A57970:514
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.
Worthy & well-beloved Brother
Worthy & welbeloved Brother
Grace mercy & peace be unto you: I am yet waiting what our Lord will do for his afflicted church, & for my reentry to my Lord's house. Oh that I could hear the forfeiture of Christ [now cast out of his inheritance] recalled & taken off by open proclamation, & that Christ were restored to be a Free holder and a landed Hieritour in Scotland: & That the courts fenced in the name of the bastard Prelates [their Godfather's the Pop's Bailiffs & Sheriffs] were cried down! Oh how sweet a sight were it to see all the Tribes of the Lord in this land fetching home again our banished king Christ to his own palace, his Sanctuary and his throne! I shall think it mercy to my soul, if my faith shall out-watch all this winter night & not nod or slumber, till my Lord's summer day dawn upon me. It is much if faith & hope in the sad nights of our heavy trial escape with a whole skin, & without crack or crook: I confess unbelief hath not reason to be either father or mother to it: [for unbelief is always an irrational thing] but how can it be, but such weak eyes as ours must cast water in a great smoke; or that a weak head should not turn giddy when the water runneth deep and strong? But God be thanked that Christ in his children can endure a stress & storm: howbeit soft nature would fall down in pieces. Oh that I had that confidence as to rest ⟨p. 182⟩rest on this, though he should grind me into small powder, & bray me into dust, & scatter the dust to the four winds of heaven; that my Lord would gather up the powder & make me up a new vessel again to bear Christ's name to the world: I am sure that love bottomed & seated upon the faith of his love to me would desire & endure this, & would even claim & thriep kindness upon Christ's strokes, & kiss his lovely glooms: & both spell & read salvation upon the wounds made by Christ's sweet hands. Oh that I had but a promise from the mouth of Christ, of his love to me; & then howbeit my faith were as tender as paper I think longing & dwining & griening of sick desires would cause it bide out the siege, till the Lord came to fill the soul with his love: & I know also in that case faith should abide green & sappy at the root, even at mid winter, and stand out against all storms: However it be I know Christ winneth heaven in despite of hell;