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to_o christ_n &_o his_o oppress_a truth_n i_o be_o bold_a to_o write_v to_o you_o earnest_o desire_v you_o to_o join_v with_o we_o so_o many_o as_o in_o these_o bound_n profess_v christ_n to_o wrestle_v with_o god_n one_o day_n of_o the_o week_n especial_o the_o wedensday_n for_o mercy_n to_o this_o fall_v &_o decay_a kirk_n and_o to_o such_o as_o suffer_v for_o christ_n name_n &_o for_o your_o own_o necessity_n &_o the_o necessity_n of_o other_o who_o be_v by_o covenant_n engage_v in_o that_o business_n for_o we_o have_v no_o other_o armour_n in_o these_o evil_a time_n but_o prayer_n now_o when_o wrath_n from_o the_o lord_n be_v go_v out_o against_o this_o backslide_n land_n for_o you_o know_v we_o can_v have_v no_o true_a public_a fast_n neither_o be_v the_o true_a cause_n of_o our_o humiliation_n ever_o lay_v before_o the_o people_n now_o very_o worthy_a sir_n i_o be_o glad_a in_o the_o lord_n that_o the_o lord_n reserve_v any_o of_o your_o place_n or_o of_o note_n in_o this_o 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beside_o you_o to_o eye_n you_o any_o little_a grace_n that_o you_o have_v see_v that_o it_o be_v sound_a &_o true_a you_o may_v put_v a_o difference_n betwixt_o you_o and_o reprobat_n if_o you_o have_v these_o mark_n 1._o if_o you_o prize_v christ_n &_o his_o truth_n so_o as_o you_o will_v sell_v all_o &_o buy_v he_o &_o suffer_v for_o it_o 2._o if_o the_o love_n of_o christ_n keep_v you_o back_o from_o sin_v more_o than_o the_o law_n or_o fear_n of_o hell_n 3._o if_o you_o be_v humble_a &_o deny_v your_o own_o will_n wit_n credit_n ease_n honour_n the_o world_n &_o the_o vainity_n &_o glory_n of_o it_o 4._o your_o profession_n must_v not_o be_v barren_a &_o void_a of_o good_a work_n 5._o you_o must_v in_o all_o thing_n aim_v at_o god_n honour_n you_o must_v eat_v drink_v sleep_n buy_v sell_v sit_z stand_v speak_v pray_v read_v and_o hear_v the_o word_n with_o a_o heart-purpose_n that_o god_n may_v be_v honour_v 6._o you_o must_v show_v yourself_o a_o enemy_n to_o sin_n and_o 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be_v not_o with_o you_o to_o hold_v up_o your_o chin_n i_o trust_v in_o god_n he_o shall_v bring_v your_o ship_n safe_a to_o land_n i_o counsel_v you_o to_o study_v sanctification_n &_o to_o be_v dead_a to_o this_o world_n urge_v kindness_n on_o knockbrex_n labour_n to_o benefit_n by_o his_o company_n the_o man_n be_v acquaint_v with_o christ._n i_o beg_v the_o help_n of_o your_o prayer_n for_o i_o forget_v not_o you_o counsel_v your_o husband_n to_o fulfil_v my_o joy_n &_o to_o seek_v the_o lord_n face_n show_v he_o from_o i_o that_o my_o joy_n &_o desire_n be_v to_o hear_v he_o be_v in_o the_o lord_n god_n cast_v he_o often_o in_o my_o mind_n i_o can_v forget_v he_o i_o hope_v christ_n &_o he_o have_v something_o to_o do_v together_o bless_v john_n from_o i_o i_o write_v blessing_n to_o he_o &_o to_o your_o husband_n &_o the_o rest_n of_o your_o child_n let_v it_o not_o be_v say_v i_o be_o not_o in_o your_o house_n through_o neglect_n of_o the_o sabbath-exercise_n aberd._n febr._n 20._o 1637._o your_o lawful_a &_o love_a pasior_n in_o his_o only_a only_a lord_n s._n r._n to_o jonet_n mcculloch_n 170_o dear_a sister_n grace_n mercy_n &_o peace_n be_v to_o you_o i_o long_o to_o hear_v how_o your_o soul_n prosper_v i_o be_o as_o well_o as_o a_o prisoner_n of_o christ_n can_v be_v feast_v &_o make_v fat_a with_o the_o comfort_n of_o god_n christ_n kiss_n be_v make_v sweet_a to_o my_o soul_n then_o ever_o they_o be_v i_o will_v not_o change_v my_o master_n with_o all_o the_o king_n of_o clay_n upon_o the_o earth_n o_o my_o well-beloved_a be_v altogether_o lovely_a &_o love_v i_o care_v not_o what_o flesh_n can_v do_v i_o persuade_v my_o soul_n i_o deliver_v the_o truth_n of_o christ_n to_o you_o slip_v not_o from_o it_o for_o no_o boast_n or_o fear_n of_o man_n if_o you_o go_v against_o the_o truth_n of_o christ_n that_o i_o now_o suffer_v for_o i_o shall_v bear_v witness_n against_o you_o in_o the_o day_n of_o christ._n sister_n fasten_v your_o grip_n fast_o on_o 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to_o the_o man_n learning_n for_o that_o i_o hear_v he_o opposite_a to_o arminian_n heresy_n but_o with_o reverence_n of_o that_o worthy_a man_n i_o wonder_v to_o hear_v such_o popish-like_a expression_n as_o he_o have_v in_o his_o letter_n as_o y_z lo_o may_v spare_v doubt_n when_o the_o king_n &_o church_n have_v agree_v in_o the_o settle_n of_o such_o order_n &_o the_o church_n direction_n in_o thing_n indifferent_a &_o circumstantial_a as_o if_o indifferent_a &_o circumstantial_a be_v all_o one_o shall_v be_v the_o rule_n of_o every_o private_a christian._n i_o only_o view_v the_o paper_n in_o two_o hour_n space_n the_o bearer_n haste_v i_o to_o write_v i_o find_v the_o worthy_a man_n not_o so_o see_v in_o this_o controversy_n as_o some_o turbulent_a man_n of_o our_o country_n as_o he_o call_v refuser_n of_o conformity_n and_o let_v i_o say_v it_o i_o be_o more_o confirm_v in_o nonconformity_n when_o i_o see_v such_o a_o great_a 〈◊〉_d it_o play_v the_o agent_n so_o slender_o but_o 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2._o 17._o i_o be_o sure_a a_o conscience_n standinginaw_v of_o the_o almighty_a &_o fear_v to_o make_v a_o little_a hole_n in_o the_o bottom_n for_o fear_n of_o under-water_n be_v a_o strong_a medium_n to_o hold_v off_o a_o erroneous_a conclusion_n in_o the_o least_o wing_n or_o lithe_a of_o sweet_a sweet_a truth_n that_o concern_v the_o royal_a prerogative_n of_o our_o kingly_a &_o high_a lord_n jesus_n and_o my_o witness_n be_v in_o heaven_n i_o see_v neither_o pleasure_n nor_o profit_n nor_o honour_n to_o hook_v i_o or_o catch_v i_o in_o enter_v in_o prison_n for_o christ_n but_o the_o wind_n on_o my_o face_n for_o the_o present_a &_o if_o i_o have_v love_v to_o sleep_v in_o a_o whole_a skin_n with_o the_o ease_n &_o present_a delight_n that_o i_o see_v on_o this_o side_n of_o sun_n &_o moon_n i_o shall_v have_v live_v at_o ease_n in_o good_a hope_n to_o fare_v as_o well_o as_o other_o the_o lord_n know_v i_o prefer_v preach_v of_o christ_n &_o still_o do_v to_o any_o thing_n next_o to_o christ_n himself_o &_o their_o new_a canon_n take_v my_o one_o my_o one_o joy_n from_o i_o which_o be_v to_o i_o as_o the_o poor_a man_n one_o eye_n that_o have_v no_o more_o &_o alas_o there_o be_v little_a lodging_n in_o their_o heart_n for_o pity_n or_o mercy_n to_o pluck_v out_o a_o poor_a man_n one_o eye_n for_o a_o thing_n indifferent_a id_fw-la est_fw-la for_o knot_n of_o straw_n &_o thing_n as_o they_o mean_v off_o the_o way_n to_o heaven_n i_o desire_v not_o that_o my_o name_n take_v journey_n &_o go_v a_o pilgrim_n to_o cambridge_n for_o fear_n i_o come_v in_o the_o ear_n of_o authority_n i_o be_o sufficient_o burn_v already_o in_o the_o mean_a time_n be_v please_v to_o try_v if_o the_o bishop_n of_o st_n andrew_n &_o glasgow_n galloway_n ordinary_a will_v be_v please_v to_o abate_v from_o the_o heat_n of_o their_o wrath_n and_o let_v i_o go_v to_o my_o charge_n few_o know_v the_o heart_n of_o a_o prisoner_n yet_o i_o hope_v the_o lord_n shall_v hew_v his_o own_o glory_n out_o of_o as_o knotty_a timber_n as_o i_o be_o keep_v christ_n my_o dear_a &_o worthy_a lord_n pretend_a paper-argument_n from_o anger_v the_o mother-church_n that_o can_v reel_v &_o nod_v &_o stagger_v be_v not_o of_o such_o weight_n as_o peace_n with_o the_o father_n &_o husband_n let_v the_o wife_n gloom_n i_o care_v not_o if_o the_o husband_n laugh_v remember_v my_o service_n to_o my_o lord_n your_o father_n &_o mother_n &_o your_o lady_n grace_n be_v with_o you_o aberd._n jan._n 24._o 1637._o you_o at_o all_o obodience_n in_o christ_n s_o r._n to_o his_o reverend_n &_o dear_a brother_n mr_n robert_n blair_n 172_o reverend_a &_o dear_a brother_n the_o reason_n you_o give_v for_o your_o not_o write_v to_o i_o affect_v i_o much_o &_o give_v i_o a_o dash_n when_o such_o a_o one_o as_o you_o conceive_v a_o opinion_n of_o i_o or_o any_o thing_n in_o i_o the_o truth_n be_v when_o i_o come_v home_o to_o myself_o o_o what_o penury_n do_v i_o find_v and_o how_o feckless_a be_v my_o 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we_o list_v o_o what_o difficulty_n be_v there_o in_o our_o christian_n journey_n &_o how_o often_o come_v we_o short_a of_o many_o thousand_o thing_n that_o be_v christ_n due_a and_o we_o consider_v not_o how_o far_o our_o dear_a lord_n be_v behind_o with_o we_o mistress_n i_o can_v render_v you_o thank_v as_o i_o will_v for_o your_o kindness_n to_o my_o brother_n â—n_o oppress_v stranger_n but_o i_o remember_v you_o unto_o the_o lord_n as_o i_o be_o able_a i_o entreat_v you_o think_v upon_o i_o his_o prisoner_n &_o pray_v that_o the_o lord_n will_v be_v please_v to_o give_v i_o â—oom_n to_o speak_v to_o 〈◊〉_d people_n in_o his_o name_n grace_n grace_n be_v with_o you_o aberd._n 1637_o you_o in_o his_o sweet_a lorâ—_n and_o master_n s._n r._n to_o fulwood_n younger_n 195_o much_o honour_a sir_n grace_n mercy_n &_o peace_n be_v to_o you_o upon_o the_o report_n of_o this_o worthy_a bearer_n concern_v you_o i_o think_v good_a to_o speaâ—_n a_o woâ—d_n to_o you_o it_o be_v enough_o for_o acquaintance_n that_o we_o be_v one_o in_o christ_n my_o earnest_a desire_n to_o you_o be_v that_o you_o will_v in_o the_o fear_n of_o god_n compare_v your_o inch_n &_o hand-breadth_n of_o time_n with_o vast_a eternity_n &_o your_o thought_n of_o this_o now_o fair_a bloom_a and_o green_a world_n with_o the_o thought_n you_o shall_v have_v of_o it_o when_o corruption_n &_o worm_n shall_v make_v their_o house_n in_o your_o eye-hole_n &_o shall_v eat_v your_o flesh_n &_o make_v that_o body_n dry_a bone_n if_o you_o do_v so_o i_o know_v then_o that_o your_o light_n of_o this_o world_n vanity_n shall_v be_v more_o clear_a than_o now_o it_o be_v and_o i_o be_o persuade_v you_o shall_v then_o think_v that_o man_n labour_n for_o this_o clay-idol_n be_v to_o be_v laugh_v at_o therefore_o come_v near_o and_o take_v a_o view_n of_o that_o transparent_a beauty_n that_o be_v in_o christ_n which_o will_v busy_v the_o love_n of_o ten_o thousand_o million_o of_o world_n &_o angel_n &_o hold_v they_o 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with_o i_o where_o i_o be_o to_o behold_v my_o glory_n that_o thou_o have_v give_v i_o joh._n 17._o 24._o amen_n dear_a jesus_n let_v it_o be_v according_a to_o that_o word_n i_o wonder_v that_o ever_o your_o heart_n shall_v be_v casten_z down_z if_o you_o believe_v this_o truth_n &_o they_o be_v not_o worthy_a of_o jesus_n christ_n who_o will_v not_o suffer_v forty_o year_n trouble_v for_o he_o since_o they_o have_v such_o glorious_a promise_n but_o we_o fool_n believe_v these_o promise_n as_o the_o man_n that_o read_v plato_n write_n concern_v the_o immortality_n of_o the_o soul_n so_o long_o as_o the_o book_n be_v in_o his_o hand_n he_o believe_v all_o be_v true_a &_o that_o the_o soul_n can_v not_o die_v but_o so_o soon_o as_o he_o lay_v by_o the_o book_n present_o he_o begin_v to_o imagine_v that_o the_o soul_n be_v but_o a_o smoke_n or_o airy_a vapour_n that_o perish_v with_o the_o expire_n of_o the_o breath_n so_o we_o at_o start_n do_v assent_v to_o the_o sweet_a &_o precious_a promise_n but_o lay_v aside_o god_n book_n we_o begin_v to_o call_v all_o in_o question_n it_o be_v faith_n indeed_o to_o believe_v without_o a_o pledge_n &_o to_o hold_v the_o heart_n constant_a at_o this_o work_n &_o when_o we_o doubt_v to_o run_v to_o the_o law_n &_o to_o the_o testimony_n &_o stay_v there_o madam_n hold_v you_o here_o here_o be_v your_o father_n testament_n read_v it_o in_o it_o he_o have_v leave_v to_o you_o remission_n of_o sin_n &_o life_n everlasting_a if_o all_o that_o you_o have_v here_o be_v cross_n &_o trouble_n downcastings_a frequent_a desertion_n &_o departure_n of_o the_o lord_n who_o be_v suit_v you_o in_o marriage_n courage_n he_o who_o be_v wooer_n and_o suitor_n shall_v not_o be_v a_o houshold-man_n with_o you_o till_o you_o and_o he_o come_v up_o to_o his_o father_n house_n together_o he_o purpose_v to_o do_v you_o good_a at_o your_o latter_a end_n deut._n 8_o 16._o &_o to_o give_v you_o rest_n from_o the_o day_n of_o adversity_n psal._n 94_o 13._o it_o be_v good_a to_o bear_v the_o yoke_n of_o god_n in_o your_o youth_n lam._n 3_o 27._o turn_v in_o to_o your_o strong_a hold_n as_o a_o prisoner_n of_o hope_n zech._n 9_o 12._o for_o the_o vision_n be_v for_o a_o appoint_a time_n but_o at_o the_o end_n it_o shall_v speak_v &_o not_o lie_v though_o it_o tarry_v wait_v for_o it_o because_o it_o will_v sure_o come_v it_o will_v not_o tarry_v hab_o 2_o 3._o hear_v himself_o say_v isa_n 26_o 20._o come_v my_o people_n rejoice_v he_o call_v on_o you_o enter_v thou_o into_o thy_o chamber_n &_o shut_v thy_o door_n about_o thou_o hide_v thyself_o as_o it_o be_v for_o a_o little_a moment_n till_o the_o indignation_n be_v past_a believe_v then_o believe_v &_o be_v save_v think_v not_o hard_a â—f_n â—e_v get_v not_o your_o will_n nor_o your_o delight_n in_o this_o life_n god_n will_v have_v you_o to_o rejoice_v in_o nothing_o but_o himself_o god_n forbid_v that_o you_o shall_v rejoice_v in_o any_o thing_n but_o in_o the_o cross_n of_o christ_n gal_n 4._o 16._o our_o church_n madam_n be_v decay_v she_o be_v like_o ephraim_n cake_n &_o gray_a hair_n be_v here_o &_o there_o upon_o she_o &_o she_o know_v it_o not_o hos._n 7_o 9_o she_o be_v old_a &_o gray_a haired_a near_o the_o grave_n &_o no_o man_n take_v it_o to_o heart_n her_o wine_n be_v sour_a &_o be_v corrupt_v now_o if_o phinehas_n wife_n do_v live_v she_o may_v travel_v in_o birth_n &_o die_v to_o see_v the_o ark_n of_o god_n take_v &_o the_o glory_n depart_v from_o our_o israel_n the_o power_n and_o life_n of_o religion_n be_v away_o woe_n be_v to_o we_o for_o the_o day_n go_v away_o for_o the_o shadow_n of_o the_o evening_n be_v stretch_v out_o jer_z 6_o 4._o madam_n zion_n be_v the_o ship_n wherein_o you_o be_v carry_v to_o canaan_n if_o she_o suffer_v shâ—pwrack_n you_o will_v be_v casten_z overboard_o upon_o death_n &_o life_n to_o swim_v to_o land_n upon_o break_a board_n it_o be_v time_n for_o we_o by_o prayer_n to_o put_v upon_o our_o master-pilot_n jesus_n &_o to_o cry_v master_n save_o we_o we_o perish_v grace_n grace_n â—e_n with_o you_o we_o will_v think_v it_o a_o blessing_n to_o our_o kirk_n to_o see_v you_o here_o but_o our_o sin_n withhold_v good_a thing_n from_o we_o the_o great_a messenger_n of_o the_o covenant_n preserve_v you_o in_o body_n &_o spirit_n anwoth_n feb._n 1._o 1630._o you_o in_o the_o lord_n s._n r._n to_o my_o lady_n kenmure_n 8_o madam_n grace_n mercy_n &_o peace_n be_v multiply_v upon_o you_o i_o receive_v your_o la_n letter_n in_o the_o which_o i_o perceive_v your_o case_n in_o this_o world_n smell_v of_o a_o fellowship_n &_o communion_n with_o the_o son_n of_o god_n in_o his_o suffering_n you_o can_v you_o must_v not_o have_v a_o more_o pleasant_a or_o more_o easy_a condition_n here_o than_o he_o have_v who_o through_o affliction_n be_v make_v perfect_a heb._n 2_o 10_o we_o may_v indeed_o think_v can_v god_n bring_v we_o to_o heaven_n with_o ease_n &_o prosperity_n who_o doubt_v but_o he_o can_v but_o his_o infinite_a wisdom_n think_v &_o decree_v the_o contrary_a and_o we_o can_v see_v a_o reason_n of_o it_o yet_o he_o have_v a_o most_o just_a reason_n we_o never_o with_o our_o eye_n see_v our_o own_o soul_n yet_o we_o have_v a_o soul_n we_o see_v many_o river_n but_o we_o know_v not_o their_o first_o spring_n &_o original_a fountain_n yet_o they_o have_v a_o beginning_n madam_n when_o you_o be_v come_v to_o the_o other_o side_n of_o the_o water_n &_o have_v set_v down_o your_o foot_n on_o the_o shore_n of_o glorious_a eternity_n &_o look_v