A57970:223
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 the Lady Forre• (30)
Worthy Mistress.
Grace, mercy & peace be to you: I long to hear from you: I hear Christ hath been that Kind as to visit you with sickness, & to bring you to the door of the grave, but ye found the door shut (blessed be his glorious name) while ye be riper for eternity: He will have more service of you, & therefore he seeketh of you, that hence forth ye be honest to your new husband, ⟨p. 73⟩the Son of God. We have all Idol-love, & are wh[…]y inclined to love other things beside our Lord; and therefore our Lord hunteth for our love, moe ways then one or two. Oh that Christ had his own of us: I know he will not want you, & that is a sweet wilfulness in his Love; & ye have as good cause o• the other part to be head strong & peremptory in your love to Christ, & not to part or divide your love betwixt Him & the world; if it were more it is little enough, yea too little for Christ. I am now every way in good terms with Christ, he hath set a banished prisoner as a seal on his heart, and as a bracelet on his arm: that crabbed and black tree of the cross, laugheth upon me now: the alarming noise of the cross is worse then it self. I love Christs glooms, better, then the world's worm-eaten joys. Oh if all the Kingdom were as I am, except these bonds: my loss is gain: my sadness, joyful: my bonds, liberty: my tears comfortable. This world is not worth a drink of cold water. O but Christ's love casteth a great heat, […] hell & all the salt sea and the rivers of the earth cannot quench it: I remember you to God, ye have the prayers of a prisoner of Christ: Grace, grace be with you.