A57970:811
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.
I Long to hear how your soul prospereth. I earnestly desire you to try how matters stand between your soul & the Lord: think it no easy matter to take heaven by violence: Salvation cometh now to the most part of men in a night dream: there is no scarcity of faith now, such as it is; for ye shall not now light upon the man, who will not say he hath faith in Christ: But alas! dreams make no man's rights. Worthy Sir, I beseech you in the Lord, give your soul no rest till ye have real assurance & Christ's rights confirmed & sealed to your soul: The common faith & country-holiness & week-day's zeal that is among people, will never bring men to heaven: Take pains for your salvation, for in that day when ye shall see many mens labours & conquests & idol-riches lying in ashes, when the earth & all the works thereof shall be burnt with fire, O how dear a price would your soul give for God's favour in Christ! It is a blessed thing to seek Christ with up-sun, & to read over your papers & soul-accounts with fair day-light: It will not be time to cry for a lamp when the Bridegroom is entered into his chamber & the door shut. Fie, fie upon blinded & base souls who are committing ⟨p. 293⟩whoredom with this idol-clay & hunting a poor wretched hungry heaven, a hungry break-fast, a day's meat, from this hungry world, with the forfeiting of God's favour & the drinking over their heaven over the board [as men use to speak] for the laughter & sports of this short forenoon! All that is under this vault of heaven & betwixt us & death, & in this side of sun & moon, are but toys, night-visions, head-fancies, poor shadows, watery froth, godless vanities at their best, & black hearts & salt & sour miseries sugared over & confected with an hour's laughter or two & the conceit of riches, honour, vain, vain Court & lawless pleasures. Sir, if ye look both to the laughing side & the weeping side of this world, & if ye look not only upon the skin and colour of things, but in to their inwards & the heart of their excellency, ye shall see that one look of Christ's sweet & lovely eye, one kiss of his fairest face, is worth ten thousand worlds of such rotten stuff as the foolish sons of men set their heart upon.
I Long to hear how your soul prospereth. I earnestly desire you to try how matters stand between your soul & the Lord: think it no easy matter to take heaven by violence: Salvation cometh now to the most part of men in a night dream: there is no scarcity of faith now, such as it is; for ye shall not now light upon the man, who will not say he hath faith in Christ: But alas! dreams make no man's rights. Worthy Sir, I beseech you in the Lord, give your soul no rest till ye have reall assurance & Christ's rights confirmed & sealed to your soul: The common faith & countrey-holiness & week-day's zeal that is among people, will never bring men to heaven: Take pains for your salvation, for in that day when ye shall see many mens labours & conquests & idol-riches lying in ashes, when the earth & all the works thereof shall be burnt with fire, O how dear a price would your soul give for God's favour in Christ! It is a blessed thing to seek Christ with up-sun, & to read over your papers & soul-accounts with fair day-light: It will not be time to cry for a lamp when the Bridegroom is entred into his chamber & the door shut. Fy, fy upon blinded & base souls who are committing