A57970:1190
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.
MADAM.
Grace mercy & peace be multiplied upon you: I received your La: letter, in the which I perceive your case in this world smelleth of a fellowship & communion with the Son of God in his sufferings: Ye cannot, ye must not have a more pleasant or more easy condition here, then he had, who through afflictions was made perfect, Heb. 2: 10, We may indeed think, Cannot God bring us to heaven with ease & prosperity? Who doubteth but he can? But his infinite wisdom thinketh & decreeth the contrary, and we cannot see a reason of it, yet he hath a most just reason: We never with our eyes saw our own soul, yet we have a soul; we see many rivers, but we know not their first spring & original fountain, yet they have a beginning. Madam, when ye are come to the other side of the water & have set down your foot on the shore of glorious Eternity, & look back again to the waters & to your wearisome journey, & shall see in that clear glass of endless glory, nearer to the bottom of God's wisdom; ye shall then be forced to say, If God had done otherwise with me then he hath done, I had never come to the enjoying of this crown of glory. It is your part now to believe & suffer & hope & wait on, for I protest in the presence of that all-discerning eye, who knoweth, what I write & what I think, that I would not want the sweet experience of the consolations of God, for all the bitterness of affliction: nay, whether God come to his children with a rod or a crown, if he come himself with it, it is well: Welcome, welcome Jesus, what way soever thou come, if we can get a sight of thee: & sure I am, it is better to be sick, providing Christ come to the bed-side & draw the curtains & say, Courage, I am thy salvation, thē to enjoy health being lusty & strong, & never to be visited of God. Worthy & de a• Lady, in the strength of Christ, fight & overcome: Ye are now your alone, but ye may have for the seeking, three always ⟨p. 439⟩in your company, the Father, Son, & Holy Spirit: I trust they are near you. Ye are now deprived of the comfort of a lively Ministry, so was Israel in their captivity, yet hear God's promise to them,