A57970:257
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 HALHILL. (37.)
Dear & Christian Lady, Grace, mercy & peace be to you: I longed much to write to your La: But now the Lord offering a fit occasion, I would not omit to do it: I cannot but acquaint your Lae: with the Kind dealing of Christ to my soul in this house of my pilgrimage, that your La: May know Christ is as good as he is called: For at my first entry into this trial (being easten down & troubled with challenges & jealousies of his love whose name & testimony I now bear in my bonds,) I feared nothing more, then that I was cast over the dike of the vineyard as a dry tree, but blessed be his great name, the dry tree was in the fire & was not burnt, his dew came down & quickened the root of a withered plant, & now he is come again with joy, & hath been pleased to feast his exiled & afflicted prisoner with the joy of his consolations: now I weep, but am not sad; I am chastened, but I die not; I have loss, but I want nothing: this water cannot drown me, this fire cannot burn me, because of the goodwill of him that dwelt in the bush. The worst things of Christ, his reproaches, his cross, is better then Egypt's treasures. He hath opened his door & taken into his house of wine, a poor sinner, & hath le•t me so sick of love for my Lord Jesus, that if heaven were at my disposing, I would give it for Christ, & would not be content to go to heaven except I were persuaded Christ were there: I would not give nor exchange my bonds for the I'relats velvets, nor my prison for their coaches, nor my sighs for all the world's laughter: this clay idol, the world, hath no great court in my soul, Christ hath come & run away to heaven with my heart & my love, so that neither heart nor love is mine: I pray God, Christ may keep both without reversion. In my estimation, as I am now disposed, if my part of this world's clay were roped & sold, I would think it dear of a drink of water. I see Christ's love is so Kingly, that it will not abide a marrow, it must have a throne, all alone in the soul, & I see apples beguile bairns howbeit they be worm-eaten: the moth-eaten ⟨p. 85⟩pleasures of this present world make bairns believe ten is a hundred & yet all that are here are but shadows; if they would draw by the curtain that is hanged betwixt them & Christ, they should think themselves fools who have so long miskenned the Son of God.