A57970:206
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 cannot be presumption ⟨p. 62⟩to take that as your own, when ye find your wounds stound you, presumption is ever whole at the heart, and hath but the truant-sickness, and groaneth only for the fashion: faith hath sense of sickness, and looketh like a friend to the promise, and looking to Christ therein, is glad to see a known face. Christ is as full a feast, as ye can have to hunger: nay Christ, I say, is not a full mans leavings; his mercy sends always a letter of defiance to all your sins, if there were ten thousand moe of them. I grant you, it is a hard matter for a poor hungry man, to win his meat upon hidden Christ, for then the key of his pantry door, and of the house of wine is a seeking, & cannot be had; but hunger must break through iron locks. I be moan them not who can make a din, & all the fields ado, for a Lost Saviour: ye must let him hear it (to say so) upon both the sides of his head, when he hideth himself: it is no time then to be bird-mouthed and patient. Christ is rare indeed, and a delicate to a sinner; he is a miracle and a world's wonder, to a seeking and a weeping sinner, but yet such a miracle, as will be seen by them, who will come and see: the seeker, and sigher is at last a singer and enjoyer: nay, I have seen a dumb man get an alms from Christ. He that can tell his tale, and send such a letter to heaven, as he hath sent to Aberdeen, it is very like he will come speed with Christ. It bodeth Gods mercy to complain heartily for sin. Let wrestling be with Christ till he say, How is it, Sir, that I cannot be quite of your bills, & your misl•arned cries? And then hope for Christs blessing, and his blessing is better then other ten blessings. Think not shame because of your guiltiness; necessity must not blush to beg; it standeth you hard to want Christ, and therefore that which idle on-waiting cannot do, mis•ur•ured crying and knocking will do. And for doubtings, because ye are not as ye were long since with your master, consider three things. 1. What if Christ had such tottering thoughts of the bargain, of the new covenant, betwixt you & him, as you have. 2. Your heart is not the compass Christ saileth by: He will give you leave to sing as ye please: But he will not dance to your daft spring.
It cannot be presumption ⟨p. 62⟩