Joshua Redivivus, or Mr. Rutherford's Letters

For as they have come in their places, so they persist in there practices, only with this difference, that in making havoc of the Church of God, they out do all that ever made Apostasy to that way, & run at that rate, in endeavouring the ruin of the work of Reformation, as if they were afraid to be out-run by any who should come after them, or have it said, that there had ever been men, who with more malice did persecute, & stretch forth their hands, not against certain of the disciples, but against the whole Church of God: Reader Pardon I pray thee, that I now and then digress in a parenthesis, while these men come my way, for thou knowest very well according to the proverb, that the devil should have his due & I desire to do them justice, & here I close it) If they should take it ill I say, to have so much said to the advantage of this worthy man, If it will be acceptable to them to hear it, I have a mind to gratify them so far, as to say, that Mr Rutherford was not alone in this; as his practice in that opposition, was not peculiar to himself (for he but wakled in ⟨image 9⟩the way of them who left him an example, to continue with Christ in his temptations) so, his privileges were not so peculiar to himself, that he had none to share with him: And therefore I say [if they can reap any satisfaction by having it said, or if they have a mind still to quarrel, see if there be any of them in case to convince me of a falsehood] that God mad it known, not only to themselves but to the world, how highly he esteemed the fidelity of others also before him, who were his constant witnesses against introducing & est bl••hing of Prelacy in Scotland, he not only made themselves find what favourites they, were by putting them (if I may say so) upon his secrets: (for Mr Davidson, Mr Welsh, Mr Bruce & many others of the valiant soldiers of Christ & worthy witnesses in their time, were known to have been Prophets (which I could evince by many particular passages, but they deserve a more honourable mention, & it may be some will undertake it, then to be shut up within the limits of a parenthesis) particularly renowned Mr Welsh, who at home, & a broad in France, was taken notice of, as an extraordinary man, as a servant from whom his! Master did not conceal what he was about to do:

For as they have come in their places, so they persist in ther practices, onely with this difference, that in making havock of the Church of God, they out doe all that ever made Apostasie to that way, & run at that rate, in endeavouring the ruine of the work of Reformation, as if they were afraid to be out-run by any who should come after them, or have it said, that there had ever been men, who with more malice did persecut, & stretch forth their hands, not against certain of the disciples, but against the whole Church of God: Reader Pardon I pray thee, that I now and then digress in a parenthesis, while these men come my way, for thou knowest very well according to the proverb, that the devil should have his due & I desire to doe them justice, & here I close it) If they should take it ill I say, to have so much said to the advantage of this worthy man, If it will be acceptable to them to heare it, I have a mind to gratifie them so far, as to say, that Mr Rutherfoord was not alone in this; as his practice in that opposition, was not peculiar to himself (for he but wakled in