A57970:1191
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 Lady KENMURE (9.)
MADAM.
Having saluted you in the Lord Jesus, I thought it my duty, having the occasion of this bearer, to write again unto your La: though I have no new purpose but what I wrote of before: Yet ye cannot be too often awakened to go forward towards your city, since your way is long, and [for any thing ye know] your day is short; & your Lord requireth of you as ye advance in years, & steal forward insensibly towards eternity, that your saith may grow and ripen for the Lords harvest, for the great husband-man giveth a season to his fruits that they may come to maturity, & having gotten their fill of the tree, they may then be shaken & gathered in for his use; whereas the wicked rot upon the tree, & their branch shall not be green. Job. 15. 32. 33. He shall shake off his unripe grapes as the vine, and shall cast oft his flower as the olive. It is God's mercy to you, madam, that […] giveth you your fill, even to loathing, of this bitter world, that ye may willingly leave it, & like a full and satisfied banqueter, long for the drawing of the table; and at last having trampled under your feet, all the •otten pleasure that are under un & Moon; and having rejoiced as though ye rejoiced not, and having bought as though ye possessed not, 1 Cor. 7. 30. Ye may like an old crazy ship, arrive at your Lord's harbour, & be made welcome, as one of these who have ever had one foot loose from this earth, longing for that place where your soul shall feast & banquet for ever & ever,