A57970:326
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.
Loving Brother.
Grace, mercy & peace be unto you: I received your letter & renders you thanks for the same; but I have not time to answer all the heads of it as the bearer can inform you. 1. Ye do well to take your self at the right stot when ye wrong Christ by doubting & misbelief, for this is to nick-name Christ & term him a liar, which being spoken to our Prince would be hanging or heading, but Christ hangeth not always for treason: It is good that he may registrat a believers bond a hundred times, & more then seventy times a day have law against us, & yet he spareth us as a man doeth his son that serveth him: No tender hearted mother who may have law to kill her sucking child, would put in execution that law. 2. For your failings even ye have a set tryst with Christ & when ye have a fair seen advantage by keeping your appointment with him, & Salvation cometh to the very passing of the seals: I would say two things. 1. Concluded & sealed Salvation may go through & be ended, suppose ye write your name to the tail of the Covenant with ink that can hardly be read: Neither think I ever any man's Salvation passed the seals, but there was an odd trick or slip in less or more, upon the fools part, who is infested in heaven: In the most grave & serious work of our Salvation, I think Christ had ever good cause to laugh at our silliness, & to put on us his merits, that we might bear weight. 2. It is a sweet law of the new Covenant, & a privilege of the new burgh, that the citizens pay according to their means, for the new covenant saith not so much obedience by ounce weights, & no less under the pain of damnation: Christ taketh as poor men may give, where there is a mean portion, he is content with the less; if there be sincerity: broken sums & little feckless obedience will be pardoned, & hold the foot with him: know ye not that our kindly Lord retaineth his good old heart yet? He breaketh not a bruised reed nor quencheth the smoking flax: but if the wind blow, he holdeth his hands about, it till it ⟨p. 112⟩rise to a flame. The Law cometh on with three Oyez's, with all the heart: with all the soul, & with all the whole strength: & where would poor folk like you & me furnish all these sums? it feareth me, (may it is most certain) that if the payment were to come out of our purse, when we should put our hand in our bag, we would bring out the wind or worse: