A57970:674
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
Part 1 › Letter 123: To his Reverend & loving Brother. Mr JOHN NEVAY. (123)
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 his Reverend & loving Brother. Mr JOHN NEVAY. (123)
Reverend & Dear Brother.
Grace, mercy & peace be unto you: I received yours o•• April 11. As I did another of March 25. and a letter for Mr Andrew Cant. I am not a little grieved that our ⟨p. 236⟩mother-church is running so quickly to the brothel-house, & that we are hiring lovers, & giving gift; to the great mother of fornications: Alas that our husband is like to quite us so shortly! It were my part [if I were able] when our husband is departing, to stir up myself to take hold of him & keep him in this land; for I know him to be a sweet second, & a lovely companion to a poor prisoner: I find my extremity hath sharpened the edge of his love & Kindness, so as he seemeth to devise new ways of expressing the sweetness of his love to my soul: Suffering for Christ is the very element wherein Christ's love liveth, & exerciseth it self, in casting out flames of fire & sparks of heat, to warm such a frozen heart as I have: And if Christ weeping in sackcloth be so sweet, I cannot find any imaginable thoughts to think what he will be, when we clay-bodies [having put off mortality] shall come up to the marriage-hall, & great Palace, & behold the King clothed in his robes royal, sitting on his throne. I would desire no more for my heaven beneath the moon, while I am sighing in this house of clay, but daily renewed feasts of love with Christ, & liberty now & then to feed my hunger with a kiss of that fairest face, that is like the sun in his strength at noon-day. I would willingly subscribe an ample resignation to Christ of the fourteen Prelacies of this land, & of all the most delightful pleasures on earth, & forfeit my part of this clay-God, this earth which Adam's foolish children worship, to have no other exercise but to lie in a love-bed with Christ, & fill this hungered, & famished soul with kissing, embracing & real enjoying of the Son of God: And I think then I might write to my friends. That I had found the golden world, & look out & laugh at the poor bodies who are slaying one another for feathers: For verily, Brother, since I came to his prison I have conceived a new & extraordinary opinion of Christ which I had not before; for I perceive we first all our joys to Christ, till he & we be in our own house above, as married parties; thinking that there is nothing of it here to be sought or found, but only hope & fair promises: