A57970:389
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 JAMES LINDSAY. (62.)
Dear Brother.
The constant & daily observing of God's going alongst with you, in his coming, going, ebbing, flowing, embracing & kissing, glooming & striking giveth me [a witless & lazy observer of the Lord's way & working] an heavy stroke: could I keep sight of him, & know when I want, & carry as became me in that condition, I would bless my case. But. 1. For desertions, I think them like lying-lay of lean & weak land, for some years, while it gather sap for a better crop: It is possible to gather gold where it may be had with moon light. Oh if I could but creep one foot, or half a foot nearer in to Jesus in such a dismal night as that, when he is away: I should think it an happy absence. 2. If I knew the beloved were only gone away for trial, & for further humiliation, & not smoked out of the house with new provocations, I would forgive desertions, & hold my peace at his absence, but Christ's bought absence [that I bought with my sin] is two running boils at once, one upon either side, & what side then can I lie on? 3. I know as night & shadows are good for ⟨p. 139⟩flowers, & moonlight, & dews are better then a continual sun; so is Christ's absence of special use, & it hath some nourishing virtue in it, & giveth sap to humility, & putteth an edge on hunger, & furnisheth a fair field to faith to put forth it self, & to exercise it's fingers in gripping, it seeth not what. 4. It is mercy's wonder, & grace's wonder, that Christ will lend a piece of the lodging, & a back-chamber beside himself to our lusts, & that he & such swine should keep house together in our soul: For suppose they couch & contract themselves into little room, when Christ cometh in, & seem to lie as dead under his feet; yet they often break out again: And that a foot of the old man, or a leg or arm nailed to Christ's cross looseth the nail or breaketh out again; & yet Christ beside this unruly & misnurtured neighbour can still be making heaven in the saints one way or other, may not I say, Lord Jesus, what doest thou here? Yet here he must be; but I will but lose my feet to go on into this depth & wonder, for free mercy & infinite merits took a lodging to Christ & us beside such a loath some guest as sin. 5. Sanctification & mortification of our lusts, are the hardest part of Christianity: