A57970:1282
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
Part 2 › Letter 27: To the persecuted Church in Ireland. (27)
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 the persecuted Church in Ireland. (27)
Much honoured, reverend & dearly beloved in our Lord.
Grace, mercy & peace be to you all: I know there are many in this Nation, more able then I, to speak to the sufferers for, & witnesses of Jesus Christ; yet pardon me to ⟨p. 480⟩speak a little to you, who are called in question for the Gospel once committed to you. I hope ye are not ignorant that if peace was left to you in Christ's Testament, so the other half of the Testament was a legacy of Christ's sufferings. Joh. 16: 35. These things I have spoken that in me ye might have peace, in the world ye shall have trouble. Because then ye are made assignees & he••s to a life-rent of Christ's Cross, think that fiery trial no strange thing: For the Lord Jesus shall be no loser by purging the dross & tin out of his Church in Ireland: his wine press is out squeezing out the dreg, the scum, the froth & refuse of that Church. I had once the proof of the sweet smell, & the honest & honourable peace, of that slandered thing, the Cross, of our Lord Jesus: But though [Alas!] that these golden days that then I had, be now in a great part gone; yet I dare say, that the issue & outgate of your sufferings shall be the advantage, the golden reign & dominion of the Gospel, & the high glory of the never-enough-praised Prince of the Kings of the earth, & the changing of the brass of the Lord's temple among you into gold & the iron into silver & the wood into brass, your officers shall yet be peace, & your exactors righteousness,