A57970:194
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
Part 1 › Letter 25: To JOHN GORDON Of Card nes Younger. (25)
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 JOHN GORDON Of Card nes Younger. (25)
Honoured & Dear Brother.
I Wrote of late to you: multitudes of letters burden me now. I am refreshed with your letter: I exhort you in the bowels of Christ, set to work for your soul, & let these bear weight with you, and ponder them seriously. 1. Weeping & gnashing of teeth in utter-darkness, or heaven's joy. 2. Think what ye would give for an hour when ye shall lie like dead, cold, blackened clay. 3. there is sand in your glass yet, & your sun ⟨p. 59⟩is not gone down. 4. Consider what joy & peace is in Christs service. 5. Think what advantage it will be to have Angels, the world, life, & death, crosses, yea and devils, all for you, as the Kings sergeants, and servants, to do your business. 6. To have mercy on your seed, & a blessing on your house. 7. To have true honour, & a name on earth: that casts a sweet smell. 8. How ye will rejoice when Christ layeth down your head under his chin, & betwixt his breasts, & dryeth your face, & welcometh you to glory & happiness? 9. Imagine, what pain, & torture is a guilty conscience? What slavery to carry the Devils unhonest loads? 10. Sins joys are but night-dreams, thoughts, vapours, imaginations and shadows. 11. What dignity it is to be a son of God? 12. Dominion and mastery over tentations, over the world, and sin. 13. That your enemies should be the tail, and you the head. For your bairns now at their rest, I speak to you and your wife (and cause her read this.) 1. I am a witness of Barbara's glory in heaven. 2. For the rest, I write it under my hand, there are days coming on Scotland, when barren wombs & dry breasts, and childless parents, shall be pronounced blessed: they are then in the lee of the harbour, ere the storm come on. 3. They are not lost to you, that are laid up in Christs treasury in heaven. 4. At the Resurrection ye shall meet with them, there they are sent beore, but not sent away. 5. Your Lord loveth you, who is homely to take and give, borrow and lend. 6. Let not bairns be your Idols, for God will be jealous, and take away the Idol, because he is greedy of your love wholly. I bless you, your wife and children. Grace for evermore be with you.