A57970:1390
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 the viscountess of KENMURE. (45)
To the vicountesse of KENMURE. (45)
MADAM.
Grace, mercy & peace be to your La: though Christ lose no time; yet when sinful men drive his chariot, the wheels of […] chariot move slowly: The woman Zion as soon as she travelled brought forth her children, yea Isa. 66: 7. before she travelled she brought f•rth, before her pain came she was delivered of a man-child: Yet the deliverance of the people was with the woman's going with child seventy years, that is more then nine months: There be many oppositions in carrying on the work; but I hope the Lord will build his own Zion, & evidence to us that it is done not by might not by power, but by the Spirit of the Lord. Madam, I have heard of your infirmities of body & sickness: I know the issue shall be mercy to you, & that God's purpose, which lieth hidden underground to you, is, to commend the sweetness of his love, & care to you from your youth: And if all the sad losses, trials, sicknesses, infirmities, griefs, heaviness & inconstancy of the creature, be expounded [as sure I am they are] the rods of the jealousy of an husband in heaven, contending with all your lovers on earth (though there were millions of them) for your love, to fetch more of your love home to heaven, to make it single, unmixed & chaste to the fairest in heaven & earth, to Jesus the Prince of ages, ye will forgive [to borrow that word] every rod of God, & not let the Sun go down on your wrath against any messenger of your afflicting & correcting Father. Since your La: cannot but see, that the mark at which Christ hath aimed at, these twenty four years and above, is, to have the company & fellowship of such a sinful creature in heaven with him for all eternity, and because he will not (such is the power of his love) enjoy his father's glory and that crown due to him by eternal generation, without you by name,