A57970:297
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 JOHN KENNEDY, Bailiff of Ayr. (45)
To JOHN KENNEDY, Bailiffe of Ayr. (45)
Grace, mercy and peace be unto you: Your nor writing to me, cannot bind me up from remembering you now & then, that at least ye may be a witness & a third man, to behold in paper what is betwixt Christ & me. I was in his eyes like a young Orphan, wanting known parents, cast out in the open fields; either Christ behooved to take me up, & to bring me home to his house and fire-side, else I had dyed in the fields: & now, I am homely with Christ's love, so that I think the house mine own, & the master of the house mine also. Christ enquired not when he began to love me, whether I was fair, or black, & sun-burnt? love taketh what it may have. He loved me before this time I know, but now I have the flower of his love, his love is come to a fair bloom, like a young rose opened up out of the green leaves, & it casteth a strong & fragrant smell. I want nothing but ways of expressing Christ's love: A full vessel would have a vent. O if I could smoke out & cast out coals to make a fire in many breasts of this land! Oh it is a pity that there were not many imprisoned for Christ, for no other purpose, but to write books & love-songs of the love of Christ. This love would keep all created tongues of men & Angels in exercise, & busy, night & day to speak of it. Alas I can speak nothing of it, but wonder at three things in his love. First, Freedom. O that lumps of sin should get such love for nothing. Secondly. The Sweetness of his love, I give over either to speak or write of it, but these that feel it may better bear witness ⟨p. 102⟩What it is: but it is so sweet that next to Christ himself nothing can match it: nay I think a soul could live eternally blessed only on Christ's love, & feed upon no other thing: yea when Christ in love giveth a blow, it doeth a soul good, & it is a kind of comfort & joy to it, to get a cuff with the lovely, sweet, & soft hand of Jesus. And Thirdly, what power & strength is in his love? I am persuaded it can climb astep hill, & hell upon it's back, & swim through the water & not drown, & sing in the fire & find no pain, & triumph in losles, prisons, sorrows, exile, disgrace, & laugh & rejoice in death. Oh for a year's lease of the sense of his love without a cloud, to try what Christ is! Oh for the coming of the bridegroom! Oh when will I see the bridegroom & the bride meet in the clouds & kiss each other!