A57970:1345
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 36: To his reverend & dear Brother Mr DAVID DICKSON. (36)
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 his reverend & dear Brother Mr DAVID DICKSON. (36)
Reverend & dear Brother.
YE look like the house whereof ye are a branch: the Cross is a part of the life rent that lieth to all the sons of the house. I desire to suffer with you, if I take a lift of your house trial off you: but ye have preached it ere I knew any thing of God: your Lord may gather his roses, & shake his apples, at what season of the year he pleaseth; each husbandman cannot make harvest when he pleaseth, as He can do: ye are taught to know & adore his sovereignty which he exerciseth over you, which yet is lustered with mercy: the child hath but changed a bed in the garden, & is planted up higher nearer the sun, where he shall ⟨p. 514⟩thrive better then in this out-held moor-ground: Ye must think your bold would not want him one hour longer, & since the […] of your loan of him was expired [as it is, if ye read the •eas•] let him have his own with gain, as good reason were. I read on it an exaltation & a richer measure of grace, as the s•t fruit of your cross: and I am bold to say, that, that College where your Master hath set you now, shall find it. I am content that Christ is so homely with my dear Brother David Dickson, as to borrow & lend, & take & give with him, & ye know what are called the visitations of such a friend, it's to come to the house & be homely with what is yours: I persuade my sel upon his credit, he hath left drink-money, and that he hath made the house the better of him. I envy not his waking love; who saw that this water was to be past through & that now the number of crosses lying in your way to glory, are fewer by one then when I saw you; they must decrease: it is better then any ancient or modern commentary on your Text that ye preach upon in Glasgow: read and spell right, for he knoweth what he doeth, he is only lopping & snedding a fruitful tree that it may be more fruitful. I congratulate heartily with you, his new welcome to your new charge. Dearest Brother, go on & faint not, something of yours is in heaven, beside the flesh of your exalted Saviour, & ye go on after your own: time's thread is shorter by one inch then it was: an oath is sworn & past the seals; whether afflictions will or not, ye must grow & swell out of your shell, & live & triumph & reign, & be more then conqueror, for your captain who leadeth you on, i more then conqueror, and he makes you a partaker of his conquest and Victory.