A57970:1092
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 206: To ALEXANDER GORDON. Of Knockgray. (206.)
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 ALEXANDER GORDON. Of Knockgray. (206.)
Dear Brother.
Grace, mercy & peace be to you. There is no question but our mother-church hath a father & that she shall not die without ⟨p. 396⟩an heir, that her enemies▪ hall not make mount Zion the• heritage. We see, whithersoever Zion's enemies go, suppose they dig many miles under the ground, yet our Lord findeth them out, and he hath vengeances laid up in •or• for them, & the poor & needy shall not always be forgotten. Our hope was drooping & withering, & man was saying, what can God make out of the old dry bones of this buried Kirk? The Prelates & their followers were a grave above us: it is like our Lord is to open our graves & purposeth to cause his two slain witnesses rise the third day, O how long wait I to hear our weeping Lord Jesus sing again & triumph & rejoice & divide the spoil! I find it hard work to believe when the course of providence goeth cross-ways to our faith, & when misted souls in a dark night cannot know East by West, & our sea Compass seemeth to fail us: Every man is a believer in day-light: A fair day seemeth to be made all of faith & hope: What a trial of gold is it to smoke it a little above the fire? But to keep gold perfect •ellow-coloured amidst the flames & to be turned from vessel to vessels, & yet to cause out furnace sound & speak & cry the praises of the Lord, is another matter. I know my Lord made me not for fire, howbeit he hath fitted me in some measure for the fire. I bless his high name that I wax not pale, neither have I lost the colour of gold and that his fire hath made me somewhat thin & that my Lord may pour me in any vessel he pleaseth: For a small wager I may justly quite my part of this world's laughter, & give up with time, & cast out with the pleasures of this world. I know a man who wondered to see any in this life laugh & sport: surely our Lord seeketh this of us, as to any rejoicing in present perishing things. I see above all things, & that we may sit down & fold legs & arms & stretch our selves upon Christ & laugh at the feathers that children are chasing here: For I think the men of this world like children in a dangerous storm in the sea, that play & make sport with the white foam of the waves thereof, coming in to sink & drown them; so are men making fool's sports with the white pleasures of a stormy world that will sink em. But alas, what have we to do with their sports that they make!