Joshua Redivivus, or Mr. Rutherford's Letters

Grace, mercy & peace be to you: I received your letter, which hath refreshed me in my bonds. I cannot but testify unto you, my dear Brother, what sweetness I find in our Master's cross; but alas, what can I either do or suffer for him? If I my alone had as many lives as there have been drops of rain since the creation, I would think them too little for that lovely one, our well-beloved; but my pain and my sorrow is above my sufferings, that I find not ways how to set out the praises of his love to others: I am not able by tongue, pen or sufferings to provoke many to fall in love with him, but he knoweth whom I love to serve in the spirit, what I would do & suffer by his own strength, so being I might make my Lord Jesus lovely & sweet to many thousands in this land. I think it amongst God's wonders that he will take any praise or glory or any testimony to his honourable cause, from such a forlorn sinner as I am: But when Christ worketh he needeth not ask the question by whom he will be glorious: I know, seeing his glory at the beginning did shine out of poor nothing to set up such a fair house for man & Angels, & so many glorious creatures to proclaim his goodness, power & wisdom, if I were burnt to ashes, out of the smoke and powder of my dissolved ⟨p. 271⟩body he could raise glory to himself: His glory is his end, Oh that I could join with him to make it my end! I would think that fellowship with him sweet & glorious. But alas, few know the guiltiness that is on my part, it is a wonder that this good cause hath not been marred and spilt in my foul hands: But I rejoice in this that my sweet Lord Jesus hath found something ado, even a ready market for his free grace and incomparable and matchless mercy in my wants: Only my loathsome wretchedness and my wants have qualified me for Christ and the riches of his glorious grace, he behooved to take me for nothing or else to want me: Few know the unseen & private reckonings betwixt Christ and me; yet his love, his boundless love would not bide away nor stay at home with himself, & yet I dow not make it welcome as I ought, when it's come unsent for and without hire. How joyful is my heart that ye write ye are desirous to join with me in praising; for it is charity to help a Dyvour to pay his debts; but when all have helped me, my name shall stand in his count-book under ten thousand thousands of sums unpaid:

GRace, mercy & peace be to you: I received your letter, which hath refreshed me in my bonds. I cannot but testifie unto you, my dear Brother, what sweetness I finde in our Master's cross; but alas, what can I either doe or suffer for him? If I my alone had as many lives as there have been drops of rain since the creation, I would think them too little for that lovely one, our welbeloved; but my pain and my sorrow is above my sufferings, that I finde not wayes how to set out the praises of his love to others: I am not able by tongue, pen or sufferings to provoke many to fall in love with him, but he knoweth whom I love to serve in the spirit, what I would doe & suffer by his own strength, sobeing I might make my Lord Jesus lovely & sweet to many thousands in this land. I think it amongst God's wonders that he will take any praise or glory or any testimony to his honourable cause, from such a forlorn sinner as I am: But when Christ worketh he needeth not ask the question by whom he will be glorious: I know, seeing his glory at the beginning did shine out of poor nothing to set up such a fair house for man & Angels, & so many glorious creatures to proclaim his goodness, power & wisdom, if I were burnt to ashes, out of the smoke and powder of my dissolved