Joshua Redivivus, or Mr. Rutherford's Letters

I Am grieved exceedingly that your La: should think, or have cause to think that such as love you in God, in this country, are forgetful of you: For my self, Madam, I owe to your La; all evidences of my high respect (in the sight of my Lord, whose truth I preach, I am bold to say it) for his rich grace in you: My Communion put off till the end of a longsome & rainy harvest & the Presbyterial exercise [as the bearer can inform your La:] hindered me to see you: And for my people's sake [finding them like hot iron, that cooleth being out of the fire, and that is pliable to no work] I do not stir abroad, neither have I left them at all since your La: was in this country, save at one time only, about two years ago; yet I dare not say but it is a fault, howbeit no defect in my affection: and I trust to make it up again, so soon as possibly I am able, to wait upon you. Madam, I have no new purpose to write unto you, but of that which I think, nay, which our Lord thinketh needful, that one thing, Mary's good part, which ye have chosen, Luk: 10, 42. Madam, all that God hath, both himself and the creatures, he is dealing and parting amongst the sons of Adam: There are none so poor as that they can say in his face, He hath given them nothing; But there is no small odds betwixt the gifts given to lawful bairns and to bastards: And the more greedy ye are in suiting, the more willing he is to give, delighting to be called open handed: I hope your La: laboureth to get assurance of the surest patrimony, even God himself; ye will find in Christianity, that God aimeth in all his dealings with his children, to bring them to a high contempt, of and deadly feud with the world, and to set ⟨p. 444⟩an high price upon Christ, & to think him one who cannot be bought for gold, & well-worthy the fighting for: And for no other cause, Madam, doeth the Lord withdraw from you the childish toys & the earthly delights that he giveth unto others; but that he may have you wholly to himself: Think therefore of the Lord, as of one who cometh to woo you in marriage, when ye are in the furnace; He seeketh his answer of you in affliction, to see if ye will say even so I take him: Madam, give him this answer pleasantly, & in your mind do not secretly grudge nor murmur: When he is striking you in love, beware to sty again: That is dangerous, for these who strike again, shall get the last blow:

I Am grieved exceedingly that your La: should think, or have cause to think that such as love you in God, in this countrey, are forgetfull of you: For my self, Madam, I ow to your La; all evidences of my high respect (in the sight of my Lord, whose truth I preach, I am bold to say it) for his rich grace in you: My Communion put off till the end of a longsom & rainny harvest & the Presbyteriall exercise [as the bearer can inform your La:] hindered me to see you: And for my people's sake [finding them like hot iron, that cooleth being out of the fire, and that is pliable to no work] I doe not stir abroad, neither have I left them at all since your La: was in this countrey, save at one time onely, about two years agoe; yet I dare not say but it is a fault, howbeit no defect in my affection: and I trust to make it up again, so soon as possibly I am able, to wait upon you. Madam, I have no new purpose to write unto you, but of that which I think, nay, which our Lord thinketh needfull, that one thing, Marie's good part, which ye have chosen, Luk: 10, 42. Madam, all that God hath, both himself and the creatures, he is dealing and parting amongst the sons of Adam: There are none so poor as that they can say in his face, He hath given them nothing; But thereis no small ods betwixt the gifts given to lawfull bairns and to bastards: And the more greedy ye are in suiting, the more willing he is to give, delighting to be called open handed: I hope your La: laboureth to get assurance of the surest patrimony, even God himself; ye will finde in Christianity, that God aimeth in all his dealings with his children, to bring them to a high contempt, of and deadly feud with the world, and to set