A57970:585
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 ROBERTLAND. [105.]
MISTRESS.
Grace, mercy & peace be to you: I shall be glad to hear that your soul prospereth & that fruit groweth upon you after the Lord's husbandry & pains in his rod, that hath not been a stranger to you from your youth. It is the Lord's kindness that he will take the scum off us in the fire: Who knoweth how needful winnowing is to us, & what dross we must want ere we enter into the Kingdom of God? So narrow is the entry to heaven that our knots, our bunches & lumps of pride, and self-love, & idol-love, & world-love must be hammered off us, that we may throng in, stooping low & creeping through that narrow & thorny entry. And now for my self, I find it the most sweet & heavenly life, to take up house & dwelling at Christ's fire-side, & set down my tent upon Christ that foundation-stone, who is sure & faithful ground & hard under foot. Oh if I could win to it & proclaim my self not the world's debtor, nor a lover obliged to it; & that I mind not to hire or bud this world's love any longer; but defy the kindness & feud of God's whole creation whatsoever; especially the lower vault & clay part of God's creatures, this vain earth: For what hold I of his world? A borrowed lodging & some years house room, & bread & water, & fire & bed & candle, &c. are all a part of the pension of my King & Lord to whom I owe thanks & not to a creature. I thank God that God is God, & Christ is Christ, & the earth the earth, & the Devil the devil, and the world the world, & that sin is sin, and that every thing is what it is: Because he hath taught me in my wilderness not to shuffle my Lord Jesus, nor to intermix him with creature-vanities,