faithfull to him we are more happy at our worst then we know or rather we are onely in so far miserable as we know not how happy we are he who is admitted to know that he hath a place in the heart of God needs but care little what he meet with from the hand of man this may wipe all teares from his eyes even while he sighes out that sad word I am poor and needy that he knoweth and is in case to adde that other yet the Lord thinketh upon me doth earnestly remember me still And by the way though it 's neither far out of my way nor thine nor eccentrick to my present purpose let me say that if the question were moved how it cometh to pass that he found so much and other worthy sufferers also before him that these things seem almost dreams incredible to us truely without speaking any thing of the absolut soveraignty of God who may doe with his own what he will and dispense as he pleaseth both as to measure time the reason may seem to be very obvious his their witness-bearing for Jesus Christ did every way in all respects exceed our's They gave to God as Kings though it was of his own they served him their Testimonies against the corruptions of their times whither in King or Parliament or Churchmen had so much of ministeriall faithfulness so much of freedom so much of grave Gospel-becoming boldness in them so much holy zeal even for the least of these concernments of the Kingdom of Christ upon which we are loath to state our sufferings or for the keeping whereof we are unwilling to hazard the loss of any thing that it was apparent they loved him so well that they loved not their lives unto the death and that Christ could require nothing of them as a signification of their zeal for his interests which they were not at a point to part with were not ready to give away And he upon the other hand to make it appear that they could not serve the Lord for nothing and to evidence his speciall complacency in such a zealous frame of spirit did not onely extraordinarily support them under their trouble so that they did not sink even when they seemed to others to be pressed out of measure beyond strength but did manifest himself in a most familiar manner unto them so that when they were almost at this that they had not whereupon to lay their head they had then free accesse to lean it lay it on his bosome in a word God did declare that he thought nothing too great nor too good for them who gave themselves away so intirely to him so that if the question were asked at God whence is it that there is so vaste a difference betwixt his dealing with his former witnesses these who now give some kinde of testimony to his name He could quickly silence put to shame the movers of that question by sending us back to see what a difference there is betwixt what these worthies did suffered for him what we have done though under moe obligations at least subjective under moe oaths Covenants ingagements protestations these often reiterat then many of them were He met them as men whose hearts wer listed up in the wayes of the Lord as men who rejoyced wrought righteousnesse could neither be flattered nor frowned out of their fidelitie freedom he hids himself from us as it were ashamed of such witnesses whose very testimony is so unworthy of such a Master so far short of what it ought to be as if indeed we were ashamed of him his truth or thought the torne the lame a sufficient sacrifice for him It was not the maine question of these men in a suffering time how much they might let goe yet keep the substantialls of religion or how long they should be silent out of fear lest while they endeavoured to acquit themselves faithfully they should both be reput rash impâ—udent provoke the Magistrat by venting their needless jealousies to doe what he intended not They did not think it enough to give some oblique intimation of their dislike or half signification of their detestation of these courses whereby they conceived their Master's interests wronged his prerogative incroched upon the whole indangered Nay nay these men of God who knew the times what Israel had to doe thought such a carriage unworthy of the Ambassadours of Christ who are set for the defence of the Gospel upon the matter but as a couching of Asses under the burden they would sooner have parted with their lives then with one hoof of what belonged to their Master They thought it more worthy of a watchman to put all on their guard upon the Least appearance of the approach of an enemy then suffer themselves to be shamefully surprised in their security And they thought it more like the good souldiers of Jesus Christ to cover the ground where they stood with their dead bodies then as afraid or terrified by their adversaries in any thing to make a dishonourable retreat He who would have put them from witnessing a good confession when the danger of the work of God called them to cry aloud not to spare behovâ—d not onely to have threatned them for that would not have done the businesse they being men of such mettall as could have looked death out of countenance in it's most formidable shape carryed in the face of all opposition as these whom no affliction could make miserable but to silence them perfectly he behoved to have sent them into the other world whith could not be terrible to them who had the certain expectation that if so dismissed they should take up their place amongst the soul under the Altar slain for the word of God their testimony that they held And I may say particularly to the commendation of the grace of God in this his faithfull servant who having served his generation according to the will of God is now fallen asleep that to the observation of all he never was afraid of the face of man in appearing for the interests of Christ neither knew he what it was to be silent when he saw these in hazard nay he was such a son of Levi as knew neither friend nor brother in the matters of God Which blessed disposition did accompany him to his grave for though such was the indulgence of his Master to so faithfull a servant that he would have him to die in peace though he denied him not the honour of a martyr dying under a sentence of confinement to his own house plucking him out of the jaws of a bloody death wherewith he was threatned which was intended for him by them whose indignation had almost come to that hight as to say upon the matter bring him hither upon the bed that we may kill â—im for not being
satisfie thy desire nor answer thy expectation It 's not my present work to tell thee that he was a Gentleman by extraction That he was educat at Scholes Colleges where he was admired for the Pregnancy of his parts deservedly looked upon even then as a person of whom great things might be expected Of his being pitched upon for a Profession of Philosophy by the College of Edinburgh where he was educat when he was yet very young Of his being called thence to the Ministery in Anwoth to which charge be entered by the means of that worthy Noble-man my Lord Kenmur without giving any engagment to the Bishop where he laboured night day with great success the whole countrey being to him accounting themselves as his particular flock There it was where he wrote that great Master-piece of Learning against the Arminians wich yet was but a compend of what he then intended his Exercitationes Apologeticae Of his persecution by the Prelats who were so sound in the faith as to challenge and accuse him for writting that book Being called before their high Commission court he appeared declined it as none of the Courts of Christ nor was there need of any thing else for a confirmation that it came not from on high but from below save it 's procedor for it's Acts had the very dy and visage of hell upon them If they will plead that it is from above they will be pusled to pitch upon a period or fix upon any other time when it came down except with the fallen Angels but it may be this please such Angells of the Church so they will be called for they boast much of Antiquity And truely that which gives ground â—or this conjecture that it came down from heaven in that company is that it persecuts the saints and servants of the most high if there were none such upon earth it would have no work was by this high Commission put from his ministery sent to Aberdeen where the Doctors found to their confusion that the Puritans were Clergy-men aswell as they Of his returning to his former Charge upon that happy change of affairs in the Yeer 1638 his being shorthly after sent to the profession of Theology in the Vniversity of St Andrews by the Generall Assembly where he was also called to be worthy Mr Blair's Collegue in the Ministery which being the seat of the Arch-preâ—ate was the very Nursery of all superstition in worship Errour in Doctrine the sink of all Profanity in conversation amongst the Students where God did so singularly second his servants indefatigable pains both in teaching in the Schooles preaching in the Congregation that it became forth with a Lebanon out of which were taken Cedars for building the house of the Lord through the whole land Not a few of whom are this day amongst these who have obtained mercy of the Lord to be his faithfull witnesses against Scotland's present shamfull unparaleelled defection Of his being sent with other worthy Ministers by the Generall Assembly to the famous Synod at London where during the time of his aboad he published severall pieces In a word of his unparaleelled painfullness holy Zeal in being about his Master's business so that he seemed to pray Constantly to preach constantly to catechise constantly to be still in visiting the sick in exhorting from house to house to teach as much in the schooles spend as much time with the young men as if he had been sequestrat from all the world besids withall to write as much as if he had been constantly shut up in his closet sufficient proof whereof hath been given to the world by the many pieces he hath published but the great bulk of Manuscripts which he hath left behinde him must lie buried with himself will put this further out of doubt so that one Mr Rutherfoord seemed to be many able godly men in one or one who was furnished with the grace and abilities of many It is not I say my present purpose to give any particular account to the world of these or of the many things he had to wrestle with especially towards the end of his dayes of his edifying death that may be done herafter by a more dexterous hand skillfull pen with much advantage edification to the Church of God Onely I may say that if amongst the heathens Hercules was looked upon as so far both above the applause of any who undertook to commend him beyond the reach of the obloquie reproach of any who had so fallen out with his wits as to derogat from his worth that it was a Probleme amongst them whether he who undertook to praise him or he who vented any thing to his prejudice did commit the greatest Soloecisme though it was but Belluina gloria whereof he could boast I suppose with more reasoÌ„ among them who know better to make the true paralleel betwixt things that differ are more fit to judge of that which is of true worth great price in the sight of God I should seem more ridiculous to say much to the advantage of the Author whose praise without the help of my blunt pen is in all the Churches of Christ whose manner of life in all Godliness holy conversation rendered him dear to the lovers of holmess who hath left his name for a blessing to the chosen of God he was a true Iohn the Baptist indeed totus vox a voice in habit gesture conversation in a word in his life at his death he obtained that mercy of the Lord even when he said nothing to preach to all who beheld his conversation which was observed to be in heaven while he conversed amongst men that their was nothing good but to draw near to God And now being got up above amongst these pages of honour who wait upon the King 's own person having taken up his place amongst the spirits of just men made perfect after which this saint often panted for which he prayed night day he doth by these Epistles which he hath left behinde him wherein thou wilt perceive how his soul was drawn forth in uncessant longings after that whereof he is now possessed cry aloud to you his companions the saints that are in the world to come up hither see that which cannot be seen while ye are there that which is onely worth the seeing that which if it were known would make you quarrel with death for delaying to shut your eyes upon other objects Leave the dark world doth he say come up hither to this blessed land of light where all our childish thoughts of God are gone evanished in this noon-day-vision where the understanding is fully illuminat there is no cloud to be-night or eclipse the soul in it's uptakings of God where the will hath a through compliance with a perfect complacencie in the will
down hungry in waiting for the mariage-supper of the lamb neverthelesse I think it the Lords wise love that feeds us with hunger and makes us fat with wants and desertions I know not my deare brother if our worthy brethren be gone to sea or not they are on my heart and in my prayers if they be yet with you salute my deare friend John Stuart my weilbeloved brethren in the Lord Mr Blair Mr Hamilton Mr Livingston and Mr Mak-Cleland and acquaint them with my troubles and intreat them to pray for the poor afflicted prisoner of Christ They are deare to my soul I seek your prayers and theirs for my flock their remembrance breaks my heart I desire to love that people and others my deare acquantance in Christ with love in God and as God loveth them I know that he who sent me to the west and south sends me also to the north I will Charge my soul to beleeve and to wait for him and will follow his providence and not goe before it nor stay behind it Now my deare brother taking farewell in paper I commend you all to the word of his grace and to the work of his spirit to him who holdeth the seven stars in his right hand that you may be keept spotlesse till the day of Jesus our Lord. I am From Irwing being on my Iourney to Christs palace in Aberden August 4. 1636. Your Brother in affliction in our sweet Lord Jesus S. R. To his Parochiners 2 DEarly beloved longed for in the Lord my crown my joy in the day of Christ Grace be to you and peace from God our father and our Lord Jesus Christ. I long exceedingly to know if the oft-spoken-of match betwixt you Christ holdeth and if you follow on to know the Lord. My day thoughts and my night thoughts are of you while ye sleep I am afraid of your souls that they be off the rock next to my Lord Jesus and this fallen kirk ye have the greaest share of my sorrow and also of my joy ye are the matter of the tears care fear and daily prayers of an oppressed prisoner of Christ as I am in bonds for my high and lofty one my Royall and princely master my Lord Jesus so I am in bonds for you for I should have sleeped in my warme nest kept the fat world in my armes and the cords of my tabernacle should have been fastned more strongly I might have sung an Evangel of Ease to my soul and you for a time with my brethren the sons of my mother that were angry at me have thrust me out of the vineyard if I should have been broken and drawn on to mire you the Lords flock to cause you eat pastures troden upon with mens feet and to drink foul and muddie waters But truly the almighty was a rerror to me his fear made me afraid O my Lord judge if my ministry be not deare to me but not so dear by many degrees as Christ Jesus my Lord God knoweth the heavie sad Sabbaths I have bad since I laid down at my Masters feet my two shepherds staves I have been often saying as it is writen Lam. 3 52. my enemies chased me sore like a bird without cause they have cut off my life in the dungeon cast a stone upon me for next to Christ I had but one joy the apple of the eye of my delights to preach Christ my Lord and they have violently plucked that away from me it was to me like the poor mans one eye they have put out that eye and quenched my light in the inheritance of the Lord but my eye is toward the Lord I know I shall see the salvation of God and that my hope shall not alwayes be forgotten And my sorrow shall want nothing to compleat it and to make me say what availeth it me to live if ye follow the voice of a stranger of one that cometh in to the sheepfold not by Christ the door but climbeth up another way if the man build his hay and stuble upon the golden foundation Christ Iesus already laid among you ye follow him I assure you the mans work shall burn never bide Gods fire and ye he both shall be in danger of everlasting burning except ye repent O if any pain any sorrow any losse that I can suffer for Christ and for you were laid in pledge to buy Christs love to you and that I could lay my dearest joyes next to Christ my Lord in the gap betwixt you eternall destruction O if I had paper as broad as heaven and earth and inke as the sea and all the rivers and fountaines of the earth were able to write the love the worth the excellency the Sweetnesse and due praises of our dearest and fairest welbeloved and then if ye could read understand it what could I want if my ministry among you should make a marriage between the little bride in that bounds the bridegroom O how rich a prisoner were I if I could obtaine of my Lord before whom I stand for you the salvation of you all O What a prey had I gotten to have you catched in Christs net O then I had cast out my Lords lines his net with a rich gain O then wel-wared pained breast and sore back and a crased body in speaking early and late to you my witnesse is above your heaven would be two heavens to me the salvation of you all as two salvations to me I would subscribe a suspension and a fristing of my heaven for many hundred yeers according to Gods good pleasure if ye were sure in the upper lodging in our fathers house before me I take to witnesse heaven and earth against you I take instruments in the hands of that sun day light that beheld us in the hands of the timber walls of that kirk if I drew not up a fair contract of mariage betvvixt you Christ if I went not with offers betwixt the bridegroome you your conscience did bear you witnesse your mouths confessed that there were many fair trysts meetings drawn on betwixt Christ and you at communion-feasts other occasions there were braclets jewels rings and love-letters sent to you by the bridegroom it was told you what a fair dowrie ye should have and what a house your husband and ye should dwell in and what was the bridgroomes excellencie Sweetnesse might Power The Eternitie and glory of his Kingdome the exceeding deepnesse of his love who sought his black wife through pain fires shame death the grave and swimmed the salt sea for her undergoeing the curse of the law then was made a curse for you ye then consented and said Even so I take him I counsell you beware of the new strange leaven of mens inventions beside and against the word of God contrair to the oath of this kirk novv comeing among
the free salvation Christs sweet balme for thy wounds O poor humble beleever Christs kisses for thy watery checks Christs blood of atonement for thy guilty soul Christs heaven for thy poor soul though once banished out of paradise my master shall make good my word ere long O that people were wise O that people were wise O that people would spier out Christ never est while they finde him O how shall my soul mourn in secret if my nine yeers pained head sore breast and pained back and grieved heart and privat publike prayers to God shall all be for nothing among that people Did my Lord Jesus send me but to summond you before your judge to leave your summonds at your houses was I sent as a witness onnly to gather your dittay's O my God forbid often did I tell you of a fan of Gods word to come among you for the contempt of it I told you often of wrath wrath from the Lord to come upon Scotland and yet I bide by my Masters word it is quickly coming desolation for Scotland because of the quarrell of a broken covenant Now worthy Sir now my dear people my joy and my crown in the Lord let him be your fear seek the Lord and his face save your souls doves flee to Christs windows pray for me praise for me The blessing of my God the prayers and blessing of a poor prisoner and your lawfull pastor be upon you Abrd. Iune 16. 1367. Your Lawfull Loving Pastor S. R. To the right honourable Christian Lady my Lady BOYD. 15 MADAM GRace mercy and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ I cannot but thank your La for your Letter that hath refreshed my soul. I think my self many wayes obliged to your La for your love to my afflicted brother now embarked with me in that same cause his Lord hath been pleased to put him upon truths side I hope your La will befriend him with your counsell and countenance in that countrey where he is a stranger your La needeeth not fear but your kindness to his own shall be put up in Christs accounts Now Madam for your La case I rejoyce exceedingly that the Father of lights hath made you see that there is a niâ—â— in Christianity which ye contend to be at that is to quit the right eye the right hand to keep the Son of God I hope your desire is to make him your garland your eye looketh up the mount which certainly is nothing but the new creature fear not Christ will not cast water upon your smoaking coal then who else dare doe it if he say nay Be sorry at corruption not secure that companion lay with you in your mothers womb was as early friends with you as the breath of life Christ will not have it otherwise for he delighteth to take up fallen bairns to mend broken browâ— binding up of wounds is his office Isai. 61. First I am glad Christ will get employment of his calling in you many a whole soul is in heaven which was sicker then ye are He is content ye lay broken arms legs on his knee that he may spelk them 2. Hiding of his face is wise love his love is not fond doting reasonless to give your head no other pillow while ye be in at heavens gates but to lie betwixt his brests lean upon his bosome Nay hisbairns must often have the frosty cold side of the hill set down both their bare feet among thorns His love hath eyes in the mean time is looking on Our pride must have winter weather to rot it But I know Christ ye shall not be heard ye will whisper it over betwixt your selves agree again for the Anchor-tow abideth fast within the vaile the end of it is in Chrssts ten fingers who dare pull if he hold I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand saying fear not I will help thee Isa. 41 13. fear not Iacob The sea-sick passenger shall come to Land Christ will be the first that will meet you on the shore I hope your La will keep the Kings high-way goe on in the strength of the Lord in haste as if ye had not leisure to speak to the Inne-keepers by the way he is over beyond time in the other side of the water who thinketh long for you For my unfaithfull self Madam I must say a word At my first coming hither the devil made many black lies of my Lord Jesus said the court was changed and he was angry would give an evil servant his leave at mid-terme but he gave me grace not to take my leave I resolved to bide summonds and sit howbeit it was suggested said what should be done with a withered tree but over the dâ—ke with it But now now I dare not I dow not keep it up who is feasted as his poor exiled prisoner I think shame of the board-head the first messe the royall Kings dining-hall and that my black hand should come on such a rulers table but I cannot mend it Christ must have his will onely he paineth my soul so sometimes with his love that I have been nigh to passe modesty to cry out he hath lest a smoaking burning coal in my heart gone to the door himself and left me it together yet it is not desertion I know not what it is but I was never so sick for him as now I durst not challenge my Lord if I got no more for heaven it is a dâting crosse I know he hath other thing to doe then to play with me trâ—â—le an apple with me that this feast will end O for instruments in Gods name that this is he and that I may make use of it when it will be a neer friend within me when it will be said by a challengingdevil were is my God Since I know it will not laste I desire but to keep broken meat but let no man after me slander Christ for his crosse The Great Lord of the Covenant who brought from the dead the great shepherd of his sheep by the blood of the eternall covenant establish you and keep you yours to his appearance Aberd. March 7. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To Mr ALEXANDER HENDERSON 16 My reverend dear Brother I Received your Letters They are as apples of gold to me for wich my sweet feasts they are above the deserving of such a sinner high out of measure I have sadness to ballast me weight me a little It is but his boundless wisdom who hath taken the tutouring of his witlesse childe and he knoweth to be drunken with comforts is not safest for our stomackes However it be the din and noise and glooms of Christs crosse are weightier then it self I protest to you my witnesse is in heaven I
Christ breaketh all my idols in pieces it hath put a new edge upon my blunted love to Christ I see he is Jealouse of my love will have all to himself In a word these six things are my burden 1. I am not in the vineyard as others are it may be because Christ thinketh me a withered tree not worthy it's room but God forbid 2. Woe woe woe is coming upon my harlot-mother this Apostat-kirk the time is coming when we shall wish for doves wings to flee and hide us Oh for the desolation of this land 3. I see my dear master Christ going his alone as it were mourning in sackeloth his fainting friends fear that King Jesus shall lose the field but he must carry the day 4. My guiltiness and the sins of my youth are come up against me and they would come in the plea in my sufferings as deserving causes in God's justice but I pray God for Christ's sake he never give them that room woe 's me that I cannot get my Royall dreadfull mighty glorious Prince of the Kings of the earth set on high Sir ye may help me pity me in this and bow your knee blesse his name desire others to doe it that he hath been pleased in my sufferings to make Atheists Papists enemies about me say It is like God is with this prisoner Let hell the powers of hell I care not be let loose against me to doe their worst so being Christ my Father his Father be magnified in my sufferings 6. Christ's love hath pained me for howbeit his presence hath shamed me and drowned me in debt yet he often goeth away when my love to him is burning he seemeth to look like a proud wooer who will not look upon a poor match who is dying of love I will not say he is lordly but I know he is wise in hiding himself from a childe a fool who maketh an idol a God of one of Christ's kisses which is Idolatry I fear I adore his comforts more then himself and that I love the apples of life better then the tree of life Sir write to me Commend me to your wife mercy be her portion Grace be with you Aberd. 1637 Yours in his dearest Lord Iesus S. R. To JOHN STUART Provest of Ayr. 53 Worthy and dearly beloved in our Lord. GRace mercy peace be to you I was refreshed comforted with your letter what I wrote to you for your comfort I doe not remember but I beleeve love will prophesie home-ward as it would have it I wish I could help you to praise his great and holy name who keepeth the feet of his saints hath numbred all your goings I know our dearest Lord will pardon passe by our honest errours mistakes when we minde his honour yet I know none of you have seen the other half the hidden side of your wonderfull return home to us again I am confident ye shall yet say that God's mercy blew your sailes back to Ireland again Worthy dear Sir I cannot but give you an account of my present state that ye may goe an errand for me to my high royall master of whom I boast all the day I am as proud of his love nay I blesse my self boast more of my present lot as any poor man can be of an earthly Kings court or of a Kingdom First I am very often turning both the sides of my cross especially my dumb silent Sabbaths not because I desire to finde a crook or defect in my Lord's love but because love is sick with phansies fears whether or not the Lord hath a processe leading against my guiltiness that I have not yet well seen I know not my desire is to ride fair not to spark dirt if with reverence of him I may be permitted to make use of such a word in the face of my onely onely welbeloved but fear of guiltness iâ— a tale-bearer betwixt me Christ is still whispering ill tales of my Lord to weaken my faith I had rather a cloud went over my comforts by these messages then that my faith should be hurt for if my Lord get no wrong by me verily I desire grace not to care what become of me I desire to give no faith nor credit to my sorrow that can make a lye of my best friend Christ. Woe woe be to them all who speak ill of Christ. Hence these thoughts awake with me in the morning goe to bed with me Oh what service can a dumb body doe in Christ's house Oh I think the word of God is imprisoned also Oh I am a dry tree Alas I can neither plant nor water Oh if my Lord would make but dung of me to fatten and make fertile his own corn-ridges in mount Sion Oh if I might but speak to three or four herd-boyes of my worthy master I would be satisfied to be the meanest and most obscure of all the Pastors in this land to live in any place in any of Christ's basest out-housâ—s but he saith Sirra I â—ill not send you I have no errands for you there away My desire to serve him is sick of jealousie lest he be unwilling to employ me Secondly this is seconded with another Oh all that I have done in Anwoth the fair work that my Master began there is like a bird dying in the shell what will I then have to show of all my labour in the day of my compearance before him when the Master of the vineyard calleth the labourers giveth them their hire Thirdly but truly when Christ's sweet wind is in the right airth I repent I pray Christ to take law-borrows of my quarrelous unbeleeving sadness sorrow Lord rebuke them that put ill betwixt a poor servant like me his good master then I say whether the black cross will or not I must climb hands feet up to my Lord. I am now ruing from my heart that I pleasure the law my old dead husband so far as to apprehend wrath in my sweet Lord Jesus I had far rather take an hire to plead for the grace of God for I think my self Christ's sworn debter the truth is to speak of my Lord what I cannot deny I am over head ears drowned in many obligations to his love mercy he handleth me sometimes so that I am ashamed almost to seek more for a four-hours but to live content till the marriage-supper of the Lamb with that which he giveth but I know not how greedy how ill to please love is for either my Lord Jesus hath taught me ill manners not to be content of a seat except my head lie in his bosom except I be fed with the fattest of his house or else I am grown impatiently dainty ill to please as if Christ were obliged under this cross to doe no other thing but bear me in his armes
die your alone in the way I know ye have sad hours when the comforter is hid under a vail when ye inquire for him finde but a toom nest This I grant is but a cold good-day when the seeker misseth him whom the soul loveth but even his unkindness is kind his absence lovely his mask a sweet fight till God send Christ himself in his own sweet presence make his sweet comforts your own be not strange shame fast with Christ homely dealing is best for him it is his liking When your winter storms are over the summer of your Lord shall come Your sadness is with childe of joy he will doe you good in the latter end Take no heavier lift of your children then your Lord alloweth give them room beside your heart but not in the yolk of your heart where Christ should be for then they are your idols not your bairns if your Lord take any of them home to his house before the storm come on take it well the owner of the orchard may take down two or thrâ—…â—pples off his own trees before midsummer ere they get the harvest sun it would not be seemly that his servant the gardiner should chide him for it Let our Lord pluck his own fruit at any season he pleaseth they are not lost to you they are laid up so well as that they are coffered in heaven where our Lord 's best jewely lie They are all free goods that are there death can have no law to arrest any thing that is within the walls of the new Ierusalem All the saints because of sin are like old rusty horologies that must be taken down the wheels scoured mended set up again in better case then before Sin hath rusted both soul body our dear Lord by death taketh us down to scour the wheels of both to purge us perfectly from the root and remainder of sin we shall be set up in better case then before Then pluck up your heart heaven is yours that is a word few can say Now the great Shepherd of the sheep the very God of peace confirm establish you to the day of the appearance of Christ our Lord. Aberd. 7 Sept. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To his revend very dear brother Mr GEORGE GILLESPIE 78 My very Dear Brother I Received yours I am still with the Lord his cross hath done that which I thought impossible once Christ keepeth tryst in the fire water with his own cometh ere our breath goe out ere our blood grow cold Blessed are they whose feet escape the great golden net that is now spread it is our happiness to take the crabbed rough poor side of Christ's world which is a lease of crosses losses for him for Christ's in comes casualities that follow him are many it is not a little one that a good conscience may be had in following him this is true gain most to be laboured for loved Many give Christ for a shadow because Christ was rather beside their conâ—cience in a dead reprobate light then in their conscience Let us be ballasted with grace that we be not blowen over that we staggar not Yet a little while Christ his redeemed ones shall fill the field come out victorious Christ's glory of triumphing in Scotland is yet in the bud in the birth but the birth cannot prove an abortive He shall not faint nor be discouraged till he have brought forth judgement unto victory Let us still minde our Covenant the very God of peace be with you Aberd. 9. Sept. 1637. Your Brother in Christ. S. R. To Mr MATHEW MOWAT 79 Reverend Dear Brother I Am refreshed with your letters I would take all well at my Lord's hands that he hath done If I knew I could doe my Lord any service in my suffering suppose my Lord would make a stop-hole of me to fill a hole in the wall of his house or a pinning in Zion's new work For any place of trust in my Lord's house as steward or chamberlain or the like surely I think my self my very dear brother I speak not by any proud figure or trope unworthy of it nay I am not worthy to stand behinde the door if my head feet body were half out half in in Christ's house so I saw the fair face of the Lord of the house it would still my grieuing love-sick desires When I hear that the men of God are at work speaking in our Lord Jesus his name I think my self but an out-cast or out-law chased from the City to lie on the hills live amongst the rocks out-fields O that I might but stand in Christ's out-house or hold a candle in any low vault of his house But I know this is but the vapours that arise out of a quarrellous unbeleeving heart to darken the wisdom of God And your fault is just mine that I cannot beleeve my Lord's bare naked word I must either have an apple to play me with shake hands with Christ have seal caution witness to his word or else I count my self loose how beit I have the word faith of a King Oh I am made of unbelief cannot swim but where my feet may touch the ground Alas Christ under my temptations is presented to me as lying-waters as a dyvour a cousener We can make such a Christ as temptations casting us in a night-dream doeth feign devise tempeations represent Christ ever unlike himself we in our folly listen to the tempter If I could minister one saving word to any how glad would my soul be But I my self which is my greatest evil often mistake the cross of Christ For I know if we had wit knew well that ease slayeth us fools we would desire a market where we might barter or niffer our lazie ease with a profitable cross howbeit there be an out-cast natural betwixt our desires tribulation But some give a dear price gold for physick which they love not buy sickness howbeit they wish rather to have been whole then to be sick But surely Brother ye shall not have my advice howbeit alas I cannot follow it my self to contend with the honest faithfull Lord of the house for goe he or come he he is ay gracious in his departure There are grace mercy loving kindness upon Christ's back-parts When he goeth away the proportion of his face the image of that fair sun that staveth in eyes senses heart after he is gone leaveth a mass of love behinde it in the heart The sound of his knock at the door of his beloved after he is gone past leaveth 〈◊〉 share of joy sorrow both So we have something to feed upon till he return he is more loved in his departure after he is gone then
nations in the way fighting against ready to kill them who had the promise or keep them from possâ—ssing that good land which the Lord their God had given them I know ye have most to doe with submission of spirit but I perswade my self ye have learned in every condition wherein ye are cast therein to be content to say good is the will of the Lord let it be done I beleeve the Lord tackleth his ship often to fetch the wind that he purposeth to bring mercy out of your sufferings silence which I know from mine own experience is grievous to you sâ—eing he knoweth our willing minde to serve him our wages stipend is running to the fore with our God even as some tick souldiers get their pay when then they are bed-â—ast not able to goe to the fields with others Though Israel be not gathered yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord my God shall be my strentgh Isa. 49 3. we are to beleeve it shall be thus ere all the play be played Ier. 51 35. The violence done to me my flesh be upon Babylon the great whore's lovers shall the inhabitants of Zion say and my blood be upon Caldea shall Ierusalem say Zech. 12 2. Behold I will make Ierusalem a cap of trembling to all the people about where they shall be in the siege bosh against Iudah and Ierus them v. 3. And is that day I will make Ierusalem a burden so 〈…〉 stone for all people they that burden themselves with it shall be broken in pieces though all the people of the earth be gathered against it When they have eaten swallowed us up they shall be sick vomit us out living men again the devil's stomack cannot digest the Church of God Suffering is the other half of our ministry howbeit the hardest For we would be content our King Jesus would make an open proclamation cry down crosses cry up joy gladness ease honour peace but it must not be so through many affâ—ctions we must enter into the Kingdom of God not onely by them but through them must we goe wiles will not take us by the cross It is folly to think to steal to heaven with a whole skin For myself I am here a prisoner confined in Aberdâ—…n threatned to be removed to Caithness because I desire to edifie in this town I am openly preached against in the pulpits in my hearing tempted with disputations by the Doctors especially by D. B. Yet I am not ashamed of my Lord Jesus his garland crown I would not exchange my weeping with the fourteen Prelat painted laughter At my first coming here I took the Dorts at Christ would forsooth summond him for unkindness I sought a plea of my Lord was tossed with challenges whether he loved me or not disputed all over again that he had done to me because his word was a fire shut up in my bowels I was weary with forbearing because I said I was cast out of the Lord's inheritance but now I see I was a fool My Lord miskend all did bear with my foolish jealousies miskend that ever I wronged his love and now he is come again with mercy under his wings I past from my O witless summonds he is God I see I am man Now it hath pleased him to renew his love to my soul to dâte his poor prisoner Therefore my dear Brother help me to praise shew the Lord's people with you what he hath done to my soul that they may pray praise I charge you in the name of Christ not to omit it for for this cause I write to you that my sufferings may glorifie my royal King edifie his church in Ireland He knoweth how one of Christ's love-coals hath burnt my soul with a desire to have my bonds to preach his glory whose cross I now bear God forgive you if ye doe it not But I hope the Lord will move your heart to proclaim in my behall the sweetness excellency glory of my royal King It is but our soft flesh that hath raised a slander on the cross of Christ I see now the white side of it My Lord's chains are all overguilded O if Scotland Ireland had part of my feast yet I get not my meat but with many strokes There are none here to whom I can speak I dwell in Kedar's tents Refresh me with a letter from you Few know what is betwixt Christ me Dear Brother upon my salvation this is his truth that we suffer for Christ would not seal a blank charter to souls Courage courage joy joy for evermore O joy unspeakable glorious Oh for help to set my crowned King on high O for love to him who is altogether lovely That love which many waters cannot quench neither can the floods drown I remember you I bear your name on my breast to Christ I beseech you forget not his afflicted prisoner Grace mercy peace be with you Salute in the Lord from me Mr Cuninghame Mr Livingston Mr Ridge Mr Colwart c. Aberd. Feb. 7. 1637. Your Brother fellow prisoner S. R. To JOHN KENNEDY Bailiffe of Ayr. 89 Worthy welbeloved Brother GRace mercy peace be unto you I am yet waiting what our Lord will doe for his afflicted church for my re-entry to my Lord's house Oh that I could hear the forfeiture of Christ now casten out of his inheritance recalled taken off by open proclamation that Christ were restored to be a Free holder and a landed Hieritour in Scotland That the courts fenced in the name of the bastard Prelats their God-father's the Pop's Bailiffes Sherifes were cryed down Oh how sweet a sight were it to see all the Tribes of the Lord in this land fetching home again our banished king Christ to his own palace his Sanctuary and his throne I shall think it mercy to my soul if my faith shall out-watch all this winter night not nod or slumber till my Lord's summer day dawn upon me It is much if faith hope in the sad nights of our heavie trial escape with a whole skin without crack or crook I confess unbelief hath not reason to be either father or mother to it for unbelief is alwayes an irrationall thing but how can it be but such weak eyes as ours must cast water in a great smoke or that a weak head should not turn giddy when the water runneth deep and strong But God be thanked that Christ in his children can endure a stress storm howbeit soft nature would fall down in peices Oh that I had that confidence as to rest rest on this though he should grind me into small powder bray me into dust scatter the dust to the four winds of heaven that my Lord would gather up the powder make me up a new
them and our Nobles bid Christ send for himself if he be Christ It were good we should learn in time the way to our strong hold Sir howbeit not acquainted remember my love to your wife I pray God establish you Aberd. March 9 1637 Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To JOHN EWART Bailiffe of Kirkcudbright 94 My very worthy dear Friend I Cannot but most kindly thank you for the expressions of your love your love respect to me is a great comfort to me I blesse his high glorious name that the terrors of great men have not affrighted me from open avouching of the Son of God nay his cross is the sweetest burden that ever I bare It is such a burden as wings are to a bird or sailes to a ship to carry me forward to my harbour I have not much cause to fall in love with the world but rather to wish that he who sitteth upon the floods would bring my broken ship to Land keep my conscience safe in these dangerous times for wrath from the Lord is coming on this sinfull Land It were good that we prisoners of hope knew of our strong hold to run to before the storm come on Therefore Sir I beseech you by the mercies of God and comforts of his Spirit by the blood of your Saviour by your compearance before the sin-revenging Judge of the world keep your garments clean stand for the truth of Christ which ye professe When the time shall come that your eye strings shall break your face wax pale your breath grow cold this house of clay shall totter your one foot shall be over the march in eternity it shall be your comfort joy that ye gave your name to Christ. The greatest part of the world think heaven at the next door that Christianity is an easie task but they will be beguiled Worthy Sir I beseech you make sure work of salvation I have found by experience that all I could doe hath had much adoe in the day of my trial therefore lay up a sure foundation for the time to come I cannot requite you for your your undeserved favours to me my nowafflicted brother but I trust to remember you to God remember me heartily to your kinde wife Aberd. March 13. 1637. Yours in his onely Lord Iesus S. R. To VVILLIAM FULLERTON Provest of Kirkcudbright 95 Much honoured Sir GRace mercy and peace be to you I am obleiged to your love in God I beseech you Sir let nothing be so dear to you as Christ's truth for salvation is worth all the world therefore be not afraid of men that shall die the Lord shall doe for you in your suffering for him shall blesse your house seed ye have God's promise that ye shall have his presence in fire water in seven tribulations Your day will wear to an end your sun goe down in death it will be your joy that ye have ventured all ye have for Christ there is not a promise of heaven made but to such as are willing to suffer for it it is a Castle taken by force This earth is but the clay-portion of bastards therefore no wonder the world smile on it's own but better things are laid up for hiâ— lawfully begotten bairnes whoÌ„ the world hateth I have experience to speak this for I would not exchange my prison sad nights with the court honour ease of my adversaries My Lord is pleased to make many unknown faces to laugh upon me to provide a lodging for me he himself visiteth my soul with feasts of spiritual comforts O how sweet a Master is Christ Blessed are these who lay down all for him I thank you kindly for your love to my distressed brother Ye have the blessing prayers of the prisoner of Christ to you your Wife Children Remember my love blessing to William Samuel I desire them in their youth to seek the Lord fear his great name to pray twice a day at least to God to read God's word to keep themselves from cursing lying filthie talking Now the onely wise God the presence of the Son of God be with you all Aberd. March 13. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To the worthy much honoured Mr ALEXANDER COLVILL Of Blair 96 Much honoured Sir GRace mercy peace be to you The bearer hereof M. R. F. is most kinde to me I desire you to thank him But none is so kinde as my onely royal King Master whose cross is my garland The King dineth with his prisoner his spikenard casteth a smell He hath led me up to such a pitch nick of joyfull communion with himself as I never knew before When I look back to by-gones I judge my self to have been a childe at A B C. with Christ. Worthy Sir pardon me I dare not conceal it from you it is as a fire iâ— my bowels In hiâ— presâ—nce who seeth me I spâ—ak it I am pained pained with the love of Christ he hath made me sick wounded me Hunger for Christ out-runneth faith I miss faith more then love O if the three Kingdoms would come see O if they knew his kindness to my soul It hath pleased him to bring me to this that I will not strike sails to this world nor flatter it nor adore this clay idol that fools worship As I am now disposed I think I will neither borrow nor lend with it yet I get my meat from Christ with nurture for seven times a day I am lifted up casten down My dumb Sabbaths burthen my heart make it bleed I want not fearful challenges jealousies sometimes of Christ's love that he hath casten me over the dike of the vineyard as a dry tree But this is my infirmity By his grace I take my self in these ravings It is kindly that faith love both be sick fevers are kindly to most joyful communion with Christ. Ye are blessed who avouch Christ openly before the Princes of this Kingdom whose eyes are upon you It is your glory to lift him up on his throne to carry his trâ—in bear up the hem of his robe royal He hath an hiding place for M. A. C. against the storm goe on fear not what man can doe The saints seem to have â—he worst of it for apprehensions can make a lye of Christ of his love but it is not so Providence is not rolled upon unequal crooked wheels All things work togâ—ther for the good of these who love God are called according to his purpose Ere it be long we shall see the white side of God's Providence My Brother's case hath moved me not a little He wrote to me your care kindness Sir the prisoner's blessings prayers I trust shall not goe by you He that is able to keep you to present you before
the vineyard but held the sun off the good plants with my idle shadow therefore my Master had given the evil servant â—he fields to fend him Old guiltiness said as witness all is true My apprehensions were with childe of faithless fears unbelief put a seal Amen to all I thought my self in a hard case Some said I had cause to rejoyce that Christ had honoured me to be a witness for him I said in my heart these are words of men who see but mine outside cannot tell if I be a false witness or not If Christ had in this matter been as wilfull short as I was my faith had gone over the brae broken it's neck But we were well met a hastie fool a wise patient meek Saviour he took no law-advantage of my folly but waited on till my ill blood was fallen my drumbled troubled well began to clear He was never a whit angry at the feverravings of a poor tempted sinner but he mercifully forgave came as it well becometh him with grace new comfort to a a sinner who deserved the contrary And now he is content to kiss my black mouth to put his hand in mine to feed me with as many consolations as would feed ten hungry souls Yet I dare not say he is a waster of comforts for no less would have born me up one grain weight less would have casten the ballance Now who is like to that royall king crowned in Zion where will I get a seat for royall Majesty to set him on If I could set him as far above the heavens as thousand thousands of heights devised by men Angels I would think him but too low I pray you for God's sake my dear Sister help me to praise His love hath neither brim nor bottom His love is like himself it passâ—th all naturall understanding I goe to fathom it with my arms but it is as if a childe would take the globe of sea land in his two short arms Blessed holy is his name This must be his truth I now suffer for for he would not laugh upon a lye nor be witness with his comforts to a night-dream I entreat for your prayers the prayers blessing of a prisoner of Christ be upon you Grace be with you Aberd. March 14. 1637. Yours in his sâ—eet Lord Iesus S. R. To ALEXANDER GORDON Of Knockgray 119 Dear Brother I Have not leisure to write to you Christ's wayes were known to you long before I who am but a childe knew any thing of him What wrong violence the Prelats may by God's permission doe unto you for your trial I know not but this I know that your ten dayes tribulation will end Contend to the last breath for Christ. Banishment out of these Kingdomes is determined against me as I hear this land dow not bear me I pray you recommend my case bonds to my brethren sisters with you I intrust more of my spirituall comfort to you them that way my dear Brother then to many in this Kingdom besides I hope ye will not be wanting to Christ's prisoner Fear nothing for I assure you Alexander Gordon of Knockgray shall win away get his soul for a prey And what can he then want that 's worth the having Your friends are cold as ye write so are these in whom I trusted much Our husband doeth well in breaking our idols in pieces dry wells send us to the fountain My life is not dear to me sobeing I may fulfil my course with joy I fear you must remove if your new hireling will not bear your discountenancing of him for the Prelat is affraid Christ get you that he hath no will of Grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Master S. R. To JOHN FLEMING Bailisse of Leith 120 Worthy dearly beloved in the Lord. GRace mercy peace be unto you I received your letter I wish I could satisfie your desire in drawing up and framing for you a Christian directory But the learned have done it before me more judiciously then I can especially Mr Rodgers Greenhame Perkins not withstanding I shall shew you what I would have been at my self howbeit I I came alwayes short of my purpose 1. That hours of the day less or more time for the word prayer be given to God not sparing the twelfth hour or midday howbeit it should then be the shorter time 2. In the midst of wordly employments there would be some thoughts of sin judgement death eternity with a word or two of ejaculatory prayer at least to God 3. To beware of wandering of heart in privat prayers 4. Not to grudge howbeit ye come from prayer without sense or joy Down-casting sense of guiltiness hunger is often best for us 5. That the Lord's day from morning to night be spent alwayes either in private or publike worship 6. That words be observed wandering and idle thoughts be avoided sudden anger desire of revenge even of such as persecute the truth be guarded against for we often mix our zeal with our own wilde fire 7. That known discovered revealed sins that are against the conscience be eshewed as most dangerous preparative to hardness of heart 8. That in dealing with men faith truth in covenants traffiquing be regarded that we deal with all men in sincerity that conscience be made of idle lying words that our carriage be such as that they who see it may speak honourably of our sweet Master and profession 9. I have been much challenged 1. For not referring all to God as the last end That I doe not eat drink sleep journey speak and think for God 2. That I have not benefited by good company that I left not some word of conviction even upon naturall and wicked men as by reproving swearing in them or because of being a silent witness to their loose carriage because I intended not in all companies to doe good 3. That the woes calamities of the Kirk particular professors have not moved me 4. That the reading of the life of David Paul the like when it humbled me I coming so far short of their holiness laboured not to imitate them afar off at least according to the measure of God's grace 5. That unrepented sins of youth were not looked to lamented for 6. That sudden stirrings of pride lust revenge love of honours were not resisted mourned for 7. That my charity was cold 8. That the experiences I had of God's hearing me in this the other Particular being gathered yet in a new trouble I had alwayes once at least my faith to seek as if I were to begin at A. B. C. Again 9. That I have not more boldly contradicted the enemies speaking against the truth either in publike church-meetings or at tables or ordinary conference 10. That in great
will still last that feasts will be my ordinary food I would have humlity patience faith to set down both my feet when I come to the north-side of the cold thorny hill It is ill my common to be swier to goe an errand for Christ to take the wind upon my face for him Lord let me never be a false witness to deny that I saw Christ take the pen in his hand subscribe my writes My Dear Brother ye complain to me ye cannot hold sight of me but were I a footman I should goe at leisure but sometimes the King taketh me into his coach draweth me then I ontrun myself but alas I am still a forlorn transgressour O how unthankfull I will not put you off your sense of deadness but let me say this who gave you Proctor-fee to speak for the law that can speak for it self better then ye can doe I would not have you to bring your dittay in your own bosom with you to Christ Let the old man the new man be summoned before Christ's white throne let them be confronted before Christ let each one of them speak for themselves I hope howbeit the new man complain of his lying among the pots which maketh the beleever look black yet he can say also I am comely as the tents of Kedar Ye shall not have my advice not to bemoan your deadness but I finde by some experience which ye knew before I knew Christ it suiteth not a ransomed man of Christ's buying to goe plea for the sowre law our old forecasteâ— husband for we are now not under the law as a covenant but under grace Ye are in no man's common but Christ's I know he bemoaneth you more then ye doe your self I say this because I am wearied of complaining I thought it had been humility to imagine that Christ was angry with me both because of my dumb sabbaths my hard heart but I feel now nothing but aking wounds my grief whether I will or not swelleth upon me But let us die in Grace's hall-floor pleading before Christ I deny nothing that the Mediator will challenge me of but I turn it all back upon himself Let him look his own old counts if he be angry for he will get no more of me when Christ saith I want Repentance I meet him with this True Lord but thou art made a King Prince to give me Repentance Act. 5â— 31. When Christ bindeth a challenge upon us we must binde a promise back upon him Be woe lay your self in the dust before God which is suitable but withall let Christ take payment in his own hand pay himself off the first end of his own merits else he will come behinde for any thing we can doe I am every way in your case as hard hearted dead as any man but yet I speak to Christ through my sleep Let us then proclaim a free market for Christ swear our selves bare desire cry on him to come without money buy us take us home to our ransom-payer's fire-side let us be Christ's free-boarders because we dow not pay the old we may not refuse to take on Christ's new debt of mercy Let us doe our best Christ will still be behinde with us many terms will run together For my part let me stand for evermore in his book for a forlorn Dyvour I must desire to be this far in his common of new as to desire to kiss his feet I know not how to win to a heartsom fill feast of Christ's love for I dow neither buy nor beg nor borrow yet I cannot want it I dow not want it O if I could praise him yea I would rest content with a heart submissive dying of love for him howbeit I won never personally in at heaven's gates O would to God I could send in my praises to my incomparable welbeloved or cast my love-songs of that matchless Lord Jesus over the walls that they might light in his lap before men Angels Now grace grace be with you Remember my love to your wife daughter brother Iohn Aberd. June 11. 1638. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To ALEXANDER GORDON Of Earlestown 122 Much honoured worthy Sir GRace Mercy peace be unto you I long to hear from you I received few letters since I came hither I am in need of a word A dry plant would have some watering My case betwixt Christ my Lord me standeth between love jealousie faith suspicion of his love It is a marvel he keepeth house with me I make many pleas with Christ but he maketh as many agreements with me I think his unchangeable love hath said I defie thee to break me change me If Christ had such changeable new thoughts of my salvation as I have of it I think I should then be at a sad loss He humoureth not a fool like me in my unbelief but rebuketh me â—athereth kindness upon me Christ is rather like the poor friend needy prisoner begging love then I am I cannot for shame get Christ said Nay of my whole love for he will not want his errand for the seeking God be thanked my bridegroom tireth not of wooing Honour to him he is a wilfull suiter of my soul But as love is his pain is mine that I have nothing to give him His count-book is full of my debts of mercy kindness free love towards me Oh that I might read with watery eyes O that he would give me the interest of interest to pay back Or rather my soul's desire is that he would comprize my person soul body love joy confidence fear sorrow desire drive the Puynd let me be rouped sold to Christ taken home to my creditor's house his fire-side The Lord knoweth if I could I would sell my self without reversion to Christ. O sweet Lord Jesus make a market over-bid all my buyers I dare swear there is a Mystery in Christ which I never saw A mystery of love O if he would lay by the lap of the covering that is over it let my griening soul see it I would break the door be in upon him to get an wombfull of love for I am an hungered â—amished soul. Oh Sir if ye or any other would tell him how sick my soul is dying for want of a hearty draught of Christ's love Oh if I could dote if I may make use of that word in this case as much upon himself as I doe upon his love It is a pity that Christ himself should not rather be my heart's choice then Christ's manifested love It would satisfie me in some measure if I had any bud to give for his love shall I offer him my praises Alas he is more then praises I give it over to get him exalted according to his worth which is above what
to trust in him When Christ hath sleeped out his sleep if I may speak so of him who is the watch-man of Israel that neither slumbereth nor sleepeth and his own are tried he will arise as a strong man after wine and make bare his holy arm and put on vengeance as a cloak and deal vengeance thick double amongst the haters of Zion It may be we see him sow and send down maledictions vengeances as thick as drops of rain or hail upon his enemies For our Lord oweth them a black day he useth duely to pay his debts neither his friends followers nor his foes adversaries shall have it to say that he is not faithfull exact in keeping his word I know no bar in God's way but Scotland's guiltiness he can come over that impediment break that bar also then say to guilty Scotland as he said Ezek. 36. Not for your sakes c. On-waiting had ever yet a blessed issue to keep the word of God's patience keepeth still the saints dry in the water cold in the fire breathing blood-hot in the grave What are prisons of iron walls gates of brass to Christ Not so good as feal dikes fortifications of straw or old tottering walls If he give the word then the chains will fall off the arms legs of his prisoners God be thanked that our Lord Jesus hath the tutouring of King and Court and Nobles and that he can dry the gutters and the mires in Sion and lay causeys to the Temple with the carcases of bastard Lord-Prelats idol-shepherds The corn on the house-tops got never the husband-man's prayers so is seen on it for it filleth not the hand of mowers Christ truth innocency worketh even under the earth verily there is hope for the righteous We see not what conclusions pass in heaven anent all the affaris of God's house we need not give hire to God to take vengeance of his enemies for Justice worketh without hire O that the seed of hope would grow again and come to maturity And that we could importune Christ double our knocks at his gate cast our cries shouts over the wall that he might come out make our Ierusalem the praise of the whole earth give us Salvation for walls bulwarks If Christ bud grow green and bloom bear seed again in Scotland his father send him two summers again in one year bless his crop O what cause have we to rejoyce in the free salvation of our Lord to set up our banners in the name of our God! O that he would hasten the confusion of the leprous strumpet the mother mistress of abominations in the earth take graven images out of the way come in with the Iews in troops agree with his old out cast forsaken wife take them in again to his bed of love Grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Yours in our Master and Lord S. R. To the Lady LARGIRIE 129. MISTRESS GRace mercy peace be to you I exhort you in the Lord to goe on in your journey to heaven to be content of such fare by the way as Christ his followers have had before you for they had alwayes the wind on their faces our Lord hath not changed the way to us for our ease but will have us following our sweet guide Alas how doeth sin dog us in our journey retard us What fools are we to have a by-god or an other lover or match to our souls beside Christ It were best for us like ill bairns who are best heard at home to seek our own home to sell our hopes of this little clay Innes idol of the earth where we are neither well summered nor well wintered Oh that our souls would fall so at oddes with the love of this world as to think of it as a traveller doeth of a drink of water which is not any part of his treasure but goeth away with the using for ten miles journey maketh that drink to him as nothing O that we had as soon done with this world and could as quickly dispatch the love of it But as a childe cannot hold two apples in his little hand but the one putteth the other out of it's room so neither can we be masters and Lords of two loves Blessed were we if we could make our selves masters of that invaluable treasure the love of Christ or rather suffer our selves to be mastered and subdued to Christ's love so as Christ were our all things all other things our nothings the refuse of our delights O let us be ready for shipping against the time our Lord's wind tide call for us Death is the last thief that shall come without din or noise of feet take our souls away we shall take our leave at Time fâ—ce Eternity our Lord shall lay together the two sides of this earthly Tabernacle fold us lay us by as a man layeth by his clothes at night put the one half of us in a house of clay the dark grave the other half of us in heaven or hell Seek to be found of your Lord in peace gather in your flitting put your soul in order for Christ will not give a nail-breadth of Time to our little sand-glass Pray for Zion for me his prisoner that he would be pleased to bring me amongst you again full of Christ fraughted laden with the blessings of his Gospel Grace grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Yours in his onely Lord and Master S. R. To EARLESTOWN Younger 130 Worthy dearly beloved in the Lord. GRace mercy peace be to you I long to hear from you I remain still a prisoner of hope doe think it service to the Lord to wait on still with submission till the Lord's morning-skie break his summer day dawn for I am perswaded it is a piece of the chief errand of our life that God sent us for some years down to this earth among devils men the fire-brands of the devil temptations that we might suffer for a time here amongst our enemies otherwise he might have made heaven to wait on us at our coming out of the womb and have carried us home to our countrey without letting us set down our feet in this knotty and thorny life but seeing a piece of suffering is carved to every one of us less or more as infinite wisdom hath thought good our part is to harden and habituat our soft and thin skinned nature to endure fire and water devils lions men losses woe hearts as these that are looked upon by God Angels men devils O what folly is it to sit down weep upon a decree of God that is both dumb deaf at our tears must stand still as unmovable as God who made it for who can come behinde our Lord to
doe when ever it is done without hire I finde the grief of my silence my fâ—ar to be holden at the door of Christ's house swelling upon me the truth is were it not that I am dâted now then with pieces of Christ's sweet love comforts I fear I should have made an ill browst of this honourable cross that I know such a soft sillyminded body as I am is not worthy of For I have little in me but softness superlative excessive apprehensions of fear sadness sorrow often God's terrors doe surround me because Christ looketh not so favourably upon me as a poor witness would have him And I wonder how I have past a year a quarter's imprisonment without shaming my sweet Lord to whom I desire to be faithfull I think I shall die but even minting aiming to serve honour my Lord Jesus Few know how toom empty I am at home but it is a part of Marriage-love husband love that my Lord Jesus goeth not to the streets with his chiding against me It is but stoln concealed anger that I finde feel his glooms to me are kept under roof that he will not have mine enemies hearing what is betwixt me Christ And beleeve me I say the truth in Christ the onely gall and wormwood in my cup that which hath filled me with fear hath been lest my sins that sun moon the Lord's children were never witness to should have moved my Lord to strike me with dumb sabbaths Lord pardon my soft weak jealousies if I be here in an error My very dear Brother I would have looked for more large more particular letters from you for my comfort in this for your words before have strengthned me I pray you mend this be thankfull painâ—ull while ye have a piece or corner of the Lord's vineyard to dress O would to God I could have leave to follow you to break the clods but I wish I could command my soul silence wait upon the Lord. I am sure while Christ lives I am well enough friend-stead I hope he will extend his Kindness power for me but God be thanked it is not worse with me then a cross for Christ his truth I know he might have pitched upon many more choise worthy witnesses if he had pleased â—ut I seek no more be what timber I will suppose I were made of a piece of hell then that my Lord in his infinite art hew glory to his name enlargement to Christ's Kingdom out of me Câ— that I could attain to this to desire that my part of Christ might be laid in pledge for the heightning of Christ's throne in Britain Let my Lord redeem the pledge or if he please let it sink drown unredeemed But what can I adde to him Or what way can a smothered and born-down prisoner set out Christ in open market as a lovely desireable Lord to many souls I know he sieth to his own glory better then my ebbe thoughts can dream of that the vvheels paces of this poor distempered Kirk are in his hands that things shall roll as Christ will have them Onely Lord tryst the matter so as Christ may be made a housholder Lord again in Scotland and wet faces for his departure may be dried at his sweet much desired welcome-home I see in all our trials our Lord will not mix our wares his grace over head through other but he will have each man to know his own that the like of me maâ— say in my sufferings This is Christ's grace this is but my course stuff this is free grace this is but nature and reason We know what our legs would play us if they should carry us through all our waters and the least thing our Lord can have of us is to know we are grace's debters or grace's dyvours that nature is of a base house blood grace is better born ofâ— in blood to Christ of a better house Oh that I were free of that Idol that they call my self that Christ were for myself my self a decourted cipher a denied forsworn thing But that proud thing my self will not play except it ride up side for side with Christ or rather have place before him O my self another devil as evil as the prince of devils if thou could give Christ the way take thine own room which is to sit as low as nothing or corruption O but we have much need to be ransomed redeemed by Christ from that master-tyrant that cruel lawless Lord our self Nay when I am seeking Christ out of my self I have the third part of a squint eye upon that vain vain thing my self my self something of mine own But I must hold here I desire you to contribute your help to see if I can be restored to my wasted lost flock I see not how it can be except the Lords would procure me a liberty to preach they have reason 1. Because the opposers my adversaries have practised their new Canons upon me whereof one is That no deprived Minister preach under the pain of excommunication 2. Because my opposing of these Canons was a special thing that incensed Sidserf against me 3. Because I was indicially accused for my book against the Arminians commanded by the Chancellour to acknowledge I had done a fault in writing against Dr Iackson a wicked Arminian Pray for a room in the house to me Grace grace be as it is your portion Aberd. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To JOHN STUART Provest of Ayr 146. Worthy Sir GRace mercy peace be to you I long for the time when I shall see the beauty of the Lord in his house would be as glad of it as of any sight on earth to see the halt the blinde the lame come back to Zion with supplications Ier. 31 8 9. going weeping seeking the Lord asking the way to Zion with their faces thitherward Ier. 50. 5 6. to see the woman travelling in birth delivered of the man childe of a blessed Reformation If this land were humbled I would look that our skie should clear our day dawn again ye should then bless Christ who is content to save your travel to give himself to you in pure ordinances on this side of the sea I know the mercy of Christ is engaged by promise to Scotland notwithstanding he bring wrath as I fear he shall upon this land I am waiting on for enlargement half content that my faith bow if Christ while he bow it keep it unbroken for who goeth through a fire without a mark or a scald I see the Lord making use of this fire to scour his vessels from their rust Oh that my will were silent as a childe weaned from the breasts Psal.
should the temple of Christ be builded upon the mountains tops the land from coast to coast should be filled with the glory of the Lord. Brother your day-task is wearing short your hour-glass of this span-length and hand-breadth of life will quickly pass therefore take order course with matters betwixt you and Christ before it come to open pleading there are no quarters to be had of Christ in open judgement I know ye see your threed wearing short that there are not many inches to the threed's end and therefore lose not time Remember me his prisoner that it would please the Lord to bring me again amongst you with abundance of the Gospel Grace grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To Mr HUGH Mc KAILL 162 Reverend dear Brother I thank you for your letter I cannot but shew you that as I never expected any thing from Christ but much good kindness so he hath made me to finde it in the house of my pilgrimage And beleeve me Brother I give it to you under mine own hand-writ that who so looketh to the white side of Christ's cross and can take it up handsomly with faith and courage shall finde it such a burden as 〈◊〉 are to a ship or wings to a bird I finde my Lord hath overguilded that black tree hath perfumed it oiled it with joy consolation Like a fool once I would chide plead with Christ slander him to others of unkindness but I trust in God not to call his glooms unkinde again for he hath taken from me my sackcloth I verily cannot tell you what a poor sold Ioseph prisoner with whom my mother's children were angry doeth now think of kinde Christ I will chide no more providing he will quite me all by-gones for I am poor I am taught in this ill weather to goe on the lee-side of Christ to put him in between me and the storm I thank God I walk on the sunny side of the brae I write it that ye may speak in my behalf the praises of my Lord to others that my bonds may preach O if all Scotland knew the feasts love-blenks visites that the Prelats have sent me unto I will verily give my Lord Jesus a free discharge of all that I like a fool laid to his charge beg him pardon to the mends God grant that in my temptations I come not on his wrong side again and never again fall a raving against my Physician in my fever Brother plead with your mother while ye have time A pulpit would be a high feast to me but I dare not say one word against him who hath done it I am not out of the house as yet my sweet Master saith I shall have house-room at his own elbow albeit their synagogues will need force cast me out A letter were a work of charity to me Grace be with you Pray for me Aberd. Novemb. 22. 1636. Your Brother Christ's prisoner S. R. To JAMES MURRAY 163 Dear Brother I Received your letter I am in good health of body but far better in my soul. I finde my Lord no worse then his word I will be with him in trouble is made good to me now He heareth the sighing of the prisoner Brother I am comforted in my royal Prince and King This world knoweth not our life it is a mysterie to them We have the sunny side of the world and our Paradise is far above theirs yea our weeping above their laughing which is but like the crackling of thorns under a pot And therefore we have good cause to fight it out for the day of our Laureation is approaching I finde my prison the sweetest place that ev r I was in my Lord Jesus is kinde to me and hath taken the mask off his face and is content to quite me all by-gones I dare not complain of him And for my silence I lay it before Christ I hope it shall be a speaking silence He who knoweth what I would knoweth that my soul desireth no more but that King Jesus may be great in the North of Scotland in the South and in the East West through my sufferings for the freedom of my Lord's house and Kingdom If I could keep good quarters in time to come with Christ I would fear nothing But Oh! Oh! I complain of my wofull out-breakings I tremble at the remembrance of a new out-cast betwixt him and me and I have cause when I consider what sick sad dayes I have had for his absence who is now come I finde Christ dow not be long unkinde our Ioseph's bowels yern within him he cannot smother love long it must break out at length Praise praise with me Brother desire my acquaintance to help me I dare not conceal his love to my soul I wish you all a part of my feast that my Lord Jesus may be honoured I allow you not to hide Christ's bountie to me when ye meet with such as know Christ. Ye write nothing to me what are the cruel mercies of the Prelats towards me The ministers of this town as I hear intend that I shall be more strickly confined or else transported because they finde some people affect me Grace be with you Aberd. Nov. 21. 1637. Yours in the Lord Iesus S. R. To JOHN FLEMING Bailiffe of Leith 164 My very worthy friend GRace mercy peace be to you I received your letter I bless my Lord through Jesus Christ I finde his word good Isa â—8 â—0 I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction And Psal. 91. 15. I will be with him in trouble I never expâ—cted other at Christ's hand but much good comfort I am not disappointed I finde my Lord's cross overguilded oiled with comforts My Lord hath now showen me the white side of his cross I would not exchange my weeping in prison with the fourteen Prelats laughter amidst their hungry 〈◊〉 lean joyes This world knoweth not the sweetness of Christ's love it is a mystery to them At my first coming here I found great heaviness especially because it had pleased the Prelats to adde this gentle cruelty to my former sufferings â—or it is gentle to them to inhibite the Ministers of the town to give me the liberty of a pulpit I said what adeth Christ at my service But I was a fool he hath chided himself friends with me If ye others of God's children shall praise his great name who maketh worthless men witnesses for him my silence sufferings shall preach more then my tongue could doe if his glory be seen in me I am satisfied for I want no kindness of Christ And Sir I dare not smother his liberality I write it to you that ye may praise desire your brother others to joyn with me in this work This land shall be made desolate our iniquities are full the Lord saith we shall drink
end of my journey before the night come on wherein a man cannot see to walk or work that once after my falls I may at night fall in weary and tired as I am in Christ's bosom betwixt his breasts Our prison cannot be our best countrey This world looketh not like heaven the happiness that our tired souls woul be at therefore it were good to seek about for the wind hoise up our sailes towards our new Jerusalem for that is our best Remember a prisoner to Christ. Grace grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Yours in his onely Lord Master S. R. To my Lord CRAIGHALL 174 My Lord. I Received one letter of your Lo from C another of late from A. B. wherein I finde your Lo in perplexity what to doe But let me entreat your Lo not to cause your self mistake Truth Christ because they seem to encounter with your peace ease My Lord remember that a prisoner â—ath written it to you As the Lord liveth if ye put to your hand with other Apostates in this land to pull down the sometime beautifull tabâ—rnacle of Christ in this land joyn hands with thâ—m in one hair-breadth to welcome Antichrist to Scotland there is wratâ— gone out from the Lord against you your house If the terror of a King hath overtaken you your Lo looketh to sleep in your nest in peace to take the nearest shore there are many wayes too too many wayes how to shift Christ with some ill-washen and foul distinctions but assure your self suppose a King should assure you he would be your God as he shall never be for that piece of service your clay-god shall die and your carnall counsellers when your conscience shall storm against you ye complain to them they will say What is that to us Beleeve not that Christ is weak or that he is not able to save Of two fires that ye cannot pass take the least Some few years will bring us all out in our black 's and white 's before our Judge Eternity is nearer to you then ye are aware of To goe on in a course of defection when an enlightned conscience is stirring looking you in the face crying within you That ye are going in an evil way is a step to the sin against the holy Ghost Either many of this land are near that sin or else I know not what it is And if this for which I now suffer be not the way of peace the King's high-way to salvation I beleeve there is not a way at all There is not such breadth and elbow-room in the way to heaven as men beleeve Howbeit this day be not Christ's the morrow shall be his I beleeve assuredly our Lord shall repair the old â—aâ—e places and his ruined house in Scotland this wilderness shall yet blossom as the rose My very worthy dear Lord Wait upon him who hideth his face from the house of Jacob look for him wait patiently a little upon the bridegroom's return again that your soul may live and ye may rejoyce with the Lord's inheritance I dare pawnd my life and soul for it if ye take this storm with borâ—-down Christ your skie shall quickly clear youâ— fair morning dawn Think as the truth is that Christ is just now saying And will ye also leave me Ye have a fair occasion to gratifie Christ now if ye will stay with him want the night's sleep with your suffering Saviour one hour now when Scotland hath fallen asleep and leaveth Christ to fend for himself I profess my self but a weak feeble man when I came first to Christ's camp I had nothing to maintain this war or to bear me out in this encounter and I am little better yet but since I finde furniture armour and strength from the consecrated Captain the Prince of our salvation who was perfected though suffering I esteem suffering for Christ a King's life I finde that our wants qualifie us for Christ howbeit your Lo write ye despair to attain to such a communion fellowship which I would not have you to think yet would ye nobly and courageously venture to make over to Christ for his honour now lying at the stake your estate place and honour He would lovingly and largely requite you and give you a King's word for a recompense Venture upon Christ's come and I dare swear ye shall say as it is Psal 16 7. I bless the Lord who gave me counsel My very worthy Lord many eyes in both the kingdoms are upon you now and the eye of our Lord is upon you acquite your self manfully for Christ Spill not this good play Subscribe a blank submission and put it in Christ's hands Win win the blessings and prayers of your sighing and sorrowfull mother-church seeking your help Win Christ's bond who is a King of his word for a hundred fold more even in this life If a weak man hath past a promise to a King to make a slip to Christ if we look to flesh blood I wonder not of it possibly I might have done worse my self but adde not further guiltiness to goe on in such a scandalous and foul way Remember that there is a wee â—oe to him by whom offences come This woe came out of Christ's mâ—utâ— and it is heavier then the woe of the Law It is the Mediatoâ—'s vengeance that is two vengeances to these who are enlightned Free your self from unlawfull anguish about advising and resolving When the truth is come to your hand hold it fast goe not again to make a new search and enquiry for truth It is easie to cause conscience beleeve as ye will not as ye know It is easie for you to cast your light into prison and detain God's truth in unrighteousnâ—ss But that prisoner will break ward to your incomparable torture Fear your light and stand in aw of it for it is from God Think what honour it is in this life also to â—e â—nrolled to the succeeding ages amongst Christ's witnesses standing against the re-entry of Antichrist I know certainly your light looking to two wayes and to the two sides cryeth shame upon the course that they would counsel you to follow The way that is halfer and compartner with the smoke of this fat world with ease smelleth strong of a foul false way The Prince of peace he who brought again from the dead the great shepherd of his sheep by the blood of the eternall covenant establish you and give you sound light counsel you to follow Christ. Remember my obliged service to my Lord your Father Mother your Lady Grace be with you Aberd. Agust 10. 1637 Your Lo at all obliged obedience in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To JEAN GORDON 175 My very dear loving Sister GRace mercy peace be to you I long to hear from you I exhort you to set up the brac to the King's city that
hand of God Stir up your husband to minde his own countrey at home Counsel him to deal mercifully with the poor people of God under him They are Christ's not his therefore desire him to shew them mercifull dealing kindness to be good to their souls I desire you to write to me It may be that my Parish forget me but my witness is in heaven I dow not I doe not forget them They' are my sighes in the night my tears in the day I think my self like an husband plucked from the wife of his youth O Lord be my Judge what joy it would be to my soul to hear that my ministery hath left the Son of God among them that they are walking in Christ Remember my love to your Son and Daughtre Desire them from me to seek the Lord in their youth and to give him the morning of their dayes Acquaint them with the word of God prayer Grace be with you Pray for the prisoner of Christ In my heart I forget you not Aberd. March 6. 1637. Your lawfull loving Pastor in his onely Lord Iesus S. R. To Mr. JAMES HAMILTON 181 Reverend dearly beloved in our Lord. GRace mercy peace be to you Our acquaintance is neither in bodily presence nor in paper but as sons of the same father sufferers for the same truth Let no man doubt but the state of our question we are now forced to stand to by suffering exile imprisonment is If Iesus should reign over his Kirk or not Oh if my sinfull arm could hold the crown on his head howbeit it should be striken off from the shoulder-blade For your ensuing feared trial my very dearest in our Lord Iesus Alas what am I to speak to comfort a souldier of Christ who hath done an hundred times more for that worthy honourable cause then I can doe But I know these whom the world was not worthy of wandered up down in deserts in mountains in dens caves of the earth that while there is one member of mystical Christ out of heaven that member must suffer strokes till our Lord Jesus draw in that member within the gates of the new Ierusalem which he will not fail to doe at last for not one toe or finger of that body but it shall be take in within the city What can be our part in this pitched battel betwixt the Lamb the Dragon But to receive the darts in patience that rebound off us on upon our sweet Master or rather light first upon him then rebound off him upon his servants I think it a sweet North-wind that bloweth first upon the fair face of the chief among ten thousand then lighteth upon our sinfull black faces When once the wind bloweth off him upon me I think it hath a sweet smell of Christ so must besome more then a single cross I know ye have a guard about you your attendance train for your safety is far beyond your pursuers force or fraud It is good under feud to be near our war-house strong hold We can doe but little to resist them who persecut us oppose him but keep our blood our wounds to the next Court-day when our complaints will be read If this day be not Christ's I am sure the morrow shall be his As for any thing I doe in my bonds when now then a word falleth from me alas it is very little I am exceedingly grieved that any should conceive any thing to be in such a broken emptie reed let no man impute it to me that the free unbought wind for I gave nothing for it bloweth upon an empty reed I am his overburdened debter I cry down with me down down with all the excellency of the world up up with Christ Long long may that fair One that holy One be on high My curse be upon them that love him not O how glad would I be if his glory would grow out spring up out of my bonds sufferings Certainly since I became his prisoner he hath won the yolk heart of my soul Christ is even become a new Christ to me his love greener then it was now I strive no more with him his love shall carry it away I lay down my self under his love I desire to sing to cry to proclaim my self even under the water in his common eternally indebted to his kindness I will not offer to quite commons with him as we use to say for that will not be All all for evermore be Christ's What further trials are before me I know not but I know Christ will have a saved soul of me over on the other side of the water in the yonder side of crosses beyond mens wrongs I had but one eye that they have put out My one joy next to the flower of my joyes Christ was to preach my sweetest sweetest Master and the glory of his Kingdom and it seemed no cruelty to them to put out the poor man's one eye And now I am seeking about to see if suffering will speak my fair One's praises I am trying if a dumb man's tongue can raise one note or one of Zion's springs to advance my Welbeloved's glory Oh if he would make some glory to himself out of a dumb prisoner I goe with childe of his word I cannot be delivered none here will have my Master Alas What aileth them at him I bless you for your prayers adde to them praises As I am able I pay you home I commend your diving in Christ's Testament I would I could set out the dead man's goodwill to his friends in his sweet Testament Speak a prisoner 's hearty commendations to Christ fear not your ten dayes will over These that are gathered against mount Zion their eyes shall melt away in their eye-holes and their tongues consume away in their mouthes Christ's withered garden shall grow green again in Scotland My Lord Jesus hath a word hid in heaven for Scotland not yet brought out Grace be with you Aberd. July 7. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To MISTRESS STUART 182 MISTRESS GRace mercy peace be to you I am sorry that ye take it so hardly that I have not written to you I am judged to be that which I am not I fear if I were put in the fire I should melt away fall down in sheards of painted nature For truly I have little stuff at home that is worth the eye of God's servants If there be any thing of Christ's in me as I dare not deny some of his work it is but a spunk of borrowed fire that can scarce warm my self hath little heat for standers by I would sain have that which ye and others beleeve I have but ye are onely witnesses to my utter side and to some words in paper Oh that he would give me
it must be a rueing a pitifull a melting-hearted love But suspension of that love I think it half a hell the want of it more then a whole hell When I look to my guiltiness I see my salvation one of our Saviour's greatest miracles either in heaven or earth I am sure I may defie any mâ—n to shew me a greater wonder but seeing I have no wares no hire no money for Christ he must either take me with want misery corruption or then want me O if he would be pleased to be compassionat and pitifull hearted to my pining fevers of longing for him oâ— then give me a reall pawne to keep out of his own hand till God send a meeting betwixt him me But I finde neither as yet howbeit he who is absent be not cruel nor unkinde yet his absence is cruel and unkinde His love is like it self his love is his love but the coveâ—ing the cloud the vail the mask of his love is more wise then kinde if I durst speak my apprehensions I lead no process now against the suspension delay of God's love I would with all my heart frist till a day ten heavens and the sweet manifestations of his love Certainly I think I could give Christ much on his word But my whole pleading is about intimated born-in assurance of his love O if he would perswade me of my heart's desire of his love at all he should have the term-day of payment at his own carving But I know raving unbeleef speaketh it's pleasure while it looketh upon guiltinesse and this body of corruption O how loathsom burdensom is it to carry about a dead corps this old carrion of corruption O how steadable a thing is a Saviour to make a sinner rid of his chains fetters I have now made a new question Whether Christ be more to be loved for giving Sanctification or for free Justification And I hold he is more most to be loved for Sâ—nâ—tification it is in some respect greater love in him to sanctifie then to justifie for he maketh us most like himself in his own essential pourtraiture image in sanctifying us Justification doth but make us happy which is to be like the Angels onely Neither is it such a misery to lie a condemned man under unforgiven guiltiness as to serve sin work the works of the Devil therefore I think Sanctification cannot be bought it 's above all price God be thanked for ever that Christ was a told down price for Sanctification Let a sinner if possible lie in hell for ever if he make him truly holy let him lie there burning in love to God rejoycing in the Holy Ghost hanging upon Christ by faith hope that is heaven in the heart and bottom of hell Alas I finde a very thin harvest here few to be saved Grace grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Yours in his lovely longed-for Lord â—â—sus S. R. To my Lord CRAIGHALL 209 My Lord. I Perswade my self notwithstanding of the greatness of this temptation ye will not let Christ want a witness of you to avow him before this evil generation And if ye advise with God's truth the perfect testament of Christ that forbiddeth all mens additions to his worship with the truly learned withall the sanctified in this land with that warner within you that will not fail to speak against you in God's time if ye be not now fast fixed for Christ I hope then your Lo will acquit your self as a man of courage for Christ refuse to bow your knee superstitiously idolatrously to wood or stone or any creature whatsoever I perswade my self when ye shall take good-night at this world ye shall think it God's truth I now write Some fear your Lo have obliged your self to his Maj by promise to satisfie his desire If it be so my dear worthy Lord hear me for your soul 's good Think upon swimming a shore after this ship wrack be pleased to write your humble Apologie to his Majestie it may be God give you favour in his eyes However it be far be it from you to think a promise made out of weakness extorted by the terrour of a King should binde you to wrong your Lord Jesus But for my self I give no faith to that report but I beleeve ye shall prove fast 〈◊〉 Christ To his grace I recommend you Aberd. July 8. 1637. Your Lo at all obedience in Christ. S. R. To my Lord CRAIGHALL 210. My Lord. GRace mercy peace be to you I am not onely content but I exceedingly rejoyce that I finde any of the Rulers of this Land especially your Lo so to affect Christ and his truth as ye dare for his name come to yea nay with Monarchs in their face I hope he who hath enabled you for that will give more if ye shew your self couragious as his word speaketh a man in the streets for the Lord But I pray your Lo give me leave to be plain with you as one who loveth both your honour your soul. I verily beleeve there was never Idolatry at Rome never Idolatry condemned in God's word by the Prophets if religious kneeling before a consecrate creature standing in room of Christ crucified in that very act that for reverence of the Elements as our Act cleareth be not Idolatry Neither will your intention help which is not of the essence of Worship for then Aaron saying To morrow shall be afeast for Iehovah that is for the golden Calf should not have been guilty of Idolatry for he intended onely to decline the lash of the people's fury not to honour the Calf Your intention to honour Christ is nothing seeing religious kneeling by God's institution doeth necessarily import religious divine adoration suppose our intention were both dead sleeping Otherwise kneeling before the Image of God directing prayer to God were lawfull if our intention goe right My Lord I cannot in this bounds dispute but if Cambridge Oxford the learning of Britain will answer this argument the argument from active scandal which your Lo seemeth to stand upon I will turn a formalist call my self an arrant fool by doing what I have done in my suffering for this truth I doe much reverence Mr Ls. learning but my Lo I will answer what he writes in that to pervert you from the truth else repute me beside an hypocrite an ass also I hope ye shall see something upon that subject if the Lord permit that no sophistry in Britain shall answer Courtiers arguments for the most part are drawn from their own skin are not worth a straw for your conscience A Marquess or a King's word when ye stand before Christ's tribunal shall be lighter then wind The Lord knoweth I love your true honour the standing of your house but I would not your honour or house were established upon sand
hay stubble But let me my very dear worthy Lord most humbly beseech you by the mercies of God by the consolations of his Spirit by the dear blood wounds of your lovely Redeemer by the salvation of your soul by your compearance before the awfull face of a sin-revenging dreadfull Judge not to set in comparison together your soul's peace Christ's love his Kingly honour now called in question with your place honour house or ease that an inch of time will make out of the way I verily beleeve Christ is now begging a testimony of you is saying And will ye also leave me It is possible the wind shall not blow so fair for you all your life for coming out appearing before others to back countenance Christ the fairest among the sons of men the Prince of the Kings of the earth Isa. 51. 7. Fear ye not the reproach of men neither be afraid of their revilings v. 8. For the moth shall eat them up like a garment the worm shall eat them like wool When the Lord shall begin he shall make an end mow down his adversaries and they shall lie before him like withered hay their bloom shaken off them Consider how many thousands in this Kingdom veshall cause to fall stumble if ye goe with them that ye shall be out of the prayers of many who doe stand before the Lord for you your house further when the time of your accounts cometh your one foot shall be within the border of eternity the eye-strings shall break the face wax pale the soul shall look out at the windows of the house of clay longing to be out ye shall finde your self arraigned before the Judge of quick dead to answer for the putting to your hand with the rest confederate against Christ to the overturning of his Ark the loosing of the pins of Christ's tabernacle in this land shall certainly sâ—e your self mired in a course of Apostasie then then a King's favour your worm-eaten honour shall be miserable comforters to you The Lord hath enlightened you with the knowledge of his will as the Lord liveth they lead you and others to a communion with great Babel the mother of fornications God said of old continueth to say the same to you Come out of her my people lest ye be partakers of her plagues will ye then goe with them set your lip to the whore 's golden cup drink of the wine of the wrath of God Almighty with them O poor hungry honour O cursed pleasures And O damnable ease bought with the loss of God! How many shall pray for you What a sweet presence shall â—…efinde of Christ under your sufferings if ye shall lay down your honour place at the feet of Christ What a fair recompence of reward I avouch before the Lord that I am now shewing you a way how the house of Craighall may stand on sure pillars If ye will set it on rotten pillars ye cruelly wrong your posterity Ye have the word of a King for an hundred fold more in this life if it be good for you for life everlasting also Make not Christ a liar in distrusting his promise Kings of clay cannot back you when ye stand before him a straw for them their hungry heaven that standeth on this side of time a fig for the dayes-smile of a woâ—m Consider who have gone before you to eternity would have given a world for a new occasion of a vouching that truth It 's true they call it not substantial and we are made a scorn to these that are at ease for suffering these things for it but it is not time to judge of our losses by the morning stay till the evening we shall count with the best of them I have found by experience since the time of my imprisonment my witness is above Christ fealing this honourable cause with another a nearer fellowship then ever I knew before and let God weigh me in an even ballance in this if I would exchange the cross of Christ or his truth with the fourteen Prelacies or what else a King can give My dear Lord venture to take the wind on your face for Christ I beleeve if he should come from heaven in his own person seek the charters of Craighall from you a dimission of your place ye saw his face ye would fall down at his feet and say Lord Iesus it is too little for â—…ee If any man think it not a truth to die for I am against him I dare goe to eternity with it that this day the honour of our royal Law-giver King in the Government of his own free Kingdom who should pay tribute to no dying King is the true state of the question My Lord be ye upon Christ's side of it take the word of a poor prisoner nay the Lord Jesus be surety for it ye have incomparably made the wisest choice for my own part I have been in this prison that I would be half a hamed to seek more till I be up at the well-head Few know in this world the sweetness of Christ's breath the excellency of his love which hath neither brim nor bottom the world hath raised a slander upon the cross of Christ because they love to goe to heaven by dry land love not sea-storms But I write it under my hand would say more if possibly a reader would not deem it hypocrisie My obligation to Christ for the smell of his garments for his love-kisses these thirty weeks standeth so great that I should I desire also to chuse to suspend my salvation to have many tongues loosed in my behalf to praise him suppose in person I never entered within the gates of the new â—erusalem yet sobeing Christ may be set on high I had the liberty to cast my love praises for ever over the wall to Christ I would be silent content But O he is more then my narrow praises O time time flee swiftly that our communion with Jesus may be perfected I wish your Lo would urge Mr L. to give his minde in the Ceremonies be pleased to let me sâ—e it as quickly as can be it shall be answered To his rich grace I recommend your Lo shall remain Aberd. Juny 8. 1637. Yours at all respective obedience in Christ S. R. To the Lady CULROSS 211 MADAM YOur letter came in due time to me now a prisoner of Christ in bonds for the Gospel I am sentenced with deprivation confinement within the town of Aberdeen but Oh my guiltiness the follies of my youth the neglects in my calling especially in not speaking more for the Kingdom crown scepter of my royal princely King Iesus doe so stare me in the face that I apprehend anger in that which is a crown of rejoycing to
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
against the stroke of death Now in the strength of Jesus dispatch your business that debt is not forgiven but fristed Death hath not bidden you fare-well but hath onely left you for a short season End your journey ere the night come upon you have all in readiness against the time that ye must sail through that black impetuous Iordan Jesus Jesus who knoweth both these depths the rocks all the coasts be your Pilot That last tide will not wait for you one moment if ye forget any thing when your sea is full your foot in that ship there is no returning again to fetch it What ye doe amiss in your life to day ye may amend it to morrow for as many suns as God maketh to arise upon you ye have as many new lives but ye can die but once if ye mar or spill that business ye cannot come back to mend that piece of work again No man sinneth twice in dying ill As we die but once so we die but ill or well once Ye see now the number of your moneths is written in God's book as one of the Lord's hirelings ye must work till the shadow of the evening come upon you ye shall run out your glass even to the last pickle of sand fulfill your course with joy for we take nothing to the grave with us but a good or evil conscience And although the skie clear after this storm yet clouds will engender another Ye contracted with Christ I hope when first ye began to follow him that ye would bear his cross fulfill your part of the Contract with patience break not to Jesus Christ Be honest Brother in your bargaining with him for who knoweth better how to bring up children then our God For to lay aside his knowledge of the which there is no searching out he hath been practised in bringing up his heirs these 5000 years his bairns are all well brought up many of them are honest men now at home up in their own house in heaven are entred heirs to their father's inheritance Now the form of his bringing up was by chastisements scourging correcting nurturing See if he maketh exception of any of his bairns Rev. 3. 19. Heb. 12. 7 8. No His eldest Son his heir Iesus is not excepted Heb. 2. 10. Suffer we must ere we were born God dcreed it it is easier to complain of his decree then to change it It is true terrors of conscience cast us down yet without terrors of conscience we cannot be raised up again fears doubtings shake us yet without fears doubtings we would soon sleep and loose our grips of Christ tribulation tentations will almost loose us at the root yet without tribulations temptations we can now no more grow then herbs or corn without rain Sin Satan the World will say cry in our ear that we have a hard reckoning to make in Judgement yet none of these three except they lye dare say in our face that our sin can change the Tenour of the new Covenant Forward then dear Brother lose not your grip hold fast the Truth for the world sell not one dram weight of God's truth especially now wheÌ„ most meÌ„ measure Truth by time like young sea-men setting their Compass by a cloud For now Time is father mother to Truth in the thoughts practices of our evil Time The God of Truth establish us for Alas Now there are none to comfort the prisoners of hope the mourners in Zion We can doe little except pray mourn for Iosepâ— in the stocks And let their tongue cleave to the roof of their mouth who forget Ierusalem now in her day And the Lord remember Edom render to him as he hath done to us Now Brother I will not weary you but I intreat you remember my dearest love to Mr David Dickson with whom I have small acquaintance yet I bless the Lord I know he both prayeth doeth for our dying Kirk Remember my dearest love to Iohn Stuart whom I love in Christ show him from me I doe alwayes remember him hope for a meeting The Lord Jesus establish him more more though he be already a strong man in Christ. Remember my heartiest affection in Christ to â—illiam Rodger whom I also remember to â—od I wish the first newes I hear of him you all that love our common Saviour in these bounds may be that ye are so knit linked kindly fastened in love with the Son of God that ye may say now if we would never so fain escape out of Christ's hands yet love hath so bound us that we cannot get our â—ands fâ—ce again he hath so ravished our hearts that there is no loosing of his grips the chains of his soul-ravishing love are so sâ—rong that the Crave nor Death will not bâ—â—â—k them I hope Brother yea I doubt not of it but ye lay me my first entry to the Lord's vineyard my flock before him who hath put me in his work as the Lord knoweth since first I saw you I have been mindfull of you Marion Mcknaught doeth remember most heartily her love to you to Iohn Stuart Blessed be the Lord that in God's mercy I found in this countrey such a woman to whom Jesus is dearer then her own heart when there be so many that cast Christ over their shoulder Good Brother call to minde the memory of your worthy father now asleep in Christ as his custom was pray continually wrestle for the life of a dying breathless Kirk And desire Iohn Stuart not to forget poor Zion she hath â—ew friends few to speak one good word for her Now I commend you your whole soul body spirit to Jesus Christ his keeping hoping ye will die live stand fall with the cause of our Master Jesus The Lord Jesus himself be with your spirit Anwoth Feb. 2. 1637. Your loving Brother in our Lord Iesus S. R. To my Lady KENMURE 7 MADAM I Have longed exceedingly to hear of your life health growth in the grace of God I lacked the opportunity of a bearer in respect I did not understand of the hasty departure of the last by whom I might have saluted your La therefore I could not write before this time I intreat you Madam let me have two lines from you concerning your present condition I know ye are in grief heaviness if it were not so ye might be afraid because then your way should not be so like the way that our Lord saith leadeth to the new Ierusalem Sure I am if ye knew what were before you or if ye saw but some glances of it ye would with gladness swim through the present floods of sorrow spreading forth your arms out of desire to be at land If God have given you the earnest of the Spirit as
countenance or fashion of this world passeth away In which place our Lord compareth it to an Image in a looking-glass for it is the looking-glass of Adam's sons Some come to the glass see in it the picture of Honour and but a picture indeed for true Honour is to be great in the sight of God others see in it the shadow of Riches but a shadow indeed for durable Riches stand as one of the maids of Wisdom upon her left hand Prov. 3. 16. a third sort see in it the face of painted Pleasures the beholders will not beleeve but the Image they see in this glass is a living man till the Lord come break the glass in pieces remove the face then like Pharaoh awakened they say And behold it was a dream I know your La thinketh your self little in the common of this world for the favourable aspect of any of these three painted faces blessed be our Lord that it is so the better for you Madam they are not worthy to be wooers to sute in marriage your soul that looks to an higher match then to be married upon painted clay know therefore Madam the place whither our Lord Jesus cometh to wooe a Bride it is even in the furnace for if ye be one of Zion's daughters which I ever put beyond all question since I first had occasion to see in your La such pregnant evidences of the grace of God the Lord who hath his fire in Zion his furnace in Ierusalem Isa. 31 9. is purifying you in the furnace And therefore be content to live in it and every day to be adding sowing-to a pasment to your wedding garment that ye may be at last decored trimmed as a Bride for Christ a Bride of his own busking beautified in the hidden man of the heart forgetting your Father's house so shall the King greatly desire your beauty Psal. 45 11. If your La be not changed as I hope ye are not I beleeve ye esteem your self to be of these whom God hath tried these many years refined as silver But Madam I will shew your La a priviledge that others want ye have in this case Such as are in prosperity are fatted with earthly joyes encreased with children friends though the Word of God is indeed written to such for their instruction yet to you who are in trouble spare me Madam to say this from whom the Lord hath taken many children whom he hath exercised otherwise there are some chapters some particular promises in the Word of God made in a most special manner which should never have been yours so as they now are if ye had your portion in this life as others therefore all the comforts promises mercies God offereth to the afflicted they are as many love-letters written to you take them to you Madam claim your right be not robbed It is no small comfort that God hath written some Scriptures to you which he hath not written to others ye seem rather in this to be envied then pitied ye are indeed in this like people of another world these that are above the ordinary rank of mankinde whom our King Lord our Bridegroom Iesus in his love-letter to his welbeloved Spouse hath named beside all the rest hath written comforts and his hearry commendations in the 56 of I saiah vers 4 5. Bsal. 147 2 3 to you Read these the like think your God is like a friend that sendeth a letter to a whole house family but speaketh in his letter to some by name that are dearest to him in the house Ye are then Madam of the dearest friends of the Bridegroom If it were lawfull I would envie you that God honoured you so above many of his dear children Therefore Madam your partis in this case seeing God taketh nothing from you but that which he is to supply with his own presence to desire your Lord to know his own room take it even upon him to come in in the room of dead children Iehovah know thy own place take it to thee is all ye have to say Madam I perswade my self that this world is to you an uncouth Innes that ye are like a traveller who hath his bundel upon his back his staff in his hand his feet upon the door-threshold Goe forward honourable elect Lady in the strength of your Lord let the world bide at home keep the house with your face toward him who longeth more for a sight of you then ye can doe for him ere it be long he will see us I hope to see you laugh as cheerfully after-noon as ye have mourned before-noon The hand of the Lord the hand of the Lord be with you in your journey What have ye to doe here This is not your mountain of rest arise then and set your foot up the mountain goe up out of the wilderness leaning upon the shoulder of your Beloved Caent 8 v. 5 If ye knew the welcome that abideth you when ye come home ye would hasten your pace for ye shall see your Lord put up his own holy hand to your face wipe all tears from your eyes I trow then ye shall have some joy of heart Madam paper willeth me to end before affection Remember the estate of Zaon pray that Ierusalem may be as Zechariah prophesied Ch. 12 3. A burdensom stone for all that whosoever boweth down to roll the stone out of the way may hurt break the joynts of their back strain their arms disjoynt their shoulder-blades pray Iehovah that the stone may lie still in it's own place keep bond with the corner-stone I hope it shall be so he is a skilled Master-builder who laid it I would Madam under great heaviness be refreshed with two lines from your La pen which I refer to your own wisdom Madam I would seen undutifull not to shew you that great solistation is made by the town of Kircudbright for to have the use of my poor labours amongst them If the Lord shall call his people cry who am I to resist but without his seen calling till the flock whom I now oversee be planted with one to whom I dare intrust Christ's Spouse gold nor silver nor favour of men I hope shall not loose me I leave your La praying more earnestly for grace mercy to be with you multiplied upon you here hereafter then my pen can express The Lord Jesus be with your spirit Kirkcudbright Your La at all obedience in the Lord S. R. To my Lady KENMURE 15. MADAM HAving saluted you with grace mercy from God our father from our Lord Jesus Christ I long both to see your La to hear how it goeth with you I doe remember you present you your necessities to him who is able to keep you present you blameless before
your La to grow as a palm-tree on God's mount Zion howbeit shaken with winds yet the root is fast This is all I can doe to recommend your case to your Lord who hath you written upon the palms of his hand if I were able to doe more your La may beleeve me that gladly I would I trust shortly to see your La Now he who hath called you confirm stablish your heart in grace unto the day of the liberty of the sons of God Ardwell April 29. 1634. Your La at all submissive obedience in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To my Lady KENMURE 20 My very Noble worthy Lady SO oft as I call to minde the comforts that I my self a poor friendless stranger received from your La here in a strange part of the countrey when my Lord took from me the delight of mine eyes as the word speaketh Ezek. 24. 16. which wound is not yet fully healed cured I trust your Lord shall remember that give you comfort now at such a time as this wherein your dearest Lord hath made you a widow that ye may be a free Woman for Christ who is now suteing for marriage-love of you therefore since you lie alone in your bed let Christ be as a bundle of myrrhe to sleep lie all the night betwixt your breasts Cant. 1 13. then your bed is better filled then before And seeing amongst all crosses spoken of in our Lord's word this giveth you a particular right to make God your husband which was not so yours while your husband was alive read God's mercy out of this visitation And albeit I must out of some experience say the mourning for the husband of your youth be by God's own mouth the heaviest wordly sorrow Ioel 1. 8. though this be the weightiest burden that ever lay upon your back Yet ye know when the fields are eâ—ptied your husband now asleep in the Lord if ye shall wait upon him who hideth his face for a while that it lieth upon God's honour truth to ful the field to be a husband to the widow See consider then what ye have lost how little it is Therefore Madam let me intreat you in the bowels of Christ Jesus by the comforts of his Spirit your appearance before him let God men Angels now see what is in you The Lord hath pâ—irced the vessel it will be known whether there be in it wine or water let your faith patience be seen that it may be known your onely beloved first and last hath been Christ And therefore now were your whole love upon him he alone is a sutable object for your love and all the affections of your soul God hath dried up one channel of your love by the removal of your husband let now that speat run upon Christ. Your Lord lover hath graciously taken out your husband's name your name out of the summonds that are raised at the instance of the terrible sin-revenging Judge of the world against the house of the Kenmure And I dare say that God's hammering of you from your youth is onely to make you a fair carved stone in the high upper temple of the new Ierusalem Your Lord never thought this world 's vain painted glory a gift worthy of you therefore would not bestow it on you because he is to propine you with a better portion Let the moveables goe the inheritance is yours Ye are a childe of the house joy is laid up for you it is long in coming but not the worse for that I am now expecting to see that with joy comfort that which I hoped of you since I knew you fully even that ye have laid such strength upon the Holy One of Israel that yed â—sie troubles that your soul is a castle that may be beâ—â—â—ged but cannot be taken What have ye to doe here This would never looked like a friend upon you ye ow it little love it looked ever sowre-like upon you Howbeit ye should wooe it it will not match with you therefore never seek warm fire under cold ice This is not a field where your happiness groweth it is up above where Rev. 7. 9. there are a great multitude which no man can number of all nations Kindreds people tongues standing before the throne before the Lamb clothed with wâ—â—te robes palms in their hands What ye could never get here ye shall finde there And withall consider how in all these trials truly they have been many your Lord hath been loosing you at the root from perishing things hunting after you to grip your soul Madam for the Son of God's sake let him not miss his grip but stay abide in the love of God as Iude saith ver 21 Now Madam I hope your La will take these lines in good part wherein I have fallen short failed to your La in not evidencing what I was obliged to your more then undeserved love respect I request for a full pardon for it Again my dear noble Lady let me beseech you to list up your head for the day of your redemption draweth near And remember that star that shined in Galloway is now shining in another world Now I pray that God may answer his own stile to your soul that he may be to you the God of all consolations Thus I remain Anwoth Sept. 14. 1634. Your La at all dutifull obedience in the Lord S. R. To my Lady KENMURE 21 MADAM ALl dutifull obedience in our Lord remembered I know ye are now near one of these strairs in which ye have been before But because your outward comforts are fewer I pray him whose ye are to supply what ye want an other way for howbeit we cannot win to the bottom of his wise Providence who ruleth all yet it is certain this is not onely good which the Almighty hath done but it is best he hath reckoned all your steps to heaven if your La were through this water there are the fewer behinde if this were the last I hope your La hath learned by on-waiting to make your acquaintance with Death which being to the Lord the woman's seed Iesus onely a bloody heel not a broken head Gen. 3 15. cannot be ill to his friends who get fâ—r less of Death then himself Therefore Madam seeing ye know not but the journey is ended ye are come to the water-side in God's wisdom look all your papers your counts whether ye be ready to receive the Kingdom of heaven as a little childe in whom there is little haughtiness much humility I would be far from discouraging your La but there is an absolute necessity that near eternity we look ere we leap seeing no man winneth back again to mend his leap I am confident your La thinketh often upon it that your old guide shall goe before you take
building his house all palace-work carved stones it is the habitation of the Lord We doe welcome Ireland and England to our Welbeloved we invite you O daughters of Ierusalem to come down to our Lord's garden and seek our Welbeloved with us for his love will suffice both you us we doe send love-letters over tâ—e sea to request you to come to marry our King to take part of our bed we trust our Lord is fetching a blow upon the Beast the scarlet-coloured Whore to the end he may bring in his ancient widow-wife our dear Sister the Church of the Iews O what a heavenly heaven were it to see them come in by this mean suck the breasts of their little Sister renew their old love with their first husband Christ our Lord They are booked in God's word as a Bride contracted upon Jesus O for a sight in this flesh of mine of the prophesied marriage between Christ them The Kings of Tarshish the Isles must bring presents to our Lord Jesus Psal. 72 10. And Britain is one of the chiefest Isles Why then but we may beleeve that our Kings of this Island shall come in bring their glory to the new Ierusalem wherein Christ shall dwell in the latter dayes It is our part to pray that the Kingdoms of the earth may become Christ's Now I exhort you in the Lord Jesus not to be dismaid nor afraid for the two tails of these two smoking fire-bands the fierce anger of the Deputy with his Civil Power and of the bastard Prelats with the Power of the Beast for they shall be cut off They may well eat you and drink you but they shall be forced to vomit you out again alive If two things were firmly beleeved sufferiâ—gs would have no weight If the fellowship of Christ's suffering were well known who would not gladly take part with Jesus For Christ we are halvers joynt owners of one the same cross therefore he that knew well what sufferings were as he esteemed all things but loss for Christ did judge them but dung so did he also judge of them that he might know the fellowship of his sufferings Philip. 3 10. O how sweet a sight is it to see across betwixt Christ us to hear our Redeemer say at every sigh every blow every loss of a beleever half mine So they are called the sufferings of Christ the reproach of Christ Col. 2 24. Heb. 11 26. As when two are partners owners of a ship the half of the gain half of the loss belongeth to either of the two so Christ in our sufferings is half-gainer half-loser with us Yea the heaviest end of the black tree of the cross lieth on your Lord it falleth first upon him it but reboundeth off him upon you The reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me Psal. 69 9. Your sufferings are your treasure are greater riches then the treasures of Egypt Heb 11 26. And if your cross come first through Christ's fingers ere it come to you it receiveth a fair luster from him it getteth a taste a relish of the King's spikenard of heaven's perfume the half of the gain when Christ's ship full of gold cometh home shall be yours It is an augmenting of your treasure to be rich in sufferings to be in labours abundant in stripes above measure 2. Cor. 11 ver 23. to have the sufferings of Christ abounding in you 2. Cor. 1 5. is a part of heaven's stock Your goods are not lost which they have plucked from you for your Lord hath them in keeping they are but arrested seised upon he shall loose the arrest Ye shall be fed with the heritage of Iacob your father for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it Isa. 38. 14. Till I shall be in the hall-floor of the highest palace and get a a draught of glory out of Christ's hand above and beyond Time and beyond Death I will never it 's like see fairer dayes then I saw under that blessed tree of my Lord's cross His kisses then were King's kisses these kisses were sweet and soul-reviving one of them at that time was worth two and a half if I may speak so of Christ's week-dayes kisses O sweet sweet for evermore to see a rose of heaven growing in as ill ground as hell and to see Christ's love his embracements his dinners and suppers of joy peace faith goodness long-suffering and patience growing and springing like the flowers of God's garden out of such stony and cursed ground as the hatred of the Prelats and the malice of their High Commission the Antichrist's bloody hand heart Is not here art and wisdom is not here heaven indented in hell if I may say so like a jewel set with skill in a ring with the enamle of Christ's cross The rubie riches of glory that groweth up out of this cross is beyond telling Now the blackest hottest wrath most fiery all-devouring indignation of the Judge of men Angels shall come upon them that deny our sweet Lord Jesus put their hand to that oath of wickedness now pressed the Lord's coal at their heart shall burn them up both root and branch the estates of great men that have done so if they doe not repent shall consume away the ravens shall dwell in their houses their glory shall be shame O for the Lord's sake keep fast by Christ fear not man that shall die wither as the grass the Deputy's bloom shall fall the Prelats shall cast their flower the East wind of the Lord of the Lord strong mighty shall blast break them therefore fear them not they are but idols that can neither doe evil nor good Walk not in the way of these people that slander the footsteps of our royal princely anointed King Iesus now riding upon his white horse in Scotland let Iehovah be your fear That decree of Zion's deliverance passed sealed up before the throne is now ripe shall bring forth a childe even the ruine fall of the Irelats black Kingdom the Antichrist's throne in these Kingdoms the Lord hath begun he shall make an end Who did ever hâ—ar the like of this Before Scotland travelled she brought forth before her pain came she was delivered of a man-childe Isa. 66. 7. 8. And when all is done suppose there were no sweetness in our Lord's cross yet it is sweet for his sake for that lovely one Iesus Christ whose Crown and Royal Supremacy is the question this day in Great Britain betwixt us our adversaries who would not think him worthy of the suffering for what is burning quick what is drinking of our own heart-blood what iâ— a draught of melted lead for his glory less then a drink of cold water to a thirsty man if the right price
of God are unsavoury The wind of thy mouth though accompanied with all the venome thou canst vomit up will not blast the Authors reputation it will onely be a blazing of thy own shame then thou wilt see thy self so unhappy as to have hit the marke at which thou didst not aime For without doing him any hurt who is far above thy reach thy tongue falls upon thy own head in striking at one whom thou canst not wound thy sword rebounds back upon thy self enters into thine own bowells but if thou remainest a man of imperswasion hast so much pleasure in publishing thine own shame I cannot help it it is sufficient for me to have warned thee of thy hazard nor shall I endeavour hence forth to deprive the world of their liberty since thou wilt have it so to look upon thee according to the character which thou hast given of thy self that is Deest aliquid intus to make the a man a Christian since this Brutish shape pleases thee thou mayest goe eat grasse let alone this bread which is onely designed for Children And so I leave thee to make use of that liberty of saying what thou pleases which thou hast now purchased with the loss of thy own reputation If any think it had been more convenient to have concealed the names of these to whom the Author wrote for some reasons obvious in regard of the present Lamentable posture of affairs when it is almost sufficent to make a man guilty that ever he was really zealous for God I have onely this to say for my self that I designed their honour not their prejudice nor hurt in prefixing their names Neither can I well imagine what ever others may apprehend what prejudice they can sustain by this since none or very few of them come from the Author as returns to any thing they had written to him there being no law either discharging him to write or any persons to receive his letters there can be no transgression upon their part so nothing to ground a prejudice or found a rational plea against them And much less in that their names are prefixed or if there be any thing in this blame worthy I alone am in the transgression who have done it without consulting themselves or asking their consent yet in order to the satisfaction of any who may be offended at what is done I have this to say for my self further that I was induced to it first that thereby it might appear these were indeed the very Letters which that faithfull sufferer witness of Jesus Christ wrote though there is sufficient in the stile straine to put this beyond debat no forgeries 2. many of these worthy persons being removed whereby the Church of God is at a seen sad loss in that she is deprived of so many who would have weeped made supplication on her behalfe in this day of her distress when not a few of her friends have dealt treacherously with her are become her enemies their Posterity might think themselves wronged if I should have deprived their worthy Predecessors by suppressing their names smothering their affection to the work of God of the honour of making their faithfullness known to the world And truely I judged it the least that was due to the memory of these who ought to be had in everlasting remembrance to erect this poor monument over their grave wherby they may live amongst the posterity when they are gone as persons who obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithfull in their generation that when the account of such comes to be taken it may be said this that man was borne there 3. I did it to encourage the posterity of such to be followers of the faith patience of their worthy progeâ—â—tors and that the may not without shame horrour think of declining or turning aside either to the right or left hand from the way of these dear relations who by following the Lord fully in an evil time left them a noble Paterne worthy of imitation 4. As for such who are yet alive I hope they will think that God by this Providence is making a honourable mention of their fidelity before the nations is remembring for them the Love of their espousals when they went after him thereby to ingage them to cleave more closely adhere more firmely to him with full purpose of heart when the generality have gadded about to change their way many of his professed disciples have gone back are like to walk no more with him And upon the other hand God will have this to be a witness before the world against any of them who shall depart from the good way of the Lord be offended in him because of persecution I hope what ever hazard threaten these who abide in Christs company that they will never forsake him nor give him cause to say what iniquity have ye found in me that ye are gone far from me But if it should prove otherwise they may be sure that he whose soul hath no pleasure in any man that draws back hats the work of such as turne aside will count himself ingaged in a peculiar way to lead them forth with the workers of iniquity but we hope for better things of them all though we thus speak If none of these reasons which moved me to doe this be strong enough then let it be judged my weakness for it is more fit that I should pass in the world as such which is no great mistake then these honourable worthy persons should suffer any prejudice by a deed whereto they had not the least accession Reader much pains hath been taken in collecting these together that they might be in the hands of many a thing greatly desired of a long time by the godly which have been hitherto onely in some broken imperfect parcells in the hands of a few Severall of the most correct copies that could be had have been carefully compared many fruits therby corrected which were crept in by their being often transcribed that by unskillfull hands If it fall out so as I suppose it shall not often be found that they who have the Autographs by them perceive any difference in a word or senteÌ„ce betwixt this printed copy these let them imput it to my want of he principals for though I had a good number of them yet it was not possible for me to get the most part In some very few places also to the end that this book might be of more universall use it may be that a scottish word which would have darkned the sense or rendered the sentence wholly unintelligble to strangers is either changed into some equivalent one or a synonimous terme inserted by it but in most places these words are retained without any alteration because either alteration or addition would have made them less taking with
greater then ten whole earths or ten worlds O what beauty would be in it and what a smell would it cast but a blast of the breath of that fairest rose in all Gods Paradise even of Christ Jesus our Lord one look of that fairest face would be infinitly in beauty and smell above all imaginable and created glory I wonder that men dow bide off Christ I would esteem my self blessed if I could make an open proclamation and gather all the world that are living upon the earth Jew and Gentile and all that shall be borne to the blowing of the last trumpet to flock round about Christ and to stand looking wondering admiring and adoring his beauty and sweetnesse for his fire is hotter then any other fire his love sweeter then common love his beauty surpasseth all other beauty When I am heavie and sad one of his love-looks would do me meekel worlds good o if ye would fall in love with him Hovv blessed were I how glad would my soul be to help you to love him but amongst us all we could not love him enough he is the Son of the Fathers love and Gods delight the Fathers love lieth all upon him o if all mankind would fetch all their love and lay it upon him invit him and take him home to your houses in the exercise of prayer morning and evening as I often desired you especially now let him not want lodgeing in your houses nor lie in the feilds when he is shut out of pulpits and Kirks If ye will be content to take heaven by violence the wind on your face for Christ and his crosse I am here one who hath some tryall of Christs crosse I can say that Christ was ever kind to me but he overcometh himself if I may speak so in kindness vvhile I suffer for him I give you my word for it Christs crosse is not so evil as they call it it is sweet light and comfortable I would not want the visitations of love and the very breathings of Christs mouth when he kisseth and my Lords delightsome smiles and love-embracements under my sufferings for him for a mountain of fine gold nor for all the honours court and grandour of velvet-kirk-men Christ hath the yolke and heart of my love I am my beloveds and my welbeloved is mine O that ye were all handfasted to Christ o my Dearly beloved in the Lord I would I could change my voice and had a tongue tuned with the hand of my Lord and had the art of speaking of Christ that I might paint out unto you the worth and highnesse and greatnesse and excellencie of that fairest and renowned bridegroom I beseech you by the mercies of the Lord by the sighes tears heart blood of our Lord Jesus by the salvation of your poor and precious souls set up the mountain that ye and I may meet before the Lambs throne amongst the congregation of the first borne Lord grant that that may be the trysting place that ye and I may put up our hands together and pluck and eat the apples oâ— the tree of life and we may feast together and drink together of that pure river of the water of life that cometh out from under the throne of God and from the Lamb O how little is your hand-breadth and span length of dayes here your inch of time is Lesse then when ye and I parted eternitie eternitie is comeing posting on with wings then shall every mans black 's and whit's be brought to light O how low will your thoughts be of this fair-skined but heart roten apple the vain vain fecklesse world when the wormes shall make their houses in your eye holes and shall eat aâ—â— the flesh from the ball of your cheeks and shall make that body a number of drie bones think not the common gate of serving God as neighbour and others doe will bring yow to heaven few few are saved the Devils court is thick and many he haththe greatest number of mankind for his vassels I know this world is a great forrest of thornes in your way to heaven but ye most through it acquaint your selves with the Lord hold fast Christ hear his voice only blesse his name sanctifie and keep his day keep the new commandment love one another let the Holy Spirit dwell in your bodies and be clean and holy love not the worldly not love and follow truth learn to know God keep in mind what I taught you for God will seek ane account of it when I am far from you abstain from all evil and all appearance of evil follow good carefully and seek peace and follow after it honour your King and pray for him remember me to God in your prayers I dow not forget you I told you often while I was with you and now I write it again heavie sad and sore is that strok of the Lords wrath that is comeing upon Scotland woe woe woe to this Harlotland for they shall take the cup of Gods wrath from his hand and drink and spue and fall and net rise again In In In with speed to your strong hold ye prisoners of hope hide you there while the anger of the Lord passe Follow not the Pastors of this Land for the sun is gone down upon them as the Lord liveth they lead you from Christ and from the good old way yet the Lord will keep the holy Citie and make this withered Kirk to bud again like a rose and a field blessed of the Lord. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all The prayers and blessing of a prisoner of Christs in bonds for him and for you be with you all AMEN Aberden July 14. 1637. Your Lawfull and loving Pastor S. R. To the Honourable Reverend and Welbeloved Professors of Christ his Truth in sincerity in Ireland 3 DEarly beloved in our Lord partakers of the heavenly calling Grace mercy peace be to you from God our father from our Lord Jesus Christ I alwayes but most of all now in my bonds most sweet bonds for Christ my Lord rejoyce to hear of your faith and love to hear that our King our welbeloved our bridegroom without tireing stayeth still to wooe you as his wife and that persecutions mockings of sinners have not chased away the wooer from the house I perswade you in the Lord the men of God now Scattered driven from you put you upon the right sent and pursuit of Christ my salvation on it if ten heavens were mine if this way this way that I now suffer for this way that the world nicknameth and reproacheth no other way be not the Kings gate to heaven I shall never see Gods face and alace I were a beguiled wretch if it were so if this be not the only saving way to heaven Oh that you would take a prisoner of Christs word for it nay I know you have the greatest Kings word for it
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
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
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
could wish many pound weights added to my crosse to know that by sufferings Christ were set forward in his kingly office in this Land Oh what is my skin to his glory Or my losses or my sad heart to the apple of the eye of our Lord his beloved spouse his precious truth his royal priviledges the glory of manifested justice in giving of his foes a dash the testimony of his faithfull servants who doe glorifie him when he rideth upon poor weak wormes triumpheth in them I desire you to pray that I may come out of this furnace with honesty that I may leave Christs truth no worse then I found it that this most honourable cause may neither be stained nor weakned As for your case my Reverend and Dearest Brother ye are the talking of the North and South looked to so as if ye were all crystall glasse your mots and dust should soon be proclaimed trumpets blowne at your slips But I know ye have laid help upon one that is mighty Intrust not your comforts to mens airy frothy applause neither lay your down-castings on the tongues of salt mockers reproachers of godliness As deceivers yet true as unknown yet well known God hath called you to Christs side and the wind is now on Christs face in this land and seeing ye are with him ye cannot expect the lee-side or the sunny-side of the brae But I know ye have resolved to take Christ upon any termes whatsoever I hope ye doe not rue though your cause be hated that prejudices are taken up against it The shields of the world think our Master cumbersome wares that he maketh too great din that his cords and yoks make blains deep scores in their neck therefore they kick they say this man shall not reigne over us Let us pray one for another He who hath made you a chosen arrow in his quiver hide you in the hollow of his hand I am Aberd. March 9. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To the right honourable my Lord LOWDON 17 MY very noble honourable Lord Grace mercy and peace be to you I make bold to write to your Lo that you may know the honourable cause ye are graced to prosesse is Christs own truth Ye are many wayes blessed of God who hath taken upon you to come out to the strects with Christ on your fore-head when so many are ashamed of him and hide him as it were under their cloak as if he were a stolen Christ. If this faithless generation and especially the Nobles of this Kingdom thought not Christ dear wares and Religion expensive hazardous and dangerous they would not slip from his cause as they doe and stand looking on with their hands folded behinde their back when lowns are running away with the spoile of Sion on their back and the boards of the Son of Gods tabernacle Law and Justice are to be had to any especially for money moyen but Christ can get no law good cheap nor dear It were the glory and honour of you who are the Nobles of this land to plead for your wronged bridegroom and his oppressed Spouse as far as zeal standing law will goe with you Your ordinary logicke from the event that it will doe no good to the cause and therefore silence is best till the Lord put to his own hand it is not with reverence of your Lo Learning worth a straw Events are Gods let us doe and not plead against Gods Office let him sit at his own helme who moderateth all events It is not a good course to complain that we cannot get a providence of gold when our lasiness cold zeal temporizing and faithless fearfulness spilleth good providence Your Lo will pardon me I am not of that minde that tumults or armes is the way to put Christ on his throne or that Christ will be served truth vindicated onely with the arme of flesh and blood nay Christ doeth his turn with lesse din then with garments rolled in blood But I would the zeal of God were in the Nobles to doe their part for Christ and I must be pardoned to write to your Lo this I dow not I dare not but speak to others what God hath done to the soul of his poor afflicted exiled prisoner his comfort is more then I ever knew before he hath sealed the honourable cause I now suffer for I shall not beleeve that Christ will put his Amen ring upon an imagination he hath made all his promises good to me and hath filled up all the blanks with his own hand I would not exchange my bonds with the plaistered joy of this whole world It hath pleased him to make a sinner the like of me an ordinary banquetter in his house of wine with that royall Princely one Christ Jesus O what weighing O what telling is in his love how sweet must he be when that black and Burdensome tree his own crosse is so perfumed with joy and gladness O for help to lift him up by praises on his royall throne I seek no more but that his name may be spread abroad in me that meekle good may be spoken of Christ on my behalf this being done my losses place stipend credit case and Liberty shall all be made up to my full contentment and joy of heart I will be confident your Lo Will goe on in the strength of the Lord and keep Christ avouch him that he may read your name publikly before men Angels I wil entreat your Lo to exhort encourage that Nobleman your Chief to doe the same but I am woe many of you finde a new wisdom which deserveth nor such a name it were better that men should see that their wisdom be holy their holiness wise I must be bold to desire your Lo To adde to your former favours to me for the which your Lo hath a prisoners blessing prayers this that ye would be pleased to befriend my brother now suffering for the same cause For he is to dwell nigh your Lo Bounds your Lo word countenance may help him Thus recommending your Lo to the saving grace tender mercy of Christ Jesus our Lord. I rest Aberd. March 9. 1637. Your Lo obliged Servant in Christ S. R. To Mr. WILLIAM DALGLISH Minister of the Gospel 18 Reverend Dear Brother GRace mercy peace be to you I am well my Lord Jesus is Kinder to me then ever he was it pleaseth him to dine sup with his afflicted prisoner a King feasteth me and his spiknard casteth a sweet smell Put Christs love to the triall and put upon it burdens then it will appear love indeed we employ not his love therefore we know it not I verily count more of the sufferings of my Lord then of this worlds lustred overguilded glory I dare not say but my Lord Jesus hath fully recompensed my sadness with
in the loof of their hand Cur Lord maketh delicates and dainties of his sweet presence and love-visits to his own but Christs love under a vaile is love if ye get Christ howbeit not the sweet and pleasant way you would have him it is enough for the wel-beloved cometh not our way he must waile his own gate himself For worldly things seeing they are medows and fair flowers in your way to heaven a smell in the by-going is sufficient he that would reckon and tell all the stones in his way in a journey of three or four hundred miles and write up in his count book all the herbs and flowers growing in his way might come short of his journey you cannot stay in your inch of time to lose your day seeing you are in haste and the night and your after-noon will not bide you in setting your heart on this vain world it were your wisdom to read your count book to have in readinâ—sâ— your bussinesse against the time you come to deaths water-side I know your lodging is taken your forerunner Christ hath not forgotten that therefore you must set your self to your one thing which ye cannot well want In that our Lord took your husband to himself I know it was that he might make room for himself he cuteth off your love to the creature that ye might learn that God onely is the right owner of your love sorrow losse sadnesse death or the worst things that are except sin but Christ knoweth well what to make of them can put his own in the crosses common that we shall be obliged to affliction thank God who learned us to make our acquaintance with such a rough companion who can hale us to Christ you must learn to make evils your great good and to spin out comforts peace joy communion with Christ out of your troubls that are Christs wooers sent to speak for you to himself It is easie to get good words and a comfortable message from our Lord even from such rough serjeants as diverse temptations Thanks to God for crosses when we count and reckon our losses in seeking God we finde godliness is great gain Great partners of a shipfull of gold are glad to see the ship come to the harbour surely we and our Lord Jesus together have a shipfull of gold coming home and our gold is in that ship Some are so in love or rather in lust with this life that they sell their part of the ship for a little thing I would counsel you to buy hope but sell it not and give not away your crosses for nothing the inside of Christs crosse is white and joyfull and the far end of the black crosse is a fair and glorious heaven of ease and seeing Christ hath fastned heaven to the far end of the crosse he will not loose the knot him self none else can for when Christ casteth a knot all the world cannot loose it let us then count it exceeding joy when we fall into diverse temptations Thus recommending you to the tender mercy grace of our Lord I rest Aberd. Your Loving Brother S. R. To JOHN GORDON Of Card nes Younger 25 Honoured Dear Brother I Wrote of late to you multitudes of letters burden me now I am refreshed with your letter I exhort you in the bowels of Christ set to work for your soul let these bear weight with you and ponder them seriously 1. Weeping gnasâ—ing of teeth in utter-darkness or heaven's joy 2. Think what ye would give for an hour when ye shall lie like dead cold blackned clay 3. there is sand in your glass yet your sun is not gone down 4. Consider what joy peace is in Christs service 5. Think what advantage it will be to have Angels the world life death crosses yea and devils all for you as the Kings serjeants and servants to doe your bussinesse 6. To have mercy on your seed a blessing on your house 7. To have true honour a name on earth that casts a sweet smell 8. How ye will rejoyce when Christ layeth down your head under his chinne betwixt his brests dryeth your face welcometh you to glory happyness 9. Imagine what pain torture is a guilty conscience What slavery to carry the Devils unhonest loads 10. Sins joyes are but night-dreames thoughts vapours imaginations and shadowes 11. What dignity it is to be a son of God 12. Dominion and mastery over tentations over the world and sin 13. That your enemies should be the taile and you the head For your bairns now at their rest I speak to you and your wife and cause her read this 1. I am a witness of Barbara's glory in heaven 2. For the rest I write it under my hand there are dayes coming on Scotland when barren wombs dry breasts and childless parents shall be pronounced blessed they are then in the lee of the harbour ere the storm come on 3. They are not lost to you that are laid up in Christs treasury in heaven 4. At the Resurrection ye shall meet with them there they are sent beâ—ore but not sent away 5. Your Lord loveth you who is homely to take and give borrow and lend 6. Let not bairns be your Idols for God will be jealouse and take away the Idol because he is greedy of your love wholly I bless you your wife and children Grace for evermore be with you Aberd. Your Loving Pastor S. R. To JOHN GORDON Of Cardoness elder 26 HOnourable dearest in the Lord. Your Letter hath refreshed my soul. My joy is fulfilled if Christ and ye be fast together ye are my joy my crown ye know I have recommended his love to you I defie the world Satan sin His love hath neither brim nor bottome in it My dearest in Christ I write my souls desire to you heaven is not at the next door I finde Christianity an hard task set to it in your evening we would all keep both Christ our right eye our right hand foot but it will not be with us I beseech you by the mercies of God and your compearance before Christ look Christs count book and your own together and collation them give the remnant of your time to your soul this great Idol-god the world will be lying in white ashes in the day of your compearance why should night-dreames and day-shaddowes water-froth May-flowers run away with your heart when we win to the water-side and black deaths river brinke and put our foot in the boat we shall laugh at our folly Sir I recommend you unto the thoughts of death and how ye would wish your soul to be when ye shall lie cold blew ill-smelling clay For any hireling to be intruded I being the Kings prisoner can not say much but as Gods minister I desire you to read Act. 2 15 16. to the end Act. 6. 2 3 4 5.
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
one And O what a fair one what an onely one what an excellent lovely ravishing one is Jesus Put the beauty of ten thousand thousand worlds of Paradises like the garden of Eden in one put all trees all flowers all smels all colours all tastes all joyes all sweetness all lovelyness is one O what a fair and excellent thing would that be yet it should be less to that fair dearest welbeloved Christ then one drop of rain to the whole seas rivers lakes fourtains of ten thousand earths O but Christ is heavens wonder earths wonder what marvel that his bride saith Cant 5 v. 16. He is altogether lovely Oh that black souls will not come fetch all then love to this fair one O if I could invite perswade thousands ten thousand times ten thousand of Adam's sons to flock about my Lord Jesus to come take their fill of love Oh pity for evermore that there should be such an one as Christ Jesus so boundless so bottomless so incomparable in infinite excellency sweetness and so few to take him Oh oh ye poor dry dead souls why will ye not come hither with your toom vessels your empty souls to this huge fair deep sweet well of life fill all your toom vessels Oh that Christ should be so large in sweetness worth we so narrow so pinched so ebbe so void of all happiness and yet men will not take him They lose their love miserably who will not bestow it upon this lovely one Alas these five thousand yeers Adam's fools his waster-heirs have been wasting lavishing out their love and their affections upon black lovers and black harlots upon bits of dead creatures and broken idols upon this that feckless creature have not brought their love and their heart to Jesus O pity that fairness hath so few lovers O woe woe to the fools of this world who run by Christ to other lovers Oh misery misery misery that comeliness can scarce get three or four hearts in a town or a countrey Oh that there is so much spoken so much written and so much thought of creature-vanity and so little spoken so little written so little thought of my great and incomprehensible and never-enough-wondered-at Lord Jesus Why should I not curse this forlorn and wretched world that suffereth my Lord Jesus to lie his alone O damned souls O miskenning world O blind O beggerly and poor souls O bewitched fools what aileth you at Christ that you run so from him I dare not challenge providence that there are so few buyers and so little sale for such an excellent one as Christ. O the depth and O the hight of my Lords wayes that passe finding out But oh if men would once be wise and not fall so in love with their own hell as to pass by Christ and misken him But let us come near and fill our selves with Christ and let his friends drink and be drunken and satisfie our hollow and deep desires with Jesus Oh come all and drink at this living well come drink live for ever more come drink welcome welcome saith our fairest Bridegroom no man getteth Christ with ill will no man cometh is not welcome no man cometh and rueth his voyage all men speak well of Christ who have been at him men and Angels who know him will say more then I dow doe think more of him then they can say O if I were misted and bewildered in my Lords love Oh if I were fettered chained to it O sweet pain to be pained for a sight of him O living death O good death O lovely death to die for love of Jesus Oh that I should have a sore heart a pained soul for the wanting of the love of this that idol woe woe to the mistakings of my miscarrying heart that gapeth cryeth for creatures is not pained cutted tortured in sorrow for the want of a souls-fill of Christ. Oh that thou would'st come near my Beloved O my fairest one why standest thou a far come hither that I may be satiat with thy excellent love O for an union O for a fellowship with Jesus O that I could buy with a price that lovely one suppose hells torments for a while were the price I cannot beleeve but Christ will ruâ— upon his pained lovers come ease sick hearts who sigh and swoond for the want of Christ who dow bide Christs love to be nice What heaven can there be liker to hell then to lust and grein and dwine and fall a swoon for Christs love and to want it is not this hell heaven woven thorow other Is not this pain and joy sweetness and sadness to be in one web the one the woft the other the warp Therefore I would Christ would let us meet and joyn together the soul Christ in others arms O what meeting is like this to see blackness and beauty contemptibleness and glory highness and baseness even a soul and Christ kiss one another Nay but when all is done I may be wearied in speaking and writing but O how far am I from the right expression of Christ oâ— his love I can neither speak nor write feeling nor â—alling nor smelingâ— come feel smel taste Christ his love 〈…〉 d ye shall call it more then can be spoken to write how sweet the honey-comb it is not so lovely as to eat suck the honey comb â—nd nights rest in a bed of love with Christ will say more then he 〈…〉 can think or tongue can utter Neither need we fear crosses or sigh or be sad for any thing that is on this side of heaven if we have Christ our crosses will never draw blood of the joy of the holy Ghost peace of conscience ouâ— joy iâ— laid up in such a high place as temptations cannot climb up to take it down this world may boast Christ but they dare not strike or if they strike they break their arm in fetching a stroke upon a rock O that we could put our treasure in Christ's hand give him our gold to keep our crown Stâ—ivâ— Mistress to throng thorow the thorns of this life to be at Christ â—inâ— not sight of him in this cloudy dark day Sleep with him in your heart in the night Learn not at the world to serve Christ but speir at himself the way the world is a false copy a lying guide to follow Remember my love to your husband I wish all to him I have written here The sweet presence the long lasting goodwill of our God the warmely lovely comforts of our Lord Jesus be with you Help me his prisoner in your prayers For I remember you Aberd. Agust 8. 1637. Yours iâ— his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To the Lady Forreâ— 30 Worthy Mistress GRace mercy peace be to you I long
to hear from you I hear Christ hath been that Kind as to visit you with sickness to bring you to the door of the grave but ye found the door shut blessed be his glorious name while ye be riper for eternity He will have more service of you therefore he seeketh of you that hence forth ye be honest to your new husband the Son of God We have all Idol-love are wh 〈…〉 y inclined to love other things beside our Lord and therefore our Lord hunteth for our love moe wayes then one or two Oh that Christ had his own of us I know he will not want you that is a sweet wilfulness in his Love ye have as good cause oâ— the other part to be head strong peremptory in your love to Christ not to part or divide your love betwixt Him the world if it were more it is little enough yea too little for Christ. I am now every way in good terms with Christ he hath set a banished prisoner as a seal on his heart and as a bracelet on his arme that crabbed and black tree of the cross laugheth upon me now the alarming noise of the cross is worse then it self I love Christs glooms better then the world 's worm-eaten joyes Oh if all the Kingdom were as I am except these bonds my losse is gain my sadness joyfull my bonds liberty my tears comfortable This world is not worth a drink of cold water O but Christ's love casteth a great heat 〈◊〉 hell all the salt sea and the rivers of the earth cannot quench it I remember you to God ye have the prayers of a prisoner of Christ Grace grace be with you Aberd. March 9. 1637. Yours â—n his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To the Lady Caskiberry 31 MADAM GRace mercy peace be to you I long to hear how your La is I know not how to requite your La kindness but your love to the Saints Madam is Laid up in heaven I know it is for your welbeloved Christs sake that ye make his friends so dear to you concerne your self somuch in them I am in this house of my pilgrimage every way in good case Christ is most kind and loving to my soul it pleaseth him to feast with his unseen consolations a stranger and an exiled prisoner and I would not exchange my Lord Jesus with all the comfort out of heaven his yoke is easie and his burden light This is his truth I now suffer for for he hath sealed it â—ith his blessed presence I know Christ shall yet win the day and gaine the battell in Scotland Grace be with you Aberd. March 7. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To Mr. JAMES BRUCE Minister of the Gospel 32 Reverend welbeloved Brother GRace mercy and peace be to you Upon the nearest acquaintance that we are fathers children I thought good to write to you My case in my bonds for the honour of my royall Prince and King Jesus iâ— as good as becometh the witness of such a Soveraign King At my first coming hither I was in great heaviness wrestling vvith challenges being burdened in heart as I am yet for my silent Sabbaths and for a bereft people young ones new-borne plucked from the breasts the Childrens table drawn I thought I was a drie tree cast over the dike of the vine-yard but my secret conceptions of Christs love at his sweet long-desired return to my soul were found to be a lye of Christs love forged by the tempter and my own heart and I am perswaded that it was so Now there is greater peace and security within then before the court is raised and dismissed for it was not fenced in God's name I was far mistaken who should have summoned Christ for unkindness misted faith my sever conceived amiss of him novv novv he is pleased to feast a poor prisoner and to refresh me vvith joy unspeakable and glorious so as the holy Spirit is witness that my sufferings are for Christs truth and God forbid I should deny the testimony of the holy Spirit and make him a false witness Now I testify under my hand out of some small experience that Châ—ists cause even with the cross is better then the Kings crown that his reproaches are sweet his cross perfumed the walls of my prison fair large my losses gain I desire you my dear Brother help me to praise and remember me in your prayers to God Grace grace be with you Aberd. March 14. 1637. Yours in our Lord Iesus S. R. To the Lady Earlstoun 33 MISTRESS GRace mercy peace be to you I long to hear how your soul prospereth I exhort you to go on in your journey your day is short your afternoon-sun will soon goe down make an end of your accounts with your Lord for Death and Judgement are tides that bide no man salvation is supposed to be at the door and Christianity is thought an easie task but I finde it hard and the way strait and narrow were it not but my guide is content to wait on me and to care for a tired traveller Hurt not your conscience with any known sin let your children be as so many flowers borrowed from God if the flowers die or wither thank God for a summers-loan of them keep good neighbourhood to borrow lend with him Set your heart upon heaven and trouble not your spirit with this clay-Idol of the world which is but vanity and hath but the lustre of the Rain-bow in the air which cometh and goeth with a flying March-shower Clay is the Idol of bastards not the inheritance of the children My Lord hath been pleased to make many unknown faces laugh upon me and hath made me well content of a borrowed fire-side and a borrowed bed I am feasted with the joyes of the holy Ghost my royal King beareth my charges honourably I love the smell of Christ's sweet breath better then the worlds gold I would I had help to praise him The great Messenger of the Covenant the Son of God establish you on your rock keep you to the day of his coming Aberd. March 7. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To CARLETOUN 34 Worthy much honoured GRace mercy peace be to you I received your letter from my Brother to the which I now answer particularly I confess two things of my self 1. Woe woe is me that men should think there is any thing in me He is my witness before whom I am as crystall that the secret housâ—-devils that bear me too oft company that this sink of corruption which I finde within maketh me goe with low sailes if otherâ— saw what I see they would look by me but not to me 2. I know this shower of his free grace behooved to be on me otherwayes I would have withered I know also I have need of a buffeting tempter that grace may be
ascended on high ye have claim to interest in that promise Remember my love in Christ to your father shew him it is late black might with him his long lying at the water-side is that he may look his papers eâ—â— he take shipping be at a point for his last answer before his judge Lord. All love all mercy all grace peace all multiplied saving consolations all joy faith in Christ all stability confirming strength of grace the good-will of him that dwelt in the bush be with you Aberd. 15. June 1637. Your unworthy brother is his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To MARION M C KNAUGHT 35 Worthy dearest in the Lord. I Ever loved since I knew you that little vineyard of the Lord 's planting in Galloway But now much more since I have heard that he who hath his fire in Zion his furnace in Ierusalem hath been pleased to set up a furnace amongst you with the first in this Kingdom He who maketh old things new seeing Scotland an old drossie rusted Kirk is beginning to make a new clean bride of her to bring a young chast wife to him self out of the fire This fire shall be quenched so soon as Christ hath brought a clean spouse thorow the fire Therefore my dearly beloved in the Lord fear not a worm fear noâ— worm Iacob Christ iâ— iâ— that plea shall win the plea Charge an unbeleeving heart under the pain of treason against our great royall King Jesus to dependence by faith quiet on-waiting on our Lord Get you in to your chambers shut the doors about you In in with speed to your strong hold ye prisoners of hope ye doves flee in to Christ's windowes till the indignation be over the storme be past Glorifie the Lord in your sufferings take his banner of love spread over you others will follow you if they see you strong in the Lord their courage shall take life from your Christian carriage look up see who is coming lift up your head he is coming to save in garments died in blood travelling in the greatness of his strength I laugh I smile I leap for joy to see Christ coming to save you so quickly O such wide steps as Christ taketh Three or four hills are but a step to him he skippeth over the mountains Christ hath set a battell betwixt his poor weak saints his enemies he waileth the weapons for both parties saith to the enemies Take you a sword of steel Law Authority Parliaments Kings upon your side that is your armour he saith to his saints I give you a feckless tree-sword in your hand that is suffering receiving of strokes spoiling of your goods with your tree-sword ye shall get gain the Victory Was not Christ dragged through the ditches of deep distâ—esses great straits yet Christ who is your head hath win through with his life howbeit not with a whole skin Ye are Christs members 〈◊〉 is drawing his members thorow the thorny hedge up to heaven after him Chrisâ— one day will not have so much as a pained toe but there are great 〈◊〉 portions of Christ's mystical body not yet within the gates of the great high city the new Jerusalem the dragon will strike at Christ so long as there is one 〈◊〉 member of Christ's body out of heaven I tell you Christ 〈◊〉 make new work out of old fore-castâ—n Scotland gather 〈◊〉 old broken boards of his tabernacle pin them nail them togâ—ther our bills supplications are up in heaven Christ 〈◊〉 â—offers full of them there is mercy on the other 〈◊〉 of this hiâ—… a good answer to all our bills is agreed 〈◊〉 I must tell you what lovely Jesus fair Jesus King Jesus â—ath done to my soul sometimes he sendeth me out a standing drink whispereth a word thorow the wall I am well content of kindnessâ—t the second hand his bode is ever welcome to â—â—e be what it will but at other times he will be messenger himself I get the cup of salvation out of his own hand 〈◊〉 to me we cannot rest till we be in others armes and O how swèet is a fresh kiss from his holy mouth his â—…athing that goeth before a kiss upon my poor soul is sweet 〈◊〉 faultâ— but that it is too short I am careless stand not much on this howbeit â—oines back shoulders head â—ive in pieces in steping up to my fathers house I know my Lord can make long broad high deep glory to his name out of this bit feckless body for Christ looketh not what stuffe 〈◊〉 â—…eth glory ouâ— of My dearly beloved ye have often frâ—hed 〈◊〉 but that is put up in my Master's accounts â—e have him debter for me but if ye will doe any thing for me 〈◊〉 â—â—ow ye will now in my extremity tell all my dear friends that a prisoner is fettered chained in Christ's love Lord never loâ—… the fetters ye they together take 〈◊〉 hartiest commâ—…tions to my Lord Jesus thank him for a poor friend I desire your husband to read this letter I send him a prisoners blessing I will be obliged to him if he will be willing to suffer for my dear Master suffering is the professors golden garment there shall be no losses on Christ's side of it ye have been witnesses of much joy betwixt Christ me at communion-feasts the remembrance whereof howbeit I be feasted in secret holleth my heart for I am put from the board-head the kings first mess to his by-board his broken meat is sweet unto me I thank my Lord for borrowed crumbs no less then when I was feasted at the communion-table in Anwoth Kirkâ—udbright pray that I may get one day of Christ in publike as I have had long since before my eyes be closed Oh that my Master would take up house again lend me the keys of his wine-cellar again God send me borrowed drink till then Remember my love to Chist's kinsmen with you I pray for Christ's father's blessing to them all Grace be with you a prisoners blessing be with you I write it and I bide by it God shall be glorious in Marion M c Knaught when this stormy blast shall be over O woman beloved of God beleeve rejoyce be strong in the Lord Grace is thy portion Aberd. 15. June 1637. Your brother in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To JOHN GORDON At Risco in Galloway 36 My worthy dear Brother MIspend not your short sand-glass which runneth very fast seek your Lord in time let me obtain of you a letter under your hand for a promise to God by his grace to take a new course of walking with God heaven is not at the next door I finde it hard to be a Christian there is no little thrusting thronging to thrust in at
heavens gates it is a castle taken by force many shall strive to enter in shall not be able I beseech obtest you in the Lord make conscience of rash passionat oathes of raging sudden revenging anger of night-drinking of needless companionry of Sabbath-breaking of hurting any under you by word or deed of hating your very enemies Except ye receive the Kingdom of God as a little childe be as meek sober-minded as a babe ye cannot enter into the Kingdom of God That is a word which should touch you near and make you stoop cast your self down and make your great spirit fall I know this will not be easily done but I recommend it to you as you tender your part of the Kingdom of heaven Brother I may from new experience speak of Christ to you Oh if ye saw in him what I see a river of God's unseen joyes hath flowed from bank to brae over my soul since I parted with you I wish I wanted part so being ye might have that your soul might be sick of love for Christ or rather satiat with him this clay-idol the world would seem to you then not worth a fig time will eat you out of possession of it when the eye strings break the breath groweth cold the imprisoned soul looketh out at the windowes of the clay house ready to leap out into eternity what would ye then give for a lamp full of oyl Oh seek it now I desire you to correct curb banning swearing lying drinking sabbath-breaking idle spending of the Lords day in absence from the Kirk as far as your Authority reacheth in that Parish I hear a man is to be thrust in to that place to the which I have God's right I know ye should have a voice by God's word in that Act. 1 15 16. to the end and Act. 6 3 5. Ye would be loath that any Prelat should put you out of your possession earthly this is your right What I write to you I write to your wife Grace be with you Aberd. March 14 1637. Your loving Pastor S. R. To the Lady HALHILL 37. DEar Christian Lady Grace mercy peace be to you I longed much to write to your La But now the Lord offering a fit occasion I would not omit to doe it I cannot but acquaint your Lae with the Kind dealing of Christ to my soul in this house of my pilgrimage that your La May know Christ is as good as he is called For at my first entry into this triall being easten down troubled with challenges jealousies of his love whose name testimony I now bear in my bonds I feared nothing more then that I was casten over the dike of the vineyard as a dry tree but blessed be his great name the dry tree was in the fire was not burnt his dew came down quickned the root of a withered plant now he is come again with joy hath been pleased to feast his exiled afflicted prisoner with the joy of his consolations now I weep but am not sad I am chastned but I die not I have losse but I want nothing this water cannot drown me this fire cannot burn me because of the goodwill of him that dwelt in the bush The worst things of Christ his reproaches his crosse is better then Egypt's treasures He hath opened his door taken into his house of wine a poor sinner hath leâ—t me so sick of love for my Lord Jesus that if heaven were at my disposing I would give it for Christ would not be content to goe to heaven except I were perswaded Christ were there I would not give nor exchange my bonds for the I'relats velvets nor my prison for their coaches nor my sighs for all the world's laughter this clay idol the world hath no great court in my soul Christ hath come run away to heaven with my heart my love so that neither heart nor love is mine I pray God Christ may keep both without reversion In my estimation as I am now disposed if my part of this world's clay were rooped sold I would think it dear of a drink of water I see Christ's love is so Kingly that it will not abide a marrow it must have a throne all alone in the soul I see apples beguile bairns howbeit they be worm-eaten the moth-eaten pleasures of this present world make bairns beleeve ten is a hundred yet all that are here are but shaddowes if they would draw by the curtain that is hanged betwixt them Christ they should think themselves fools who have so long miskenned the Son of God I seek no more next to heaven but that he may be glorified in a prisoner of Christ that in my behalf many would praise his high glorious name who heareth the sighing of the prisoner Remember my service to the Laird your husband to your son my aquaintance I wish Christ had his young love that in the morning he would start to the gate to seek that which this world knoweth not therefore doeth not seek it The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you Aberd. March 14. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To the right honourable my Lord LINDSAY 38 Right honourable my very good Lord. GRace mercy peace be to your Lo Pardon my boldness to express my self to your Lo At this so needful a time when your wearied friendless mother-kirk is looking round about her to see if any of her sons doeth really bemoan her desolation Therefore my dear worthy Lord I beseech you in the bowels of Christ pity that widow-like sister spouse of Christ. I know her husband iâ— not dead but he seemeth to be in another countrey seeth well beholdeth who are his true tender hearted friends who dare venture under the water to bring out to dry land sinking truth who of the Nobles will cast up their arm to warde a blow off the crowned head of our Royal law-giver who reigneth in Zion who will plead contend for â—acob in the day of his controversie It iâ— now time my worthy noble Lord for you who are the little nurse-fathers under our Soveraign Prince to put on courage for the Lord Jesus to take up a fallen orphan speaking out of the dust to embrace in your arms Christ's Bride he hath no more in Scotland that is the delight of his eyes but that one little sister whose breasts were once well fashioned She once ravished her welbeloved with her eyes and overcame him with her beauty She looked forth as the morning fair as the moon clear as the sun terrible as an army with banners Her stature was like the palm-tree and her breasts like clusters of grapes she held the King in his galleries Cant. 4 9. 6 10. 7 5 7. But now the crown is fallen
prophet speaketh for the Lord his truth To his rich grace sweet presence the everlasting consolation of the promised comforter I recomend your Lo am Aberd. Sept. 7. 1637. Your Lo in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To my Lady Boyd 40. My Very Honourable Christian Lady GRace mercy peace be to you I received your letter am well pleased that your thoughts of Christ stay with you that your purpose still is by all means to take the Kingdom of heaven by Violence which is no small conquest and it is a degree of watchfulness thankfulness also to observe sleepiness unthankfulness we have all good cause to complain of false light that playeth the thief stealeth away the lantern when it cometh to the practice of constant walking with God our journey is ten times a day broken in ten pieces Christ getteth but onely broken halfed and tired work of us alas too often against the hair I have been some what neerer the bridegroom but when I draw nigh see my vileness for shame I would be out of his presence again but yet desire of his soul-refreshing love puteth blushing-me under an arrest O what am I so loathsom a burden of sin to stand beside such a beautifull holy Lord such an high lofty one who inhabiteth eternity but since it pleaseth Christ to condescend to such an one as me let shamefaâ—â—eness be laid aside lose it self in his condescending love I would heartily be content to keep a corner of the Kings hall Oh if I were at the yonder end of my weak desires then should I be where Christ my Lord lover lives reigns there I should be overlastingly solaced with the sight of his face satisfied with the surpassing sweetness of his matchless love But truly now I stand in the nether side of my desires with a drowping head panting heart I look up to fair Jesus standing a far off from us while corruption death shall scour refine the body of clay rot out the bones of the old man of sin In the mean time we are blessed in sending word to the beloved that we love to love him and till then there is joy in wooing suiting lying about his house looking in at the windows sending a poor souls groans wishes thorow a hole of the door to Jesus till God send a glad meeting And blessed be God that after a low-ebbe so sad a word Lord Iesus it is long since I saw thee That even then our wings are growing the absence of sweet Jesus breedeth a new fleece of desires longings for him I know no man hath a velvet cross but the cross is made of that which God will have it But verily howbeit it be no warrantable market to buy a cross yet I dare not say O that I had liberty to sell Christs cross lest therewith also I should sell joy comfort sense of love patience the kind visits of a bridegroom And therefore blessed be God we get crosses unbought good cheap Sâ—â—â— I am it were better to buy crosses for Christ then to sell them howbeit neither be allowed to us And for Christ's joyfull coming going which your La speaketh of I bear with it as love can permit it should be enough to me if I were wise that Christ will have joy sorrow halfers of the life of the saints and that each of them should have a share of our dayes as the night and the day are kindly partners and halfers of Time and take it up betwixt them But if sorrow be the greediest halfer of our dayes here I know joy's day shall dawn doe more then recompense all our sad hours Let my Lord Jesus since he will doe so weave my bit and span-length of time with white black well and woe with the bridgroom's coming and his sad departure as warp woof in one web let the rose be neighboured with the thorn yet hope that maketh not ashamed hath written a letter and lines of hope to the mourners in Zion that it shall not be long so when we are over the water Christ shall cry down crosses and up heaven for evermore down hell down death down sin down sorrow up glory up life up joy for evermore In this hope I sleep quietly in Christ's bosome while he come who is not slack would sleep so were it not that the noise of the devil Sin 's feet the cryes of an unbeleeving heart awaken me but for the present I have nothing whereof I can accuse Christ's cross Oh if I could please my self in Christ onely I hope Madam your Sons will improve their power for Jesus for there is no danger neither is there any question or justling betwixt Christ Authority though our enemies falsly state the question as if Christ and Authority could not abide under one roof the question onely is betwixt Christ and men in Authority Authority is for from Christ sib to him how then can he make a plea with it Nay the truth is wormes Gods of clay are risen up against Christ. If the fruit of your La Womb be helpers of Christ ye have good ground to rejoyce in God All your La can expect for your goodwill to me my Brother a wronged stranger for Christ is the prayers of a prisoner of Iesus to whom I recommend your La house children in whom I am Aberd. Sept. 8. 1637. MADAM Your 〈◊〉 in Christ. S. R. To the Lady Culross 41 MADAM GRace mercy peace be to you I dare not say I wonder that ye have never written to me in my bonds because I am not ignorant of the cause yet I could not but write to you I know not whether joy or heaviness in my soul carrieth it away sorrow without any mixture of sweetness hath not often love-thoughts of Christ but I see the devil can insinuat himself ride his errands upon the thoughts of a poor oppressed prisoner I am woe that I am making Christ my unfriend by seeking pleas against him because I am the first in the Kingdom put to utter silence because I cannot preach my Lord's righteousness in the great congregation I am notwithstanding the less solicitous how it goe if there be not wrath in my cup. But I know I but claw my wounds when my physician hath forbidden me I would beleeve in the dark upon luck's head take my hazard of Christ's goodwill rest on this that in my fever my Physician is at my bed-side that he sympathizeth with me when I sigh My borrowed house another man's bed fire-side other losses have to room in my sorrow a greater heat to eat out a less fire is a good remedie for some burning I beleeve when Christ draweth blood he hath skill to cut the right veine that he hath taken
Saviour by your compearance before the Judge of quick dead to stand for Christ and to back him Oh if the Nobles had done their part been zealous for the Lord it had not been as it is now but men think it wisdom to stand beside Christ till his head be broken sing dumb there is a time coming when Christ will have a thick court he will be the glory of Scotland he shall make a diadem a garland a seal upon his heart a ring on his finger of these who have avouched him before this faithlesse generation Howbeit ere that come wrath from the Lord is ordained for this land My Lord I have cause to write this to your Lo for I dare not conceal his kindness to the soul of an afflicted exiled prisoner Who hath more cause to boast in the Lord then such a sinner as I Who am feasted with the consolations of Christ have no pain in my sufferings but the pain of soul-sickness of love for Christ sorrow that I cannot get help to sound aloud the high praises of him who hath heard the fighing of the prisoner is content to lay the head of his oppressed servant in his bosome under his chinne let him feel the smell of his garments This I behooved to write that your Lo might know Christ is as good as he is called to testifie to your Lo the cause your Lo now professeth before this faithless world is Christ's your Lo shall have no shame of it Grace be with you Aberd. March 13. 1637. Your Lo obliged Servant S. R. To the much honoured JOHN OSBURN Provest of Ayr. 43 Much honoured Sir GRrace mercy peace be to you Upon our small acquaintance the good report I hear of you I could not but write to you I have nothing to say but Christ in that honourable place lie hath put you in hath intrusted you with a dear pledge which is his own glory hath armed you with his sword to keep the pledge make a good account of it to God Be not affraid of me Your master can mowe down his enemies make with red hay of fair flowers your time will not be long after your after 〈…〉 will come your evening after evening night serve Christ back him lethis cause be your cause give not an hair breadth of 〈◊〉 away for it is not yours but God's then since ye are going take Christ's tâ—â—tiâ—cat with you out of this life Well done good faithfull servant His well done is worth a shipfull of Good-dayes earthly honours I have cause to say this because I finde him truth it self In my sad dayes Christ laugheth cheerfully saith All will be well Would to God all this Kingdom ye all that know God knew what is betwixt me Christ in this prison what kisses embracements love-communings I take his cross in my armes with joy I blesse it I rejoyce in it suffering for Christ is my garland I would not exchange Christ for ten thousand worlds nay if the comparison could stand I would not exchange Christ with heaven Sir pray for me the prayers blessing of a prisoner of Christ meet you in all your straits Grace be with you Aberd. March 14. 1637. Yours in Christ Iesus his Lord. S. R. To ROBERT GORDON Bailiffe of Ayr. 44 Worthy Sir GRace mercy peace be to you I long to hear from you in paper Remember your Chief's speeches on his death-bed I pray your Sir sell all buy the pearle time will cut you from this world's glory Look what will doe you good when your glasse shall be run out let Christ's love bear most court in your soul that court will bear down the love of other things Christ seeketh your help in your place give him your hand Who hath more cause to encourage others to own Christ then I have for he hath made me sick of love leâ—t me in pain to wrestle with his love love is like to fall a swoon through his absence I mean not that he deserteth me or that I am ebbe of comforts but this is an uncouth pain Oh that I had a heart a love to render to him back again O if principalities powers thrones dominions all the world would help me to praise Praise him in my behalf Remember my love to your wife I thank you most kindly for your love to my brother Grace be with you Aberd. March 13. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To JOHN KENNEDY Bailiffe of Ayr. 45 GRace mercy and peace be unto you Your nor writing to me cannot binde me up from remembring you now then that at least ye may be a witness a third man to behold in paper what is betwixt Christ me I was in his eyes like a young Orphan wanting known parents casten out in the open fields either Christ behooved to take me up to bring me home to his house and fire-side else I had dyed in the fields now I am homly with Christ's love so that I think the house mine own the master of the house mine also Christ enquired not when he began to love me whether I was fair or black sun-burnt love taketh what it may have He loved me before this time I know but now I have the flower of his love his love is come to a fair bloom like a young rose opened up out of the green leaves it casteth a strong fragrant smell I want nothing but wayes of expressing Christ's love A full vessel would have a vent O if I could smoke out cast out coales to make a fire in many brests of this land Oh it is a pity that there were not many imprisoned for Christ for no other purpose but to write books love-songs of the love of Christ. This love would keep all created tongues of men Angels in exercise busie night day to speak of it Alas I can speak nothing of it but wonder at three things in his love First Freedome O that lumps of sin should get such love for nothing Secondly The Sweetness of his love I give over either to speak or write of it but these that feel it may better bear witness What it is but it is so sweet that next to Christ himself nothing can match it nay I think a soul could live eternally blessed onely on Christ's love feed upon no other thing yea when Christ in love giveth a blow it doeth a soul good it is a kinde of comfort joy to it to get a cuff with the lovely sweet soft hand of Jesus And Thirdly what power strength is in his love I am perswaded it can climb aâ—stâ—ep hill hell upon it's back swim through the water not droâ—n sing in the fire finde no pain triumph in losles prisons sorrows exile disgrace laugh
rejoyce in death Oh for a yeer's lease of the sense of his love without a cloud to try what Christ is Oh for the coming of the bridegroom Oh when will I see the bridegroom the bride meet in the clouds kisse each other Oh when will we get our day our hearts full of that love Oh is it were lawfull to complain of the fâ—mine want of that love of the immediat vision of God! O time time how doest thou torment the souls of these that would be swallowed up of Christ's love because thou movest so slowly Oh if he would pity a poor prisoner blow love upon me give a prisoner a taste or draught of that surpassing sweetness which is glory as it were begun to be a confirmation that Christ I shall have our fill of other for ever Come hither O love of Christ that I may once kisse thee before I die what would I not give to have time that lieth betwixt Christ me taken out of the way that we might once meet I cannot think but â—t the first sight I shall see of that most lovely fairest face love shall come out of his two eyes fill me with astonishment I would but desire to stand at the utter side of the gates of the new Jerusalem look thorow a hole of the door see Christ's face a borrowed vision in this life would be my borrowed begun heaven while the long long-looked for day dawn It is not for nothing that it is said Colos. 1. 27. Christ in you the hope of glory I will be content of no pawne of heaven but Christ himself for Christ possessed by faith here is young heaven glory in the bud If I had that pawne I would bide horning hell both ere I gave it again All we have here is scarce the picture of glory Should not we young bairns long look for the expiring of our minority It were good to be daily begging propines love-gifts the bridegroom's favours if we can doe no more seek Crumbs hungry dinners of Christ's love to keep the taste of heaven in our mouth while supper time I know it is far afternoon and nigh the marriage-supper of the Lamb the table is covered already O welbeloved run run fast O fair day when wil't thou dawn O shaddows flee away I think hope love woven thorow other make our absence from Christ spirituall torment It is a pain to wait on but hope that maketh not a hamed swalloweth up that pain It is not unkindness that keepeth Christ us so long asunder What can I say to Christ's love I think more then I can say To consider that when my Lord Jesus may take the air if I may so speak goe abroad yet he will be confined keep the prison with me but in all this sweet communion with him what am I to be thanked for I am but a sufferer whether I will or not he will be kind to me as if he had defied my guiltiness to make him unkind so he beareth in his love on me Here I die with wondering that justice hindereth not love for there are none in hell nor out of hell more unworthy of Christ's love Shame may confound and scar me once to hold up my black mouth to receive one of Christ's undeserved kisses If my inner-side were turned out all men saw my vileness they would say to me It is a shame for thee to stand still while Christ kiss thee embrace thee It would seem to become me rather to run away from hi love as ashamed at my own unworthiness Nay I may think shame to take heaven who have so higly provoked my Lord Jesus But seeing Christ's love will shame me I am content to be shamed My desire is that my Lord would give me broader deeper thoughts to feed my self with wondering at his love I would I could weigh it but I have no ballance for it When I have worn my tongue to the stump in praising of Christ I have done nothing to him I must let him alone for my withered armes will not goe about his high wide long and broad love What remaineth then but that my debt to the love of Christ lie unpaid for all eternity All that are in heaven are black sham'd with his love as well as I we must all be Dyvours together the blessing of that house-full or heaven-full of Dyvours shall rest for ever upon him Off this Land Nation would come stand beside his inconceivable glorious perfections look in love wonder adore would to God I could bring in many lovers to Christ's house But this Nation hath forsaken the fountain of living waters Lord cast not water on Scotland's coal Woe woe will be to this Land because of the day of the Lord 's fierce anger that is so fast coming Grace be with you Aberd. Your affectionat Brother in our Lord Iesus S. R. To JOHN KENNEDY Bailiffe of Ayr. 46 Worthy Dear Brother GRace mercy peace be to you I long to see you in this Northerne world in paper I know it is not forgetfulness that ye write not I am every way in good case both in soul body all honour glory be to my Lord I want nothing but a further revelation of the beauty of the unknown Son of God Either I know not what Christianity is or we have stinted a measure of so many ounce weights no more upon holiness there we are at a stay drawing our breath all our life a moderation in God's way now is much in request I profess I have never taken pains to finde out him whom my soul loveth there is a gate yet of finding out Christ that I have never lighted upon Oh if I could finde it out Alas how soon are we pleased with our own shaddow in a glass It were good to be beginning in sad earnest to finde out God to seek the right tread of Christ time custome a good opinion of our selves our good meaning our lazie desires our fair showes the world's glistering lustres these broad passements buskings of religion that bear bulk in the Kirk is that wherewith most satisfie themselves but a watered bed with tears a dry throat with praying eyes a fountain of tears for the sins of the land is rare to be found among us Oh if we could know the power of godliness This is one part of my case an other is that I like a fool once summoned Christ for unkindness complained of his sickelness unconstaney because he would have no more of my service nor preaching had casten me out of the inheritance of the Lord And I confess now this was but a bought plea I was a fool yet he hath born with me I gave him a fair advantage against me but love mercy would not let him take it
to follow cannot be blowen away with winds either from hell or the evil smelled air of this polluted world Sir for aback from the walls of this pest-house even the pollutions of this defiling world Keep your taste your love and hope in heaven it 's not good your love your Lord should be in two sundry countreys Up up after your lover that ye he may be together A King from heaven hath sent for you by faith he sheweth you the new Jerusalem taketh you alongst in the Spirit thorow all the ease-rooms dwelling-houses in heaven saith All these are thine this palace is for thee Christ if ye onely had been the chosen of God Christ would have built that one house for you and himself Now it is for you many also take with you in your journey what ye may carry with you your conscience faith hope patience meekness goodness brotherly kindness for such wares as these are of great price in the high new countrey whether ye goe As for other things that are but the world's vanity trash since they are but the house-sweepings ye shall doe best not to carry them with you ye found them here leave them here and let them keep the house Your Sun is well turned low be nigh your lodging against night We goe one one out of this great market till the town be empty the two lodgings Heaven Hell be filled At length there will be nothing in the earth but room walls burnt ashes therefore it is best to make away Antichrist his Master are busie to plenish Hell to seduce many Stars great church-lights are falling from heaven many are missed seduced make up with their faith sell their birth-right by their hungry hunting for I know not what Fasten your grips fast upon Christ I verily esteem him the best aught that I have He is my second in prison having him though my cross were as heavie as ten mountains of iron when he putteth his sweet shoulder under me it my cross is but a feather I please my self in the choice of Christ he is my waile in heaven earth I rejoyce that he is in heaven before me God send a joyfull meeting in the mean time the traveller's charges for the way I mean a burden of Christ's love to sweeten the journey to encourage a breathless runner for when I lose breath climbing up the mountain he maketh new breath Now the very God of peace establish you to the day of his appearance Aberd. Sept. 9 1637. Yourâ— in his onely Lord Iesus S. R. To MARGARET REID 49 My very Dear worthy Siâ—â—er GRace mercy peace be to you Ye are truly blessed of the Lord however a lowre world gloom upon you if ye continue in the faith grounded settled be not moved away from the hope of the Gospel it is good there is a heaven it is not a night dream or a fancy It is a wonder that men deny not that there is a heaven as they deny there is a way to it but of mens making You have learned of Christ that there is a heaven contend for it contend for Christ bear well submissivily the hard cross of this step-mother world that God will not have to be yours I confess it is hard I would I were able to ease you of your burthen But beleeve me this world which the Lord will not have to be yours is but the dross the refuse scum of God's creation the portion of the Lord 's poor hired servants the moveables not the heritage a hard bone casten to the dogs holden out of the new Jerusalem whereupon they rather break their teeth then satisfie their appetite It is your father's blessing Christ's birth-right that our Lord is keeping for you I perswade you your seed also shall inherit the earth if that be good for them for that iâ— promised to them God's bond is as good and better then if men would give every one of them a bond for thousand thousands Ere ye was born crossâ—s in number measure weight were written for you your Lord will lead you thorow them make Christ sure the blessings of the earth shall be at Christ's back I see many professors for the fashion follow on but they are professors of glass I would cause a little knock of persecution ding them in twenty pieces so the world should laugh at the sheards Therefore make fast work see that Christ lay the ground-stone of your profession for wind rain speats will not wash away his building his works have no shorter date then to stand for evermore I should tweâ—ty times have perished in my affliction if I had not leaned my weak back laid my pressing burthen both upon the stone the foundation-stone the corner-stone laid in Zion I desire never to rise off this stone Now the very God of peace confirm establish you unto the day of the blessed appearance of Christ Jesus God be with you Aberd. Yours in his dearest Lord Iesus S. R. To JAMES BAUTIE 50 Loving Brother GRace mercy peace be unto you I received your letter renders you thanks for the same but I have not time to answer all the heads of it as the bearer can inform you 1. Ye doe well to take your self at the right stot when ye wrong Christ by doubting misbeleef for this is to nick-name Christ terme him a liar which being spoken to our Prince would be hanging or heading but Christ hangeth not alwayes for treason It is good that he may registrat a beleevers bond a hundred times more then seventy times a day have law against us yet he spareth us as a man doeth his son that serveth him No tender hearted mother who may have law to kill her sucking childe would put in execution that law 2. For your failings even ye have a set tryst with Christ when ye have a fair seen advantage by keeping your appointment with him Salvation cometh to the very passing of the seals I would say two things 1. Concluded sealed Salvation may goe through be ended suppose ye write your name to the tail of the Covenant with ink that can hardly be read Neither think I ever any man's Salvation passed the seals but there was an odde trick or slip in less or more upon the fools part who is infested in heaven In the most grave serions work of our Salvation I think Christ had ever good cause to laugh at our filliness to put on us his merits that we might bear weight 2. It is a sweet law of the new Covenant a priviledge of the new burgh that the citizens pay according to their means for the new covenant saith not so much obedience by ounce weights no less under the pain of damnation Christ taketh as
to flee up to our blessed match our marrow our fellow-friend I think Misterss ye are looking there-away this is your second or third thought make forward your guide waiteth on you I cannot but bless you for your care kindness to the saints God give you to finde mercy in that day of our Lord Jesus to whose saving grace I recommend you Aberd. 1637. Yours in our Lord Iesus S. R. To WILLIAM RIGGE Of Athernie 60. Much honoured worthy Sir YOur letter full of complaints bemoaning your guiltiness hath humbled me but give me leave to say ye seem to be too far upon the law's side ye will not gain much to be the Law 's Advocat I thought ye had not been the law 's but grace's man Nevertheless I am sure ye desire to take God's part against your self what ever your guiltiness be yet when it falleth into the sea of God's mercy it is but like a drop of blood fallen in the great Ocean There is nothing here to be done but let Christ's doom light upon the old man let him bear his condemnation seeing in Christ he was condemned for the Law hath but power over your worst half let the blame therefore lie where the blame should be let the new man be sure to say I am comely as the tents of Kedar how beit I be black sun-burnt by sitting neighbour beside a body of sin I seek no more here but room for Grace's defence Christ's white throne wherto a sinner condemned by the law may appeal But the use that I make of â—t is I am sorry that I am not so tender thin skin'd though I am sure Christ may finde employment for his calling in me if in any living seeing from my youth upward I have been making up the blackest process that any minister in the world or any other can answer to when I had done this I painted a providence of my own wrote ease for my self a peaceable ministery the sun shining on me till I should be in at heaven's gates Such green raw thoughts had I of God I thought also of a sleeping Devil that would pass by the like of me lying in moores out-fields So I bigged the gook's nest dreamed of dying at ease living in a fools paradise but since I came hither I am often so as that they would have much Rhetorick that would perswade me that Christ hath not written wrath on my dumb silent Sabbaths which is a persecution of the latest edition being used against none in this land that I can learn of besides me often I lie under a non-entry would gladly sell all my joyes to be confirmed King Jesus's free tennent to have sealed assurances but I see often blank papers my greatest desires are these two 1. That Christ would take me in hand to cure me undertake for a sick man I know I should not die under his hand yet in this while I still doubt I beleeve through a cloud that sorrow which hath no eyes hath but put a vail on Christ's love 2. It pleaseth him often since I came hither to come with some short blenks of his sweet love then because I have none to help me to praise his love can doe him no service in my own person as I thought once I did in his temple then I die with wishes desires to take up house dwell at the well-side to have him praised set on high But alas what can the like of me doe to get a good name raised upon my welbeloved Lord Jesus suppose I could desire to be suspended for ever of my part of heaven for his glory I am sure If I could get my will of Christ's love could be once over head ears in the beleeved apprehended seen love of the Son of God it were the fulfilling of the desires of the onely happiness I would be at but the truth is I hinder my communion with him because of want of both faith repentance because I will make an idol of Christ's kisses I will neither lead nor drive except I see Christ's love run in my channel when I wait and look for him the upper way I see his wisdom is pleased to play me a slip come the lower way so that I have not the right art of guiding Christ for there is art wisdom required in guiding of Christ's love aright when we have gotten it O how far are his wayes above mine O how little of him doe I see when I am as dry as a burnt heath in a drouthy summer when my root is withered howbeit I think then that I would drink a sea-full of Christ ere ever I would let the cup goe from my head yet I get nothing but delayes as if he would make hunger my daily food I think my self also hungered of hunger The rich Lord Jesus satisfie a famished man Grace be with you Aberd. 10. Sept. 1637. Your own in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To his worthy much honoured friend FULK ELIES 61 Worthy much honoured in our Lord GRace mercy peace be to you I am glad of our more then paper-acquaintance Seeing we have one father it reckoneth the less though we never saw one anothers faces I profess my self most unworthy to follow the camp of such a worthy renowned captain as Christ. Oh alas I have cause to be grieved that men expect any thing of such a wretched man as I am It is a wonder to me if Christ can make any thing of my naughtie short narrow love to him surely it is not worth the up-taking 2. As for our lovely and beloved Church in Ireland my heart bleedeth for her desolation but I beleeve our Lord is onely lopping the vine-trees but not intending to cut them down or root them out It is true seeing we are heart-Atheists by nature cannot take providence aright because we halt crook ever since we fell we dream of an halting providence as if God's yard whereby he measureth joy sorrow to the sons of men were crooked unjust because servants are on horse-back Princes goe on foot but our Lord dealeth good evil some one portion or other to both by ounce-weights measureth them in a just and even ballance It is but folly to measure the Gospel by summer or winter-weather The summer-sun of the saints shineth not on them in this life how should we have complained if the Lord had turned the same providence that we now stomacke at up-side down had ordered matters thus that first the saints should have enjoyed heaven glory ease then Methusalem's dayes of sorrow daily miseries we should think a short heaven no heaven certainly his wayes pass finding out 3. Ye complain of the evil of heart-atheism but it is to a greater atheist then any man can be
that ye write to of that Oh light findeth not that reverence fear as a plant of God's setting should finde in our soul How doe we by nature as others detain captivat the truth of God in unrighteousness so make God's light a bound prisoner even when the prisoner breaketh the jayle cometh out in belief of a Godhead in some practice of holy obedience how often doe we of new lay hâ—nds on the prisoner and put our light again in fetters Certainly there cometh great mist clouds from the lower part of our soul our earthly affections to the higher part which is our conscience either naturall or renewed as smoke in a lower house breaketh up defileth the house above If we had more practice of obedience we should have more sound light I think lay aside all other guiltiness this one the violence done to God's candle in our soul were a sufficient dittay against us for there is no helping of this but by striving to stand in aw of God's light lest light tell tales of us we deâ—re little to hear but since it is not without God that light sitteth neighbour to will a lawless Lord no marvel that such a neighbour should lâ—aven our Judgement darken our light I see there is a necessity that we protest against the doings of the old man raise up a party against our worst half to accuse condemn sentence with sorrow bemoan the dominion of sin's Kingdom withall make Law in the new Covenant against our guiltness for Christ once condemned sin in the flesh we are to condemn it over again if there had not been such a thing as the grace of Jesus I should have long since given up with heaven with the expectation to see God But grace grace free grace the merits of Christ for nothing white fair large Saviour-mercy which is another sort of thing then creature-mercy or law-mercy yea a thousand degrees above Angel-mercy hath been and must be the rock that we drowned souls must swim to New washing renewed application of purchased redemption by that sacred blood that sealeth the free Covenant is a thing of daily and hourly use to a poor sinner Till we be in heaven our issue of blood will not be quite dryed up therefore we must resolve to apply peace to our soul from the new living way Jesus who cleanseth cureth the leprousâ—â—oul lovely Jesus must be our song on this side of heavens gates even when we have won the castle then must we eternally sing Worthy worthy is the Lamb who hath saved us washed us in his own blood I would counsel all the ransomed ones to learn this song to drink be drunk with the love of Jesus O fairest O highest O loveliest one open the well O water the burnt withered travellers with this love of thine I think it 's possible on earth to build a young new Jerusalem a little new heaven of this surpassing love God either send mâ— more of this love or take me quickly over the water where I may be filled with his love My softness cannot take with want I profess I bear not hunger of Christ's love fair I know not if I play foul play with Christ but I would have a link of that chain of his providence mended in pining delaying the hungry on-waiters For my self I could wish that Christ would let out upon me more of that love Yet to say Christ is a niggard to me I dare not if I say I have abundance of his love I should lye I am half straitned to complain cry Lord Iesus hold thy hand no longer Worthy Sir let me have your prayers in my bonds Grace be with you Aberd. 7 Septr 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord. Iesus S. R. To JAMES LINDSAY 62. Dear Brother THe constant daily observing of God's going alongst with you in his coming going ebbing flowing embracing kissing glooming striking giveth me a witless lazie observer of the Lord's way working an heavie stroke could I keep sight of him know when I want carry as became me in that condition I would blesse my case But. 1. For desertions I think them like lying-lay of lean weak land for some yeers while it gather sap for a better crope It is possible to gather gold where it may be had with moon light Oh if I could but creep one foot or half a foot neerer in to Jesus in such a dismal night as that when he is away I should think it an happy absence 2. If I knew the beloved were onely gone away for triall for further humiliation not smoked out of the house with new provocations I would forgive desertions hold my peace at his absence but Christ's bought absence that I bought with my sin is two running boils at once one upon either side what side then can I lie on 3. I know as night shaddows are good for flowers moonlight dews are better then a continuall sun so is Christ's absence of speciall use it hath some nourishing vertue in it giveth sap to humility putteth an edge on hunger furnisheth a fair field to faith to put forth it self to exercise it's fingers in gripping it seeth not what 4. It is mercy's wonder grace's wonder that Christ will lend a piece of the lodging a back-chamber beside himself to our lusts that he such swine should keep house together in our soul For suppose they couch contract themselves into little room when Christ cometh in seem to lie as dead under his feet yet they often break out again And that a foot of the old man or a leg or arm nailed to Christ's cross looseth the naile or breaketh out again yet Christ beside this unruly misnurtured neighbour can still be making heaven in the saints one way or other may not I say Lord Iesus what doest thou here Yet here he must be but I will but lose my feet to goe on into this depth wonder for free mercy infinite merits took a lodging to Christ us beside such a loath some guest as sin 5. Sanctification mortification of our lusts are the hardest part of Christianity It is in a manner as naturall to us to leap when we see the new Jerusalem as to laugh when we are tickled joy is not under command or at our nod when Christ kisseth but O how many of us would have Christ divided in two halves that we might take the half of him onely take his office Iesus salvation but Lord is a cumbersome word to obey work out our own salvation to perfect holyness is the cumbersome stormy north-side of Christ that we eshew shift 6. For your question the accesse that reprobats have to Christ which is none at all for to the Father in
our cup in which there is no taste of hell My dear Brother ye know all these better then I I send water to the sea to speak of these things to you But it easeth me to desire you to help me to pay tribute of praise to Jesus O what praises I ow him I would I were in my free heritage that I might begin to pay my debts to Jesus I entreat for your prayers praises I forget not you Aberd. Sept. 17. 1637 Your brother and fellow sufferer in and for Christ. S. R. To Mr DAVID DICKSON 73 Reverend and welbeloved brother in the Lord. I Bless the Lord who hath so wonderfully stopped the on-going of that lawless process against you The Lord reigneth hath a saving eye upon you your ministery therefore fear not what men can doe I bless the Lord that the Irish ministers finde employment the professors comfort of their ministery Beleeve me I durst not as I am now disposed hold an honest brother out of the pulpit I trust the Lord shall guard you hide you in the shadow of his hand I am not pleased with any that are against you in that I see this in prosperity mens conscience will not start at small sins But if some had been where I have been since I came from you a little more would have caused their eye water troubled their peace O how ready are we to incline to the world's-hand Our arguments being well examined are often drawn from our skin the whole skin a peaceable tabernacle is a topick maxime in great request in our Logick I finde a little breirding of God's seed in this town for the which the Doctors have told me their minde that they cannot bear with it and have examined and threatned the people that haunt my company I fear I get not leave to winter here and whether I goe I know not I am ready at the Lord's call I would I could make acquaintance with Christ's cross for I finde comforts lie to follow upon the cross I suffer in my name by them I take it as a part of the crucifying of the old man Let them cut the throat of my credit doe as they like best with it when the wind of their calumnies hath blown away my good name from me in the way to heaven I know Christ will take my name out of the mire wash it restore it to me again I would have a minde if the Lord would be pleased to give me it to be a fool for Christ's sake Sometimes while I have Christ in my arms I fall asleep with the sweetness of his presence he in my sleep stealeth away out of my arms when I awake I misâ— him I am much comforted with my Lady Piâ—sligo a good woman acquainted with God's wayes Grace be with you Aberd. Sept. 11. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord. Iesus S. R. To the right honourable my Lord LOWDOUN 75. Right honourable GRace mercy peace be to your Lo I rejoyce exceedingly that I hear your Lo hath a good minde to Christ his now-born-down truth My very dear Lord goe on in the strength of the Lord to carry your honour worldly glory to the new Ierusalem For this cause your Lo received these of the Lord this is a sure way for the establishment of your house if ye be of these who are willing in your place to build Zion's old waste places in Scotland Your Lo wanteth not God's man's law both now to come to the streets for Christ suppose the bastard laws of man were against you it is an honest zealous errour if here ye slip against a point or punctilio of standing policy when your foot slippeth in such known ground as is the royal prerogative of our high most truly dread â—overaign who hath many crowns on his head the liberties of his house he will hold you up Blessed shall they be who take Babel's little ones dash their heads against stones I wish your Lo have a share of that blessing with other worthy Nobles in our land It is true it is now accounted wisdom for men to be partners in pullin up the stakes looâ—ng the cords of the tent of Christ but I am peswaded that that wisdom is cried down in heaven shall never passe for true wisdom itâ— the Lord whose word crieth shame upon wit against Christ truth accordingly it shall prove shame confusion of face in the end Our Lord hath given your Lo 〈◊〉 of a better stamp learning also wherein yeare not behinde th disputer and the sâ—â—be O what a blessâ—d thing iâ— it to see Noâ—ility Learning Sanctification all co curre in one For these ye ow your sel to Christ his â—ingdom God hath be-wildered bâ—-misted the wit the learning of the scribes disputer of this time they look asquint to the Bible This blinding be-â—…ing world blindfoldeth mens light that they are affraid to se straight out bâ—fore them nay their very light playeth the knave or woâ—s to truth Your Lo knoweth within a little while Policy against trutâ— will bluâ—h the works of men shall burn even their spider-wâ—b who spin out many hundred ells webs of indifferencie in the Lord's worship moe then ever â—oses who would have anâ—oof mâ—â—t rial Daniel who would have a look out at a wiâ—dow a matter of life death then ever I say these men of God dreamed of Alas that men dare shape carve cut clippe our King 's princâ—ly Testament in length and breadth and in all dimensions answerable to the conceptions of such policy as a h ad-of-wit thinketh a safe and trim way of serving God How have men forgotten the Lord that they dà re goe against even that truth which once they preached themselves howbeit their sermons now be as thin sown as strav-berriâ—s in a wood or wilderness Certainly the sâ—eetest safest course is for this short time of the afternoon of this olâ— declining world to stand for Jesus he hath said it it is our part to beleeve it that ere is be long Time shall be no more and the heaven shall wax old as a garment 〈◊〉 Doe we not see it already an old hollie threed-bare garment doeth not or ple laâ—e ature tâ—â—l us that the Lord will fold up the old garment 〈◊〉 and lay it aside that the heavens shall be folded together as a scroll this pest-house shall be burnt with fire that both plenishing walls shall melt with fervent heat for at the Lord 's coming he will doe with this earth as men doe with a leper house he wil burn the walls with fire the plenishing of the house also 2 Pet. 3 10 11 12. My very Daer Lord how shall ye rejoyce in that day to have Christ Angels heaven your own conscience to smile upon you I am perswaded one
before as the day in the declining of the sun toward 's the evening is often most desired And as for Christ's cross I never received evil of it but what was of mine own making when I miscooked Christ's physick no marvel that it hurt me For since it was on Christ's back it hath alwayes a sweet smell these 1600 Years it keepeth the smell of Christ nay it is elder then that too for it is a long time since Abel first hansel'd the cross had it laid upon his shoulders down from him all alongst to this very day all the saints have known what it is I am glad that Christ hath such a relation to this cross that it is called the cross of our Lord Iesus Gal. 6 v. 14. His reproaches Heb. 13 13. As if Christ would claim it as his proper goods so it cometh in the reckoning among Christ's own property If it were simple evil as sin is Christ who is not the author nor owner of sin would not own it I wonder at the enemies of Christ in whom malice hath run away with wit will is up wit down that they would essay to lift up the stone laid in Zion surely it is not laid in such sinking ground as that they can raise it or remove it for when we are in their belly they have swallowed us down they will be sick spue us out again I know Zion her Husband cannot both sleep at once I beleeve our Lord once again shall water with his dew the withered hill of mount Zion in Scotland come down make a new marriage again as he did long since Remember our Covenant Your excuse for your advice to me is needless Alas many sit beside light as sick folks beside meat cannot make use of it Grace be with you Aberd. Sept. 7. 1637. Your brother in Christ S. R. To Mr JOHN MEINE 80 Dear Brother I Received your letter I cannot but testifie under mine own hand that Christ is still the longer the better that this time is the time of loves When I have said all I can others may begin say I have said nothing of him I never knew Christ to ebbe or flow wax or wane his winds turn not when he seemeth to change it is but we who turn our wrong side to him I never had a plea with him in my hardest conflicts but of mine own making Oh that I could live in peace good neighbourhood with such a second let him alone My unbelief made many black lies but my recantation to Christ is not worth the hearing Surely he hath born with strange gâdes in me He knoweth my heart hath not naturall wit to keep quarters with such a Saviour Ye doe well to fear your own backsliding I had stood sure if I had in my youth borrowed Christ to be my bottom But he that beareth his own weight to heaven shall not fail to slip sink Ye had no need to be bare-footed among the thorns of this apostat generation lest a stob strike up in your foot cause you to halt all your dayes And think not Christ will doe with you in the matter of suffering as the Pope doeth in the matter of sin Ye shall not finde that Christ will sell a Dispensation or give a Dyvour's Protection against crosses Crosses are proclaimed as common Accidents to all the saints in them standeth a part of our communion with Christ But there lieth a sweet casuality to the cross even Christ's presence his comforts when they are sanctified Remember my love to your father mother Grace be with you Aberd. 7. Sept. 1637 Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To JOHN FLEEMING Bailiffe of Leith 81 Much honoured in the Lord. GRace mercy peace be to you I am still in good termes with Christ however my Lord's wind blow I have the advantage of the calm sunny side of Christ. Devils hell Devil's servants are all blowen blinde in pursuing the Lord 's little Bride They shall be as a night-dream who fight against mount Zion Worthy Sir I hope ye take to heart the worth of your calling This great fair meeting of people will skaile the port is open for us As fast as time weareth out we flee away Eternity is at our elbow O how blessed are they who in time make Christ sure for themselves Salvation is a great errand I finde it hard to fetch heaven Oh that we could take pains on our lamps for the Bridegroom 's coming the other side of this world will be turned up incontinent up shall down these that are weeping in sack-cloth shall triumph on white horses with him whose name is The word of God These dying idols the fair creatures that we whorishly love better then our Creator will pass away like snow water The Godhead the Godhead a communion with God in Christ to be halvers with Christ of the purchased house inheritance in heaven should be your scope aime For my self when I lay my counts O what telling O what weighing is in Christ O how soft are his kisses O love love surpassing in Jesus I have no fault to that love but that it seemeth to deal niggardly with me I have little of it O that I had Christ's seen read band subscribed by himself for my fill of it What garland have I or what crown if I looked right on things but Jesus Oh there is no room in us on this side of the water for that love This narrow bit earth these ebbe narrow souls can hold little of it because we are full of rifts I would glory glory would enlarge us as it will make us tight close up our seams rifts that we might be able to comprehend it which yet is incomprehensible Remember my love to your wife Grace be with you Aberd. Sept. 7. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To ALEXANDER GORDON Of Earlestoun 82. Much honoured Sir HOwbeit I would have been glad to have seen you yet seeing our Lord hath been pleased to break the snare of your adversaries I heartily bless our Lord on your behalf Our crosses for Christ are not made of iron they are softer and of more gentle mettall It is easy for God to make a fool of the Devil the father of all fools As for me I but breath out what my Lord breatheth in The scum froth of my letters I father upon my own unbeleeving heart I know your Lord hath something to doe with you because Satan malice have shot sore at you but your bowe abideth in it's strength Ye shall not by my advice be a halver with Christ to divide the glory of your deliverance betwixt your self him or any other second mean whatsoever Let Christ as it setteth him well have all the glory triumph his alone The Lord set himself on high in you I
see Christ can borrow a cross for some hours set his servants beside it rather then under it win the plea too yea make glory to himself shame to his enemies comfort to his children out of it But whether Christ buy or borrow crosses he is King of crosses King of Devils King over hell King over malice When he was in the grave he came out brought the keys with him he is Lord-Jaylor nay what say I he is Captain of the castle he hath the keys of deaths hell what are our troubles but little deaths he who commandeth the great castle commandeth the little also 2. I see a hardned face two skins upon our browes against the winter hail stormy wind is meetest for a poor traveller in a winter journey to heaven O what art is it to learn to endure hardness to learn to goe bare footed either through the devil's fiery coals or his frozen waters 3. I am perswaded a sea-venture with Christ maketh great riches Is not our King Jesus his ship coming home shall not we get part of the gold Alas we fools miscount our gain when we seem losers Beleeve me I have no challenges against this well-born cross for it is come of Christ's house is honourable his propine To you it is given to suffer O what fools are we to undervalue his gifts to lightlie that which is true honour For if we could be faithfull our tackling shall not loose nor our mast break nor our sails blow into the sea The bastard crosses the kinless base-born crosses of worldlings for evil doing must be heavie grievous but our afflictions are light momentany 4. I think my self happy that I have lost credit with Christ that in this bargain I am Christ's sworn dyvour to whom he will lippen nothing no not one pin in the work of my salvation Let me stand in black and white in the Dyvourbook be ore Christ I am happy that my salvation is concredited to Christ's mediation Christ oweth no faith to me to lippen any thing to me but O what faith credit I ow to him Let my name fall let Christ's name stand in honour with man angel Alas I have no room to spread out my affection before God's people I see not how I can shout out cry out the loveliness the high honour the glory of my fairest Lord Jesus Oh that he would let me have a bed to lie in to be delivered of my birth that I might paint him out in his beauty to men as I dow 5. I wondered once at providence called white providence black unjust that I should be smothered in a town where no soul will take Christ off my hand But providence hath another lustre with God then with my bliered eyes I proclaim my self a blinde body who know not black white in the uncouth course of God's providence Suppose Christ would set hell where heaven is devils up in glory beside the elect Angels which yet cannot be I would I had a heart to acquiesce in his way without further dispute I see infinite wisdom is the mother of his judgements his wayes pass finding out 6. I cannot learn but I desire to learn to bring my thoughts will lusts in under Christ's feet that he may trample upon them But alas I am still upon Christ's wrong side Grace be with you Aberd. Sept. 12. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To ROBERT LENNOX Of Disdove 83 Worthy dear Brother I Forget you not in my bonds I know ye are looking to Christ I beseech you follow your look I can say more of Christ now by experience though he be infinitly above beyond all that can be said of him then when I saw you I am drowned over head ears in his love Sell sell sell all things for Christ. If this whole world were the balk of a ballance it should not be able to bear the weight of Christ's love man angels have short arms to fathom it Set your feet upon this piece blew base clay of an over-guilded fair plaistered world an hours kissing of Christ is worth a world of worlds Sir make sure work or your salvation build not upon sand lay the foundation upon the rock in Zion strive to be dead to this world to your will lusts Let Christ have a commanding power a King throne in you Walk with Christ howbeit the wind should take the hide off your face I promise you Christ will win the field Your pastors cause you to erre except you see Christ's word goe not one foot with them Countenance not the reading of that Romish Service-book Keep your garments clean as ye would walk with the Lamb clothed in white The wrongs I suffer are upon record in heaven our great Master Judge will be upon us all bring us before the sun in our black 's white 's Blessed are they who watch keep themselves in God's love Learn to discern the Bridegroom's tongue to give your self to prayer reading Ye was often a hearer of me I would put my heart blood upon the doctrine I taught as the onely way to salvation goe not from it my dear Brother What I write to your self I write to your wife also Minde heaven Christ keep the spunk of the love of Christ you have gotten Christ shall blow on it if ye entertain it your end shall be peace There is a fire in our Zion but our Lord is but seeking a new Bride refined purified out of the furnace I assure you howbeit we be nick-named Puritans all the powers of the world shall not prevail against us Remember though a sinfull man write it to you these people shall yet be in Scotland as a green olive-tree a field blessed of the Lord it shall be proclaimed up up with Christ down down with all contrary powers Sir pray for me I name you to the Lord for further evil is determined against me Remember my love to Christian Murray her daughter I desire her in the edge of her evening to wait a little the King is coming he hath something that she never saw with him heaven is no dream Come see will teach her best Grace grace be with you Aberd. Sept. 13. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To MARION McKNAUGHT 84 Dearest in our Lord Iesus COunt it your honour that Christ hath begun at you to fine you first Fear not saith the Amen the true faithfull witness I write to you as my Master liveth upon the word of my royal King continue in prayer in watching your glorious deliverance is coming Christ is not far off a fig a straw for all the bits of clay that are risen against us Ye shall thresh the mountains fan then like
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
the presence of his face with joy establish your heart in the love of Christ. Aberd. 19. Febr. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To EARLESTOWN Younger 97 Honoured Dear Brother GRace mercy peace be to you I received your letter which refreshed my soul. I thank God the court is closed I think shame of my part of it I pass now from my unjust summonds of unkindness libelled against Christ my Lord He is not such a Lord Master as I took him to be verily he is God I am dust ashes I took Christ's glooms to be as good as Scripture speaking wrath but I have seen the other side of Christ the white side of his cross now I behooved to come to Aberdeen to learn a new mystery in Christ that his promise is better to be beleeved then his looks that the devil can cause Christ's glooms speak a lie to a weak man Nay verily I was a childe before all by-gones are but bâ—irns play I would I could begin to be a Christian in sad earnest I nâ—ed not blame Christ if I be not one for he hath shewed me heaven hell in Aberdeen But the truth is for all my sorrow Christ is nothing in my debt for his comforts have refreshed my soul I have heard sâ—en him in his sweetness so as I am almost saying it is not he that I was wont to meet with He laugheth more chearfully his kisses are more sweet soul-refreshing then the kisses of the Christ I saw before were though he be the same or rather the King hath led me up to a measure of joy communion with my Bridegroom that I never attained to before so that often I think I will neither borrow nor lend with this world I will not strike sail to crosses nor flatter them to be quite of them as I have done Come all crosses welcome welcome So I may get my heartfull of my Lord Jesus I have been so near him as I have said I take instruments this is the Lord leave a token behinde thee that I may never forget this Now what can Christ doe more to dâte one of his poor prisoners Therefore Sir I charge you in the name of my Lord Jesus praise with me shew to others what he hath done unto my soul. This is the fruit of my sufferings that I desire Christ's name may be spread abroad in this Kingdom in my behalf I hope in God not to slander him again yet in all this I get not my feasts without some mixture of gall neither am I free of old jealousies for he hath removed my lovers friends far from me he hath made my congregation desolate taken away my crown my dumb sabbaths are like a stone tied to a bird's foot that wanteth not wings they seem to hinder me to fleo Were it not that I dare not say one word but Well done Lord Iesus We can in our prosperity sport our selves be too bold with Christ yea be that insolent as to chide with him but under the water we dare not speak I wonder now of my sometimes boldness to chide quarrell Christ to nickname Providence when it stroaked me against the hair but now swimming in the waters I think my will is fallen to the ground of the water I have lost it I think I would fain â—et Christ alone give him leave to doe with me what he pleaseth if he would smile upon me Verily we know not what an evil it is to spill indulge our selves to make an idol of our will I was once I would not eat except I had wailed meat now I dare not complain of crumbs pairings under his table I was once that I would make the house adoe if I saw not the world carved set in order to my liking now I am silent when I see God hath set servants on horseback is fatning feeding the children of perdition I pray God I never finde my will again Oh if Christ would subject my will to his trample it under his feet liberate me from that lawless Lord. Now Sir in your youth gather fast your sun will mount to the Meridian quickly thereafter decline Be greedy of grace Study above any thing my dear Brother to mortifie your lusts Oh but pride of youth vainty lust idolizing of the world charming pleasures take long time to root them out As far as ye are advanced in the way to heaven as neer as ye are to Christ as much progress as ye have made in the way of mortification ye will finde that ye are far behinde have most of your work before you I never took it to be so hard to be dead to my lusts to this world When the day of visitation cometh your old idols come weeping about you ye will have much adoe not to break your heart it 's best give up in time with them so as ye could at a call quite your part of this world for a drink of water or a thing of nothing Verily I have seen the best of this world a moth-eaten threed bare coat I purpose to lay it aside being now hollie old O for my house above not made with hands Pray for Christ's prisoner write to me Remember my love to your mother Desire her from me to make for removing the Lord's tide will not bide her to seek an heavenly minde that her heart may be often there Grace be with you Aberd. Feb. 20. 1637. Yours Christ's prisoner S. R. To ROBERT GLENDINING 98 My Dear Friend GRace mercy peace be to you I thank you most kindly for your care of me your love and respective kindness to my brother in his distresse I pray the Lord ye may finde mercy in the day of Christ I entreat you Sir to consider the times ye live in that your soul is of more worth to you then the whole world which in the day of the blowing of the last trumpet shall lie in white ashes as an old castle burnt to nothing Remember that judgement eternity is before you My dear worthy friend let me entreat you in Christ's name by the salvation of your soul by your compearance before the dreadful sin-revenging judge of the world make your accounts ready read them ere ye come to the water side for your after-noon will wear short your sun fall low and goe down ye know that this long time your Lord hath waited on you O how comfortable a thing shall it be to you when time shall be no more your soul shall depart out of the house of clay to vaste endlesse eternity to have your soul dressed up prepared for your bridegroom No losse is comparable to the losse of the soul there is no hope of regaining that losse O how joyfull would my soul be to hear that ye would start to
Christ but his coat Oh how forlorn desolate is the Bride of Christ made to all passers by Who seeth not Christ buried in this land his prophets hidden in caves silenced banished imprisoned Truth weeping in sackcloth before the Judges Parliament the Rulers of the land But her bill is cast by them Holiness hideth it self fearing the streets for the reporoaches persecution of men Justice is fallen a swoon in the gate the long shadows of the evening are stretched out upon us Woe woe to us for our day flyeth away what remaineth but that the Antichrist set down his tent in the midst of us except your Lo others with you read Christ's supplication give him that which the most lewd and scandalous wretches in this land may have before a judge even the poor man's due law and justice for God's sake O therefore my noble dear Lord as ye have begun goe on in the mighty power and strength of the Lord to cause our Lord in his Gospel and afflicted members laugh to cause the Christian Churches whose eyes are all now upon you to sing for joy when Scotland's moon shall shine like the light of the sun the sun like the light of seven dayes in one ye can doe noless then run bear up the head of your dying swooning mother-Church plead for the production of her ancient charters They hold out and put out they hold in and bring in at their pleasure men in God's house they stole the keys from Christ and his Church and came in like the thief the robber not by the door Christ now their song is Authority Authority obedience to Church-Governours When such a bastard lawless pretended step-dame as our prelacy is gone mad it is your place who are the Nobles to rise binde them at least law should fetter such wilde bulls as they are who push all who oppose themselves to their domination Alas What have we lost since Prelats were made Master coiners to change our gold in brass and to mix the Lord's wine with their water Blessed for ever shall ye be of the Lord if ye help Christ against the mighty and shall deliver the flock of God scattered upon the mountains in the dark cloudy day out of the hands of these idol-shepherds Fear not men that shall be moth-eaten-clay that shall be rolled up in a chest casten under the earth Let the holy one of Israel be your fear be couragious for the Lord and his truth Remember your accounts coming upon you with wings as fast as time posteth away Remember what peace with God in Christ the presence of the Son of God in the revealed felt sweetness of his love will be to you when eternity shall put time to the door ye shall take good-night at Time this little shepherd's tent of clay this Innes of a borrowed earth I hope your Lo is now then sending out thoughts to view this world's naughtiness vanity the hoped-for glory of the life to come that ye resolve that Christ shall have your self all yours at command for him his honour Gospel Thus trusting your Lo Will pardon my boldness I pray that the onely wise God the very God of peace may preserve strengthen establish you to the end Aberd. 1637. Your Lo at all command obedience in Chrst. S. R. To the Lady ROVVALAND 107 MADAM THough not acquainted I am bold in Christ to speak to vour La in paper I rejoyce in our Lord Jesus on your behalf that it hath pleased him whose love to you is as old as himself to manifest the savour of his love in Christ Jesus to your soul in the revelation of his will minde to you now when so many are shut up in unbelief O the sweet change ye have made in leaving the black kingdom of this world sin coming over to our bridegroom 's new kingdom to know to be taken with the love of the beautifull Son of God I beseech you Madam in the Lord make now sure work see that the old house be casten down razed from the foundation and that the new building of your soul be of Christ's own laying for then wind and storm shall neither loose it nor shake it asunder Many now take Christ by guess Be sure that it be he and onely he whom ye have met with His sweet smell his lovely voyce his fair face his sweet working in the soul will not lye they will soon tell if it be Christ indeed I think your love to the saints speaketh that it is he therefore I say be sure that ye take Christ himself take him with his father's blessing his father alloweth him well upon you your lines are well fallen it could not have been better nor so well with you if they had not fallen in these places In heaven or out of heaven there is nothing better nothing so sweet excellent as the thing ye have lighted on therefore hold you with Christ Joy much joy may ye have of him But take his cross with himself cheerfully Christ and his cross are not separable in this life howbeit Christ his cross part at heaven's door for there is no house-room for crosses in heaven one tear one sigh one sad heart one fear one losse or thought of trouble cannot finde lodging there they are but the markes of our Lord Jesus down in this wide innes stormy countrey on this side of death Sorrow the saints are not married together of suppose it were so heaven shall make a divorce I finde his sweet presence eateth out the bitterness of sorrow suffering I think it a sweet thing that Christ saith of my cross Halfmine that he divideth these sufferings with me taketh the largest share to himself nay that I my whole cross are wholly Christ's O what a portion is Christ O that the saints would dig deeper in the treasures of his wisdom excellency Thus recommending your La to the goodwill tender mercies of our Lord I rest Aberd. Sept. 7. 1637 Yours La in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To ROBERT GORDON Of Knockbrex 108 My very worthy dear Friend GRace mercy peace be unto you Though all Galloway should have forgotten me I would have expected a letter from you ere now But I will not expound it to be forgetfulness of me Now My dear Brother I cannot shew you how matters goe betwixt Christ and me I finde my Lord going and coming seven times a day His visits are short but they are both frequent sweet I dare not for my life think of a challenge of my Lord I hear ill tales hard reports of Christ from the Tempter and my flesh but love beleeveth no evil I may swear that they are lyars and that apprehensions make lyes of Christ's honest and unalterable love to me
I dare not say that I am a dry tree or that I have no room at all in the vineyard but yet I often think that the sparrows are blessed who may resort to the house of God in Anwoth from which I am banished Temptations that I supposed to be striken dead and laid upon their back rise again and revive upon me yea I see that while I live temptations will not die The devil seemeth to brag boast as much as if he had more court with Christ then I have as if he had charmed blasted my ministery that I shall doe no more good in publike but his wind shaketh no corn I will not beleeve Christ would have made such a mint to have me to himself and have taken so much pains upon me as he hath done and then slip so easily from possession and lose the glory of what he had done Nay since I came to Aberden I have been taken up to see the new land the fair palace of the Lamb And will Christ let me see heaven to break my heart never give it to me I shall not think my Lord Jesus giveth a dumb earnest or putteth his sealâ— to blank paper or intendeth to put me off with fair and false promises I see that now which I never saw well before 1. I see faith's necessity in a fair day is never known aright but now I miss nothing somuch as faith Hunger in me runneth to fair and sweet promises but when I come I am like a hungry man that wanteth teeth or a weak stomack having a sharp appetite that is filled with the very sight of meat or lik one stupified with cold under the water that would fain come to land but cannot grip any thing casten to him I can let Christ grip me but I cannot grip him I love to be kissed and to sit on Christ's knee but I cannot set my feet to the ground for afflictions bring the cramp upon my faith All I dow doe is to hold out a lame faith to Christ like a begger holding out a stump in stead of an arm or leg and cry Lord Iesus work a miracle O what would I give to have hands arms to grip strongly fold heart somly about Christ's neck to have my claim made good with reall possession I think my love to Christ hath feet abundance ruinneth swiftly to be at him but it wanteth hands and fingers to apprehend him I think I would give Christ every morning my blessing to have as much faith as I have love hunger at least I miss faith more then love hunger 2. I see mortification to be crucified to the world is not so highly accounted of by us as it should be O how heavenly a thing is it to be dead dumb deaf to this world 's sweet musick I confess it hath pleased his Majesty to make me laugh at children who are wooing this world for their match I see men lying about the world as Nobles about a King's court I wonder what they are a doing there As I am at this present I would scorn to court such a feckless petty Princesse or buy this world's kindness with a bow of my knee I scarce now either hear or see what it is that this world offereth me I know it 's little it can take from me as little it can give me I recommend Mortification to you above any thing For alas we but chase feathers flying in the air tire our own spirits for the froth overguilded clay of a dying life One sight of what my Lord hath let me see within this short time is worth a world of worlds 3. I thought courage in the time of trouble for Christ's sake a tâ—ing that I might take up at my foot I thought the very remembrance of the honesty of the cause would be enough but I was a fool in so thinking I have much adoe now to win to one smile but I see joy groweth up in heaven it is above our short arm Christ will be steward dispenser himself nonâ— else but He Therefore now I count much of one dram weight of spirituall joy one smile of Christ's face is now to me as a Kingdom yet he is no niggard to me of comforts Truly I have no cause to say that I am pinched with penury or that the consolations of Christ are dried up for he hath poured down rivers upon a dry wilderness the like of me to my admiration in my very swoonings he holdeth up my head stayeth me with flagons of wine comforteth me with apples My house bed is strowed with kisses of love Praise praise with me O if ye I betwixt us could lift up Christ upon his throne howbeit all Scotland should cast him down to the ground My Brother's case toucheth me neer I hope ye will be kinde to him give him your best counsel Remember my love to your Brother to your wife G. M. desire him to be faithfull repent of his hypocrisie and say that I wrote it to you I wish him salvation Write to me your minde anent C. E. And C. Y. And their wives I. G. Or any others in my parish I fear I am forgotten amongst them but I cannot forget them The prisoner's prayers and blessing come upon you Grace grace be with you Aberd. Feb 9. 1637. Your Brother in the Lord Iesus S. R. To my Lord. BALMERINOCH 109 My very Noble truly honourable Lord. I Make bold to write newes to your Lo from my prison though your Lo have experience more then I can have At my first entry here I was not a little casten down with challenges for old unrepented of sins Satan my own apprehensions made a lye of Christ that he had casten a dry withered tree over the dike of the vineyard but it was my folly blessed be his great name the fire cannot burn the dry tree He is pleased noâ— to feast the exiled prisoner with his lovely presence for it suiteth Christ well to be kinde he dineth suppeth with such a sinner as I am I am in Christ's tutouring here He hath made me content with a borrowed fire-side it casteth as much heat as mine own I want nothing at all but reall possession of Christ And he hath given me a pawne of that also which I hope to keep till he come himself to loose the pawne I cannot get help to praise his high name He hath made me a King over my losses imprisonment banishment onely my dumb sabbaths stick in my throat But I forgive Christ's wisdom in that I dare not say one word He hath done it I will lay my hand upon my mouth If any other had done it to me I could not have born it Now My Lord I must tell your Lo That I would not give a drink of cold water for this clay idol this plaistered
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
a nearer communion with my Lord-tutour the prime heir of all Christ I wish for my part I could send you that gentleman who wrote his commendations to me in to the kings innermost cellar house of wine to be filled with love A drink of this love is worth the having indeed We carry our selves but too too nicely with Christ our Lord our Lord loveth not niceness dryness uncouthness in friends Since need force we must be in Christ's common then let us be in his common for it will be no otherwayes Now for my present case in my imprisonment deliverance for any appearance I see looketh cold like My hope if it looked to or leaned upon men should wither soon at the root like a May-flower Yet I resolve to ease my self with on-waiting on my Lord to let my faith swim where it looseth ground I am under a necessity either offainting which I hope my master of whom boast all the day shall avert or then to â—ay my faith upon omnipotency to wink stick by my grip And I hope my ship shall ride it out seeing Christ is willing to blow his sweet wind in my sailes mendeth closeth the leks in my ship ruleth all It will be strange if a beleeving passenger be casten â—ver beard As for your Master My Lord my Lady I will be loath to forget them I think my prayers such as they are are due debt to him I shall be faâ— more engaged to his Lo if he be fast for Christ as I hope he will now when so many of his coat quality slip from Christ's back leave him to send for himself I entreat you remember my love to that wo thy Gentleman A. C. who salated me in your letter I have heard that he is one of my Master's friends for the which cause I am tied to him I wish he may more more fall in love with Christ. Now for your question as far as I rawly conceive I think God is praised two wayes First by a concional profession of his highness before men such as is the very hearing of the word receiving of either of the Sacraments in which acts by profession we give out to men that he is our God with whom we are in covenant our Lawgiver Thus eating drinking in the Lord's supper is an annunciation profession before men that Christ is our slain Redeemer Here because God speaketh to us not we to him it is not a formal thanks giving but an annunciation or predication of Christ's death concionall not adorative neither hath it God for the immediat object and therefore no kneeling can be here Secondly there is another praising of God formal when we are either formally blessing God or speaking his praises And this I take to be twofold 1. When we directly formally direct praises and thanksgiving to God This may well be done kneeling in token of our recognizance of his highness yet not so but it may be standing or sitting especially seeing joyfull elevation which should be in praising is not formally signified by kneeling 2. When we speak good of God declare his glorious nature attributes extolling him before men to excite men to conceive highly of him The former I hold to be worship every way immediat else I know not any immediat worship at all the latter hath God for the subject not properly the object seeing the predication is directed to men immediatly rather then to God for here we speak of God by way of praising rather then to God And for my own part as I am for the present minded I see not how this can be done kneeling seeing it is praedicatio Dei Christâ— non laudatio aut benedictio Dei But observe that it is formal praising of God not meerly concional as I distinguished in the first member for in the first member any speaking of God or of his works of creation providence redemption is indirect concional praising of him formally preaching or an act of teaching not an act of predication of his praises for there is a difference betwixt the simple relation of the vertues of a thing which is formally teaching the extolling of the worth of a thing by way of commendation to cause others to praise with us Thus recommending you to God's grace I rest Aberd. June 15. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To Mr J. R. 124. Dear Brother GRace mercy peace be unto you upon the report I hear of you without any further acquaintance except our straitest bonds in our Lord Jesus I thought good to write unto you hearing of your danger to be thrust out of the Lord's house for his name sake Therefore my earnest humble desire to God is that ye may be strengthned in the grace of God by the power of his might to goe on for Christ not standing in aw of a worm that shall die I hope ye will not put your hand to the ark to give it a wrong totch to overturn it as many now doe when the archers are shooting sore at Joseph whose bowe shall abide in it's strength We ow to our royall King Princely Master a testimony O how blessed are they who can warde a blow off Christ his born-down truth Men think Christ a gone man now that he shall never get up his head again And they beleeve his court is failed because he suffereth men to break their spears swords upon him and the enemies to plow Sion make long deep their furrows on her back But it would not be so if the Lord had not a sowing for his plowing What can he doe but melt an old drossie Kirk that he may bring out a new bride out of the fire again 〈◊〉 I think Christ is just now reparing his house exchanging his old vessels with new vessels is going through this land and taking up an inventure a roll of so many of Levi's sons good Professors that he may make them new work for the second temple And whatsoever shall be found not to be for the work shall be casten over the wall When the house shall be builded he shall lay by his hammers as having no more to doe with them It is possible he doe worse to them then lay them by I think the vengeance of the Lord the vengeance of his temple shall be upon them I desire no more but to keep weight when I am past the fire I can now in some weak measure give Christ a testimonial of a lovely loving companion under suffering for him I saw him before but afar off his beauty to my eye's sight groweth a fig a straw for ten worlds plaistered glory for childish shadows The idol of clay this God the world that fools fight for If I had a lease of Christ of my own dating for whoever
wisdom made choice of it for me it must be best because it was his choice O that I may wait for him till the morning of this benighted Kirk break out This poor afflicted Kirk had a fair morning but her night came upon her before her noon-day she was like a traveller forced to take house in the morning of his journey now her adversaries are the chief men in the land her wayes mourn her gates languish her children sigh for bread and there is none to be instant with the Lord that he would come again to his house dry the face of his weeping spouse comfort Zion's mourners who are waiting for him I know he shall make corn to grow upon the top of his withered mount Zion again Remember my bonds forget me not Oh that my Lord would bring me again amongst you with abundance of the Gospel of Christ But O that I may set down my desires where my Lord biddeth me Remember my love in the Lord to your husband God make him faithfull to Christ my blessing to your three children Faint not in prayer for this Kirk Desire my people not to receive a stranger intruder upon my ministery let me stand in that right station that my Lord Jesus gave me Grace grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord and Master S. R. To JOHN GORDON At Risco 127 Dear Brother I Earnestly desire to know the case of your soul to understand that ye have made sure work of heaven salvation 1. Remember Salvation is one of Christ's dainties he giveth but to a few 2. That it is violent sweating striving that taketh heaven 3. That it cost Christ blood to purchase that house to sinners to set mankinde down the King 's free tenants free-holders 4. That many make a start toward heaven who fall on their back win not up to the top of the mount it plucketh heart legs from them they sit down give it over because the devil setteth a sweet smelled flower to their nose this fair busked World wherewith they are bewitched so forget or refuse to goe forward 5. Remember many goe far on reform many things can finde tears as Esau did suffer hunger for the truth as Iudas did wish desire the end of the righteous as Balaam did profess fair fight for the Lord as Saul did desire the saints of God to pray for them as Pharaoh Simon Magus did prophesie speak of Christ as Caiaphas did walk softly mourn for fear of judgement as Ahab did put away gross sins idolatry as Iehu did hear the word of God gladly reform their life in many things according to the word as Herod did say Master to Christ I will follow thee whither soever thou goest as the man who offered to be Christ's servant Math. 8. may taste of the vertues of the life to come be partaker of the wonderfull gifts of the holy spirit taste of the good word of God as the Apostates who sin against the Holy Ghost Heb 6. yet all these are but like gold in clink colour watered brass base mettall These are written that we should try our selves not rest till we be a step nearer Christ then sun-burnt withering professors can come 6. Consider it is impossible that your Idol-sins ye can goe to heaven together that they who will not part with these can indeed love Christ at the bottom but onely in word shew which will not doe the business 7. Remember how swiftly God's post time flieth away that your forenoon is already spent your afternoon will come then your evening at last night When ye cannot see to work let your heart be set upon finishing of your journey summing laying your accounts with your Lord. O how blessed shall ye be to have a joyfull welcome of your Lord at night How blessed are they who in time take sure course with their soul Bless his great name for what ye possess in goods children ease worldly contentment that he hath given you seek to be like Christ in humility lowliness of minde be not great intire with the world make it not your God nor your lover that ye trust into for it will deceive you I recommend Christ his love to you in all things let him have the flower of your heart your love set a low price upon all things but Christ cry down in your thoughts clay dirt that will not comfort you when ye get summonds to remove compear before your Judge to answer for all the deeds done in the body The Lord give you wisdom in all things I beseech you sanctifie God in your speaking for holy and reverend is his name be temperate sober companionry as it is called is a sin that holdeth men out of heaven I will not beleeve that ye will receive the ministry of a stranger who will preach a new uncouth doctrine to you Let my salvation stand for it if I delivered not the plain whole counsel of God to you in his word Read this letter to your wife remember my love to her request her to take heed to doe what I write to you I pray for you yours Remember me in your prayers to our Lord that he would be pleased to send me amongst you again Grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Your lawfull loving Pastor S. R. To Mr HUGH HENDERSON 128 Reverend and dear Brother WHo knoweth but the wind may turn in to the West again upon Christ his desolate bride in this land And that Christ may get his summer by course again for he hath had ill weather this long time could not finde law or justice for himself his truth these many years I am sure the wheels of this crazed broken Kirk run all upon no other axel-tree nor is there any other to roll them cogge them drive them but the wisdom good pleasure of our Lord And it were a just trick glorious of never-sleeping providence to bring our brethrens darts they have shot at us back upon their own heads Suppose they have two strings in their bow can take one as another saileth them yet there are moe then three strings upon our Lord's bowe and besides he cannot miss the white that he shooteth at I know he shuffleth up down in his hand the great body of heaven earth that Kirk Commonwealth are in his hand like a stock of Cards that he dealeth â—he play to the mourners in Zion and these that say lye down that we may goe over you at his own soveraign pleasure And I am sure Zion's adversaries in this play shall not take up their own stakes again O how sweet a thing it is
alter or better what he hath decreed done It were better to make windows in our prison to look out to God our countrey Heaven to cry like fettered men who long for the King 's free air Lord let tâ—y Kingdom come O let the Bridegroom come And O day O fair day O everlasting summer day dawn and shine out break out from under the black night skie and shine I am perswaded if every day a little stone in the prison walls were broken thereby assurance given to the chained prisoner lying under twenty stone of irons upon arms legs that at length his chain should wear in two pieces a hole should be made at length as wide as he might come safely out to his long desired liberty he would in patience wait on till time should hole the prison wall break his chains The Lord 's hopefull prisoners under their trials are in that case Years moneths will take out now one little stone then another of this house of clay at length time shall win out the breadth of a fair door and send out the imprisoned soul to the free air in heaven and time shall filâ— off by little and little our iron bolts which are now on legs and arms out-date and wear our troubles threed-bare and hollie and then wear them to nothing For what I suffered yesterday I know shall never come again to trouble me O that we could breath out new hope and new submission every day in Christ's lap For certainly a weight of glory well weighed yea encreasing to a far more exceeding and eternall weight shall recompence both weight and length of light and clipped and short-dated crosses Our waters are but ebbe and come neither to our chin nor to â—he stopping of our breath I may see if I would borrow eyes from Christ dry land and that near Why then should we not laugh at adversity and scorn our short-born and soon-dying temptations I rejoyce in the hope of that glory to be revealed for it is no uncertain glory we look for our hope is not hung upon such an untwisted threed as I imagine so or it is likely but the cable the strong tow of our fastened anchor is the oath and the promise of him who is eternall verity our Salvation is fastened with God's own hand and with Christ's own strength to the strong stoup of God's unchangeable nature Mal 3. 6. I am the Lord I change not and therefore ye sons of Iacob are not consumed We may play and dance and leap upon our worthy and immoveable rock the ground is sure and good and will bide hell's brangling and devils brangling and the world's assaults Oh if our faith could ride it out against the high and proud winds and waves when our sea seemeth all to be on fire O how oft doe I let my grips goe I am put to swimming and half sinking I finde the devil hath the advantage of the ground in this battel for he fighteth in known ground in our corrupt nature Alas that is a friend neer of kin and blood to himself and will not fail to fall foul upon us And hence it is that he who saveth to the uttermost and leadeth many sons to glory is still righting my salvation and twenty times a day I ravel my heaven then I must come with my ill raveled work to Christ to cumber him as it were to right it to seek again the right end of the threed to fold up again my eternall glory with his own hand to give a right cast of his holy gracious hand to my marred spilt salvation Certainly it is a cumbersom thing to keep a foolish childe from falls broken brows weeping for this that toy rash running sickness bairns diseases ere he win through them all and win out of the mires he costeth meekle black cumber and fashrie to his keepers And so is a beleever a cumbersom piece of work and an ill raveled hesp as we use to say to Christ But God be thanked for many spilt salvations and many ill raveled hesps hath Christ mended since first he entered tutour to lost mankinde O what could we bairns doe without him how soon would we mar all But the less of our weight be upon our own feeble legs and the more that we be on Christ the strong Rock the better for us It is good for us that ever Christ took the cumber of us it is our heaven to lay many weights and burdens upon Christ and to make him all we have root and top beginning and ending of our salvation Lord hold us â—ere Now to this tutour and rich Lord I recommend you Hold fast till he come and remember his prisoner Grace grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Yours in his and your Lord Iesus S. R. To Mr WILLIAM DALGLEISH 131 Reverend dear Brother GRace mercy peace be to you I received your letter I bless our high and onely wise Lord who hath broken the sâ—are that men had laid for you I hope that now he shall keep you in his house in despite of the powers of hell Who knoweth but the streets of our Ierusalem shall yet be filled with young men with old men boyes women with childe that they shall plant vines in the mountains of Samaria I am sure the wheels paces motions of this poor Church are tempered ruled not as men would but according to the good pleasure infinite wisdom of our onely wise Lord. I am here waiting in hope that my innocency in this honourable cause shall melt this cloud that men have casten over me I know my Lord had his own quarrels against me that my dross stood in need of this hot furnace but I rejoyce in this that fair truth beautifull truth whose glory my Lord cleareth to me more more bearth me company that my weak aimes to honour my Master in bringing guests to his house now swell upon me in comforts that I am not affraid to want a witness in heaven that it was my joy to have a crown put upon Christ's head in that countrey O what joy would I have to see the wind turn upon the enemies of the cross of Christ to see my Lord Jesus restored with the voice of praise to his own fâ—ee throne again to be brought amongst you to see the beauty of the Lord's house I hope that countrey will not be so silly as to suffer men to pluck you away from them that ye will use means to keep my place empty to bring me back again to the people to whom I have Christs right and his Church's lawfull calling Dear Brother let Christ be dearer dearer to you let the conquest of souls be top and root flower and bloom of your joyes and desires in this side of sun and moon and in the day when the Lord shall
pull up the four stakes of this clay tent of the earth the last pickle of sand shall be at the nick of falling down in your watch-glass the master shall call the servants of the vincyard to give them their hire ye will esteem the bloom of this world's glory like the colours of the rain-bow that no man can put in his purse treasure Your labours pains shall then smile upon you My Lord now hath given me experience howbeit weak small that our best fare here is hunger we are but at God's by-board in this lower house we have cause to long for supper-time the high table up in the high palace This world deserveth nothing but the utter court of our soul. Lord hasten the marriage-supper of the Lamb. I finde it still peace to give up with this present world as with an old decourted cast-off lover My bread drink in it is not so much worth that I should not loath the Innes pack up my desires for Christ that I have sent out to the feckless creatures in it Grace grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Your affectionat Brother Crhist's prisoner S. R. To the Laird of CALLY 132 Much honoured Sir GRace mercy peace be to you I long to hear how your soul prospereth I have that confidence that your soul mindeth Christ salvation I beseech you in the Lord give more pains diligence to fetch heaven then the countrey-sort of lazie professors who think their own faith their own godliness because it is their own best content themselves with a coldrife custom course with a resolution to summer winter in that sort of profession that the multitude and the times favour most and are still shaping and clipping and carving their faith according as it may best stand with their summer-sun and a whole skin and so breath out both hot and cold in God's matters according to the course of the times This is their compass they sail toward heaven by in stead of a better Worthy dear Sir separate your self from such and bend your self to the utmost of your strength breath in running fast for salvation and in taking Christ's Kingdom use violence It cost Christ and all his followers sharp showers and hot sweats ere they won to the top of the mountain But still our soft nature would have heaven coming to our bed-side when we are sleeping lving down with us that we might goe to heaven in warm clothes but all that came there â—ound wet feet by the way sharp storms that did take the hide off their face â—ound to 's fro's up's down's many enemies by the way It is impossible a man can take his lusts to heaven with him such wares as these will not be welcome there O how loath are we to forgoe our packalds burdens that hinder us to run our race with patience It is no small work to displease anger nature that we may please God O if it be hard to win one foot or half an inch out of our own will out of our own wit out of our own ease worldly lusts so to deny our self to say It is not I but Christ not I but grace not I but God's glory not I but God's love constraining me not I but the Lord's word not I but Christ's commanding power as King in me O what pains what a death is it to nature to turn me my self my lust my ease my credit over in my Lord my Saviour my King my God my Lord's will my Lord's grace But alas that idol that whorish creature my self is the master-idol we all bow to What made Evah miscarry what hurried her headlong upon the forbidden fruit but that wretched thing her self What drew that brother-murtherer to kill Abel That wilde himself What drove the old world on to corrupt their wayes Who but themselves their own pleasure What was the cause of Solomon's falling into idolatry multiplying of strange wives What but himself whom he would rather pleasure then God What was the hook that took David snared him first in adultery but his self-lust then in murther but his self-credit self-honour What led Peter on to deny his Lord Was it not a piece of himself self-love to a whole skin What made Iudas sell his Matter for 30 pieces of money but a piece of self-love idolizing of avaritions self What made Demas to goe off the way of the Gospel to embrace this present world even self love love of gain for himself Every man blameth the devil for his sins but the great devil the house-devil of every man the house-devil that eateth lieth in every man's bosom is that idol that killeth all himself O blessed are they who can deny themselves put Christ in the room of themselves O would to the Lord I had not a my self but Christ nor a my lust but Christ noâ— a my ease but Christ nor a my honour but Christ O sweet word Gal. 2 20. I live no more but Christ liveth in me O if every one would put away himself his own self his own ease his own pleasure his own credit his own twenty things his own hundred things that he setteth up as idols above Christ Dear Sir I know ye will be looking back to your old self to your self-lust self-idol that ye set up in the lusts of youth above Christ. Worthy Sir pardon this my freedom of love God is my witness that it is out of an earnest desire after your soul 's eternal welfare that I use this freedom of speech Your sun I know is lower your evening skie and sun-setting nearer then when I saw you last Strive to end your task before night and to make Christ your-self and to acquaint your love and your heart with the Lord Stand now by Christ and his truth when so many fail foully and are false to him I hope ye love him and his truth let me have power with you to confirm you in him I think more of my Lord 's sweet cross then of a crown of gold and a free Kingdom lying to it Sir I remember you in my prayers to the Lord â—…ding to my promise Help me with your prayers that our Lord would be pleased to bring me amongst you again with the Gospel of Christ Grace grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Yours in his sweetest Lord and Master S. R. To JOHN GORDON Of Cardoness younger 133 Dearly beloved in our Lord. GRace mercy peace be to you I long exceedingly to hear of the case of your soul which hath a large share both of â—y prayers carefull thoughts Sir remember that a precious treasure prize is upon this short play that ye are now upon even the eternity of well or woe to your soul standeth upon the little point of your ill or well employed short swift
posting sand-glass Seek the Lord while he may be found the Lord waiteth upon you Your soul is of no little price gold or silver of as much bounds as would cover the highest heavens round about cannot buy it To live as others doe to be free of open sins that the world crieth shame upon it will not bring you to heaven as much civility countrey-discretion as would lye between you heaven will not lead you one foot or one inch above condemned nature therefore take pains upon seeking of salvation give your will wit humour the green desires of youth's pleasures off your hand to Christ It is not possible for you to know till experience teach you how dangerous a time Youth is It is like green wet timber when Christ casteth fire on it it taketh not fire There is need here of more then ordinary pains for corrupt nature hath a good back-friend of Youth sinning against light will put out your candle stupifie your conscience bring upon it moe coverings skins less feeling sense of guiltiness when that is done the Devil is like a mad horse that hath broken the bridle runneth away with his rider whither he listeth Learn to know that which the Apostle knew the deceitfulness of sin strive to make prayer reading holy company holy conference your delight when delight cometh in ye shall by little little smell the sweetness of Christ till at length your soul be over head ears in Christ's sweetness then shall ye be taken up to the top of the mountain with the Lord to know thâ— ravishments of spiritual love the glory excellency of a sâ—en revealed felt embraced Christ then ye shall not be able to loose your self off Christ to binde your soul to old lovers then never till then are all the paces motions walkings wheels of your soul in a right tune in a spiritual temper But if this world the lusts thereof be your delight I know not what Christ can make of you ye cannot be mettall to be a vessel of glory mercy as the Lord liveth thousand thousands are beguiled with security because God wrath judgement is not terrible to them stand in aw of God of the warnings of a checking rebuking conscience make others to see Christ in you moving doing speaking thinking your actions will smell of him if he be in you there is an instinct in the new born babes of Christ like the instinct of nature that leades birds to build their nests bring up their young love such such places as woods forests wildernesses better then other places The instinct of nature maketh a man love his mother-countrey above all countreys The instinct of renewed nature supernatural grace will lead you to such such works as to love your countrey above to sigh to be clothed with your house not made with hands to call your borrowed prison here below a borrowed prison to look upon it servant-like pilgrim-like And the pilgrim's eye look is a disdainfull like discontented cast of his eye his heart crying after his eye Fy fy tâ— is is not like my countrey I recommend to you the mending of a hole reforming of a failing one or other every week put off a sin or a piece of it as of anger wrath lust intemperance every day that ye may more easily master the remnant of your corruption God hath given you a wife love her let her breasts satisfie you for the Lord's sake drink no waters but out of your own cistern strange wells are poison Strive to learn some new way against your corruption from the man of God M. W. D. or other servants of God sleep not sound till ye finde your self in that case that ye dare look death in the face durst hazard your soul upon eternity I am sure many ells inches of the short threed of your life are by hand since I saw you and that threed hath an end and ye have no hands to cast a knot adde one day or a finger-breadth to the end of it When hearing and seeing and the utter walls of the clay-house shall fall down life shall render the besieged castle of clay to death judgement ye finde your time worn ebbe run out what thoughts will ye then have of idol-pleasures that possibly are now sweet what bud or hire would ye then give for the Lord's favour what a price would ye then give for pardon It were not amiss to think what if I were to receive a doom to enter into a surnace of fire brimstone What if it come to this that I shall have no portion but utter darkness And what if 〈◊〉 be brought to this to be banished from the presence of God to be given over to God's serjeants the Devil the power of the second Death Put your soul by supposition in such a case â—…sider what horrour would take hold of you what then ye would esteem of pleasing your self in the course of sin O dear Sir for the Lord's sake awake to live righteously love your poor soul after ye have seen this my letter say with yourself the Lord will seck an account of this warning I have received Lodge Christ in your family Receive no stranger hireling as your Pastor I bless your children Grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Your lawful and loving Pastor S. R. To my Lord BOYD. 134 My very honourable good Lord. GRace mercy peace be to your Lo Out of the worthy report that I hear of your Lo zeal for this born down oppressed Gospel I am bold to write to your Lo beseeching you by the mercies of God by the honour of our royal and princely King Jesus by the sorrows tears desolation of your afflicted mother-church by the peace of your conscience your joy in the day of Christ that your Lo would goe on in the strength of your Lord and in the power of his might to bestir your self for the vindicating of the fallen honour of your Lord Jesus O blessed hands for evermore that shall help to put the crown upon the head of Christ again in Scotland I dare promise in the name of our Lord that this shall fasten fix the pillars the stakes of your own honourable house upon earth if ye lend lay in pledge in Christ's hand upon spiritual hazard life estate house honour credit moyen friends the favour of men suppose King 's with three crownâ— sobeing ye may bear witness acquit your self as a man of valour and courage to the Prince of your salvation for the purging of his temple sâ—…eeping out the Lordly Diotrephes's time-courting Demas's corrupt Hymeneus's Philetus's other such oxen that with their dung defile the Temple of the
Lord. Is not Christ now crying Who will help me Who will come out with me to take part with me share in the honour of my victory over these mine enemies who have said Wee â—ill not have this man to rule over us My very honourable and dear Lord joyn joyn aâ— ye doâ— with Christ he is more worth to you your posterity then this world's May flowers withering Riches Honour that shall goe away as smoke evanish in a night-vision shall in one half hour after the blast of the Archangel's trumpet lie in white ashes Let me beseech your Lo to draw by the lap of Time's curtain look in through that window to great endless Eternity consider if a worldly price suppose this little round clay globe of this ashie dirty earth the dying idol of the fools of this world were all your own can be given for one smile of Christ's God-like soul ravishing countenance in that day when so many joints and knees of thousand thousands wailing shall stand before Christ trembling shouting making their prayers to hills mountains to fall upon them and hide them from the face of the Lamb. O how many would sell Lordships Kingdoms that day buy Christ But Oh the market shall be closed ended ere then Your Lo hath now a blessed venture of winning court with the Prince of the Kings of the earth He himself weeping truth born down fallen in the streets an oppressed Gospel Christ's bride with watery eyes spoiled of her vail her hair hanging about her eyes forced to goe in ragged apparel the banished silenced imprisoned prophets of God who have not the favour of liberty to prophesie in sackcloth all these I say call for your help Fear not worms of clay the moth shall eat them as a garment let the Lord be your fear he is with you shall fight for you thus shall ye cause the blessing of these who are ready to perish come upon you ye shall make the heart of this your mother-Church to sing for joy The Lamb his armies are with you the Kingdoms of the earth are the Lord 's I am perswaded there is not another Gospel nor another saving truth then that which ye now contend for I dare hazard my heaven salvation upon it that this is the onely saving way to glory Grace grace be with your Lo Aberd. 1637. Your Lo at all respective obedience in Christ. S. R. To ROBERT GORDON Bailiffe of Ayr. 135 Worthy Sir GRace mercy peace be to you I long to hear from you Our Lord is with his afflicted Kirk so that this burning bush is not consumed to ashes I know submissive on-waiting for the Lord shall at length ripen the joy deliverance of his own who are truly blessed on-waiters What is the dry miscarrying hope of all them who are not in Christ but confusion wind O how pitifully and miserably are the children of this world beguiled whose wine cometh home to them water their gold brass tin And what wonder that hopes builded upon sand should fall sink It were good for us all to abandon the forlorn blasted withered hope we have had in the creature let us henceforth come drink water out of our own well even the fountain of living waters build our selves our hope upon Christ our rock But alas that naturall love that we have to this borrowed home that we were born in and that this clay-city the vain earth should have the largest share of of our heart Our poor lean and empty dreams of confidence in some-thing beside God are no further travelled then up down the naughty feckless creatures God may say of us as he said Amos 6 13. Ye rejoyce in a thing of nougâ—t Surely we spin our spider's web with pain and build our rotten and tottering house upon a lye and falshood and vanity O when will we learn to have thoughts higher then the sun and moon and learn our joy hope confidence and our soul's desires to look up to our best countrey and to look down to clay tents set up for a night's lodging or two in this unknown land laugh at our childish conceptions imaginations that suck our joy out of creatures woe sorrow losses grief O sweetest Lord Jesus O fairest Godhead O flower of man angels why are we such strangers to far-off beholders of thy glory O it were our happiness for evermore that God would cast a pest a botch a leprosie upon our part of this great whore a fair and well busked World that clay might no longer deceive us but O that God may burn and blast our Hope hereaway rather then our Hope should live to burn us Alas the wrong side of Christ to speak so his blackside his suffering side his wounds his bare coat his wants his wrongs the oppressions of men done to him are turned towards mens eyes they see not the best fairest side of Christ nor see they his amiable face and his beauty that man and angels wonder at Sir lend your thoughts to thâ—se things learn to contemn this world to turn your eyes and heart away from beholding the masked beauty of all things under Time's law and doom See him who is invisible and his invisible things draw by the curtain and look in with liking and longing to a Kingdom undefiled that fadeth not away reserved for you in the heaven This is worthy of your pains and worthy of your soul 's sweating and labouring seeking after night and day Fire will flee over the earth and all that is in it even destruction from the Almighty Fy fy upon that hope that shall be dryed up by the root Fy upon the drunken night-bargains And the drunken and mad covenant that sinners make with death and hell after cups and when mens souls are mad and drunken with the love of this lawless life They think to make a nest for their hopes and take quarters and conditions of hell and death that they shall have ease long life peace in the morning when the last trumpet shall awake them then they rue the block It is time high time for you to think upon death and your accounts and to remember what ye are where ye will be before the year of our Lord 1700. I hope ye are thinking upon this pull upon your soul and draw it aside from the company that it is with and round whisper in to it newes of eternity death judgement heaven and hell Grace grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To ALEXANDER GORDON Of Earlestown 136 Much honoured Sir GRace mercy peace be to you It is like if ye the Gentry Nobility of this nation be men in the streets as the word speaketh for the Lord that he will now deliver his flock
man who can speak to such an one as ye are Any sweet presence I have had in this town is I know for this cause that I might express make it known to others but I never finde my self nearer Christ and with that royal and Princely One then after a great weight and sense of deadness gracelesness I think the sense of our wants when withall we have a restlesness and a sort of spirituall impatience under them and â—an make a din because we want him whom our soul loveth is that which maketh an open door to Christ when we think we are going backward because we feel deadness we are going forward For the more sense the more life no sense argueth no life There is no sweeter fellowship with Christ then to bring our wounds our sores to him But for my self I am ashamed of Christ's goodness love since the time of my bonds for he hath been pleased to open up new treasures of love felt sweetness give visitations of love access to himself in this strange land I would think a fill of his love young green heaven when he is pleased to come the tide is in the sea full the King a poor prisoner together in the house of wine the black tree of the cross is not so heavie as a feather I cannot I dow not but give Christ an honourable and glorious testimony I see the Lord can ride through his enemies bands triumph in the sufferings of his own that this blinde world seeth not that Suffering is Christ's armour wherein he is victorious they that contend with Zion see not what he is doing when they are set to work as under-smiths servants to the work of refining of the saints Satan's hand also by them is at the melting of our Lord's vessels of mercy and their office in God's house is to scour cleanse vessels for the King's table I marvel not to see them triumph sit at ease in Zion our father must lay up his rods and keep them carefully for his own use our Lord cannot want fire in his house his furnace is in Zion his fire in Ierusalem but little know the adversaries the counsel the thoughts of the Lord. And for your complaints of your ministry I now think all I did too little Plainness freedom watchfulness fidelity shall swell upon you in exceeding large comforts in your sufferings The feeding of Christ's lambs in private visitations catechising in painfull preaching fair honest free warning of the flock is a sufferer's garland O ten thousand times blessed are they who are honoured of Christ to be faithfull and painfull in wooing a Bride to Christ My dear Brother I know ye think more on this then I can write I rejoyce that your purpose is in the Lord's strength to back your wronged Master to come out call your self Christ's man when so many are now denying him as fearing that Christ cannot doe for himself them I am a lost man for ever or this this is the way to Salvation even this way that they call Heresie that men now doe mock scoff at I am confirmed now that Christ will accept of his servants sufferings as good service to him at the day of his appearance that ere it be long he will be upon us all men in all their black 's white 's shall be brought out before God Angels and men Our Master is not far off Oh if we could wait on be faithfull The good will of him who dwelt in the bush the tender favour love the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you Help me with your pravers desire from me other brethren to take courage for their Master Aberd. Aug. 15. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To Mr JOHN MEINE 139 Worthy dear Brother GRace mercy peace be to you I have been too long in answering your letter but other business took me up I am here waiting if the fair wind will turn upon Christ's sails â—o Scotland if deliverance be breaking out to this overclouded benighted Kirk Oh that we could contend by prayers supplications with our Lord for that effect I know he hath not given out his last doom against this land I have little of Christ in this prison but groanings longings desires All my stock of Christ is some hunger for him And yet I cannot say but I am rich in that my faith hope holy practice of new obedience are scarce worth the speaking of But blessed be my Lord who taketh me light clipped naughty feckless as I am I see Christ will not prig with me nor stand upon stepping stones but cometh in at the broad side without ceremonies or making it nice to make a poor ransomed one his own O that I could feed upon his breathing kissing and embracing upon the hopes of my meeting and his when love-letters shall not goe betwixt us but he shall be messenger himselfthen But there is required patience on our part till the summer-â—â—uit in heaven be ripe for us it is in the bud but there be many things to doe before our harvest come And we take ill with it can hardly endure to set our paper-face to one of Christ's storms and to goe to heaven with wet feet pain sorrow We love to carry heaven to heaven with us would have two summers in one year and no less then two heavens but this will not be for us one such an one may suffice us well enough The man Christ got but one onely and shall we have two Remember my love in Christ to your Father help me with your prayers If ye would be a deep Divine I recommend to you Sanctification Fear him he shall reveal his Covenant to you Grace be with you Aberd. Jan. 5. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To CARDONNESS Elder 140 Much honoured Sir GRace mercy peace be to you I have longed to hear from you to know the estate of your soul the estate of that people with you I beseech you Sir by the salvation of your precious soul and the mercies of God make good sure work of your salvation try upon what ground-stone ye have builded Worthy dear Sir if ye be upon sinking sand a storm of death a blast will loose Christ you and wash you close off the rock O for the Lord's sake look narrowly to the work read over your life with the light of God's day-light and sun for Salvation is not casten down at every man's door It is good to look to your compass all ye have need of ere ye take shipping for no wind can blow you back again Remember when the race is ended the play either won or lost ye are in the utmost circle
border of time shall put your foot within the march of eternity all your good things of this short night-dream shall seem to you like the ashes of a bleaze of thorns or straw your poor soul shall be crying Lodging lodging for God's sake Then shall your soul be more glad at one of your Lord 's lovely homely smiles then if ye had the charters of three worlds for all eternity Let pleasures gain will desires of this world be put over in God's hands as arrested and fenced goods that ye cannot intromet with Now when ye are drinking the ground of your cup ye are upon the utmost ends of the last link of time old age like death's long shadow is casting a covering upon your days it is no time to court this vain life to set love heart upon it It is near after supper seek rest ease for your soul in God through Christ Beleeve me I finde it hard wrestling to play fair with Christ to keep good quarters with him keep love to him in integrity life to keep a constant course of sound solid daily communion with Christ temptatations are daily breaking the threed of that course it is not easie to cast a knot again many knots make evil work O how fair have many ships been plying before the wind that in an hour's space have been lying in the sea bottom How many professours cast a golden lustre as if they were pure gold yet are under that skin cover but base reprobate mettall And how many keep breath in their race many miles yet come short of the prize the garland Dear Sir my soul would mourn in secret for you if I knew your case with God to be but false work Love to have you anchored upon Christ maketh me fear your tottering slips False under-water not seen in the ground of an enlightned conscience is dangerous so is often failing sinning against light Know this that these who never had sick nights nor days in conscience for sin cannot have but such a peace with God as will undercot break the flesh again and end in a sad war at death O how fearfully are thousands beguiled with false hide growen over old sins as if the soul were cured and healed Dear Sir I saw ever nature mighty lofty heady strong in you it was more for you to be mortified dead to the world then another common man Ye will take a low ebbe a deep cut a long lancâ— to goe to the bottom of your wounds in saving humiliation to make you a won prey for Christ Be humbled walk softly down down for God's sake my dear worthy Brother with your topsail Stoop Stoop it is a low entry to goe in at heaven's gates There is infinite Justice in the party ye have to doe with it is his nature not to acquit the guilty the sinner The Law of God will not want one farthing of the sinner God forgetteth not both the Cautioner the sinner every man must pay either in his own person O Lord save you from that payment or in his cautioner Christ. It is violence to corrupt nature for a man to be holy to lie down under Christ's feet to quite will pleasure wordly love earthly hope an itching of heart after this fairded overguilded world to be content that Christ trample upon all Come in come in to Christ and see what ye want finde it in him He is the short cut as we use to say and the nearest way to an outgate of all your burdens I dare avouch ye shall be dearly welcome to him my soul would be glad to take part of the joy ye should have in him I daresay Angels pens Angels tongues nay as many worlds of Angels as there are drops of water in all the seas fountains and rivers of the earth cannot paint him out to you I think his sweetness since I was a prisoner hath swelled upon me to the greatness of two heavens O for a soul as wide as the outmost circle of the highest heaven that containeth all to contain his love And yet I could hold little of it O world's wonder O if my soul might but lie within the smell of his love suppose I could get no more but the smell of it O but it is long to that day when I shall have a free world of Christ's love O what a sight to be up in heaven in that fair orchard of the new Paradise to see and smell and touch and kiss that fair field-flower that ever green tree of life His bare shadow were enough for me a sight of him would be the earnest of heaven to me Fy sy upon us that we have love lying rusting beside us or which is worse wasted away upon loathsom objects Christ should lie his alone Woe woe is me that Sin hath made so many mad men seeking the fool's Paradise fire under ice some good and desireable thing without and apart from Christ Christ Christ nothing but Christ can cool our love's burning languor O thirsty love wilt thou set Christ the well of life to thy head drink thy fill drink and spare not drink love be drunken with Christ Nay alas the distance betwixt us and Christ is a death O if we were clasped in other's arms We should never twin again except heaven twinned and sundered us that cannot be I desire your children to seek this Lord Desire them from me to be requested for Christ's sake to be blessed happy and come take Christ all things with him Let them beware of glassy slippery youth of foolish young motions of worldly lusts of deceivable gain of wicked company of cursing lying blaspheming and foolish talking Let them be filled with the Spirit acquaint themselves with daily praying with the store-house of wisdom and comfort the good word of God Help the souls of the poor people O that my Lord would bring me again among them that I might tell uncouth great tales of Christ to them Receive not a stranger to preach any other doctrine to them Pray for me his prisoner of hope I pray for you without ceasing I write my blessing earnest prayers the love of God the sweet presence of Christ to you and yours and them Grace grace grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Your lawful and loving Pastor S. R. To the Earle of LOTHIAN 141 Right honourable my very worthy and Noble Lord. OUt of the honourable good report that I hear of your Lo goodwill kindness in taking to heart the honourable cause of Christ his afflicted Church wronged truth in this land I make bold to speak a word in paper to your Lo at this distance which I trust your Lo will take in good part It is your Lo honour credit to put to
130. But alas who hath a heart that will give Christ the last word in flyting will hear not speak again Oh contestations quarrelous replies as a soon sadled spirit I doe well to be angry even to the death Ion. 4 9. Smell of the stink of strong corruption O blessed soul that could sacrifice his will goe to heaven having lost his will made resignation of it to Christ I would seek no more but that Christ were absolute King over my will that my will were a sufferer in all crosses without meeting Christ with such a word why is it thus I wish still that my love had but leave to stand beside beautifull Jesus to get the mercy of looking to him burning for him suppose possession of him were suspended fristed till my Lord fold together the leaves two sides of the little shepherds tents of clay Oh what pain is in longing for Christ under an over-clouded and eclipsed assurance What is harder then to burn and dwine with longings and deaths of love then to have blanks uninked paper for assurance of Christ in real fruition or possession O how sweet were one line or half a letter of a written assurance under Christ's own hand But this is our exercise daily that guiltiness shall overmist and darken assurance It is a miracle to beleeve but for a sinner to beleeve is two miracles But O what obligations of love are we under to Christ who beareth with our wilde apprehensions in suffering them to nick-name sweet Jesus to put a lye upon his good name If he had not been God and if long-suffering in Christ were not like Christ himself we should long agoe have broken Christ's mercies in two pieces put an iron bar upon our own salvation that mercy should not have been able to break or overleap but long-suffering in God is God himself that is ouâ— salvation the stability of our heaven is in God He knew who said Christ in you the hope of glory Col. 1. 27. For our hope the bottom pillars of it is Christ-God sinners are anchor-fast made stable in God So that if God doe not change which is impossible then my hope shall not fluctuat O sweet stability of suâ—e-bottomed salvation Who could win heaven if this were not who could be saved if God were not God if he were not such a God as he is O God be thanked that our Salvation is coasted landed shored upon Christ who is master of winds storms what sea-winds can blow the coast or the land out of it's place Bulwarks are often casten down but coasts are not removed but suppose that were or might be yet God cannot reel nor remove Oh that we goe from this strong unmoveable Lord that we loose our selves if it were in our power from him Alas our green young love hath not taken with Christ as being unacquainted with him He is such a wide broad deep high surpassing sweetness that our love is too little for him But O if our love little as it is could take baâ—d with his great huge sweetness and transcendent excellency O thrice blessed eternally blessed are they who are out of themselves above themselves that they may be in love united to him I am often rolling up down the thoughts of my faint sick desires of expressing Christ's glory before his people but I see not through the throng of impediments cannot finde eyes to look higher and so I put many things in Christ's way to hinder him that I know he would but laugh at with one stride set his foot over them all I know not if my Lord will bring me to his sanctuary or not but I know he hath the placing of me either within or without the house that nothing will be done without him But I am often thinking saying within my self that my dayes flee away and I see no good neither yet Christ's work thriving and it is like the grave shall prevent the answer of my desires of saving souls as I would But alas I cannot make right work of his wayes I neither spell nor read my Lord's providence aright My thoughts goe a way that I fear they meet not God for it is like God will not come the way of my thoughts I cannot be taught to crucifie to him my wisdom desires to make him King over my thoughts for I would have a Princedom over my thoughts would boldly blindly prescribe to God guide my self in a way of my own making But I hold my peace here let him doe his will Grace grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Yours in his sweetest Lord and Master S. R. To CARSLUTH 147 Much honoured Sir I Long to hear how your soul prospereth I earnestly desire you to try how matters stand between your soul the Lord think it no easy matter to take heaven by violence Salvation cometh now to the most part of men in a night dream there is no scarcity of faith now such as it is for ye shall not now light upon the man who will not say he hath faith in Christ But alas dreams make no man's rights Worthy Sir I beseech you in the Lord give your soul no rest till ye have reall assurance Christ's rights confirmed sealed to your soul The common faith countrey-holiness week-day's zeal that is among people will never bring men to heaven Take pains for your salvation for in that day when ye shall see many mens labours conquests idol-riches lying in ashes when the earth all the works thereof shall be burnt with fire O how dear a price would your soul give for God's favour in Christ It is a blessed thing to seek Christ with up-sun to read over your papers soul-accounts with fair day-light It will not be time to cry for a lamp when the Bridegroom is entred into his chamber the door shut Fy fy upon blinded base souls who are committing whoredom with this idol-clay hunting a poor wretched hungry heaven a hungry break-fast a day's meat from this hungry world with the forfeiting of God's favour the drinking over their heaven over the board as men use to speak for the laughter sports of this short forenoon All that is under this vault of heaven betwixt us death in this side of sun moon are but toyes night-visions head-fancies poor shadows watery froth godless vanities at their best black hearts salt sowre miseries sugared over confected with an hour's laughter or two the conceit of riches honour vain vain Court lawless pleasures Sir if ye look both to the laughing side the weeping side of this world if ye look not onely upon the skin and colour of things but in to their inwards the heart of their
glory ye shall see him to be all things and that incomparable jewel of gold that ye should seek howbeit ye should sell wod-set forfeit your few years portion of this life's joyes O happy soul for evermore who can rightly compare this life with that long-lasting life to come can ballance the weighty glory of the one with the light golden vanity of the other The day of the Lord is now near hand all meÌ„ shall come out in their black 's white 's as they are There shall be no borrowed lying colours in that day when Christ shall be called Christ no longer nicknamed now men borrow Christ his white colour the lustre fairding of Christianity but how many counterfeit masks will be burnt in the day of God in the fire that shall burn the earth the works that are in it And howbeit Christ have the hardest part of it now yet in the presence of my Lord whom I serve in the spirit I would not niffer or exchange Christ's prison bands chains with the gold chains Lordly rents smiling happy-like heavens of the men of this world I am far from thoughts of repenting because of my losses bonds for Christ I wish all my adversaries were as I am except my bonds Worthy worthy worthy for evermore is Christ for whom we should suffer pains like hell's pains far more the short hell that the saints of God have in this life Sir I wish your soul may be more acquainted with the sweetness of Christ. Grace grace be with you Abord 1637. Yours in his onely Lord Master S. R. To his Parishoners at Anwoth 149 Dearly beloved in our Lord. GRace mercy peace from God our father from our Lord Jesus Christ be multiplied upon you I long exceedingly to hear of your on-going advancement in your journey to the Kingdom of God My onely joy out of heaven is to hear that the seed of God sowen among you is growing coming to an harvest for I ceased not while I was among you in season out of season according to the measure of grace given unto me to warn stir up your mindes I am free from the blood of all men for I have communicated to you the whole counsel of God And I now again charge warn you in the great dreadfull name and in the soveraign authority of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and I beseech you also by the mercies of God and by the bowels of Christ by your appearance before Christ Jesus our Lord by all the plagues that are written in God's book by your part of the holy city the new Jerusalem that ye keep the truth of God as I delivered it to you before many witnesses in the sight of God and his holy Angels for now the last dayes are come coming when many forsake Christ Jesus he saith to you will ye also leave me Remember that I forewarned you to forbear the dishor ouring of the Lord's blessed name in swearing bâ—â—spheming cursing And the prefaning of the Lord's sabbath willing you to give that day from morning to night to praying praising hearing of the word conferring and speaking not your own words but God's word thinking and meditating on God's nature word and works And that every day at morning and at right at least ye should sanctifie the Lord by praying in your houses publickly in the hearing of all that ye should in any sort forbear the receiving of the Lord's supper but after the form that I delivered it to you according to the example of Christ our Lord that is that ye should sit as banquetters at one table with our King eat drink divide the elements one to another The timber stones of the church walls shall bear witness that my soul was refreshed with the comforts of God in that supper and that crossing in baptisme was unlawfull and against Christ's ordinances And that no day besides the sabbath which is of his own appointment should be kept holy and sanctified with preaching the publick worship of God for the memory of Christ's birth death resurrection ascension seeing such dayes so observed are unlawfull wil-worship and not warranted in Christ's word And that every thing in God's worship not warranted by Christ's Testament word was unlawfull And also that Idolatry worshipping of God before hallowed creatures adoring of Christ by kneeling before bread wine was unlawfull And that ye should be humble sober modest forbearing pride envy malice wrath hatred contentim debate lying slandering stealing defrauding your neighbours in grass corn or cattell in buying or selling borrowing or lending taking or giving in bargains or covenants And that ye should work with your own hands be content with that which God hath given you That ye should studie to know God his will and keep in minde the doctrine of the Catechisme which I taught you carefully and speak of it in your houses and in the fields when ye lie down at night and when ye rise in the morning That ye should beleeve in the Son of God and obey his commandments and learn to make your accounts in time with your judge because death judgement are before you And if ye have now penury and want of that word which I delivered to you in abundance yea to God's honour I speak it without arrogating any thing to my self who am but a poor empty man ye had as much of the word in nine years while I was among you as some others have had in many Mourn for your loss of time repent My soul pitieth you that ye should suck dry breasts be put to draw at dry wells O that ye would esteem highly of the lamb of God your welbeloved Christ Jesus whose vertues and praises I preached unto you with joy which he did countenance accompany with some power and that ye would call to minde the many fair dayes and glorious feasts in our Lord's house of wine that ye and I have have had with Christ Jesus But if there be any among you that take liberty to sin because I am removed from amongst you and forget that word of truth which ye heard and turn the grace of God into wantoness I here under my hand in the name of Christ my Lord write to such persons all the plagues of God the curses that ever I preached in the pulpit of Anwoth against the childrens of disobedience And as the Lord liveth the Lord Jesus shall make good what I write unto you Therefore Dearly beloved fulfill my joy Fear the great and dreadfull name of the Lord seek God with me Scotland's judgement sleepeth not awake repent the sword of the Lord shall goe from the North to the South from the East to the West and through all the corners of the land and that sword shall be drunk with your blood amongst
the part of us all if we marrie Himself to marrie the crosses losses reproaches also that follow him for mercy followeth Christ's cross His prison for beauty is made of marble ivory his chains that are laid on his prisoners are golden chains the fighes of the prisoners of hope are perfumes with comforts the like whereof cannot be bred of found in this side of sun moon Follow on after his love â—ire not of Christ but come in and see his beauty excellency feed your soul upon Christ's sweetness This world is not yours neither would I have your heaven made of such mettall as mire clay Ye have the choice waile of all lovers in heaven or out of heaven when ye have Christ the onely delight of God his father Climb up the mountain with joy faint not for time will cut off the men who pursue Christ's followers Our best things here have a worm in them Our joyes besides God in the inner half are but woes sorrowes Christ Christ is that which our love and desires can sleep sweetly rest safely upon Now the very God of peace establish you in Christ Help a prisoner with your prayers and entreat that our Lord would be pleased to visite me with a fight of his beauty in his house as he hath sometimes done Grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To the Laird of CALLY 152 Worthy Sir GRace mercy peace be to you I have been too long I confess in writing to you My sute now to you in paper since I have no access to speak to you as formerly is that ye would lay the foundation sure in your youth When ye begin to seek Christ try I pray you upon what terms ye covenant to follow him and lay your accounts what it may cost you that summer nor winter nor well nor woe may not cause you change your master Christ Keep fair to him be honest and faithfull that he finde not a crack in you Surely ye are now in the throng of temptations When youth is come to it's fairest bloom then the Devil the lusts of a deceiving world sin are upon horse-back and follow with up sails If this were not Paul needed not to have written to a sanctified holy youth Timothy a faithfull preacher of the Gospel flee the lusts of youth Give Christ your virgin-love ye cannot put your love heart in a better hand O if ye knew him saw his beauty Your love your liking your heart your desires would close with him cleave to him Love by nature when it seeth cannot but cast out it 's spirit and strength upon amiable objects good things things love-worthy and what fairer thing then Christ O fair sun and fair moon and fair stars and fair flowers and fair roses and fair lilies and fair creatures but O ten thousand thousand times fairer Lord Jesus Alas I wronged him in making the comparison this way O black sun moon but O fair Lord Jesus O black flowers black lilies roses but O fair fair ever fair Lord Jesus O all fair things black deformed without beauty when ye are beside that fairest Lord Jesus O black heaven but O fair Christ O black Angels but O surpassingly fair Lord Jesus I would seek no more to make me happy for evermore but a through clear sight of the beauty of Jesus my Lord Let my eyes enjoy his fairness store him for ever in the face I have all that can be wished Get Christ rather then gold or silver seek Christ howbeit ye should lose all things for him They take their marks by the moon look asquint in looking to fair Christ who resolve for the world their ease for their honour court credit or for fear of losses a sore skin that they will turn their back upon Christ his truth Alas how many blinde eyes squint-lookers look this day in Scotland upon Christ's beauty they see a spot in Christ's fair face Alas they are not worthy of Christ who look this way upon him see no beauty in him why they should desire him God send me my fill of his beauty if it be possible that my soul can be full of his beauty here But much of Christ's beauty needeth not abate the eager appetite of a soul sick of love for himself to see him in the other world where he is seen as he is I am glad with all my heart that ye have given your greenest morning age to this Lord Jesus Hold on weary not faint not resolve upon suffering for Christ but fear not ten dayes tribulation for Christ's sowre cross is sugared with comforts hath a taste of Christ himself I esteem it my glory my joy my crown I bless him for this honour to be yoked with Christ married with him in suffering who therefore was born therefore came into the world that he might bear witness to the truth Take pains above all things for salvation for without running fighting sweating wrestling heaven is not taken O happy soul that crosseth nature's stomack delighteth to gain that fair garland crown of glory What a feckless loss is it for you to goe through this wilderness never taste of sin's sugared pleasures What poorer is a soul to want pride lust love of the world the vanities of this vain worthless world Nature hath no cause to weep at the want of such toyes as these Esteem it your gain to be an heir of glory O but that is an eye-look to a fair rent The very hope of heaven under troubles is like wind sails to the soul like wings when the feet come out of the share O for what stay we here Up up after our Lord Jesus this is not our rest nor our dwelling What have we to doe in this prison except onely to take meat house-room in it for a time Grace grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Your soul's welwisher Christ prisoner S. R. To WILLIAM GORDON At Kenmure 153 Dear Brother GRace mercy peace be to you I have been long in answering your letter which came in good time to me It is my aim hearty desire that my furnace which is of the Lord 's kindling may sparkle fire upon standers by to the warming of their hearts with God's love The very dust that falleth from Christ's feet his old ragged clothes his knotty black cross is sweeter to me then Kings golden crowns their time-eaten pleasures I should be a liar false witness if I should not give my Lord Jesus a fair testimonial with my whole soul my word I know will not heighten him he needeth not such props under his feet to raise his glory high But Oh that I could raise him the height of heaven the breadth length often heavens in the
Lord Jesus market-sweet lovely desireable fair to all the world both to Jew and Gentil O let my part of heaven goe for it sobeing he would take my tongue to be his instrument to set out Christ in his whole braveries of love vertue grace sweetness matchless glory to the eyes hearts of Jews Gentiles But who is sufficient for these things O for the help of Angels tongues to make Christ eye-sweet and amiable to many thousands O how little doeth this world see of him how far are they from the love of him seeing there is so much loveliness beauty and sweetness in Christ that no created eye did ever yet see I would that all men knew his glory and that I could put many in at the bridegroom's chamber door to see his beauty to be partakers of his high and deep and broad and boundless love O let all the world come nigh and see Christ and they shall then see more then I can say of him O if I had had a pledge or pawne to lay down for a sea-full of his love that I could come by somuch of Christ as would satisfie griening and longing for him or rather increase it till I were in full possession I know we shall meet therein I rejoyce Sir stand fast in the truth of Christ that ye have received Yeeld not to winds but ride out let Christ be your anchor the onely He whom ye shall look to see in peace Pray for me his prisoner that the Lord would send me among you to feed his people Grace grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To JOHN FLEMING Bailiffe of Leith 157 Worthy Sir GRace mercy and peace be to you The Lord hath brought me safe to this strange town Blessed be his holy name I finde his cross easie and light and I hope he shall be with his poor sold Joseph who is separated from his brethren His comforts have abounded towards me as if Christ thought shame if I may speak so to be in the common of such a poor man as I am and would not have me lose any thing in his errands My enemies have beside their intention made me more blessed and have put me in a sweeter possession of Christ then ever I had before Onely the memory of the fair dayes I had with my welbeloved amongst the flock intrusted to me keepeth me low and sowreth my unseen joy But it must be so and he is wise who tutoureth me this way For that which my brethren have and I want and others of this world have I am content my faith will frist God my happiness No Son offendeth that his father giveth him not hire twice a year for he is to abide in the house when the inheritance is to be divided It is better God's children live upon hope then upon hire Thus remembring my love to your worthy and kinde wife I bless you and her and all yours in the Lord's name Aberd. Sept 20. 1637. Yours in his onâ—ly onely Lord Iesus S. R. To WILLIAM GLENDINING Bailiffe of Kirkcudbright 158 Worthy Sir GRace mercy peace be to you I am well honour be to God aswell as a râ—joycing prisoner of Christ can be hoping that one day He for whom I now suffer shall enlarge me put me above the threatnings of men I am sometimes sad heavy casten down at the memory of the fair dayes I had with Christ in Anwoth Kirk cudbright cet The remembrance of a feast encreaseth hunger in a hungry man but who knoweth but our Lord will yet cover a table in the wilderness to his hungry bairns build the old waste places in Scotland bring home Zion's captives I desire to see no more glorious sight till I see the Lamb on his throne then to see Mount Zion all green with grass the dew lying upon the tops of the grass the crown put upon Christ's head in Scotland again And I beleeve it shall be so that Christ shall mowe down his enemies fill the pits with their dead bodies I finde people here dry uncouth A man pointed at for suffering dare not be countenanced so that I am like to sit mine alone upon the ground But my Lord payeth me well home again for I have neither tongue nor pen nor heart to express the sweetness excellency of the love of Christ Christ's honey-combs drop hony sloods of consolation upon my soul My chains are gold Christ's cross iâ— all overguilded and perfumed His prison is the garden and orchard of my delights I would goe through burning quick to my lovely Christ I sleep in his arms all the night my head betwixt his breasts My welbeloved is altogether lovely This is all nothing to that which my soul hath felt Let no man for my cause scar at Christ's cross If my stipend place countrey credit had been an Earledom a Kingdom ten Kingdoms and a whole earth all were too little for the crown and scepter of my royall King Mine enemies mine enemies have made me blessed They ave sent me to the bridegroom's chamber Love is his banner over me I live a Kings life I want nothing but heaven and the possession of the crown my earnest is great Christ is no niggard to me Dear Brother be for the Lord Jesus and his heart-broken bride I need not I hope remember my distressed brother to your care Remember my love to your wife Let Christ want nothing of us His garments shall be rolled in the blood of the slain of Scotland Grace grace be with you pray for Christ's prisoner Aberd. Sept. 21. 1637 Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To ROBERT GORDON Of Knockbrex 159 Dear Brother GRace mercy peace be to you I am by God's mercy come now to Aberden the place of my confinement setled in an honest man's house I finde the town's-men cold generall dry in their kindness yet I finde a lodging in the heart of many strangers My challenges are revived again I finde old sores bleeding of new so dangerous painfull is an undercotted conscience yet I have an eye to the blood that is physick for such sores But verily I see Christianity is conceived to be more easie lighter then it is so that I sometimes think I never knew any thing but the letters of that name for our nature contenteth it self with little in godliness Our Lord Lord seemeth to us ten Lord Lords little holiness in our ballance is much because it is our own holâ—ness we love to lay small burdens upon our soft natures to make a fair courtway to heaven And I know it were necessary to take more pains then we doe not to make heaven a city more easily taken then God hath made it I perswade my self many runners shall come short get a disappointment Oh how easie is it to deceive our selves
to sleep wish that heaven may fall down in our laps Yet for all my Lord's glooms I finde him sweet gracious loving kinde I want both pen words to set forth the fairness beauty sweetness of Christ's love the honour of this cross of Christ which is glorious to me though the world thinketh shame thereof I verily think that the cross of Christ would blush think shame of these thin-skined worldlings who are so married to their credit that they are ashamed of the sufferings of Christ. O the honour to be scourged stoned with Christ to goe through a furious-faced death to life eternall But men would have Lawborrows against Christ's cross Now My dear Brother forget not the prisoner of Christ for I see very few here who kindely fear God Grace be with you Let my love in Christ hearty affection be remembred to your kinde wife to your Brother Iohn to all friends The Lord Jesus be with your Spirit Abed Sept. 20. 1636. Yours in his onely onely Lord Iesus S. R. To EARLESTOWN Younger 160. Much Honoured Sir GRace mercy peace be to you I am well Christ triumpheth in me blessed be his name I have all things I burden no man I see this earth and the fullness thereof is my father's sweet sweet is the cross of my Lord The blessing of God upon the cross of my Lord Jesus My enemies have contributed beside their designe to make me blessed This is my palace not my prison especially when my Lord shineth smileth upon his poor afflicted sold Joseph who is separated from his brethen But often he hideth himself there is a day of law court of challenges within me I know not if fenced in God's name but Oh my neglects Oh my unseen guiltiness I imagined that a sufferer for Christ kept The keys of Christ's treasure might take out his womb-full of comforts when he pleased but I see a sufferer witness will be holden at the door aswell as another poor sinner be glad to eat with the bairns to take the by-board This cross hath let me see that heaven is not at the next door that it is a castle not soon taken I see also it is neither pain nor art to play the hyprocrite We have all learned to sell our selves for double price to make the people who call ten twenty twenty an hundred esteem us half-gods or men fallen out of the clouds But Oh sincerity sincâ—rity if I knew what sincerity meaneth Sir lay the foundation thus ye shall not soon shrink nor be shaken Make tight work at the bottom your ship shall ride against all storms if with all your anchor be fastned upon good ground I mean with in the vail verily I think this is All to gain Christ All other things are shadows dreams fansies nothing Sir remember my love to your mother I pray for mercy grace to her I wish her on-going toward heaven As I promised to write so shew her I want nothing in my Lord's service Christ will not be in such a poor man's common as mine Grace grace be with you Aberd. Sept. 22. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To JOHN GORDON 161 Worthy dear Brother GRace mercy and peace be to you I have been too long in writing to you but multitude of letters taketh much time from me I bless his great name whom I serve in the spirit if it came to voting amongst Angels and men how excellent and sweet Christ is even in his reproaches and in his cross I cannot but vote with the first that all that is in him both cross crown kisses glooms embracements and frownings and strokes are sweet and glorious God send me no more happiness in heaven or out of heaven but Christ For I finde this world when I have looked upon it on both sides within without when I have seen even the laughing and lovely-like side of it to be but a fool's idol a clay prison Lord let it not be the nest that my hope buildeth in I have now cause to judge my part of this earth not worth a blast of smoke or a mouth-full of brown bread I wish my Hope may take a running-leap skip over Time's pleasures Sin 's plaistering gold-â—oâ—e this vain earth rest upon my Lord. O how great is our night-darkness in this wilderness To have any conceit at all of this world is as a man would close his handfull of water and holding his hand in the river say all the water of the flood is his as if it were indeed all within the compass of his hand Who would not laugh at the thoughts of such a crack-brain Verily they have but an handfull of water are but like a childe clasping his two hands about a night-shadow who idolize any created hope but God I now ligh lie put the price of a dream or fable or black nothing upon all things but upon God that desireable love-worthy one my Lord Jesus Let all the world be nothing for nothing was their seed mother let God be all things My very dear Brother know ye are as near heaven as ye are far from your self far from the love of a bewitching whorish world For this World in it's gain and glory is but the great and notable common whore that all the sons of men have been in fancy lust withall these 5000 years the children that they have begotten with this uncouth lustfull lover are but vanity dreams golden imaginations night-thoughts For there is no good ground here under the covering of heaven for men poor wearied souls to set down their foot upon O he who is called God that one whom they term Iesus Christ is worth the having indeed even ifâ— had given away all without my eye-holes my soul and my self for sweet Jesus my Lord O let the claim be cancelled that the creatures have to me except that claim my Lord Iesus hath to me Oh that he would claim poor me my silly light worthless soul O that he would pursue his claim to the utmost point not want me For it is my pain remediless sorrow to want him I see nothing in this life but sinks mires dreams beguiling ditches ill ground for us to build upon I am fully perswaded of Christs victory in Scotland but I fear this land be not yet ripe and white for mercy Yet I dare be halfer upon my salvation with the losses of the church of Scotland that her foes afternoon shall sing dole sorrow for evermore and that her joy shall once again be cried up her skie shall clear But vengeance burning shall be to her adversaries the sinners of this land Oh that we could be awakened to prayers humiliation Then should our sun shine like seven suns in the heaven then
spue fall Remember my love to your good kinde wife Grace be with you Aberd. Nov. 23. 1636. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To EARLESTOVVN ELDER Rev. 12 11. And they overcame the Dragon by the blood of the Lamb the word of their testimony they loved not their lives unto the death 165 Much honoured Sir GRace mercy peace be to you I long to see you in paper to be refreshed by you I cannot but desire you charge you to help me to praise him who feedeth a poor prisoner with the fatness of his house O how weighty is his love O but there is much telling in Christ's kindness The Amen the faithfull true witness hath payed me my hundred fold well told one to the hundred I complained of him but he is owing me nothing now Sir I charge you to help me to praise his goodness to proclaim to others my Bridegroom's kindness whose love is better then wine I took up an action against Christ bought a plea against his love libelled unkindness against Christ my Lord I said this is my death he hath forgotten me But my meek Lord held his peace beheld me would not contend for the last word of flyting now hath chided himself friends with me And now I see he must be God I must be flesh I pass from my summonds I acknowledge he might have given me my fill of it never troubled himself But now he háth taken away the mask I have been comforted he could not smother his love any longer to a prisoner a stranger God grant that I may never buy a plea against Christ again but may keep good quarters with him I want no kindness no love-token but Oh wise is his love for notwithstanding of this hot summer-blenk I am keeped low with the grief of my silence for his word is in me as a fire in my bowels and I see the Lord's vineyard laid waste the heathen entred into the sanctuary and my belly is pained and my soul in heaviness because the Lord's people is gone into captivity because of the fury of the Lord that wind but neither to fan nor to purge that is coming upon Apostate Scotland Also I am kept awake with the late wrong done to my brother but I trust ye will counsel comfort him Yet in this mist I see beleeve the Lord will heal this halting Kirk will lay her stones with fair colours her foundations with Saphires will make her windows of Agates her gates Carbuncles Isa. 54. 11 12. And for brass he will bring gold He hath created the smith that formed the sword no weapon in war shall prosper against use Let us be glad rejoyce in the Lord for his Salvation is near to come Remember me to your wife your son Iohn And I entreat you to write to me Grace grace be with you Aberd. Decemb. 30. 1636. Yours in his onely onely Lord Iesus S. R. To Mr JOHN FERGUSHILL 166 Reverend welbeloved in our Lord Iesus I Must still provoke you to write by my lines whereat ye need not wonder for the cross is full of talke speak it must either good or bad Neither can grief be silent I have no dittay nor inditement to bring against Christ's cross seeing he hath made a friendly agreement betwixt me it we are in terms of love together If my former miscarriages my nowsilent sabbaths seem to me to speak wrath from the Lord I dare say it is but Satan borrowing the use loan of my cowardly feeble apprehensions which start at straws I know faith is not so saint foolish as to tremble at every false alarm Yet I gather this out of it Blessed are they who are grac'd of God 〈◊〉 guide a cross well that there is some art required herein I pray God I may not be so ill friend-stead as that Christ my Lord should leave me to be my own Tutour my own Physician Shall I not think but my Lord Jesus who deserveth his own place very well will take his own place upon him as it becometh him that he will fill his own chair For in this is his office to comfort us thes that are casten down in all their tribulations 2 Cor. 1. 4. Alas I know I am a fool to seek an hole or defect in Christ's way with my soul. If I have not a stock to pre sent to Christ at his appearance yet I pray God I may be able with joy faith constancy to shew the Captain of my savation in that day a bloody head that I received in his service howbeit my faith hang by a small tack threed I hope the tack shall not break howbeit my Lord get no service of me but broken wishes yet I trust these shall be accepted upon Christ's account I have nothing to comfort me but that I say Oh will the Lod disappoint an hungry on-waiter The smell of Christ's wine apples which surposse the uptaking of dull sense bloweth upon my soul I get no more for the mean time I am sure to let a famishing body see meat give him none of it is a double pain Our Lord's love it not so cruell as to let a poor man see Christ heaven never give him more for want of money to buy nay I rather think Christ such fair market-wares as buyers may have â—it out money without price And thus I know it shall not stand upon my want of money for Christ upon his own charges must buy my wedding garment redeem the inheritance which I have forfeited give his word for one the like of me who am not law-biding of my self Poor folks must either borrow or beg from the rich the onely thing that commendeth sinners to Christ is extream necessity want Christ's love is ready to make provide a ransome money for a poor body who hath lost his his purse Ho ye that have no money come buy Isa 55. 1. That is the poor man's market Now Brother I see old crosses would have done nothing at me therefore Christ hath takeÌ„ a new fresh rod to me that seemeth to talk with my soul make me tremble I have often more adoe now with faith when I lose my compasse am blowen on a rock then these who are my beholders standing upon the shore are aware of a counsel to a sick man is sooner given then taken Lord send the wearied man a borrowed bed from Christ I think often it is after supper with me I am heavie O but I would sleep soundly with Christ's left hand under my head his right hand embracing me the devil could not spill that bed When I consider how tenderly Christ hath cared for me in this prison I think he hath handled me as the bairn that it pitied
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
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 supper will be great chear that is up in the great hall with the royal King of glory when the four-hours the standing drink in this driery wilderness is so sweet When he bloweth a kiss a far off to his poor heart broken mourners in Zion and sendeth me but his hearty commendations till we meet I am confounded with wonder to think what it shall be when the fairest among the sons of men shall lay a King 's sweet soft cheek to the sinfull cheeks of poor sinners O time time goe swiftly hasten that day Sweet Lord Jesus post come flying like a young Hart or a Roe upon the mountains of separation I think we should tell the hours carefully look often how low the sun is For love hath no ho it is pained pained in it self till it come in grips with the party beloved 2. I finde Christ's absence love's sickness love's death The wind that bloweth out of the airth where my Lord Jesus reigneth is sweet-smelled soft joyfull heartsom to a soul burnt with absence It is a painfull battel for a soul sick of love to fight with absence delayes Christ's not yet is a stounding of all the joynts liths of the soul a nod of his head when he is under a mask would be half a pawne to say fool what aileth thee He is coming would be life to a dead man I am often in my dumb sabbaths seeking a new plea with my Lord Jesus God forgive me I care not if there be not two or three ounce weight of black wrath in my cup. For the 3 Thing I have seen my abominable vileness If I were well known there would none in this Kingdom ask how I doe Men take my ten to be an hundred but I am a deeper hypocrite shallower professour then every one beleeveth God knoweth I feigne not But I think my reckonings on the one page written in great letters his mercy to such a forlorn wretched Dyvour on the other more then a miracle If I could get my finger ends upon a full assurance I trow I should grip fast But my cup wanteth not gall upon my part despair might be almost excused if every one in this land saw my inner side But I know I am one of them who have made great sale a free market to free grace If I could be saved as I would fain beleeve sure I am I have given Christ's blood his free grace the bowels of his mercy a large field to work upon Christ hath manifested his art I dare not say to the uttermost for he can if he would forgive all the Devils damned reprobates in respect of the wideness of his mercy I say to an admirable degree 4. I am striken with fear of unthankfulness This Apostate Kirk hath played the harlot with many lovers they are spitting in the face of my lovely King and mocking him and I dow not mend it they are running away from Christ in troops and I dow not mourn be grieved for it I think Christ lieth like an old forecasten castle forsaken of the inhabitants all men run away now from him Truth innocent Truth goeth mourning wringing her hands in sackcloth ashes Woe woe woe is me for the virgin-daughter of Scotland Woe woe to the inhabitants of this land for they are gone back with a perpetual backsliding These things take me so up that a borrowed bed another man's fire-side the wind upon my face I being driven from my lovers dear acquaintance my poor flock finde no room in my sorrow I have no spare of odde sorrow for these Onely I think the sparrows and swallows that build their nests in the Kirk of Anwoth blessed birds Nothing hath given my faith a harder back-set till it crack again then my closed mouth But let me be miserable my self alone God keep my dear brethren from it But still I keep breath when my royal and never never-enough praised King returneth to his sinfull prisoner I ride upon the high places of Iacob I divide Shechem I triumph in his strength If this Kingdom would glorifie the Lord in my behalf I desire to be weighed in God's even ballance in this point if I think not my wages payed to the full I shall crave no more hire of Christ. Madam pity me in this help me to praise him For what ever I be the chief of sinners a devil a most guilty devil yet it is the apple of Christ's eye his honour glory as the head of the church that I suffer for now that I will goe to eternity with I am greatly in love with Mr M. M. I see him stamped with the image of God I hope well of your son my Lord Boyd Your La and your children have a prisoner's prayers Grace grace be with you Aberd. May. 1. 1637. Your La at all obedience in Christ S. R. To Mr THOMAS GARVEN 188. Dear Brother GRace mercy peace be to you I rejoyce that ye cannot be quite of Christ if I may speak so but he must he will have you Betake your self to Christ my dear Brother It is a great business to make quite of superfluities of these things which Christ cannot dwell with I am content with my own cross that Christ hath made mine by an eternal lot because it is Christ's mine together I marvel not that winter is without heaven for there is no winter within it All the saints therefore have their own measure of winter before their eternal summer Oh for the long day the high sun the fair garden the King 's great citie up above these visible heavens What God layeth on let us suffer For some have one cross some seven some ten some half a cross yet all the saints have whole full ioy seven crosses have seven ioyes Christ is cumbred with me to speak so my cross but he falleth not off me we are not at variance I finde the very glooms of Christ's wooing a soul sweet lovely I had rather have Christ's buffet and love-stroke then another King's kiss Speak evil of Christ who will I hope to die with love-thoughts of him Oh that there are so few tongues in heaven and earth to extoll him I wish his praises goe not down amongst us Let not Christ be low lightly esteemed in the midst of us but let all hearts all tongues cast in their portion contribute something to make him great in mount Zion Thus recommending you to his grace remembring my love to your wife mother your kinde brother R. entreating you to remember my bonds I rest Aberd. Sept. 8. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To the Laird of MONCRIEFE 189 Much honoured Sir GRace mercy peace be to you Although not acquaint yet at the desire of your worthy sister the Lady Ley's upon the report of your kindness
to Christ his oppressed truth I am bold to write to you earnestly desiring you to joyn with us so many as in these bounds profess Christ to wrestle with God one day of the week especially the Wedensday for mercy to this fallen decayed Kirk and to such as suffer for Christ's name for your own necessities the necessities of others who are by covenant engaged in that business For we have no other armour in these evil times but prayers now when wrath from the Lord is gone out against this back-sliding land for ye know we can have no true publike fasts neither are the true causes of our humiliation ever laid before the people Now very worthy Sir I am glad in the Lord that the Lord reserveth any of your place or of note in this time of common Apostacy to come forth in publike to bear Christ's name before men when the great men think Christ a cumbersom neighbour and that religion carrieth hazards trials persecutions with it I perswade my self it is your glory your garland shall be your joy in the day of Christ the standing of your house seed to inherit the earth that ye truly sincerely profess Christ Neither is our King whom the father hath crowned in mount Zion so weak that he cannot doe for himself his own cause I verily beleeve they are blessed who can hold the crown upon his head and carry up the train of his robe royal and that he shall yet be victorious and triumph in this land It is our part to back our royal King howbeit there were not six in all the land to follow him It is wisdom now to take up and discern the devil the Antichrist coming out in their whites the Apostacy Idolatry of this land washen with foul water I confess it is art to wash the Devil till his skin be white For my self Sir I have bought a plea against Christ since I came hither in judging my princely Master angry at me because I was cast out of the vineyard as a withered tree my dumb sabbaths working me much sorrow But I see now sorrow hath not eyes to read love written upon the cross of Christ therefore I pass from my rash plea Woe woe is me that I should have received a slander of Christ's love to my soul for all this my Lord Jesus hath forgiven all as not willing to be heard with such a fool is content to be as it were confined with me to bear me company to feast a poor oppressed prisoner And now I write it under my hand Worthy Sir that I think well honourably of this cross of Christ I wonder that he will take any glory from the like of me I finde that when he but sendeth his hearty commendations to me but bloweth a kiss afar off I am confounded with wondering what the supper of the Lamb will be up in our father's dining-palace of glory since the four-hours in his dismall wilderness when in prisons in our sad dayes a kiss of Christ is so comfortable O how sweet glorious shall our case be when that fairest among the sons of men shall lay his fair face to our now sinfull faces wipe away all tears from our eyes O Time Time run swiftly hasten that day O sweet Lord Jesus come flying like a roe or a young hart Alas that we blinde fools are fallen in love with moon-shine shadows how sweet is the wind that bloweth out of the airth where Christ is Every day we may see some new thing in Christ his love hath neither brim nor bottom Oh if I had help to praise him He knoweth if my sufferings glorifie his name encourage others to stand fast for the honour of our supream Law-giver Christ my wages then are payed to the full Sir help me to love that never-enough praised Lord. I finde now that the faith of the saints under suffering for Christ is fair before the wind with full sails carried upon Christ I hope to lose nothing in this furnace but dross for Christ can triumph in a weaker man then I am if there be any such And when all is done his love paineth me leaveth me under such debt to Christ as I can neither pay principal nor interest Oh if he would comprize my self if I were sold to him as a bond-man that he would take me home to his house fire-side for I have nothing to render to him Then after me let no man think hard of Christ's sweet cross for I would not change my sighs with the painted laughter of all my adversaries I desire grace in patience to wait on to lie upon the brink till the water fill flow I know he is fast coming Sir ye will excuse my boldness till it please God I see you ye have the prayers of a prisoner of Christ to whom I recommend you in whom I rest Aberd. May 14. 1637. Yours at all obedience in Christ S. R. To JOHN CLARK 190. Loving Brother HOld fast Christ without wavering contend for the faith because Christ is not easily gotten nor kept The lazie professour hath put heaven as it were at the very next door thinketh to flye up to heaven in his bed and in a night-dream but truly that is not so easie a thing as most men beleeve Christ himself did sweat ere he won this city howbeit he was the free-born Heir It is Christianity My heart to be sincere unfeigned honest upright-hearted before God to live serve God suppose there were not one man or woman in all the world dwelling beside you to eye you Any little grace that ye have see that it be sound true Ye may put a difference betwixt you and reprobats if ye have these markes 1. If ye prize Christ his truth so as ye will sell all buy him suffer for it 2. If the love of Christ keepeth you back from sinning more then the Law or fear of hell 3. If ye be humble deny your own will wit credit ease honour the world the vainity glory of it 4. Your profession must not be barren void of good works 5. Ye must in all things aime at God's honour ye must eat drink sleep buy sell sit stand speak pray read and hear the word with a heart-purpose that God may be honoured 6. Ye must shew your self an enemy to sin and reprove the works of darkness such as drunkenness swearing lying albeit the company should hate you for doing so 7. Keep in minde the truth of God that ye heard me teach and have nothing to doe with the corruptions and new guises entred into the house of God 8. Make conscience of your calling in covenants in buying selling 9. Acquaint your self with daily praying commit all your wayes actions to God by prayer supplication thank
giving and count not much of being mocked for Christ Jesus was mocked before you Perswade your self that this is the way of peace and comfort I now suffer for I dare goe to death in to eternity with it though men may possibly seek another way Remember me in your prayers the state of this oppressed Church Grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Your soul's Well-wisher S. R. To CARDONNESS Elder 191 Much honoured Sir I long to hear how your soul prospereth I wonder that ye write not to me for the holy Ghost beareth me witness I cannot I dare not I dow not forget you nor the souls o these with you who are redeemed by the blood of the greaf Shepherd Ye are in my heart in the night watches ye are my◠joy crown in the day of Christ O Lord bear witness if my soul thirsteth for any thing out of heaven more then for your salvation Let God lay me in an even ballance try me in this Love heaven let your heart be on it Up up visit the new land view the fair city the white throne the Lamb the bride 's husband in his bridegroom's clothes sitting on it It were time your soul should cast it self all your burdens upon Christ. I beseech you by the wounds of your Redeemer by your compearance before him by the salvation of your soul lose no more time run fast for it is late God hath sworn by himself who made the world and time that time shall be no more Rev. 10 Ye are now upon the very border of the other life your Lord cannot be blamed for not giving you warning I have taught the truth of Christ to you delivered unto you the whole counsel of God I have stood before the Lord for you I shall yet still stand awake awake to doe righteously Think not to be eased of the burthens debts that are on your house by oppressing any or being rigorous to these that are under you remember how I endeavoured to walk before you in this matter as an example behold here am I witness against me before the Lord his Anointed whose ox or whoseass have I taken Whom have I defrauded Whom have I oppressed Who knoweth how my soul feedeth upon a good conscience when I remember how I spent this body in feeding the lambs of Christ At my first entry hither I grant I took a stomack against my Lord because he had casten me over the dike of the vineyard as a dry tree would have no more of my service My dumb sabbaths broke my heart and I would not be comforted but now he whom my soul love this come again and it pleaseth him to feast me with the kisses of his love A King dineth with me and his spikenard casteth a sweet smell The Lord my witness is above that I write my heart to you I never knew by my nine years preaching so much of Christ's love as he hath taught me in Aberden by six moneths imprisonment I charge you in Christ's name help me to praise shew that people countrey the loving kindness of the Lord to my soul that so my sufferings may someway preach to them when I am silent He hath made me know now better then before what it is to be crucified to the world I would not now give a drink of cold water for all the world's kindness I ow no service to it I am not the flesh's debter My Lord Jesus hath dâted his prisoner hath thoughts of love concerning me I would not exchange my sighs with the laughing of my adversaries Sir I write this to inform you that ye may know it is the truth of Christ I now suffer for he hath sealed nay sufferings with the comforts of his spirit on my soul I know he putteth not his seal upon blank paper Now Sir I have no comfort earthly but to know that I have espoused and shall present a bride to Christ in that congregation The Lord hath given you much and therefore he will require much of you again Number your talents see what ye have to render back again ye cannot be enough perswaded of the shortness of your time I charge you to write to me in the fear of God be plain with me whether or no ye have made your salvation sure I am confident hope the best but I know your reckonings with your Judge are many and deep Sir be not beguiled neglect not your one thing Philip. 3 13 your one necessary thing Luke 10 42 the good part that shall not be taken from you Look beyond time things here are but moon-shine they have but Childrens wit who are delighted with shadows deluded withfeathers flying in the air Desire your children in the morning of their life to begin seek the Lord to remember their Creator in the dayes of their youth Eccles. 12 1. to cleanse their way by taking heed thereto according to God's word Ps. 119 9. youth is a glassy age Satan findes a swept chamber for the most part in youth-hood a garnished lodging for himself his train Let the Lord have the flower of their age The best sacrifice is due to him Instruct them in this that they have a soul that this life is nothing in comparison of eternity They will have much need of God's conduct in this world to guide them by these rocks upon which most men split but far more need when it cometh to the hour of death their compearance before Christ. O that there were such a heart in them to fear the name of the great dreadfull God who hath laid up great things for these that love fear him I pray that God may be their portion Show others of my parishoners that I write to them my best wishes and the blessings of their lawfull Pastor Say to them from me that I beseech them by the bowels of Christ to keep in minde the Doctrine of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ which I taught them that so they may lay hold on eternal life striving together for the faith of the Gospel making sure salvation to themselves Walk in love doe righteousness seek peace love one another wait for the coming of our Master Judge Receive no doctrine contrary to that which I delivered to you If ye fall away forget it that Catechisme which I taught you so forsake your own mercy the Lord be judge betwixt you me I take heaven earth to witness that such shall eternally perish but if they serve the Lord great will their reward be when they I shall stand before our Judge Set forward up the mountain to meet with God climb up for your Saviour calleth on you It may be God call you to your rest when I am far from you but ye have my love the desires of my heart for your souls wel-fare
He that is holy keep you from falling establish you till his own glorious appearance Aberd. 1637. Your affectionat lawfull Pastor S. R. To CARDONNESS Younger 192. Much honoured Sir I Long to hear whether or not your soul be hand-fasted with Christ Lose your time no longer Flee the follies of youth Gird up the loins of your minde make you ready for meeting the Lord. I have often summoned you now I summond you again to compear before your Judge to make a reckoning of your life while ye have Time look upon your papers consider your wayes O that there were such an heart in you as to think what an ill conscience will be to you when yeare upon the border of eternity your one foot out of time O then ten thousand thousand floods of tears cannot extinguish these flames or purchase to you one hour's release from that pain O how sweet a day have ye had But this is a fair day that runneth fast away see how ye have spent it consider the necessity of salvation tell me in the fear of God if ye have made it sure I am perswaded ye have a conscience that will be speaking somewhat to you Why will ye die destroy yourself I charge you in Christ's name to rouze up your conscience begin to indent contract with Christ in time while salvation is in your offer This is the accepted time this is the day of salvation play the marchant for ye cannot expect another market-day when this is done therefore let me again beseech you to consider in this your day the things that belong to your peace before they be hid from your eyes Dear Brother fulfill my joy begin to seek the Lord while he may be found Forsake the follies of deceiving vain youth Lay hold upon eternall life Whoring night-drinking mispending of the sabbath neglecting of prayer in your house refusing of an offered salvation will burn up your soul with the terrours of the Almighty when your awakened conscience shall flee in your face Be kinde loving to your wife make conscience of cherishing her and not being rigidly austere Sir I have not a tongue to express the glory that is laid up for you in your father's house if ye reform your doings and frame your heart to return to the Lord. Ye know this world is but a shadow a short-living creature under the law of time within less then fifty yeers when ye look back to it ye shall laugh at the evanishing vanities thereof as feathers flying in the air and at the houses of sand within the sea-mark which the children of men are building Give up with courting of this vain world Seek not the bastard's moveables but the Son's heritage in heaven Take a trial of Christ look unto him his love shall so change you that ye shall be taken with him never chuse to goe from him I have experience of his sweetness in this house of my pilgrimage here My witness who is above knoweth I would not exchange my sighs tears with the laughing of the fourteen Prelats There is nothing will make you a Christian indeed but a taste of the sweetness of Christ come and see will speak best to your soul I would fain hope good of you be not discouraged at broken spilt resolutions but to it to it again Wooe about Christ till ye get your soul espoused as a chaste virgin to him Use the means of profiting with your conscience Pray in your family read the word Remember how our Lord's day was spent when I was among you It will be a great challenge to you before God if ye forget the good that was done within the walls of your house on the Lord's dayes if ye turn aside after the fashions of this world if ye goe not in time to the kirk to wait on the publike worship of God if ye tarry not at it till all the exercises of religion be ended Give God some of your time both morning evening afternoon in so doing rejoyce the heart of a poor oppressed prisoner Rue upon your own soul from your heart fear the Lord. Now he that brought again from the dead the great Shepherd of his sheep by the blood of the eternall Covenant establish your heart with his grace present you before his presence with joy Aberd. 1637. Your affectionat loving Pastor S. R. To CARLETOWN 193 Much honoured Sir I Will not impute your not writing to me to forgetfulness how ever I have one above who forgetteth me not nay he groweth in his kindess It hath pleased his holy Majesty to take me from the pulpit teach me many things in my exile prison that were mysteries to me before As 1. I see his bottomless boundless love kindness my jealousies ravings which at my first entry into this furnace were so foolish bold as to say to Christ who is truth it self in his face thou liest I had well nigh lost my grips I wondered if it was Christ or not for the mist smoke of my perturbed heart made me mistake my Master Jesus My faith was dim hope frozen cold my love which caused jealousies it had some warmness heat smoke but no flame at all yet I was looking for some good of Christ's old claim to me I thought I had forfeited all my rights but the tempter was too much upon my counsels was still blowing the coal Alas I knew not well before how good skill my Intercessor and advocate Christ hath of pleading and pardoning me such follies Now he is returned to my soul with healing under his wings and I am nothing behinde with Christ now for he hath overpaid me by his presence the pain I was put to by on-waiting and any little loss I sustained by my witnessing against the wrongs done to him I trow it was a pain to my Lord to hide himself any longer In a manner he was challenging his unkindness repented him of his glooms now what want I on earth that Christ can give to a poor prisoner O how sweet and lovely is he now Alas that I can get none to help me to lift up my Lord Jesus upon his throne above all the earth 2. I am now brought to some measure of submission and I resolve to wait till I see what my Lord Jesus will doe with me I dare not now nick name or speak one word against the all-seeing over-watching providence of my Lord I see providence runneth not on broken wheels but I like a fool carved a providence for mine own ease to die in my nest to sleep still till my gray hairs and to lie on the sunny side of the mountain in my ministery at Anwoth But now I have nothing to say against a borrowed fire-side another man's house nor Kedars tents where I
to be carried in Christ's arms out of this borrowed prison Grace grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To the â—aird of CARLETOUN 207 Worthy Six GRace mercy and peace be to you I received your letter am heartily glad that our Lord hath begun to work for the apparent delivery of this poor oppressed Kirk O that salvation would come for Zion I am for the present hanging by hope waiting what my Lord will doe with me if it will please my sweet Master to send me amongst you again keep out a hireling from my poor people flock It were my heaven till I come home even to spend this liâ—e in gathering in some to Christ. I have still great heaviness for my silence my forced standing idle in the market when this land hath such a plentifull thick harvest but I know his judgements who hath done it pass fiâ—…ding out I have no nowledge to take up the Lord in all his strange wayes 〈◊〉 pâ—ssages of deep unsearchable providences for the Lord is bâ—fore me I am so be-misted that I cannot follow him He is behinde me and following at the heels and I am not aware of him he is above me but his glory so 〈◊〉 my twilight of short knowledge that I cannot look up to him He is upon my right hand and I see him no He is upon my left hand and within me and goeth and comâ—th his going coming are a drâ—aâ—… to me He is round about me compâ—…th â—l my goingâ— aâ—d still I have him to eek He is every way higher dâ—eper broadâ—r then the shallow ebbe hand-breadth of my shoâ—t dâ—… light can take up therefore I would my heart could be silent sit down in the learnedly-ignorant wondering at that Lord whom m n Angâ—ls caâ—not comprehend I know the noon-day-light of the highest Angels who see him face to face seeth not the borders of his infiniteness They apprehend God near hand but they cannot comprehend him And therefore it is my happiness to look afar off and to come near to the Lord's back parts to light my dark candle at his brightness to have leave to sit content my self with a traveller's light without the clear vision of an enjoyer I would seek no more till I were in my countrey but a little watering sprinkling of a withered soul with some half out breakin gs half-outlookings of the beam and small raviâ—hing smiles of the fairest face of a revealed beleeved on Godhead A little of God would make my soul bank-full O that I had but Christ's odde off fallings that he would let but the meanest of his love-rayes love-beams fall from him so as I might gather carry them with me I would not be ill to please with Christ and vailed visions of Christ neither would I be dainty in seeing and enjoying of him A kiss of Christ blowen over his shoulder the parings and crumbs of glory that fall under his table in heaven a shower like a thin May-mist of his love would make me green and sappy joyfull till the summer-sun of an eternall glory break up O that I had any thing of Christ O that I had a sip or half a drop out of the hollow of Christ's hand of the sweetness excellency of that lovely One O that my Lord Jesus would â—ue upon me give me but the meanest almes of felt beleeved salvation O how little were it for that infinite sea that infinite fountain of love joy to fill as many thousand thousand little vessels the like of me as there are minutes of hours since the creation of God! I finde it true that a poor soul finding half a smell of the Godhead of Christ hath desires paining wounding the poor heart so with longings to be up at him that make it sometimes think were it not better never to have felt any thing of Christ then thus to lie dying twenty deaths under these felt wounds for the want of him O where is he O fairest Where dwellest thou O never enough admired Godhead how can clay win up to thee How can creatures of yesterday be able to enjoy thee O what pain is it that time sin should be as so many thousand miles betwixt a loved longed-for Lord a dwining love-sick soul who would rather then all the world have lodging with Christ O let this bit love of ours this inch half span-length of heavenly longging meet with thy infinite love O if the little I have were swallowed up with the infiniteness of that excellency which is in Christ O that we little ones were in at the greatest Lord Jesus our wants should soon be swallowed up with his fulness Grace grace be with you Aberd. May. 1. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To ROBERT GORDON Of Knockbrex 208 Dear Brother GRace mercy peace be to you I received your letter from Edinburgh I would not wish to see another heaven whâ—â—e I get mine own heaven but a new moon like the light of the sun a new sun like the light of seven days shining upon my poor self the Church of Iews Gentiles upon my withered sun-burnt mother the Church of Scotland upon her sister Churches England Ireland to have this done to to the setting on high our great King it maketh not howbeit I were separate from Christ had a sense of ten thousand years pain in hell if this were O blessed Nobility O glorious renouned Gentry O blessed were the tribes in this land to wipe my Lord Jesus's weeping face to take the sackcloth off Christ's loins to put his kingly robes upon him O if the Almighty would take no less wager of me then my heaven to have it done But my fears are still for wrath once upon Scotland But I know her day shall clear up glory shall be upon the top of the mountains and joy at the noise of the married wife once again O that our Lord would make us to contend plead wrestle by prayers tears for our husband's restoring of his forfeited heritage in Scotland Dear Brother I am for the present in no small battel betwixt felt guiltiness and pining longings high fevers for my welbeloved's love Alas I think Christ's love playeth the niggard to me I know it is not for scarcity of love there is enough in him but my hunger prophesieth of in-holding and sparingness in Christ for I have but little of him and little of his sweetness It is a dear summer with me yet there is such joy in the eagerness working of hunger for Christ that I am often at this that if I had no other heaven but a continuall hunger for Christ such a heaven of ever-working hunger were still a heaven to me I am sure Christ's love cannot be cruel
of many noble many holy many learned worthy ones in our neighbour Churches about are upon you This poor Church your mother Christ's spouse is holding up her hands heart to God for you and doeth beseech you with tears to plead for her husband his Kingly Scepter for the liberties that her Lord King hath given to her as to a free Kingdom that oweth spiritual tribute to none on earth as being the free-born Princess daughter to the King of Kings This is a Cause that before God his Angels the World before Sun Moon needeth not to blush O what glory true honour is it to lend Christ your hand service to be amongst the repairers of the breaches of Sion's walls to help to â—uild the old waste places and stretch forth the curtains strengthen the stakes of Christ's tent in this land O blessed are they who when Christ is driven away will bring him back again lend him lodging And blessed are ye of the Lord your name honour shall never rot or wither in heaven at least if ye deliver the Lord's sheep that have been scattered in the dark cloudy day out of the hands of strange Lords hirelings who with rigour cruelty have caused them to eat the pastures troden upon with their foul feet to drink muddy water who have spun out such a world of yards of â—ndifferencies in God's Worship to make weave a web for the Antichrist that shall not keep any from the cold as they minde nothing else but that by the bringing in of the Pope's foul tail first upon us their wretched and beggerly Ceremonies they may thrust in after them the Antichrist's legs thighs his belly head shoulders then cry down Christ the Gospel up the merchandise wares of the great whore Fear not my worthy Lord to give your self all ye have out for Christ his Gospel No man dare say who ever did thus hazard for Christ that Christ payed him not his hundred fold in this life duely in the life to come life everlasting This is his own truth ye now plead for for God and man cannot but commend you to beg justice from a just Prince for oppressed Christ to plead that Christ who is the King's Lord may be heard in a free court to speak for himself when the standing established laws of our nation can strongly plead for Christ's crown in the pulpits his chair as Law-giver in the free Government of his own house But Christ shall never be content pleased with this land neither shall his hot fiery indignation be turned away so long as the Prelate the man that lâ—y in Antichrist's foul womb the Antichrist's Lord Bailiffe shall sit Lord-carver in the Lord Jesus his courts The Prelate is both the egge the nest to cleck bring forth Popery Plead therefore in Christ's behalf for the plucking down of the nest crushing of the egge let Christ's Kingly Office suffer no more unworthy indignities Be valiant for your royal King Jesus contend for him your adversaries shall be moth-eaten worms and shall die as men Christ and his honour now lieth upon your shoulders let him not fall to the ground Cast your eye upon him who is quickly coming to decide all the controversies in Zion remember the sand in your night-glass will run out Time with wings will flye away Eternity is hard upon you what will Christ's love-smiles the light of his lovely soul delighting countenance be to you in that day when God shall take up in his right hand this little lodge of heaven like as a shepherd lifteth up his little tent sold together the two leaves of his tent put the earth all the plenishing of it into a fire turn this clay-Idol the god of Adam's sons in to smoke white ashes O what hire how many worlds would many then give to have a favourable decreet of the Judge Or what moneyes would they not give to buy a mountain to be a grave above both soul body to hide them from the awsom looks of an angry Lord Judge I hope your Lo thinketh upon this that ye minde loyalty to Christ to the King both Now the very God of peace the onely wise God establish strengthen you upon the rock laid in Zion Aberd. Jan. 4. 1638. Your Lo at all obedience in Christ S. R. To a Christian Gentlewoman 2â—5 MISTRESS GRace mercy peace be to you Though not acquainted yet at the desire of a Christian brother I thought good to write a line unto you intreating you in the Lord Jesus under your trials to keep an ear open to Christ who can speak for himself howbeit your visitations and your own sense should dream hard things of his love and favour Our Lord never getteth so kinde a look of us nor our love in such a degree nor our faith in such a measure of stedfastness as he getteth out of the furnace of our tempting fears sharp trials I verily beleeve too sad proofs in me say no less that if our Lord would grind our whorish lust in powder the very old ashes of our corruption should take life again and live and hold us under so much bondage that may humble us make us sad till we be in that countrey where we shall need no Physick at all O what violent means doth our Lord use to gain us to him as if indeed we were a prize worthy his fighting for And be sure if leading would doe the turn he would not use pulling of hair and drawing But the best of us will bide a strong pull of our Lord 's right arm ere we follow him Yet I say not this as if our Lord alwayes measured afflictions by so many ounce weights answerable to the grain weights of our guiltiness I know he doeth in many and possibly in you seek nothing so much as faith that can endure summer and winter in their extremity O how precious to the Lord is faith and love that when threshed beaten and chased away and boasted as it were by God himself doeth yet look warm-like love-like kindlike and life-like home-over to Christ would be in at him ill well as it may be Think not much that your husband or the dearest to you in the world proveth to have the bowels mercy of the Ostrich hard rigourous cruel For Psal. 27. 10. The Lord taketh up such fallen ones as these I could not wish a more sweet life nor more satisfying expressions of kindness till I be up at that Prince of kindness then the Lord's saints finde when the Lord taketh up mens refuse lodgeth this world's out-lawes whom no man seeketh after His breath is never so hot his love casteth never such a flame as when this world and these who should be the helpers of our
then now food for the journey God give you eyes to see through sickness death to see something beyond death I doubt not but if hell were betwixt you Christ as a river which ye behooved to cross ere ye could come at him but ye would willingly put in your foot make through to be at him upon hope that he would come in himself in the deepest of the river lend you his hand Now I beleeve your hell is dried up ye have onely these two shallow brooks Sickness Death to pass through ye have also a promise that Christ shall doe more then meet you even that he shall come himself goe with you foot for foot yea bear you in his arms O then O then for the joy that is set before you For the love of the man who is also God over all blessed for ever that is standing upon the shore to welcome you run your race with patience The Lord goe with you Your Lord will not have you nor any of his servants to exchange for the worse Death in it self includeth both the death of the soul the death of the body but to God's children the bounds the limits of death are abridged drawn into a more narrow compass So that when ye die a piece of death shall onely seise upon you or the least part of you shall die that is the dissolution of the body for in Christ ye are delivered from the second death therefore as one born of God commit not sin although ye cannot live not sin that serpent shall but eat your earthly part As for your soul it is above the law of Death But it is fearfull dangerous to be a debter and servant to sin for the count of sin ye will not be able to make good before God except Christ both count pay for you I trust also Madam that ye will be carefull to present to the Lord the present estate of this decaying Kirk For what shall be concluded in Parliament anent her the Lord knoweth sure I am the decree of a most fearfull Parliament in heaven is at the very point of coming forth because of the sins of the land For We have cast away the law of the Lord and despised the words of the holy one of Israel Isa. 5 24. Iudgement is turned away backward and justice standeth afar off truth is fallen in the streâ—ts and equity cannot enter Lo the prophet as if he had seen us our Kirk resembleth justice to be handled as an enemy holden out at the ports of our city so is she banished Truth to a person sickly diseased fallen down in a deadly swooning sit in the streets before he can come to an house Isa. 59. 14. The Priests have caused many to stumble at the Law have corrupted the Covenant of Levi Mal. 2. 8. But what will they doe in the end Ier. 5 31. Therefore give the Lord no rest for Zion Stir up your husband your brother all with whom ye are in favour and credit to stand upon the Lord's side against Baal I have good hope your husband loveth the peace prosperity of Zion The peace of God be upon him for his intended courses anent the establishment of a powerfull Ministery in this land Thus not willing to weary your La further I recommend you now alwayes to the grace mercy of that God who is able to keep you that ye fall not The Lord Jesus be with your spirit Anwoth July 27. 1628. Your La servant at all dutifull obedience in Christ S. R. To the Parishoners of KILMACOLME 2 Worthy welbeloved in Christ Iesus our Lord. GRace mercy peace be to you Your letters could not come to my hand in a greater throng of business then I am now pressed with at this time when our Kirk requireth the publike help of us all yet I cannot but answer the heads of both your letters with provision that ye chuse after this a fitter time for writing 1. I would not have you pitch upon me as the man able by lettters to answer doubts of this kinde while there are in your bounds men of such great parts most able for this work I know the best are unable yet it pleaseth that Spirit of Jesus to blow his sweet wind through a piâ—ce dry stick that the empty reed may keep no glory to it self but a Minister can make no such wind as this to blow he is scarce able to lend it a passage to blow through him 2. Know that the wind of this Spirit hath a time when it bloweth sharp pierceth so strongly that it would blow through an iron door this is commonly rather under suffering for Christ then at any other time Sick children get of Christ's pleasant things to play them withall because Jesus is most tender of the sufferer for he was a sufferer himself O if I had but the leavings the drawing of the by-board of a sufferer's table But I leave this to answer yours First ye write that God's vows are lying on you security strong â—â—b to nature stealing on you who are weak I answer 1. Till we be in heaven the best have heavy heads as is evident Cant. 5. 1. Psal. 30. 6. Iob. 29. 18. Matth. 26. 33. Nature is a sluggard loveth not the labour of religion Therefore rest should not be taken till we know the disease be over in the way of turning that it is like a fever past the cool And the quietness the calms of the faith of victory over corruption would be entertained in place of security so that if I sleep I would desire to sleep faith's sleep in Christ's bosom 2. Know also none that sleep sound can seriously complain of sleepiness sorrow for a slumbering soul is a token of some watchfulness of spirit But this is soon turned into wantonness as grace in us too often is abused therefore our waking must be watched over else sleep will even grow out of watching there is as much need to watch over grace as to watch over sin full men will soon sleep sooner then hungry men 3. For your weakness to keep off security that like a thief stealeth upon you I would say two things 1. To want complaints of weakness is for heaven Angels that never sinned not for Christians in Christ's camp on earth I think our weakness maketh us the Church of the redeemed ones Christ's field that the Mediator should labour in If there were no diseases on earth there needed no Physicians on earth If Christ had cried down weakness he might have cried down his own calling but weakness is our Mediator's world Sin is Christ's onely onely fa e market no man should rejoyce at weakness diseases but I think we may have a sort of gladness at boils sores because without them Christ's fingers as a slain Lord
back again to the waters to your wearisom journey shall see in that clear glass of endless glory nearer to the bottom of God's wisdom ye shall then be forced to say If God had done otherwise with me then he hath done I had never come to the enjoying of this crown of glory It is your part now to beleeve suffer hope wait on for I protest in the presence of that all-discerning eye who knoweth what I write what I think that I would not want the sweet experience of the consolations of God for all the bitterness of affliction nay whether God come to his children with a rod or a crown if he come himself with it it is well Welcome welcome Jesus what way soever thou come if we can get a sight of thee sure I am it is better to be sick providing Christ come to the bed-side draw the curtains say Courage I am thy salvatioÌ„ theÌ„ to enjoy health being lustie strong never to be visited of God Worthy de aâ— Lady in the strength of Christ fight overcome Ye are now your alone but ye may have for the seeking three alwayes in your company the Father Son Holy Spirit I trust they are near you Ye are now deprived of the comfort of a lively Ministery so was Israel in their captivity yet hear God's promise to them Ezek. 11 16. Therefore say Thus saith the Lord God Although I have cast them far off among the heat eâ— although I have scattered them among the countreys yet will be to them as a little Sanctuary in the countreys where they shall come Behold a Sanctuary for a Sanctuary God himself in the place room of the Temple of Ierusalem I trust in God carrying this Temple about with you ye shall see Iehovah's beauty in his house We are in great fears of a great fearfull trial to come upon the Kirk of God For these who would build their houses nests upon the ashes of mourning Ierusalem have drawn our King upon hard langerous conclusions against such as are termed Puritans for the rooting of them out Our Prelats the Lord take the keyes of his house from these bastard-porters assure us that for such as will not conforâ— there is nothing but Imprisonment Deprivationâ— The Spouse of Jesus will ever be in the fire but I trust in my God she shall not consume because of the good-will of him who dwelleth in the buâ—h for he dwelleth in it with good will All sort of crying sins without controlment abound in our Land 〈◊〉 the glory of the Lord is departing from Israel the Lord is looking back over his shoulder to see if any will say Lord tarry no man requesteth him to stay Corrupt false doctrine is openly preached by the Idol-shepherds of the Land For myself I have daily griefs through the disobedience unto contempt of the word of God I was summoned before the High Commission by a profligate person in this Parish convicted of incest in the business Mr Alexander Colvill for respect to your La was my great friend wrote a most kinde letter to me The Lord give him mercy in that day Upon the day of my compearance the sea winds refused to give passage to the Bishop of St Andrews I intreat you La thank Mr Alexander Colvill with two lines of a letter My wife now after long disease torment for the space of a year moneth is departed this life the Lord hath done it blessed be his name I have been diseased of a fever tertian for the space of thirteen weeks am yet in that sickness so that I preach but once on the sabbath with great difficulty I am not able either to visite or examine the Congregation The Lord Jesus be with your spirit Anwoth 26. June 1630. Your La at all obedience S. R. To my Lady KENMURE 9. MADAM HAving saluted you in the Lord Jesus I thought it my duty having the occasion of this bearer to write again unto your La though I have no new purpose but what I wrote of before Yet ye cannot be too often awakned to go forward towards your city since your way is long and for any thing ye know your day is short your Lord requireth of you as ye advance in years steal forward insensibly towards eternity that your saith may grow and ripen for the Lords harvest for the great husband-man giveth a season to his fruits that they may come to maturitie having gotten their fill of the tree they may then be shaken gathered in for his use whereas the wicked rot upon the tree their branch shall not be green Job 15. 32. 33. He shall shake off his unripe grapes as the vine and shall cast oft his flower as the olive It is God's mercy to you â—adam that 〈◊〉 giveth you your fill even to loathing of this bitter world that ye may willingly leave it like a full and satisfied banquetter long for the drawing of the table and at last having trampled under your feet all the â—otten pleasure that are under un Moon and having rejoyced as though ye rejoyced not and having bought as though ye possessed not 1 Cor. 7. 30. Ye may like an old crazie ship arrive at your Lord's harbour be made welcome as one of these who have ever had one foot loose from this earth longing for that place where your soul shall feast banquet for ever ever upon a gloriouâ— sight of the incomprehensible Trinity where ye shall see the fair face of the man Christ even the beautifull face that was once for your cause more marred then any of the visages of the sons of men Isa 52 14. And was all covered with spitting blood Be content to wade through the waters betwixt you glory with Him holding his hand fast for he knoweth all the foords Howbeit ye may be duckt yet ye cannot drown being in his company ye may all the way to glory see the way bedewed with his blood who is the fore-runner be not afraid therefore when ye come even to the black swelling river of death to put in your foot wade after him the current how strong soever cannot carry you down the water to Hell the Son of God his death resurrection are stepping-stones a stay to you set down your feet by faith upon these stones goe through as on dry land If ye knew what he is preparing for you ye would be too glad he will not it may be give you a full-draught till ye come up to the well-head and drink yea drink abundantly of the pure river of the water of Life that proceedeth out from the Throne of God and from the Lamb. Rev. 22 1. Madam â—tire not weary not I dare finde you the Son of God caution when ye are got up thither and have casten your eyes to
take from you against your will It is good to play the â—surer with him take in in stead of ten of the hundred an hundred often an hundred of one Madam fearing to be tedious to you I break off here commending you as I trust to doe while I live your person wayes burdens all that concerneth you to that Almighty who is able to bear you your burdens I still remember you to him who will cause you one day to laugh I expect that what ever ye can doe by word or deed for the Lord 's friendless Zion ye will doe it She is your mother forget her not for the Lord intendeth to melt try this land it is high time we were all upon our feet falling about to try what claim we have to Christ It is like the the Bridegroom will be taken from us then we shall mourn Dear Iesus remove not else take us with thee Grace grace be with you for ever Anwoth 14. Jan. 1632. Your La at all dutifull obedience S. R. To my Lady KENMURE 12 MADAM YOur La will not I know weary nor offend though I trouble you with many letters the memory of what obligations I am under to your La is the cause of it I am possibly impertinent in what I write because of my ignorance of your present estate But for all that is said I have learned of M W. D. that ye have not changed upon nor wearied of your sweet Master Christ his service neither were it your part to change upon him who resteth in his love Ye are among honourable company such as affect grandour court But Madam thinking upon your estate I think I see an improvident wooer coming too late to seek a Bride because she is contracted already promised away to another so the wooer's busking bravery who cometh to you as who but he is in vain the outward pomp of this busie wooer a beguiling world is now coming in to sute your soul too late when ye have promised away your soul to Christ many years agoe And I know Madam what answer ye may now justly make to the late suter even this Ye are to long of coming my soul the Bride is away already the contract with Christ subscribed I cannot cause but I must be honest faithfull to him Honourable-Lady keep your first love hold the first match with that soul-delighting lovely Bridegroom our sweet sweet Jesus fairer then all the children of men the Rose of Sharon the fairest sweetest smelled Rose in all his father's garden there is none like him I would not exchange one smile of his lovely face with Kingdoms Madam let others take their silly feckless heaven in this life envy them not but let your soul like a tarrowing misiearned childe take the dorts as we use to speak or cast at all things disdain them except one onely either Christ or nothing your welbeloved Jesus will be content that ye be here devotely proud ill to please as one that contemneth all husbands but himself Either the King's son or no husband at all this is humble worthy ambition What have ye to doe to dally with a whorish foolish world Your jealous husband will not be content that ye look by him to another he will be jealous indeed offend if ye kiss another but himself What weights doe burden you Madam I know not but think it great mercy that your Lord from your youth hath been hedging in your out-straying affections that they may not goe a whoring from himself If ye were his bastard he would not nurture you so If ye were for the slaughter ye would be fatned But be content ye are his wheat growing in our Lord's field Matth. 13 v. 25 38. And if wheat ye must goe under our Lord's threshing instrument in his barn-â—oor through his sieve Amos 9 v. 9. And through his mill to be bruised as the Prince of your salvation Iesus was Isa. 53 9. that ye may be found good bread in your Lord's house Lord Jesus bless the spiritual husbandry separate you from the chaff that dow not bide the wind I am perswaded your glass is spending it self by little little if ye knew who is before you ye would rejoyce in your tribulations Think ye it a small honour to stand before the throne of God and the Lamb to be clothed in white to be called to the Marriage-supper of the Lamb to be led to the fountain of living waters to come to the well-head even God himself get your fill of the clear cold sweet refreshing water of life the King 's own well to put up your now sinfull hand to the tree of life take down eat the sweetest apple in all God's heavenly Paradise Jesus Christ your life your Lord Up your heart shout for joy your King is coming to fetch you to his father's house Madam I am in exceeding great heaviness God thinking it best for my own soul thus to exercise me thereby it may be to fit me to be his mouth to others I see hear at home abroad nothing but matter of grief discouragement which indeed maketh my life bitter And I hope in God never to get my will in this world I expect ere long a fiery trial upon the Church for as many men almost in England Scotland as many false friends to Christ as many pulling and drawing to pull the crown off his holy head for fear that our Beloved stay amongst us as if his room were more desirable then himself men are bidding him goe seek his lodging Madam if ye have a part in silly friendless Zion as I know ye have speak a word on her behalf to God man If ye can doe nothing else speak for Jesus ye shall thereby be a witness against this declining age Now from my very soul laying leaving you on the Lord desiring a part in your prayers as my Lord knoweth I remember you I deliver over your body spirit all your necessities to the hands of our Lord remains for ever Answeth Febr. 13. 1632. Your La. in your sweet Lord Iesus mine S. R. To my Lady KENMURE 14 MADAM THe cause of my not writing to your La is not my forgetfulness of you but the want of the opportunity of a convenient bearer for I am under more then a simple obligation to be kinde in paper at least to your La I bless our Lord through Christ who hath brought you home again to your countrey from that place where ye have seen with your eyes that which our Lord's truth taught you before to wit that worldly glory is nothing but a vapour a shadow the foam of the water or something less lighter even nothing that our Lord hath not without cause said in his word 1 Cor. 7. 31. The
his face with joy my prayer to our Lord is that ye may be sick of love for him who died of love for you I mean your Saviour Jesus And O sweet were that sickness to be soul-sick for him And a living death it were to die in the fire of the love of that soul-lover Iesus And Madam if ye love him ye will keep his commandements this is not one of the least to lay your neck cheerfully willingly under the yoke of Jesus Christ For I trust your La did first contract and bargain with the Son of God to follow him upon these terms that by his grace ye should endure hardship suffer affliction as the souldier of Christ They are not worthy of Jesus who will not take a blow for their Master's sake For our glorious peace-maker when he came to make up the friendship betwixt God us God bruised him strooke him the sinfull world also did beat him and crucifie him yet he took buffets of both the parties and honour to our Lord Jesus he would not leave the field for all that till he had made peace betwixt the parties I perswade â—y self your sufferings are but like your Saviour's yea incomparably less lighter which are called but a bruising of his â—eel Gen. 3. 15 a wound far from the heart Your life is hid with Christ in God Col. 3. 3. And therefore ye cannot be robbed of it Our Lord handleth us as fathers doe their young children they lay up jewels in a place above the reach of the short arm of bairns else â—aiâ—ns would put up their hands take them down lose them soon So hath our Lord done with our spiritual life Jesus Christ is the high coffer in the which our Lord hath hid our life we children are not able to reach up our arm so high as to take down that life lose it it is in our Christ's hand O long long may Jesus be Lord-keeper of our life happy are they that can with the Apostle 2 Tim. 1. lay their soul in pawne in the hand of Jesus for he is able to keep that which is committed in pawne to him against that day Then Madam so long as this life is not hurt all ether troubles are but touches in the heel I trust ye will soon be cured Ye know Madam Kings have some servants in their court that receive not present wages in their hand but live upon their hopes The King of Kings also hath servants in his court that for the present get little or nothing but the heavie cross of Christ troubles without terrours within but they live upon hope when it cometh to the parting of the inheritance they remain in the house as heirs It is better to be so then to get present payment a portion in this life an inheritance in this world God forgive me that I should honour it with the name of an inheritance it is rather a farme-room then in the end to be casten out of God's house with this word Ye have received your consolation ye will get no more Alas What get they The rich glutton's heaven Oh but our Lord Luk. 16. maketh it a sillie heaven He fared well saith our Lord delicately every day Oh no more A sillie heaven Truly no more except that he was clothed in purple that is all I perswade my self Madam ye have joy when ye think that your Lord hath dealt more graciously with your soul. Ye have gotten little in this life It is true indeed Ye have then the more to crave yea ye have all to crave For except some tastings of the first fruits some kisses of his mouth whom your soul loveth ye get no more But I cannot tell you what is to come yet I may speak as our Lord doeth of it The foundation of the city is pure gold clear as crystall the twelve ports are set with precious stones If orchards rivers commend a soil upon earth there is a Paradise there wherein groweth the tree of life that beareth twelve manner of fruits every moneth which is seven score four harvests in the year there is there a pure river of water of life proceeding out of the throne of God of the Lamb the city hath no need of the light of the sun or moon or of a candle for the Lord God Almighty the Lamb is the light thereof Madam beleeve and hope for this till ye see enjoy Jesus is saying in the Gospel Come see he is come down in the chariot of Truth wherein he rideth through the world to conquer mens souls Psal. 45. 4. is now in the word saying Who will goe with me will ye goe my Father will make you welcome give you house-room for in my Father's house are many dwelling places Madam consent to goe with him Thus I rest commending you to God's dearest mercy Anwoth Yours in the Lord Iesus S. R. To my Lady KENMURE 16. MADAM I Am afraid now as many others are that at the sitting down of our Parliament our Lord Jesus his Spouse shall be roughly handled And it must be so since false deelining Scotland whom our Lord took off the dunghill out of hell made a fair Bride to himself hath broken her faith to her sweet husband hath put on the forehead of a whore therefore he saith he will remove would God we could stir up our selves to lay hold upon him who being highly provoked with the handling he hath met with is ready to depart Alas we doe not importune him by prayer supplication to abide amongst usâ— If we could but weâ—p upon â—â—m in the holy pertinacy of faith wrestle witâ—… say We will not let thee goe it may be that then he who is easy to be intreated would yet notwithstanding of our high provocations condescend to stay feed among the lilies till that fair desirable day break and the shadows flâ—e away Ah! What cause of mourning is there When our gold is become dim the visage of our Nazarites sometimes whiter then snow is now become blacker then a coal Levi's house once comparable to fine gold is now changed become like vessels in whom he hath no pleasure Madam think upon this that when our Lord who hath his handkerchief to wipe the face of the mourners in Zion shall come to wipe away all tears froÌ„ their eyes he may wipe yours also in the passing amongst others I am confident Madam that our Lord will yet build a new house to himself of our rejected and scattered stones for our bridegroom cannot want a wife Can he live a widow Nay he will embrace both Us the little young sister the elder sister The church of the Iews there will yet be a day of it therefore we have cause to rejoyce yea to sing shout for joy The Church hath been â—nce
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
due value were put on that worthy worthy Prince Iesus O who can weigh him Ten thousand thousand heavens would not be one scale or the half of the scale of the ballance to lay him in O black Angels in comparison of him O dim dark lightless Sun in regard of that fair Sun of Righteousness O feckless worthless heaven of heavens when they stand beside my worthy lofty high excellent Welbeloved O weak infirm clay-Kings O soft feeble mountains of brass weak created strength in regard of our mighty strong Lord of armies O foolish wisdom of men Angels when it is laid in the ballance beside that spotless substantial wisdom of the Father If heaven earth ten thousand heavens even round about these heavens that now are were all in one garden of Paradise decked with all the fairest roses flowers trees that can come forth from the art of the Almighty himself yet set but our one flower that groweth out of the root Iesse beside that orchard of pleasure one look of him one view one taste one smell of his sweet Godhead would infinitely exceed goe beyond the smell colour beauty loveliness of that Paradise O to be with childe of his love to be suffocate if that could be with the smell of his sweetness were a sweet fill lovely pain O worthy worthy loveliness O less of the creatures more of thee O open the passage of the well of love glory on us dry pits withered trees O that jewel flower of heaven If our Beloved were not mistaken by us unknown to us he would have no scarcity of wooers suiters he would make heaven earth both see that they cannot quench his love for his love is a sea O to be a thousand fathoms deep in this sea of love He He Himself is more excellent then heaven for Heaven as it cometh into the souls spirits of the glorified is but a creature He is something a great something more then a Creature Oh what a life were it to sit beside this well of love drink sing sing drink then to have desires soul-faculties stretched extended out many thousand fathoms in length breadth to take in seas rivers of love I earnestly desire to recommend this love to you that this love may cause you to keep his commandments to keep clean fingers make clean feet that ye may walk as the redeemed of the Lord. Woe woe be to them that put on his name shame this love of Christ with a loose prophanelife their feet tongue hands eyes give a shameless lye to the holy Gospel which they profess I beseech you in the Lord keep Christ walk with him let not his fairness be spotted stained by godless living Oh who can finde in their heart to sin against love And such a love as the glorified in heaven shall delight to dive into drink of for ever for they are evermore drinking-in love the cup is still at their head yet without loathing for they still drink still desire to drink for ever ever is not this a long lasting supper Now if any of our countrey-people professing Christ Jesus have brought themselves under the stroke wrath of the Almighty by yeelding to Antichrist in an hair-breadth but especially by swearing subscribing that blasphemous Oath which is the Church of Ireland's black hour of temptation I would intreat them by the mercies of God at their last summonds to repent openly confess before the world to the glory of the Lord their denial of Christ Or otherwise if either man or woman will stand abide by that Oath then in the name authority of the Lord Jesus I let them see that they forfeit their part of heaven let them look for no less then a back-burden of the pure unmixed wrath of God the plague of Apostates deniers of our Lord Jesus Let not me a stranger to you who never saw your face in the flesh be thought bold in writing to you For the hope I have of a glorious Church in that land and the love of Christ constraineth me I know the worthy servants of Christ who once laboured among you cease not to write to you also I shall desire to be excused that I doe joyn with them Pray for your Sister Church in Scotland let me entreat you for the aid of your prayers for my self flock ministery my fear of a transportation from this place of of the Lord's vineyard Now the very God of peace sanctifie you throughout Grace be with you all Anwoth 1639. Your brother and companion in the Kingdom and patience of Iesus Christ S. R. To his reverend much honoured Brother Dr WILLIAM LIGHTON Christ's prisoner in bonds at London 28 Reverend much honoured prisoner of hope GRace mercy peace be to you It was not my part whom our Lord hath enlarged to forget you his prisoner When I consider how long your night hath been I think Christ hath a minde to put you in free grace's debt so much the deeper as your sufferings have been of so long a continuance But what if Christ minde you no joâ— but publike joy with enlarged triumphing Zion I think Sir ye would love it best to share divide your song of joy with Zion to have mystical Chriâ—â— in Eritain halfer compartner with your enlargement I am sure your joy bordering neighbouring with the joy of Christ's Bride would be so much the sweeter that it were publike I thought if Christ had halved my mercies and delivered his Bride and not me that his praises should have been double to what they are But now two rich mercies conjoyned in one have stoln from our Lord more then half-praises Oh that mercy should so beguile us and steal away our counts and acknowledgements Worthy Sir I hope I need not exhort you to goe on in hoping for the salvation of God There hath not been so much taken from your time of ease created joyes as Eternity shall adde to your heaven Ye know when one day in heaven hath paved you yea overpayed your blood bonds sorrow sufferings that it would trouble Angels understanding to lay the count of that superplus of glory which Eternity can will give you O but your sand-glass of sufferings losses cometh to little when it shall be counted and compared with the glory that bideth you on the other side of the water Ye have no leisure to rejoyce fing here while time goeth about you where your Psalms will be short therefore ye will think Eternity the long day of heaven that shall be measured with no other sun nor horologe then the long life of the Ancient of dayes to measure your praises little enough for you if your span-length
not but goeth with even equal legs yet are they not the greatest sinners upon whom tower of Siloam fell was not time's lease expired the sand of heaven's sand-glass set by our Lord run out Is not he an unjust debter who payeth due debt with chiding I beleeve Christian Lady your faith leaveth that much charity to our Lord's judgements as to beleeve how beit ye be in blood sib to that cross that yet ye are exempted freed from the gall wrath that is in it I dare not deny but Iob. 18 15. the King of terrors dwelleth in the wicked man's tabernacle brimstone shall be scattered on his habitation yet Madam it is safe for you to live upon the faith of his love whose arrows are over-watered pointed with love mercy to his own who knoweth how to take you yours out of the roll book of the dead Our Lord hath not the eyes of flesh in distributing wrath to the thousand generation without exception Seeing ye are not under the Law but under Grace married to another husband Wrath is not the Court that ye are liable to As I would not wish neither doe I beleeve your La doeth despise so neither faint read spell aright all the words syllabes in the visitation miscall neither letter nor syllabe in it Come along with the Lord see lay no more weight upon the Law then your Christ hath laid upon it If the Law 's bill get an answer from Christ the curses of it can doe no more And I hope ye have resolved that if he should grind you to powder your dust powder shall beleeve his salvation And who can tell what thoughts of love peace our Lord hath to your children I trust he shall make them famous in excuting the written judgements upon the enemies of the Lord this honour have all his saints Psal. 149 9. that they shall bear stones on their shoulders for building that city that is called Ezek. 46 35. The Lord is there happy shall they be who have a hand in the sacking of Babel come out in the year of vengeance for the controversy of Zion against the land of graven images Therefore Madam let the Lord make out of your father's house any work even of judgement that he pleaseth What iâ— wrath to others is mercy to you your house It is Faith's work to claim and challenge loving kindness out of all the roughest strokes of God Doe that for the Lord which ye will doe for time time will calme your heart at that which God hath done let our Lord have it now What love ye did bear to friends now dead seeing they stand now in no need of it let it fall as just legacy to Christ. O how sweet to put out many strange lovers to put in Christ It is much for our half-slain affections to part with that which we beleeve we have right unto but the servant's will should be our will he is the best servant who retaineth least of his own will most of his Master's That much wisdom must be ascribed to our Lord that he knoweth how to lead his own in-through and out-through the little time-hells and the pieces of time-during wraths in this life yet keep safe his love without any blurre upon the old great seal of free Election And seeing his mountains of brass the mighty strong decrees of free grace in Christ stand sure the Covenant standeth fast for ever as the dayes of heaven let him strike nurture his striking must be a very act of saving seeing strokes upon his secret ones come from the soft heavenly hand of the Mediatour his rods are steeped watered in that flood river of love that cometh from the God-man's heart of our soul-loving soul-redeeming JESUS I hope ye are content to frist the Cautioner of mankinde his own conquest heaven till he pay it you bring you to a state of glory where he shall never crook a finger upon nor lift a hand to you again And be content withall greedily covetous of Grace the interest pledge of Glory If I did not beleeve your crop to be on the ground your part of that heaven of the saints heaven white ruddy fair fair beautifull Jesus were come to the bloom the flower near your hook I would not write this but seeing time ' threed is short ye are upon the entry of heaven's harvest Christ the field of heaven's glory is white ripe-like the losses that I write of to your La are but summer-showers that will onely wet your garments for an hour or two and the Sun of the new Ierusalem shall quickly dry the wet coat especially seeing rains of Affliction cannot stain the image of God or cause Grace cast the colour And since ye will not alter upon him who will not change upon you I durst in weakness think my self no spiritual Seer if I should not prophesie that day-light is neer when such a morning-darkness is upon you that this trial of your Christian minde towards him whom ye dare not leave howbeit he should slay you shall close with a doubled mercy It is time for faith to hold fast as much of Christ as ever ye had to make the grip stronger to cleave closer to him seeing Christ loveth to be beleeved in trusted to The glory of laying strength upon one that is mighty to save is more then we can think That piece of service of beleeving in a smiting Redeemer is a precious part of obedience O what glory to him to lay over the burden of our heaven upon him that purchased for us an eternal Kingdom O blessed soul who can adore kiss his lovely free Grace The rich grace of Christ be with your spirit St. Andrews Octob. 15. 1640. Yours at all obedience in Christ Iesus S. R. To AGNES MCMATH 38 Dear Sister IF our Lord hath taken away your childe your lease of him is expired seeing Christ would want him no longer it is your part to hold your peace worship adore the soveraignty liberty that the potter hath over the clay pieces of clay-nothings that he gave life unto And what is man to call summond the Almighty to his lower Court down here For he giveth account of none of his doings And if ye will take a loan of a childe give him back again to our Lord laughing as his borrowed goods should return to him beleeve he is not gone away but sent before that the change of the countrey should make you think he is not lost to you who is found to Christ that he is now before you that the dead in Christ shall be raised again A going down star is not annihilat but shall appeare again If he have casten his bloom flower the bloom is fallen
in heaven in Christ's lap And as he was lent a while to Time so is he given now to Eternity which will take yourself And the difference of your shipping his to heaven Christ's shore the land of life is onely in some few years which weareth every day shorter some short soon-reckoned summers will give you a meeting with him but what with him â—â—y with better company with the chief leader of the heavenly troups that are riding on white horses that are triumphing in glory If Death were a sleep that had no wakening we might sorrow But our Husband shall quickly be at the bed-sides of all that lie sleeping in the grave shall raise their mortal bodies Christ was Death's Cautioner who gave his word to come loose all the clay-pawnes set them at his own right hand our Cautioner Christ hath an Act of Law-surety upon Death to render back his captives And that Lord Jesus who knoweth the turnings windings that is in that black trance of Death hath numbered all the steps of the stair up to heaven he knoweth how long the turnpike is or how many pair of stairs high it is for he ascended that way himself Rev. 1 18. I was dead am alive now he liveth at the right hand of God and his garments have not so much as a smell of death Your afflictions smell of the childrens case the bairns of the house are so nurtured Suffering is no new life it is but the rent of the sons bastards have not so much of the rent take kindly heartsomly with his cross who never yet slew a ehilde with the cross He breweth your cup therefore drink it patiently with the better will Stay wait on till Christ loose the knot that fasteneth his cross on your back for he is coming to deliver I pray you Sister learn to be worthy of his pains who correcteth let him wring be ye waâ—hen for he hath a father's heart a father's hand who is training you up making you meet for the high hall This School of Suffering is a preparation for the King 's higher house let all your visitations speak all the letters of your Lord summonds they cry 1. O vain World 2. O bitter Sin 3 O short uncertain Time 4. O fair Eternity that is above sickness Death 5. O Kingly Princely Bridegroom Hasten Glorie's Marriage shorten Time's short-spun soon-broken threed conquer Sin 6. O happy blessed Death that golden bridge laid over by Christ my Lord betwixt Time's clay-banks heaven's shore the Spirit the Bride say Come answer ye with them Even so come Lord â—esus Come quickly Grace be with you St Andrews Octob. 15. 1640. Your brother in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To Mr MATHEW MOWAT 39 Reverend dear Brother WHat am I to answer you Alas my books are all bare shew me little of God I would fain goe beyond books in to his house of love to see himself Dear Brother neither ye nor I are parties worthy of his love or knowledge Ah! how hath sin bemisted blinded us that we cannot see him But for my poor sâ—lf I am pained like to burst because he will not take down the wall fetch hiâ— uncreated beauty bring his matchless white ruddy face out of heaven one's errand that I may have heaven meeting me ere I goe to it in such a wonderfull sight ye know that Majesty Love doe humble because homely love to sinners dwelleth in him with Majesty Ye should give him all his own court-stiles his high heaven-names What am I to shape conceptions of my highest Lord How broad how high how deep he is above beyond what these conceptions are I cannot tell but for my own weak practice which alas can be no rule to one so deep in love-sickness with Christ as ye are I would fain adde to my thoughts esteem of him make him more high would wish an heart love ten thousand times wider then the outmost circle curtain that goeth about the heaven of heavens to entertain him in that heart with that love But that which is your pain my dear Brother is mine also I am confounded with the thoughts of him I know God is casten if I may speak so in a sweet mould lovely image in the person of that heaven's jewel the man Christ that the steps of that steep ascentâ— stair to the Godhead is the flesh of Christ the new living way there is footing for faith in that curious Ark of the humanity therein dwelleth the Godhead married upon our Humanity I would be in heaven suppose I had not another errand but to see that dainty golden Ark God personally looking out at ears eyes a body such as we sinners have that I might wear my sinfull mouth in kisses on him for evermore I know all the Three blessed Persons should be well pleased that my piece of faint created love should first coast upon the man Christ I should see them all through him I am called from writing by my great imployments in this town have said nothing but what can I say of him Let us goe see St Andrews 1640. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To my Lady KENMURE 40 MADAM GRace mercy peace be to your La I am heartily sorry that your La is deprived of such an husband the Lord's Kirk of so active faithfull a friend I know your La long agoe made acquaintance with that wherein Christ will have you joyned in a fellowship with himself even with his own Cross hath taught you to stay your soul upon the Lord's goodwill who giveth not account of his matters to any of us When he hath led you through this water that was in your way to glory there are fewer behinde his order in dismissing us sending us out of the market one before another is to be reverenced One year's time of heaven shall swallow up all sorrows even beyond all comparison What then will not a duration of blessedness so long as God shall live fully and abundantly recompense It is good that our Lord hath given a debter obliged by gracious promises for more in Eternity then Time can take from you I beleeve your La hath been now many years advising thinking what that Glory will be which is abiding the pilgrims strangers on the earth when they come home which we may think of love thirst for but we cannot comprehend it nor conceive of it as it is far less can we over-think or over-love it O so long a Chapter or rather so large a Volume as Christ is in that Divinity of Glory There is no more of him let down now to be seen enjoyed by his children but as much as may feed hunger in
this life but not satisfie it Your La is a debter to the Son of God's Cross that is weaâ—ing out love and affiance in the creature out of your heart by degrees or rather the obligation standeth to his free grace who careth for your La in this gracious dispensation and who is preparing making ready the garments of Salvation for you who calleth you with a new name that the mouth of the Lord hath named purposeth to make you a crown of glory a royal diadem in the hand of your God Isa. 62. 2. 3. Ye are obliged to frist him more then one heaven yet he craveth not a long day it is fast coming is sure payment though ye gave no hire for him yet hath he given a great price ransom for you if the bargain were to make again Christ would give no less for you then what he hath already given he is far from ruing I shall wish you no more till Time be gone out of the way then the earnest of that which he hath purchased prepared for you which can never be fully preached written or thought of since it hath not entered into the heart to consider it So recommending your La to the rich grace of our Lord Jesus I am rests St Andrews Your La at all respective observance in Christ Iesus S R. To Mistress TAYLOR 41 MISTRESS GRace mercy peace be to you Though I have no relation worldly or acquaintance with you yet upon the testimony importunity of your Elder son now at London where I am but chiefily because I esteem Jesus Christ in you to be in place of all relations I make bold in Christ to speak my poor thoughts to you concerning your Son lately fallen asleep in the Lord who was some time under the ministery of the worthy servant of Christ my fellow-labourer Mr Blair and by whose ministery I hope he reaped no small advantage I know grace rooteth not out the affections of a mother but putteth them on his wheel who maketh all things new that they may be refined therefore sorrow for a dead childe is allowed to you though by measure ounce-weights the redeemed of the Lord have not a dominion or Lordship over their sorrow other affections to lavish out Christ's goods at their pleasure for ye are not your own but bought with a price your sorrow is not your own nor hath he redeemed you by halves therefore ye are not to make Christ's cross no cross He commandeth you to weep that Princely one who took up to heaven with him a man's heart to be a compassionat high priest became your fellow companion on earth by weeping for the dead Ioh. 11 35. And therefore ye are to love that cross because it was once on Christ's shoulders before you so that by his own practice he hath overguilded and covered your cross with the Mediator's lustre The cup ye drink was at the lip of sweet Jesus he drank of it so it hath a smell of his breath And I conceive ye love it not the worse that it is thus sugared therefore drink beleeve the resurrection of your Son's body If one coal of hell could fall off the exalted head Iesus Jesus the Prince of the Kings of the earth burn me to ashes knowing I were a partner with Christ a fellow-sharer with him though the unworthiest of men I think I should die a lovely death in that fire with him The worst things of Christ even his cross have much of heaven from himself so hath your Christian sorrow being of kin to Christ's in that kinde If your sorrow were a Bastard not of Christ's house because of the relation ye have to him in conformity with his death sufferings I should the more compassionat your condition but kinde compassionat Jesus at every sigh ye give for the loss of your now-glorified childe so I beleeve as is meet with a man's heart cryeth halfe mine I was not a witness to his death being called out or the Kingdom but ye shall credit these whom I doe credit I dare not lye he died comfortably It is true he died before he did so much service to Christ on earth as I hope heartily desire your Son Mr Hugh very dear to me in Jesus Christ shall doe But that were a reall matter of sorrow if this were not to counterballance it that he hath changed service-houses but hath not changed services or master Rev. 22 3. And there shall be no more curse but the throne of God of the Lamb shall be in it his servants shall serve him What he could have don in this lower house he is now upon that same service in the higher house it is all one it is the same service the same Master onely there is a change of conditions And ye are not to think it a bad bargain for your beloved son where he hath gold for copper brass Eternity for Time I beleeve Christ hath taught you for I give credit to such a witness of you as your Son Mr Hugh not to sorrow because he died All the knot must be he died too soon he died too young he died in the morning of his life this is all but soveraignity must silence your thoughts I was in your condition I had but two children both are dead since I came hither The supream and absolut former of all things giveth not an account of any of his matters The good husband-man may pluck his roses gather in his lilies at midsummer for ought I dare say in the beginning of the first summer-moneth he may transplant young trees out of the lower-ground to the higher where they may have more of the sun a more free air at any season of the year what is that to you or me The goods are his own The Creator of time winds did a mercifull injurie if I dare borrow the word to nature in landing the passenger so early They love the sea too well who complain of a fair wind a desirable tide and a speedy coming ashore especially a coming ashore in that land where all the inhabitants have everlasting joy upon their heads He cannot be too earely in heaven His twelve hours were not short hours And withall if ye consider this had ye been at his bed-side and should have seen Christ coming to him ye would not ye could not have adjourned Christ's free love who would want him no longer And dying in an other land where his mother could not close his eyes is not much who closed Mose's eyes And who put on his winding-sheet For ought I know neither father nor mother nor friend but God onely And there is as expedite fair easie a way betwixt Scotland heaven as if he had died in the very bed he was born in The whole earth is his father's Any corner of his
glory far above the air breathings of mouths the thin short poor applauses of men before you in God All the creatures all the swords all the hosts in Britain and in this poor glob of the habitable world are but under him single ciphers making no number the product being nothing but painted men painted swords in a brod without influence from him And O what of God is in Gideon's sword when it is the sword of the Lord I wish a sword from heaven to you orders from heaven to you to goe out as much peremptorinesse of a heavenly will as to say abide by it I will not I shall not goe out except thou goe with me I desire not to be rash in judging but I am a stranger to the minde of Christ If our Adversaries who have unjustly invaded us be not now in the camp of these that make war with the Lamb but the lamb shall overcome them at length for he is the Lord of Lords and King of Kings they who are with him are called chosen faithfull though ye I see but the dark side of God's dispensations this day towards Britain yet the fair beautifull desireable close of it must be the confederacie of the nations of the world with Britain's Lord of Armies let me die in the coÌ„forts of the faith of â—â—i that a throne shall be set up for Christ in this Island of great Britain which is shall be a garden more fruitfull of trees of righteousness payeth shall pay moe thousands to the Lord of the vineyard then is paid in thrice the bounds of great Britain upon the earth And then there can be neither Papist Prelate Cavalâ—er Malignant nor Sectarie who dare draw a sword against him that sitteth upon the throne Sir I shall wish a clean Army so far as may be that the shout of a King who hath many crowns may be among you that ye may fight in faith and prevail with God first Think it your glory to have a sword to act suffer and die if it please him so being ye may adde any thing to the declarative glory of Christ the plant of renown Immanuel God with us Happy thrice blessed are they by whose actings or blood or pain or loss the diadems rubies of his highest glorious crown whose ye are shall gliâ—ter and shine in this quarter of the habitable world Though he need not Gilbert Ker nor his sword yet this honour have ye with his redeemed souldiers to call Christ High Lord General of whom ye hope for pay and all areers well told Goe on worthy Sir in the courage of faith following the Lamb make not haste unbeleevingly but in hope silence keep the watch tower look out he will come in his own time his salvation shall not tarry he shall place salvation in Britain's Zion for Israel his glory His good will who dwelt in the bush it burnt not be yours with you I am St Andrews August 10. 1650. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S R. To the worthy much honoured Collonel G. KER 58 Much honoured worthy Sir WHat I wrote to you before I spake not upon any private warrant I am where I was Cromwell and his I shall not say but there may be are severall sober godly amongst them who have either joyned through misinformation or have gone alongst with the rest in the simplicitie of their hearts not knowing any thing fight in an unjust cause against the Lord's secret ones now to the trampling of the worship of God persecuting the people of God in England Ireland he hath brought upon his score the blood of the people of God in Scotland I intreat you Dear Sir as ye desire to be serviceable to Jesus Christ whose free grace prevented you when ye were his enemy goe on without fainting equally eschewing all mixture with Sectaries Malignants neither of the two shall ever be instrumentall to save the Lords people or build his house And without prophesying or speaking further then he whose I am whom I desire to serve in the Gospel of his son shall warrant I desire to hope doe beleeve there is a glory a majesty of the Prince of the Kings of the earth that shall shine appear in great Britain which shall Darken all the glory of men confound Sectaries Malignants rejoyce the spirits of the followers of the Lamb dazle the eyes of beholders Sir I suppose that God is to gather Malignants Sectaries ere all be done as sheaves in a barn-floor to bid the Daughter of Zion arise thresh I hope ye will mix with none of them I am aboundantly satisfied that our Armie through the sinfull miscarriage of men hath fallen dare say it is a better a more comfortable dispensation then if the Lord had given us the victory and the necks of the reproachers of the way of God because he hath done it For. 1. More blood blasphemies cruelty treachery must be upon the accounts of the men whose land the Lord forbade us to invade 2. Victory is such a burdening weighty mercy that we have not strength to bear it as yet 3. That was not the Army nor Gideon's three hinderth by whom he is to save us We must have one of the Lord's carving 4. Our enimies on both sides are not enough hardned nor we enough mortified to multitude valour Creatures Grace grace be with you St Andrews Sept. 5. 1650. Your friend servant in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To the worthy much honoured Collonel G. KER 59 Much honoured worthy Sir IT is considerable that the Lord may often doeth call to a work yet hide himself try the faith of his own If I conceive aright the Lord hath called you to act against that enemy the withdrawers of their sword in my weak apprehension adde their seale unto take upon them the guilt of that unjust invasion of this Land made by Cromwel's Army of the blood of the Lord's people in this Kingdom since the sword put into the hand of his Children is to execute wrath vengeance upon evil doers the Lord's time of appearing for his broken Land is reserved to the breathings of the Spirit of the Lord such as came upon Gideon Sampson that is an Act of princely royal soveraignity in God Ye are Sir to lay hold on opportunities of providence to wait for him As for your parcular treating by your selves with the invaders of our land I have no minde to it doe look upon their way as a carriyng on of the mystery of iniquity for Babylon is a seat of many names Sir let this controversie stand undecided till the second appearance of Jesus Christ our Appeal lye before the throne undiscussed till that day I hope to lie down in
the grave in the faith of the justnesse of our cause I speak nothing of the mantaining the greatnesse of men not subordinate to the Prince of the Kings of the earth I Judge that the blood of the witnesses of Jesus is found upon the skirts of this society asweel as in Babylons skirts I beleeve the way of the Lord is Col Gilbert Ker's strength glory should be countent to want my part of him which is I confesse precious dear in Christ so he be spent in the service of him who will anone make inquisition for the blood of the truely godly which these men have shedafter fair warning that they were the godly of Scotland Worthy Sir beleeve faint not set your shoulder under the glory of Jesus that is misprised in Scotland give a testimony for him he hath many names in Scotland who shall walk with him in white This despised Covenant shall ruine Malignants Sectaries Atheisâ—s Yet a little while behold he cometh walketh in the greatnesse of his strength his garments dyed with blood Oh for the sad terrible day of the Lord upon England their ships of Tarshish their fenced Cities c. because of a broken Covenant A conference with the enemy not to hinder Acting O that the Lord would thereby or some other way remove the cloud that is over you if authority would concurre were to be desired but it can hardly be exspected however in the way of duty in the silence of faith goe on if ye perish ye are the first of the creation with whom the Lord hath taken that dispensation I should humbly advise you Sir to look to that Dying behold we live killed all the day long yet more then conquerours There shall be the heat warmenesse of life in your graves buried bones But look not for the Lord 's coming the higher way onely for he may come the lower way O how little of God doe we see how mysterious is he Christ known is amongst the greatest secrets of God Keep your self in the love of God in order to that as far in obedience subjection to the King whose salvation true happinesse my soul desireth to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake to the foundamentall lawes of this kingdom as your Lord requireth Sir ye are in the hearts prayers of the Lord's people in this kingdom in the other two The Lord hath said There is a blessing in the cluster of graps destroy it not Grace grace be upon the head of him that is separated from his brethren the goodwill of him that dwelt in the bush be with you Perth 23. Nov. 1650. Your servant in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To the worthy much honoured Collonel G. KER 60. Much honoured worthy Sir I know not why the people of God should not take notice of the bonds of any who have blood in readinesse to be let out for his cause And I judge it was not of you that ye died not in the undecided controversie which the Lord of the whole earth hath with the men whom he hath sent against us Dear much honoured in the Lord Let me intreat you to be far from the thoughts of leaving this Land I see it finde it that the Lord hath covered the whole land with a cloud in his anger but though I have been tempted to the like I had rather be in Scotland beside angry Jesus Christ knowing he mindeth no evil to us then in any Eden or garden in the earth If we can remain united with the Lord's remant in the land he layeth up wrath for all sort of Adversaries in Britain Though I never see the glory of his glistering sword shining in Britain I would be solaced in the innocent thoughts far from revenge that the saints shall dip their feet in the blood of the sâ—ain of the Lord truely Sir I suppose ye cannot but come to these thoughts weak desires before the hearer of prayers for as little as ye think of value your self for me if I could minde you in your bonds I purpose not to stand to the account ye give or thoughts ye have of your self though I know ye are not in a whit more or lesse before him who weigheth his own according to the weight of imputed righteousnesse for my apprehensions Christ cannot mistake you men may the calculation esteem of free grace maketh you to be what ye are I hope to see you an everlastingly obliged debter to him whom ye shall praise but never pay And truely ye have no riches but that debt and I know ye Love to be ingaged to Jesus Christ the most excellent of creditors much joy sweetnesse may ye have in standing written in his book I desire to doe it my self I would have you also highly to esteem the designe of Christ who hath raised the riches of the glory of so much grace above the Circle of the heaven of heavens out of very nothings contrived his thoughts of love so that ' lumps of glorified clay should stand before him for all ages the burdenes loaden debters of free eternally free grace Sir ye cannot cast the count of the rents of your so great inheritance of glory Grace be with you Edinb May. 18. 1651. Your servant in his own Lord Iesus S. R. To the much honoured truely worthy Collonel G. KER Habakuk 2 3 4. 61. Much honoured worthy Sir YOur chains now shine as much for Christ the cause being his as your sword was made famous in acting for that cause And blessed are such as can willingly tender to Christ both action blood doing suffering Resisting unto blood is little for that precious never-enough exalted Redeemer who when ye were a buying gave blood somewhat dearer then ye gave for him even the blood of God Act. 20 28. I know a man who upon the receit of a letter that ye were killed the people of God destroyed wished that he might be quickly under the wall of the higher palace from under the dint of the storm who longed to have the weather-beaten crazie bark safely landed in that harbour of eternall quietnesse What further service Christ hath for you I know not it is enough in that your captivity ye offer your service to Christ but if I see any thing it looks like a mercifull defeat I see the Nobles the State falling off from Christ the night coming upon the Prophets which we would pray to prevent because it is a rare thing to see a fallen star win ever up again to the firmament to shine And what if this be the thick darkness going before the break of day Sure Sir the Sun shall rise upon Scotland but if I shall see it or how near it is to day I leave that to him even unto Iehovah who creats upon every dwelling in
mount Sion upon her assemblies a cloud a smoke by day the shining of a flaming fire by night But Sir the wildernesse shall rejoyce blossom as a rose happy he who hath a bone or an arm to put the Crown upon the head of our highest King whose chariot is paved with love were there ten thousand millions of heavens created above these highest heavens again as many above them as many above them till Angels were wearied with counting it were but too low a seat to fix the princely throne of that Lord Jesus whose ye are above them all Created heavens are too low a seat of majesty for him Since then there is none equal to your master Prince who hath chosen out for you amongst many sufferings for sin that onely crosse which cometh nearest in liknesse to his own crosse watered with consolations take courage comfort your self in him who hath chosen you to glory hereafter to a conformity with him here we fools would have a crosse of our own chusing would have our gall wormwood sugared our fire cold our death grave warmed with heat of life but he who hath brought many children to glory lost none is our best Tutour I wish when I am sick that he may be keeper comforter I judge it a blessed fall that we are forfaited Heirs broken out of credit that Christ is become a Tutour in the place of Freewill that we are no more our own I am broken wasted with the wrath that is on the land have been much tempted with a designe to have a Passe from Christ which if I had I would not stay to be a witnesse of our defection for no mans intreatie but I know it is my softnesse weakness who would ever be ashore when a fit of sea-sickness cometh on Though I know I shall come soon-enough to that desireable countrey shall not be displaced none shall take my lodging Sir many eyes are upon you the Godly are exceedingly refreshed that ye listen not to the wayes of many about you who with fair words make marchandise of souls Sir if the way you are in be not the way of Christ then woe to me for I am eternally lost but truly the Lord Christ's dealing with with Col Gilbert Ker hath proven to me that the new restament the covenant of grace is a piece that a solemne meeting and assembly of all created Angels joyne all their wits together could not have devised fince Sir ye payed nothing for the change that Christ made ye will take that debt of free grace to heaven with you for what was Christ Jesus indebted to you more then to all your kindred name Therefore since ye are made his own follow no other way What is my salvation though I should lay it in pawne It is but a poor pledge that this this onely is the way but Christ is surety himself that it is the way the fore-runner went before you and he is safely landed there is a fair company before you of such as have come out of great tribulation and have washed their garments and made them white in the blood of the Lamb to whom these promises are now performed he that overcomes shall eat of the tree of life that is in the midst of the Paradise of God and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes and there shall be no more death neither sorrow nor crying neither shall therebe any more pain He that siteth on the throne shall dwell among them they shall hunger no more neither thirst any more neither shall the sun light on them nor any heat for the lamb that is in the midst of the throne shall feed them and shall take them unto the living fountains of waters I may Sir possibly keep you from better work The God of peace thâ—t brought again from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternall covenant make you perfect St. Andrews Jan. 7. 1651. Yours in Iesus Christ. S. R. To the much honoured and truely worthy Collonel G. K E R. 62 Much honoured and worthy Sir I have heard of your continued captivity in England as wel as in this afllicted land but goe where ye will ye cannot goe from under your shadow which is broader then many Kingdoms Ye change lodgings and countreys but the same Lord is before you if ye were carried away captive to the other fide of the sun or as far as the rising of the morning-star It is spoken to your Mother who hath yet received no bill of divorce which was written to Judah Mic 4 10 Be in pain and labour to bring forth O Daughter of Zion like a woman in travell for now shall thou goe fortâ—out of the city and thou shalt dwell in the field and thou shalt goe even to Babylon there shalt thou be delivered there the Lord shall redeem thee from the hand of thine enemies England shall be countable for you to render you back Isai. 44 6. I will say to the North give up and to the South keep not back It 's a sermon that flesh and blood laughteth at Ezek. 37 4. Prophesie upon these dry bones and say unto them O ye dry bones hear the word of the Lord It is a preaching to the cold grave Thus saith the Lord unto the bones behold I will cause breath enter into you and ye shall live and I will lay sineâ—s upon you and bring flesh upon you and cover you with skin put breath in you ye shall live Rev. 20 13. And the sed gave up the dead that were in it Berwick must render back the Scottish captives Col. Gilbert Ker with them Isa. 43 v. 14 For thus saith the Lord your Redeemer the holy one of Israel for your sake I have sent to Babylon have brought down all their Nobles and the Caldeans whose cry is in the ships Deut. 30 4. If any of them be driven out to the utmost parts of heaven from 〈◊〉 will the Lord thy God gather thee from thence will he fetch thee Zech. 8 7. Thus saith the Lord of hosts behold I will save my People from thâ— cast countrey and from the west countrey and I will bring them and they shall dwell in the midst of Ierusalem they shall be my People I will be their God in truth in righteousness Sir ye are both booked by the Lord who writeth up the People Ps. 87 5 6. And counted to the Lord as one of the house stock Ps. 22 30. Fear not faint not all your hairs are numbered It is the desire of the People of God that as your bonds hitherto have been exemplaâ—y to the strengthning of the seeble to the stopping of the Mouth of the adversary without any declining to the right or left hand so your sufferings in the place ye now goe to
round about us we lay it not to heart Gray hairs are upon us we know it not It were now a desireable life to send away our love to heaven well becometh it us to wait on for the appointed change yet so as we should be meditating thus Is there a new world above the Sun moon is there such a blessed company harping singing Hallelujahs to the lamb up above Why then are we taken with a vain life of sighing sinning O where is our wisdom that we sit still laughing eating sleeping prisoners doe not pack up all our best things for the journey desiring alwayes to be clothed with our house from above not made with hands Ah we savour not the things that are above nor doe we smell of glory ere we come thither but we transact agree with Time for a new lease of clay-mansions Behold he cometh we sleep turn all the work of duties into a dispute of events for deliverance but the greatest haste to be humbled for a broken a buried Covenant is first last forgotten And all our grief is the Lord lingers enemies triumph Godly ones suffer Atheists blaspheme Ah we pray not but wonder that Christ cometh not the higher way by might by power by garments rolled in blood What if he come the lower way sure we sin in putting the book in his hand as if we could teach the Almighty knowledge we make haste we beleeve not Let the onely wise God alone he stirs well he drawes straight lines though we think say they are crooked It is right that some should die their breasts full of milk yet we are angry that God dealeth so with them O if I could adore him in his hidden wayes when there is darkness under his feet darkness his pavilion clouds about his throne Madam hoping beleeving patient praying is our life he loâ—â—s no time The Lord Jesus be with your spirit St Andrews 12 Sept. 16â—5 Yours at all oblidged observance in Christ. S. 〈◊〉 To his reverend dear Brethren M R GUTHRIE M R TRAIL And the rest of their Brethren imprisoned in the Castell of Edinburgh 70. Reverend Very Dear now much honoured Prisoners for Christ. I Am as to the point of light at the out-most of perswassion in that kinde that this is the cause of Christ ye now suffer for not mens interest If it be for men let us leave it but if we plead for God our own personal saâ—… and man's deliverance will not be peace There is a sâ—lvâ—tion called the salvation of God which is cleanly pure spiritual unmixed near to the holy Word of God it is that which we would seek even the favour of God that he beares to his people not simple gladness but the gladness goodness of the Lord 's chosen And sure though I be the weakest of his witnesses unworthy to be among the meanest of them 〈◊〉 afraid the Cause be hurt but it cannot be lost by my unbeleeving faintness I should not desire a deliverance separated from the deliverance of the Lord's Cause People It is enough to me to sing when Zion sings to triumph when Christ triumpheth I should judge it an unhappy joy to rejoyce when Zion sigheth Not one hoof will be your peace If Christ doeth owne me let me be in the grave in a bloody winding-sheet goe from the scaffold in four quarters to a grave or no grave I am his debter to seal with sufferings this precious truth but Oh when it comes to the push I dare say nothing considering my weakness wickedness faintness But fear not ye ye are not ye shall not be alone the Father is with you It was not an unseasonable but a seasonable necessary duty ye were about Fear him who is Soveraign Christ is Captain of the Castle Lord of the keyes The cooling well-spring refreshment from the promises is more then the â—â—ownings of the furnace I see snares temptations in capitulating composing ceding minching with distinctions of circumstances formalities complements extenuations in the Cause of Christ A long spoon the broth is hell's hot Hold a distance from carnal compositions much nearness to the fountain to the favour refreshing light from the Father of lights speaking in his oracles this is sound health salvation Angels men Zion's Elders eye us but what of all these Christ is by us looks on us writes up all Let us pray more look less to men Remember me to Mr Scot all the rest Blessings be upon the head of such as are separated from their Brethren Ioseph is a fruitfull bough by a well Grace be with you S. Andrewes 1660. Your loving Brother companion in the Kingdom patience of Iesus Christ S. R. To Mr ROBERT CAMPBELL 71. Reverend dear Brother YE know this is a time in which all men almost seek their own things not the things of Jesus Christ yeare your alone as a beacon on the top of a mountain but saint not Christ is a numerous multitude himself yea millions though all the nations were conveened against him round about yet doubt not but he will at last arise for the cry of the poor needy For me I am now near to eternity for ten thousand worlds I dare not adventure to pass from the Protestation against the corruptions of the time nor go alongst with the shameless apostacy of the many silent dumb watchmen of Scotland but I think it my la â—â—my to enter a Protestation in heaven before the righteous Judge against the practical legal breach of Covenant and all Oaths imposed on the consciences of the Lord's people all Popish superstitious and idolattous mandats of men Know that the overthrow of the 〈◊〉 Reformation the introducing of Popery the Mystery of Iniquity is now set on foot in the three Kingdoms whosoever would keep their garments clean are under that command Touch not 〈◊〉 not handle not The Lord calls you Dear Brother to be still stedfast unmoveable aâ—d aboundant in the work of the Lord. Our royal Kingly Master is upon his journey will come will not â—â—rry blâ—ssed is the servant who shall be found watching when he cometh fear not men for the Lord is your light salvation It is true it 's somewhat sad comfortless that ye are your alone but so it was with our precious Master nor are ye your alone for the father is with you It is possible I shall not be an eye-witness to it to the flesh but I beleeve he comes quickly who will remove our darkness will shine gloriously in the Isle of Britain as a crowned King either in a formally sworn Covenant or in his own glorious way which I leave to the determination of his infinite wisdom and goodness this is the hope confidence of a dying man who is longing fainting for the salvation of God Beware of the ensuaring bonds and obligations by any hand-writ or other waves to give unlimited obedience to any authority but onely in the Lord for all innocent self-defence which is according to the Covenant the Word of God the laudable example of the Reformed Churches is now intended to be utterly subverted and condemned and what is taken from Christ as the slower of his Prerogative Royall is now put upon the head of a mortal power which must be that great idol of 〈◊〉 that provokâ—… the eyes of his glory Dear Brother let us 〈◊〉 the rich promises that are made to these that overcome knowing that these that endure to the end shall be saved Thus recommending you to the rich grace of God I remain St. Andrews 1661. Your affectionat Brother in Christ. FINIS
you I instructed you of the superstition Idolatry of kneeling in the instant of receiving the Lords supper crosseing in baptisme and the observing of mens dayes vvithout any vvarrant of Christ our perfect lawgiver Countenance not the Surplice the attire of the Massâ— preist the garment of Baals preists the abominable bovving to altars of tree is comeing upon you hate keep your selves from idols forbear in any case to hear the reading of the new fatherlesse service-book full of grosse heresees popish and superstitious errors vvithout any vvarrant of Christ tending to the overthrovv of preaching you ovv no obedience to the bastard Canons they are unlavvfull blasphemous and superstitious all the ceremonies that lie in the Antichrists foul vvomb the vvares of that great mother of fornications the kirk of Rome are to be refused ye see vvhither they lead you Continue still in the Doctrine vvhich ye have recieved ye heard of me the vvhole counsell of God so we no clâ—â—ts upon Christs robe take Christ in his ragges losses as persecuted by men be content to sigh and pant up the mountain vvith Christs crosse on your back let me be repute a false prophet your conscience once said the contrair if your Lord Jesus shall not stand by you and mantaine you and mantaine your cause aganst your enemies I have heard and my soul is greived for it that since my departure from you many among you are turned back from the good old way to the dogs vomite again let me speak to these men it vvas not vvithout Gods speciall direction that the first sentence that ever my mouth uttered to you vvas that of John Chap. 9 39. And Iesus said for judgment came I into the world that they which see not might see they which see might be made blind It is possible my first meeting yours be when vve shall both stand before the dreadfull judge of the World in the name authoritie of the Son of God my great King Master I write by these presents summonds to these men I arrest their souls bodies to the day of our compearance their eternall damnation stands subscribed and sealed in heaven by the hand-write of the great Judge of quick dead and I am ready to stand up as a preaching witnesse against such to their face that day to say Amen to their condemnation except they repent The vengeance of the Gospel is heavier nor the vengeance of the law the Mediators malediction and vengeance is tvvice vengance that vengeance is the due portion of such men there I leave them as bound men ay while they repent amend You vvere vvitnesses hovv the Lords day vvas spent vvhile I vvas among you O sacrilegious robber of Gods day vvhat vvill thou ansvver the Almightie vvhen he seeketh so many Sabbaths back again from thee What vvill the Curser Svvearer Blasphemer doe vvhen his tongue shall be rosted in that broad and burning lake of fire brimstone And what will the drunkard doe when tongue lights liver bones all shall boile frye in a torturing fire for he shall be far from his barrels of strong drinke then there is not a cold well of vvater for him in hell What shall be the case of the wretch the covetous man the opperssor the deceaver the earth worme who can never get his vvombfull of clay when in the day of Christ Gold and Silver must lie burnt in ashes and he must compear and answer his judge and quite his clayie and naughtie heaven woe woe for ever more be to the time-turning Atheist that hath one God and one religion for summer and another God and another religion for winter and the day offanning when Christ fanneth all that is in his barn floor who hath a conscience for every faire and mercat and the soul of him runneth upon these oiled wheels Time Custome the world and Command of men O if the carelesse Atheist and sleeping man who edgeth by all with God forgive our Pastors if they lead us wrong we must doe as they command and layes down his head upon times bosome and giveth his conscience to a deputy and sleepeth so while the smoak of hell fire flie up in his throat and cause him start out of his dooleful bed O if such a man would awake many woes are for the over-guilded and gold-plastered Hypocrite a heavie doom is for the liar and white tongued flatterer and the fleing book of Gods irefull vengeance twentie cubits long and twentie cubits broad that goeth out from the face of God shall enter into the house and in upon the soul of him that stealeth and sweareth falsely by Gods name Zechar. 5 ver 23. I denounce eternall burning hotter then Sodoms flames upon the men that boile in their filthie lusts of fornication adultery incest and the like wickednesse no Room no not a foot-broad for such viledogs within the clean Jerusalem Many of you put off all with this God forgive us we know no better I renew my old answer 2 Thess. 1. the judge is coming in flaming fire with all his mighty Angels to render vengeance to all these that know not God and beleeve Not. I have often told you security shall slay you all men say they have faith as many men and women now as many saints in heaven and all beleeve say ye every foul dog is clean enough good enough for the clean new Jerusalem above Every man hath conversion the new birth but it is not â—â—el come they had never a sick night for sin conversion came to them in a night dream in a word hell will be empty at the day of judgement and heaven panged full Alace it is neither easie nor ordinarie to beleeve to be saved many must stand in the end at heavens gates when they goe to take out their faith they take out a fair nothing or as ye use to speak a blâ—â—â—ume O lamentable Disappointment I pray you I charge you in the name of Christ make fast work of Christ and salvation I know there are some beleevers among you and I write to you O poor broken hearted beleevers all the comforts of Christ in the New and Old Testament are yours O what a father husband you have O if I had pen and ink and ingine to write of him Let heaven and earth be consolidat in massie and pure gold it will not weigh the thousand part of Christs love to a soul even to me a poor prisoner O that is a massie and marvellous love Men and Angels unit your force and strength in one ye shall not heave nor poise it off the ground Ten thousand thousand worlds as many worlds as Angels can number and then as a new world of Angels can multiply would not all be the balk of a ballance to weigh Christs excellencie sweetnesse and love Put ten earth's in one and let a rose grow
Christ And if I were not so my sufferings had melted me away in ashes and smoke I thank my Lord that he hath something in me that this fire cannot consume Remember my love to your husband show him from me I desire that he may set aside all things make sure work of salvation that it be not a seeking when the sand-glass is run out time eternity shall tryst together There is no errand so wieghty as this O that he would take it to heart Grace be with you Aberd. Yours in Christ Iesus his Lord. S. R. To the Lady DUNGUEIGH 65 MISTRESS I Long to hear from you how ye goe on with Christ I am sure that Christ ye once met I pray you fasten your grips there is holding drawing much sea-way to heaven we are often sea-sick but the voyage is so needfull that we must on any termes take shipping with Christ. I beleeve it is a good countrey we are going to there is ill lodging in this smoaky house of the world in which we are yet living Oh that we should love smoke so well clay that holdeth our feet fast It were our happiness to follow on after Christ to anchor our selves upon the rock in the upper side of the vail Christ Satan are now drawing to parties they are blinde who see not Scotland divided in two camps Christ coming out with his white banner of love he hangeth that over the heads of his souldiers And the other Captain the Dragon is coming out with a great black flag crieth the world the world case honour a whole skin and a soft couch there lie they leave Christ to fend for himself My counsel is that ye come out leave the multitude let Christ have your company Let them take clay this present world who love it Christ is a more worthy noble portion Blessed are these who get him It is good ere the storm rise to make ready all to be prepared to goe to the camp with Christ seeing he will not keep the house nor sit at the fire-side with couchers A showr for Christ is little enough Oh I finde all too little for him Woe woe woe 's me that I have no propine for my Lord Jesus My love is so feckless that it is a shame too offer it to him Oh if it were as broad as heaven as deep as the sea I would gladly bestow it upon him I persâ—ade you God is wringing grapes of red wine for Scotland this land shall drink spue fall His enemies shall drink the thick of it the grounds of it But Scotland's withered tree shall blossom again Christ shall make a second marriage with her take home his wife out of the furnace but if our eyes shall see it he knoweth who hath created time Grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To JONET MCCULLOCH 66 Loving Sister GRace mercy peace be to you Hold on your course for it may be I will not soon see you venture through the thick of all things after Christ tine not your Master Christ in the throng of this great market Let Christ know how heavy how many a stone weight you your cares burdens crosses sins are let him bear all Make the heritage sure to your self get charters writs passâ—d through put on arms for the battel keep you fast by Christ then let the wind blow out of what airth it will your soul will not blow in the sea I finde Christ the most steadable friend and companion in the world to me now the need usefulness of Christ i seen best in trials Oh if hebe not well worthy of his room Lodge him in house heart stir up your husband to seek the Lord I wonder he hath never written to me I doe not forget him I taught you the whole counsel of God delivered it to you it will be inquired for at your hands have it in readiness against the time that the Lord ask for it make you to meet the Lord rest sleep in the love of that fairest among the sons of men Desire Christ's beauty give out all your love to him let none fall by Learn in prayer to speak to him help your mother's soul desire her from me to seek the Lord his salvation it 's not soon found many miss it Grace be with you Aberd. 1637. Your Loving Pastor S. R. To my Lord CRAIGHALL 67 My Lord. I cannot expound your Lo contrary tides and these tentations wherewith ye are assaulted to be any other thing but Christ trying you saying unto you will ye also leave me I am sure Christ hath a great advantage against you if ye play foul play to him in that the holy Spirit hath done his part in evidencing to your conscience that this is the way of Christ wherein ye shall have peace the other as sure as God liveth the Antichrist's way Therefore as ye fear God fear your light stand in aw of a convincing conscience it is far better for your Lo to keep your conscience to hazard in such a honourable cause your place then wilfully against your light to come under guiltiness Kings cannot heal broken consciences when death judgement shall comprize your soul your counsellers others cannot become caution to Justice for you Ere it be long our Lord will put a finall determination to Acts of Parliament mens laws will clear you before men Angels of mens unjust sentences Ye received honour place Authority riches reputation from your Lord to set forward advance the liberties freedom of Christ's Kingdom Men whose consciences are made of stoutness think little of such matters which notwithstanding incroach directly upon Christ's prerogative royal So would men think it a light matter for VZZah to put out his hand to hold the Lord 's falling ark but it cost him his life And who doubteth but a carnal friend will advise you to shut your window pray beneath your breath Ye make too great a dâ—â— with your prayers so would a head-of-wit speak if ye were in Daniel's place But mens overguilded reasons will not help you when your conscience is like to rive with a double charge Alas alas when will this world learn to submit their wisdom to the wisdom of God I am sure your Lo hath found the truth goe not then to search it over again for it is ordinary for men to make doubts when they have a minde to desert the truth Kings are not their own men their wayes are in God's hand I rejoyce am glad that ye resolve to walk with Christ howbeit his court be thin Grace be with your Lo Aberd. Sept. 7. 1637. Your Lo in his sweet Master and Lord Iesus S. R. To WILLIAM
RIGGE of Atherny 68 Worthy much honoured Sir GRace mercy peace be to you How sad a prisoner would I be if I knew not that my Lord Jesus had the keys of the prison himself that his death blood hath bought a blessing to our crosses aswell as to our selves I am sure troubles have no prevailing right over us if they be but our Lord's Serjeants to keep us in ward while we are in this side of heaven I am perswaded also that they shall not goe over the bound-road nor enter in to heaven with us for they finde no welcome there where there is no more death neither sorrow nor crying neither any more pain therefore we shall leave them behinde us Oh if I could get as good a gate of sin even this wofull wretched body of sin as I get of Christ's cross Nay indeed I think the cross beared bâ—th me it self rather then I it in comparison of the tyranny of the lawless flesh wicked nighbour that dwelleth beside Christ's new creature But Oh this is that which presseth me down paiâ—eth me Jesus Christ in his saints sitteth neighbour with an ill second corruption deadness coldness pride lust worldliness self-love security falshood a world of â—oâ— the like which I finde in me that are daily doing violence to the new man O but we have cause to carry low sails to cleave fast to free grace free free grace Blessed be our Lord that ever that way was found out If my one foot were in heaven my soul half in if free-will corruption were absolute Lords of me I should never win wholly in O but the sweet new living way that Christ hath stroke up to our home be a safe way I finde now presence accâ—ss a greater dainty then bâ—fore but yet the bridegroom looketh through the lattes thorow the hole of the door O if he I were in fair dry land together in the other side of the water Grace be with you Aberd. Sept. 30. 1637 Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S R. To the Lady KILCONQUHAIR 69 MISTRESS GRace mercy peace be to you I received your letter I am heartily content ye love own this oppâ—essed and wronged cause of Christ that now whâ—n so many are miscarried ye are in any measure taken with the love of Jesuâ— weary not but come in see if there be not more in Christ then the tongue of men Angels can express If ye seek a gate to heaven the way is in him or he is it What ye want is treasured up in Jesus he saith all his are yours even his Kingdom he is content to divide it betwixt him you yea his throne his glory Luk. 21. 29. Ioh. 17. 24. Rov 3. 21. Therefore take pains to climb up to that besâ—eged house to Christ for devils men armies of temptations are lying about the house to hold out all that are out it is taken with violence It is not a smooth easie way neitâ—er will your weather be fair pleasant but whosoever saw the invisible God the fair city make no reckoning of lossâ—s or crosses in ye must be cost you what it will stand not for a price for all that ye have to win the castle the rights to it are won to you it is disponed to you in your Lord Jesus's testament see what a fair legacy your dying friend Christ hath left you And there wanteth nothing but possession Then get up in the strength of the Lord get over the water to possâ—ss that good land It is better then a land of olives wine-trees for the tree of life that beareth twelve manner of fruits every moneth is there before you a pure river of life clear as crystal proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb is there Your time is short therefore lose no time Gracious faithfull is he who hath called you to his Kingdom glory The city is yours by free conquest by promise therefore let no uncouth Lord-idol put you from your own The devil hath cheated the simple heir of his Paradise by enticing us to taste of the forbidden fruit hath as it were bought us out of our kindly heritage But our Lord Christ Jesus hath done more then bought the devil by for he hath redeemed the wodset made the poor heir free to the inheritaÌ„ce If we knew the glory of our elder brother in heaven we would long to be there to see him to get our fill of heaven We children think the earth a fair garden but it is but God's out-field wilde cold barren ground All things are fading that are here It is our happiness to make sure Christ to our selves Thus remembring my love to your husband wiâ—king to him what I write to you I commit you to God's tender mercy Aberd. Sepr 13. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To the Lady CRAIGHALL 70 Honourable and Christian Lady GRace mercy peace be to you I cannot but write to your La of the sweet glorious termes I am in with the most joyful King that ever was under this well thrifing prosperous cross it is my Lord's salvation wrought by his own right hand that the water doeth not suffocat the breath of â—â—pe joyfull courage in the Loâ—d Jesus For his own person is still in the camp with his poor souldier I see the cross is tied with Christ's hand to the end of an honest profession We are but fools to endeavour to loose Christ's knot When I consider the comforts of God I durst not consent to sell or wod-set my short life-rent of the cross of the Lord Jesus I know that Christ bought with his own blood a right to sanctified blessed crosses in as far as they blow me over the water to my long desired home it were not good that Christ should be the buyer I the seller I know time death shall take sufferings fairly off my hand I hope we shall have an honest parting at night when this piece cold frosty afternoon-tide of my evil rough day shall be over Well is my soul of either sweet or sowre that Christ hath any part or portion in if he be at the one end of it it hall be well with me I shall die ere I libell faults against Christ's cross it hall have my testimonial under my hand as an honest saving mean of Christ for mortification faith's growth I have a stronger assurance since I came over Forth of the excellency of Jesus then I had before I am rather about him then in him while I am absent from him in this house of clay But I would be in heaven for no other cause but to essay try what boundies joy it must be to be over head ears in my welbeloved Christ's love O that fair one
world I testifie give it under mine own hand that Christ is most worthy to be suffered for Our lazie flesh which would have Christ to cry down crosses by open proclamation hath but raised a slander upon the cross of Christ. My Lord I hope ye i will not forget what he hath done for your soul I think ye are n Christ's count-book as his obliged debter Grace grace be with your spirit Aberd. March 13. 1637. Your Lo obliged Servant S. R. To ALEXANDER GORDON Of Knockgray 110 Dear Brother GRace mercy peace be to you I long to hear how your soul prospereth I expected letters from you ere now As for my self I am here in good case well feasted with a great King At my first coming here I was that bold as to to take up a jealousie of Christ's love I said I was cast over the dike of the Lord's vineyard as a dry tree but I see if I had been a withered branch the fire would have burnt me long ere now blessed be his high name who hath kept sap in the dry tree now as if Christ had done the wrong he hath made the mends hath miskent my ravings for a man under the water cannot well command his wit far less his faith love because it was a fever my Lord Jesus forgave me that among the rest He knoweth in our afflictions we can finde a spot in the fairest face that ever was even in Christ's face I would not have beleeved that a gloom should have made me to misken my old Master But we must be whiles sick Sickness is but kindly to both faith Love But O how execedingly is a poor dâted prisoner obliged to sweet Jesus My tears are sweeter to me then the laughter of the fourteen Prelats to them The worst of Christ even his chaff is better then the world's corn Dear Brother I beseech you I charge you in the name authority of the Son of God help me to praise his highness I charge you also to tell all your acquaintance that my Master may get many thanks O if my hairs all my members and all my bones were well tuned tongues to sing the high praises of my great glorious King Help me to lift Christ up upon his throne to lift him up above all the thrones of the clay Kings the dying scepter-bearers of this world The prisoner's blessing the blessing of him that is separated from his brethren be upon them all who will lend me a lift in this work Shew this to that people with you to whom sometimes I preached Brother my Lord hath brought me to this that I will not flatter the world for a drink of water I am no debter to clay Christ hath made me dead to that I now wonder that ever I was such a Childe long since as to beg at such beggers Fy upon us who wooe such a black skinned harlot when we may get such a fair fair match up in heaven Oh that I could give up with this clay-idol this masked painted overguilded dirt that Adam's sons adore We make an idol of our Will as many iusts in us as many Gods We are all God-makers We are like to lose Christ the true God in the throng of these new false Gods Scotland hath cast her crown off her head The virgin Daughter hath lost her garland woe woe to our harlot mother Our day is coming a time when women shall wish they had been childless fathers shall bless miscarrying wombs dry breasts many houses great fair shall be desolate This Kirk shall sit on the ground all the night the tears shall run down her cheeks The sun hath gone down upon her Prophets Blessed are the prisoners of hope who can run in to their strong hold hide themselves for a little till the indignation be overpast Commend me to your Wife your Daughters your Son in law to A. T. write to me of the case of your Kirk Grace be with you I am much moved for my Brother I entreat for your kindness counsel to him Aberd. Feb. 23. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus S. R. To my Lady MARRE Younger 111. My Very noble dear Lady GRace mercy peace be to you I received your La letter which hath comforted my soul. God give you to finde mercy in the day of Christ. I am in as good termes and court with Christ as an exiled oppressed prisoner of Christ can be I am still welcome to his house he knoweth my knock letteth in a poor friend Under this black rough tree of the cross of Christ he hath ravished me with his love taken my heart to heaven with him well long may he bruik it I would not niffer Christ with all the joyes that man or Angel can devise beside him Who hath such cause to speak honourably of Christ as I have Christ is King of all crosses he hath made his saints little Kings under him he can ride triumph upon weaker bodies then I am if any can be weaker his horse will neither fall nor stumble Madam your La hath much adoe with Christ for your soul husband children house Let him finde much employment for his calling with you for he is such a friend as delighteth to be burdened with sutes and employments and the more ye lay on him and the more homely ye be with him the more welcome O the depth of Christ's love It hath neither brim nor bottom O if this blinde world saw his beauty When I count with him for his mercies to me I must stand still wonder goe away as a poor dyvour who hath nothing to pay Free forgiveness is my payment I would I could get him set on high for his love hath made me sick I die except I get reall possession Grace grace be with you Aberd. March 13. 1367. Your La at all obedience in Christ. S. R. To JAMES Mc ADAM 112 My very dear worthyfriend GRace mercy peace be to you I long to hear of your growing in grace of your advancing in your journey to heaven It will be the joy of my heart to hear that ye hold your face up the brae wade through tentations without fearing what man can doe Christ shall when he ariseth mowe down his enemies lay bulks as they use to speak on the green fill the pits with dead bodies Psal. 110 6. they shall lie like handfulls of withered hay when he ariseth to the prey Salvation Salvation is the onely necessary thing this clay-idol the World is not to be sought it is a morsel not for you but for hunger-bitten bastards Contend for Salvation Your Master Christ won heaven with strokes It is a besieged castle it must be taken with violence Oh this world thinketh heaven but at the next door that godliness may sleep in a bed of downs till it come to heaven but