A57970:622
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 JAMES Mc ADAM. (112)
My very dear & worthy friend.
My very dear & worthyfriend.
Grace, mercy & peace be to you: I long to hear of your growing in grace, & of your advancing in your journey to heaven: It will be the joy of my heart to hear that ye hold your face up the brae & wade through tentations without fearing what man can do. Christ shall, when he ariseth, mow down his enemies & lay bulks [as they use to speak] on the green & fill the pits with dead bodies, Psal. 110: 6. they shall lie like handfuls of withered hay when he ariseth to the prey. Salvation, Salvation is the only necessary thing: this clay-idol, the ⟨p. 218⟩World, is not to be sought, it is a morsel not for you, but for hunger-bitten bastards. Contend for Salvation: Your Master Christ, won heaven with strokes: It is a besieged castle, it must be taken with violence. Oh, this world thinketh heaven but at the next door, & that godliness may sleep in a bed of downs till it come to heaven; but that will not do it. For my self, I am as well as Christ's prisoner can be: For by him, I am master & King of all my crosses; I am above the prison & the lash of mens tongues: Christ triumpheth in me. I have been cast down & heavy with fears & hunted with challenges, I was swimming in the depths; but Christ had his hand under my chin all the time & took good heed that I should not lose breath: And now I have gotten my feet again, & there are love-feasts of joy & spring-tides of consolation betwixt Christ & me: We agree well, I have court with him, I am still welcome to his house. O my short arms cannot fathom his love! I beseech you, I charge you help me to praise: Ye have a prisoner's prayers, therefore forget me not. I desire Sibilla to remember me dearly to all in that Parish who know Christ, as if I had named them. Grace, grace be with you.