A57970:816
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.
Much honoured Sir.
Grace, mercy and peace be to you: I have been too long in writing to you. I am confident ye have learned to prize Christ & his love & favour more then ordinary professors, who scarce see Christ with half an eye, because their sight is taken up with eying & liking the beauty of this over-gilded world that promiseth fair to all it's lovers, but in the push of a trial when need is, can give nothing but a fair beguile. I know ye are not ignorant that men come not to this world as some do to a market, to see and be seen, or as some come to behold a May-game, and only to behold and to go home again: Ye came hither to treat with God & to tryst with him in his Christ, for salvation to your soul, & to seek reconciliation with an angry and wrathful God in a covenant of peace made to you in Christ, & this is more then an ordinary sport or the play that the greatest part of the world give their heart unto: And therefore, Worthy Sir, I pray you by the salvation of your soul and by the mercy of God & your compearance before Christ, do this in sad earnest, & let not salvation be your by-work or your holy-day's task only, or a work by the way: For men think that this may be done in three days space on a feather-bed, when death & they are fallen in hands together, and that with a word or two they shall make their soul-matters right: Alas, this is to •it loose and unsure in the matters of our salvation: Nay, the seeking of this world & the glory of it, is but an odd & by-errand that we may slip, so being we make salvation sure. Oh when will men learn to ⟨p. 296⟩be that heavenly wise as to divorce from & free their soul of all Idol-lovers, and make Christ the only only One, and trim & make ready their lamps while they have time and day! How soon will this house skail and the Inns where the poor soul lodgeth fall to the earth! How soon will some few years pass away, & then when the day is ended & this life's lease expired, what have men of world's glory, but dreams & thoughts? O how blessed a thing is it to labour for Christ & to make him sure! Know and try in time your holding of him and the rights and charters of heaven, and upon what terms ye have Christ and the Gospel, and what Christ is worth in your estimation, and how lightly ye esteem of other things and how dearly of Christ!