A57970:1139
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.
Grace, mercy & peace be to you: Though not acquainted, yet at the desire of a Christian brother, I thought good to write a line unto you, entreating you in the Lord Jesus under your trials, to keep an ear open to Christ, who can speak for himself, howbeit your visitations and your own sense should dream hard things of his love and favour: Our Lord never getteth so kind a look of us, nor our love in such a degree, nor our faith in such a ⟨p. 413⟩measure of steadfastness, as he getteth out of the furnace of our tempting fears & sharp trials. I verily believe [& too sad proofs in me, say no less] that if our Lord would grind our whorish lust in powder, the very old ashes of our corruption should take life again, and live and hold us under so much bondage that may humble us & make us sad, till we be in that country where we shall need no Physic at all. O what violent means doth our Lord use to gain us to him, as if indeed we were a prize worthy his fighting for! And be sure if leading would do the turn, he would not use pulling of hair and drawing: But the best of us will bide a strong pull of our Lord's right arm ere we follow him: Yet I say not this as if our Lord always measured afflictions by so many ounce weights answerable to the grain weights of our guiltiness: I know he doeth in many [and possibly in you] seek nothing so much as faith that can endure summer and winter in their extremity. O how precious to the Lord is faith and love, that when threshed, beaten, and chased away, and boasted [as it were] by God himself, doeth yet look warm-like, love-like, kindlike, and life-like home-over to Christ, & would be in at him, ill & well as it may be! Think not much that your husband or the dearest to you in the world, proveth to have the bowels & mercy of the Ostrich, hard & rigorous & cruel: For Psal. 27. 10. The Lord taketh up such fallen ones as these. I could not wish a more sweet life nor more satisfying expressions of kindness till I be up at that Prince of kindness, then the Lord's saints find when the Lord taketh up mens refuse & lodgeth this world's out-laws whom no man seeketh after: His breath is never so hot, his love casteth never such a flame, as when this world and these who should be the helpers of our joy, cast water on our coal:
GRace, mercy & peace be to you: Though not acquainted, yet at the desire of a Christian brother, I thought good to write a line unto you, intreating you in the Lord Jesus under your trials, to keep an ear open to Christ, who can speak for himself, howbeit your visitations and your own sense should dream hard things of his love and favour: Our Lord never getteth so kinde a look of us, nor our love in such a degree, nor our faith in such a