Joshua Redivivus, or Mr. Rutherford's Letters

To my Lord. BALMERINOCH. [109]

My very Noble & truly honourable Lord.

I Make bold to write news to your Lo: from my prison, though your Lo: have experience more then I can have. At my first entry here, I was not a little cast down with challenges for old unrepented of sins, & Satan & my own apprehensions made a lye of Christ, that he had cast a dry withered tree over the dike of the vineyard; but it was my folly, blessed be his great name the fire cannot burn the dry tree: He is pleased no• to feast the exiled prisoner with his lovely presence, for it suiteth Christ well to be kind, & he dineth & suppeth with such a sinner as I am. I am in Christ's tutoring here; He hath made me content with a borrowed fire-side, & it casteth as much heat, as mine own: I want nothing at all but real possession of Christ: And he hath given me a pawn of that also, which I hope to keep till he come himself to loose the pawn. I cannot get help to praise his high name: He hath made me a King over my losses, imprisonment, banishment & only my dumb sabbaths stick in my throat: But I forgive Christ's wisdom in that: I dare not say one word: He hath done it & I will lay my hand upon my mouth: If any other had done it to me, I could not have born it. Now My Lord, I must tell your Lo: That I would not give a drink of cold water for this clay idol, this plastered world. I testify & give it under mine own hand, that Christ is most worthy to be suffered for. Our lazy flesh [which would have Christ to cry down crosses by open proclamation] hath but raised a slander upon the cross of Christ. My Lord, I hope ye i will not forget what he hath done for your soul: I think ye are n Christ's count-book as his obliged debtor. Grace, grace be with your spirit.

I Make bold to write newes to your Lo: from my prison, though your Lo: have experience more then I can have. At my first entry here, I was not a little casten down with challenges for old unrepented of sins, & Satan & my own apprehensions made a lye of Christ, that he had casten a dry withered tree over the dike of the vineyard; but it was my folly, blessed be his great name the fire cannot burn the dry tree: He is pleased no to feast the exiled prisoner with his lovely presence, for it suiteth Christ well to be kinde, & he dineth & suppeth with such a sinner as I am. I am in Christ's tutouring here; He hath made me content with a borrowed fire-side, & it casteth as much heat, as mine own: I want nothing at all but reall possession of Christ: And he hath given me a pawne of that also, which I hope to keep till he come himself to loose the pawne. I cannot get help to praise his high name: He hath made me a King over my losses, imprisonment, banishment & onely my dumb sabbaths stick in my throat: But I forgive Christ's wisdom in that: I dare not say one word: He hath done it & I will lay my hand upon my mouth: If any other had done it to me, I could not have born it. Now My Lord, I must tell your Lo: That I would not give a drink of cold water for this clay idol, this plaistered world. I testifie & give it under mine own hand, that Christ is most worthy to be suffered for. Our lazie flesh [which would have Christ to cry down crosses by open proclamation] hath but raised a slander upon the cross of Christ. My Lord, I hope ye i will not forget what he hath done for your soul: I think ye are n Christ's count-book as his obliged debter. Grace, grace be with your spirit.