A57970:1297
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.
Grace, mercy, & peace be to you: It was not my part whom our Lord hath enlarged, to forget you his prisoner. When I consider how long your night hath been, I think Christ hath a mind to put you in free grace's debt, so much the deeper, as your sufferings have been of so long a continuance. But what if Christ mind you no jo• but public joy with enlarged & triumphing Zion: I think, Sir, ye would love it best to share & divide your song of joy with Zion, & to have mystical Chri•• in Eritain halfer & compartner with your enlargement. I am sure, your joy bordering & neighbouring with the joy of Christ's Bride, would be so much the sweeter that it were public. I thought, if Christ had halved my mercies, and delivered his Bride and not me, that his praises should have been double to what they are: But now two rich mercies conjoined in one have stolen from our Lord more then half-praises: Oh that mercy should so beguile us, and steal away our counts and acknowledgements! Worthy Sir, I hope I need not exhort you to go on, in hoping for the salvation of God: There hath not been so much taken from your time of ease & created joys, as Eternity shall add to your heaven: Ye know when one day in heaven hath paved you, yea, & overpaid your blood, bonds, sorrow & sufferings, that it would trouble Angels understanding to lay the count of that superplus of glory, which Eternity can & will give you. O but your sand-glass of sufferings & losses, cometh to little, when it shall be counted and compared with the glory that bideth you on the other side of the water! Ye have no leisure to rejoice & sing here while time goeth about you, & where your Psalms will be short, therefore ye will think Eternity ⟨p. 488⟩& the long day of heaven that shall be measured with no other sun nor horologe then the long life of the Ancient of days, to measure your praises, little enough for you: if your span length of time be cloudy, ye cannot but think, your Lord can no more take your blood & your band without the in-come & recompense of free grace h•e would take the sufferings of Paul & his other dear servants that were well paid home beyond all counting, Rom. 8: 18. If the wisdom of Christ hath made you Antichrist's eye-sore & his envy, ye are to thank God that such a piece of clay as ye are, is made the field of glory to work upon: