A57970:848
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 WILLIAM GLENDINING. (155.)
Dear Brother.
YE are heartily welcome to that honour that Christ hath made common to us both, which is to suffer for his name: Verily I think it my garland & crown, & if the Lord should ask of me my blood & life for this cause, I would gladly in his strength pay due debt to Christ's honour & glory in that kind. Acquaint your self with Christ's love & ye shall not miss to find new golden mines & treasures in Christ: Nay truly, we but stand beside Christ, we go not in to him to take our fill of him. But if he should do two things, 1. Draw the curtains & make bare his holy face, & then 2. Clear our dim & bleared eyes to see his beauty & glory, he should find many lovers. I would seek no more happiness but a sight of him so near hand as to see, hear, smell, & touch & embrace him: But oh, closed doors & veils & curtains & thick clouds hold me in pain while I find the sweet burning of his love that many waters cannot quench! O what sad hours have I when I think, that love of Christ scarreth at me & bloweth by me! If my Lord Jesus would come to bargaining for his love, I think he should make price himself, I should not refuse ten thousand years in hell, to have a wide soul enlarged & made wider, that I might be exceedingly [even to the running over] filled with his love. O what am I to love such an one, or to be loved by that high & lofty One! I think the Angels may blush to look upon him, & what am I to file such infinite brightness with my sinful eyes? O that Christ would come near & stand still & give me leave to look upon him! For to look seemeth the poor man's privilege, since he may for nothing & without hire behold the sun. I should have a King's life, if I had no other thing to do, but for evermore to behold & eye my fair Lord Jesus: Nay, suppose I were holden out, at heaven's fair entry, I should be happy for evermore to look through an hole in the door & see my dearest & fairest Lord's face. O great King, why standest thou aloof? Why remainest thou beyond the mountains? O well-beloved, why doest thou pain a poor soul with delays?