Joshua Redivivus, or Mr. Rutherford's Letters

To Mr HUGH MC KAILL, Minister of the Gospel. (19)

Reverend & Dear Brother.

I bless you for your Letter: he is come down as rain upon the mowen grass, he hath revived my withered root, and he is ⟨p. 49⟩as the dew of herbs, I am most secure in this prison, salvation is for walls in it, and what think ye of these walls? he maketh the dry plant to bud as the lily, and to blossom as Lebanon. the great husband man's blessing cometh down upon the plants of righteousness, who may say this (my dear Brother) if I, his poor exiled stranger, & prisoner may not say it? Howbeit all the world should be silent I cannot hold my peace. O how many black counts hath Christ and I rounded over together, in the house of my pilgrimage! and how sat a portion hath he given to a hungry soul? I had rather have Christs four-hours, then have dinner and Supper both in one from any other; his dealing, and the way of his judgements pass finding out: No preaching, no book; no learning could give me that, which I behooved to come and get in this Town, but what of all this, if I were not misted, confounded, and astonished how to be thankful, and how to get him praised for evermore? And which is more, he hath been pleased to pain me with his love, and my pain groweth through want of real possession. Some have written to me that I am possibly too joyful of the cross, but my joy over-leapeth the cross, it is bounded and terminate upon Christ: I know the sun will over-cloud & eclipse, and I shall again be put to walk in the shadow, but Christ must be welcome to come and go as he thinketh meet; yet he would be more welcome to me I trow, to come then go, & I hope he pitieth and pardoneth me, in casting apples to me, at such a fainting time as this, holy and blessed is his name. It was not my flattering of Christ, that drew a kiss from his mouth, but he would send me as a spy into this wilderness of suffering, to see the land, and to try the ford, and I cannot make a lye of Christs cross; I can report nothing but good both of him, & it, lest others should faint. I hope when a change cometh, to cast anchor at midnight upon the rock (which he hath taught me to know in this day light) whether I may run, when I must say my lesson without book, & believe in the dark. I am sure it is sin to tarrow of Christs good meat, & not to eat when he saith, eat O well beloved &, drink abundantly.