A57970:862
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. Bailiff of Kirkcudbright. [158]
To WILLIAM GLENDINING. Bailiffe of Kirkcudbright. [158]
Worthy Sir.
Grace, mercy & peace be to you: I am well, honour be to God, & aswell as a rejoicing prisoner of Christ can be, hoping that one day He for whom I now suffer shall enlarge me, & put me above the threatenings of men: I am sometimes sad, heavy & cast down at the memory of the fair days I had with Christ in Anwoth, Kirk cudbright & cet: The remembrance of a feast increaseth hunger in a hungry man; but who knoweth but our Lord will yet cover a table in the wilderness to his hungry bairns & build the old waste places in Scotland, & bring home Zion's captives: I desire to see no more glorious sight, till I see the Lamb on his throne, then to see Mount Zion all green with grass, & the dew lying upon the tops of the grass, & the crown put upon Christ's head in Scotland again: And I believe it shall be so, & that Christ shall mow down his enemies & fill the pits with their dead bodies. I find people here dry & uncouth: A man pointed at for suffering dare not be countenanced; so that I am like to sit mine alone upon the ground: But my Lord payeth me well home again, for I have neither tongue nor pen nor heart to express the sweetness & excellency of the love of Christ: Christ's honey-combs drop honey & sloods of consolation upon my soul: My chains are gold: Christ's cross i• all overgilded and perfumed: His prison is the garden and orchard of my delights: I would go through burning quick to my lovely Christ: I sleep in his arms all the night & my head betwixt his breasts: My well-beloved is altogether lovely: This is all nothing to that which my soul hath felt: Let no man for my cause scar at Christ's cross: If my stipend, place, country, credit, had been an Earldom, a Kingdom, ten Kingdoms and a whole earth, all were too little for the crown and sceptre of my royal King: Mine enemies, mine enemies have made me blessed: They ave sent me to the bridegroom's chamber: Love is his banner