A57970:930
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 Lady CARLETON. (173)
MISTRESS.
Grace, mercy and peace be to you: My soul longeth once again to be amongst you, & to behold that beauty of the Lord that I would see in his house: But I know not if he in whose hands are all our waves seeth it expedient for his glory; I owe my Lord [I know] submission of spirit, suppose he should turn me into a stone or pillar o• salt. Oh that I were He, in whom my Lord could be glorified, suppose my little heaven were forfeited to buy glory to him before men and Angels, suppose my want of his presence, and separation from Christ were a pillar as high as ten heavens for Christ's glory to stand upon above all the world! What am I to him? How little am I [though my feathers stood out as broad as the morning light] to such a high, to such a lofty, to such a never-enough admired & glorious Lord? My trials are heavy, because of my sad sabbaths; but I know they are less then my high provocations: I seek no more but that Christ may be the gainer and I the loser, that he may be raised and heightened, and I cried down, and my worth made dust before his glory. Oh that Scotland, all with one shout, would cry up Christ, and that his name were high in this land! I find the very utmost borders of Christ's high excellency and deep sweetness heaven and earth's wonder. O what is he, if I could win in to see his inner side! Oh I am run d•y of loving and wondering and adoring of that greatest & most admirable one! Woe, woe is me I have not half-love for him! Alas what can my drop do to his great sea! What gain is it to Christ that I have cast my little sparkle in his great fire! What can I give to him? Oh that I had love to fill a thousand worlds, that I might empty my soul of it all upon Christ! I think I have now just reason to quite my part of any hope or love that I have to this scum and the refuse of the dross of God's work-manhip, this vain earth: I owe to this