A57970:344
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 STUART. Provest of Ayr. [53]
Worthy and dearly beloved in our Lord.
Grace, mercy & peace be to you: I was refreshed & comforted with your letter: what I wrote to you for your comfort, I do not remember, but I believe love will prophesy home-ward as it would have it. I wish I could help you to praise his great and holy name, who keepeth the feet of his saints, & hath numbered all your goings. I know our dearest Lord will pardon & pass by our honest errors & mistakes when we mind his honour; yet I know none of you have seen the other half & the hidden side of your wonderful return home to us again. I am confident ye shall yet say that God's mercy blew your sails back to Ireland again. Worthy & dear Sir, I cannot but give you an account of my present state, that ye may go an errand for me, to my high & royal master, of whom I boast all the day. I am as proud of his love, [nay, I bless my self & boast more of my present lot] as any poor man can be of an earthly Kings court, or of a Kingdom. First I am very often turning both the sides of my cross, especially my dumb & silent Sabbaths, not because I desire to find a crook or defect in my Lord's love, but because love is sick with fancies, & fears, whether or not the Lord hath a process leading against my guiltiness, that I have not yet well seen: I know not, my desire is to ride fair, & not to spark dirt [if with reverence of him I may be permitted to make use of such a word] in the face of my only, only well beloved; but fear of guiltiness, i• a tale-bearer betwixt me & Christ, & is still whispering ill tales of my Lord, to weaken my faith: I had rather a cloud went over my comforts by these messages, then that my faith should be hurt, for if my Lord get no wrong by me, verily I desire grace not to care what become of me. I desire to give no faith, nor credit to my sorrow, that can make a lye of my best friend Christ. Woe, woe be to them all who speak ill of Christ.