Joshua Redivivus, or Mr. Rutherford's Letters

To the right honourable & Christian Lady, my Lady KENMURE. (12)

Upon the offered opportunity of this worthy bearer I could not omit to answer the heads of your letter. 1. I think not much to set down in paper some good things anent Christ, that sealed and holy thing, & to feed my soul with raw wishes to be one with Christ; for a wish is but broken & half-love, but verily to obey this, come & see: is a harder matter. but oh I have rather smoke then fire, & guessings rather then real assurances of him: I have little or nothing to say, that I am as one who hath found favour in his eyes; but there is some pining & mismannered hunger, that maketh me miscall and nickname Christ as a changed Lord, but alas it is ill flitten. I can not believe without a pledge, I cannot take Gods word without a Caution; as if Christ had lost and sold his credit, and were not in my books responsible and law-biding, but this is my way, for his way is, Ephes. 1: 13. after that ye believed ye were sealed, with the holy spirit of promise. 2. Ye write that I am filled with knowledge, and stand not in need of these warnings, but certainly my light is dim, when it cometh to handy-grips: and how many have full coffers & yet empty bellies: light and the saving use of light, are far different. O What need have I to have ⟨p. 34⟩