A57970:1161
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 a Christian Gentlewoman. (3)
MISTRESS.
MY love in Christ remembered to you: I was indeed sorrowful at my departure from you, especially since ye were in such heaviness after your daughters death; yet I do persuade my self, ye know, that the weightiest end of the cross of Christ that is laid upon you, lieth upon your strong Saviour, for Isaiah saith 62. 9. In all your afflictions •e is afflicted: O blessed second who suffereth with you! & glad may your soul be, even to walk in the fiery furnace with one like unto the Son of man, who is also the Son of God. Courage, up your heart, when ye do tire he will bear both you & your burden, Psal. •5. 22. Yet a little while & ye shall see the salvation of God. Remember of what age your daughter was, as long was your lease of her: if she was 18, 19, or 20 years old, I know not, sure I am, seeing her term was come & your lease run out, ye can no more justly quarrel your great Superior for taking his own at his just term day, then a poor farmer can complain, that his Master taketh a portion of his own land to himself when his lease is expired. Good Mistress, if ye would not be content that Christ would hold from you the heavenly inheritance, which is made yours by his death, shall not that same Christ think hardly of you, if ye refuse to give him your daughter willingly, who is a part of his inheritance ⟨p. 426⟩& conquest? I pray the Lord to give you all your own, & to grace you with patience, to give God his also: he is an ill debtor who payeth that which he hath borrowed, with a grudge: indeed that long loan of such a good daughter, an heir of grace, a member of Christ [as I believe] deserveth more thanks at your Creditor's hand, then that ye should gloom & murmur when he craveth but his own: I believe ye would judge them to be but thankless neighbours, who would pay you a sum of money after this manner. But what, do ye think her lost, when she is but sleeping in the bosom of the Almighty? think her not absent who is in such a friend's house: Is she lost to you who is found to Christ? If she were with a dear friend, although ye should never see her again, your care for her would be but small: Oh now, is she not with a dear friend, & gone higher upon a certain hope that ye shall in the Resurrection see her again, when [be ye sure] she shall neither be hectic nor consumed in body!