A57970:835
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.
To the Laird of CALLY. (152)
Worthy Sir.
Grace, mercy & peace be to you: I have been too long I confess in writing to you. My suit now to you in paper [since I have no access to speak to you as formerly] is, that ye would lay the foundation sure in your youth: When ye begin to seek Christ, try I pray you upon what terms ye covenant to follow him, and lay your accounts what it may cost you; that summer nor winter, nor well nor woe, may not, cause you change your master, Christ: Keep fair to him & be honest and faithful that he find not a crack in you. Surely ye are now in the throng of temptations: When youth is come to it's fairest bloom, then the Devil & the lusts of a deceiving world & sin are upon horse-back and follow with up sails: If this were not, Paul needed not to have written to a sanctified & holy youth Timothy [a faithful preacher of the Gospel] flee the lusts of youth. Give Christ your virgin-love, ye cannot put your love & heart in a better hand. O if ye knew him & saw his beauty! Your love, your liking, your heart, your desires would close with him & cleave to him. Love by nature when it seeth, cannot but cast out it's spirit and strength upon amiable objects & good things & things love-worthy: and what fairer thing then Christ? O fair sun and fair moon and fair stars, and fair flowers and fair roses and fair lilies, and fair creatures; but O ten thousand thousand times fairer Lord ⟨p. 303⟩Jesus! Alas, I wronged him in making the comparison this way! O black sun & moon, but O fair Lord Jesus! O black flowers & black lilies & roses, but O fair, fair, ever fair Lord Jesus! O all fair things, black & deformed without beauty, when ye are beside that fairest Lord Jesus! O black heaven, but O fair Christ! O black Angels, but O surpassingly fair Lord Jesus! I would seek no more to make me happy for evermore, but a through & clear sight of the beauty of Jesus my Lord: Let my eyes enjoy his fairness & store him for ever in the face, & I have all that can be wished. Get Christ rather then gold or silver, seek Christ howbeit ye should lose all things for him: They take their marks by the moon & look asquint in looking to fair Christ, who resolve for the world & their ease, & for their honour & court & credit, or for fear of losses & a sore skin that they will turn their back upon Christ & his truth.