A57970:252
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
Part 1 › Letter 36: To JOHN GORDON At Risco in Galloway. (36)
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 JOHN GORDON At Risco in Galloway. (36)
My worthy & dear Brother.
Misspend not your short sand-glass which runneth very fast: seek your Lord in time: let me obtain of you a letter under your hand for a promise to God, by his grace to take a new course of walking with God: heaven is not at the next door: I find it hard to be a Christian; there is no little thrusting & thronging to thrust in at heavens gates, it is a castle taken by force, many shall strive to enter in & shall not be able. I beseech & obtest you in the Lord make conscience of ⟨p. 83⟩rash & passionate oaths, of raging & sudden revenging anger, of night-drinking, of needless companionry, of Sabbath-breaking, of hurting any under you by word or deed, of hating your very enemies. Except ye receive the Kingdom of God as a little child & be as meek & sober-minded as a babe, ye cannot enter into the Kingdom of God: That is a word which should touch you near, and make you stoop & cast your self down and make your great spirit fall. I know this will not be easily done, but I recommend it to you, as you tender your part of the Kingdom of heaven. Brother, I may from new experience speak of Christ to you: Oh if ye saw in him what I see: a river of God's unseen joys hath flowed from bank to brae over my soul since I parted with you: I wish I wanted part, so being ye might have, that your soul might be sick of love for Christ, or rather satiate with him: this clay-idol the world, would seem to you then not worth a fig; time will eat you out of possession of it, when the eye strings break & the breath groweth cold & the imprisoned soul looketh out at the windows of the clay house, ready to leap out into eternity, what would ye then give for a lamp full of oil? Oh seek it now. I desire you, to correct & curb banning, swearing, lying, drinking, sabbath-breaking & idle spending of the Lords day, in absence from the Kirk, as far as your Authority reacheth in that Parish. I hear a man is to be thrust in to that place to the which I have God's right: I know ye should have a voice by God's word in that: