A57970:744
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 136: To ALEXANDER GORDON, Of Earlestown. (136)
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 ALEXANDER GORDON, Of Earlestown. (136)
Much honoured Sir.
Grace, mercy & peace be to you: It is like if ye the Gentry & Nobility of this nation, be men in the streets [as the word speaketh] for the Lord, that he will now deliver his flock & gather & rescue his scattered sheep from the hands of cruel & rigorous Lords, that have ruled over them with force. O that mine eyes might see the moon-light turn to the light of the sun! But I still fear the quarrel of a broken Covenant in Scotland standeth before the Lord: However it be, I avouch it before the world, the tabernacle of the Lord shall again be in the midst of Scotland, and the glory of the Lord shall dwell in beauty as the light of many days in one, in this land, O what ⟨p. 266⟩could my soul desire more next to my Lord Jesus, while I am in this flesh, but that Christ & his Kingdom might be great amongst Jews & Gentiles, & that the Isles [& amongst them, overclouded & darkened Britain] might have the glory of a noon-day's sun! Oh that I had any thing [I will not except my part in Christ] to wadset or lay in pledge to redeem & buy such glory to my highest & royal Prince, my sweet Lord Jesus! my poor little heaven were well bestowed, if it could stand a pawn for ever to set on high the glory of my Lord; But I know, he needeth not wages nor hire at my hand: Yea, I know, if my eternal glory could weigh down in weight it's alone, all the eternal glory of th• blessed Angels & of all the spirits of just & perfect men glorified & to be glorified, Oh alas, how far am I engaged to forgo it for, and give it over to Christ; so being he might thereby be set on high above ten thousand thousand millions of heavens, in the conquest of many, many nations to his Kingdom! Oh that his Kingdom would come! O that all the world would stoop before him! O blessed hands that shall put the crown upon Christ's head in Scotland! But alas, I can scarce get leave to ware my love on him: I can find no ways to u my hat upon Christ & my love that I with my soul bestow on him, it is like to die upon my hand, & I think it no bairns-play to be hungered with Christ's love: To love him & to want him wanteth little of hell. I am sure he knoweth how my joy would swell upon me from a little well to a great sea, to have as much of his love & as wide a soul answerable to comprehend it, till I cried, hold Lord, no more: But I find he will not have me to be mine own steward nor mine own carver: