A57970:267
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 my Lord Boyd. (39)
My very honourable & good Lord.
Grace, mercy & peace be to you: I am glad to hear that ye in the morning of your short day mind Christ, & that ye love the honour of his crown & Kingdom. I beseech your Lo: begin now to frame your love, & to cast it in no mould but one, that it may be for Christ only; For when your love is now in the framing, & making, it will take best with Christ: if any other then Jesus get a grip of it, when it is green & young, Christ will be an uncouth & strange world to you. Promise the lodging of your soul first away to Christ, & stand by your first covenant, & keep to Jesus, that he may find you honest. It is easy to master an arrow, & to set it right ere the string be drawn, but when once it is shot & in the air, & the flight begun, then ye have no power at all to command it: It were a blessed thing, if your love could now level only at Christ, that his fair face were the black of the mark ye shot at; For when your love is loosed, and out of your grips, & in its motion to fetch home an• Idol, & hath taken a whorish gadding-journey to seek an unknown & strange lover, ye shall not then have power to call home the arrow, or to be master of your love, & ye shall hardly give Christ, what ye scarcely have your self. I speak not this, as if youth it self could fetch heaven & Christ. Believe it my Lo: It is hardly credible what a nest of dangerous tentations youth i•, how inconsiderate, foolish, proud, vain, heady, rash, profane, & careless of God, this piece of your life is, so that the devil findeth in that age a garnished & swept house for himself, & seven devils worse then himself; for then affections are on horse-back, lofty & stirring, then the old man hath blood, lust, much will; & little wit, and hands, feet, wanton eyes, profane ears as his servants, & as a Kings officers at command, to come & go at his will: Then a green conscience is as supple as the twig of a young tree, it is for every way, every religion, every lewd course prevaileth with it; And therefore O what a sweet