A57970:152
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 Mr ALEXANDER HENDERSON. (16)
My reverend & dear Brother.
I Received your Letters: They are as apples of gold to me, for with my sweet feasts (& they are above the deserving of such a sinner, high & out of measure) I have sadness to ballast me, & weight me a little. It is but his boundless wisdom, who hath taken the tutoring of his witless child, and he knoweth, to be drunken with comforts, is not safest for our stomachs: However it be, the din and noise and glooms of Christs cross, are weightier then it self. I protest to you (my witness is in heaven) I could wish many pound weights added to my cross, to know that by sufferings, Christ were set forward in his kingly office in this Land. Oh what is my skin to his glory, Or my losses, or my sad heart, to the apple of the eye of our Lord, & his beloved spouse, his precious truth, his royal privileges, the glory of manifested justice in giving of his foes a dash, the testimony of his faithful servants, who do glorify him when he rideth upon poor weak worms, & triumpheth in them! I desire you to pray that I may come out of this furnace with honesty, & that I may leave Christs truth no worse then I found it, & that this most honourable cause, may neither be stained, nor weakened. As for your case my Reverend and Dearest Brother, ye are the talking of the North and South; & looked to so, as if ye were all crystal glass, your motes and dust should soon be proclaimed, & trumpets blown at your slips: But I know ye have laid help upon one that is mighty. Intrust not your comforts to mens airy & frothy applause, neither lay your down-castings on the tongues of salt mockers, & reproachers of godliness: As deceivers & yet true, as unknown & yet well known. God hath called you to Christs side, and the wind is now on Christs face in this land; and seeing ye are with him ye cannot expect the lee-side, or the sunny-side of the brae: But I know ye have resolved to take Christ upon any terms whatsoever: