A57970:439
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 Mr DAVID DICKSON. (73)
Reverend and well-beloved brother in the Lord.
Reverend and welbeloved brother in the Lord.
I Bless the Lord who hath so wonderfully stopped the on-going of that lawless process against you. The Lord reigneth, & hath a saving eye upon you & your ministry, & therefore fear not what men can do. I bless the Lord that the Irish ministers find employment, & the professors comfort of their ministry: Believe me, I durst not, as I am now disposed, hold an honest brother out of the pulpit: I trust, the Lord shall guard you & hide you in the shadow of his hand: I am not pleased with any that are against you in that. I see this, in prosperity mens conscience will not start at small sins: But if some had been where I have been since I came from you, a little more would have caused their eye water & troubled their peace. O how ready are we to incline to the world's-hand? Our arguments being well examined are often drawn from our skin: the whole skin & a peaceable tabernacle is a topic maxim in great request in our Logic. I find a little breirding of God's seed in this town, for the which the Doctors have told me their mind, that they cannot bear with it, and have examined and threatened the people that haunt my company: I fear I get not leave to winter here, and whether I go, I know not; I am ready ⟨p. 157⟩at the Lord's call. I would I could make acquaintance with Christ's cross, for I find, comforts lie to, & follow upon the cross. I suffer in my name by them: I take it as a part of the crucifying of the old man: Let them cut the throat of my credit & do as they like best with it, when the wind of their calumnies hath blown away my good name from me in the way to heaven, I know Christ will take my name out of the mire & wash it & restore it to me again. I would have a mind (if the Lord would be pleased to give me it] to be a fool for Christ's sake. Sometimes while I have Christ in my arms, I fall asleep with the sweetness of his presence, & he in my sleep stealeth away out of my arms, & when I awake I mis him. I am much comforted with my Lady Pisligo, a good woman & acquainted with God's ways. Grace be with you.