A57970:1108
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 my Lord CRAIGHALL. (210.)
My Lord.
Grace, mercy & peace be to you: I am not only content but I exceedingly rejoice, that I find 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 show your self courageous, & 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 believe, 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 a feast for Jehovah, that is, for the golden Calf, should not have been guilty of Idolatry; for he intended only 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 lawful, if our intention go right. My Lord, I cannot in this bounds dispute, but if Cambridge & Oxford & the learning of Britain will answer this argument, & the argument ⟨p. 404⟩