A57970:1228
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. (16.)
MADAM.
I Am afraid now [as many others are] that at the sitting down of our Parliament, our Lord Jesus his Spouse shall be roughly handled: And it must be so, since false & declining Scotland, whom our Lord took off the dunghill & out of hell, & made a fair Bride to himself, hath broken her faith to her sweet husband, & hath put on the forehead of a whore; & therefore he saith he will remove: would God we could stir up our selves to lay hold upon him, who being highly provoked with the handling he hath met with, is ready to depart! Alas, we do not ⟨p. 459⟩importune him by prayer & supplication, to abide amongst us• If we could but weep upon ••m & in the holy pertinacy of faith, wrestle wit• & say We will not let thee go, it may be that then, he who is easy to be entreated would yet, notwithstanding of our high provocations, condescend to stay & feed among the lilies, till that fair & desirable day break and the shadows fl•e away. Ah! What cause of mourning is there? When our gold is become dim, & the visage of our Nazarites sometimes whiter then snow, is now become blacker then a coal, & Levi's house, once comparable to fine gold, is now changed, & become like vessels in whom he hath no pleasure. Madam, think upon this, that when our Lord who hath his handkerchief to wipe the face of the mourners in Zion, shall come to wipe away all tears from their eyes, he may wipe yours also in the passing amongst others. I am confident, Madam, that our Lord will yet build a new house to himself, of our rejected and scattered stones: for our bridegroom cannot want a wife: Can he live a widow? Nay, he will embrace both Us the little young sister, & the elder sister The church of the Jews, & there will yet be a day of it; & therefore we have cause to rejoice, yea to sing & shout for joy. The Church hath been once the world began, ever hanging by a small thread, & all the hands of hell & of the wicked have been drawing at the thread, but God be thanked they only break their arms by pulling, but the thread is not broken, for the sweet fingers of Christ our Lord have spun and twisted it: Lord hold the thread whole! Madam, stir up your husband to lay hold upon the Covenant, & to do good: What hath he to do with the World? It is not his inheritance: Desire him to make him home over, & put to his hand to lay one stone or two upon the wall of God's house before he go hence.