A57970:421
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 KILCONQUHAIR. (69)
MISTRESS.
Grace, mercy & peace be to you: I received your letter: I am heartily content ye love & own this oppressed and wronged cause of Christ, & that now wh•n so many are miscarried, ye are in any measure taken with the love of Jesu•: weary not, but come in & see if there be not more in Christ then the tongue of men & Angels can express: If ye seek a gate to heaven, the way is in him, or, he is it: What ye want is treasured up in Jesus, & he saith, all his are yours, even his Kingdom, he is content to divide it betwixt him & you, yea his throne & ⟨p. 151⟩his glory, Luk. 21. 29. Joh. 17. 24. Rov. 3. 21. & Therefore take pains to climb up to that besieged house to Christ: for devils, men & armies of temptations are lying about the house to hold out all that are out; & it is taken with violence: It is not a smooth & easy way, neither will your weather be fair & pleasant; but whosoever saw the invisible God & the fair city, make no reckoning of loss•s or crosses: in the must be, cost you what it will; stand not for a price & for all that ye have, to win the castle; the rights to it are won to you, & it is disponed to you in your Lord Jesus's testament, & see what a fair legacy your dying friend Christ hath left you: And there wanteth nothing but possession. Then get up in the strength of the Lord; get over the water to possess that good land: It is better then a land of olives & wine-trees, for the tree of life that beareth twelve manner of fruits every month is there before you, & a pure river of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb, is there. Your time is short, therefore lose no time: Gracious & faithful is he who hath called you to his Kingdom & glory. The city is yours by free conquest & by promise, & therefore let no uncouth Lord-idol put you from your own. The devil hath cheated the simple heir of his Paradise, & by enticing us to taste of the forbidden fruit, hath, as it were, bought us out of our kindly heritage: But our Lord, Christ Jesus, hath done more then bought the devil by, for he hath redeemed the wadset & made the poor heir free to the inheritance. If we knew the glory of our elder brother in heaven, we would long to be there to see him, & to get our fill of heaven: We children think the earth a fair garden, but it is but God's out-field & wild, cold, barren ground: All things are fading that are here: