A57970:1203
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. (11)
MADAM.
Understanding, a little after the writing of my last letter, of the going of this bearer, I would not omit the opportunity of remembering your La: still harping upon that string, which in our whole life-time is never too often touched upon, nor is our lesson well enough learned, that there is a necessity of advancing in the way to the Kingdom of God, of the contempt of the world, of denying our self & bearing of our Lord's cross, which is no less needful for us then daily food: & among many marks that we are on this journey & under sail toward heaven, this is one, when the love of God so filleth our hearts, that we forget to love & care too much for the having or wanting of other things, as one extreme heat burneth out another. By this, Madam, ye know ye have betrothed your soul in marriage to Christ, when ye do make but small reckoning of all other suitors or wooers, & when ye can [having little in hand, but much in hope] live as a young heir, during the time of his non-age & Minority, being content to be as hardly handled & under as precise a reckoning, as servants, because his hope is upon the inheritance: For this cause God's bairns take well with spoiling of their goods; Heb. 10. 34. knowing in themselves that they have in heaven a better, & an enduring substance. That day that the earth & the works therein shall be burnt with fire, 2 Pet. 3. 10. your hidden hope & your hidden life shall appear: & therefore since ye have not now many years to your endless eternity, & know not how soon the sky above your head will rive, & the Son of man will be seen in the clouds of heaven, what better & wiser course can ye take then to think that your one foot is here & your other foot in the life so come, & to leave off loving, desiring, or grieving for the wants that shall be made up when your Lord & ye shall meet, & when ye shall give in your bill, that day, of all your wants here? If your losses be not made up, ye have place to challenge the Almighty, but it shall not be so, Ye shall then rejoice with joy unspeakable