A57970:984
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 ALEXANDER GORDON. Of Garlock. (184)
Dear Brother.
Grace, mercy & peace be to you: If Christ were as I am, that time could work upon him to alter him, or that the morrow could be a new day to him, or bring a new mind upon him, as it is to me a new day, I could not keep a house or a covenant with him: But I find Christ to be Christ, & that he is far, far, even infinite heavens height above man: And that is all our happiness. Sinners can do nothing but make wounds that Christ may heal them, and make debts that he may pay them, and make falls that he may raise them, & make deaths that he may quicken them, & spin out & dig hells to themselves that he may ransom them: Now I will bless the Lord that ever there was such a thing as the free Grace of God & a free ransom given for sold souls: Only, alas guiltiness maketh me ashamed to apply Christ, & to think it pride in me to put out my unclean & withered hand to such a Saviour! but it is neither shame nor pride for a drowning man to swim to a rock, nor for a ship-broken soul, to run himself a shore upon Christ: ⟨p. 357⟩Suppose once I be guilty, need force I cannot, I dow not go by Christ: We take in good part that pride, that beggars beg from the richer: & who is so poor as we, & who is so rich as he who selleth fine gold, Rev. 3: 18. I see then, it is our best [let guiltiness plead what it listeth] that we have no mean under the covering of heaven but to creep in lowly & submissively with our wants to Christ: I have also cause to give his cross as good name & report. O how worthy is Christ of my feckless & light suffering, & how hath he deserved it at my hands, that for his honour & glory I should lay my back under seven hells pain in one, if he call me to that! but alas my soul is like a ship run on ground through ebbeness of water: I am sanded, and and my love is sanded: I find not how to bring it on float again, it is so cold and dead that I see not how to bring it to a flame: Fie, fie upon the meeting that my love hath given Christ: woe, woe is me, I have a lover Christ, & yet I want love for him: I have a lovely & desirable Lord who is loveworthy, & who beggeth my love & heart & I have nothing to give him. Dear Brother, come further in on Christ & see a new treasure in him: come in & look down & see Angels wonder, & heaven & earth's wonder of love, sweetness, majesty & excellency in him.