A57970:1401
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 a Christian Brother. (47)
Reverend & beloved in the Lord.
IT may be I have been too long silent, but I hope ye will not impute it to forgetfulness of you. As I have heard of the death of your daughter with heaviness of mind on your behalf, so am I much comforted, that she hath evidenced to your self & other witnesses, the hope of the resurrection of the dead: as sown corn is not lost [for there is more hope of that which is sown, then of that which is eaten. 1 Cor. 15. 42.] so also is it in the resurrection of the dead; the body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption; it is sown in dishonour, it is raised in glory. I hope ye wait for the crop & harvest, 1 Thess. 4. 14. For if we believe that Jesus died & rose again, even so also them which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him: then they are not lost who are gathered in to that Congregation of the first-born & the General Assembly of the Saints: though we cannot outrun nor overtake them that are gone before, yet we shall quickly follow them, & the difference is, that she hath the advantage of some months or years of the Crown, before you & her mother: & we do not take it ill, if our children outrun us in the life of grace, why then are we sad if they outstrip us in the attainment of the life of glory? It would seem that there is more reason to grieve that children live behind us, then that they are glorified & die before us: all the difference is in some poor hungry accidents of-time, less or more, sooner or later: so the godly child, though young, died of an hundred years old: & ye could not now have bestowed her better, though the choice was Christ's, not yours: & I am sure, Sir, ye cannot now say, she is married against the will of her parents; she might more readily, if alive, fall in the hand of a worse husband, but can ye think that she could have fallen in the hands of one better? and if Christ marry with your house, it is your honour not any cause of grief, that Jesus should portion any of yours ere she enjoy your portion, is it not great love? the patrimony is more then any other could give as good a husband