A57970:1217
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. (14)
MADAM.
The cause of my not writing to your La: is not my forgetfulness of you, but the want of the opportunity of a convenient bearer, for I am under more then a simple obligation to be kind [in paper, at least] to your La: I bless our Lord through Christ, who hath brought you home again to your country from that place where ye have seen with your eyes that which our Lord's truth taught you before, to wit, that worldly glory is nothing but a vapour, a shadow, the foam of the water, or something less & lighter, even nothing, & that our Lord hath not without cause said in his word, 1 Cor. 7. 31. The countenance or fashion of this world passeth away: In which place our Lord compareth it to an Image in a looking-glass, for it is the looking-glass of Adam's sons: Some come to the glass & see in it the picture of Honour and but a picture indeed, for true Honour is to be great in the sight of God; & others see in it the shadow of Riches, & but a shadow indeed, for durable Riches stand as one of the maids of Wisdom upon her left hand, Prov. 3. 16. & a third sort see in it the face of painted Pleasures, & the beholders will not believe but the Image they see in this glass is a living man, till the Lord come & break the glass in pieces & remove the face, & then, like Pharaoh awakened, they say, And behold it was a dream. I know your La: thinketh your self little in the common of this world, for the favourable aspect of any of these three painted faces, & blessed be our Lord that it is so, the better for you: Madam, they are not worthy to be wooers to suit in marriage your soul, that looks to an higher match then to be married upon painted clay: know therefore, Madam, the place whither our Lord Jesus cometh to woo a Bride, it is even in the furnace: for if ye be one of Zion's daughters (which I ever put beyond all question, since I first had