A57970:965
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 CARDONNESS ELDER. (180.)
Worthy & well-beloved in the Lord
Worthy & welbeloved in the Lord
Grace, mercy & peace be to you: I long to hear from you in paper, that I may know how your soul prospereth: My desire & longing in, to hear that ye walk in the truth, & that ye are content to follow the despised, but most lovely Son of God: I cannot but recommend him unto you as your husband, your well-beloved, your portion, your comfort & your joy: I speak this of that lovely one, because I praise & commend the ford [as we use to speak] as I find it: He hath watered with his sweet comforts an oppressed prisoner: He was always kind to my soul, but never so kind as now in my greatest extremities: I dine & sup with Christ: He visiteth my soul with the visitations of love in the night-watches. I persuade my soul that this is the way to heaven, & his own Truth, I now suffer for: I exhort you in the name of Christ to continue in the truth which I delivered to you: Make Christ sure to your soul; for your day draweth nigh to an end: Many slide back now, who seemed to be Christ's friends, & prove dishonest to him: But be ye faithful to the death, & ye shall have the crown of life: This span-length of your days, whereof the Spirit of God speaketh, Psal. 39. will within a short time, come to a finger-breadth & at length to nothing: O how sweet & comfortable shall the feast of a good conscience be to you, when your eye-strings shall break, your face wax pale, & the breath turn cold, & your poor soul come sighing to the windows of the house of clay of your dying body, & shall long to be out, & to have the jailer to open the door, that the prisoner may be set at liberty: Ye draw nigh the water-side, look your accounts: Ask for your guide to take you to the other side: Let not the world be your portion; What have ye to do with dead clay? Ye are not a bastard but a lawful begotten child; therefore set your heart on the inheritance; Go up before hand