A57970:989
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 JOHN BELL Elder. (185)
My very loving friend
Grace, mercy & peace be to you: I have very often & long expected your letter, but if ye be well in soul & body I am the less solicitous: I beseech you in the Lord Jesus to mind your country above, & now when old age, the twilight going before the darkness of the grave, & the falling low of your sun before your night, is now come upon you, advise with Christ ere ye put your foot in the ship & turn your back on this life: Many are ⟨p. 358⟩beguiled with this, that they are tree of scandalous & crying abominations; but the tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is for the fire: the man that is not born again cannot enter into the kingdom of God: common honesty will not take men to heaven: Alas that men should think they ever met with Christ, who had never a sick night through the terrors of God in their soul or a sore heart for sin: I know the Lord hath given you light & the knowledge of his will, but that is not all, neither will that do your turn: I wish you an awakened soul, & that ye beguile not your self in the matter of your salvation. My dear Brother, search your self with the candle of God, & try if the life of God & Christ be in you: Salvation is not cast to every man's door: Many are carried over see & land to a far country in a ship, whileas they sleep much of all the way: but men are not landed at heaven sleeping: The righteous are scarcely saved, and many run as fast as either ye or I, who miss the prize and the crown: God send me salvation, and save me from a disappointment, and I seek no more: Men think it but a stride or a step over to heaven, but when so few are saved, even of a mumber like the sand of the sea, but a handful & a remnant (as God's word saith) what cause have we to shake our selves out of our selves & to ask our poor soul, whether goest thou? where shalt thou lodge at night? Where are thy charters and writes of thy heavenly inheritance? I have known a man turn a key in a door & lock it by: Many men leap over [as they think] & leap in. O see! see that ye give not your salvation a wrong cast, & think all is well & leave your soul loose & uncertain: look to your building, & to your groundstone, & what signs of Christ are in you, & set this world behind your back: It is time now in the evening, to cease from your ordinary work, & high time to know of your lodging at night: