A57970:1064
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
Part 1 › Letter 200: To a Gentle woman upon the death of her husband. [200]
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 a Gentle woman upon the death of her husband. [200]
MISTRESS.
Grace, mercy & peace be to you: I cannot but rejoice, and withal be grieved at your case: It hath pleased the Lord to remove your husband, [my friend, & this Kirk's faithful professor] soon to his rest; but shall we be sorry, that our ⟨p. 386⟩loss is his gain, seeing his Lord would want his company no longer; think not much of short summons, for seeing he walked with his Lord in his life & desired that Christ should be magnified in him at his death, ye ought to be silent and satisfied: When Christ cometh for his own, he runneth fast; mercy, mercy to the saints goeth not at leisure; love, love in our Redeemer is not slow, & withal he is homely with you, who cometh at his own hand to your house and intrometeth as a friend with any thing that is yours: I think he would fain borrow & lend with you. Now he shall meet with the solacious company, the fair flock and blessed bairn-time of the first-born, banqueting at the marriage-supper of the Lamb. It is mercy that the poor wand. i•g sheep get a dike-fide in this storm i• day, and a leaking ship a safe harbour, & a sea-sick passenger a sound and soft bed a shore. Wrath, wrath, wrath from the Lord i• coming upon this land that he hath left behind him: know therefore that your Lord Jesus his wounds, are the wounds of a lover, and that he will have compassion upon a sad hearted servant and that Christ hath said, he will have the husband's room in your heart, he loved you in your first husband's time, and he is but wooing you still, give him heart and chair, house and all; he will not be made companion with any other, love is full of Jealousies, he will have all your love, and who should get it but He? I know ye allow it upon him, there are comforts both sweet & satisfying, laid up for you, wait on, first Christ, he is an honest debtor. Now for mine own case, I think some poor body would be glad of a dawted prisoner's leavings, I have no scarcity of Christ's love, he hath wasted moe comforts upon his poor banished servant, then would have refreshed many souls: my burden was once so heavy that one cunce weight would have cast the balance & broken my back, but Christ said, hold, hold to my sorrow, & hath wiped a blubbered face, which was foul with weeping. I may joyfully go my Lord's errands with wages in my hands;