A57970:1238
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. (18)
MADAM.
Having received a letter from some of the worthiest of the Ministry in this Kingdom, the contents where of I am ••nred to communicate to such professors in these parts as I ⟨p. 463⟩know love the beauty of Zion, & are afflicted to see the Lord's vineyard froden under foot by the wild boars out of the wood, who lay it waste; I could not but also desire your La: help, to join with the rest, desiring you to impart it to my Lord your husband, & if ye think it needful, I shall write to his Lo: as Mr G. G. shall advertise me. Know therefore that the best affected of the Ministry have thought it convenient & necessary at such a time as this, that all who love the truth should join their prayers together, & cry to God with humiliation & fasting: The times which are agreed upon, are, the two first sabbaths of February next, & the six days intervening betwixt these sabbaths, as they may conveniently be had, & the first sabbath of every Quarter: And the Causes, as they are written to me, are these. 1. Besides the distresses of the Reformed Churches abroad, the many reigning sins of uncleanness, ungodliness & unrighteousness in this land, the present judgements on the land, & many moe hanging over us, whereof few are sensible, or yet know the right & true cause of them. 2. The lamentable & pitiful estate of a glorious Church [in so short a time, against so many bonds] in Doctrine, Sacraments & Discipline, so sore persecuted, in the persons of faithful Pastors and professors, and the door of God's house kept so strait, by Bastard-Porters, in so much, that worthy instruments, able for the work, are held at the door, the Rulers having turned over Religion into Policy, & the Multitude ready to receive any Religion that shall be enjoined by Authority. 3. In our Humiliation, besides that we are under a necessity of deprecating God's wrath, & vowing to God sincerely new obedience, the weakness, coldness, silence & luke warmness of some of the best of the Ministry, & the deadness of Professors, who have suffered the truth both secretly to be stolen away & openly to be plucked from us, would be confessed. 4. Atheism, Idolatry, profanity & vanity would be confessed: Our King's heart recommended to God, & God entreated that he would stir up the Nobles & the People to turn from their evil waves. Thus, Madam, hoping that your La: