EXTRACTS THE LETTERS OF MR. SAMUEL RUTHERFOORD.

TO THE CHRISTIAN READER.

CIHRISTIAN READER,

LITTLE need have MR. RUTHERFOORD'S Letters of any man's Epistle-Commendatory; his great Master, whom he served with his spirit in the Gospel of his Son, having given them one, written by his own hand on the heart of every one who is become his epistle, and savours the things of GOD, and has experienced those rare, those most refreshing, yea and, beyond all expression, ravishing emanations of the love of GOD upon the soul, which produce the emanations of its love back again upon Him, who shed abroad his love in the heart; a thing as much and manifestly exemplified in these epistles, as in any piece which the world has yet seen, or this day can show. For, in each of these, you may perceive how the writer's heart is inflamed with a holy fire, and how his soul ascends, as if snatched up to heaven, and caught up above all that is below GOD. O how much is what drops from his pen above the ordinary attainments even of such as seem to have out-run others! So that in respect of us, this Angel of the Church speaks as one standing already in the choir of Angels, or as an Angel come down from heaven among men, to give us some account of what they are doing above!

Thus leaving thee to peruse what is made public for thy edification, and wishing thee an experimental know-ledge of that surpassing and inconceivable sweetness, which is in the fruition of GOD, and in a fellowship with the FATHER and with his SON JESUS CHRIST; (without which, while he speaks as coming forth out of the King's banqueting-house, to persuade thee to go in thither and feast, he will be to thee a Barbarian;) I shall only wish and beg, that you wouldest seriously seek of GOD the same thing for him, who seeks this for thee, and who has his design in the pains taken in publishing these Letters, if you be thereby provoked to seek till you find. This is that adequate recompense which he seeks, earnestly en-treats, and expects, who is Thy soul's well-wisher,

And servant in CHRIST JESUS.

MR. RUTHERFOORD'S LETTERS.

TO THE VISCOUNTESS OF KENMURE.

MADAM,

I HAVE heard of your Ladyship's sickness, with grief; yet I trust ye have learned to say, " It is the LORD, let him do what seems good in his eyes.", It is now many years since the apostate Angels made a question, whether their will or the will of their Creator should be done; and, since that time, froward mankind has always in that suit compeered to plead with them against GOD, in re-pining against his will. But the LORD, being both party and judge, has obtained a decree, and says, (Isa. xlvi. 1O,) " My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure." It is then best for us, in the obedience of faith, and in a holy submission, to give that to GOD,’which the law of his almighty and just power will have of us. Therefore, Madam, your Lord, willeth you, in all states of life, to say, " Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." And herein shall ye have comfort, that He, who seeth perfectly through all your evils, and knows the frame and constitution of your nature, and what is most healthful for your soul, holdeth every cup of affliction to your head with his own gracious hand. Never believe that your tender-hearted SAVIOR will mix that cup with one dram of poison, Drink then with the patience of the saints; and the patience of GOD bless your physic! I hive! e d your Ladyship complain of deadness, and want of the power of the life of GOD; but courage! He who walked in the garden, and made a noise that made ADAM hear his voice, will also at some times walk in your soul, and make you hear a more sweet word. Yet ye will not always hear the noise of his feet when he walks: Ye are at such a time like JACOB mourning at the supposed death of JOSEPH, when JOSEPH was living. The image of the Second ADAM is living in you; and yet ye are mourning at the supposed death of the life of CHRIST in you. En It Al H is bemoaning and mourning, (Jer. xx,xi.) when he thinketh GOD is far off; and heareth not; and yet GOD is like the Bridegroom, (Cant. 2:) standing only behind a thin wall, and laying to his ear; for he says himself, (ver. 18,) " I have surely heard EPHRAIM bemoaning himself." I have good confidence, Madam, that CHRIST JESUS, whom your soul through forests and mountains is seeking, is within you: and yet I speak not this to lay a pillow under your head, or to dissuade you from a holy fear of the loss of CHRIST, or of provoking and stirring up the Beloved, before he please, by sin. I know, in spiritual confidence, the Devil will come in, as in all other good works, and so endeavor to bring you under a fearful sleep, till He whom your soul loves be departed from the door, and have left off knocking; and therefore, here the SPIRIT of GOD must hold your soul's feet in the golden mid-line between confident resting in the arms of CHRIST, and drowsy sleeping in the bed of fleshly security. There-fore, so count little of yourself; that ye count not also little of GOD in the course of his mercy. For there be many Christians, like young sailors, who think the shore and the whole land does move, when the ship and they themselves are moved: just so, not a few imagine that Goes moveth, and faileth, and changed: places, because their giddy souls are under sail, and subject to alteration; but " the foundation of the LORD abideth sure." God knows that ye are his own: wrestle, fight, go forward, watch, fear, believe, pray; and then ye have the infallible symptoms of one of the elect of CHRIST within you. Ye have now sickness before you; and after that, death; gather then food for the journey. GOD give you eyes to see through sickness and death, and to see something beyond death! I doubt not but if hell were between you and CHRIST, as a river which ye must cross before ye could come at him, but ye would willingly put in your foot, and make through to be at him, upon hope that he would come in himself; in the deepest of the river, and lend you his hand. Now I believe your hell is dried up, and ye have only these two shallow brooks, sickness and death, to pass through; and ye have also a promise that CHRIST shall do more than meet you, even that he shall come him-self and go with you foot for foot, yea, and bear you in his arms. O then! for the joy that is set before you, for the love of the Man (who is also a GOD over all, blessed for ever ") that is standing upon the shore to welcome you, run your race with patience. The Lon]) go with. you! Your LORD will not have you, nor any of his servants, to exchange for the worse. Death in itself includeth both the death of the soul, and the death of the body; but to GOD's children the bounds of death are abridged, and drawn into a more narrow compass: so that, when ye die, a piece of death shall only seize upon you, and that is the dissolution of the/body; for in CHRIST ye are delivered from the second death; and therefore, that serpent, sin, shall but eat your earthly part. As for your soul, it is above the law of death. Not willing to weary your Lady-ship further, I commend you, now and always, to the grace and mercy of that GOD, who is able to keep you, that ye fall not. The LORD JESUS be with your spirit!

Your Ladyship's servant

Anwoth,

At all dutiful obedience in CHRIST,

July 27, 1628. S. R.

TO THE PARISHIONERS OF KILMACOLME.

Worthy and well-beloved in CHRIST JESUS our LORD,

GR ACE, mercy, and peace be to you! Your letters could not come to my hand in a greater throng of business than I am now pressed with; yet I cannot but answer both.

1. I would not have you fix upon me, as the man able by letters to answer' doubts of this kind, while there are, in your bounds, men of such great parts, most able for this work. I know the best are unable; yet it pleases the SPIRIT of JESUS to blow his sweet wind through a dry stick. that the empty reed may keep no glory to itself.

2. Know that the wind of this SPIRIT, has a time when it bloweth sharp, and presseth so strongly, that it would blow through an iron door: and this is commonly rather under suffering for CHRIST, than at any other time. Sick children get CHRIST'S pleasant things; because JESUS is most tender of the sufferer, for he was a sufferer himself. O, if I had but the leavings of a sufferer's table!—But I leave this to answer yours.

First, Ye write, that Go n's vows are lying on you, and security stealing on you who are weak.—I answer, 1. Nature is a sluggard, and loves not the labor of religion; therefore rest should not be taken, till we know the disease to be over: and the calms of faith, of victory over corruption, should be entertained in the place of security; so that, if I sleep, I would desire to sleep faith's sleep, in CHRIST'S bosom. 2. Know also, none that sleep sound can seriously complain of sleepiness. Sorrow for a slumbering soul is a token of some watchfulness of spirit. But this is soon turned into wantonness; therefore our waking must be watched over, else sleep will even grow, out of watching; and there is as much need to watch over grace, as to watch over sin. Full men will soon sleep, and sooner than hungry men. 3. For your weakness to keep off the security which stealeth upon you, I would say two things:-(l.) To want complaints of weakness, is for

Heaven, and Angels that never sinned; not for Christians in CHRIST'S camp on earth. No man should rejoice at weakness and diseases; but I think we may have a sort of gladness at boils and sores, because, without them, CHRIST's fingers, as a slain LORD, should never have touched our skin. I dare not thank myself, but I dare thank GOD’s depths of wise providence, that I have an errand in me for CHRIST to come and visit me, and bring with him his bain. O how sweet is it for a sinner to put his weakness in CHRIST'S strengthening hand; and to father a sick soul upon such a Physician; and to lay weakness before him, to weep upon him, and to plead and pray! Weakness can speak and cry when we have not a tongue; (Ezek. 16:6;) " And when I passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I said unto thee, when you wast in thy blood, Live." The Church could not speak one word to CHRIST then;-but blood and guiltiness spoke, and drew out of CHRIST pity, and a word of life and love. (2.) For weakness, we have it, - that we may employ CHRIST's strength because of our weakness. Weakness is to make us the strongest things; that is, when having no strength of our own, we are carried upon CHRIST'S shoulders. If our weakness swell up to the clouds, CHRIST'S strength will swell up to the sun, and above the heaven of heavens.

Secondly, Ye tell me, that there is need of counsel for strengthening new beginners. I can say little to that, who am not well begun myself; but I know, honest beginnings are nourished by Him, who never yet put out a poor man's dim candle, wrestling between light and darkness. I am sure, if new beginners would urge themselves upon CHRIST, and press their souls upon him, they could not come wrong to CHRIST.

Thirdly, Whereas ye complain of a dead ministry, re-member that the Bible among you is the contract of marriage; and the manner of CHRIST's conveying his love to your heart is not so absolutely dependent upon. even lively preaching, as that there is no conversion at all, no life of GOD, but that which is tied to a man's lips. Make CHRIST your Minister. He can woo a soul at a dike-side in the field. He needeth not us, although the flock be obliged to seek him in the shepherds' tents. Hunger of CHRIST'S making may thrive, even under stewards who mind not the feeding of the flock. O blessed soul, that can leap over man, and look above a pulpit to CHRIST, who can preach home, to the heart, although we were all dead and rotten.

Fourthly, So to complain of yourself, as to justify GOD, is right; providing ye justify his SPIRIT in yourself: but I advise you to speak good of CHRIST for his beauty and sweetness, and speak good of him for his grace to yourselves.

Fifthly, Light remaineth, ye say, but ye cannot attain to painfulness. While we are here, light is in the most part broader and longer than obedience. But if there be sorrow for coming short of performance, our honest sorrow and sincere aims, together with CHRIST'S intercession, pleading that Go]) would welcome that which we have, and forgive that which we have not, will not be in vain.

Sixthly, In CHRIST'S absence, there is (as ye write) a willingness to use means, but heaviness after the use of " them, because of the formal and slight performance. In CHRIST'S absence, I confess, the work lieth behind; but if ye mean absence of [abounding] comfort, I think that absence is CHRIST'S trying us, not simply our sin against him: But if ye mean, by absence of CHRIST, the with-drawing of his working grace, I see not how willingness to use means can be at all under such an absence. There-fore, be humbled for heaviness in that obedience, and thankful for willingness. I also recommend to you heaviness for formality, and for deadness in obedience: Be cast down, as much as ye will or can, for deadness; and challenge that slow and dull carcass of sin, that will neither lead nor drive in your spiritual obedience.

Seventhly, Ye hold, that CHRIST must either have hearty service, or no service at all. If ye mean, he will not halve a heart, or have feigned service, I grant you that. CHRIST must have honesty or nothing: But if ye mean that he will have no service at all, where the heart draweth back in any measure; I would not that were true, for my part of heaven, and all that I am worth in the world. If ye mind to walk to heaven without a cramp or a crook, I fear ye must go alone. He knows our dross and defects; and JESUS pitieth us, when weakness and deadness are our cross, and not our darling. Yet I judge it not unlawful, to seek renewed consolations: Provided, 1. That the heart be submissive, and content to leave the measure and timing of them to him:2: That they be sought to excite us to praise, and strengthen our assurance, and sharpen our desires after himself:3. That they be sought, not for our humors or the swelling of nature, but as an -earnest of heaven. And, I think, many attain to greater consolations after mortifications, than ever they had formerly. But I know our LORD walks here still by a sovereign latitude, and keepeth not the same way towards all his children. The rich grace of our LORD JESUS CHRIST be with you all.

Yours in his sweet LORD JESUS,

S. R.

TO MY LADY KENMURE.

MADAM,

SALUTING your Ladyship with grace and mercy from GOD OUR FATHER, and from our LORD JESUS CHRIST; —I was sorry at my departure, leaving your Ladyship in grief; and would still be grieved at it, if I were not assured that ye have one. with you in the furnace, whose visage is like unto the Son of God. I am glad that you have been acquainted from your youth with the wrestlings, of GOD, and that ye are cast from furnace to furnace; knowing that, if ye were not dear to GOD, he would not spend so much physic upon you. All the brethren and sisters of CHRIST must be conformed to his image in suffering'; and some do more closely resemble the copy than others. Think, Madam, that it is a part of your glory to be enrolled among those, whom one of the elders (Rev. 7:14) pointed out to Joan, " These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the lamb." Behold your Fore-runner going out of the world, all in a lake of blood; and it is not ill to do as he did. Fulfil with joy in your body the remnant of the afflictions of CHRIST. Ye have lost a child: nay, she is not lost to you, who is found to CHRIST she is not sent away, but only sent before,—like a star, which, going out of our sight, does not die and vanish,, but shineth in another hemisphere: ye see her not, yet she does shine in another country. If her glass was but a short hour, what she wants of Time, that she has gotten of Eternity.-Build your nest upon no tree here.: for ye see GOD has sold the forest to death; and every tree, whereupon we would rest, is ready to be cut down, to the end that we may flee and mount up, and build upon the rock, and dwell in the holes of the rock. What ye love besides JESUS, your husband, is an adulterous lover. Now it is GOD’s special blessing to JUDAH, that he will not let her find her paths in following her strange lovers; (Hos. 2:6, 7;) " Therefore, behold, I will hedge up her way with thorns, and make a wall, that she shall not find her paths." And " She shall follow after her lovers, but she shall not overtake them." O thrice happy JUDAH, when GOD buildeth a stone wall between her and the fire of hell! The world and the things of the world, are the lover ye naturally affect, beside your own husband, CHRIST. The hedge of thorns, and the wall which GOD buildeth in your way, to hinder you from this lover, are the thorny edge of daily grief, loss of children, weakness of body, iniquity of the times, uncertainty of estate, lack of worldly comfort, and fear of GOD’s anger for old unrepented sins. What lose ye, if GOD twist the hedge daily thicker GOD, be blessed, the LORD will not let you find your paths. Return to your first husband.

Do not weary, neither think that death walks towards you with a slow pace; ye must be riper before ye be shaken. Your days are no longer than Jon's,, that were " swifter than a post, and passed away as the ships of desire, and as the eagle that hasteth for the prey." (Job 9:25, 26.) There is less sand in your glass now than there was yesternight; this span-length of ever-posting time will soon be ended. But the greater is the mercy of GOD, the more years ye get to advise upon what terms ye cast your soul into the huge gulf of never-ending eternity. The LORD has told you what ye should be doing till he come: " Wait and hasten (says ST. PETER) for the coming of our LORD." All is night that is here, in respect of ignorance and daily ensuing troubles, one always making way to another, as the ninth wave of the sea to the tenth; therefore sigh "and long for the dawning of that morning, and the breaking of that day of the coming of the SON OF MAN, when the shadows shall flee away. Persuade yourself that the King is coming. Read his letter sent before him, (Rev. 3:11,) " Behold, I come quickly.", Wait with the. wearied night-watch for the breaking of the eastern sky, and think that ye have not a morrow; as the wise father said, who, being invited against to-morrow to, dine with his friends, answered, " Those many days, I had no morrow at all." I am does to weary you: show yourself a Christian, by suffering without murmuring, for which sin fourteen thousand seven hundred were slain. (Nunn. 16:49.) In patience possess your soul. They lose nothing, who gain CHRIST. I commend you to the mercy and grace of our LORD JESUS, assuring you that your day is coming, and that GOD's mercy is abiding you. The Logs JESUS be with your Spirit.

Anwoth,

Yours in the LORD JESUS,

Jan. 15, 1629.

At all dutiful obedience,

S. R.

TO MARION MACKNAUGHT.

WELL-BELOVED AND DEAR SISTER,

I UNDERSTAND you are still under the LORD'S visitation, with your enemies; which is Gem's dealing. Till He take his children out of the furnace, who alone knows how long they should be tried, there is no deliverance; but after the sea of trouble is gone over the souls of his children, then comes the gracious ebbing, and drying up of the waters. Dear Sister, do not faint; the wicked may hold the bitter cup to your head, but GOD, mixeth it, and there is no poison in it: they strike, but GOD moves the rod: SHIMEI curseth, but it is because the LORD bids him. I tell you, and I have it from Him before whom I stand, there is a decree given out, in the great court of heaven, that your present troubles shall be dispersed as the morning-cloud, and GOD shall bring forth your righteousness as the light at noon of day. Let me entreat you, in CHRIST'S name, to keep a good conscience in your proceedings in that matter, and beware of yourself; yourself is a more dangerous enemy than I, or any without you. Innocence, and an upright cause, are a good advocate before GOD, and shall plead for you, and win your cause. Count much of your Master's approbation. He is now as the King that is gone to a far country. GOD seems to be from home; (if I may say so;) yet he sees the ill servants, who say, " Our Master deferreth his coming." Patience, my be-loved, CHRIST the King is coming home; the evening is at hand; and he will ask an account of his servants. Make a fair and clear account to him. So carry yourself, as that at night you may say, " Master, I have wronged none; behold, you have your own with advantage." Your soul then will esteem much the testimony of a good conscience. O thrice happy shall your soul be then, when Go') finds you covered with nothing but the white robe of the saints' innocence, and the righteousness of JESUS CHRIST.

Put on love, and brotherly-kindness, and long-suffering; and wait as long upon you as enemies, as CHRIST waited upon you,—as JESUS stood at your soul's door, with dewy and rainy locks, during the long cold night. I persuade myself, that holy unction, which teacheth you all things, is also saying, " Overcome evil with good." It is my prayer for you, that your carriage may grace and adorn the Gospel of that LORD who has graced you. I hear your husband was also sick but I beseech you, in the bowels of JESUS, welcome every rod of GOD.; for I find not, in the whole book of GOD, a greater note of the child of GOD, than to fall down and kiss the feet of an angry Got', and when he seems to put you away from him, to look up in faith, and say, " I shall not, I will not be put away from thee; LORD, give me leave to hold and cleave unto thyself."

Anwoth,

Your brother in CHRIST,

July 21, 163O. S. R.

TO MARION MACKNAUGHT.

WELL-BELOVED SISTER,

I HAVE been thinking, since my departure from you, of the pride and malice of your adversaries; and ye may not (since ye have heard the book of the Psalms so often) take it hardly. I beseech you, in the bowels of CHRIST, set before your eyes the patience of your Fore-runner JESUS, who, " when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to Him who judges righteously." (1 Pet. 2:23.) And since our LORD and REDEEMER with patience received many a black stroke on his glorious body, and many a buffet of the unbelieving world, and says of himself, (Isa. 1.'6,) " I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair; I hid not my face from shame and spitting;" follow him, and think it not hard that you receive a blow with your LORD; take part with JESUS of his sufferings, and glory in the marks of CHRIST. If this storm were over, you must prepare yourself for a new wound; for, five thousand years ago, our LORD pro-claimed deadly war between' the seed of the woman, and the seed of the serpent; and marvel not that one town cannot keep the children of GOD and the children of the Devil; be you upon CHRIST'S side, and care not what flesh can do; hold yourself fast by your SAVIOR, howsoever you be buffeted, and by those that follow Him. Yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be. See 2 Cor. 4:8, 9: " We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed." If you can possess your soul in patience, their day is coming. Worthy and dear Sister, know how to carry yourself in trouble; and when you are hated and reproached, the LORD shows it to you: (Psal. xliv. 1'i: and cxix. 92:) " All this is come upon us, yet we have not forgotten thee, neither have we dealt falsely in thy covenant." " Unless thy law had been my delight, I had perished in mine afflictions." Keep Gov's covenant in your trials; hold you by his blessed word, and sin not; flee anger, wrath, grudging, envying, fretting and forgive a hundred pence to your fellow-servant, because the Lotto has forgiven you ten thousand talents. For I assure you by the LORD, your adversaries shall get no advantage against you, except you sin, and offend your LORD in your sufferings; but the way to over-come is by patience, forgiving, and praying for your enemies; in doing whereof you heap coals upon their heads, and your LORD shall open a door to you in your trouble. Wait upon him, as the night-watch waiteth for the morning; he will not tarry: gp up to your watch-tower, and come not down, but by prayer, and faith, and hope, wait on. When the sea is full, it will ebb again; and so soon as the wicked are come to the top, and are waxed high and mighty, then is their change approaching. They that believe make not haste. I trust in our LORD, you shall by faith sustain yourself; and comfort yourself in your LORD, and be strong in his power; for you are in the beaten and common way to heaven, when you are under Our LORD'S crosses. You have reason to rejoice, more than in a crown of gold, to bear the reproach of CHRIST. I rest, recommending you and yours, for ever, to the grace and mercy of GOD.

Antwoth,

Yours in CHRIST,

Feb. 11, 1631.

S.R.

TO JOHN KENNEDY.

My loving and most affectionate Brother in CHRIST,

I SALUTE YOU with grace, mercy, and peace, from GOD OUT FATHER, and from our LORD JESUS CHRIST. I heard with grief of your great danger of perishing by the sea, but of your merciful deliverance with joy. Sure I am, Brother, SATAN will leave no stone unrolled, to roll you off your rock, or, at least, to unsettle you: for at the same time, the mouths of wicked men were open against you by land, and the Prince of the power of the air was angry with you by sea. See then how much you are obliged to that murderer, who would beat you with two rods at one time; but, blessed be Go), his arm is short; if the sea and winds would have obeyed him, you had never come to land. Thank your GOD, who says, (Rev. 1:18; Deut. xxxii. 39; 1 Sam. 2:6.) " I have the keys of hell and of death:" " I kill and make alive:" " The LORD bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up." If SATAN were gaoler, and had the keys of death and of the grave, they would be stored with more prisoners. You were knocking at these black gates, and you found the doors shut; and we do all welcome you back again. I trust you know it is not for nothing that you are sent to us again: the LORD knew that you had forgotten something which was necessary for your journey; that your armour was not yet thick enough against the stroke of death. Now, in the strength of JESUS, despatch your business; that debt is not forgiven, but delayed; death has not bidden you farewell, bnt has only left you for a short season. End your journey before the night come upon you; have all in readiness against the time when you must sail through that black and impetuous Jordan; and may JESUS, who knows both these depths, and the rock, and all the coasts, be your pilot! The last tide will not wait for you one moment: if you have forgotten any thing when your sea is full, and your foot in that ship, there is no returning again to fetch it. What you do amiss in your life to-day, you may amend to-morrow. For as many suns as Go]) maketh to arise upon you, you have as many new lives: but you can die but once; and, if you mar that business, you cannot come back to mend that piece of work again. No man sinneth twice in dying ill; as we die but once, so we die ill or well but once. You see how the number of your months is written in GOD’s book; and, as one of the LORD's hirelings, you must work till the evening come upon you, and you run out your glass even to the last sand. Fulfil your course with joy; for we take nothing to the grave with us, but a good or evil conscience. And although the sky clear after this storm, yet clouds will engender another. You contracted with CHRIST, I hope, when you first began to follow him, that you would bear his cross; fulfill your part of the contract with patience. Be honest, Brother, in bargaining with him; for who knows how to bring up children better than our Gon For, to lay aside his knowledge, which there is no searching out, he has been practiced in bringing up his heirs these five thousand years; and many of them are now at home in their own house, in their father's inheritance.. Now, the form of his bringing up was by chastisements, scourging, and correcting;—his eldest son and his heir, JESUS, is not excepted. Suffer we must: before. we were born, GOD decreed it; and it is easier to complain of his decree, than to change it. Tribulation and temptations will almost loose us at the root; and yet without tribulations and temptations we can no more grow, than herbs or corn without rain. Forward then, dear Brother; hold fast the truth; for the. world, sell not one dram of GOD’s truth, especially now when most men measure truth by time, like young seamen setting their compass by a cloud. The GOD of truth establish us; for, alas! now there are none to comfort the prisoners of hope, and the mourners in Zion. We can do little, except pray and mourn for JOSEPH. And let their tongue cleave to the roof of their mouth, who forget Jerusalem now in her day. MARION MACNAUGHT Both remember most heartily her love to you. Blessed be the LORD, that I found in this country such a woman, to whom JESUS is dearer than her own heart. Good Brother, call to mind the memory of your worthy father, now asleep in CHRIST; and, as his custom was, pray continually, and wrestle for the life of a dying church. Now I commend you, your whole soul, and body, and spirit, to JESUS CHRIST and his keeping; hoping that you will die and live, stand and fall, with the cause of our Master, JESUS. The, LORD JESUS himself be with your spirit!

Your loving Brother,

Anwoth,

In our LORD JESUS, Feb. 2, 1632.

TO MARION MACNAUGHT.

Well-beloved and dear Sister in CHRIST,

I COULD not get an answer written to your letter till now, in respect of my wife's disease; and she is yet mightily pained;—I hope all shall end in GOD’s mercy. I know that an afflicted life looks very like the way that leads to the kingdom; for the Apostle (Acts 14:22) has drawn the King's mark et-way " through much tribulation " to " the Kingdom." The Lon]) grant us the whole armor of God! If the work be of GOD, he can make a stepping-stone. of the Devil himself, for setting forward the work. For yourself; I would advise you to ask of GOD a submissive heart. Your reward shall be with the LORD. although the people be not gathered, as the Prophet speaks, and suppose the word do not prosper, GOD shall account you a repairer of the breaches; hold your gripe fast. If you knew the mind of the glorified in heaven, they think heaven comes to their hand at an easy market, when they have got it for threescore or fourscore years' wrestling with GOD. When you are come thither, you shall think, " All I did, in respect of my rich reward enjoyed of free grace, was too little." Now then, for the love of the Prince of your salvation, who is standing at the end of your way, holding in his hand the prize and garland to the race-runners, forward, forward; faint not! Take as many to heaven with you as you are able to draw; the more you draw with you, the more welcome you shall be yourself. Be no niggard of the grace of GOD; and employ all your endeavors for establishing an honest ministry in your town, now when you have so few to speak a good word for you. I have many a grieved heart daily in my calling. I should be undone, if I had not access to the King's chamber of presence, to show him all the business. The Devil rages and is mad, to see the water drawn from his own mill; but would to GOD that we could be the LORD's instruments, to build the Son of GOD's house. Pray for me. If the LORD furnish not new timber from Lebanon, to build the house, the work will cease. I look to him, who has begun well with me; I have it in his hand-writing that he will not change. The LORD establish you in peace! The LORD be with your spirit!

Anwoth, 1633. Yours in CHRIST,

S. R.

TO MARION MACNAUGHT.

WELL-BELOVED SISTER,

MY old and dearest love in CHRIST remembered:—Our LORD knows best what is good for an old Kirk, that is fallen from her first love, and has forgotten her husband, days without number. There is a dry wind coming, but neither to fan nor to purge. Happy are they who are not blown away with the chaff; for we shall but suffer temptation for ten days. But those who are " faithful to death shall receive the crown of life." I hear daily what has been spoken of myself, most unjustly and falsely; and no marvel; the Dragon with the swing of his tail has made the " third part of the stars to fall from heaven," and the fallen would have many to fall with them. If ever SATAN was busy, now, when he knows his time is short, he is busy: " Yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry." I know, before it be long the LORD shall come, and rid all pleas between us and his enemies. Now welcome LORD JESUS, go fast!

You remember what I said to you concerning your love to me and my brother begun in CHRIST; you know, " we are here but strangers," and you have not yet found us a dry well, as others have been. Be not overcome of any suspicion. I trust in GOD that the LORD, who knit us together, shall keep us together. It is time now, that the lambs of JESUS should all run together, when the wolf is barking at them; yet I know that, before GOD's children want a cross, their love amongst themselves shall be a cross; but our LORD giveth love for another end. I know you will with love cover infirmities; and our Loa') give you wisdom in all things! I think love has broad shoulders, and will bear many things, and yet neither faint, nor sweat, nor fall under the burden. Grace, mercy, and peace, be with you!

Anwoth, Yours in his LORD JESUS,

April 25, 1634. S. R.

TO MY LADY KENMURE.

MADAM,

THE cause of my not writing to your Ladyship is not my forgetfulness of you, but the want of a convenient bearer. I bless our LORD through CHRIST, who has brought you home again to your country, from that place where you have seen with your eyes that which our LORD taught you before, to wit, that worldly glory is nothing but a vapor, a shadow, the form of the water, or some-thing less and lighter, even nothing; and that our Lon]) has not without cause said in his word, (1 Cor. 7:31,) " The countenance," or " fashion, of this world passes away." In that place, our LORD compareth it to an image in a looking-glass, for it is the looking-glass of ADAM'S sons: some come to the glass, and see in it the picture of honor, and but a picture indeed; for true honor is to be great in the sight of GOD. And others see in it the shadow of riches, and but a shadow indeed; for durable riches stand as one of the maids of wisdom upon her left-hand. (Pron. 3:16.) And a third sort see in it the face of painted pleasures, and the beholders will not believe but that the image they see in this glass is a living man, till the LORD come and break the glass in pieces, and remove the face; and then, like PHARAOH awakened, they say, " Behold, it was a dream." I know your, Ladyship thinketh yourself little, for the favorable aspect of any of these three painted faces; and blessed be our Lotto that it is so; the better for you: Madam, they are. not worthy to be wooers to your soul, which looks to a higher match than painted clay. Know therefore, that the place whither our LORD JESUS cometh to woo a bride, it is even in the furnace: for if you be one of ZioN's daughters, the LORD who has his fire in Zion, and his furnace in Jerusalem, (Isa. xxxi. 9,) is purifying you in the furnace. I believe you esteem yourself to be of those whom Go]) has tried these many years, and refined as silver. But, Madam, I will show your Ladyship a privilege that others want, and you have in this case. Such as are in prosperity, and increased with children and friends, may indeed justly consider that the word of GOD is written to them for their instruction; yet to you who are in trouble, from whom the LORD has taken I any children, and whom he has exercised otherwise, there are some particular promises in the word of GOD, made in a most special manner, which would never have been yours, so. as they now are, if you had your portion in this life, as others: and therefore all the comforts, promises, and mercies, which GOD offereth to the afflicted, are so many kind letters written to you; take them to you, Madam, and claim your right, and be not robbed. It is no small comfort, that GOD has written some Scriptures to you, which he has not written to others. You seem rather in this to be envied than pitied; and you are indeed in this like people of another world, and those that are above the ordinary rank of mankind, whom our KING and LORD, in his letter to his well-beloved spouse, has named above all the rest, and to whom he has written comforts, and his hearty commendations, in the 56th of Isaiah, per. 4, 5,. and in Psalm cxlvii. 2, 3. Read these and the like; and think that your Go n is like a friend who sends a letter to a whole house and family, but speaketh in his letter by name, to some that are dearest to him in the house. Ye are, then, of the dearest friends of the Bridegroom; if it were lawful, I would envy you, that Got* has honored you so above many of his children. Therefore, your part is, in this case, (seeing Go n taketh nothing from you, but that which he is to supply with his own presence,) to desire your LORD to know his own room, and to come in, in the room of dead children. " JEHOVAH, know thy own place, and take it to thee," is all you have to say. I persuade myself, that this world is to you an uncouth inn; and that you are like a traveler, who has his staff in his hand, and his feet upon the door-threshold. Go forward, in the strength of your LORD, with your face towards him, who longeth more for a sight of you, than you can do for him. The hand of the Loin be with you in your journey. What have you to do here This is not your mountain of rest; arise then, and set your foot up the mountain; go up out of the wilderness, leaning upon your Beloved. If you knew the welcome that abideth you when you come home, you would hasten your pace; for you shall see your LORD put up his own hand, and wipe all tears from your eyes.

I leave your Ladyship, praying more earnestly for grace and mercy to be multiplied upon you, here and hereafter, than my pen can express. The Lon]) JESUS be with your spirit! Your Ladyship's at all obedience, in the LORD,

Kirkcudbright.

TO MY LADY KENMURE.

MADAM,

ALL dutiful obedience to ourLORDJESUS remembered:—I trust I need not much entreat your Ladyship to look to him who has stricken you. Faith will teach you to kiss a striking Lon"), and so acknowledge the sovereignty of GOD (in the death of a child) to be above the power of mortal men, who may pluck up a flower in the bud, and not be blamed for it: and if our dear Lon]) pluck up one of his roses, who can challenge him He sends us to his world, as men to a market; wherein some stay many hours, and eat and drink, and buy and sell, and pass through the fair, till they be weary; and such are those who live long: and others come slipping into the morning-market, and neither sit nor stand, but look about them a little, and pass presently home again; and these are infants, who end their short market in the morning. Our LORD, who has numbered man's months, and set him bounds that he cannot pass, (Job 14:5,) has written the length of our market; and it is easier to complain of the decree, than to change it. I verily believe, when I write this, your LORD has taught your Ladyship to lay your hand on your mouth: But I shall be far from desiring your Lady-ship, or any others, to cast up a cross, like an old useless bill, that is only for the fire; but rather would wish that each cross were looked in the face seven times, and were read over and over again. It is the messenger of the LORD, and speaks something; and the man of understanding will hear the rod, and him that appointed it. Try what is the taste of the LORD's cup, and drink with God’s blessing, that you may grow thereby. I trust in GOD, whatever speech it utter to your soul, this is one word in it, (Job 5:17,) "Blessed is the man whom GOD correcteth;" and that it says to you, a You are from home while here; you are not of this world, as CHRIST was not of this world." There is something keeping for you, which is worth the having. All that is here is condemned to die, to pass away like a snow-ball before a summer's sun; and, since death took first possession of something of yours, it has been, and daily is, creeping nearer and nearer to yourself, although with no noise of feet. Your husbandman and LORD has lopped off some branches already; the tree itself is to be transplanted to the high garden; in a good time be it, and our LORD ripen your Ladyship! All these crosses (and indeed, when I remember them, they are heavy and many: peace, peace be the end of them!) are to make you white, and ripe for the LORD's harvest. I have seen the LORD weaning you from the breasts of this world. It was never his mind that it should be your patrimony, and GOD be thanked for that; you look the liker one of the heirs. Let the moveables go, why not They are not yours: fasten upon the heritage; and our LORD JESUS make the charter sure, and give your Ladyship to grow as a palm-tree on GOD’s Mount Zion. This is all I can do, to recommend your case to your LORD, who have you written upon the palms of his hands. Now may he who has called you confirm and establish your heart in grace, unto the day of the liberty of the sons of GOD.

Ardwell,

Your Ladyship's, at all submissive obedience,

April 29,1634. S. R.

TO MARION MACKNAUGHT.

MY dearest love in CHRIST remembered:--I entreat you, charge your soul to return to rest, •and to glorify your dearest LoiD in believing; and know that, for the good will of him that dwells in the bush, the burning Kirk shall not be consumed to ashes; but (Dent. xxxiii. 16) " Blessing shall come on the head of JOSEPH, and upon the top of the head of him that was separated from his brethren." And are not the saints separated from their brethren, and sold, and hated For (Gen. xlix. 23, 24,) " the archers have sorely grieved JOSEPH, and shot at him, and hated him: but his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty GOD of JACOB: from thence is the Shepherd, the stone of ISRAEL."—The stone of ISRAEL shall not be broken in pieces. Though it is hammered upon by the children of this world, we shall live and not die. Our Lord has done all this, to see if we will believe, and not give over; and I am persuaded, that you will stick by your work. The eye of CHRIST has been upon all this business; and he taketh good heed too, who is for him, and who is against him. Let us do our part, as we would be approved of CHRIST. The Son of GOD is near to his enemies; if they were not deaf, they might hear the noise of his feet: and he will come with a start upon his weeping children, and take them on his knee, and lay their head in his bosom, and dry their watery eyes. And this day is fast coming; " Yet a little time, and the vision will speak, it will not tarry." These questions between us and our adversaries will all be decided in yonder day, when the Son of GOD shall come, and rid all pleas; and it will be seen whether we or they have been for CHRIST, and who have been pleading for BAAL. It is

not known what we are now; but when our life shall appear in glory, then we shall see who laughs fastest in that day. Therefore we must " possess our souls in patience," and " go into our chamber," and rest " until the indignation be past." We shall not weep long, when our LORD shall take us up in the day that he gathereth his jewels. My dear friend, lay down your head upon CHRIST'S breast. Weep not; the Lion of the tribe of Judah will arise. " The sun is gone down upon the Prophets, and our gold is become dim; and the LORD feedeth his people with waters of gall and wormwood:" yet CHRIST standeth. but behind the wall; his bowels are moved for Scotland; he waiteth (as ISAIAH says) " that he may show mercy." If we would go home, and take our brethren with us, " weeping with our faces towards Zion, asking the way thitherward," he would bring back our captivity. We may not think that GOD has no care of his own honor, while men tread it under their feet; he will " clothe himself with vengeance as with a cloak," and appear against our enemies for our deliverance. Ye were never yet beguiled, and GOD will not begin with you. Wrestle still with the Angel of the Covenant, and you shall get the blessing: Fight; he delighteth to be overcome by wrestling. Grace,

grace, and mercy, be with you!

YOURS in CHRIST,

Anwoth,

S. R. Sept. 25, 1634.

TO THE VISCOUNTESS OF KENMURE.

MADAM,

THAT honor which I have prayed for these sixteen years, with submission to my LORD's will, my LORD has now bestowed upon me; even to suffer for my King JESUS, and for his kingly crown, and for the freedom of his kingdom, which his Father has given him. The LORDs have sentenced me to deprivation, and confinement within the town of Aberdeen. I am charged, in the King's name, to enter against the 2Oth day of August next, and there to, remain during the King's pleasure. although CHRIST's green cross, newly laid upon me, be somewhat heavy, while 1: call to mind many fair days, sweet and comfortable to my soul, and to the souls of many others, and how young ones in CHRIST are plucked from the breast,. and the inheritance of GOD laid waste; yet that perfumed cross of CHRIST is accompanied with sweet refreshments, with the favors of a King, with the joy of the HOLY GHOST, with faith that the LORD hears the sighing of a prisoner, and with undoubted hope (as sure as my LORD liveth) after this night to see day-light, and that CHRIST's sky will clear up again upon me and his poor Kirk, and that in a strange land, amongst strange faces, he will give favor in the eyes of men to his poor oppressed servant, who dares not but love that lovely one, that princely one, JESUS, the comforter of his soul. All would be well, if I were free of old challenges for neglect in my calling, and for speaking too little for my Well-beloved's crown, honor, and kingdom. O for a day in the assembly of the saints, to be an advocate for King JESUS! If my Lon]) go on now to quarrels also, I die, I cannot endure it: but I look for peace from him; because he knows that I dare bear men's feud, but dare not bear his feud. This is my only exercise, that I fear I have done little good in my ministry; but I dare not but say, I loved the children of the wedding-chamber, and prayed for, and desired the thriving of the marriage, and coming of his kingdom. I apprehend no less than a judgment upon Galloway; and the LORD shall visit this whole nation. But what can be laid upon me, or any the like of me, is too light for CHRIST: CHRIST would bear death and burning alive, in his weak servants, for his honor-able cause for which I now suffer. Yet, notwithstanding all my complaints, (and he knows that I dare not now dissemble,) he was never sweeter and kinder than he is now; one token of his love now is sweeter than ten long since: sweet, sweet is his cross; light, light and easy is his yoke. O what a sweet step were it up to my Father's house, through ten deaths, for the truth and cause of that unknown Plant of Renown, the man called the BRAXEN, the chief among ten thousand, the fairest among the sons of men.

O what unseen joys, how many hidden ardors of love, are in the remnants of the sufferings of CHRIST! My dear and worthy Lady, I give it to your Ladyship under my hand, (my heart writing as well as my hand,) Welcome, welcome, sweet and glorious cross of CHRIST; welcome, JESUS with thy light cross; you have now gained and gotten all my love from me; keep what you have gotten. Only, woe is for my bereft flock, for the lambs of JESUS, who, I fear, will be fed with dry breasts; but I spare now. Madam, I dare not promise to see your Lady-ship, because of the little time I have allotted me, and I purpose to obey the King, who has power of my body; and rebellion to Kings is unbeseeming CHRIST'S Ministers.

Pray write thanks to your brother, my LORD of Lorne, for what he has done for me, a poor unknown stranger to his Lordship. I shall pray for him and his house while I live; it is his honor to open his mouth in the streets for his wronged and oppressed master, CHRIST JESUS. Now, Madam, commending your Ladyship, and the sweet child, to the tender mercies of mine own Lour) JESUS, and to the good will of him who dwelt in the bush, I rest

Yours in JESUS,

Edinburgh, July 28, 1636.

TO MR. ROBERT CUNINGHAME,

Minister of the Gospel.

Well-beloved and Reverend Brother,

GRACE, mercy, and peace, be to you! I thought good to take the opportunity of writing to you; seeing it has seemed good to the LORD of the Harvest to lay upon us a more honorable service, _ even to suffer for his name. I have had a desire to see you in the face; yet now, being the prisoner of CHRIST, it is taken away. I am greatly comforted to hear of your soldier's stately spirit for your princely and royal Captain, JESUS, our LORD, and of the grace of GOD in the rest of our dear brethren with you. You have heard of my trouble, I suppose. It has pleased our LORD JESUS to let loose these LORDs in his house, to deprive me of my ministry at Anwoth, and to confine me eight-score miles from thence to Aberdeen; and also (which was not done to any before) to inhibit me to speak at all in JESUS's name within this kingdom, under the pain of rebellion. But let our crowned King in Zion reign; by his grace the loss is theirs, the advantage is CIIR.IST's and truth's. although this honest cross gained some ground on me by my heaviness, and inward challenges of con-science for a time were sharp; yet now, for the encouragement of you all, I dare say it, " Welcome, welcome, sweet cross of CHRIST." I verily think that the chains of my LORD JESUS are all overlaid with pure gold, and that his cross is perfumed, and that it smelleth of CHRIST; that the victory shall be by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of his truth; and that CHRIST, though now lying on his back, in his weak servants, and oppressed truth, shall yet ride over his enemies, and shall strike through Kings in the day of his wrath.

Blessed are they who are content to take strokes with a weeping CHRIST. Faith will trust, the LORD, and is not hasty nor headstrong; neither is faith so timorous, as to flatter a temptation, or to bribe the cross. My heart is woe indeed for my Mother-Church, that has played the harlot with many lovers; for her husband has a mind to sell her for horrible transgressions, and heavy will the hand of the LORD be upon this backsliding nation. Yet I trust that Scotland's skies shall clear again; that CHRIST shall build again the old waste places of JACOB; that our dead and dry bones shall become an army of living men; and that our Well-beloved may feed among the lilies, until the day break, and the shadows flee away. Only let us be faithful to him, to him that can ride through hell and death, and his horse never stumble; and let him make of me a bridge over a water, so that his high and holy name may be glorified in me. Strokes from the Mediator's hand are very sweet; he has always been dear to my soul; but since I suffered for him, he has been more precious to me than before. O that every hair of my head, and every member and every bone in my body, were a man to witness a faire confession for him! I would think all too little for him. Oft borne down, and hungry in waiting for the marriage-supper of the Lamb.; nevertheless I think it the LORD's wise love that feeds us with hunger, and makes its fat with such wants and desertions. I know not, my dear brother, if our worthy brethren be gone to sea or not; if they be yet with you, acquaint them with my troubles, and entreat them to pray for the poor afflicted prisoner of CHRIST: they are dear to my soul; I seek your prayers and theirs for my flock; their remembrance breaks my heart. I desire to love that people, and others my dear acquaintance in CHRIST, with love in GOD, and as GOD loves them. I know that he who sent me to the West and South, sends me also to the North: I will charge my soul to believe and to wait for him, and will follow his providence, and not go before it, nor stay behind it. Now, my dear brother, taking farewell, I commend you all to the word of his grace, and to the work of his SPIRIT,—to him who holdeth the seven stars in his right hand,—that you may be kept spotless till the day of JESUS our LORD.

Your Brother in affliction, in our LORD JESUS.

August 4, 1636.

TO THE VISCOUNTESS OF KENMURE.

My very honorable and dear Lady,

GRACE, mercy, and peace, be to you! O how sweet are sufferings for CHRIST! GOD forgive them that raise an ill report upon the cross of CHRIST; it is our weak and dim eyes which look but at the one side of it, that make us mistake. Those who can take that crabbed tree handsomely upon their back, shall find it such a burden as wings unto a bird, or sails to a ship. It were a sweet and honorable death to die for JESUS! This love is a mystery to the world. I would not have believed that there was so much in CHRIST as there is. " Come and see," maketh CHRIST to be known in his excellency and glory. I wish all this nation knew how sweet his presence is. It is little to see CHRIST in a book, as men do the world in a card: they talk of CHRIST by the book and the tongue, and no more; but to come near to CHRIST, and embrace him, is another thing. I write to your honor, for your encouragement in that honorable profession with which CHRIST has honored you. This world can take nothing from you that is truly yours, and death can do you no wrong. When your Head shall appear, your Bridegroom and LORD, your day shall then dawn, and it shall never have an after-noon, nor an evening shadow. Let your child be CHRIST'S; let him stay beside you, as the LORD'S pledge, that you shall willingly render again, if GOD will. My silence on the Lotto's day keeps me from being exalted above measure, and from startling in the ardors of my LORD's love. I have wrestled long with this sad silence, and my soul has been pleading with CHRIST; but I will yield to him. I am a fool, and he is GOD: I will hold my peace hereafter. Let me hear from your Ladyship, and your dear child; and pray for a prisoner of CHRIST, who is mindful of your Ladyship. Grace, grace be with you! I write and pray blessings to your sweet child.

Yours in all dutiful obedience, in his only LORD JESUS,

Aberdeen,

Nov. 22,

TO ROBERT GORDON,

OF KNOCKBREX.

My DEAR BROTHER,

GRACE, mercy, and peace, be multiplied upon you. O what owe I to the file, to the hammer, to the furnace of my Lotto JESUS; who has now let me see how good the wheat of CHRIST is, that go through his mill and his oven, to be made bread for his own table. Grace tried is better than grace, and it is more than grace; it is glory in its infancy. I now see, that Godliness is more than outside. Who knows the truth of grace without a trial O how little getteth CHRIST of us, but that which he winneth with much toil and pain; and how soon would faith freeze without a cross! How many dumb crosses have been laid upon my back, that had never a tongue to speak the sweetness of CHRIST, as this has I When CHRIST blesses his own crosses with a tongue, they breathe out CHRIST'S love, wisdom, kindness, and care of us. Why should I start at the plough of my Low', that maketh deep furrows on my soul I know he is no idle husband-man; he purposed a crop. O that this white, withered, ley-ground were made fertile to bear a crop for him by whom it is painfully dressed; and that this fallow-ground was broken up! Why was I grieved, that he put his gar-land upon my head, the glory and honor of his faithful witnesses Verily, he has not put me to a loss by what I suffer; he oweth me nothing; for, in my bonds, how sweet and comfortable have the thoughts of him been to me, wherein I find a sufficient recompense of reward! How blind are my adversaries, who sent me to a banqueting-house, and not to a prison or place of exile! Why should I smother my husband's honesty, or be a niggard in giving out to others what I get for nothing! Brother, eat with me, and give thanks: I charge you before GOD, that ye speak to others, and invite them to help me to praise. O my debt of praise, how weighty it is, and how far runup! O that others would lend me to pay, and teach me to praise! LORD JESUS, take my thoughts for payment! Yet I am with the tear in my eye; for, by reason of my silence, sorrow has filled me. My harp is hanged upon the willow-trees, because I am in a strange land. I am still kept in exercise with envious brethren: my mother has borne me a man of contention. Grace, grace, be with you: and GOD, who heareth prayer, visit you; and let it be unto you according to the prayers of

Your own brother, and CHRIST's prisoner,

Aberdeen,

S. R. Jan. 1, 1637,

TO JOHN KENNEDY,

BAILLIE OF AYR.

Worthy and clear Brother,

GRACE, mercy, and peace, be to you! I am every way in good case, both in soul and body;--all honor and glory be to my LORD! I want nothing but a further revelation of the beauty of the unknown Son of GOD. Either I know not what Christianity is, or we have stinted a measure of holiness; and there we are at a stay, drawing our breath all our life. A moderation in Go D's way, now, is much in request. I profess, I have never taken pains to find out him whom my soul loves; there is a gate yet of finding out CHRIST, that I have never lighted upon. O that I could find it out! Alas, how soon are we pleased with our own shadow in a glass! It were good to begin in sad earnest to find out GOD, and to seek the right tread of CHRIST. Time, custom, a good opinion of ourselves, our good meaning, our lazy desires, our fair shows, and the world's glistering lustres, are that wherewith most satisfy themselves: but a bed watered with tears, a throat dry with praying, eyes as a fountain of tears for the sins of the land, are rarely to be found among us. O that we could know the power of GODliness! This is one part of my case; and another is, that I, like a fool, once summoned CHRIST for unkindness, and complained of his fickleness and unconstancy, because he would have no more of my service nor preaching, and had cast me out of the inheritance of the LORD:, and I confess now I was a fool; yet he has borne with me. I gave him a fair advantage against me, but love and mercy would not let him take it; and the truth is, now he has chided himself friends with me, and has taken away the mask, and hash renewed his wonted favor in such a manner, that he has paid me my " hundred fold in this life." I write this to you, that I may entreat, nay, adjure and charge you, by the love of your Well-beloved, to help me to praise, and to tell all your Christian acquaintance to help me, for I am deeply drowned in his debt: and yet I have something to keep me from being exalted above measure; his word is a fire shut up in my bowels, and I am weary with forbearing. Grace be with you! Pray for the prisoner.

Aberdeen,

Yours in his only LORD JESUS,

Jan. 1, 1637. S. R.

TO MR. ROBERT BLAIR.

Reverend and dearly beloved Brother,

GRACE, mercy, and peace, from GOD our FATHER, and from our LORD JESUS CHRIST, be to you! It is no great wonder, my dear Brother, that -ye be in heaviness for a season, and that GOD's will, in crossing your design and desires to dwell amongst a people whose Gott is the LORD, should move you. I deny not but ye have cause to inquire, what his Providence speaketh in this to you; but GOD's directing and commanding will can by no good logic be concluded from events of Providence. The LORD sent PAUL on many errands, for the spreading of his Gospel, where he found lions in his way. A promise was made to his people of the Holy Land and yet many nations in the way fought against them who had the promise, to keep them from possessing that good land which the LORD their GOD had given them. I persuade myself ye have learned, in every condition, wherein ye are, therein to be content, and to say, " Good is the will of the LORD; let it be done." The LORD purposeth to bring mercy out of your sufferings and silence, which as I know by experience, are grievous to you. Seeing he knows our willing mind to serve him, our wages are running on with our GOD; even as some sick soldiers get their pay, when they are bed-fast, and not able to go to the field with others. And when they have swallowed us up, they shall be sick, and vomit us out living men again: the Devil's stomach cannot digest the Church of GOD. Suffering is one half of our ministry, although the hardest: for we would be content if our King JESUS would make an open proclamation, and cry down crosses, and cry up joy, gladness, ease, honor, and peace; but it must not be so: " Through much tribulation, we must enter into the kingdom of Gott; " not only by it, but through it must we go. It is folly to think to steal to heaven with a whole skin. My dear Brother, help me to show the LORD'S people with you, what he has done to my soul, that they may pray and praise. I charge you, in the name of CH R.I sT, not to omit it; for, for this cause I write to you, that my sufferings may glorify my King, and edify his church in Ireland. I hope the LORD will move your heart to proclaim, in my behalf, the excellency and glory of my King. It is but our soft flesh that has raised a slander on the cross of CHRIST; I see now the white side of it; my LORD'S chains are all over gilded. O that Scotland and Ireland had part of my feast! And yet I get not my meat but with many strokes. There are none here to whom I can speak; I dwell in Kedar's tents. Refresh me with a letter from you. Courage, courage, joy, joy for evermore! O joy. unspeakable and glorious! O for help to set my crowned King on high! O for love to Him, who is altogether. lovely! That love which many waters cannot quench, neither can the floods drown! I remember you, and bear your name on my breast to CHRIST,: I beseech you, forget not his prisoner. Grace, mercy, and peace, be with you!. Your brother and fellow-prisoner,

Aberdeen, Feb. 7, 1637.

TO THE VISCOUNTESS OF KENAIURE.

MADAM,

GRACE, mercy, and peace, be to you! I received your Ladyship's letter; it refreshed me in my heaviness: the blessing and prayers of a prisoner of CHRIST come upon you! Since my coming hither, GALLOWAY sent me not a line: but I want not kindness of one, who has the gate of it;—CHRIST (if he had never done more for me since I was born) hash engaged my heart, and gained my blessing,, in this house of my pilgrimage. It pleases my Well-beloved to dine with a poor prisoner, and the King's spikenard casteth a fragrant smell. Nothing. grieveth me, but that I eat my feasts alone, and that I cannot edify his saints. My silence eats me up; but he has told me, that he thanked' me no less than if I were preaching daily. He sees how gladly I would be at it; and therefore my wages are going on in heaven, as if I were still preaching CHRIST. Captains pay daily bed-fast soldiers, although they do not march, nor carry armor. " Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of my LORD, and my LORD shall be my strength." (Ira. xlix. 5.) My garland, The banished Minister," (the term for me at Aberdeen,) shamed' me not. I have seen the white side of CHRIST'S cross. How lovely has he been to his oppressed servant! The LORD executeth judgment for the oppressed, he giveth food to the hungry: the LORD looseth the prisoner; the LORD raiseth them that are bowed down: the LORD preserveth the stranger." (Ps. cxlvi. 7-9.) If it were come to exchanging of crosses, I would not exchange my cross with any. I am well pleased with CHRIST, and he with me. It is true, for all this, I get my meat with many strokes, and am cast down for the case of my distressed brother; yet I hope the LORD will be surety for his servant. But now, upon some weak experience, I am come to love a rumbling and raging Devil best; seeing we must have a Devil to hold the saints waking, I wish a cumbersome Devil, rather than a secure and sleeping one. At my first coming hither, I said he had cast me over the wall of the vineyard, like a dry tree; but it was his mercy, I see, that the fire did not burn the dry tree. And now, as if my LORD JESUS had done that fault, and not I, (who belied my LORD,) he has made amends, and he spoke not one word against me; but he has come again, and quickened my soul with his presence. Nay, now I think the cross of CHRIST JESUS My LORD, and these comforts that accompany it, better than the world's rent. Your Ladyship wrote to me, that you are yet an ill scholar. Madam, ye must go in at heaven's gates with your book in your hand, still learning. You have had your own large share of troubles, and a double portion; but it says that your Father counted' you not a bastard. I long to bear of the child. I write the blessings of CHRIST'S prisoner and the mercies of Go]) to him: let him be CHRIST'S and yours between you; but let CHRIST be the lender, and ye the borrower, not an owner. Madam, it is not long since I did write to your Ladyship, that CHRIST is keeping mercy for you; and I still abide by it. Love him dearly there is in him that which you never saw; he is ever nigh; he is a tree of life, green and blossoming, both summer and winter. I invite you anew to come to him. " Come and see," will speak better things of him, than I can do: " Come nearer," will say much. Goff never thought this world a portion worthy of you; he will not give you ESAU's portion, but reserves the inheritance of JACOB for you. Are ye not well married now Have you not a good husband now My heart cannot express what sad nights I have for " the Virgin-Daughter of my people." Woe is me! for our time is coming. Now the blessing of our dearest LORD JESUS, and the blessing of him that is separate from his brethren, come upon you!

Yours, at Aberdeen, the prisoner of CHRIST,

Aberdeen.

S. R.

TO THE VISCOUNTESS OF KENMURE,

MADAM,

GRACE, mercy, and peace, be to your Ladyship! I would not omit to write a line by this Christian bearer, one in your Ladyship's own case, driven near to CHRIST in and by her affliction. I wish that my friends in Galloway forget me not; but however it be, CHRIST 1S so good, that I will have no other tutor, suppose I could have ten thousand beside. I now think five hundred heavy hearts for him too little. I wish that CHRIST, now weeping, suffering, and contemned of men, were more dear and desirable to many souls, than he is. I am sure, if the saints wanted CHRIST'S cross, so profitable and so sweet, they might, for the gain and glory of it, wish it were lawful either to buy or borrow his cross: but it is a mercy that the saints have it for nothing; for I know no sweeter way to heaven, than through free grace and hard trials together; and one of these cannot well want the other. O that time would post faster, and hasten our long looked-for communion with the fairest among the sons of men! O that the day would favor us, and come, and put CHRIST and us in each other's arms! I am sure a few years will do our turn, and the soldier's hour-glass will soon run out. Madam, look to your lamp, and look to your LORD'S coming, and let your heart dwell aloof from that sweet child. CHRIST'S jealousy will not admit two equal loves in your Ladyship's. heart. He must have • one, and that the greatest; a little one to a creature may, and must, suffice a soul married to him: " Your Maker is your husband." (Isa. liv.) I would. wish you well, and my, obligations these many years speak no less to me; but more I neither wish, nor pray, nor desire for your Lady-ship, than CHRIST singled out from all created good things; or CHRIST, although wet in his own blood, and wearing a crown of thorns. I am sure, the saints, at their best, are but strangers to the incomparable sweetness of CHRIST. He is so new, so fresh in excellency, every day, to those that search more and more in him, as if heaven could furnish us as many new CHRISTS (if I may speak so) as there are days between him and us; and yet he is one and the same. O, we love an unknown lover, when we love CHRIST. Grace for evermore, even while glory perfects it, be with your Ladyship!

Yours in JESUS,

S.R

TO THE LADY CARDONNESS.

My dearly beloved and longed-for in the LORD,

GRACE, mercy, and. peace, be to you! I long to hear how your soul prospereth, and how the’ kingdom of CHRIST thriveth in you. I exhort you and beseech you, in the bowels of CHRIST, faint not, weary not. There is a great necessity of heaven; ye must needs have it: all other things, as houses, lands, children, husband, friends, country, credit, health, wealth, honor, may be wanted; but heaven is your " one thing necessary, that good part which shall not be taken from you." See that ye buy the field where the pearl is; sell all, and make a purchase of salvation., Think it not easy, for it is a steep ascent to eternal glory; many are’ lying dead in the way, that are slain with security. O what I want! I want so many things, that I am almost asking if I have any thing at all. Every man thinketh he is rich enough in grace, till he finds his pack poor and light in the day of a heavy trial. I found that I had not enough to bear my expenses, and should have fainted, if want had not chased me to the store-house of all. I beseech you, make conscience of your ways; deal kindly with your tenants: to fill a breach, make not a greater breach in the conscience. I wish plenty of love to your soul. Let the world be the portion of bastards; make it not yours; after the last trumpet is blown, the world and all its glory will be like an old house that is burned to ashes, and like an old fallen castle without a roof. Fie, fie upon us, fools, who think ourselves debtors to the world! My LORD has brought me to this, that I would not give a drink of cold water for this world's kindness. I wonder that men long after,’ or care for, these feathers: to give out conscience, and to get in clay again, is a strange bargain. I have written my mind at length to your husband; I cannot forget him in my prayers; my counsel is, that ye bear with him, when passion overtaketh him: " A soft answer putteth away wrath." When CHRIST hideth himself, wait on, and importune him till he return; it is not time then to be carelessly patient: I love to be grieved when he hideth his smiles. I counsel you to study sanctification, and to be dead to this world. Counsel your husband to fulfill my joy, and to seek the LORD's face: show him from me, that my joy and desire is to hear that he is in the LORD. GOD casteth him often in my mind; I cannot forget him: I hope, CHRIST and he have some-thing to do together. Bless JOHN from me; I write blessings to him, and to your husband, and the rest of your children.

Your lawful and loving Pastor

In his only LORD JESUS,

S.R.

TO THE LADY CARDONNESS THE ELDER.

Worthy and well-beloved in the LORD,

GRACE, mercy, and peace, be to you! I long to hear from you, that I may know how your soul prospereth. My desire and longing is, to hear that ye walk in the truth, and that ye are content to follow the despised, but lovely, Son of GOD. I cannot but recommend him unto you as your husband, your well-beloved, your portion, your comfort, and your joy. He has 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 and sup with CHRIST: he visiteth my soul with the visitation of his love in the night-watches. 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 but " be ye faithful to the death, and ye shall have the crown of life." This span-length of your days, whereof the SPIRIT of GOD speaketh, will within a short time come to nothing. O how comfortable shall the feast of a good conscience be, when your eye-strings shall break, your face wax pale, and the breath turn cold, and your poor soul come sighing to the windows of the house of clay, and long to be out, and to have the gaoler to open the door, that the prisoner may be set at liberty! Ye draw nigh the water-side; look to 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 lawfully-begotten child; therefore set your heart on the inheritance. Go up before-hand and see your lodging; look through all your Father's rooms in heaven, for in your Father's house are many dwelling-places. " Set your heart on things that are above, where CHRIST is at the right-hand of GOD." Stir up your husband to mind his own country; and counsel him to deal mercifully with the poor people of GOD under him: they are CHRIST'S, and not his; there-fore desire him to show them kindness, and to be good to their souls. It may be, that my parish forget me; but my witness is in heaven, I do not forget them; they are my sighs in the night, and my tears ill the day. I think myself like a husband plucked from the wife of his youth, O LORD, be my judge, what joy it would be to my soul, to hear that my ministry has left the Son of GOD among them! Remember my love to your son and daughter; desire them from me to seek the LORD in their youth, and to give him the morning of their days. Acquaint them with the word of GOD and prayer. Grace be with you! Pray for the prisoner of CHRIST: In my heart I forget you not.

Your lawful and loving Pastor,

S. R

TO THE VISCOUNTESS OF KENMURE.

MADAM,

GRACE, mercy, and peace, to you. I love careful, and withal doing complaints of want of practice; because I observe many, who think it holiness enough to complain, and set themselves to nothing,—as if to say " I am sick," would cure them; they think complaints a good charm for guiltiness. I hope ye are wrestling and struggling on, in this dead age, wherein folks have lost tongue, and legs, and arms, for CHRIST. I urge upon you, Madam, a nearer communion with CHRIST, and a growing communion. There are curtains to be drawn aside, in CHRIST, that we never saw, and new foldings of love in him. Therefore, dig deep, and sweat, and labor, and take pains for him; and set by as much time in the day for him as you can; he will be won with labor. I know not what to do with CHRIST; his love surroundeth and surchargeth me; I am burdened with it; but O how sweet and lovely is that burden! I cannot keep it within me. I am so in love with his love, that, if his love were not in heaven, I would be unwilling to go there. I wonder what he meaneth, to put such a slave at his own elbow. But I dare' not refuse to be loved; the cause is not in me why he has looked upon Inc, and loved me; for it cost me nothing; it is good, cheap. love. The greatest part but play with Christianity; they put it by easily. I thought it had been an easy thing to be a Christian, and that to seek GOD had been at the next door; but O the windings, the turnings, the ups and the downs,. through which he has led me; and I see yet much way to the ford! He speaketh with my reins in the night-season; and in the morning, when I awake, I find his love in my heart. Who will help me to praise Who will come to lift with me, and set on high his great love As for friends, I shall not think the world to be the world, if that well go not dry. I trust in GOD, to use the world as a cunning master does a knavish servant; he giveth him no handling or credit, only he intrusteth him with common errands, wherein he cannot play the knave. I pray GOD I may not give this world credit of my joys, and comforts, and confidence; that were to put CHitIST out of his office. Nay, I counsel you, Madam, let. CHRIST keep the great seal; and intrust him so, as to hang your vessels, great and small, upon the nail fastened in DAVID'S house. Now the presence of the great Angel of the Covenant be with you, and that sweet child!

Aberdeen, March 7, 1637.

TO THE VISCOUNTESS OF KENMURE.

MADAM,

UPON the offered opportunity of this worthy bearer, I could not omit to answer the heads of your letter.—I. I think not much to set down in paper some good things of CHRIST, and to feed my soul with wishes to be one with CHRIST; for a wish is but a broken and half love; but verily to "come and see" is a harder matter: but, oh, I have rather smoke than fire: I have little or nothing to say, but that I am one who has found favor in his eyes.--2. You write that 1: am filled with knowledge, and stand not in need of these warnings: but. certainly my light is dim; and how many have full coffers, and yet empty bellies!

Light, and the saving use of light, arc far different. O what need have I to have the ashes blown away. from my dying fire! I may be a book-man, and yet be an idiot and a stark fool in CHRIST's way. Therefore as night-watchers hold one another waking, by speaking to one another, so have we need to hold one another on. foot: sleep stealeth away the light of watching, even the light that reproves sleeping. I doubt not but more would reach heaven, if they believed not heaven to be at the next door. The world's negative holiness, " no adulterer, no murderer, no thief," maketh men believe they are already saints.—$. I find you complaining of yourself, and it becometh a sinner so to do. I would love my pain and soreness with my wounds, although these should bereave me of my night's sleep, better than my wounds without pain.--4. Be not afraid for little grace. Our split works, losses, deadness, coldness, wretchedness, are the ground on which the good husbandman labouteth.—5. You write that his comppssions fail not, notwithstanding that your service to CHRIST miscarrieth. To that I answer, Gott forbid that there were buying and selling between CHRIST and us; for then free grace might go to play. But all the vessels, great and small, that we have, are fastened upon the sure nail. (Isa. 22:24.) The only danger. is, that we give grace more to do, than GOD giveth it, that is, by turning his grace into wantonness. Grace be with you!

Aberdeen,

Yours in his LORD JESUS,

March 14, 1637

TO THE LADY HALHILL.

DEAR AND CHRISTIAN LADY,

GRACE, mercy, and peace, be to you! I cannot but ac-quaint your Ladyship with the kind dealing of CHRIST to my soul in this house of my pilgrimage; that your Lady-ship may know that CHRIST is as good as he is called. For, at my first entry into this trial, (being troubled with jealousies of his love, whose name and testimony I now bear in my bonds,) I feared nothing more, than that I was cast over the dike of the vineyard, as a dry tree; but blessed be his great name, the dry tree was in the fire, and was not burned; his dew came down and quickened the root of a withered plant; and now he is come again with joy, and has been pleased to feast his afflicted prisoner with the joys of his consolations. Now I weep, but am not sad: I am chastened, but I die not: I have loss, but I want nothing: this water cannot drown me, this fire cannot burn me, because of " the good-will of Him that dwelt in the bush." The worst things of CHRIST, his reproaches, or his cross, are better than Egypt's treasures. He has opened his door, and taken into his " banqueting house " a poor sinner, and has left me so a sick of love for my LORD JESUS, that if heaven were at my disposal, I would give it for CHRIST, and would not be content to go to heaven, except I were persuaded CHRIST were there. I would not give nor exchange my sighs for all the world's laughter. This clay-idol, the world, has no great court in my soul: CHRIST has come, and carried away with him to heaven my heart and my love, so that neither heart nor love is mine; I pray GOD, that CHRIST may keep both without reversion. If my part of this world's clay were sold, I would think it dear at the price of a drink of water. I see CHRIST'S love is so kingly, that it must have a throne all alone in the soul. I see apples beguile children, although they be worm-eaten; and so the moth-eaten pleasures of this present world make children believe that ten is a hundred: and yet all that are here are but shadows; if they would draw aside the curtain that hangs between them and CHRIST, they would think themselves fools, who have so long mistaken the * SON of GOD. I seek no more, next to heaven, but that he may be glorified in a prisoner of CHRIST; and that in my behalf many would praise his high and glorious name, who heareth the sighing of' the prisoner. CHRIST be with you!

Aberdeen,

March 14, 1637.

TO MR. THOMAS GARVEN.

REVEREND AND DEAR BROTHER,

I BLESS you for your letter; it was as a shower to the new-mown grass. The LORD has given you the tongue of the learned; be fruitful and humble. It is possible that you may come to my case; but the water is neither so deep, nor the stream so strong, as it is called. I think my fire is not hot; my water is dry land; my loss rich loss. My poor stock is grown, since I came to Aberdeen. And if any had known the wrong I did, in being jealous of such a lover as CHRIST, who withheld not his love from me, they would think the more of it; but, I see, he must be above me in mercy: I will never strive with him; to think to recompense him is folly. If I had as many tongues to praise him as there have fallen drops of rain since the creation, or as there are leaves of trees in all the forests of the earth, or stars in the heaven; yet my LORD JESUS would ever be in advance with me: we shall never get our accounts fitted; a pardon must close the reckoning. For his comforts to me, in this honorable cause, have almost put me beyond the bounds of modesty; howbeit I will not let every one know what is betwixt us. Love (I mean CHRIST'S love) is the hottest coal that ever I felt: cast all the salt sea on it, it will flame: hell cannot quench it: many, many waters will not quench love. I wonder that he should waste so much love upon such a waster as I am; but he is abundant in mercy; he has no niggard's alms, when he is pleased to give. O that I could invite all the nations to love him! Free grace is an unknown thing! This world has heard but a bare name of CHRIST. I would that CHRISTT got more of his own due than he doth. Brother, ye have chosen the good part, who have taken part with CHRIST: you will see him win the field, and you shall get part of the spoil, when he divideth it. They are but fools who, laugh at us, for they see but the back part of the moon; yet our moon-light is better than their twelve-hours' sun: we have gotten the new heavens, and as a pledge of that, the Bridegroom's love-ring. The children of the wedding-chamber have cause to skip and leap for joy; for the marriage-supper is drawing. nigh. O time, be not slow! O sun, move speedily, and hasten our banquet! O Bridegroom,. be " like a roe, or a young hart upon the mountains! O Well-beloved, run fast, that we may once meet! - Brother, I restrain myself, for want of time. Pray for me: I hope to remember you. The good-will of Him who dwelt in the bush, the tender mercies of GOD in CHRIST, enrich you: grace be with you!

Yours in his LORD JESUS,

S. R.

TO THE LAIRD OF CARLETOUN.

MUCH-HONORED SIR,

I WILL not impute your not writing to me, to forgetfulness. However, I have one above who forgetteth me not; nay, he groweth in his kindness. It has pleased his holy MAJESTY to take me from the pulpit, and teach me many things in my exile, that were mysteries to me before:-1. I see his bottomless and boundless love, and my jealousies and ravings, which, at my first entry into this furnace, were so foolish and bold, as' to say to CHRIST, who is truth itself, in his face, " You liest! " I had well nigh lost my hold: I wondered if it was CHRIST or not; for the mist and smoke of my heart made me mistake my master JESUS. My faith was dim, and my hope frozen and cold; and my love, which caused jealousies, had some heat and smoke, but no flame at all. T thought I had forfeited all my rights; but the Tempter was too much upon my counsels. Alas! I knew not how good skill my intercessor and advocate, CHRIST, has in pleading for me, and pardoning me such follies. Now he is returned to my soul " with healing under his wings; and I am nothing behind with CHRIST now, for he has overpaid me, by his presence, the pain I was put to by waiting. And now, what want I on earth, that CHRIST can give to a poor prisoner O how sweet and lovely is he now! Alas that I can get none to help me to lift up my LORD JESUS upon his throne above all the earth!-2. I am now brought to' some measure of submission, and I resolve to wait till I see what my Lon") will do with me. I dare not now speak. one word against the all-seeing and aver-watching Providence of my LORD. I see that Providence runneth not on• broken wheels; but I, like a fool, carved a providence for mine own ease, to die in my nest, and to sleep still, till my grey hairs, and to he on the sunny side of the mountain in my ministry at Anwoth. But now I have nothing to say against Kedar's tents, where I live; far from my acquaintance, my lovers, and my friends. I see that GOD has the world on his wheels, and casteth it as a potter does a vessel on the wheel. I dare not say that there is any inordinate or irregular motion in Providence; the LORD has done it: I will not go to law with CHRIST, for I should gain no-thing by that. 3. I have learned some greater mortification, and not to mourn after, or seek, the world's dry breasts. Nay, my LORD has filled me with such dainties) that I am like a full banqueter, who is not for common cheer. What have I to do, to fall down and worship man-kind's great idol, the world I have a better GOD than any clay-GOD; nay, at present, I cave not if I give this world a discharge for bread and water. I know, it is not my home, nor my Father's house; it is but his footstool let bastods take it.—4. I find it most true, that the greatest temptation out of hell is, to live without temptations. If my waters should stand, they would rot: faith is the better for the five air, and the sharp winter storms, in its face; grace withereth without adversity: the Devil is but GOD'S master-fencer, to teach us to handle our weapons.—5. never knew how weak I was, till now, when he hideth himself, and when I have him to seek seven times a day. I am a dry and withered branch, and a piece of a dead carcass, dry bones, and not able to step over a straw: so feeble is my soul, that I think it is like a tender man's skin, that may touch nothing: you see how short I should shoot of the prize, if his grace were not sufficient for me. The prisoner's blessing be upon you!

Aberdeen,

Yours in his LORD JESUS,

March 14, 1637.

S.R

TO JOHN BELL, THE ELDER.

MY VERY LOVING FRIEND,

GRACE, mercy, and peace, be to you. I beseech you in the Lone. JESUS, to mind your country above; and now, when old age, the twilight going before the darkness of the grave, and the falling low of your sun before your night,—is come upon you, advise with CHRIST, ere you put your foot in the ship, and turn your back on this life. Many are beguiled with this, that they are free from. scandalous 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 has given you light, and the knowledge of his will; but that is not all, neither will that do. I wish you an awakened soul, and that you may not beguile yourself in the matter of your salvation. My dear brother, search yourself with the candle of GOD; and try if the life of GOD and CHRIST be in you. Salvation is not cast to every man's door. Many are carried over sea and land, to a far country, in a ship, while they sleep much of the way; but men are not landed at heaven sleeping. The righteous are " scarcely saved; " and many run as fast as either you or I, who miss the prize and the crown. GOD send me salvation, and save me from a disappointment! Men think it but a stride or step over to heaven; but when so few are saved, even of a number like the sand of the sea,-but a handful and a remnant, as God's word says,—what cause have we to shake ourselves, and to ask our poor soul, " Whither goest thou Where shall you lodge at night Where are thy charters of thy heavenly inheritance " O see, see that you give not your salvation a wrong cast, and think all is well, and leave your soul loose" and uncertain. Look to your building, and to your ground-stone, and what signs of CHRIST are in you, and set this world behind your back. It is time, now in the evening, to cease from your ordinary work, and high time to know of your lodging at night. It is your salvation that is in dependence; and that' is a great and weighty business, though many make light of the matter. -. Now the LORD enable you by his grace to work it out!

Your lawful and loving Pastor,

Aberdeen, 1637.

S.R

TO WILLIAM GORDON, OF ROBERTOUN

DEAR BROTHER,

GRACE, mercy, and peace, be to you! So often as I think of our fighting life, in the field, while we are here, I am forced to say, that prisoners in a dungeon, condemned to want the light of the sun and candle till their dying day, are not so much to be pitied as we are. For they, weary of their life, hate their prison; but we in our prison drink ourselves drunk with the night-pleasures of our weak dreams, and we long for no better life than this. But at the blast of the last trumpet, and the shout of the Arch-' angel, when GOD. shall take down the shepherd's tent of this fading world, we shall not have so much as a drink of water of all the dreams that we now build on. Alas! that the sharp and bitter blasts which meet us in this life, have not made us dead to this world! We buy our own sorrow, and we pay dear for it, when we spend our love, our joy, our desires, our confidence, upon a handful of snow and ice, which time will melt away; and go thirsty out of the drunken inns, when all is done. Alas! that we inquire not for the clear fountain; but are so foolish, as to drink foul, muddy waters, even till our bed-time; and then, in the resurrection, when we shall be awakened, sick, sick shall many a soul be! I know no wholesome fountain but one; I know not a thing worth the buying but heaven. And my mind is, if comparison were made between CHRIST and heaven, I would sell heaven and buy CHRIST. O that I could cry up CHRIST in men's estimation, ten thousand talents more than men think of him! But they are crying him down, or else exchanging CHRIST with the miserable old fallen house. of this vain world; or they lend hint out upon interest, and play the usurers with CHRIST: because they profess him, and give out before men that CHRIST is their treasure and stock, and, in the mean time, praise of men, and a name, and ease, are the usury they would be at; so when the trial cometh, they quit the stock for the interest, and lose all. Happy are they, who can keep CHRIST alone, and keep him clean and whole, till GOD come and count with them. I know, in your heavy trials long since, you thought highly of CHRIST; but truly no cross should be -old to us: we should not forget them, because years are come between us and them, and cast them by, as we do old clothes; we' may make a cross, which is old in time, new in use, and as fruitful as in the beginning of it. GOD is what he was seven years ago, whatever change be in as: I speak not this as if I thought you had forgotten what GOD did to have your love long since; but that you may awake yourself in this sleepy age, and remember CHRIST'S first wooing your love, and try if he got his answer, or if ye be yet to give him it. For I find in myself, that water runneth not faster through a sieve, than our warnings slip from us.. I bless his great name, who is no niggard in holding crosses upon me, that he may save me from this perishing world. How plentiful GOD is in means of this kind, is esteemed by many one of Go D's unkind mercies; but CHRIST'S cross is neither a cruel nor unkind mercy, but the love-token of a father. I am sure, a lover, chasing us in order to have our love, should not be fled from. GOD, send me no worse mercy than the sanctified cross of CHRIST, and I am sure I should be happy. Pray for me, that I may find house-room in the LORD's house, to speak in his name. Grace, grace be with you!

Yours in JESUS,

S. R.

TO CARDONESS, ELDER.

MUCH HONORED SIR,.

GRACE, mercy, and peace, be to you! I have longed to hear from you, and to know the state of your soul, and the state of that people with you. I beseech you, Sir, by the mercies of GOD, make sure work of your salvation. If ye be upon sinking sand, a storm of death will loose CHRIST and you, and wash you off the rock: O, for the LORD's sake, look narrowly to the work. Read over your life, with the light of God; for salvation is not cast down at every man's door. It is good to look to your compass, and all ye have need of, before ye take shipping; for no wind can blow you back again. Remember, when the race is ended, and the play either won or lost, and ye are in the utmost circle and border of time, and small put your foot within eternity, and all your good things of this short night-dream shall seem to you like the ashes of a blaze of thorns; then shall your soul be more glad at one of your LORD'S smiles, than if ye had the charters of three worlds

for all eternity. Now when old age, like death's long shadow, is casting a covering upon your days, it is no time to court this vain life; seek rest for your soul in GOD through CHRIST. Believe me, I find it hard wrestling, to keep good quarters with him, and to keep a constant course of sound and solid daily communion with CHRIST: temptations are daily breaking the thread of that course, and it is not easy to cast a knot again. O how fair have many ships been playing before the wind, that, in an hour's space, have been lying in the sea-bottom! How many professors cast a lustre, as if they were pure gold, and yet are but base and reprobate metal! And how many keep breath in their race many miles, and yet come short of the prize. Dear Sir, my soul would mourn in secret for you, if I knew your case with GOD to be but false work. Those who had never sick nights nor days for sin, have but such a peace with -GOD as will end in a sad war. I always saw nature lofty, heady, and strong in you; and it was more for you to be dead to the world than a common man: ye will take a deep cut, and a long lance, to go to the bottom of your wounds, in saving humiliation. Be humbled, walk softly; down, down, for Got's sake, with your top-sail; stoop, stoop; it is a low entry to go in at heaven's gates. There is infinite justice in the party ye have to do with: it is his nature not to acquit the guilty: the law of GOD will not want one farthing of the sinner: GOD. forgetteth not both the surety and the sinner; and every man must pay, either in his own person, (O LORD, save you from that payment) or in his surety, CHRIST. Come in, come in to CHRIST, and see what you want, and find it in him. I dare say, angels' pens, angels' tongues, nay, as many worlds of angels as there are drops of water in all the seas, and fountains, and rivers of the earth, cannot paint him out to you. I think, his sweetness, since I was a prisoner, has swelled upon me to the greatness of two heavens. O for a soul as wide as the utmost circle of the highest heaven, that containeth all, to contain his love and even then I could hold little of it. O what a sight to be up in heaven, in that fair orchard of the new paradise; and to see, and smell, and taste, and touch that Tree of Life! Woe, woe is me, that sin has made so many madmen, seeking the fools' paradise, some good and desirable thing, without and apart from CHRIST. CHRIST, CHRIST, nothing but CHRIST, can cool our love's burning languor. O thirsty love! wilt you set Cult's t, the well of life, to thy head, and drink thy fill' Pray for me, his prisoner of hope. I pray for you without ceasing. I write my blessing, my earnest prayers, the love of GOD, and the sweet presence of CHRIST, to you and yours. Grace, grace be with you!

Your lawful and loving Pastor,

Aberdeen, 1637. S. R.

TO CARDONESS, YOUNGER.

MUCH HONORED SIR,

I LONG to hear whether or not your soul be engaged with CHRIST. Lose time no longer; flee the follies of youth; gird up the loins of your mind; and make you ready for meeting the LORD. I have often summoned you, and now I summon you again, to compear before your Judge, to make a reckoning of your life; while ye have time, look upon your papers, and consider your ways. O that there were such a heart in you, as to think what an ill con-science will be to you when ye are upon the border of eternity, and your one foot out of time! O then, ten thousand floods of tears cannot extinguish these flames, or purchase to you one hour's release from that pain! O how sweet a day have ye had! But this is a fair-day that runneth fast away; see how ye have spent it, and consider the necessity of salvation, and tell me (in the fear of GOD) if ye have made it sure.’ I am persuaded, ye have a con-science that will be speaking somewhat to you: why will ye die and destroy yourself I charge you, in CHRIST'S name, to rouse up your conscience, and begin to contract with CHRIST in time, while salvation is in your offer " This is the accepted time, this is the day of salvation." Play the merchant, for ye cannot expect another market-day when this is done; therefore let me again beseech you to consider, " in this your day, the things that belong to your peace." Fulfill my joy, and begin to seek the LORD while he may be found: forsake the follies of deceiving youth; and lay hold upon eternal life. Whoring, drinking, mispending the Sabbath, neglecting of prayer in your house and refusing an offered salvation, will burn up your soul with the terrors of the ALMIGHTY, when your awakened conscience shall flee in your face. Sir, I have not a tongue to express the glory that is laid up for you in your Father's house, if ye frame your heart to return to the LORD. Ye know, this world is but a shadow, a short-living creature, under the law of time; within less than fifty years, when ye look back to it, ye shall laugh at the vanishing vanities thereof, as feathers flying in the air, and as the houses of sand within the sea-mark, which the children of men are building. Give up courting this vain world: seek not the bastard's moveables, but the son's heritage in heaven. Take trial of CHRIST, look unto him, and his love shall so change you, that ye shall never choose to go from him. I have experience of his sweetness in this house of my pilgrimage here my witness, who is above, knows that I would not exchange my sighs and tears with the laughter of the fourteen Prelates. There is nothing which will make you a Christian indeed, but a taste of the sweetness of CHRIST; —" Come and see," will speak best to your soul. I would fain hope good of you. Be not discouraged at broken resolutions; but to it, and to it again: woo CHRIST, till ye get your soul espoused as a chaste virgin to him; use the means of profiting, pray in your family, and read the word remember how our LORD's day was spent when 1: was among you. It will be a great challenge to you before GOD, if you forget the good that was done within the walls of your house on the LORD's day, and if you turn aside after the fashions of this world, and if you go not to the

public worship of GOD. Give Con some of your time, both in the morning, evening, and afternoon; and in so doing, rejoice the heart of a poor prisoner.

Now He that brought again from the dead the Shepherd of his sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, establish your heart with his grace, and present you before his presence with joy.

Your affectionate and loving Pastor,

Aberdeen, 1637. S. R.

TO THE LADY BUSBIE.

I KNOW, ye are thinking sometimes what CHRIST is doing in Zion. O that this nation would be awakened, to cry mightily unto Go D for the setting up of a new tabernacle tO'CHR1ST! O that this kingdom knew how worthy CHRIST is of his room! His worth was ever above man's estimation of him. And, for myself, I am pained at the heart,' that I cannot find myself disposed to leave myself, and go wholly in to CHRIST. Alas that there should be one bit of me out of him, and that we leave too much liberty and latitude for ourselves, and our own ease, and credit, and pleasures, and so little room for CHRIST! O what. pains and charges it costs CHRIST before he gets us! And, when all is done, we are not worth the having: it is a wonder that he should seek th e like of us; but love overlooketh blackness; for, if it had not been so, CHRIST would never have made so fair and blessed a bargain with us as the covenant of grace is. Our LORD intends, in all our, sufferings, to bring grace into request amongst us. I should come short of heaven, if I had no more but my own strength to support me; and if CHRIST should say to me, " Either do or die," it were easy to determine what should become of me: The choice is very easy, for I behooved to die, if CHRIST should pass by with straitened bowels; and who then would take us up in our straits I know CHRIST is kindest in his love when we are at our weakest, else " the waters had gone over our soul." His mercy has a set period and appointed place, how far, and no farther, the sea of affliction shall flow, and where the waves thereof shall be stayed: He prescribeth how much pain and sorrow, both for weight and measure, we must have. Ye have then good cause to recall your love from all lovers, and give it to CHRIST: He who is afflicted in all your afflictions, looketh not on you, in your sad hours, with an insensible heart or dry eyes. All the LORD's children may see, that it is lost love which is bestowed upon this perishing world: Death and judgment will make men lament that ever their miscarrying hearts carried them to lavish their love upon false appearances. Alas that CHRIST should fare the worse, because of his own goodness in making peace and the Gospel ride together; and that we have never yet weighed the worth of CHRIST and his ordinances; and that we are like to be deprived of the well, before we have tasted the sweetness of the water! It may be that with watery eyes, and a wet face, and wearied feet, we may seek CHRIST, and shall not find him. O that this land were humbled in time; and, by prayers, cries, and humiliation, would bring CHRIST in at the church-door again, now when his back is turned towards us, and he is gone to the threshold, and his one foot (as it were) is out of the door! I am sure his departure is our deserving, we have bought it with our iniquities; for, alas! professors are made all of shows and fashions, and are not at pains to recover themselves again. Every one contenteth himself with a stinted measure of Godliness, as if that were. enough to bring them to heaven. We forget, that as our gifts and light grow, so GOD’s gain and the interest of his talents should grow also; and that we cannot pay GOD with the old use, which we gave him seven years ago; for this were to mock the LORD. O what difficulty is there in our Christian journey, and how often come we short of many thousand things that are CHRIST'S due!

I remember you unto the LORD, as I am able: I entreat you, think upon me his prisoner, and pray, that the Lon]) would be pleased to give me room to speak to his people in his name. Grace, grace be with you!

Aberdeen, 1636.

Yours in his LORD and Master,

S. R.