A57970:90
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.
& of the faithful professors have a back-door & back entry of escape, & that death & hell, and the world & tortures, shall all cleave, & split in twain, & give us free passage & liberty to go through them toll-free, & we shall bring all Gods good metal out of the furnace again, and leave behind us but our dross, & our scum: we may then before hand proclaim Christ to be victorious, He is crowned King in mount Zion, God did put the crown upon his head, Psal. 2. And who dare take it off again? out of question he hath sore & grievous quarrels against his church, and therefore, He is called, Is. 39. 10. He whose fire is in Zion & whose furnace is in Jerusalem. But when he hath performed his work on mount Zion, all Scions haters shall be as the hungry, and thirsty man, that dreams he is eating and drinking, and behold when he awaketh he is faint, and his soul empty: and this advantage we have also, that he will not bring before sun, & moon, all the infirmities of his wife; it is the modesty of marriage-anger, or husband-wrath, that our sweet Lord Jesus will not come with chiding to the streets, to let all the world hear what is betwixt him, & us; his sweet glooms stay under roof, and that because he is God. Two special things ye are to mind. 1. Try & make sure your profession; that ye carry not empty lamps: alas security, security is the bane, & the wrack of the most part of the world! Oh how many professors go with a golden lustre, & gold-like before men, (who are but witnesses to our white skin) & yet are but bastard & base metal: consider how fair before the wind some do ply, with up sails, and ⟨p. 17⟩white, even to the nick of illumination, Heb. 6: 5, And tasting, of the heavenly gift, & a share and part of the holy Ghost, & the tasting of the good word of God, & the powers of the world to come: & yet this is but a false nick of renovation, and in a short time, such are quickly broken upon the rocks, and never fetch the harbour, but are sanded in the bottom of hell. O make your heaven sure, and try how ye come by conversion; that it be not stolen goods, in a white & well-lustred profession! a white skin over old wounds maketh an under-cotting conscience: false under-water not seen, is dangerous, & that is a leak, and rift in the bottom of an enlightened conscience, often falling, & sinning against light.