A57970:844
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 MARGARET FULLERTON. (154)
MISTRESS.
Grace, mercy & peace be to you: I am glad that ever ye did cast your love on Christ, fasten more and more love every day upon him. O if I had a river of love, a sea of love that would never go dry, to bestow upon him! But alas the pity, Christ hath beauty for me, but I have not love for him. O what pain is it to see Christ in ⟨p. 308⟩his beauty, & then to want a heart & love for him! But I see, want we must, till Christ lend us, never to be payed again. O that he would empty these vaults and lower houses of these poor souls, of these bastard and base lovers which we follow! And verily I see no object in heaven or in earth that I could ware this much of love upon that I have, but upon Christ. Alas that clay and time and shadows run away with our love, which is ill spent upon any but upon Christ: each fool at the day of judgement shall seek back his love from the creatures, when he shall see them all in a fair fire, but they shall prove irresponsall debtors: And therefore best here look ere we leap, and look ere we love. I find now under his cross that I would fain give him more then I have to give him, if giving were in my power: But I rather wish him my heart then give him it, except he take it and put himself in possession of it [for I hope he hath a market-right to me, since he hath ransomed me] I see not how Christ can have me. O that he would be pleased to be more homely with my soul's love, and to come in to my soul and take his own! But when he goeth away & hideth himself, all is to me that I had of Christ, as if it had fallen in the sea bottom. Oh that I should be so fickle in my love, as to love Christ only by the eyes and the nose! That is, to love him only in as far as fond & foolish sense carrieth me & no more: And when I see not, & smell not, and touch not, then I have all to seek. I cannot love parquier, nor rejoice parquier: But this is our weakness till we be at home & shall have aged mens stomachs to bear Christ's love. Pray for me, that our Lord would bring me back to you with a new blessing of the Gospel of Christ. I forget not you. Grace. grace be with you.