Joshua Redivivus, or Mr. Rutherford's Letters

this is good & a matter of thanksgiving, therefore examine here also. 5. The assurance of Jesus's love ye say would be the most comfortable news that ever ye heard: Ans. That may stop twenty holes, & loose many objections: That love hath telling in it I trow. Oh that ye knew & felt it as I have done! I wish ye a share of my feast; sweet, sweet hath it been to me: If my Lord had not given me his love, I would have fallen through the causey of Aberdeen ere now: But for you, hing on, your feast is not far off, ye shall be filled ere ye go, there is as much in our Lord's pantry as will satisfy all his bairns, & as much wine in his cellar as will quench all their thirst: hunger on, for there is meat in hunger for Christ: Go never from him, but fash him [who yet is pleased with the importunity of hungry souls] with a dish-full of hungry desires till he fill it; & if he delay, yet come not ye away, albeit ye should fall a swoon at his feet. 7. Ye crave my mind, whether found comfort may be found in prayer, when conviction of a known idol is present. I answer, an idol as an idol can not stand with found comfort; for that comfort that is gotten at Dagon's sect is a cheat or blea-flume: yet sound comfort & conviction of an eye to an idol, may as well dwell together, as tears & joy: But let this do you no ill, I speak it for your encouragement, that ye may make the best out of your joys ye can, albeit ye find them mixed with motes. 2. Sole conviction, if alone without remorse and grief, is not enough, therefore lend it a tear if ye dow win at it. 7. Ye question, when ye win to ⟨p. 115⟩more fervency sometimes with your neighbour in prayer then your alone, whether hypocrisy be in it, or not? I answer, if this be always, no question a spice of hypocrisy in in it, which would be taken head to; out possibly desertion may be in private, & presence in public, & then the case is clear. 2. A fit of applause may occasion by accident a rubbing of a cold heart & so heat & life may come, but it is not the proper cause of that heat: hence God of his free grace will ride his errands upon our stinking corruption, but corruption is but a mere occasion & accident; as the playing on a pipe removed anger from the prophet & made him fitter to prophesy: 2. King. 3: v. 15. 8.

this is good & a matter of thanksgiving, therefore examine here also. 5. The assurance of Jesus's love ye say would be the most comfortable newes that ever ye heard: Ans. That may stop twenty holes, & loose many objections: That love hath tellng in it I trow. Oh that ye knew & felt it as I have done! I wish ye a share of my feast; sweet, sweet hath it been to me: If my Lord had not given me his love, I would have fallen thorow the causey of Aberdeen ere now: But for you, hing on, your feast is not far off, ye shall be filled ere ye goe, there is as much in our Lord's pantry as will satisfie all his bairns, & as much wine in his cellar as will quench all their thirst: hunger on, for there is meat in hunger for Christ: Goe never from him, but fash him [who yet is pleased with the importunity of hungry souls] with a dish-full of hungry desires till he fill it; & if he delay, yet come not ye away, albeit ye should fall a swoon at his feet. 7. Ye crave my minde, whether found comfort may be found in prayer, when conviction of a known idol is present. I answer, an idol as an idol can not stand with found comfort; for that comfort that is gotten at Dagon's sect is a cheat or blea-flumme: yet sound comfort & conviction of an eye to an idol, may as well dwell together, as tears & joy: But let this doe you no ill, I speak it for your encouragement, that ye may make the best out of your joyes ye can, albeit ye finde them mixed with motes. 2. Sole conviction, if alone without remorse and grief, is not enough, therefore lend it a tear if ye dow win at it. 7. Ye question, when ye win to