A57970:635
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 Mr GEORGE GILLESPIE. [115]
Reverend & dear Brother.
I Received your letter: as for my case Brother, I bless his glorious name, my losses are my gain, my prison a palace, & my sadness joyfulness. At my first entry, my apprehensions wrought so upon my cross, that I bec•me jealous of the love of Christ, as being by him thrust out of the vineyard, & I was under great challenges, [as ordinarily melted gold casteth first a drossy scum, & Satan & our corruption form the first words that the heavy cross speaketh & say •od is angry. He loveth you not.] But our apprehensions are not canonical: they dite lies' of God & Christ's love; but since my spirit was settled, & the clay fallen to the bottom of the well, I see better what Christ was doing: And now my Lord is returned with salvation under his wings, now I want little of half a heaven, & I find Christ every day so sweet, comfortable, lovely & Kind, as three things only trouble me. 1. I see not how to be thankful, or how to get help to praise that royal King who raiseth up these that are bowed down. 2. His love paineth me & woundeth my soul, so as I am in a fever for want of real presence. 3. An excessive desire to take instruments in God's name, that this is Christ & his truth I now suffer for, yea the apple of the eye of Christ's honour, even the Sovereignty & royal privileges of our King & law-giver Christ: & therefore let no man scar at Christ's cross, or raise an ill report upon him or it; for he beareth the sufferer & it both. I am here troubled with the disputes of the great Doctors [especially with D. B. in Ceremonial & Arminian controver••es for all are corrupt here] but I thank God, with no detriment to the truth, or discredit to my profession: So ⟨p. 222⟩