A57970:207
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 is not referred to you, and your thoughts, what Christ will do with the ⟨p. 63⟩charters betwixt you and him, your own misbelief hath torn them, but he hath the principal in heaven, with himself; your thoughts are no parts of the New covenant, dreams change not Christ. 3. Doubtings are your sins; but they are Christs d•ugges, & ingredients, that the Physician maketh use of, for the cu•ing of your pride. Is it not suitable for a beggar, to say, at meat, God re•ard the winners? for then he sayeth, he knoweth who beareth the charges of the house. It is also meet ye should know by experience, that faith is not nature's il gotten bastard, but your Lords free gift, that lay in the womb of Gods free grace, praised be the winner. I may add a 4. In the passing of your bill, & your charters, when they went through the Mediators great seal, and were concluded, faith's advice was not sought: saith hath not a vote beside Christs merits, blood, blood, dear blood that came from your cautioners holy body, maketh that sure work. The use then which ye have of faith now, (having already closed with Jesus Christ for justification) is, to take out a copy of your pardon; & so ye have peace with God, upon the account of Christ: for since faith apprehendeth pardon, but never payeth a penny for it, no marvel that Salvation doeth not die and live, ebb, or flow, with the working of faith, but because it is your Lords honour to believe his mercy, and his fidelity, it is infinite goodness in our Lord, that misbelief giveth a dash to our Lords glory, and not to our Salvation: and so who ever want (yea, howbeit God here bear with the want of what we are obliged to give him, even the glory of his grace, by believing, yet) a poor covenanted sinner wanteth not: but if guiltiness were removed, doubtings would find no friend, nor life; and yet faith is to believe the removal of guiltiness, in Christ. A reason why ye get less now (as ye think) then before (as I take it) is, because at our first conversion, our Lord putteth the meat in young bairns mouths, with his own hand, but when we grow to some further perfection, we must take heaven by violence, and take by violence from Christ, what we get; and he can, and doeth hold, because he will have us to draw. Remember now ye must, live upon violent plucking, laziness is a greater fault ⟨p. 64⟩