirkcudbright, thev will easily undo all. You are at
God's work, and in his way there : be strong in the Lord ; the
Devil is weaker than you are, because stronger is He that is in
you than he that is in the world. Your care of, and love showed
towards me, now a prisoner of Christ, is laid up for you in Heaven,
and you shall know, that it is come up in remembrance before
God.
Pray, pray for mv desolate flock, and give them your counsel,
when you meet with any of them. It shall be my grief to hear
that a wolf enter in upon my labors ; but if the Lord permit it, I
mtftt be silent. My sky shall clear, for Christ layeth my head in
his bosom, and admitteth me to lean there. I never knew before
what his love was in such a measure. If he leave me, he leaveth
me in pain, and sick of love ; and yet my sickness is my life and
health. I have a fire within me ; I defy all the devils in Hell,
and all the prelates in Scotland, to cast water on it.
I rejoice at your courage and faith. Pray still as if I were on
my journey to come and be your pastor. What iron-^ates or bars
are able to stand it out against Cnrist ? for when he Uoweth, they
open to him.
I remember your husband. Grace, grace be with you.
Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R.
Abefdeen, Much 11, 1637.
LETTER CXXX.
TO JOHN CARS EN.
My Well-beloved, and Dear Friend, — Every one seeketh
oot God ; and &r fewer find him, because they seek amiss. He
RUTHERFORD'S LETTERS
is to be sought for, above all things, if men woald find what th^
seek. liet feathers and shadows alone to children, and go seek
your Well-beloved. Your only errand to the world, is to woo
Christ : therefore, put other lovers from about his house, and let
Christ have all your love, without minching ^ or dividing it — it is
little enough, if there were more of it. The serving of the world
and sin hath but a base reward ; and smoke instead of pleasures,
and but a night-dream for true ease to the soul. Go where ye
will, your soul shall not sleep sound but in Christ's bosom. Come
in to him, and lie down, and rest you on the slain Son of Grod, and
inquire for him. I sought him, and now, a fig for all the worm-
eaten pleasures, and moth-eaten glory out of Heaven, since I havo
found him, and in him all I can want or wish ! He hath made
me a king over the world. Princes cannot overcome me. Cbnst
hath given me the marriage-kiss, and he hath my marriage-love :
we have made up a full bargain, that shall not go back on either
side. Oh, if ye, and all in that country, knew what sweet terms
of mercy are betwixt him and me !
Grace be with you.
Yours, in bis sweet Lord Jesus, S. R.
Abeideen, Much 11, 1637.
LETTER CXXXL
TO MY LADY BOYD.
Madam, — ^I would have written to your Ladyship ere now, but
Qle's believing there is in me that which I know there is not
put me out of love with writing to any ; for it ia easy to put
religion to a market and public fair, but alas ! it is not so soon
made eye-sweet* for Christ.
My Lord seeth me a tired man far behind. I have gotten much
love from Christ, but I give him little or none again. My white
side Cometh out on paper to men ; but at home and within, I find
much black work, and great cause of a low sail, and of little boast-
ing ; and yet howbeit I see challenges^ to be true, the manner of
the Tempter's pressing of them is unhonest, and, in my thouffats,
knavish-like.* My peace is, that Christ may find outing* and tale
of his wares in the like of me, I mean, for saving grace.
I wish all professors to fall in love with grace. All our songs
should be of his free grace. We are but too lazy and careless m
seeking of it ; it is all our riches we have here, and glory in the
bud. I wish that I could set out free grace. I was the Law's
man, i^id under the Law, and under a curse ; but grace brought
me from under that hard lord, and I rejoice that I am grace's free-
holder. I pay tribute to none for Heaven, seeing my land and
1 MiDdBf . • Oh» that • Pleasant to tba tja.
< Accuaatiooa. • Not ftur.
* Having the appearanc! or betog knavkh. t DMflaj.
Rutherford's letters. 209
heritage holdeth of Christ, my new King. Infinite wisdom hath
devised this excellent way of free-holding for sinners. It is a bet-
ter way to heaven than the old way that was in Adam's days.
It hath this fair advantage, that no man's emptiness and want
iayeth an inhibition upon Christ, or hindereth his salvation ; (and
that is far best for me,) but our new Landlord putteth the names
of dyvours,* and Adam's forlorn heirs, and beggars, and the
crooked* and blind, in the free charters. Heaven, and angels
may wonder that we have got such a gate' of sin and Hell. Such
a back-entry out of Hell, as Christ made, and brought out the cap-
tives by, is more than my poor shallow thoughts can comprehend.
I would think sufferings glory, (and I am sometimes not far from
it,) if my Lord would give me a new alms of free grace.
I hear that the prelates are intending banishment for me ; but
for more grace, and no other hire, I would make it welcome. The
bits of this clay-house, the earth, and 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, and the wind of his Spirit calm ; and I cannot
buv a wind, or, by requesting the sea, cause it to flow again ;
only, I wait on, upon the banks and shore-side, till the Lord send
a full sea, that with up-sails I may lift up Christ. Yet sorrow for
bis absence is sweet; and sighs, with *^Saw ye Him whom my
fioal loveth ?" have their own delights. Oh, that I may gather
hunger against his long-looked-for return ! Well were my soul,
if Christ were the element, mine own element, and that 1 loved
and breathed in him, and if I could not live without him. I allow
not laughter upon myself^ when he is away ; yet he never leaveth
the house, but he leaveth drink-money behind him, and a pawn
that he will return. Wo, wo to me, if he should go away, and
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, and care, and languishing, and sighs, either dry or wet,
as they may be, because he nath no leisure, (if I may speak so,)
to make a visit, or to see a poor friend, sweeteneth and refresheth
the thoughts of the heart. A misty dew will stand for rain, and
do some good, and keep some greenness in the herbs, till our
Lord's clouds rue upon tne earth, and send down a watering of
rain. Truly I think Christ's misty dew a welcome message irom
heaven, till my Lord's rain fall.
Wo, wo is me for the Lord's vineyard in Scotland. Howbeit the
Father of the house embrace a child, and feed him, and kiss him ;
vet it is sorrow and sadness to the children, that our poor Mother
hath gotten her leave.* and that our Father hath given up house.
It is an unhearlsome^ thing, to see our Father and Mother agree
00 ilJ ; yet the bastards, ir they be fed, care not. O Lord, cast not
1 Baokniplf. • Halt. * Way. « Bribe.
* Ooodi which maj be removed from one residence to another.
• OiaeharM. ^ Unieemlv and melancholy
14
210 rutqsrford's letters.
water on Scotland's snioaking coal. It is a strange gate the saint*
go to Heaven. Our enemies often eat* and drink us, and we go
to Heaven through their bellies and stomachs, and they vomit the
church of God, undigested among their hands : and even while
we are shut up in prisons by them, we advance in our journey.
Remember my service to my Lord your kind sod, who was kind
to me in my bonds, and 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 suit him well to give Christ bis young and
green love. Christ's stamp and seal would go 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, and the good-will of Him who
dwelt in the bush, be with your Ladyship.
Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R.
Aberdeen, 1637.
LETTER CXXXII.
TO THE EARL OF CASSILLIS.
My VERY Noble, and Honorable Lord, — I make bold, Toat
of the honorable and Christian report I hear of your Lordsnip,
having no other thing to say, but that which concerneth the
honorable cause which the Lord hath enabled your Lordship to
profess,) to write this, that it is your Lordship's crown, your glory,
and your honor, to set your shoulder under the Lord's glory, now
falling to the ground, and to back Christ now, when so many think
it wisdom to let him fend for' himself. The shields of the earth
ever did, and do still believe that Christ is a cumbersome neighbor*
and that it is a pain to hold up his yeas and nays. They fear
that he take their chariots, and their crowns, and tneir honor from
them ; but my Lord standeth in need of none of them alL But it
is your glory to own Christ and his buried truth ; for, let men say
what they please, the plea with Zion's enemies, in this day of
Jacob's trouble, is, If Christ should be King, and no mouth speak
laws but his? It concerneth the apple of Christ's eye, ana hia
royal privileges, what is now debated ; and Christ's kingly honor
is come to yea and nay. But let me be pardoned, my dear, and
noble Lord, when I beseech you by the mercies of God, by the
comfort of the Spirit, by the wounds of your dear Saviour, by yoar
compearance* before the Judge of quick and dead, to stand for
Christ, and to back him. Ob, if the nobles had done their part,
and been zealous for the Lord ! it had not been as it is now ; but
men think it wisdom to «tand beside Christ till bis head be broken,
and sing dumb.^ There is a time coming when Christ will have
> Pt. xhr. 4. > Make a ihift ftr.
* Appearance in a eoatt of law. « Be alent
rittherpord's letters. 211
a thick ' court, and he will be the glory of Scotland ; and he will
make a diadem, a garland, a seal upon his heart, and a ring upon
his finger, of those who have avouched him before this faithless
generation: — howbeit, ere that come, wrath from the Lord is
ordained for this land.
My Lord, I have cause to write this to your Lordship, for I dare
not conceal his kindness to the soul of an afflicted, exiled prisoner.
Who hath more cause to boast in the Lord than such a sinner as
I, who am feasted with the consolations of Christ, and have no
pain in my sufferings, but the pain of soul-sickness of love for
Christ, and sorrow that I cannot help to sound aloud the praises
of Him who hath heard the sighing of the prisoner, and is content
to lay the head of bis oppressed servant in his bosom, under his
chin, and let him feel the smell of his garments ? It behooved me
to write this, that your Lordship might know that Christ is as good
as he is called ; and to testify to your Lordship that the cause,
which your Lordship now professeth before the faithless world, is
Christ's, and that your Lordship shall have no shame of it.
Grace be with you.
Your Lordship's obliged servant, S. R.
Aberdeen, Marrh 13, 1637.
LETTER CXXXin.
TO ROBERT GORDON, BAILLIE OP AYR.
Worthy Sir, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you — I long to
hear from you on paper. Remember your Chiefs • speeches on his
death-bed. I pray you, sir, sell all, and buy the pearl : time will
cut you from this world's glory. Look what will do you good,
when your glass shall be run out, and let Christ's love bear most
court in your soul, and that court will bear down the love of other
things. Christ seeketh your help in your place, give him your
band. Who hath more cause to encourage others to own Christ
than I have ? for he hath made me sick of love, and left me in
pain to wrestle with his love, and love is like to fall aswoon*
through his absence : — I mean not that he deserteth me, or that 1
am ebb* of comforts ; but this is an unco* pain. Oh that I had a
heart and a love to render to him back again ! Oh, if* principali-
ties and powers, thrones and dominions, and all the world would
help me to praise ! Praise him in my behalf.
Remember my love to your wife. I thank you most kindly for
your love to my brother. Grace be with you.
Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R.
Abcfdeen, Much 13, 1637.
* ThioBfed, crowded. t Kenmare. * Into « ewooa.
« SJuUow. t EzoeMhre. • Oh, thiU.
312
LETTER CXXXIT.
TO JOHN KENNEDY, BAILLIB OF AYR.
Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. — ^Your not writing to nae
cannot bind me up from remembering you now and then, that at
least ye may be a witness and a third man to behold on paper what
is betwixt Christ and me. I was in his eyes like a young orphan,
wanting known parents, casten out in the open fields : either Chrisi
behooved to take me up, and to bring me home to his house and
fire-side, else I had died in the fields ; and now I am homely ' with
Christ's love, so that I think the house mine own, and the Master
of the house mine also. Christ inqiiired not, when he began to
love me, whether I was fair, or black, or sun-burnt ! — love taketb
what it may have. He loved me before this time, I know ; but
now I have the flower of his love : his love is come to a fair bloom,*
like a young rose opened up out of the green leiives, and it casteth
a strong and fragrant smell. I want nothing but ways of expres-
sing Christ's love. A full vessel would have a vent. Oh, if* I
' could smoke out, and cast out coals, to make a fire in many breasta
of this land ! Oh ! it is a pity that there were not many impris-
oned for Christ, were it for no other purpose than to write books
and love-songs of the love of Christ.
This love would keep all created tongues of men and angel? in
exercise, and busy night and day, to speak of it. Alas ! I can
speak nothing of it, but wonder at three things in his love : — First,
freedom. Oh, that lumps of sin shoufd get such love for nothing !
Secondly, The sweetness of his love. I give over either to speak
or write of it ; but those that feel it, may better bear witness what
it is : but it is so sweet, that, next to Christ himself, nothing can
match it. Nay, I think that a soul could live eternally blessed
only on Christ's love, and feed upon no other thing : yea, when
Christ in love giveth a blow, it doeth a soul good ; and it is a kind
of comfort and joy to it, to get a cuff with the lovely, sweet, and
soft hand of Jesus. And, thirdly. What power and stren^h are
in his love ! I am persuaded it can climb a steep hill, with heU
upon its back ; and swim through water and not drown ; and sing
in the fire, and find no pain ; and triumph in losses, prisons, sor-
rows, exile, disgrace, and laugh and rejoice in death. Ob, for a
year's lease of the sense of his love, without a cloud, to try what
Christ is ! Oh, for the coming of the Bridegroom ! Oil, when
shall I see the Bridegroom and the bride meet in the clouds, and
kisd each other ! On, when will we get our day, and our beartV
fill of that love ! Oh, if' it were lawful to complain of the famine
of that love, and want of the immediate vision of QoA ! O time,
time ! how dost thou torment the souls of those that would be
BwaUowed up of Christ's love, because thou ir ovesi so slowly ! Oh
lAthome. • BUmmnh. Oh, tkat
Rutherford's letters. 218
if * he would pity a poor prisoner, and blow loFe upon me, and
give a prisorier a taste or draught of that sweetness, (which is
glory as it were begun,) to be a confirmation, that Christ and I
shall have our fill of each other forever ! Come hither, O Love
of Christ, that I may once kiss thee before I die ! What would I
not give to have time, that lyeth betwixt Christ and me, taken out
of the way, that we might once meet ? I cannot think but that
at the first sight I shall see of that most lovely and fairest face,
love will come out of his two eyes, and fill me with astonishment.
I would but desire to stand at the outer side of the gates of the
new Jerusalem, and look through a hole of the door, and see
Christ's face. A borrowed vision in thjs life would be my borrow-
ed and begun heaven, whill the long, long-looked-for day dawn.
It is not for nothing that it is said, (Col. i. 2T,).^* Christ in you the
hope of glory." I will be content of no pawn of Heaven but
Christ himself; for Christ, possessed by faith here, is voung heav-
en and glory in the bud. If I had that pawn I would bide hom-
ing ' and Hell both, ere I give it again. All that we have here, is
scarce the picture of glory. Should not we young bairns long and
look for the expiring of our minority? It were good to be daily
begging propines' and love-gifts, and the bridegroom's favors;
and, if we can do no more, to seek crumbs, and hungry dinners
of Christ's love, to keep the taste of Heaven in our mouth, whill
supper-time. I kqow it is far after noon, and nigh the marriage-
supper of the Lamb: — the table is covered already. O well-
beloved, run, run fast ! O fair day, when wilt thou dawn ! O
shadows, flee away ! I think hope and love woven through other ^
make our absence from Christ spiritual torment. It is a pain to
wait on, but hope that maketh not ashamed swalloweth up that
pain. It is not unkindness that keepeth Christ and us so long
asunder. * What can I say to Christ's love? I think more than I
can say. To consider, that when my Lord Jesus may take the
air, (if I may so speak,) and go abroad, vet he will be confined
and keep the prison with me ! But in all this sweet communion
with him, what am I to be thanked for? I am but a sufferer.
Whether I will or not, he will be kind to me — as if he had defied
ray guiltiness to make him unkind, he so beareth his love in on
me. H^re I die with wondering, that justice hindereth not love ;
for there are none in Hell, nor out of Hell, more unworthy of
Christ's love. Shame may confound and scaur* me once to hold
up my black mouth to receive one of Christ's undeserved kisses.
If my inner-side were turned out, and all men saw my vileness,
1 Oh, that
s A letter wnied from-hu majesty'i mznet and directed to a meaaenger, who m re-
^vlred lo ehar;|e a debtor to paj the debt for which he ia proaecuted under pain of
faMlioa. TbM legal proeeaa ia ao called bccauae if the debtor diaobej the charga, the
meaaenffer, atUr bavins proceeded to the market-croaa of the bead-burgh of the abira
where ue debtor dwelb, there before witneaaea criea, " Oyea, oyea, oyea :** then reada
the lettera. and afterwarda. givea three blaata with a horn, by which it la onderitood
that the debtor ia denooncM aa a rebel, and outlawed for diaobedience to the kin(*f
aothofi^.
I Preaeata. « Promiacuoualy. * Piighten.
214 rutherford'b letters.
they would say to me, <' It is a shame for thee to stand still, whill
Christ kiss thee and embrace thee." It would seem to become me
rather to run away from his love, as ashamed at my own un worth-
iness : nay, I may think shame * to take heaven, who have so
highly provoked my Lord Jesus; but seeing Christ's love will
shame me, I am content to be ashamed. My desire is, that my
Lord would give me broader and deeper thoughts, to feed myself
with wondering at his love. I would I could weigh it, but I have
no balance for it. When I have worn my tongue to the stump,
in praising of Christ, I have^done nothing to him. I must let him
alone, for my withered arms will not go about his high, wide, long,
and broad love. What remaineth then, but that my debt to the
love of Christ lye unpaid for all eternity ? All that are in Heaven
are black-shamed* with his love as well as I. We must all be
dyvours,' together ; and the blessing of that houseful, or heaven-
ful of dyvours,' shall rest forever upon him. Oh, if* this land
and nation would come and stand beside his inconceivable and
glorious perfections, and look in, and love, and adore ! Would to
Grod I could bring in many lovers to Christ's house ! but this na-
tion hath forsaken the Fountain of living waters. Lord, cast not
water on Scotland's coal. Wo, wo will be to this land, because
of the day of the Lord's fierce anger, that is so fast coming.
Grace be with you.
Your affectionate brother, in our Lord Jesus, S. R.
Aberdeen.
LETTER CXXXV.
TO JEAN BROWN.
Mistress, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you — I am glad
that ye go on at Christ's back, in this dark and cloudy time. It
were good to sell other things for him ; for when all these days
are over, we shall find it our advantage, that we have taken part
with Christ. I confidently believe that his enemies shall be his
footstool, and that he will make green flowers dead, withered hay,
when the honor and glory shall fall off them, like the bloom or
flower of a green herb shaken with the wind. It were not wis-
dom for us to think that Christ and the Gospel would come and
sit down at our fire-side : nay, but we must go out of our warm
houses, and seek Christ and his Gospel. It is not the sunny side
of Christ that we must look to, and we must not forsake him for
want of that ; but must set our face against what may befall us,
in following on, till he and we be through the briers and bushes^
on the dry ground. Our soft nature would be borne through the
troubles of this miserable life, in Christ's arms : and, it is his
1 Be Mhamed. • Utterly pat to ekaflM.
• Bankraptt. « Oh, Uiat
Rutherford's letters. 216
dom, who knoweth our mould, that his bairns go wet-shod, and
cold-footed to Heaven. Oh, how sweet a thing were it for us to
learn to make our burdens light, by framing our hearts to the
burden, and making our Lord's will a law !
I find Christ and his cross not so ill ^ to please, nor yet such
troublesome guests, as men call them: nay, I think patience
should make the water, which Christ giveth us, good wine, and
his dross good metal : and we have cause to wait on ; for ere it
be long, our Master will be at us, and bring this whole world
out, before the sun and day-light, in their blacks and whites.
Happy are they who are found watching. Our sand-glass is not
80 long as we need to weary. Time will eat away and root out
our woes and sorrow. Our heaven is in the bud, and growing
up to a harvest ; why then should we not follow on, seeing our
span-length of time will come to an inch ? Therefore, I commend
Christ to you as your last living, and longest living Husband, and
the staff of your old age. Let him now have the rest of your
days. And think not much of a storm upon the ship that Christ
saileth in ; there shall no passenger fMl overboard, but the crazed
ship and the sea-sick passengers shall come to land safe.
1 am in as sweet communion with Christ as a poor sinner can
be ; and am only pained that he hath much beauty and fairness,
and I little love ; he great power and mercy, and I little faith ; he
much light, and I bleared eyes. Oh, that I saw him in the sweet-
ness of his love, and in his marriage-clothes, and were over head
and ears in love with that princely One, Christ Jesus my Lord !
Alas ! my riven dish, and running-out vessel, can hold little of
Christ Jesus !
I have joy in this, that I would not refuse death, before I put
Christ's lawful heritage in men's trysting ; ^ and what know I, if
they would have pleased both Christ and me ? Alas, that this
land hath put Chnst to open rouping,* and to an " Any man bids
more !" Blessed are they who would hold the crown on his head,
and buy Christ's honor with his own losses.
I rejoice to hear that your son John is coming to visit Christ,
and taste of his love. I hope that he will not lose his pains, nor
me of that choice. I had always, (as I said often to you.) a great
love to dear Mr. John Brown, because I thought I saw Christ in
him, more than in his brethren. Pain would I write to him, to
stand by my sweet Master ; and I wish ye would let him read my
letter, and the joy I shall have if he will appear for, and side with
my Lord Jesus. Grace be with you.
Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R.
Aberdeen, March 1.3, 1637.
> Diflicak
* That ia, Rutherford rejoiced that he would rather chrioae death than aabmtl
Christ** lawAil heritage to be decided upon by any meetingt of man'a appointment,
s Aoctioatng, public tale.
216 Rutherford's letters.
LETTER CXXXVI.
TO JEAN MACMILLAN.
Loving Sister, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. — I can-
not come to you to give you my counsel ; and, howbeit I would
come, I cannot stay with you ; but I beseech you to keep Christ,
for I did what I could to put you within grips * of him. I told you
Christ's testament and latter-will plainly, and I kept nothing back
that my Lord gave me ; and I gave Christ to you with good
will : 1 pray you to make him your own, and go not from that
truth which I taught you in one hair breadth — that truth will
save you if ye follow it. Salvation is not an easy thing, and sooq
fotten. I often told you that few are saved, and many damned :
pray you to make your poor soul sure of salvation, and the seek-
ing of Heaven your daily task. If ye never had a sick night and
a pained soul for sin, ye have not yet lighted upon Christ. Look
to the right marks of having closed with Christ, if ye love him
better than the world, and would quit all the world for him, then
that saith the .work is sound. Oh, if ye saw the beauty of Jesus,
and smelled the fragrance of his love, you would run through fire
and water to be at him ! Grod send you him.
Pray for me, for I cannot forget you. Grace be with you.
Your loving pastor, S. R,
Aberdeen, 1637.
LETTER CXXXVIL
TO THE LADT BUSBI!
Mistress, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. — I am glad to
hear that Christ and ye are one, and that ye have made him your
^*one thing," whereas many are painfully toiled in seeking many
things, and their many things are nothing. It is only best that
ye set yourself apart as a thing laid up and out of the gate,*
for Christ alone ; for ye are good for no other thing than Christ ;
and he hath been going about you these many years, by afflic-
tions, to engage you to himself — it were a pity and a loss to say
him nay. Verily I could wish that I could swim through Hell ;
and all the ill weather in the world, and Christ in my arms — but
it is my evil and folly, that except Christ come unsent for, I dow
not 'go to seek him: when he and I fall a-reckoning, we are both
behind, he in payment,* and I in counting; and so marches* lie*
•till unred,* and accounts uncleared betwixt us. Oh, that he would
take his own blood for coutits and miscounts,' that I might be a
> Within TPach. • Out of the way. • Am not able.
* That i«. in Kccivin^ payment > Boundaries. * UnMeefUioed
T True and errono >uft reckoningt.
Rutherford's letters. 217
free man, and none had any claim to me but only, only Jesus. I
will think it no bondage to be rouped/ comprised/ and possessed
by Christ as his bondman.
. Think well of the visitations of your Hiord : for I find one thing,
which I saw not well before, that when the saints are under trials,
and well humbled, little sins raise great cries, and war-shouts in
the conscience ; and in prosperity, conscience is a Pope, to give
dispensations, and let out and in. and give latitude and elbow-room
to our heart. Oh, how little care we for pardon at Christ's hand,
when we make dispensations ! And all is but bairns' play, till a
cross without beget a heavier cross within, and then we play no
longer with our idols. It is good still to be severe against our-
selves; for we but transform God's mercy into an idol, and an idol
that hath a dispensation to give, for the turning of the grace of
God into wantonness. Happy are they who take up God, wrath,
justice, and sin, as they are in themselves : for we have mis-
carrying light, that parteth with child, when we have good res-
olutions : but, God be thanked, that salvation is not rolled upon
our wheels.
Oh, but Christ hath a saving eye ! salvation is in his eye-lids !
When he first looked on me I was saved ; it cost him but a look to
make Hell quit of me ! Oh, but merits, free merits, and the dear
blood of God, were the best gate • that ever we could have gotten
out of Hell ! Oh, what a sweet, oh, what a safe and sure way is it, to
come out of Hell leaning on a Saviour ! That Christ and a sin-
ner should be one, and have Heaven betwixt them, and be halvers
of salvation, is the wonder of salvation. What more humble
could love be 1 And what an excellent smell doth Christ cast on
his lower garden, where there grow but wild flowers, if we speak
by way of comparison ; but there is nothing but perfect garden
flowers in Heaven, and the best plenishing^ that is there, is Christ.
We are all obliged to love Heaven for Christ's sake. He graceth
Heaven, and all his Father's house with his presence. He is a
Rose that beautifielh all the Upper Garden of God — a leaf of that
rose of God for smell is worth a world. Oh, that he would blow
his smell upon a withered and dead soul ! Let us, then, go on to
meet with nim, and to be filled with the sweetness of his love.
Nothing will hold him from us. He hath decreed to put time, sin,
Hell, devils, men and death out of the way, and to rid the rough
way betwixt us and him, that we may enjoy one another. It is
strange and wonderful that he would think long* in Heaven with-
out us ; and that he would have the company of sinners to solace
and delight himself withal in Heaven. And now the supper is
abiding us. Christ the bridegroom, with desire, is waiting on, till
the bride, the Lamb's wife, be busked • for the marriage, and the
great hall be red ' for the meeting of that joyful couole. Oh,
fools! what do we here? and why sit we still? Why sleep
I Aartumed. t Attaehed for debt. * Wat.
4 Pttrniture. • Th UUnk long, to long. • I>Mk«d.
V Cleared.
218 ruthbrfcbd's letters.
we in the prison ? Were it not best to make us win^ to flee up
to our blessed Match, our marrow,^ and our fellow Friend ?
I think, mistress, that ye are looking thereaway,* and that tbia
is your second or third thought. Make forward, your Guide wait-
eth on you.
I cannot but bless you for your care and kindness to the saints.
God give you to find mercy in that day of our Lord Jesus ; to whose
saving grace I recommend you.
Yours, in our Lord Jesus, S. R.
Aberdeen, 1637.
LETTER CXXXVm.
TO JOHN EWART, BAILLIE OF KIRKCUDBRIGHT.
My very Worthy, and Dear Friend, — I cannot but most
kindly thank you for the expressions of your love: your love and
respect to me is a great comfort to me.
I bless His high and glorious name, that the terrors of great men
have not affrighted me from openly avouching the Son of God ;
nay, his cross is the sweetest burden that ever I bear ; it is such
a burden, as wings are to a bird, or sails to a ship, to carry roe
forward to my harbor. I have not much cause to fall in love with
the world : but rather to wish, that He who sitteth upon the floods
would bring my broken ship to land, and keep my conscience safe
in these dangerous times, for wrath from the Lord is coming od
this sinful land.
It were good, that we prisoners of hope know of our strong hold
to run to, before the storm come on ; tnerefore, sir, I beseech you
by the mercies of God, and comforts of his Spirit, by the blood of
your Saviour, and by your compearance* before the sin-revenging
Judge of the world, keep your garments clean, and stand for the
truth of Christ, which ye profess. When the time shall come that
your eye-strings shall break, your face wax pale, your breath grow
cold, and this house of clay shall totter, and your one foot shall
be over the march,* in eternity, it will be your comfort and joy,
that ye gave your name to Christ. The greatest part of the world
think Heaven at the next door, and that Christianity is an easy
task ; but they will be beguiled. Worthy sir, I beseech you, make
sure work of salvation. I have found by experience, that all I
could do hath had much ado in the day of my trial ; and, there-
fore, lay up a sure foundation for the time to come.
I caunot requite you, for your undeserved favors to me and
my now afflicted brother. But I trust to remember you to God
Remember me heartily to your kind wife.
Yours, in his only Lord Jesus, S. R.
Aberdeen, Mareh 13, 1637.
1 Partner. • To those pait».
* Appearance. * Boandaiy.
rittherpord's letters. 219
LETTER CXXXIX.
TO WILLIAM FULLERTON, PROVOST OF SIRKCUDBRIOUT.
Much Honored Sir, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you — 1
am obliged to your love in God.
I beseech you, sir, let nothing be so dear to you as Christ's
truth, for salvation is worth all the world ; and, therefore, be not
afraid of men that shall die. The Lord will do for you in your
suflfering for him, and will bless your Aouse and seed ; and ye
have God's promise, that ye shall have his presence in fire, water,
and in seven tribulations. Your day shall wear to an end, and
your sun go down. In death it will be your joy, that ye have
ventured all ye have for Christ ; and there is not a promise of
Heaven made, but to such as are willing to suffer for it — it is a
castle taken by force. This earth is but the clay portion of bas-
tards ; and, therefore, no wonder that the world smile on its^ own ;
but better things are laid up for his lawfully begotten bairns, whom
the world hateth.
I have experience to speak this, for I would not exchange my
prison and sad nights, with the court, honor, and ease of my ad-
versaries. My Lord is pleased to make many unknown faces to
laugh upon me, and to provide a lodging for me ; and he himself
visiteth my soul with feasts of spiritual comforts. Oh, how sweet
a master is Christ ! Blessed are they who lay down all for him.
I thank you kindly for your love to my distressed brother. Ye
have the blessing and prayers of the prisoner of Christ to yQu,
your wife and children.
Remember my love and blessing to William and Samuel. I
desire them in their youth to seek the Lord, and to fear his great
name ; to pray twice a-day, at least, to God, and to read God's
word ; to keep themselves from cursing, lying, and filthy talking.
Now the only wise God, and the presence of the Son of God, he
with you all.
Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R.
Aberdeen, March 13, 1637.
LETTER CXL.
TO ROBERT OLENDINNINO.
Mr Dear Friend, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. — I
thank you most kindly for your care of me, and your love and
respective kindness to my brother in his distress. I pray the Lord
that ye may find mercy in the day of Christ : and I entreat you,
sir, to consider th« times which ye live in, and that your soul b
more woith to you than the whole world, which in the day of the
890 buthbrford's letters.
blowing of the Last Trumpet, shall lye in white ashes, as an old
castle burned to nothing : and remember that judgment and eter-
nit} is before you. My dear, and worthy friend, let me entreat
you in Christ's name, and by the salvation of your soul, and by
your compearance befiM-e the dreadful and sin-revenging Judge
of the world, to make your accounts ready. Read them ere ye
come to the water-side ; for your afternoon will wear short, and
your sun fall low and go down : and ye know, that this long time
your Lord hath waited on you. Oh, how comfortable a thing it
will be to you, when time shall be no more, and your soul shall
depart out of the house of clay, to vast and endless eternity, to
have your soul dressed up, and prepared for your Bridegroom !
No loss is comparable to the loss of the soul : there is no hope of
regaining that loss. Oh, how joyful would my soul be to hear
that ye would start to the gate * and contend for the crown, and
leave all vanities, and make Christ your garland ! Let-your soul
put away your old lovers, and let Christ have your whole love.
I have some experience to write of this to you. My witness is
in Heaven that I would not exchange my chains and bonds for
Christ, and my sighs, for ten worlds' glory. I judge this clay idol,
which Adam's sons are rouping* and selling their souls for, not
worth a drink of cold water. Oh if your soul were in my soul's
stead, how sick would ye be of love for that fairest One, that Fair-
est among the sons of men ! May-flowers and morning-vapor, and
summer-mist postef h not so fast away, as these worm-eaten pleas-
ures which we follow. We build castles in the air, and night-
dreams are our daily idols that we dote on. Salvation, salvation
is our only necessary thing. Sir, call home your thoughts to this
work, to inquire for your Well-beloved. This earth is the portion
of bastards ; seek the Son's inheritance, and let Christ's truth be
dear to you.
I pawnd* my salvation on it, that this is the honor of Christ's
Kingdom which I now suffer for, — and this world, I hope, shall
not come between me and my garland, — and that this is the way
to life. When ye and I shall lye lumps of pale clay upon the
ground, our pleasures that we now naturally love, shall be less
than nothing in that day. Dear brother, fulfil my joy, and betake
you to Christ without further delay. Ye will be fain at length to
seek him, or do infinitely worse.
Remember my love to your wife. Grace be with you.
Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R.
Aberdeen, Mareh 13, 1637.
> 7b doH to tlu gaU, to begin with akeritv i AoolioiiiBt.
• Pl^Jged. » -• •'. •
Rutherford's letiers. 231
LETTER CXLI.
TO WILLIAM GLENDENNINO.
Well-beloved, and Dear Brother, — Grace, mercy, and
peace be to you. — I thank you most kindly for your care and love
to me, and in particular to my brother, in his distress in Edinburgh.
Go on through your waters without wearying ; your Guide know-
etb the way, follow him, and cast your cares and temptations upon
him ; and let not worms, the sons of men, affright you — they shall
die, and the moth shall eat them. Keep your garland ; there is
no less at the stake, in this game betwixt us and the world, than
our conscience and salvation : we have need to take heed to the
game, and not to yield to them. Let them take other things from
us; but here, in matters of conscience, we must hold and draw *
with kings, and set ourselves in terms of opposition with the shields
of the earth. Oh, the sweet communion for evermore, that hath
oeen between Christ and his prisoner! He wearieth not to be
kind. He is the fairest sight I see in Aberdeen or in any part that
ever my feet were in.
Remember my hearty kindness to vour wife. I desire her to
believe, and lay her cares on God, ana make fast work of salva-
tion. Grace be with you.
Yours, in bis only Lord Jesus, S. R.
Aberdeen, March 13, 1637.
LETTER CXLIL
TO MR. HUGH HENDERSON.
My Reverend, and Dear Brother, — ^I hear that ye beat
the marks of Christ's dying about with you, and that your brethren
have cast you out for your Master's sake. Let us wait on till the
evening, and till our reckoning in black and white come before our
Master. Brother, since we must have a devil to trouble us, I love
a raging devil best. Our Lord knoweth what sort of devil we have
need of: it is best that Satan be in his own skin, and look like
himself; Christ weeping looketh like himself also, with whom
Scribes and Pharisees were at yea and nay, and sharp contradic
tion.
Ye have heard of the patience of Job. When he lay in the
ashes, God was with him, clawing and curing his scabs, and letting
out his boils, comforting his soul ; and he took him up at last.
That God is not dead yet : he will stoop and take up fallen bairns ;
many broken legs since Ai'am's days hath he spelked,* and many
weary hearts hath he refreshed. Bless him for comfort. Why.
I Mut flniggle with. * Bound jp with ipUnl*.
222 Rutherford's letters.
none cometh dry from David's well Let us go amon^ the rest,
and cast down our tooin * buckets into Christ's ocean, and suck con-
solations out of him. We are not so sore stitcken, but we may
fill Christ's hall with weeping. We have nor gotten our answer
from him yet. Let us lay up our broken pleas to a full sea, and
keep them till the day of Christ's coming. We and this world will
not be even ' till then : tiiey would take our garment from us ; but
let us hold and them draw.
Brother, it is a strange world if we laugh not. I never saw the
like of it, if there be not *' paiks the man,"* for this contempt done
to the Son of God ? We must do as those who keep the bloody
napkin to the baillie, and let him see blood : we must keep our
wrongs to our Judge, and let him see our bluddered ^ and foul faces.
Prisoners of hope must run to Christ, with the gutters that tears
have made on their cheeks.
Brother, for myself, I am Christ's dawted* one for the present ;
and I live upon no deaf nuts,* ^as we use to speak ;) ne hath
opened fountains to me in the wilderness. Go, look to mv Lord
Jesus : his love to me is such, that I defy the world to find either
brim or bottom in it. Grace be with you.
Your brother, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R.
Aberdeen, March 13, 1637.
LETTER CXLIIL
TO TH1£ EARL OF CASSILLIS.
Right Honorable, and my very Good Lord, — Grace, mcr*
cy, and peace be to your Lordship — ^I hope that your Lordship will
be pleased to pardon my boldness, i^ upon report of your zealous
and forward mind, which I hear our Lord hath given you in this
his honorable cause, when Christ and his Gospel are so foully
wronged, I speak to your Lordship on paper,- entreating your
Lordship to go on in the strength of the Lord, toward, and against
a storm of antichristian wind, that bloweth upon the face of this
your poor mother-church, Christ's lily amongst the thorns. It is
your Lordship's glory and happiness, when ye see such a blow
coming upon Christ, to cast up your arm to prevent it. Neither
is it a cause that needeth to blush before the sun, or to flee the
sentence or censure of impartial beholders, seeing the question,
indeed, (if it were rightly stated,) is about the prerogative- royal of
our princely and royal Lawgiver, our Lord Jesus, whose ancient
march-stones,^ and land-bounds, our bastard lords, and earthly
generation of tyrannizing prelates, have boldly and shamefully
removed : and they who have but half an eye, may see, that it is
t Rmptj. « Quits.
* All expretiioii aied bj ihoee who were alnrat to engage ia a tght Faikt «gm>
fiee blows. « Binned.
• Fondled, ooekered. • Nuts withoat a kernel t LandoMukii.
Rutherford's letters. 223
the greedy desires of time idolizing Demases, and the itching scab
of ambitious and climbing Diotrepheses, (who love the goat's life,
to climb till they cannot find a way to set their soles on ground
again,) that bath made such a wide breach In our Zion's beautiful
walls : — and these are the men who seek no hire for the crucify-
ing of Christ, but his coat.
Oh, how forlorn and desolate is the bride of Christ made to all
passers-by ! Who seeth not Christ buried in this land, his pro-
phets hidden in caves, silenced, banished, and imprisoned ; truth
weeping in sackcloth before the judges, Parliament, and the rulers
of the land ? But her bill is cast by them, and holiness hideth
itself, fearing in the streets, for the reproaches and persecution of
men : justice is fallen aswoon * in the gate ; and the long shadows
of the evening are stretched out upon us. Wo, wo to us, for our
day flieth away. What remaineth, but that Antichrist set down
his tent in the midst of us, except that your Lordship, and others
with you, read Christ's supplication, and give him that which the
most lewd and scandalous wretches in this land may have before
a judge, even the poor man's due, law and justice for God's sake?
On, therefore, my noble, and dear Lord, as ye have begun, go on,
in the mighty power and strength of the Lord, to cause our Lord
in his Gospel, and afflicted members, to laugh, and to cause the
Christian churches, (whose eyes are all now upon you,J to sing
for joy when Scotland's moon shall shine Uke the lignt oi the sun,
anci the sun Uke the light of seven days in one. Ye can do no
less than run and bear up the head of your swooning, and dying
Mother-church, and pleaa for the production of her ancient char-
ters. They hold out and put out, they hold in, and bring in at
their pleasure, men in God's house. They stole the keys from
Christ and his Church, and came in like the thief and the robber,
not by the door, Christ ; and now their song is '^ Authority, au-
thority, obedience to church-governors." When such a bastard
and lawless pretended step-dame, as our prelacy, is gone mad, it
10 your place, who are the nobles, to rise and bind them : at least
law should fetter such wild bulls as they are, who push all who
oppose themselves to their domination. Alas ! what have we lost,
siDce prelates were made master-coiners, to change our gold into
brass, and to mix the Lord's wine with water ? Blessed forever
shall ye be of the Lord, if ye help Christ against the mighty, and
shall deliver the flock of God, scattered upon the mountams in the
dark and cloudy day, out of the hands of these idol-shepherds.
Pear not men that shall be moth-eaten clay, that shall be rolled
ap in a chest, and casten under the earth : let the Holy One of
Israel be your fear, and be courageous for the Lord and his truth.
Remember that your accounu are coming upon you with
wings, as fast as time posteth. Remember what peace with God
in Christ, and the presence of the Son of God, the revealed and
felt sweetness of his love, will be to you, when eternity shall put
> Into A iwoon.
224 , RUTHERFORD 8 LETTERS.
time to the door, and ye shall take good night at time, and this
little shepherd's tent of clay, this inn of a borrowed earth. I hope
that your Lordship is now and then sending out thouc^hts to view
this world's noughtiness,^ and vanity, and the hoped-for glory of
the life to come ; and that ye resolve that Christ shall have your-
self, and all yours, at command for him, his honor and Gospel.
Thus trusting that your Lordship will pardon my boldness, 1
pray that the only wise God, the very God of peace, may preserve,
strengthen, and establish you to the end.
Tour Lordship^s,
At all command and obedience in Christ, S. R.
Aberdeen, 1637.
LETTER CXLIV.
TO MT LORD BALMERINO.
My vert Noble, and truly Honorable Lord, — ^I make
bold to write news to ^our Lordship from my prison, though your
Lordship have experience more than I can have. At my first
entry here, I was not a little casten down with challenges,* for
old repented-of sins; and Satan and my own appreheosiofis
made a lie of Christ, that he had casten a dry, withered tree over
the dyke of the vineyard ; but it was my folly ; blessed be his
great name, the fire cannot burn the dry tree. He is pleased
now to feast the exiled prisoner with his lovely presence : for ii
suiteth Christ well to be kind, and he dineth and suppeth with
such a sinner as I am. I am in Christ's tutoring here. He hath
made me content with a borrowed fireside, and it casteth as much
heat as mine own. I want nothing but real possession of Christ :
and he hath given me a pawn of that also, which I hope to keep
till he come himself to loose the pawn. — I cannot get help to
praise his hi^h name. He hath mde me king over my losses, im-
prisonment, banishment, and only my dumb sabbaths stick in my
throat : but I forgive Christ's wisdom in that. I dare not say one
word ; he hath done it, and I will lay my hand upon my mouth :
if any other had done it to me, I could not have borne it.
Now my Lord, I must tell your Lordship, that I would not give
a drink of cold water for this clay-idol, this plastered world. I
testify and give it under my own hand, that Christ is most worthy
to be suffered for. Our lazy flesh, which would have Christ to
cry down crosses by open proclamation, hath but raised a slander
upon the cross of Christ My Lord,*I hope that ye will not for^
what he hath done for your soul: I think that ye are in Christ's
count-book, as his obliged debtor.
Grace, grace be with your spirit.
Your Lordship's obliged servant, S. R.
Aberdeen, Mareh 13, 1637.
( NoUiingiieai.
s
butherford's letters. 225
LETTER CXLV.
TO MY LADY MAR, YOUNGER.
My VERY Noble, and Dear Lady, — Grace, mercy, and peace
be to you — I received your Ladyship's lelter, which hath coroiorted
my soul. God give you to find mercy in the day of Christ.
I am in as good terms and court with Christ, as an exiled op-
Kressed prisoner of Christ can be. I am still welcome to his
ouse; ne knoweth my knock, and lelteth in a poor friend.
Under this black, rough tree of the cross of Christ, he hath
ravished me with his love, and taken my heart to Heaven with
him. Well and long may he brook* it. I would not niffer
Christ with all the joys that man or angel can devise beside him.
Who hath such cause to speak honorably of Christ as I have?
Christ is King of all crosses, and he hath made his saints little
kings under nim; and he can ride and triumph upon weaker
bodies than I am, (if any can be weaker,) and his horse will
neither fall nor stumble.
Madam, your Ladyship hath much ado with Christ, for your
soul, husband, children, and house. Let him find much employ-
ment for his calling with you ; for he is such a friend as delighteth
to be burdened with suits and employments ; and the ipore ve lay
on him, and the more homely ' ye be with him, the more welcome.
Oh the depth of Christ's love ! It hath neither brim nor bottom.
Oh, if^ this blind world saw his beauty ! When I count with him
for his mercies to me, I must stand still and wonder, and go away
as a poor dyvour,* who hath nothing to pay ; — free forgiveness is
Eayment I would that I could get him set on high; for his love
ath made me sick, and I die except I get real possession.
Grace, grace be with you. '
Your Ladyship's, at all obedience in Christ, S. R.
Abeideen, Maieh 13, 1637.
LETTER CXLTI.
TO JAMES MACADAM.
My very Dear, and Worthy Friend, — Grace, mercy, and
peace be to you. — I long to hear of your growing in grace, and of
yoar advancing in your journey to Heaven. It will be the joy of
my heart to hear that ye hold your face up the brae,* and wade
through temptations without fearing what man can do. Christ
shall, when ne ariseth, mow down his enemies, and lay bouks,^
(as they use to speak,) on the green, and fill the pits with dea4
> Enjoy. • Eichange. * Pan^Kmr. « Oh, tJtmt
* Buiknipt < Aicent. i Carcaaea.
IS
226 RUTHERFORD^S LETTERS.
bodies, (Ps. ex. 6.) They shall lie like handfuls of withered hay,
when he ariseth to the prey. Salvation, salvation is the only ne*
cessary thing : this clay-idol, the world, is not to be sought ; it is
a morsel not for you, but for hunger-bitten bastards. Contend for
salvation. Your master, Christ, won Heaven with strokes ; it is
a besieged castle, it must be taken with violence. Oh, this world
thinketh Heaven but at the next door, and that godliness may
sleep in a bed of down, till it come to Heaven ! — but that will not
do it. •
For myself, I am as well as Christ's prisoner can be ; for by
him I am master and king of all my crosses ; I am above the
prison, and the lash of men's tongues ; Christ triumpheth in me.
I have been casten down, and heavy with fears, and hunted with
challenges. I was swimming in the depths, but Christ had his
hand under my chin all the time, and took good heed that I should
not lose breath ; and now I have gotten my feet again, and there
are love-feasts of joy, and spring-tides of consolation betwixt Christ
and me. We agree well : I have court with him ; I am still wel-
come to his house. Oh, my short arms cannot fathom his love !
I beseech you, I charge you, to help me to praise. Ye have a
prisoner's prayers, therefore forget me not.
I desire Sibylla to remember me dearly to all in that parish who
know Christ, as if I had named them.
Grace, grace be with you.
Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, ' S. R.
Aberdeen, March 13, 1637.
LETTER CXLVIL
TO MT VERT DEAR BROTHER, WILLIAM LIVINGSTON.
My VERY Dear Brother, — I rejoice to hear that Christ hath
run away with your young love, and that ye are so early in the
morning matched with such a lord ; for a young man is often m
dressed lodging for the Devil to dwell in. Be humble and thank-
ful for grace, and weigh it not so much by weight, as if it be true.
Christ will not cast water on ^our smoking coal ; he never yec
fut out a dim candle that was lighted at the Sun of Righteousness,
recommend to you prayer and watching over the sins of year
youth ; for I know that missive letters * go between the Devil and
young blood. Satan hath a friend at court in the heart of yonth ;
and there pride, luxury, lust, revenge, for^etfulness of God, are
hired as his agents. Happv is your soul, ii Christ man the house,
and take the keys himseli, and command all — as it suiteth him
full well to rule all, wherever he is. Keep Christ, and entertaio
him well : cherish his grace ; blow upon your own coal ; and lei
him tutor you.
1 Lettera oontainiiig the ootlmet of an engAgeaeot, nhkh it aftenraids !• b« •<-
tended in due fonn.
LETTERS. 227
Now for myself; know thai I am fully agreed with my Lord.
Christ hath put the Father and me into each other's arms: —
many a sweet bargain he made before, and he hath made this
among the rest. J reign as king over my crosses. I will not
flatter a temptation, nor give the Devil a good word. I defy
Hell's iron gates : God hath passed over my quarrelling of him at
my entry here, and now he leedeth and feasteth with me.
Praise, praise with me ; and let us exalt his name together.
Your brother in Christ, S. R.
AWfdeen, March 13, 1637.
LETTER CXLVIIL
TO WILLIAM GORDON, OF WHITEPARK.
Worthy Sir, — Grace, mercy, and peace be unto you. — I long
to hear from you. I am here the Lord's prisoner and patient,
handled as softly by my Physician as if I were a sick man under
cure. I was at hard terms with my Lord, and pleaded with him,
but I had the worst side. It is a wonder that he should have suf-
fered the like of me to have nicknamed the Son of his love, Christ,
and to call him a changed Lord who had forsaken me ; but mis-
beliefs haib never a good word to speak of Christ. The dross of
my cross gathered a scum of fears in the fire, doublings, impa*
tience, unbelief, challenging of Providence as sleeping, and as not
regarding my sorrow ; but my Goldsmith, Christ, was pleased to
take off the scum, and bum it in the fire. And, blessed be my
Refiner, he hath made the metal better, and furnished new supplv
of grace, to cause me hold out weight ; and I hope that he hath
not lost one grain-weight by burning his servant. Now his love
in my heart casteth a mighty heat : he knoweth that the desire I
have to be at himself paineth me. I have sick nights and frequent
fits of love-fevers for my Well-beloved. Nothing paineth me now
but want of presence. I think it long till day. I challenge ' time,
as too slow m its pace, that holdeth my only, only fair One, my
Love, my Well-beloved from me. Oh, if we were together once !
I am Uke an old crazed ship that hath endured many storms, and
that would fain be in the lee of the shore, and feareth new storms ;
I would be that* nigh Heaven, that the shadow of it might break
the force of the storm, and the crazed ship might win * to land.
My Lord's sun casteth a heat of love and beam of light on my
0auL My blessing thrice every day upon the sweet cross of Christ.
I am not ashamed of my garland, '*The banished minister,"
which b the term of Aberdeen. Love, love defieth reproaches.
The love of Christ hath a corslet of proof on it, and arrows will not
draw blood of it. We are more than conmierors through the
blood of Him that loved us, (Rom. viii.) The Devil knd the world
• WivQC frith. t Aoewe. • So. « Get
228 Rutherford's leiters.
cannot wound the love of Christ. I am further from yieldior to
the course of defection than when I came hither : — sufferings Uiioi
not the fiery edge of love. Cast love into the floods of Hell, it will
swim above. It careth not for the world's busked ' and plastered
offers. It hath pleased my Lord so to line mv'heart with the lovo
of my Lord Jesus, that, as if the field were already won, and I oo
the other side of time, I laugh at the world's golden pleasures, and
at this dirty idol, which the sons of Adam worship. This worm-
eaten god is that which my soul hath fallen out of love with.
Sir, ye were once my hearer : I desire now to hear from you and
your wife. I salute her and your children with blessings. I am
glad that ye are still hand-fasted * with Christ. Go on in your
journey, and take the city by violence. Keep your garments
clean. Be clean virgins to your Husband the Lamb. The world
shall follow you to Heaven's gates : and ye would not wish it to go
in with you. Keep fast Christ's love. Pray for me, as I do for
you. The Lord Jesus be with your spirit.
Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R.
Aberdeen, March 13, 1637.
LETTER CXUX.
TO MR. GEORGE GILLESPIE.
Reverend, and Dear Brother, — I received your letter. — Am
for my case, brother, I bless His glorious name, that my losses are
my gain, my prison a palace, and my sadness joyfulness. At my
first entry, my apprehensions so wrought upon my cross, that I
became jealous* of the love of Christ, as being by him thrust out
of the vineyard, and I was under great challenges, (as ordinarily
melted gold caste th forth a drossy scum, and Satan and our cor*
ruption form the first words that the heavy cross speaketh, and say,
'^ God is angry, he loveth you not,") but our apprehensions are not
canonical ; they indite lies of God and Christ's love. But sioca mv
spirit was settled, and the clay has fallen to the bottom of the well,
I see better what Christ was doing. And now my Lord is returned
with salvation under his wings. Now I want little of half a
heaven, and I find Christ every day so sweet, comfortable, lovdy,
and kind, that three things only trouble me. 1, I see not bow to
he thankful, or how to get help to praise that royal King, who
raiseth up those that are bowed down. 2, Hb love paineth me,
and woundeth my soul, so that I am in a fever for want of real
presence. 3, An excessive desire to take instruments^ in God's
name, that this is Christ and his truth, which I now suflfer ibr;
yea, the apple of the eye of Christ's honor, even the sovereignty
and royal privileges of our King and Lawgiver, Christ : and, tbcr^
I Decked. * AAanced. 8 Si
* To declare, and oUim that the declaration be recorded aa
Rutherford's letters. 229
fore, let no man scaur > at Christ's cross, or raise an ill report upon
him, or it ; for he beareth the sufferer and it both.
I am here troubled with the disputes of the great doctors, (espe-
cially with D. B. in ceremonial and Arminian controversies, lor all
are corrupt here ;) but, I thank God, with no detriment to the
truth, or discredit to my profession. So, then, I see that Christ
can triumph in a weaker man nor' I : and who can be mop weak ?
but hid grace is sufficient for me.
Brother, remember our old covenant, and pray for me, tnd write
to me your case. The Lord Jesus be with your spirit.
Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R.
Abeideen, Haich 13, 1637.
LETTER CL.
TO JEAN GORDON.
My very Dear,- and Loving Sister, — Grace, mercy, and
peace be to you — I long to hear from you. I exhort you to set up
the brae* to the King's city, that must be taken by violence. Your
afternoon's sun is wearing low. Time will eat up your frail life,
like a worm gnawing at the root of a May-flower. Lend Christ
irour heart. Set him as a seal there. Take him in within, and
et the world, and children stand at the door. They are not
yours; make you and them for your proper owner, Christ. It is
good that he is your Husband and their Father. What missing
can there be of a dying man, when God filleth his chair ? Give
hours of the day to prayer. Fash^ Christ, ^if I may speak so,)
and importune him; be often at his gate; give his door no rest.
f can tell you that he will be found. Oh, what sweet fellowship
is betwixt him and me ! I am imprisoned, but he is not imprisonea.
He hath shamed me with his kindness. He hath come to my
prison, and run away with my heart and all my love. Well may
ne brook* it ! I wish that my love get never an owner but Christ.
Fy, fy upon old lovers, that held us so long asunder ! We shall
not part now. He and I shall be heard, before he win out of my
grips.* I resolve to wrestle with Christ, ere I quit him. But mv
love to him hath casten my soul into a fever, and there is no cool-
ing of my fever, till I get real possession of Christ. O strong,
fltroog love of Jesus, thou hast wounded my heart with thine ar-
rows T O pain ! Oh pain of love for Christ ! Who will help ma
to praise ?
Let me have your prayers. Grace be with vou.
Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R.
Aberdeen, Hareh 13, 1637.
> Boggle. t Than. *
« Peeter. * PoeieM and enjoj. < Get oat or my
230 Rutherford's letters.
LETTER CLI.
TO MR. JAMES BRUCE, MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL.
Reverend, and Well-beloved Brother, — Grace, mercy,
and peace be to vou. — Upon the nearest acquaintance, that we
are Father's children, I thought good to write to you. My case in
my bonds, for the honor of my royal Prince and King, Jesus, is as
good as becometh the witness of such a sovereign King. At mv
first coming hither, I was in great heaviness, wrestling with chal-
lenges, being burdened in heart, (as I am yet,) for my silent sab-
baths, and for a bereaved people, young ones, new-born, plucked
from the breasts, and the children's table drawn. I thought I was
a dry tree cast over the dyke of the vineyard : but my secret con-
ceptions of Christ's love, at his sweet and long-desired return to my
soul, were found to be a lie of Christ's love, forged by the Tempter,
and my own heart, and I am persuaded it was so. Now there is
greater peace and security within than before : the court is raised
and dismissed, for it was not fenced* in God*s name. 1 was far
mistaken, who should have summoned Christ for unkindness;
^ misted * faith, and my fever conceived amiss oi him. Now, now,
he is pleased to feast a poor prisoner, and to refresh me with joy
unspeakable and glorious ; so, as the Holy Spirit is witness, that
my sufferings are for Christ's truth ; and God forbid that I should
deny the testimony of the Holy Spirit, and make him a folse wit-
ness. Now I testify under my hand, out of some small experience,
that Christ's cause, even with the cross, is better than the King's
crown ; and that his reproaches are sweet, his cross perfumed, the
walls of my prison fair and large, my losses gain.
I desire you, my dear brother, to help me to praise, and to re-
member me in your prayer to God. Grace, gp'ace be with you.
Yours, in our Lord Jesus, S. R.
Aberdeen, Match 14, 1637.
LETTER CLH.
TO JOHN GORDON, AT RUSCO, IN OALLOWAT.
Mt Worthy, and Dear Brother, — Misspend not your short
sand-glass, which runneth very fast; seek your Lord in tiine.
Let me obtain of you a letter under your hand, for a promise to
God, by his grace, to take a new course of walking with God.
Heaven is not at the next door ; I find it hard to be a Christian;
there is no little thrusting and thringing* to thrust in at Heaven's
gates ; it is a casUe taken by force : — *< Many shall strive to eoiet
in, and shall not be able."
I opened by declarinff the conttitotion. • B^wfldevid.
* Pre«ing, m tbroogE a crowd or Uiicket
231
I beseech and obtest you in the Lord, to make conscience of rash
and passionate oaths, of raging and sudden, avenging anger, of
night drinking, of needless companionry,^ of sabbath-breaking, of
hurting any under you by word or deed, of hating your very ene-
mies. ** Except ye receive the Kingdom of God as a little child,''
and be as meek and sober-minded as a babe, *< ye cannot enter
into the Kingdom of God." That is a word which should touch
you near, and make you stoop and cast yourself down, and make
your great spirit fall. I know that this will not be easily done,
but I recommend it to you as you tender your part of the King-
dom of Heaven.
Brother, I may, from new experience, speak of Christ to you.
Oh, if ye saw in him what I see ! A river of God's unseen joys
have flowed from bank to brae' over my soul since I parted with
you. I wish that I wanted part, so being ye might have ; that
your soul might be sick of love for Christ, or rather satiated with
him. This clay idol, the world, would seem to you, then, not
worth a fig ; time will eat you out of possession of it. When the
eye-strings break, and the breath groweth cold, find the impris-
oned soul looketh out of the windows of the clay-house, ready to
leap out into eternity, what would you then give for a lamp full
of oil ? Oh seek it now.
I desire you to correct and curb banning,^ swearing, lying, drink-
ing, sabbath-breaking, and idle spending of the Lord's day in ab-
sence from the kirk, as far as your authority reacheth in that
parish.
I hear that a man is to be thrust into that place, to the which
1 have God's right: I know that ye should have a voice by God's
word in that, (Acts i. 15, 16, to the end, and Acts vi. 3, 5.) Ye
would be loath that any prelate should put you out of your pos-
session earthly, and this is your right. What I write to you, I
write to your wife. Grace be with you.
Your loving pastor, S. R.
Aberdeen, March 14, 1637. >
LETTER CLIIL
TO THE LADY HALLHILL.
Dear, and Christian Lady, — Grace, mercy, and peace be
to you. — I longed much to write to your Ladyship ; but now, the
Lord oflering a fit occasion, I would not omit to do it.
1 cannot but ac(|uaint your Ladyship with the kind dealing of
Christ to my soul, in this house of my pilgrimage, that your Lady-
ship may know that he is as good as he is called : for at my first
entry into this trial, (being caslen down and troubled with chal-
leiiges and jealousies of His love, whose name and testimony I
1 Companions. * Oh, that.
• Pxom bank to bank. * Minced oathf.
232 Rutherford's letters.
now bear in my bonds,) I feared nothing more than that I was
casten over the dyke of the vineyard, as a dry tree. But, blessed
be his great name, the dry tree was in the fire, and was not burnt ;
his dew came down and quickened the root of a withered plant ;
and now he is come again with joy, and hath been pleased to feast
his exiled and afflicted prisoner with the joy of his consolations.-
Now I weep, but am not sad : I am chastened, but I die not ; I
have loss, but I want nothing ; this water cannot drown me, this
fire cannot burn me, because of the good-will of Him that dwelt
in the bush. The worst things of Christ, his reproaches, his cross,
are better than Egypt's treasures. He hath opened his door, and
taken into his house-of-wine a poor sinner, and hath left me so
sick of love for my Lord Jesus, that if Heaven were at my dispos-
ing, I would give it for Christ, and would not be content to go to
Heaven, except I were persuaded that Christ were there.' I would
not give, nor exchange my bonds for the Prelates' velvets ; nor my
prison for their coaches ; nor my sighs for all the world's laughter :
— this clay idol, the world, hath no great court ' in my soul. Christ
hath come, and run away to Heaven with my heart and my love,
80 that neither heart nor love is mine : — I pray God, that Christ
may keep both without reversion. In my estimation, as I am
now disposed, if my part of this world's clay were rouped • and
sold, I would think it dear of a drink of water. I see Christ's love
is so kingly, that it will not abide a marrow;' it must have a
throne all alone in the soul. And I see that apples beguile bainis,
howbeit they be worm-eaten : the moth-eaten pleasures of this
present world make bairns believe ten is a hundred, and yet all
that are here are but shadows. If they would draw by the cur-
tain that is hung betwixt them and Christ, they should see them-
selves fools who have so long miskenned^ the Son of Grod. I seek
no more, next to Heaven, than that he may be glorified in a pris-
oner of Christ ; and that in my behalf many would praise His nigh
and glorious name whb heareth the sighing of the prisoner.
Remember my service to the Laird your husband, and to your
son my acquaintance. I wish that Christ had his young love,
and that in the morning he would start to the gate to seek that
which this world knoweth not, and, therefore, doth not seek it.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R.
Aberdeen, March 14, 1637.
LETTER pLIY.
TO THE MUCH HONORED JOHN OSBURN, PROVOST OP AT&.
Much Honored Sir, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to yoa —
Upon our small acquaintance, and the good report I hear of you,
> Influence. i Auctioned.
> A fellow companion. « Miilaken, minppfebeodeiL
233
I could not but write to you : t have nothing tc say, but that
Christ, in that honorable place he hath put you in, hath intrusted
you with a dear pledge, which is his own glory ; and hath armed
you with his eword to keep the pledge and make a good account
of it to Qod. Be not afraid of men. Your Master can mow down
his enemies, and make withered hay of fair flowers. Your time
will not be long : after your afternoon will come your evening,
and after evejiing, night. Serve Christ, back him ; let his cause
be your cause; give not an hair-breadth of truth away; for it is
not yours, but God's. Then, since ye are going, take Christ's tes-
tijScate> with you out of this life — "Well done, good and faithful
servant P His "well-done" is worth a shipful of "good-days"
and earthly honors. I have cause to say this, because I And him
Truth itself. In my sad days, Christ laugheth cheerfully, and
saith, "All will be well !" Would to God* that all this kingdom,
and all that know God, knew what is betwixt Christ and me in
this prison — what kisses, embracements, and love communions.
I take his cross in my arms with joy ; I bless it, I rejoice in it —
suffering for Christ is my garland. I would not exchange Christ
for ten thousand worlds ! nay, if the comparison could stand, I
would not exchange Christ with Heaven.
Sir, pray for me, and the prayers, and blessing of a prisoner of
Christ meet you in all your straits. Grace be with you.
Yours, in Christ Jesus, hb Lord, S. R.
Abeideen, Maich 14, 1637.
LETTER CLV.
TO HIS LOVING FRIEND, JOHN HENDERSON.
LoviNO Friend, — Continue in the love of Christ, and the doc-
trine which I taught you faithfully, and painfully, according to
my measure. I am free of your blood. Fear the dreadful name
of God. Keep in mind the examinations which I taught you, and
love the truth of God. Death, as fast as time fleeth, chaseth you out
of this life ; it is possible that ye may make your reckoning with your
Judge before I see you. Let salvation be your care, night and
day, and set aside hours and times of the day for prayer. I re-
joice to hear that there is prayer in your house. See that your
servants keep the Lord's day. This dirt and god of clay, I mean
the vain world, is not worth the seeking.
An hireling pastor is to be thrust in upon you, into the room to
which I have Christ's warrant and right. Stand to your liberties,
for the word of God alloweth you a vote in choosing your pastor.
What I write to you, I write to your wife. Commend me
heartily to her. The grace of God be with you.
Your loving friend, and pastor, S. R.
Aberdeen, March 14, 1637.
> Certificate of eharacter.
834 Rutherford's letters*
LETTER CLVI.
TO JOHN MEINB.
Dear Brother, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you — ^I wcn-
der that ye sent me not an answer to my last letter, ior I stand in
need of it I am in some piece of court ' with our great King,
whose love would cause a dead man to speak, and live : whether
my court will continue or not, I cannot well say ; but I have his
ear frequently, and, (to his glory only I speak it,) no penury of the
love-kisses of the Son of GU^. He thinketh good to cast apples to
me in my prison, to play withal, lest I should think long * and
faint. I must give over all attempts to fathom the depth of his
love. All I can do is, but to stana beside his great love, and look
and wonder. My debts of thankfulness affright me : I fear that
my creditor get a dy vour-bill • and ragged account.
I would be much the better of help, — oh, for help ! and that ye
would take notice of my case. Your not writing to me maketh
me think ye suppose that I am not to be bemoaned, because he
sendeth comfort; but I have pain in my unthankfulness, and
pain in the feeling of his love, whill I am sick again for real
presence and real possession of Christ; yet there is no gowked,*
(if I may so speak,J nor fond love in Christ. He casteth me down
sometimes for old faults : and I know that he knoweth well that
sweet comforts are swelling : and, therefore, sorrow must take a
vent to the wind.
My dumb sabbaths are undercoating* wounds. The condition
of this oppressed Kirk, and my brother's case, (I thank you and
your wife for your kindness to him,) hold my sore smarting, and
keep my wounds bleeding ; but the ground-work standeth sure.
Pray for me.
Grace be with you. Remember me to your wife.
Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R.
Aberdeen, March 14, 1637.
LETTER CLVn.
TO MR. THOMAS GARVEN.
Reverend, and Dear Brother, — ^1 bless you for voar letter:
it was a shower to the now-mown grass. The Lord nath given
you the tongue of the learned ; be fruitful and humble.
It is possible that ye may come to my case, or the like ; but the
water is neither so deep, nor the stream so strong, as it is called.
I think my fire is not so hot, my water is dry land, my loss rich
loss. Oh,* if the walls of my prison be high, wide and large, and
I Favor. t Loae heart whh on-waiting. * Bankrapt-aooooBt.
« Oawkiah, (bofish. • Feitering under the skin. • Oh, but.
. S36
the place sweet ! No man knoweth it, no man, I say, knoweth
it, my dear brother, so well as he and I : no man can put it down
in black and white as my Lord hath sealed it in my heart. My
poor stock is grown since I came to Aberdeen ; and if any had
known the wrong I did, in being jealous of such an honest lover
as Christ, who withheld not his love from me, they would think
the more of it ; but I see, he must be above me in mercy. I will
never strive with him ; to think to recompense him is folly. If I
had as man/ angels' tongues, as there ha ve fallen of drops of rain
since the creation, or as there are leaves of trees in all the forests
of the earth, or of stars in the Heaven, to praise, yet my Lord
Jesus would ever be behind with * me. We will never get our
accounts fitted. A pardon must close the reckoning : for his com-
forts to me in this honorable cause have almost put me beyond
the bounds of modesty : howbeit 1 will not let every one know
what is betwixt us. Love, love, (I mean Christ's love,) is the
hottest coal that ever I felt. Oh, but the smoke of it be hot !
Cast all the salt sea on it, it will flame; Hell cannot quench it: many,
many waters will not quench love. Christ is turned over to his
poor prisoner in a mass and globe of love: I wonder that he
should waste so much love upon such a waster as 1 am ; but he
is no waster, but abundant in mercy ; he hath no niggard's alms,
when he is pleased to give. Oh that I could invite all the nation
to love him ! Free grace is an unknown thing. This world hath
beard but a bare name of Christ, and no more. There are infin-
ite plies in his love, that the saints will never win^ to unfold : I
would it were better known, and that Christ got more of his own
due than he doth.
Brother, ye have chosen the good part, who have taken part
with Christ : ye will see him win the field, and shall get part of
the spoil when he divideth it. They are but fools who laugh at
us ; for they see but the backside of the moon ; yet our moon-light
is better than their twelve hours'* sun. We have gotten the New
Heavens, and, as a pledge of that, the Bridegroom's lo^e-ring.
The children of the wedding-chamber have cause to skip, and
leap for ioy ; for the marriage-supper is drawing nigh, and we
find the iour-hours* sweet and comfortable. O time, be not slow!
O sun, move speedily, and hasten our banquet ! O Bridegroom,
be like a roe, or a young hart upon the mountains ! O Well-
beloved, mn fast, that we may once meet !
Brother, 1 restrain myself, for want of time. Pray for me ; I
hope to remember you. The good-will of Him, who dwelt in the
bush, the tender mercies of God in Christ, enrich you. Grace be
with you.
Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R.
Abeideen, March. 14, 1637.
> Thai it. would nerer get all that k doe to him from me. * Attain.
* Nooa-day. * Slight repaat in the aftenooa
BS6 % Rutherford's letters.
LETTER CLVIIL
TO BETHAIA AIRD.
Worthy Sisi er, — Grace, mercy, and peace be unto you — I
know that ye desire news frem my prison, and I shall show yoa
news. At my first entry hither, Christ and I a^eed not well
upon it. The Devil made a plea ' in the hoase, and I laid the
blame upon Christ ; for my heart was fraughted with challenges,*
and I feared that 1 was an outcast, and that I was but a withered
tree in the vineyard, and but held the sun off the good plants with
my idle shadow, and that, therefore, my Master had ^ven the
evil serpent the fields, to fend him.* Old guiltiness said, (as wit-
ness,) " All is true :" my apprehensions were with child of faith-
less fears, and unbelief put a seal and amen to all. I thought
myself in a hard case. Some said, I had cause to rejoice, that
Christ had honored me to be a witness for him ; and 1 said in my
heart, " These are words of men, who see but mine outside, and
cannot tell if I be a false witness or not."
If Christ had in this matter been as wilful and short^ as I was^
my faith had gone over the brae,» and broken its neck. But we
were well met, a hasty fool, and a wise, patient and meek Saviour.
He took no law-advantage of ray folly, but waited on till ray ill
blood was fallen, and my drumbled* and troubled well began to
clear. He was never a whit angry at the fever-ravings of a poor
tempted sinner : but he mercifully forgave, and came, as it well
becometh him, with grace and new comfort to a sinner who de-
served the contrary. And, now he is content to kiss ray black
mouth, to put his hand into mine, and to feed me with as many
consolations, as would feed ten hungry souls ! vet I dare not say,
that he is a waster of comforts, fdr no less would have borne me
up; one grain-weight less would have casten' the balance.
Now, who is like to that royal King, crowned in Zion ! Where
shall I get a seat for royal majesty, to set him on ? If I could set
him as far above the Heaven as thousand thousands of heights
devised by men and angels, I should think him but too low. I
firay you, for God's sake, my dear sister, to help me to praise.. His
ove hath neither brim nor bottom : his love is like himself, it pas-
seth all natural understanding. I go to fathom it with my arms,
but it is as if a child would talce the globe of sea and land in hb
two short arms : — blessed and holv is his name ! This must be
his truth which I now suffer for ; for he would not laugh upoa a
lie, nor be witness with his comforts to a night-dream.
I entreat for your prayers : and the prayer and blessing of a
prisoner of Christ be upon you. Grace be with you«
, , w .^ •. ,^* Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, & tL
AberJccn, March 14, 1637. ^ ^
I Dispute. ' Laden with acdwarin—
• That b, had cast him out of the house into the open i&elds. « Hasty.
• Bank. • Muddied. v TuxmU.
Rutherford's letters. 237
LETTER CLIX-
TO ALEXANDER GORDON, OP KNOCKGRAY.
Dear Brother, — ^I have not leisure lo wrii.e to you. Christ's
ways were kndwn to you, long before I, who am but a child, knew
anything of him. What wrong and violence the prelates may, by '
God's permission, do unto you, for your trial, I know not ; but this
I know, that your ten days' tribulation will end. Contend to the
last breath for Christ. Banishment out of these kingdoms is
determined against me, as I hear. This land dow not ' bear me.
I pray you, to recommend my case and bonds to my brethren, and
sisters, with you. I intrust more of my spiritual comfort to you
and them, that way, my dear brother, than to many in this king-
dom besides. 1 hope that ye will not be wanting to Christ's .
prisoner.
Fear nothing, for I assure you that Alexander Gordon of Knock-
gray, shall win away,' and get his soul for a prey : and what can
he then want, that is worth the having? Your friends are cold,
fas ye write.) and so are those in whom I trusted much. Our •
Husband doeth well in breaking our idols in pieces : dry wells send
lis to the fountain. My life is not dear to me, so being I may fulfil
my course lyith joy. I fear that ye must remove, if your new
hireling will not bear your discountenancing of him ; for the Pre-
late is afraid that Christ get you ; and that he hath no will to.
Grace be with you.
Yours, in his sweet Lord and Master, S. R.
Abeideeo, 1637.
LETTER CLX.
TO GRIZZEL FULLERTON.
Dear Sister, — I exhort you in the Lord, to seek your one
thing, Mary's e^ood part, that 'shall not be taken from you. Set
your heart and soul on the children's inheritance: this clay-idol,
the world, is but for bastards, and ye are his lawfully-begotten
child. Learn the way, (as your dear mother hath gone before
you,) to knock at Christ's door, iftany an alms of mercy ha)^
Christ given to her, and hath abundance behind to give to you.
Ye are the seed of the faithful, and born within the Covenant
Claim your right. 1 would not exchange Christ Jesus for ten
worlds of glory : I know now, (blessed be my Teacher !) how to
shute* the lock, and unbolt my Well-beloved's door: — and he
tnaketh a poor stranger welcome when he cometb to his house. I
am swelled up and satisfied with the love of Christ, that is better
t It not able.
t n 19UI ovayi to escape, by death, (torn the evils of thu life. > Posh back.
238 Rutherford's leti*brs.
than wine. It is a fire in my soul : let Hell and the world cast
water on it, they will not mend themselves. I have now gotten
the right gate* of Christ I recommend him to you above all
things. C^me and find * the smell of his breath ; see if his kisses
be not sweet ; he desireth no better than to be much made of. Be
homely^ with him, and ye shall be the more welcome : — ye know
not how fain Christ would have all your love. Think not that
this is imaginations and bairns' play, which we make din for. I
would not suflfer for it, if it were so. 1 dare pawn my heaven for
it, that it is the way to glory. Think much of truth, and abhor
these ways devised by men in God's worship.
The grace of Christ be with you.
Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R.
Abefdeen, Maich 14, 1637.
LETTER CLXL
TO PATRICK CARSBN.
Dear, and Loving Friend, — I cannot but, upon the opportu-
nity of a bearer, exhort you to resign the love of your youth to
Christ, and, in this day, while your sun is high, and your youth
serveth you, to seek the Lord and his face ; for there is nothing
out of Heaven so necessary for you as Christ. And ye cannot bo
ignorant, that your day will end, and that the night of death shall
call you from the pleasures of this life ; — and a doom given out in
death, standeth forever, as long as God liveth. Youth, ordinarily,
is a post, and ready servant for Satan, to run errands ; for it is a
nest for lust, cursing, drunkenness, blaspheming of God, lyio^,
pride, and vanity. Oh, that there were such an heart in you, as
to fear the Lord, and to dedicate your soul and body to his service!
When the time cometli that your eye-strings shall break, and your
face wax pale, and legs and arms tremble, and your breath grow
cold, and your poor soul look out at your prison house of clay, to
be set at liberty ; then a good conscience, and your Lord's mvor
shall be worth all the world's glory. Seek it as your garland and
crown. Grace be with you.
Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, 8. R.
Aberdeen, March 14, 1637.
LETTER CLXIL
TO CARLTON.
Much Honored Sir, — I will not impute vour not writing to
me to forgetfulness ; however, I have One above who forgettech
> W«j. FeeL > PubOUt.
RUTHERFOUD^S LETTERS. 239
me not — nay, hi ^roweth la his kindne8s. It hath pleased his
holy Majesty to take me from the pulpit, and teach me many
things, in my exile and prison, that were mysteries to me before :
as. Ist, I see his bottomless and boundless love and kindness, and
my jealousies and ravings, which, at my first entry into this fur-
nace, were so foolish and bold, as to say to Christ, who is truth
itself, in his face, "Thou liest." 1 had well nigh lost my grips.'
I wondered if it was Christ, or not ; for the mist and smoke of my
perturbed heart made me mistake my Master, Jesus ; my faith was
dim, and hope frozen and cold ; and my love, which caused jeal-
ousies, had some warmness, and heat, and smoke, but no flame at
all ; yet 1 was looking for some good of Christ's old claim to me.
I thought I had forfeited all my rights ; but the Tempter was too
much upon my counsels, and was still blowing the coal. Alas ! I
knew not well before, how good skill my Intercessor, and Advocate,
Christ, hath of pleading, and of pardoning me such follies. Now
he is returned to my soul with healing under his wings ; and I am
notliing behind* with Christ now ; for he hath overpaid me, by his
presence, the pain I was put to by on-waiting, ana any little loss
tl|at I sustained by my witnessing against the wrongs done to him.
I trow, it was a pain to my Lord to hide himself any longer : in a
manner, he was challenging' his own unkindness, and repented
him of his glooms:* and now, what want I on earth, that Christ
can give to a poor prisoner ! Oh, how sweet and lovely is he now !
Alas, that I can get none to help me to lift up my Lord Jesus upon
his throne, above all the earth.
2ndly, I am now brought to some measure of submission, and I
resolve to wait till I see what my Lord Jesus will do with me. I
dare not now nickname or speak one word against the all-seeing
and over-watching providence of my Lord, f see that providence
runneth not on broken wheels ; but I, like a fool, carved a provi-
dence for mine own ease, to die in my nest, and to sleep still till
my gray hairs, and to lie on the sunny side of the mountain, in
my ministry at Anwoth ; but now I have nothing to say against
a Dorrowed fire-side, and another man's house, nor Kedar's tents,
where I live, being removed far from my acquaintance, my lovers,
and my friends. I see that God hath the world on his wheels,
and casteth it as a potter doth a vessel on the wheel. I dare not
say that there is any inordinate or irregular motion in Providence.
The Lord hath done it: I will not go to law with Christ, for I
would gain nothing of that.
3rdly, I have learned some ereater mortification, and not to
rooam after, or seek to suck the world's dry breasts : nayj my
Lord bath filled me with such dainties, that I am like to a full
banqueter, who is not for common cheer. What hav^ I to do, to
fall down upon my knees, and worship mankind's great idol,«the
world? I have a better God than any clay-god : nay, at present,
as I am now disposed, I care not much to give this world a dis*
> Hold. * That b, in reedviiig pajment
* Acauing, « Prowni.
to
charge of my life-rent of it, for bread and water. I know that it
ia not my home, nor my Father's house ; it is but his footstool, the
outer-close of his bouse, his out-iields ^ and muir-ground ;' let bas-
tards take it. I hope never to think myself in its common, for
honor or riches — nay, now, I say to laughter, " Thou art mad-
ness."
4thly^ I find it to be most true, that the greatest temptation out
of Hell, is, to live without temptations. If my waters should stand,
they would rot. Faith is the better of the free air, smd of the sharp
winter storm in its face. Grace wit hereth without adv^ity. The
Devil is but God's master-fencer, to teach us to handle our weapons.
5thly, I never knew how weak I was. till now, when he hideth
himself, and when I have him to seek seven times a day. I am a
dry and withered branch, and a piece of a dead carcase, dry bones,
and not able to step over a straw. The thoughts of my old sins
are as the summons of death to me ; and of late my brother's case
hath stricken me to the heart. When my wounds are closing, a
little riffle* causeth them to bleed afresh: so thin-skinned is' ray
soul, that I thilik it is like a tender man's skin, that may touch
nothing. Ye see, how short I would shoot of the prize, if his grace
were not sufficient for me.
Wo is me for the day of Scotland ; wo, wo is me for my HarloC-
m other ; for the decree is gone forth : women of this land shall
call the childless and miscarrying wombs blessed. The anger of
the Lord is gone forth, and shall not return, fill he perform the
purpose of his heart against Scotland : yet he shall make ScoUaod
a new sharp instrument, having teeth to thresh the mountains,
and fan the hills as chaff.
The prisoner's blessing be upon you.
Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus^ S. R.
Abeideen, Mareh 14, 1637.
LETTER CLXUL
TO THE LADY BUSBIE.
Mistress, — I know that ye are thinking, sometimes, what
Christ is doing in Zion, and that the haters of Zion may gH the
bottom of our cup, and the burning coals of our furnace, that we
have been tried in those many years by-gone.* Oh, that this na-
tion would be awakened, to cry mightilv unto God, for the settmg
up of a new tabernacle to Christ in Scotland. Oh, if this kingdom
knew how worthy Christ were of his room ! His worth was ever
above roan's estimation of him.
And for myself I am pained at the heart, that I cannot find my-
self disposed to leave myself, and go wholly into Christ. Alas, chat
I The wont parts of an arable farm, which, though tilled from time to time, yet, im
the ancient syttem of Scottish husbandry, received no manure.
* Untiilable ground, corered with heath. * RulBe, abrasioa. « Bf-pmA
Rutherford's letters. 241
there should be one bit of me out of him, and that we leave too
much liberty and latitude for ourselves, and our own ease, and
credit, and pleasures, and so little room for all-love-worthy Christ !
Oh, what pains and charges it costeth Christ ere he get us ! and
when all is done, we are not worth the having. It is a wonder
that he should seek the like of us : but love overlooketh blackness
and fecklessuess ; ^ for if it had not been so, Christ would never
have made so fair and blessed a bargain with us, as the covenant
of grace is. I find that in all our suffenngs, Christ is but redding
marches,^ that every one of us may say, " Mine, and thine," and
that men may know by their crosses, how weak a bottom nature
is to stand upon in a trial ; that the end which our Lord intend-
eth, in all our sufferings, is to bring grace into court* and request
amongst us. I should succumb and come short of Heaven, if I
bad no more than my own strength to support me ; and if Christ
should say to me, " Either do or die," it were easy to determine
what should become of me : the choice were easy, for I behooved
to die, if Christ should pass by with straitened bowels ; and who
then would take us up m our straits? * I know we may say that
Christ is kindest in his love, when we are at our weakest ; and
that if Christ had not been to the fore,* in our sad days, the waters
had gone over our soul. His mercy hath a set period, and ap-
pointed a place, how far, and no further, the sea of affliction shall
flow, and where the waves thereof shall be stayed. He prescribeth
how much pain and sorrow, both for weight and measure, we must
have ; ye have, then, good cause to recall your love from all lovers,
and give it to Christ : He, who is afflicted in all your afflictions,
looketh not on you in your sad hours with an insensible heart or
dry eyes. All the Lord's saints may see that it is lost love which
is bestowed upon this perishing world. Death and judgment will
make men lament, that ever their miscarrying hearts carried them
to lay and lavbh out their love upon false appearances and night-
dreams. Alas ! that Christ should fare the worse, because of his
own goodness, in making peace and the Gospel to ride together ;
and &at we have never yet weighed the worth of Christ in his or-
dinances ; and that now we are like to be deprived of the well, ere
we have tasted the sweetness of th^ water: — it may be that with
watery eyes, and a wet fsice, and wearied feet, we seek Christ, and
shall not find bim. Oh, that this land were bumbled in time, and
by prayers, cries and humiliation would bring Christ in at the
church-door again, now, when his back is turned towards us, and
he is gone to the threshold, and his one foot, as it were, is out of
the door ! I am sure that his departure b our deserving ; we have
bought it with our iniquities ; for even the Lord's own children are
ftillen asleep : and, alas ! professors are made all of shows and
iashions, and are not at pains to recover themselves again. Every
one hath his set measure of faith and holiness, and contenteth
himself with but a stinted measure of godliness, as if that were
I WorthlewneM. ^ Settling bcmndariet.
* Favor. * Extant, existing.
16
242
enough to brinj? him to Heaven. We forget that as oar gifts and
light grow, so God's gain, and the interest of his talents, should
grow also ; and that we cannot pay God with the old use and
wont, (as we use to speak,) which we gave him seven years ago ;
for this were to mock the liOrd, and to make price with him as we
list. Oh, what difficulty is there in our Christian journey ! and
how often come w'e short of many thousand things that are
Christ's due ! and we consider not how far our dear Lord is be-
hind with us.
Mistress, I cannot render you thanks, as I woald, for your kind-
ness to my brother, an oppressed stranger ; but I remember yon
unto the Lord as I am able. I entreat you to think upon*me, bb
prisoner, and pray that the Lord would be pleased to give me room
to speak to his people in his name.
Grace, grace be with you.
Yours, in his sweet Lord and Master, S. R.
Aberdeen, 1637.
LETTER CLXIY.
TO JOHN FLEMING, BAILLIE OP LEITH.
Worthy, and Dearly Beloved in the Lord, — Graoe^
mercy, and peace be unto you. — I received your letter. I wish
that I could satisfy your desire, in drawing up, and framing fcr
you a Christian directory ; but the learned have done it before ine,
more judiciously than 1 can ; especially Mr. Rodgers, Ghreenham,
and Perkins: notwithstanding, I shall show you what I would
have been at, myself; howbeit I came always short of my
purpose.
1. That hours of the day, less or more time, for the word and
Erayer, be given to God, not sparing the twelfth hour, or mid-dmy,
owbeit it should then be the shorter time.
2. In the midst of worldly employments, there should be soom
thoughts of sin, death, judgment, and eternity, with, at least, a
word or two of ejaculatory prayer to God.
3. To beware of wandering of heart in private prayers.
4. Not to grudge, howbeit ye come from prayer withoat sense
of joy : — down-casting, sense of guiltiness, and hunger, are ofteo
best for us.
5. That the Lord's day, from morning to night, be spent always
either in private or public worship.
6. That words be observed, wandering and idle thoogbu be
avoided, sudden anger and desire of revenge, even of soch as per-
secute the truth, be guarded against; for we oAan mix oar seal
with our wild-fire.
7. That known, discovered, and revealed sins, that are againtC
the conscience, be eschewed, as most dangerous [Mreparatives to
hardness of heart.
kutherford's letters. 243
8. That in dealine^ with men, faith and truth in covenants and
trafficking be regarded, that we deal with all men in sincerity :
that conscience be made of idle and lying words ; and that our
carriage be such, as that they who see it, may speak honorably
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 do not eat, drink, sleep, journey, speak, and
think for God. 2. That I have not benefited by good company ;
and that I left not some word of conviction, even upon natural and
wicked men, as by reproving swearing in them, or because of being
a silent witness to their loose carriage, and because I intended not
in all companies to do good. 3. That the woes and calamities of
the Kirk, and of particular professors, have not moved me. 4. That
at the reading of the life of David, Paul, and the like, when it
bumbled me, I, (coming so far short of their holiness,) labored not
to imitate them, afar off at least, according to the measure of (3od's
Eace. 6. That unrepented sins of youth were not looked to, and
mented for. 6. That sudden stirrings of pride, lust, revenge, love
of honors, were not resisted and mourned for. 7. That my charity
was cold. 8. That the experiences I had, of God's hearing me in
this and the other particular, being gathered, yet in a new trou-
ble I had always, (once at least,) my faith to seek, as if I were to
begin at A B C again. 9. That I have not more boldlv contra-
dieted the enemies, speaking against the truth, either m public
church-meetings, or at tables, or ordinary conference. 10. That
in great troubles, 1 have received folse reports of Christ's love, aud
misbelieved* him in his chastening; whereas the event hath said,
'* All was in mercy." 11. Nothing more moveth me, and weight-
etb* my soul, than that I could never for my heart, in my pros-
perity, 80 wrestle in prayer with God, nor be so dead to the world,
so hungry and sick of love for Christ, so heavenly-minded, as when
ten stone-weight of a heavy cross was upon me. 12. That the
cross extorted vows of new obedience, which ease hath blown
away, as chaff before the wind. 13. That practice was so short
and narrow, and light so long and broad. 14. That death hath
not been often meditated upon. 16. That I have not been care-
ful of gaining others to Christ 16. That my grace and gifts
brinf forth little or no thankfulness.
There are some things, also, whereby 1 have been helped ; as,
— 1. 1 have benefited by riding alone a long journey, in giving
that lime to prayer. 2. By abstinence, and giving days to God.
3, By prajring ror others ; for by making an errand to God for
them, I have gotten something for myself. 4. I have been really
confirmed in many particulars, that God heareth prayers ; and,
therefore, I used to pray for anything, of how little importance
soever. 6. He enabled me to make no question, that this mocked
way, which is nicknamed, is the only way to Heaven.
Sir, these, and many moe occurrences in your life, should be
> Not beBertd aright i DefmMtk.
244
looked unto : and, — 1. Thoughts of atheism should be watched
over, as, If there be a God in Heaven ; which will trouble and
assault the best, at some times. 2. Growth in grace should be
cared for, above all things; and falling from <Air first love
mourned for. 3. Conscience made of praying for the enemiefl^
who are bliqded.
Sir, I thank you fnost kindly for the care of my brother, and
of me also. I hope it is laid up for you, and remembered in
Heaven.
I am still ashamed with Christ's kindness to such a sinner as I
am : he hath lefl a fire in my heart, that Hell cannot cast water
on, to quench or extinguish it. Help me to praise, and pray for
me ; for ye have a prisoner's blessing and prayers.
Remember my love to your wife. Grace be with you.
Yours, in Christ Jesus, S. R.
Aberdeen, March 15, 1637.
LETTER CLXV.
TO ALEXANDER GORDON, OF EARLSTON.
Much Honored, and Worthy Sir, — Grac^ mercy, aod
peace be unto you — I long to hear from you. 1 have received
few letters since I came hither: I am in need of a word ; a dr)*
plant should have some watering.
My case betwixt Christ my Lord, and me, standeth between
love and jealousy, faith and suspicion of his love ; — it is a marvel
he keepeth house with me. I make many pleas ' with Christ, bui
he maketh as many agreements with me. 1 think his unchange-
able love hath said, ^^ I defy thee to break me and change nae."
If Christ had such changeable and new thoughts of my salrm-
tion, as I have of it, I think I should then be at a sad loss. He
humoreth not a fool like me in my unbelief, but rebuketh me,
and fathereth kindness upon me. Chri^^t is rather like the poor
friend and needy prisoner, (begging love,) than 1 am. I cannot,
for shame, get Christ said nay of my whole love ; for he will not
want his errand for the seeking. God be thanked that ray Bride-
groom tireth not of wooing. Honor to him ! he is a wilful suitor
of my soul. But as love is his, pain is mine, that I have nothing
to give him ; his account-book is full of my debts of mercy, kind-
ness, and free love towards me. Oh that I might read with
watery eyes ! Oh that he would give me the interest of interest te
pay back ! or rather, my souFs desire is, that he would corapri«e*
my person, soul and body, love, joy, confidence, fear, oorrow, aad
desire, and drive the poind,' and let me be rouped,^ and told lo
Christ, and taken home to my Creditor's house and his fireside.
> auArrelt. t Attack.
I Seix0 upon the impoonded propeitj. « AttdioBaA.
245
The Lord knoweth ihat if I could, I would sell myself without
reversion to Christ. O sweet Lord Jesus, make a market, and
overbid all my buyers ! I dare swear, that there is a mystery in
Christ which I never saw ; a mystery of love. Oh, if* he would
lay by the lap of the covering that is ofer it, and let my green-
ing ' soul see it ! I would break the door, and be in upon him, to
get my fill of love ; for I am an hungered and famished soul.
Ob, sir, if you, or any other would tell him, how sick my soul is,
dying for want of a nearly draught of Christ's love! Oh, if ^ I
could dote, (if I may make use of that word in this case,) as much
upon himself as I do upon his love ! It is a pity that Christ him-
self should not rather be my heart's choice, than Christ's mani-
fested love. It would satisfy me, in some measure, if I had any
bud ' to give for his love. Shall I offer him my praises ? Alas !
he is more than praises. I give it over to get him exalted accord-
ing to his worth, which is above what can be known.
Yet all this time I am tempting him, to see if there be both love
and anger in him against me. I am plucked from his flock, (dear
to me,) and from feeding his lambs ; 1 go, therefore, in sackcloth
as one who hath lost the wife of his youth. Grief and sorrow are
suspicious, and spew out against him the smoke of jealousies ;*
ancl I say often, " Show me wherefore thou contendest with me.
Tell me, O Lord, read the process against me." But I know that I
cannot answer his allegations ; I shall lose the cause, when it
Cometh to open pleading. Oh, if ^ I could force my heart to be-
lieve dreams to be dreams ! Yet when Christ giveth my fears the
lie, and sailh to me, " Thou art a liar," then I am glad. I resolve
to hope to be quiet, and to lye on the brink, on my side, till the
water fall, and the ford be ridable :^ and howbeit there be pain
upon me, in longing for deliverance that I may speak of him in
the great congregation ; yet I think there is joy in that pain and
on-waiting ; and even rejoice that he putteth me off for a time,
and Bhifteth me. Oh, if* I could wait on for all eternity, howbeit
I should never get my soul's desire, so being he were glorified ! I
would wish my pain and my ministry could live long to serve him !
for I know that I am a clay vessel, and made for his use. Oh, if *
my very broken sherds could serve to glorify him ! I desire Christ's
g^ce to be willingly content, that my hell, (excepting his hatred
and displeasure, which I put out of all play, for submission to this
m not called for,) were a preaching of his glory to men and angels
forever and ever ! « When all is done, what can I add to him f or
what can such a clay shadow as I do ? I know that he needeth not
me. I have cause to be grieved, and to melt away in tears, (if I
had grace to do it, — Lord grant it to me !) to see my Well-beloved's
finir face spitted upon by dogs, to see louns * pulling the crown off
my royal King's head : to see my Harlot-mother and my sweet
Patber agre^ so ill, that they are going to skail, ^ and give up
> Oh, that. * Longing greedily. ' Bribe.
< SosfiicioD*. « Maj be croeeed on horseback.
• Low, wofthlete leoondrelt. ^ Sevarato.
S16
house : — my Lord's palace is now a nest of unclean birds. Oh,
if* harlot, harlot Scotland would rue upon her provoked L«ord ;
and pity her good Husband, who is broken with her whortsh heart !
but these things are hid from her eyes.
I have heard of late of yofkr new trial by the Bishop of Gallowaj.
Fear not clay and worms' meat. Let truth and Christ get no
wrong in your hand : it is your gain if Christ be glorified : and
your glory to be Christ's witness. I persuade you, that vour suf-
ferings are Christ's advantage and victory ; for he is pleased to
reckon them so. Let me hear from you. Christ is but winning
a clean kirk out of the fire ; he will win this play. He will not
be in your common* for any charges ye are at m his service. He
is not poor to sit in vour debt ; he will repay an hundred fold more,
it may be, even in this life.
The prayers and blessing of Christ's prisoner be with yon.
Your brother, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R.
Aberdeen, 1637.
LETTER CLXVL
TO MY LADT BOYD.
Madam, — Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father, and
from our Lord Jesus Christ, be multiplied upon you.
I have reasoned with your son at large — 1 rejoice to see him
set bis face in the right airth,' now when the nobles love the
sunny-side of the Gospel best, and are afraid that Christ want
soldiers, and shall not be able to do for himself.
Madam, our debts of obligation to Christ are not small ; the
freedom of grace and of salvation is the wonder of men and angels;
but mercy in our Lord scorneth hire. Ye are bound to lift Christ
on high, who hath given you eyes to discern the Devil, now com*
ing out in his whites, and the idolatry and apostasy of the linie
well washen * wUh fair pretences ; but the skin is black, and the
water foul. It were art, I confess, to wash a black devil, and
make him whi'.e.
I am m strange ups and downs, and seven times a day I k
ground. / am put often to swimming, and again my feet are i
on the Rock thai is higher than myself. He hafh now let roe s
four things which 1 never saw before : — 1st, That the supper shall
be great cheer, that is, up in the great hall^ with the royal King
of glory, when the four-hours,* the standing-drink,* in this dreary
wilderness is so sweet. When he bloweth a kiss afar off to his
poor, heart-broken mourners in Zion, and sendeth roe but bis
iiearty commendations till we meet, I am confounded with wonder
to think what it shall be when the Fairest among the sons of meo
1 Oh, thai. t Under obfigatioii to yoM.
* Direction, point of the eompaM. * Washed.
* Slight afternoon repaeC. • A draaghl ghen to a peoon at tkm 4m^
247
■ball lay a king's sweet, soft cheek to the siafnl cheeks of poor
siuners. O, time, time, go swiftly, and hasten that day I Sweet
Lord Jesus, post ! come ilying like a young hart or a roe upon the
mountains of separation. I think that we should tell the hours
carefully, and look often how low the sun is ; for love hath no
ho ; Ht is pained, pained in itself, till it come* into grips with' the
party beloved.
2iKlly, I find Christ's absence to be love's sickness and love's
death. The wind that bloweth out of the airth,' where my Lord
Jesus reigneth, is sweet>smelled, soft, joyful, and heartsome* to a
soul burnt with absence. It is a painrul battle for a soul sick of
love to fight with absence and delays. Christ's ^' Not yet," is a
stounding* of all the limbs and liths* of the soul. A nod of his
head, when he is under a mask, would be half a pawn : to say,
^'Fool, what aileth thee? he is coming," would be life to a dead
man. I am often in my dumb Sabbaths seeking a new plea^ with
my Lord Jesus — God forgive me — and I care not if there be not
two or three ounce-weight of black wrath in my cup.
3rdly, For the third thing, I have seen my abominable viieness:
if I were well known, there would none in this kingdom ask how
I do. Many take my ten to be a hundred, but I am a deeper
hypocrite, and shallower professor, than every one believeth, God
knoweth I feign not: but I think my reckonings on the one page
written in great letters, and his mercy to such a forlorn and
wretched dyvour* on the other, to be more than a miracle. If I
could get my finger-ends upon a full assurance, I trow that I would
grip* fast; but my cup wanteth not gall ; and, upon my part, de-
spair might be almost excused, if every one in this land saw my
inner side ; but I know that I am one of them who have made
great sale, and a free market to free grace. If I could be saved,
as I would fain believe, sure I am that I have given Christ's blood,
bis free grace, and the bowels of his mercy, a large field to work
upon, and Christ hath manifested his art, I dare not say to the
uttermost ; (for he can, if he would, forgive all the devils and
damned reprobates, in respect of the wideness of his mercy ;) but
I say, to an admirable degree.
4thly, I am stricken with fear of un thankfulness. This apostate
Kirk hath played the harlot with many lovers. They are spitting
in the face of my lovely King, and mocking him, and I dow not '*
mend it ; and they are running away from Christ in troop:), and
I dow not** mourn and be grieved for it. I think Christ lieth
like an old forcasten " castle, forsaken of the inhabitants ; all men
run away now from him. Truth, innocent truth, goeth mourning
and wringing her hands, in sackcloth and ashes. Wo, wo its me,
for the Virgin-daughter of Scotland ! Wo, wo to the inhabitants
of this land ! for they are gone back with a perpetual backsliding.
1 HelPcontfol. * Into the embrace of,
• Direction point of the compaM. * Cheering.
• A caa«ing of a sudden pang. • Jointa. ▼ Ontrovcray.
• Baoknipt. Oripe. i^ Am not able. " Neglected.
2iS
These things take me so up, that a borrowed bed, another man's
fireside, the wind upon my face, (I being driven from my lovers,
and dear acquaintance, and my poor flock,) find no room in my
sorrow. I have no spare or odd sorrow for these ; only I think
that the sparrows and swallows that build their nests in the kirk
of Anwoth, are blessed birds. Nothing hath given my faith a
harder back-set ' till it crack again, than my closed mouth. But
let me be miserable myself alone, God keep my dear brethren
from it. But still I keep breath, and when my royal, and never,
never-enough praised King returneth to his sinful prisoner, I ride
upon the high places of Jacob, I divide Shechem, I triumph in his
strength. If this kingdom would glorify the Lord in my behalf,
I desire to be weighed in God's even balance in this point, if I
think not my wages paid to the full ; I shall crave no more hire
of Christ.
Madam, pity me in this, and help me to praise him ; for what-
ever I be, the chief of sinners, a devil, and a most guilty devil, yet
it is the apple of Christ's eye, his honor and glory, as the Head of
the Church, that I suffer for now, and that I will go to eternity
with.
I am greatly in love with Mr. M. M. ; I see him stamped with
the image of God. I hope well of your son, my Lord Boyd
Your Ladyship and your children have a prisoner's prayers.
Grace, grace be with you.
Your Ladyship's at all obedience in Christ, S. R.
Aberdeen, May 1. 1637.
LETTER CLXVII.
TO HIS REV., AND DEAR BROTHER, MR. DAVID DICKS0!f.
My Reverend, and Dear Brother, — I fear that ye have
never known me well. If ye saw my inner side, it is possible that
ye would pity me, but you would hardly give me either love or re-
spect : men mistake me the whole length of the heavens ; my
sins prevail over me, and the terrors of their guiltiness. I am put
often to ask, if Christ and I ever did shake hands together in ear-
nest ; I mean not that my feast-days are quite gone, but I am
made of extremes. I pray God that ye never have the woful and
dreary experience of a closed mouth ; for then ye shall judge the
sparrows, that may sing in the church of Irvine, blessed birds.
But my soul hath been refreshed and watered, when I h^ ar of
your courage and zeal for your never-enough praised, praised
Master, in that ye put the men of God, chased out of Ireland, to
work. Oh, if* I could confirm you ! I dare say in God's presence,
"That this shall never hasten your suflTerinfif, but will be David
Dickson's feast, and speaking joy, that while he had time and lei»-
1 RelafMe. > Oh, I
Rutherford's letters. 849
ure, he put many to work, to lift up Jesus, his sweet Master, high
in the skies." O man of God, go on, go 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
Grod, yet this I dare write, that Christ will be glorified in David
Dickson, howbeit Scotland be not gathered.
1 am pained, pained that I have not more to give my sweet
Bridegroom : his comforts to me are not dealt with a niggard's
band, 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 Bride-
groom : the Bridegroom himself is better than all the ornaments
that are about him. Now, I would not so much have these, as
God himself, and to be swallowed up of love to Christ. I see that
in delighting in a communion with Christ, we may make more
gods than one ; but however, all was but bairns' play between
Christ and me, till now. If one would have sworn unto me, 1
would not have believed what may be found in Christ. I hope
that ye pity my pain that' much, in my prison, as to help me
yourself, and to cause others help me, a dyvour,«a sinful wretched
dyvour,* to pay some of my debts of praise to my great King.
Let my God be judge and witne^^s, if my soul would not have
sweet ease and comfort, to have many hearts confirmed in Christ,
and enlarged with his love, and many tongues set on work to set
on high my royal and princely Well-beloved. Oh, that my suffer-
ings could pay tribute to such a king ! I have given over won-
dering 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, and sweet sale, and a goodly market for his
honorable calling of showing mercy, on me the chief of sinners.
Every one knoweth not so well as I do, my wofuUy often broken
covenants. My sins against light, working in the very act'pf sin-
ning, have been met with admirable mercy : but, alas ! he will
get nothing back again, but wretched unthankfulness. I am sure,
that- if Christ pity anything in me next to my sin, it is pain of love
for an armful and soulful of himself, in faith, love, and begun fru-
ition. My sorrow is that I cannot get Christ lifted off the dust in
Scotland, and set on high, above all the skies, and Heaven of
heavens.
Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R.
Aberdeen. May 1, 1637.
LETTER CLXVin.
TO THE LAIRD* OP CARLTON.
Worthy Sir, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. — I received
jrour letter, and am heartily glad that our Lord hath begun to work
1 So. * A bankrapt. * A proprietor of *%ndm or I
850 rvthbrfobd's lsttbrs.
for the apparent delivery of. this oppressed Kirk; — Oh that wahmr
tion would come for Zion !
I am for the present hangiog by hope, waitinff what my Lord
will do with me, and if it will please my sweet Master to send me
amongst you again, and keep out a hireling from my poor people,
and dock. It were my heaven till I come hpme, even to spend
this life in gathering in some to Christ. I have still great heavi-
ness for my silence, and my forced standing idle in the market,
when this land hath such a plentiful thick harvest ; but I know
that His judgments, who hath done it, are past finding out. I
have no knowledge to take up the Lord, in all his strange ways,
and passages of deep and unsearchable providences ; for the Lord
is before me, and I am so bemisted that I cannot follow him ; he
is behind me, and following at the heels, and I am not aware of
him ; he is above me, but his glory so dazzlelh my twilight of
short knowledge, that I cannot look up to him ; he is upon my
right hand, and I see him not ; he is upon my left hand, and
within me, and goeth and cometh, and his going and coming are
a dream to me ; he is round about me, and compasseth all my go-
ings, and still I have him to seek ; he is every way higher, and
deeper, and broader than the shallow and ebb ^ hand-breadth of
my short and dim light can take up; and, therefore, I would that
my heart could be silent, and sit down in the learnedly-ignorant
wondering at that Lord, whom men and angels cannot compre-
hend. I know that the noon-day light of the highest angels, who
see him face to face, seeth not the borders of his infintteness.
They apprehend God near-hand,* but they cannot coniprehend
him. And, therefore, it is my happiness to look afar oflr, and to
come near to the Lord's back parts, and to light my dark candle
at his brightness, and to have leave to sit and content myself with
a traveller's light, without the clear vision of an enioyer. I would
seek no more till I were in my country, than a little watering and
sprinliling of a withered soul, with some half-out-breakings and
half-out-lookings of the beams, and small ravishing smiles of the
fairest face of a revealed and believed-on Grodhead. A little of
God would make my soul bank-full.* Oh that I had but Christ's
odd oflT-fallings ; that he would let but the meanest of his love-rays
and love-beams fall from him, so as I might gather and carry them
with me! I would not be ilM to please with Christ, and veiled
visions of Christ; neither would I be dainty in seeing and enjoy-
mg of him : a kiss of Christ blown over his shoulder, the parings
and crumbs of glory that fall under his table in Heaven, a shower
like a thin May-mist of his love, would make me green, and sappy,
and joyful, till the summer-sun of an eternal glory break up.' Oh
that I had anything of Christ ! Oh that I had a sip, or half a
drop, out of the hollow of Christ's hand, of the sweetness and ex-
cellency of that lovely One ! Oh that my Lord Jesus would mo
upon me, and give me but the meanest alms of felt and believed
I Rxceedinff •hallow. * At hand. * Fall firom bank to bank.
« Diffieak. bard. * Ariae.
bvthbrfobd's letters. S61
BalvatioD ! Oh, how little were it for that infinite Fountain of
love and joy, to fill as many thousand thousands of little vessels,
the like of me, as there are minutes of hours since the creation of
Qod ! I find ' it true, that a poor soul finding* half a smell of the
Gk)dhead of Christ, hath desires paining and wounding tlie poor
heart so, wkh longings to be up at him, that make it sometimes
tliink, were it not better never to have felt anything of Christ,
than thus to lye dying twenty deaths, under these felt wounds,
for the want of him! "Oh, where is he? O Fairest, where
dwellest thou ? O never-enough admired Oodhead, how can clay
win * up to thee? how can creatures of yesterday be able to enjoy
thee !" Oh, what pain is it, that time and sin should be so many
thousand miles betwixt a loved and longed-for Lord, and a dwin-
inff < and love-sick soul, who would rather than all the world have
lowing, with Christ! Oh, let this bit of love of ours, this inch
and half-span length of heavenly longing, meet with thy infinite
love i Oh, if* the little I have were swaUowed up with the infin-
iteness of that excellency which is in Christ ! Oh that we little
ones were in at the greatest Lord Jesus ! Our wants should soon
be swallowed up with his fulness.
. Grace, grace oe with you.
Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R.
Aberdeen, lUy 1, 1637.
LETTER CLXIX.
TO ROBERT GORDON, OF KNOCKBREX.
Dear Brother, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. — ^I re-
ceived your letter from Edinburgh.
J would not wish to see another heaven, whill I get mine own
heaven, but a new moon like the light of the sun, and a new sun
like the light of seven days shining upon my poor self, and the
church of Jews and Gentiles, and upon my withered and sun-
burnt Mother, the Church of Scotland, and upon her sister-
churches, England and Ireland; and to have this done, to the
seuing on high of our great King : it maketh not, howbeit I were
separate from Christ, and had a sense of ten thousand years* pain
in Hell, if this were. Oh» blessed nobility ! Oh, glorious, re-
nowned gentry ! Oh, blessed were the tribes in this land, to wipe
my Lord Jesus's weeping face, and to take the sackcloth off
Christ's loins, and to put his kingly robes upon him ! Oh, if* the
Almighty would take no less wages of me than my heaven to have
it done! but my fears are still for wrath once upon Scotland. But
I know that hef day will clear np, and that glory shall be upon
the top of the mountains, and joy at the noise of the married wife,
1 FeeL * FeeKng.
« Ptoiiif . * Oh, that
268 RUTHERFORD S LETTERS.
once agaia. Oh thai our Lord would make U8 to contend, and
plead, and wrestle by prayers and tears, for our Husband's restor-
ing of his forfeited heritage in Scotland.
Dear brother, I am for the present in no small battle, betwixt
felt guiltiness, and pining longings and high fevers for my Well-
beloved's love ! Alas ! I think that Christ's love playeth the nig-
gard to me, and I know it is not for scarcity of love — there is
enough in him — but my hunger propbesieth of in-holding and
sparingness in Christ ; for I have but little of him, and little of
his sweetness. It is a dear summer with me ; yet there is such
joy in the eagerness and working of hunger for Christ that I am
often at this, that if I had no other heaven, than a continual hun-
Ser for Christ, such a heaven of ever-working hunger, were still a
eaven to me. I am sure that Christ's love cannot be cruel ; it
must be a ruing, a pitying, a melting-hearted love : but suspen-
sion of that love, I think half a hell, and the want of it more than
a whole hell. When I look to my guiltiness, I see that my salva-
tion is one of our Saviour's greatest miracles, either in Heaven or
earth: I am sure I may defy any man to show me a greater won-
der. But seeing I have no wares, no hire, no money for Christ,
he must either take me with want^ misery, corruption, or then*
want me. Oh, if hfe would be pleased to be compassionate and
pitiful-hearted to my pining fevers of longing for him; or then
give me a real pawn to keep, out of his own hand, till God send
a meeting betwixt him and me! But I find neither as yet; how-
beit he who is absent be not cruel nor unkind, yet his absence is
cruel and unkind. His love is like itself; his love is his love;
but the covering and the cloud, the veil and the mask of his love,
is more wise than kind, if I durst speak my apprehensions. I
lead no process now against the suspension and delay of God's
love. I would with all my heart frist' till a day ten heavens, and
the sweet manifestations of his love. Certainly I think that I
could give Christ much on his word : but my whole pleading is
about intimated and borne-in assurance of his love. Oh, if be
would persuade me of my heart's desire of his love at all, be should
have the term-day of payment at his own making. But I know
that raving unbelief speaketh its pleasure, while it looketh upoa
guiltiness and this body of corruption. Oh, how loathsome and
burdensome is it to carry about a dead corpse, this old carrion of
corruption ! Oh how steadable * a thing is a Saviour, to make a
sinner rid of his chains and fetters !
I have now made a new question, whether Christ be more to
be loved for giving sanctification or for free justification ? And I
hold that he is more and most to be loved for sanctification. It
is in some respect greater love in him, to sanctify, than to justify;
for he maketh us most like himself, in his own essential portrait-
ure and image in sanctifying us. Justification doth but make us
lappy, which is to be like angels only ; neither is it such a misery
1 OUiorwiM. * Oh, that • ^ottpone. « iTMUbk.
Rutherford's letters. 263
(o lye a condemned man, and under unforgiven guiltiness, as to
serve sin, and work the works of the Devil ; and, therefore, I
think sanctification cannot be bought, it is above price. God be
thatiked forever, that Christ was a told-down price for sanctifica-
tion. Let a sinner (if possible) lye in hell forever, if he make
Iiim truly holy, and let him lye there burning in love to God, re-
i Dicing in the Holy Ghost, hanging upon Christ by faith and
lope ; that is heaven in the heart and bottom of Hell.
Alas ! I find a very thin harvest here, and few to be saved.
Grace, grace be with you.
Yours, in his lovely and longed-for Lord Jesus, S. R.
Aberdeen, 1637.
LETTER CLXX.
TOTHE LAIRD OP MONCRIEFF.
Much Honored Sir, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you —
Although not acquainted, yet at the desire of your worthy sister,
the Lady Leys, and upon the report of your kindness to Christ
and his oppressed truth, I am bold to write to you, earnestly de-
siring you to join with us, Tso many as in these bounds profess
Christ,) to wrestle with Goa, one day of the week, especially the
Wednesday, for mercy to this fallen and decayed Kirk, and to
such as suffer for Christ's name, and for your own necessities, and
the necessities of others, who are by covenant engaged in that
business. For we have no other armor in these evil times but
Erayers, now when wrath from the Lord is gone out against this
acksliding land ; for ye know we can have no true public fasts,
neither are the true causes of our humiliation ever laid before the
people.
Now, very worthy sir, I am glad in the Lord, that the Lord re-
serveth any of your place, or of note, in this time of common
apostasy, to come forth in public to bear Christ's name before men,
when the great men think Christ a cumbersome neighbor, and
that religion carrieth hazards, trials, and persecutions with it. I
persuade myself that it is your glory and your garland, and shall
be your joy in the day of Christ, and the standing of your house
and seed to inherit the earth, that you truly and sincerely profess
Christ: — neither is our King, whom the Father hath crowned in
Mount Zion, so weak, that he cannot do for himself, and his
own cause. I verily believe that they are blessed who can hold
the crown upon his head, and carry up the train of his robe royal,
and that he shall be victorious and triumph in this land. It
is our part to back our royal King, howbeit there were not six in
all the land to follow him. It is our wisdom now to take up,
and discern the Devil and the Antichrist coming out in their
whites, and the apostasy and idolatry of this land washen ' with
I Waiibed.
264 Rutherford's letters.
foul water: — ^I confess that it is art to wash the Devil till his skin
be white.
For myself, sir, I have bought a plea' against Christ, since I
came hither, in judging my princely Master angry at me, because
I was cast out of the vineyard as a withered tree, my dumb Sab-
baths working me much sorrow : but I see now that sorrow hath
not eyes to read love written upon the cross of Christ; and, there-
fore, I pass from my rash plea.' Wo, wo is me, that I should
have received a slander of Chrbt's love to my soul ! And for all
this, my Lord Jesus hath forgiven all, as not willing to be heard
with such a fool; and is content to be* as it were, confined with
me, and to bear me company, and to feast a poor oppressed pris-
oner. And now I write it under my hand, worthy sir, that I
think well and honorably of this cross of Christ I wonder that
he will take any glory from the like of me. I find when he but
sendetli his hearty commendations to me, and but bloweth a kiss
afar off, I am confounded with wondering what the supper of the
Lamb will be, up in our Father's dining-palace of glory, since the
four-hours* in tnis dismal wilderness, and when in prisons, and
in our sad days a kiss of Christ are so comfortable. Oh, how
sweet and glorious shall our case be, when that fairest among the
sons of men will lay his fair face to our now sinful faces, and
wipe away all tears from our eyes ! O time, time, run swiftly
and hasten this day ! O sweet Lord Jesus, come flying like a
roe or a young hart ! Alas ! that we, blind fools, are fallen in
love with moonshine and shadows. How sweet is the wind that
bloweth out of the airth * where Christ is ! Every day we may
see some new thing in Christ: his love hath neither brim nor
bottom. Oh, if ^ I had help to praise him ! He knoweth that if
my sufferings glorify his name, and encourage others to stand fast
for the honor of our supreme Lawgiver, Christ, my wages theo
are paid to the full. Sir, help me to love that never enough
praised Lord. I find now, that the faith of the saints, under suf-
fering for Christ, is fair before the wind, and with full sails car-
ried upon Christ: and I hope to lose nothing in this furnace bat
dross ; for Christ can triumph in a weaker man than I am, if there
be anv such ; and when all is done, his love paineth me, and
leavetn me under such debt to Christ, as I can neither pay prin-
cipal nor interest. Oh, if* he would comprise* myself, and if I
were sold to him as a bond-man, and that he would take me home
to his house and fireside ; for I have nothing to render to him !
Then, after me, let no man think hard of Christ's sweet cross ;
for I would not exchange my sighs with the painted laughter of
all my adversaries. I desire grace and patience to wait on, and
to lie upon the brink, till the water fill and flow. I know that be
is fast coming.
Sir, ye will excuse my boldness; and, till it please God thai I
I CoDtroTeny. * SUfht
s Quarter, poiiit of the eoaptM. Oh, Uiat
ruthebford's lrtters. 865
§ec you, ye have the prayers of a prisoner of Christ ; to whom I
recomtnend you, and in whom I rest,
Yours, at all obedience in Christ, S. R.
\beideen, May 14, 1637.
LETTER CLXXI.
TO JOHN CLARK.
Loving Brother, — Hold fast Christ without wavering, and
contend for the faith, because Christ is not easily gotten nor kept
The lazy professor hath put Heaven, as it were, at the very next
door, and thinketh to fly up to Heaven in his bed, and in a night
dream ; but, truly, that is not so easy a thing as most men be-
lieve ; Christ himself did sweat ere he wan this city, howbeit he
was the free-born Heir. It is Christianity, my heart, to be sincere,
unfeigned, honest, and upright-hearted before God ; and to live
and serve God, suppose there was not one man nor woman in all
the world dwelling beside you, to eye you. Any little grace that
ve have, see that it be sound and true. Ye may put a difference
betwixt you and reprobates, if ye have these marks : — 1. If ye
prize Christ and his truth so as ye will sell all and buy him, and
suffer for it. 2. If the love of Christ keepeth you back from sin-
ning, more than the law, or fear of Hell. 3. If ye be humble,
and deny your own will, wit, credit, ease, honor, the world, and
the vanity and glory of it. 4. Your profession must not be ba***
ren and void of good works. 5. Ye must in all things aim at God's
honor ; ye must eat, drink, sleep, buy, sell, sit, stand, speak, pray,
read, and hear the word, with a heart-purpose that God may be
honored. 6. Ye must show yourself an enemy to sin, and re-
f)rove the works of darkness, such as drunkenness, swearing, and
ying, albeit the company should' hate you for so doing. 7. Keep
in mind the truth of God, that ye heard me teach, and have
nothing to do with the corruptions and new guises entered into
the house of God. 8. Make conscience of your calling, in cov-
enants, in buying and selling. 9. Acquaint yourself with daily
praying; commit all your ways and actions to God, by prayer,
supplication, and thanksgiving ; and count not much oi being
mocked ; for Christ Jesus was mocked before you.
Persuade yourself that this is the way of peace and comfort
which I now suffer for. I dare go to death ana into eternity with
it, though men may possibly seek another way. Remember mo
in your prayers and the state of this oppressed Church. Grac«
be with you.
Your souPs well- wisher, S. R.
16S7.
366
LETTER CLXXII.
TO CARDONESS, ELDER.
Much Hon)red Sir, — I long to hear how your soul pros-
t)ereth. I wonder that ye write not to me ; for the Holy Ghost
oeareth me witness, that I cannot, I dare not, I dow not'
forget you, nor the souls of those with you, who are redeemed by
the blood of the great Shepherd : ye are in my heart in the night-
watches ; ye are my joy and crown in the day of Christ. O Lord,
bear me witness, if my soul thirsteth for anything out of Heaven,
more than for your salvation : let God lay me in an even balance,
and try me in this.
Love Heaven, let your heart be on it. Up, up, and visit the
new land, and view the fair city, and the white throne, and the
Lamb, the bride's Husband, in the Bridegroom's clothes, sitting on
it It were time that your soul cast itself, and all your burdens,
upon Christ. I beseech you, by the wounds of your Redeemer,
and by your compearance* before him, and by the salvation of
your soul, lose no more time ; run fast, for it is late : God hath
sworn by himself, who made the world and time, that time shall be
no more, (Rev. x.) Ye are now upon the very border of the other
life ; your Lord cannot be blamed for not giving you warning. I
have taught the truth of Christ to you, and delivered unto you the
whole counsel of God ; and I have stood before the Lord for you
and I will yet still stand. Awake, awake to do righteously.
Think not to be eased of the burdens and debts that are on your
house, by oppressing any, or being rigorous to those that are
under you. Remember how I endeavored to walk before you in
this matter, as an example. " Behold, here am I, witness against •
me, before the Lord and his Anointed, whose ox or whose ass
have I taken? Whom have I defrauded? Whom have I op-
pressed ?" Who knoweth how my soul feedeth upon a good coo-
science, when I remember how I spent this body in feeding the
lambs of Christ?
At my first entry hither, I grant, I took a stomach against mv
Lord, because he had casten me over the dyke • of the vineyara,
as a dry tree, and would have no more of my service ; my dumb
Sabbaths broke my heart, and I would not be comforted ; but now
He whom my soul loveth is come again, and it pleaseth him to
feast me with the kisses of his love. A king dineth with me, and
his spikenard casteth a sweet smell. The Lord my witness is
above, that I write my heart to you. I never knew, by my nine
years' preaching, so much of Christ's love, as he has taught me in
Aberdeen, by six months' imprisonment. I charge you in Christ's
name to help me to praise; and show that people and country the
loving-kindness of the Lord to my soul, that so my sufferings may
> Am not able. * Appearanoe. * WdL
Rutherford's letters. 257
someway preach to them when I am silent. He hath made roe
to know now^ better than before, what it is to be crucified to the
world. I would not now give a drink of cold water for all the world's
kindness. I owe no service to it. I am not the flesh's debtor.
My Lord Jesus hath daw ted ^ his prisoner, and hath thoughts of
love concerning me. I would not exchange my sigh? with the
laughing of adversaries. Sir, I write this to inform you, that ye
may know that it is the truth of Christ I now suffer for, and that
be hath sealed my suflering with the comforts of his Spirit on my
soul — and know that he putteth not his seal upon blank paper.
Now, sir, I have no comfort earthly, but to know that I have
espoused, and shall present a bride to Christ in that congregation.
Tne Lord hath given you much, and, therefore, he will require
much of you again. Number your talents, and see what you
have to render back — ye cannot be enough persuaded of the
shortness of your time. I charge you to write to me, and in
the fear of God, to be plain with me, whether or not ye have
made your salvation sure. I am confident, and hope the best ;
but T know that your reckonings with your Judge are many
and deep. Sir, be not beguiled, neglect not your one thing, (Phil.
iii. 13,) your one necessary thing, (Luke x. 42,) the good part
that shall not be taken from you. Look beyond time. Things
here are but moonshine : they have but children's wit, who are
delighted with shadows, and deluded with feathers flying in the
air. Desire your children, in the morning of their life, to begin
and seek the Lord, and to remember their Creator in the days of
their youth ; TEccles. xii. 1,) to cleanse their way, by taking heed
thereto, accoraing to God's word, Ps. cxix. 9. Youth is a glassy
age. Satan finds a swept chamber, for the most part, in youth-
hood, and a garnished lodging for himself and his train. Let the
Lord have the flower of their age ; the best sacrifice is due to him.
Instruct them in this, that they have a soul, and that this life is
nothing in comparison of eternity. They will have much need
of God's conduct in this world, to guide them by* those rocks upon
which most men split ; but far more need when it cometh to the
hour of deatti, and their compearance' before Christ. Oh that
there were such a heart in them, to fear the name of the great and
dreadful God, who hath laid up great things for those that love
and fear him ! I pray that God may be their portion. Show
others of my parishioners, that I write to them my best wishes,
and the blessings of their lawful pastor. Say to them from me,
** That I beseech them, by the bowels of Christ, to keep in mind
the doctrine of our Lord Jesus Christ, which I taueht them ; that
so they may lay hold on eternal life, striving together for the faith
of the Gospel, and making sure salvation to themselves. Walk in
love, and do righteousness : seek peace : love one another : wait
for the coming of our Master and Judge. Receive no doctrine
contrary to that which I delivered to you. If ye fall away and
» Foodled. • Part. » Appearance.
17
268 Rutherford's letters.
forget it and that Catechism which I taught you, and so forsake
your own mercy, the Lord be judge betwixt you and me. I take
Heaven and earth to witness, that such shall eternally perish :
but if they serve the Lord, great will their reward be, when they
and I shall stand before our Judge. Set forward up the moun-
tain, to meet with God ; climb up, for your Saviour calleth on
you. It may be that God will call you to your rest, when I am
far from you ; but ye have my love, and the desires of my heart,
for your soul's welfare. He that is holy, keep you from falling,
and establish you till his own glorious appearance.
Your affectionate and loving pastor, S. R.
Aberdeen, 1637.
LETTER CLXXIIL
TO CARDONESS, YOUNGER.
Much Honored Sir, — I long to hear whether or not your soul
be hand-fasted with * Christ. Lose your time no longer : flee the fol-
lies of youth : gird up the loins of your mind, and make you ready
for meeting the Lord. I have often summoned you, and now I
suntmon you again, to compear' before your Judge to make t
reckoning of your life. While ye have time, look upon your pa-
pers, and consider your ways. Oh that there were such an heart
m you, as to think what an ill-conscience will be to you, when ye
are upon the border of eternity, and your one foot out of lime!
Oh then, ten thousand thou:?and floods of tears cannot extinguiA
these flames, or purchase to you one hour's release from that pain!
Oh, how sweet a day have ye had ! But this is a fair day
that runneth fast away : see how ye have spent it^ and consider
the necessity of salvation ; and lell me, in the fear of God, if ye
have made it sure. I am persuaded, that ye have a conscience
that will be speaking somewhat to you. Why will ye die and
destroy yourself? I charge you, in Christ's name, to rouse op
your conscience and begin to indent and contract with Christ in
time, while salvation is in your offer. This is rhe accepted time,
this is the day of salvation. Play the merchant, for ye cannot
expect another market-day when this is done. Therefore, let me
again beseech you, to consider, in this your day, the things thai
belong to your peace, before they be hid from your eyes. Dear
brother, fulfil my joy, and begin to seek the Lord while he may
be found : forsake the Allies of deceiving and vain youth : lay
hold upon eternal life. Whoring, night-drinking, and the nut-
spending of the Sabbath, and neglecting of prayer in your hoiue,
and refusing of an offered salvation, will burn up your soul with
the terrors of the Almighty, when your awakenea conscience shall
flee in your face. Be kind and loving to your wife : make cott*
> Affianced ta * To appear in obedience to a legal
Rutherford's letters. 269
science of cherishing her, and not be rigidly austere. Sir, I have
not a tongue to express the glory that is laid up for you, in your
Father's house, if you reform your doings, and frame your heart
to return to the Lord. Ye know that this world is but a shadow,
a short-living creature, under the law of time. Within less than
fifty years, when ye look back to it, ye shall laugh at the evan-
ishing vanities thereof, as feathers flying in the air, and as the
houses of sand within the sea-mark, which the children of men
are building. Give up with courting of this vain world ; seek not
the bastard's movables, but the son's heritage in Heaven. Take
a trial of Christ. Look unto him, and his love will so change you,
that ye shall be taken with him, and never, choose to go from
him. I have experience of his sweetness, in this house of my pil-
grimage here. My Witness, who is above, knoweth that I would
not exchange my sighs and tears, with the laughing of the Four-
teen Prelates. There is nothing that will make you a Christian
indeed, but a taste of the sweetness of Christ. "Come and see,"
will speak best to your soul. I would fain hope good of you. Be
not discouraged at broken and spilled ' resolutions ; but to it, and
to it again. Woo about Christ, till ye get your soul espoused as
a chaste virgin to him. Use the means of profiting with your
conscience, pray in your family, and read the word. Remember
how our Lord's day was spent when I was among you ; it will be
a great challenge* to you before God, if ye forget the good that
was done within the walls of your house on the Lord's day, and
if ye turn aside after the fashions of this world, and if ye go not
in time to the kirk, to wait on the public worship of God, and if
ye tarry not at it, till all the exercises of religion be ended. Give
God some of your time both morning and evening, and afternoon ;
and in so doing, rejoice the heart of a poor oppressed prisoner.
Rue upon your own soul, and from your heart fear the Lord.
Now He that brought again from the dead the great Shepherd
of his sheep, by the blood of the Eternal Covenant, estabUsh your
heart with his grace, and present you before his presence with joy.
Your affectionate, and loving pastor, S. K.
Abevdean, 1637.
LETTER CLXXIV.
TO MY LORD CRAIGHALL.
My Lord, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. — I am not only
content, but I exceedingly rejoice, that I find any of the rulers of
this land, and especially your lordship, so to affect Christ and his
truth, as that ye dare, for his name, come to yea and nay with
mooarchs in their face. I hope that He who hath enabled you
for that, will give more, if ye show yourself courageous, and, (as
* Spoiled. * AceuMtioo.
360
his word speaketh,) a man in the streets for the Lord. But I prajr
irour lordship, give me leave to be plain with you, as one who
oveth both your honor and your soul. I verily believe that there
was never idolatry at Rome, never idolatry condemned in Ciod's
word by the prophets, if religious kneeling before a consecrated
creature, standing in room of Christ crucified, in that verv act,
and that for reverence of the elements, (as our Act clearetb,) be
not idolatry. Neither will your intention help, which is not of the
essence of worship; for then, Aaron, saving '' To-morrow shall be
a feast for Jehovah," that is, for the Golden Calf, should not have
been guilty of idolatry ; for he intended onlv to decline the lash
of the people's fury, not to honor the Calf Your intention to
honor Christ is nothing, seeing that religious kneeling, by God's
institution, doth necessarily import religious and divine adoration,
suppose that our intention were both dead and sleeping : otherwise
kneeling before the image of Crod, and directing prayer lo God,
were lawful, if our intention go right. My Lord, I cannot in
these bounds dispute ; but if Cambridge and Oxford, and the
learning of Britain, will answer this argument, and the argument
from active scandal, which your lordship seemeth to stand upon, I
will turn a formalist, and call myself an arrant fool, by doing what
I have done, in my suflering for this truth. I do much reverence
Mr. L.'s learning; but, my Lord, I will answer what hewriteihio
that to pervert you from the truth ; else repute me, beside an hyp-
ocrite, an ass also. I hope ye shall see something upon that sub-
ject, if the Lord permit, that no sophistry in Britain shall answer.
Courtiers' argum^ils, for the most part, are drawn from their own
skin, and are not worth a straw for your conscience. A marquis's
or a king's word, when ye stand before Christ's tribunal, shall be
lighter than the wind. The Lord knoweth that I love your true
honor, and the standing of your house ; but I would not that your
honor or house were established upon sand, and hay, and stubble.
But let me, my very dear, and worthy Lord, most humbly beseech
you, by the mercies of God, by the consolations of his Spirit, by
the dear blood and wounds of your lovely Redeemer, by the salva-
tion of your soul, by your compearance ^ before the awful face of a
sin-revenging and dreadful Judge, not to set' in coroparisoii to-
gether your soul's peace, Christ's love, and his kingly honor, now
called in question, with your place, honor, house, or ease, thai an
inch of time will make out of the way. I verily believe that
Christ is now begging a testimony of you, and is sayine, ^ And
will ye also leave me ?" It is possible that the wind shall not
blow so fair for you all your life, for coming out and appearing
before others to back and countenance Christ, the Fairest among
the sons of men, the Prince of the kings of the earth, (Isa. IL 7«)
'^ Fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be afraid of their re-
Tilings." (Yer. 8,) '^ For the moth shall eat them up like a gar-
ment, and the worm shall eat them like wool." Wnen the Lord
will begiOi be will make an end, and mow down his adTereariei;
' Appearanct.
Rutherford's letters. 261
and thejr ffhall lie before him like withered hay, and their bloom
be shaken off them. Consider how many thousands in this king-
dom ye shall cause to fall and stumble, if ye go with them ; and
that ye shall be out of the prayers of many who do stand before
the Lord for you and your nouse ; and, further, when the time of
your accounts cometh, and your one foot shall be within the bor-
der o( eternity, and the eye-strings shall break, and the face wax
pale, and the poor soul shall look out at the windows of the house
of clay, longing to be out, and ye shall find yourself arraigned
before the Jud^e of quick and dead, to answer for your putting to
your hand wiw the rest, confederated against Christ, to the over-
turning of his Ark, and the loosing of the pins of Christ's taber-
nacle m this land, and shall certainly see yourself mired in a
course of apostasy; then, then a king's favor and your worm-
eaten honor shall be miserable comforters to you. The Lord hath
enlightened you with the knowledge of his will ; and as the Lord
liveth, they lead you and others to a communion with Great Ba-
bel, the Mother of fornications ; and God said of old, and contin^
uetb to say the same to you, '^ Come out of her, my people, lest
ye be partakers of her plagues." Will ye, then, go with them,
and set your lip to the Whore's golden cup, and drink of the wine
of the wrath of God Almighty with them ? Oh, poor hungry
honor! Oh, cursed pleasure! and, oh, damnable ease! bought
with the loss of God ! How many will pray for you ! What a
sweet presence shall ye find of Christ under your sufferings, if ye
will lay down your honors and place at the feet of Christ T— what
a fair recompense of reward ! I avouch before the Lord, that I am
now showing you a way how the house of Craighall may stand on
sure pillars: if ye will set it on rotten pillars, ye cruelly wrong
your posterity. Ye have the word of a King for an hundred fold
more in this life, (if it be ^ood for you,) and for life everlasting
alsa Make not Uhrist a liar, in distrusting his promise. Kings
of clay cannot back you when you stand before him : a straw for
them and their hungry heaven, that standeth on this side of time!
a fig for the day's smile of a worm ! Consider who have gone
before you to eternity, and would have given a world for a new
occasion of avouching that truth. It is true they call it not sub-
stantial, and we are made a scorn to those that are at ease, for
sufiTering these things for it ; but it is not time to judge of our
losses by the morning : stay till the evening, and we will count
with the best of them.
I have found by experience, since the time of my imprisonment,
(my Witness is above,) that Christ is sealing this honorable cause
with another, and a nearer fellowship than ever I knew before ;
and let God weigh me in an even balance in this, if I would ex-
change the cross of Christ or his truth, with the Fourteen Prela-
cies, or what else a king can give. My dear Lord, venture to take
the wind on your face for Christ I believe that if he should come
from Heaven in his own person, and seek the charters of Craighall
from you *ind a dr'<9mission of your place, and ye saw his face, ye
263
would fall down at his feet and say, " Lord Jesus, it is too little
for thee.'' If any man think it not a truth to die for, I am against
him. I dare £:o to eternity with it, that this day the honor of our
Lawgiver and King, in the government of his own free kingdom,
(who should pdy tribute to no dying king,) is the true state of the
' question. My Lord, be ye upon Christ's side of it, and take the
word of a poor prisoner, nay the Lord Jesus be surety for it. that
ye have incomparably made the wisest choice. For my own part,
I have so been in this prison, that I would be half-ashamed to seek
more till I be up at the well-head. Few know in this world the
sweetness of Christ's breath, the excellency of his love, which hath
neither brim nor bottom. The world hath raised a slander upon
the cross of Christ, because they love to go to Heaven by dry land,
and love not sea-storms ; but I write it under my hand, (and would
say more, if possibly a reader would not deem it hypocrisy,) that
my obligation to Christ for the smell of his garments, for his love-
kisses, these thirty weeks, standeth so great, that I should, and I
desire also to choose to suspend my salvation, to have many
tongues loosed in my behalf to praise him ; and, suppose in per-
son I never entered within the gates of the New Jerusalem, yet
80 being Christ may be set on high, and I had the liberty to cast
my love and praises forever over the wall to Christ, I would be
silent and content. But oh, he is more than my narrow praises !
O time, time, flee^ swiftly, that our communion with Christ may
be perfected !
I wish that your lordship would urge Mr. L. to give his mind
in the ceremonies ; and be pleased to let me see it as quickly as
can be, and it shall be answered.
To His rich grace I recommend your lordship, and shall re-
main,
Yours, at all respectful obedience in Christ, S. R.
Aberdeen, June 8, 1637.
LETTER CLXXY.
TO JOH N L AURI B.
Dear Brother, — I am sorry that ye, or so many in this kiof-
dom, should expect so much of me, an empty reed. Verily 1 am
a noughty * and poor body ; but if the tinkUng of the iron chains
of my Lord Jesus on legs and arms could sound the high praises
of my royal King, whose prisoner I am, oh, how would my joy
run over ! If my Lord would bring edification to one soul by my
bonds, I am satisfied; but I know not what to do to such i
trincely and beautiful Well-beloved ; he is far behind with me.'
little thanks to me, to say to others that his wind bloweth on me,
who am but withered and dry bones ; but, since ye desire me to
> FIj. t Being nothing.
* Hath noC receiTed firom me nearly all his dae.
.Rutherford's letters. 263
write to you, either help me to set Christ on high, for his running
over love, in that the heat of his sweet breath hath melted a fro-
zen heart, else I think that ye do nothing for a prisoner.
I am fully confirmed, that it is the honor of our Lawgiver
which I suffer for now., I am not ashamed to give out letters of
recommendation of Christ's love, to as many as will extol the
Lord Jesus and his cross. If I had not sailed this sea-way to
Heaven, but had taken the land-way, as many do, 1 should not
have known Christ's sweetness in such a measure ; but the truth
is, let no man thank me, for I caused not Christ's wind to blow
upon me: his love came upon a withered creature, whether I
would or not, (and yet by coming, it procured from me a welcome.)
A heart of iron, and iron doors, will not hold Christ out. I give
him leave to break iron locks and come in, and that is all ; and now
I know not, whether pain of love for want of possession, or sor-
row that I cannot thank him, paineth me the most ; but both work
upon me. For the first — Oh that he would come and satisfy the
longing soul, and fill the hungry with these good things ! I know
indeed that my guiltiness may be a bar in his way, but he is God,
and ready to forgive. And for the other — Wo, wo is m^, that I
cannot find a heart to give back again my unworthy, little love,
for his great sea-full of love to me ! Oh, that he would learn me
this piece of gratitude ! Oh, that I could have leave to look in,
through the hole of the door, to see his face and sing his praises !
or could break up one of his chamber windows, to look m upon
his delighting beauty, till my Lord send more ! — any little com-
munion with him, one of his love-looks, should be my begun
heaven. I know that he is not lordly, neither is the Bridegroom's
love proud, though I be black, and unlovely, and unworthy of
him. I would seek but leave, and withal grace, to spend my love
upon him. I counsel you to think highly of Christ, and of free,
free grace, more than ye did before : for I know that Christ is not
known amongst us. I think that I see more of Christ than ever
I saw ; and yet I see but little of what may be seen. Oh, that
he would draw by* the curtains, and that the King would come
out of his gallery and his palace, that I might see him ! Christ's
love is young glory and young heaven ; it would soften Hell's
pain to be filled with it. What would I refuse to suffer, if I could
get but a draught of love at my heart's desire ? Oh, what price
can be given for him ! Angels cannot weigh him. Oh, his
weight, his worth, his sweetness, his overpassing beauty ! If men
and angels would come and look to that great and princely One,
their ebbness * could never take up his depth, their narrowness
could never comprehend his breadth, height, and length. If ten
thousand thousand worlds of angels were created, they might all
tire themselves in wondering at his beauty, and begin again to
wonder.of new. Oh, that I could win nigh' him, to kiss his feet,
to hear his voice, to feel the smell of his ointments ! But oh,
alas, I have little, little of him ! yet I long for more.
1 A«ide. t Sballownef« * \^'ere able to come near.
264 Rutherford's letters, t
Remember my bonds, and help me with your praycre ; for I
would not niffer * or exchange my sad hours with tne joy of my
velvet adversaries. Grace be with you.
Yours, in his sweet Lord JesuSi S. R.
Abcfdeen, June 10, 1637.
LETTER -CLXXVI.
TO CARLTON.
Worthy, and much honored, — Grace, mercy, and peace be
to you. — 1 received your letter from my brother, to which I now
answer particularly.
I confess two things of myself: — 1st, Wo, wo is me, that men
should think there is anything in me ! He is my witness, before
whom I am as crystal, that the secret house-devils, that bear me
too often company, that this sink of corruption which I find
within, make me go with low sails ; and if others saw what I see,
they would look by' me, but not to me.
2ndly, I know that this shower of his free grace behooved to be
on me, otherwise I should have withered. I know, also, that I
have need of a buffeting tempter, that grace may be put to exer-
cise, and I kept low.
Worthy, and dear brother in our Lord Jesus, I write that from
my heart, which ye now read. Ist, I vouch that Christ, and
sweating and sighing under his cross, is sweeter to me bv far, than
all the kingdoms in the world could possibly be. 2ndly, if yoo,
and my dearest acquaintance in Christ, reap any fruit by my suf-
fering, let me be weighed in God's even balance, if my joy be not
fulfilled. What am I to carry the marks of such a great King?
But, howbeit I am a sink and sinful mass, a wretched captive of
sin, my Lord Jesus can hew heaven out of worse limber than I am
— if worse can be. 3rdly, I now rejoice with joy unspeakable and
glorious, that I never purposed to bring Christ or the least hooi^
or hair-breadth of truth, under trysting:* I desire to have and
keep Christ all alone ; and that he should never rub clothes with
that black-skinned harlot of Rome. I am now fully paid home,
80 that nothing aileth me, for the present, but love-sickness for a
real possession of my fairest well-beloved. I would give him my
bond, under my faith and hand, to frist* Heaven an hundred
years longer, so being he would lay his holy face to my sometimes
wet cheeks. Oh, who would not pity me, to know how fain I
would have the King shaking the tree of life upon me, or letting
me into the well of life with my old dish, that I might be drunken
with the fountain, here, in the house of my pilgrimage ! I can-
« Barter. «
I Rutherford rejoiced that he never attempted to csompromifle the least jot or tiltli
of Divine truth by tubjectin^ it to aiij mere human arrani;em«nt.
4 ThfrUt, to pmrtpone enjoyment ot' a thing under the hope of ulcimately <
265
not, nay, I wou d not, be quit of Christ's love. He hath left the
mark behind where he gripped. > He goeth away and leaveth me
and his burning love to wrestle together, and I can scarce win my
meat* of his love, because of absence. My Lord giveth me but
hungry half-kisses, which serve to feed pain, and increase hunger,
but do not satisfy my desires ; his dieting<of my soul for this race
makeCh me lean. I have gotten the wale and choice* of Christ's
crosses, even the ty the and the flower of the gold of all crosses, to •
bear witness to the tmth : and herein find I liberty, joy, access,
life, comfort, love, faith, submission, patience, and resolution to
take delight in on-waiting ; and withal in my race he hath come
near me, and let me see the gold and crown. What then want I,
but fruition and real enjoyment, which is reserved to my coun-
try?^ Let no man think he shall lose at Christ's hands in suf-
fering for him. 4thly, As for these present trials, they are most
dangerous ; for people are stolen off their feet with well washen *
and white-skinned pretences of indifferency : — but it is the power
of the great Antichrist working in this land. Wo, wo, wo be to
apostate Scotland ! There is wrath, and a cup of the red wine of
the wrath of God Almighty in the Lord's hand, that they shall
drink and spue, and fall and not rise again. The star called
wormwood and gall, is fallen into the fogntaios, and rivers, and
hath made them bitter. The sword of the Lord is furbished
against the idol-shepherds of the land. Women shall bless the
barren womb and miscarrying breast ; all hearts shall be faint,
and all knees shall tremble. An end is coming: the leopard and
the lion shall watch over our cities : houses great and fair, shall
be desolate without an inhabitant. The Lord hath said, ^^Pray
not for this people, for I have taken my peace from them :" yet
the Lord's third part shall come through the fire, as refined gold
for the treasure of the Lord. And the outcasts of Scotland shall
\)e gathered together again, and the wilderness shall blossom as
the flower, and bud, and grow as the rose of Sharon — and great
shall be the glory of the Lord upon Scotland. 5lhly, I am here
assaulted with the learned and pregnant wits of this kingdom;
but, all honor h& to my Lord, truth but laughs at bemisted*
and blind scribes, and disputers of this world : and God's wisdom
confoundeth them, and Christ triumpheth in his own strong truth,
thai speakcth for itself. 6lhly, I doubt not that my Lord is pre*
paring me for heavier trials. I am most ready at the good pleas-
ure of my Lord, in the strength of his grace, for anything he
will be pleased to call me to; neither shall the last black-raced
messenger, Death, be holden at the door, when it shall knock. If
my Lord will take honor of the like of me, how glad and joyful
will my soul be ! Let Christ come out with me to a hotter battle
than this, and I will fear no flesh. I know that my Master shall
> Caught, held fost * Earn my bare ttvolttiood.
< The very best that could be chosen.
« Retened for him in Heaven, (Heb. zl 16.) * Washed.
* InvolTed in mift
266
win the day, and that he hath taken the ordering of my sufler-
ings into his own hand. 7thly, As for my deliverance that mis-
carrieth, I am here, by my Lord's grace, to lay my hand on my mouth,
to be silent, and wait on. My Lord Jesus is on his journey for
my deliverance : I will not grudge that he runneth not so fast as
I would have him ; on-waiting till the swelling rivers fall, and till
my Lord arise as a mighty man after strong wine, will be my
.best : — I have not yet resisted to blood. Slhly, Oh, how often am
I laid in the dust, and urged by the tempter, (who can ride his
own errands upon our lying apprehensions,) to sin against the
unchangeable love of my Lord! when I think upon the sparrows
and swallows, that build their nests in the kirk of Anwoih, and
of my dumb Sabbaths, my sorrowful bleared eyes look asquint
upon Christ, and present him as angry. But in this trial — all
honor to our princely and royal King — faith saileth fair before
the wind, with top-sail up, and carrieth the passenger through.
I lay inhibitions upon my thoughts, that they receive no slanders
of my only, only beloved. Let him even say out of his own
mouth, "There is no hope f yet I will die in that sweet beguile,*
" It is not so, I shall see the salvation of God." Let me be de-
ceived really, and never win* to dry land ; it is my joy to believe
under the water, and to die with faith in my hand gripping*
Christ. Let my conceptions of Christ's love go to the grave with
me, and to Hell with me, I may not, I dare not quit them. I hope
to keep Christ's pawn : if he never come to loose it, let him see
to his own promise. I know that presumption, howbcit it be
made of stoutness, will not thus be wilful in heavy trials.
Now my dearest in Christ, the great Messenger of the Cove-
nant, the only wise, and all-sufficient Jehovah, establish you to
the end. I hear that the Lord hath been at your house, and hath
called home your wife to her rest. I know, sir, that ye see the
Lord loosing the pins of your tabernacle, and wooing your love
from this plastered, and over-gilded world, and calling upon yoa
to be making yourself ready to go to your Father's country, which
shall be a sweet fruit of that visitation. Ye know, " To send the
Comforter," was the King's word when he ascended on high ; ye
have claim to, and interest in, that promise.
Remember my love in Christ to your father. Show him that
it is late, and black night with him. His long lying at the water-
side, is that he may look his papers ere he take shipping, and be
at a point for his last answer before his Judge and Lord.
All love, all mercy, all grace, and peace, all multiplied saving
consolations, all joy and faith in Christ, all stability, and confirm-
ing strength of grace, and the good-will of Him that dwelt in the
bush, be with you.
Your unworthy brother, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R.
Aberdeen, June 15 1637.
1 Delaskm. i Get * HoUiog iWL
Rutherford's letters. 267
LETTER CLXXVII.
TO MARION MACKNAUGHT.
Worthy, and Dearest in the Lord, — I ever loved, (sinr/6
I knew you,) that little vineyard of the Lord's planting in uallo-
way ; but now much naore, since I have heard that he who hath
hb fire in Zion, and his furnace in Jerusalem, hath been pleased to
set up a furnace amongst you with the first in this kingaom. He
who maketh old things new, seeing Scotland an old, drossy and
rusted Kirk, is beginning to make a new, clean bride of her, and
to bring a young, chaste wife to himself out of the fire. This fire
shall be quenched as soon as Christ has brought a clean spouse
through the fire ! Therefore, my dearly beloved in the Lord, feai
not a worm. " Fear not worm, Jacob." Christ is in that plea,
and shall win the plea. Charge an unbelieving heart, under
the pain of treason against our great and royal King Jesus, to de-
pendence by faith, and quiet on-waiting on our Lord. Get you
mto your chambers, and shut the doors about you. In, in with
speed to your strong hold, ye prisoners of hope. Ye doves, flee
unto Christ's windows till the indignation be over, and the storm
be past. Glorify the Lord in your sufferings, and take his banner
of love, and spread it over you. Others will follow you, if they
see you strong in the Lord. Their courage will take life from
your Christian carriage. Look up and see who is coming ! Lift
up your head. He is coming to save, in garments dyed m blood,
and travelling in the greatness of his strength. I laugh, I smile,
I leap for joy, to see Christ coming to save you so quickly. Oh,
such wide^ steps Christ taketh ! Three or four hills are but a
step to him : he skippeth over the mountains. Christ hath set a
battle betwixt his poor weak saints and his enemies. He waleth*
the weapons for both parties, and saith to the enemies, ^' Take
you a word of steel, law, authority, parliaments, and kings upon
your side, that is your armor f and he saith to his saints, " I
give you a feckless* tree-sword* in your hand, and that is suf-
lering, receiving of strokes, spoiling of your goods; and with
your tree-sword* ye shall get and gain the victory." Was not
Christ dragged through the ditches of deep distresses and
great straits? and yet Christ, who is your head, hath won
through* with his life, howbeit not with a whole skin. Ye are
Christ's members, and he is drawing his members through the
thorny hedge up to Heaven after him. Cl^rist one day will not
have so much as a pained toe ; but there are great pieces and por-
tions of Christ's mystical body not yet within the gates of the
great high city, the New Jerusalem : and the Dragon will strike
at Christ, so long as there is one bit, or member oi Christ's body
1 Long. t Seleeteth. • F^ble.
« Wooden swoid. * 7b tvin (knugh, to ftruggle through.
out of Heaven. I tell you, Christ .will make new work out of
old, for-ca^ten * Scotland, and gather the old broken boards of his
tabernacle, and pin them, and nail them together. Our bills and
supplications are up in Heaven ; Christ hatn coflfers full of them :
there is mercy on the other side of this his cross ; a good answer
to all our bills is agreed upon.
I must tell you what lovely Jesus, fair Jesus, King Jesus, has
done to my soul. Sometimes he sendeth me out a standing
drink,* and whispereth a word through the wall ; and I am weU
content of kindness at the second hand — his bode * is ever welcome
to me, be what it will. But at other times he will be messen^r
himself, and I get the Cup of salvation out of his own hand, (he
drinking to me,) and we cannot rest till we be in others arms —
ahd oh, how sweet is a fresh kiss from his holy mouth ! His
breathing that ffoeth before a kiss upon my poor soul, is sweet,
and hath no fault, but that it is too short. I am careless, and
stand not much on this, howbeit loins and back, and shoulders,
and head should rive in pieces in stepping up to my Father's
house. I know that my Lord can make long, and broad, and
high, and deep glory to his name, out of this bit feckless* body —
for Christ looketh not what stuff he maketh glory out of.
My dearly beloved, ye hav^ often refreshed me, but this is put
up in my Master's account ; ye have him debtor for me : but if
ye will do anything for me, (as I know ye will,) now in my ex-
tremity, tell all my dear friends, that a prisoner is fettered and
chained in Christ's love, — Lord, never loose the fetters ! — and ye
and they together take my heartiest corrunendations to my Lord
Jesus, and thank him for a poor friend.
I desire your husband to read this letter. I send him a prisoo*
eHs blessing. I will be obliged to him if he will be wiUing to
suffer for my dear Master. Suffering is the professor's golden gar*
ment ; there shall be no losses on Christ's side of iL Ye have
been witnesses of much joy betwixt Christ and me at communion-
feasts, the remembrance whereof, (howbeit I be feasted in secret,)
hoUeth* my heart; for I am put from the board-head* and the
King's first mess to his by-board,' and his broken meat is sweet
unto me. I thank my Lord for borrowed crumbs, no less than
when I was feasted at the communion table at Anwoth and
Kirkcudbright. Pray that I may get one day of Christ in pub-
lic, as I have had long since, before my eyes be closed. Oh,
that mv Master would take up house again, and lend me the
key^ii oi his wine-cellar again, and God send me borrowed drink
till then!
Remember my love <o Christ's kinsmen with you. I pray for
Christ's Father's blessing to them all. Grace be with you: a
prisoner's blessing be with vou. I write It, and abide by it, God
will be glorious in Marion Macknaught, when this stormy Uast
1 Ponaken, eait awa j i A slight refrethment, to be taken ahinJif .
* Ofer at a sale « Weal, feeble. • PkretllL
i Head of tie table. v 8ida table.
Rutherford's letters. 269
•hall be over. O woman beloved of God, believe, rejoice, be sirong
in the Lord ! Grace is thy portion.
Your brother, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R.
Aberdeen, Jane 15, 1637.
LETTER CLXXTIIL
TO THE LADY CULROSS.
Madam, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. — I dare not say
that I wonder that ye have never written to me in my bonds, be*
cause I am not ignorant of the cause ; yet I could not but write
to you. I know not whether joy or heavinesd in my soul carrieth
it away : sorrow, without any mixture of sweetness, hath not
often love-thoughts of Christ ; but I see that the Devil can insin-
uate himself, and ride his errands upon the thoughts of a poor
distressed prisoner.
I am wo ' that I am making Christ my unfriend,* by seeking
pleas' against him, because I am the first in the kingdom put to
utter silence ; and because I cannot preach my Lord's righteous-
ness in the great congregation. I am, notwithstanding, the less
solicitous how it go, if there be not wrath in my cup. But I know
that I but claw my wounds when my Physician hath forbidden
me ; I would believe in the dark upon luck's head, and take my
hazard of Christ's good-will, and rest on this, that in my fever my
Physician is at my bed-side, and that he sympathizeth with me
when I sigh. My borrowed house, and another man's bed and
fire-side, and other losses, have no room in my sorrow ; a greater
heat to cast out a less fire, is a good remedy for some burning. I
believe, that when Christ draweth blood, he hath skill to cut the
right vein ; and that he hath taken the whole ordering and dis-
posing of my sulferings. Let him tutor me, and tutor my crosses,
as he thinketh good. There is no danger nor hazard in following
such a guide, howbeit he should lead me through Hell, if I could
put faith foremost, and fill the field with a quiet on-waiting, and
believing to see the salvation of God. I know that Christ is not
obliged to let me see both the sides of my cross, and turn it over
and over that I may see all. My faith is richer to live upon
credit, and Christ's borrowed money, than to have much on hand.
Alas ! 1 have forgotten that faith in times past hath stopped a
leak in my crazed bark, and hath filled my sails with a fair wind.
I see it a work of God that experiences are all lost, when sum-
mons of improbation, to prove our charters of Christ to be counter-
feits, are raised against poor souls in their heavy triab : but let
« Oriered.
t Nol a firiend. This wmd doce not denote inch a degree ofhatred at b implied in
the woid •* enemfu** • auarrcla.
870
me be a sinner, and worse than the chief of sinners, yea, a guilty
devil, I am sure that my wcll-beloved is God; and when I say that
Christ is God, and that my Christ is God, I have said all things, I
can say no more.
I would that I could build as much on this, my Christ is God, as
it would bear ; I might lay all the world upon it. I am sure, that
Christ untried, and untaken-up in the power of his love, kindness,
mercies, goodness, wisdom, long-suffering and greatness, is the
rock that dim-sighted travellers dash their foot against, and so
stumble fearfully. But my wounds are sorest, and pain me most
when I sin against his love and mercv ; and if he would set rae
and my conscience by the ears together, and resolve not to red
the plea,^ but let us deal it betwixt us, my spitting upon the fair
face of Christ's love and mercies by my jealousies,* unbelief and
doubting would be enough to sink me. Oh, oh, I am convinced, O
Lord, I stand dumb before thee for this, let me be mine own judge
in this, and I take a dreadful doom upon me for it ; for 1 still
misbelieve,' though I have seen that my Lord bath made my
cross as if it were all crystal, so as I can see through it Christ's
fair face and Heaven, and that God hath honored a lump of sinful
flesh and blood, the like of me, (o be Christ's honorable lord-pris-
oner. I ought to esteem the walls of the thieves' hole, (if I were
shut up in it,) or any stinking dungeon, all hung with tapestry,
and most beautiful, for my Lord Jesus ; and yet lam not so shut
up but that the sun shineth upon my prison, and the fair wide
heaven is the covering of it. But my Lord, in his sweet visits,
hath done more ; for he maketh me to find that he will be a con-
fined pri:$oner with me. He lyeth down and riseth up with me :
when I sigh he sigheth ; when I weep, he suflfereth with me; and
I confess that here is the blessed issue of my sufferings already
begun, (hat my heart is filled with hunger and desire to have him
glorified in my sufferings.
Blessed be ye of the Lord, madam, if you would help a poor
dyvour,* and cause others of your acquaintance in Christ to help
me to pay my debt of love, even real praises to Christ my Lord.
Madam, let me charge you in the Lord, as ye shall answer to him,
to help me in this duty, (which he hath tied about my neck, with
a chain of such singular expressions of his loving kindness,) to
set on high Christ, to hold in my honesty at his hands ; for I have
nothing to give to him. Oh, that he would arrest and comprise*
my love and my heart for all ! I am a dyvour,* who have no
more free goods in the world for Christ, save that ; it is both the
whole heritage I have, and all my movables besides. Lord, give ^
the thirsty man a drink. Oh, to be over the ears in the well!
Oh, to be swattering,* and swimming over head and ears in
Christ's love ! I would not have Christ's love entering into me,
but J would enter into it, and be swallowed up of that love. But
1 Settle whieh if in the raalt. * SiMMeioiM.
* Th misbdUve, not to beUeve aright or (Villy. * BaiikrapC
* Legally attacli for debt
* TV awatUr, to flutter and dabble over head in water, at doeka do^
Rutherford's letters. 271
I see not myself here ; for I fear I make more of his love than of
himself; whereas himself is far beyond and much better than his
love. Oh, if* I had my sinful arms filled with that lovely One,
Christ ! Blessed by my rich Lord Jesus, who sendeth not away
beggars from his house with a toom ' dish. He fiUeth the vessels
of such as will come and seek. We might beg ourselves rich, (if
we were wise,) if we could hold out our withered hands to Christ,
and learn to suit* and seek, ask and knock. I owe my salvation for
Christ's glory, I owe it to Christ ; and desire that my hell, yea, a
new hell, seven times hotter by far than the old Hell, might buy
praises before men and angels to my Lord Jesus ; providing al-
ways that I were free of Christ's hatred and displeasure. What
am 1, to be forfeited and sold in soul and body, to have my great
and royal King set on high and extolled above all ? Oh, if* I
knew how high to have him set, and all the world far, far beneath
the soles of his feet ! Nay, I deserve not to be the matter of his
praises, far less to be an agent in praising of him. But he can
win* his own glory out of me, and out oi worse than I, (if any
such be,) if it please his holy majesty so to do : — he knoweth that
I am not now flattering him.
Madam, let me have your prayers, as ye have the prayers and
blessing of him that is separated from his brethren. Grace, grace
be with you.
Your own, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R.
D, June 15, 1637.
LETTER CLXXIX.
TO HIS REVEREND, AND LOVING BROTHER, MR. JOHN
NEVAY.
Reverend, and dear Brother, — Grace mercy and peace
be to you. — I received yours of April 11th, as I did another of
March 25th, and a letter for Mr. Andrew Cant.
I am not a little grieved that our Mother-church is running so
quickly to the brothel-house, and that we are hiring lovers, and
B'ving gifts to the great Mother of fornications. Alas, that our
usband is like to quit us so shortly ! It were my part, (if I were
able,) when our Husband is departing, to stir up myself to take
hold of him, and keep him in tnis land ; for I know him to be a
sweet second, and a lovely companion to a poor prisoner.
I find that my extremity hath sharpened the edge of his love
and kindness, so that he seemeth to devise new wsnrs of expressing
the swieetness of his love to mv soul. Suffering K>r Christ is the
very element wherein Christ's love liveth, and exerciseth itself, in
casting out flames of fire, and sparks of heat, to warm such a fro>
t Oh. that. * Emplj.
* To wge a reqoMt. ^ * Earn.
872 RUTHERFORD 8 LETTERS.
zen heart as I have ; and if Christ weeping in sackcloth be sd
sweet, I cannot find any imaginable thoughts to think what he
will be, when we day-bodies, (having put off mortality,^ shall come
up to the marriage-ball and ^reat palace, and behold the King
clothed in his rol^ royal, sittmg on his throne. I would desire
no more for my heaven beneath the moon, while I am sighing in
this house of clay, than daily renewed feasts of love with Christ,
and liberty now and then to feed my hunger with a kiss of thai
fairest face, that is hke the sun in his strength at noon-day. I
would willingly subscribe an ample resiraation to Christ of the
Fourteen Prelacies of this land, and of all the most delightful
pleasures on earth, and forfeit my part of this clay-god, this earth,
which Adam^s foolish children worship, to have no other exercise
than to lye on a love-bed with Christ, and fill this hungered and
famished soul with kissing, embracing, and real enjoying of the
Son of God : and I think that then, I might write to my friends,
that I had found the Gblden World, and look out and laugh at the
poor bodies, who are slaying one another for feathers. For verily,
brother, since I came to this prison, I have conceived a new and
extraordinary opinion of Christ, which I had not before; for I per-
ceive, we frist* all our joys to Christ, till he and we be in our own
house above, as married parties, — thinking that there is nothing
of it here to be sought or found, but only hope and fair promises ;
and that Christ will give us nothing here but tears, sadness, and
crosses ; — and that we shall never feel the smell of the flowers of
that hi^h garden of paradise above, till we come there. Nay, but
I find that it is possible to find young glory, and a young green
paradise of joy, even here. I know that Christ's kisses will cast
a more strong and refreshful* smell of incomparable glory and
oy in Heaven, than they do here ; because a drink of the Well of
ife up at the well's head, is more sweet and fresh by far, than that
which we get in our borrowed, old, running-out vessels, and our ,
wooden dishes here ; yet I am now persuaded, it is our folly to
frist' all till the term-day, seeing abundance of earnest will not
diminish anything of our principal sum. We dream of hunger in
Christ's house, while we are here, although he alloweth feasts to
all the bairns, within God's household : it were good, then, to store
ourselves with moe borrowed kisses of Christ, and with raoe bor-
rowed visits, till we enter heirs to our new inheritance, and our
Tutor put us in possession of our own, when we are past minority.
Oh, that all the young heirs would seek more, and a greater, and
a nearer communion with my Lord Tutor, the prime Heir of all,
Christ ! 1 wish that, for my part, I could send you, and that gen-
tleman who wrote his commendations to me, into the King's inner-
most cellar, and house-of-wine, to be filled with love ; — a drink of
this love is worth the having indeed. We carry ourselves but too
nicely with Christ our l^rd ; and our Lord lovetb not niceneaa^
and dryness, and unconess' in friends. Since need-force that we
^ Fsitpooo. ' ITiifrnihifn
i°
Rutherford's letters. 273
must be in Christ's common/ then le( us be in his common ;^ for
it will be no otherwise.
Now, for ray present case in my imprisonment, — deliverance,
(for any appearance that I see,) looketh cold-like.* My hope, if it
looked to, or leaned upon men, would wither soon at the root, like
a May-flower; yet I resolve to solace myself with on-wailing on
my Lord, and to let my faith swim where it loseth ground. I am
under a necessity either of fainting, (which I hope my Master, of
whom I boast all the day, will avert,) or then* to lay my faith
upon Omnipotency, and to wink and stick by my grip.* And I
hope that my ship shall ride it out, seeing Christ is willing to
blow his sweet wind in my sails, and mendeth and closeth th«
leaks in my ship, and ruleth all. It will be strange if a believing
passenger be casten ' overboard.
As for your master, my Lord and my Lady, I shall be loath to
forget them. I think my prayers, (such as they are,) debt due to
him ; and I shall be far more engaged to his Lordship, if he be
fast for Christ, (as I hope he will,) now when so many of his coat
and quality slip from Christ's back, and leave him to fend for*
himself.
I entreat you to remember my love to that worthy gentleman,
A. C, who saluted me in your letter : I have heard that he is one
of my Master's friends, for the which cause I am tied to him. I
wish that he .may more and more fall in love with Christ.
Now for your question : — As far as i rawly conceive, I think
that God is praised two ways ; 1st, By a concionaP profession of
bis highness before men, such as is the very hearing of the word,
and receiving of either of the sacraments ; in which acts, by pro-
fession, we give out to men, that he is our God, with whom we
are in covenant, and our Lawgiver. Thus eating and drinking
in the Lord's Supper, is an annunciation and profession before
inen, that Christ is our slain Redeemer. Here, because God speak-
eth to us, not we to him, it is not a formal thanksgiving, but an
annunciation, or predication of Christ's death, concional,^ not
adorative, neither hath it God for the immediate object, and, there-
fore, no kneeling can be here.
2ndly, There is another praising of God, formal, when we are
either formally blessing Goa, or speaking his praises. And this
I take to be twofold : — 1. When we directly and formally direct
praises and thanksgiving to God. This may well be done kneel-
mg, in token of our recognizance of his highness ; yet not so, but
that it may be done standing or sitting, especially seeing joyful
elevation, (which should be in praising,) is not formally signified
by kneelihg. 2. When we speak good of God, and declare his
glorious nature and attributes, estolling hiin before men, to excite
men to conceive highly of him. The former I hold to be worship
every way immediate, else I know not any immediate worship at
1 VntUr obligation to Christ * Most hopeless. * Otherwist.
4 To shat my eyes. hoUl on with mS^t and main, and abide by the conscquencea.
• Cast • Shift for. t Declarative in, or by act of, a public assembly.
18
274 RUTHERFORD^S LETTERS.
all : the latter hath God for the subject, not properly the object,
seeing the predication is directed to men immediately, rather than
to God, for here we speak of God by way of praising, rather than
to God. And for my own part, as I am, for the present, minded,
I see not how this can be done kneeling, seeing it is pretdicaiio
Dei et Christie non laudatio aut benediciio Dei. But observe
that it is formal praising of God, and not merely concioual,' as I
distinguished in the first member ; for, in the first member, any
speakmg of God, or of his works of creation, providence, add re-
demption, is indirect and concional ^ praising of him, and formally
preaching, or an act of teaching, not an act of predication of his
praises ; for there is a difference betwii^ the simple relation of the
virtues of a thing, which is formally teaching, and the extolling
of the worth of a thing, by way of commendation, to cause others
to praise with us.
Thus recommending you to God's sweet grace, I rest,
Yours, in his sweet Xiord Jesus, S. R.
Aberdeen, Jnne 15, 1637.
LETTER CLXXX.
TO THE MUCH HONORED JOHN GORDON, OP CARDONESS, ELDER.
Much honored, and dearest in my Lord, — Grace, mercy,
and peace be to you. — My soul longeth exceedingly to bear bow
matters go betwixt you and Christ; and whether or not there bo
any work of Christ in that parish, that will bide the trial of fire
and water. Let me be weigned of my Lord in a just balance, if
your souls lye not weighty upon me. Ye go to bed and ye rise
with me : thoughts of your soul, (my Dearest in our Lord,) depart
not from me in my sleep ; ye have a great part of my tears, sigha,
supplications, and prayers. Oh, if > I coula buy your soul's sal-
vation with any suffering whatsoever, and that ye and I might
meet with joy up in the rainbow, when we shall stand before oar
Judge ! Oh, my Lord forbid, tliat I have any hard thing to de-
pone * against yon in that day ! Oh, that He wL o quickeneth the
dead, would g^ve life to my sowing among you ! What joy ii
:here, (next to Christ,) that standeth on this side of death, which
would comfort me more, than that the souls of that poor peopb
were in safety, and beyond all hazard of being lost !
Sir, show the people this ; for when I write to you, I think 1
write to you all, old and young. Fulfil my joy, and seek the
Lord. Sure I am, that once I discovered my lovely, royal, princely
Lord Jesus to you all. Wo, wo, wo shall be your part of it fee
evermore, if the Gospel be not the savor of life unto life to jroo.
As man] sermons as I preached, as many sentences as I uttered*
1 Declarative in, or bj act o^ a pabGc a«eiiiblj. * Oil, tkai.
* To dcpoce, to witneaa.
rt7Therford's letters 275
M man^ points of dittay ^ shall they be, when the Lord shall
plead with the world, for the evil of their doings. Believe me, I
find Heaven a city hard to be won. ''The righteous shall
scarcely be saved." Oh, what violence of thronging will Heaven
take ! Alas ! I see nmny deceiving themselves ; for we will all
to Heaven now. Every foul dog with his foul feet will in at the
nearest, to the new and clean Jerusalem. All say they have faith ;
a*id the greatest part in the world know not, and will not con^
eider, that a slip in the matter of their salvation, is the most piti-
able slip that can be ; and that no loss is comparable to this loss.
Oh then, see that there be not a loose pin in the work of your
salvation ! for ye will not believe how quickly the Judge will come ;
and for yourself, I know that death is waiting, and hovering, and
lingering at God's command, that ye may be prepared. Then ye
had neal to stir your time, and to take eternity and death, to your
riper advisement : a wrong step, or a wrong stot,* in going out of
this life, is, in one property, like the sin against the Holy Ghost,
and can never be lorgiven, because ye cannot come back again
through the last water to mourn for it. I know your accounts are
many, and will take telling, and laying, and reckoning betwixt
you and your Lord. Fit your accounts, and order them. Lose
not the last play, whatever ye do, for in that play with death your
precious soul is the prize : for the liord's sake spill * not the play,
and lose not such a treasure. Ye know, that out of love which 1
had to your soul, and out of desire which I had to make an
hotiest account of you, I testified my displeasure and disliking of
your ways very often, both in private and public : I am not now
a witness of your doings, but your Judge is always your witness.
1 beseech you by the mercies of God, by the salvation of vour soul,
by your comforts when your eye-strings shall break, and the face
wax pale, and the soul shall tremble to be out of the lodging of
clay, and by your compearance* before your awful Judge, after
the sight of this letter, to take a new course with your ways, and
now, in the end of your day, make sure of Heaven. Examine
yourself if ye be in good earnest in Christ ; for some, (Heb. vi. 4,
5,) are partakers of the Holy Ghost, and taste of the ^ood word of
God, and of the powers of the life to come, and yet have no part
in Christ at all. Many think they believe, but never tremble ; the
devils are farther on than these, (James ii. 19.) Make sure to
yourself that ye are above ordinary professors. The sixth part of
your span-length and hand-breadth of days is scarcely before you :
— haste, haste, for the tide will not bide.* Put Christ upon aU
your accounts and vour secrets. Better it is that you give him
your accounts in this life, out of your own hand, than that, after
ibis life, he take them from you. I never knew so well what sin
was, as since I came to Aberdeen, howbeit I was preaching of it
to you. To feel the smdke of Hell's fire in the throat for half an
> Indieiiiieiit * Morement Sioi ngnifiet the rebounding of a WIL
* Spoil, niin. ^ Appearance in obe&noe to legal citation.
• Stay, wait
S76
hour ; to stand before a river of fire and brimstOBe broader Cluui
the earth ; and to think to be bound hand and foot, and casieD
into the midst of it quick, and then to have God looking the prh3oii«
door, never to be opened for ail eternity ! Oh how it will shako
a conscience that hath any life in it i I find the fruits of rajr
pains to have Christ and that people once fairly met, now meet
my soul in my sad hours : and 1 rejoice that 1 gave fair warning
of all the corruptions now entering into Christ's house ; and now
many a sweet, sweet, soft kiss, many perfumed, weU-sinelied
kisses, and embracements have 1 received of my royal Master.
He and 1 have had much love together. I have for the pretieni a
sick dwining ' life, with nmch pain, and much love sickness foe
ChrisL Oil, what would 1 g^ve to have a bed made to my wea-
ried soul, in his bosom ! 1 would frist * Heaven for many yeara,
to have my fill of Jesus in this hfe, and to have occasion to otfer
Christ to my people, and to woo many people to ChrisL I cannot
tell you what sweet pain, and delightsome torments are in Christ's
love ; 1 often challenge * time that holdeth us asunder. 1 profess
to you, 1 have no rest, 1 have no ease, whill 1 be over head and
ears in love's ocean. If Christ's love, (that fountain of delight,)
were laid as open to me as 1 would wish, oh, how I would drmk,
and drink abundantly ! oh, how drunken would this my soul be!
I half call « his absence cruel; and the mask and veil on Christ's
face a cruel covering, that hideth such a fair face from a sick
soul. I dare not challenge * himself, but his absence is a moun-
tain of iron upon my heavy heart. Oh, when shall we meet?
Oh, how long is it to the dawning of the marriage-day ! O sweet
Lord Jesus, take wide^ steps; O my Lord, come over mountains
at one stride ! O my Beloved, flee like a roe, or a young hart, oa
the mountains of separation.* Oh, it' he would fold the Ueavisni
together like an old cloak, and shovel time and days out of the
way, and make ready in haste the Lamb's wife for iier Husband 1
Since he looked upon me, my heart is not mine own, he haih run
away to Heaven with it. i know it was not for nothing liiat 1
spake so meikle' good of Christ to you in public. Oh, if* the
Heaven, and the Heaven of heavens were paper, and the sea 'uik|
and the multitude of mountains pens of brass, and 1 able to wriu
that paper, withui and without, full of the prnises of my iairesl,
my dearest, my lovehest, my sweetest, my matchless, and my
most marrowless • and marvellous Well-beloved 1 Wo is me, 1 can-
not set him out to men and angels ! Oh, there are few tongues
to sing love-songs of his incomparable excellency ! What can
I, poor prisoner, do to exalt him 1 or what course can 1 iaka
to extol my lofty and lovely Lord Jesus'/ I am put lo luy wk's
end, how to get his name made great. Blessed they, who woold
help me ir this I How sweet is Christ's back ! Oh| what tbea
t PiBing.
* 'I\>/nd^ to poitpone, with the confidence however, of alUayitolj o hU i a ia f fa»
tfiiin • 7^ ckaiUng€ to call in qy— twn. * AIs mH vaa.
* Long. « Song oi' bol. iL 17. * Ob, I
* MilcL. * Peeneae, unequalled.
277
is in his face? Those that see his face, how dbw ' they get their
eye plucked off him again 1 Look up to him and love bun. Oh,
love and live ! It were life to me if you would read this letter to
that people, and if they did profit b^ it. Oh, if * I could cause
them to die of love for Jesus ! Charge them by the salvation of
their souls, to hang about Christ's neck, and take their fill of bis
love, and follow him, as I taught them. Part by no means with
Christ Hold fast what ye have received. Keep the truth once
delivered. If ye or that people quit it in a hair, or in a hoo^ ye
break your conscience in twain ; and who then can mend it, and
cast ' a knot on it ? My dearest in the Lord, stand fast in Christ ;
keep the faith; contend for Christ; wrestle for him, and take
men's feud for God's favor : there is no comparison betwixt these.
Oh that the Lord would fulfil my joy, and keep the young bride
that is at Anwoth to Christ.
And now, whoever they be, that have returned to the old vomit
since my departure, I bind upon their back, in my Master's name
and authority, the long-lasting, weighty vengeance, and curse of
God : in my Lord's name I give them a black, unmixed, pure
wrath, which my Master will ratify and make good, when we
stand together before him, except they timously* repent, and turn
to the Jjord. And I write to thee, poor mourning and broken-
hearted believer, be thou who thou wilt, of the free salvation.
Christ's sweet balm for thy wounds, O poor humble Believer;
Christ's kisses for thy watery cheeks : Christ's blood of atonement
for thy guilty soul; Christ's Heaven for thy poor soul, though
once banished out of Paradise ; and my Master will make gcrad
my word ere long. Oh that people were wise ! Oh that people
were wise! Oh that people would speer out' Christ, and never
rest whill they find him. Oh, how my soul will mourn in secret,
it my nine vears' pained head, and sore* breast, and pained back,
and grieved heart, and private and public prayers to God, will all
be for nothing among that people ! Did my Lord Jesus send me
but to summon you before your Judge, and to leave you summons
at your houses ? Was I sent as a witness only to gather your
dittays ? * Oh, may God forbid ! Often did I tell you of a fan of
God's word to come among you, for the contempt of it. I told
you often of wrath, wrath from the Lord, to come upon Scotland ;
and yet I bide by my Master's word ; it is quickly coming. Desola-
tion for Scotland, because of the quarrel of a broken covenant.
Now, worthy sir, now my dear people, my joy, and my crown
in the Lord, let him be your fear. Seek the Lord, and his face —
save your souls. Doves ! flee to Christ's windows. Pray for me,
and praise for me. The blessing of mv God, the prayers and
blessing of a poor prisoner, and your lawful pastor, be upon you.
Your lawful, and loving pastor, S. R.
Aberdeen, June 16, 1637.
• Arvableto. < Oh, that • Tie.
« In time, eeMonablj. * To lipeer oii/, to diiooTer bj diligent inqoir?.
• AeUnc. T Indictments.
STB euthbrford's letters.
LETTER CLXXXL
*
TO EARLSTON, YOUNGER
Much Honored, and Well-beloved in the Lord, — Grace,
mercy, and peace be to you. — Your letters give a dash to my lazi-
ness ID writing. I must first tell you, that there is not such a
glassy, icy, and slippery piece of way betwixt you and Heaven, as
youth ; and I have experience to say with me here, and to seal
what I assert. The old ashes of the sins of my youth are now
fire of sorrow to me. I have se^ the Devil, as it were, dead and
buried, and yet rise again, and be a worse devil than ever he was ;
— therefore, my brother, beware of a green young devil, that hath
never been buried. The Devil in his flowers, (I mean the hoc,
fiery lusts and passionf of youth,) is much to be feared. Better
yoke with* an old gray-haired, withered, dry devil: for in youth he
findeth dry sticks, and dry coals, and a hot hearth-stone; and how
soon can he with his flint cast fire,' and with his bellows blow it
up, and fire the house ? Sanctified thoughts, thoughts made con-
science of, and called in, and kept in awe, are green fuel that bum
not, and are a water for Satan's coal. Yet I must tell you, that
the whole saints now triumphant in Heaven, and standing before
the throne, are nothing but Christ's forlorn and beggarly dyvours.*
What are they but a pack of redeemed sinners; but their re-
demption is not only past the seals, but completed ; and yours is
on the wheels, and in doing.
All Christ's good bairns go to Heaven with a broken brow, and
with a crooked leg. Christ hath an advantage of you, and I pray
you to let him have it, he will find employment for his calling in
you. If it were not with you as ye write, grace should find no
sale nor market in you ; but ye must be content to give Christ
somewhat to do. I am glad that he is employed that way. Let
your bleeding soul and your sores be put in the hand of this expert
Physician ; kt young and strong corruptions and his free grace be
foked together, and let Christ and your sins deal it betwixt thera.
shall be loath to put you off your fears, and your sense of dead-
uess — I wish it were more ; — there be some wounds of that nature,
that their bleeding should not be soon stopped. You must take a
house beside the Physician. It will be a miracle if ye be the first
sick man whom he put away uncured, and worse than he found
you. Nay, nay, Christ is honest, and in that is fly ting-free* with
sinners, (John vi. 37,) " And him that cometh unto me I will in no
wise cast out." Take ye that. It cannot be presumption to take
that as your own, when you find that your wounds stound* you.
Presumption is ever whole at the heart, and hath but the truant-
> 7b yoke with, to engage (n conflict with. > 7b coW j|r<, to fliiikt in.
> BanknipU.
« BlameleM, and, therefore, entitled to chide or rebuke one that ii not ao.
* 7b $totmd, suddenlj and intermittent I j to pain.
Rutherford's letters. 279
sickness/ and groaneth only for the fashion :' failh hath sense of
sickness, and lookelh like a fciend to the promises ; and looking to
Christ therein is glad to see a known face. Christ is as full a feast
as ye can have to hunger. Nay, Christ, I say, is not a full man's
leavings ; his mercy sendeth always a letter of defiance to all your
sins, if there were ten thousand moe^ of them.
1 grant you that it is a hard matter for a poor hungry man to
win his meat* upon hidden Christ: for then, the key of his pan-
try-door, and of the house-of-wine, is a-seeking, and cannot he
had; but hunger must breakthrough iron locks. 1 bemoan them
Dot who can make a din, and all the fields ado,' for a lost Saviour.
Ye nmst let him hear it, (to say so,) upon both sides of his head,
when he hideth himself; it is not time then to be bird-mouthed* and
patient. Christ is rare indeed, and a delicacy to a sinner. He is
a miracle, and a world's wonder to a seeking and a weeping sin-
ner ; but yet such a miracle as shall be seen by them, who will
come and see. The seeker and sigher, is at last a singer and en-
joyer — nay, I have seen a dumb man get alms from Christ. He
that can tell his tale, and send such a letter to Heaven as he hath
sent to Aberdeen, it is very like he will come speed ^ with Christ :
it bodeth God's mercy to complain heartily for sin. Let wrestling
be with Christ till he say, " How is ii, sir, that I cannot be quit
of your bills, and your misleared* cries ?" and then hope for Christ's
blessing, and his blessing is better than ten other blessings. Think
not shame * becau:f>e of your guiltiness : necessity must not blush
to beg: it standelh you hard to he without Christ; and, therefore,
that which idle on-waiting cannot do, misnurtured ** crying and
knocking will do.
And for doubting?, because you are not as you were long since
with your Master, consider three things: 1st, What if Christ had
such tottering thoughts of the bargain of the New Covenant be-
twixt you and him, as you have? 2ndly, Your heart is not the
compass which Christ sailcth by. He will give you leave to sing
as you please, but he will not dance to your daft " spring. It is
not referred to you and your thoughts, what Christ will do with
the charters betwixt you and him : your own misbelief hath torn
them ; but he hath Che principal in Heaven with himself. Your
thoughts are no parts of the New Covenant : dreams change not
Christ. 3rdly, Doubtings are your sins, but they are Christ's
drugs, and ingredients that the Physician maketh use of for the
curing of your pride. Is it not suitable for a beggar to say at
meat, '* God reward the winners?"" for then he saith that he
knoweth who beareth the charges of the house. It is also meet
' Kei^ofd ficknetA. » For the Bnkft of «ppoarancc«.
• MoTf. < To earn his livclilinotJ.
* Thfit if>, can fill all the fields with their outcries, in allusion to the hellowings of
UkUle whf-n they have lost their mates. * Mealy-mouthed.
' Succipd, pros(>f>r.
• Ill-bred, unmannerly, implyin(( also the idea of greediness.
* B<- not ashamed. ><> Unsubdued. " Foolish.
n That is. - Grod reward the givers " The phrase is formed uiion the principle laid
down in Acts xx. 35, " It is more bleaseii to give than to receive. '
280 Rutherford's letters.
that ye should know, by experience, that faith is not nature^s ill-
gotten bastard, but your Lord's free gift, that lay in the womb of
God's free grace — praised be the Winner.* I may add a 4thly : In
the passing of your bill and your charters, when they went through
tb^ Mediator's great seal, and were concluded, faith's advice was
not sought: faiih hath not a vote beside Christ's merits: blood,
blood, dear blood, that came from your Cautioner's* holy body,
maketh that sure work. The use, then, which ye have of faith
now, (having already closed with Jesus Christ for justification,) is,
to take out a copy of your pardon ; and so ye have peace with
God upon the account of Christ: for, since faith apprehendeth
pardon, but never payeth a penny for it, no marvel that salvation
doth not die and live, ebb or flow, with the working of faith. But
because it is your Lord's honor to believe his mercy, and his fidel-
ity, it is infinite goodness in our Lord, that misbelief* giveth a dash
to our Lord's glory, and not to our salvation. And so^ whoever
want, (yea, howbeit God here bear with the want of what we are
obliged to give him, even the glory of his grace by believing.) yet
a poor covenanted sinner wanteth not ; but if guiltiness were r^
moved, doubtings would find no friend, nor life; and yet faith is to
believe the removal of guiltiness, in Christ. A reason why ye get
less now (as ye think) than before (as I take it) is, because, at our
first conversion, our Lord putteth the meat in young bairns' mouths
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 doth hold, because he will
have us to draw. Remember now that ye must live upon violent
f>lucking. Laziness is a greater fault now than long since. We
ove always to have the pap put in our mouth.
Now for myself; alas! I am not the man I go for in this na-
tion ; men have not just weights to weigh me in. Oh, but I am
a silly feckless « body, and overgrown with weeds; corruption w
rank and fat in me. Oh, if' I were answerable to this holy
oause, and to that honorable Prince's love for whom I now suffer!
If Christ should refer the matter to me, (in his presence I speak
it,) \ might think shame* to vote my own salvation. I think
Christ might say, " Thinkcat thou not shame* to claim Heaven,
who doest so little for it?" I am very often so, that I know not
whether I sink or swim in the water. I find myself a ba<? of
light froth. I would bear no weight, (but vanities, and nothings
weigh in Christ's balance,) if my Lord cast not in borrowed weio^nt
and metal, even Christ's righteousness, to weigh for me. The
stock I have is not mine own ; I am but the merchant that tniF-
ficketh with other folks' goods : if my creditor, Christ, should lake
from me what he hath lent, I should not long keep the cause-
way,^ but Christ hath made it mine and his. I think it man«
> That is, Christ, who has meriteil :,7 won a right to bocome the dispenser of the gifts
of God's free grace.
• Surctv's. * Weak faith. « Wenk, pithless. t Oh, thaL
* Be ashamed. ^ Appear, without shame or fear, in publie.
Rutherford's letters. 281
bood to play the coward, and jouk* in the lee-side of Christ , and
thas I am not only saved from my enemies, but I obtain the vic-
tory, I am so empty that I think it were an ahns-deed in Christ,
if he would win a poor prisoner's blessing for evermore, and fill
me with his love. I complain that when Christ cometh, he com-
eth always to fetch fire; ne is ever in haste, he may not tarry;
and poor I, (a beggarly dyvour,*] get but a standing visit and a
standing kiss, and but, "How doest thouT' in the by-going.* I
dare not say he is lordly, because he is made a king now at tl>e
riglit hand of God ; or is grown miskenning^ and dry to his poor
friends ; (for he cannot make more of his kisses than they are
worth ;) but I think it my happiness to love the love of Christ : and
when he goeth away, the memory of his sweet presence is like a
feast in a dear summer. I haw comfort in this, that my soul de-
sireth that every hour of mv imprisonment were a company of
heavenly tongues to praise him on my behalf; albeit, my bonds
were prolonged for many hundred years. Oh, that I could be the
man who could procure my Lord's glory to flow like a full sea,
and blow like a mighty wind upon all the four airths* of Scot-
land, England, and Ireland ! Oh, if* I could write a book of his
[^raises. O fairest among the sons of men, why stayest thou so
ong away? O heavens, move fast! O time, run, run, and
hasten the marriage-day ! for love is tormented with delays. 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, and is nothing, to cast the
smell of the praise of that fair flower, that fragrant rose of Sharon,
through many worlds !
Sir, take my hearty commendations to him, and tell him that
I am sick of love.
Grace be with you.
Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R.
AbodMD, June 16, 1637.
LETTER CLXXXU.
TO HIS HONORED, AND DEAR BROTHER, ALEXANDER
GORDON, OF KNOCKGRAT.
Dearest, and truly Honored Brother, — Grace, mercy,
and peace be to you. I have seen no letter from you since I came
to Aberdeen : I will not interpret it to be forgetfulness. Tam here
in a fair prison : Christ is my sweet and honorable fellow-prisoner,
^ Thjotik, to iocKne the body forward by m iiiddeB motion, in order to aroid a ilrolM,
or Ukvary. * Bankrupt. > Patainf .
* So proud as not to condeaeend to acknowledgo aoqaaintanea with.
* Four <|uanen ot cardinal pointa of the eompaee. * Oh, lh«t
2BS EUTHERFORD^S LETTERS.
and T his sad and joyful lord-prisoner,* (if I may speak so.) 1
think this cross becometh me well, and is suitable to me in respect
of my duty to suffer for Christ; howbeit not in regard of m^ de-
serving to be thus honored. However it be, I see that Chnst is
strong, even lying in the dust, in prison, and in banishment.
Losses and disgraces are the wheels of Christ^s triumphing charioL
In the sufferings of his own saints, as he intendeth their good, so
he intendeth his own glory, and that is the butt his arrows shoot
at : and Christ shooteth not at the rovers,' he hitteth what he
purposeth to hit ; therefore, he doth make his own feckless* and
weak nothings, and those who are the contempt of men, " a new
sharp threshing instrument, having teeth, to thresh the moun-
tains, and beat them small, and to make the hills as chaff, and to
fan them," (Isaiah xli. 15, 16.) What harder stuff, or harder
grain for threshing out, than high and rocky mountains 7 but the
saints are God's threshing instruments to beat them all into chaff
Are we not God's leem ^ vessels ? and yet when they cast us over
an house we are not broken into sherds. We creep in under our
Lord's wings in the great shower, and the water cannot come
through those wings. It is folly then for men to say, '^ This is
not Christ's plea, he will lose the wed-fee ;' men are like to be-
guile him" — that were infleed a strange play. Nay, I dare pledge
my soul, and lay it in pawn on Christ's side of it, and be half-
tinner,* half-winner wiln.my Master ! Let fools laugh the fool's
laughter, and scorn Christ, and bid the weeping captives in Baby-
lon '' sing us one of the songs of Zion, play a spring to cheer up
your sad-hearted Gtod." We may sing upon luck's-head' before-
hand even in our winter-storm, in the expectation of a summer
sun, at the turn of the year. No created powers in Hell, or out
of Hell, can mar the music of our Lord Jesus, nor spill* our soog
of joy. Let us then be glad, and rejoice in the salvation of our
Lord : for faith had never yet cause to have wet cheeks and hing-
ing * down brows, or to droop or die. What can ail iaith, seeing
Christ suffereth himself, (with reverence to him be it spoken,) to
be commanded by it, and Christ commandeth all things ? Faith
may dance, because Christ singeth ; and we may come into the
choir, and lift our hoarse and rough voices, and chirp, and sing,
and shout for joy with our Lord Jesus. We see oxen go to the
shambles leaping and startling;*® we see God's fed oxen, pre-
pared for the day of slaughter, go dancing and singing down to
the black chambers of Hell ; and why should we go to Heaven
weeping, as if we were like to fall down through the earth for
sorrow ? If God were dead, (if I may speak so, with reverence
of Him who liveth forever and ever,) and Christ buried, and rot-
ten among the worms, we might have cause to look like dead
folks : but, *' the Lord liveth, and blessed be the Rock of our sal-
> That is, treated bj Christ with the ereatest kindness and honor. * At raadoa.
• UnsubsUntial, feeble. * Ear&en. • Bet, wa^r. • Hah'f
V That is, upon certiintj of soeoess. > Ruin, spoil.
• Hanging. ** Running about in an exciteii, gladaooM m
283
▼aiioii.'' (Psakn xviiir46.) None have right to joy but we ; for joy
is sown for U9, and an ill summer or harvest will not spUl ^ the crop.
The children of this world have much robbed joy that is not well«
x>me.* It is no good sport they laugh at : they steal joy, as it
were, from God ; for he commandelh them to mourn and howl.
Then let us claim our leel-corae* and lawfully conquessed • joy.
My dear brother, I cannot but speak what I have felt ; seeing
my Lord Jesus hath broken a box of spikenard upon the head of
his poor prisoner, and it is hard to hide a sweet smell ; it is a pain
to smother Christ's love ; it will be out whether we will or not.
If we did but speak according to the matter, a cross for Christ
should have another name; yea, a cross, especially when he
Cometh with his arms full of joys, is the happiest hard tree that
ever was laid upon my weak shoulder. Christ and his cross to-
gether are sweet company, and a blessed couple. My prison is
my palace, my sorrow is with child of joy, my losses are rich
losses, my pain easy pain, my heavy days are holv and happy
days. I may tell a new tale of Christ to my friends. Oh, iP I
could make a love son^ of him, and could commend Christ, and
tune his praises aright! Oh, if < I could set all tongues in Great
Britain and Ireland to work, to help me to sing a new song of my
Well-beloved ! Oh, if* I could be a bridge over a water for my
Lord Jesus to walk upon, and keep his feet dry ! Oh, if « my poor
bit . heaven could go betwixt my Lord and blasphemy, and dis-
honor ! (upon condition he loved me.) Oh, that my heart could
say this word, and abide by it forever ! Is it not great art, and
incomparable wisdom in my Lord, who can bring forth such fair
apples out of this crabbed tree of the cross ? Nay, my Father's
never-enough admired providence can make a fair feast out of a
black devil. Nothing can come wrong to my Lord in his sweet
working. I would even fall sound asleep in Christ's arms, and
my sinful head on his holy breast, while he kisseth me ; were it
not that often the wind turneth to the north, and whiles my sweet
Lord Jesus is so, that he will neither give nor take, borrow nor
lend with me. I complain that he is not social ; I half call him
proud and lordly of his company, and nice of his looks ; which
yet is not true. It would content me to give, albeit he should not
take. I should be content to want his kisses at such times, pro-
viding he would be content to come near-hand, and take my
wersh,' dry, and feckless* kisses. But at that time he will not be
entreated, but let a poor soul stand still and knock, and never let*
on him ' that he heareth ; and then the old leavings and broken
meat, and dry sighs, are greater cheer than I can tell. All I have
then is that howbeit the law and wrath have gotten a decreet'
against me, 1 can yet Uppen * that meikle '* goiSi in Christ, as to
1 Rain, tpoO. * Lawfully obtained.
> Obtained by porehaae or industrr, in opposition to obtained by inhentaneo.
« Oh, that • InnpUl. • Feeble, pithlcM.
V Seem to take notice. * Sentence of a court.
* Th l^ipm in, to put confidence in. >* Much.
284
get a suspension/ and to bring my cause in teasoning again be-
fore my WeU-beloved. I desire but to be heard, and at last be
is content to come and agree the matter with a fool, and forgive
freely, because he is God. Oh, if* men would glorify him, and
taste of Christ's sweetness !
Brother, ye have need to be busy with Christ for this whoriah
Kirk. I fear lest Christ cast water upon Scotland's coal ; nay, I
know that Christ and his wife will be heard, he will plead for the
broken CovenanU Arm you against that time.
Grace be with you.
Yours, in his sweet Lord JeauSy S. R.
Aberdeen, Jane 16, 1637.
LETTER CLXXXm.
TO MR. J. R.
Dear Brothbr, — Grace, mercy, and peace be unto you. — ^UpoQ
the report which I hear of you, ^without any further acquamt-
ance, except our straitest bonds m our Lord Jesus^) I thought
good to write unto you, hearing of your danger to be thrust out
of the Lord's house for his name's sake : therefore, my earnest and
humble desire to God is, that ye may be strengthened in the grace
of God, and, by the power of his might, may go on for Christ, not
standing in awe of a worm that shall die. I hope that ye will not
put your hand to the ark to give it a wrong totch,' and to over-
turn it, as many now do, when the archers are shooting sore at
Joseph, whose bow shall abide in its strength. We owe to our
royal King and princely Master a testimony. Oh, how blessed
are they who can ward a blow off Christ, and his borne-down
truth ! Men think Christ a gone man^ now, and that he shall
never get up his head again ; and they believe that his cour * is
failed, because he suffereth men to break their spears and swords
upon him, and the enemies to plough Zion, and make long and
deep their furrows on her back. But it would not be so, if the
Lord had not a sowing for his ploughing. What can he do, but
melt an old drossy Kirk, that he may brm^ out a new bride out
of the fire again ! I think that Christ is lust now repairing bis
bouse, and exchanging his old vessels with new vessels, and is
going tiirough this land, and taking up an inventory and a roll
of so many of Levi's sons, and good professors, that he may make
. them new work for the Second Temple ; and whatsoever shall be
found not to be for the work shall be caslen* over the walL When
the house shall be builded, he will lay by^ his hammers, as hav* .
1 Decree of a court suspending the tiecution of a sentence. > Oh, ihak
> A sudJen push, so tts to ronke the object pushed at move.
« A man utterly overcooia or conquered. * Favor in cout.
• Thrown. "* Aside.
RtTTHERPORD's LETTERS. 8BR
iDg no more to do wfth them. It is possible that he may do worse
to them than lay them by : and I think the vengeance of the
Lord, and the vengeance of his temple, shall be upon them.
I desire no more than to keep weight when I am past the fire :
and I can now, in some weak measure, give Christ a teslimoniaP
of a lovely and loving companion under suffering for him. I saw
bim before, but afar off! His beauty to my eye-sight growelh
A fig, a straw for ten worlds' plastered glory, and for childish shad-
ows, the idol of clay, (this god, the World,) that fools fight for. If
\ had a lease of Christ of my own dating, (for whoever once cometh
nigh hand * and taketh a hearty took of Christ's inner side, shall
never wring nor wrestle themselves out of his love-grips • again,)
[ would rest contentedly in my prison : yea, in a prison without
light of sun or candle, providing Christ and I had a love-bed, not
of mine, but of Christ's own making ; that we miffht lie together
among the lilies till the day break, and the shadows dee away.
Who knoweth how sweet a drink of Christ's love is? Oh, but to
live on Christ's love is a king's life ! The wors^t thing of Christ,
even that which seemeth to be the refuse of Christ, his hard cross,
his black cross, is while and fair ; and the cross receiveth a beau-
tiful lustre, and a perfumed smell from Jesus : — my dear brother,
scaur ^ not at it.
While ye have time to stand upon the watch-tower, and speak,
contend with this land, plead with your Harlot-mother, who hath
been a treacherous half-marrow* to her Husband, Jesus. For I
would think liberty, to preach one day, the root and top of my
desires ; and would seek no more of the bkssings that are to be
had on this side of time, till I be over the water, than to spend
this, my crazy clay-house, in his service and saving of souls. But
I hold my peace, because he hath done it. My shallow and ebb*
thoughts are not the compass which Christ saileth by. I leave
his ways to himself, for they are far, far above me : only I would
contend with Christ for his love, and be bold to make a plea' with
Jesus, my Lord, for a heart-fill of his love ; for there is no more
left to me. What standeth beyond the far end* of my sufferings,
and what shall be the event, he knoweth ; and I hope, to my joy,
will make me know, when God will unfold his decrees concerning
me ; for there are windings, and tos and fros in his ways, which
blind bodies like us cannot see.
Thus much for farther acquaintance: so recommending you,
and what is before you, to the grace of God, I rest,
Your very loving brother.
In his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R.
Aberdeen, Jane 16, 1637.
1 Ceftifleate. * Near. * Lovv-emlirarie.
« Boggle. * Married partner. * Eieeedinglx thallow
V CeiKwveivj. * Farther end.
286 EUTHBEFORO'S LETTBES.
I
LETTER CLXXXIV.
TO MR. WILLIAM DALOLEIfH.
Reverend, and Well-beloved Brother, — Grace, mercyi
and peace be ubto you. — I have heard somewhat of your triala in
Galloway. I bless the Lord, who hath begun first in that comer,
to make you a new kirk to himself. Christ hath the less ado be
hind, when he had refined you.
Let me entreat you, my dearly beloved, to be fast to Christ
My Witness is above, my dearest brother, that ye have added
much joy to me in mv bonds, when I hear that ye grow in the
grace, and zeal of God for your Master. Our minbtry, whether
by preaching or suffering, wilt cast a smell through the world both
of Heaven and Hell, (2 Cor. ii. 15, 16.) I persuade you, my dear
brother, that there is nothing out of Heaven, next to Christ, dearer
to me than my ministry ; and the worth of it, in my estimation,
is swelled, and paineth me exceedingly : yet I am content, for the
honor of my Lord, to surrender it back again to the Lord of the
vineyard ; let him do with it, and me both, what he thinketh good ;
— I think myself too little for him.
And let me speak to you, how kind a fellow-prisoner is Christ
to me ! Believe me, this kind of cross, (that would not go by * my
door, but would needs visit me,) is still the longer the more wel-
come to me. It is true, my silent Sabbaths have been, and are,
glassy ice, whereon my faith can scarce hold its feet, and I am
often blown on my back, and off my feet, with a storm of doubting ;
yet truly, my bonds all this time cast a mighty and rank smell of
high and deep love in Christ. I cannot, indeed, see through my
cross to the far end ;' yet I believe I am in Christ's books, and in bu
decree (not yet unfolded to me) a man triumphinflr, dancing, jind
singing, on the other side of the Red Sea, and laughing and prais-
ing the Lamb, over beyond time, sorrow, deprivation, prelates* in-
dignation, losses, want of friends, and death. Heaven is not a
fowl flying in the air, ^as men use to speak of things that are un-
certain:) nay, it is well-paid for, Christ's comprisement* lieth oo
glory, for all the mourners in Zion and shall never be loosed.
Let us be glad, and rejoice, that we have blood, losses and wounds,
to show our Master and Captain at his appearance, and what we
sufiered for his cause.
Wo is me, my dear brother, that I say often, I am but dry
bones, which my Lord will not bring out of the grave again ; and
that my faithless fears say, '^ Oh, 1 am a dry tree, that can bear
no fruit ; I am a useless body, who can beget no children to the
Lord in his house !" Hopes of deliverance look cold and uncet taiOt
and afar off, as if I had done with it. It is much for Christ (if I
> Past s FftftlMrend.
> Legal attaehiDnt for debt
267
may say so) to get law-borrows * o£ my sorrow, and of my quar-
relous heart. Christ's love playeth me fair play. I am not
wronged at all ; but there is a tricking^ and false heart within me,
thut still playeth Christ foul play, f am a cumbersome neighbor
to Christ ; it is a wonder, that he dwelleth beside the like of me :
yet I often get the advantage of the hill above my temptations ;
and then I despise temptation, even Hell itself, and the stink of
it, and the instruments of it, and am proud of my honorable Mas-
ter ; and I resolve, whether contrary winds will or not, to fetch
Christ's harbor ; and I think a wilful and stiff contention ^ith my
Lord Jesus for bis love very lawful. It is sometimes hard to me
to win my meat* upon Christ's love, because my faith is sick, and
my hope withereth, and my eyes wax dim ; and unkind and com-
fort-eclipsing clouds go over the fair and bright Sun, Jesus ; and
then, when! and temptation tryste* the matter together, we spilh
all through unbelief. Sweet, sweet for evermore would my life
be, if I could keep faith in exercise ! but I see that my fire cannot
always cast light ; I have even a poor man's hard world when he
goeth away. But surely, since my entry hither, many a time hath
niy fair sun shined without a cloud ; hot and burning hath Christ's
love been to me. I have no vent to the expression of it ; I must
be content with stolen and smothered desires of Christ's glory.
Oh, how far is his love behind the hand * with me I I am just
like a man who hath nothing to pay his thousands of debt : all
that can be gotten of him, is to seize upon his person. Except
Christ woulcf seize upon myself, and make the readiest payment
that can be of my heart and love to himself, 1 have no other thing
to give him. If my sufferings could do beholders good, and edify
liis Kirk, and proclaim the incomparable worth of Christ's love to
the world, oh, then, would my soul be overjoyed, and my sad
heart be cheered and calmed !
Dear brother, I cannot tell what is become of my labors among
that people I If all that my Lord builded by me be casten* down,
and the bottom be fallen out of the profession of the parish, and
none stand by Christ, whose love I once preached as clearly and
plainly as I could, (though far below its worth and excellence,)
to that people ; if so, how can I bear it ! And if another make a
foul harvest, where I have made a painful and honest sowing, it
will not soon digest with me. But I know^that his ways pass
finding out. Yet my Witness, both within me and above me,
knoweth, and my |/ained breast upon the Lord's day at night, my
desire to have had Christ awful, and amiable, and sweet to that
people, is now my joy. It was my desire and aim to make Christ
and them one, and, if I see my hopes die in the bud, ere thev
bloom * a little, and come to no fruit, I die with grief. O my God,
> Legal McariCj which a man ii obliged to gire to one who awcan the peaea
against him, that he will not injure him in penon or propertj.
* Ram my living.
* 7\» Irytii a matter^ to bring it for adjnitment before an appointed meeting.
* SpoiL • That is, in receiving its due retam. > Thrown. ^ Blc
Rutherford's letters.
seek not an account of the violence done to me by my brethren,
whose salvation I love and desire : I pray that they and I be not
heard as contrarv parties in the day of our compearance ' before
our Judge, in that process, led by them against my ministry,
which 1 received from Christ. I know that a little inch, and less
than the third part of this span-length and hand-breadth of time,
which is posting away, will put me without the stroke, and above
the reach of either brethren or foes : and it is a short-lasting in-
jury done to me, and to my pains in that part of ray Lord's vine-
yard. Oh, how silly * an advantage, is my deprivation to men,
seeing that my Lord Jesus hath many ways to recover his own
losses, and is irresistible to compass his own glorious ends, that his
lilv may grow amongst thorns, and his little Kingdom exalt it-
self, even under the swords and spears of contrary powers !
But, my dear brother, so on in the strength of his rich grace
whom ye serve. Stand last for Christ. Deliver the Gospel off
your hand, and your ministry to your Master, with a clean and
undefiled conscience. Loose not a pin of Christ's tabernacle. Do
not so much as pick with your nail at one board or border of the
Ark. Have no part or dealing, upon any terms, in a hoof* in a
closed window,* or in a bowing of your knee, in casting down of
the temple. But be a mourning and speaking witness against
them who now ruin Zion. Our Master will be on us all in a clap,
ere ever we wit. IHiat day will discover all our whites and our
blacks, concerning this controversy of poor oppressed Zion. Ijet
us make our part of it good, that it may be able to abide the fire,
when hay and stubble shall be burned to ashes. Nothing, noth-
ing, I say ndthing, but sound sanctification can abide the Lonfs
fan. I stand to my testimony, that I preached often of Scotland
— Lamentation, mourning, and wo abidelh thee, O Scotland!
O Scotland, the fearful quarrel of a broken covenant standeth
good with thy Lord !
Now, remember my Lord to all my friends, and to my parish-
ioners, as if I named each of them particularly. I recommend
you and God's people, committed by Christ to your trust, to the
rich grace of our all-sufficient Lord. Remember my bonds. Praise
my Lord, who beareth me up in my sufferings. As ye find oc-
casion, according to the wisdom given you, show our acquaintance
what the Lord bath done to my soul. This I seek not, verily, to
hunt my own praise, but that my sweetest and dearest Master
may be magnined in my sufTerings. I rest, •
Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R.
Abodeeii, Joot IS, 1637.
1 Appeanmee. t Coottmptible, pitiibL
> TiMt m, in the MMdIeit pMjfeiilar. 8m Bzod. z. 96, and Dan. vi IS.
,. Rutherford's letters. 289
LETTER CLXXXV.
TO MARION MACKNAUGHT.
Dearly Beloved in our Lord Jesus Christ, — Grace, mer-
cy, and peace, be to you. — Few know the heart of a stranger and
Erisoner. I am in the hands of mine enemies. I would that
onest, and lawful means were essayed for bringing me home to
rny charge, now when Mr. A. R. and Mr. H. R. are restored. It
concerneth you of Galloway most, to use supplications and ad*
dresses for this purpose, and try, if by fair means I can be brought
back again. As for liberty, without I be restored to my flock, it
is little to me ; for my silence is my greatest prison. However it
be, I wait for the Lord ; I hope not to rot in my sufferings : — Lord,
give me submission to wait on. My heart is sad that my days
Aee away, and I do no service to my Lord in his house, now
when his harvest, and the souls of perishing people require it ; but
his ways are not Hke my ways, neither can I find him out. Oh,
that he would shine upon my darkness, and bring forth my morn-
ing light from under the thick cloud, that men have spread over
me ! Oh, that the Almighty would lay my cause in a balance,
and weigh me, if my soul was not taken up,' when others were
sleeping, how to have Christ betrothed with a bride, in that part
of the land ! But that day that my mouth was most unjustly and
cruelly closed, the bloom " fell off my branches, and my joy did
cast the flower. Howbeit, I have been casting myself under God's
feet, and wrestling to believe under a hidden and covered Lord,
yet my fainting cometh before I eat, and my faith hath bowed,
with the sore cast, and under this almost insupportable weight.
Oh, that it break not ! I dare not say that the Lord hath put out
my candle, and hath casten water upon my poor coal, and broken
the stakes of my tabernacle : but I have tasted bitterness, and
eaten gall and wormwood, since that day on which my Master
laid bonds upon me to speak no more. I speak not this, because
the Lord is unco* to me ; but because beholders, that stand on dry
land, see not my sea-storm. The witnesses of my sad cross, are
but strangers to my sad days and nights. Oh, that Christ would
let me alone, and speak love to me, and come home to me, and
bring summer with him ! Oh, that I might preach his beauty
and glory, as once I did, before my clay-tent be removed to dark-
ness ; and that I might lift Christ off the ground, and my branches
might be watered with the dew of God, and my joy in his work
raight grow green again, and bud, and send out a flower ! But
I am but a short-sighted creature, and my candle casteih not light
afar off. He knoweth all that is done to me ; how that when I
had but one joy, and no more, and one green flower that I e8«
teemed to be my garland, he came in one hour and dried up my
I Ooeopied. * BIoMom. * DiiUnt, reMrred.
19
890 RUTHERPORD^S LETTERS.
flower at the root, and took away mine only eye, and my one •
only crown and garland. What can I sayf Surely my guilti-
ness hath been remembered before him, and he was seeking to
take down my s ills, and to land the flower of my delights, and to
let it lye on the coa^t, like an old broken ship, that is no more for
the sea. But I praise him for this waled ' stroke. I welcome
this furnace ; God's wisdom made choice of it for me, and it must
be best, because it was his choice. Oh, that I may wait for him
till the morning of this benighted Kirk break out ! This poor
afllicted Kirk had a fair morning ; but her night came upon her
before her noon-day, and she was like a traveller, forced to take
house in the morning of his journey : and now her adversaries are
the chief men in the land ; her ways mourn ; her rates languish ;
her children sieh for bread ; and there is none to be instant with
the Lord, that Tie would come again to his house, and dry the face
of his weeping spouse, and comfort Zion's mourners, who are
waiting for him. I know that he will make corn to grow upon
the top of his withered Mount Zion again.
Remember my bonds, and forget me not. . Oh, that my Lord
would bring me again amongst you, with abundance of the
Gospel of Christ ! But oh. that I may set down my desires, where
my Lord biddeth me ! Remember my love in the Lord to your
husband — ^God make him faithful to Christ — and niy blessing to
your three children. Paint not in prayer for this Kirk. Desire
my people not to receive a stranger and intruder upon my minis-
try. Let me stand in that right and station that my Lord Jesos
gave me.
Grace, grace be with you.
Yours, in his sweet Lord and Master, S. R.
Aberdeen, 1637.
LETTER CLXXXVI.
TO JOHN GORDON, AT RU8CO.
Dear Brother, — I earnestly desire to know the caoa of your
soul, and to understand that ye have made sure work of Heaven
and salvation.
1. Remember that salvation is one of Christ's dainties which be
giveth but to a few. 2. That it is violent 'sweating and striving
that taketh Heaven. 3. That it cost Christ's bkMxl to purchase
that house to sinners, and to set mankind down as the Kmg's
free-tenants and free-holders. 4. That many make a start tow-
ards Heaven, who fall on their back, and wm* not up to the top
of ttie mount. It plucketh heart and legs from them, and ibejr
sit down and give it over, because the Devil settetb a sweet-
1 This nameral, contCnied in this manner, is, in Uie Scottiih dialect, indieatiTt mi
great emphaeie^ * Carefully selected. > AtUio.
Rutherford's letters. 291
■Melled flower id their oose, ibis fair busked * world, wherewith
they are bewitched, and so forget or refuse to go forward. 5. Re-
member that many go for on, and reform many things, and can
find tears, as Esau did; and suffer hunger for truth, as Judas did ;
and wish and desire the end of the righteous, as Balaam did ; and
profess fair, and fight for the Lord, as Saul did ; and desire the
saints of God to pray for them, as Pharaoh and Simon Magus did ;
and prophesy and speak of Christ, as Caiaphas did ; and walk
softly and mourn for fear of Judgments, as Ahab did ; and put
away gross sins and idolatry, as Jehu did ; and hear the word of
God gladly, and reform their life in many things according to the
word, as Herod did ; and say, " Master," to Christ, " I will follow
thee whither thou goest," as the man who offered to be Christ's
servant, (Matt. viii. 19;) and may taste of the virtues of the life
to come, and be partaker of the wonderful gifts of the Holy Spirit,
and taste of the good word of God, as the apostates, who sin
against the Holy Ghost, (Heb. vi.:) and vet, all these are but like
gold in clink and color, and are watered ' brass and base metal.
These are written, that we should try ourselves, and not rest till
we be a step nearer Christ than sun-burned and withering profes-
sors can come. 6. Consider, it is impossible that your idol-sins and
ye can go to Heaven together : and, that they, who will not part
with these, cannot indeed love Christ at the bottom, but only in
word and show, which will not do the business. 7. Remember
how sWiftly Crod's post, time, flieth away ; and that your forenoon
is already spent, your afternoon will come, and then your evening,
and, at last, night, when ye cannot see to work : let your heart be
set upon the finishing of your journey, and the summing and lay-
ing of your accounts with your Lord. Oh, how blessed shall ye
be, to have a joyful welcome of your Lord at night ! How blessed
are they, who in time take sure course with their souls I Bless
his great name, for what ye possess in goods and children, ease
and worldly contentment, that he hath given you : and seek to be
like Christ in humility and lowliness of mind : and be not great
and entire* with the world : make it not your god nor your lover,
whom ye trust unto, for it will deceive you.
I recommend Christ and his love to you, in all things. Let' him
have the flower of your heart and your love. Set a low price upon
all things but Christ; and cry down, in your thoughts, clay and
dirt, that will not comfort you, when ye get summons to remove,
and compear^ before your Judge, to answer for all the deeds done
io the body. The Lord give you wisdom in all things. I beseech
you to sanctify God in your speaking, for holy and reverend is his
name : and be temperate ana sober : companionry,* as it is called,
is a sin that holdetb men out of Heaven. I will not believe, that
ye will receive the ministry of a stranger, who will preach a new
and unco* doctrine to you. Let my salvation stand for it, if I
t Decked. t p|ait«d with tXtwtr.
> On Um moM inttmate and fluniliar teniM. * Appear
* Tta nrach wciatl^, or fondneM of oomfMUij. * Strangiw
293 Rutherford's letters.
delivered not the plain and whole counsel of Qod to you in hb
word.
Read this letter to your wife, and reraember my love to her ;
and request her to take heed to do what I write to you. 1 prar
for you, and vours. Remember me in your prayers to our Lord,
that he would be pleased to send me amongst you again. Grace
be with you.
Your lawful, and loving pastor, S. R.
Aberdeen, 1S37.
LETTER CLXXXVIL
TO MR. HUGH HENDERSON.
Retbrbnd and dear Brother, — Who knoweth, but the
wind may turn into the west again, upon Christ and his desolate
bride in this land ; and that Chridt may get his summer by course
again 1 for he hath had ill weather this long time, aod could not
find law or justice for himself and his truth these many years. I
am sure the wheels of this crazed and broken Kirk run all upon
no other axle-tree, nor is there any other to roll them, and cog ^
them, and drive them, than the wisdom and good pleasure of our
Lord ; and it were a just trick, and glorious, of never-sleeping
Providence, to bring our brethren's darts, which they have shot at
us, back upon their own heads. Suppose they have two strings
to their bow, and can take one as another faileth them, yet there
are more than three strings upon our Lord's bow ; and, besides,
he cannot miss the white* that he shooteth at. I know that be
shuiBeth up and down in his hand the great body of Heaven and
earth ; and that Kirk and commonwealth are in his hand, like a
stock of cards,' and that he dealeth the play to the mourners of
Zion, and to those that say, ^^ Lie down, that we may go over
you," at his own sovereign pleasure : and I am sure, that Zion't
adversaries, in this play, shall not take up their own stakes again.
Oh, how sweet a thing is it to trust in him ! When Christ hath
sleeped out his sleep, (if I may speak so of Him, who is the
Watchman 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 \-engeance thick and double amonest the haters of Zion. It
may be that we may see him sow, and send down maledicUoof
and vengeances, as thick as drops of rain or hati, upon his ene-
mies ; for our Lord oweth them a black dav, and he useth duly to
pay his debts : — ^neither his friends and followenB, nor his foes and
adversaries, shall have it to say, '^ that he is not faithful and exact
in keeping his word."
> 7h cog, to plAM a iCnne or pieee of wood wedge wwe between a wheel mmI the
grounfi to at to prevent the wheel fVom nmvin^
* Mark in a taq^et, at which fhooters aiin, & Pack of eaula
Rutherford's letters. 293
I know of no bar in God's way. but Scotland's guiltiness ; and
he can come over that impediment, and break that bar also, and
then say to guilty Scotland, as he said, (Ezek. xxxvi.,^ "Not for
your sakes," etc. On-waiting had ever yet a blessed issue ; and
to keep the word of God's patience, keepeth still the saints dry in
the water, cold in the fire, and breathing and blood-hot in the
^ave. What are prisons of iron walls, and gates of brass to
Christ 1 Not so good as fail-dykes,' fortifications of straw, or old
tottering walls. If he give the word, then chains will fall off the
arms and le^ of his prisoners. God be thanked, that our Lord
Jesus hath the tutoring of King and court and nobles ; and that
he can dry the gutters * and the mires in Zion, and lay causeways
to the temple with the carcases of bastard Loixl-prelates, and idol-
shepherds. The corn on the house-tops got never the husband-
man's prayers, and so is seen on it, for it fiUeth not the hand of
mowers. Christ, and truth, and innocency worketh even under
the earth : and verily there is hope for the righteous. We see not
what conclusions pass in Heaven anent all the aflfairs of God's
house. We need not give hire to God to take vengeance of his
enemies, for justice worketh without hire. Oh, that the seed of
hope would grow again, and come to maturity ! and that we could
importune Christ, and double our knocks at his gate, and cast our
cries and shouts over the wail, that he might come out, and make
our Jerusalem the praise of the whole earth, and'give us salvation
for walls and bulwarks! If Christ bud, and grow green, and
bloom ' and bear seed again in Scotland, and his Father send him
two summers in one year, and bless his crop, oh, what cause have
we to rejoice in the free salvation of our Lord, and to set up our
banners in the name of our God ! Oh, that he would hasten the
confusion of the leprous strumpet, the Mother and Mistress of
abominations in the earth, and take graven images out of the way
and come in with the Jews in troops, and agree with his old out •
cast and forsaken wife, and take them again to his bed of love !
Grace be with you.
Yours, in our Master and Lord. S. R
,1637.
LETTER CLXXXVm.
TO THE LADY LARGIRIE.
Mistress, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. — ^1 exhort you
in the Lord, to go on in your journey to Heaven ; and to be con-
tent with such fare by the way, as Christ and hb followers have
had before you ; for they had always the wind on their faces ; and
our Lord hath not changed the way to us for our ease, but will
have us following our sweet Guide. Alas, how doth sin clog us
ID our journey, and retard us ! What fools are we, to have a by-
1 Wftlh of tar£ > Psalm exzix. 8. • BloMom.
JNM RUTHERFORD 8 LETTERS.
good,' or any other love, or match to our souls, beside Christ ! It
were best for us, like ill bairas, who are best heard at home, to seek
our own home, and to sell our hopes of this little clay-inn and idol of
the earth, where we are neither well summered, nor well wintered.
Oh, that our souls would so fall at odds with the love of this world,
as to think of it as a traveller doth 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. Ob, that
we had as soon done with this world, and could as quickly dispatch
the love of it ! but as a child cannot hold two apples in his little
hand, but the one putteth the other out of its room ; so neither
can we be masters and lords of two loves. Blessed were we, if we
could make ourselves masters of that invaluable treasure, the love
of Christ ; or rather suffer ourselves to be mastered and subdued
to Christ's love, so as Christ were our all things, and all other
things our nothings, and the refuse of our delights. Oh let us be
ready for shipping against the time our Lord's wind and tide
call for us ! Death is the last thief, that will come without the
least din or noise of feet, and take our souls away, and we shall
take our leave of time and face eternity ; and our Lord will lay
together the two sides of this earthly tabernacle, and fold us, and
lay us by,' as a man layeth by* clothes at night, and put the one
half of us in a house of clay, the dark grave, and the other half of
us in Heaven or Hell. Seek to be found of your Lord in peace,
and gather in your flitting,' and put your soul in order, for Christ
will not give a nail-breadth of time to our little sand-glass.
Pray for Zion, and for me his prisoner, that he would be pleased
to bring me amongst you again, full of Christ, and fraughted an<f
loaded with the blessing of his Gospel.
Grace, grace be with you.
Yours, in his only Lord and Master, 8. R
▲beideen, 1637.
LETTER CLXXXDL
TO EARLSTON, TOUNOER.
Worthy and dearly beloved in our Lord, — Graoe,
mercy, and peace be to you. — I long to hear from you. I remain
still a prisoner of hope, and do think it service to the Lord, to wait
on still with submission, till the Lord's morning sk^ break, and
his summer day dawn : for I am persuaded that it is a piece of
the chief end of our life, which Goo sent us for some years dovrn
to this earth, among devils and men, the fire-brands of the Devil,
and temptations, that we might suffer for a time here amongst
our enemies ; otherwise we might have made Heaven to wait oa
1 An object which we tecretlj regard at our chier good, differant from Ibal on
oor affection* are avowedly placed. > Pant
* Goods to be removed nrom one reiidenee to another.
29S
09, at our comin? out of the womb, and ha\e carried us hijme to
our country, without letting us set down our feet in this knotty
and thorny life. But seeing apiece of suflfering is carved to every
one of us, less or more, as Infinite Wisdom hath thought good,
our part is to harden and habituate our soft and thin-skinned na-
ture, to endure fire and water, devils, lions, men^ losses, wo> hearts,
as these that are looked upon by God, angels, men, and devils. Oh,
what folly is it, to sit down and weep upon a decree of God, that
is both deaf and dumb to our tears, and must stand still as un*
movable as God who made it! for who can come behind our Lord,
to alter, or better what he hath decreed and done? It were better
to make windows in our prison, and to look out to God and our
country, Heaven, and to cry, like fettered men, who long for the
King's free air, ^'Lord, let thy kingdom come! Oh, let the Bride-
groom come ! And, O day, O fair day, O everlasting summer
day, dawn and shine out, break out from under the black night-
sky, and shine !" I am persuaded that, if every day a little stone
in the prison walls were broken, and thereby assurance given to the
chained prisoner lying under twenty stone of irons upon arms and
legs, that at length his chain should wear into two pieces, and a hole^
should be made at length, as wide as he might come safely out
to his long-desired liberty ; he would, in patience, wait on, till
time should holh the prison wall and break his chains. The,
Lord's hopeful prisoners, under their trials, are in that case. Years
and months will take out now one little stone, then another, of this
house of clay, and at length time shall win' out the breadth of a
fair door, and send out the imprisoned soul to the free air in Heav-'
en ; and time shall file oflf, by little and little, our iron bolts, which
are now on legs and arms, and outdate, and wear our troubles
threadbare, and full of holes, and then wear them to nothing ; —
for what I suffered yesterday, I know, shall never come again to
trouble me.
Oh, that we could breathe out new hope and new submission
every day, into Christ's lap ! For certainly, a weight of glory,
well weighed, yea, increasing to a far more exceeding and eternal
weight, shall recompense both weight and length of light, and
clipped and short-dated < crosses. Our waters are but ebb,* and
come neither to our chin, nor to the stopping of our breath. I
may see, (if I would borrow eyes from Christ,) dry land, and that
near ; why, then, should we not laugh at adversity, and scorn our
short-born, and soon-dying temptations? I rejoice in the hope of
that glory to he revealed, for it is no uncertain glory which we
look for. Our hope is not hun^ upon such an untwisted thread,
as, " I imagine so," or, " It is likely :" but the cable, the strong
towe* of our fastened anchor, is the oath and promise of Him
who is eternal verity ; our salvation is fastened with Gotl's own
hand, and with Christ's own strength, to the strong stoup,* of
God's unchangeable nature. (Mai. iii. 6,) "I am the Lord, I
« Orirvf>il. 1 Pierce through. » Oct * Tranwiory.
< Shallow • Hawser. ▼ Suke, poft
296 Rutherford's letters.
change not ; and, therefore, ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.'
We may play, and dance^ and leap upon our worthy and immov-
able Rock; the ground is sure and good, and will bide* Hell's
brangling, and devils' brangling, and the world's assaults.
Oh, if our faith could ride it out, against the high and proud
waves and winds, when our sea seemeth to be all on fire ! Oh,
how oft do I (et my grips* go ! I am put to swimming and half
sinking. I find that the Devil hath the advantage of the ground,
in this battle ; for he fighteth on known ground, in our corrupi
nature. Alst^ ! that is a friend near of kin and blood to himself^
and will not fail to fall foul upon us : and hence it is, that He who
saveth to the uttermost, and leadeth many sons to glory, is still
righting my salvation, and twenty times a day I ravel my heaven,
and then 1 must come with my ill-ravelled work to Christ, to
cumber him (as it were,) to right it, and to seek again the right
end of the thread, and to fold up again my eternal glory with his
own hand, and to give a right cast of his holy and gracious hand
to my marred and spilled' salvation. Certainly it is a cumber-
some thing, to keep a foolish child from falls and broken brows,
and weeping for this and that toy, and rash running, and sick-
ness, and bairns' diseases ; ere he win * through them all, and
win^ out of the mires, he costeth meikle black cumber and fash-
ery * to his keepers : and so is a believer a cumbersome piece of
work, and an ill-ravelled hesp,* (as we use to say,) to Christ ; bat
God be thanked, for many spilled salvations, and many ill-ravelled
heaps hath Christ mended, since first lie entered Tutor to lost
mankind. Oh, what could we, bairns, do without him! how soon
would we mar all ! But the less of our weight be upon our own
feeble legs, and the more that we be on Christ the strong Rock,
the better for us ; it is good for us, that ever Christ took the cum-
ber of us ; it is our heaven, to lay many weights and burdens upon
Christ, and to make him all we have, root and top, beginning and
ending of our salvation. Lord hold us here.
Now to this tutor, and rich Lord, I recommend you. Hold fkA
till he come ; and remember his prisoner.
Grace, grace be with you.
Yours, in his and your Ijord Jesus, S. R.
Aberdeen, 1637.
LETTER CXC.
TO MR. WILLIAM DALOLBISH.
Reverend, and dear Brother, — Grace, mercy, and peace
be to you — I received your letter. I bless your high and only
wise Lord, who hath broken the snare that men had laid for you ;
and I hope, that now he will keep you in his house, in despite of the
1 StnnJ. s Hold. • Spoiled. < Get
* Unspeakable truuble and annoyance. * Hank of jam.
Rutherford's letters. 297
powers of Hell. Who knoweth, but the streets of our Jerusalem
shall yet be filled with young men, and with old men, and boys,
and women with child ; and that they shall plant vines in the
mountains of Samaria? I am sure that the wheels, paces, and
motions of this poor Church are tampered and ruled, not as nien
would, but according to the good pleasure and infinite wisdom of
our only wise Lord.
I am here, waiting in hope that my innocency, in this honor-
able cause, shall melt this cloud that men have casten over me.
I know that my Lord had his own quarrels asrainst me, and that
my dross stood in need of this hot furnace : but I rejoice in this,
that fair truth, beautiful truth, (whose glory my Lord cleareth to
me more and more,) beareth me company ; and that my weak
aims to honor my Master, in bringing guests to his house, now
swell upon me in comforts ; and that I am not afraid that I want
a witness in Heaven, that it was my joy to have a crown put
upon Christ's head in that country. Oh, what joy would I have,
to see the wind turn upon the enemies of the cross of Christ, and
to see my Lord Jesus restored, with the voice of praise, to his own
free throne again ; and to be brought amongst you, to see the
beauty of the Lord's house !
I hope that country will not be so silly, as to sufler men- to
pluck you away from them ; and, that ye will use means to keep
my place empty and to bring me back again to the people, to
whom I have Christ's right and his Church's lawful calling.
Dear brother, let Christ be dearer and dearer to you ; let the
conquest' of souls be fop and root, flower and bloom of your joys
and desires, on thi»side of sun and moon ; and in the day, when
the Lord shall pull up the four stakes of this clay tent of the
earth, and the last pickle* of sand shall be at the nick' of falling
down in your watch-glass, and the master shall call the servants
of the vineyard to give them their hire, ye will esteem the bloom
of this world's glory like the colors of the rainbow, that no man
can put into his purse and treasure ; your labor and pains will
then smile upon you.
My Lord now hath given me experience, (howbeit weak and
small,) that our best fare here is hunger. We are but at God's
by-board,* in this lower house ; we have cause to long for supper-
time, and the high tdble, up in the high palace ; this world deserv«
eth nothing, but the outer court of our soul. Lord, hasten the
marriuge-supper of the Lamb. I find it still peace to give up
with this present world, as with an old decourted* and cast-off
lover: my bread and drink in it, is not so much worth that I
should not loathe the inns, and pack up my desires for Christ,
whom I have sent out to the feckless* creatures in it. Grace,
grace l>e with you.
Your aflre<:tionate brother, and Chrbt's prisoner, S. R.
Aberdeen. 1G37.
> AcqaUition. > Grain * Point
« Skle-tabtak • Discarded. • Feeble, wortbteM
998 buthsrpord's LXTTsms.
LETTER CXCI.
TO THE LAIRD OP CALLT.
Much Honored Sir, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you —
I loQg to hear how your soul prospereth ! I have that coofidence
that your soul mindeth Christ and salvation. I beseech you, in
the Lord, to give more pains and diligence to fetch Heaven, than
the country -sort of lazy professors, who think their own faith and
their own godliness, because it is their own, best ; and content
themselves with a cold>rife ^ custom and course, with a resolution
to summer and winter in that sort of profession which the multi-
tude and the times favor most ; and are still shaping and clipping
and carving their faith, according as it may best stand with their
summer sun and a whole skin ; and so breathe out both hot and
cold in God's matters, according to the course of the times : this
is their compass which they sail toward Heaven by, instead of a
better. Worthy, and dear sir, separate yourself from such, and
bend yourself to the utmost of your strength and breath, in run-
ning fast for salvation : and, in taking Christ's kingdom, use vio-
lence. It cost Christ and all his followers sharp showers and hot
sweats, ere they won* to the top of the mountain : but still our
soft nature would have heaven coming to our bed-side, when we
are sleeping, and lying down with us, that we might go to Heaven
in warm clothes ; but all that came there, found wet feet by the way,
and sharp storms, that did take the skin off their face, and found
tos and fros, and ups and downs, and many enemies by the way.
It is impossible that a man can take his lusts to Heaven with
him ; such wares as these will not be welcome there. Oh, how
loth are we to forego our packalds* and burdens, that hinder us
to run our race with patience ! It is no small work to displease
and anger nature, that we may please God. Oh, if < it be hard to
win one foot or half an inch out of our own will, our own wit,
out of our own ease and worldly lusts ; and so to deny ourself
and to say, '^ It is not I but Christ, not I but grace, not I but God^s
glory, not I but God's love constraining me, not I but the Lord's
word, not I but Christ's commanding power in me !" Oh, what
[»ains, and what a death is it to nature, to turn me, myself, my
ust, my ease, my credit, over unto my Lord, my Saviour, my
King, and my GkJd, my Lord's will, my Lord's grace ! But alas!
that idol, that whorish creature, myself, is the master-idol we all
bow to. What made Evah miscarry? and what hurried her
headlong upon the forbidden fruit, out that wretched thing her-
self? What drew that brother-murderer to kill Abel? that wild
himself What drove the old world on to corrupt their ways?
what, but themselves, and their own pleasure ? What was the
cause of Solomon's falling into adultery and multiplying of
> CoM, indifferent < Got 9 Walktt. « Oh, b«l
«(range wives? what, but himself, whom he would rather pleasure
than Qodl What was the hook that took David and snared him
first in adultery, but his self-lust; and then in murder, but his
self-credit and self-honor ? What led Peter on to deny his Lord f
was it not a piece of himself, and self-love to a wliole skin?
What made Judas sell his Master for thirty pieces of money, but
a piece of self>love, idolizing of avaricious self? What made
Demas to go off the way of the Grospel, to embrace this present
world ? even self-love and love of gain for himself. Every man
blaraeth the Devil for his sins ; but the great devil, the house-devil
of every man, the house-devil that eateth and lyeth in every
man's bosom, is that idol that killeth all, himself. Oh, blessed
are they, who can deny themselves, and put Christ in the joom
of themselves ! Oh, would to the Lord, that I had not a myself,
but Christ; nor, a my lust, but Christ; nor, a my ease, but
Christ ; nor, a my honor, but Christ ! Oh, sweet word ! (Gal.
11. 20,) " I live no more, but Christ liveth in me \^ Oh, if every
one would put away himself, his own self, hb own ease, his own
pleasure, his own credit, and his own twenty things, his own hun-
dred things, which he setteth up, as idols, above Christ ! Dear
sir, I know that ye will be looking back to your old self, and to
your self-lust and self-idol, which ye set up in the lusts of youth,
above Christ.
Worthy sir, pardon this my freedom of love. God is my witness,
that it is out of an earnest desire after your souPs eternal welfare,
that I use thb freedom of speech. Your sun, I know, is lower,
and your evening sky and sun-setting nearer than when I saw
you last : strive to end your task before night, and to make Christ,
yourself, and to acquaint your love and your heart with the Lord.
Stand now by Christ and his truth, when so many fall foully, and
are false to him. I hope that ye love him and his truth : let me
have power with you to confirm you in him. I think more of my
Lord's sweet cross than of a crown of gold, and a free kingdom
lyin^ to it.
Sir, I remember you in my prayers to the Lord, according to my
promise. Help me with your prayers, that our Lord would bfe
pleased to bring me amongst you again, with the Gospel of Christ.
Grace, grace be with you.
Yours, in bis sweetest Lord, and Master, S. IL
Abefil«eo, 1637.
LETTER CXCn.
TO JOHN GORDON, OF CARIMINESS, TOUKaBB.
Dearly Beloved in ova Lord, — Grace, mercy, and peaco
be to you. — I long exceedingly to hear of the case of your soul,
which hath a large share both of my prayers and careful thoughts.
3d0 Rutherford's letters.
Sir, remember that a precious treasure and prize is upon this short
play that ye are now upon ; even the eternity of well or wo to your
soul Ktandeth upon the little point of your well or ill employed
short and swift posting sand-glass.' Seek the Lord while he may
be found ; the Lord waiteth upon you. Your soul is of no little
price. Gold or silver of as much bounds as would cover the high-
est heaven round about cannot buy it. To live as others do, and
to be free of open sins, that the world crieth shame upon, will not
bring you to Heaven. As much civility and country discreiion as
would lye between you and Heaven, will not lead you one foot or
one inch above condemned nature ; and therefore take pains upon
seeking of salvation, and give your will, wit, humor, the green
desires of youth's pleasures, off your hand to Christ. It is not
possible for you to know till experience teach you, how dangerous
a time youth is : it is like green and wet timber ; when Christ
casteth fire on it, it taketh not fire. There is need here of more
than ordinary pains, for corrupt nature bath a good back>friend of
youth : and sinning against light will put out your candle, and
stupify your conscience, and bring upon it more coverings and
skin, and the feeling and sense of guiltiness ; and when that is
done, the Devil is like a mad horse that hath broken his bridle,
and runneth away with his rider whither he Usteth. Learn to
know that which the Apostle knew — the deceitfuhiess of sin.
Strive to make prayer, and reading, and holy company, and holy
conference your delight ; and when delight cometh in, ye shall by
little and little smell the sweetness of Christ, till at length your
soul be over head and ears in Christ's sweetness. Then shall ye
be taken up to the top of the mountain with the Lord, to know
the ravishments of spiritual love, and the glory and excellencT
of a seen, revealed, felt, and embraced Christ : and then ye shall
not be able to loose yourself off Christ, and to bind your soul to
old lovers : then, and never till then, are all the paces, motions,
walkings, and wheels of your soul in a right tune, and in a spirit-
ual temper.
But it this world and the lusts thereof be your delight, I know
not what Christ can make of you ; ye cannot be metal to be a
vessel of glory and mercy. As the Lord liveth, thousand thou-
sands are beguiled with security, because God, and wrath, and
judgment are not terrible to them. Stand in awe of God, and of
the warnings of a checking and rebtiking conscience. Make
others to see Christ in you, moving, doing, speaking and thinking:
vour actions will smell of him, if he be in you. There is an instinct
m the new-born babes of Christ, like the instinct of nature that
leads birds to build their nests, and bring forth their young, and
love such and such places, as woods, forests, and wilderness, better
than other places. The instinct of nature maketh a man love
his mo'.her-country, above all countries ; the instinct of renewed
nature and supernatural grace, will lead you to such and such
works, as to love your country above, to sigh to be dotbed widi
t Hoor-glMi.
Rutherford's letters. 301
{our house not made with hands, and to call your lorrowed prison
ere below, a borrowed prison ; and to look upon it servant-like
and pilgrim-like : and the pilgrim's eye and look is a disdainful-
like discontented cast of his eye, bis heart crying after his eye,
** Py, fy, this is not like my country."
I recommend to you the mending of a hole, and reforming of a
failing, one or other, every week ; and put off a sin or a piece of
it, as of anger, wrath, lust, intemperance, every day, that ye may
more easily master the remnant of your corruption. God hath
S'ven you a wife ; love her, and let her breasts satisfy you ; and,
r the Lord's sake, drink no waters, but out of your own cistern :
strange wells are poison. Strive to learn some new way against
your corruptions from the man of God. Mr. William Dalgleish, or
other servants of God. Sleep not sound, till ye find yourself in
that case, that ye dare look death in the face and durst hazard
your soul upon eternity. I am sure, that many ells and inches
of the short thread of your life arc by-hand" since I saw you: and
that thread hath an end ; and ye have no hand to cast a knot,
and add one day or a finger-breadth to the end of it. When bearing,
and seeing, and the outer walls of the clay- house shall fall down, and
life shall render the besieged castle of clay to death and judgment,
and ye find your time worn ebb' and run out, what thoughts will
you then have of idol-pleasures thatpossibly are now sweet? what
bud" or hire would you then give for the Lord's favor? and what
a price would ye then give for pardon? It wer^ not amiss to think,
"What if I were to receive a doom, and to enter into a furnace of
fire and brimstone ? what if it come to this, that I shall have
no portion but utter darkness ? and what if I be brought to this,
to be banished from the presence of God, and to be given over to
God's Serjeants, the Devil, and the power of the Second Death?"
Put your soul, by supposition, in such a case, and consider what
horror would take hold of you, and what ye would then esteem
of pleasing yourself in the course of sin. Oh, dear sir, for the
Lord's sake awake to live righteously, and love your poor soul !
and after ye have seen this my letter, say with yourself, " The
Lord wil seek an account of this warning which I have received."
Lodge Christ in your family. Receive no stt'anger hireling as
your pastor. I Mess your children. Grace be with you.
Your lawful and loving pastor, S. R.
Abeideeii, 1637.
LETTER CXCin.
TO ROBERT GORDON, BAILLIE OP AYR.
Worthy Sir, — Grace, mercy, and peace be o you.— I long to
hear from yon. Our Lord is with his afllicted Kirk, so that this
> Ooot pMt * SdaOow. * Bribe.
Mfi Rutherford's lctters.
burning bush is not consumed to ashes. I know that submissfrt
on-waiting for the Lord will at length ripen the joy and deliver
ance of his ow*n, who are truly blessed on-waiters. What is the
dry and miscarrying hope of all them who are not in Christ, but
confusion and wind ? Oh, how pitifully and miserably are the
children of this world beguiled, whose wine cometh home to them,
water, and their gold, brass and tin ! And what won<fer, thai
hopes builded upon sand should fall and sink? It were good for
us all to abandon the forlorn, and blasted, and wither^ hope,
which we have had in the creature ; and let us henceforth come
and drink water out of our own well, even the fountain of liring
waters, and build ourselves and our hope upon Christ, our Rock.
Bui, alas ! that that natural love, which we nave to this borrowed
home, that we were bom in ; and that this clay city, the vmia
earth, should have the largest share of our heart ! Our poor, lean,
and empty dreams of confidence in something beside (Sod, are no
further travelled than up and down the noughty' and feckless'
creatures. God may say of us, as he said, ^Amos vL 13,) " Te
rejoice in a thing of nought." Surely we spin our spider's wtb
with pain, and build our rotten and tottering nouse upon a lie, and
falsehood, and vanity.
Oh, when will we learn to have thoughts higher than the suo
and moon, and learn our joy, hope, confidence, and our sooTs de-
sires, to look up to our best country, and to look down to clay
tents set up for a night's lodging or two in this unknown land, and
laugh at our childish conceptions and imag'mations, that suck cor
joy out of creatures, wo, sorrow, losses, and grief! "O sweetest
Lord Jesus ! O fairest Godhead ! O Flower of men and angeb !
why are we such strangers to, and far-off beholders of thy glory.*
Oh, it were our happiness for evermore, that (Sod would cast a
pest, a botch, a leprosy, upon our part of this great whore, a fiur
and well-busked ' world, thai clay might no longer deceive us !
But oh, that God may burn and blast our hope hereaway,* rather
than that our hope should live to burn us ! Alas, the wrong side
of Christ, to speak so, his black side, his suffering side, his wounds,
his bare coat, his wants, his wrongs, the oppressions of men doae
to him, are turned towards men's eyes ; and they see not the best
and fairest side of Christ, nor see they his amiable &ce and hit
beauty, that men and angels wonder at.
Sir, lend your thoughts to these things, and learn to contenm
this world, and to turn your eyes and heart away from beholding
the masked beauty of all things under time's law and doom. See
Him who is invisible and his invisible things ; draw by* the cur-
tain, and look in with liking and longing to a kingdom undefiled,
that fadeth not away, reserved for you in the Heaven. This i«
worthy of your pains, and worthy of your soul's sweating, and la-
boring, and seeking after, night and day. Fire will flee* over ihs
earth, and all that is in it ; even destruction from the Alnngfaty
> Htk^fing nothing in H. t UnnilMtaiUiaL * (Mf
4 In thk present eenie. * jUide. • Pty.
303
Fy, fy upon that hope, that shall be dried op by the root ! Fy
upoQ the drunken night bargains, and the drunken and mad cor-
enants, that sinners make with death and Hell after cups, and
when men's souls are mad and drunken with the U)Te of tins law-'
less Hfe. They think to make a nest for their hopes, and take
quarters and conditions of Hell and death, that they shall have
ease, long life, peace ; and in the morning, when the Last Trum-
pet shall awake them, then they rue the block.^ It is time, and
nigh time for you, to think upon death and your accounts, and to
remember what ye are, and where ye will be before the year of our
Lord 1700. I hope ye are thinking upon this. Pull at your soul,
and draw it aside from the company that it is with, and round
and whisper into it news of eternity, death, judgment, Heaven
andHeU.
Grace, grace be with jrou.
Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R.
Abesiaeii, 16S7.
LETTER CXCIV.
TO ALEXANDER GORDON, OF EARL8TON.
Much Honored Sir, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you.— •
It is like, if ye, the gentry and nobility of this nation, be men in
the streets, as the word speaketh, for the Lord, that he will now
deliver his flock, and gatner and rescue his scattered sheep, from
the hands of cruel and rigorous lords, that have ruled over them
with force. Oh, that mine eyes might see the moon-light turn to
the light of the sun ! But I still fear that the quarrel of a broken
covenant in Scotland standeth before the Lord.
However it be, I avouch it before the world, that the tabernacle
of the Lord shall again be in the midst of Scotland, and the glory
of the Lord shall dwell in beauty, as the light of many days in
one, in this land. Oh, what could my soul desire more, next to
my Lord Jesus, while I am in this flesh, but that Christ and his
kingdom might be great among Jews and Gentiles ; and that the
isles, (and amongst them overclouded and darkened Britain,) might
have the glory of a noon-day's sun ! Oh, that I had anything,
(I will not except my part in Christ,) to wadset* or lay in pledge,
to redeem and buy such glory to my highest and royal rrince,
my sweet Lord Jesus ! My poor little heaven were well bestowed,
if it could stand a pawn forever, to set on high the glory of my
Lord ; but I know that he needeth not wages nor hire at my
hand ; yea, I know, if my eternal glory could weigh down in
weight its lone,* all the eternal glory of the blessed angels, and of
all the spirits of just and perfect men, glorified and to be glorifiedi
> Bafgain. • Ationalt. * B7 itMlf aloMi
304 rxttherford's letters.
oh, alas ! how far am I engaged to forego it for, and give it over
to Christ, 80 being he might thereby be set ou high above ten
thousand thousand millions of heavens, in the con(|uest of manv,
many nations to his kingdom! Oh, that his kmgdom would
come ! Oh, that ail the world would stoop before him ! Oh,
blessed hands that shall put the crown upon Christ's head in Scot-
land ! But, alas ! I can scarce get leave to ware ' ray love on
him : I can find no ways to lay out my heart upon Christ ; and
my love, that I with my soul bestow on him, is like to die upon
my hand, and I think it no bairns' play to be hungered with
Christ's love. To love him, and to want him, wantetn little of
Hell. I am sure that he knoweth how my joy would swell upon
me, from a little well to a great sea, to have as much of his
love, and as wide a soul answerable to comprehend it, till I cried,
'< Hold, Lord, no more." But I find that he will not have rae to
be mine own steward, nor mine own carver. Christ keepeth the
keys of Christ, (to speak so,) and of his own love, and he is a
wiser distributer than I can take up : I know that there is more
in him than would make me run over like a coast-ful sea. I
were happy for evermore, to get leave to stand but beside Christ
and his love, and to look in. sii{)pose I were interdicted of God to
come near-hand,' touch, or embrace, kiss, or set to my sinful head,
and drink myself drunk with that lovely thing. God send roe
that which I would have ; for I now verily see, more clearly than
Hefore, our folly in drinking dead waters, and in playing the whore
with our soul's love upon running-out wells, ana broken sherds of
creatures of yesterday, which time will unlaw* with the penalty
of losing their being and natural ornaments. Oh, when a souFs
love is itching, Tto speak so,) for God ; and when Christ, in bis
boundless and bottomless love, beauty, and excellency, cometh
and rubbeth up and exciteth that love, what can be heaven, if
this be not heaven ? I am sure that this bit feckless,^ narrow and
short love of regenerated sinners, was born for no other end, than
to breathe, and live, and love, and dwell in the bosom and betwixt
the breasts of Christ. Where is there a bed or a lodging for the
saints' love, but Christ?' Oh, that he would take ourselves off
our hand ! for neither we, nor the creatures can be either due con-
quest* or lawful heritage to love: Christ, and none but Christ, is
lord and proprietor of it. Oh, alas, how pitiful is it, that so much
of our love goeth by* him ! Oh, but we be wretched wasters of
our soul's love ! I know it to be the depth of bottomless and un-
searchable providence, that the saints are suffered to play the
whore from God, and that their love ^oeth a-hunting, wnen God
knoweth that it shall roast nothing of that at supper time. The
renewed would have it otherwise; and why is it so, seeing our
Lord can keep us without nodding, tottering, or reeling, or any
fall at all ? Our desires, I hope, shall meet with perfection : bill
God will have our sins an office-house for God's grace, and hath
> Eipend, lay o«t * Near. > I^ne, moMiva.
* Feeble. ' Aeqaiiitioa bf parehaM or indiifliy. * FmL
Rutherford's letters. 305
X
made sin a matter of an unlaw ' and penalty for the Son of God's
blood: and howbeit sin should be our sorrow, yet there is a sort
of acquiescing and resting upon God's dispensation required of us,
that there is such a thing in us as sin, whereupon mercy, forgive-
ness, healing, curing, in our sweet physician, may find a field to
work upon. Oh, what a deep is here, that created wisdom can-
not take up ! However matters go, it is our happiness to win new
§ round daily in Christ's love, and to purchase a new piece of it
aily, and to add conquest' to conquesit,' till our Lord Jesus and
we be so near each other, that Satan shall not draw a straw or a
thread betwixt us.
And, for myself, I have no greater joy, in my well-favored bonds
for Christ, than that I know time will put him and me together;
and that my love and longing hath room and liberty, amidst my
bonds and foes, (whereof there are not a few here of all ranks,) to
fo to visit the borders, and outer coasts of the country of my Lord
esUs, and see, at least afar off and darkly, the country which
shall be mine inheritance, which is the due of my Lord Jesus, both
through birth and conquest.' I dare avouch to all that know God,
that the saints know not the length and largeness of the sweet
earnest and of the sweet green sheaves before the harvest, that
might be had on this side of the water, if we would take more
pains : and that we all go to Heaven with less earnest, and lighter
purses of the hoped-for sum, than otherwise we might do, if we
took more pains to win further in upon Christ, in this pilgrimage
of our absence from him. •
Grace, grace and glory be your portion.
Yours, in his sweet Lord JesuS| S. R.
Abefdeen, 1637.
LETTER CXCV.
TO ROBERT STUART.
My very dear Brother, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to
you. — Ye are heartily welcome to my world of suffering, and
heartily welcome 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 faithful 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, breathe 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 and your weights by faith
upon Christ ; take ease to yourself, and let him bear all : he can,
he dow,' be will bear you, howbeit Hell were upon your back. I
rejoice that he b come, and hath chosen you m the furnace ; it
1 A fine. ' Acquisition bj purchase or industry. * Is able.
20
306 Rutherford's letters.
wa8 even there where ye and he set tryst.* That is an old gate*
of Christ's : he keepeth the ^ood old fashion with you, that was in
Hosea's days. (Hos. ii. 14.) "There, behold, I will allure her, and
bring her to the wilderness, and speak to her heart." There was
no talking to her heart, while he and she were in the fair and
flourishing city, and at ease ; but out in the cold, hungry, waste
wilderness, he allureth her ; he whispered news into her ear theie,
and said, "Thou art mine." What would ye think of such a
bode ? • Ye may soon do worse than say, " Lord, hold all ;* Lord
Jesus, a bargain be it, it shall not go 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 be high in the heaven, and near after-
noon, before ever I took the gate* by the end. I pray you now
keep the advantage ye have. My heart, be not lazy ; set quickly
up the brae* on hands and feet, as if the last pickle of sand were
running out of your glass, and death were coming to turn the
glass : and be very careful to take heed to your feet, in that slip-
Eery and dangerous way of youth, that ye are walking in. The
)evil and temptations now have the advantage of the brae of
you, and are upon your wand-hand^ and your working-hand.*
Dry timber will soon take fire. Be covetous and greedy of the
grace of God, and beware that it be not holiness which coroHh
only from the cross ; for too many are that way disposed. (Psalm
Ixxviii. 34,) " When he slew them then they sought him, and
they returned and inquired early after God." (Ver. 36,) "Never-
theless, they did flatter him with their mouth, and they Ued unto
him with their tongues." It is a part of our hypocrisy, to give
God fair white- words,' when he hath us in his grips,* (if I may
speak so,) and to flatter him till we win '* to the fair fields again.
Try well green godliness, and examine what it is that ye love in
Christ. If ye love but Christ's sunny side, and would have only
summer weather and a land-gate,** not a sea-way to Heaven, your
profession will play you a slip, and the winter-well will go dry
again in summer.
Make no sports nor bairns' play of Christ ; but labor for a sound
and lively sight of sin, that ye may judge yourself an undone
man, a damned slave of Hell and of sin, one dying in your own
blood, except Christ come and rue upon you, and take you up;
and, therefore, make sure and fast work of conversion. Cast toe
earth deep ; and down, down with the old work, the building of
confusion that was there before ; and let Christ lay new work,
and 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
> Made appAintment to meet. * Coatoni. manner. * OAr.
4 L«t all tkut hat been aaid hold good : an expreaMon used in aceepcinf an afe,
equivalent to ffone in Rnglith. * Road. * HUL
T The hand which holds the wand or whip that is used to drhre a borae in w uiki a f .
Working-hand^ the hand which guides the horse. 7^ h* uptn on«'« tf omd -Smmd mm
working hand^ to beset one on every aide. * CajoHng speeches.
• Gripe. » Get » Way by land
Rutherford's letters. 307
your heart whrll it bleed with sorrow for sin, and if ye can pant
and fall a-swoon/ and be like to die for that lovely One, Jesus.
I know that Christ will not be hid where he is ; grace will ever
speak for itself, and be fruitful in well-doing ; the sanctified cross
is a fruitful tree, it bringeth forth many apples.
If I should tell you by some weak experience, what I have
foimd in Christ, ye or others could hardly believe me. I thought
not the hundredth part of Christ long since^ that I do now, though,
alas ! my thoughts are still infinitely below his worth. I have a
dwining,' sickly, and pained life, for a real possession of him ; and
am troubled with love-brashes* and love-fevers ; but it is a sweet
pain. I would refuse no conditions, not Hell excepted, (reserving
always God's hatred,) to buy possession of Jesus : but, alas ! I am
not a merchant, who have any money to give for him : I must
either come to a good-cheap* market, where wares are had for
nothing, else I go home empty. But I have casten* this work
upon Christ to get me himself. I have his faith, and truth, and
promise, (as a pawn of his,) all engaged that I shall obtain that
which my hungry desires would be at, and I esteem that the
choice of my happiness ; and for Christ's cross, especially the gar-
land and flower of all crosses, to suffer for his name, I esteem it
more than I can write or speak to you. And I write it under
mine own hand to you, that it is one of the steps of the ladder up
to our country, and Christ, (whoever be one,) is still at the heavy
end of this black tree, and so it is but as a feather to me. I need
not run at leisure, because of a burden on my back : my back never
bare the like of it ; the more heavily crossed for Christ, the soul is
still the lighter for the journev.
Now, would to God that all cold-blooded, faint-hearted soldiers
of Christ would look again to Jesus, and to his love ; and when
they look, I would have them to look again and again, and fill
tl^mselves with beholding of Christ's beauty ; and I dare say then,
that Christ would come into great court* and request with many.
The virgins would flock fast about the Bridegroom ; they would
embrace and take hold of him, and not let him go : — ^but when I
have spoken of him. till my head rive, I have said just nothing, I
may begin again. A God-head, a God-head is a world's wonder.
Set ten thousand thousand new-made worlds of angels and elect
men, and double them in number, ten thousand, thousand, thou-
sand tiroes; let their heart and tongues be ten thousand thousand
times more agile and large, than the heart and tongues of the ser-
aphims that stand with six wings before him, ^Isa. vi. 2,) when
they have said all for the glorifying and praising of the Lord
Jesus, they have but spoken little or nothing; his love will abide
all possible creatures to praise. Oh, if I could wear this tongue
to the stump, in extolling his highness ! But it is my daily-grow-
ing sorrow, that I am confounded with hb incomparable love, and
that he doeth so great things for my soul, and hath got never yet
1 Into a twooD. • Pining. * Fits of loTO-«ekneM.
« GratoitoQc • CmL • Fbyot. ^ Oh, tkat
308 Rutherford's letters.
anything of me worth the speaking of. Sir, I charge yon, help
me to praise him : it is a shame to speak of what he batli done for
me, and what I do to him again. I am sure that Christ hath
many drowned dyvours ' in Heaven beside him : and when we are
convened, man and angel, at the great day, in that fair last meet-
ing, we are all but his drowned dyvours : Mt is hard to say, who
oweth him most. If men could do no more, I would have them
to wonder : if we cannot be filled with Christ's love, we may be
filled with wondering.
Sir, I would that I could persuade you to grow sick for Christ,
and to long after him, and be pained with love for himself: — bat
His tongue is in Heaven who can do it ! To bim and bis rich
grace I recommend you.
I pray you, pray for me, and forget not to praise.
Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R.
Aberdeen, June 17, 1637.
LETTER CXCTI.
TO THE LADY GAITGIRTH.
Mistress, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. — I long to
know how matters stand betwixt Christ and your soul. I know
that ye find him still the longer the better; time cannot change him
in his love : ye may yourself ebb and flow, rise and fall, wax and
wane ; but your Lord is this day as he was yesterday ; and it is
your comfort that your salvation is not rolled upon wheels of your
own making, neither have ye to do with a Christ of your own
shaping. God hath singled out a Mediator, strong and mighty :
if ye and your burdens were as heavy as ten hills or hells, he is able
to bear you, and save you to the uttermost. Your often seeking
to him, cannot make you a burden to him. I know that Christ
compassioneth you, and makeih a moan' for you, in all your
dumps, and under your down-castings ; but it is good for you, that
he hideth himself sometimes. It is not niceness, dryneits. nor
coldness of love, that causelh Christ to withdraw, and slip in
under a curtain and a veil, that ye cannot see him; but he know-
eth that ye could not bear with upsails, a fair gale, a full moon
and a high spring-tide of his felt love, and always a fair summer-
day and a summer-sun of a felt and possessed and embracing
Lord Jesus. Hin kisses and his vi.^its to his dearest ones are thin-
sown. He could not let out his rivers of love upon his own, but
these rivers would be in hazard of loosening a young plant at the
root ; and he knoweth this of you. Ye should, therefore, frist*
Christ's kindness, as to its sensible and full manifestations, till ye
and he be above sun and moon : that is the country where ye wiB
be enlarged for that love which ye dow not^ now contain.
I Banlirapta. * BeoKMineCli.
* Pyetpone the poeeetnon oC 4 Are not abli^
Rutherford's letters. 309
Cast the burden of your sweet babes upon Christ, and lighten
jrour heart, by layinsf your all upon him : he will be their God. I
hope to see you up the mountain yet, and glad in the salvation of
God. Frame yourself for Christ, and gloom* not upon his cross.
I find him so sweet, that my love, suppose I would charge it to re-
move from Christ, would not obey me : his love hath stronger fin-
gers than to let go its grips ' of us, bairns, who cannot go but by
siich a hold as Christ. It is good that we want legs of our own,
since we may borrow from Christ ; and it is our happiness that
Christ is under an act of cautionry • for Heaven, and that Christ
is booked in Heaven, as the principal debtor, for such poor bodies
as we are.
I request you, to give the Laird, your husband, thanks for his
care of me, in that he hath appeared, in public, for a prisoner of
Christ. I pray and write mercy, and peace, and blessings to him
and his. .
Grace, grace be with you forever.
Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R.
Aberdeen, 1637.
LETTER CXCVIL
TO MR. JOHN FEROUSHILL.
Reverend and dear Brother, — Grace, mercy, and peace
be to you. — My longings and desires for a sight of the new-builded
tabernacle of Christ again in Scotland, that tabernacle that came
down from Heaven, hath now taken some life again, when I see
Christ making a mint^ to sow vengeance among his enemies. I
care not, if this land be ripe for such a great wonderful mercy ;
but I know, he must do it, whenever it is done, without hire. I
find the grief of my silence, and my fear to be holden at the door
of Christ's house, swelling upon me; and the truth is, were it not
that I am dawted* now and then with pieces of Christ's sweet
love and comforts, 1 fear I should have made an ill browst* of
this honorable cross, that I know such a soft and silly-minded
body as 1 am, is not worthy of: for I have little in me but soft-
ness, and superlative and excessive apprehensions of fear, and sad-
ness, and sorrow; and often God's terrors do surround me, because
Christ looketh not so favorably upon me, as a poor witness would
have him ; and I wond^, how I have passed a year and a quarter's
innprisonment, without shaming my sweet Lord to whom 1 desire
to be faithful: and I think I shall die but^ even minting* and aim
ing to serve and honor my Lord Jesus. Few know how toom*
and empty I am at home ; but it is a part of marriage-love and
« Frown. « Hold, ^pe. • Sorelythipt
4 Indication, bj mffiM, of an intention. * Cockertd.
• The quanitj or ale Jiewed at one time ; metaphoricallj, the eonsequeneea or one's
eoadwrt t Without. > Intimating an intention. * Empty.
810 Rutherford's letters.
husbaud-love, that my Lord Jesus goeth not to 'he Btreets with
his chiding against me : it is but stolen and concealed anger that
I find and feel, and his glooms' to me are kept under roof, that be
will not have mine enemies hear what is betwixt me and him.
And, believe me, I say the truth in Christ, that the only gall and
wormwood in my cup, and that which hath filled me with fear,
hath been, lest my sins, that sun and moon and the Lord's chil-^
dren were never witness to, should have moved my Lord to strike
me with dumb Sabbaths : — Lord, pardon my soft and weak jeal-
ousies,* if I here be in an error.
My very dear brother, I would have looked for larger and more
Particular letters from you, for my comfort in this ; for your words
efore have strengthened me. I pray you to mend this, and be
thankful and painful, while ye have a piece or corner of the Lord's
vineyard to dress. Oh, would to God that I could have leave to
follow you to break the clods ! But I wish I could command my
soul to be silent, and to wait upon the Lord. I am sure, that
while Christ lives, I am well enough friend-stead.' I hope that
he will extend his kindness and power for me ; but God be
thanked it is not worse with me, than a cross for Christ and his
truth. I know that he might have pitched upon many more
choice and worthy witnesses, if he had pleased ; but I seek no
more, (be what timber I will, suppose I were made of a piece of
Hell,) than that my Lord, in his infinite art, hew glory to hia
name, and enlargement to Christ's Kingdom, out of me. Oh, that
I could attain to this, to desire that my part of Christ might be
laid in pledge for the heightening of Christ's throne in Briuia !
Let my Lord redeem the pledge, or, if he please, let it sink and
drown unredeemed. But what can I add to him? or what way
can a smothered and borne-down prisoner set out Christ in open
market, as a lovely and desirable Lord, to many souls ? I kuow
that he seeth to his own glory, better than my ebb * thoughu can
dream of; and that the wheels and paces of this poor distempered
Kirk are in his hands, and that things shall roll as Christ will
have them : — only, Lord tryst* the matter so, as Christ may be
made a householder and lord again in Scotland, and wet finces for
his departure may be dried at his sweet and much desired wel-
come home. I see, that in all our trials, our Lord will not mix
our wares and his grace over-head through other;* but he will
have each man to know his own, that the like of me may say in
my sufferings, *^This is Christ's grace, and this is but my coarse
stuff: this is free grace, and this is but nature and reason." We
know what our legs would play us, if they should carry us tbrougb
all our waters; and the least thing our Lord can have of us, is, to
know we are grace's debtors or grace's dyvours ^ and that nators
is oflT' a base house and blood, and grace is better bom, aixl of
kin and blood to Christ, and off* a better house. Oh, that I
1 Prowixs. * Sufpicions. * BefiiMidcd.
^ Shallow. * Appoint, Arrange.
< One with anothar, promiacuoiuljr. i Ba ikmpta * DeacibJaJ fl
Rutherford's letters. 311
free of that idol, which they call Myself; and that Christ were for
Myself, and Myself a decoiirted * cypher, and a denied and fore*
sworn thing! But that proud thing, Myself, will not play, except
it ride up side for side with Christ, or rather have place before
him. O Myself, — another devil, as evil as the Prince of devils ! —
if thou couldest give Christ the way, and take thine own room,
which is to sit as low as nothing or corruption ! Oh, but we have
much need to be ransomed and redeemed by Christ, from that
master-tyrant, that cruel and lawless lord, Ourself. Nay, when I
am seeking Christ, and am out of myself, I have the third part of
a squint eye upon that vain, vain thing, Myself, Myself, and some-
thing of mine own : — but I must hold here.
I desire you to contribute your help, to see if I can be restored
to my wasted and lost flock. I see not how it can be, except the
lords would procure me a liberty to preach : and they have reason ;
1. Because the opposers and niy adversaries have practised their
new canons upon me, whereof one is, That no deprived minister
preach, under the pain of excommunication. 2. Because my op-
posing of these canons, was a special thing that incensed Syd-
serf* against me. 3. Because I was judicially accused for my
book against the Arminians, and commanded by the Chancellor,
to acknowledge that I had done a fault in writing against Dr.
Jackson, a wicked Arminian. Pray for a room in the house to me.
Grace, grace be, (as it is,) your portion.
Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R.
Aberdeen, 1637.
LETTER CXCVra.
TO JOHN STUART, PROVOST OF AYR.
Worthy Sir, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. — 1 long
lor the time, when I shall see the beauty of the Lord in his house;
and would be as glad of it as of any sight on earth, to see the halt,
the blind, and the lame, come back to Zion with supplications,
( Jer. xxxi. 8, 9,) "Going and weeping, and seeking the Lord, ask-
ing the way to Zion with their faces thitherward,'* (Jer. I. 4, 5 ;)
and to see the Woman travailing in birth, delivered of the man-
child of a blessed reformation. If this land were humbled, I would
look that our skies should clear, and our day'dawn again; and ye
should then bless Christ, who is content to save your travel, and
to give himself to you, in pure ordinances on this side of the sea.
I know the mercy of Christ is engaged by promise to Scotland,
notwithstanding he bring wralh, as I fear he will, upon this land.
I am waiting on for enlargement^ and half content that my
faith bow, if Christ, while he bow it, keep it unbroken ; for who
goeth through a fire without a mark or a scald? I see the Lord
1 DiMAided. * Toe bishop of Oallowajr.
312 Rutherford's letters.
making ii^e of this fire, to scour his vesseb from their mst Qh
that my will were silent, and *' as a child weaned from the breasts T
g^salm cxxxi.) But, alas! who hath an heart that will give
hrist the last word in fly ting,* and will hear, and n^t speak
again? Oh! contestations' and quarrelous replies fas a Boon-
saddled spirit, " I do well to be angry even to the deatn,") (Jonah
iv. 9,) smell of the stink of strong corruption. Oh, blessed soul
that could sacrifice his will, and go to Heaven, having lost his will
and made resignation of it to Christ! I would seek no more, than
that Christ were absolute King over my will, and that my will
were a sufferer in all crosses, without meeting Christ with such a
word, " Why is it thus?" I wish still, that my love had but leave
to stand beside beautiful Jesus, and to get the mercy of looking to
him, and burning for him, suppose that possession of him were
suspended and fristed ^ till my Lord fold together the leaves and
two sides of the little shepherds' tents of clay. Oh, what pain is
in longinsf for Christ, under an over-clouded and eclipsed assur-
ance I What is harder than to burn and dwine^ with long'mg
and deaths of love, and then to have blanks and uninked paper for
assurance of Christ in real fruition or possession ? Oh, bow sweet
were one line or half a letter of a written assurance under Christ's
own hand ! But this is our exercise daily, that guiltiness shall
overmist' and darken assurance. It is a miracle to believe, but
for a sinner to believe is two miracles. But oh, what obligations
of love are we under to Christ, who beareth with our wild appre-
hensions, in suffering them to nickname sweet Jesus, and to put
a lie upon his good name ! If he had not been God, and if long-
suffering in Christ were not like Christ himself, we should long
ago have broken Christ's mercies into two pieces, and put an iron
bar on our salvation, that mercy should not have been able to
break or overleap ; but long-suffering in God, is God himself, and
that is our salvation, and the stability of our heaven is in God.
He knew, (who said, " Christ in you the hope of glory," (CoL L
27;) for our hope and the bottom and pillars of it is Christ-God,]
that sinners are anchor-fast and made stable in God ; so that ii
God do not change, (which is impossible,) then my hope shall not
fluctuate. Oh, sweet stability of sure-bottomed salvation ! Who
could win* Heaven, if this were not so? and who could be saved,
if God were not God, and if he were not such a God as he is?
Oh, God be thanked that our salvation is coasted, and landed, and
shored upon Christ, who is Master of winds and storms ! And
what sea- winds can blow the coast or the land out of its place?
Bulwarks are often casten down, but coasts are not removed:
but suppose that were or might be, yet God cannot reel nor re-
move. Oh, that we go from this? strong and immovable Lord,
and that we loo.^en ourselves, (if it were in our power,) from him!
Alas, our gree i and young love hath not taken with Chri.st, being
unac(|uaintcd with hin) : he is such a wide, and broad, and deep^
1 ChUUntr. • Altercations. * Povtponed.
« Pine away. * Becloud. • AtUia Itb
RUTHERFORD'S LETTERS. 313
and high, and surpassing sweetness, that our love is too lilde foi
him. But oh, if* our love, little as it is, could take band * with
his great and huge sweetness, and transcendent excellency ! Oh,
thrice blessed, and eternally blessed are they, who are out of them-
selves, and above themselves, that they may be in love united to
bim!
I am often roUingup and down the thoughts of my faint and
sick desires of expressing Christ's glory before his people ; but I see
not through the throng of impediments, and cannot find eyes to
look higher, and so I put many things in Christ's way to hinder
him, that I know he would but laugh at, and with one stride set
bis foot over them all. I know not if my Lord will bring me to
his sanctuary or not : but I know that he hath the placing of me,
either within or without the house, and that nothing will be done
without him. But I am often thinking and saying within my-
self, that my days flee away, and I see no good, neither yet
Christ's work thriving ; and it is like that the grave shall prevent
the answer of my desires of saving of souls as I would. But alas !
I cannot make right work of his ways ; I neither spell nor read
my Lord's providence aright ; my thoughts go a way that I fear
ihey meet not God ; for it is likely, that God will not come the
way of my thoughts : and I cannot be taught to crucify to him my
wisdom and desires, and to make him king over my thoughts ;
for 1 would have a princedom over my thoughts, and would boldly
and blindly prescribe to God, and guide myself in a way of my
own making : — but I hold my peace here ; let him do his will.
Grace, grace be with you.
Yours, in his sweetest Lord, and Master, S. TL
Aberdeen, 1637.
LETTER CXCIX.
TO CAR8LUTH.
Much honored Sir, — I long to hear how your soul prospereth.
I earnestly desire you, to try how matters stand between your
soul and the Lord. Think it no easy matter to take Heaven by
violence. Salvation cometh now to the most part of men in a
night-dream. There is no scarcity of faith now, such as it is ; for
ye sliall not now light upon the man, who will not say he bath
faith in Christ ; — but, alas ! dreams make no roan's rights.
Worthy sir, I beseech you in the Lord, to give your soul no rest,
till ye have real assurance, and Christ's rights confirmed and
sealed to your soul. The common faith, and country-holiness,
and week-day zeal, that is among people, will never bring men to
Heaven. Take pains for your salvation ; for in that day, when
ye shall see many men's labors and conquests' and idol-riches
1 Oh. that. • Unite. An alluaion to the rn ing of mortar wkh itonet in a wall.
* Acquisitiont.
814 RUTHRRFORO'S LETTERS.
lying ia ashes, when the eaith and all the works thereof shall be
burnt with fire, oh, how dear a price would your soul give for God's
favor in Christ! It is a blessed thing to see Christ with up-suo,
and to read over your papers and soul-accounts with fair day-
light. It will not be time to cry for a lamp, when the Bridegroom
is entered into his chamber, and the door shut. Fy, fy upoo
blinded and debased souls who are committing whoredom with
this idol-clay, and hunting a poor, wretched, hungry heaven, a
hungry breakfast, a day's meat from this hungry world, with the
forfeiting of God's favor, and the drinking over of their heaven
over the board ' (as men used to speak,) for the laughter and
sports of this short f</renoon ! All that is under this vault of
Heaven, and betwixt us and death, and on this side of sun and
moon, are but toys, night-visions, head-fancies, poor shadows,
watery froth, godless vanities, at their best, and black hearts, and
salt and sour miseries, sugared over, and confected with an hour's
laughter or two, and the conceit of riches, honor, vain, vain court,
and lawless pleasures. Sir, if ye look both to the laughing side,
and to the weeping side of this world, and if ye look not only
upon the skin and color of things, but into their inwards, and the
heart of their excellency, ye shall see that one look of Christ's
sweet and lovely eye, one kiss of his fairest face, is worth ten
thousand worlds of such rotten stuff, as the foolish sons of men
set their hearts upon. Oh, sir, turn, turn your heart to the other
side of things, and get it once free of these entanglements, to con-
sider eternity, death, the clay bed, the grave, awsome • iudgnient,
everlasting burning quick in Hell, where death would give as
great a price, (if there were a market, wherein death might be
bought and sold,) as all the world. Consider Heaven and glory :
— but, alas, why speak I of considering those things, which have
not entered into the heart of man to consider? Look into those
depths (without a bottom) of loveliness, sweetness, beauty, excel-
lency, glory, goodness, grace, and mercy, that are in Christ ; and
ye shall then cry down the whole world, and all the glory of it,
even when it is come to the summer-bloom ; and ye shall cry,
"Up with Christ, up with Christ's Father, up with eternity oi
glory." Sir, there is a great deal less sand in your glass than
when I saw you, and your afternoon is nearer even-tide now than
it was. As a flood carried back to the sea, so doth the Lord's
swift post, time, carry you and your life, with wings, to the grave.
Ye eat and drink, but time standeth not still ; ye laugh, but your
day fleeih away ; ye sleep, but your hours are reckoned and put
by hand.* Oh, how soon will time shut you out of the poor, and
cold, and hungry inn of this life ! and then what will yejjierday's
ehort-b )rn pleasures do to you, but be as a snow-ball melted away,
many years since, or worse 7 for the memory of these pleasures
useth to fill the soul with bitterness. Time and experience will
' T\> drink anything over Vu board, formally to renounce it as a •cUrr formeHf Sd
when h« tlriink to the purchaser on delivery to him of the goods sold and winhM hifli
luck in the purchase. * Awful. > Laid aside, as finished.
3l9
prove tfaif to be true ; and dying men, if they could speak, would
raake this good. Lay no more on the creatures than they are
aUe to carry. Lay your soul and your weights upon God. Make
him your only, only best-beloved. Your errand to this life is to
make sure an eternity of glory to your soul, and to match your
soul with Christ. Your love, if it were more than all the love of
angels in one, is Christ's due : other things worthy in themselves,
in respect of Christ, are not worth a windlestraw,* or a drink of
cold water. I doubt not but in death ye shall see all things more
distinctly, and that then the world shall bear no more bulk than
it is worth, and that then it shall couch and be contracted into ,
nothing; and ye shall see Christ longer, higher, broader, and
deeper than ever he was. Oh blessed conquest,* to lose all things,
and to gain Christ ! 1 know not what ye have, if ye want Christ 1
Alas ! how poor is your gain, if the earth were all yours in free
heritage, holding it of no man of day, if Christ be not yours ! Oh,
seek all midses,^ lay all oars in the water, put forth all your power,
and bend all your endeavors, to put away and pait with all things,
that ye may gain and enjoy Christ. Try and search his word,
and strive to go a step above and beyond ordinary professors, and
resolve to sweat more and run faster than they do for salvation.
Men's mid-day, cold and wise courses in godliness, and their
neighbor-like, cold and wise pace to Heaven, will cause many a
man to want his lodging at night, and to lie in the fields. I rec-
ommend Christ and his love to your seeking ; and yourself to the
tender mercy and rich grace of our Lord.
Remember my love in Christ to your wife. I desire her to
learn to make her soul's anchor fast upon Christ himself. Few
are saved. Let her consider what Joy the smiles of God in Christ
will be, and what the love-kisses of sweet, sweet Jesus, and a wel-
come home to the new Jerusalem, from Christ's own mouth, will
be to her soul, when Christ will fold together the clay tent of her
body, and lay it by his hand^ for a time, till the fair morning of
the General Resurrection. I avouch before God, man, and angel,
that I have not seen, nor can imagine a lover to be comparable to
lovely Jesus; I would not exchange or niffer* him with ten
heavens. If Heaven could be without him, what could we do
there ? Grace, grace be with you.
Your soul's eternal well-vinsher S. R.
Abtnleea, 1637.
LETTER OC.
TO C ASSI NCARR IB.
Much honored Sir, — Grace, mercy and peace be to you. — I
nave been too long in writing to yoiL I am confident that ye
1 A miih. A wtTutttMtrtnD \» a withered ttalk of crested dog*t-tail gnm. • Acqutiitioii
* Means. ^ Lay it aside, as having served iU purpose. * Baiter.
316 Rutherford's letters.
have learned to prize Christ, and his love and favor, more thaa
ordinary professors, who scarce see Christ with half an eye, bo-
cause their sight is taken up with eying and liking the beauty of
this over-gilded world, that promiseth fair to all its lovers, but in
the push of a trial, when need is, can give nothing but a fadr
beguile.
I know that ye are not ignorant, that men come not to this
world, as some do to a market, to see and to be seen ; or as some
come, to behold a May-game, and only to behold, and to go honoe
a^ain. Ye came hither to treat with God, and to tryste ^ with
him in his Chrbt, for salvation to your soul, and to seek reconcil-
'iation with an angry, wrathful God, in a covenant of peace made
to you in Christ ; and this is more than ordinary sport, or the
play, that the greatest part of the world give their heart unto.
And, therefore, worthy sir, I pray you by the salvation of your
soul, and bv the mercy of God, and your compearance* before
Christ, <]o this in sad earnest,' and let not salvation be yoar by-
work,* or your holy-day's task only, or a work by the way, for
men think that this may be done in three days' space on a feather
bed, when death and they are fallen in hands together, and that
with a woi-d or two they shall make their soul-matters right.
Alas ! this is to sit loose and unsure in the matters of our salva-
tion. Nay, the seeking of this world, and of the glory of it, is bfit
an odd and by-errand that we may slip, so being we make salva-
tion sure. Oh, when will men learn to be that* heavenly-wise as
to divorce from, and free their soul of all idol-lovers, and make
Christ the only, only One, and trim and make ready their lampa^
while they have time and day ! How soon will this house skaii,*
and the inn where the poor soul lodgeth fall to the earth ! How
soon will some few years pass away, and then, when the day is
ended, and this life's lease expired, what have men of world's
glory, hut dreams and thoughts 1 Oh, how blessed a thing is it to
labor for Christ, and to make him sure ! Know and try in time yoar
holding of him, and the rights^ and charters of Heaven, and upon
what terms ye have Christ and the Grospel, and what Christ is
worth in your estimation, and how lightly ye esteem other things,
aud how highly Christ ! I am sure, that if ye see him in his
beauty and glory, ye shall see him to be all things, and that in-
comparable jewel of gold that ye should seek, howbeit that ye should
sell, wadset,* and forfeit your few years' portion of this life's
joys. Oh, happy soul far evermore, who can rightly compare
this life with that long-lasting life to come, and can balance the
weighty glory of the one, with the light golden vanity of the
other ! The day of the Lord is now near-hand,* and all men
shall come out in their blacks and whites, as they are : there shall
be no borrowed lying colors in that day, when Christ shall be
called Christ, and no longer nicknamed, iiow men borrow Christ
1 Rni^ge. • Appearance. > Sober earaetL
4 Oitca«ional work, after the stated work is finished. * So.
• Disperse. ^ TiUe-deeds. • AUenate. • Near.
rutheaford's letters. 317
and his white color, and the lustre, and farding* of Cliristianity ;
but how many counterfeit masks will be burnt in the day of God,
in the fire, that shall burn the earth and the works that are on it?
And howbeit Christ have the hardest part of it now, yet in the
presence of my Lord, whom I serve in the spirit. 1 would not niffer«
or exchange Christ's prison, bonds, and chains, with the gold
chains and lordly rents, and smiling and happy-like ' heavens of
the men of this world. I am far from thoughts of repenting, be-
cause of my losses and bonds for Christ. I wish that all my ad-
versaries were as I am, except my bonds. Worthy, worthy,
worthy for evermore, is Christ, for whom we should suffer pains
like Hell's pains ; far more the short hell that the saints of God
have in this life. Sir, I wish that your soul may be more ac-
quainted with the sweetness of Christ.
Grace, grace be with you.
Yours, in his only Lord and Master, S. R.
Aberdeen, 1637.
LETTER CCL
TO THE LADY CARDONESS.
Mistress, — I beseech you in the Lord Jesus, to make every
day more and more of Christ ; and try your growth in the grace
of God, and what new ground ye win daily on * corruption : for
travellers are day by day either advancing farther on, and nearer
home, or else they go not right about to compass their journey.
I think still the better and better of Christ: alas! I know not
where to set him, I would so fain have him high ! I cannot set
heavens above heavens, till I were tired with numbering, and set
him upon the highest step and story of the -highest of them all ;
but I wish 1 could make him great through the world, suppose
my loss, and pain, and shame were set under the soles of his feet,
that he might stand upon me.
I request that you faint not, because this world and ye are at
yea and nay, and because this is not a home that laugheth upon
Jou. The wise Lord, who knoweth you, will have it so, because
e casteth a net for your love, tc catch it and gather it in to him-
self: therefore, bear patiently the loss of children, and burdens,
and other discontentments, either within or without the house : —
your Lord in them is seeking you, and seek ye him. Let none
be your love and choice, and the flower of your delights, but your
Lord Jesus. Set not your heart upon the world, since God hath
not mane it your portion ; for it will not fall to you to get two por-
tions, and to rejoice twice, and to be happy twice, and to have an
upper heaven, and an under heaven too. Christ our Lord, and
his saints were not so; and, therefore let go yd|ir grip^ of thu
^ Decoration. * Barter. * Afmarentljr happjr.
* How fast JOS are gaining on. * Hold.
318 Rutherford's letters.
life, and of the good things of it : I hope that your heaven gtoiw-
eth not hereaway.' Learn daily both to possess and miss ChrisI,
in his secret bridegrooin-smiles. He must go and come, because
his infinite wisdom thinketh it best for you. We shall be together
one day. We shall not need to borrow Ught from sun, moon, or
candle. There shall be no complaints on either side in Heaven.
There shall be none there, but he and we, the Brid^room and
the Kride ; devils, temptations, trials, desertions, losses, sad hearts,
pain, and death, shall be all put out of play ; and the Devil roust
give up his office of tempting. Oh, blessed is the soul, whose hope
hath a face looking straight out to that day ! It is not our part
to make a treasure here ; anylhuig, under the covering of Heav-
en, which we can build upon, is but ill ground and a sandy foun-
dation. Every good thing, except God, wanteth a bottonti, and
cannot stand its lone;" how then can it bear the weight of us?
Let us not lay a load on a windlestraw ;' there shall nothing find*
my weight, or found my happiness, but God. I know that all
created power would sink under me, if I should lean down upon
it ; and, therefore, it is better to rest on God, than to sink or fall ;
and we weak souls must have a bottom and a being-place,' for We
cannot stand our lone;* let us then be wise in our choice, and
choose and wale^ our own blessedness, which is to trust in the
Lord. Bach one of us hath a whore and idol, besides our Hus-
band. Christ: but it is our folly to divide our narrow and Uitle
love ; it will not serve two. It is best then to hold its whole and
together, and to give it to Christ ; for then we get double interest
for our love, when we lend it to, and lay it out upon Christ ; aod
we are sure besides, that the stock cannot perish.
Now I can say no more. Remember me. I have God's ri^t
to that* people ; howbeit by the violence of men, stronger than 1, 1
am banished from you, and chased away. The Lcml give yoa
mercy in the day of Christ It may be that God will clear my
sky again ; howbeit there is small appearance of my deliverance :
but let him do with me what seemeth good in his own eyes. I
am his clay, let my Potter frame and fashion me as he pleaselh.
Grace be with you.
Tour lawful) and loving pastor, S. R.
Aberdeen, 1637.
LETTER ecu.
TO SIBYLLA MACADAM.
Mistress, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. — I can bear
witness in my bonds, that Christ is still the longer the better, and
no worse, yea, inconceivably better than he is or can be called.
> In thifc present JUte. • Bt itself alone. * A withered etalk offraflk
« Peel. • Place of exineace. < Br ounelvct T
T CareAiUj aelect
Rutherford's letters. 319
I think it half a heaven, to have my fill of the smell of his sweet
breath, and to sleep in the arms of Christ my Lord, with his left
hand under my head, and his right hand embracing me. There
is no great reckoning to be made of the withering of my flower,
io comparison of the foul and manifest wrongs done to Christ ;
uay, let never the dew of Gted lye upon my branches again, let the
bloom' fall from my joy, and let it wither, let the Almighty blow
out my candle, so being the Lord might be great among Jews ana
Gentiles, and his oppressed Church delivered. Let Christ fare
well, suppose I should eat ashes. I know that he must be sweet
himself, when his cross is so sweet. And it is the part of us all,
if we marry himself, to marry the crosses, losses, and reproaches,
also, that follow him; for mercy followeth Christ's cross. His
prison for beauty is made of marble and ivory ; his chains, that
are laid on his prisoners, are golden chains ; and the sighs of the
prisoners of hope are perfumed with comforts, the like whereof
cannot be bred or found on this side of sun and moon. Follow
on after his love; tire not of Christ, but come in, and see his
beauty and excellency, and feed your soul upon Christ's sweet-
ness. This world is not yours, neither would 1 have your heaven
made of such metal as mire and clay. Ye have the choice and
wale * of all lovers in Heaven or out of Heaven, when ye have
Christ, the only delight of God his Father. Climb up the moun*
tain with joy, and faint not ; for time will cut off the men who
pursue Christ's followers. Our best things here have a worm in
them ; our joys besides God, in the inner half, are but woes and
sorrows : — Christ, Christ is that which our love and desires can
sleep sweetly and rest safely upon.
Now the very God of peace establish you in Christ. Help a
prisoner with your prayers, and entreat that our Lord would be
pleased to visit me with a sight of his beauty in bis house, as ha
has sometimes done. Grace be with you.
Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R.
,1637.
LETTER CCm.
TO THE LAIRD OP CALLT.
Worthy Sir, — Grac^, mercy, and peace be to you.— I have
been too long, I confess, in writing to you. My suit now to you
in paper, since I have no access to speak to you, as fonnerly, is,
that ye would lay the foundation sure in your vouth. When ye
begin to seek Christ, trv, I pray you, upon what terms ye cove-
nant to follow him, and lay your accounts what it may cost you ;
that neither summer nor winter, nor well nor wo, may cause you
change your Master, Christ. Keep fair to him, and be honest and
> BloOTom. * The veiy best choke thmi can be made.
380
faithful, that he find not a crack in you. Surely ye are now m
the throng of temptations. When youth is come to its fairest
bloom, then the Devil, and the lusts of a deceiving world, and ein
are upon horseback, and follow with up-sails. If this were not so,
Paul needed not to have written to a sanctified and holy youth,
Timothy, (a faithful preacher of the Gospel,) to flee the lusts of
youth. Give Christ your virgin love ; you cannot put your love
and heart into a better hand. Oh ! if ye knew him, and saw
his beauty, — ^your love, your heart, your desires would close with
him, and cleave to him. Love, by nature, when it seetli, cannot
but cast out its spirit and strength upon amiable objects, and good
things, and things love-worthy; — and what fairer thing than
Christ? O fair sun, and fair moon, and fair stars, and fair flow-
ers, and fair roses, and fair lilies, and fair creatures ; but O ten
thousand thousand times fairer Lord Jesus! Alas, I wronged
him in making the comparison this way ! O black sun and
moon, but O fair Lord Jesus ! O black flowers, and black lilies and
roses, but O fair, fair, ever fair Lord Jesus! O all fair things,
black and deformed without beauty, when ye are beside that fair-
est Lord, Jesus I O black Heaven, but O fair Christ ! O black
angels, but surpassingly fair Lord Jesus ! I would seek no more
to make me happy for evermore, but a thorough and clear sight
of the beauty of Jesus, my Lord. Let my eyes enjoy his fairness,
and stare him forever in the face, and I have all that can be
wished. Get Christ rather than gold or silver ; seek Christ, how-
beit ye should lose all things for him.
They take their marks by the moon,* and look asquint, in look-
ing to fair Christ, who resolve for the world and their ease, and
for their honor, and court, and credit, or for fear of losses and a
sore skin, to turn their backs upon Christ and bis truth, Alas,
how many blind eyes and squint lookers look this day in Scotland
upon Christ's beauty, and ihey see a spot in Christ's fair face!
Alas, they are not worthy of Christ, who look this way upon him,
and see no beauty in him why they should desire him ! God
send me my fill of his beauty, if it be possible that my soul can be
full of his beauty here : but much of Christ's beauty needeth not
abate the eager appetite of a soul, (sick of love for himself^) to see
him in the other world, where he is seen as he is.
I am glad, with all my heart, that ye have given your greenest
morning-age to this Lord Jesus. Hold on, and weary not ; faint
not, resolve upon suffering for Christ ; but fear not ten days' tribu-
lation, for Christ's sour cross is sugared with comforts, and hath a
taste of Christ himself I esteem it to be my glory, my iov, and
my crown, and I bless him for this honor, to be yoked with Christ,
and married to Him, in suffering, who, therefore, was bom, and,
therefore, came into the world, that he might bear witness to tbs
Truth. Take pains, above all things, for salvation ; for without
running, fighting, sweating, wrestling. Heaven is not taken. Oh,
happy soul, that crosseth nature's stomach, and delighteth to gain
1 Tb iak9 aiWt mark$ by tlu moon, to be ehaofeabte.
Rutherford's letters. 321
that fair garland and crown of glory ! What a feckless ' loss is it
for you, to go through this wilderness, and never taste sin's sugar-
ed pleasures ! What poorer is a soul to want pride, lust, love of
the world, and the vanities of this vain and worthless world?
Nature hath no cause to weep at the want of such toys as these.
Esteem it your gain to be an heir of glory. Oh, but that is an
eye-look to a fair rent ! The very hope of Heaven, under troubles,
is like wind and sails to the soul, and like wings, when the feet
come out of the snare. Oh, for what stay we here? Up, up,
after our Lord Jesus ! This is not our rest, nor our dwelling.
What have we to do in this prison except only to take meat and
house-room in it for a time ?
Grace, grace be with you.
Your soul's well-wisher, and Christ's prisoner, S. R-
Abenieen,.1637.
LETTER CCIV.
TO WILLIAM GORDON, AT KENMURE.
Dear Brother, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. — I have
been long in answering your letter, which came in good time to
me. It is my aim and hearty desire, that my furnace, which is
of the Lord's kindling, may sparkle* fire upon standers-by, to the
warming of their hearts witn God's love. The very dust that
falletli from Christ's feet, his old ragged clothes, his knotty and
black cross, are sweeter to me than kings' golden crowns, and
their time-eaten pleasures. I should be a liar and false witness,
if I would not give my Lord Jesus a fair testimonial • with my
whole soul. My word, I know, will not heighten him : he need-
eth not such props under his feet, to raise his glory high : but, oh,
that I could raise him the height of Heaven, and the breadth and
length of ten heavens, in the estimation of all his young lovers !
for we have all shapen Christ but too narrow and too short, and
formed conceptions of his love in our conceit, very unworthy of it.
Ob, that men were taken and catched with his beauty and fair-
ness ! they would give over playing with idols, in which there is
not half room for the love of one soul to expatiate itself ;- and
man's love is but heart-hungered in gnawing upon bare bones, and
sucking at dry breasts. It is well wared ^ tney want who will
not come to Him who hath a world of love, and goodness, and
bounty for all. We seek to thaw our frozen hearts at the cold
smoke of the short-timed creature, and our souls gather neither
beat nor life, nor light ; for these cannot give to us what they
have not in themselves. Oh, that we could thrust in through
these thorns, and this throng of bastard-lovers, and be ravished
and sick of love for Christ ! We should find some footing, and
some room, and sweet ease for our tottering and thoughtless souls
I Triflinff. • Emit sparks of. * Certificate. « Welt-merited.
21
322 RITHERFORO'S LETTERS.
in our Ijord. I wish it were in my power, after this day, to cry
down all love but the love of Christ, and to cry down all gods but
Christ, all saviours but Christ, all well-beloveds but Christ, and
all soul-suitors, all love-beggars but Christ.
Ye complain, that ye want a mark of the sound work of grace
and love in your soul. F6r answer, consider for your satisfaction
(till God send more) 1 John iii. 14. And as your complaint of
deadnoss and doublings, Christ will, I hope, take your deadness
and you together. They are bodies full of holes, running boils,
and broken bones which need mending, that Christ the physician
taketh up : whole vessels are not for the Mediator Christ's art ;
publicans, sinners, whores, harlots, are ready market-wares for
Christ. The only thing that will bring sinners within a cast of
Christ's drawing arm, is, that which ye write of, some feeling of
death and sin, that bringeth forth complaints ; and, therefore, out
of sense complain more and be more acquaint^ with all the
cramps, stitches, and soul-swoon ings that trouble you. The more
pain and the more night-watch ing, and the moe fevers, the better.
A soul bleeding to death, till Christ were sent for, and cried for in
all haste, to come and stem the blood, and close up the hole in
the wound, with his own hand and balm, were a very good dis-
ease, when many are dying of a whole heart. We have all too
little of hell-pain and terrors that way : nay, God send me such a
hell, as Christ hath promised to make a heaven of. Alas, I am
not come that* far on in the way, as to say in sad earnest,' '*Loni
Jesus, great and sovereign physician, here is a pained patient for
thee." But the thing that we mistake is the want of victory.
We hold that to be the mark of one that hath no grace : nav, say
I, the want of fighting were a mark of uo grace ; but I shall not
say the want of victory is such a mark. If my fire and the Dev-
il's water make crackling like thunder in the air, I am the lest
feared ; for where there is fire, it is Christ's part, which I lay and
bind upon him, to keep in the coal, and to pray the Father that
my faith fail not, if I in the mean time be wrestling, and doing,
and fighting, and mourning: for prayer putteth not Paul's devil--
the thorn in the flesh, and the messenger of Satan — to the door at
first; but our Lord will have them to try every one, and let Paul
fend for ^ himself, by God's help, God keeping the stakes, and mod-
erating the play. And ye do well not to doubt, if the grouod-
stone* be sure, but to try if it be so: for there \a great odds be-
tween doubting that we have grace, and trying if we have grace ;
— the former may be sin, but the latter is eood. We are but loose
in trying our free-holding of Christ, and making sure work of
Christ. Holv fear is a searching of the camp, that there be no
enemy withm our bosom to betray us, and a seeing that all be
faut and sure : for I see many leaky vessels fair before the wind,
and professors who take their conversion upon trust, and they go
on securely, and see not the under-water,* till a storm sink theoL
1 Acquaioted. * So. * Sober MrnaiL
« Shut for. * FoandatioD. • Bilfe-watar.
Rutherford's letters. 323
Each man bid need twice a day, and oftener, to be riped^ and
searched with candles.
Pray for me, that the Lord would give me house-room again,
to hold a candle to this dark world.
Grace, grace ye with you.
Yours, in his sweet Lord and Master, S. R.
Aberdeen, 1637.
LETTER CCV.
TO MARGARET FULLERTON.
Mistress, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. — I am glad
that ever ye did cast your love on Christ: fasten more and more
love every day on him. Oh, if * I had a river of love, a sea of
love, that would never go dry, to bestow upon him ! But alas,
the pity ! Christ hath beauty for me, but I have not love for him.
Oh, what pain is it, to see Christ in his beauty, and then to want
a heart and love for him ! but I see, that want we must, till Christ
lend us, never to be paid aj^ain. Oh, that he w^ould empty these
vaults, and lower houses, of these poor souls, of these bastard and
base lovers, which we follow ! and verily, I see no object in
heaven or in earth, that I could ware ' this much of love upon,
that I have upon Christ. Alas ! that clay, and time, and shadows
run away with our love, which is ill spent upon any but upon
Christ. Each fool at the day of judgment will seek back his love
from the creatures, when he shall see them all in a fair fire ; but
they shall prove irresponsal * debtors : and, therefore, it is best
here, that we look ere we leap, and look ere we love.
I find now under his cross, that I would fain give him more
than I have to give him, if giving were in my power : but I rather
wish him my heart than give him it : — except he take it, and put
himself in possession of it, Tfor I hope he hath a market-right to
me, since he hath ransomed me,) I see not how Christ can have
me. Oh, that he would be pleased to be more homely* with my
soul's love, and to come in to my soul, and take his own ! but
when he goeth away and hideth himself, all is to m% that I had
of Christ, as if it had fallen into the sea-bottom. Oh, that I
should be so fickle in my love, as to love him only by the eyes and
the nose ! that is, to love him only in as far as fond and foolish
sense carrieth me, and no more : — and when I see not, and smell
not, and touch not, then I have all to seek. I cannot love per-
queer* nor rejoice perqueer :' but this is our weakness, till we be
at home, and shall have aged men's stomachs to bear Christ's
love.
I ThoroQghlj examined, as it were br turning him intide oal at is done to a pev-
Mo'a poekets when they are learehed wt itolen goods. * Oh, that
» Expend. « Irresponsible. • Familiar. • Peribetlf , ecactlf
324 Rutherford's letters.
Pray for me, thai our Lord would briog me back to yoB»
a new blessing of the Gospel of Christ. I forget not yoa.
Grace, grace be with you.
Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R.
Aberdeen, 1637.
LETTER CCVL
FOR THE RIGHT HONORABLE, MT LADT VISCOUNTKS&
OF KENMURE,
My very NOBLE AND DEAR Lady, — Grace, mercy, and peace
be to you. — The Lord hath brought me safely to Aberdeen. I
have gotten lodging in the hearis of all I meet with. No face
that hath not smiled upon me ; only the indwellers of this town
are dry, cold, and general. They consist of Papists, and men of
GaUio*s metal, firm in no religion ; and it is counted no wisdom
here to countenance a confined and silenced minister; but the
shame of Christ's crons shall not be my shame. Queensberry's at-
tempt seemeth to sleep, because the Bishop of Galloway was
pleased to say to the 'IVeasurer that I had committed treason ;
which word blunted the Treasurer's borrowed zeal. So I thank
God, who will not have me to anchor my soul upon false ground,
or upon llesh and blood ; it is better it be fastened within the veil
I find my old challenges * reviving attain, and my love often jeal-
ou:^* of (Christ's love, when I look upon my own guiltiness. And
I verily think that the world hath too soft an opinion of the gale"
to Heaven, and that many shall get a blind and sad beguile' for
Heaven; for there is more ado than a cold and frozen '*Lord,
Lord." It must be a way narrower and straiter than we conceive,
for the rii^hteous shall scarcely be 8aved. It were good to lake a
more judicious view of Christianity ; for 1 have been doubting, if
ever I knew any more of Christiaiuty than the letters of the name.
I will not lie on my Lord. I find often much joy, and unspeak-
able comfort, in His sweet presence, who sent me hither; and I
trust, this house of my pilgrimage shall be my palace, my garden
of delights; and that Christ will be kind to poor sold Joseph, who
is separated from his brethren. I would be sometimes too hot,
and too joyful, if the heart breaks at the remembrance of sin, and
fair, fair feast-da vs with King Jesus, did not cool me, and sour my
sweet joys. Oh ! how sweet is the love of Christ ! and how wise
is that love ! But let faith frist^ and trust a while ; it is no reason
sons should take oflence, that the father giveth them not twice a
J rear hire, as he doth to liired servants : better that Ghxl's heini
ive upon hope, than upon hire.
Madam, your Ladyship knoweth what Christ hath done, to
have all your love ; and that he alloweth not bis love upon your
1 Self-occusatioiM. > Sutpiciout, * Wapi
* Befuilement * P(Mt|ioiie.
Rutherford's letters. 325
dear child.^ Keep good quarters with Christ in your love. I
verily think that Christ hath said, I must needs-force* have Jean
Campbell foi myself: and he hath laid many oars in the water,
to fish and hunt home-over' your heart to Heaven : let him have
his prey ; he will think you well won, when he hath gotten you.
It is good to have recourse often, and to have the door open to
our strong-hold; for the sword of the Lord, the sword of the Lord,
is for Scotland ; and yet two or three berries shall be left in the top
of the olive-tree.
If a word can do my brother good in his distress, I know your
Ladyship will be willing and ready to speak it, and more also.
Now thet»nly wise God, and your only, only One, He who dwek
in the bush, be with you.
I write many kisses and many blessings in Christ to your dear
child : the blessings of his father's God, the blessings due to the
&therle8s and the widow, be yours and his.
Your Ladyship's, in his only, only Lord Jesus, S. R.
Aberdeen.
POSTSCRIPT.
Madam, be pleased, at a fit time, to try my Lord of Lorn's mind,
if his Lordship would be pleased, that I dedicate another work
against the Arminians to his honorable name. For howbeit I
would compare no patron to his Lordship, and though I have suf-
ficient experience of his love, yet it is possible that his Lordship
may think it not expedient at this time ; but I expect your Lady-
ihip's answer, and I hope that your Ladyship will be plain.
LETTER CCVn.
FOR THE RIGHT HONORABLE, MY LADY VISCOUNTESS
OF KENMURE.
Madam, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to your Ladyship. — ^I
long to hear from you, and that dear child ; and for that cause I
trouble you with letters.
I am for the present thinking the sparrows and the swallows,
that build their nests in Anwoth, blessed birds. The Lord hath
made all my congregation desolate. Alas, I am oft at this, ^^Show
me wherefore thou contendest with me." O earth, earth, cover
not the violence done to me. I know it is my faithless jealousy
in this ray dark night, to take a friend for a foe ; yet hath not mv
Lord made any plea • with me. I chide with him, but he givelh
me fajr words. Seeing my sins and the sins of my youth deserv-
ed strokes, how am I obliged to my Lord, who amongst many
I He alloweth not the love which it hie due to be giren to the child.
• or oeceenty. • Homewards. « ContioYenj.
326 Rutherford's letters.
erosses, hath given me a waled ^ and chosen cross, to suffer for the
name of my Lord Jesus ! Since I must jiave chains, he would
put golden chains on me, watered * over with many consolations :
seeing I must have sorrow, (for I have sinned, O Preserver of
mankind!) he hath waled* out for me joyful sorrow, — honest,
spiritual, and glorious sorrow. My crosses come through mercy
and love's fingers, from the kind heart of a brother, Christ my
Lord ; and, therefore, they must be sweet and sugared. Oh what
am I ! such a lump, such a rotten mass of sin, to be counted a
bairn worthy to be nurtured,' and stricken with the best and most
honorable rod in my Father's house, the golden rod, ^herewith
my eldest brother, the liord, heir of the inheritance, and his faith-
ful witnesses, were stricken withal !
It would be thought that I should be thankful and rejoice : but
my beholders and lovers in Christ have eyes of flesh, and have
made my one to be ten, and I am somebody in their books. My
witness is above, that there are armies of thoughts within me
saying the contrary, and laughing at their wide mistake. If my
inner side were seen, my corruption would appear ; I would lose
and forfeit love and respect at the hands of any that lov« God ;
pity would come in the place of these. Oh, if ^ they would yet
see me lower, and my well-beloved Christ higher ! I would I had
grace and strength of my Lord, to be joyful and contentedly glad
and cheerful, that God's glory might ride, and openly triumph be-
fore the view of men, angels, devils, earth. Heaven, Hell, sun,
moon, and all God's creatures, upon my pain and sufferings, —
providing always, that I felt not the Lord's hatred and displeasure.
But I fear that his fair glory be but soiled in coming Arough
such a foul creature as I am. If I could be the sinless matter of
glorifying Christ, howbeit to my loss, pain, sufferings, and extrem-
ity of wretchedness, how would my soul rejoice ? But I am bx
from this. He knoweth, that his love hath made me a prisoDer,
and bound me hand and foot ; but it is my pain, that I cannoc
win * loose, nor get loose hands, and a loosed heart, to do service
to my Lord Jesus, and to speak his love. I confess that I hare
neither tongue nor pen to do it. Christ's love is more than my
praises, and above the thoughts of the angel Gabriel, and all the
mighty hosts that stand before the throne of God. I think shame,*
I am sad and cast down, to think, that my foul tongue, and my
polluted heart, should come in to help others to sing aloud the
praises of the love of Christ : all I dow^ do, is to wish the choir to
grow throng,* and to grow in the extolling of Christ. Wo, wo i«
me, for my guiltiness seen to few ! My hidden wounds, still bleed-
ing within me, are before the eyes of no man ; but if my sweetest
-Lord Jesus were not still bathing, washing, balming, healing, and.
binding them up, they should rot, and break out to .ray shame.
I know not what will be the end of my suffering. I hayJseeQ
but the one side of my cross ; what will be the other si^ He
1 Selected. * Plaled. • Sabjeded to dncipline. « Oh, that
* Qet * Am Mhaxned. t Am able. * Cio««M.
Rutherford's letters. 327
knoweth, who hath his fire in Zion. Let him lead me, if it were
through Hell. I thank my Lord, that my on-waiting and holding
my peace as I do, to s^e what more Christ will do to me, is my
joy. Oh, if* my ease, joy, pleasure for evermore, were laid in
wadset^ and in pledge, to buy praises to Christ! But I am far
from this. It is easy for a poor soul, in the deep debt of Christ's
love, to spit farther than he dow^ leap or jump, and to feed upon
broad wishes that Christ may be honored — but in performance I
am stark nought. I have nothing, nothing to give Christ but
[joverty : except he would comprise* and arrest my soul, and my.
ove, (oh, oh, if * he would do that !) I have nothing for him; He
may indeed seize upon a dyvour's* person, soul and body : but he
hath no goods for Christ to meddle with : but how glad would my
soul be, if he would forfeit my love,* and never give it me again.
Madam, I would be glad to hear that Christ's claim to you
were still the more, and that you were still going forward, and
that you were. nearer him. 1 dow not' honor Christ myself, but
I wish all others to make sail to Christ's house. I would I
could invite you to go into your well-beloved's house-of-wine,
and that upon my word, — you would then see a new mystery of
love in Christ that you never saw before.
I am somewhat encouraged in that your Ladyship is not dry
and cold to Christ's prisoner, as some are. I hope it is put up in my
Master's count-book. I am not much grieved, that my jealous
husband break in pieces my idols, that either they dare not, or
will not do for me. My master needeth not their help, but they
had need to be that serviceable as to help him. Madam, I have
been t)iat bold as to put you and that sweet child into the prayers
of Mr. Andrew Cant, Mr. James Martin, the Lady Leyes, and
some others in this country that truly love Christ. Be pleased to
let me hear how the child is. The blessings that came upon the
head of Joseph, and on the top of the head of him who was sepa-
rated from his brethren, and the good will of Him who dwelt in
the bush, be seen upon him and you. Madam, I can say, by
some little experience, more now than before of Christ to you. I
am still upon this, that if you seek, there is a pose,* a hidden
treasure, and a gold mine in Christ, you never yet saw. Then
come and see.
Thus recommending you to God's dearest mercy, I rest,
Your own, in his sweet Lord Jesus, at all obedience,
S.IL
My Lady Marischall is very kind to me, and her son also.
Aberdeen, Jane 17, 1637.
» I Oh. that. * AKenated
• That U to profesi more than he is able to do. * Attach.
* De;btor's. * Seize up^n my love as a forfeitui^ to bimnlf
tAfll not able. • Hoard.
328 Rutherford's LBTrERa.
LETTER CCVIII
TO JOHN HENDERSON, IN R U S C ©•
Loving Friend, — I earnestly desire your salvation. — ^Knovr
ihe Lord, and seek Christ. You have a soul that cannot die ; see
for a lodging for your poor soul ; for that house of clay will fall —
Heaven or nothing, either Christ or nothing. Use praver in your
house, and set your thoughts often upon death and judgment. It
is daftgerous to be loose in the matter of your salvation. Few-
are saved ; men go to Heaven in ones and twos, and the whole
world lieth in sin. Love your* enemies, and stand by ihe truth
which I have taught you, in all things. Fear not men, but let
Grod be your fear. Your time will not be long ; make the seeking
of Christ your daily task ; ye may, when ye are in the fields,
speak to God. Seek a broken heart for sin; for without that
tnere is no meeting with Christ I speak this to your wife, as
well as to yourself. I desire your sister, in her fears and doubt-
ings, to fasten her grips* on Christ's love: I forbid her to doubt,
for Christ loveth her, and hath her name written in his book ; her
salvation is fast coming ; — Christ, her Lord, is not slow in coming,
nor slack in his promise.
Grace be with you.
Your loving pastor, S. R.
Aberdeen.
LETTER CCIX.
TO MR. ALEXANDER COLYILLE, OP BLAIR.
Much honored Sir, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you, — ^I
would desire to know how my Lord took my letter, which 1 sent
him, and how he is. I desire nothing, but that he may be fast
and honest to my royal Master and King.
I am well every way, all praise to Him in whose books I mun
stand forever as his debtor ! — only my silence paineth me. I had
one joy out of Heaven, next to Christ my Lord, and that was to
preach him to this faithless generation ; and they have taken thai
from me ; it was to me as the poor man's one eye, and they hare
put out that eye. I know that the violence done to m^, anl his
poor bereft bride, is come up before the Lord; and, supp'we that I
see not the other side of my cross, or what my Lord will brinj ont
of it, yet I believe that the vision shall not tarry, and ih:it Christ
is on his journey for my deliverance : he goeth not slowly, bat
paieseth over ten mountains at one stride ; in the mean time. I am
pained with his love, because I want real possession. Wlieo
1 Oratp.
RXTTHBRFORDS LETTERS. 329
Christ Cometh, he stayeth not long ; but certainly, the blowing of
his breath upon a poor soul is heaven upon earth ; and when the
wind turneth into the North, and he goeth away, I die, till the
wind change into the West, and he visit his prisoner. But he
holdeth me not often at his door. I am richly repaid for sufTering
for him. Oh, if all Scotland were as I am, except my bonds!
Oh, what pain I have, because I cannot get him praised by my
sufferings ! Oh, that Heaven, within and without, and the earth
were paper, and all the rivers, fountains, and seas were ink, and I
able to write all the paper within and without, full of his praises,
and love and excellency, to be read by man and angel ! Nay,
this is little; I owe my heaven to Christ; and to desire, howbeit
I should never enter in at the gat^ of the New Jerusalem, to send
my love and my praises over the wall to Christ. Alas, that time
and days lye betwixt him and me, and adjourn our meeting ! It
is my part to cry, " Oh, when will the night be past and the day
dawn, that we shall see one another !"
Be pleased to remember my service to my Lord, to whom I
wrote ; and show him that, for his affection to me, I cannot but
pray for him, and earnestly desire that Christ miss him not out of
the roll of those who are his witnesses, now when his kingly hon-
or is called in question. It is his honor to hold up Christ's royal
train, and to be an instrument to hold the crown upon Christ's
head. Show him, because I love his true honor and standing,
that this is my earnest desire for him.
Now I bless you ; and the prayers of Christ's prisoner come
upon you ; and His sweetest presence whom ye serve in the
Spirit, accompany you.
Yours, at all obliged obedience in Christ, S. R.
Aberdeen, June 23, 1637.
LETTER CCX.
TO HIS REVEREND, AND DEAR BROTHER, MR. JOHN NEVAT.
My REVEREND, AND DEAR BROTHER, — Orace, mercy, and
rsace be to you. — 1 have exceedingly many whom I write to, else
would be kinder in paper.
I rejoice that my sweet Master hath any to back him. Thick,
thick' may ray royal King's court be. Oh, that his Kingdom
mii^ht grow ! It were my joy to have his house full of guests.
Except that I have some cloudy days, for the most part I have
a king's life with Christ. He is all perfumed with tne powders
of tlie merchant : he hath a king's face, and a king's smell ; his
chariot, wherein he carrieth his poor prisoner, is of the wood of
Lebanon, it is paved with love. Is not that soft ground to walk
or lye on ? I think better of Christ than ever I did : my thoughts
1 Oh, Jiat s Thiooged, tlironged.
330
of his love grow and swell on me. I never write to any ^ him,
80 much as I have felt. Oh, if ^ I could write a book of Christ,
and of his love ! Suppose I were made ^hite ashes, and burnt
for this same truth, that men count but as knots of straw, it were
my gain, if my ashes could proclaim the worth, excellency, and
love of my Lord Jesus. There is much telling of Christ : I give
over the weighing of him ; Heaven would not be the beam of a
balance to weigh him in. What eyes be on me, or what wind of
tongues be on me, I care not : let me stand in this stage in the
fool's coat, and act a fool's part to the rest of this nation ; if I can
set my Well-beloved on high, and witness fair for him, a fig for
their bosanna. If I can roll myself in a lap of Christ's garment,
I shall lye there, and laugh at the thoughts of dying bits of clay.
Brother, we have cause to weep for our Harlot-mother ; her
husband is sending her to Rome's brothel-house, which is the gate '
she liketh well. Yet I persuade you that there shall be a fair
after-growth for Christ in Scotland, and that this Church shall
sing the Bridegroom's welcome-home again to his own house. —
The worms shall eat them first, ere they cause Christ to take
good-night at Scotland. I am here assaulted with the doctor's
guns, but I bless the Father of lights, that they draw not blood of
truth. I find no lodging in the hearts of natural men, who are
cold friends to my Master.
I pray you, remember my love to that gentleman, A. C. My
heart is knit to him, because he and I have one Master. Remem-
ber my bonds, and present my service to my Lord and my Ladv.
I wish that Christ may be dearer to them than he is to many in
their place.
Grace be with you.
Aberdeen, Jaly 5, 1637.
Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R.
LETTER CCXI.
TO MY LADY BOYD.
Madam, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. — Pew^ I believe,
know the pain and torment of Christ's fristed ' love : fristing* with
Christ's presence is a matter 'of torment. I know a poor soul that
would lay all oars in the water for a banquet or feast of Cbnst^a
love. I cannot think, but it must be up-taking' and sweet, to
see the white and red of Christ's fair face; for he is while and
ruddy, and the Chiefest among ten thousand, (Cant. v. 10.) I ara
sure, that must be a well-made face of his ; Heaven roust be in his
visage; glory, glory for evermore must sit on his countenance.
I dare not curse the mask and covering that are on bis face ; bat
1 Oh. that t Road.
* Having the poweMion and enjoyment postponed.
^ Postponing poMeenon and enjoyment * Exhilaratiaf.
Rutherford's letters. ^ 331
oh. if ^ there were a hole in it ! Oh, if* God would tear the mask !
Fy, fy upon us, we were never ashamed till now that we do not
proclaim our pining and languishing for him. I am sure that
never tongue spake of Christ as he is. I am still of that mind,
and still will be, that we wrong and undervalue that holy, holy
One, in having such short and shallow thoughts of his weight and.
worth. Oh, if * I could have but leave, to stand beside, and see
the Father weigh Christ the Son, if it were possible ! But how
every one of them comprehendeth another, we, who have eyes of
clay, cannot comprehend ; but it is pity for evermore, and more
than shame, that such an one as Christ should sit in Heaven his
lone * for us. To go up thither once-errand ^ and on purpose to
see, were no small glory. Oh, that he would strike out windows,
and fair and great lights in this old house, this fallen-down soul,
and then set the soul near-hand * Christ, that the rays and beams
of light, and the soul-delighting glances of the fair, fair Godhead,
might shine in at the windows, and fill the house ! A fairer, and
more near, and direct si^ht of Christ would make room for his
love ; for we are but pincned and straitened in his love. Alas, it
were easy to measure and weigh the love that we have for Christ,
by inches and ounces ! Alas, that we should love by measure and
weight, and not rather have floods and feasts of Christ's love !
Oh, that Christ would break down the old narrow vessels of these
narrow and ebb * souls, and make fair, deep, wide, and broad souls,
to hold a sea and a full tide, flowing over all its bSnks of Christ's
love !
Oh, that the Almighty would give me my request ! that I might
see Christ come to his temple again, (as he is minting,' and, it is
like, minding to do,) and in the land were humbled. The judg-
ments threatened, are with this reservation, I know, " If ye will
turn and repent." Oh, what a heaven would we have on earth,
to see Scotland's moon like the light of the sun, and Scotland's
sun-light seven-fold, like the light of seven days, in the day that
the Lord bindeth up the breach of his people, and healeth the
stroke of their wounds ! fisa. xxx. 26.) Alas, that we will not
pull and draw Christ to nis old tents again, to come and feed
among the lilies, till the day break, and the shadows flee away !
Oh, that the nobles would go on, in the strength and courage of
the Lord, to bring our lawful King, Jesus, home a^ain ! I am
Eersuaded that he shall return again in glory to this land ; but
appy were they who would help to convoy* him to his sanctu*
ary, and set him again up upon the Mercy-seat, betwixt the Cher-
ubim. " O Sun, return to darkened Britain ! O Fairest among
all the sons of men, O most excellent One, come home again ;
come home and win the praises and blessings of the mourners in
Zion, the prisoners of hope, that wait for thee ! I know that be
zan also tnumph in suiTermg, and weep and reign, and die and
1 Oh tliat * Bt himself alone. • On the eole errand.
4 Near. • Shallow. • Intimating, by lignSi «n i nten t i on,
y That * Accompanj on the way.
332 Rutherford's letters.
triumph, and reraain in prison and yet subdue his eoemiea : bat
how happy were I to see the coronation-day of Christ ; to see bis
Mother, who bare him, put ihe* crown upon his bead again, and
cry with shouting till the earth should ring, ** Let Jesus^ our King,
live and reign for evermore."
Grace, grace be with your Ladyship.
Your Ladyship's at all obedience in Christ, S. R.
Aterdeen, 1637.
LETTER CCXIL
TO WILLIAM OLENDINNING.
Dear Brother, — ^Ye are heartily welcome to that honor, that
Chrii^t hath made common to us both, which is to suffer for bk
name. Verily I think it my garland and crown ; and if tbe Lord
should ask of me my blood and life for this cause, I would gladly,
m his strength, pay due debt to Christ's honor and glory, in that
kind. Acquaint yourself with Christ's love, and ye shall not miss
to find new golden mines and treasures in Christ ; nay, truly, we
but stand beside Christ, we go not in to him to take our fill of him.
But, if he would do two things, — 1. Draw the curtains, and make
bare his holy face; and then, 2. Clear our dim and bleared eyes,
to see his beaut^ and glory, he should find many lovers. I would
seek no more happiness, than a sight of him so near-hand,' as to
see, hear, smell, and touch, and embrace him : but oh, closed doors,
and veils, and curtains, and thick clouds hold me in pain, while I
find the sweet burning of his love, that many waters cannot
quench ! Oh, what sad hours have I, when I think, that the love
of Christ scaureth' at me, and blowetb by me ! If my Lord Jesoi
would come to bargaining for his love, I think he might make
the price himself. I should not refuse ten thousand years in Udl,
to have a wide soul enlarged and made wider, that I might be
exceedingly, even to the running-over, filled with hb love. Oh,
what am I to love such a One, or to be loved by that high and
lofty One ! I think the angels may blush to look upon him ; and
what am I to defile such infinite brightness with my sinful eyes !
Oh, that Christ would come near, and sUud still, and give me
leave to look upon him ! — ^for to look seemeth the poor man's priv-
ilege, since he may, for nothing, and without hire, behold the
sun. I should have a king's life, if I had no other thing to do,
than, for evermore, to behold and eye my fair Lord Jesus : nay,
suppose I were hoideu out. at Heaven's fair entry, I should be
happy for evermore, to look through a hole in the door, and see
my dearest and fairest Lord's face. O great King, why siandest
thou aloof? Why remainest thou beyond the mountains? O
Well-beloved, why dost thou pain a poor soul with delays? A
* Nmi; i Boggklk.
Rutherford's letters. 333
long time out of thy glorious presence is two deaths and two hells
to me. — We must meet, I must see him, I dow not ' want him.
Hunger and longii g for Christ, hath brought on such a necessity
of enjoying Christ, that, cost me what it will, I cannot but assme
Christ that I will not, I dow not' want him : for I cannot muster
nor command Christ's love. Nay, Hell (as I now think,) and all
the pains in it, laid on me alone, would not put me from loving :
yea, suppose that my Lord Jesus would not love me, it is al>uve
mv strength or power to keep back or imprison the weak love
which 1 have, but it must be out to Christ : I would set Heaven's
joy aside, and live upon Christ's love its lone.* Let me have no
joy but the warmness and (ire of Christ's love ; I seek no other,
God knoweth. If this love be taken from me, the bottom is fallen
out of all my happiness and joy ; and, therefore, I believe that
Christ will never do me that ' much harm, as to bereave a poor
prisoner of his love : it were cruelty to take it from me ; and He
who is kindness itself, cannot be cruel.
Dear brother, weary not of my sweet Master's chains; we are
80 much the sibber^ to Christ that we sufier. Lodge not a hard
thought of my royal King : rejoice in his cross. Yom* deliverance
sleepetb not. He that will come is not slack of his promise. Wait
on for God's timous' salvation; ask not when, or how long? I
hope he shall lose nothing of you in the furnace, but dross. Com-
mit your cause in meekness, (forgiving your oppressors,) to God,
and your sentence shall come back fcom him laughing. Our
Bridegroom's day is coming fast on ; and this world, that seemeth
to go with a long and a short foot, shall be put into two ranks.
Wait till your ten days* be ended, and hope for the crown ; Christ
will not give you a blind in the enS.
Commend me to your wife and father, and to Baillie M. A.; and
send this letter to him.
The prayers of Christ's prisoner be upon you, and the Lofd's
presence accompany you.
Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R.
Abevdeen, Jaly 6, 1637.
LETTER CCXin.
TO ROBERT LENNOX, OF DISDOVE.
Dear Brother, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. — I be-
seech you in the Lord Jesus, make fast and sure work of life
eternal. Sow not rotten seed : every man's work will speak for
itself, what his seed hath been. Oh, how many see I, who sow
to the flesh ! Alas, what a crop will that be, when the Lord shall put
in his hook ' to reap this world, that is ripe and white for judgment I
I Am not able. > By Htelf alone. • So.
« More nearir related. • Seaeonable. • Rev. n. 10.
V Siekle.
334 RUTHERFORD S LETTERS.
I recommend to you holiness and sanciification, and that yoa
keep yourself clean from this present evil world. We delight tc
tell our own dreams, and to flatter our own flesh with the hope
which we have : it were wisdom for us to be free, plain^ honek,
and sharp with our own souls, and to charge them to brew better,
that they may drink well, and fare well, when time is melted
away like snow in a hot summer. Oh, how hard a thing is it, to
Set the soul to give up with all things on this bide of death and
oomsday ! We say that we are removing and going from this
world ; but our heart stirreth not one foot off its seat Alas ! I
see few heavenly-minded souls, that have nothing upon the earth,
but their body of clay going up and down this earth, because
their soul and the powers of it are up in Heaven, and there, their
hearts live, desire, enjoy, rejoice. Oh ! men's souls have no wiugs,
and, therefore, night and day they keep their nest, and are not ac-
quainted with Christ. Sir, take you to your one thing, to Christ,
that ye may be acquainted with the taste of his sweetness and
excellency, and charge your love not to dote upon this world ; for
it will not do your business in that day, when nothing will come
in good stead to you, but God's favor. Build upon Christ some
^ood, choice, and fast work ; for when your soul for many years
hath taken the play, and hath posted, and wandered through the
creatures, ye will come home again with the wind ; — they are not
good, at least not the soul's good. It is the infinite Godhead that
must allay the sharpness of your hunger after happiness ; otherwise
there shall still be a want of satisfaction to your desires: and if
he should cast in ten worlds into your desires, all shall fall through,
and your soul will still cry, **Red* hunger, black ^ hunger:" — bat
lam sure there is sufficient for you in Christ, if ye had seven
souls and seven desires in you.
Oh, if ^ I could make my Lord Jesus market-sweet,* lovely, de-
sirable, and fair to all the world, both to Jew and Gentile ! Oh,
let my part of Heaven go for it, so being he would take my tongue
to be his instrument, to set out Christ in his whole braveries of
love, virtue, grace, sweetness, and matchless glory, to the eyes and
hearts of Jews and Gentiles! — but who is sufficient for these
things ! Oh, for the help of angels' tongues, to make Christ eye-
sweet* and amiable to many thousands! Oh, how little doih
this world see of him, and how far are they from the love of him,
seeing there is so much loveliness, beauty, and sweetness in
Christ, that no created eye did ever yet see ! I would that all
men knew his glory, and that I could put many in at the Bride-
groom's chamber-door, to see his beauty, and to be partakers of
his high, and deep, and broad, and boundless love. Oh, let all the
world come nigh and see Christ, and they shall then see more
than I can say of him ! Oh, if* I had a pledge or pawn to lay
down for a seaful of his love ! that I could come by so much of
1 Red and black are oied as intenntiTe words in the Scottiah dialect
s Oh, that. * Decirable, so as to be sought ader in the p«bGe
« Pleasant to the eje.
Rutherford's letters 335
Christ, as would satisfy greening* and longing for him, or rather
increase it, till I were in full possession ! I know that we shall
meet; and therein I rejoice.
Sir, stand fast in the truth of Christ, that ye have received.
Yield to no winds, but ride out, and let Christ be your anchor,
and the only He, whom ye shall look to see in peace. Pray fur
me, his prisoner, that the Lord would send me among you to feed
his people.
Grace, grace be with you.
Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R.
Aberdeen, 1637.
LETTER CCXIV.
TO MR. JAMES HAMILTON.
Reverend, and dearly beloved in our Lord, — Grace,
mercy, and peace be to you. — Our acquaintance is neither in bod*
ily presence, nor on paper ; but as sons of the same Father, and
sufferers for the same truth.
Let no man doubt that the state of our Question, we are now
forced to stand to by suffering exile and imprisonment is — If Jesus
should reign over his kirk, or not? Oh, if* mv sinful arm could
bold the crown on his head, howbeit it should be stricken off from
the shoulder blade ! For your ensuing and feared trial, my very
dearest in our Lord Jesus, alas ! what am I to speak to comfort a
soldier of Christ, who hath done a hundred times more for that
worthy and honorable cause than I can do ? But I know, those
of whom the world was not worthy, wandered up and down in
deserts, and in mountains, and in dens, and caves of the earth ;
and that while there is one member of mystical Christ out of
Heaven, that member must suffer strokes, till our Lord Jesus
draw in that member within the gates of the New Jerusalem,
which he will not fail to do at last ; for not one toe or finger of
that body, but it shall be taken in within the city. What can be
our part, in this pitched battle betwixt the Lamb and the Dragon,
but to receive the darts in patience, that rebound off us upon our
sweet Master ; or rather neht first upon him, and then rebound
off him upon .his servants? I think it a sweet north-wind, that
bloweth first upon the fair fare of the Chief among ten thousand,
and then lighteth upon our sinful and black faces. When once
the wind bloweth onf him upon me, I think it hath a sweet smell
of Christ; and so must be some' more than a single cross. I
know that ye have a guard about you, and your attendance and
train for your safety is far beyond your pursuers* force or fraud :
it is good, under feud, to be near our war-house, and stronghold.
We can do but little to resist them, who persecute us and oppose
> Oftedfly denring. * Oh, that. • Somewhat
336 rutherford'a letters.
him, but keep our blood and our wounds to the next court-day,
when our complaints shall be read. If this day be not Christ's, I
am sure the morrow shall be his.
As for anything I do in my bonds, when now and then a word
falleth from me, alas ! it is very little. I am exceedingly grieved
that any should conceive anything to be in such a broken and
empty reed : let no man impute it to me, that the free and un-
bought wind, ^for I gave nothing for it,) bloweth upon an empty
reed. I am his over-burdened debtor. I cry, " Down with men,
down, down with all the excellency of the world ; and up, up
with Christ !" Long, long mav that fair One, that holy One, be
on high ! My curse be upon them that love him not. Oh, how
glad would I be, if his glorv would grow out, and spring up out
of my bonds and sufferings 1 Certainly since I became his pris-
oner, he hath won the yolk and heart of my souL Christ is even
become a new Christ to me, and his love greener than it was.
And now I strive no more with him. His love shall carry it away.
I lay down myself under his love. I desire to sing, and to cry,
and to proclaim myself, even under the water, m nis common,'
and eternally indebted to his kindness. I will not offer to quit
commons with* him, (as we used to say,) for that will not be.
All, all for evermore be Christ's. What further trials are before
me, I know not ; but I know that Christ will have a saved sod
of me, over on the other side of the water, on the yonder-side of
crosses, and beyond men's wrongs.
I had but one eye, and that they have put out My one joy,
next to the flower of my joys, Christ, was to preach my sweetest,
sweetest Master, and the glory of his Kingdom ; and it seemed
no cruelty to them to put out the poor man's one eye. And now
I am seeking about to see if suffering will speak my fair OneV
praises ; and I am trying if a dumb man's tongue can raise one
note, or one of Zion's springs to advance my Well-beloved's glory.
Oh, if he would make some glory to himself out of a dumb pris-
oner ! I go with child of his word : I cannot be deUvered : none
here will have my Master : alas! what aileth them at him ?
I bless you for your prayers ; add to them praises : as I am able,
I pay vou home. I commend your diving in Christ's Testament;
I would I could set out the dead Man's good-will to his friends, in
his sweet testament. Speak a prisoner's hearty commendatiout
to Christ; fear not, your ten days' will over. Those that are
gathered against Mount Zion, their eyes shall melt away in their
eye-holes, and their tongues consume away in their mouth% and
Christ's withered garden shall grow green again in Scotland. My
Lord Jesuti hath a word hid in Heaven for Scotland, not yeC
brought out.
Grace be with you.
Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. B.
Aberdeen, Jnly 7. 1637.
1 Under obligation. I To ceafo to bo obfigod H^
• Rot. IL 10.
337
LETTER COXY.
TO MISTRESS STUART.
Mistress, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. — I am sorry
that ye take it so hardly, that I have not written to you.
I am judged to be that which I am not. I fear that if I were
put into the fire, I should melt away, and fall down in sherds of
painted nature ; for truly I have little slufl* at home that is worth
the eye of God's servants. If ihere be anything of Christ's in me,
(as I dare not deny some of his work,) it is but a spunk ^ of bor-
rowed fire, that can scarce warm myself, and hath little heat for
stand ers-by. I would fain have that which ye and others believe
I have ; but ye are only witnesses to my outer side, and to some
words on paper. Oh, that he would give me more than paper-
grace or tongue-grace ! Were it not that want paineth me, I
should have skailed * house, and gone a-begging long since : but
Christ hath left me with some hunger, that is more hot than wise,
and is ready often to say, *• If Christ longed for me, as I do for
him, we should not be long in meeting ; and if he loved my com-
pany as well as I do his, even while I am writing this letter to
vou, we should flee ' into each other's arms." But I know there
IS more will than wit in this languor and pining love for Christ;
and no marvel, for love to Christ would have hot harvest, long
ere midsummer. But if I have any love to him, Christ hath both
love to me, and wit to guide his love ; and I see that the best tiling
I have hath as much dross beside it as might curse me and it both ;
and, if it were for no more, we have need of a Saviour to pardon
the very faults, and diseases, and weakness of the new man, and
to take away (to say so) our godly sins, or the sins of our sancti-
fication, and the dross and scum of spiritual love. Wo, wo is me I
Oh, y%'hat need is there, then, of Christ's calling to scour, and
cleanse, and wash away an ugly old body of sin — the very image
of Satan ! I know nothing surer, than that there is an office for
Christ amongst us. I wish for no other heaven on this side of
the last sea that I must cross, than this service of Christ, to make
my blackness beautv, my deadness hfe, my guiltiness sanctifica-
tioD. I long much for that day, when I shall be holy, ph, what
spots are yet unwashen ! * Oh, that I could change the skin of
the leopard and the moor, and nifler* it with some of Christ's fair-
ness! Were my blackness and Christ's beauty carded through-
other,' (as we use to speak,) his beauty and holiness would eat up
my filthiness. Bu*^ on, I have not casten old Adam*'s hue and
color yet ! I trow that the best of us hath a smell yet of the old
loathsome body of sin and guiltiness. Happy are they for ever-
more who can employ Chiust, and set his blood and death on
« Spark. « Di«pertcd. • Fly.
* IJnwathed. • Exchange. * Promitcuouslj,
ruthbrford's letters.
work, to make clean work to God, of foul soub. I know that it
is our sin that would have sanctification on the sunny-side of the
hill, and holiness with nothing but summer, and crosses no at alL
Sin hath made us as tender as if we were made of paper or glass.
I am often thinking, what I would think of Christ and burning
quick together, of Christ and torturing, and hot melted lead poured
in at mouth and navel ; yet I have some weak experience, (but
very weak indeed,) that suppose Christ and HelUs torments were
married together, and if there were no finding of Christ at all, ex-
cept I went to Heirs furnace, that there, and in no other place, I
could meet with him ; I trow that if I were as I have been since
I was his prisoner, I would beg lodging for God's sake in Hell't
hottest furnace, that I might rub souls with Christ. But Qod be
thanked, I shall find him in a better lodging. We get Chrisi
better-cheap ^ than so : when he is rouped' to us, we get him but
with a shower of summer troubles in this life, as sweet and as soA
as to believers as a May-dew.
I would have you and myself helping Christ mystical to weep
for his wife ; and, oh, that we could mourn for Christ buried in
Scotland, and for his two slain witnesses, killed because they
prophesied ! If we could so importune and solicit God, our buried
Lord and his two buried witnesses should rise again. Earth, and
clay, and stone, will not bear down Christ and the Gospel in Scot-
land. I know not if I shall see the second Temple, and the gkffj
of it ; but the Lord hath deceived me if it be not to be rear^ up
again. I would wish to give Christ his welcome home again. —
my blessing, my joy, my glory, and love be on the Home-comer.
I find no better use of sufTering than that Christ's winnowing
putteth chaff and corn in the saints to sundry places, and dtscor*
ereth our dross from his ^old, so as corruption and grace are so
seen, that Christ saith in the furnace, "That is mine, and this is
thine : the scum and the grounds, thy stomach against the perse^
cutors, thy impatience, thy unbelief, thy quarrelling, these are
thine ; and faith, on-waiting, love, joy, courage, are mine." Ob,
let me die one of Christ's on- waiters, and one of his attendants !
I know that your heart and Christ are married together; it
were not good to make a divorce. Rue not of that meeting and
marriage with such a husband. Pray for me his prisoner. Grace,
grace be with you.
^ Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R.
Aberdeen, 1637.
LETTER CCXVL
TO MR. HUGH MACKAIL.
Reverend, and dear Brother, — Grace, mercy, and peaet
be to you. — ^I received your letter. I bless you for it
1 More thmn grataitoutljr. •
rtttherford's letters. 339
Mf dry root would 'ake more dew and summer-rain than it
getteth, were it not that Christ will have dryness and deadness
in us to work upon ; if there were no timber to work upon, art
would die, and never be seen. I see that grace hath a field to
play upon, and to course up and down in our wants ; so that I
am often thanking God, not for guiltiness, but for guiltiness for
Christ to whet and sharpen his grace upon : I am half content to
have boils for the plasters of my Lord Jesus. Sickness hath this
advantage, that it draweth our sweet Physician's hand, and his
holy and soft fingers, to touch our withered and leper skins. It is
a blessed fever that fetcheth Christ to the bed-side. I think my
Lord's "How doest thou with it, sick Body?" is worth all my
pained nights. Surely, I have no more for Christ, than empti-
ness and want : take or leave, he will get me no otherwise. I
must sell myself, and my wants to him ; but I have no price to
give for him. If he would put a fair and real seal xipon his love
to me, and bestow upon me a larger share of Christ's love, (which
I would fainest be in hands with of anything — I except not
Heaven itself,) I should go on sighing and sinking under his cross ;
but the worst is, many take me for somebody, because the wind
bloweth upon a withered prisoner ; but the truth is, that I am
both lean and thin in that, wherein many believe I abound. I
would, (if bartering were in my power,) niffer* joy with Christ's
love and faith, and, instead of the hot sunshine, be content to
walk under a cloudy shadow with more grief and sadness, to have
more faith and a fair occasion of setting forth and commending
Christ, and to make that lovely One, that fair One, that sweetest
and dearest Lord Jesus, market-sweet' for many ears and hearts
in Scotland; and, if it were in my power, to roup* Christ to the
Three Kingdoms, and withal persuade buyers to come, and to*
take such sweet wares as Christ, I would think to have many
sweet bargains betwixt Christ and the sons of men. I would that
I could be humble, and go with a low sail : I would that I had
desires with wings, and running upon wheels ; swift, and active,
and speedy in longing for Christ's honor. But I know that my
Lord is as wise here as I dow* be thirsty ; and infinitely more
zealous of his honor, than I can be hungry for the manifestation
of it to men and angels. But, oh, that my Lord would take my
desires off my hand, and a thousand-fold more unto them, and sow
spiritual inclinations upon them, for the coming of Christ's King-
dom to the sons of men ! that they might be higher, and deeper,
and longer, and broader — for my longest measures are too short
ibr Christ, my depth is ebb' and the breadth of my affections to
Christ narrowed and pinched. Oh, for an inline * and a wit, to
prescribe ways to men, how Christ might be all, in all the world !
— Wit is here behind affection, and affection behind obligation.
Oh, how little dow^ I give to Christ, and how much hath he
I Exehan^. * Sought after, at it were, in the common markat
• Aoetion. « Am able to. • Shallow.
• Oanins. t A
340 RUTHEHFORD^S LETTERS.
given me! Oh, that I could sing grace's praises, and lore's
praises ! seeing that I was like a fool soliciting the Law, and mak-
ing moyen * to the Law's court for mercy, and found challenges •
that way ; but now I deny that judge's power ; for I am grace's
man : I hold not worth a drink •f water, the Law, or any lord, but
Jesus — and till I bethought me of this, 1 was slain with doubtinga,
and fears, and terrors. 1 praise the new court, and the new Land*
lord, and the new salvation, purchased in the name of Jesus, and
at his instance. Let the Old Man, if he please, go make his
moan ' to the Law, and seek acquaintance thereaway * because
he is condemned in that court ; I hope that the New Man, and I,
and Christ together will not be heard : and this is the more soft
and the more easy way for me and for my cross together. Seeing
that Christ singeth my welcome-home, and taketh me in, and
maketh short accounts and short work of reckoning betwixt me
and my Judge, I must be Christ's man, and his tenant, and sub-
ject to his court. I am sure that suffering for Christ could not be
borne otherwise : but 1 give my hand and my faith to all who
would suffer for Christ, that they shall be well handled, and (are
well in the same way, that I have found the cross easy and light
Grace be with you.
Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R.
Aberdeen, July 8, 1637.
LETTER CCXVIL
TO ALEXANDER GORDON, OF GARLOCK.
Dear Brother, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. — II
Christ were as I am, that time could work upon him to alter him
or that the morrow could bring a new day to him, or bring a new
mind to him, as it is to me a new day, I could not keep a house
or a covenant with him : but I find Christ to be Christ, and that
he is far, far, even infinite heaven's height above men : and that w
all our happiness. Sinners can do nothing, but make wounds^
that Christ may heal them ; and make debts, that he may pay
tbem ; and make falls, that he may raise them ; and make deaths,
that he may quicken them ; and spin out and dig hells for them-
selves, that he may ransom them. Now I will bless the Lord, that
ever there was such a thing as the free grace of God, and a free
ransom given lor sold souls: only, alas! guiltiness maketh me
ashamed to apply Christ, and to think it pride in roe, to put out
my unclean and withered hand to such a Saviour. But it b
neither shame nor pride, for a drowning man to swim to a rock,
nor for a ship*broken soul to run himself ashore upoo Cbrist.
Suppose once I be guilty, need-force' I cannot, I dow not' go by^
> Interett * Accasations. • Bemoftn himedC
« In UioM parts. ' Of necesnity, • Am not able. V p^L
341
Christ. We take in good part that pride, that beggars beff from
the richer ; and who so poor as we 1 and who so rich as He who
selleth fine Gold ? (Rev. iii. 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 and submissively wnth
our wants to Christ. I have also cause to give his cross a good
name and report. Oh, how worthy is Christ of my feckless * and
light suffering ! and how hath he deserved it at my hands, that,
for his honor and glory, I should lay my back under seven hells'
pains in one, if he call me to that ! But alas ! ray soul is like a
ship run on ground through ebbness'of water. I am sanded,*
and my love is sanded,^ and I find 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.
Wo, wo is me, I nave a lover Christ, and yet I want love for him :
I have a lovely and desirable Lord, who is loveworthy, and who
beggeth my love and heart, and I have nothing to give him. Dear
brother, come further in on Christ, and see a new treasure in him.
Come in, and look down, and see angels' wonder, and Heaven and
earth's wonder of love, sweetness, majesty, and excellency in him.
I forget you not. Pray for me, that our L^rd would be pleased
to send me among you again, fraughted and full of Christ.
Grace, grace be with you.
Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R.
Aberdeen, 1637.
LETTER CCXVin.
TO JOHN BEI/L, ELDER.
My very loving Friend, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to
vou. — 1 have very often and long expected your letter : but if ye
be well in soul and body, I am the less solicitous.
I beseech you, in the Lord Jesus, to mind your country above :
and now, when old age — the twilight going before the darkness
of the grave, and the falling low of your sun before your night —
is come upon you, advise with Christ, ere ye put your foot into
the ship, and turn your back on this life. Many are beguiled with
this, that they are free of scandalous and crying abominations ; but
the tree that bringeth not forth good fruit, is for the fire; the man
that is not bom again, cannot enter into the Kingdom of God : —
common honesty will not take men to Heaven. Alas, that men
should think that ever they met with Christ, who had never a sick
night, through the terrors of God in their souls, or a sore heart foi
sin ! I know that the Lord hath given you light, and the knowl-
edge of his will, but that is not all, neither will that do your turn.
I wish you an awakened soul, and that ye beguile not yourself^
I WorthleM. « ShellowneH. > Stranded.
342
in the matter of your salvation. My dear brother, search youraelf
with the candle of God, and try if the Ufe of God and Christ be in
»you. Salvation is not casten to every man'tf door. Many are
carried over sea and land, to a far country in a ship, wbileas they
sleep much of all the way ; but men are not landed at Heaven
sleeping. The righteous are scarcely saved ; and many run a*
fast as either you or I, who miss the prize and the crown. God
send me salvation, and save me from a disappointment, and I seek
no more. Men think it but a stride, of step over to Heaven ; but
when so few are saved, even of a number like the sand of the sea
— but a handful and a remnant, (as Grod's word saith) — what
cause have we to shake ourselves out of ourselves, and to ask our
poor soul, ^' Whither goest thou? Where shalt thou lodge at
night? Where are thy charters and writs of thy heavenly in-
heritance ?" 1 have known a man turn a key in a door, and lock
it by.* Many men leap over, (as they think,} and leap in. Oh,
see ! see that ye give not your salvation a wrong cast, and think
all is well, and leave your soul loose and uncertain. Look to your
building, and to your ground-stone,^ and what signs of Christ are
in you, and set this world behind your back. It is time, now in
the evening, to cease from your ordinary work, and high time to
know of your lodging at night : it is your salvation that is in de-
pendence, and that id a great and weighty business, though many
make light of the matter.
Now, the Lord enable you by his grace to work it ouL
Your lawful, and loving pastor, S. R.
Aberdeen, 1637.
LETTER CCXIX.
TO MR. JOH N ROW.
Reverend, and dear Brother, — I received yours. — ^I ble«
his high and great name, that I like my sweet Master still the
longer the better : a sight of his cross is more awsome * than the
weight of it. I think the worst things of Christ, even his re-
proaches and his cross, (when I look on these not with bleared
eyes,) far rather to be chosen than the laughter and wonn-eatea
ioys of my adversaries. Oh, that they were as 1 am, except my
bonds ! My Witness is above, that my ministry, next to Christ,
is dearest to me of anything ; but I lay it down at Christ's feet,
for his glory and his honor as supreme Lawgiver, which is dearer
to me.
My dear brother, if ye will receive the testimony of a poor pris-
oner of Christ, who dare not now dissemble for the world, I believt
^rtainly, and expect thanks from the Prince of the kings of lh«
i That ifl, turn the boH not into, bat paft the etaple or locket that ahovld Mi ft.
• Foundation. * AwftU.
343
earth, for my poor hazards, (such as they are,) for his honorable
cause, whom I can never enough extol, for his running-over love
to my sad soul, since I came hither. Oh, that I could get him set
on high and praised ! I seek no more, as the top and root of my
desires, than that Christ may make glory to himself, and edifica-
tion to the weaker, out of my sufferings.
I desire ye would help me both to pray and praise. Grace be
with you.
Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R.
Aberdeen, Jolj 8th, 1637.
LETTER CCXX.
TO MY LORD CRAIOHALL.
My Lord, — I persuade myself that notwithstanding the great-
ness of this temptation, ye will not let Christ want a witness of
you, to avow him before this evil generation. And if ye advise
with God's truth, (the perfect testament of Christ, that forbiddeth
all men's additions to his worship,) and with the truly learned,
and with all the sanctified in this land, and with that warner
within you, (which will not fail to speak against you, in God's
name, if ye be not now fast and fixed for Christ,) I hope, then,
that your Lordship will acquit yourself as a man of courage for
Christ, and refuse to bow your knee superstitiously and idola*
trously to wood or stone, or any creature whatsoever. I persuade
myself that when ye shall take good night at this world, ye shall
think it God's truth I now write.
Some fear that your Lordship hath obliged yourself to His Maj-
esty by promise to satisfy his desire. If it be so, my dear, and
worthy Lord, hear me for your soul's good. Think upon swim-
ming ashore after this shipwreck, and be pleased to write your
humble apology to his Majesty ; it may be that God will give you
favor in his eyes. However it be, far be it from you to think a
Cromise made out of weakness, and extorted by the terror of a
ing, should bind you to wrong your Lord, Jesus. But for my-
felf, I give no faith to that report, but 1 believe that ye will prove
last to Christ. To this grace I recommend you.
Your Lordship's, at all obedience in Christ, S. R.
Aberdeen, Jaly 8, 1637.
LETTER CCXXL
FOR MARION MACKNAUGHT.
Worthy, and dearest in the Lord, — I rejoice that you
are a partaker of the sufferings of Christ Faint not, keep breath.
344 ruthkaford's letters.
believe ; howbeit meD, and hu9^*and, and friends, prove weak, yeC
your Htren^lb failelh not. It is not pride for a drowning man to
grip to * the rock. It is your glory to lay hold on your Rock. O
woman greatly beloved ! I testify and avouch it in my Lord, that
the prayers ye sent to Heaven, these many years by-gone,* are
come up before the Lord and shall not be forgotten. What it is
that will come, I cannot tell ; but I know that, as the Lord liveih,
these cries shall bring down rtiercy. I charge you, and those peo-
ple with you, to go on without fainting or fear, and still believe,
and take no nay-say.* If ye leave off, the field is lost; if ye con-
tinue, our enemies shall be a tottering wall, and a bowin? fence.
I write it, (and keep this letter,) utter, utter desolation shall be to
your adversaries, and to the haters of the Virgin-daughter of Scot-
land. The bride will yet sing, as in the davs of her youth. Sal-
vation shall be her walls and bulwarks. The dry olive-tree shall
bud again, and dry dead bones shall live; for the Lord will pro-
phesy to the dry bones, and the Spirit shall come upon them, and
we shall live.
I rejoice to hear of John Carsen ! I shall not forget him. Re
membier me to Grizzel, and Jean Brown. Your husband hath
made me heavy; but be courageous. in the Lord. I send blessing
to Samuel and William. Show them that I will them to seek
Qod in their youth.
Grace is yours.
Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R
Aberdeen, Jaly 8, 1637.
LETTER CCXXn.
TO MY LADY CULROSS.
Madam, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. — I am much re-
freshed with your letter, now at length come to me. I find my
Lord Jesus cometh not in that precise way that I lay wait for him ;
he hath a gate * of his own : oh, how high are his ways above my
ways ! I see but little of him. It is best not to offer to learn him
a lesson, but to give him absolutely his own will, in comin?, eo-
ing, ebbing, and in the manner of his gracious working. I want
nothing but a back-burden of Christ's love. I would go through
Hell, and the thick* of the damned devils, to have a hearty fca^
of Christ's love; for he hath fettered me with his love, and run
away, and left me a chained man.
Wo is me, that I was po loose, rash, vain, and graceless, in my
unbelieving thoughts of Christ's love. But what can a soiit undar
a non-entry, (when my* rights • were wadset' and lost,) do ebe^
I To clin? to. < Bv-pAffvrd. I Nay-worrl, denial. « MaaMf .
» Thron|r. « Charter*. ▼ Alienated.
Rutherford's letters. 345
but make a false libel against Christ's love ! I know that yourself,
madam, and many moe, will be witnesses ag^ainst me, if I repent
not of my unbehef ; for I have been seeking the Pope's wares,
some hire for grace within myself. I have not learned, as 1 should
do, to put my stock and all my treasure into Christ's hand ; but I
would have a stock of mine own, and ere I was aware, I was tak-
ing hire to be the Law's advocate, to seek justification by works.
I forgot, that grace is the only garland that is worn in Heaven,
upon the heads of the glorified. And now I half rejoice, that I
have sickness for Christ to work upon. Since I must have wounds,
well is my soul ! I have a day's work for my Physician, Christ
I hope to give Christ his own calling : it setteth him full well to.
cure diseases.
My ebbings are very low, and the tide is far out when my Be-
loved goeth away; and then I cry, "Oh, cruelty! to put out the
poor -man's one eye ;" and that was my joy next to Christ, to
f>reach my Well-beloved : then I make a noise about Christ's house,
ooking unco-like ^ in at his window, and casting my love and my
' desires over the wall, till God send better. I am often content
that my bill lie in Heaven, till the day of my departure, providing
I had assurance, that mercy shall be written on the back of it.
I would not care for on-wailing ; but when I draw in a tired arm,
and an empty hand withal, it is much to me to keep my thoughts
in order — but 1 will not get a gate * for Christ's love, when I have
done all I can. I would fain yield to his stream, and row with
Christ, and not against him. But while I live, I see that Christ's
Kingdom in me will not be peaceable — so many thoughts in me
rise up against his honor and kingly power. Surely, 1 have not
expre^fsed all his sweet kindness to me : I spare to do it, lest I be
deemed to seek myself; but his breath hatn smelled of the pow-
ders of the merchant, and of the king's spikenard. I think that I
conceive new thoughts of Heaven, because the chart and the map
of Heaven, which he letteth me now see, is so fair, and so sweet.
I am sure that we are niggards, and sparing bodies in seeking.
I verily judge that we know not how much may be had in this
life ; there is yet something beyond all that we see, that seeking
would light upon. Oh, that my love sickness would put me to a
business, when all the world are sound-sleeping, to cry and knock !
But the truth is, that since I came hither, 1 have been wondering,
that, after my importunity to have my fill of Christ's love, I have
not gotten a real sign, but have come from him crying, " Hunger,
hunger.'^ I think that Christ letteth me see meat in my extremity
of hunger, and giveth me none of it: when I am near the apple,
he draweth back his hand, and goeth away to cause me follow;
and again, when I am within an arm-length of the apple, he
roaketh a new break to the gate ' and I have him to seek of new.
He seemeth not to pity my dwining^ and my swooning for his
t Having an appearance of stmngenen. t Way.
s That is, maketh a rush oat to the door, apparently ibr the porpoae of eacapiog.
4 Pining.
346 Rutherford's letters.
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 fur*
nace in Hell, so being I might enjoy him. But my hunger is fed
with want and absence. I hunger, and I have not ; but my coni-
fort is to lye and wait on, and to put my poor soul and my suffer-
ings into Christ's hand. Let bim make anything out of me, so
being he be glorified in my salvation ; for I know that 1 am made
for him. Ob, that my Lord may win his own gracious end in uie.
I will not be at ease, while I but stand so far aback. Oh, if I
were near him, and with him, that this poor soul might be satis-
fied with himself!
. Your son-in-law, W. G., is now truly honored for his Lord and
Master's cause : when the Lord is fanning Zion, it is a (rood
token that he is a true branch of the vine, that the Lord bq^n-
neth first to dress him. He is strong in his Lord, as he haih
written to me, and his wife b his encourager, which should make
you rejoice.
As for your son, who is your grief, your Lord waited on you and
me, till we were ripe, and brought us in. It is your part to pray
and wait upon him : when he is ripe he will be spoken for. W1m>
can command our Lord's wind to blow ? I know that it sliall be
your good in the latter end. That is one of your waters to Heaven,
ye could not go about it — ^there arethe fewer behind. I remem-
ber you and him, and yours, as I am able : but alas ! I am be-
lieved to be something, and I am nothing but an empty reed:
wants are my best riches, because I have these supplied by Christ
Remember my dearest love to your brother. I know that be
pleadeth with his Harlot-mother for her apostasy. 1 know also
that ye are kind to my worthy Lady Kenmure, a woman beloved
of the Lord, who hath been very mindful of my bonds. The Loid
give her and her child to find mercy in the day of Christ ! Crreil
men are dry and cold in doing for me ; the tinkling of chains for
Chrjst affrighteth them: but, let my Lord break all my idols, I
will yet bless him. I am obliged to my Lord Lorn. I wish bkn
mercy.
Remember my bonds witli praises ; and pray for me, that my
Lord may leaven the North, by my bonds and sufferings.
Grace be with you.
Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R.
Aberdeen, July 9, 1637.
LETTER CCXXnL
TO ALEXANDER GORDON, OP KNOCKORAT.
Dear Brother,— Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. — Tbers
is no question but our Mother-church hath a Father, and thai sb«
shall not die without an heir, that her enemies shall not make
BUTHEHFOilD's LETTSBA. 347
MouQi Zion their heritage. We see that whither-eoever Zion'a
enemies go, suppose they dig many miles i jider the ground, yet
our Lord findeth them out : and he hath vengeance laid up in
store for them, and the poor and needy shall not always be for-
gotten. Our hope was drooping and withering, and man was
saying, " What can God make out of the old dry bones of this
buried Kirk ?" The prelates and their followers were a grave
above us. It is like that our Lord is to open our graves, and pur-
poseth to cause his two slain witnesses to rise on the third day.
Oh, how long wait I, to hear our weeping Lord, Jesus, sing again,
and triumph and rejoice, and divide tne spojl !
I find it hard work to believe, when the course of providence
goeth cross-wise to our faith, and when misted ^ souls in a dark
night cannot know east by west, and our sea-compass seemeth to
fail us. Every man is a believer in day-light : a fair day seemeth
to be made all of faith and hope. What a trial of |[old is it, to
smoke it a little above the fire? but to keep gold per^ctly yellow-
colored amidst the flames, and to be turned from vessel to vessel,
and yet to cause our furnace to sound, and speak, and cry the
praises of the Lord, is another matter. I know that my Lord made
me not for fire, howbeit he hath fitted me in some measure for the
fire. I bless bis high name, that I wax not paler, neither have I
lost the color of gold, and that his fire hath made me somewhat
thin,' and that my Lord may pour me into any vessel he pleaseth.
Vox a small wager I may justly quit my part of this world's laugh-
ter, and give up with time, and cast out ' with the pleasures of
this world.
I know a man, who wondered to see any in this life laugh oi
sport : surely our Lord seeketh this of us, as to any rejoicing in
present perishing things. I see above all things, that we may sit
down, and fold legs and arms, and stretch ourselves upon Christ,
and 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 and make sport with the white foam of the waves
thereof, coming in to sink and drown them ; so are men making
fools' sports with the white pleasures of a stormy world, that wiO
sink them. But, alas! what have we to do with their sports
which they make? If Solomon said of laughter that it was mad-
ness, what may we say of this world's laughing and sporting them-
selves with gold and silver, and honors and court, and 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 rejoicing out of Christ. Nay, I think that this world, at its
prime and perfection, when it is come to the top of its excellency,
and to the bloom, miebt be bought with an half-penny ; and that
ii would scarce weigh the worth of a drink of water. There is
nothing better than to esteem it our crucified idol, that is dead and
•lain, as Paul did, (Gal. vi. 14.) Then let pleasures be crucified,
and riches be crucified, and court and honor be crucified ; and
> Bewildered. * Flukl. > Fall rat. « AcqimitioiMi
348 Rutherford's letters.
since the apostle saith that the world is crucified to him, we may
put tliis world to the hanged man's doom, and to the erallows : and
who will give much for a hanged man ? and as little should we
ffive for a hanged and crucified world. Yet, what a sweet smell
bath this dead carrion to many fools in the world ! and how many
wooers and suitors findeth this hanged carrion ! Fools are pulling
it ofi* the gallows, and contending for it. Oh, when will we learn
to be mortified men, and to have our fill of those things that hare
but their short summer quarter of this life ! If we saw our Father's
house, and that great and fair city, the New Jerusalem, which is
up abdve sun and moqn, we would cry to be over the water, and
to be carried in Christ's arms out of this borrowed prison.
Grace, grace be with you.
Yours, in bis sweet Lord Jesus, S. R.
* Aberdeen, 1637.
LETTER CCXXIY.
TO FULWOOD, YOUNGER.
Much honored Sir, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. —
Upon the report of this worthy bearer concerning you, I thought
good to speak a word to you — it is enough for acquaintance, that
we are one in Christ
My* earnest desire to you is, that ye would, in the fear of God,
compare your inch and hand-breadth of time with vast eternity,
and your thoughts of this now fair, blooming and green world, with
the thoughts which ye will have of it when corruption and worms
will make their houses in your eye-holes, and eat your flesh, and
make that body dry bones. If ye so do, I know then that yoor
light of this world's vanity shall be more clear than now it is ; and
I am persuaded ye will then think, that men's labors for this clay-
idol are to be laughed at. Therefore, come near, and lake a view
of that transparent beauty that is in Christ, which would bu9y
the love of ten thousand millions of worlds and angels, and bold
them all at work. Surely 1 am grieved, that men will not spend
their whole love upon that royal and princely Well-beloved, that
high and lofty One — for it is cursed love that runneth 'anoth-
er way than upon him. And for myself, if I had ten loves and
ten souls, oh, how glad would I be, if he would break in upon roe
and take possession of them all ! Wo, wo is me, that he and I
are so far asunder ! I hope we shall be in one country and one
house together. Truly pain of love-sickness for Jesus maketh roe
to think it long, long, long to the dawning of that day. Oh, that
he would cut short years and months and hours, and over-leap
time, that we might meet !
And for this truth, sir, that ye profess, I avow — before the
world of men and angels, that it is the way, and the only way, to
our country, the rest are by-ways ; and, that what I suffer lor is
Rutherford's letiers. 349
the apple of Christ's eye, even his honor as Lawgiver and King
of his Church. I think death too httle ere 1 forsook it. Do not,
sir, 1 heseech you in the Lord, make Christ's court thinner by
drawing back from him ; it is too thin aheady ; for I dare pledge
my iieaven upon it, that he will win this plea, and that the fools
who plea against htm shall lose the wager, which is their part of
salvation, except they take better heed to their ways^. Sir, free
grace that we give no hire for, is a jewel which our Lord giveth
to few. Stand fast in the hope that you are called unto. Our
master will rend the clouds, and will be upon us quickly, and
clear our cause, and bring us all out in our blacks and whites.
Clean, clean garments, in the Bridegroom's eye, are of great worth.
Step over this hand-breadth of world's glory, into our Lord's new
world of grace, and ye will laugh at th^ feathers that children are
chasing in the air. 1 verily judge, that these inns, which men
are building their nest in, are not worth a drink of cold water. It
is a rainy and smoky house : best we come out of it, lest we be
choked with the smoke thereof. Oh, that my adversaries knew
how sweet my sighs for Christ are, and what it is for a sinner to
lay his head between Christ's breasts and to be over head and
ears in Christ's love ! Alas, I cannot cause paper to speak the
height, and breadth, and depth of it ! I have not a balance to
weigh the worth of my Lord Jesus. Heaven, ten heavens would
not be the beam of a balance to weigh him in. I must give over
praising of him. Angels see but little of him. Oh, if' that fair
one would take the mask off his fair face, that I might see him —
a kiss of him through his mask is half a heaven. ^^ O day, dawn !
O time, run fast! O Bridegroom, post, post fast, that we may
meet ! O Heavens, cleave in two, that that bright face and head
may set itself through the clouds !" Oh, that the corn were ripe,
and this world prepared for his hook ! *
Sir, be pleased to remember a prisoner's bonds. Grace be with
you.
Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R.
Aberdeen, Jaly 10, 1637.
LETTER CCXXV.
TO HIS PARISHIONERS.
i
Dearly beloved and longed for in the Lord, my crown and my
joy in the day of Christ, grace be to you, and peace from God our
Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ.
I long exceedingly to know, if the oft-spoken-of match betwixt
you and Christ holdeth ; and if ye follow on to know the Lord.
My day-thoughts and my night-thoughts are of you : while ye
sleep I am afraid of your souls, that they be off the rock ; next to
> Oil, that ' Sickle.
360 RUTHERFORD^S LETTERS.
my Lord Jeaus and this fallen Kirk, ye have the greatest share oi
my sorrow, and also of my joy ; ye are the matter of the tean^
care, fear, and daily prayers of an oppressed prisoner of Christ.
As I am in bonds for my high and lofty One, my royal and princely
Master, my Lord Jesus ; so I am in bonds for you. For I should
have slept in my warm nest, and kept the fal world in my arms,
and the cords of my tabernacle should have been fastened more
strongly, 1 might have sung an evangel * of ease to my soul and
you for a time, with my brethren, the sons of my Mother, that
were angry at me, and have thrust me out of the vineyard, if I
would have been broken, and drawn on to mire you the Lord's
flock, and to cause you to eat pastures trodden upon with men's
feet, and to drink foul and muddy waters: — but truly the Al-
mighty was a terror to me, and his fear made me afraid. O my
Lord ! judge if my ministry be not dear to me, but not so dear l^
many degrees as Christ Jesus my Lord. Grod knoweth the sad
and heavy Sabbaths I have had since I laid down at my Master'f
feet my two shepherds' staves. I have been often saying, as it »
written, (Lam. iii. 52, 53,) '^ My enemies chased me sore like a
bird, without cause : they have cut off my life in the dungeon^
and cast a stone upon me ;" for, next to Christ, I had but one joy,
the apple of the eye of my delights, to preach Christ my Lord, and
* they nave violently plucked that away from me. And it was to
me like the poor man's one eye, and they have put out that eye,
and quenched my light in the inheritance of the Lord ; — but my
eye is toward the Lord. I know that I shall see the salvation of
God, and that my hope shall not always be forgotten. And my
sorrow shall want nothing to complete it, and to make me say,
" What availeth it me to live ?" if ye follow the voice of a stranger,
of one that cometh into the sheepfold not by Christ the door, but
climbeth up apother way. If the man build his hay and stubbie
upon the golden foundation, Christ Jesus already laid among you,
and ye follow him, I assure you, the man's work shall burn, and
never bide ' God's fire, and ye and he both shall be in danger of
everlasting burning except ye repent. Oh, if any pain, any snr-
row, any Toss that I can suffer for Christ, and for you, were bud
in pledge to buy Christ's love to you, and that I could lay my dear-
est joys next to Christ my Lord in the gap betwixt you and cier-
nal destruction ! Oh, if * I had paper as broad as Heaven and
earth, and ink as the sea and all the rivers and fountains of ibe
earth, and were able to write the love, the worth, the excellency,
the sweetness, and due praises of our dearest and fairest Well-
beloved ; and then, if ye could read and understand it ! What
could I want, if my ministry among you should make a marriage
between the little bride in those bounds and the Bridegroom?
Oh, how rich a prisoner were I, if I could obtain of my Lord, (be-
fore whom I stand for vou,) the salvation of you all ! Oh, wnat
a prey had I gotten, to have you catched in Christ's net ! O then,
I had cast out my Lord's lines aAd his net with a rich gain ! Oh
> Gospel, Lake lii. 19. * Bndare. * ThML
361
tbeii, well wared * pained breast and sore* J)ack, and crazed body,
in speaking early and late to you ! My Witness is above, your
heaven would be two heavens to me, and the salvation of you all
as two salvations to me. 1 would subscribe a suspension, and a
fristing' of ray heaven for many hundred years, (according to
God's good pleasure,) if you w6re sure in the upper lodging, in our
Fathers house, before me. I take to witness Heaven and earth
against you, I take instruments^ in the hands of that sun and
daylight that beheld us, and in the hands of the timber and walls
of that Kirk, if I drew not up a fair contract of marriage betwixt
you and Christ, if I went not with offers betwixt the Bridegroom
and you ; and your conscience did bear you witness, your mouths
confessed, that there were many fair trystes ■ and meetings drawn
on betwixt Christ and you at communion feasts, and other occa-
sions. There were bracelets, jewels, rings, and love-letters, sent
to yon by the Brid^room. It w^as told you what a fair dowry ye
should have, and what a house your Husband and ye should dwell
in, and what was the Bridegroom's excellency, sweetness, might,
power, the eternity and glory of his Kingdom, the exceeding deep-
ness of His love, who sought his black wife through pam, fires,
shame, death, and the grave, and swimmed the salt sea for her,
undergoing the curse of the Law, and then was made a curse for
you, and ye then consented, and said, '< Even so I take him." I
counsel you to beware of the new and strange leaven of men's in-
ventions, beside and against the word of God, contrary to the oath
of this Kirk, now coming among you. I instructed you of the
superstition and idolatry of kneeling in the instant of receiving
the Lord's supper, and of crossing in baptism, and of the observ-
ing of men's days without any warrant of Christ, our perfect Law-
giver. Countenance not the surplice, the attire of the mass-priest,
the garment of Baal's priests. The abominable bowing to altars
of tree' is coming upon you. Hate, and keep yourselves from
idols. Forbear in any case to hear the reading of the new father-
less Service-book,^ full of gross heresies, popish and superstitious
errors, without any warrant of Christ, tending to the overthrow
of preaching. You owe no obedience to the bastard canons : they
are unlawful, blasphemous, and superstitious. All the ceremonies
that lye in Anti-christ's foul womb, the wares of that gfreat Mother
of fornications, the Kirk of Rome, are to be refused. Ye see
whither they lead you. Continue still in the doctrine which ye
have received. Ye heard of me the whole counsel of Grod. Sew
no clouts upon Christ's robe. Take Christ in his rags and losses,
and as persecuted by men, and be content to sigh and pant up
the mountain, wi'.h Christ's cross on your back. Let me be re-
puted a false prophet, (and your conscience once said the contrary,)
1 Well expended. > Aching.
' A postponing, with the hope, howerer, of ultimately obtaining.
< In conieqnence of a decision, anv one who has an interest in the court, is said fs
taJU tnttrummit in the hands of the clerk, when he means to declare that he cUioM
Uie benefit of that decision, and Tiews the matter as settled.
i Appoiotments to meet • Wood. f Book of Common Prayer.
352 Rutherford's letters.
if your Lord Jesus will not stand by you and maintain you,
maintain your cause against your enemies.
I have heard, (and my soul is grieved for it,) that since my de-
parture from you, many among you are turned back from the good
old way, to the dog's vomit again. Let me speak to these men.
It was not without God's special direction, that the first senteooe
that ever my moutC uttered to you was that of John ix. 39, " And
Jesus said. For judgment came I into the world, that they which
see not might see, and they which see might be made blind." It
is possible that my first meeting and yours may be when we shall
both stand before the dreadful Judge of the world ; and in the
name and authority of the Son of God, my great King and Master,
I write, by these presents, summonses to those men. I arrest their
souls and bodies to the day of our compearance.^ Their eternal
damnation standeth subscribed, and sealed in Heaven, by the
handwriting of the great Judge of quick and dead ; and I am
ready to stand up, as a preaching witness against such to their
face, on that day, and to say amen to their condemnation, except
they repent. The vengeance of the Gospel is heavier than the
vengeance of the Law : the Mediator's malediction and vengeance
is twice vengeance, and that vengeance is the due portion of such
men ; and there I leave them as bound men, aye and whill* they
repent and amend. Ye were witnesses how the Lord's day was
spent while I was among you. O sacrilegious robber of God's
day, what wilt thou answer the Almighty when he seeketh so
many Sabbaths back again from thee? "V^hat will the curser,
swearer, and blasphemer do, when his tongue shall be roasted in
that broad and burning Lake of fire and brimstone ; and what will
the drunkard do, when tongue, lungs, and liver, bones, auJ all,
shall boil and shall fry in a torturing fire ? He shall be far from
his barrels of strong drink then, and there is not a cold well of
water for him in Hell. What shall be the case of the wretch, tlie
covetous man, the oppressor, the deceiver, the earth-worm, who
can never set his wombful* of clay, when, in the day of Christ,
gold and silver must lye burnt in ashes, and he must compear*
and answer his Judge, and quit hi; clayey and noughty * heaven?
Wo, wo, for evermore, be to the time-turning* atheist, who hath
one god and one religion for summer, and another god and an-
other religion for winter, and the day of fanning, when Christ
fanneth all that is in his barn-floor — who hath a conscience for
every fair and market, and the soul of him runneth upon these
oiled wheels, time, custom, the world, and command of men.
Oh, if ^ the careless atheist, and sleeping man, who edgeth by' all
with " God forgive our pastors if they lead us wrong, we must do
as they command," and layeth down his head upon time's bosom,
and giveth his conscience to a deputy, and sleepeth so whill the
^ dPP^'^^''^^ ' Forever and notil ; that is, wUhont potnbilit^ of
t Bellj-Aiil. « Appear. • Having nolhing ia iL
• Changing with the timee. v Ob, that.
• Sidleth]^
RtTTHERFORD's LETTERS. 363
flinoke of Hell-fire flee * up in his throat, and cause him to start
oat of is doleful bed ! oh, if such a n)an would awake. Many
woes are for the over-gilded and gold-plastered hypocrite. A
heavy doom is for the liar and white-tongued flatterer : and the
fleeing' book of God's fearful vengeance, twenty cubits long, and
ten cubits broad, that goeth out from the face of God, shall enter
into the house, and in upon the soul of him that stealeth and
sweareth falsely by God's name, (Zech. v. 2, 3.) I denounce
eternal burning, hotter than Sodom's flames, upon the men that
boil in filthy lusts of fornication, adultery, incest, and the like
wickedness; no room, no, not a foot-broad,* for such vile dogs
within the clean Jerusalem. Many of you put oflf all with this,
" G»od forgive us, we know no better :" I renew my old answer,
(2 Thes. i. 8,) the Judge is coming in flaming fire, with all his
mighty angels, to render vengeance to all those that know not God,
and believe not I have often told you, that security will slay you.
All men say they have faith — as many men and women now, as
many saints in Heaven — and all believe, (say ye,) that every foul
dog is clean enough, and good enough for the clean and new
Jerusalem above. Every man hath conversion and the new birth ;
but it is not leel come ^ they had never a sick night for sin ; con-
version came to them in a night-dream. In a word. Hell will be
empty at the day of Judgment, and Heaven pang* full. Alas ! it is
neither easy nor ordinary to believe and to be saved. Many must
stand, in the end, at Heaven's gates ; when they go to take out
their faith, they take out a fair nothing, or, (as ye use to speak,)
a blaflum.v Oh, lamentable disappointment ! I pray you, I charge
you in the name of Christ make fast work of Uhrist and sal-
vation.
I know there are some believers among you, and I write to you,
O poor broken-hearted believers, all the comforts of Chrbt in the
Old and New Testaments are yours. Oh, what a Father and
Husband ^e have ! Oh, if* I had pen and ink, and ingine' to
write of him ! Let Heaven and earth be consolidated into massy
and pure gold, it will not weigh the thousandth part of Christ's
love to a soul, even to me a poor prisoner. Oh, that is a massy
and marvellous love! Men and angels! unite your force and
strength in one, ye shall not heave, nor poise it oflT the ground.
Ten thousand worlds — as many worlds as angels can number,
and then as a new world of angels can multiply — would not all
be the balk ' of a balance to weigh Christ's excellency, sweetness,
and love. Put ten earths into one, and let a rose grow greater
than ten whole earths, or whole worlds, oh, what beauty would be
in it, and what a smell would it cast ! — but a blast of the breath
of that fairest Rose in all God's paradise, even of Christ Jesus our
Lord, one look of that fairest face would be infinitely, in beauty
and smell, above all imaginable and created glory. I wonder that
• PIf. « Oh, that » Pljing.
^ Fool-hreadUi. * Lawfully obtained. * CramnMd.
V An UliMion. * Oeniua. * Beam.
23
3ft4 Rutherford's LBTTBRa
men dow bide oflf' Chriat. I would esteem myRelf bleMed, if I
could make an open proclamation, and gather all the world, that
are living upon the earth, Jew and Gentile, and all that shall b«
born till the blowing of the last trumpet, to flock round aboai
Christ, and to stand looking, wondering, admiring, and adoring
bis beauty and sweetness ; for his fire is bolter than any other fire,
his love sweeter than common love, his beauty surpasseth all
other beauty. When I am heavy and sad, one of his lo¥e-looks
would do me meikle world's good.^ Oh, if ye would fail la lovo
with him, how blessed were I ! how glad would my soul be to help
you to love him ! But amongst us all, we could not love him
enough. He is the Son of the Father's love, and God's deligbl —
the Father's love lyeth all upon him. Oh, if ' all mankind would
fetch all their love, and lay it upon him ! Invite him, and take
him liome to your bouses, in the exercise of prayer, momiog and
evening, as I often desired you ; especially now, let him not want
lodging in your houses, nor lie in the fields, when he is shut oai
of pulpits and Kirks. If ye will be content to take Heavea by
violence, and the wind on your face for Christ and his cross, I am
here one who hath some trial of Christ's cross, and I can say, thai
Christ was ever kind to me, but he overcometh * himself^ (if I may
speak so,^ in kindness while I suffer for him. I give you my
word for it, Christ's cross is not so evil as they call it ; it is sweec,
light, and comfortable. I would not be without the visitations of
love, and the very breathings of Christ's mouth when he Idsaeih,
and my Lord's delightsome smiles and love-embracemenU, under
my sufierings for him, for a mountain of gold, or for all the honors^
court, and grandeur of velvet kirkmen. Christ hath the yolk and
heart of mv love. ^' I am my Beloved's, and my Well-beloved m
mine." On, that ye were all hand-fasted' to Christ! O my
dearly-beloved in the Lord, I would I could change my voice and
had a tongue tuned by the hand of my Lord, and had the art of
speaking of Christ, that I might paint out unto you the worth,
and highness, and greatness, and excellency of that fairest and
renowned Bridegroom ! I beseech you by the mercies of the Lord,
by the sighs, tears, and heart's-blood of our Lord Jesus, by the
salvation t)f your poor and precious souls, set up* the mountain,
that ye and I may meet before the Lamb's throne, amongst tha
congregation of the first-born. Lord grant that that mav be the
trysting^place,^ that ye and I may put up our hands together, and
!)luck, and eat the apples, oflf the Tree of Life, and that we may
east together, and drink together of that pure River of the water
of life, that cometh out from under the Throne of God, and of the
Lamb. Oh, how little is your hand breadth and span-length of
days here ! Your inch of time b less than when ye and 1 p^^f^^
Eternity, eternity is coming, posting on with wiogs— then
> Are able to keep from ranning upon.
* Oood worth the value of the great world. * Oh, that
« Surpaweth, goeth beyond. * AflUoeed.
* Begin tit climb, determined to reach the eiumniC. ▼ Appointed plaee of
Rutherford's letters. 366
iraiy man's blacks and whites be brought to Ikht. Oh, how low
will your thoughts be of this fair-skinned but oeart-rotten apple,
the vain, vain, feckless * world, when the worms shall make their
houses in your eye-holes, and shall eat off the flesh from the ball
of your cheeks, and shall make that body a number of dry bones!
Think not t 
