A57970:520
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.
MISTRESS.
Grace mercy and peace be unto you: I have long had a purpose of writing to you, but I have been hindered: I heartily desire that ye would mind your journey; & consider to what airth your soul setteth it's face; for all come not home at night, who suppose they have set their face heaven-ward: ⟨p. 184⟩it is a woeful thing to die & miss heaven, & to lose house-room with Christ at night: It is an evil journey where travellers are benighted in the fields. I persuade my self that thousands shall be deceived & ashamed of their hope: because they cast their anchor in sinking sands they must lose it. Till now I knew not the pain, labour, nor difficulty that there is to win home; nor did I understand so well before this, what that meaneth: The righteous shall scarcely be saved. Oh how many a poor Professor's candle is blown out & never lighted again! I see ordinary profession, & to be ranked amongst the children of God, & to have a name among men, is now thought good enough to carry professors to heaven; but certainly a name is but a name, & will never bide a blast of God's storm: I counsel you not to give your soul or Christ rest, nor your eyes sleep, till ye have gotten something that will bide the fire & stand out the storm. I am sure if my one foot were in heaven & then he would say, fend thy self, I will hold my grips of thee no longer: I should go no further; but presently fall down in as many Pieces of dead nature. They are happy for evermore who are over head & ears in the love of Christ, & know no sickness but love-sickness for Christ: & feel no pain but the pain of an absent & hidden well-beloved. We run our souls out of breath & tire them in coursing & galloping after our own night-dreams [such are the rovings of our miscarrying hearts] to get some created good thing in this life & on this side of death: We would fain slay & spin out a heaven to our solves in this side of the water; but sorrow, want, changes, crosses & sin are both woof & warp in that ill-spun web. O how sweet & dear are these thoughts that are still upon the things which are above! & how happy are they who are longing to have little sand in their glass & to have time's thread cut & can cry to Christ, Lord Jesus have over, come & fetch the dreary passenger! I wish our thoughts were more frequently then they are on our country.