Chapter XVI: Letter CXVII (8)

[John Carsen was the son of Andrew Carsen, merchant and burgess
of Kirkcudbright. He was retoured heir of his father 13th May
1635.--"Inquir. Gener." _No._ 2121. There are still several of
the name in Kirkcudbright, and it is found often in the
churchyard. There is "Bailie John Carsen" in the "Minute-book of
Comm. of Covenanters," along with Bailie Ewart; and is called
"Carsen of _Senwick_."]

(_NOTHING WORTH THE FINDING, BUT CHRIST._)

MY WELL-BELOVED AND DEAR FRIEND,--Every one seeketh not God, and far fewer find Him; because they seek amiss. He is to be sought for above all things, if men would find what they seek. Let feathers and shadows alone to children, and go seek your Well-beloved. Your only errand to the world, is to woo Christ; therefore, put other lovers from about the house, and let Christ have all your love, without minching or dividing it. It is little enough, if there were more of it. The serving of the world and sin hath but a base reward and smoke instead of pleasures, and but a night-dream for true ease to the soul. Go where you will, your soul shall not sleep sound but in Christ's bosom. Come in to Him, and lie down, and rest you on the slain Son of God, and inquire for Him. I sought Him; and now, a fig for all the worm-eaten pleasures, and moth-eaten glory out of heaven, since I have found Him, and in Him all I can want or wish! He hath made me a king over the world. Princes cannot overcome me. Christ hath given me the marriage kiss, and He hath my marriage-love: we have made up a full bargain, that shall not go back on either side. Oh, if ye, and all in that country, knew what sweet terms of mercy are betwixt Him and me! Grace be with you.

Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus,

S. R.

ABERDEEN, _March 11, 1637_.

CXXVIII.--_To the_ EARL OF CASSILLIS.

[JOHN KENNEDY, sixth EARL OF CASSILLIS, was the son of Gilbert
Kennedy, master of Cassillis, which is six miles from Ayr. He was
served heir to his uncle, John, fifth Earl of Cassillis, in 1616.
His Lordship was a person of considerable talents, of great
virtue, and a zealous Covenanter. Having studied under Dr.
Cameron, Principal of the College of Glasgow, a great defender of
absolute government, he could not yield to some clauses in the
first draught of the Covenant, which seemed to vindicate the use
of defensive arms against the King; but he agreed to the Covenant
as it now stands. He sat in the Glasgow Assembly, 1638, as elder
from the Presbytery of Ayr; and was one of the three ruling
elders sent to the Assembly of Divines at Westminster in 1643. He
was one of the commissioners who, in March 1650, went from
Scotland to Breda, to treat with Charles II. He attended at the
crowning of Charles at Scone, January 1, 1651. So strongly
attached was he to the royal family, that when on one occasion
Cromwell summoned him to a meeting, instead of attending it, he,
along with some ministers and his chaplain, kept a day of fasting
and prayer in his family. On the other hand, such was his
hostility to the measures of the court, in establishing Prelacy
and in ejecting the Presbyterian ministers from their charges,
that he seldom paid stipend to any of the curates intruded into
their places till compelled by a charge of horning. Wodrow
designates him "the great and worthy Earl of Cassillis." "I have
this account," says he, "of the Earl of Cassillis, that he was
singularly pious, and a man of a very high spirit, who carried
with a great state and majesty. His carriage in his family was
most exemplary and religious. He was very much in secret duty,
and had his hours wherein none had access to him. Upon the
Sabbath his carriage was singular. He usually wrote the sermon,
and at night caused his chaplain to examine all his servants and
his children, even after they were pretty big, upon the sermon;
and every one behoved to give their notes; and after all, many
times he took out his own papers and read to them. When at
Edinburgh, Lauderdale sent a servant to him upon a Sabbath night,
telling him he was coming to wait on him. Presently he called Mr.
Violant, his chaplain, and ordered him to go out and meet
Lauderdale, and tell him that if he designed a Sabbath day's
visit he was very welcome, but he would discourse upon no other
thing with him but what was suitable to the day. Lauderdale came
up, and discoursed with him,--as he could very well do,--only
upon points of divinity" (Wodrow's "Analecta"). His Lordship died
at his own house in the West in 1668.

The mansion is near Dalrymple. It is on the banks of the Doon,
and embosomed in wood, with the hill called _The Dounans_ facing
the house. It is a confused pile of building. A long avenue of
fine old trees leads up to it.]

(_HONOUR OF TESTIFYING FOR CHRIST_.)

MY VERY NOBLE AND HONOURABLE LORD,--I make bold (out of the honourable and Christian report I hear of your Lordship, having no other thing to say but that which concerneth the honourable cause which the Lord hath enabled your Lordship to profess) to write this, that it is your Lordship's crown, your glory, and your honour, to set your shoulder under the Lord's glory, now falling to the ground, and to back Christ now, when so many think it wisdom to let Him fend for Himself. The shields of the earth ever did, and do still believe that Christ is a cumbersome neighbour, and that it is a pain to hold up His yeas and nays. They fear that He take their chariots, and their crowns, and their honour from them; but my Lord standeth in need of none of them all. But it is your glory to own Christ and His buried truth; for, let men say what they please, the plea with Zion's enemies in this day of Jacob's trouble is, if Christ should be King, and no mouth speak laws but His? It concerneth the apple of Christ's eye, and His royal privileges, what is now debated; and Christ's kingly honour is come to yea and nay. But let me be pardoned, my dear and noble Lord, when I beseech you by the mercies of God, by the comfort of the Spirit, by the wounds of our dear Saviour, by your compearance before the Judge of quick and dead, to stand for Christ, and to back Him. Oh, if the nobles had done their part, and been zealous for the Lord! it had not been as it is now. But men think it wisdom to stand beside Christ till His head be broken, and sing dumb. There is a time coming when Christ will have a thick court, and He will be the glory of Scotland; and He will make a diadem, a garland, a seal upon His heart, and a ring upon His finger, of those who have avouched Him before this faithless generation. Howbeit, ere that come, wrath from the Lord is ordained for this land.

My Lord, I have cause to write this to your Lordship; for I dare not conceal His kindness to the soul of an afflicted, exiled prisoner. Who hath more cause to boast in the Lord than such a sinner as I, who am feasted with the consolations of Christ, and have no pain in my sufferings, but the pain of soul-sickness of love for Christ, and sorrow that I cannot help to sound aloud the praises of Him who hath heard the sighing of the prisoner, and is content to lay the head of His oppressed servant in His bosom, under His chin, and let Him feel the smell of His garments? It behoved me to write this, that your Lordship might know that Christ is as good as He is called; and to testify to your Lordship, that the cause, which your Lordship now professeth before the faithless world, is Christ's, and that your Lordship shall have no shame of it.

Grace be with you.

Your Lordship's obliged servant,

S. R.

ABERDEEN, _March 13, 1637_.

CXXIX.--_To MR. ROBERT GORDON, Bailie of Ayr._

[ROBERT GORDON was a merchant in Ayr. In Paterson's "History of
the County of Ayr," he and his partner merchants are mentioned as
having, in 1644, supplied the Scots army in Ireland, at a certain
price, with a large quantity of meal and beans. He was cousin to
John, Viscount of Kenmure, whose "Last and Heavenly Speeches and
Glorious Departure" were published by Rutherford, and to which
there is a reference in the beginning of this letter. It was to
him that Kenmure said, "Robert, I know you have light and
understanding; and though you have no need to be instructed by
me, yet have you need to be incited" (p. 94). Gordon was
frequently a member of the Town Council of Ayr; in 1631 as Dean
of Guild, and in 1632 as Bailie. In 1638 and 1647 he held the
office of Provost. He was a man of piety, and a zealous supporter
of the Presbyterian cause. In an old parchment copy of the
National Covenant 1638 (in the possession of Hugh Cowan, Esquire,
Ayr), Gordon's signature appears, as well as the signatures of
the other members of the Town Council, some of whom were
Rutherford's correspondents, as John Kennedy, John Osborne, and
John Stewart. The above copy of the National Covenant is signed
by Rothes, Montrose, and other men of rank, being one of the
copies sent at that time by the Covenanters from Edinburgh to the
various burghs throughout the country to be subscribed.]

(_CHRIST ABOVE ALL._)

WORTHY SIR,--Grace, mercy, and peace be to you.--I long to hear from you on paper. Remember your chief's speeches[226] on his death-bed. I pray you, sir, sell all, and buy the Pearl. Time will cut you from this world's glory; look what will do you good, when your glass shall be run out. And let Christ's love bear most court in your soul, and that court will bear down the love of other things. Christ seeketh your help in your place; give Him your hand. Who hath more cause to encourage others to own Christ than I have? for He hath made me sick of love, and left me in pain to wrestle with His love. And love is like to fall aswoon through His absence. I mean not that He deserteth me, or that I am ebb of comforts; but this is an unco pain.--O that I had a heart and a love to render to Him back again! Oh, if principalities and powers, thrones and dominions, and all the world would help me to praise! Praise Him in my behalf.

[226] The words of Lord Kenmure.

Remember my love to your wife. I thank you most kindly for your love to my brother. Grace be with you.

Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus,

S. R.

ABERDEEN, _March 13, 1637_.

CXXX.--_To JOHN KENNEDY, Bailie of Ayr._

(_CHRIST'S LOVE--THE THREE WONDERS--DESIRES FOR HIS SECOND COMING._)

GRACE, mercy, and peace be to you. Your not writing to me cannot bind me up from remembering you now and then, that at least ye may be a witness, and a third man, to behold on paper what is betwixt Christ and me. I was in his eyes like a young orphan, wanting known parents, casten out in the open fields; either Christ behoved to take me up, and to bring me home to His house and fireside, else I had died in the fields. And now I am homely with Christ's love, so that I think the house mine own, and the Master of the house mine also. Christ inquired not, when He began to love me, whether I was fair, or black, or sun-burnt; love taketh what it may have. He loved me before this time, I know; but now I have the flower of _His_ love; His love is come to a fair bloom, like a young rose opened up out of the green leaves; and it casteth a strong and fragrant smell. I want nothing but ways of expressing Christ's love. A full vessel would have a vent. Oh, if I could smoke out, and cast out coals, to make a fire in many breasts of this land! Oh! it is a pity that there were not many imprisoned for Christ, were it for no other purpose than to write books and love-songs of the love of Christ. This love would keep all created tongues of men and angels in exercise, and busy night and day, to speak of it. Alas! I can speak nothing of it, but wonder at three things in His love:--_First_, freedom. O that lumps of sin should get such love for nothing! _Secondly_, the sweetness of His love. I give over either to speak or write of it; but those that feel it, may better bear witness what it is. But it is so sweet, that, next to Christ Himself, nothing can match it. Nay, I think that a soul could live eternally blessed only on Christ's love, and feed upon no other thing. Yea, when Christ in love giveth a blow, it doeth a soul good; and it is a kind of comfort and joy to it to get a cuff with the lovely, sweet, and soft hand of Jesus. And, _thirdly_, what power and strength are in His love! I am persuaded it can climb a steep hill, with hell upon its back; and swim through water and not drown; and sing in the fire, and find no pain; and triumph in losses, prisons, sorrows, exile, disgrace, and laugh and rejoice in death. O for a year's lease of the sense of His love without a cloud, to try what Christ is! O for the coming of the Bridegroom! Oh, when shall I see the Bridegroom and the Bride meet in the clouds, and kiss each other! Oh, when will we get our day, and our heart's fill of that love! Oh, if it were lawful to complain of the famine of that love, and want of the immediate vision of God! O time, time! how dost thou torment the souls of those that would be swallowed up of Christ's love, because thou movest so slowly! Oh, if He would pity a poor prisoner, and blow love upon me, and give a prisoner a taste or draught of that sweetness, which is glory as it were begun, to be a confirmation that Christ and I shall have our fill of each other for ever! Come hither, O love of Christ, that I may once kiss thee before I die! What would I not give to have time, that lieth betwixt Christ and me, taken out of the way, that we might once meet! I cannot think but that, at the first sight I shall see of that most lovely and fairest face, love will come out of His two eyes, and fill me with astonishment. I would but desire to stand at the outer side of the gates of the New Jerusalem, and look through a hole of the door, and see Christ's face. A borrowed vision in this life would be my borrowed and begun heaven, whill the long, long-looked-for day dawn. It is not for nothing that it is said, "Christ in you the hope of glory" (Col. i. 27). I will be content of no pawn of heaven but Christ Himself; for Christ, possessed by faith here, is young heaven, and glory in the bud. If I had that pawn, I would bide horning and hell both, ere I gave it again. All that we have here is scarce the picture of glory. Should not we young bairns long and look for the expiring of our minority? It were good to be daily begging propines and love-gifts, and the Bridegroom's favours; and, if we can do no more, to seek crumbs, and hungry dinners of Christ's love, to keep the taste of heaven in our mouth whill supper-time. I know it is far after noon, and nigh the marriage-supper of the Lamb; the table is covered already. O Well-beloved, run, run fast! O fair day, when wilt thou dawn! O shadows, flee away! I think hope and love, woven through other, make our absence from Christ spiritual torment. It is a pain to wait on; but hope that maketh not ashamed swalloweth up that pain. It is not unkindness that keepeth Christ and us so long asunder. What can I say to Christ's love? I think more than I can say. To consider, that when my Lord Jesus may take the air (if I may so speak), and go abroad, yet He will be confined and keep the prison with me! But, in all this sweet communion with Him, what am I to be thanked for? I am but a sufferer. Whether I will or not, He will be kind to me; as if He had defied my guiltiness to make Him unkind, He so beareth His love in on me. Here I die with wondering, that justice hindereth not love; for there are none in hell, nor out of hell, more unworthy of Christ's love. Shame may confound and scaur me once to hold up my black mouth to receive one of Christ's undeserved kisses. If my innerside were turned out, and all men saw my vileness, they would say to me, "It is a shame for thee to stand still whill Christ kiss thee and embrace thee." It would seem to become me rather to run away from His love, as ashamed at my own unworthiness; nay, I may think shame to take heaven, who have so highly provoked my Lord Jesus. But seeing Christ's love will shame me, I am content to be shamed. My desire is, that my Lord would give me broader and deeper thoughts, to feed myself with wondering at His love. I would I could weigh it, but I have no balance for it. When I have worn my tongue to the stump, in praising of Christ, I have done nothing to Him. I must let Him alone, for my withered arms will not go about His high, wide, long, and broad love. What remaineth, then, but that my debt to the love of Christ lie unpaid for all eternity? All that are in heaven are black-shamed with His love as well as I. We must all be dyvours together; and the blessing of that houseful, or heavenful, of dyvours shall rest for ever upon Him. Oh, if this land and nation would come and stand beside His inconceivable and glorious perfections, and look in, and love, and adore! Would to God I could bring in many lovers to Christ's house! But this nation hath forsaken the Fountain of living waters. Lord, cast not water on Scotland's coal. Wo, wo will be to this land, because of the day of the Lord's fierce anger that is so fast coming.

Grace be with you.

Your affectionate brother, in our Lord Jesus,

S. R.

ABERDEEN.

CXXXI.--_To_ JEAN BROWN.

(_HIS WISDOM IN OUR TRIALS--REJOICE IN TRIBULATION._)

MISTRESS,--Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. I am glad that ye go on at Christ's back, in this dark and cloudy time. It were good to sell other things for Him; for when all these days are over, we shall find it our advantage that we have taken part with Christ. I confidently believe that His enemies shall be His footstool, and that He will make green flowers dead, withered hay, when the honour and glory shall fall off them, like the bloom or flower of a green herb shaken with the wind. It were not wisdom for us to think that Christ and the Gospel would come and sit down at our fireside; nay, but we must go out of our own warm houses, and seek Christ and His Gospel. It is not the sunny side of Christ that we must look to, and we must not forsake Him for want of that; but must set our face against what may befall us in following on, till He and we be through the briers and bushes, on the dry ground. Our soft nature would be borne through the troubles of this miserable life in Christ's arms; and it is His wisdom, who knoweth our mould, that His bairns go wet-shod and cold-footed to heaven. Oh, how sweet a thing were it for us to learn to make our burdens light, by framing our hearts to the burden, and making our Lord's will a law!

I find Christ and His cross not so ill to please, nor yet such troublesome guests, as men call them; nay, I think patience should make the water which Christ giveth us good wine, and His dross good metal. And we have cause to wait on; for, ere it be long, our Master will be at us, and bring this whole world out, before the sun and daylight, in their blacks and whites. Happy are they who are found watching. Our sand-glass is not so long as we need to weary; time will eat away and root out our woes and sorrow. Our heaven is in the bud, and growing up to an harvest. Why then should we not follow on, seeing our span-length of time will come to an inch? Therefore I commend Christ to you, as your last-living, and longest-living Husband, and the staff of your old age. Let Him now have the rest of your days. And think not much of a storm upon the ship that Christ saileth in: there shall no passenger fall overboard, but the crazed ship and the sea-sick passenger shall come to land safe.

I am in as sweet communion with Christ as a poor sinner can be; and am only pained that He hath much beauty and fairness, and _I_ little love; He great power and mercy, and _I_ little faith; He much light, and _I_ bleared eyes. O that I saw Him in the sweetness of His love, and in His marriage-clothes, and were over head and ears in love with that princely one, Christ Jesus my Lord! Alas, my riven dish, and the running-out vessel, can hold little of Christ Jesus!

I have joy in this, that I would not refuse death before[227] I put Christ's lawful heritage in men's trysting; and what know I, if they would have pleased both Christ and me? Alas, that this land hath put Christ to open rouping, and to an "Any man bids more?" Blessed are they who would hold the crown on His head, and buy Christ's honour with their own losses.

[227] I would die, ere ever I would put Christ's property at the
disposal of men who may choose to appoint their own times.

I rejoice to hear that your son John[228] is coming to visit Christ, and taste of His love. I hope that he will not lose his pains, nor rue of that choice. I had always (as I said often to you) a great love to dear Mr. John Brown, because I thought I saw Christ in him more than in his brethren. Fain would I write to him, to stand by my sweet Master; and I wish ye would let him read my letter, and the joy I shall have if he will appear for, and side with, my Lord Jesus. Grace be with you.

Yours, in his sweet Jesus,

S. R.

ABERDEEN, _March 13, 1637_.

[228] The same who was afterwards so well known as minister of
Wamphray.

CXXXII.--_To_ JEAN MACMILLAN.

[There were Macmillans at Dalshangan, near Carsphairn, noted as
Covenanters. But the name is a common one, and this correspondent
was probably an Anwoth parishioner.]

(_STRIVE TO ENTER IN._)

LOVING SISTER,--Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. I cannot come to you to give you my counsel; and howbeit I would come, I cannot stay with you. But I beseech you to keep Christ, for I did what I could to put you within grips of Him. I told you Christ's testament and latter-will plainly, and I kept nothing back that my Lord gave me; and I gave Christ to you with good will. I pray you to make Him your own, and go not from that truth which I taught you, in one hair-breadth. That truth will save you if you follow it. Salvation is not an easy thing, and soon gotten. I often told you that few are saved, and many damned: I pray you to make your poor soul sure of salvation, and the seeking of heaven your daily task. If ye never had a sick night and a pained soul for sin, ye have not yet lighted upon Christ. Look to the right marks of having closed with Christ. If ye love Him better than the world, and would quit all the world for Him, then that saith the work is sound. Oh, if ye saw the beauty of Jesus, and smelled the fragrance of His love, you would run through fire and water to be at Him? God send you Him.

Pray for me, for I cannot forget you. Grace be with you.

Your loving pastor,

S. R.

ABERDEEN, 1637.

CXXXIII.--_To the_ LADY BUSBIE.

[LADY BUSBIE is probably the mother-in-law of R. Blair,
Rutherford's intimate friend. R. Blair married Catherine,
daughter of Hugh Montgomery, Laird of Busbie, in Ayrshire, in
1635. In Welsh's "Life" mention is made of "Mouat of Bushby,"
eight miles from Ayr. He was father of Matthew Mouat of
Kilmarnock.]

(_COMPLETE SURRENDER TO CHRIST--NO IDOLS--TRIALS DISCOVER SINS--A FREE SALVATION--THE MARRIAGE SUPPER_.)

MISTRESS,--Grace, mercy, and peace be to you.--I am glad to hear that Christ and ye are one, and that ye have made Him your "one thing," whereas many are painfully toiled in seeking many things, and their many things are nothing. It is only best that ye set yourself apart, as a thing laid up and out of the gate, for Christ alone; for ye are good for no other thing than Christ; and He hath been going about you these many years, by afflictions, to engage you to Himself. It were a pity and a loss to say Him nay. Verily I could wish that I could swim through hell, and all the ill weather in the world, and Christ in my arms. But it is my evil and folly, that except Christ come unsent for, I dow not go to seek Him: when He and I fall a-reckoning, we are both behind, He in payment, and I in counting; and so marches lie still unredd, and accounts uncleared betwixt us. O that He would take His own blood for counts and miscounts, that I might be a free man, and none had any claim to me but only, only Jesus. I will think it no bondage to be rouped, comprised, and possessed by Christ as His bondman.

Think well of the visitation of your Lord; for I find one thing, which I saw not well before, that when the saints are under trials, and well humbled, little sins raise great cries and war-shouts in the conscience; and in prosperity, conscience is a pope, to give dispensations, and let out and in, and give latitude and elbow-room to our heart. Oh, how little care we for pardon at Christ's hand, when we make dispensations! And all is but bairns' play, till a cross without beget a heavier cross within, and then we play no longer with our idols. It is good still to be severe against ourselves; for we but transform God's mercy into an idol, and an idol that hath a dispensation to give, for the turning of the grace of God into wantonness. Happy are they who take up God, wrath, justice, and sin, as they are in themselves, for we have miscarrying light, that parteth with the child, when we have good resolutions only. But, God be thanked, that salvation is not rolled upon our wheels.

Oh, but Christ hath a saving eye! salvation is in His eyelids! When He first looked on me, I was saved; it cost Him but a look to make hell quit of me! Oh, but merits, free merits, and the dear blood of God, were the best gate that ever we could have gotten out of hell! Oh, what a sweet, oh, what a safe and sure way is it, to come out of hell leaning on a Saviour! That Christ and a sinner should be one, and have heaven betwixt them, and be halvers of salvation, is the wonder of salvation. What more humble could love be? And what an excellent smell doth Christ cast on His lower garden, where there grow but wild flowers, if we speak by way of comparison. But there is nothing but perfect garden flowers in heaven, and the best plenishing that is there is Christ. We are all obliged to love heaven for Christ's sake. He graceth heaven, and all His Father's house, with His presence. He is a Rose that beautifieth all the upper garden of God; a leaf of that Rose of God for smell is worth a world. O that He would blow His smell upon a withered and dead soul! Let us, then, go on to meet with Him, and to be filled with the sweetness of His love. Nothing will hold Him from us. He hath decreed to put time, sin, hell, devils, men, and death out of the way, and to rid the rough way betwixt us and Him, that we may enjoy one another. It is strange and wonderful, that He would think long in heaven without us; and that He would have the company of sinners to solace and delight Himself withal in heaven. And now the supper is abiding us. Christ, the Bridegroom, with desire is waiting on, till the bride, the Lamb's wife, be busked for the marriage, and the great hall be redd for the meeting of that joyful couple. Oh, fools! what do we here? and why sit we still? Why sleep we in the prison? Were it not best to make us wings, to flee up to our blessed Match, our Marrow, and our fellow Friend.

I think, Mistress, that ye are looking thereaway, and that this is your second or third thought. Make forward; your Guide waiteth on you.

I cannot but bless you for your care and kindness to the saints. God give you to find mercy, in that day of our Lord Jesus; to whose saving grace I recommend you.

Yours, in our Lord Jesus,

S. R.

ABERDEEN, 1637.

CXXXIV.--_To JOHN EWART, Bailie of Kirkcudbright_.

[JOHN EWART's name often occurs in the "Minute Book of Comm. of
Covenanters," as residing in Kirkcudbright. He is understood to
be the father of the John Ewart who was sentenced to banishment,
1663, for refusing to take part in quelling a tumult raised at
the intrusion of a curate in room of the ejected minister of
Kirkcudbright. (Wodrow's "Hist.") A descendant of his at
Stranraer has a small silver cup, which has been handed down from
his ancestors.]

(_THE CROSS NO BURDEN--NEED OF SURE FOUNDATION._)

MY VERY WORTHY AND DEAR FRIEND,--I cannot but most kindly thank you for the expressions of your love. Your love and respect to me is a great comfort to me.

I bless His high and glorious name, that the terrors of great men have not affrighted me from openly avouching the Son of God. Nay, His cross is the sweetest burden that ever I bare; it is such a burden as wings are to a bird, or sails are to a ship, to carry me forward to my harbour. I have not much cause to fall in love with the world; but rather to wish that He who sitteth upon the floods would bring my broken ship to land, and keep my conscience safe in these dangerous times; for wrath from the Lord is coming on this sinful land.

It were good that we prisoners of hope know of our stronghold to run to, before the storm come on; therefore, Sir, I beseech you by the mercies of God, and comforts of His spirit, by the blood of your Saviour, and by your compearance before the sin-revenging Judge of the world, keep your garments clean, and stand for the truth of Christ, which ye profess. When the time shall come that your eye-strings shall break, your face wax pale, your breath grow cold, and this house of clay shall totter, and your one foot shall be over the march, in eternity, it will be your comfort and joy that ye gave your name to Christ. The greatest part of the world think heaven at the next door, and that Christianity is an easy task; but they will be beguiled. Worthy Sir, I beseech you, make sure work of salvation. I have found my experience, that all I could do hath had much ado in the day of my trial; and, therefore, lay up a sure foundation for the time to come.

I cannot requite you for your undeserved favours to me and my now afflicted brother. But I trust to remember you to God. Remember me heartily to your kind wife.

Yours, in his only Lord Jesus,

S. R.

ABERDEEN, _March 13, 1637_.

CXXXV.--_To WILLIAM FULLERTON, Provost of Kirkcudbright._

(_FEAR NOT THEM WHO KILL THE BODY--UNEXPECTED FAVOUR._)

MUCH HONOURED SIR,--Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. I am much obliged to your love in God.

I beseech you, Sir, let nothing be so dear to you as Christ's truth, for salvation is worth all the world, and, therefore, be not afraid of men that shall die. The Lord will do for you in your suffering for Him, and will bless your house and seed; and ye have God's promise, that ye shall have His presence in fire, water, and in seven tribulations. Your day shall wear to an end, and your sun go down. In death it will be your joy that ye have ventured all ye have for Christ; and there is not a promise of heaven made but to such as are willing to suffer for it. It is a castle taken by force. This earth is but the clay portion of bastards; and, therefore, no wonder that the world smile on its own; but better things are laid up for His lawfully-begotten bairns, whom the world hateth.

I have experience to speak this; for I would not exchange my prison and sad nights with the court, honour, and ease of my adversaries. My Lord is pleased to make many unknown faces to laugh upon me, and to provide a lodging for me; and He Himself visiteth my soul with feasts of spiritual comforts. Oh, how sweet a Master is Christ! Blessed are they who lay down all for Him.

I thank you kindly for your love to my distressed brother. Ye have the blessing and prayers of the prisoner of Christ to you, your wife and your children.

Remember my love and blessing to William and Samuel. I desire them in their youth to seek the Lord, and to fear His great name; to pray twice a-day, at least, to God, and to read God's word; to keep themselves from cursing, lying, and filthy talking.

Now the only wise God, and the presence of the Son of God, be with you all.

Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus,

S. R.

ABERDEEN, _March 13, 1637_.

CXXXVI.--_To ROBERT GLENDINNING, Minister of Kirkcudbright._

(_PREPARE TO MEET THY GOD--CHRIST HIS JOY._)

MY DEAR FRIEND,--Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. I thank you most kindly for your care of me, and your love and respective[229] kindness to my brother in his distress. I pray the Lord that ye may find mercy in the day of Christ; and I entreat you, Sir, to consider the times which ye live in, and that your soul is more worth to you than the whole world, which, in the day of the blowing of the Last Trumpet, shall lie in white ashes, as an old castle burned to nothing. And remember that judgment and eternity is before you. My dear and worthy friend, let me entreat you in Christ's name, and by the salvation of your soul, and by your compearance before the dreadful and sin-revenging Judge of the world, to make your accounts ready. Redd them ere ye come to the water-side; for your afternoon will wear short, and your sun fall low and go down; and ye know that this long time your Lord hath waited on you. Oh, how comfortable a thing it will be to you, when time shall be no more, and your soul shall depart out of the house of clay to vast and endless eternity, to have your soul dressed up, and prepared for your Bridegroom! No loss is comparable to the loss of the soul; there is no hope of regaining that loss. Oh, how joyful would my soul be to hear that ye would start to the gate, and contend for the crown, and leave all vanities and make Christ your garland! Let your soul put away your old lovers, and let Christ have your whole love.

[229] Perhaps this word means kindness that had respect to his special
needs.

I have some experience to write of this to you. My witness is in heaven, that I would not exchange my chains and bonds for Christ, and my sighs, for ten worlds' glory. I judge this clay-idol, which Adam's sons are rouping, and selling their souls for, not worth a drink of cold water. Oh, if your soul were in my soul's stead, how sick would ye be of love for that fairest One, that Fairest among the sons of men! May-flowers, and morning vapour, and summer mist, posteth not so fast away as these worm-eaten pleasures which we follow. We build castles in the air, and night-dreams are our daily idols that we doat on. Salvation, salvation is our only necessary thing. Sir, call home your thoughts to this work, to inquire for your Well-beloved. This earth is the portion of bastards: seek the Son's inheritance, and let Christ's truth be dear to you.

I pawn my salvation on it, that this is the honour of Christ's kingdom which I now suffer for (and this world, I hope, shall not come between me and my garland); and that this is the way to life. When ye and I shall lie lumps of pale clay upon the ground, our pleasures, that we now naturally love, shall be less than nothing in that day. Dear brother, fulfil my joy, and betake you to Christ without further delay. Ye will be fain at length to seek Him, or do infinitely worse. Remember my love to your wife. Grace be with you.

Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus,

S. R.

ABERDEEN, _March 13, 1637_.

CXXXVII.--_To_ WILLIAM GLENDINNING.

[WILLIAM GLENDINNING was the son of Mr. Robert Glendinning,
minister of Kirkcudbright. A short time before this letter was
written, he was ordered to be imprisoned in Kirkcudbright by
Bishop Sydserff, for refusing to incarcerate his father, whom
that intolerant prelate had suspended from his office, and had
ordered to be imprisoned, because he would neither conform to
Episcopacy, nor admit as his assistant a creature of the Bishop.
He was a member of the General Assembly of Glasgow 1638, being
returned by the burgh of Kirkcudbright, of which he was then
Provost. During the subsequent years, he was frequently a member
of the General Assembly; and his name appears as a member of
Parliament for the burgh of Kirkcudbright, and sent by the
Committee of Estates, in 1644, 1645, and 1646.]

(_PERSEVERANCE AGAINST OPPOSITION._)

WELL-BELOVED AND DEAR BROTHER,--Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. I thank you most kindly for your care and love to me, and in particular to my brother, in his distress in Edinburgh.[230] Go on through your waters without wearying; your Guide knoweth the way; follow Him, and cast your cares and temptations upon Him. And let not worms, the sons of men, affright you; they shall die, and the moth shall eat them. Keep your garland; there is no less at the stake, in this game betwixt us and the world, than our conscience and salvation. We have need to take heed to the game, and not to yield to them. Let them take other things from us; but here, in matters of conscience, we must hold and draw with kings, and set ourselves in terms of opposition with the shields of the earth. Oh, the sweet communion, for evermore, that hath been between Christ and His prisoner! He wearieth not to be kind. He is the fairest sight I see in Aberdeen, or in any part that ever my feet were in.

[230] Rutherford here refers to the trial of his brother George,
schoolmaster and reader in Kirkcudbright, before the High Commission,
at Edinburgh, in November the preceding year, for his nonconformity
and zealous support of Mr. Robert Glendinning, the persecuted minister
of Kirkcudbright. As previously noticed (Letter LXVII.), he was
condemned to resign his office, and to remove from Kirkcudbright
before the ensuing term of Whitsunday. When at Edinburgh, and on his
trial, he experienced much kindness from several of the correspondents
of our author, who, in his letters to them, makes the most heartfelt
grateful acknowledgments. After his ejection, "he seems," says Murray,
"to have taken refuge in Ayrshire; for in a letter to Lord Loudon,
Rutherford speaks of his brother as being nigh his Lordship's bounds;
and every individual whom he addressed on his behalf (after his
removal from Kirkcudbright) was connected with that county. The
kindness and the frequency with which, in his letters, he speaks of
him, do honour to his heart" ("Life of Rutherford," p. 93).

Remember my hearty kindness to your wife. I desire her to believe, and lay her cares on God, and make fast work of salvation. Grace be with you.

Yours in his only Lord Jesus,

S. R.

ABERDEEN, _March 13, 1637_.

CXXXVIII.--_To_ MR. HUGH HENDERSON.

[HUGH HENDERSON was first minister of Dalry, a parish in the
district of Cunningham, Ayrshire; and afterwards of Dumfries. We
meet with his name as minister of Dalry in 1643, when he was
nominated as one of the eight ministers whom the General Assembly
appointed to visit Ireland by pairs, each pair for three months
successively, to instruct, comfort, and encourage the
Presbyterians in that country, who had been deprived of their
ministers through the tyranny of the prelates. In 1645 he was
appointed by the General Assembly chaplain to Colonel Stuart's
regiment; and in 1648 translated to Dumfries. Shortly after the
restoration of Charles II., he, and all the ministers of the
Presbytery of Dumfries, were, by the order of the King's
Commissioner, carried prisoners to Edinburgh, for refusing to
observe the 29th day of May as a religious anniversary, in
commemoration of the King's birth and restoration. But he and the
rest (with the exception of two) at last yielded so far as to
engage simply to preach on that day, knowing it would be the day
of their ordinary weekly sermon; a promise hardly compatible with
straightforwardness, being something like a disingenuous attempt
to make it appear that they were complying with the statute of
Parliament, when they were merely discharging a professional
duty. Henderson exhibited more consistency and stedfastness the
subsequent year, when he preferred being expelled from his charge
to conforming to Prelacy. He was ejected in the close of the year
1662, by the Earl of Middleton. After this, Henderson frequently
preached in his own house in Galloway.]

(_TRIALS SELECTED BY GOD--PATIENCE--LOOKING FOR THE JUDGE._)

MY REVEREND AND DEAR BROTHER,--I hear that you bear the marks of Christ's dying about with you, and that your brethren have cast you out for your Master's sake. Let us wait on till the evening, and till our reckoning in black and white come before our Master. Brother, since we must have a devil to trouble us, I love a raging devil best. Our Lord knoweth what sort of devil we have need of: it is best that Satan be in his own skin, and look like himself. Christ weeping looketh like Himself also, with whom Scribes and Pharisees were at yea and nay, and sharp contradiction.

Ye have heard of the patience of Job. When he lay in the ashes, God was with him, clawing and curing his scabs, and letting out his boils, comforting his soul; and He took him up at last. That God is not dead yet; He will stoop and take up fallen bairns. Many broken legs since Adam's days hath He spelked, and many weary hearts hath He refreshed. Bless Him for comfort. Why? None cometh dry from David's well. Let us go among the rest, and cast down our toom buckets into Christ's ocean, and suck consolations out of Him. We are not so sore stricken, but we may fill Christ's hall with weeping. We have not gotten our answer from Him yet. Let us lay up our broken pleas to a full sea, and keep them till the day of Christ's Coming. We and this world will not be even till then: they would take our garment from us; but let _us_ hold and _them_ draw.

Brother, it is a strange world if we laugh not. I never saw the like of it, if there be not "paiks the man," for this contempt done to the Son of God. We must do as those who keep the bloody napkin to the Bailie, and let him see blood; we must keep our wrongs to our Judge, and let Him see our bluddered and foul faces. Prisoners of hope must run to Christ, with the gutters that tears have made on their cheeks.

Brother, for myself, I am Christ's dawted one for the present; and I live upon no deaf nuts, as we use to speak. He hath opened fountains to me in the wilderness. Go, look to my Lord Jesus: His love to me is such, that I defy the world to find either brim or bottom to it. Grace be with you.

Your brother, in his sweet Lord Jesus,

S. R.

ABERDEEN, _March 13, 1637_.

CXXXIX.--_To my_ LORD BALMERINOCH.

[JOHN ELPHINSTON, second LORD BALMERINOCH, was the only son by
the first marriage of the Honourable Sir James Elphinston, first
Lord Balmerinoch. He distinguished himself in 1633 for his
opposition to the measures of the Court in favour of Prelacy, and
particularly for opposing in Parliament the Act concerning the
King's prerogative in imposing Apparel on Churchmen, and also the
Act ratifying the Acts previously made for settling the estate of
Bishops. Soon after he was libelled and condemned to death as
guilty of treason. However, after a long and severe imprisonment,
he obtained from his Majesty a free though reluctant pardon. True
to his former principles, he still continued to oppose the
measures then pursued by Government, and particularly the
attempts to introduce the Service Book into Scotland. He was a
member of the Glasgow Assembly 1638, being returned as elder for
the Presbytery of Edinburgh. "His Lordship," says Wood, "was,
without exception, the best friend the Covenanters had, as he not
only assisted that party with his advice on all occasions, but
also supplied them with large sums of money, by which he
irreparably injured the very ample fortune he inherited from his
father. He lived in habits of strict friendship with the chief
leaders of the Presbyterians, and was particularly intimate with
Sir Archibald Johnston of Warriston. He had so strong a sense of
justice, that, having reason to suspect his father had made too
advantageous a purchase of the lands of Balumby, in the county of
Forfar, he, of his own accord, gave 10,000 merks to the heir of
that estate, by way of compensation" (Wood's "Cramond"). He died
suddenly in 1649, at the very time when commissioners (of whom he
was one) were sent to treat with Charles II. in Holland.
(Lamont's "Diary," p. 1.)]

(_HIS HAPPY OBLIGATIONS TO CHRIST--EMPTINESS OF THE WORLD._)

MY VERY NOBLE AND TRULY HONOURABLE LORD,--I make bold to write news to your Lordship from my prison, though your Lordship have experience more than I can have. At my first entry here, I was not a little casten down with challenges, for old, unrepented-of sins; and Satan and my own apprehensions made a lie of Christ, that He hath casten a dry, withered tree over the dyke of the vineyard. But it was my folly (blessed be His great name), the fire cannot burn the dry tree. He is pleased now to feast the exiled prisoner with His lovely presence; for it suiteth Christ well to be kind, and He dineth and suppeth with such a sinner as I am. I am in Christ's tutoring here. He hath made me content with a borrowed fireside, and it casteth as much heat as mine own. I want nothing but real possession of Christ; and He hath given me a pawn of that also, which I hope to keep till He come Himself to loose the pawn. I cannot get help to praise His high name. He hath made me king over my losses, imprisonment, banishment; and only my dumb Sabbaths stick in my throat. But I forgive Christ's wisdom in that. I dare not say one word; He hath done it, and I will lay my hand upon my mouth. If any other hand had done it to me, I could not have borne it.

Now, my Lord, I must tell your Lordship that I would not give a drink of cold water for this clay idol, this plastered world. I testify, and give it under my own hand, that Christ is most worthy to be suffered for. Our lazy flesh, which would have Christ to cry down crosses by open proclamation, hath but raised a slander upon the cross of Christ. My Lord, I hope that ye will not forget what He hath done for your soul. I think that ye are in Christ's count-book, as His obliged debtor.

Grace, grace be with your spirit.

Your Lordship's obliged servant,

S. R.

ABERDEEN, _March 13, 1637_.

CXL.--_To my LADY MAR, Younger._

[LADY MAR, younger, whose maiden name was Christian Hay, was the
wife of John Erskine, eighth Earl of Mar. She became a widow in
1654, his Lordship having died in that year. Her son, John,
became ninth Earl of Mar, and her daughter, Elizabeth, was
married to Archibald, Lord Napier. Lady Mar, senior, was Lady
Mary Stewart, daughter of Esme, Duke of Lennox, second wife of
John, Lord Erskine, seventh Earl of Mar. She died in the house of
Sir Thomas Hope, in the Cowgate, Edinburgh, and was buried at
Alloa, 11th May 1644. (Sir Thomas Hope's "Diary," p. 205.) It was
for her that, in 1625, the book of devotion, called "The Countess
of Mar's Sanctuary, or Arcadia," was drawn up--a little work of
which only two copies were known to be in existence, till
reprinted in 1862, at Edinburgh.]

(_NO EXCHANGE FOR CHRIST._)

MY VERY NOBLE AND DEAR LADY,--Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. I received your Ladyship's letter, which hath comforted my soul. God give you to find mercy in the day of Christ.

I am in as good terms and court with Christ as an exiled, oppressed prisoner of Christ can be. I am still welcome to His house; He knoweth my knock, and letteth in a poor friend. Under this black, rough tree of the cross of Christ, He hath ravished me with His love, and taken my heart to heaven with Him. Well and long may He brook it. I would not niffer Christ with all the joys that man or angel can devise beside Him. Who hath such cause to speak honourably of Christ as I have? Christ is King of all crosses, and He hath made His saints little kings under Him; and He can ride and triumph upon weaker bodies than I am (if any can be weaker), and His horse will neither fall nor stumble.

Madam, your Ladyship hath much ado with Christ, for your soul, husband, children, and house. Let Him find much employment for His calling with you; for He is such a friend as delighteth to be burdened with suits and employments; and the more ye lay on Him, and the more homely ye be with Him, the more welcome. O the depth of Christ's love! It hath neither brim nor bottom. Oh, if this blind world saw His beauty! When I count with Him for His mercies to me, I must stand still and wonder, and go away as a poor dyvour, who hath nothing to pay. Free forgiveness is payment. I would that I could get Him set on high; for His love hath made me sick, and I die except I get real possession.

Grace, grace be with you.

Your Ladyship's, at all obedience in Christ,

S. R.

ABERDEEN, _March 13, 1637_.

CXLI.--_To_ JAMES MACADAM.