A57970:493
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 THOMAS CORBET. [85]
Dear friend.
I Forget you not: It shall be my joy that ye follow after Christ till ye find him: My conscience is a feast of joy to me, that I sought in singleness of heart, for Christ's love, to put you upon the King's high-way to our Bridegroom & our father's house: Thrice blessed are ye, my dear Brother, if ye hold the way: I believe, ye and Christ once met, I hope ye will not sunder with him: Follow the counsel of the man of God Mr William Dalgl•ish. If ye depart from what I taught you in a hair-breadth, for f•ar or favour of men or desire of ease in this world, I take heaven & earth to witness that ill shall come upon you in end. Build not your nest here: This world is an hard ill made bed, no rest in it, for your soul: awake, awake, & make haste to seek that pearl Christ, that this world seeth not. Your night and your Master Christ, will be upon you within a clap; your hand-breadth of time will not bide you: Take Christ, howbeit a storm follow him: howbeit this day be not yours & Christ's, the morrow will be yours & his. I would not exchange the joy of my bonds & imprisonment for Christ, with all the joy of this dirty & soul-skinned world. I have a love bed with Christ, & am filled with his love. I desire your wife to do what I write to you: Let her remember how dear Christ would be to her, when her breath turneth cold, & the eye-strings shall break. O how joyful should my soul be, to know that I had brought on a marriage betwixt Christ & that people, few or many: if it be not so, I vvill be woe to be a witness against them. Use prayer, love not the world, be humble and esteem little of your self; love your enemies & pray for them; make conscience of speaking truth when none knoweth but God. I never eat, but I pray for you all. Pray for me: Ye & I shall see one another up in our father's house. I rejoice to hear that your eye is upon Christ.