A57970:378
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 WILLIAM RIGGE. Of Athernie. (60.)
Much honoured & worthy Sir.
Your letter full of complaints bemoaning your guiltiness hath humbled me; but give me leave to say, ye seem to ⟨p. 134⟩be too far upon the law's side, ye will not gain much to be the Law's Advocate, I thought ye had not been the law's but grace's man; Nevertheless I am sure ye desire to take God's part against your self: what ever your guiltiness be, yet when it falleth into the sea of God's mercy, it is but like a drop of blood fallen in the great Ocean: There is nothing here to be done, but let Christ's doom light upon the old man, & let him bear his condemnation, seeing in Christ he was condemned; for the Law hath but power over your worst half; let the blame therefore lie where the blame should be & let the new man be sure to say, I am comely as the tents of Kedar, how be it I be black & sun-burnt by sitting neighbour beside a body of sin: I seek no more here but room for Grace's defence & Christ's white throne whereto a sinner condemned by the law may appeal: But the use that I make of •t, is, I am sorry that I am not so tender & thin skinned, though I am sure Christ may find employment for his calling in me, if in any living, seeing from my youth upward I have been making up the blackest process that any minister in the world, or any other can answer to: & when I had done this, I painted a providence of my own, & wrote ease for my self & a peaceable ministry & the sun shining on me, till I should be in at heaven's gates: Such green & raw thoughts had I of God. I thought also of a sleeping Devil that would pass by the like of me, lying in moors & out-fields: So I bigged the gook's nest, & dreamed of dying at ease & living in a fools paradise; but since I came hither I am often so, as that they would have much Rhetoric that would persuade me, that Christ hath not written wrath on my dumb & silent Sabbaths [which is a persecution of the latest edition, being used against none in this land, that I can learn of besides me] & often I lie under a non-entry, & would gladly sell all my joys to be confirmed King Jesus's free tenet, & to have sealed assurances; but I see often blank papers: & my greatest desires are these two. 1. That Christ would take me in hand to cure me, & undertake for a sick man, I know I should not die under his hand: & yet in this, while I still doubt, I believe through a cloud, that sorrow which hath no eyes;