say I am sick would cure them they think complaints a good charme for guiltiness I hope ye are wrestling strugling on in this dead age wherin folks have lost tongue and legs and armes for Christ. I urge upon you Madam a neerer communion with Christ and a growing communion There are curtains to be drawn by in Christ that we never saw and new foldings of love in him I despair that ever I shall win to the far end of that love there are so many plies in it Therefore dig deep and sweat and labour and take paines for him and set by so much time in the day for him as you can he will be win with labour I his exiled prisoner sought him and he hath rued upon me and hath made a moan for me as he doth for his own Jer. 31 20. Isa 45 11. and I know not what to doe with Christ his love surroundeth and surchargeth me and burdened with it but O how sweet lovely is that burden I dow not keep it within me I am so in love with his love that if his love were not in heaven I would be unwilling to goe there O what weighing what telling is in Christs love I fear nothing now so much as the laughing of Christs crosse the love-showers that accompany it I wonder what he meaneth to put such a slave at the board-head at his own elbow Oh that I should lay my black mouth to such a fair fair fair face as Chriâ—…s but I dare not refuse to be loved the cause is not in me why he hath looked upon me loved me for he got neither budde nor hire of me it coâ—t me nothing it is good cheap love O the many pound-weights of his love under which I am sweetly pressed Now Madam I perswade you the greatest part but play with Christianity they put it by hand easily I thought it had been an easie thing to be a Christian and that to seeâ— God had been at the next door but oh the windings the turnings the up's the down's that he hath led me through and I see yet much way to the foord he speaketh with my reins in the night season and in the morning when I awake I finde his love-arrowes that he shot at me sticking in my heart who will help me to praise who will come lift with me set on high his great love and yet I finde that a firâ—-flaught of challanges will come in at mid-summer and question me but it is onely to keep a â—inner in order As for Friends I shall not think the world to be the world if that well goe not drie I trust in God to use the world as a Canny or Cunning-master doâ—th a knave-servant at lest God give me grace to doe so he giveth him no handling or credit onely he intrusteth him with common errands wherin he cannot play the knave I pray God I may not give this world credit of my joyes and comforts and confidence that were to put Christ out of his office nay I counsel you Madam from a little experience let Christ keâ—p the great seal intrust him so as to hing your vessels great and small and pin your burdens upon the nail fastened in Davids house Isai. 22 23. Lâ—t me not bâ— well if ever they get thâ— tutouring of my comforts away away with irresponsall Tutours that would play me a slip then Christ would laugh at me say well-wared try again ere ye trust Now woe is me for my whorish mother the Kirk of Scotland Oh who will bewaile her Now the presence of the great Angel of the covenant to be with you that sweet childe Aberd. March 7. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To the right honourable Christian Lady my Lady KENMURE 12 MADAM UPon the offered opportunity of this worthy bearer I could not omit to answer the heads of your letter 1. I think not much to set down in paper some good things anent Christ that sealed and holy thing to feed my soul with raw wishes to be one with Christ for a wish is but broken half-love but verily to obey this come see is a harder matter but oh I have rather smoak then fire guessings rather then reall assurances of him I have little or nothing to say that I am as one who hath found favour in his eyes but ther is some pining mismannered hunger that maketh me miscall and nickname Christ as a changed Lord but alace it is ill flitten I can not belâ—eve without a pledge I cannot take Gods word without a Caution as if Christ had lost and sold his credit and were not in my books responsall and law-biding but this is my way for his way is Ephes. 1 13. after that ye beleeved ye were sealed with the holy spirit of promise 2. Ye write that I am filled with knowledge and stand not in need of these warnings but certainly my light is dim when it cometh to handy-grips and how many have full coffers yet empty bellies light and the saving use of light are far different O What need have I to have the ashes blowen away from my Dying-out fire I may be a book-man and be an Idiot stark fool in Christs way learning will not beguile Christ the Bible beguiled the Pharasees so may I be misted Therefore as night watches hold one another waking by speaking to one another so have we need to hold one another on foot sleep stealeth away the light of watching even the light that reproveth sleeping I doubt not but moe should fetch heaven if they beleeved not heaven to be at the next door the worlds negative holiness no adulterer no murderer no thief no Cousiner maketh men beleeve they are already glorified saints but the 6. Chap. to the Heb may affright us all when we hear that men may take of the gifts and common graces of the holy spirit and a taste of the powers of the life to come to hell with them here is reprobate silver which yet seemeth to have the Kings Image and superscription upon it 3. I finde you complaining of your self it becometh a sinner so to doe I am not against you in that sense of death is a sib friend and of kin and blood to life the more sense the more life the more sense of sin the lesse sin I would love my pain sorness my wounds howbeit these should bereave me of my nights sleep better then my wounds without pain O how sweet a thing is it to give Christ his handfull of broken armes legs disjointed bones 4. Be not afraid for little grace Christ soweth his livingseed he will not lose his seed if he have the guiding of my stock and state it shall not miscarry Our spilt works losses deadness coldness wretchedness are the ground which the good husband-man laboureth 5. Ye write that his compassions faile not
but cold comfort in my sufferings I would not beguile others I would have told you plainly but the truth is Christs crown his scepter and the freedom of his Kingdom is that which is now called in question because we will not allow that Christ pay tribute and be a vassall to the shields of the earth therefore the sons of our mother are angry at us but it becometh not Christ to hold any mans stirâ—up It were a sweet and honourable death to die for the honour of that royall princely King Jesus his love is a mystery to the world I would not have beleeved that there was so much in Christ as there is Come see maketh Christ to be known in his excellency glory I wish all this Nation knew how sweet his breath is it is little to see Christ in a book as men doe the world in a card they talke of Christ by the book the tongue no more but to come nigh Christ and hausse him embrace him is another thing Madam I write to your Honour for your encouragement in that honourable profession Christ hath honoured you with Ye have gotten the Sunny side of the brae the best of Christs good things he hath not given you the bastard's portion howbeit ye get strokes sowre looks from your Lord yet beleeve his love more then your own feeling for this world can take nothing from you that is truly yours death can doe you no wrong your rock doeth not ebbe flow but your sea that which Christ hath said he will bide by it he will be your tutour you shall not get your charters of heaven to play you with It is good that ye have lost your credit with Christ that Lord frâ—ewill shall not be your tutour Christ will lippen the taking of you to heaven neither to your self nor any deputy but onely to him self blessed be your tutour When your head shall appear your bridegroom Lord your day shall then dawn it shall never have an afternoon nor an evening shadow Let your childe be Christs let him stay beside you as the lords pledge that you shall willingly render again if God will Madam I finde folks here kind to me but in the night under their breath my masters cause may not come to the crown of the causey others are kind according to their fashion many think me a strange man my cause not good but I care not much for mans thoughts or approbation I think no shame of the crosse The preachers of this town pretend great love but the Prelats have added to the rest this gentle cruelty for so they think of it to discharge me of the pulpits of this town the people murmur cry out against it and to speak truly howbeit Christ is most indulgeat to me otherwise yet my silence on the Lords day keeps me from being exalted above measure froÌ„â—â—artling in the heat of my Lords love Some people affect me for the which cause I hear the preachers here purpose to have my confinement changed to another place so cold is northern love but Christ and I will bear it I have vvrestled long with this sad silence I said what aileth Christ at my service and my soul hath been at a pleading with Christ at yea nay but I will yeeld to him providing my suffering may preach more then my tongue did for I gave not Christ an inch but for twice as good again in a word I am a fool he is God I will hold my peace hereafter Let me hear from your La your Dear Childe pray for a prisoner of Christ who is mindfull of your La Remember my obliged obedience to my good Lady Marre Grace Grace be with you I write pray blessings to your sweet childe Aberd. Nov. 22. 1636. Yours in all Dutiefull obedience in his onely Lord Iesus S. R. To the right honourable Christian Lady my Lady VICOUNTESSE of KENMURE 6 MADAM GRace Mercy peace be to you I received your La letter it refreshed me in my heavinesse the blessing prayers of a prisoner of Christs come upon you Since my coming hither Galloway sent me not a line except what my Brother Earlstoun his son did write I cannot get my papers transported but Madam I want not kindnesse of one who hath the gate of it Christ if he had never done more for me since I was borne hath ingaged my heart gained my blessing in this house of my pilgrimage It pleaseth my welbeloved to dine with a poor prisoner and the Kings spiknard casteth a fragrant smell nothing grieveth me but that I eat my feasts my alone and that I cannot edifie his saints O that this Nation knew what is betwixt him and me none would skar at the crosse of Christ my silence eates me up but he hath told me he thanketh me no lesse then if I were preaching daily he sees how gladly I would be at it therefore my wages are going to the fore up in heaven as if I were still preaching Christ. Captains pay duely bedfast souldiers howbeit they dow not march nor carry armour Though â—srael be not gathered yet shall 〈◊〉 be glorious in the eyes of my Lord my lord shall be my strength Ifâ—â— 49 5. my garland The Banished Minister the teâ—ne of Aberden ashameth me not I have seen the white side of Christs crosse lovely hath he been to his oppressed servant Psal. 146 7. The Lord executeth judgement for the oppressed he giveth food to the hungry the Lord looseth the prisoner the Lord raisetâ— them that are bowed down the Lord preserveth the stranger If it were come to exchanging of crosses I would not exchange my crosse with any I am wel-pleased with Christ he with me I hope none shall hear us It 's true for all this I get my meat with many stroks and am seven times a day up down am often anxious cast down for the case of my oppressed brother yet I hope the Lord will be surty for his servant But now upon some weak very weak experience I am come to love a rumbling and raging devil beit seeing we must have a devil to hold the saints waking I wish a cumbersome devil rather then a secure sleeping one At my first coming hither I took the dorts at Christ and took up a stomaâ—k against him I said he had cast me over the dike of the vineyard like a drie tree but it was his mercy I see that the fire did not burn the drie tree now as if my Lord Jesus had done the fault not I who belied my Lord he hath made the first mends he spake not one word against me but hath come again quickned my soul with his presence nay now I think the very aâ—â—uety and casualities of the crosse of Christ Jesus my Lord these comforts that accompany it better then the worlds
to set it right ere the string be drawn but when once it is shot in the air the flight begun then ye have no power at all to command it It were a blessed thing if your love could now levell onely at Christ that his fair face were the black of the marke ye shot at For when your love is loosed and out of your grips in its motion to fetch home anâ— Idol hath taken a whorish gading-journey to seek an unknown strange lover ye shall not then have power to call home the arrow or to be master of your love ye shall hardly give Christ what ye scarcely have your self I speak not this as if youth it self could fetch heaven Christ. Beleeve it my Lo It is hardly credible what a nest of dangerous tentations youth iâ— how inconsiderat foolish proud vain heady rash profane careless of God this piece of your life is so that the devil findeth in that age a garnished swept house for himself seven devils worse then himself for then affections are on horse-back lofty stirring then the old man hath blood lust much will little wit and hands feet wanton eyes profane ears as his servants as a Kings officers at command to come goe at his will Then a green conscience is as souple as the twig of a young tree it is for every way every religion every lewd course prevaileth with it And therefore O what a sweet couple what a glorious yoke are youth and Grace Christ a young-man This is a meeting not to be found in every town None who have been at Christ can bring back to your Lo a report answerable to his worth for Christ cannot be spoken of or commended according to his worth Come see is the most faithfull messenger to speak of him little perswasion would prevail where this were It is impossible in the setting out of Christ's love to lye and passe over truth's line The discourses of Angels or Love-books written by the congregation of Seraphims all their wits being conjoyned and melted in one would for ever be in the nether side of truâ— and plentifully declaring the thing as it is The infinitness the boundlesness of that incomparable excellency that is in Jesus is a great word God send me if it were but the relicts and leavings or an ounce weight or two of his matchless love and suppose I never got another heaven providing this blessed fire were evermore burning I could not but be happy forever Come hither then and give out your money wisely for bread Come here and bestow your love I have cause to speak this because except ye enjoy and possess Christ ye will be a cold friend to his spouse For it is love to the husband that causeth kindness to the wife I dare swear it were a blessing to your House the honour of your Honour the flower of your credit now in your place and as far as ye are able to lend your hand to your weeping Mother even your oppressed and spoiled Mother-kirk If ye love her and bestir your self for her hazard the Lordship of Boyd for the recovery of her vail which the smiting-watchmen have taken from her then surely her husband will scorn to sleep in your common or reverence Bits of Lordships are little to him who hath many crownes on his head the Kingdoms of the world in the hollow of his hand Court Honour Glory riches Stability of houses Favour of Princes are all on his finger ends O what glory were it to lend your honour to Christ and to his Jerusalem Ye are one of Zions born sons your Honourable and Christian Parents would venture you upon Christ's errands Therefore I beseech you by the mercies of God by the death and wounds of Jesus by the hope of your glorious inheritance and by the comfort hope of the joyfull presence ye would have at the water-side when ye are putting your foot in the dark grave take courage for Christ's truth the Honour of his free Kingdom for howbeit ye be a young flower and green before the sun ye know not how soon death will cause you cast your bloom and wither root and branch leaves And therefore write up what ye have to doe for Christ and make a treasure of good works and begin in time by appearance ye have the advantage of the brae see what ye can doe for Christ against these who are waiting while Christ's Tabernacle fall that they may run away with the boards thereof and build their nests on Zion's ruines They are blinde who see not lowns now pulling up the stakes and breaking the cords renting the curtains of Christ's some times beautifull tent in this land Antichrist is lifting that tent up upon his shoulders and going away with it when Christ the Gospel are out of Scotland dream not that your houses shall thrive that it shall goe well with the Nobles of the land As the Lord liveth the streams of your waters shall become pitch and the dust of your land brimstone and your land shall become burning pitch and the Owl and the Raven shall dwell in your houses and where your table stood there shall grow briers nettles Isa. 34 9 11. The Lord gave Christ and his Gospel as a pawne to Scotland the watchmen have fallen foul lost their part of the pawne who seeth not that God hath dryed up their right eye their right arme hath broken the shepherds staves men are treading in their hearts upon such unsavoury salt that is good for nothing else If ye the Nobles put away the pawne also refuse to plead the controversie of Sion with the professed enemies of Jesus ye have done with it Oh where is the courage zeal now of the ancient Nobles of this land who with their swords hazard of life honour houses brought Christ to our hands And now the Nobles cannot be but guilty of shouldering out Christ murthering of the souls of the posterity if they shall hide themselves lurk in the lee-side of the hill till the wind blow down the temple of God It goeth now under the name of wisdom for men to cast their cloak over Christ their profession as if Christ were stolen goods durst not be avouched though this be reputed a piâ—ce of policy yet God estemeeth such men to be but State-fool Court-gooks what ever they or other Heads of wit like to them think of themselves since their damnable silence is the ruine of Christs Kingdom Oh but it be true honour glory to be the fast friends of the bridegroom to own Christ's bleeding head his forsaken cause to contend legally in the wisdom of God for our sweet Lord Jesus his Kingly crown But I will beleeve your Lo will take Christs honour to heart be a man in the streets as the
Christ every day so sweet comfortable lovely Kinde as three things onely trouble me 1. I see not how to be thankfull or how to get help to praise that royall King who raiseth up these that are bowed down 2. His love paineth me woundeth my soul so as I am in a fever for want of reall presence 3. An excessive desire to take instruments in God's name that this is Christ his truth I now suffer for yea the apple of the eye of Christ's honour even the Soveraignity royall priviledges of our King law-giver Christ therefore let no man scar at Christ's cross or raise an ill report upon him or it for he beareth the sufferer it both I am here troubled with the disputes of the great Doctors especially with D. B. in Ceremoniall Arminian controverâ—â—es for all are corrupt here but I thank God with no detriment to the truth or discredit to my profession So then I see that Christ can triumph in a weaker man nor I who can be more weak But his grace is sufficient for me Brother remember our old Covenant pray for me write to me your case The Lord Jesus be with your spirit Aberd. March 13. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To JOHN MEINE 116 Dear Brother GRace mercy peace be unto you I wonder ye sent me â—ot an answer to my last letter for I stand in need of it I am still 〈◊〉 some piece of court with our great King whose love would cause a dead man speak live whether my court will continue or not I cannot well say but I have his ear frequently to his glory onely I speak it no penurie of the love-kisses of the Son of God He thinketh good to cast apples to me in my prison to play withall lest I should think long faint I must give over all attempts to fathom the depth of his love all I can doe is but to stand beside his great love look wonder my debts of thankfulness affright me I fear my Creditor get a Dyvour-bill a ragged account I would be much the better of help O for help that ye would take notice of my case Your not writing to me maketh me think ye suppose that I am not to be bemoaned because he is comfortable but I have pain in my unthankfulness pain in the feeling of his love while I am sick again for real presence reall possession of Christ yet there is no gooked if I may speak so nor fond love in Christ He casteth me down sometimes with challenges for old faults I know he knoweth well that sweet comforts are swelling therefore sorrow must make a vent to the wind my dumb sabbaths are undercotting wounds The condition of this oppressed kirk my brother's case I thank you your wife for your kindness to him hold my sore smarting keep my wounds bleeding but the ground-work standeth sure Pray for me Grace be with you Remember meto your wife Aberd. March 14. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To Mr THOMAS GARVEN 117 Reverend and dear Brother I Blesse you for your letter it was a shower to the new mowen grass The Lord hath given you the tongue of the Learned Be fruitfull humble It is possible ye come to my case or the like but the water is neither so deep nor the stream so strong as it is called I think my fire is not hot my water dry land my loss rich loss O if the walls of my prison be high wide large the place sweet No man knoweth it no man I say knoweth it my Dear Brother so well as he I no man can put it down in black white as my Lord hath sealed it in my heart My poor stock is growen since I came to Aberden And if any had known the wrong I did in being jealous of such an honest lover as Christ who witheld not his love from me they would think the more of it but I see he must be above me in mercy I will never strive with him To think to recompense him is folly If I had as many Angel's tongues as there have fallen drops of rain since the creation or as there are leaves of trees in all the forrests of the earth or stars in the heaven to praise yet my Lord Jesus would ever be behinde with me We will never get our accounts sitted A pardon must close the reckoning for his comforts to me in this his honourable cause have almost put me beyond the bounds of modesty howbeit I will not let every one know what is betwixt us Love love I mean Christ's love is the hottest coal that ever I felt O but the smoke of it be hot Cast all the salt sea on it it will flame hell cannot quench it Many many waters will not quench love Christ is turned over to his poor prisoner in a masse globe of love I wonder he should waste so much love upon such a waster as I am but he is no waster but abundant in mercy He hath no niggards almes when he is pleased to give O that I could invite all the nation to love him Free grace is an unknown thing This world hath heard but a bare name of Christ no more There are infinite plyes in his love that the saints will never win to unfold I would it were better known that Christ got more of his own due then de doeth Brother ye have chosen the good part who have taken part with Christ Ye will see him win the field ye shall get part of the spoile when he divideth it They are but fools who laugh at us for they see but the backside of the moon yet our moon-light it better thâ—n their twelve-hours-sun We have gotten the new heavens as a pledge of that the bridegroom's love-ring The children of the wedding chamber have cause to skip leap for joy for the marriage supper is drawing nigh we finde the fours-hours sweet comfortable O time be not slow O sun move speedily hasten our banquet O bridegroom be like a roe or a young hart upon the mountains O welbeloved run fast that we may once meet Brother I contain my self for want of time Pray for me I hope to remember you The goodwill of him who dwelt in the bush the tender mercies of God in Christ enrich you Grace be with you Aberd. March 14. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To BETHAIA AIRD. 118 Worthy Sister GRace mercy peace be unto you I know ye desire news from my prison I shall shew you news At my first entry hither Christ I agreed not well upon it The devil made a plea in the house I laid the blame upon Christ for my heart was fraughted with challenges I feared that I was an outcast that I was but a withered tree in
must be taken with violence Your afternoon's sun is wearing low Time will eat up your frail life like a worm gnawing at the root of a May-flower Lend Christ your heart Set him as a seal there Take him in within let the world and children stand at the door they are not yours make you and them for your proper owner Christ It is good He is your husband and their father What missing can there be of a dying man when God filleth his chair Give hours of the day to prayer Fash Christ If I may speak so and importune him be often at his gate give his door no rest I can tell you he will be found O what sweet fellowship is betwixt him and me I am imprisoned but he is not imprisoned He hath shamed me with his kindness He hath come to my pâ—ison run away with my heart all my love Well may he brooke it I wish my love get never an owner but Christ Fy fy upon old lovers that held us so long asunder We shall not parr now He I shall be heard before he win out of my grips I resolve to wrestle with Christ ere I quite him But my love to him hath casten my soul in a fever there is no cooling of my fever till I get râ—all possession of Christ O strong strong love of Jesus thou hast wounded my heart with thine arrows O pain O pain of love ioâ— Christ Who will help me to praise Let me have your prayers Grace be with you Aberd. March 13. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To GRISSAL FULLERTON 176 Dear Sister I Exhorr you in the Lord to seek your one thing Marie's good part that shall not be taken from you Set your heart soul on the Childrens inheritance This clay-idol the world is but for Bastards ye are his lawfull begotten childe Learn the way as your dear mother hath hath gone before you to knock at Christ's door Many an almes of mercy hath Christ given to Her hath abundance behinde to give to you Ye are the seed of the faithfull born within the Covenant claim your right I would not exchange Christ Jesus for ten worlds of glory I know now blessed be my teacher how to shut the lock unbolt my welbeloved's door he maketh a poor stanger welcome when he cometh to his house I am swelled up satisfied with the love of Christ that is better then wine It is a fire in my soul let hell the world cast water on it they will not mend themselves I have now gotten the right gate of Christ I recommend him to you above all things Come finde the smell of his breath See if his kisses be not sweet He desireth no better then to be much made of Be homely with him ye shall be the more welcome Ye know not how fain Christ would have all your love Think not this is imaginations bairns-play we make din for I would not suffer for it if it were so I dare pawnd my heaven for it that it is the way to glory Think much of truth abhorre these wayes devised by men in God's worship The Grace of Christ be with you Aberd. March 14. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To PATRICK CARSEN 177 Dear loving friend I Cannot but upon the opportunity of a bearer exhort you to reâ—gnâ— the love of your youth to Christ in this day while your sun is high and your youth serveth you to seek the Lord and his face for there is nothing out of heaven so necessary for you as Christ And ye cannot be ignorant but your day will end the night of death will call you from the pleasures of this life a doom given out in death standeth for ever as long as God liveth Youth ordinarily is a Post ready servant for Satan to run errands for it is a nest for lust cursing drunkenness blaspheming of God lying pride vanitie O that there were such an heart in you as to fear the Lord to dedicate your soul body to his service When the time cometh that your eye-strings shall break your face wax pale and legs arms tremâ—le your breath grow cold your poor soul look out at youâ— prison-housâ— of clay to be set at liberty then a good conscience your Lord's favour shall be worth all the world's glory Seek it as your garland crown Grace be with you Aberd. March 14. 1636. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To JOHN CARSEN 178 My welbeloved dear friend EVery one â—eeketh not God far fewer finde him because they seek amiss He is to be sought for above all things if men would finde what they seek Let feathers shadows alone to children goe seek your welbeloved Your onely errand to the world is to wooe Christ therefore put other lovers from about his house let Christ have all your love without miniching or dividing it It is little enough if there were more of it The serving of the world sin hath but a base reward smoke in stead of pleatures but a night-dream for true case to the soul Goe where ye will your soul shall not sleep sound but in Christ's bosom Come in to him lie down rest you on the slain Son of God enquire for him I sought him now a fig for all the worm-eaten pleasures moth-eaten glory out of heaven since I have found him in him all I can want or â—ish He hath made me a King over the world Princes cannot overcome me Christ hath given me the marriage-kiss he hath my maâ—â—ing love We have made up a full bargain that shall not goe back on either side O if ye and all in that countrey knew what sweet terms of mercy are betwixt him me Grace be with you Aberd. March 11. 1637 Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To my Lady BOYD. 179 MADAM I Would have written to your La ere now but peoples beleeving there is in me that which I know there is not hath put me out of love with writing to any for it is easie to put religion to a market publick fair but alas it is not so soon made eye-sweet for Christ My Lord seeth me a tired man far behinde I have gotten much love from Christ but I give him little or none again My whiteside cometh out in paper to men but at home within I finde much black work great cause of a low sail of little boasting yet Howbeit I see challenges to be true the manner of the Tempter's pressing of them is unhonest in my own thoughts knavish-like My peace is that Christ may finde sale â—uting of his wares in the like of me I mean for saving grace I wish all professors to fall in love with Grace All ouâ— songs should be of his free-Grace We are
of their Adversaries are driven from their flocks which to a godly Minister is the greatest of afflictions such I say may see for strengthning of their hands while they are put to contend with these that are too strong for them how this noble witness who suffered for the same cause carried how he acquit himself overcame the Archers shot sore at him but his bow abod in it's strengthâ—… The armes of his hands were made so strong by the hand of the mighty God of Jacob that he was too hard for all that entered the lists with him when they thought they had done sufficient either to force him to a compliance or to make him faint under the effects of their fury by depriving him of his ministery which was dearer to him then his life he was not by all this so much put to suffering to speak properly as he was for a season a little removed from the noise distraction that is abroad in the world to be alone with God O blessed solitude O sweet societie he was taken out of the clamour confusion that is here below up to the mount where he was admitted to a neer familiarity experienced the sweetness of that fellowship with God which he had preached unto others Though he was not taken from the earth yet he was not onely keeped from the evill that was then and is now in the world but he injoyed such a heaven under his heavy pressurs that if the being about of his Master's business had not been prized by him as preferable to his own consolation he would have been in hazard of forgetting the troubles of Zion and of saying it 's good for me to be here but he was such a servant as made is his meat drink to doe his Masters will he had so learned Christ as to prefer his concernments to his Chief joy therefore ye will finde him often in these Epistles feasting upon the consolations of God with the tear in his eye while he remembers Zion calls to mind the desolat condition of the flocks of Christ particularly his own for whom nothing was prepared He found in his solitude such a measure of presence as could hardly have been expected out of the chamber of presence where there is fulnesse of joy pleasures for evermore he know more in this happy retirement of the excercise of them who are above who being made Kings unto God have crowns upon their head being made priests also sacrifice these to the giver then he could have learned by revolving all the volumes that are written in many ages amidst the greatest outward calme tranquillity This is the summer fruit which grew out of the hard tree of the cross of Christ that he was put to bear which was so sweet to his taste that it made him disdain the dainties of his Adversaries disrelish these sowre unsavoury delights of the sons of men which however they may at first seem to have some petty sweet in them yet they quickly set the teeth of the eater on edge are found bitter in the belly of a bad digestion These were the quiet fruits of ighteousness that his servant reaped by hi sufferings for Christ that in such plenty that out of his abundance he sends some baskets of these sweet fruits abroad amongst his friends both to bring up a good report upon his liberall Lord Master who allowes on his followers while they are pinched with penury of other comforts full measure heaped up running over shaken together And upon the cross of Christ also to the end it might appear that this burden is so far from imbittering the life of a suffering saint that by the contrary as the sufferings of Christ abound in him so his consolation also aboundeth by Jesus Christ. The publication then I say of these Epistles seems in providence to be trysted on purpose with the sufferings of his servants at this time that we may be encouraged by his example to a Zealous faithfulnesse a cheerfull suffering may wax bold by his bonds under in which he did experience much of the glorious liberty of the sons of God How oft doe we finde him preferring his confinement to all the sublunary contentments of his persecurers here did he feed upon these pure unmixed delights which put such gladness in the heart as expells all the Latent lurking griefs that are there and causeth the soul while surrounded with all outward trouble to sing while they feed upon ashes fill their belly with the east wind who feast upon the tears of the people of God and seem to have nothing else to interrupt their tranquillity but how they may trouble the children of peace It was under this restraint in this house of his bondage when being shut up from and spoiled of all creatur-comforts that he found the surpassing sweetness of the consolations of God which taste best when they are most free of the mud mixture of other injoyments there it was where he found the truth of that saying of Augustin Tanta est dulcedo caelestis gaudii ut si una guttula difflueret in infernum totam amaritudinem inferâ—…i absorberet If one drop of heavenly joy should fall into hell it would swallow up or sweeten all thâ— bitterness of that place of torment The love of God and the joy of the Holy Ghost was so abundantly shed abroad in his heart while he was in the furnace that his cross was not onely made there by light easie his life pleasant but ye have him often saying because he found by these foretasts what inconceivable consolation must be in the immediat vision and full fruition of God that if there were no other way to come at the possession of that blessedness he would not onely chuse to swime through a sea of outward troubles but he would wade through the lake of fire brimstone to be possessed of God himself and there is none who knew the gracious sobriety of this holy man that will judge he complemented in saying so nay there are none who have found what a cool refreshing shade aboundant consolation the soul finds in the company of the son of man while they walk with him amdist the flames of the most scorching fiery trials but they would think strange if he spake otherwise Let us then be ashamed to scare at the cross or at Christ's company because of it since it bears the man who bears it Let us resolve to take joyfully the â—os of all things life it self not being excepted in the service of such a Master who maks us gainers by our loses and then in a speciall way maks up all our wants according to his riches in glory when we have forsaken all to follow him Let us study to carry in the sight of Adversaries as men who cannot be made miserable by affliction for if we be but indeed
acceptable to them for whom they were at first written to these for whom they are now principally intended because the life emphasis of the Phrase is often found to lie in that very word But having kept thee under too long an arrest in the entry I leave thee now to peruse these profitable Epistles which are an account of the many sweet hours comfortable soliloquies which that eminent saint sufferer had with God in the furnace of his affliction Wherein there is much to be seen beyond the ordinary attainment of a Christian even who hath made some remarkable progress is no small proficient in the wayes of God I nothing doubt but when thou perceivest while thou readest how much pure zeal to God doth burne in these lines thou wilt Lament the lose of such a blessed instrument now when the Church of God is brought so very low there are so few of all the sons whom she hath nourished brought up to take her by the hand I grant it is both a rational religious sorrow for when we remember the many eminent lights the removal of whom hath brought a sad darke night upon the Church which did laâ—ly shine amongst us most say they are gone who were our faithfull guids it would almost seem pardonable to abandon our selves to sorrow refuse to be comforted Quis â—alia fando tempereâ— a lachrimis Yet give me leave to suggest these things 1 Let not the tear so blinde thine eye as not to observe the goodness of God who gave us such It was a saying of an eminent excercised Christian worthy to be remembred in this present case to be put upon record for posterity perceiving many sorrowfull upon the removal of one of the most burning shining lights that Britain had to boast of that great Interpreter Mr Durhame I mean turne your tears sighes for this loss said that worthy person though it seem to you almost irreeparable an age hardly producing such an other into songs of praises doe not so indulge your sorrow because the Master hath called home an Ambassadour who did so faithfully successfully negotiat for him as ye forget in the mean time to praise the Lord of the harvest who thrust forth such a labourer into his vinyard Let not the greatness of your grief make you forget the riches of his goodness to the Church of Christ in Scotland in that there was a Mr Durhame to die out of it So I say when in reading of these thou remembers that the worthy Author is gone to his rest yet be not guilty of so much ingratitude through the excess of thy grief as to froget God's care of kindness to the Church of Scotland who amongst others gave her a Mr Rutherfoord one who was not onely famous at home abroad for his great Learning but such a Minister of the Gospel as I suppose there is not a godly Minister in the Nation who knew his painfulness his tenderness his zeal his shining Gospel adorning Conversation that will think he wrongs himself in giving the presence to him whose watching weeping unwearied pains to propagate the truth profite the souls of men made him without a match or equal Left deep convictions of short-coming even upon them who may with a rational confidence expect the approbation of well done good faithfull servants at the day of their appearance die in the faith of this that when the great shepherd shall appear they shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away 2 If no other consideration can dâ—y up thy tears or divert thy sorrow while thou doest remember thy own the Churches loss yet remember that this is sufficient to make the mourne in hope that the residâ—e of the spirit is with him We cannot I grant weep back again though it 's like some would be content to weep themselves blinde if that were lawfull would doe it our famous faithfull Knoxes Davidsons Welshes Bruces Hendersons Rutherfoords Gilâ—spies Guthries with a great many 〈◊〉 sids of their brethren companions who did build fight with them were the restorers of the breaches amongst us whereby they obtained a good report are at this day of blessed memory indeed but is there no hope to see them alive in other mens persons I grant their is but little appearance of that for the present For Alas may we say where is theâ—e a man of that spirit to be found Yet let us not adde this to all the rest of our provocations in this wilderness-lot to limit the holy one of Israel since these had nothing but what they did receive he can furnish the Church with men of the same parts zeal With men who will shine in light so that their enemies must lay their hand upon their mouth when they have spoken burne in love to God his interests truely it concerns all the people of God to be much in importuning him that he would again give us such standard bearers that that he would remember us now in our low estate by raising up such who may be as the Charets horsemen of Israel when the spirit of most is under such a faint the men of might doe not finde their hands If we were up doing in this which is one great part of our work in such a sad time gave him no rest who knowes but he would yet breath upon many who are now as dry bones without life or motion make them stand up for him plead his cause against them who have lifted up their head against heaven their heel against his people They who by falling asleep till their hair was cut that they were not in case to shake themselves as at other times when their enemies were upon them might yet spil their adversaries sport bring down their Babel about their ears if the spirit of the Lord came upon them as at othertimes Or if this were not to be expected he could raise up a generation who would serve him with more zeal faithfulness then we have done that in such a number as should make his Church say who hath begotten me all these And where have they been It my be that he who waits to be gracious is waiting to be enâ—…ated to doe this good thing for us Surely if we were a people of prayer particularly for this Church Nation-mercy we might be surprised now when we have scarce a tokenn for good when our lukwarme temper hath banished the faith of such a mercy almost out of the earth with such a reâ—urâ—â— aâ— that I will clothethy Priests with salvation thy saiâ—…s â—all yet shout aloud for joy I will pour down such a plentifull the â—sure of the spirit upon them that by their zeal faithfulness the years which thiâ— cankerworme caterpillar of luke warness hath eaten up
set rent O how many rich off-fallings are in my Kings house I am perswaded dare pawnd my salvation on it that it is Christs truth I now suffet for I know his comforts are no dreams he would not put his seal on blank paper nor deceive his afflicted ones that trust in him Your La wrote to me that ye are yet an ill scholler Madam ye must goe in at heavens gates and your book in your hand still learning you have had your own large share of troubls a double portion but iâ— saith your Father counteth you not a baâ—tard fuâ—-begotten bairns are nurtured Heb. 12. 8. I long to hear of the childe I write the blessings of Christs prisoner the mercies of God to him let him be Christs yours betwixt you but let Christ â—e whole play-maker let him be the lender ye the borrower not an owner Madam it is not long since I did write to your La that Christ is keeping mercy for you I bide by it still now I write it under my hand love him dearly win in to see him there is in him that which you never saw he is aâ—â—igh he is a tree of life green blossoming both summer and winter there is a nick in Christianity to the which whosoever cometh they see and feel more then others can doe I invite you of new to come to him Come See will speak better things of him then I can doe come neerer come neerer wil say much God thought never this world a portion worthy of you he would not even you to a gift of dirt clay nay he will not give you Esaâ—'s portion but reserves the inheritance of Jacob for you are ye not well married now have you not a good husband now my heart cannot expresse what sad nights I have for the virgin daughter of my people woe is me for our time is coming Ezek. 7 10. behold the day behold it is come the morning hath gone forth the rod hath blossomed pride hath buâ—ded violence is risen up in a rod of wickedness the sun is gone down upon our prophets A drie wind upon Scotland but neither to fan nor to cleanse but out of all question when the Lord hath cut down his forrest the after-growth of Lebanon shall flourish they shall plant vines in our mountains and a cloud shall yet fill the Temple Now the blessing of our dearest Lord Jesus the blessing of him that is seperat from his brethren come upon you Yours at Aberden the prisoner of Christ S. R. To the honourable truly noble lady the VICOUNTESSE of KENMURE 7 MADAM GRace mercy peace be to your La I long to hear from you I am here waiting if a good wind long-looked for shaâ—â— at length blow in Christs sailes in this land But I wonder if Jesus be not content to suffer more yet in his members cause beauty of his house rather then he should not be avenged upon this land I hear many worthy men who see more in the Lords dealing then I can take up with my dim sight are of a contrait minde doe beleeve the Lord is coming home again to his house in Scotland I hope he is on his journey that way yet I look not but that he shall feed this land with their own blood before he establish his throne amongst us I know your Honour is not looking after things here-away ye have no great cause to think that your stock principall is under the roof of these visible heavens I hope ye would think your self a beguiled and coâ—sened Soul if it were so I would be sorry to counsell your La to make a covenant with time this life but rather desire you to hold in fair generals far off from this ill founded heaven that is on this side of the water It speaketh some what when our Lord bloweth the bloome off our daft hopes in this life loppeth the branches of our worldly joyes well nigh the root on purpose that they should not thrive Lord spill my fools heaven in this life that I may be saved for ever A forfeiture of the saints part of the yolke and marrow of short-laughing happinesse worldly is not such a real evil as our blinded eyes doe conceive I am thinking long now for some deliverance more then before but I know I am in an errour It is possible I am not come to that measure of triall that the Lord is seeking in his work If my friends in Galloway would effectualy doe for my deliverance I would exceedingly rejoyce but I know not but the Lord hath a way whereof he will be the only reaper of praises Let me know with the bearer how the childe is the Lord be his Father Tutour your onely comforter There is nothing here where I am but profanitie atheisme Grace grace be with your La. Aberd. Feb. 13. 1637. Your La at all oblidged obedience in Christ S. R. To the noble Christian lady the VICOUNTESSE of KENMURE 8 MADAM GRace mercy peace be to you I would not omit the occasion to write to your La with the bearer I am glad the childe is well Gods favour even in the eyes of men be seen upon him I hope your La is thinking upon these sad woefull dayes wherein we now live when our Lord in his righteous judgment is sending the kirk the gate she is going to Romes brothell house to seek a lover of her own seeing she hath given up with Christ her husband O what sweet comfort what rich salvation is laid up for these who had rather wash and roll their garments in their own blood then break out from Christ by Apostasie keep your self in the love of Christ stand far aback from the pollutions of the vvorld side not with these times and hold off from coming nigh the signs of a conspiracie with these that are now come out against Christ that ye may be One keept for Christ onely I know your La thinketh upon this and how ye may be humbled for your self this backsliding land for Iavouch that wrath from the Lord is gone out against Scotland I think ay the longer the better of my Royall and worthy master he is become a new welbeloved to me now in renewed consolations by the presence of the spirit of grace and glory Christs garments smell of the powder of the marchant when he cometh out of his Ivory chambers O his perfumed face his fair face his lovely kindly kisses have made me a poor prisoner see there iâ— more to be had of Christ in this life then I beleeved we think all is but a little earnest a four hours a small tasting we have or is to be had in this life which is true compared with the inheritance but yet I know it is more It is the Kingdom of God within us Woe woe is me that I have not ten loves for that one
reverence of him ho liveth for ever ever Christ buried rotten among the worms we might have cause to look like dead folks but the Lord liveth blessed be the rock of our salvation Psal. 18 46. None have right to joy but we for joy is sown for us an ill summer or harvest will not spill the crop The children of this world have much robbed joy that is not well come It is no good sport they laugh at They steall joy as it were from God for he commandeth them to mourn howle Then let us claim our â—eel-come lawfully conquished 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 it is hard to hide a sweet smell it is pain to smother Christs 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 joyes is the happiest hard tree that ever was laid upon my weak shoulders Christ his cross together are sweet company a blessed couple My prison is my palace my sorrow is with childe of joy my losses are rich losses my pain easie pain my heavie dayes are holy happy dayes I may tell a new tale of Christ to my friend Oh if I could make a love-song of him could commend Christ tune his praises aright O if I could set all tongues in great Britain Ireland to work to help me to sing a new song of my welbeloved O if I could be a bridge over a water for my Lord Jesus to walk upon keep his feet dry O if my poor bit heaven could goe betwixt my Lord blasphemy dishonour upon condition he loved me O that my heart could say this word bide by it for ever Is it not great art incomparable wisdom in my Lord who can bring forth such fair apples out of this crabbed tree of the cross nay my fathers 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 a sleep in Christs arms my sinful head on his holy breast while he kisseth me were is not that often the wind turneth to the north whiles my sweet Lord Jesus is that he will neither give nor take borrow nor lend with me I complain he is not social I half call him proud lordly of his company nice of his lookes which yet is not true It would content me to give howbeit he should not take I should be content to want his kisses at such times providing he would be content to come near hand take my wersh dry feckless kisses But at that time he will not be entreated but lets a poor soul stand still knock never let it on him that he heareth then the old leavings broken meat dry sighs are greater chear then I can tell all I have then is that howbeit the law wrath have gotten a decret against me I yet lippen that meekle good in Christ as to get a suspension to bring my cause in reasoning again before my welbeloved I desire but to be heard And at last he is content to come agree the matter with a fool forgive freely because he is God Oh if men would glorify him taste of Christs sweetness Brother ye have need to be busie with Christ for this whorish-Kirk I fear Christ cast water upon Scotlands coal nay I know Christ his wife will be heard he will plead for the broken covenant Arme you against that time Grace be with you Aberd. June 16 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To the Lady Kilconqhuair 29. MISTRESS GRace mercy peace be to you I am glad to hear that you have your face home-ward towards your fathers house now when so many are for a home nearer hand but your Lord calleth you to another life glory then is to be found here-away therefore I would counsel you to make sure the charters rights which ye have to Salvation You came to this life about a necessary weighty business to tryst with Christ anent your precious soul the eternal salvation of it this is the most necessary business ye have in this life your other adoés beside this are but toyes feathers dreams fancies this is the greatest haste should be done first Means are used in the Gospel to draw on a meeting betwixt Christ you if ye neglect your part of it it is as if you would tear the contract before Christ's eyes give up the match that there shall be no more communing of that business I know other lovers beside Christ are in suit of you your soul wanteth not many wooers but I pray you make a chaste virgin of your soul let it love but one most worthy is Christ alone of all your souls love howbeit your love were higher then the heaven deeper then the lowest of this earth broader then this world many alas too many make a common strumpet of their soul for every lover that cometh to the house Marriage with Christ would put your love your heart by the gate out of the way out of the eyes of all other unlawfull suiters then you had a ready answer for all others I am already promised away to Christ the match is concluded my soul hath a husband already it cannot have two husbands Oh if the world did but know what a smel the ointments of Christ cast and how ravishing his beauty even the beauty of the fairest of the sons of men is how sweet powerful his voice is the voice of that one welbeloved Certainly where Christ cometh he runneth away with the souls love so that they cannot command it I would far rather look but thorow the hole of Christs door to see but the one half of his fairest most comely face for he looketh like heaven suppose I should never win in to see his excellency glory to the full then to enjoy the flower the bloome chiefest excellency of the glory riches of ten worlds Lord send me for my part but the meanest share of Christ that can be given to any of the indwellers of the new Jerusalem But I know my Lord is no niggard He can it becometh him well to give more then my narrow soul can receive If there were ten thousand thousand millions of worlds as many heavens full of men Angels Christ would not be pinched to supply all our wants and to fill us all Christ is a well of life but who knoweth how deep it is to the bottom This soul of ours hath love and cannot but love some fair
's blessed will bloweth cross your desires it is best in humility to strike saile to him and to be willing to be led any way our Lord pleaseth it is a point of denial of your self to be as if ye had not a will but had made a free disposition of it to God had sold it over to him to make use of his will for your own is both true holiness your ease peace ye know not what the Lord is working out of this but ye shall know it hereafter what I write to you I write to your â—…ife I compassionat her case but intreat her not to fear or faint this journey is a part of her wilderness to heaven the promised land and there are sewer miles behinde it is neerer the dawning of the day to her then when she went out of Scotland I would be glad to hear that ye she have comfort courage in the Lord. Now as concerning our Kirk Our Service-book is ordained by open proclamation sound of trumpet to be read in all the Kirks of this Kingdom Our Prelats are to meet this moneth for It our Canons for a Reconciliation betwixt us the Lutherians The Professors of Aberden-Universitie are charged to draw up the Articles of an Uniform Confession But Reconciliation with Popery is intended this is the day of Jacob's Visitation the wayes of Zion mourn our gold is become dim the sun is gone down upon our Prophets a dry wind but neither to fan nor to cleanse is coming upon this land all our ill is coming from the multiplied transgressions of this land and from the friends lovers of Babel amongst us Jer 31 35. The violence done to me my flesh be upon thee Babylon shall the inhabitants of Zion say my blood upon the inhabitants of Caldea shall Ierusalem say Now for my self I was three dayes before the High Comission accused of treason preached against our King A Minister being witness went well nigh to swear it God hath saved me from their malice 1. They have deprived me of my Ministery 2. Silenced me that I exercise no part of the Ministeriall function within this Kingdom under the pain of Rebellion 3. Confined my person within the town of Aberden where I finde the Ministers working for my confine ment in Caithnesse or Orknay far from them because some people here willing to be edified resort to me At my first entry I had heavie challenges within me a court fenced but I hope not in Christ's name wherein it was asserted that my Lord would have no more of my service was tired of me And like a fool I summoned Christ also for unkindness my soul fainted I refused comfort said what ailed Christ at me for I desired to be faithfull in his house thus in my rovings mistakings my Lord Jesus bestowed mercy on me who am less then the least of all saints I lay upon the dust bought a plea from Satan against Christ he was content to sell it but at length Christ did show himself friends with me in mercy pardoned past my part of it onely complained that a court should be holden in his bounds without his own allowance now I passe from my compearance as if Christ had done the fault he hath made the mends returned to my soul so that now his poor prisoner feedeth on the feast of love my adversaries know not what a courtier I am now with my Royall King for whose crown I now suffer it iâ— but our soft lazie flesh that hath raised an ill report of the cross of Christ. O sweeet sweet is his yoke Christ's chains are of pure gold sufferings for him are perfumed I would not give my weeping for the laughing of all the fourteen Prelats I would not exchange my sadness with the world's joy O lovely lovely Jesus how sweet must thy kisses be when thy cross smelleth so sweetly O if all the three Kingdoms had part of my love-feasts of the comforts of a dated prisoner Dear Brother I charge you to praise for me seek help of our acquaintance there to help me to praise Why should I smother Christ's honesty to me my heart is taken up with this that my silence and sufferings may preach I beseech you in the bowels of Christ to help me to praise Remember my love in Christ to your wife to Mr Blair Mr Livingston Mr Cuninghame let me hear from you for I am anxious what to doe If I saw a call for New-England I would follow it Grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Yours in our Lord Iesus S. R. To JOHN STUART Provest of Ayr. 52. Much honoured Dearest in Christ. GRace mercy peace from God our father from our Lord Jesus Christ be upon you I expected the comfort of a letter to a prisoner from you ere now I am here Sir putting off a part of my inch of time when I awake first in the morning which is alwayes with great heaviness sadness this question is brought to my minde Am I serving God or not Not that I doubt of the truth of this honourable cause wherein I am engaged I dare venture in to eternity before my judge that I now suffer for the truth because that I cannot endure that my Master who is a free-born King should pay tribute to any of the shields or pot-sheards of the earth Oh that I could hold the crown upon my Princely King's head with my sinfull arm howbeit it should be stroke from me in that service from the shoulder blade but my closed mouth my dumb Sabbaths the memory of my communion with Christ in many fair fair dayes in Anwoth whereas now my master gotteth no service of my tongue as then hath almost broken my faith in two halves yet in my deepest apprehensions of his anger I see thorow a cloud that I am wrong he in love to my soul hath taken up the controversie betwixt faith apprehensions and a decret is past on Christ's side of it I subscribe the decret The Lord is equal in his wayes but my guiltiness often overmastereth my beleeving I have not been well known for except as to open out-breakings I want nothing of what Judas Cain had onely he hath been pleased to prevent me in mercy to cast me into a fever of love for himself his absence maketh my fever most painfull beside he hath visited my soul watered it with his comforts but yet I have not what I would the want of reall and felt possession is my onely death I know Christ pitieth me in this The great men my friends that did for me are dried up like winter brooks of water All say no dealing for that man â—is best will be to be gone out of the Kingdom so I see they tire of me but beleeve me I am most gladly content that
sick night through the terrors of the Almighty would make men whose conscience hath such a wide throat as an image like a Chathedral Church would goe down it have other thoughts of Christ and his worship then now they please themselves with The scarcity of faith in the earth saith We are hard upon the last nick of time Blessed are these who keep their garments clean against the bridegroom's coming There shall be spotted clothes many defiled garments at his last coming therefore few found worthy to walk with him in white I am perswaded my Lord this poor travelling woman our pained Church is with childe of victory shall bring forth a man-childe that shall be caught up to God his throne howbeit the Dragon in his followers be attending the childe-birth-pain as an Egyptian midwife to receive the birth strangle it Isa. 29 8. But they shall be disappointed who thirst for the destruction of Zion they shall be as when a hungry man dreameth that he eateth but behold he awaketh his soul is empty or when a thirsty man dreameth that he drinketh but behold he awaketh is faint his soul is not satisfied so shall it be I say with the multitude of all the nations that fight against mount Zion Therefore the weak feeble these that are as signes wonders in Israel have chosen the best side even the side that victory is upon I think this is no evil policy Verily for my self I am so well pleased with Christ his noble honest-born cross this cross that is come of Christ's house is of kin to himself that I should weep if it should come to niffering barâ—â—ring of lots condition with these that are at ease in Zion I hold still my choice blesse my self in it I see I beleeve there is salvation in this way that is every where spoken against I hope to goe to eternity to venture upon the last evil to the saints even upon death fully perswaded that this onely even this is the saving way for rackel consciences for weary laden sinners to finde ease peace for evermore into indeed it is not for any worldly respect that I speak so of it the weather is not so hot that I have great cause to startle in my prison or to boast of that â—ntertainment that my good friends the Prelats intend for me which is banishment if they shall obtain their desire effectu at what they design but let it come I rue not that I made Christ my waile my choice I think him ay the longer the better My Lord It shall be good service to God to hold your noble friend Chief upon a good course for the truth of Christ. Now the very God of peace establish your Lo in Christ Jesuâ— unto the end Aberd. Sept 10. 1637. Your Lo in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To the Laird of GAITGIRTH 76 Much honoured Sir GRace mercy peace be to you I can doe no more but thank you in paper remember you to him whom I serve for your kindness care of a prisoner I bleâ—s the Lord the cause I suffer for needeth not to bluâ—h before Kings Christs white honest fair truth needeth neither wax pale for fear nor blush for shame I bless the Lord who hath graced you to own Christ now when so many are affraid to profess him hide him for fear they suffer loss by avouching him Alas that so many in these dayes are carried with the times As if their conscience rolled upon oyled wheels so doe they goe any way the wind bloweth them because Christ is not market-sweet men put him away from them Worthy much honoured Sir goe on to own Christ his oppressed truth The end of sufferings for the Gospel is rest and gladness light joy is sown for the mourners in Zion and the harvest which is of God's making for time manner is neer Crosses have right claim to Christ in hs members till legs arms whole mystical-Christ be in heaven There will be rain hail stormâ—â—n the saints clouds ever till God cleanse with fire the works of creation till he burn the botch-house of heaven earth that mens sin hath subjected unto vanity They are blessed who suffer sin not for suffering is the badge that Christ hath put upon his followers Take what way we can to heaven the way is hedged up with crosses there is no way but to break through them wit wiles shifts laws will not finde out a way about the cross of Christ but we must through one thing by experience my Lord hath taught me that the waters betwixt this heaven may all be ridden if â—e be well hors'd I mean if we be in Christ not one shall drown by the way but such as love their own destruction Oh if we could wait on for a time beleeve in the dark the salvation of God! At least we are to beleeve good of Christ till he give us the slip which is impossible to take his word for caution that he shall fill up all the blanks in his promises give us what we want but to the unbeleever Christ's Testament is white blank unwritten paper worthy and dear Sir set your face to heaven make you to stoop at all the low entries in the way that ye may receive the Kingdom as a childe without this he that knew the way said there is no entry in O but Christ be willing to lead a poor sinner O what love my poor soul hath found in him in the house of my pilgrimage Suppose love in heaven and earth were lost I dare swear it may be found in Christ. Now the very God of peace establish you till the day of the glorious appearance of Christ. Aberd. Sept. 7. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To the Lady GAITGIRTH 77 Much honoured Christian Lady GRace mercy peace be to you I long to hear how it goeth with you your children I exhort you not to lose breath nor to faint in your journey The way is not so long to your home as it was it will wear to one step or an inch at length ye shall come ere long to be within your arm-length of the glorious crown Your Lord Jesus did sweat pant ere he got up that mount he was at father save me with it it was he who Psal. 22 14. said I am poured out like water all my bones are out of joynt Christ waâ— as if they had broken him upon the wheel my heart is like wax it is melted in the midst of my bowels v. 15. My strength is dried up like a poâ—sheard I am sure ye love the way the better that his holy feet trod it before you Crosses have a smell of crossed pained Christ. I beleeve your Lord will not leave you to
times I am sad for dwelling in Kedar's tents There are none that I yet know of but two persons in this town that I dare give my word for And the Lord hath removed my brethren my acquaintance far from me it may be I be forgotten in the place where the Lord made me the instrument to doe some good But I see this is vanity in me Let him make of me what he pleaseth if he make salvation out of it to me I am tempted troubled that all the fourteen Prelats should have been armed of God against me onely while the rest of my brethren are still preaching But I dare not say one word but this it is good Lord Iesus beacuse thou hast done it Wo is me for the virgin daughter wo is me for the desolation of the virgin daughter of Scotland O if my eyes were a fountain of tears to weep day night for that poor widow Kirk that poor miserable harlot Alas that my father hath put to the door my poor harlot mother Oh for that cloud of black wrath fury of the indignation of the Lord that is hanging over the Land Sir write to mel beseech you I pray you also be kind to my â—fflicted brother Remember my love to your wife The prayers the blessinâ— of the prisoner of Christ be on you Frequent your meetings for prayer communion with God they would be sweet meerings to me Aberd. 16. Febr. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To ROBERT GORDON of Knockbrex 87 My Dear Brother GRace mercy peace be multiplied upon you I am almost wearying yea wondering that ye write not to me though I know it is not forgetfulness As for my self I am every way well all glory to God I was before at a plea with Christ but it was bought by me unlawfull because his whose providence was not yea nay to my yea nay because I beleeved Christ's outward look better then his faithfull promise Yet he hath in patience waited on while I'be come to my self hath not taken advantage of my weak apprehensions of his goodness Great holy is his name He looketh to what I desire to be not to what I am One thing I have learned If I had been in Christ by way of adhesion onely as many branches are I should have beene burnt to ashes this world should have seen a suffering minister of Christ turned of something once in shew into unsavoury salt But my Lord Jesus had a good eye that the tempter should not play foul play blow out Christ's candle he took no thought of my stomacke fretting grudging humour but of his own grace when he burnt the house he saved his own goods And I beleeve the devil the persecuting world shall reap no fruit of me but burnt ashes for he will see to his own gold save that from being consumed with the fire O what ow I to the file to the hammer to the furnace of my Lord Jesus Who hath now let me see how good the wheat of Christ is that goeth through his mill his oven to be made bread for his own table Grace tried is better then grace it is more then grace it is glory in it's infancy I now see godliness is more then the out-side this world's passements their buskings Who knoweth the truth of grace without a trial O how little getteth Christ of us but that which he winneth to speak so with much toil pains And how soon would faith frieze without a cross How many dumb crosses have been laid upon my back that had never a tongue to speak the sweetness of Christ as this hath when Christ blesseth his own crosses with a tongue they breath out Christ's love wisdom kindness care of us Why should I start at the plough of my Lord that maketh deep furrows on my soul I know he is no idle husbandman he purposeth a crop O that this white withered lay-ground were made fertile to bear a crop for him by whom it is so painfully dressed that this fallow ground were broken up Why was I a fool grieved that he put his garland his rose upon my head the glory honour of his faithfull witnesses I desire now to make no moe pleas with Christ Verily he hath not put me to a loss by what I suffer he oweth me nothing for in my bonds how sweet comfortable have the thoughts of him been to me where in I finde a sufficient recompence of reward How blinde are my adversaries who sent me to a banquetting house to a house of wine to my lovely Lord Jesus his love-feasts not to a prison or place of exile Why should I smother my husband's honesty or sin against his love or be a niggard in giving out to others what I get for nothing Brother eat with me give thanks I charge you before God that ye speak to others invite them to help me to praise Oh my debt of praise how weighty is it how far run up Oh that others would lend me to pay learn me to praise Oh I a drowned Dyvour Lord Jesus take my thoughts for payment Yet I am in this hot summer-blenk with the tear in my eye for by reason of my silence sorrow sorrow hath filled me My harp is hanged upon the willow trees because I am in a strange land I am still kept in exercise with envious brethren My mother hath born me a man of contention Write to me your minde anent Y. C. I cannot forget him I know not what God hath to doe with him your minde anent my Parishoners behaviour how they are served in preaching or if there be a Minister as yet thrust in upon them which I desire greatly to know which I much fear Dear Brother ye are in my heart to live to die with you Visite me with a letter Pray for me Remember my love to your wife Grace grace be with you God who heareth prayer visite you set it be unto you according to the prayers of Aberd. Jan. 1. 1367. Your own Brother Christ's Prisoner S. R. To my welbeloved reverend brother Mr ROBERT BLAIR 88 Reverend dearly beloved Brother GRace mercy peace from God our father from our Lord Jesus Christ be to you It is no great wonder my Dear Brother that ye be in heaviness for a season that God's will in crossing your design desires to dwell amongst a people whose God is the Lord should move you I deny not but ye have cause to enquire what his providence speaketh in this to you but God's directing commanding will can by no good logick be concluded from events of providence The Lord sent Paul many errands for the spreading of his Gospel where he found lions in his way a promise was made to his people of the holy land yet many
them and our Nobles bid Christ send for himself if he be Christ It were good we should learn in time the way to our strong hold Sir howbeit not acquainted remember my love to your wife I pray God establish you Aberd. March 9 1637 Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To JOHN EWART Bailiffe of Kirkcudbright 94 My very worthy dear Friend I Cannot but most kindly thank you for the expressions of your love your love respect to me is a great comfort to me I blesse his high glorious name that the terrors of great men have not affrighted me from open avouching of the Son of God nay his cross is the sweetest burden that ever I bare It is such a burden as wings are to a bird or sailes to a ship to carry me forward to my harbour I have not much cause to fall in love with the world but rather to wish that he who sitteth upon the floods would bring my broken ship to Land keep my conscience safe in these dangerous times for wrath from the Lord is coming on this sinfull Land It were good that we prisoners of hope knew of our strong hold to run to before the storm come on Therefore Sir I beseech you by the mercies of God and comforts of his Spirit by the blood of your Saviour by your compearance before the sin-revenging Judge of the world keep your garments clean stand for the truth of Christ which ye professe When the time shall come that your eye strings shall break your face wax pale your breath grow cold this house of clay shall totter your one foot shall be over the march in eternity it shall be your comfort joy that ye gave your name to Christ. The greatest part of the world think heaven at the next door that Christianity is an easie task but they will be beguiled Worthy Sir I beseech you make sure work of salvation I have found by experience that all I could doe hath had much adoe in the day of my trial therefore lay up a sure foundation for the time to come I cannot requite you for your your undeserved favours to me my nowafflicted brother but I trust to remember you to God remember me heartily to your kinde wife Aberd. March 13. 1637. Yours in his onely Lord Iesus S. R. To VVILLIAM FULLERTON Provest of Kirkcudbright 95 Much honoured Sir GRace mercy and peace be to you I am obleiged to your love in God I beseech you Sir let nothing be so dear to you as Christ's truth for salvation is worth all the world therefore be not afraid of men that shall die the Lord shall doe for you in your suffering for him shall blesse your house seed ye have God's promise that ye shall have his presence in fire water in seven tribulations Your day will wear to an end your sun goe down in death it will be your joy that ye have ventured all ye have for Christ there is not a promise of heaven made but to such as are willing to suffer for it it is a Castle taken by force This earth is but the clay-portion of bastards therefore no wonder the world smile on it's own but better things are laid up for hiâ— lawfully begotten bairnes whoÌ„ the world hateth I have experience to speak this for I would not exchange my prison sad nights with the court honour ease of my adversaries My Lord is pleased to make many unknown faces to laugh upon me to provide a lodging for me he himself visiteth my soul with feasts of spiritual comforts O how sweet a Master is Christ Blessed are these who lay down all for him I thank you kindly for your love to my distressed brother Ye have the blessing prayers of the prisoner of Christ to you your Wife Children Remember my love blessing to William Samuel I desire them in their youth to seek the Lord fear his great name to pray twice a day at least to God to read God's word to keep themselves from cursing lying filthie talking Now the onely wise God the presence of the Son of God be with you all Aberd. March 13. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To the worthy much honoured Mr ALEXANDER COLVILL Of Blair 96 Much honoured Sir GRace mercy peace be to you The bearer hereof M. R. F. is most kinde to me I desire you to thank him But none is so kinde as my onely royal King Master whose cross is my garland The King dineth with his prisoner his spikenard casteth a smell He hath led me up to such a pitch nick of joyfull communion with himself as I never knew before When I look back to by-gones I judge my self to have been a childe at A B C. with Christ. Worthy Sir pardon me I dare not conceal it from you it is as a fire iâ— my bowels In hiâ— presâ—nce who seeth me I spâ—ak it I am pained pained with the love of Christ he hath made me sick wounded me Hunger for Christ out-runneth faith I miss faith more then love O if the three Kingdoms would come see O if they knew his kindness to my soul It hath pleased him to bring me to this that I will not strike sails to this world nor flatter it nor adore this clay idol that fools worship As I am now disposed I think I will neither borrow nor lend with it yet I get my meat from Christ with nurture for seven times a day I am lifted up casten down My dumb Sabbaths burthen my heart make it bleed I want not fearful challenges jealousies sometimes of Christ's love that he hath casten me over the dike of the vineyard as a dry tree But this is my infirmity By his grace I take my self in these ravings It is kindly that faith love both be sick fevers are kindly to most joyful communion with Christ. Ye are blessed who avouch Christ openly before the Princes of this Kingdom whose eyes are upon you It is your glory to lift him up on his throne to carry his trâ—in bear up the hem of his robe royal He hath an hiding place for M. A. C. against the storm goe on fear not what man can doe The saints seem to have â—he worst of it for apprehensions can make a lye of Christ of his love but it is not so Providence is not rolled upon unequal crooked wheels All things work togâ—ther for the good of these who love God are called according to his purpose Ere it be long we shall see the white side of God's Providence My Brother's case hath moved me not a little He wrote to me your care kindness Sir the prisoner's blessings prayers I trust shall not goe by you He that is able to keep you to present you before
shall I think him a false witnesse or that he would subscribe blank paper I thank his high and dreadfull name for what he hath given I hope to keep his seal his pawne till he come loose it himself I defie hell to put me off it but he is Christ he hath met with his prisoner I took instruments in his own hand that it was he no other for him When the Devil fenceth a bastard court in my Lord's ground giveth me forged summonds it will be my shame to misbeleeve after such a fair broad seal yet Satan my apprehension sometimes make a lye of Christ as if he hated me but I dare beleeve no evil of Christ if he would cool my lovefever for himself with reall presence possession I would be rich but I dare not be mislearned and seek more in that kinde howbeit it be no shame to beg at Christ's door I pity my adversaries I grudge not that my Lord keepeth them at their own fire-side hath given me a borrowed bâ—d a borrowed fire-side Let the good-man of the house cast a dog a bone why should I offend I rejoyce that the broken bark shall come to land 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 neither chaff nor corn in Scotland but it shall once passe thorow God's sieve Praise praise pray for me for I cannot forget you I know ye will be friendly to my afflicted brother who is now embarked in the same cause with me Let him have your counsel 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 of Christ Sowe fast deal bread plentifully The pantry door will be locked on the bairns in appearance ere long Grace grace be with you Aberd. March 7. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord. Iesus S. R. To his reverend dear Brother Mr ROBERT DOUGLASS 102 My very reverend and dear Brother GRace mercy peace be to you I long to see you in paper I cannot but write to you that this which I now suffer for is Christ's truth because he hath been pleased to seal my sufferings with joy unspeakable glorious I know he will not put his seal upon blank paper Christ hath not dumb seals neither will he be witness to a lye I beseech you my dear Brother help me to praise to lift Christ up on his throne above the shields of the earth I am astonished confounded at the greatness of his Kindness to such a sinner I know Christ I shall never be even I shall die in his debt He hath left an arrow in my heart that paineth me for want of reall possession hell cannot quench this coal of God's kindling I wish no man slander Christ or his crosse for my cause for I have much cause to speak much good of him He hath brought me to a nick degree of communion with himself that I knew not before The din gloom of our Lord's cross is more fearfull hard then the cross it self He taketh the bairns in his arms when they come to a deep water at least when they lose ground are put to swim then his hand is under their chin Let me be helped by your prayers remember my love to your kinde wife Grace be with you Aberd. March 7. 1637. Your Brother and Christ's prisoner S R. To his loving friend JOHN HENDERSON 103. Loving friend COntinue in the love of Christ the doctrine which I taught you faithfully painfully according to my measure I am free of your blood Fear the dreadfull name of God Keep in minde the examinations which I taught you love the truth of God Death as fast as time flyeth chaseth you out of this life It is possible ye make your reckoning with your judge before I see you let salvation be your care night day set aside hours times of the day for prayer I rejoyce to hear that there is prayer is your house See that your servants keep the Lord's day This dirt god of clay I mean the vain world is not worth the seeking An hireling pastor is to be thrust in upon you in the room to which I have Christ's warrand right Stand to your liberties for the word of God alloweth you a vote in chusing your Pastor What I write to you I write to your wife commend me heartily to her The grace of God be with you Aberd. March 14. 1637. Your loving friend and Pastor S. R. To Mr HUGH HENDERSON 104 My reverend and dear Brother I hear ye bear the marks of Christ's dying about with you that your brethren have cast you out for your Master's sake Let us wait on till the evening till our reckoning in black 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 for of devil we have need of It is best Satan be in his own skin look like himself Christ weeping looketh like himself also with whom Scribes Pharisees were at yea nay sharpe contradiction Ye have heard of the patience of Iob when he lay in the ashes God was with him clawing curing his scabs letting out his boils comforting his soul he took him up at last That God is not dead yet he will stoop take up fallen bairns many broken legs since Adam's dayes hath he spelked many weary hearts hath he refreshed Bless him for comfort Why None cometh dry from David's well let us goe amongst the rest cast down our toom buckets into Christ's Ocean suck consolations out of him We are not so sore striken but we may fill Christ's hall with weeping We have not gotten our answer from him yet Let us lay up our broken plea's to a full sea keep them till the day of Christ's coming We and this world will not be even till then They would take our garment from us but let us hold 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 doe as these who keep the bloody napkin to the Bailiffe let him see blood we must keep our wrongs to our Judge let him see our bluddered foul faces Prisoners of hope must run to Christ with the gutters that tears have made on their cheeks Brother for my self I am Christ's dâted one for the present I live upon no deaf nuts as we use to speak he hath opened fountains to me in the wilderness Goe look to my Lord Jesus his love to me is such that I defie the world to finde either brim or bottom in it
is not with you to hold up your chin I trust in God he shall bring your ship safe to land I counsel you to study sanctification to be dead to this world urge kindness on Knockbrex labour to benefite by his company the man is acquaint with Christ. I beg the help of your prayers for I forget not you counsel your husband to fulfill my joy to seek the Lord's face shew him from me that my joy desire is to hear he is in the Lord God casteth him often in my minde I cannot forget him I hope Christ he have something to doe together Bless Iohn from me I write blessings to him to your husband the rest of your children Let it not be said I am not in your house through neglect of the Sabbath-exercise Aberd. Febr. 20. 1637. Your lawfull loving Pasior in his onely onely Lord S. R. To JONET McCULLOCH 170 Dear Sister GRace mercy peace be to you I long to hear how your soul prospereth I am as well as a prisoner of Christ can be feasted made fat with the comforts of God Christ's kisses are made sweeter to my soul then ever they were I would not change my Master with all the Kings of clay upon the earth O my welbeloved is altogether lovely loving I care not what flesh can doe I perswade my soul I delivered the truth of Christ to you slip not from it for no boasts or fear of men If ye goe against the truth of Christ that I now suffer for I shall bear witness against you in the day of Christ. Sister fasten your grips fast on Christ follow not the guises of this sinfull world Let not this clay-portion of earth take up your soul it is the portion of bastards ye are a childe of God therefore seek your father's heritage send up your heart to see the dwelling house fair rooms in the new City Fy sy upon these who cry up with the World down with Conscience Heaven We have bairns wits therefore we cannot prize Christ aright Counsel your husband mother to make them for eternity that day is drawing nigh Pray for me the prisoner of Christ I cannot forget you Aberd. Febr. 20. 1637. Your lawfull Pasior Brother S. R. To my Lord CRAIGHALL 171 My Lord. I Received Mr Ls letter with your Lo his learned thoughts in the matter of Ceremonies I ow respect to the man's learning for that I hear him opposite to Arminian Heresies but with reverence of that worthy man I wonder to hear such popish-like expression as he hath in his letter as Your Lo may spare doubtings when the King Church have agreed in the settling of such orders the Church's direction in things indifferent circumstantial as if Indifferent Circumstantial were all one should be the rule of every private Christian. I onely viewed the papers in two hour space the bearer hasting me to write I finde the worthy man not so seen in this controversie as some turbulent men of our countrey as he calleth refusers of conformity And let me say it I am more confirmed in non-conformity when I see such a great 〈◊〉 it play the agēt so slenderly but I will lay the blame on the weakness of the cause not on the meanness of Mr Ls. learning I have ever been stil I am confident that Britain cannot answer one argument a scandalo I longed much to hear Mr L. speak to the cause I would say if some ordinary Divine had answered as Mr L. doeth that he understood not the nature of a Scandal but I dare not vilifie that worthyman so I am now upon the heat of some other employment I shall but God willing answer this to the satisfying of any not prejudged I will not say that every one is acquaint with the reason in my letter from God's presence bright shining face in suffering for this cause Aristotle never knew the medium of the clusion Christ saith few know it See Rev. 2. 17. I am sure a conscience standinginaw of the Almighty 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 Prerogative of our Kingly highest Lord Jesus And my witness is in heaven I saw neither pleasure nor profit nor honour to hook me or catch me in entring in prison for Christ but the wind on my face for the present if I had loved to sleep in a whole skin with the ease present delight that I saw on this side of sun moon I should have lived at ease in good hopes to fare as well as others The Lord knoweth I preferred preaching of Christ still doe to any thing next to Christ himself their new Canons took my one my one joy from me which was to me as the poor man's one eye that had no moe alas there is little lodging in their heart for pity or mercy to pluck out a poor man's one eye for a thing indifferent id est for knots of straws things as they mean off the way to heaven I desire not that my name take journey goe a pilgrim to Cambridge for fear I come in the ears of Authority I am sufficiently burnt already In the mean time be pleased to try if the Bishop of St Andrewes Glasgow Galloway's Ordinary will be pleased to abate from the heat of their wrath and let me goe to my charge Few know the heart of a prisoner yet I hope the Lord shall hew his own glory out of as knotty timber as I am Keep Christ my dear worthy Lord pretended paper-arguments from angering the mother-Church that can reel nod stagger are not of such weight as peace with the father husband let the wife gloom I care not if the husband laugh Remember my service to my Lord your father Mother your Lady Grace be with you Aberd. Jan. 24. 1637. Yours at all obodience in Christ S R. To his Reverend dear Brother Mr ROBERT BLAIR 172 Reverend dear Brother THe reason ye gave for your not writing to me affecteth me much giveth me a dash when such an one as ye conceive an opinion of me or any thing in me The truth is when I come home to my self O what penury doe I finde and how feckless is my supposed stock how little have I He to whom I am as crystal who seeth through me perceiveth the least mote that is in me knoweth that I speak what I think am convinced of But men cast me through a gross wide sieve my very dear Brother the room of the least of all saints is too great for the like of me But lest this should seem art to fetch home reputation I speak no more of it It is my worth
to be Christ's ransomed sinner sick one His relation to me is that I am sick He is the physician of whom I stand in need Alas how often play I fast loose with Christ He bindeth I loose he buildeth I cast down he tâ—immeth up a salvation for me I mar it I cast out with Christ he agreeth with me again twenty times a day I forfeit my Kingdom heritage I lose what I had but Christ is at my back and following on to stoop take up that falleth from me Were I in heaven had the crown on my head if Freewill were my tutour I should lose heaven seeing I lose my self what wonder I should let goe lose Jesus my Lord O well to me for evermore that I have cracked my credit with Christ cannot by law at all borrow from him upon my feckless worthless bond faith for my faith reputation with Christ is that I am a creature that God will not put any trust into I was am bewildered with temptations wanted a guide to heaven O what have I to say of that excellent surpassing supereminent thing they call The Grace of God the way of free redemption in Christ And when poor poor I dead in law was sold fettered imprisoned in Justice's closest ward which is hell damnation when I a wretched one lighted upon noble Iesus eternally kinde Iesus tender hearted Iesus nay when he lighted upon me first knew me I found that he scorned to take a price or any thing like hire of Angels or Seraphims or any of his creatures and therefore I would praise him for this that the whole armie of the redeemed ones sit rent-free in heaven Our holding is better then Blench We are all Free-holders seeing our eternall feuduty is but thanks Oh woefull me that I have but spilt thanks broken lame miscarried praises to give him so my silver is not good current with Christ were it not that free merites have stamped it washen it me both And for my silence I see somewhat better through it now If my high lofty one my princely Royall Master say Hold hold thy peace I lay bonds on thee thou speak none I would fain be content let my fire be smothered under ashes without light or flame I cannot help it I take laws from my Lord but I give none As for your journey to F. ye doe well to follow it The camp in Christ's ordinary bed A carried bed is kindly to the Beloved down in this lower house It may be who knoweth but our Lord hath some Centurions ye are sent to Seeing your angry mother denieth you lodging house-room with her Christ's call to unknown faces must be your second wind seeing ye cannot have a first O that our Lord would water again with a new visite this piece withered dry hill of our widow-mount Zion my Dear Brother I will think it comfort if ye speak my name to our welbeloved wherever ye are I am mindefull of you O that the Lord would yet make the light of the moon in Scotland like the light of the sun and the light of the sun seven fold brighter For my self as yet I have received no answer whither to goe I wait on O that Jesus had my love Let matters frame as they list I have some more to doe with Christ yet I would fain we were nearer Now the great shepherd of the sheep the very God of peace establish confirm you till the day of his coming Aberd. Sept. 9 1637. Yours in his lovely sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To the Lady CARLETON 173 MISTRESS GRace mercy and peace be to you My soul longeth once again to be amongst you to behold that beauty of the Lord that I would see in his house But I know not if he in whose hands are all our waves seeth it expedient for his glory I ow my Lord I know submission of spirit suppose he should turn me into a stone or pillar oâ— salt Oh that I were He in whom my Lord could be glorified suppose my little heaven were forfeited to buy glory to him before men and Angels suppose my want of his presence and separation from Christ were a pillar as high as ten heavens for Christ's glory to stand upon above all the world What am I to him How little am I though my feathers stood out as broad as the morning lighâ— to such a high to such a lofty to such a never-enough admired glorious Lord My trials are heavy bâ—cause of my sad sabbaths but I know they are less then my high provocations I seek no more but that Christ may be the gainer and I the loser that he may be raised and hightned and I cryed down and my worth made dust before his glory Oh that Scotland all with one shout would cry up Christ and that his name were high in this land I finde the very utmost borders of Christ's high excellency and deep sweâ—tness heaven and earth's wonder O what is he if I could win in to see his inner side Oh I am run dâ—y of loving and wondering and adoring of that greatest most admirable one Woe woe is me I have not half-love for him Alas what can my drop doe to his great sea What gain is it to Christ that I have casten my little sparkle in his great fire What can I give to him Oh that I had love to fill a thousand worlds that I might emptie my soul of it all upon Christ I think I have now just reason to quite my part of any hope or love that I have to this scum and the refuse of the dross of God's work-manâ—hip this vain earth I ow to this stormy world whose kindness 〈◊〉 heart to me hath been made of iron or of a piece of a wilde sea-Island that never a creature of God yet lodged in not a look I ow it no love no hope therefore Oh if my love were dead to it my soul dead to it What am I obliged to this house of my pilgrimage A straw for all that God hath made to my soul's liking except God that lovely one Iesus Christ Seeing I am not this world's debter I desire I may be striped of all confidence in any thing but my Lord that he may be for me I for my onely onely onely Lord that he may be the morning evening-tide the top the root of my joyes the heart flower yolk of all my soul's delights O let me never lodge any creature in my heart confidence Let the house be for him I rejoyce that sad dayes cut off a piece of the lease of my short life that my shadow even while I suffer weareth long my evening hasteneth on I have cause to love home with all my heart to take the opportunity of the day to hasten to the
but too lazie and careless in seeking of it It is all our riches we have here glory in the bud I wish I could set out â—ree Grace I was the Law 's man under the Law under a curse but Grace brought me from under that hard Lord I rejoyce that I am Grace's Free-holder I pay tribute to none for heaven seeing my land heritage holdeth of Christ my new King Infinite wisdom hath devised this excellent way of Free-holding for sinners It is a better way to heaven then the old way that was in Adam's dayes It hath this fair advantage that no man's emptiness want layeth an inhibition upon Christ or hindereth his salvation that is far best for me but our new Land-Lord putteth the names of Dyvours Adam's forlorn Heirs beggers crooked blinde in the free charters Heaven Angels may wonder that we have gotten such a gate of sin hell Such a back-entry out of hell as Christ made brought out the captives by is more then my poor shallow thoughts can comprehend I would think sufferings glory I am sometimes not far from it if my Lord would give me a new almes of free grace I hear that the Prelats are intending banishment for me but for more grace no other hire I would make it welcome The bits of this clay-house the earth the other side of the sea are my father's If my sweet Lord Jesus would bud my sufferings with a new measure of grace I were a rich man But I have not now of a long time found such high spring-tides as formerly The sea is out the wind of his Spirit calm I cannot buy a wind or by requesting the sea cause it to flow again onely I wait on upon the banks shore-side till the Lord send a full sea that with up-sailes I may lift up Christ Yet sorrow for his absence is sweet sighes with Saw ye him whom my soul loveth have their own delights Oh that I might gather hunger against his long-looked for return Well were my soul if Christ were the element mine own element that I loved breathed in him if I could not live without him I allow not laughter upon my self when He is away yet He never leaveth the house but the leaveth drink-money behinde him a pawne that he will return Woe woe to me if he should goe away take all his flitting with him Even to dream of him is sweet To build a house of pining wishes for his return to spin out a web of sorrow care languishing sighes either dry or wet as they may be because he hath no leisure if I may spâ—aâ— so to make a visite or to see a poor friend sweetneth refreâ—heth the thoughts of the heart A mistie dew will stand for rain doe some good keep some greenness in the herbs till our Lord's clouds â—ue upon the earth send down a watering of rain Truly I think Christ's mistie dew a welcome message from heaven till my Lorâ—'s rain fall Woe woe is me for the Lord's vineyard in Scotland Howbeit the Father of the house embrace a childe feed him kiss him yet it is sorrow and sadness to the children that our poor mother hath gotten her leave that our Father hath given up house It is an unheartsom thing to see our Father mother agree so ill yet the Bastards if they be fed care not O Lord cait not water on Scotland's smoking coal It is a strange gate the saints goe to heaven our enemies often eat drink us we goe to heaven through their bellies stomacks they vomit the church of God undigested among their hands even while we are shut up in prisons by them we advance in our jâ—urney Remember my service to my Lord your kinde Son who was kinde to me in my bonds was not ashamed to own me I would be glad that Christ got the morning-service of his life now in his young years It would sute him well to give Christ his young green love Christ's stamp and seal would goe far down in a young soul If he would receive the thrust of Christ's stamp I would desire him to make search for Christ for Nobles now are but dry friends to Christ. The Grace of God our Father the goodwill of him who dwelt in the bush be with your La. Aberd. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To the Lady CARDONNESS ELDER 180. Worthy welbeloved in the Lord GRace mercy peace be to you I long to hear from you in paper that I may know how your soul prospereth My desire longing in to hear that ye walk in the truth that ye are content to follow the despised but most lovely Son of God I cannot but recommend him unto you as your husband your welbeloved your portion your comfort your joy I speak this of that lovely one because I praise commend the foord as we use to speak as I finde it He hath watered with his sweet comforts an oppressed prisoner He was alwayes kinde to my soul but never so kinde as now in my greatest extremittes I dine sup with Christ He visiteth my soul with the visitations of love in the night-watches I perswade my soul that this is the way to heaven his own Truth I now suffer for I exhort you in the name of Christ to continue in the truth which I delivered to you Make Christ sure to your soul for your day draweth nigh to an end Many slide back now who seemed to be Christ's friends prove dishonest to him But be ye faithfull to the death ye shall have the crown of life This span-length of your dayes whereof the Spirit of God speaketh Psal. 39. will within a short time come to a finger-breadth at length to nothing O how sweet comfortable shall the feast of a good conscience be to you when your eye-strings shall break your face wax pale the breath turn cold your poor soul come sighing to the windows of the house of clay of your dying body shall long to be out to have the jaylor to open the door that the prisoner may be set at liberty Ye draw nigh the water-side look your accounts Ask for your guide to take you to the other side Let not the world be your portion What have ye to doe with dead clay Ye are not a bastard but a lawfull begotten childe therefore set your heart on the inheritance Goe up before hand and see your lodging Look through all your father's rooms in heaven in your father's house are many dwelling-places Men take a sight of lands ere they buy them I know Christ hath made the bargain already But be kinde to the house ye are going to see it often Set your heart on things that are above where Christ is at the right
the dear saints of God! This before my compearance which was three several dayes did trouble me burdeneth me more now howbeit Christ in him God reconciled met me with open arms trysted me precisely at the entry of the door of the Chancellour's hall assisted me to answer so as the advantage that is is not their's but Christ's Alas There is no cause of wondering that I am thus born down with challenges for the world hath mistaken me no man knoweth what guiltiness is in me so well as these two who keep my eyes now waking my heart heavie I mean my Heart Conscience my Lord who is greater then my Heart Shew your brother that I desire him while he is on the watch-tower to plead with his mother to plead with thiâ—land spare not to cry for my sweet Lord Jesus his fair crown that the interdited forbidden Lords are plucking off his royal head If I were free of challenges a High Commission within my soul. I would not give a straw to goe to my father's house through ten deaths for the truth cause of my lovely lovely one Iesus But I walk in heaviness now If ye love me Christ in me my dear Lady pray pray for this onely that by-gones betwixt my Lord me may be by-gones that he would pass from the summonds of his High Commission seek nothing from me but what he will doe for me work in me If your La knew me as I doe my self ve would say Poor soul no marvel It is not my apprehension that createth this cross to me it is too real hath sad certain grounds But I will not beleeve that God will take this advantage of me when my back is at the wall He who forbiddeth to adde affliction to affliction will he doe it himself Why should â—e pursue a dry leaâ— stubble Desire him to spare me now Also the memory of the fair feast-dayes that Christ I had in his banquetting house of wine the scattered flock once committed to me now taken off my hand by himself because I was not so faithfull 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 adde sorrow to my sorrow Now my Lord hath onely given me this to say I write it under mine own hand be ye the Lord's servant's witness Welcome welcome sweet sweet cross of Christ welcome fair fair lovely royal King with thine own cross Let us all three goe to heaven together Neither care I much to goe from the South of Scotland to the North to be Christ's prisoner amongst 〈◊〉 couth faces a place of this Kingdom which I have little reason to be in love with I know Christ shall make Abâ—rdeen my garden of delights I am fully perswaded that Scotland shall â—at Ezâ—kiel's book that is written within without Lamenâ—… mourniâ—g â—oe Ezek. 2 10. But the saints shall get a drink of the well that goeth through the streets of the nâ—w Ierusalem to put it down Thus hoping ye will think upon the poor prisoner of Christ I pray Grace grace be with you Edinb July 30. 1636. Your La in his sweet Lord Iesus S. 〈◊〉 To ALEXANDER GORDON of Earlestovvn 212 Much honoured Sir I Finde small hopes of Qs. business I intend after the Councel-day to goe on to Aberdeen The Lord is with me I care not what man can doe I burden no man I want nothing No King is better provided then I am Sweet sweet easie is the cross of my Lord All men I look in the face of whatsoever rank Nobles poor acquaintance strangers are friendly to me My welbeloved is some kinder more warmly then ordinary cometh and visiteth my soul My chains are overguilded with gold Onely the remembrance of my fair dayes with Christ in Anwoth of my dear floâ—â— whose case is my heart's sorrow is vinegar to my sugared wine yet both sweet sowre feed my soul No pen no words no ingine can express to you the loveliness of my onely onely Lord Jesus Thus in haste making for my palace at Aberdeen I bless you your wife your eldest son other children Grace grace be with you Edinb Sept. 5. 1636. Your in his onely onely Lord Iesus S. R. To ROBERT GORDON of Knockbrex 213. My dearest Brother I See Christ thinketh shame if I may speak so to be in such a poor man's common as mine I burden no man I want nothing no face hath gloomed upon me since I left you God's son fair weather conveyeth me to my time Paradise in Aberdeen Christ hath so handsomely fitted for my shoulders this â—â—ugh â—â—ee of the cross as that it hurteth me no wayes My treasure is up in Christ's â—â—ffers my comforts are greater then ye can beleeve my per shall ye for pâ—â—ury of words to write of them God knoweth I am filled with the joy of the Holy Ghost Onely the memory of you my dearest in the Lord my flock others keepeth me under from being exalted above measure Christ's sweet saâ—… hath this sowre mixed with it but O such a sweet pleasant taste I finde small hopes of Qs matter Thus in haste Remember me to your wife to William Gordon Grace be with you Edinb Sept. 5. 1636. Yours in his onely onely Lord Iesus R. S. To my Lord LOWDOUN 214 Right honourable my very worthy Lord. GRace mercy peace be to you Hearing of your Lo zeal courage for Christ our Lord in owning his honourable cause I am bold I plead pardon sor it to speak in paper by a line or two to your Lo since I have not access any other way beseeching your Lo by the mercies of God by the everlasting peace of your soul by the tears prayers of our mother-Church to goe on as ye have worthily begun in purging of the Lord's house in this land plucking down the sticks of Antichrist's filthy nest this wretched Prelacy that black Kingdom whose wicked aims have ever been still are to make this fat world the onely Compass they would have Christ and Religion to sail by and to mount up the man of sin their god-father the Pope of Rome upon the highest stair of Christ's throne and to make a velvet-Church in regard of Parliament-grandour wordly pomp whereof alwayes their stinking breath smelleth to put Christ truth in sack-cloth prison to eat the bread of adversitie and drink the water of affliction Half an eye of any not misted with the darkness of Antichristian smoke may see it thus in this land now our Lord hath begun to awaken the Nobles others to plead for born-down Christ his weeping Gospel My dear noble Lord the eye of Christ is upon you the eyes
view the golden city and the fair never-withering tree of Life that beareth twelve manner of fruits every moneth ye shall then say four and twenty hours abode in that place is worth threescore ten years sorrow upon earth If ye can but say ye long earnestly to be carried up thither as I hope you cannot for shame deny him the honour of having wrought that desire in your soul then hath your Lord given you earnest And Madam doe ye beleeve that our Lord will lose his earnest rue of the bargain change his minde as if he were a man that can lye or the son of man that can repent Nay he is unchangeable the same this year that he was the former year And his Son Jesus who upon earth eat drank with publicans sinners spake conferred with whores harlots put up his holy hand and touched the lepers filthy skin came evermore nigh sinners even now in glory is yet that same Lord His honour his great court in leaven hath not made him forget his poor friends on earth In him honours change not manners and he doeth 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 dispon 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 then so for Jesus as the cautioner is bound for us Heb 7 22. And it cannot stand with his honour to die in the burrows as we use to say and lose these whom he must render again to the father when he shall give up the Kingdom to him Consent and say Amâ—… to the promises and ye have sealed That God is truâ—… and Christ is yours This is an easie market Ye but look on with faith for Christ suffered all and paid all Madam fearing I be tedious to your La I must stop here desiring alwayes to hear that your La is well and that ye have still your face up the mountain Pray for us Madam and for Zion whereof ye are apart We expect a trial God's wheat in this land must goe 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 with brethren who look awry to the Gospel Now he that is able to keep you untill that day preserve your soul body spirit present you before his face with his own Bride spotless blamless Anwoth Nov. 26. 1631. Your La to be commanded alwayes in the Lord Iesus S R. To my Lady KENMURE 10. MADAM I Am grieved exceedingly that your La should think or have cause to think that such as love you in God in this countrey are forgetfull of you For my self Madam I ow to your La all evidences of my high respect in the sight of my Lord whose truth I preach I am bold to say it for his rich grace in you My Communion put off till the end of a longsom rainny harvest the Presbyteriall exercise as the bearer can inform your La hindered me to see you And for my people's sake finding them like hot iron that cooleth being out of the fire and that is pliable to no work I doe not stir abroad neither have I left them at all since your La was in this countrey save at one time onely about two years agoe yet I dare not say but it is a fault howbeit no defect in my affection and I trust to make it 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 thinketh needfull that one thing Marie's good part which ye have chosen Luk 10 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 He hath given them nothing But thereis no small ods betwixt the gifts given to lawfull bairns and to bastards And the more greedy ye are in suiting the more willing he is to give delighting to be called open handed I hope your La laboureth to get assurance of the surest patrimony even God himself ye will finde 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 an high price upon Christ to think him one who cannot be bought for gold well-worthy the fighting for And for no other cause Madam doeth the Lord withdraw from you the childish toyes 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 cometh to wooe 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 pleasantly in your minde doe not secretly grudge nor murmure When he is striking you in love beware to stâ—…e again That is dangerous for these who strike again shall get the last blow If I hit not upon the right string it is because I am not acquainted with your La present condition But I beleeve your La goeth on foot laughing putting on a good countenance before the world yet ye carry heaviness about with you Ye doe well Madam not to make them witnesses of your grief who cannot be curerâ— of it But be exceeding charitable of your dear Lord As there be some friends worldly of whom ye will not entertain an ill thought far more ought ye to beleeve good evermore of your dear friend that lovely fair person Iesus Christ. The thorn is one of the most cursed angry crabbed weeds that the earth yeeldeth yet out of it springeth the Rose one of the sweetest smelled flowers most delightfull to the eye that the earth hath Your Lord shall make joy gladness out of your afflictions for all his roses have a fragrant smell wait for the time when his own holy hand shall hold them to your nose if ye would have present comfort under the cross be much in prayer for at that time your faith kisseth Christ he kisseth the soul O if the breath of his holy mouth be sweet I dare be caution out of some small experience that ye shall not be beguiled for the world yea not a few number of God's children know not well what that is which they call a Godhead But Madam come near to the Godhead look down to the bottom of the well there is much in him sweet were
the world began ever hanging by a small threed all the hands of hell of the wicked have been drawing at the threed but God be thanked they onely break their arms by pulling but the threed is not broken for the sweet fingers of Christ our Lord have spun and twisted it Lord hold the threed whole Madam stir up your husband to lay hold upon the Covenant to doe good What hath he to doe with the World It is not his inheritance Desire him to make him home over put to his hand to lay one stone or two upon the wall of God's house before he goe hence I have heard also Madam that your childe is removed 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 trust in our Lord that there is something laid up and kept for you for our kinde Lord who hath wounded you will not be so cruel as not to allay the pain of your green wound therefore claim Christ still as your own own him as your One thing So resting I recommend your La your soul spirit in pawne to him who keepeth all his father's pawnes 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. Anwoth April 1. 1633. Your La in his sweetest Lord Iesus S. R. To my Lady KENMURE 17 MADAM I Determined was desirous also to have seen your La but because of a pain in my arm I could not I know ye will not impute it to any unsutable forgetfulness of your La from whom at my first entry to my calling in this countrey since also I received such comfort in my affliction as I trust in God never to forget it shall labour by his grace to recompense it the onely way possible to me that is by presenting your soul person house all your necessities in prayer to him whose I hope ye are who is able to keep you till that day of appearance to present you before his face with joy I am confident your La is going forward in the begun journey to your Lord father's home Kingdom howbeit ye want not temptations within 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 Iesus not being excepted who won his own house home due to him by birth with much blood many blowes Your La hath the more need to look to your self because our Lord hath placed you higher then the rest and your way to heaven lieth through a more wilde and waste wilderness then the way of many of your fellow-travellers not onely through the midst of this wood of thorns The cumbersom world but also through these dangerous paths The vain glory of it The consideration whereof hath often moved me to pity your soul the soul of your worthy noble husband And it is more to you to win heaven being ships of greater burden and in the main sea then 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 lanching alongst the coast For the which cause ye doe much if in the midst of such a tumult of business croud of temptations ye shall give Christ Jesus his own court his own due place in your soul. I know am perswaded that that lovely one Iesus is dearer to you then many Kingdome and that ye esteem him your welbeloved and the standard-bearer among ten thousand Cant. 5 10 And it becometh him full well to take the place and the board-head in your soul before all the world I knew saw him with you in the furnace of affliction for there he wooed you to himself chose you to be his now he craveth no other hire of you but your Love that he get no cause to be jealous of you And therefore Dear Worthy Lady be like to the fresh river that keepeth it's own fresh taste in the salt sea This world is not worthy of your soul Give it not a good-day when Christ cometh in competition with it Be like one of another countrey Home stay not for the sun is fallen low nigh the tops of the mountains the shadows are stretched out in great length linger not by the way The world and sin would train you on make you turn aside Leave not the way for them the Lord Jesus be at the voyage Madam many eyes are upon you many would be glad your La should spill a Christian and maâ— a good professour Lord Jesus mar their godless desires keep the conscience whole without a crack If there be a hole in it so that it take in water at a leck it will with difficulty mend again It is a dainty delicate creature a rare piece of the workmanship of your maker therefore deal gently with it keep it intire that amidâ—â— this world's glory your La may learn to entertain Christ whatsoever creature your La findeth not to smell of him it may have no better relish to you then the white of an egge Madam it is a part of the truth of your profession to drop words in the ears of your Noble husband continually of Eternity Judgement Death Hell Heaven The honourable Profession The sins of his Father's House He must reckon with God for his father's debt Forgetting of accounts payeth not debt Nay the interest of a forgotten bond runneth up with God to interest upon interest I know he looketh homeward loveth the truth but I pity him with my soul because of his many temptations Satan layeth upon men a burthen of cares above a load maketh a pack-horse of mens souls when they are wholly set upon this world We ow the Devil no such service It were wisdom to throw off that load into a mire to cast all our cares over upon God Madam think ye have no childe Subscribe a bond to your Lord That she shall be his if he take her thanks praise glory to his holy name shall be the interest for a year's loan of her Look for crosses while it is fair weather mend the sails of the ship Now hoping your La will pardon my tediousness I recommend your soul person to the grace mercy of our sweet Lord Jesus in whom I am Anwoth Nov. 15. 1633. Your La at all dutifull obedience in Christ S. R. To my Lady KENMURE 18 MADAM HAving received a letter from some of the worthiest of the Ministery in this Kingdom the contents where of I am â—â—nred to communicate to such
fetch home all your love to himself it is but too narrow short for him if it were more if ye were before pouring all your love if it had been many gallons more in upon your Lord if drops fell by in the in-pouring he forgiveth you he hath done now all that can be done to win beyond it all hath left little to wooe your love from himself except one onely childe what is his purpose herein he knoweth best who hath taken your soul in tutouring Your faith may be boldly charitable of Christ that however matters goe the worst shall be a tired traveller a joyfull sweet welcome-home the back of your winter-night is broken Look to the East the day skie is breaking think not that Christ loseth time or lingereth unsutably O fair fair sweet morning We are but here as sea-passengers if we look right we are upon our countrey-coast our Redeemer is fast coming to take this old worm-eaten world like an old moth-eaten garment in his two hands to roll it up lay it by him These are the last dayes an oath is given Rev. 10. by God himself that Time shall be no more when Time it self is old gray-haired it were good we were away Thus Madam ye see I am as my custom is tedious in my lines your La will pardon it The Lord Jesus be with your spirit Anwoth January 18. 1636. Your La at all obedience in Christ. S. R. To my Lady KENMURE 24 Right honourable I Cannot finde time for writing some things I intended on Iob I have been so taken up with the broils that we are incumbered with in our calling for our Prelat will have us either to swallow our light over digest it contrary to our stomacks howbeit we should vomit our conscience all in this troublesom Conformity or then he will try if Deprivation can convert us to the Ceremonial faith I write to your La Madam not as distrusting your affection or willingnesse to help me as your La is able by your self or others but to advertise you that I hang by a small threed for our learned Prelat because we cannot see with his eyes so far in a mil-stone as his light doeth will not follow his Master meek Jesus who waiteth upon the wearied short-breathed in the way to heaven where all see not alike some are weaker he carrieth the lambs in his bosom leadeth gently these that are with young But we must either see all the evill of Ceremonies to be but as indifferent strawes or suffer no loss then to be easten our of the Lord's inheritance Madam if I had time I would write more at length but your La will pardon me till a fitter occasion Grace be with you and your childe and bear you company to your best home Anwoth June 8. 1636. Your La in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To EARLESTOWN Elder 25. Much honoured Sir I Have heard of the minde malice of your adversaries against you It 's like they will extend the law they have in length breadth answerable to their heat of minde but it is a great part of your glory that the cause is not yours but your Lord's whom ye serve I doubt not but Christ will count it his honour to back his weak servant it were a shame for him with reverence to his holy Name that he should suffer himself to be in the common of such a poor man as ye are that ye should give out for him not get in again Write up your depursments for your Master Christ keep the count what ye give out whether name credit goods or life suspend your reckoning till nigh the evening remember that a poor weak servant of Christ wrote it to you ye shall have Christ a King caution for your incomes all your losses Reckon not from the fore-noon Take the word of God for your warrand and for Christ's act of cautionry howbeit body life goods goe for Christ your Lord though ye should lose the head for him yet Luk 21. 18. There shall not one hair of your head perish ver 19. in patience therefore possess your soul because ye are the first man in Galloway called out questioned for the name of Jesus his eye hath been upon you as upon one whom he hath designed to be among his witnesses Christ hath said Alexander Gordon shall lead the ring in witnessing a good confession therefore he hath put the garland of suffering for himself first upoÌ„ your head think your self so much the more obliged to him fear not for he layeth his right hand on your head He who was dead is alive will plead your cause will look attentively upon the process from the beginning to the end the Spirit of glory shall rest upon you Rev. 2 10. Fear none of these things which thou shalt suffer behold the Devil shall cast some â—f you into prison that ye may be tried ye shall have tribuâ—â—tion ten dayes Be thou faithfull unto the death I will give thee the crown of life That lovely one esus who also became the Son of man that he might take strokes for you write the cross-sweetning soul-supporting sense of these words in your heart These rumbling wheels â—f Scotland's ten dayes tribulation are under his look who hath seven eyes Take a house on your head slip your self by faith in under Christ's wings till the storm be over And remember when they have drunken us down Ierusalem will be a Cup of trembling of poison Zech. 12 2. They shall be fain to vomit out the saints for Iudah v. 6. Shall be a hearth of â—ire in a sheaf they shall devour all the people round about on the right band on the â—ft Woe to Zion's enemies they have the worst or it for we have write for the victory Sir ye were never honourable till now this is your glory that Christ hath put you in the roll with himself and the rest of the witnesses who are come out of great tribulation have washen their garments made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Be not cast down for what the servants of Antichrist cast in your tâ—eth that Yeare ahead to and favourer of the Puritanes leader to thâ—â—â—â—ct if your conscience say Alas here is much din little done is the proverb is because ye have not done so much service to Christ that way as ye might should Take courage from that same temptation for â—our Lord Christ looketh â—poâ— that very challenge as an hungring desire in you to have done more then ye did that filleth up the blank he will accept of what ye have done in that kinde If great men be kinde to you I pray you overlook them if they smile on you Christ but borroweth their face to smile through them upon his afflicted
father's house is good enough to die in It may be the living childe I speak not of Mr. Hugh is more grief to you then the dead Ye are to wait on if at any time God shall give him repentance Christ waited as long possibly on you me certainly longer on me if he should deny repentance to him I could say some thing to that but I hope better things of him It seemeth that Christ will have this world your step-dame I love not your condition the woâ—se it may be a proof that ye are not a childe of this lower house but a stranger Christ seeth it not good onely but your onely good to be lead thus to heaven think this a favour that he hath bestowed upon you Free free grace that is mercy without hire ye paid nothing for it And who can put a price upon any thing of Royal and Princely Jesus Christ And that God hath given to you to suffer for him the spoiling of your goods esteem it as an act of free grace also Ye are no loser having himself And I perswade my self if ye could prize Christ nothing could be bitter to you Grace grace be with you London 1645. Your Brother Well-wisher S. R. To BARBARA HAMILTON 42 Worthy Friend GRace be to you I doe unwillingly write unto you of that which God hath done concerning your son in law onely I beleeve ye look not below Christ and the higest and most supream act of providence which moveth all wheels And certainly what came down enacted concluded in the great book before the throne signed subscribed with the hand which never did wrong should be kissed adored by us we see God's decrees when they bring forth their fruits all actions good ill sweet sowre in their time But we see not presently the after-birth of God's decree to wit his blessed end the good that he bringeth out of the womb of his holy spotless counsel we see his working we sorrow The end of his counsel working lieth hidden underneath the ground therefore we cannot beleeve Even amongst men we see hewen stones timber an hundred scattered parcels pieces of an house all under-tools hammers axes saws yet the house the beauty ease of so many lodgings ease-rooms we neither see nor understand for the present these are but in the minde head of the builder as yet wee see red earth unbroken clods furrows stones but we see not summer-lilies roses the beauty of a garden If ye give the Lord time to work as often he that beleeveth not maketh haste but not speed his end is under the ground ye shall see it was your good that your Son hath changed dwelling-places but not his Master Christ thought good to have no more of his service here yet Rev. 22 3. His servants shall serve him He needeth not us or our service either in earth or in heaven But ye are to look to him who giveth the hireling both his leave his wages for his naked aim purpose to serve Christ as well as for his labours It is put up in Christ's account such a labourer did sweat fourty years in Christ's vineyard howbeit he got not leave to labour so long because he who accepteth of the will for the deed counteth so None can teach the Lord to lay an account He numbereth the drop of rain knoweth the stars by their names It would take us much studying to give a name to every star in the firmament great or small See Lev. 13 13. And Aaron held his peace Ye know his two Sons were â—â—ain whilst they offered strange fire to the Lord Command your thoughts to be silent If the souldiers of Newcasile had done this ye might have stomacked but the weapon wa in another hand Hear the rod what it preacheth see the name of God Mâ—… 6. 9. And know that there is somewhat of God Heaven in the â—od The Majesty of the unsearchable bottomless wayes judgements of God is not seen in the rod the seeing of them râ—quireth the eyes of the man of wisdom If the sufferings of some other with you in that loss could ease you ye want them not But He can doe no wrong he cannot halt his goings are equal who hath done it I know our Lord aimeth at more mortification let him not come in vain to your house lose the pâ—ins of a mercifull visite God the founder never melteth in vain howbeit to us he seemeth often to lose both fire mettall But I know yeare more in this work then I can be There is no cause to faint or weary Grace be with you the rich consolations of Jesus Christ sweeten your cross support you under it I rest London Octob. 15. 1645. Yours in his Lord Master S. R. To Misâ—ress HUME 43. Loving Sister GRace mercy peace be to you If ye have any thing better then the husband of your youth ye are Jesus Christ's deâ—ter for it Pay not then your debts with grudging Sorrow may diminish from the sweet fruit of righteousness but quietness silence submission faith put a crown upon your sad losses ye know whose voice the voice of a crying rod is Micah 6. 9. The name majesty of the Lord is written on the rod read be instructed Let Christ have the room of the husband he hath now no need of you or of your love for he enjoyeth asmuch of the love of Christ as his heart can be capable of I confess it is a dear-bought experience to teach you to undervalue the creature yet it is not too dear if Christ think it so I know that the disputing of your thoughts against his going thither the way manner of his death the instruments the place the time will not ease your spirit except ye rise higher then second causes be silent because the Lord hath done it If we measure the goings of the Almighty his wayes the bottom whereof we see not we quite mistake God O how little a portion of God see we He is far above our ebbe narrow thoughts He ruled the world in wisdom ere we creatures of yesterday were born shall rule it when we shall be lodging beside the worms corruption Onely learn heavenly wisdom self-deniall mortification by this sad loss I know that it is not for nothing except ye deny God to be wise in all he doeth that ye have loâ— one in earth There hath been too little of your love heart in heaven therefore the jealousie of Christ hath done this It is a mercy that he contendeth with you all your lovers I should dâ—sire no greater savour for my self then that Christ laid a necessity took on such bonds upon himself Such an one I must have such a soul I cannot live in heaven without Ioh. 10. 16. And beleeve it it