A57970:405
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 the Lady DUNGUEIGH. (65)
MISTRESS.
I Long to hear from you, & how ye go on with Christ: I am sure that Christ & ye once met: I pray you fasten your grips; there is holding & drawing & much sea-way to heaven, & we are often sea-sick; but the voyage is so needful, that we must on any terms take shipping with Christ. I believe it is a good country we are going to, & there is ill lodging in this smoky house of the world, in which we are yet living. Oh that we should love smoke so well & clay, that holdeth our feet fast! It were our happiness to follow on after Christ, & to anchor our selves upon the rock in the upper side of the veil. Christ & Satan are now drawing to parties, & they are blind who see not Scotland divided in two camps, & Christ coming out with his white banner of love, & he hangeth that over the heads of his soldiers: And the other Captain, the Dragon, is coming out with a great black flag, & crieth, the world, the world, case, honour, & a whole skin, and a soft couch, & there lie they, & leave Christ to fend for himself: My counsel is that ye come out & leave the multitude & let Christ have your company: Let them take clay & this present world who love it: Christ is a more worthy & noble portion: Blessed are these who get him: It is good ere the storm rise to make ready ⟨p. 147⟩all, & to be prepared to go to the camp with Christ, seeing he will not keep the house, nor sit at the fire-side with couchers: A shower for Christ is little enough Oh I find all too little for him! Woe, woe, woe's me, that I have no propine for my Lord Jesus: My love is so feckless that it is a shame too offer it to him. Oh if it were as broad as heaven, as deep as the sea, I would gladly bestow it upon him! I persuade you God is wringing grapes of red wine for Scotland, & this land shall drink & spue & fall: His enemies shall drink the thick of it & the grounds of it: But Scotland's withered tree shall blossom again, & Christ shall make a second marriage with her, & take home his wife out of the furnace; but if our eyes shall see it, he knoweth who hath created time. Grace be with you.