A57970:200
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 EARLESTOUN YOUNGER. (27)
Much honoured & well beloved in the Lord.
Much honoured & welbeloved in the Lord.
Grace, mercy and peace be to you. Your letters give a dash to my laziness in writing: I must first tell you, there is not such a glassy, Icy, & slippery piece of way, betwixt you ⟨p. 61⟩and heaven as Youth: I have experience to say with me here, and seal what I assert: the old ashes of the sins of my youth, are new fire of sorrow to me: I have seen the Devil, as it were, dead & buried, & yet rise again & be a worse Devil then ever he was. Therefore, my brother, beware of a green young Devil that hath never been buried: the Devil in his flowers (I mean, the hot fiery lusts & passions of youth) is much to be feared: better yoke with an old grey-haired, withered, dry Devil: For in youth he findeth dry sticks, & dry coals, and an hot hearth-stone, and how soon can he with his flint cast fire, and with his bellows blow it up, and fire the house: sanctified thoughts, thoughts made conscience of, and called in, and kept in awe, are green fuel, that burn not, & are a water for Satan's coal. Yet I must tell you, the whole saints now triumphant in heaven and standing before the throne, are nothing but Christs forlorn and beggarly Dyvours: What are they but a pack of redeemed sinners? But their redemption is not only past the seals, but completed, and yours is on the wheels, and in doing: All Christs good bairns go to heaven with a broken brow, and with a crooked leg. Christ hath an advantage of you, and I pray you let him have it, he shall find employment for his calling in you: if it were not with you as you write, grace should find no sale nor market in you; but ye must be content to give Christ somewhat ado: I am glad that he is employed that way: let your bleeding soul, and your sores be put in the hand of this expert physician: let young and strong corruptions, and his free grace be yoked together, and let Christ & your sins deal it betwixt them. I will be loath to put you off your fears, and your sense of deadness: (I wish it were more) there be some wounds of that nature, that their bleeding should not be soon stopped: ye must take a house beside the Physician, it shall be a miracle if ye be the first sick man he put away uncured, & worse then he found you: nay, nay, Christ is honest, and in that flitting free with sinners (