A57970:1041
Joshua Redivivus, or Mr. Rutherford's Letters
Joshua redivivus, or, Mr. Rutherford's letters divided into two parts, the first, containing these which were written from Aberdeen, where he was confined by a sentence of the high commission ... partly on account of his non-conformance : the second, containing some which were written from Anwoth ... / now published for the use of all the people of God ... by a well-wisher to the work & people of God.Joshua redivivus, or, Mr. Rutherfoord's letters divided into two parts, the first, containing these which were written from Aberdeen, where he was confined by a sentence of the high commission ... partly on account of his non-conformance : the second, containing some which were written from Anwoth ... / now published for the use of all the people of God ... by a wellwisher to the work & people of God.
Rotterdam? : s.n., 1664
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
To FULWOOD Younger. (195)
Much honoured Sir
Grace, mercy & peace be to you: Upon the report of this worthy bearer concerning you, I thought good to spea• a wo•d to you: It is enough for acquaintance that we are one in Christ: My earnest desire to you is, that ye would in the fear of God, compare your inch & hand-breadth of time with vast Eternity, & your thoughts of this now fair, blooming and green world, with the thoughts ye shall have of it, when corruption & worms shall make their houses in your eye holes, & shall eat your flesh & make that body dry bones; if ye do so, I know then, that your light of this world's vanity shall be more clear then now it is: And I am persuaded ye shall then think, that mens labours for this clay-idol are to be laughed at: Therefore come near and take a view of that transparent beauty that is in Christ, which would busy the love of ten thousand millions of world's & Angels, & hold them all at work: Surely I am grieved that men will not spend their whole love upon that royal & princely Well beloved, that High & lofty One: For it is cursed love that runneth another way then upon him. And for my self, if I had ten loves & ten souls, O how glad would I be if he would break in upon me & take possession of them all! Woe, woe is me, that He & I are so far asunder! I hope we shall be in one country & one house together: truly pain of love-sickness for Jesus, maketh me to think it long, long, long to the dawning of that day. Oh that he would cut short years & months & hours, & overleap Time, that we might meet! And for this truth, Sir, that ye profess, I avow before the world of men & Angels, that it is the way & only way to our country, the rest are by-ways; & that what I suffer for, is the apple of Christ's eye, even his honour as Law-giver & King of his Church. I think death too little ere I forsook it. Do not, Sir, I beseech you in the Lord, make Christ's court thinner by drawing back from him, it is oo thin already; for I dare pledge my heaven upon it, he shall win this plea, & the fools that plea against