A57970:1480
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.
It is the desire of the People of God, that as your bonds hitherto have been exemplary, to the strengthening of the feeble, & to the stopping of the Mouth of the adversary, without any declining to the right or left hand, so your sufferings in the place ye now go to, may be [as we are confident in the Lord of you, and in humility boast of his grace in you] savoury, convincing, and like unto this honourable cause, that will prevail in Britain, contrary to all the Machinations and counsels of Devils & men, & though there were no other ink in the pen I now write with, but some dewing of my last cooling blood, this I purpose [his grace, whose I am, enabling me] to Stand too. Sir, we desire to adore no instruments, yet we conceive the shining & rays of grace from the fountain Jesus Christ, the fullness of the Godhead, bestowed on sinful men, hold forth the good thoughts of Christ to this poor land, whose multiplied graves, and whose souls under the Altar, slain by Sectaries & Malignants, cry aloud to heaven: I see nothing Sir, if the Lord be not near [though I dare not say how soon] to awake for the year of Zion's controversy, Isai. 34: 5. for my sword shall be bathed in heaven. behold it shall come down upon England and the residue of his enemies in Scotland. Woe is me for England, that land shall be soaked with blood, and their dust made fat ⟨p. 562⟩with fatness: That pleasant land shall be wilderness, & the dust of their land pitch: A judgement upon their walled towns' th• pleasant fields, their strong ships &c, if they do not repent. Ye have not I conceive, seen such searching & trying times as now these are, & yet the question will be drawn to a more narrow state & multitudes will yet leave the cause; for we took all in to the Covenant that offered to build with us, but Christ must have but a small remnant: few Nobles if any, few Ministers, few Professors; though our way standeth unchanged, 2 Cor. 6: 8. by honour & di honour by good report & evil report, as dece•ers & yet true, as unknown and yet well known, as dying and behold we live, as chastened and yet not killed. Neither is this your condition alone, but the experienced lot of all the saints that have gone before you. It is one & the same cross of Christ, but there be sundry faces & diverse circumstances in the same remnant, the sufferings of Christ, & yours.