? » € , o ^ « ^,»^«^*®'"°'*'*'*^. %i PRINCETON, N. J. '% Presented h^S-YT) \?V^\a\ \f 6^ f BX 8915 .R79 1867 Rutherford, Samuel, 1600?-^ 1661. Letters of the Rev. Samuel JRjLi tJi e_r^f o r d . 'RARr OF PRiNCCTON THEOLOGiCAl Sf -^'NARY /^/^...j.'^^^Y-'^''- ^.. i^-^' < ^/.. •S'—2- j^^^ ^y jL.^,/r/f//- ICOMFLETE EDITION.'] LETTEES REV. SAMUEL RUTHERFORD, PKINCIPAL AND PR0FE3S0K OF DIVINITY AT ST ASDEEW3, 1633—1651; WITH A PREFACE, EEV. JOHN M'EWAN, MINISTER OF JOHN KNOX FEEE CHURCH, EDIKCURGH. LIBRARY OF PRiNCETON EDiNiuRCHfEB 2 8 im DUNCAN GRANT, H^GH STREET, CORNER OP Bil^^^K Q Q ! r ^ ' ; /; : [\j /\ R Y MDCCCLXYII. PKINTED BY W. LANG ROLLO, 5 ST JAMES SQUARE, EDINBURGH. PREFACE. As some readers may know little of the Author of these Letters, except the name, it has been thought that a very brief outline of his life and character, along with a few remarks on his Letters, might enable such to peruse them with more interest and profit. This is all that is here attempted. Samuel Rutherford was born about the year 1600, at the village of Nisbet, in the parish of Crailing, Roxburgh- shire.* Of his early life comparatively little is known. It is certain that he obtained his early education at the provincial town of Jedburgh, about three miles from his native place. He entered the College of Edinburgh in the year 1617, and obtained his degree of Master of Arts in 1621, and was so distinguished a scholar even then, that soon after this he obtained the appointment of Regent or Professor of Humanity, which however he does not seem to have held long. Turning his attention to the study of Theology, we lose sight of him for several years, until his^ settlement at Anwoth in 1627. The rural parish of Anwoth, situated in the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright, near the Sol way, enjoyed the ministry of Rutherford without interruption for nine years. " While he was at Anwoth " (says Livingstone), " he was the instru- * The writer once spent a portion of a day in trying to ascertain precisely both the site of the house where Rutherford was bom, and the well into which he is said to have fallen when a child, and from which the " bonnie white man" rescued him, supposed by himself to have been an angel; but beyond vague surmises he could gather nothing very definite on these points. IV PREFACE. ment of much good among a poor ignorant people, many of whicli he brought to the knowledge and practice of religion, and was a great strengthener of all the Christians in that country, who had been the fruits of the ministry of Mr John Welch, the time he had been minister at Kirkcudbriofht." Mr Robert M'Ward, the writer of the old Introduction prefixed to this volume, and who had the honour of collecting the first edition of his Letters and giving them to the world, and who knew Rutherford well, says of his ministry at Anwoth, that " he laboured night and day with great success, the whole country coming to him and accounting themselves as his particular flock." It seems to have been to this period of his life chiefly, that a contemporary minister who survived the Revolu- tion, refers, when he says, " I have known many great and good ministers in this church, but for such a piece of clay as Mr Rutherford was, I never knew one in Scotland like him, to whom so many great gifts were given, for he seemed to be altogether taken up with everything good, and excellent, and useful. He seemed to be always praying, always preaching, always visiting the sick, always catechising, always writing and studying. He had two quick eyes, and when he walked it was observed that he held aye> his face upward. He had a strange utterance in the pulpit, a kind of shreigh that I never heard the like. Many times I thought he would have flown out of the pulpit when he came to speak of Jesus Christ. He was never in his right element but when he was com- mending him." To this period of his hfe also belongs the oft-told traditionary story of the visit paid him by the Archbishop Usher, of which the following is one of several versions : — The Archbishop, when passing through Galloway, was anxious to meet with Rutherford, of whose piety he heard much ; and better to accomphsh his purpose, he appeared PREFACE. V at the manse, on a Saturday evening, in the disguise of a mendicant. Mrs Rutherford, according to custom, called the servants together, for examination preparatory to the solemnities of the Sabbath, and the stranger took his place among them. In the course of examination, he was asked, " How many commandments are there ? " " Eleven," was the reply. On receiving this answer, the good lady replied, " What a sliame is it for you ! a man with grey hairs, in a Christian country, not to know how many commandments there are ! There is not a child of six years old, in the parish, but could answer this question properly." She troubled the poor man no more, thinking him so very ignorant, but lamented his condition to the servants, and after giving him some supj^er, desired a servant to show him up stairs, to a bed in the garret. Rutherford repaired early in the morning, as usual, to a favourite walk near the manse, for meditation, and was startled on hearing the voice of prayer, proceed- ing from a thicket, earnestly imploring a blessing on behalf of the peojDle that day to assemble. Rutherford began to think that he had " entertained angels unawares." An explanation followed, and Rutherford requested him to preach that day to his people, which the Archbishop agreed to do, on condition that he would not discover him to any other. Mrs Rutherford found that the poor man had gone away before any of the family were out of bed. Rutherford presented him with a suit of his own clothes, and introduced him as a strange minister passing by, who had promised to preach for him. After domestic worship and breakfast, the family went to church, and Usher had for his text, John xiii. 34, " A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another." In the course of his sermon, he observed, that that might be reckoned the eleventh commandment, upon which Mrs Rutherford said to herself, " that is the answer VI PREFACE. the poor man gave me last night ;" and looking up to the pulpit, said, " It cannot be possible that this is he !" He returned with Rutherford to the manse, and the evening was spent with mutual pleasure and profit. But Rutherford's much loved labours at Anwoth were des- tined to a sudden interruption. In July 1636, he w^as sum- moned to appear before the High Commission Court to answer for his non-conformity to the Acts of Episcopacy, and also on account of his Treatise against the Arminians, Exercitationes ApologeticcBypro Bivina Gratia, which book was alleged to reflect upon the Church of Scotland. This Court was held at Wigtown, about ten miles from Anwoth, and was presided over by Sydserff, Bishop of Galloway. Rutherford appeared, but declined to acknowledge the Court as a lawful judicatory, and gave his reasons. And although Lord Lorn, afterwards the well-known Marquis of Argyll, befriended him, it was of no avail. He was discharged from exercising his ministry anywhere in the kingdom of Scotland, and ordered, within six months, to confine himself to the city of Aberdeen, during the King's pleasure. He at once resolved to obey the sentence, remarking to a friend, " I purpose to obey the King, who has power over my body." He arrived in Aberdeen in September 1636. It was while confined to this city, as an exile or "banished minister," as he was sometimes called by the passers-by, which title he calls his " Garland," that he wrote the greater portion of the Letters contained in this volume. In 1638, public events had taken a more favourable turn for the cause of the Reformation in Scotland, and Rutherford hastened back to his people at Anwoth. It affords a painful glimpse of the deprivation of God's people in Scotland at this time, to find it recorded, that during the whole time of Rutherford's exile in Aberdeen, "no sound of the word of God was heard in the Kirk of Anwoth." But the people there were not destined PREFACE. VU to enjoy the services of their faithful pastor much longer. Soon after his return, he was commissioned by the Church to visit several districts of the country, with the object of promoting the cause of Christ and the Reforma- tion in Scotland, in that dark and cloudy day. The Reformed Church of Scotland was then impressed, as she has always been in her best days, with the importance of procuring the services of the choicest of her sons to educate her rising ministry, and the high scholarly attainments of Rutherford, combined with his all but seraphic zeal and piety, at once pointed him out as the fittest man to fill the office of Professor of Divinity in St Andrews. He was removed to the Professor's Chair and to the Principalship of the New College in St Andrews in 1639. But while eno^as^inor in his new work with his accustomed devotion, he by no means laid aside his favourite occupa- tion of proclaiming the unsearchable riches of the grace of Christ. Indeed, Rutherford made it a condition of his going to St Andrews, that he should be colleague in the ministry to Mr Blair, who was appointed minister there, about the same time, ho receiving only his stipend as Principal of the College. Of the fruit of his labours in St Andrews, his old editor, M'Ward, says, " Where God did so singularly second his servant's indefatigable pains, both in teaching in the school and preaching in the congregation, that it became forth- with a Lebanon, out of which were taken cedars for build- ing the house of the Lord through the whole land ; not a few of whom -are this day amongst those who have obtained mercy of the Lord to be His faithful "s^dtnesses against Scotland's present shameful and unparalleled defection." Guthrie, the author of the " Saving Interest," was one of his students, and some think was converted by his instrumentality. Rutherford was one of the Commissioners sent up by the VIU PREFACE. Church of Scotland, to the ever-memorable Westminster Assembly, which commenced its sittings in July 1643, and took a prominent part in the proceedings of the Assembly. During the four years he remained there, notwithstanding failing health, frequent domestic bereavements, and the constant and laborious duties con- nected with the Assembly, no small share of which devolved upon our Scottish Commissioners, he yet found time to write his well-known Treatise, '* The Trial and Triumph of Faith," '^The due right of Presbyteries," and Lex Rex. On his return to Scotland, he resumed his duties, both as a professor and preacher, with his wonted zeal and assiduity. It is not our intention to refer in detail to the remain- ing portion of his life. During his last thirteen years, besides his ordinary professional duties, he took a keen interest in the controversies which distracted the Church of Scotland at that time. Some of these were of a nature to divide and estrange for a time from one another, even the true servants of Christ. But while during these pain- ful controversies, unhallowed feelings mingled on both sides, as is ever apt to be the case in such circumstances, it may yet be safely asserted, that the views of Rutherford, as proved by the results, were most in accordance with truth and sound policy. Some of Rutherford's sad forebodings as to the cominor sufferings of the Church of Scotland, began to be realized before he passed away. "He departed (says Dr M'Crie), just in time to avoid an ignominious death ; for though everybody knew he was dying, the Council had, with im- potent malice, summoned him to appear before them at Edinburgh, oh a charge of high treason. When the citation came, he said. Tell them I have got a summons already, before a Superior Court and judicatory, and I behoove to answer my first summons ; and ere your day PREFACE. IX arrive, I will be where few kings and great folks come. When they returned, and reported that he was dying, the Parhament, with a few dissenting voices, voted that he should not die in the College. Upon this, Lord Burleigh said. Ye have voted that honest man out of his College, but ye cannot vote him out of heaven. Some of them remarked, he would never win there. I wish I were as sure of heaven as he is (replied Burleigh), I would think myself happy to get a gripe of his sleeve to haul me in." Had it been his Master's will, few men in any age or Church would have met more jo}^ully a martyr's death. " Now (said he on his death-bed) my tabernacle is w^eak, and I would think it a more glorious way of going hence to lay down my life for the cause, at the Cross of Edin- burgh or St Andrew^s, but I submit to my Master's will." Some of his death-bed sayings were carefully recorded, and have been often quoted. No better idea can be formed of the " perfect peace " and " quiet assurance " of which he was then the possessor, than the oft-repeated wish : " O ! for a well-tuned harp," as if his only fear on entering the unseen world, was that of not being qualified aright to praise the glorious grace of Him, whom he so often loved to designate his sweet Lord Jesus. He died on the 20th March 1661, at St Andrews, and his remains were buried there. Rutherford is best known to the religious public as the author of the famous Letters. But those who only know him through them, may be surprised to learn, that few men of his time enjoyed a liigher reputation as a scholar and theologian.* Some of his controversial writings had a European reputation, which resulted in several invitations being addressed to him from the Continent, requesting his * He was the author of some twenty separate works, many of them' characterised by great erudition. X PREFACE. services for Divinity Chairs in several Universities, all of which he declined. In his celebrated work, ^' Lex Rex" (says the late Dr Hetheringtonj,"he not only entered the regions of constitu- tional jurists, but even produced a treatise unrivalled yet, as an exposition of the true principles of civil and religious liberty." This work was so hateful to the Government of that day, that shortly before Rutherford's death, they ordained that it be burned in Edinburgh by the hands of the common hangman, which was done. On which, Wodrow remarks, " It was much easier to burn the book than to answer it ;" and when Charles II. read Lex Rex, he said, with his native shrewdness, that it would scarcely ever get an answer ; and his words have proved true. This book was afterwards burnt at St Andrews by the hands of the notorious Sharpe, before the windows of its Author's College. Such is the merest outline of the Author's life, whose Letters we now earnestly commend to the readers prayerful perusal. It were something like presumption for any one at this day to pronounce a panegyric on a book so well known as Rutherford's Letters. They have their epistle commend- atory in the hearts and memories of all Christians, who have had the privilege of perusing them. To those yet strangers to their matchless excellence, if possessing any taste for "the things which concern the King," we cannot do better than urge such at once to obtain and peruse them, assuring them of a rich reward. Rutherford's lot was cast in trying times, when the works and characters of men were tested of what sort they were. To one like him, no trial could be more painful than that of laying him aside for a time from the loved labour of preaching the glorious gospel of Christ. But the trial was overruled by his Lord, not only for the greater good of His servant, but PREFACE. Xi also for the greater good of His cliurcL, both then and in all succeeding ages. But for the persecutions of these times most of these Letters might never have been written, and the rich grace of Christ to His suffering servant might never have been experienced. However quaint and homely, yea, even extravagant the language by which he gives expression to the sublimest mysteries of the Christian religion may appear to some, it would not be considered so by his contempor- aries, nor by those to whom the Letters were sent. These Letters form the Cardiphonia or heart utterance of Rutherford, and it v/ould be difficult to imasfine a stvle better fitted to convey the precious truths they contain to the hearts of the religious peasantry of the country, than that employed by our Author in these priceless gems. We do not envy the state of mind of those who are scared from the perusal of these Letters, by their supposed uncouthaess of phraseology, and Ave sympathise with Dr Love, when he says, " The haughty contempt of that book in the heart of many, will be ground of con- demnation when the Lord cometh to make inquisition after such things." The opinion of Richard Baxter is worth recording. " Hold off the Bible (says he) ; such a book the world never saw." Genuine believers, while perusing these Letters, have often felt ashamed and discouraged, when contrasting their own experience of Christ's love with that enjoyed by Rutherford, as there portrayed. It must not, however, be forgotten that most of these Letters were written in peculiar circumstances, and by no means present us with the ordinary experience of Rutherford himself They serve to illustrate what has often been seen in the history of the church and people of God, that times and circum- stances of special trial are generally also seasons of special grace. It is God's way to stay His rough wind in the day of His east wind in His dealings with His own, and XU PREFACE. when tlieir afflictions abound to cause their consolations also to abound. Indeed, this is virtually Rutherford's own explanation. From Edinburgh, on his way to Aber- deen, he thus writes, "Yet that sweet smelled and perfumed Cross of Christ, is accompanied with sweet refreshments, with the kisses of a King, with the joy of the Holy Ghost, with the faith that the Lord hears the sighings of a prisoner." And, again, ^' Welcome, welc ome, sweet sweetj and glorious Cross of Christ, welcome sweet Jesus, with thy light cross." From xiberdeen he writes, " I think aye the longer the better of my Royal and worthy Master. He is become a New Well-Beloved to me now, in renewed consolations, by the presence of the Spirit of grace and glory." Again ; " A king dinetli with me, and his spikenard casteth a sweet smell. The Lord my witness is above, that I write my heart to you. / never knew by ony nine years* preaching so oniich of Christ's love, as Ee hath taught, me in Aberdeen, by six T^ionths imprisonmentr Still, while due allowance is made for the special circumstances and times when these Letters were written, enough re- mains to fill many Christians amongst us at the present day Y/ith shame, on contrasting, not merely his attain- ments with ours, but what is still more humbling to contemplate, the measure of satisfaction we seem to possess with our meagre attainments, as contrasted with his fervent desires for still higher advancement in the life of faith and holiness. The reader will find this exemplified in almost every Letter. The main characteristics of these Letters are of such a nature that they can never, by possibility, become stale or obsolete, so long as Christ hath a people on earth. The prominence given to such themes as — the dread evil of sin — the sovereignty of God, both in providence and grace — the work of the Spirit — the work of Christ ; and specially the prominence given to the person and offices PREFACE. Xm of Christ as Mediator of the new covenant — His matchless excellence, and fathomless love to His ransomed ones, along with the expression of His own heaven-bom love to the Lord, will ever render these Letters a precious trea- sure to the children of Zion's King. What friend of the bridegroom can read his ardent longings for visible, sensible communion with his Lord, without catching some measure of his spirit, and uniting with him in saying, " O, when Tvill we meet I 0, how long is it to the dawning of the marriage-day. 0, sweet Lord Jesus, take wide steps ! O, my Lord, come over moun- tains at one stride ! O, my beloved, flee like a roe, or young hart, upon the mountains of separation." What Sabbaths those must have been at Anwoth — the people listening to a preacher who could honestly say, " My witness is above, your heaven would be two heavens, and the salvation of you all, as two salvations to me. I take to witness heaven and earth against you. I take instru- ments in the hands of that sun and daylight that beheld us, and in the hands of the timber and walls of that kirk, if I drew not up a fair contract of marriage betTvdxt you and Christ ; if I went not with offers betwixt the bride- groom and you, and your conscience did bear you witness — it was told you what a fair dowry ye should have, and what a house your husband and ye should dwell in, and what was the bridegroom's excellency, sweetness, might, and power." He could tell them that they had heard from him the whole counsel of God. As one who knew the terrors of the Lord, he could persuade men by the consideration of these, as well as by the peerless love of the Redeemer. On hearing in Aberdeen of some of his flock who had gone back from the good old way to the dog's vomit again, he thus addresses them. '' It is possible my first meeting and yours be when we shall both stand before the dreadful Judo^e of the world ; PKEPACE. and in the name and authority of the Son of God, my great King and Master, I write by these presents sum- mons to these men. I arrest their souls and bodies to the day of our compearance ; their eternal damnation stands eubscribed and sealed in heaven by the handwriting of the great Judge of quick and dead, and I am ready to stand up as a preaching witness against such to their face that day, and to say, "Amen, to their condemnation, except they repent." Still unquestionably his power as a preacher lay in the skill and fervour with which he portrayed the character and love of the adorable Redeemer. " One day (says Dr M'Crie), when preaching in Edin- burgh, after dwelling for some time on the differences of the day, he broke out with, " Woe is unto us for these sad divisions that make us lose the fair scent of the Eose of Sharon ! and then he went on commending Christ, going over all his precious styles and titles, about a quarter of an hour ; upon which the Laird of Glanderston said, in a loud whisper, " Ay, now you are right, hold you there." This is quite in keeping with the report of the English merchant, who heard him preach at St Andrews in his latter years, and who says, " I went to St Andrews, where I heard a sweet majestic-looking man — (Blair) — and he showed me the majesty of God, After him, I heard a little frdr man — (Rutherford) — and he showed me the loveliness of Christ.'' But why speak of this feature of his ministry to the readers of these letters, when in speaking of the things concerning the King, his tongue is the pen of a ready writer. We only add, that while we have had nothing to do with the preparation of this edition, it seems on the whole to have been carefully printed, and it has the twofold merit, fi-rst, of containing a comiplete collection of Ruther- ford's Letters, so far as yet known ; and, second, that PEEFACE. XV besides being got up with much taste, it is published at such a price as to place it within reach of the great bulk of our toiling masses. We venture, in conclusion, to add a single word of advice as to the manner in which this book should be read. Those who merely wish to learn what Rutherford felt and experienced of the grace of God, may attain their object by reading it right through ; but those who seek to derive real personal benefit from the perusal, should daily read a single Letter, or portion of a Letter, and make it the subject of deep meditation, and a help to self- examination. Few who go through the volume in this way will hesitate to begin it again. On a second perusal, they will find it as fresh and more profitable than at first, and the oftener they read it through, the more they will find in it which they had not found before. There is precious ore on the surface, but the rich lode lies deep. Our prayer is, that all into whose hands this book shall come, may, by God's blessing upon it, learn to prize more highly, love more ardently, and serve more faithfully, the blessed Immanuel, of whose praises the volume is so full. J. M'E. CONTENTS PAGE Preface, iii Introduction, .... 1 Part First. 1. To Mr Robert Cunynghame, 39 ■^ 2. To his Parishioners, . . 41 3. To the Professors of Christ and His truth in Ireland, 47 4. To the Lady Kenmure, . 52 5. To tlie Lady Kenmiu-e, . 54 6. To the Lady Kennuire, . 50 7. To the Lady Kenmure, . 58 8. To the Lady Kenmure, . 58 9. To the Lady Kenmure, . 60 10. To the Lady Kenmure, . 61 11. To the Lady Kenmure, . 62 12. To the Lady Kenmure, . 63 13. To the Lady Kenmure, , 64 14. To Mr John Gordon, elder, 66 15. To the Lady Boyd, . . 69 16. To Mr Alexander Henderson, 71 17. To the Lord Lowdoun, 18. To Mr Wmiam Dalgleish, 19. To Mr Hugh M'KaiU, 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. To the Lady Boyd, To Mr David Dickson, To air ]\Iatthew Mowat, To Sir William Halliday, To a Gentlewoman, . 72 73 75 76 77 78 80 81 To Mr John Gordon, younger, 82 26. To Mr John Gordon, elder, 27. To Earlestoun, younger, . 28. To Mr Alexander Gordon, 29. To the Lady Kilconquhair, 30. To the Lady Forret, . 31. To the Lady Kashiberry 32. To Mr James Bruce, . 33. To the Lady Earlestoun, 34. ToCarletoun, . .35. To Marion M'Kuaught, 36. To Mr John Gordon, 37. To the Lady Halhill, 38. To the Lord Lindsay, 83 84 87 90 93 94 94 95 95 98 100 101 102 PAOB Letters — 39. To the Lord Boyd, , . 105 40. To the Lady Boyd, . . 108 4L To the Lady Culross, . 109 42. To the Earl of CassiUs, . 112 43. To Mr John Osburn, . . 113 44. To Mr Robert Gordon, . 113 45. To Mr John Kennedy, . 114 46. To 'Mr John Kennedy, . 116 47. To Margaret Balantine, . 118 48. To Jonet Kennedy, . .119 49. To Margaret Reid, . . 120 50. To Mr James Bautie, . 121 5L To Mr John Stuart. . . 126 52. To Mr John Stuart, . . 128 53. To Mr John Stuart, . , 130 54. To the Lady Busbie, . . 132 55. To Ninian Mure, . . 133 56. To Mr Thomas Garven, . 134 57. To Jean Brown, . . 135 58. To Jean M'^Millan, . . 137 59. To the Lady Busbie, . . L37 60. To Mr William Rigge, . 139 6L To Mr Fulk Elies . . 140 62. To Mr James Lindsay, . 142 63. To the Earl of CassiUs, . 145 64. To the Lady Largirie, . 147 65. To the Lady Dungueigh, . 148 66. To Jonet M'CuUoch, . 149 67. To the Lord Craighall, . 150 68. To Mr WilUam Rigge, . 151 69. To the Lady Kilconquhair, 151 70. To the Lady Craighall, . 152 71. To Mr James Hamilton, . 154 72. To Mr George Dunbar, . 164 73. To Mr David Dickson, . 156 74. To the Lord Lowdoun, . 156 75. To the Laird of Gaitgirth, 159 76. To the Lady Gaitgirth, . 160 77. To Mr George Gillespie, . 161 78. To Mr Matthew Mowat, . 162 79. To Mr John Meine, . 163 80. To Mr John Fleeming, . 164 XVlll CONTENTS. PAGE T TrTTPT?^— — 81. To Mr Alexcander Gordon, 165 82. To Mr Robert Lennox, . IGG 83. To Marion M'Knaiight, . 107 84. To Mr Thomas Corbet, . 1G8 85. To Mr Alexander Gordon, 169 86. To Mr Eobert Gordon, . 171 87. To Mr Eobert Blair, , .172 88. To Mr Jolm Kennedy, . 174 89. To EHzabetli Kennedy, . 176 90. To Jonet Kennedy, . . 178 91. To Mr David Dickson, . 179 92. To Mr William Kigge, . 181 93. To Mr John Ewart, . . 182 94. To Mr William FuUerton, 183 95. To INIr Alexander ColviU . 183 96. To Earlstoun, younger, . 184 97. To Mr Eobert Glendining, 186 98. To Mr WiUiam Glendining, 187 99. To Jean Brown, . . 188 100. To Mr John Fergnshill, . 189 101. To Mr Eobert Donglass, . 190 102. To Mr John Henderson, . 191 103. To Mr Hugh Henderson, . 191 104. To the Lady Eobertland, 192 105. To the Earl of Cassills, . 194 106. To the Lady Eowaland, . 195 107. To Mr Eobert Gordon, . 196 108. To the Lord Balmerinoch, 198 109. To Mr Alexander Gordon, 199 110. To the Lady Mar, younger, 200 111. To Mr James M'Adani, . 201 112. To filr WiHiam Li^dngstone, 202 113. To Mr William Gordon, . 203 114. To Mr George Gillespie, . 204 115. To Mr John Bleine, . . 204 116. To IMr Thomas Garven, . 205 117. ToBethaia Aird, . . 206 118. To Mr Alexander Gordon, 207 119. To Mr John Fleeming, . 208 120. To Mr Eobert Gordon, . 210 121. To Mr Alexander Gordon, 213 122. To Mr John Nevay, . . 215 123. To Mr J. E., . . . 217 124. To Mr William Dalgleish, 219 125. To Marion M'Knaught, . 222 126. To Mr John Gordon, . 223 127. To Mr Hugh Henderson, . 225 128. To the Lady Largirie, . 226 129. To Earlestoun, younger, . 227 130. To Mr William Dalgleish, 229 131. To the Laird of Cally, . 231 132. To Mr John Gordon, . . 232 133. To the Lord Boyd, . . 234 134. To Mr Eobert Gordon, . 236 135. To Mr Alexander Gordon, 237 136. To Mr John Laurie, . . 240 137. To Mr James Fleeming, . 241 138. To Mr John Meine, . . 243 139. To Cardonness, eider, . 244 PAGE Letters— 140. To the Earl of Lothian, . 247 14L To Jean Brown, . . 249 142. To Mr Eobert Stuart, , 250 143. To the Lady Gaitgirth, . 253 144. To Mr John FergushiU, . 254 145. To Mr John Stuart, . . 256 146. ToCarsluth, , . .258 147. To Cassin Carrie, . , 260 148. To his Parishioners at An- woth, . . . . 262 149. To the Lady Cardonness, 264 150. To Sibilla M'Adam, . . 266 151 ; To the Laird of Cally, . 266 152. To Mr WilUam Gordon, . 268 153. To Margaret Fullerton, . 270 154. To Mr William Glendining, 271 155. To Mr Eobert Lennox, . 272 156. To Mr John Fleeming, . 274 157. To T^Ir William Glendining, 274 158. To Mr Eobert Gordon, . 275 159. To Earlestoun, younger, . 276 160. To Mr John Gordon, , 277 16L To Mr Hugh M 'Kail, . 278 162. To Mr James Murray, . 279 163. To Mr John Fleeming, . 280 164. To Earlestoun, elder, . 281 165. To Mr John FergushiU, . 282 166. To Mr William Glendining, 284 167. To the Lady Culross, . 286 168. To the Lady Cardonness, . 287 169. To Jonet M'CuUoch, . 288 170. To the Lord Craighall, . 289 171. To Mr Eol.erfc Blair, . . 200 172. To the Lady Carleton, . 292 173. To the Lord Craighall, . 293 174. To Jean Gordon, . . 295 175. To Grissal Fullerton, . 296 176. To Mr Patrick Carsen, . 296 177. To Mr John Carsen, . . 297 178. To the Lady Boyd, . . 297' 179. To the Lady Cai-donness, . 299 180. To Mr James HamHton, . 300 181. To Mrs Stuart, . . .302 182. To Mr Hugh M'KaiU, . 304 183. To air Alexander Gordon, 306 184. To Mr John Bell, elder, . 307 185. To Mr WilHam Gordon, . 308 186. To the Lady Boyd, . . 309 187. To Mr Thomas Garven, . 311 188. To the Laird of Moncriefe, 312 189. To Mr John Clark, . . 314 190. To Cardonness, elder, . 314 191. To Cardonness, younger, . 317 192. ToCarletoun. . . .318 193. To the Lady Busbie, . . 320 194. To Fulwood, younger, . 322 195. To Mr Hugh M'KaiU, . 323 196. To Mr David Dickson, . 324 197. To Mr John Livingstone, . 325 CONTENTS. xix PAGE PAGB Letters— Letters— 198. To Mr Ephraim Melvin, . 326 36. Tothe*Lady Boyd, . 422 199. To a Gontlewoman, . 327 37. To Agnes M'Math, . 425 200. To Mr John Nevay, . 328 38. To ]Mr Matthew Mowat, . 426 201. To the Lady Boyd, . 329 39. To the Lady Kenmure, 427 202. To Mr Alexander Colvill, . 331 40. To j\Irs Taylor, . 428 203. To Mr Jo]m Row, . 332 41. To Barbara Hamilton, 430 204. To the Lady Culross, 332 42. To Mrs Hume, . 431 205. To Mr Alexander Gordon, 334 43. To Barbara Hamilton, 432 206. To the Laud of Carletoun, 336 44. To the Viscountess Ken 207. To Mr Robert Gordon, , 338 mure, .... " 434 208. To the Lord Craighall, 339 45. To a Christian Friend, 435 209. To the Lord Craighall, 340 46. To a Christian Brother, . 436 210. To the Lady Culvoss, 343 47. To a Christian Gentlewomar 1,437 211, To Mr Alexander Gordon, 344 48. To the Lady Kenmure, 439 212. To Mr Robert Gordon, 344 49. To Mr J. G., . 440 213. To bhe Lord Lowdoun, 345 50. To the Lady Kenmure, 442 214. To a Chiistian Gentlewoman, 347 51. To the Lady Ai-dross, 442 52. To 3L 0., . 444 Paet Second, 53. 54. To Earlstoun, elder, . To Mr G. Gillespie, . 445 446 1. To the Viscountess of Ken 55. To IMrs Gillespie, 447 mure, .... 349 56. To Colonel G. Ker, . 448 2. To the Parishioners of Kil 57. To Colonel G. Ker, . 450 macohne. 351 58. To Colonel G. Ker, . 451 3. To a Christian Gentlewoman, 356 59. To Colonel G. Ker, . 452 4. To the Lady Kenmure, 358 60. To Colonel G. Ker, , 453 5. To the Lady Kenmure, 300 61. To Colonel G. Ker, . 455 G. To Mr John Kennedy, 361 62. To the Lady Kenmure, 458 7. To the Lady Kenmure, 364 63. To the Lady Kenmure, 459 8. To the Lady Kenmure, 366 64. To the Lady Kenmure, 460 9. To the Lady Kenmure, o6S 65. To the Lady Kenmure, 460 10. To the Lady Kenmure, 370 6G, To the Lady Kenmure, 461 11. To the Lady Kenmure, 372 67, To the Lady Kenmure, 462 12. To the Lady Kenmure, 374 G8. To the Lady Kenmure, 463 13. To the Lady Kenmure, 376 69. To his Reverend Brethren, 464 14. To the Lady Kenmure, 378 70. To Mr Robert CampbeU, . 465 15. To the Lady Kenmure, 380 16. 17. To the Lady Kenmure, To the Lady Kenmure, 381 383 Part Third. 18. To the Lady Kenmure, 384 1. To IMarion M'Knaught, . 467 19. To the Lady Kenmure, 386 2. To Marion M'Knaught, . 467 20. To the Lady Keumiu'e, 387 3. To Marion M'Knaught, 468 21. To the Lady Kenmure, 389 4. To i\Iarion M'Knaught, 470 22. To the Lady Kenmure, 389 5. To Marion M'Knaught, . 472 23. To the Lady Kenmure, 391 6. To I»Iarion M'Knaught, , 473 24. To Earlestoim, elder. 391 7. To Marion M'Knaught, . 474 25. To the Viscountess Ken 8. To Marion M'Knaught, 475 mure, .... 393 9. To ]\Larion M 'Knaught, 477 26. To the persecuted Church 10, To Marion SI'Knaught, 479 in Ireland, , 395 11. To Marion M'Knaught, 480 27. To Dr Alexander Leighton, 401 12. To Marion M'Knaught, . 481 28. To Uy Hemy Stuart, 403 13. To Marion M'Knaught;, . 482 29. To Mrs Pont, . 408 14. To IMarion M'Knaught, . 484 30. To Mr James Wilson, 410 15, To Marion M'Knaught, . 485 31. To the Lady Boyd, . 412 16. To Marion M'Knaught, 485 32. To Mr John Fennick, 414 17. To Marion M 'Ku a aght, , 487 33. To ]\Ir Peter Stirling, 418 18. To Marion M'Knaught, . 489 34. To the Lady Fingask, 419 19, To Marion jM'Knaught, . 490 35. To Mr Da^-id Dickson, 421 20. To Marion SI'Knaught, . 491 XX CONTENTS. PAGE 21. To Marion M'Knaxight, . 492 22. To Marion M'Knauglit, . 493 . 23. To Marion M'Knanght, . 494 24. To Marion M'Knaught, . 494 25. To Marion M'Knaught, . 495 26. To Marion M'Knaught, . 496 27. To Marion M'Knaught, . 496 28. To Marion M'Knaught, , 497 29. To Marion M'Knaught, . 498 30. To Marion M'Knaught, . 498 31. To Marion M'Knaught, . 499 32. To Marion M'Knaught, . 500 33. To Marion M'Knaught, . 502 34. To Marion M'Knaught, . 502 35. To Marion M'Knaught, . 505 36. To Marion M'Knaught, . 506 37. To Marion M'Knaught, , 507 38. To Marion M'Knaught, . 507 39. To Marion M'Knaught, . 508 40. To Marion M'Knaught, , 509 41. To Marion M'Knaught, . 510 42. To Marion M'Knaught, . 511 43. To Marion M'Knaught, . 511 44. To Grissal Fullerton, . 512 45. To a Gentlewoman, . . 513 46. To Mr 'William Fullerton, 513 47. To Viscountess Kenmure, 513 48. To Viscountess Kenmure, 516 49. To the Lady Boyd, . . 517 60, To Mr John Henderson, . 518 51. To Mr James Murray's Wife, 518 PAGE Letters — 52. To Lady Viscountess Ken- mure, .... 519 53. To the Lady Boyd, . . 520 54. To the Lady Kenmure, . 521 55. To the Lady Kenmure, . 522 56. To Colonel G. Ker, . . 523 57. To Mr John Scot, . . 526 58. To Mr John Scot, . . 5'26 59. To Mr John Scot, . . 526 60. To Mr John Scot, . . 527 61. To Mr James Durham, . 527 62. Mr Rutherford's judgment on i^etitioning his Majesty, 528 63. Mr Rutherford's judgment, 529 64. To Viscountess Kenmui'e, 531 65. To Mrs Craig, . . .532 66. To Mr William Guthrie, . 534 67. To Mr James Guthrie, . 535 68. To Aberdeen, . . .536 Paet Foueth. 1. To a Minister in Glasgow, 540 2. To a Person Unknown, . 542 3. To Sir James Stewart, , 543 4. To the Earl of Balcarras. . 543 5. To Lady Ralston, . . 544 6. To Mr Thomas Wylie, . .546 7. To Colonel G. Ker, . , 547 8. To the Presbytery of Kirkcud- bright, . . . 547 9. To John Murray, . . 549 10. To John Murray, . . 549 INTEODUCTION. Christian Reader, — I intended at first to have given thee the trouble of a larger preface to these Epistles, bnt I perceived upon second thoughts, that, as thou shocldest be at a loss in beins: thereby kept up too long at the entry, so I should gain but little by following my first look ; and therefore I have on purpose forborne Avhat I in- tended ; Avherein, as I have pleased myself no worse, so I am sure I have pleased thee much better, than if I had followed forth a design whereby thou couldest have reaped so little advantage ; and, there- fore, leaving and laying it aside, I shall confine myself to what doth more peculiarly relate to this great little book. In the entry give me leave to tell thee, that as there are many of the Author's papers, both polemic and practical, which he intended for public use and advantage, that will never see the light (because, being like Appelle's picture, which was either to be perfected by his own pencil, or Avholly laid aside, he carried his pen away with him- self, leaving few in the generation that would undertake to follow his notion and finish it, or, if they should essay it, it would be in the issue humano capits cervkem jundgere equinavi) upon which account the Church of God may lament the loss of such a " master in Israel " — as the world (I say) is at no small loss by being robbed of so rich a treasure which was intended for them, so these few, which the Author did not at all intend for public use, are here sent abroad. He did violence to the desires of many in refusing to publish them ; howbeit he was known to consult the satisfaction and advantage of the truly godly more than his own contentment or ease, not because he thought them unworthy of a scholar, as being stuffed with a great many sterile notions. If any allege this, it is non causa pro causa ; but the true reason why he endeavoured to suppress and con- ceal them from the world was, lest any man should think of him above what was meet; because (if not of the abundance of revelation, which yet God did indeed give his suffering servant, as will be clear by com- paring what he foresaw, both as to the work in general, ana as to some particular persons, with the event) yet of the abundance of sojl- refreshing manifestations that he had. This was the true reason B 2 INTRODUCTION. which made him inexorable, anTl kept him from listening to the most pressing and assiduous entreaties of his friends. He had many things which commended him to the people of God ; but his covering his great attainments as a Christian, and the pregnancy of his parts as a scholar, with the veil of humility (which is the chief ornament of a gracious spirit), as it did render him peculiarly and deservedly dear to them; so it made both the one and the other shine more brightly, and did, besides their native and intrinsic beauty, give an adventitious brightness and lustre to all that great stock of grace and store of parts which were found (rara avis in terris) jointly in him. It was manifest to all who were but a little acquainted with him that his modesty and humility was such, that in all his most eminent appearances for God he studied to disappear, lest he should by standing up be guilty of intercepting any part of that glory which belongs to Him alone, " Of whom are all things, and for whom are all things." Neither was he at any loss hereby, for thus he became great in the kingdom of God : his growing downward, in that high and gospel-adorning grace of humility, made him grow upward in favour with God and all good men ; and thus by denying himself, and seeking God alone, he both found what he sought, and got what he was not willing to take, nor would own as his due. But, besides this true account I have given, why the world was deprived of so useful and edifying a piece to this day, I think it should not pass without a remark, that God in his good providence, hath reserved the publication thereof for such a time as this, wherein it seems to promise a singular advantage, beyond and above what was probably attainable at any other season. First, as the suffering peo- ple of God, who, while they are deprived of these things in public, for the most part, which comforted them over all their sorrows, and while the songs of the sanctuary (because the Philistines have stopped most of these wells out of which they used to draw and drink with joy that which was sweeter to the taste than honey to the mouth, or they have thrown that into them which hath not only made them lose their former relish and sweetness, but hath rendered them so bitter that they are now become gall and wormwood) are turned into howling and bitter lamentation. While it is thus, I say, with the people of God, that instead of being made glad in His house of prayer as formerly, they are sighing for the ceasing of these solemn assemblies: they may in their sad hours commune with this sufferer, Avho, not being willing to eat his morsel alone, speaks to them good words and comfortable. He telleth you, beloved sufferers, what a heaven is to be had in Christ's company, even Avhen ye are put to bear the cross, and to have shame and suffering for His sake as your inseparable companion. Neither is his discourse upon this suloject an empty or idle speculation ; nay, he speaks what he knoweth. INTRODUCTION. • 3 The God for whose cause he suifered comforted him in the like tribu- lation, and so he is in case to comfort you by the comforts where- with he himself was comforted of God. Next, as to these of the ministers of the Gospel, who, by the violence of their adversaries, are driven from their flocks (which to a godly minister is the great- est of aiiiictions), such, I say, may see for strengthening of their hands, while they are put to contend with those that are too strong for them, how this noble witness, who suifered for the same cause, car- ried, how he acquitted himself and overcame. The archers shot sore at him, but his bow abode in its strength: the arms of his hands were made so strong by the hand of the mighty God of Jacob, that he was too hard for all that entered the lists with him: and when they thought they had done sufficient, either to force him to a compliance, or to make him faint under the effects of their fury, by depriving him of his ministry, which was dearer to him than his life, he was not by all this so much put to suffering (to speak properly), as he was for a season a little removed from the noise and distraction that is abroad in the world, to be alone with God. 0, blessed solitude! O, SAveet society! lie was taken out of the clamour and confusion that is here below, up to the mount, where he was admitted to a near familiarity, and experienced the sweetness of that fellowsliip with God which he had preached unto others. Though he was not taken from the earth, yet he was not only kept from the evil that was then, and is now, in the world, but he enjoyed such a heaven under his heavy pressures, that if the being'about his Master's business had not been prized by him, as preferable to his own consolation, he would have been in hazard of forgetting the troubles of Zion, and of saying, "It is good for me to be here." But he was such a servant as made it his meat and drink to do his Master's will ; he had so learned Christ as to prefer His concernments to his chief joy ; and therefore ye will find him often in these Epistles feasting upon the consolations of God, wiih the tear in his eye, while he remembers Zion, and calls to mind the desolate condition of the flocks of Christ (particul'irly his own), for whom nothing was prepared. He found in his solitude such a measure of presence as could hardly have been expected out of the chamber cf presence, where there is fulness of joy and pleasure for evermore. He knew more in this happy retire- ment of the exercise of them who are above (who, being made kings unto God, have crowns upon their head, and, being made priests also, sacrifice these to the giver) than he could have learned by revolving all the volumes that are written in many ages, amidst the greatest outward calm and tranquillity. This is the summer fruit which grew out of the hard tree of the cross of Christ that he -was put to bear, v.hich was so sweet to his taste that it made him dis- dain the dainties of his adversaries, and disrelish these sour and 4: INTRODUCTION. unsavory deliglits of the sons of men, which, however, they may at first seem to have some petty sweet in them, yet they quickly set the teeth of the eater on edge, and arc found bitter in the belly, and of a bad digestion. These were tliC quiet fruits of righteous- ness that his servant reaped by his sufFeriiigs for Christ, and that in such plenty that out of his abundance he sends some baskets of these sweet fruits abroad amongst his friends, both to bring up a good report upon his liberal Lord and Master, who allows on His followers, while they are pinched with penury of other comforts, full measure, heaped up, running over, and shaken together ; and upon the cross of Christ, also, to the end it might appear that this burden is so far from imbittering the life of a suffering saint, that by the contrary, as the sufferings of Christ abound in him, so his consolation also aboundeth by Jesus Christ. The publication, then, I say, of these Epistles seems in providence to be trysted on purpose with the sufferings of His servants at this time, that we may be encou- raged by his example to a zealous faithfulness and a cheerful suffer- ing, and may wax bold by his bonds, under, and in which he did experience much of the glorious liberty of the sons of God. Plow oft do we find him preferring his confinement to all the sublunary contentments of his persecutor^ ! Here did he feed upon these pure and unmixed delights, which put such gladness in the heart as ex- pels all the latent and lurking griefs that are there, and causeth the soul, while surrounded with all outward trouble, to sing ; while they feed upon ashes, and fill their belly with the east wind, who feast upon the tears of the people of God, and seem to have nothing else to interrupt their tranquillity, but how they may trouble the children of peace. It was under this restraint and in this house of liis bondage, when being shut up from, and spoiled of all creature comforts, that he found the surpassing sweetness of the consolations of God, which taste best when they are most free of the mud and mixture of other enjoyments. There it was where he found the truth of that saying of Augustine : Tanta est dulcedo celestis gaudily ut si una guttula diffiueret in infernum^ totam amaritudinem inferni absor- heret: "If one drop of heavenly jo}'- should fall into liell, it would swallow up, or sweeten, all the bitterness of that place of torment." The love of God and the joy of the Holy Ghost was so abundantly shed abroad in his heart while Le was in the furnace, that his cross was not only made thereby light and easy, and his life pleasant, but ye have him often saying (because he found by these foretastes what inconceivable consolation must be in the immediate vision and full fruition of God) that if there were no other way to come at the possession of that blessedness he would not only clioose to swim through a sea of outward troubles, but he would wade through the lake of fire and brim&tone to be possessed of God himself. And there INTRODUCTION. 5 is none who knew the gracious sobriety of this holy man that will judge he complimented in saying so; nay, there are none who have found what a cool refreshing shade and abundant consolation the soul finds in the company of the Son of Man, while they walk with Him amidst the fxames of the most scorching fiery trials, but they would think strange if he spake otherwise. Let us then be ashamed to scare at the cross, or at Christ's company, because of it, since it bears the man who bears it. Let us resolve to take joyfully the loss of all things, life itself not being excepted, in the service of such a Master, who makes us gainers by our losses, and then in a special way makes up all our wants, according to His riches in glory, when we have forsaken all to follow Him. Let us study to carry in the sight of adversaries as men who cannot be made miserable by affliction! for if we be but indeed faithful to Him we are more happy at our worst than we know, or rather we are only in so far miserable as we know not how happy we are. He who is admitted to know that he hath a place in the heart of God, needs but care little what he meet with from the hand of man : this may wipe all tears from his eyes, even while he sighs out that sad word, "I am poor and needy," that he knoweth, and is in case to add that other, "Yet the Lord thinketh upon me," " And doth earnestly remember me still." And by the way (though it is neither far out of my way nor thine, nor eccentric to my present purpose) let me say, that if the question were moved, how it cometh to pass that he found so much, and other worthy sufferers also before him, that these things seem almost dreams, and incredible to us ? Truly (without speaking any thing of the absolute sovereignty of God, who may do with His own what He will, and dispense as He pleaseth, both as to measure and time) the reason may seem to be obvious ; his and their witness- bearing for Jesus Christ did every way and in all respects exceed ours. They gave to God as kings (though it was of His own they served him) their testimonies against the corruptions of their times, whether in King, or Parliament, or Churchmen : had so much ministerial faithfulness, so much of freedom, so much of grave and gospel-becoming boldness in them, so much holy zeal, even for the least of these concernments of the kingdom of Christ (upon which we are loth to state our sufferings, or for the keeping whereof we are unwilling to hazard the loss of anything), that it was apparent they loved Him so well that they loved not their lives unto the death, and that Christ could require nothing of them as a significa- tion of their zeal for His interests which they were not at a point to part with, and were not ready to give away : and He, upon the other hand, to make it appear that they could not serve the Lord for nothing, and to evidence His special complacency in such a zealous frame of spirit, did not only extraordinarily support them under b INTRODUCTION. their trouble, so that they did not sink, even when they seemed to others to be pressed out of measure and beyond strength, but did manifest Himself in a most familiar manner unto them, so that when they were almost at tliis, that they had not whereupon to lay their head, they had then free access to lean it and lay it on His bosom. In a word, God did declare that He thought nothing too great, nor too good for them, who gave themselves away so entirely to Him. So that if the question were asked at God, whence is it that there is so vast a diiference betwixt His dealings with His former witnesses and these who now give some kind of testimony to His name ? He could quickly silence and put to shame the movers of that question, by sending us back to see what a difference there is betwixt what these worthies did and suffered for Him, and what we have done, though under more obligations (at least subjective), under more oaths, covenants, engagements, protestations, and these often reiterated, than many of them were. He met them as men whose hearts were lifted up in the ways of the Lord, as men who rejoiced and wrought righteousness, and could neither be flattered nor frowned out of their fidelity and freedom ; and He hides Himself from us as it were ashamed of such witnesses, whose very testimony is so unworthy of such a Master, and so far short of what it ought to be, as if indeed we were ashamed of Him and His truth, or thought the torn and the lame a sufficient sacrifice for Him. It was not the main question of these men, in a suffering time, how much they might let go, and yet keep the substantials of religion ; or how long they should be silent, out of fear, least while they endeavoured to acquit themselves faithfully they should both be reputed rash and imprudent, and pro- voke the magistrate, by venting their needless jealousies, to do what he intended not. They did not think it enough to give some ob- lique intimation of their dislike, or half signification of their detesta- tion of these courses, whereby they conceived their Master's interests wronged, Hisprerogative encroached upon, and the whole endangered. Nay, these men of God, who knew the times and what Israel had to do, thought such a carriage unworthy of the ambassadors of Christ, who are set for the defence of the gospel, and upon the matter but as a crouching of asses under the burden. They w^ould sooner have parted with their lives than with one hoof of what belonged to their Master. They thought it more worthy of a watchman to put all on their guard upon the least appearance of the approach of an enemy, than suffer themselves to be shamefully surprised in their security: and they thought it more like the good soldiers of Jesus Christ to cover the ground where they stood, M'ith their dead bodies then, as afraid or terrified by their adversaries in anything, to make a dis- honourable retreat. He who would have put them from witnessing INTRODUCTION. / a orood confession, when the danger of the work of God called them to cry aloud and not to spare, behoved not only to have threatened them (for that would not have done the business, they being men of such mettle as could have looked death out of countenance in its most formidable shape, and carried in the face of all opposition as those whom no affliction could make miserable) but to silence them per- fectly ; he behoved to have sent them into the other world, which could not be terrible to them, who had the certain expectation that, if so dismissed, they should take up their place amongst the souls under the altar slain for the Word of God, and their testimony that they held. And I may say particularly, to the commendation of the grace of God in this His faithful servant (Avho, having served his generation according to the will of God, is now fallen asleep), that to the observation of all he never was afraid of the face of man in appearing for the interests of Christ ; neither knew he what it was to be silent when he saw these in hazard. Nay, he was such a son of Levi as knew neither friend nor brother in the matters of God. Which blessed disposition did accompany him to his grave ; for though such was the indulgence of his Master to so faithful a servant that He would have him to die in peace (though He denied him not the honour of a martyr, dying under a sentence of con- finement to his own house), plucking him out of the jaws of a bloody death, wherewith he was threatened, and which was in- tended for him by them whose indignation had almost come to that height as to say upon the matter, '* Bring him hither upon the bed that we may kill him ;"; for, not being satisfied with the testimony of the physicians, nor the magistrates, nor the ministers of the place, certifying that he was not able to travel to Edinburgh Cas by the sequel was too sadly confirmed), he was confined in his own house, when he was not able to go abroad, and put to shame in that place where he had deservedly gained the repute of one of the most learned and successfully-laborious doctors that ever had filled that chair, and one of the most faithful |and diligent minis- ters that ever watched over or laboured amongst a people. Ah, Scotland! Scotland! whither hast thou caused thy shame to go? If it had been an enemy who had sought to deal thus with thy seers and faithful prophets, it had become thee better to have hid these by fifties in caves from the fury of their enemies ; or, if thou couldest not have preserved the lives of such worthies, either to have died with them, or to have made it appear thou only lived to lament the loss of a greater treasure than if thou hadst lost all the gold of India and Ophir ; but for thy own sword to devour thy own prophets, and that under the colour of law, what canst thou say for this that will satisfy ? What apology canst thou make to God for misusing His prophets and shedding the blood of the just 8 INTRODUCTION. in the midst of thee ? What canst thou saj for satisfying the na- tions who- have heard of the renown of these men, these precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, who have been dashed in pieces in the midst of thee, and dealt with as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter ? Wilt thou not be speechless, and not have wherewith to answer him that reproveth and re- proacheth thee ? Canst thou look forward and not blush to think what succeeding generations will say of thee ? What wilt thou say, when it shall be asked, by one whom thou must answer, what manner of men were these whose blood thou didst shed ? (however thou hast represented them now as malefactors, that thou mightest deal so with them) yet then must thou say all of them were as the sons of kings. Ah, Scotland ! Scotland ! the most solemnly engaged to God, and the most guilty and ungrateful of all the nations under the heavens, dost thou not fear after all this the cry of the souls under the altar, "Saying, with a loud voice. How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth ?" Thou wast once made use of as a carpenter, to fray the horns of them who did push the inheri- tance of the Lord, but now the spirit of the horns hath entered into the carpenters. And dost thou think thyself secure after all this? It is true their is no visible power or party upon earth of whom thou hast much reason to be afraid ; but remember that He who is higher than the highest regardeth, who will make inquisi- tion for the blood of His saints which thou hast shed and His interests. If thou wilt fear nothing else, let me recommend the Scythian fear unto thee, of whom it is reported that they fear nothing, hut that the heavens should fall upon them. Alas ! if thy enemy be above thee, how wilt thou guard thy head, or secure thy heart, when he gives the blow, and recompences thy way upon thine own head? But if thou wilt still go on, and, instead of smiting on thy thigh, and saying " What have I done?" harden thyself and think to prosper, I shall desire grace to have such a frame of soul as to weep for thee in secret. But to return to my purpose from which this sad meditation hath a little withdrawn me. Though such, I say, was the tenderness of His Master to this servant, yet when he had nothing else to complain of (being for many days together before his death filled with as much joy of the Holy Ghost as he could hold) he went away regretting this (though with a sweet submission to his Master's will), that he died not in that bed of hon- our, and was not brought forth to breathe out his life and last upon a scaffold ; since His Master was dealing such favours amongst his followers, for to some (and blessed be He eternally who carried them honourably through) it was given not only to believe but also to sufifer, and to the conviction of their enemies, as men IJS^TRODUCTION. 9 who seemed rather to triumph over that king of terrors than to be daunted by its dreadful aspect, and since He was taking such proofs of the fidelity and affection of some of His followers, it will not be amiss for this purpose, to insert his own words, which were taken from his mouth, not once, but often reiterated. " Now (said that faithful servant, even when he was upon the thres- hold of glory, ready to receive the immortal crown), my tabernacle is iveaJc, and I vmuld think it a more glorious way of going hence to lay down my life for the cause, at the Cross of Edinburgh or St Andrew's; hut I submit to my Masters idlir Is it any w^onder, then, that I say, since he, and these other worthy men's way in wit- nessing for God was so unlike ours, and so far beyond what is to be found in our faint appearances for him, as the one keeps no propor- tion with the other, that there should be so remarkable a difference betwixt his bearing witness to, and testifying complacency in, what they did, and what we do ? If there be, for the most part, some proportion betwixt the dispensation of God and the disposition of men, what wonder that He who admitted them to the nearest familiarity with Himself deal thus with us, and so let us know His breach of promise ? Nay, if there be anything strange and to be wondered at in this, it is rather that He hath not been more terrible to us by writing His displeasure against our lukewarmness in greater characters, than that w^e have not been more indulgently dealt with. It is exceedingly of all our concernments to lay this to heart, and seriously to consider whether this be not the very thing that makes Plim keep a distance from us ? I suppose, upon a very overly search, and survey of our way, it will be found that by our unworthy carriage in His matters we have rewarded this evil to our ;own souls. Our suffering (if it deserves that name) is with less edifica- tion and advantage to the Church, and less comfort to our own souls, because if our testimony be weighed in the balance of the sanctuary it will be found light, and to want many pounds, not only of what it ought to have, but what theirs had whose work was found perfect before God. But if we were really desirous to be dealt with as they were (and Avhat is so desirable next to heaven and the coming of the kingdom of the Son of God upon the earth) let us endeavour to carry as they did. Were they not men of the like passions and in- firmities with us? why, then, should not we aim to be men of the like faithfulness and zeal with them ; then is it that we may hope to have sweet and halcyon days in His service, such as will make us the envy of our enemies, comfort to our friends, and an ornament to our profession ! hereby shall a good report be brought up upon the ways of God, and we shall be living witnesses that godliness, with all disadvantages, and when accompanied with the fiery trial, is great gain, and hath its hundredth-fold in this life, even with 1 0 INTRODUCTION. persecution. Let us study to be like them in going about our Master's work, and then we have rational ground to hope that He who showed, by His dealing with the cloud of witnesses that went before us (and do still compass us about and call us to follow on) that He was not unrighteous to forget their zeal in doing, their patience in suffering, their work and labour of love, will also remember us with the favour that He bore to those who went before us ; then may we expect that He will say to our souls in secret, when we have faithfully acquitted ourselves for Him in public, "Go your way now, and eat your bread, though itbebrown with joy, and drink your drink though it be not wine, with a merry heart, for I have accepted your works ; and these are come in remembrance with me." O, but one of these hours which Mr Rutherford had in God's company were worth many years' suffering, and sweating in the heat of the day ! I know the Prelates and their party will think themselves at a loss to hear of it, or have it said, that God did admit to such famili- arity with Himself His faithful witness against the wickedness of their way. (I grant, indeed, it is a special prejudice to them, for though it be strange, yet they who persecute His favourites and followers would even be thought to do God good service.) But lest I should seem to say that there was some singularity in God's dealing with him (which I know would grate the ear of some of them) who pretend to be chief amongst the rest that had a particular spleen against this eminent servant of Jesus Christ, I need not trouble the world in telling them who he is, that being no secret, though I know not whether he would blush to have it said he hated and persecuted a man so greatly beloved of God and dear to all his people, or if he would not rather boast of it. I owe him the charity that the latter of the two will be his choice, and that for fear of being charmed he will stop his ear from hearing that, " Why persecutest thou me ?" and will essay to justify himself, and satisfy others, by saying (according to his accustomed candour and conscience) that he was aringleader amongst the fanatics. It will sound harsh, also, I know, in the ears of them, who in joining with him, have served themselves heirs to those who went before them in persecuting him, and such faithful men as he was. For as they have come in their places, so they persist in their practices, only with this difference, that in making havoc of the Church of God, they out-do all that ever made apostacy to that way, and run at that rate, in endeavour- ing the ruin of the work of reformation, as if they were afraid to be out-run by any who should come after them, or have it said that there had ever been men, who with more malice did persecute, and stretch forth their hands, not against certain of the disciples, but against the whole Church of God. Keader, pardon, I pray thee, that I now and then digress in a paren- IXTRODUCTIOX. 1 1 thesis while these men come my way, for thou knowest very well, ac- cording to the proverb, that the devil should have his due, and I desire to do them justice; and here I close it: if they should take it ill, I say, to have so much said to the advantage of this worthy man. If it will be acceptable to them to hear it, I have a mind to gratify them so far as to say that Mr Rutherford was not alone in this ; as his practice in that opposition was not peculiar to himself (for he but walked in the way of them who left him an example, to continue with Christ in his temptations), so his privileges were not so peculiar to himself that he had none to share with him. And, therefore, I say (if they can reap any satisfaction by having it said, or if they have a mind still to quarrel, see if there be any of them in case to convince me of a falsehood) that God made it known, not only to themselves, but to the world, how highly He esteemed the fidelity of others also before Him, who were His constant witnesses against introducing and esta- blishing of Prelacy in Scotland. He not only made themselves find what favourites they were by putting them (if I may say so) upon His secrets (for Mr Davidson, Mr Welsh, Mr Bruce, and many others of the valiant soldiers of Christ) and worthy witnesses in their time, were known to have been prophets (which I could evince by many particular passages, but they deserve a more honourable mention, and it may be some will undertake it, than to be shut up within the limits ofa parenthesis), particularly the renowned MrAYelsh, who at home, and abroad at France, was taken notice of as an ex- traordinary man, as a servant from whom his Master did not conceal what He was about to do ; not one Avord hath fallen to the ground of all that, whicJi, by that Seer was foretold concerning the trouble of Scotland. Hath not the sword of strangers, according to his predic- tion, been made drunk with the blood of the slain ! Is not Christ crucified this day in Scotland, which he foresaw would follow ? Yea, and buried too ; and for fear that He should rise again, there is, by the procurement of the chief priests, a watch set, the great stone rolled to the mouth of the sepulchre is sealed, and all made as sure as they can, because if He rise upon them again this last error will prove worse than the first by far. The Lord, I say, hath fulfilled in every circumstance the word of His servant hitherto ; only the last part of it is not yet accomplished, wherein he foretelleth of the glorious resurrection of Christ crucified and buried in Scotland. But the exact accomplishment of the former, puts us in expectation of the latter, notwithstanding that the great stone of an Act Rescissary, and many subsequent acts suitable to that sad one, is rolled to the mouth of the sepulchre, and notwithstanding that the priests (the Prelates I should say) have, by their importunity, procured an order from the magistrate to make it as sure as they can, and, being now clothed with the formality of that law whereby He was crucified (for, 1 2 INTRODUCTION. alas ! we have a law now by which law he must die), they are most diligent in setting their watches and making all fast. This is the thing, I say, that His sad-hearted disciples are in expectation of, notwithstanding of all the endeavours of His enemies to the con- trary, and then Prelacy in Scotland will breathe out its life and last together ; for between Christ's rising and reigning, and their falling, there hath ever been seen amongst us a certain connection. And truly, for as great an enemy as they may think me, I would make a very friendly overture unto them (I grant I come to counsel un- called, and I hope also that my soul shall never enter into their secrets) ; and this is the advice I have to give them, that they would even look so far before their nose as to make their testament so long as they are in case to go to kirk and market. But I fear I lose my labour ; for ere ever Judas will part with his pieces he is in the next door to hang himself (and who can help it). God not only dealt thus with them, I say, as to put them upon His secrets, but He made their very enemies take notice of them ofttimes, as men that had been with Jesus. Hath it not been a heart-staying, and hand-strengthening remark amongst the servants and people of God in our native land, especially in a declining time, that God did singularly shine from heaven upon, and show His satisfaction in the way and towards the persons of those of His ser- vants who stood firm in their opposition to Prelacy ; and that He did as signally, one way or other, either sooner or later, give signi- fications of His dislike of the way and persons of them who turned aside to these crooked courses. And was it ever more visible (as to the latter part) than at this day ? It may be that they will think it sufficient to convince me of a lie, that their greatness and grandeur is such as if they had monopolised to themselves all the riches and honour of the nation. But if they will have patience to hear me to Amen, I may possibly convince them of a truth they are not willing to hear ; for I not only grant that they have forgotten their Master's directions, inhibiting them to lift up themselves above their brethren, but I will grant them this also (for they must have much given them) that they have carried away the primacy and precedency from the nobility, on whose necks they now trample. But when all this is granted them, yet they have not convinced me of telling an untruth. They must have leave to put out mine and other men's eyes besides (which we are not willing to give them ; though if any man would gratify his Grace and their Lordships he must part with these in the first place, for an implicit faith is the basis and foundation of their kingdom of darkness, without which it would fall about their ears and but overwhelm them in the rubbish, and that would be very sad to them, for I suspect they have no great mind to die) before this come so much as under debate, almost with INTRODUCTION. 15 indifferent men, whether God be angry at their way. His very giving of them up, to persecute His people and servants, says noth- ing if it say not this, that whatever be their outward prosperity He hath classed them with Pharaoh in pouring out His plagues upon their heart. Is not this seen, that so soon as a man becomes serious in seeking of God he becomes the butt of their malice, and the mark against which they bend their bow and shoot the arrows of their indignation ? And so soon as any begins to mind seriously the concernments of his soul, then {sine monitore) he falls in a dis- like with them and their way. I do not say that all who hate the Prelates are saints, for there is sufficient in their way to make them odious to others ; but is not this known, that those who once begin to set their face towards God turn their back upon them? I am sure this observation does seldom fail, or can be proved false in our native land. And then, on the other hand, since these men were exalted, do not the wicked walk on every side ? Is there not a pro- fane spirit (the constant attendant of Episcopacy in Scotland) broken loose in the land ? Is there not such a flood of impiety running through the land that carries most men down the current as hath hardly been seen ? Hath not this leprosy spread itself over the whole land, so that we are an abomination and talk to all about us? And if any would endeavour to accomplish a diligent search, to find out the fountain that casts forth this mire and dirt, to the defiling of the land, and defacing of congregations, he would, it may be, find it where it ought least to be expected. These streams of impiety and impurity run from the sanctuary. Hence is it that profanity goes forth through the whole land ; and can it be otherwise when so many faithful ministers are driven away, and men put in their places to handle the law, of most of whom, without breach of charity, it may be said that they know not God, and care not for the souls of His people. It is under the shadow of this plant (which, because it is not of our heavenly Father's planting, we live under the expectation, and though our eyes should be shut before we see it, we hope to die in the faith of its being plucked up) that these weeds have grown up, so that, alas ! the vineyard of the Lord of Hosts is now no more like His inclosure ; it bringeth forth briers and thorns instead ofgood fruit. He planted the Church of Scotland anoble \ane, wholly a right seed, but since it became a seminary for Prelates, the conversation of the generality proclaims this, that we are turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto Him. This is the pre- latical reformation, which is suitable to itself all along ; for, having purged out of the Church the faithful ministers of Christ (and the few who are yet remaining being in expectation of the same lot), what can follow among the people but that the land should be drowned with a deluge of profanity. And are we not for the most 14 INTRODUCTION. part [oh, if with a suitable measure of sorrow I could make mention of it] as the children of the Ethiopians to Him ? Are not our spots unlike the spots of His people ? This observation, I say, as it was a very heart-stajdng consideration in former times, and it was instead of many arguments amongst them who were no great disputants, so I hope (since it was never more evident) it will still prove a heart- establishing consideration in the faith once delivered to the saints. Reader, how desirous soever thou ma3'"est be to have dead Mr Rutherford live in the hearts of the present and succeeding gene- rations, by an account of his singularly gracious life, and answerably glorious death, yet I shall not (for that would lead me a length beyond the just limits of an epistle, where, contrary to my purpose, I find myself almost arrived already) be able to satisfy thy desire, nor answer thy expectation. It is not my present work to tell thee that he was a gentleman by extraction : that he was educated at schools and colleges, where he was admired for the pregnancy of his parts, and deservedly looked upon, even then, as a person of whom great things might be expected : of his being pitched upon for a profession of philosophy by the College of Edinburgh (where he was educated) when he was yet very young : of his being called thence to the ministry in Anwoth (to which charge he entered by the means of that worthy nobleman ray Lord Kenmure, without giving any engagement to the Bishop), where he laboured night and day with great success, the whole country coming to him, and accounting themselves as his particular flock. There it was where he wrote that great master-piece of learning against the Arminians (which yet was but a compendium of what he then intended), his Exercitationes Apologeticce : of his persecution by the Prelates, who were so sound in the faith as to challenge and accuse him for writ- ing that book. Being called before their High Commission Court, he appeared and declined it, as none of the courts of Christ [nor was there need of anything else for a confirmation that it came not from on high, but from below, save its procedure ; for its acts had the very dye and visage of hell upon them. If they will plead that it is from above, they will be puzzled to pitch upon a period, or fix upon any other time, when it came down, except with the fallen angels ; but it may be, this please such angels of the Church ; so they will be called, for they boast much of antiquity. And truly, that which gives ground for this conjecture, that it came down from heaven in that company, is that it persecutes the saints and ser- vants of the Most High ; and if there were none such upon earth it would have no work]. And was by this High Commission put from his ministry and sent to Aberdeen, where the doctors found to tlieir confusion that the Puritans w^ere clergymen as w^ell as they. Of his returning to his former charge, upon that happy change of INTRODUCTION. 15 affairs, in the year 1638 ; and his being shortly after sent to the profession of theology in the University of 8t AndreAv's, by the General Assembly (where he was also called to be worthy Mr Blair's colleague in the ministry), which, being the seat of the Arch- Prelate, was the very nursery of all superstition in Avorship and error in doctrine, and the sink of all profanity in conversation amongst the students; where God did so singularly second His ser- vant's indefatigable pains, both in teaching in the schools and preach- ing in the congregation, that it became forthwith a Lebanon, out of which were taken cedars for building the house of the Lord through the whole land; not a few of whom are this day, amongst those who have obtained mercy of the Lord to be His faithful witnesses against Scotland's present shameful and unparalleled defection. Of his being sent, with other Avorth}^ ministers, by the General Assembly, to the famous synod at London ; where, during the time of his abode, he published several pieces. In a word, of his unparalleled faithfulness and holy zeal in being about his Master's business ; so that he seemed to pray constantly, to preach constantly, to catechise constantly, to be still in visiting the sick, in exhorting from house to house, to teach iis much in the schools, and spend as much time with the young men, as if he had been sequestered from all the world besides ; and withal, to write as much as if he had been constantly shut up in Lis closet (sufficient proof whereof hath been given to the world by the many pieces he hath published ; but the great bulk of manuscripts which he hath left behind him, and must lie buried with himself will put this further out of doubt) ; so that one Mr Rutherford seemed to be many able godly men in one, or one who was furnished Avith the grace and abilities of many. It is not, I say, my present purpose to give any particular account to the world of these, or of the many things he had to wrestle vv^ith, especially towards the end of his days, and of his edifying death ; that may be done hereafter, by a more dexterous haiid and skilful pen, Avitli much advantage and edification to the Church of God. Only I may say, that if amongst the Heathens Hercules was looked upon as so far both above the applause of any who undertook to commend him, and beyond the reach of the obloquy and reproach of any who had so fallen out with his Avits as to derogate from his Avorth, that it Avas a problem amongst them Avhether he Avho under- took to praise him, or he who vented anything to his prejudice, did commit the greatest solecism (though it Avas but Bellaina gloria Avhereof he could boast). I suppose, with more reason, among them Avho knoAv better to make the true parallel betwixt things that differ, and are more fit to judge of that Avhich is of true worth and great price in the sight of God, I should seem more ridiculous to say much to the advantage of the Author, Avhose praise (without 16 INTRODUCTION. the help of my blunt pen) is in all the Churches of Christ ; whose manner of life, in all godliness and holy conversation, rendered him dear to the lovers of holiness, and who hath left his name for a blessing to the chosen of God. He was a true John the Baptist indeed ; totus vox, a voice in habit, gesture, and conversation. In a word, in his life and at his death he obtained that mercy of the Lord, even when he said nothing, to preach to ail who beheld his conversation (which was observed to be in heaven, while he con- versed amongst men) that thc^'c was nothing good but to draw near to God. And now being got up above amongst these pages of honour who wait upon the King's own person, and having taken up his place amongst the spirits of just men made perfect (after which this saint often panted, and for which he prayed night and day), he doth by these Epistles, which he hath left behind him (wherein thou wilt perceive how his soul was drawn forth in incessant longings after that whereof he is now possessed) cry aloud to you his companions, the saints that are in the world, to come up hither and see that which cannoL be seen while ye are there ; that which is only worth the seeing ; that which, if it were known, would make you quarrel with death for delaying, to shut your eyes upon other objects. Leave the dark world (doth he say) and come up hither to this blessed land of light, where all our childish thoughts of God are gone, and vanished in this noon-day vision ; where the understanding is fully illuminated, and there is no cloud to benight or eclipse the soul in its uptakings of God ; where the will hath a true compliance with, and a perfect complacency in, the will of God ; where the affections do eternally run in a straight line towards Him, and are for ever put beyond hazard of diverting towards any other thing, or of being enamoured with any other object. Though I have no purpose to insist on the particulars of his life or death, I say yet, before I close this section, there are two things which I cannot, I ought not, for all the haste, to conceal or let pass without a remark, because one was looked upon by many, as a thing very observable, and the other will, I know, be taken notice of and welcomed by all the people of God. The first relates to the time when this faithful labourer was removed to his rest, which was the night following that dark and dismal day wherein the Act Rescissary was past ; the Lord thereby showing a special piece of indulgence to His servant in not adding grief to his sorrow," but hiding it from those eyes which had accustomed themselves to trickle down without intermission, both for what he saw and what he foresaw. Since the Parliament of Scotland, so solemnly engaged to God, would at once burst all these bonds, and cast away these cords from them, which w^ere neither our bondage nor our burden, but the badge of that glorious liberty, whereinto with a strong hand INTRODUCTION. 17 lie had vindicated us ; and upon the matter thej would needs say to the God whose sworn subjects and servants they were, " Be gone from us ; " he would not let his faithful servant (whose zeal to the work of God was such that if the report of this shameful revolt had not killed him at the first hearing outright, yet it alone, without any other sickness, would have been more than enough to have brought down his head with sorrow to the grave), see another sun arise upon that land out of which the Sun of Righteousness was banished by a law. And, alas ! who would desire to dwell where Christ may not reside with freedom, honour, and safety ? Who, that prefers Jerusalem to their chief joy, would love to out- live the departing of the glory ? Might not Jesus Christ have said to our Parliament, " For which of My good deeds is it that ye stone Me ? " Have I been a Avilderness or land of drought unto you ? Were ye not honourable and renowned amongst the Churches abroad after ye became precious in My sight? Did I not make your adversaries sensible that he who touched you touched the apple of Mine eye, so long as ye were steadfast in My covenant? and even after ye had left your first love, and declined from the integrity of your espousals, I only visited this transgression with the rod, and this iniquity Avith stripes ; nevertheless My loving-kindness did I not utterly take from you, nor suffered I My faithfulness to fail. Though I punished you as a nation^ I dwelt amongst you as a Church ; and I did not remove your teachers into corners, but your eyes did see these, and ye did still hear the joyful sound ; and, as if all that had been too little, I gave you the desire of your heart, re- stored you to your civil liberties, which ye had sinned away, and set you down in a/ree Parliament. And do ye thus requite Me ? What ! is this My entertainment, where I was once crowned and cried up for a king? "VV^hat a strange and astonishing change is this, that the very persons who swore unto Me the oath of allegi- ance, and did sing in My company, spreading their garments in the way with shouting, are now crying, " Crucify him, crucify him? " Shall I not have whereupon to lay My head, except it be on a cold stone in a prison, amongst a people, who, after a most solemn man- ner, had given themselves away unto Me? Can these be the very men who, with hands lifted up to heaven, did so often and so solemnly swear, before My Father, and before His holy angels, and in the sight of all the nations, that they would be Mine, and that I should have their lives and fortunes at My disposal? Is it pos- sible that these are the men who carried as if they would have plucked out their very eyes and given them unto Me, who now plat a crown of thorns and put upon My head? Is this the nation and Parlia- ment who swore that they would serve the Lord their God, and that according to the pattern showed them in the mount, and bound c 18 INTRODUCTION. their soul to His obeclieiiee by an oath, and as they should answer to lliin, or expect a comfortable appearance before the Judge of quick and dead? Are they (might he say) the very same persons, or is it another generation wlio have not heard of that solemn transac- tion betwixt me and the nation, who have used me worse than the very Gaderenes? though these were void of religion, yet they had so much civility as to compliment me out of their coasts, and pray me to be gone, without committing any other act of hostility against me, or beating me out of their borders with tuck of drum ; but now, shall it be by a law, sedition and treason, to assert any obli- gation to me from all these oaths ? Shall it be a note of incapacity for any place of trust in Church or State, to say that the land is under the oath of God, and that no power on earth can loose them- selves, or make void thai obligation as to others ? nay, that the formal adjuring of these engagements to me shall be, if not the unnm necessarium^ yet the sine quo no?i, to qualify a man for any public employment. Ah, Scotland ! by dealing thus with thy covenanted God, -what hast thou done? May not God, Avho was thy own God, expostulate with thee as He did with that people (Jer. ii. 10-12). Go abroad amongst the nations, turn over all history fsacred and profane), call for the records of the nations, and see if in these thou canst find any who have dealt with their God as thou hast done? A precedent thou mayest possibly find, but a parallel in every respect thou canst not. Thou art singular, and by thyself, in com- mitting those two evils (but such two as are comprehensive of all others : ' such two, as a third is not possible), departing from the living God, and digging to thyself broken cisterns that can hold no water. Thou wilt find what folly is in this (I wish it be not too late), to pain thyself in digging an empty cistern, and in forsaking the Fountain of all consolation: and that a broken one too ; as it hath nothing in it, so it can hold nothing if it had it. Is not this to commit two such evils as makes a soul or nation truly miserable ? And yet this hast thou done. O ! may not the heavens be astonished and horribly afraid at this requital we have given unto Jesus Christ ? Yea, we w^ere so bent to back- sliding, and so hasty and headstrong in departing from Him, that we seemed to have lost, together, with our loyalty to the Son of God, all respect to our own reputation (as it often falls out that men lose the better part of their reason together with their reli- gion ; he who lets go the one does seldom retain the other) ; for by that very vote (never to be mentioned without tears and detesta- tion), whereby Christ was robbed of His prerogative, they did (besides their design) divest themselves of their own privileges, and while they un-king Him, whom God hath made King in Zion (or do that w^hich He will account so), they un-Pai'Iiameut them- INTROD LOTION. 19 selves (pirum omen to them, and it may be a token for good to the nation). I nothing doubt but some of the most sagacious amongst them saw this then (though the generality, without con- sidering either the ditch they were digging for themselves, by what they did, or the danger that would follow upon their falling into it, suffered themselves to be carried down with the current, and did run as they were driven), or they have had time enough since to think in what capacity they could sit and act after that vote. For all laws being then repealed which did exautorate the Prelates and in- capacitate them for sitting, as one of the estates in Parliament, and these laws then only being in force, which made them an integral and essential part of the High Court of Parliament, the third estate was wanting, while they were away ; without which the other two were not in capacity to act as a Parliament. And if so, they may at their own leisure consider, whether the precious blood that they did shed after that vote, before the close of that session, may not be required at their hands as they would do well to think what they would answer before men, if the question were asked, quo warranto, did ye shed this blood? It may be they would find themselves further to seek as to what to say for satisfying any, than they found these worthies in answering all the accusations of their accusers. But what shall I say? It were more fit to Aveep over this than to Avrite it, and to cry nnto Him against whom this is done, " Wilt Thou refrain Thyself for these things, O Lord ? Wilt Thou hold Thy peace and aifiict us very sore?" Alas! we made such haste to pull down that beautiful house, wherein we and our flxthers had praised Him, and to overturn the very founda- tions of the dwelling-place of His name to the ground, that in our precipitation to raze it we have buried ourselves under the rubbish ; for they are blind who do not see the men who have done this snared in the work of their own hands ; and this, till more come, should make the people of God sing a Higgaion Sslah. O, if all who have had a hand in it would in time bethink themselves, sure, in that reflection, if they were serious, they would smite on their thigh and say, " Alas ! what have Ave done ?" The second thing that I have to acquaint thee with, and wherein I know (if thou be one of them Avho take pleasure in the dust of Zion's demolished walls) thou wilt have a special complacency, is that as His servant did with much sorrow of soul foresee Scotland's shameful revolt (which is plain by the last letter in this book), so his Lord and Master put him so far on this secret as to let him see a delivery to the Church on the other side of it. Let us have but patience ; there is a Plaudit for the saints, and a song of praise for the Most High, after the storm is over and ended. Mourn Ave may, and ought, but let us mourn in hope, for He is the Lord Jehovah Avho Avill 20 INTRODUCTION. hasten it in His time ; wliicli, as it cannot be antidated by us, so it shall not lie in the power of all that oppose themselves to post- pone it. And to that purpose, besides what thou mayest see in the last letter of this book, I shall set down some of his own words witliout either comment, alteration, or addition. Upon the last of February 16G1, which was about a month before he died, at the close of a large testimony he gave to the work of reformation, these were his words (after he had been speaking of suffering for Christ^ : " ' Blessed soul (said he) who loves not his life to death ; for on such rests the spirit of glory and of God,' " 1 Peter iv. 14. But we cannot say, but this is a day of darkness, and a day of blasphemy and rebuke; the Lord hath covered Himself with a cloud in His anger ; we looked for peace, but behold evil ; our souls rejoiced when His Majesty did sware the covenant of God, and put thereto his seal and subscription, and after confirmed it by his royal promise, so that the subjects' mind blessed the Lord, and rested upon the healing word of a Prince ; but now, alas ! the contrary is enacted by law, the carved work broken down, ordi- nances defaced, so that we are brought to the former bondage and chaos of prelatical confusions and anarchy ; and the royal prero- gative due to Christ pulled off His head. We have seen days of sorrow, and have just cause to fear we be made to read, and eat that book, wherein is written lamentation, and mourning, and woe ; but we are to believe that Christ will not so depart from the land, but a remnant shall be saved, and he shall reign a victorious conquering King to the ends of the earth. O that there were nations, kindreds, tongues, and all the people of Christ's habitable world, encompassing His throne wdth cries and tears for the spirit of supplication, pro- mised to be poured upon the inhabitants of Judah for that effect." Thus he closed his testimony. I shall only add another passage to this purpose. About two hours and a half before he was removed, amongst other things he spake, which did relish of heaven, and refreshed the souls of all that heard them, he had this expression ; "■ I do no ways doubt of it but Christ will arise and w^ound His enemies in their loins," Tiiis was only taken, but the observer saith he had many to the same purpose. Now this was that very night wherein the Act Rescissary was passed : as if God, w^ho had taken notice of such a high alFront done to him, would let his dying servant know, to the end he might communicate it to others, that he would not only repeal that act, but that he would rescind the rescinders. A w^ound in the loins, when the blow is given by the hand of Him who is God Almighty, must prove mortal. If He wound them, there they must fall, though they were stronger than lions; for who may stand before Him when once He is angry? The men of might will not find their hands when the party they INTRODUCTION. 21 engage with is the Omnipotent God, When men are become so high that they are too hard a party for any on earth to deal with, if their way l3e contrary to Him, then they fall directly into His hand, to deal Avith them ; and " It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.*' He is such a party as thou canst neither fight nor flee from. Oh, Scotland ! Scotland ! if thou wouldest yet think on thy way, and remember this before He come to enter the lists with thee, who quickly puts His enemies out of a posture of defence ! 0, if thou would yet kneel before Him whom God had made King in Zion, and kiss the Son lest He be angry ! for if He be angry thou must perish, and there is no way to prevent this, but to remember " from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works." As for the letters themselves, I shall not offer to commend them ; they had letters of recommendation deeply engraven on the hearts of all who have seen them, and can savour the things that are of God ; this they had, I say, amongst them who have their senses exercised to discern good and evil, long before they were made thus public in the world ; so they need not my commendation, nor will the detraction of any, who have a mind for that, blast their repute ; as they are above the one, so they despise the other. But sure I am this may be said, if thou hast any acquaintance with the sweet breath- ings of the Spirit of God, if thou hast ever seen by tasting how good He is, or hast found what soul-anguish doth follow upon the hiding of His face from a person who hath placed his satisfaction so entirely in the light of His countenance lifted up upon the soul, that the man cannot enjoy himself when he doth not enjoy Him, but carries as one deprived of all that Avhich made life more desirable than death ; if thou be such, I sa}-, then thou wilt find somewhat here to take thee. Here thou wilt perceive both these conditions set before thine eye, and exemplified in an eminent saint. Thou wilt both find what a heaven the saints have, or is to be had on this side of glory, and how, as a sensible presence makes them forget all their sorrows, so a felt absence doth imbitter all their other enjoyments. In general, I may say this of these Epistles (and it may be after thou hast perused them thou wilt seal it), that thou hast many volumes wrapt up together in a few words, a great soul shut up in a little body ; much of the marrow of real religion enclosed in every line. If thou be only taken and delighted with obstruse and high-flown notions, which have not a native connection with inflaming the heart with love to God, but are rather the Ignis fatuus of the age, being, for the most part, smoke for light, or, at best, a dim flash rising out of the darkened understanding of men, whose light, till they be illuminated from above, as it rises out of a dark dungeon, so it leads to destruction, and instead of directing 22 INTRODUCTION. tlie man who follows it to a place of rest, it leads him to the pit, and leaves him there to perish. If thou be taken, I say, with such kind of stuff I shall not bide thee, but I know thou wilt go elsewhere; but, if thou be one who loves not to feed upon ashes, and hast no mind to fill thy belly with that east wind, which instead of nourishment produces nothing but much torment in the inward parts, I know thou wilt welcome this piece, as that which hath both meat and medicine for thy soul in it. Here thou wilt meet with one warmed with the love of God, shining and reflecting heat upon all that are about him; letting thee know from his own experience what is to be found in a fellowship with God, and desirous of nothing so much as that thou and others may share with him in that same love, which is better than life, and be ])artakers of that same blessedness, which made him boast of God all the day, and bliss himself in his afflicted lot. He would have thee taste of that which made him cheerful under the cross and put him in case not only to look, but to laugh all his troubles out of countenance. And if thou wilt but converse with him a little, it may be thou find thy heart burn within thee while thou talkest with this Avarm soul, whose words seem, as they drop, to cast fire into the affections, and set the heart in a flame. The Author in his other writings (which have always a special tincture of holiness ; for even in following the most obstruse notion, and apparently remote from practice, thou wilt still perceive him spirare sanctitafem) is much above many men. But in these (how low soever at the first look they may appear) he is above himself, being often either as a man elevated above the pitch of mortality, and caught up already into the choir of angels, or as an angel come down amongst men, showing the inhabitants of this lower world somewhat of that which will be still a great secret while we are here, to wit, what a life they live, who see God as He is and enjoy Him. For the subject matter thou wilt meet with in these Epistles I shall not say much. There is a sweet and pleasant variety of pur- pose to be found in them, whereof thou canst only expect a just account by a perusal of the whole ; but mostly thou wilt find these things insisted upon : 1. What high-spring tides of joy and conso- lation did fill and overflow the soul of this sufferer, so as sometimes ye have him expressing himself as pained with a surcharge of love (O, rare and blessed disease)! and having nothing else to seek, there are earnest longings after a more capacious soul to contain more of that infinite ocean which hath neither brim nor bottom. This is the gain of one who can suffer the loss of all things for Christ. This is the cool refreshing shade that they find in the furnace, which not only keeps the fire of affliction from scorching them or consuming them into ashes, but makes it a more desirable lot than what others account the best of lives. The soul amidst these flames, being admitted INTRODUCTION. 23 to such a nearness with God, as canseth joy to overflow all its , banks, and perfumes the heart with delight, is so far from complain- ing because of the liery trial, that the cross of Christ is more desirable to it than a crown: and since it is there, where, next to heaven, His people enjoy most of Himself, it makes them sing sweetly amidst all the outward sorrows that befall them, and puts them in case to com- mand a consort of music within ; while others, in their fool's para- dise, laugh as they list, have sadness at their heart, and hnd them- selves pierced through with many sorrows. 2. Ye have sometimes a felt emptiness ; for this full feast is not, or cannot, be the ordinary diet ; it may well be the extraordinary dessert of the people of God while they walk by faith and not by sight : the constancy of that joy, as well as the fulness of it, is reserved for the chamber of pre- sence. No saint, how eminent soever, even in suffering for Christ, can expect that all tears shall be wiped from his eyes till he come to that land, where all the inhabitants have everlasting joy upon their heads, and where he will be put beyond hazard of sinning, as well as without the reach of suffering. There is sometimes a felt empti- ness, I say, that casts into a fever of desires. That river of God that is full of water, which did overflow and refresh the soul, run- ning again into that sea Avhence it came, and in this low ebb, ye see how the patient is pained with absence, and what a panting there is for a sensible presence ; the soul, as it Avere, is evaporate in such wishes as these, " O, when wilt Thou come unto me!" or, " O, when shall I come and appear before Thee, and be put once for all and for ever beyond the fear of the rising of any cloud to eclipse the light of Thy countenance! " The soul in this absence is scorched with the fever and flame of burning desires ; but to keep it from being burnt up, there is hope ; this holds the soul in life that it expire not ; this saves from swooning and preserves from sinking into despondency. And though, while hope is deferred, the heart be sick, yet there is ease in this very pain, for an unerring expec- tation of a future good, yields a present ease to the expectant, and makes the man give himself the check, thus, " Why art thou cast down, O my soul? this sickness was never yet unto death, but ever to the glory of God, therefore hope thou in Him, for I shall yet praise Him." In a word, that which is principally insisted upon in these short summaries of a communion with God, is this, on the one hand, how a hungry and longing soul is filled and feasted vnih the consolations of God, and when in that posture, how puzzled and non-plussed as to what to think or say of God. It knov/s not Avhat to do, or how to lay out itself for Him : the satisfaction that it hath in Him, and the obligation it sees itself under to Him, making it look one very thing it doth for Him, sayeth, or thinketh of Him, with a kind of regret and holy dissatisfaction. It doth not please 24 INTRODUCTION. itself in pleasing Him, and though He accept what love offers, yet love desiderates so much in the offering that it presents all with a blush : and suitable to this amiable and orderly confusion of spirit its greatest oratory and eloquence, is a kind of abrupt, concise, and broken discourse. It is most desirous to speak, but not knowing what to say which is not unworthy of Him, it falls into silent admi- ration, and yet something it must say : wherein, though it do not please itself, yet it makes good sense before Him, and is a most pleasant melody in His ears. It is then when He seems to be so taken with that, wherein the soul finds so many failings and defects, that He says, speak on, let Me see that blushing countenance ; let Me hear thy voice. " For sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely." And, truly, thou mayest perceive much of this kind of discourse in these Epistles, Avhereto the holy writer was so habituate in these soliloquies wdth God, which were ordinary to him in his retirement, that his pen and preaching did ever after keep the tincture, and had the relish of that : for M'hile many preached notions, and some spake because they believed ; he was perceived ofttimes not so much to speak, as believing, as seeing. His being so long in the mount with God, made his face to shine ever thereafter in his public appearances : and there was some pecu- liar sweetness in his phrase (especially in crying up and commending the love of Christ, in mentioning the joy of the Holy Ghost, or the glory of the life to come) beyond what was to be found even with other holy men : neither was it amongst the dry schoolmen, nor at Aristotle's feet (though there were few in the age so well acquaint with either) that he learned this. Nay, nay, flesh and blood did not, could not, reveal it unto him : he was a student above the clouds, and there it was where he learned these metaphysics. This, I say, is the thing, upon the one hand, which is insisted upon ; and on the other, thou hast the sad condition of a soul deprived of these sweet enjoyments. He who was just now taken into the banqueting- house, and had the banner of love for his canopy, hath that spiced wine, which his soul was drinking with delight, snatched out of his hand, and is panting for a drop of the rivers of his pleasure, wherein not long ago he was bathing himself: whereupon follows a night of sorrow in the soul, because the sun that did illuminate and warm it with his rays is set. Then, as if the soul would break forth at many passages together, for haste to be after him who hath with- drawn himself, it runs out at the eyes in tears, and at the mouth in complaints, because of his absence ; yet faith sets down the fainter upon the brink of the river, and puts him under an arrest (that he run not away) till the sea flow again : and desire makes him look out with a watery eye as impatient of delay: the inward echo of the heart in the meantime being still this, " How long wilt Thou hide INTRODUCTION. 25 Thy face from me ;" how long? and while he is in this posture ye would not know him to be the man that a few minutes since he was, and a few minutes hence he may and will be : and no wonder, since that is wanting and away w^hich was the health of his counte- nance, that he look pale. As the weeping man's eye, being blinded with water, cannot take up objects as they are, especially, if they be at any distance, so ye have this holy man in these heavy hours, venting his jealousies, and, because of withdrawing, giving way to his sorrow. Now, as the joy of enjoying God is by the former made clear to be of all, the greatest (for under these full manifesta- tions thesoulmay be transported tosuch an ecstasy of delight, that for the time, whether in the body, or out of the body, the man knows not), so the sorrow for being deprived of that (the giver seeing it necessary to v/ithhold cmd suspend these manifestations, knowing that heaviness for a season through manifold temptations, is fit for these who are sons of consolation, and who shall have, a few days hence, an ever- lasting year of jubilee) is of all sorrows seen to be the sorest and sharpest. This is soul anguish, and so least of any supportable, because it makes the very spirit, which, if it were found would sustain a man's infirmities, sink under it. While it is thus Avith him ye may perceive that his bed cannot comfort him, nor his couch ease his complaint. And in this fever there are some expressions dropped, which, after the height is over, he doth retract as rash and unadvised, and, upon more mature deliberation, is made to say, "This was my infirmity!" And, truly. He who intendeth the advantage of the whole in His way of dealing with every member of that body whereof He is head, hath excellently ordered this matter, that they who have the fullest feasts of joy, and are admitted to the nearest fellowship upon earth (to the end that pride may be hid from their eyes), have ordinarily the deepest downcast- ings. These warm hours and hot blinks of a sensible presence are often followed with a sharp shower and dark night of bitter desertion ; so that if poor souls in reading these should begin to think or say, " Alas ! we are sparingly dealt with ; we are great strangers to such a favourite's feasts ; let them consider also (besides that he was an ambassador now in bonds, and so his Master allowed liberally upon him) that their soul-anguish is short of his ; and so, if they consider his condition well, they will see that, though he had much, yet he had nothing over ; and if they take notice of the mercy that is in their own, they will perceive also that, though they have little, yet they have no lack ; for He abounds towards His in all wisdom and prudence." There is a third condition spoken frequently to in these Epistles also ; which lies in the middle betwixt these two ; and that is, such a communion with God as consists in the soul's being well pleased with Him, and being most 26 INTRODUCTION. desirous to please Him in all things, abtracting from these extra- ordinary transports of joy upon the one hand, and free, likewise, of these deep downcastings upon the other. And this is the more ordinary way of the saints, whose daily exercise it is to come and take out their directions from their Master, and endeavour to walk according to these, both as men who are still under their Master's eye, and as these who must give an account of themselves to Plim, in which service they want not their own sweet peace, for the way wherein they walk is a way of pleasantness, and all these paths are peace, though it be not such an overflowing peace as amounts to a joy unspeakable and full of glory. So full joy is nothing else but peace swelling without its ordinary channel, and overflowing all its banks. And on the other hand, they want not their own checks and challenges ; they are often before God with the tear in their eye, and knows what it is to sigh because of a body of death within them ; because of that law which is in their members, warring against that law which is in their mind, and bringing them into captivity to the law of sin, which is in their members. Yet this is short of the sorrow of some dear to Him, who are made to roar by reason of the disquietness of their heart, and to cry out of the arrows of the Almighty sticking within them, and the poison thereof drink- ing up their spirit ; so that while they suifer this, they are, with wise Heman, almost distracted. These things, I say, are mainly insisted upon, which, according to an epistolar method, lie scattered in several parcels, up and down the book. In reading whereof, thou wilt easily perceive also, that though the whole of these Epistles may be of singular use for a Christian in every condition, yet a great many of them have a more special reference, both to the comforts and the carriage of a Christian under the cross (whether his affliction be outward trouble, or inward soul-exercise and terror), where he is most frequently to be found. Which is all 1 have to say for the matter. There are not a few in this generation, I know, who will make it their business, and think it of their interest, to derogate from the esteem which these Epistles do justly challenge, and will readily get, from all who know how to prize things according to their wortli; as knoAving very well that what respect these get and gain amongst readers, they lose ; though I may truly say, and they will at last find it so, that if they get the thing they seek by this artifice, they lose by that getting : and I may assure myself also, if these either find thee a Christian or make thee such, they may well lose by this labour any esteem thou hadst for them, but they will not proselyte thee to their pro- fane contempt of so spiritual matter ; yet T know they will essay it. First, somewhat to this purpose may be said, and will be suggested by them, that here is a needless and nauseating repetition INTRODUCTIOX. 27 of the same thing ; though it may be, they are not so displeased, that it is said often, as that it is said at all ; or if the frequency of it offend them, it is out of a fear that what is often said, be once listened to, and at last learned. I grant that the same matter and purpose is diverse times touched and insisted upon ; but consider: 1. That this is to diverse persons ; and is there either rea- son or religion in it, to envy him the liberty of telling all the fear- ers of God, to whom he writes, what was done for his soul or the people of God, the advantage of that relation ? Was it not for the editication of the Church, that all who had heard of his persecution for the Gospel, should hear also, that the world, do their worst, cannot make a sufferer truly miserable, while God makes him happy in a communion with himself. The heat of persecution may dry up, or imbitter all the nether springs, but then the soul hath free access to the upper, and is admitted to drink, yea, drink abundantly, of these rivers of His pleasure. This is the spiced wine He drinks, and the meat He gets to eat in secret, which the world knoweth not of, and cannot take from Him ; and having found how sweet to the taste this bread of God, which comes down from heaven is, he can- not forbear to tell others how he is feasted ; to excite desires in all to come and share with Him in these dainties, and forbear to surfeit themselves with the world's deceitful meat. 2. Consider, that it is at diverse times, and surely, he finding the consolations of God new every morning, and abounding ever moment, it had been a piece of base ingratitude in him, to have made mention of that but once, which God had given him often. 3. Consider, though the same matter be often mentioned, yet it is mostly Avith a sweet and taking variety of phrase ; He brings forth the old and new together ; nay, there is ever so much new in it, as may contribute • to kindle new desires in thee, in order to the satisfaction of thy own soul, to seek what he found, and when thou hast fallen upon that, and art filled Avitli it, thy practice in telling it over to others, will without doubt, have such a coincidency with his, as will justify what he hath done, and thou wilt then judge that an apology for publishing, and frequent proclaiming the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living, is either wholly superfluous, or it doth suppose the reader not to be a Christian at least in case. Secondly, something will be said by malicious mutterers (I know) against the apparent coarseness of some phrases and commonness of some words made use of by the Author ; who all along sets him- self to make use of the most ordinary expressions which are in use among the common sort of people. Something, I say, of this kind may probably be belched forth by this carping, criticising, profane, and prejudicate age. But if they would remember Avhat was said by men much more knowing than themselves, and more able to dis- 2S INTRODUCTION. cern what ought to be spoken, both as to matter and words to the commendation of Plautus, Avho made use of the most common words that were in use, amongstthe most common sort of people in Rome, Si ipsce musoe loquerentur ore Plautino uterentur ; they would see reason, rather to commend a dexterous making use of common phrases, in writing to people of no extraordinary capacity, then take, because of this, any occasion to quarrel at, or cry down that which is so useful and excellent. And if, in the opinion of men faithful and famous in their generation, he be the best preacher to a people (and consequently writer too) Qui quam maxime trivialiter, j9?^en72Ver, populariter docet, as to words, and phrases ; I see no great reason such have to carp, or necessity I have to make an apology. But there is sufficient to be said, if not for silencing of babblers, whose tongue hath more dimensions than their reason (which makes it not worth the while to take notice of their barking), yet for satisfying of the more sober-minded. First, consider that this disciple learned at his Master, both so to write and speak, as not to hide his i3urpose in a cloud of ncAV coined words. He consulted his own reputation so little, while he sought his Master's honour, that he would rather seem a babbler to them who minded nothing but words, than a barbarian to the meanest who was taken with spiritual matter. If Christ's example, who taught these high and heavenly mysteries of salvation, by plain and obvious similitudes, be not sufficient to silence such persons who have habituated their tongue to drop satires against wdiat is good, whether j^ersons or things ; yet it is enough to guard against the prejudice of what they take liberty to say. 2. Consider, that the most common words and ordinary phrases, in use amongst a people, may, by the greatest orator, be very pertinently used for illustrating and pressing his purpose ; nay, in some cases, these have a special emphasis beyond what can be wrapt up in a great many more compt words and seemingly neat expressions, and then they are so far from being a blemish to a dis- course, that they seem to give a kind of life, and add a certain lustre to the Avhole frame. And thou wilt find it often fall out here that the author hath so happy a dexterity in making the most common (and sometimes contemptible like) phrase, with a graceful sweetness, subservient to his purpose, that let the greatest master of words alter but one of these words, or change one of these expressions (which if they stood not there, might almost seem a barbarism, he mars what he undertook to mend, and while he endeavours to correct the author he leaves himself to be put in amongst the errata. 3. Consider that a great many of the persons to whom he wrote were no scholars, nay, had so little acquaintance with that which passeth in the world for elegancy of speech, that he had as good have said nothing at all to them as have made use INTRODUCTION. 29 of any other words than what are pitched upon in expressing his purpose ; and so his design being to make affection, or to move it in the hearts of these to whom he wrote, there was a necessity to shit his style to their capacity; which condescension in him is yet managed with so much spiritual prudence and discretion, as it ^s without debasing high matter or giving the least rational ground to mock at spiritual mysteries. Yea, I may say further, tliat there is so much majesty in the strain as that the lowness of the style is abundantly thereby made up. And further, I might ask thee, if thou who makest the challenge, dost pretend to be a master of reason, whether he is the best orator, who can Avitli the least noise cast fire into the affections of these to whom he speaks or writes, and bring down the highest mysteries in religion, to the capacity of the meanest hearer and reader ; or he who wraps up plain truths and obvious purposes in such an obscurity of phrase and perplexing intricacy of words, as carries the matter quite beyond the reach of a vulgar capacity, without making any other impression upon the mind of the hearer, than that the man hath forgotten his message, and while he seeks himself, slights his Master's business. It often creates also a suspicion that the writer or speaker either desires not to be understood, or while he endeavours to soar too high above others, that he hath fallen into such a confusion, as he knows not where to find himself. And if thou concede here, what with reason thou canst not deny, thou hast granted all against thyKsellj which I need seek for putting thee to silence. 4. Consider that though there be some here written to of the greatest quality in the nation, and a great many others, who are eminent for their under- standing and parts, as well as their grace ; yet as these of the greatest quality and parts may reap advantage by what hath been written to the meanest and most obscure person ; God in His providence led His servant to speak to these of understanding and parts, so that what was particularly intended for them, might be of special use and advantage to every one ; and thus all occasion of carping is taken away, unless amongst the rest of the regulari- ties of this time, Episcopal Authority be interposed to make us read and understand that axiom backward, homnn quo communius eo melius which if it be, I have no more to say, but that it is of a piece with the rest of their reformatio?!. I suppose by this time, it may be thought I have said too much upon this head, since it would seem that something ought rather to be said for making many things in them plain that are mysterious and dark, than to say so much for taking off prejudice, because of some common words and expressions ; but as to that, I shall not undertake it For there are many things in them, only intelligible by tasting ; and he wlio wants that commentary will never understand this text. I have no 00 INTItODUCilON. more to »ay either for tlio one or tlie other, Ijut if any dislike them he may let them alone ; for I intend to obtrude them upon none wiio distaste tliem ; yet I cannot forbear to advise even such, so far to consult tiieir own reputation, as by speaking against what the author hatli liere written, not to discover that secret to the worhl that they are persons void of a gracious principle, to whom the tilings that are of God are unsavoury. The wind of thy mouth, thougii accompanied with all the venom thou canst vomit up, will not blast the autlior's reputation, it will only be a blazing of thy own shame, and then thou wilt see thyself so unhappy, as to have hit tlie mark at wliich thou didst not aim. For without doing him :iny liurt, who is far above thy reach, thy tongue falls upon thy own head, and in striking at one wliom tlioii canst not wound, thy sword rebounds back u])on thyself, and enters into thine own bowels ! but if tliou remainest a man of impersuasion, and hast so inucl» j)leasure in j)ul)lirtliing thine own shame, I cannot help it; it is Hullicient for me to iiave warned thee of thy hazard ; nor shall I endeavour henceforth to deprive the world of their liberty (since thou wilt have it so) to look upon thee according to the character wlii(di thou hast given of thyself, and that is, Deest aliqnid intiis, to make thee a man and a CUristian ; and since this brutish shape ])leases thee, thou mayest go eat grass ; and let alone this bread, which is only designed for children. And so I leave thee to make use of that I'ibei-ty of saying what thou pleasest, which thou hast now purchased with tlie loss of thy own reputation. If any think it had been more convenient to liave concealed the names of these to whom the Author wrote, for some reasons obvious in r^'gard of the present lamentable posture of attairs (when it is ahnost sullicient to make a man guilty, that ever he was really zealous I'or CJod), I have only this to say tor myself, that I designed their Iionour and not their prejudice nor hurt, in prelixing their names. Neither can I well imagine (whatever others may apprehend) what prejudice they can sustain by this ; since none, or very few of them, come fi'om tlie Author, as returns to anything they had written to him ; and there being no law, cither discharging him to write, or any persons to receive his letters, there can be no trangression upon their part, and so nothing to ground a prejudice, or found a rational plea against them. And much less in that their names are prefixed ; or if tlKM'c be anything in this blameworthy, I alone am in the trans- gression, who have done it without consulting themselves, or askhig their consent; yet in order to the satisfaction of any who may be olfended at what is done, 1 have this to say for myself farther, that I was induced to it, first, that thereby it might aj^pear these were in- deed the very letters which that faithful sull'erer and witness of Jesus Christ wrote (though there is sulhcient in the style and strain to put I^TKODUCTION. 31 this beyond debate), and no forgeries. 2, ^ilany of these worthy per- sons being removed(whereby the Church of God is at a seen and sad loss, in that she is deprived of so many Avho woukl have wept and made supplication on her behalf in this day of her distress, when not a few of her friends have dealt treacherously with her, and are become her enemies), their posterity might think themselves wronged if I should have deprived their worthy predecessors, by suppressing their names and smothering their affection to the work of God, of the honour of making their faithfulness known to the world. And truly I judged it the least that was due to the memory of these who ought to be had in everlasting remembrance, to erect this poor monu- ment over their grave, whereby they may live amongst the posterity when i\\c7 are gone as persons who obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful in their generation ; and that when the account of such comes to be taken, it may be said this and that man were born tliere. 3. I did it to encourage the posterity of such to be followers of the faith and patience of tlieir worthy progenitors, and that they may not, without shame and horror, think of declining or turning aside either to the right or left hand from the way of these dear relations, who, by following the Lord fully in an evil time, left them a noble pat- tern worthy of imitation. 4. As for such wdio are yet alive, I hope they will think that God by His providence is making an honourable mention of their fidelity before the nations, and is remembering for them the love of their espousals, when they went after Him; thereby to engage them to cleave more closely, and adhere more firmly to Him, with full purpose of heart, when the generality have gadded about to change their way, and many of His professed disciples have gone back, and are like to walk no more with Him. And upon the other hand, God will have this to be a witness before the world against any of them who shall depart from the good way of the Lord, and be offended in Him because of persecution. I hope whatever hazard threaten these who abide in Christ's company, that they will never forsake Him,nor give Himcause to say, " Whatiniquity have ye found in jMe, that ye are gone far from Me ? " But if it should prove other- wise they may be sure that He whose soul hath no pleasure in any man that draws back, and hates the work of such as turn aside, will count himself engaged in a peculiar way to lead them forth with the workers of iniquity ; but we hope for better things of them all, though we thus speak. If none of these reasons whicii moved me to do this be strong enough, then let it be judged my v,'eakness, for it is more fit that I should pass in the world as such (which is no great mistake) than these honourable and worthy persons should suffer any prejudice, by a deed whereto they had not the least accession. Reader, much pains hath been taken in collecting these together, that they might be in the hands of many (a thing greatly desired 32 INTRODUCTION. ^ of a long time by the godly), which have been hitherto only, in some broken and imperfect parcels, in the hands of a few. Several of the most correct copies that could be had have been carefully com- pared, and many faults thereby corrected, which were crept in by their being often transcribed ; and that by unskilful hands. If it fall out so (as I suppose it shall not often be found), that they who have the autographs by them perceive any difference in a word or sentence betwixt this printed copy and these, let them impute it to my want of the principles; for though I had a good number of them, yet it was not possible for me to get the most part. In some very few places also, to the end that this book might be of more universal use, it may be that a Scottish word, which would have darkened the sense, or rendered the sentence wholly unintelligible to strangers, is either changed into some equivalent one, or a synonymous term inserted by it; but in most places these words are retained without any alteration; because either alteration or addition would have made them less taking with, and acceptable to tliem, for whom they were at first written, and to these for whom they are now principally intended; because the life and emphasis of the phrase is often found to lie in that very word. But having kept thee under too long an arrest in the entry, I leave thee now to peruse these profitable Epis- tles, which are an account of the many sweet hours and comfortable soliloquies which that eminent saint and sufferer had with God in the furnace of his affliction. Wherein there is much to be seen beyond the ordinary attainment of a Christian, even who hath made some remarkable progress, and is no small proficient in the ways of God. I nothing doubt, but when thou perceivest while thou readest how much pure zeal to God doth burn in these lines, thou Avilt lament the loss of such a blessed instrument now, when the Church of God is brought so very low, and there are so few of all the sons whom she hath nourished and brought up to take her by the hand. I grant it is both a rational and religious sorroAV ; for when we re- member the many eminent lights (the removal of whom hath brought a sad and dark night upon the Church) which did lately shine amongst us, and most say they are gone who were our faithful guides, it would almost seem pardonable to abandon ourselves to sorrow, and refuse to be comforted : Qm's talia fando temperet a lachrymis? Yet give me leave to suggest these things. (1.) Let not the tear so blind thine eye as not to observe the goodness of God, who gave us such. It was a saying of an eminent and exercised Christian (worthy to be remembered in this present case, and to be put upon record for posterity), perceiving many sorrowful upon the removal of one of the most burning and shining lights that Britain had to boast of (that great interpreter, Mr Durhame, 1 mean); " Turn your tears and sighs for this loss (said that worthy INTRODUCTION. 33 person), though it seem to you almost irreparable (an age hardly producing such another) into songs of praises, and do not so indulge your sorrow because the Master hath called home an ambassador who did so faithfully and successfully negotiate for him ; as ye for- get in the meantime to praise the Lord of the harvest, who thrust forth such a labourer into His vineyard. Let not the greatness of your grief make you forget the riches of his goodness to the Church of Christ in Scotland, in that there was a Mr Durhame to die out of it." So I say, when in reading of these, thou remembercst that the worthy Author is gone to his rest, yet be not guilty of so much ingratitude, through the excess of thy grief, as to forget God's care of and kindness to the Church of Scotland, who amongst others gave her a Mr Rutherford: one who was not only famous at home and abroad for his great learning, but such a minister of the Gospel as I suppose there is not a godly minister in the nation, who knew his painfulness, his tenderness, his zeal, his shining and Gospel- adorning conversation, that will think he wrongs himself, in giving the preference to him, whose watching and weeping and unwearied pains to propagate the truth, and profit the souls of men, made him without a match or equal, and left deep convictions of short-coming, even upon them who may with a rational confi- dence expect the approbation of " Well done, good and faithful servants," at the day of their appearance, and die in the faith of this, that when the great Shepherd shall appear they shall re- ceive a crown of glory, that fadeth not away. (2.) If no other consideration can dry up thy tears, or divert thy sorrow, v/hile thou dost remember thy own and the Church's loss, yet renjember that this is sufficient to make thee mourn in hope, that the residue of the spirit is with him. We cannot, I grant, weep back again (though its like some would be content to weep themselves blind, if that were lawful, and would do it) our famous and faithful Knoxes, Davidsons, Welshes, Bruces, Hendersons, Rutherfords, Gillespies, Guthries, Avith a great many besides, of their brethren and com- panions, who did build and fight with them, and were the restorers of the breaches amongst us ; whereby they obtained a good report, and are at this day of blessed memory indeed ; but is there no hope to see them alive in other men's persons? I grant there is but little appearance of that for the present. For, alas! may we say, where is there a man of that spirit to be found? Yet, let us not add this to all the rest of our provocations in this wilderness lot, to limit tlie Holy One of Israel, since these had nothing but what they did receive: He can furnish the Church with men of the same parts and zeal : with men who will shine in light, so that their enemies must lay their hand upon their mouth when they have spoken, and burn in love to God and His interests : and truly it concerns all the people of Gad D 34 INTRODUCTION. to be ranch in importuning Him, that He would again give us such standard-bearers, and that that He would remember us now in our low estate, by raising up such who may be as the chariots and horse- men of Israel, when the spirit of most is under such a faint, and the men of might do not lind their hands. If we were up and doing in this, which is one great part of our work in such a sad time, and gave Him no rest, who knows but He would yet breathe upon many who are now as dry bones, without life or motion, and make them stand up for Him, and plead his cause against them who have lifted up their head against heaven, and their heel against His people? They who by falling asleep, till their hair was cut, that they were not in case to shake themselves as at other times, when their enemies were upon them, might yet spoil their adversaries' sport, and bring down their Babel about their ears, if the spirit of the Lord came upon them, as at other times. Or, if this were not to be expected. He could raise up a generation who would serve Him with more zeal and faithfulness than we have done ;' and that in such a number as should make his Church say, "Who hath begotten me all these? And where have they been?" It may be that He who waits to be gracious, is waiting to be entreated to do this good thing for us. Surely if we were a people of prayer, and particularly for this Church and nation's mercy, we might be surprised now, when we liav^e scarce a token for good, and when our lukewarm temper hath banished the faith of such a mercy almost out of the earth, with such a return as that, " I will clothe thy priests wnth salvation, and thy saints shall yet shout aloud for joy:" I will pour down such a plentiful measure of the Spirit upon them, that by their zeal and faithfulness the years which this cankerworm and caterpillar of lukewarmness liath eaten up shall be restored unto you seven- fold ; which would carry alongst with it the accomplishment of that other great and Gospel promise, " His enemies will I clothe with shame, but upon himself shall his crown flourish ;" Faxit Deus, et festinet should be the constant echo of our hearts. Reader, there is one thing more I have to acquaint thee with, and so I have done, and that is to tell thee that I have made bold for this once to send these Epistles abroad into the world without the Prelate's imprimatur. If he please to take tliis for an apology that the author sought not his permission to write them, which em- boldened me to transmit them to thy hands without liis approbation, he may ; for I am not in a humour to give him any other account of this action. I know it is very probable that the fat of these may be the fire ; for our late furious Prelates (that Draco volans which, being got upon the wing, spouts down fire upon the Church, whereby the tabernacles of God are burnt up through the land: for tlie appearance of this fiery meteor did always portend somewhat INTRODUCTION. 35 fatal to the Church to follow upon it) are a little more hot than their predecessors. It is true these went so high in their persecution, and drove so hard, that it was thought scarce possible for anj to out- do them in persecuting, for they run themselves out of breath, and never drew bridle till they fell in the ditch, and we thought they had died there without succession ; but alas! the Church finds this day, that in respect of their successors they were mere novices, and had scarce served their apprenticeship in the black art; and this puts me to think whether the people of God should not rather submit to be chastised even with this scourge of scorpions than to wish that he would throw the rod into the fire, lest if they were gone, and we not fit for a delivery (as indeed we are not) it should fall out with us, according to the story of the old wife of Syracuse, who was afraid of Dionysius's death, lest the devil should succeed him. But if any should say to me, " What, and if he be already come ?" for if the Holy Ghost call these men such (Rev. ii. 10) who did but cast in prison, and did but cast some in prison, may he not be said to be already come down now, having great wrath, when deposition, imprisonment, banishment, yea, anything less then declared worthy to die, is thought a favour. If any should urge me with this, I say, I confess he would pose me into an absolute silence ; or force an acknowledgment from me. If the Prelates themselves, who are of age, be in case to make a reply, let them answer it ; for the truth is, they are so hot upon their work, that if it be a heresy to think so of them, they who plead the necessity of their office for preventing of schism and heresy are like to turn the better part of the world heretics. But to my purpose, I say, there is some reason to fear that this be thought very fit fuel to make a fire in Caiaphas' hall. However, though it should be so, yet this is not the first time that some of the worthy Author's works have got such entertainment, and truly there is so much zeal to the interests of Christ, so much love to God, and the salvation of men, burning in these lines, that that spirit whose element is fire will endeavour to blowthe bellows, and seek this as a sacrifice at their hands, whose once professed sincerity, and personal zeal for God and his interests, is now broken out, in such high acts of rebellion against Him, and hatred against His servants ; whereby the proverb is become plain Scottish or English, or both, if ye will : Omnis apostata secta suce osor. But if the Prelates would take a poor Presbyter's ad\dce, they would even let it alone, lest the smoke of that fire wherein they burn this kindle a flame of just indignation against them in the hearts of all the lovers of God, as men who have a very perfect hatred against piety ; but if they care not to be so looked upon I have no more to say, be it so. It is like nothing that I can say will hinder them from putting this piece into his hands, to whom, as 1 hear, they 36 INTRODUCTION. have committed the revising of learned and worthy Mr Wood's Testimony, &c., and who, it seems, is made choice of by them as secretary-in-chief, for revising all such pieces, to wit, loannes Dun- murceus cumfrairibus et collegis svis ; and therefore I must leave them to their own liberty, which I only do because I cannot help it ; and I am afraid besides, lest if I should work too hard in carrying water to cool them, I overheat myself, and leave them at last nothing cooler than I found them. But as for thee. Christian Reader, it will be a sufficient im^wimatur to tell thee that these are Mr Rutherford's Letters, wherein he gives thee an account of many a good day and joyful hour he had in his Master's company : while his fellow-servants did beat and thrust him out of the vineyard: and he invites thee to take a share of his feast ; and truly I wish that both of us would go try and taste, since neither of us are like to have very good entertainment anywhere else. I have but one word more to say ; for I know it is long since thou expected I should have made an end, and it is only to crave the pardon that I have not done it sooner. When I wrote the first lines, I thought to have made the end and the beginning so contig- uous that I should neither have put thee to this trouble, nor myself to the necessity of an apology ; and in order to that, I did really forbear what (as I told thee), at first I intended, and am carried this length beside my design ; but if the length of what is here offend thee, thou art in case, without doing me any wrong, to give thyself the same satisfaction as if I had said nothing, by passing it as so much waste paper, and turning over to the Epistles themselves. If thy soul be profited by these (as I hope it shall) I have my design : and all I seek of thee besides is, that thou wouldst wish his soul's wel- Caxe, who was at this little pains, in order to thine, and who desires to be reckoned by thee amongst the meanest and most unworthy of the favourers of the dust of Zion, and Tht Well-wisher. AD LECTOREM IN EPISTOLAS. Quod Chebar et Patmos, divinis vatibus olim. Hoc, fuerant sancto claustra Ahredcsa viro : Profuit ut quondam tihi plus ecclesia career^ Libera quam patuli copia facta fori ; Hie tihi sic scriptis career plus profuit isiis, Pulpita, quam rauca quae sonuere tuba. Pharmaca in hoc prostant, contritis corde, lihello^ Hie crucis Elysiis, est via strata rosis. Hie amor et Christi decor, hie ca^lestis et aulcB Gloria depicta est, horrida et ira Dei, Ardua maieries, sublimibus apta cothurnis, Hie tenui et facili fusa, legenda stijlo est. Liuidus at voces si carpat Zoilus ullas, NoTb divina sapit, cor sine mente gerit. Prcesulibus eelerem atUderant hoec Scripta ruinam, Impressa, extremum prcsstituuntque diem. LETTERS. LETTER I. — To Mr Robert Cuntnghame, Minister of the Gospel at Holywood, in Ireland. Well-beloved and Reverend Brother, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. Upon acquaintance in Christ, I thought good to take the opportunity of writing to you, seeing it hath seemed good to the Lord of the harvest to take the hooks out of our hands for a time, and to lay upon us a more honourable service, even to suffer for His name. It were good to comfort one another in writing : 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 for the grace of God in the rest of our dear brethren with you. You have heard of my trouble, I suppose. It hath pleased our sweet Lord Jesus to let loose the malice of these interdicted lords in His house to deprive me of my ministry at Anworth, 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' name within this kingdom, under the pain of rebellion. The cause that ripened their hatred was my book against the Arminians, whereof they accused me these three days I appeared before them : but let our crowned King in Ziou reign ; by His grace the loss is theirs, the advantage is Christ's and truth's. Albeit this honest cross gained some ground on me by my heavi- ness, and inward challenges of conscience for a time were sharp ; yet now, for the encouragement of you all, I dare say it, and write it under my hand — Welcome, welcome, sweet, sweet, cross of Christ : I verily think the chains of my Lord Jesus are all overbid with pure gold, and that His cross is perfumed, and that it smelleth of Christ, and that the victory shall be by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of His truth ; and that Christ laying on His back, in His weak servants and oppressed truth, shall ride over His ene- mies' bellies, and shall strike through kings in the day of His wrath. It is time we laugh when He laugheth ; and seeing He is now pleased to sit with wrongs for a time, it becometh us to be silent 40 LETTEli I. until the Lord hath let the enemies enjoy their hungry, lean, and feckless Paradise. Blessed are they who are content to take strokes with 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 bud and bribe the cross. It is little up or little down that the Lamb and His followers can get, no law-surety nor truce with crosses ; it must be so till we be up in our Father's house. My heart is woe indeed for my mother Church that hath played the harlot with many lovers ; her Husband hath a mind to sell her for her horrible transgressions ; and heavy will the hand of the Lord be upon this backsliding nation. The ways of our Zion mourn, her gold is become dim, her white Nazarites are black like a coal. How shall not the children weep when the husband and the mother cannot agree; yet I believe Scotland's skies shall clear again, and that Christ shall build again the old waste places of Jacob, and that our dead and dry bones shall become an army of living men, and that our Well-Beloved may yet feed among the lilies, until the day break and the shadows flee away. My dear brother, let us help one another with our prayers. Our King shall mow down His enemies, and shall come from Bozra, with his garments all dyed in blood, and for our consolation shall He appear, and call his wife Hephzibah, and his land Beulah ; for he will rejoice over us and marry us, and Scotland shall say, " What have I to do any more with idols?" Only let us be faithful to Him that can ride through hell and death upon a windlestrae, 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 with the sweet Mediator's hand are very sweet ; He was always sweet to my soul. But since I suffered for Him, His breath hath a sweeter smell than before. O ! that every hair of my head, and every member, and every bone in my body, were a man to witness a fair confession for Him ; I would think all too little for Him : when I look over beyond the line, and beyond death, to the laughing side of the Avorld, I triumph, and ride upon the high places of Jacob; howbeit, otherways I am a faint, dead- hearted, cowardly man, 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 us fat with wants and desertions. 1 know not, my dear brother, if our worthy brethren be gone to sea, or not ; they are on my heart and in my prayers ; if they be yet with you, salute my dear friend John Stuart, my well-beloved bretliren in the Lord, Mr Blair, Mr Hamilton, Mr Livingston, and Mr MacCleland, and acquaint them with ray 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 LETTER 11. 41 that people, and others, my dear acquaintance in Christ, with love 1 in God, and as God loveth them. I know that He who sent me to I 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 in paper, 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. I am, Your brother in affliction in our sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. From Irwing, being on my Journey to Christ's Palace, ill Aberdeen, August 4, 1G36. LETTER n.— To His Parishioners. Dearly-beloved, and longed for in the Lord, my crown and my joy in the day of Christ, — grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ. I long exceedingly to know if the oft-spoken-of match betwixt you and Christ holdeth ; and if you follow on to know the Lord. My day thoughts, and my night thoughts are of you, while ye sleep, I am afraid of your souls that they be off the rock. JNext to my Lord Jesus, and this fallen kirk, ye have the greatest share of my sorrow, and also of my joy; ye are the matter of the tears, care, fear, and daily prayers of an oppressed prisoner of Christ: as I am in bonds for my high and lofty One, my royal and princely Master, my Lord Jesus, so I am in bonds for you, for I should have sleeped in my warm nest, and kept the fat world in my arms, and the cords of my tabernacle should have been fastened more strongly, I might have sung an evangel of ease to my soul and you for a time, with my brethren, the sons of my mother, that were angry at me, and have thrust me out of the vineyard, if I should have been broken and drawn on to mire you the Lord's flock ; and to cause you to eat pastures trodden upon with men's feet, and to -drink foul and muddy waters. But, truly, the Almighty was a terror to me, and His fear made me afraid. 0, my Lord, judge if my ministry be not dear to me, but not so dear by many degrees as Christ Jesus my Lord ; God knoweth the heavy and sad Sabbaths I have had since I laid down at my Master's feet my two shepherd's staves. I have been often saying, as it is written, Lam. iii. 52, " My enemies chased me sore like a bird without cause, they have cut off my life in the dungeon, and cast a stone upon me," for next to Christ I had but one joy, the apple of the eye of my delights, " To preach Christ my Lox'd," 42 LETTER II. and they have violently plucked that away from me ; and it was to me like the poor man's one eye, and they have put out that eye, and quenched my light in the inheritance of the Lord ; but my eye is toward the Lord ; I know I shall see the salvation of God, and that my hope shall not always be forgotten, and my sorrow shall want nothing to complete it, and to make me say, " What availeth it me to live f " If ye follow the voice of a stranger, of one that Cometh into the sheepfold, not by Christ the door, but climbeth up another way; if the man build his hay and stubble upon the golden foundation, Christ Jesus, already laid among you, and ye follow him, I assure you the man's work shall burn and never bide God's fire, and ye and he both shall be in danger of everlasting burning, except ye repent. O, if any pain, any sorrow^, any loss that I can suiFer for Christ and for you, were laid in pledge to buy Christ's love to you, and that I could lay my dearest joys next to Christ my Lord in the gap, betwixt you and eternal destruction ! O, if I had paper as broad as heaven and earth, and ink as the sea and all the rivers and fountains of the earth, and were able to write the love, the worth, the excellency, the sweetness, and due praises of our dearest and fairest Well-beloved ; and then if ye could read and understand it ! What could I want if my ministry among you should make a marriage between the little bride in that bounds and the Bridegroom ? 0, how rich a prisoner w^ere I, if I could obtain of my Lord (before whom I stand for you) the salvation of you all ! O, what a prey had I gotten to have you catched in Christ's net ! O, then I had cast out my Lord's lines and His net with a rich gain ! O, then well -wared pained breast and sore back, and a crazed body, in speaking early and late to you ! My witness is above, your heaven would be two heavens to me, and the salvation of you all as two salvations to me ; I would subscribe a suspen- sion, and a fristing of my heaven, for many hundred years (ac- cording to God's good pleasure), if ye were sure in the upper lodging, in our Father's house before me. I take to witness heaven and earth against you ; I take instruments in the hands of that sun and day-light that beheld us, and in the hands of the timber and walls of that Kirk, if I drew not up a fair contract of marriage betwixt you and Christ, if I went not with offers be- twixt the Bridegroom and you, and your conscience did bear you witness ; your mouths confessed that there were many fair trysts and meetings drawn on, betwixt Christ and you, at communion feasts and other occasions ; there were bracelets, jewels, rings, and love- letters sent to you by the Bridegroom ; it Avas told you what a fair dowery ye should have, and what a house your husband and ye should dwell in, and what was the Bridegroom's excellency, sweet- ness, might, power. The eternity and glory of His kingdom, the LETTER II. 43 exceeding deepness of His love, who sought his black wife through pain, fire, shame, death, and the grave ; and swimmed the salt sea for her, undergoing the curse of the law, and then was made a curse for you, and ye then consented and said, " Even so I take him." I counsel you, beware of the new and strange leaven of men's inventions, beside and against the Word of God, contrary to the oath of this Kirk, now coming among you. I instructed you of the superstition and idolatry of kneeling in the instant of receiving the Lord's supper and crossing in baptism, and the observing of men's days, without any warrant of Christ, our perfect Lawgiver. Countenance not the surplice, the attire of the mass priest, the gar- ment of Baal's priests ; the abominable bownng to altars of tree is coming upon you ; hate and keep yourselves from idols ; forbear in any case to hear the reading of the new fatherless service-book, full of gross heresies. Popish and superstitious errors, without any warrant of Christ, tending to the overthrow of preaching. You owe no obedience to the bastard canons ; they are unlawful, blasphemous, and super- stitious ; all the ceremonies that lie in the Antichrist's foul womb, the wares of that great mother of fornications, the Kirk of Eome, are to be refused ; ye see whither they lead you. Continue still in the doctrine which ye have received ; ye heard of me the whole counsel of God. Sew no clouts upon Christ's robe ; take Christ in His rags and losses, and as persecuted by men, and be content to sigh, and pant up the mountain, with Christ's cross on your back ; let me be repute a false prophet (and your conscience once said the contrary) if your Lord Jesus shall not stand by you, and maintain you, and maintain your cause against your enemies. I have heard (and my soul is grieved for it) that since my departure from you, many among you are turned back from the good old w^ay to the dog's vomit again. Let me speak to these men. It was not without God's special direc- tion that the first sentence that ever my mouth uttered to you was that of John ix. 39, "And Jesus said, for judgment came I into the world, that they which see not might see, and they which see might be made blind." It is possible my first meeting and yours be when we shall both stand before the dreadful Judge of the world ; and in the name and authority of the Son of God, my great King and Master, I write by these presents summons to these men. I arrest their souls and bodies to the day of our compearance ; their eternal damnation stands subscribed and sealed in heaven by the handwriting of the great Judge of quick and dead, and I am ready to stand up as a preaching witness against such to their face that day, and to say, " Amen " to their condemnation except they repent. The vengeance of the Gospel is heavier than the vengeance of the law ; the Mediator's malediction and vengeance is twice vengeance ; and that vengeance is the due portion of such men ; and there I leave 4:4 LEriER II. them, as bound men, aye, and while they repent and amend. You were witnesses how the Lord's day was spent while I was among you. O, sacrilegious robber of God's day, wliat will thou answer the Almighty when He seeketh so many Sabbaths back again from thee ? What will the curser, swearer, and blasphemer do, when his tongue shall be roasted in that broad and burning lake of lire and brimstone ? And what will the drunkard do, when tongue, lights, and liver, bones, and all, shall boil and fry in a torturing fire, for he shall be far from his barrels of strong drink then, and there is is not a cold well of water for him in hell? What shall be the case of the wretch, the covetous man, the oppressor, the deceiver, the earth-worm, who can never get his wombfid of clay, when in the day of Christ gold and silver must lie burnt in ashes, and he must compear and answer his judge, and quit his clayey and naughty heaven 1 Woe, woe, for evermore be to the time-turning atheist, that hath one God and one religion for summer, and another God and another religion for winter, and the day of fanning, when Christ fanneth all that is in His barn floor, who hath a conscience for every fair and market, and the soul of him runneth upon these oiled wheels, time, custom, the world, and command of men. O, if the careless atheist and sleeping man, who edgeth by all (" with God forgive our pastors if they lead us wrong, we must do as they command"), and lays down his head upon time s bosom, and giveth his conscience to a deputy, and sleepeth so while the smoke of hell-fire flies up in his throat, and cause him to start out of his doleful bed. O, if such a man would awake. Many woes are for the over-glided and gold- plastered hypocrite ; a heavy doom is for the liar and white-tongued flatterer ; and the flying book of God's ireful vengeance, twenty cubits long, and twenty cubits broad, that goeth out from the face of God, shall enter into the house, and in upon the soul of him that stealeth and sweareth falsely by God's name, Zech. v. 3, 4. I denounce eternal burning, hotter than Sodom's flames, upon the men that boil in their filthy lusts of fornication, adultery, incest, and the like wickedness ; no room, no, not a foot broad for such vile dogs within the clean Jerusalem. Many of you put off all with this, " God forgive us, we know no befter." I renew my old answer, 2 Thess. i., — The Judge is coming in flaming fire, with all His mighty angels to render vengeance to all these that know not God and believe not. I have often told you security shall slay you ; all men say they have faith, as many men and women now as many saints in heaven ; and all believe (say ye) every foul dog is clean enough, and good enough, for tlie clean and New Jerusalem above. Every man hath conversion and the new birth, but it is not leel come; they had never a sick night for sin; conversion came to them in a night dream ; in a word, hell will be empty at LETTER II. 45 the day of judgment and heaven panged full. Alas ! it is neither easy nor ordinary to believe and to be saved ; many must stand in the end at heaven's gates ; when they go to take out their faith they take out a ftiir nothing (or as you used to speak, a '• blestume"). 0, lamentable disappointment! I pray you, I charge you, in the name of Christ, make fast work of Christ and salvation. I know there are some believers among you ; and I write to you, 0 poor broken-hearted believers, all tlie comforts of Christ in the New and Old Testament are yours. O, what a Father and Husband you have! O, if I had pen and ink and engine to write of Him; Let heaven and earth be consolidated in massy and pure gold, it will not weigh the thousandth part of Christ's love to a soul, even to me a poor prisoner. 0, that is a massy and marvellous love ! Men and angels unite your force and strength in one ; ye shall not heave nor poise it off the ground. Ten thousand thousand worlds, as many worlds as angels can number, and tlien as a new world of angels can multiply, would not all be the bulk of a balance to v/eigh Christ's excellencies, sweetness, and love. Put ten earths in one, and let a rose grow greater than ten whole earths or ten worlds, O, what beauty would be in it and what a smell would it cast ! But a blast of the breath of that fairest Rose in all God's Par- adise, even of Christ Jesus our Lord — one look of that fairest face would be infinitely in beauty and smell above all imaginable and created glory. 1 wonder that men do bide off Christ ; I would esteem myself blessed if I could make an open proclamation, and gather all the world that are living upon the earth, Jew and Gentile, and all that shall be born to the blowing of the last trumpet, to flock round about Christ, and to stand looking wonder- ing, admiring, and adoring His beauty and sweetness; for His fire is hotter than any other fire, His love sweeter than common love, His beauty surpasseth all other beauty. When I am heavy and sad, one of His love-looks would do me meekle world's good. O, if ye would fall in love with Him ! how blessed were I, how glad would my soul be to help you to love Him ; but amongst us all we could not love Him enough ; He is the Son of the Father's love, and God's delight, the Father's love lieth all upon Him. 0, if all mankind would fetch all their love and lay it upon Him, invite Him, and take Him home to your houses in the exercise of prayer morning and evening, as I often desired you ; especially now let Him not want lodging in your houses, nor lie in the fields when He is shut out of pulpits and kirks. If ye will be content to take heaven by violence, and the wind on your face for Christ and His cross, I am here one who hath some trial of Christ's cross. I can say that Christ was ever kind to me; but He overcometh Himself (if I may speak so) in kindness while I suffer for Him, 1 46 LETTER II. give you my word for it, Christ's cross is not so evil as they call it; it is sweet, light, and comfortable. I would not want the visitations of love, and the very breathings of Christ's mouth when He kisseth, and my Lord's delightsome smiles and love embrace- ments under my suiferings for Him, for a mountain of fine gold, nor for all the honours, court, and grandeur of velvet kirk-men : Christ hath the yoke and heart of my love, " I am my beloved's and my well-beloved is mine ! " 0, that ye were all handlisted to Christ ! 0, my dearly beloved in the Lord, I would I could change my voice, and had a tongue tuned with the hand of my Lord, and had the art of speaking of Christ, that I might paint out unto you the worth, and highness, and greatness, and excellency of that fairest and renowned Bridegroom ! I beseech you by the mercies of the Lord ; by the sighs, tears, and heart-blood of our Lord Jesus ; by the salvation of your poor and precious souls, set up the mountain that ye and I may meet before the Lamb's throne, amongst the congregation of the first-born : the Lord grant that that may be the trysting-place, that ye and I may put up our hands together, and pluck and eat the apples of the Tree of Life, and we may feast together, and drink together of that pure river of the water of life that cometh out from under the throne of God, and from the Lamb. 0, how little is your hand-breadth and span length of days here ; your inch of time is less than when ye and I parted. Eternity, eternity, is coming posting on with wings; then shall every man's blacks and whites be brought to light. O, how low will your thoughts be of this fair-skinned but heart-rotten apple, the vain, vain, feckless world! Avhen the worms shall make their houses in your eye- holes, and shall eat ofiT the flesh from the ball of your cheeks, and shall make that body a number of dry bones ! Think not the common gate of serving God as neighbour and others do will bring you to heaven. Few, few are saved ; the devil's court is thick and many ; he hath the greatest number of mankind for his vassals. I know this world is a great forest of thorns in your way to heaven, but ye must through it acquaint yourselves with the Lord ; hold fast Christ, hear His voice only, bless His name, sanctify and keep His day, keep the new commandment, "Love one another;" let the Holy Spirit dwell in your bodies, and be clean and holy ; love not the world, lie not, love and follow truth, learn to know God ; keep in mind what I taught you, for God will seek an account of it when I am far from you. Abstain from all evil and all appearance of evil, follow good carefully and seek peace, and follow after it; honour your king and pray for him : remember me to God in your prayers; I do not forget you. I told you often while I was with you, and now I write it again — heavy, sad, and sore, is that stroke of the Lord's wrath that is coming upon Scotland. Woe, woe, woe to this harlot land, for they LETTER III. 47 shall take tlie cup of God's wrath from his hand, and drink, and spue, and fall, and not rise again. In, in, in with speed to your strong- hold, ye prisoners of hope, and hide you there while the anger of the Lord pass. Follow not the pastors of this land, for the sun is o-one down upon them ; as the Lord liveth they lead you from Christ, and from the good old way ; yet the Lord will keep the holy city, and make this withered kirk to bud again like a rose and a field blessed of the Lord. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. The prayers and blessing of a prisoner of Christ, in bonds for Him and for you, be with you all. Amen. Your lawful and loving pastor, S T? Aberdeen, July 14, 1637, LETTER III.— To the Honourable, Reverend, and Well-Beloved Professors of Christ and His Truth in Sincerity in Ireland. Dearly Beloved in our Lord, and partakers of the heavenly call- ing,— Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ. I always, but most of all now in my bonds (most sweet bonds for Christ my Lord), rejoice to hear of your faith and love, and to hear that our King, our Well-Beloved, our Bridegroom, without tiring, stayeth still to woo you as His wife ; and that persecutions and mockings of sinners have not chased away the Wooer from the house. I persuade you in the Lord, the men of God, now scattered and driven from you, put you upon the right scent and pursuit of Christ ; and my salvation on it (if ten heavens were mine), if this way, this way that I now suffer for, this way that the world nick-nameth and reproacheth, and no other way, be not the King's gate to heaven ; and I shall never see God's face (and alas ! I were a beguiled wretch if it were so) if this be not the only saving way to heaven. O ! that you would take a prisoner of Christ's word for it ; nay, I know you have the greatest King's word for it, that it shall not be your wisdom to spier out another Christ, another way of worshipping him, than is now savingly revealed to you. Therefore, though I never saw your faces, let me be pardoned to write to you ye honourable persons, ye feithful pastors yet amongst the flocks, and ye sincere professors of Christ's truth ; or any weak, tired strayers who cast but half an eye after the Bridegroom, if possibly I could by any weak experience confirm and strengthen you in this good way everywhere spoken against. I can, with the greatest assurance (to the honour of our highest, and greatest, and dearest Lord let it be spoken) assert (though I be but a child in Christ, and scarce able to walk, but by a hold ; and the meanest and less than the 48 LETTER in. least of saints) tliat we do not come nigh, by twenty degrees, to the due love and estimation of that fairest among the sons of men ; for if it were possible that heaven, yea, ten heavens, were laid in the balance with Christ, I would think the smell of His breath above them all ; sure I am^ He is the far best half of heaven ; yea, He is all heaven, and more than all lieaven ; and my testimony of Him is, that ten lives of black sorrow, ten deaths, ten hells of pain, ten furnaces of brimstone, and all exquisite torments, were all too little for Christ, if our suffering could be a hire to buy Him ; and, there- fore, faint not in your sufferings and hazards for Him. I proclaim and cry hell, sorrow, and shame upon all lusts, upon all by-lovers, that would take Christ's room over His head in this little inch of love of these narrow souls of ours that is due to sweetest Jesus. O, highest ! O, fairest ! O, dearest Lord Jesus ! take thine own from all bastard lovers ! 0 ! that we could wodset, and sell all our part of time's glory, and time's good things, for a lease and tack of Christ for all eternity ! O, how are we misted and mired with the love of things that are in this side of time, and in this side of death's w^ater ! Where can we find a match to Christ, or an equal, or a better than He among created things? 0, this world is out of all conceit, and all love with our Well-Beloved. 0, that I could sell my laughter, joy, ease, and all for tJim ; and be content of a straw-bed, and bread by weight, and water by measure, in the camp of our weeping Christ ! I know His sackcloth and ashes are better than the fool's laughter, which is like the crackling of thorns under a pot. But, alas ! we do not harden our faces against the cold north storms, which blow npon Christ's fair face. We love well summer religion, and to be that Avhich sin hath made us, even as thin-skinned as if we were made of white paper, and would fain be carried to heaven in a close-covered chariot, wishing from our hearts that Christ would give us surety, and his handwriting, and his seal for nothing but a fair summer, until we be landed in at heaven's gates. How many of us have been here deceived, and fainted in the day of trial ? amongst you there are some of this stamp. I shall be sorry if my acquaintance A. T. hath left you ; I will not believe he dare stay from Christ's side ; I desire that ye show him this from me ; for 1 loved him once in Christ ; neither can I change my mind suddenly of him. But the truth is, that many both of you, and too many also of your neighbour Church of Scotland, have been like a tenant that sitteth meal-free, and knoweth not his holding while his rights be questioned ; and now I am persuaded it will be asked at every one of us, on what terms v.e brook Christ, for we have sitten long meal-free ; we found Christ without a wet foot ; and He, and His Gospel, came upon small charges to our doors ; but now we must wet our feet to seek Him ; our evil manners, and the LETTER III. 49 bad fashions of a people at ease from our youtli, and like Moab, nob casting from vessel to vessel (Jer. xlviii. 11), he is made us like standing waters, to gather a foul scum, and when we are jumbled, our dregs come up and are seen ; many take but half a grip of Christ, and the wind bloweth them and Christ asunder ; indeed, when the mast is broken, and blown into the sea, it is an art then to swim upon Christ to dr}^ land ; it is even possible that the children of God in a hard trial lay themselves down as hidden in the lee-side of a bush, while Christ their Master be taken, as Peter did, and lurk there while the storm be overpast : all of us know the way to a whole skin, and the singlest heart that is hath a bye-purse that will contain the denial of Christ, and a fearful backsliding. 0, how rare a thing is it to be loyal and honest to Christ when He hath a controversy with the shields of the earth ! I wish all of you would consider that this trial is from Christ ; it is come upon you unbought (indeed, when we buy a temptation with our own money ; no marvel that we be not easily free of it, and that God be not at our elbow to take it off our hand) ; this is Christ's ordinary house- fire that He makes use of to try all the vessels of His house withal ; and Christ now is about to bring His treasure out before sun and. moon and to tell His money ; and in the telling to try what weight of gold, and what weight of watered copper is in His house. Do not now joke, or boAv, or yield to your adversaries in a hair- breadth ; Christ and His truth will not divide ; and His truth hath not latitude and breadth that ye may take some of it, and leave others some of it ; nay, the Gospel is like a small hair that hath no breadth and will not cleave in two : it is not possible to tryst and compound a matter betwixt Christ and antichrist ; and there- fore ye must either be for Christ or ye must be against Him. It was but man's wit, and the wit of prelates, and their god-father, the Pope (that man icithout km), to put Christ and his royal preroga- tives, and His truth, or the smallest nail-breadth of His latter will in the new calendar of indifferences ; and to make a blank of uninked paper in Christ's Testament that men may fill up, and so shufile the truth, and matters they call indifferent, through other, and spin both together, that the antichrist's wares may sell the better. This is but the device and forged dream of men, whose consciences are made of stoutness, and have a throat that a graven image, greater than the bounds of the kirk-door, would give free passage unto. I am sure when Christ shall bring us all out in our blacks and whites at that day when He shall cry down time and the world, and when the glory of it shall lie in white ashes like a May flower cut down and having lost the blossom, there shall be few, yea, none, that dare make any point that toucheth the worship and honour of our King and Lawgiver to be indifferent. E 50 LETTER III. 0, that this misled and blindfolded world would see that Christ doth not rise and fall, stand or lie, by men's apprehensions ! what is Christ the lighter that men do with Him by open procla- mation, as men do with clipped and light money 1 they are now crying down Christ some grain weights, and some pounds or shil- lings, and they will have Him lie for a penny or a pound, for one or for an hundred, according as the wind blowefch from the east or from the west, but the Lord has weighed Him, and balanced Him already, " This is my well-beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, hear ye him." His worth and His weight standeth still ; it is our part to cry up, up with Christ, and down, down with all created glory before Him. 0, that I could heighten Him, and heighten His name, and heighten His throne ! I know and am persuaded that Christ shall again be high and great in this poor, withered, and sun-burnt Kirk of Scotland ; and that the sparks of our fire shall flee over sea, and round about to warm you and other sister- churches ; and that this tabernacle of David's house that is fallen, even the Son of David, His waste places shall be built again ; and I know the prison, crosses, persecutions, and trials of the two slain witnesses, that are now dead and buried (Rev. ii.), and of the faith- ful professors, have a back door and back entry of escape ; and that death and hell, and the world and tortures, shall all cleave and split in twain, and give us free passage and liberty to go through them toll-free : and we shall bring all God's good metal out of the furnace again, and leave behind us but our dross and our scum ; we may then beforehand proclaim Christ to be victorious. He is crowned King in Mount Zion ; God did put the crown upon His head (Psal. ii.), and who dare take it ofl" again ? Out of question. He hath sore and grievous quarrels against His Church ; and therefore He is called (Isa. xxxix. 10), " He whose fire is in Zion and whose furnace is in Jerusalem." But when He hath performed His work on Mount Zion, all Zion's haters shall be as the hungry and thirsty man that dreams he is eating and drinking, and behold, when he awaketh, he is faint and his soul empty. And this advantage we have also, that He will not bring before sun and moon all the infirmities of His wife ; it is the modesty of marriage-anger, or husband-wrath, that our sweet Lord Jesus will not come with chiding to the streets, to let all the world hear what is betwixt Him and us ; His sweet glooms stay under roof, and that because He is God. Two special things ye are to mind. 1. Try and make] sure your profession ; that ye carry not empty lamps. Alas ! security, security, is the bane and the wreck of the most part of the world ! 0, how many professors go with a golden lustre and gold-like before men (who are but witnesses to our white skin), and yet are but bastard and base metal. Consider how fair before the LETTER III. 51 wind some do ply \yith up-sails, and white, even to the nick of illumination (Heb. vi. 5), and tasting of the heavenly gift, and a share and part of the Holy Ghost, and the tasting of the good Word of God, and the powers of the world to come ; and yet this is but a false nick of renovation, and in a short time such are quickly broken upon the rocks, and never fetch the harbour, but are sanded in the bottom of hell. 0, make your heaven sure and try how ye come by conversion ; that it be not stolen goods in a white and well-lustred profession ! A white skin over old wounds maketh an under-coating conscience ; false under- water not seen is dangerous, and that is a leak and rift in the bottom of an en- lightened conscience, often falling, and sinning against light. Woe, woe is me that the holy profession of Christ is made a stage garment by many to bring home a vain fame ; and Christ is made to serve men's ends. This is as it were to stop an oven with a king's robes. Know, 2dly, Except men martyr and slay the body of sin, in sanctified self-denial, they shall never be Christ's martyrs and faithful witnesses. 0, if I could be master of that house-idol myself, my own, mine, my own will, wit, credit, and ease, how blessed were I ! 0, but we have need to be redeemed from our- selves rather than from the devil and the world ; learn to put out yourselves and to put in Christ for yourselves. I should make a sweet bartering and niffering, and give old for new, if I could shufile out self, and substitute Christ my Lord in place of myself ; to say, not I, but Christ ; not my will, but Christ's ; not my ease, not my lust, not my feckless credit, but Christ, Christ. But alas ! in leaving ourselves, in setting Christ before our idol, self, we have yet a glaiked back-look to our old idol. 0, wretched idol, myself ! when shall I see thee wholly decourted, and Christ wholly put in thy room ? 0, if Christ, Christ, had the full place and room of myself, that all my aims, purposes, thoughts, and desires, would coast and land upon Christ, and not upon myself ! And yet how- beit we cannot attain to this denial of me and mine that we can say I am not myself, myself is not myself, mine own is no longer mine own ; yet our aiming at this in all we do shall be accepted ; for, alas, I think I shall die but minting and aiming to be a Christian ! Is it not our comfort that Christ, the Mediator of the new covenant, is come betwixt us and God in the business, so that green and young heirs, the like of sinners, have now a tutor ; that is God ? and now God be thanked our salvation is bottomed on Christ. Sure I am the bottom shall never fall out of heaven and happiness to us. I would give over the bargain a thousand times, were it not that Christ, by His free grace, hath taken our salvation in hand. Pray, pray, and contend with the Lord, for your sister-church ; for it would appear the Lord is about to spier for His scattered sheep 52 LETTER IV. in the dark and cloudy day. 0, that it would please our Lord to set up again David's old, wasted, and fallen tabernacle in Scotland, that we might see the glory of the second temple in this land ! 0, that my little heaven were wodset, to redeem the honour of my Lord Jesus among Jews and Gentiles ! Let never dew lie upon my branches, and let my poor flower wither at the root, so being Christ were enthroned, and His glory advanced in all the world, and especially in these three kingdoms ; but I know He hath no need of me, what can I add to Him? But oh, that He would cause His high and pure glory to run through such a foul channel as I am ! and, howbeit He hath caused the blossom to fall ofi" my one poor joy that was on this side of heaven, even my liberty to preach Christ to His people, yet I am dead to that now, so being He would hew and carve glory, glory for evermore, to my royal King, out of my silence and sufferings. O, that I had my fill of His love ! but I know ill manners make an un- couth and strange bridegroom. I entreat you earnestly for the aid of your prayers, for I forget not you, and I salute with my soul in Christ the faithful pastors, and honourable and worthy professors in that land. " Now, the God of peace that brought again our Lord Jesus from the dead, the great Shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is well pleasing in His sight." Grace, grace, be with you. Yours, in his sweetest Lord Jesus, S. E. Aberdeen, Feb. 4, 1638. LETTER IV.— To the Truly Noble and Elect Lady, my Lady Viscountess of Kenmure. Noble and Elect Lady, — That honour that 1 have prayed for these sixteen years, with submission to my Lord's will, my kind Lord hath now bestowed upon me, even to suffer for my Royal and Princely King Jesus and for His kingly crown, and the freedom of His kingdom that His Father hath given Him. The forbidden lords have sentenced me with de- privation and confinement within the town of Aberdeen. I am charged in the king's name to enter against the twentieth day of August next, and there to remain during the king's pleasure, as they have given it out : howbeit Christ's green cross newly laid upon me be somewhat heavy, while I call to mind the 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 sweet smelled and perfumed cross of Christ is accompanied with sweet refresh- LETTER IV. 53 ments, with the kisses of a King, with the joy of the Holy Ghost, with faith that the Lord hears the sighing of a prisoner, with undoubted hope (as sure as my Lord liveth) after this night to see dayhght and Christ's sky to clear up again upon me and His poor kirk, and that in a strange land amonsjst stransje faces. He will give favour in the eyes of men to His poor oppressed servant, w^ho do not but love that lovely One, that princely One, Jesus, the Comforter of his soul. All Avould be well if I were free of old challenges for guiltiness, and for neglect in my calling, and for speaking too little for my Well-Beloved's crown, honour, and kingdom. 0, for a day in the assembly of the saints to advocate for King Jesus ! If my Lord go on now to quarrels also, I die, I cannot endure it : but I look for peace fromtHira, because He knoweth I do bear men's feud, but I do 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 bairns of the w^edding-chamljer, 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 that the Lord shall visit this whole nation for the quarrel of the cove- nant.. But what can be laid upon me, or any the like of me, is too light for Christ : Christ doth bear more, and would bear death and burning quick in his weak servants, even for this honourable cause that I now suffer for. Yet for all my complaints (and He knoweth that I dare not now dissemble) He was never sweeter and kinder than He is now ; one kiss now is sweeter than ten long since ; sweet, sweet is His cross ; light, light, and easy is His yoke. 0, what a sweet step were it up to my Father's house through ten deaths, for the truth and cause of that unknown, and so not lialf well-loved, plant of renown, the man called " the Branch," the chief among ten thousands, the fairest among the sons of men ! 0, what unseen joys, how many hidden heart-burnings of love are in the remnants of the sufferings of Christ ! My dear worthy lady, I give it to your lady- ship, under my own hand (my heart-writing as well as my hand), welcome, welcome, sweet, sweet, and glorious cross of Christ ; wel- come sweet Jesus with Thy light cross, Thou hast now gained and gotten all my love from me ; keep what Thou hast gotten. Only, Vv^oe, woe is me, for my bereft flock, for the lambs of Jesus, that I fear shall be fed with dry breasts, but I spare now. Madam, I dare not promise to see your ladyship because of the little time I have allotted me, and I purpose to obey the king who hath power of my body, and rebellion to kings is unbeseeming Christ's ministers. Be pleased to acquaint my lady Marr mth my case ; I will look to your ladyship ; and that good lady will be mindful to God of the Lord's prisoner, not for my cause, but for the Gospel's sake. Madam, bind me more (if more can be) to your ladyship ; and write thanks 54 LETTER V. to your brother, my Lord of Lome, for what he hath done for me, a poor unknown stranger to his lordship : I shall pray for him and his house while I live. It is his honour 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 fof mine own Lord Jesus, and his goodwill who dwelt in the bush ; I rest. Yours, in his own sweetest Lord Jesus, S. R. Edinburgh, July 28, 1636. LETTER v.— To the Noble and Christian Lady, the ViscoUNTESS OF KeNoVIURE. My very Honourable and Dear Lady, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. I cannot forget your ladyship and that sweet child : I desire to hear what the Lord is doing to you and him. To write to me were charity. I cannot but write to my friends, that Christ hath trysted me in Aberdeen, and my adversaries have sent me here, to be feasted with love-banquets with my royal, high, high, and princely King Jesus. Madam, why should I smother Christ's honesty ; I dare not conceal His goodness to my soul ; He looked framed and uncouth-like upon me when I came first here, but I believe Himself better than His looks. I shall not again quarrel Christ for a gloom, now He hath taken the mask off His face and saith, "Kiss thy fill;" and what can I have more, while I get great heaven in my little arms. 0, how sweet are the sufferings of Christ, for Christ ! God forgive them that raise an ill report upon the sweet cross of Christ ; it is but our weak and dim eyes that look but to the black side that makes us mistake : those who can take that crabbed tree handsomely upon their back, and fasten it on cannily, shall find it such a burden, as mngs unto a bird or sails to a ship. Madam, rue not of your having chosen the better part : upon my salvation this is Christ's truth I now suffer for. If I found but cold comfort in my sufferings I would not beguile others, I would have told you plainly ; but the truth is, Christ's crown, His sceptre, and the freedom of His kingdom, is that which is now called in question. Because we will not allow that Christ pay tribute and be a vassal to the shields of the earth, there- fore the sons of our mother are angry at us : but it becometh not Christ to hold any man's stirrup. It were a sweet and honourable death to die for the honour of that royal and princely King Jesus. His love is a mystery to the world. I Avould not have believed that there was so much in Christ, as there is ; " Come and see," LETTER V. 55 maketh Christ to be known in His excellency and glory. I wish all this nation knew how sweet His breath 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 nigh Christ and have Him, and embrace Him is another thing. Madam, I write to your honour for your encouragement in that honourable profession Christ hath honoured you ^vith. Ye have gotten the sunny side of the brae, and the best of Christ's good things ; He hath not given you the bastard's portion ; and howbeit ye get strokes and sour looks from your Lord, yet believe His love more than your own feeling, for this world can take nothing from you that is truly yours, and death can do you no wrong ; your rock doth not ebb and flow, but your sea ; that which Christ hath said He will bide by it ; He A\ill be your tutor ; you shall not get your charters of heaven to play you with. It is good that ye have lost your credit with Christ, and that lord free-icill shall not be your tutor. Christ will lippen the taking of you to heaven, neither to yourself, nor any deputy, but only to Himself; blessed be your Tutor ! When your Head shall appear, your Bridegroom and Lord, your day shall then dawn, and it shall never have an afternoon 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. Madam, I find folks here kind to me, but in the night, and under their breath ; my Master's cause may not come to the crown of the causey : others are kind according to their fashion : many think me a strange man, and my cause not good, but I care not much for man's thoughts or approbation. I think no shame of the cross. The preachers of this town pretend great love, but the prelates have added to the rest this gentle cruelty (for so they think of it), to discharge me of the pulpits of this town ; the people murmur and cry out against it; and to speak truly howbeit Christ is most indulgent to me otherwise, yet my silence on the Lord's-day keeps me from being exalted above measure, and from startling in the heat of my Lord's love. Some people affect me, for the which cause I hear the preachers here purpose to have my confinement changed to another place ; so cold is northern love; but Christ and I will bear it. I have wrestled long with this sad silence ; I said what aileth Christ at my service, and my soul hath been at a pleading with Christ, and at yea and nay ; but I will yield to Him, providing my suffering may preach more than my tongue did ; for I gave not Christ an inch but for tmce as good again ; in a word, I am a fool, and He is God : I ^^^\ hold my peace hereafter. Let me hear from your ladyship and your dear child. Pray for a prisoner of Christ, who is mindful of your lady- ship. Remember my obliged obedience to my good Lady Marr. 56 LETTER VI. Grace, grace be with you. I write and pray blessings to your sweet child. Yours, in all dutiful obedience in his only Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, Nov. 22, 1636. LETTER VL— To the Right Honourable and Christian Lady, my Lady Viscountess of Kenmure. 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's come upon you. Since my coming hither Galloway sent me not a line, except what my brother Earlstown and his son did write. I cannot get my papers transported : but, madam, I want not kindness of one who hath the gate of it ; Christ (if he had never done more for me since I was born) hath engaged my heart and gained my blessing in this house of my pilgrimage. It pleaseth 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. 0, that this nation knew what is betwixt Him and me ! none would scar at the cross of Christ. My silence eats me up, but He hath told me He thanketh me no less than if I were preaching daily ; He sees how gladly I would be at it ; and therefore my wages are going to the fore up in heaven, as if I were still preach- ing Christ. Captains pay duly bedfast soldiers, howbeit they do not march nor carry armour, " Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of my Lord, and my Lord shall be my strength," Isa. xlix. 5 ; My garland, " the Banished Minister " (the term of Aberdeen), ashameth me not. I have seen the white side of Christ's cross, lovely hath He been to His oppressed servant. Psalm cxlvi. 7, " 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." 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 ! I hope none shall hear us. It is true for all this I get my meat with many strokes, and am seven times a day up and down, and am often anxious and cast down for the case of my oppressed brother, yet I hope the Lord will be surety for His servant. But now upon some weak, very 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 took the dorts at Christ, and took up a stomach against Him ; I said He had cast me over the dyke of the vineyard like a dry tree ; but it was His mercy, I see, that the fire LETTER VI. 57 did not bum the dry tree ; and now, as if my Lord Jesus had done the fault, and not I (who belied my Lord), He hath made the first mends, and He spake not one word against me, but hath come again and quickened my soul with His presence ; nay, now I think the very annuity, and casualties of the cross of Christ Jesus my Lord, and these comforts that accompany it, better than the world's set rent. 0, how many rich off-fallings are in my King's house ; I am persuaded, and dare pawn my salvation on it, that it is Christ's truth I now suffer for ; I know His comforts are no dreams. He would not put His seal on blank paper, nor deceive His afflicted ones that trust in Him. Your ladyship wrote to me that ye are yet an ill scholar. Madam, ye must go in at heaven's gates, and your book in your hand, still learning ; you have had your own large share of troubles, and a double portion ; but it saith your Father counteth you not a bastard : full-begotten bairns are nurtured, Heb. xii. 8. I long to hear of the child ; I write the blessings of Christ's prisoner and the mercies of God to him ; let him be Christ's and yours betwixt you, but let Christ be whole play-maker ; let Him be the lender, and ye the borrower, not an owner. Madam, it is not long since I did write to your lady- ship that Christ is keeping mercy for you, and I bide by it still, and now I ^vrite it under my hand : love Him dearly, win in to see Him ; there is in Him that Avhich you never saw ; He is ever nigh. He is a tree of life green and l^lossoming, both summer and winter. There is a nick in Christianity to the which whosoever cometli they see and feel more than others can do, I invite you of new to come to Him : " Come and see," will speak better things of Him than I can do ; " Come nearer, Come nearer," will say much. God thought never this world a portion worthy of you ; He would not even you to a gift of dirt and clay • nay, He will not give you Esau's portion, but reserves the inheritance of Jacob for you : are ye not well married now 1 have you not a good Husband now 1 My heart cannot express what sad nights I have for the virgin daughter of my people : woe is me for our time is coming! Ezek. vii. 10, " Behold the day, behold, it is come ; the morning hath gone forth, the rod hath blossomed, pride hath budded ; violence is risen up in a rod of wickedness. The sun is gone down upon our prophets ! " A dry wind upon Scotland, but neither to fan nor to cleanse. But out of all question, when the Lord hath cut down His forest, the after-growth of Lebanon shall flourish, they shall plant vines in our mountains, and a cloud shall yet fill the temple. Now the blessing of our dearest Lord Jesus, and the blessing of him that is separated from his brethren come upon you. Yours, at Aberdeen, the prisoner of Christ, S. R. Aberdeen, 58 LETTERS VII. AND VIII. LETTER VII.— To the Honourable and truly noble Lady, the Viscountess of Kenmure. Madaim, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to your ladyship. I long to hear from you. I am here waiting if a good wind, long looked for, shall at length blow in Christ's sails in this land. But I wonder if Jesus be not content to suffer more yet in His members, and cause, and beauty of His house, rather than He should not be avenged upon this land. I hear many worthy men (who see more in the Lord's dealing than I can take up with my dim sight) are of a contrary mind, and do believe the Lord is coming home again to His house in Scotland. I hope He is on His journey that way, yet I look not but that He shall feed this land with their own blood before He establish His throne amongst us. I know your Honour is not looking after things hereaway; ye have no great cause to think that your stock and principle is under the roof of the'se visible hea- vens : and I hope ye would think yourself a beguiled and cozened soul if it were so. I would be sorry to counsel your ladyship to make a covenant with time and this life, but rather desire you to hold in fair generals and far off from this ill-founded heaven that is on this side of the water. It speaketh somewhat when our Lord bloweth the bloom off our daft hopes in this life, and loppeth the branches of our worldly joys well nigh the root, on purpose that they should not thrive. Lord, spill my fool's heaven in this life, that I may be saved for ever. A forfeiture of the saints' part of the yoke and marrow of short-laughing worldly happiness is not such a real evil as our blinded eyes do conceive. I am thinking long now for some deliverance more than before : but I know I am in an error. It is possible I am not come to that measure of trial that the Lord is seeking in His work. If my friends in Galloway would effectually do for my deliverance, I would exceedingly rejoice ; but I know not but the Lord hath a way whereof He will be the only reaper of praises. Let me know with the bearer how the child is : the Lord be his Father, and Tutor, and your only Comforter. There is nothing here where I am but profanity and Atheism. Grace, grace be with your ladyship. Your ladyship at all obliged obedience in Christ, S. E. Aberdeen, Feb. 13, 1637. LETTER VIII.— To the Noble and Christian Lady, the Viscountess of Kenmure. Madam, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. I would not omit the occasion to write to your ladyship with the bearer. I am glad LETTER VIII. 69 the child is well ; God's favour even in the eyes of men be seen upon him. I hope your ladyship is thinking upon these sad and woeful days wherein we now live, when our Lord, in His righteous judgment, is sending the kirk the gate she is going, to Rome's brothel-house to seek a lover of her own, seeing she hath given up with Christ her husband. 0, what sweet comfort, what rich salvation, is laid up for these who had rather wash and roll their garments in their own blood than break out from Christ by apostacy ! Keep yourself in the love of Christ, and stand far aback from the pollutions of the world : side not with these times, and hold off from coming nigh the signs of a conspiracy with these that are now come out against Christ, that ye may be one kept for Christ only. I know your ladj^ship thinketh upon this, and how ye may be humbled for yourself and this backsliding land ; for I avouch that wrath from the Lord is gone out against Scotland. I think aye the longer the better of my royal and worthy Master : He is become a new Well-Beloved to me now, in renewed consolations, by the presence of the Spirit of grace and glory : Christ's garments smell of the powder of the merchant when he cometh out of his ivory chambers. 0, His perfumed face. His fair face. His lovely and kindly kisses, have made me, a poor prisoner, see, there is more to be had of Christ in this life than I believed : we think all is but a little earnest, a four-hours, a small tasting ; we have, or is to be had, in this life (which is true compared with the inheritance), but yet I know it is more, it is the kingdom of God within us. Woe, woe, is me, that I have not ten loves for that one Lord Jesus ! and that love faileth and drieth up in lo\dng Him ; and that I find no way to spend my love desires, and the yolk of my heart upon that fairest and dearest one : I am far behind with my narrow heart. 0, how ebb a soul have I to take in Christ's love ! for let worlds be multiplied according to angels' understanding, in millions, while they weary themselves, these worlds would not contain the thou- sandth part of His love. 0, if I could j^oke in amongst the thick of angels and seraphims, and now glorified saints, and could raise a new love-song of Christ before all the world ! I am pained with wondering at new opened treasures in Christ; if every finger, member, bone, and joint were a torch burning in the hottest fire in hell, I would they could all send out love praises, high songs of praise for evermore, to that plant of renown, to that royal and high Prince Jesus my Lord ; but, alas, His love swelleth in me, and findeth no vent ! alas, what can a dumb prisoner do or say for Him ! 0. for an engine to write a book of Christ and His love ! nay, I am left of Him bound and chained with His love ! I cannot find a loosed soul to lift up His praises, and give them out to others ; but oh, my daylight hath thick clouds, I cannot shine in His 60 LETTER IX. praises ! I am often like a sliip plying about to seek the wind ; I sail at great leisure, and cannot be blown upon that loveliest Lord. O, if I could turn my sails to Christ's right airt, and that I had my heart's wishes of His love 1 But, I but mar His praises ; nay, I know no comparison of what Christ is, and what His worth is : all the angels, and all the glorified, praise Him not so much as in halves : who can advance Him or utter all His praises ? I want nothing ; unknown faces favour me : enemies must speak good of the truth ; my Master's cause purchaseth commendation. The hopes of my enlargement from appearances are cold ; my faith hath no bed to sleep upon but Omnipotency. The goodwill of the Lord and His sweetest presence be with you and that child. Grace and peace be yours. Your ladyship in all duty in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, 1637. LETTER IX.— To the Right Honourable and Christian Lady the Viscountess of Kenmure. Madam, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to your ladyship. I would not omit to write a line with 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. However it be, Christ is so good that I will have no other tutor, suppose I could have wail and choice of ten thousand beside : I think now five hundred heavy hearts for Him too little. I wish 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 laid to their hand 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 another. O, that time would post faster, and hasten our long-looked for^ communion with that fairest, fairest among the sons of men ! 0, ' that the day would favour us, and come and put Christ and us in; 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 for 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. LETTER X. 61 wish you well, and my obligation these many years by-gone speak no less to me, but more I can neither wish, nor pray, nor desire for to your ladyship than Christ singled and wailed out from all created good things, or Christ, howbeit, wet in his own blood and wearing a crown of thorns. I am sure the saints at their best are but strangers to the weight and wortli of the incomparable sweet- ness of Christ. He is so new, so fresh in exellency, every day of new, to these that search more and more in Him, as if heaven could furnish as many new Christs (if I may speak so) as there are days bet^\HLxt Him and us, and yet He is one and the same. 0, we love an unknown lover when we love Christ ! Let me hear how the child is every way. The prayers of a prisoner of Christ be upon him. Grace for evermore, even while glory perfect it, be with your ladyship. Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, 1637. LETTER X.— To the Noble and Christian Lady, the Viscountess of Kenjniure. Madaini, — Notwithstanding the great haste of the bearer I would bless your ladysliip in paper, desiring, that since Christ hath ever envied that the world should have your love by Him, that ye give yourself out for Christ, and that ye may be for no other. I know none worthy of you but Christ, madam. I am either suffering for Christ, and this is either the sure and good way, or I have done with heaven and ^\dll never see God's face (which I bless Him cannot be). I write my blessing to that sweet child that ye have borrowed from God, he is no heritage to you but a loan, love him as folks do borrowed things : my heart is heavy for you. They say the kirk of Christ hath neither son nor heir, and therefore her enemies shall possess her : but I know she is not that ill friended, her husband is her heir, and she His heritage. If my Lord would be pleased I would desire some were dealt with for my return to Anwoth, but if that never be, I thank God Anwoth is not heaven ; preaching is not Christ I hope to wait on. Let me hear how the child is, and your ladyship's mind and hopes of him, for it would ease my heart to know that he is well. I am in good terms with Christ, but oh, my guiltiness ! yet He bringeth not pleas bet^vixt Him and me to the streets, and before the sun. Grace, grace, for evermore be mth your ladyship. Your ladyship, at all obedience in Christ, S. R. Aberdeen, 1637. 62 LETTER XI. LETTER XL— To the Eight Honourable and Christian Lady, J my Lady Viscountess of Kenmure. ' Madam, — Grace, mercy, and peace to you. I am refreshed with your letter : the right hand of Him to whom belong the issues from death hath been gracious to that sweet child. I do not, I do not forget him and your ladyship in my prayers. Madam, for your own case, I love careful, and withal doing complaints of want of prac- tice, because I observe many who think it holiness enough to com- plain and set themselves at 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 com- munion. There are curtains to be drawn by in Christ that we never saw, and new foldings of love in Him. I despair that ever I shall win to the far end of that love, there are so many plies in it; therefore dig deep, and sweat, and labour, and take pains for Him, and set by so much time in the day for Him as you can : he will be won with labour. I, his exiled prisoner, sought Him, and He hath rued upon me, and hath made a moan for me, as He doth for His own, Jer. xxxi. 20; Isa. xlv. 11 : and I know not wha£ to do with Christ, His love surroundeth and surchargeth me. I am burdened with it ; but 0, how sweet and lovely is that burden ! I do not 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. 0, what weighing and what telling is in Christ's love ! I fear nothing now so much as the laughing of Christ's cross, and the love-showers that accompany it : I wonder what He meaneth to put such a slave at the board-head, at His own elbow. 0, that I should lay my black mouth to such a fair, fair, fair face as Christ's ! but I dare not refuse to be loved : the cause is not in me why He hath looked upon me, and loved me, for He got neither bud nor hire of me ; it cost me nothing : it is good cheap love. 0, the many pound- weights of His love under which I am sweetly pressed ! Now, madam, I persuade you the greatest part but play with Christi- anity ; they put it by hand 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 oh, the windings, the turnings, the ups and the downs that He hath led me through ! 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 arrows that He shot at me, sticking in my heart. Who will help me to praise 1 who will come to lift with me and set on high His great love 1 and yet I find that a fire-flaught of challenges will come in at mid-summer, and question me, but it is LETTER XII. 63 only to keep a sinner in order. 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 canny or cunning-master doth a knave-servant (at least God give me grace to do so) ; he giveth him no handling or credit; only he intrusteth him with common errands, wherein he can- not play the knave. I pray God I may not give this world credit of my joys, and comforts, and confidence : that were to put Christ out of His office : nay, I counsel you, madam, from a little experience, let Christ keep the great seal, and intrust Him so as to hing your vessels, great and small, and pin your burdens upon the nail fastened in David's house, Isa xxii. 23. Let me not be well if ever they get the tutoring of my comforts : away, away with irresponsal tutors that would play me a slip, and then Christ would laugh at me, and say, "Well-wared, try again ere ye trust." Now, woe is me for my whorisli mother the Kirk of Scotland. 0 ! who will bewail her. Now the presence of the great Angel of the covenant to be with you and that sweet child. Aberdeen, March 7, 1637. Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S, E. LETTEE Xn.— To the Eight Honourable and Christian Lady, my Lady Kenmure. Madam, — Upon the offered opportunity of this worthy bearer, I coald not omit to answer the heads of your letter. L I think not much to set down in paper some good things anent Christ, that sealed and holy thing, and to feed my soul with raw wishes to be one mth Christ, for a wish is but broken and half love ; but verily to obey this, "Come and see," is a harder matter; but oh, I have rather smoke than fire, and guessings rather than real assurances of Him ! I have little or nothing to say, that I am as one who hath found favour in His eyes ; but there is some pining and mis-mannered hunger, that maketh me miscall and nickname Christ as a changed Lord, but, alas, it is ill slitten ! I cannot believe "without a pledge, I cannot take God's word without a caution, as if Christ had lost and sold His credit, and were not in my books responsal and law-bidding ; but this is my way, for His way is (Ephes. i. 13), "After that ye believed ye were sealed mth the Holy Spirit of promise." 2. Ye write that I am filled mth knowledge, and stand not in need of these warnings, but certainly my light is dim when it cometh to handy-grips ; and how many have full coffers and yet empty bellies ; light, and the saving use of light, are far different. 0 what need have I to have the ashes blown away from my dying-out fire ! I may be a book-man, and be an idiot and stark fool in Christ's way : learning will not beguile Christ : the Bible 64 LETTER XIII. beguiled the Pharisees, and so may I be misted. 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 reproveth sleeping. I doubt not but more should fetch heaven if they believed not heaven to be at the next door ; the world's negative holiness — no adulterer, no murderer, no thief, no cozener — maketh men believe they are already glorified saints ; but the sixth chapter to the Hebrews may affright us all, when we hear that men may take of the gifts and common graces of the Holy Spirit, and a taste of the powers of the life to come, to hell with them. Here is reprobate silver, which yet seemeth to have the king's image and superscription upon it. 3. I find you complaining of yourself, and it becometh a sinner so to do ; I am not against you in that ; sense of death is a sib friend, and of kin and blood to life ; the more sense, the more life ; the more sense of sin the less sin. I would love my pain, and soreness, and my wounds, howbeit these should bereave me of my night's sleep, better than my wounds without pain. 0, how sweet a thing is it to give Christ His hand full of broken arms and legs, and dis- jointed bones ! 4. Be not afraid for little grace. Christ soweth His living seed, and He will not lose His seed : if He have the guiding of my stock and state it shall not miscarry. Our spilt works, losses, deadness, coldness, wretchedness, are the ground which the good Husbandman laboureth. 5. Ye write that His compassions fail not, notwithstanding that your service to Christ miscarrieth. To the which I answer, God forbid that there were buying, and selling, and blocking for as good again betwixt Christ and us ; for then free grace might go play it, and a Saviour sing dumb, and Christ go and sleep, but we go to heaven with light shoulders, and all the bairn-time, and the vessels great and small that we have, are fastened upon the sure nail, Isa. xxii. 24. The only danger is that we give grace more ado than God giveth it, that is by turning His grace into wantonness. 6. Ye write, few see your guiltiness, and ye cannot be free mth many, as with me. I answer, "Blessed be God, Christ and we are not heard before men's courts ; " it is at home, betwixt Him and us, that pleas are taken away. Grace be with you. Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. K Aberdeen. LETTER XIII. — To the Right Honourable and Christian Lady, my Lady Kenmure. Madai^i, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to your ladyship. God be thanked ye are yet in possession of Christ and that sweet child. I LETTER XIII. 65 pray God the former rnay be sure heritage, and the latter a loan for your comfort, while he does good to His poor, afflicted, withered Mount Zion ; and Avho knoweth but our Lord hath comforts laid up in store for her and you ? I am persuaded Christ hath bought you by the devil, and hell, and sin ; that they have no claim to you ; and that is a rich and invaluable mercy. Long since ye were half challenging death's cold kindness in being so slow and sweared to come and loose a tired prisoner ; but ye stand in need of all the crosses, losses, changes, and sad hearts that befel you since that time. Christ knoweth the body of sin unsubdued will take them all, and more. We know that Paul had need of the devil's service to buffet him, and far more we. But, my dear and honourable lady, spend your sand-glass well. I am sure ye have law to raise a suspension against all that devils, men, friends, world, losses, hell, or sin can decree against you. It is good your crosses will but convey you to heaven's gates. Li can they not go ; the gates shall be closed on them when ye shall be admitted to the throne. Time standeth not still ; eternity is hard at our door. 0, what is laid up for you ! therefore harden your face against the wind, and the Lamb, your Husband, is making ready for you : the Bridegroom would fain have that day as gladly as your honour would wish to have it ; He hath not forgotten you. I have heard a rumour of the prelate's purpose to banish me, but let it come if God so will ; the other side of the sea is my Father's ground as well as this side. I owe bowing to God, but no servile bowing to crosses ; I have been but too soft in that. I am comforted that I am persuaded fully that Christ is half with me in this well-born and honest cross, and if He claim right to the best half of my troubles (as I know He doth to the whole) I shall remit it over to Christ what I shall do in this case. I know certainly my Lord Jesus will not mar nor spill my suffer- ings ; He hath use for them in His house. 0, what it worketh on me to remember that a stranger, who cometh not in by the door, shall build hay and stubble upon the golden foundation I laid amongst that people in Anwoth ! but I know Providence looketh not a squint but looketh straight out, and through all men's darkness. 0, that I could wait upon the Lord ! I had but one eye, one joy, one delight, even to preach Christ, and my mother's sons were angry at me, and have put out the poor man's one eye ; and what have I behind 1 I am sure this sour world hath lost my heart deservedly, but oh, that there were a day's-man to lay his hand upon us both, and determine upon my part of it. Alas ! that innocent and lovely truth should be sold ; my tears are but little worth, but yet for this thing I weep, I weep : Alas ! that my fair and lovely Lord Jesus should be miskent in His own house ; it reckoneth little of five hundred the like of me. Yet the water goeth not over faith's breath, yet our 6G LETTER XIV. King liveth. I write the prisoner's blessings, the goodwill, and long lasting kindness, with the comforts of the very God of peace be to your ladyship and to your sweet child. Grace, grace be with you. Your honours, at all obedience in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, Sept. 7, 1637. LETTEK XIV.— To the Much Honoured John Gordon, of Cardoness, Elder. Much Honoured and Dearest in my Lord, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. My soul longeth exceedingly to hear how matters go betwixt you and Christ, and whether or not there be any work of Christ in that parish that will bide the trial of fire and water. Let me be weighed of my Lord in a just balance if your souls lie not weighty upon me ; you go to bed and you rise with me ; thoughts of your soul (my dearest in our Lord) depart not from me in my sleep. Ye have a great part of my tears, sighs, supplications, and prayers. 0, if I could buy your soul's salvation with any suffering whatsoever, and that ye and I might meet with joy up in the rainbow, when we shall stand before our Judge ! 0, my Lord, forbid I have any hard thing to depone against you in that day % 0, that He who quickeneth the dead would give life to my sowing among you ! What joy is there (next to Christ), that standeth on this side of death would comfort me more than that the souls of that poor people were in safety, and beyond all hazard of losing. Sir, show the people this, for when I write to you I think I write to you all, old and young ; fulfil my joy and seek the Lord. Sure I am, once I discovered my lovely, royal, princely Lord Jesus to you all, woe, woe, woe, shall be your part of it for evermore if the Gospel be not the savour of life unto life to you : as many sermons as I preached, as many sentences as I uttered, as many points of dittay shall they be, when the Lord shall plead with the world for the evil of their doings. Believe me, I find heaven a city hard to be won ; the righteous will scarcely be saved. 0, what violence of thronging will heaven take ! Alas ! I see many deceiving themselves, for we will all to heaven ; now every foul dog, with his foul feet, will in at the nearest to the new and clean Jerusalem : all say they have faith, and the greatest part in the world know not, and will not consider, that a slip in the matter of their salvation is the most pitiful slip that can be ; and that no loss is comparable to this loss. 0, then, see that there be not a loose pin in the work of your salvation ! for ye mil not believe how quickly the Judge will come ; and for yourself, I know LETTER XIV. 67 that death is waiting, and hovering, and lingering at God's com- mand, that ye may be prepared. Then you had need to stir your time and to take eternity and death to your riper advisements : a wrong step or a wrong stot in going out of this life, in one property, is hke the sin against the Holy Ghost, and can never be forgiven, because ye cannot come back again through the last water to mourn for it. I know your counts are many, and will take telling, and laying, and reckoning betwixt you and your Lord ; fit your counts and order them ; lose not to the last play, whatever ye do ; for in that play with death, your precious soul is the prize ; for the Lord's sake spoil not the play, and lose not such a treasure. Ye know out of love I had to your soul, and out of desire I had to make an honest count for you. I testified my displeasure and dis- liking of your ways very often, both in private and public. I am not now a witness of your doings, but your Judge is always your witness. I beseech by the mercies of God, by the salvation of your soul, by your comforts when your eye-strings shall break, and the face wax pale, and the soul shall tremble to be out of the lodging of clay, and by your compearance before your awful Judge, after the sight of this letter, take a new course with your ways, and now in the end of your day, make sure of heaven ; examine yourself if ye be in good earnest in Christ, for some (Heb. vi. 4) are partakers of the Holy Ghost, and taste of the good Word of God, and of the powers of the life to come, and yet have no part in Christ at all. Many think they believe, but never tremble : the devils are further on than these. Jam. ii. 19. Make sure to yourself that ye are above ordinary professors. The sixth part of your span-length and hand-breadth of days is scarcely before you. Haste, haste, for the tide will not bide ! Put Christ upon all your accounts and your secrets. Better it is that ye- give Him your counts in this life, out of your own hand, than that after this life, he take them from you. I never knew so well what sin was as since I came to Aberdeen ; howbeit I was preaching of it to you. To feel the smoke of hell's fire in the throat for half an hour, to stand beside a river of fire and brimstone, broader than the earth, and to think to be bound hand and foot, and cast in the midst of it quick, and then to have God locking the prison door, never to be opened for all eternity : 0, how will it shake a conscience that hath any life in it ! I find the fruits of my pains to have Christ, and that people once fairly met, now meeteth my soul in my sad hours, and I rejoice that I gave fair warning of all the corruptions now entering in Christ's house, and now many a sweet, sweet, soft kiss, many perfumed, well- smelled kisses and embracements, have I received of my royal Master ; He and I have had much love together. I have for the present a sick, d wining life, with much pain, and much love-sick- 68 LETTER XIV. ness for Christ. 0, what I would give to have a bed made to my wearied soul in His bosom ! I would frist heaven for many years to have my fill of Jesus in this life, and to have occasion to offer Christ to my people, and to woo many people to Christ. I cannot tell you what sweet pain and delightsome torments are in Christ's love ! I often challenge time that holdeth us sundry. I profess to you I have no rest. I have no ease, while I be overhead and ears in love's ocean. If Christ's love (that fountain of dehght) were laid as open to me as I would wish, 0, how would I drink, and drink abundantly ! 0, how drunken would this my soul be ! I half call His absence cruel, and the mask and vail on Christ's face a cruel covering, that hideth such a fair, fair face from a sick soul. I dare not challenge Himself, but His absence is a mountain of iron upon my heavy heart. 0, when will we meet ! 0, how long is it to the dawning of the marriage-day ! 0, sweet Lord Jesus, take wide steps 1 0, my Lord, come over mountains at one stride ! O, my Beloved, flee like a roe, or young hart, upon the mountains of separation ! 0, if He would fold the heavens together like an old cloak, and shovel time and days out of the way, and make ready in haste the Lamb's wife for her Husband. Since He looked upon me my heart is not mine own ; He hath run away to heaveir with it. I know it was not for nothing that I spake so meikle good of Christ to you in public. 0, if the heaven and the heaven of heavens were paper, and the sea ink, and the multitude of mountains pens of brass, and I were able to write that paper, within and without, full of the praises of my fairest, my dearest, my loveliest, my sweetest, my matchless, and my most marrowless and marvellous Well-Beloved ! Woe is me I cannot set Him out to men and angels ! 0, there are few tongues to sing love-son^ of His incomparable excellency ! what can I, poor prisoner, do tc exalt Him ? or what course can I take to extol my lofty and lovely Lord Jesus 1 I am put to my wit's end how to get His name made great. Blessed they who would help me in this. How sweet ai Christ's back parts ! 0, what then is in His face ! These thai see His face, how do they get their eye plucked off Him again Look up to Him and love Him ! 0, love and live ! Tt were lifi to me if ye would read this letter to that people, and if they di( profit by it. 0, if I could cause them to die of love for Jesus ! I charge them, by the salvation of their souls, to hang about Christ'i neck and take their fill of His love, and follow him as I taugl them. Part by no means with Christ ; hold fast what ye hav received ; keep the truth once delivered. If ye or that people quit it in an hair, or in an hoof, ye break your consciences in twain; and who then can mend it, and cast a knot on it ? My dearest in the Lord, stand fast in Christ, keep the faith, contend for Christ, LETTER XV. 69 wrestle for Him and take men's feud for God's favour ; there is no comparison betwixt these. 0, that my Lord would fulfil my joy, and keep the young bride to Christ that is at Anwoth ! And now whoever they be that have returned to the old vomit since my departure, T bind upon their back, in my Master's name and autho- rity, the long-lasting weighty vengeance and curse of God ; in my Lord's name I give them a doom of black, unmixed, pure wrath, which my Master shall ratify and make good when we stand toge- ther before Him, except they timeously repent and turn to the Lord. And I write to thee, poor mourning and broken-hearted believer, be who thou will, of the free salvation : Christ's sweet balm for thy wounds, 0, poor humble believer ; Christ's kisses for thy watery cheeks ; Christ's blood of atonement for thy guilty soul ; Christ's heaven for thy poor soul, though once banished out of paradise ; and my Master shall make good my vv^ord ere long. 0, that people were Avise ! 0, that people Avere wise ! 0, that people would spier out Christ, and never rest while they .find him ! 0, how shall my soul mourn in secret if my nine-years'-pained head, and sore breast, and pained back, and grieved heart, and private and public prayers to God, shall all be for nothing among that people ! Did my Lord Jesus send me but to summon you before your Judge, and to leave your summons at your houses 1 was I sent as a wit- ness only to gather your dittays 1 0, my God, forbid ! often did I tell you of a fan of God's Word to come among you for the contempt of it. I told you often of wrath, wrath from the Lord, to come upon Scotland, and yet I bide by my Master's word ; it is quickly coming ; desolation for Scotland, because of the quarrel of a broken covenant, Now, worthy sir ; now, my dear people, my joy, and my crown in the Lord, let Him be your fear ; seek the Lord and His face ; save your souls ; doves, flee to Christ's window ; pray for me and praise for me. The blessing of my God, the prayers and blessings of a poor prisoner and your lawful pastor, be upon you. Your lawful and loving pastor, S. R. Aberdeen, June 16, 1637. LETTER XV.— To the Right Honourable and Christian Lady, my Lady Boyd. Madaim, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you, from God our Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ. I cannot but thank your lady- ship for your letter that hath refreshed my soul. I think myself many ways obliged to your ladyship for your love to my afl^icted brother now embarked with me in that same cause : his Lord hath been pleased to put him upon truth's side. I hope your lad3^ship 70 LETTER XY. will befriend him Avith your counsel and countenance in that country, where he is a stranger ; and your ladyship needeth not fear, but your kindness to his own shall be put up in Christ's accounts. Now, madam, for your ladyship's case, I rejoice exceedingly that the Father of Lights hath made you see that there is a nick in Christianity which" ye contend to be at, and that is, to quit the right eye and the right hand, and to keep the Son of God. I hope your desire is to make Him your garland, and your eye looketh up the mount, which cer- tainly is nothing but the new creature : fear not, Christ will not cast water upon your smoking coal, and then who else dare do it if he say "Nay?" Be sorrow at corruption and not secure ; that com- panion lay with you in your mother's womb, and was as early friends with you as the breath of life, and Christ will not have it other- wise ; for He delighteth to take up fallen bairns and to mend broken brows : binding up of wounds is His office, Isa. Ixi. First, I am glad Christ will get employment of His calling in you. Many a whole soul is in heaven which was sicker than ye are : He is con- tent ye lay broken arms and legs on His knee, that He may spelk them. Secondly, hiding of His face is wise love ', His love is not fond, doting, and reasonless, to give your head no other, pillow while ye be in at heaven's gates, but to lie betwixt His breasts, and lean upon His bosom : nay. His bairns must often have the frosty, cold side of the hill, and set down both their bare feet among thorns : His love hath eyes, and in the meantime is looking on. Our pride must have winter weather to rot it. But I know Christ and ye shall not be heard : ye will whisper it over betwixt yourselves and agree again, for the anchor-tow abideth fast within the vail ; the end of it is in Christ's ten fingers ; who dare pull if He hold ? " I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying, Fear not, I will help thee," Isa. xli. 13. Fear not, Jacob. The sea-sick passenger shall come to land ; Christ will be the first that will meet you on the shore. I hope your ladyship will keep the King's highway ; go on in the strength of the Lord in haste, as if ye had not leisure to speak to the inn-keepers by the way : he is over beyond time in the other side of the water who thinketh long for you. For my unfaithful self, madam, I must say a word. At my first coming hither, the devil made many black lies of my Lord Jesus, and said the court was changed, and He was angry and would give an evil servant his leave at mid-term ; but He give me grace not to take myleave : I resolve to bide summons and sit : howbeit it was suggested and said, What should be done with a withered tree but over the dike with it ? But now, now (I dare not, I do not keep it up), who is feasted as His poor exiled prisoner? I think shame of the board-head, and the first mess, and the royal King's dining-hall; and that my black hand should come on such a liuler's table. But I can- not mend it, Christ must have His will ; only He paineth my soul so. LETTER XVI. 71 sometimes with His love, that I have been nigh to pass modesty, and to cry out. He hath left a smoking burning coal in my heart, and gone to the door himself, and left me and it together ! yet it is not desertion ; I know not what it is ; but I was never so sick for him as now. I durst not challenge my Lord if I got no more for heaven ; it is a dating cross. I know he hath other tilings to do than to play with me, and trinle an apple with me, and that this feast will end. O, for instruments in God's name, that this is He ! and that I may make use of it, when it will be a near friend within me, and * when it will be said by a challenging devil, "Where is my Godi" Since I know it will not last, I desire but to keep broken meat ; but let no man after me slander Christ for His cross. The great Lord of the covenant who brought from the dead the great Shepherd of His sheep by the blood of the eternal covenant, establish you, and keep you and yours to His appearance. Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. K. Aberdeen, March 7, 1637. LETTER XVL— To Mr Alexander Henderson. My Reverend and Dear Brother, — I received your letters. They are as apples of gold to me ; for with my sweet feasts (and they are above the deserving of such a sinner, high and out of measure) I have sadness to ballast me and weight me a little. It is but His boundless wdsdom, who hath taken the tutoring of His ■witless child ; and He knoweth to be drunken with comforts is not safest for our stomachs. However it be, the din, and noise and glooms of Christ's cross are weightier than itself. I protest to you (my witness is in heaven) I could wish many pounds' weight added to my cross to know that, by my sufferings, Christ were set for- ward in His kingly office in this land. 0, what is my skin to His glory, or my losses, or my sad heart, to the apple of the eye of our Lord, and His beloved spouse. His precious truth. His royal privileges, the glory of manifested justice in giving of His foes a dash, the testi- mony of His faithful servants, who do glorify Him when He rideth upon poor weak worms, and triumpheth in them ! I desire you to pray that I may come out of this furnace with honesty, and that I may leave Christ's truth no worse than I found it, and that this most honourable cause may neither be stained nor weakened. As for your case, my reverend and dearest l3rother, ye are the talking of the North and South ; and looked to so as if you were all crystal glass ; your mots and dust should soon be proclaimed, and trumpets blown at your slips. But T know ye haA<' laid help upon One that is mighty. 72 LETTER XVII. Entrust not your comforts to men's airy and frothy applause, neitlier lay your down-castings on the tongues of salt-mockers and reproach- ers of godliness, — "As deceivers and yet true, as unknown and yet well known," God hath called you to Christ's side, and the wind is now in Christ's face in this land ; and seeing ye are with Him, ye cannot expect the lee-side, or the sunny-side of the brae ! but I know ye have resolved to take Christ upon any terms whatso- ever. I hope ye do not rue, though your cause be hated and that preju- dices are taken up against it. The shields of the world think our Master cumbersome wares ; and that He maketh too great din, and that His chords and yokes make blains and deep scores in their neck; there- fore they kick ; they say this man shall not reign over us. Let us pray one for another. He who hath made you a chosen arrow in His quiver, hide you in the hollow of His hand. I am yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, March 9, 1637. LETTER XVH.— To the Right Honourable my Lord Lowdon. My very Noble and Honourable Lord, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. I make bold to write to your lordship that you may know the honourable cause ye are graced to profess is Christ's own truth. Ye are many ways blessed of God, who hath taken upon you to come out to the streets with Christ on your forehead, when so many are ashamed of Him, and hide Him (as it were) under their cloak, as if He were a stolen Christ. If this faithless generation (and especially the nobles of this kingdom) thought not Christ dear wares, and religion expensive, hazardous, and dangerous, they would not slip from His cause as they do, and stand looking on with their hands folded behind their back, when lowns are running away with the spoil of Zion on their back and the boards of the Son of God's tabernacle. Law and justice are to be had to any, especially for money and moyen ; but Christ can get no law — good, cheap, nor dear. It were the glory and honour of you, who are the nobles of this land, to plead for your wronged Bridegroom and His oppressed spouse, as far as zeal and standing law will go with you. Your ordinary logic, from the event that it will do no good to the cause (and therefore silence is best, till the Lord put to His own hand), is not (with reverence of our lordship's learning) worth a straw. Events are God's. Let us do, and not plead against God's office ; let Him sit at His own helm who moderateth all events. It is not a good course to complain that w^e cannot get a providence of gold, when our lazi- ness, cold zeal, temporising and faithless fearfulness, spilleth good providence. Your lordship will pardon me ; I am not of that mind LETTER XVIII. 73 that tumults or arms is the way to put Christ on His throne, or that Christ will be served and truth vindicated only with the arms of flesh and bh)od ; nay, Christ doth His turn with, less din than with gar- ments rolled in blood. But I would the zeal of God were in the nobles to do their part for Christ, and I must be pardoned to Avrite to your lordship. This I do not, I dare not but speak to others what God hath done to the soul of His poor, afflicted, exiled prisoner. His comfort is more than I ever knew before ; He hath sealed the honourable cause I now suffer for, and I shall not believe that Christ will put His ^' Amen " and ring upon an imagination. He hath made all His promises good to me, and hath filled up all the blanks mth His own hand. I would not exchange my bonds with the plastered joy of this whole world. It hath pleased Him to make a sinner the like of me an ordinary bancjueter in His house of wine wdth that royal j^rincely One Christ Jesus. 0, what weighing ! 0, what telling is in His love ! how sweet must He be, when that black and burdensome tree. His own cross, is so perfumed with joy and glad- ness ! 0, for help to lift Him up by praises on His royal throne ! I speak no more but that his name may be spread abroad in me, that meikle good may be spoken of Christ on my behalf : this being done, my losses, place, stipend, credit, ease, and liberty, shall all be made up to my full contentment and joy of heart. I will be confident your lordship will go on in the strength of the Lord, and keep Christ and avouch Him that He may read your name publicly before men and angels. I will entreat your lordship to exhort and encourage that nobleman, your chief, to do the same. But T am woe, many of you find a new wisdom, which deserveth not such a name; it were better that men should see that their wisdom be holy, and their holiness wise. I must be bold to desire your lord- ship to add to your former favours to me (for the which your lord- ship hath a prisoner's blessing and prayers) this, that ye would be pleased to befriend my brother, now suff'tring for the same cause, for he is to dwell nigh your lordship's bounds : your lordship's word and countenance may help him. Thus recommending your lordship to the saving grace and tender mercy of Christ Jesus our Lord, I rest, 4 Your lordship's obliged servant in Christ. S. R. Aberdeen, March 9, 1637. LETTER XVIIL— To Mr Williat^i DalCxLISH, Minister of the Gospel. Reverend and Dear Brother, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. I am well. My Lord is kinder to me than ever He was. 74 LETTER XVII r. It pleaseth Him to dine and sup with his afflicted prisoner ; a king feasteth me, and His spikenard casteth a sweet smell. Put Christ's love to the trial and put upon it burdens, and then it will appear love indeed. AVe employ not His love, and therefore we know it not. I verily count more of the sufferings of my Lord than of this world's lustred and over-gilded glory. I dare not say but my Lord Jesus hath fully recompensed my sadness with His joys, my losses with His own presence. I find it a sweet and rich thing to exchange my sorrows with Christ's joys, my afflictions with that sweet peace I have with Himself. Brother, this is His own truth I now suffer for. He liath sealed my sufferings with His own comforts, and I know He will not put His seal upon blank paper ; His seals are not dumb nor delusive, to confirm imagination and lies. Go on, my dear brother, in the strength of the Lord, not fearing man that is a worm, or the son of man that will die. Pro- vidence hath a thousand keys to open a thousand sundry doors for the deliverance of His own, when it is even come to a conclamatum est. Let us be faithful and care for our own part, which is to do and suffer for Him, and lay Christ's part on Himself, and leave it there; duties are ours, events are the Lord's. When our faith goeth to meddle with events, and to hold a court (if I may so speak) upon God's Providence, and beginneth to say, how wilt thou do this and that *? we lose ground : we have nothing to do there : it is our part to let the Almighty exercise His own office, and stir His own helm : there is nothing left to us but to see how we may be approved of Him, and how we may roll the weight of our weak souls (in well-doing) upon Him Avho is God Omnipotent; and when, what we thus essay, miscarrieth, it shall neither be our sin nor cross. Brother, remember the Lord's word to Peter, '^ Simon, lovest thou me ? Feed my sheep :" no greater testimony of our love to Christ can be than to feed painfully and faithfully His lambs. I am in no better neighbourhood with the minist^s here than before ; they cannot endure that any speak of me, or to me ; thus I am in the meantime silent (which is my greatest grief). Dr Barren hath often disputed with me, especially about Arminian controversies, and for the ceremonies; three yokings laid him by, and I have not been troubled with him since : now he hath appointed a dispute before witnesses ; I trust Christ and truth shall do for themselves. I hope, brother, ye will help my people, and write to me what ye hear the bishop is to do to them. Grace be with you. Your brother in bonds, S. R. Aberdeen, June 16, 1637. LETTER XIX, 75 LETTER XIX.— To Mr Hugh M'Kaill, Minister of the Gospel. Reverend and Dear Brother, — I bless you for your letter. He is come dow n as rain upon the mown grass ; He hath revived my withered root, and He is as the dew of herbs. I am most secure in this prison ; salvation is for walls in it, and what think ye of these walls ? He maketh the dry plant to bud as the lily, and to blossom as Lebanon : the great Husbandman's blessing cometh down upon the plants of righteousness : who may say this (my dear brother), if I, His poor exiled stranger and prisoner, may not say it 1 Howbeit all the world should be silent, I cannot hold my peace. 0, how many black counts hath Christ and I rounded over together in the house of my pilgrimage 1 and how fat a por- tion hath He given to a hungry soul 1 I had rather have Christ four hours than have dinner and supper both in one from any other : His dealing and the way of His judgments pass finding out. No preaching, no book, no learning could give me that which I behoved to come and get in this town. But what of all this, if I were not misted, confounded, and astonished how to be thankful, and how to get Him praised for evermore 1 And what is more. He hath been pleased to pain me with His love, and my pain groweth through want of real possession. Some have written to me that I am possibly too joyful of the cross, but my joy over- leapeth the cross, it is bounded and terminate upon Christ. I know the sun will overcloud and eclipse, and I shall again be put to walk in the shadow ; but Christ must be welcome to come and go as He thinketh meet : yet He would be more welcome to me, I trow, to come than go ; and I hope He pitieth and pardoneth me, in casting apples to me at such a fainting time as this ; holy and blessed is His name. It was not my flattering of Christ that drew a kiss from His mouth ; but He would send me as a spy into this wilderness of suff'ering, to see the land and to try the ford ; and I cannot make a lie of Christ's cross ; I can report nothing but good both of Him and it, lest others should faint. I hope when a change cometh, to cast anchor at midnight upon the rock (which He hath taught me to know in this daylight), whither I may run when I must say my lesson without book, and believe in the dark. I am sure it is sin to tarrow of Christ's good meat, and not to eat when He saith, " Eat, 0 well-beloved, and drink abundantly." If He bear me on His back or carry me in His arms over this water, I hope for grace to set down both my feet on dry ground when the way is better, but this is slippery ground. My Lord thought good I should go by and hold, and lean on my Well-Beloved's shoulder : it is good to be ever taking from Him. I desire He 76 LETTER XX.- may get the fruit of praises for doting and thus dandling me upon His knee : and I may give my bond of thankfulness, so being I have Christ's backbond again for my relief, that I shall be strength- ened by His powerful grace to pay my vows to Him. But, truly, I find we have the advantage of the brae upon our enemies : we are more than conquerors through Him who hath loved us ; and they know not wherein our strength lieth. Pray for me; grace be with you. Your brother in Christ, S. E. Aberdeen. LETTER XX.— To my Lady Boyd. Madam, — Grace, mercy, and peace be unto you. The Lord hath brought me to Aberdeen, where I see God in few. This town hath been advised upon of purpose for me : it consisteth either of Papists or men of Gallio's naughty faith ; it is counted wisdom in the most not to countenance a confined minister, but I find Christ neither strange nor unkind; for I have found many faces smile upon me since I came hither. I am heavy and sad, considering what is be- twixt the Lord and my soul, which none seeth but He. I find men have mistaken me ; it would be no art (as I now see) to spin small and make hypocrisy seem a goodly web, and to go through the mercat as a saint among men, and yet steal quietly to hell with- out observation ; so easy is it to deceive men. I have disputed, whether or no I ever knew anything of Christianity, save the letters of that name; men see but as men, and they call ten, twenty; and twenty, an hundred ; but 0 ! to be approved of God in the heart and in sincerity, is not an ordinary mercy : my neglects while I had a pulpit, and other things whereof I am ashamed to speak, meet me now, so as God maketh an honest cross my daily sorrow ; and, for fear of scandal and stumbling, I must hide this day of the law's pleading ; I know not if this court kept within my soul be fenced in Christ's name. If certainty of salvation were to be bought, God knoweth, if I had ten earths I would not prig with God, like a fool. I believed, under suff'ering for Christ, that I myself should keep the key of Christ's treasures, and take out comforts when I listed and cat, and be fat ; but I see now a sufferer for Christ will be made to know himself, and will be holden at the door, as well as another poor sinner ; and will l)e fain to eat with the bairns, and to take the by-board, and glad so : my blessing on the cross of Christ, that hath made me see this. 0, if we could take pains for the kingdom of heaven ! but we sit down upon some ordinary marks of God's children, thinking we have as much as will separate us from a re- LETTER XXI. 77 probate, and thereupon we take the play, and cry holy day : and thus the devil casteth water on our fire, and blunteth our zeal and care ; but I see-heaven is not at the next door : and I see, howbeit my challenges be many, I suffer for Christ, and dare hazard my salvation upon it ; for sometimes my Lord cometh with a fair hour, and 0, but his love be sweet, delightful, and comfortable ! Half a kiss is sweet, but our doting love will not be content of a right to Christ unless we get possession ; like the man who mil not be con- tent of rights to bought land, except he get also the ridges and acres laid upon his back, to carry home with him. However it be, Christ is wise ; and we are fools to be browden and fond of a pawn in the loof of our hand : living on trust by faith may well content us. Madam, I know your ladyship knoweth this, and that made me bold to write of it, that others might reap somewhat by my bonds for the truth ; for I should desire, and I aim at this, to have my Lord well spoken of and honoured, how^beit He should make nothing of me, but a bridge over a water. Thus recommending your ladyship, your son, and children to His grace, who hath honoured you with a name and room among the living in Jerusalem, and wishing grace to be with your ladyship, I rest, Your ladyship, in his sweetest Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen. LETTER XXL— To Mr David Dickson. Reverend and Dear Brother, — Grace, mercy, and peace be unto you. I find great men, especially old friends, skar to speak for me ; but my kingly and royal Master biddeth me try His moyen to the uttermost, and I shall find a friend at hand ; I still depend on Him ; His court is as before ; the prisoner is welcome to Him ; the black crabbed bed-tree of my Lord's cross hath made Christ and my soul very entire ; He is my song in the night. I am often laid in the dust with, challenges and apprehensions of His anger, and then, if a mountain of iron were laid upon me, I cannot be heavier ; and with much wrestling I ^vin in to the king's house of wine, and for the most part my life is joy, and such joy through His comforts as I have been afraid to shame myself, and to cry out, for I can scarce bear what I get : Christ giveth me a measure heaped up, pressed down, and running over : and believe it. His love paineth me more than prison and banishment. I cannot get a gate of Christ's love ; had I known what He was keeping for me, I would never have been so faint-hearted. In my heaviest times, when all is lost, the memory of His love maketh me think Christ's glooms 78 LETTER XXII. are but for the fashion ; I seek no more but a vent to my wine : I am smothered and ready to burst for want of a vent. Think not much of persecution : it is before you, but it is not as men conceive of it. My sugared cross forceth me to say this to you. Ye shall have wailed meat, the sick bairn is oftentimes the spilt bairn ; ye shall command all the house. I hope ye help a tired prisoner to pray and praise ; had I but the annual of annual to give to my Lord Jesus, it should ease my pain ; but, alas ! I have nothing to pay ; He will get nothing of' poor me ; but I am woe I have not room enough in my heart for such a stranger. I am not cast down to go further north. I have good cause to work for my Master, for I am well paid before hand ; I am not behind, howbeit I should not get one smile more till my feet be up within the king's dining-hall. I have gone through yours upon the covenant ; it hath edified my soul and refreshed an hungry man : I judge it sharp, sweet, quick, and profound. Take me at my word, I fear it get no lodging in Scotland. The brethren of Ireland write not to me ; chide with them for that, I am sure that I may give you and them a commis- sion (and I will bide by it) that you tell my beloved I am sick of love. I hope in God to leave some of my rust and superfluities in Aberdeen : I cannot get an house in this town wherein to leave drink-silver in my Master's name, save one only. There is no sale for Christ in the north : He is like to lie long on my hand ere any accept Him. Grace be with you. Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. E. Aberdeen. LETTER XXn.— To Mr Matthew Mowat. Reverend and Dear Brother, — I am a very fair mistaken man. If others knew how poor my stock were they would not think upon the like of me but with compassion ; for I am as one kept under a strict tutor, I Avould have more than my tutor alloweth upon me, but it is good that a bairn's wit is not the rule which regulateth my Lord Jesus ; let Him give what He will, it shall aye be above merit, and my ability to gain therewith. I would not wish a better stock (while heaven be my stock) than to live upon credit at Christ's hands, daily borrowing ; surely running over love, that vast, huge, boundless love of Christ (that there is telling in for man and angel) is the only thing I fainest would be in hands with. He knoweth I have little but the love of that love, and that I shall be happy, suppose I never get another heaven, but only an eternal lasting feast of that love ; but suppose my wishes were poor. He is not poor; Christ, all the seasons of the year, is dropping sweetness; if| LErrER XXII. 79 I had vessels I might fill them, but my old riven, holey, and run- ning-out dish, even when I am at the well, can bring little away. Nothing but glory will make tight and fast our leaking and rifty vessels. Alas ! I have scaled more of Christ's grace, love, faith, humility, and godly sorrow, than I have brought with me. How little of the sea can a child carry in his hand ; as little do I take away of my great sea, my boundless and running-over Christ Jesus. I have not lighted upon the right gate of putting Christ to the bank, and making myself rich mth Him ; my misguiding and childish trafficking with that matchless Pearl, that heaven's Jewel, the Jewel of the Father's delights hath put me to a great loss. 0, that He would take a loan of me and my stock ; and put His name in all my bonds, and serve Himself heir to the poor mean portion I have, and be countable for the talent Himself. Gladly would I put Christ in my room to guide all, and let me be but a servant to run errands, and do by His direction ; let me be His interdicted heir. Lord Jesus, work upon my minority, and let Him win a pupil's blessing. O, how would I rejoice to have this work of my salvation legally fastened upon Christ ! A back-bond of my Lord Jesus that it should be forthcoming to the orphan should be my happiness ; dependency on Christ were my surest ways : if Christ were my bottom I were sure enough. I thought guiding of grace had been no art, I thought it would come of mil, but I would spill my own heaven yet if I had not burdened Christ with all ; I but lend my bare name to the sweet covenant. Christ behind and before, and on either side, maketli all sure ; God will not take an Arminian cautioner free-will, a weathercock turning at a serpent's tongue, a tutor that couped our father Adam unto us, and brought do^vn the house, and sold the land, and sent the father and mother and all the bairns through the earth to beg their bread. Nature, in the Gospel, hath cracked credit. 0, well to my poor soul for evermore that my Lord called grace to the counsel, and put Christ Jesus, with free merits, and the blood of God, foremost in the chase, to draw sinners after a ransomer ! 0, what a sweet block was it, by way of buying and selling, to give and tell down a ransom for grace and glory to dyvours ! 0, would to my Lord I could cause paper and ink speak the worth and excel- lency, the high and loud praises of a brother-ransomer ! 0, the Ransomer needs not my report ! but if He would take it and make use of it ! I should be happy if I had an errand to this world but for some few years to spread proclamations, and out-cries, and love-letters, of the highness (the highness for evermore !) the glory (the glory for evermore !) of the Ransomer, whose clothes were wet, and dyed in blood ; howbeit that after I had done that, my soul and body should go back to the mother " Nothing," that their Creator 80 LETTER XXIII. brouglit them once out from, as from their beginning. But why should I pine away, and pain myself with Avishes ? and not believe rather that Christ will hire such an outcast as I am, a masterless body, put out of the house by the sons of my mother, and give me employment and a calling, one way or other, to out Christ and His wares, to country buyers, and propose Christ unto, and press Him upon, some poor souls, that fainer than their life would receive Him 1 You complain heavily of your short-coming in practice, and venturing on suffering for Christ ; you have many marrows. For the first, I would not put you off sense of wretchedness ; hold on, Christ never yet slew a sighing, groaning child ; more of that v^ould make you won goods, and a meet prey for Christ. Alas ! I have too little of it. . For venturing on suffering, I had not so much free gier when I came to Christ's camp as to buy a sword : I wonder that Christ should not laugh at such a soldier ; I am no better yet, but faith liveth and spend eth upon our Captain's charges, who is able to pay for all. We need not pity Him, He is rich enough. Ye desire me also not to mistake Christ under a mask ; I bless you and thank God for it : but, alas ! masked or bare-faced, kissing or glooming, I mistake Him : yea, I mistake Him furthest when the mask is off, for then I play me with His sweetness ; I am like a child that hath a golden book, that playeth more with the ribbons, and the gilding, and the picture in the first page, than readeth the con- tents of it. Certainly, if my desires to my Well-Beloved were ful- filled, I could provoke devils, and crosses, and the world, and temptations to the fields ; but, oh ! my poor weakness makes me lie behind the bush and hide me. Remember my service and my blessing to my lord ; I am mindful of him as I am able. Desire him from a prisoner, to come and visit my good Master, and feel but the smell of His love. It sets him well, howbeit he be young, to make Christ his garland. I could not wish him in a better case than in a fever of love-sickness for Christ. Remember my bonds. The Lord Jesus be with your spirit. Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, 1637. LETTER XXin.— To William Halliday. Loving Friend, — I received your letter. I wish ye take pains foi salvation : mistaken grace, and somewhat like conversion, which i^ not conversion, is the saddest and most doleful thing in the world make sure of salvation, ai>d lay the foundation sure, for many ar^ beguiled. Put a low price upon world's clay ; put a high pric upon Christ. Temptations will come, but if they be not made LETTER XXIV. 81 welcome by you ye have the best of it ; be jealous over yourself, and your own heart, and keep touches with God ; let Him not have a faint and feeble soldier of you; fear not to back Christ, for He will conquer and overmore ; let no man skar at Christ, for I have no quarrels at His cross. He and His cross are two good guests, and worth the lodging. Men would fain have Christ good cheap, but the mercat will not come dov/n. Acquaint your- self with prayer, make Christ your Captain and your armour ; make conscience of sinning when no eye seeth you. Grace be with you. Yours, in Christ Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, LETTER XXIV.— To a Gentlewoman after the Death of her Husband. Dear ai^d Loving Sister, — I know ye are minding your sweet country, and not taking your inns (the place of your banishment) for your home; this life is not worthy to be the thatch or outer wall of your Lord Jesus, His paradise that He did sweat for to you, and that He keepeth for you ; short and silly and sand-blind were our hope if it could not look over the water to our best heritage, and if it stayed only at home about the doors of our clay house. I marvel not, my dear sister, that ye complain that ye come short of your old wrestlings you had for a blessing, and that now you find it not so. Bairns are but hired to learn their lesson when they first go to school, and it is enough that those who run a race see the gold only at the starting-place, and possibly they see little more of it, or nothing at all, till they win to the rink's end, and get the gold in the loof of their hand. Our Lord maketh delicates and dainties of His sweet presence and love-visits to His own, but, Christ's love under a vail is love ; if ye get Christ, howbeit not the sweet and pleasant way you would have Him, it is enough, for the Well-Beloved cometh not our way ; He must wail His own gate Himself for worldly things; seeing they are meadov/s and fair flowers in your way to heaven, a smell in the by-going is sufficient ; he that would reckon and tell all the stones in his way, in a journey of three or four hundred miles, and write up in his count-book all the herbs and flowers growing in his way, might come short of his journey : you cannot stay in your inch of time to lose your day (seeing you are in haste, and the night and your afternoon will not bide you) in setting your heart on this vain world : it were your wisdom to read your count-book, and to have in readiness your business against the time you come to death's water-side. I know your lodging is taken ; your Fore-runner, Christ, hath not forgotten that, and therefore you must set yourself to your one thing, which ye G 82 LETTER XXV. cannot well want. In that our Lord took your husband to Himself, I know it was that He might make room for Himself: He cutteth off your love to the creature, that ye might learn that God only is the right owner of your love, sorrow, loss, sadness, death, or the worst things that are, except sin ; but Christ knoweth well what to make of them, and can put His own in the crosses common, that we shall be obliged to affliction, and thank God, who learned us to make our acquaintance with such a rough companion, who can hale us to Christ. You must learn to make evils your great good, and to spin out comforts, peace, joy, communion with Christ, out of your troubles, that are Christ's wooers sent to speak for you to Himself. It is easy to get good words and a comfortable message from our Lord, even from such rough sergeants as diverse temptations. Thanks to God for crosses ! "When we count and reckon our losses in seeking God, we find godliness is great gain. Great partners of a shipful of gold are glad to see the ship come to the harbour : surely we and our Lord Jesus together have a shipful of gold com- ing home, and our gold is in that ship. Some are so in love (or rather in lust) with this life that they sell their part of the ship for a little thing. I would counsel you to buy hope, but sell it not, and give not away your crosses for nothing ; the inside of Christ's cross is white and joyful, and the far end of the black cross is a fair and glorious heaven of ease ; and, seeing Christ hath fastened heaven to the far end of the cross, and he w^ill not loose the knot Himself, and none else can (for when Christ casteth a knot all the w^orld cannot loose it), let us then count it exceeding joy when we fall into diverse temptations. Thus recommending you to the tender mercy and grace of our Lord, I rest. Your loving brother, S. R. Aberdeen. LETTER XXV. — To John Gordon, of Cardoness, Younger. Honoured and Dear Brother, — I wrote of late to you : multi- tudes of letters burden me now. I am refreshed with your letter ; I exhort you in the bowels of Christ, set to work for your soul, and let these bear weight with you, and ponder them seriously ; 1. Weeping and gnashing of teeth in utter darkness, or heaven's joy. 2. Think what ye would give for an hour when ye shall lie like dead cold, blackened clay. 3. There is sand in your glass yet, and your sun is not gone down. 4. Consider what joy and peace is in Christ's service. 5. Think what advantage it will be to have angels, the world, life and death, crosses, yea, and devils, all for YOU, as the king's sergeants and servants, to do your business. 6, LETTER XXVI. 83 To have mercy on your seed and a blessing on your house. 7. To have true honour and a name on earth, that casts a sweet smell. 8. How ye will rejoice when Christ layeth down your head under His chin, and betwixt His breasts, and dryeth your face, and welcometh you to glory and happiness? 9. Imagine what pain and torture is a guilty conscience. What slavery to carry the devil's unhonest loads? 10. Sin's joys are but night dreams, thoughts, vapours, imaginations, and shadows. 11. What dignity it is to be a son of God. 12. Dominion and mastery over tempta- tions, over the world, and sin. 13. That your enemies should be the tail, and you the head. For your bairns now at their rest ; I speak to you and your wife (and cause her read this). 1 . I am a witness of Barbara's glory in heaven. 2. For the rest I write it under my hand, there are days coming on Scotland when barren wombs and dry breasts, and childless parents, shall be pronounced blessed ! they are then in the lee of the harbour, ere the storm come on. 3. They are not lost to you that are laid up in Christ's treasury in heaven. 4. At the resurrection ye shall meet with them, there they are sent before, but not sent away. 5. Your Lord lov^th you, who is homely to take and give, borrow and lend. 6. Let not bairns be your idols, for God will be jealous, and take away the idol, because He is gi-eedy of your love wholly. I bless you, your wife, and children. Grace for evermore be with you. Your loving pastor, S. R. Aberdeen. LETTER XXVI.— To John Gordon, of Cardoness, Elder. Honourable AND DearestintheLord, — Your letter hath refreshed my soul. My joy is fulfilled if Christ and ye be fast together ; ye are my joy and my crown ; ye know I have recommended His love to you. I defy the world, Satan, and sin. His love hath neither brim nor bottom in it. My dearest in Christ, I write my soul's desire to you. Heaven is not at the next door ; I find Christianity an hard task ; set to it in your evening : we would all both keep both Christ and our right eyes, our right hand and foot ; but it will not be with us. I beseech you by the mercies of God, and your compearance before Christ, look Christ's count-book and your own together, and collation them ; give the remnant of your time to your soul ; this great idle-god, the world, will be lying in white ashes, in the day of your compearance ; and why should night dreams, and day shadows, and water froth, and May flowers, run away with your heart? when we win to the water- side, and black death's river brink, and put our foot in the boat, we shall laugh 84 LETTER XXVII. at our folly. Sir, I recommend you unto the thoughts of death, and how ye would wish your soul to be, when ye shall lie cold, blue ill-smelling clay. For any hireling to be intruded, I, being the king's prisoner, cannot say much, but as God's minister I desire you to read Acts ii. 15, 16, to the end, and Acts vi. 2, 3, 4, 5 ; and ye shall find God's people should have a voice in choosing church- rulers and teachers. I shall be sorry, if willingly ye shall give way to his unlawful intrusion upon my labours: the only wise God direct you. God's grace be with you. Your loving pastor, S. R. Aberdeen. LETTER XXVII.— To Eaklstoun, Younger. Much HoNouKED AND Well-Beloved inthe Lord,— Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. Your letters give a dash to my laziness in writing : I must first tell you there is not such a glassy, icy, and slippery piece of way betwixt you and heaven, as youth. I have experience to say with me here, and seal what I assert : the old ashes of the sins of my youth are new fire of sorrow to me. I have seen the devil, as it were, dead and buried, and yet rise again, and be a worse devil than ever he was. Therefore, my brother, beware of a green young devil, that hath never been buried : the devil in his flowers (I mean the hot fiery lusts and passions of youth) is much to be feared : better yoke with an old gray-haired, withered, dry devil, for in youth he findeth dry sticks, and dry coals, and an hot hearth-stone, and how soon can he with his fiint cast fire, and T\ath his bellows blow it up, and fire the house. Sanctified thoughts, thoughts made conscience of, and called in, and kept in awe, are green fuel that burn not, and are a water for Satan's coal. Yet I musttell you, the whole saints now triumphant in heaven, and stand- ing before the throne, are nothing but Christ's forlorn and beggar- ^7 dyvours. What are they, but a pack of redeemed sinners ? But their redemption is not only past the seals, but completed ; and 3^ours is on the wheels, and in doing. All Christ's good bairns go to hejiven with a broken brow, and with a crooked leg. Christ has an advantage of you, and I pray you let him have it. He shall find employment for His calling in you. If it were not with you as you write, grace should find no sale nor mercat in you ; but ye must be con- tent to give Christ's somewhatado. lam glad that he is employed that way; let your bleeding soul and your sores be putin the hand of this ex- pert Physician : let young and strong corruptions, and his free grace be yolked together, and let Christ and your sins deal it betwixt them. I wWl be loath to put you ofiTyour fears, and your sense of deadness (I wish it were more) ; there be some wounds of that nature, that their bleeding should not be soon stopped. Ye must take a house LETTER XXVIT. 85 beside the Physician ; it shall be a miracle if ye must be the first sick man He put away uncured, and worse than he found you. Nay, nay, Christ is honest, and in that, fly ting free with shiners, " And him that cometh to me, I Avill in no wise cast out," John vi. 37. Take ye that, it cannot be presumption to take that as your own, when ye find your wounds stound you, presumption is ever whole at the heart, and hath but the truant-sickness and groaneth only for the fashion ; faith hath sense of sickness, and looketh like a friend to the promise ; and looking to Christ therein, is glad to see a known face. Christ is as full a feast, as ye can have to hunger. Nay, Christ I say is not a full man's leavings ; His mercy sends always a letter of defiance to all your sins, if there were ten thousand more of them. I grant it is a hard matter for a poor hungry man to win his meat upon hidden Christ, for then the key of His pantry door, and of the house of wine is a seeking and cannot be had ; but hunger must break through iron locks. I bemoan them not who can make a din and all the fields ado for a lost Saviour ; ye must let Him hear it (to say so) upon both the sides of his head, when He hid- eth Himself. It is no time then to be birdmouthed and patient. Christ is rare indeed, and a delicacy to a sinner ; he is a miracle and a world's wonder to a seeking and a weeping sinner ; but, yet such a miracle, as will be seen by them, who will come and see ; the seeker and sigher is at last a singer and enjoyer. Nay, I have seen a dumb man get an alms from Christ. He that can tell his tale and send such a letter to heaven, as he hath sent to Aberdeen, it is very like he will come speed with Christ. It bodeth God's mercy to complain heartily for sin. Let wrestling be with Christ till he say, how is it, sir, that I cannot be quite of your bills, and your mislearned cries? And then hope for Christ's blessing, and his blessing is better than other ten blessings. Think not shame because of your guiltiness ; necessity must not blush to beg ; it standeth you hard to want Christ, and therefore, that which idle on-waiting cannot do, misnurtered crying and knocking will do. And for doub tings, because, ye are not as ye were long since with your Master, consider three things. 1 . What if Christ had such tottering thoughts of the bargain of the new co- venant betwixt you and Him as you have. 2. Your heart is not the compass Christ saileth by ; He will give you leave to sing as ye please, but He will not dance to your daft-spring. It is not referred to you and your thoughts, what Christ will do with the charters betwixt you and Him : your own misbelief hath torn them ; but He hath the principle in heaven Avith Himself. Your thoughts are no parts of the nev/ covenant ; dreams change not Christ. 3. Doubt- ings are your sins, but they are Christ's drugs and ingi'edients, that the Physician maketh use of, for the curing of your pride. Is it not suitable for a beggar to say at meat ; God reward the winners ? 86 LETTER XXVII. for then He sayeth,He knowethwho beareth the charges of thehouse. It is also meet ye should know by experience that faith is not nature's ill-gotten bastard, but your Lord's free gift, that lay in the womb of God's free grace, praised be the winner. I may add a 4th. In the passing of your bill and your charters, when they went through the Mediator's great seal and were concluded, faith's advice was not sought ; faith had not a vote beside Christ's merits ; blood, blood, dear blood, that came from your cautioner's holy body, maketh that sure work. The use, then, which ye have of faith now, having already closed with Jesus Christ ; for justification is to take out a copy of your pardon ; and so ye have peace with God upon the account of Christ, for since faith apprehendeth pardon, but never payeth a penny for it, no marvel that salvation doth not die and live, ebb or flow with the working of faith ; but because it is your Lord's honour to believe His mercy and His fidelity, it is infinite goodness in our Lord, that misbelief giveth a dash to our Lord's glory and not to our salvation, and so whoever want (yea, howbeit God here bear with the want of what we are obhged to give him even the glory of his grace, by believing, yet) a poor covenanted sinner wanteth not ; but if guiltiness were removed, doubtings would find no friend nor life ; and yet faith is to believe the removal of guilti- ness in Christ. A reason why ye get less now (as ye think) than before (as I take it) is, because, at our first conversion, our Lord put- teth the meat in young bairns' mouths with His own hand^ but when we grow to some further perfection, we must take heaven by vio- lence, and take by violence from Christ what we get ; and He can and doth hold, because He will have us to draw. Remember, now ye must live upon violent plucking. Laziness is a greater fault now than long since ; we love always to have the pap put in our mouth. Now for myself ! Alas, I am not the man I go for in this nation. Men have not just weights to weigh me in. 0, but I am a silly, feck- less body, and overgrown with weeds ; corruption is rank and fat in me! O, if I were answerable to this holy cause, and to that honour- able Prince's love, for whom I now suffer; if Christ would refer the matter to me (in his presence I speak it), I might think shame to vote my own salvation. I think Christ might say, " Thinkest thou not shame to claim heaven who does so little for it?" I am very often so, that I know not whether I sink or swim in the water ; I find myself a bag of light froth ; I would bear no weight (but vanity and nothings weigh in Christ's balance) if my Lord cast not in borrowed weight and metal, even Christ's righteousness to weigh for me, the stock I have, is not mine own ; I am but the merchant that traflics with other folk's goods ; if my creditor, Christ, would take from me what He hath lent, I would not long keep the causey, but Christ hath made it mine and His : I think it manhood to play the coward, and LETTER XXYIII. 87 jouke in the lee- side of Christ : and thus I am not only saved from my enemies, but I obtain the victory. I am so empty that I think it were an-alms deed in Christ, if He would win a poor prisoner's blessing for evermore, and fill me with His love. I complain when Christ Cometh, He cometh always to fetch fire, Heis ever in haste, He may not tarry, and poor I, a beggarly dyvour, get but a standing visit, and a standing kiss ; and, but how doest thou ? in the by-going, I dare not say He is lordly, because He is made a King now at the right hand of God; or is grown miskenning and dry to His poor friends; for He cannot make more of His kisses than they are worth, but I think it my happiness to love the love of Christ ; and when He goeth aw^ay, the memory of His sweet presence, is like a feast in a dear summer. I have comfort in this, that my soul desireth that every hour of my imprisonment were a company of heavenly tongues, to praise Him on my behalf; howbeit, my bonds were prolonged for many hundred years. O, that I could be the man, who could procure my Lord's glory to flow like a full sea, and blow like a mighty wind upon all the four airts of Scotland, England, and Ireland. 0, if I could write a book of His praises ! O, fairest among the sons of men, why stayest thou so long away? 0, heavens, move fast! O, time run, run, and hasten the marriage-day, for love is tormented with delays? O, angels, O, seraphims, who stand before Him, 0, blessed spirits who now see His face, set Him on high, for when ye have worn your harps in His praises, all is too little, and is nothing to cast the smell of the praise of that fair flower, that fragrant rose of Sharon, through many worlds. Sir, take my hearty commendation to Him and tell Him that I am sick of love. Grace be wdth you. Aberdeen, June 16, 1637. Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. LETTER XXVIIL— To his Honoured and Dear Brother, Alexander Gordon of Knockgray. Dearest and truly honoured Brother, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you : I have seen no letter from you since I came to Aber- deen ; I will not interpret it to be forgetfulness. I am here in a fair prison. Christ is my sw^eet and honourable fellow-prisoner, and I his sad and joyful Lord-prisoner (if I may speak so.) I think this cross becometh me well, and is suitable to me in respect of my duty to suffer for Christ ; howbeit not in regard of my deserving, to be thus honoured. However it be, I see Christ is strong, even lying in the dust in prison and in banishment. Losses and dis- graces are the Avheels of Christ's triumphing chariot. In the suffer- ings of His own saints, as He intendeth their good, so He intendeth 00 LETTER XXVIII. His own glory, and that is the butt His arrows shoot at, and Christ shooteth not at the rovers, He hitteth what He purposeth to hit ; tlierefore. He doth make Hisnowfeckles and weak nothings, and these, who are the contempt of men, a new sharp thrashing instrument, having teeth to thrash the mountains and beat them small, and to make the hills as chaff, and to fan them, Isa. xli. 15. 16. What harder stuff, or harder grain for thrashing out, than high and rocky mountains? but the saints are God's thrashing instruments to beat them all in chaff; are we not God's leem vessels? and yet, when they cast us over an house we are not broken in shreds : we creep in under our Lord's wings in the great shower, and the water cannot go through these wings. It is folly then for men to say, this is not Christ's plea. He will lose the wed-fee, men are like to beguile Him, that were, indeed, a strange play. Nay, I dare pledge my soul and lay it in pawn on Christ's side of it, and be half-tiner, half- winner, with my Master. Let fools laugh the fool's laughter, and scorn Christ, and bid the weeping captives in Babylon, sing us one of the songs of Zion, play a spring to cheer up your sad-hearted God. "We may sing upon luck's head beforehand, even in our winter storm, in the expectation of a summer sun at the turn of the year : no created powers in hell or out of hell can mar our Lord Jesus His music, nor spill our song of joy; let us then be glad and rejoice in the salva- tion of our Lord, for faith had never yet cause to have wet cheeks and hanging-down brows, or to droop or die : what can ail faith, seeing Christ suffereth Himself (with reverence to Him be it spoken) to be commanded by it ; and Christ commandeth all things. Faith may dance because Christ sings; and we may come in the quire and' lift our hoarse and rough voices, and chirp, and sing, and shout for joy with our Lord Jesus. We see oxen go to the shambles leaping and startling ; we see God's fed oxen prepared for the day of slaughter, go dancing and singing down to the black chambers of hell ; and, why should we go to heaven weeping, as if we were like to fall down througli the earth for sorrow? If God were dead (if I may speak so with reverence of Him who liveth for ever and ever) and Christ buried, and rotten among the worms, we might have cause to look like dead folks ; but, " The Lord liveth, and blessed be the rock of our salvation," Psal. xviii. 46. None have right to joy but we, for joy is sown for us, and an ill summer or harvest will not spill the crop. The children of this world have much robbed joy that is not well come : it is no good sport they laugh at ; they steal joy as it were from God : for He commandeth them to mourn and howl : then let us claim our leel-come and lawfully conquished joy. My dear brother, I cannot but speak what I have felt, seeing my Lord Jesus hath broken a box of spikenard upon the head of His poor prisoner, and it is hard to hide a sweet LETTER XXVIII. 89 smell ; it is a pain to smother Christ's love ; it will be out whether we will or not. If we did but speak according to the matter, a cross for Christ should have another name ; yea, a cross, especially when He cometh with His arms full of joys, is the happiest hard tree that ever Avas laid upon my weak shoulders. Christ and His cross together are sweet company, and a blessed couple. My prison is my palace, my sorrow is with child of joy, my losses are rich losses, my pain easy pain, my heavy days are holy and happy days. I may tell a new tale of Christ to my friends. O, if I could make a love song of Him, and could commend Christ, and tune His praises aright ! 0, if I could set all tongues in Great Britain and Ireland to work to help me to sing a new^ song of my Well-Beloved ! 0, if I could be a bridge over a water for my Lord Jesus to walk upon and keep His feet dry ! 0, if my poor bit heaven could go betwixt my Lord and blasphemy, and dishonour! (Upon condition He loved me.) 0, that my heart could say this word, and bide by it for ever ! Is it not great art, and incomparable wisdom in my Lord, who can bring forth such fair apples out of this crabbed tree of the cross ! Nay, my fathers never enough admired providence, can make a fair feast out of a black devil : nothing can come wi'ong to my Lord in His sweet working. I would even fall sound asleep in Christ's arms, and my sinful head on His holy breast while He kisseth me; were it not that often the wind turneth to the north, and whiles my sweet Lord Jesus is, that He will neither give nor take, borrow nor lend with me ; I complain He is not social, I half call Him proud and lordly of His company and nice of His looks, which yet is not true. It would content me to give, how- beit. He should not take ; I should be content to want His kisses at such times, providing He would be content to come near hand and take my wersh, dry, and feckless kisses ; but at that time He will not be entreated, but lets a poor soul stand still and knock, and never let it on him that He heareth ; and then the old leavings and broken meat and dry sighs are greater cheer than I can tell ; all I have then is, that howbeit the law and wrath have gotten a de- creet against me, I yet lippen that meikle good in Christ, as to get a suspension, and to bring my cause in reasoning again before my Well- Beloved. I desire but to be heard. And at last He is content to come and agi'ee the matter with a fool, and forgive freely, because He is God. 0, if men would glorify Him, and taste of Christ's sweetness. Brother, you have need to be busy with Christ, for this whorish kirk ; I fear Christ cast water upon Scotland's coal ; nay, I know Christ and His wife will be heard. He will plead for the broken covenant. Arm you against that time. Grace be with you. Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, June 16, 1637. 90 LETTER XXIX. LETTER XXIX.— To the Lady Kilconquhair. Mistress, — Grace, mercy, and peace be unto you : I am glad to hear that you have your face homeward towards you Father's house now when so many are for a home nearer hand : but your Lord calleth you to another life and glory than is to be found here- away ; and, therefore, I would counsel you to make sure the char- ters and rights which you have to salvation. You come to this life about a necessary and weighty business, to tryst with Christ anent your precious soul, and the eternal salvation of it ; this is the most necessary business you have in this life ; and your other adoes, be- side this, are but toys, and feathers, and dreams, and fancies. This is the greatest haste and should be done first. Means are used in the Gospel to draw on a meeting betwixt Christ and you : if you neglect your part of it, it is as if you would tear the contract before Christ's eyes, and give up the match, that there shall be no more communing of that business. I know other lovers beside Christ are in suit of you, and your soul wanteth not many wooers ; but I pray you make a chaste virgin of your soul and let it love but one, most worthy is Christ alone of all your soul's love : howbeit, your love were higher than the heaven, and deeper than the low- est of this earth, and broader than this world. Many, alas, too many, make a common strumpet of their soul, for every lover that Cometh to the house. Marriage with Christ would put your love, and your heart by the gate out of the way, and out of the eyes of all other unlawful suiters ; and then you had a ready answer for all others, " I am already promised away to Christ, the match is concluded, my soul hath a husband already, and it cannot have two husbands." O, if all the world did but know what a smell the ointments of Christ cast, and how ravishing His beauty, even the beauty of the fairest of the sons of men is, and how sweet and powerful His voice is, the voice of that one Well-Beloved ; certainly, where Christ cometh, He runneth away with the soul's love, so that they cannot command it. I would far rather look but through the hole of Christ's door to see but the one half of the fairest and most comely face (for He looketh like heaven), suppose I should never win in to see His excellency and glory to the full, than to enjoy the flower, the bloom, and chiefest excellency of the glory and riches of ten worlds. Lord, send me for my part but the mean- est share of Christ that can be given to any of the indwellers of the new Jerusalem ; but I know my Lord is no niggard : He can, and it becometh Him well to give more than my narrow soul can receive. If there were ten thousand, thousand millions of worlds, and as many heavens full of men and angels, Christ would not be pinched to supply all our wants, and to fill us all. Christ is a well of life, .LETTER XXIX. 91 but who knoweth how deep it is to the bottom ? This soul of ours hath love, and cannot but love some fair one ; and 0, what a fair One, what an only One, w^hat an excellent, lovely, ravishing One is Jesus ! put the beauty of ten thousand thousand worlds of paradises like the garden of Eden in one ; put all trees, all flowers, all smells, all colours, all tastes, all joys, all sweetness, all loveliness in one ; O, what a fair and excellent thing w^ould that be? And yet it would be less to that fair and dearest Well- Beloved Christ, than one drop of rain to the whole seas, rivers, lakes, and fountains of ten thousand earths. 0, but Christ is heaven's wonder and earth's wonder ! What marvel that His bride saith, Cant. v. 16, "He is altogether lovely?" O, that black souls will not come and fetch all their love to this fair One ! O, if I could invite and persuade thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand of Adam's sons, to flock about my Lord Jesus, and to come and take their fill of love! 0, pity for evermore that there should be such an one as Christ Jesus, so boundless, so bottomless, and so incomparable in infinite excellency and sweetness, and so few to take Him. 0, O, ye poor dry and dead souls, why will ye not come hither with your toom vessels, and your empty souls to this huge, and fair, and deep, and sweet well of life ; and fill all your toom vessels! 0, that Christ should be so large in sweetness and worth, and we so narrow, pinched, so ebb, and so void of all happiness, and yet men will not take Him ; they lose their love miserably, who will not bestow it upon this lovely One. Alas! these five thousand years Adam's fools, his waster-heirs, have been wast- ing and lavishing out their love and their affections upon black lovers and black harlots : upon bits of dead creatures, and broken idols upon this and that feckless creature, and have not brought their love and their heart to Jesus. 0, pity that fairness hath so few lovers ! 0, woe, woe to the fools of this world who run by Christ to other lovers ! 0, misery, misery, misery, that comeli- ness can scarce get three or four hearts in a town or a country! O, that there is so much spoken, and so much written, and so much thought of creature -vanity, and so little spoken, so little written, so little thought of my great and incomprehensible, and never-enough- wondered at Lord Jesus. W^hy should I not curse this forlorn and wretched world, that suflereth my Lord Jesus to lie His alone ? O, damned souls ! O, miskenniiig world ! 0, blind ; 0, beggarly, and poor souls ! O, bewitched fools ! what aileth you at Christ, that you run so from Him ? I dare not challenge providence that there are 80 few buyers, and so little sale for such an excellent One as Christ. O, the depth, and 0, the height of my Lord's ways, that pass find- ing out. But, oh, if men would once be wise, and not fall so in love with their own hell, as to pass by Christ, and misken Him ! 92 LETTER XXIX. But let us come near, and fill ourselves with Christ, and let His friends drink, and be drunken, and satisfy our hollow and deep desires with Jesus. 0, come all and drink at this living well ; come, drink, and live for evermore ; come, drink, and welcome ; welcome, saith our fairest Bridegroom: no man getteth Christ with ill will : no man cometh and is not welcome, no man cometh and rueth his voyage : all men speak well of Christ, who have been at Him ; men and angels who know Him, Avill say more than I now do, and think more of Him then they can say. 0, if I were misted and bewildered in my Lord's love ! 0, if I were fettered and chained to it ! 0, sweet pain to be pained for a sight of Him ! O, living death ! 0, good death ! O, lovely death to die for love of Jesus ! O, that I should have a sore heart and a pained soul, for the wanting of the love of this and that idol ! woe, Avoe to the mistaking of my miscarrying heart, that gapeth and crieth for creatures, and is not pained, and cutted, and tortured, and in sorrow for the want of a soul-fill of Christ. O, that Thou wouldst come near, my Beloved ! O, my fairest One, why standest Thou afar ; come hither, that I may be satiate with Thy excellent love : O, for an union : O, for a fellowship with Jesus ! 0, that I could buy with a price that lovely One, suppose hell's torments for a while were the price ! I cannot believe that Christ will rue upon His pained lovers, and come and ease sick hearts, who sigh and swoon for the want of Christ; who do bide Christ's love to be nice? What heaven can there be liker to hell, than to lust, and grein, and dwine, and fall a-swoon for Christ's love, and to want it ? is not this hell and heaven woven through other ? Is not this pain and joy, sweetness and sadness to be in one web, the one the woft, the other the warp ! Therefore, I would Christ, would let us meet, and join to- gether the soul and Christ in others' arms. O, what meeting is like this, to see blackness and beauty, contemptibleness and glory, high- ness and baseness, even a soul and Christ kiss one another ! Nay, but when all is done, I may be wearied in speaking and writing ; but O how far am I from the right expression of Christ or His love ? I can neither speak, nor write feeling, nor tasting, nor smelling ; come feel, and smell, and taste Christ, and His love, and ye shall call it more than can be spoken : to write, how sweet the honey- comb is, is not so lovely as to eat, and suck the honey-comb : one night's rest in a bed of love with Christ, will say more than heart can think, or tongue can utter. Neither need we fear crosses, or sigh, or be sad for anything that is on this side of heaven, if we have Christ; our crosses will never draw blood of the joy of the Holy Ghost, and peace of conscience ; our joy is laid up in such a high place as temptations cannot climb up to take it down : this world may boast Christ, but they dare not strike ; or if they strike, they LETTER XXX. 98 break their arm in fetching a stroke upon a rock. O, that we could put our treasure in Christ's hand, and give Him our gold to keep, and our crown. Strive, mistress, to throng through the thorns of this life to be at Christ : tine not sight of Him in this cloudy and dark day. Sleep with Him in your heart in the night : learn not at the world to serve Christ, but spier at Himself the way; the world is a false copy and a lying guide to follow. Remember my love to your husband : I wish all to him I have written here. The sweet presence, the long-lasting good-will of our God, the warmly and lovely comforts of our Lord Jesus be with you. Help me His prisoner in your prayers ; for I remember you. Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, Aug. 8, 1637. LETTER XXX.— To the Lady Forret. Worthy Mistress, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you : I long to hear from you ; I hear Christ hath been that kind as to visit you with sickness, and to bring you to the door of the grave, but you found the door shut (blessed be His glorious name) while you be riper for eternity : He will have more service of you, and, therefore, He seeketh of you, that henceforth ye be honest to your new Husband the Son of God. We have all idol- love, and are whorishly inclined to love other things beside our Lord ; and, therefore, our Lord hunteth for our love, more ways than one or two. O, that Christ had His own of us ; I know He will not Avant you, and that is a sweet wilfulness in His love ; and ye have as good cause on the other part, to be headstrong and peremptory in your love to Christ, and not to part or divide your love betwixt Him and the world; if it were more, it is little enough, yea, too little for Christ. 1 am now every way in good terms with Christ, He hath set a ban- ished prisoner as a seal on His heart, and as a bracelet on His arm : that crabbed and black tree of the cross, laugheth upon me now : the alarming noise of the cross is worse than itself. I love Christ's glooms better than the world's worm-eaten joys. O, if all the kingdom were as I am, except these bonds ! My loss is gain ; my sadness, joyful; my bonds, liberty; my tears, comfortable. This world is not worth a drink of cold water. O, but Christ's love casteth a great heat. Hell, and all the salt sea, and the rivers of the earth cannot quench it. I remember you to God, you have the prayers of a prisoner of Christ. Grace, grace be with you. Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, March 9, 1637. 94 LETTERS XXXI. AND XXXII. LETTER XXXI.— To the Lady Kaskibekry. Madam, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. I long to hear how your ladyship is. I know not how to requite your ladyship's kind- ness ; but your love to the saints, madam, is laid up in heaven. I know it is for your Well-Beloved Christ's sake, that you make His friends so dear to you, and concern yourself so much in them. I am in this house of my pilgrimage every way in good case ; Christ is most kind and loving to my soul : it pleaseth Him to feast with His unseen consolations a stranger, and an exiled prisoner : and I would not exchange my Lord Jesus, with all the comfort out of heaven; His yoke is easy, and His burden light. This is His truth I now suffer for ; for He hath sealed it with His blessed presence. I know Christ shall yet win the day, and gain the battle in Scotland. Grace be with you. Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, March 7, 1637. LETTER XXXn.— To Mr James Bruce, Minister of the Gospel. Reverend and well-beloved Brother, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. Upon the nearest acquaintance, that we are Father's children, I thought good to write to you. My case in my bonds, for the honour of my Royal Prince and King Jesus, is as good as becometh the witness of such a Sovereign King. At my lirst coming hither, I was in great heaviness, wrestling with chal- lenges, being burdened in heart (as I am yet) for my silent Sabbath's and for a bereft people, young ones, new-born, plucked from the breasts, and the children's table drawn. I thought I was a dry tree' cast over the dyke of the vineyard : but my secret conceptions of Christ's love, at His sweet and long-desired return to my soul, were found to be a lie of Christ's love, forged by the tempter, and my own heart, and I am persuaded that it was so. Now, there is greater peace and security within than before. The court is raised and dismissed, for it was not fenced in God's name. I was far mistaken, who should have summoned Christ for unkindness : misted faith, and my fever conceived amiss of Him. Now, now, He is pleased to feast a poor prisoner, and to refresh me with joy unspeakable and glorious : so as the Holy Spirit is witness, that my sufferings are for Christ's truth ; and God forbid I should deny the testimony of the Holy Spirit, and make Him a false witness. Now, I testify under my hand, out of some small experience, that Christ's cause (even with the cross,) is better than the king's crown, and that His reproaches are sweet. His cross perfumed, the walls of LETTERS XXXin. AND XXXIV. 95 my prison fair and large, my losses gain. I desire you, my dear brother, help me to praise, and remember me in your prayer to God. Grace, grace be with you. Yours, in our Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, March 14, 1637, LETTER XXXIII.— To the Lady Eaklstoun. Mistress, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. I long to hear how your soul prospereth. I exhort you to go on in your journey. Your day is short, and your afternoon's sun will soon go down ; make an end of your accounts with your Lord ; for death and judg- ment are tides that bide no man. Salvation is supposed to be at the door, and Christianity is thought an easy task, but I find it hard, and the way strait and narrow, were it not but my guide is content to wait on me, and to care for a tired traveller. Hurt not your conscience with any known sin ; let your children be as so many flowers, borrowed from God ; if the flowers die or wither, thank God for a summer's loan of them, and keep good neighbour- hood to borrow and lend with Him. Set your heart upon heaven, and trouble not your spirit with this clay- idol of the world, which is but vanity, and hath but the lustre of the rainbow in the air, which Cometh and goeth with a flying March shov/er ; clay is the idle of bastards, not the inheritance of the children. My Lord hath been pleased to make many unknown faces laugh upon me, and hath made me well content of a borrowed fireside, and a bor- rowed bed, I am feasted with the joys of the Holy Ghost, and my royal King beareth my charges honourably. I love the smell of Christ's sweet breath better than the world's gold. I would I had help to praise Him. The great messenger of the covenant, the Son of God establish you on your rock, and keep you to the day of His coming. Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, March 7, 1637, LETTER XXXIV.— To Carletoun. Worthy and much honoured, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. I received your letter from my brother, to which I now answer particularly. I confess two things of myself. 1. Woe, woe is me, that men should think there is anything in me ; He is my witness before whom I am as crystal, that the secret house-devils, that bear me too oft company, and that this sink of corruption which I 96 LETTER XXXIV. find within, maketh me go with low sails ! and if others saw what I see, they would look by me, but not to me. 2. I know this shower of His free grace behoved to be on me, otherwise I would have withered. I know also, I have need of a buffeting tempter, that grace may be put to exercise, and I kept low. Worthy and dear brother in our Lord Jesus, I write that from my heart which you now read. 1. I vouch that Christ, and sweating, and sighing under His cross, is sweeter to me by far than all the kingdoms in the world could possibly be. 2. If you and my dearest acquain- tance in Christ, reap any fruit by my suffering, let me be weighed in God's even balance, if my joy be not fulfilled. What am I to carry the marks of such a great King ? But, howbeit, I am a sink and sinful mass, a wretched captive of sin, my Lord Jesus can hew heaven out of worse timber than I am (if worse can be.) 3. I now rejoice with joy unspeakable and glorious, that T never purposed to bring Christ, not the least hoof or hair-breadth of truth under try sting : I desire to have and keep Christ all alone, and that He should never rub clothes with that black-skinned harlot of Rome. I am now fully paid home, so that nothing aileth me for the present, but love sickness for a real possession of my fairest Well-Beloved. I would give Him my bond under my faith and hand, to frist heaven an hundred years longer, so being He would lay His holy face to my sometimes wet cheeks. O, who would not pity me, to know how fain I would have the King shaking the tree of life upon me ; or letting me into the well of life with my old dish, that I might be drunken with the fountain, here, in the house of my pilgrimage ! I cannot, nay, I would not, be quit of Christ's love. He hath left the mark behind Him where he gripped : He goeth away, and leaveth me and His burning love to wrestle together, and I can scarce win my meat of His love, because of absence. My Lord giveth me but hungry half-kisses, which serve to feed pain and increase hunger ; but do not satisfy my desires : His dieting of my soul for this race maketh me lean ; I have gotten the wale and choice of Christ's crosses, even the tithe and the flower of the gold of all crosses, to bear witness to the truth, and herein find I liberty, joy, access, life, comfort, love, faith, submission, patience, and resolution to take delight in on waiting ; and with all in my race. He hath come near me and let me see the gold and crown. What then want I but fruition and real enjoyment, v/hich is reserved to my country ? Let no man think he shall lose at Christ's hands in suffering for Him. 4. For these present trials they are most dangerous ; for people shall be stolen off their feet with well-washen and white-skinned pretences of indifferency ; but it is the power of the great Antichrist working in this land. Woe, woe, woe, be to Apostate Scotland : there is wrath, and a cup of the red wine of the wi'ath of God LETTER XXXIV. 97 Almighty in the Lord's hand, that they shall drink and spue, and fall, and not rise again. The star called wormwood and gall is fallen in the fountains and rivers, and hath made them bitter : the sword of the Lord is furbished against the idol shepherds of the land ; women shall bless the barren womb and miscarrying breasts ; all hearts shall be faint, and all knees shall tremble : an end is coming : the leopard and the lion shall watch over our cities : houses, great and fair, shall be desolate, without an inhabitant. The Lord hath said, " Pray not for this people, for I have taken my peace from them ; " yet the Lord's third part shall come through the fire as refined gold, for the treasure of the Lord, and the outcasts of Scotland shall l3e gathered together again, and the wilderness shall blossom as the flower, and bud and grow as the rose of Sharon, and great shall be the glory of the Lord upon Scotland. 5. I am here assaulted with the learned and pregnant wits of this kingdom ; but all honour be to my Lord, truth but laugheth at bemisted and blinded Scribes and disputers of this world, and God's wisdom con- foundeth them, and Christ triumpheth in His own strong truth that speaketh for itself. 6. I doubt not but my Lord is preparing me for heavier trials. I am most ready at the good pleasure of my Lord, in the strength of His grace, for anything He shall be pleased to call me to ; neither shall the last black -faced messenger, death, be holden at the door, when it shall knock. If my Lord will take honour of the like of me, how glad and joyful shall my soul be. Let Christ come out with me to an hotter battle than this, and I shall fear no flesh. I know that my Master will win the day, and that He hath taken the ordering of my sufferings in his own hand. 7. As for my deliverance, that miscarrieth. I am here by my Lord's ^race to lay my hand on my mouth, to be silent and wait on : my Lord Jesus is on His journey for my deliverance ; I will not grudge that He runneth not so fast as I would have Him : on waiting till the swelling rivers fall, and till ray Lord arise as a mighty man after strong wine, shall be my best : I have not yet resisted to blood. 8. O, how often am I laid in the dust, and urged by the tempter (who can ride his own errands upon our lying apprehensions) to sin against the unchangeable love of ray Lord : when I think upon the sparrows and swallows that build their nests in the Kirk of Anwoth, and of my dumb Sabbaths, my sorrowful bleired eyes look a squint upon Christ, and present Him as angry. But, in this trial, all honour to our princely and royal King, fjiith saileth fair before the wind with top sail up, and carrieth the poor passenger through. I lay inhibitions upon my thoughts that they receive no slanders of my only, only beloved : let Him, even say out of His own mouth, " There is no hope," yet I will die in that sweet beguile, it is not so, I shall see the salvation of God. Let me be deceived really, H 98 LETTER XXXV. and never win to dry land ; it is my joy to believe under the water, and to die with faith in ray hand, gripping Christ : let my concep- tions of Christ's love go to the grave with me and to hell with me, I may not, I dare not quit them. I hope to keep Christ's pawn : if He never come to loose it, let Him see to His own promise. I know, presumption, howbeit it be made of stoutness, will not thus be wilful in heavy trials. Now, my dearest in Christ, the great Messenger of the covenant, the only wise and all-sufficient Jehovah, establish you to the end. I hear the Lord hath been at your house and hath called home your wife to her rest. I know, sir, ye see the Lord loosing the pins of your tabernacle, and wooing your love from tliis plastered and overguilded w^orld ; and calling upon you to be making yourself ready to go to your Father's country, which shall be a sweet fruit of that visitation. Ye know, to send the Com- forter, was a King's word, when He ascended on high : ye have claim to and interest in that promise. Remember my love in Christ to your father, show him it is late and black night with him, his long lying at the water side is, that he may look his papers ere he take shipping, and be at a point for his last answer before his Judge and Lord. All love, all mercy, all grace, and peace, all multiplied saving consolations, all joy and faith in Christ, all stability, and confirming strength of grace, and the good will of Him that dwelt in the bush be with you. Your unworthy brother, in His sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, June 15, 1637, LETTER XXXV.-To Maeion M'Knaught. ^V^ORTHY AND DEAREST IN THE LORD, 1 ever loVcd (sinCC I kuCW you) that little vineyard of the Lord's planting in Galloway ; but now much more since I have heard that He, who hath His fire in Zion, and His furnace in Jerusalem, hath been pleased to set up a furnace amongst you, with the first in this kingdom : He who iiiaketh old things new, seeing Scotland an old drossy and rusted Kirk, is beginning to make a new clean bride of her, and to bring a young chaste wife to Himself out of the fire. This fire shall be <(uenched, so soon as Christ hath brought a clean spouse through the fire. Therefore, my dearly beloved in the Lord, fear not a worm : " Fear not, worm Jacob : " Christ is in that plea, and shall win the plea. Charge an unbelieving heart, under the pain of treason against our great and royal King Jesus, to dependence by faith and quiet, on waiting on our Lord : get you into your cham- bers, and shut the doors about you : in, in with speed to your stronghold, ye prisoners of hope : ye doves, flee into Christ's windows till the indignation be over and the storm be past ; glorify I LETTER XXXV. 99 the Lord in your sufferings, and take His banner of love, and spread it over you. Others will follow you, if they see you strong in thcLord ; their courage shall take life from your Christian carriage. Look up, and see who is coming : lift up your head, He is coming to save, '' In garments dyed in blood and travelling in the greatness of his strength !" I laugh, I smile, I leap for joy, to see Christ com- ing to save you so quickly : O, such wide steps as Christ taketh ! three or four hills are but a step to Him ; He skippeth over the mountains. Christ hath set a battle betwixt His poor weak saints anJ His enemies ; He waileth the weapons for both parties ; and saith to the enemies, " Take you a sword of steel, law, authority, parliaments, and kings upon your side, that is your armour : and He saith to His saints, I give you a feckless tree-sword in your hand, and that is suffering, recei\Ting of strokes, spoiling of your goods^ and with your tree-sword ye shall get and gain the victory. Was not Christ dragged through the ditches of deep distresses, and great straits ? and yet Christ who is your Head, hath win through with His life ; howbeit, not with a whole skin. Ye are Christ's members, and He is drawing His members through the thorny hedge, up to heaven after Him : Christ, one day, will not have so much as a pained toe ; but there are great pieces, and portions of Christ's mystical body, not yet within the gates of the great high city, the new Jerusalem, and the dragon will strike at Christ so long as there is one bit or member of Christ's body out of heaven. I tell you, Christ will make new work out of old sore castei, Scotland, and gather the old broken boards of His tabernacle, and j>iu them, and nail them together : our bills and supplications are up in heaven. Christ hath coffers full of them. There is mercy on the other side of this His cross ; a good answer to all our bills is agreed upon. I must tell you what lovely Jesus, fair Jesus, King Jesus hath done to my soul ; sometimes He sendeth me out a standing drink, and whispereth a word through the wall, and I am well con- tent of kindness at the second hand ; His bode is ever welcome t(. me, be what it will ; but at other times He will be messenger Himself, and I get the cup of salvation out of His own hand (He drinking to me), and we cannot rest till we be in other's arms ; and. O, how sweet is a fresh kiss from His holy mouth ; His breathing, that goeth before a kiss upon my poor soul, is sweet, and hath no fault, but that it is too short. I am careless and stand not much on this ; howbeit loins, and back, and shoulders, and head rive in pieces. in stepping up to my Father's house. I know my Lord can make long, and broad, and high, and deep, glory to His name out of thi<^ bit feckless body ; for Christ looketh not what stuff He maketh glory out of. My dearly beloved, ye have often refreshed me, but that is put up in my Master's accounts ; ye have Him debtor for 100 LETTER XXXVI. me : but if ye ^vill do anything for me (as I know ye will) now in my extremity, tell all my dear friends, that a prisoner is fettered, and chained in Christ's love : Lord, never loose the fetters ; and ye imd they together, take my heartiest commendations to my Lord Jesus, and thank him for a poor friend. I desire your hus- band to read this letter ; I send him a prisoner's blessing ; I will be obliged to him if he will be willing to suffer for my dear Master ; sutfering is the professor's golden garment : there shall be no losses on Christ's side of it. Ye have been witnesses of much joy betwixt Christ and me at communion feasts, the remembrance whereof (howbeit I be feasted in secret) holieth my heart ; for I am put from the board-head and the King's first mess, to His by-board, and His broken meat is sweet unto me : I thank my Lord for borrowed crumbs, no less than when I was feasted at the com- munion-table in Amvoth and Kircudbright. Pray, that I may get one day of Christ in public, as I have had long since, before my eyes be closed. O, that my Master would take up house again, and lend me the keys of His wine-cellar again, and God send me borrowed ^ drink till then. Remember my love to Christ's kinsmen with you. I pray for Christ's Father's blessing to them ail. Grace be with you, a prisoner's blessing be ^^ath you. I write it, and I bide by it, God shall be glorious in Marion M'Knaught, when this stormy blast! shall be over. 0, woman, beloved of God, believe, rejoice, be strong in the Lord. Grace is thy portion. Your brother, in his sweet Lord Jesus, . S. R. A])er,ieeii, June 15, 1637. LETTER XXXVL— To John Gordon, at Risco, in Galloway. My worthy and dear Brother, — Misspend not your short sand- glass which runneth very fast ; seek your Lord in time ; let me obtain of you a letter under your hand for a promise to God, by his grace, to take a new course of walking with God. Heaven is not at the next door. I find it hard to be a Christian ; there is no little thrusting and thronging, to tln-ust in at heaven's gates; it is a castle taken by force ; " Many shall strive to enter in, and shall not be able." I beseech, and obtest you in the Lord, make consci- ence of rash and passionate oaths, of raging and sudden revenging anger, of night-drinking, of needless companionry, of sabbath- breaking, of hurting any under you by word or deed, of hating your yery enemies. " Except ye receive the kingdom of God as a little child," and be as meek and sober-minded as a babe, " ye cannot enter into the kingdom of God." That is a word which should touch you near, and make you stoop, and cast yourself down, and LETTER XXXVII. 101 make your great spirit fall. I know this will not be easily done ; but I recommend it to yon, as you tender your part of the kingdom of heaven. Brother, I may from new experience speak of Christ to you. O, if you saw in Him, what I see. A river of God's unseen joys have flowed from bank to brae over my soul, since I parted with you. I wish I wanted part, so being ye might have : that your soul might be sick of love for Christ, or rather satiate with Him. This clay-idol, the world, would seem to you then not worth a fig : time will eat you out of possession of it, when the eye-strings break, and the breath groweth cold, and the imprisoned soul looketh out at the windows of the clay-house, ready to leap out into eternity, what would ye then give for a lamp full of oil ? O, seek it now. I desire you to correct and curb banning, swear- ing, lying, drinking, sabbath-breaking, and idle spending of the Lord's day, in absence from the Kirk, as far as your authority reacheth in that parish. I hear a man is to be thrust into that place, to the which I have God's right : I know ye should have a voice by God's Word in that: Acts i. lo, 16, to the end, and Acts vi. 3, 5. You would be loath that any Prelate should put you out of your possession earthly, and this is your right. What I write to you, I write to your wife. Grace be with you. Your loving pastor, S. K. Aberdeen, March 14, lo37. LETTEU XXXVII.— To the Lady Halhill. Dear and Christian Lady, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. I longed much to write to your ladyship ; but now the Lord offering a fit occasion, I would not omit to do it. I cannot but acquaint your ladyship with the kind dealing of Christ to my soul in tliis house of my pilgrimage, that your ladyship may know Christ is as good as He is called. For, at my first entry into this trial (being casten down and troubled with challenges and jealousies of His love, whose name and testimony I now bear in my bonds), I feared nothing more, than that I was casten over the dyke of the vineyard, as a dry tree : but blessed be His great name, the dry tree Avas in the (ire and was not burnt; His dew came down and quickened the root of a withered plant ; and now He is come again Avith joy, and hath been pleased to feast His exiled and afflicted prisoner witii the joy 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. His cross, is better than Egypt's treasures. He hath opened His door, and taken into His house of wine, a poor sinner, 102 LETTER XXXVITT. and hath left me so sick of love for my Lord Jesus, that if heaven were at my disposing, I would give it for Christ, and would not be content to go to heaven, except I w^ere persuaded Christ Avere there. I wowld not give, nor exchange my bonds for the prelate's velvets; nor my prison, for their coaches ; nor my sighs for all the world's laughter : this clay-idol, the w^orld, hath no great court in my soul. Christ hath come, and run away to heaven with my heart and my love, so that neither heart nor love is mine ; I pray God, Christ may keep both without reversion. In my estimation as I am now disposed, if my part of this world's clay were rouped and sold, I would think it dear of a drink of water. I see Christ's love is so kingly that it will not abide a marrow ; it must have a throne all alone in the soul, and I see apples beguile bairns, howbeit they be worm eaten. The moth-eaten pleasures of this present world make bairns believe ten is a hundred, and yet all that are here are but shadows : if they w^ould draw by the curtain that is hung betwixt them and Christ, they should think themselves fools, who have so long miskenned 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 heai'eth the sighing of the prisoner. Remember my service to the laird your husband, and to your son, my acquaintance: 1 wish Christ had his young love, and that in the morning he would start to the gate to seek that which this world knoweth not, and there- fore doth not seek it. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, March 14, 1637. LETTER XXXVIIL— To the Right Honourable my Lord Lindsay. Right honourable and 3iy very good Lord, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to your lordship. Pardon my boldness to express myself to your lordship, at this so needful a time, when your wearied and friendless mother-kirk is looking round about her, to see if any of, her sons doth really bemoan her desolation. Therefore, my dear and worthy lord, I beseech you in the bowels of Christ, pity that widow-like sister and spouse of Christ. I know her husband is not dead ; but he seemeth to be in another country, and seeth well, and beholdeth who are his true and tender-hearted friends ; who dare venture under the water to bring out to dry land sinking truth, and wdio of the nobles will cast up their arm to ward a blow off the crowned head of our royal law-giver, who reigneth in Zion, who will plead and contend for Jacob in the day of his controversy. It LETTER XXXVin. 103 is now time, my worthy and noble lord, for you, who are the little nurse-fathers (under our Sovereign Prince) to put on courage for the Lord Jesus, and to take up a fallen orphan, speaking out of the dust, and to embrace in your arms Christ's bride. He hath no more in Scotland that is the delight of His eyes, but that one little sister, whose breasts were once well-fashioned ; she once ravished her Well-Beloved with her eyes, and overcame Him with their beauty ; " She looked forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, terrible as an army with banners : her stature was like the palm-tree, and her breasts like clusters of gi'apes, and she held the King in his galleries," Cant. iv. 9, and vi. 10, and vii. 5, 7. But now the crown is fallen from her head, and her gold waxed dim, and our white Nazarites are become black as the coal. Blessed are they who will come out and help Christ against the mighty. The shields of the earth and the nobles are debtors to Christ for their honour, and should bring their glory and honour to the new Jerusalem ; Rev. xxi. 24. Alas, that great men should be so far from subjecting themselves to the sweet yoke of Christ, that they burst His bonds asunder, and think they do not go on foot, when Christ is on horseback, and that every nod of Christ commanding as a king, is a load like a mountain of iron ; and therefore, they say, " this man shall not reign over us," we must have another king than Christ in His own house. Therefore, kneel to Christ and kiss the Son, and let Him have your lordship's vote, as your alone Law-giver. I am sure, when you leave this old waste inns of this perishing life, and shall reckon with your host, and depart hence and take shipping, and make over for eternity, which is the yonder side of time, and a sand-glass of threescore short years is running out; to look over your shoidder then, to that which ye have done, spoken, and suffered for Christ, His dear bride (that He ransomed with that blood which is more precious than gold), and for truth, and the fi^eedom of Christ's kingdom; your accounts shall more sweetly smile and laugh upon you, than if you had two worlds of gold to leave to your posterity. O, my dear lord, consider that our Master, eternity, judgment, and the last reckon- ing will be upon us in the twinkling of an eye. The blast of the last trumpet, now hard at hand, will cry down all acts of parliament, all the determinations of pretended assemblies against Christ, our Law-giver. There will be shortly a proclamation by one standing in the clouds, that time shall be no more, and that court with kings of clay shall be no more ; and prisons, confinements, forfeitures of nobles, wrath of kings, hazard of lands, houses, and name, for Christ, shall be no more. This world's span-length of time is drawn now to less than half an inch, and to the point of the evening of the day of this old and grey- 104 LETTER XXXVIII. haired world ; and therefore, be fixed and fast for Christ and His truth for a time, and fear not him whose hfe goeth out at his nostrils, who shall die as a man. I am persuaded, Christ is responsal and laAv-bidding, to make recompence for anything that is hazarded or given out for Him ; losses for Christ are but our goods given out in bank in Christ's hand. Kings earthly, are well- favoured little clay gods, and time's idols, but a sight of our invisible King shall decry and darken all the glory of this world. At the day of Christ, truth shall be truth, and not treason. Alas ! it is pitiful that silence, when the thatch of our Lord's house hath taken fire, is now the flower and the bloom of court and state wisdom ; and to cast a covering over a good profession (as if it blushed at light), is thought a canny and sure way through this life : but the safest way, I am persuaded, is to time and win with Christ, and to hazard fairly for Him ; for heaven is but a company of noble venturers for Christ. I dare hazard my soul, Christ shall grow green, and blossom as the Rose of Sharon ; yet in Scotland, how- beit, now His leaf seemeth to wither, and His root to dry up. Your noble ancestors have been enrolled amongst the worthies of this nation, as the sure friends of the Bridegroom, and valiant for Christ. I hope ye will follow on, to come to the streets for the same Lord. The world is still at yea and nay with Christ ; it shall be your glory, and the sure foundation of your house (now when houses are tumbling down, and birds building their nests, and thorns and briers are growing up where nobles did spread a table), if you engage your estate and nobility for this noble King Jesus, with whom the created powers of the world are still in tops ; all the world shall fall before Him, and (as God liveth) every arm lifted up to take the crown off His royal head, or that refuseth to hold it upon His head, shall be broken from the shoulder-blade. The eyes that behold Christ weep in sackcloth, and wallow in His blood, and will not help, even.^these eyes shall rot away in their eye-holes. 0 ! if ye, and the nobles of this land, saw the beauty of that world's wonder, Jesus our King, and the glory of Him who is angels' wonder, and heaven's wonder for excellency ! 0, what would men count of clay-estates, of time-eaten life, of worm-eaten, and moth-eaten worldly glory, in comparison of that fairest, fairest of God's creation, the Son of the Father's delights. I have but small experience of suffering for Him ; but, let my Judge and AVitness in heaven lay my soul in the balance of justice, if I find not a young heaven, and a little Paradise of glorious comforts and soul-delighting love-kisses of Christ here, beneath the moon, in suffering for Him and His truth ; and that glory, joy, and peace and fire of love, I thought had been kept while supper-time, when we shall get leisure to feast our fill upon Christ ; I have felt it in LETTER XXXIX. 105 glorious beginnings, in my bonds for this princely Lord Jesus. 0 ! it is my sorrow, my daily pain, that men will not come and see. I would now be ashamed to believe that it should be possible for any soul to think, that he could be a loser for Christ ; suppose he should lend Christ the lordship of Lindsay, or some such great worldly estate. Therefore, my worthy and dear lord, set your face against the opposites of Jesus, and let your soul take courage to come under His banner, to appear as His soldier for Him, and the blessings of a falling kirk, the prayers of the prisoners of hope, who wait for Zion's joy, and the good-will of Him that dwelt in the bush, and it burned not, shall be with you. To His saving grace, I recommend your lordship and your house, and am still Christ's prisoner, and your lordship's obliged servant, in his sweet liord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, September 7, 1637. LETTER XXXIX.— To my Lord Botd. My very Honourable and good Lord, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. I am glad to hear that ye, in the morning of your short day, mind Christ, and that ye love the honour of His crown and kingdom. I beseech your lordship, begin now to frame your love, and to cast it in no mould but one, that it may be for Christ only ; for when your love is now in the framing and making, it v,'ill take best with Christ ; if any other than Jesus get a grip of it, when it is green and young, Christ will be an uncouth and strange world to you. Promise the lodging of your soul first away to Christ, and stand by your first covenant^ and keep to Jesus that He may find you honest. It is easy to master an arrow, and to set it right ere the string be drawn ; but, when once it is shot and in the air, and the flight begun, then ye have no power at all to command it. It were a blessed thing, if your love could now level only at Christ, that His fair face were the black of the mark ye shot at ; for when your love is loosed and out of your grips, and in its motion to fetch home an idol, and hath taken a whorish gading journey, to seek an unknown and strange lover, ye shall not then have power to call home the arrow or to be master of your love ; and ye shall hardly give Christ, what ye scarcely have yourself. I speak not this as if youth itself could fetch heaven and Christ. Believe it, my lord, it is hardly credible, what a nest of dangerous temptations youth is, how inconsiderate, foolish, proud, vain, heady, rash, profane, and careless of God, this piece of your life is ; so that the devil findeth in that age a garnished and swept house for himself, and seven devils worse than himself; for then affections are ou horse-back, lofty and stirring ; then the old man hath blood. 106 LETTER XXXIX. lust, much will, and little wit, and hands, feet, wanton eyes, profane ears, as his servants, and as a king's officers at command, to come and go at his will : then a green conscience is as supple as the twig of a young tree, it is for every way, every religion, every lewd course prevaileth with it ; and therefore, O what a sweet couple, what a glorious yoke are youth and gi-ace, Christ and a young man ! this is a meeting not to be found in every town. None Avho have been at Christ, can bring back to your lordship a report answerable to His worth ; for Christ cannot be spoken of, or com- mended according to His worth ; Come and see, is the most faithful messenger to speak of Him, little persuasion would prevail wher©- this were. It is impossible in the setting out of Christ's love to lie and pass over truth's line. The discourses of angels, or love-books written by the congregation of seraphims (all their wits being con- joined and melted in one), would for ever be in the nether side of truth, and plentifully declaring the thing as it is. The infiniteness, the boundlessness of that incomparable excellency that is in Jesus, is a great word. God send me if it were but the relics and leavings, or an ounce weight or two of His matchless love ; and suppose I never got another heaven (providing this blessed fire were ever- more burning) I could not but be happy for ever. Come hither then, and give out your money wisely for bread : come here and bestow your love. I have cause to speak this, because, except ye enjoy and possess Christ, ye will be a cold friend to His spouse, for it is love to the husband that causeth kindness to the wife. I dare swear, it were a blessing to your house, the honour of your honour, the flower of your credit, now in your place, and as far as ye are able, to lend your hand to your weeping mother, even your oppressed and spoiled mother kirk. If ye love her, and bestir yourself for her, and hazard the lordship of Boyd for the recovery of her vail (which the smiting watchmen have taken from her), then surely her husband will scorn to sleep in your common or reverence : bits of lordships are little to Him who hath many crowns on His head, and the kingdoms of the world iu the hollow of His hand. Court, honour, glory, riches, stability of houses, favour of princes, are all on His finger ends. O, what glory were it to lend your honour to Christ, and to His Jerusalem. Ye are one of Zion's born sons ; your honourable and christian parents would venture you upon Christ's errands. Therefore I beseech you by the mercies of God, by the death and w^ounds of Jesus, by the hope of your glorious inheritance, and by the comfort and hope of the joyful presence ye would have at the waterside, when ye are putting your foot in the dark grave, take courage for Christ's truth, and the honour of His free kingdom ; for, howbeit, ye be a young flower, and green before the sun, ye know not how soon death will cause LETTER XXXIX. 107 you to cast your bloom, and wither root and branch and leaves. And therefore, write up what ye have to do for Christ, and make a treasure of good works, and begin in time : by appearance ye have the advantage of the brae : see what ye can do for Christ against these who are waiting while Christ's tabernacle fall, that they may run away v/ith the boards thereof, and build their nest on Zion's ruins. They are blind who see not lowns now pulling up the stakes and breaking the cords, and rending the curtains of Christ's (some- times) beautiful tent in this land. Antichrist is lifting that tent up upon his shoulders, and going away with it, and when Christ and the Gospel are out of Scotland, dream not that your houses shall thrive, and that it shall go well with the nobles of the land : as the Lord liveth, the streams of your waters shall become pitch, and the dust of your land brimstone ; and your land shall become burning pitch, and the owl and the raven shall dwell in your houses, and where your table stood, there shall grow briers and nettles ; Isaiah xxxiv. 9, 11. The Lord gave Christ and His Gospel as a pawn to Scotland, the watchmen have fallen foul, and lost their part of the pawn ; and who seeth not, that God hath dried up their right eye, and their right arm, and have broken the shepherd's staves, and men are trading in their hearts upon such unsavory salt, that is good for nothing else. If ye the nobles put away the pawn also, and refuse to plead the controversy of Zion, with the professed enemies of Jesus, ye have done Avith it. 0, where is the courage and zeal now of the ancient nobles of this land, who with their swords, and hazard of life, honour, and houses, brought Christ to our hands ? And now the nobles cannot be but guilty of shouldering out Christ, and murdering of the souls of the posterity, if they shall hide them- selves, and lurk in the lee-side of the hill, till the wind blow down the temple of God. It goeth now under the name of wisdom, for men to cast their cloak over Christ and their profession, as if Christ were stolen goods and durst not be avouched ; though this be re- puted a piece of policy, yet God esteemeth such men to be but state-fools and court-gooks, whatever they, or other heads of wit like to them, think of themselves, since their damnable silence is the ruin of Christ's kingdom. 0, but it be true honour and glory, to be the fast friends of the Bridegroom, and to own Christ's bleeding head, and his forsaken cause ; and to contend legally and in the wisdom of God, for our sweet Lord Jesus, and His kingly crown. But I will believe your lordship will take Christ's honour to heart, and be a man in the streets (as the prophet speaketh) for the Lord and his truth. To His rich grace and sweet presence, and the ever- lasting consolation of the promised Comforter, I recommend your lordship. And am your lordship, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, Sept. 7, 1637. 108 LETTER XL. LETTER XL.— To my Lady Boyd. My Very Honourable and Christian Lady, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. I received your letter, and am well pleased, that your thoughts of Christ stay with you, and that your purpose still is, by all means, to take the kingdom of heaven by violence, which is no small conquest ; and it is a degree of watchfulness and thank- fulness also, to observe sleepiness and unthankfulness : we have all good cause to complain of false light, that playeth the thief, and stealeth away the lantern, when it cometh to the practice of constant walking with God. Our journey is ten times a day broken in ten pieces ; Christ getteth but only broken and halved and tired work of us, and alas too often against the hair. I have been somewhat nearer the Bridegroom ; but when I draw nigh, and see my vileness, for sham© I would be out of His presence again ; but, yet desire of His soul-refreshing love, putteth blushing me under an arrest. O, what am I, so loathsome a burden of sin, to stand beside such a beautiful and holy Lord, such an high and lofty One, who inhabit- eth eternity ? But since it pleaseth Christ to condescend to such an one as me, let shamefacedness be laid aside, and lose itself in His condescending love. I Avould heartily be content to keep a corner of the King's hall. O, if I were at the yonder end of my weak desires ! then should I be where Christ, my Lord and Lover, lives and reigns ; there I should be everlastingly solaced with the sight 'of His face, and satisfied with the surpassing sweetness of His matchless love. But, truly, now I stand in the nether side of my desires, and with a drooping head and panting heart, I look up to fair .Jesus, standing afar off from us, while corruption and death shall scour and refine the body of clay, and rot out the bones of the old man of sin. In the meantime, we are blessed in sending word to the Beloved, that we love to love Him ; and till then, there is joy in wooing, suiting, lying about his house, looking in at the windows, and sending a poor soul's groans and wishes through a hole of the door to Jesus, till God send a glad meeting. And, blessed be God, that after a low ebb, and so sad a word, " Lord Jesus, it is long since I saw thee," that even then, our wings are growing, and the absence of sweet Jesus breedeth a new fleece of desires and longings for Him. I know no man hath a velvet cross ; but the cross is made of that which God will have it. But, verily, howbeit it be no warrantable market, to buy a cross ; yet I dare not say, 0 that I had liberty to sell Christ's cross, least therewith also I should sell joy, comfort, sense of love, patience, and the kind visits of a Bride- groom. And therefore, blessed be God, we get crosses unbought and good cheap. Sure I am, it were better to buy crosses for Christ, than to sell them ; howbeit neither be allowed to us. And LETTER XLI. 109 for Christ's joyful coming and going, which your ladyship speaketh of, I bear with it, as love can permit. It should be enough to me, if I were wise, that Christ will have joy and sorrow halfers of the life of the saints, and that each of them should have a share of our days, as the night and the day are kindly partners and halfers of time, and take it up betwixt them. But if sorrow be the greediest halfer of our days here, I know joy's day shall dawn, and do more than recompense all our sad hours. Let my Lord Jesus (since He will do so) weave my bit and span-length of time, with white and black, weal and Avoe, with the Bridegroom's coming and His sad departure, as w^arp and woof in one web ; and let the rose be neigh- boured with the thorn, yet hope (that maketh not ashamed) hath written a letter and lines of hope to the " MeunKers in Zion," that it shall not be long so : when we are over the water, Christ shall cry down crosses, and up heaven for evermore, and down hell, and down death, and down sin, and down sorrow ; and up glory, up life, up joy for evermore. Li this hope, I sleep quietly in Christ's bosom, while He come, who is not slack ; and would sleep so, were it not, that the noise of the devil, and sin's feet, and the cries of an unbelieving heart awaken me ; but, for the present, I have nothing whereof I can accuse Christ's cross. O, if I could please myself in Christ only ! I hope, madam, your sons will improve their power for Jesus ; for there is no danger, neither is there any ques- tion or justling betwixt Christ and authority, though our enemies falsely state the question, as if Christ and authority could not abide under one roof; the question only is, betwixt Christ and men in authority. Authority is for and from Christ, and submit to Him ; how then can he make a plea wath it. Nay, the truth is, worms and gods of clay are risen up against Christ. If the fruit of your lady- ship's womb be helpers of Christ, ye have good ground to rejoice in God. All your ladyship can expect for your goodwill to me and my brother (a wronged stranger for Christ), is the prayers of a pri- soner of Jesus, to Avhom I recommend your ladyship, and house, and children, and in whom I am, madam, Your ladyship, in Christ, S. R. Aberdeen, Sept. 8, 1G37. LETTER XLL— To the Lady Culross. Madam, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. I dare not say, I wonder that ye have never written to me in my bonds, because I am not ignorant of the cause ; yet I could not but write to you. I know not whether joy or heaviness in my soul carrieth it away : sorrow, without any mixture of sweetness, hath not often love- 110 LETTER XLI. thoughts of Christ ; but I see the devil can insinuate himself, and ride his errands upon the thoughts of a poor oppressed prisoner. I am woe that I am making Christ my unfriend by seeking pleas against Him, because, I am the first in the kingdom put to utter silence, and because I cannot preach my Lord's righteousness in the great congregation. I am, notwithstanding, the less solicitous how it go, if there be not wrath in my cup. But I know, I but claw my wounds, when my Physician hath forbidden me : I would believe in the dark upon luck's head, and take my hazard of Christ's good will, and rest on this, that in my fever my Physician is at my bed-side, and that He sympathizeth with me when I sigh. My borrowed house, and another man's bed and fireside, and other losses have no room in my sorrow : a greater heat to eat out a less fire is a good remedy for some burning. I believe, when Christ draweth blood, He hath skill to cut the right vein, and that He hath taken the whole ordering and disposing of my sufferings. Let Him tutor me and tutor my crosses as He thinketh good : there is no danger nor hazard in following such a guide ; howbeit He should lead me through hell, if I could put faith foremost, and fill the field with a quiet on-waiting, and believing to see the salvation of God : I know Christ is not obliged to let me see both the sides of my cross, and turn it over and over that I may see all. My faith is richer to live upon credit and Christ's borrowed money than to have much in my hand. Alas ! I have forgotten that faith in times past hath stopped a leak in my crazed bark, and hath filled my sails with a fair wind. I see it a work of God, that experiences are all lost, when summons of improbation, to prove our charters of Christ to be counterfeit, are raised against poor souls in their heavy trials ; but let me be a sinner, and worse than the chief of sinners, yea, a guilty devil, I am sure my well-beloved is God ; and when I say Christ is God, and my Christ is God, I have said all things, I can say no more. I would, I could build as much on this, my Christ is God, as it would bear ; I might lay all the world upon it : I am sure Christ untried and untaken up in the power of His love, kindness, mercies, goodness, wisdom, long-suffering, and greatness, is the rock that dim -sighted travellers dash their foot against, and so stumble fearfully. But, my wounds are sorest and pain me most to sin against His love and His mercy : and if He would set me and my conscience by the ears together, and resolve not to ride the plea, but let us deal it betwixt us, ray spitting upon the fair fjace of Christ's love and mercies, by my jealousies, unbelief, and doubting, would be enough to sink me. O, oh ! I am convinced ; O Lord, I stand dumb before Thee for this : let me be mine own judge in this, and I take a dreadful doom upon me for it ; for I stiD misbelieve, though I have seen that my Lord hath LETTER XLI. Ill made mj cross, as if it were all crystal, so as I can see through it Christ's fair face and heaven, and that God hath honoured a lump of sinful flesh and blood, the like of me, to be Christ's hon- ourable Lord prisoner, I ought to esteem the walls of the thieves' hole (if I were shut up in it) or any stinking dungeon, all hung with tapestry, and most beautiful for ray Lord Jesus ; and yet I am not so shut up, but that the sun shineth upon my prison, and the fair wide heaven is the covering of it. But my Lord, in his sweet visits hath done more, for He makes me find that He will be a confined prisoner with me ; He lieth down and riseth up vnth me ; when I sigh He sigheth ; when I weep He sufFereth with me ; and I confess here is the blessed issue of my sufferings already begun, that my heart is filled with hunger and desire to have Him glori- fied in my sufferings. Blessed ye of the Lord, madam, if you would help a poor dyvour, and cause others of your acquaintance in Christ, help me to pay my debt of love, even real praises, to Christ my Lord. Madam, let me charge you in the Lord, as ye will answer to Him, help me in this duty (which He liath tied about my neck with a chain of such singular expressions of His loving kindness) to set on high Christ, to hold in my honesty at His hands, for I have nothing to give Him. O, that He would arrest and comprise my love and my heart for all ! I am a dyvour who have no more free goods in the world for Christ, save that : it is both the whole heritage I have and all my moveables besides : Lord, give the thirsty man a drink. O, to be over the ears in the well ! 0, to be swattering and swimming over head and ears in Christ's love ! I would not have Christ's love entering in me, but I would enter into it, and be swallowed up of that love. But I see not myself here, for I fear I make more of His love than of Himself; whereas Himself is far beyond and much better than His love. 0, if I had my sinful arms filled with that lovely one Christ ! blessed be my rich Lord Jesus, who sendeth not away beg- gars from His house with a toom dish. He filleth the vessels of such as will come and seek. We might beg ourselves rich (if we were wise), if we could but hold out our withered hands to Christ, and learn to suit and seek, ask and knock. I owe my sal- vation for Christ's glory ; I owe it to Christ, and desire that my hell, yea, a new hell, seven times hotter than the old hell, might buy praises before men and angels to my Lord Jesus, providing always I were free of Christ's hatred and displeasure. What am I to be forfeited and sold in soul and body, to have my great and royjil King set on high, and extolled above all ? O, if I knew how high to have Him set, and all the world far, far beneath the soles of His feet ! Nay, I deserve not to be the matter of His praises, far less to be an agent in praising of Him. But He can win His own glory 112 LETTER XLII. out of me, and out of one worse than I (if any sucli be) if it pleases His holy majesty so to do ; He knoweth that I am not now flatter- ing Him. Madam, let me have your prayers, as ye have the prayers and blessing of him that is separated from his brethren. Grace, ^grace be with you. Your own, in his sv.^eet Lord Jesus. S. R. Aberdeen. June 15, 1637. LETTER XLII.— To the Earl of Cassills. My very Noble and Honourable Lord, — I make bold out of the honourable and Christian report I hear of your lordship, having no other thing to say but that which concerneth the honourable cause, which the Lord hath enabled your lordship to profess, to write this, that it is your lordship's crown, your glory, and your honour, to set your shoulder under the Lord's glory now falling to the ground; and to back Christ now, when so many think it wisdom to let Him fend for Himself. The shields of the earth ever did, and do still believe that Christ is a cumbersome neighbour, and that it is a pain to hold up His yeas and nays : they fear He take their chariots, and their crowns, and their honour from them ; but my Lord standeth in need of none of them all. But it is your glory to own Christ and His buried truth, for let men say what they please, the plea with Zion's enemies, in this day of Jacob's trouble is, if Christ should be King, and no mouth speak laws but His ? It concerneth the apple of Christ's eye and His royal privileges what now is de- bated : and Christ's kingly honour is come to yea and nay, but let me be pardoned, my dear and noble lord, to beseech you by the mercies of God, by the comforts of tbe Spirit, by the wounds of your dear Saviour, by your compearance before the Judge of quick and dead, to stand for Christ, and to back Him. O, if the nobles had done their part, and been zealous for the Lord, it had not been as it is now ; but men think it wisdom to stand beside Christ, till His head be broken, and sing dumb. There is a time coming when Christ will have a thick court, and He will be the glory of Scotland ; and He shall make a diadem, a garland, a seal upon His heart, and a ring on His finger, of these who have avouched Him before thi faithless generation : howbeit, ere that come, wrath from the Lon is ordained for this land. My lord, I have cause to write this your lordship, for I dare not conceal His kindness to the soul of ai afflicted exiled prisoner ? Who hath more cause to boast in th Lord than such a sinner as I ? who am feasted with the consola- tions of Christ, and have no pain in my sufferings, but the pain o soul-sickness of love for Christ, and sorrow that I cannot get hel LETTERS XLTII. AND XLIV. 113 to sound aloud the high praises of Him who hath heard the sighing of the prisoner, and is content to lay the head of His oppressed servant in His bosom, under His chin, and let Him feel the smell of His garments. This, I behoved to write, that your lordship might know Christ is as good as He is called ; and to testify to your lordship the cause your lordship now professeth, before this faith- less world, is Christ's ; and your lordship shall have no shame of it. Grace be with you. Your lordship's obliged servant, S. R. Aberdeen, March 13, 1637. LETTER XLIII. — To the much honoured John Osburn, Provost of Ayr. Much honoured Sir, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. Upon our small acquaintance, and the good report 1 hear of you, I could not but write to you. I have nothing to say, but Christ, in that honourable place He hath put you in, hath intrusted you with a dear pledge, which is His own glory ; and hath armed you with His sword to keep the pledge, and make a good account of it to God. Be not afraid of me ; your Master can mow down His enemies, and make withered hay of fair flowers. Your time will not be long ; after your afternoon will come your evening, and after evening, night : serve Christ, back Him, let His cause be your cause ; give not an hair-breadth of truth away ; for it is not yours but God's. Then since ye are going take Christ's testificate with you out of this life, "Well done, good and faithful servant." His well done is worth a shipful of good-days and earthly honours. I have cause to say this, because I find Him truth itself. In my sad days Christ laugheth cheerfully, and saith " All will be well." Would to God, all this kingdom, andye, and all that know God, knew what is betwixt me and Christ in this prison ; what kisses, embrace- ments, and love communings. I take His cross in my arms with joy, I bless it, I rejoice in it. Suifering for Christ is my garland. I would not exchange Christ for ten thousand worlds ; nay (if the comparison could stand), I would not exchange Christ with heaven. Sir, pray for me, and the prayers and blessings of a prisoner of Christ meet you in all your straits. Grace be with you. Yours, in Christ Jesus his Lord, S. R. Aberdeen, March 14, 1G37. LETTER XLIV.- To Robert Gordon, BaihfFof Ayr. Worthy Sir, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. I long to hear from you in paper. Remember your Chiefs speeches on liis 114 LETTER XLV. death bed. I pray you, sir, sell all, and buy the pearl ; time will cut you from this world's glory. Look, what will do you good, when your glass shall be run out ; and let Christ's love bear most court in your soul, and that court will bear down the love of other things. Christ seeketh your help in your place ; give Him your hand. Who hath more cause to encourage others to own Christ than I have ? for he hath made me sick of love, and left me in pain to wrestle with His love, and love is like to fall a swoon through His absence. I mean not that He deserteth me, or that I am ebb of comforts ; but this is an uncouth pain. O, that I had a heart and a love to render to Him back again ! 0, if principalities and powers, thrones and dominions, and all the world, would help me to praise. Praise Him in my behalf. Remember my love to your wife. I thank you most kindly for your love to my brother. Grace be with you. Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen. March 13, 1637. LETTER XLV.— To John Kennedy, Bailiff of Ayr. Grace, mercy, and peace be unto you. Your not writing to me cannot bind me up from remembering you now and then, that at least ye may be a witness and a third man to behold in paper what is betwixt Christ and me. I was in His eyes like a young orphan wanting known parents, casten out in the open fields ; either Christ behoved to take me up and to bring me home to His house and fire- side, else I had died in the fields. And now I am homely with Clirist's love, so that I think the house mine own, and the master of the house mine also. Christ inquired not when he began to love me, whether I was fair, or black, and sunburnt ? love taketh what it may have. He loved me before this time, I know ; but now I have the fiower of His love : His love is come to a fair bloom, like a young rose opened up out of the green leaves, and it casteth a strong and fra- grant smell. I want nothing but -ways of expressing Christ's love. A full vessel would have a vent. O, if I could smoke out and cast out coals to make a fire in many breasts of this land ! O I it is a pity that there were not many imprisoned for Christ, for no other purpose but to write books and love-songs of the love of Christ. This love would keep all created tongues of men and angels in ex- ercise, and busy night and day to speak of it. Alas! I can speak nothing of it, but wonder at three things in His love. First, freedom. O, that lumps of sin should get such love for nothing. Secondly, the sweetness of His love ; I give over either to speak or write of it ; but these that feel it may better bear witness what it is ; but it is so LETTER XLV. 115 sweet, that next to Christ Himself, nothing can match it. Nay, I think a soul could live eternally blessed only on Christ's love, and feed upon no other thing. Yea, when Christ in love giveth a blow, it doeth a soul good, and it is a kind of comfort and joy to it to get a cuff with the lovely, sweet, and soft hand of Jesus. And, thirdly, what power and strength is in His love ? I am persuaded it can climb a steep hill, and hell upon its back ; and swim through the water, and not drown ; and sing in the fire, and find no pain ; and triumph in losses, prisons, sorrows, exile, disgrace; and laugh and rejoice in death. 0, for a year's lease of the sense of His love, without a cloud, to try what Christ is ! O, for the coming of the Bridegroom; O, ^vhen will I see the Bridegroom and the bride meet in the clouds and kiss each other ! O, when will we get our day and our heart's full of that love ! 0, if it were lawful to complain of the famine and want of that love of the immediate vision of God! O, time, time, how dost thou torment the souls of those that would be swallowed up of Christ's love, because thou movest so slowly ! O, if He would pity a poor prisoner, and blow love upon me, and give a prisoner a taste or draught of that surpassing sweetness (which is glory as it were begun) to be a confirmation, that Christ and I shall have our fill of other for ever ; come hither, O love of Christ, that I may once kiss thee before I die. What would I not give to have time, thatlieth betwixt Christ and me, taken out of the way that we might once meet? I cannot think but at the first sight I shall see of that most lovely and fairest face, love shall come out of His two eyes, and fill me with astonishment. I would but desire to stand at the utter side of the gates of the new Jerusalem, and look through a hole of the door, and see Ciirist's face ; a borrowed vision in this life would be my borrowed and be;2^un heaven, while the long, long-looked for day dawn. It is not for nothing, that it is said, Colos. i. 27, " Christ in you the hope (jf glory." I will be content of no pawn of heaven but Christ Himself, for Christ possessed by faith here is young heaven, and glory in the bud ! If I had that pawn, I would bide horning and hell both ere I give it again. All we have here is scarce the picture of glory. Should not we, young bairns, long and look for the expiring of our minority! It were good to be daily begging propines and love-gifts, and the Bridegroom's favours ; and if we can do no more, seek crumbs and hungry dinners of Christ's love, to keep the taste of heaven in our mouth, while supper-time. I know it is far afternoon, and nigh the marriage-supper of the Lamb ; the table is covered already. 0, Well-beloved, run,run fast ! O, fair day ! when wilt thou dawn ? 0, shadows flee away ! I think hope and love woven through other, make our absence from Christ spiritual torment. It is a pain to wait on, but hope, that maketh not ashamed, swalloweth up that pain. It 116 LETTER XLVI. is not imkindness that keepeth Christ and us so long asunder. What can I say to Christ's love ? I think more than I can say. To consider, that when my Lord Jesus may take the air (if I may so speak) and go abroad, yet He Avill be confined and keep the prison with me. But in all this sweet communion with Him, what am I to be thanked for ? I am but a suiferer ; whether I will or not, He will be kind to me, as if He had defied my guiltiness to make him un- kind ; so He beareth in His love on me. Here I die with wonder- ing, that justice hindereth not love ; for there are none in hell, nor out of hell, more unworthy of Christ's love. Shame may confound and fear me, once to hold up my black mouth, to receive one of Christ's undeserved kisses. If my inner-side were turned out, and all men saw my vileness, they would say to me, it is a shame for thee to stand still, while Christ kiss thee and embrace thee. it would seem to become me, rather to run away from His love, as ashamed at my own unworthiness. Nay, I may think shame to take heaven, who have so highly provoked my Lord Jesus. But, seeing Christ's love will shame me, I am content to be shamed. My desire is, that my Lord would give me broader and deeper thoughts to feed myself with wondering at His love. I would I r.ould weigh it, but I have no bahuice for it. When I have worn my tongue to the stump, in praising of Christ, I have done nothing to Him, I must let Him alone, for my withered arms will not go about His iiigh, wide, long, and broad love. What remaineth then, but tliat my debt to the love of Christ lie unpaid for all eternity ? All that are in heaven are black-shamed with His love as well as I ; we must all be dyvours together, and the blessing of that houseful or lieavenful of dyvours shall rest for ever upon Him. O, if this land and nation would come and stand beside His inconceivable and glorious perfections, and look in, and love, and wonder, and adore ! Would to God I could bring in many lovers to Christ's house ! But this nation hath forsaken the fountain of living waters. Lord, cast not water on Scotland's coal. Woe, woe will be to this land, be- cause of the day of the Lord's fierce anger, that is so fast coming. Grace be w4th you. Your aficctionate brother, in our Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen . LETTER XLVL— To John Kennedy, Bailiff of Ayr. Worthy and dear Brother, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. I long to see you in this northern world in paper; I know it is not forgetfulness that ye write not. I am everyway in good case, both in soul and body ; all honour and glory be to my Lord. I want LETTER XLVI. 117 nothing but a further revelation of the beauty of the unknown Son of God. Eitlier I know not what Christianity is, or we have stinted a measure of so many ounce weights, and no more, upon holiness ; and there we are at a stay, drawing our breath all our life : a modera- tion in God's way now is much in request. I profess, I have never taken pains to find out Him whom my soul loveth; there is a gate yet of finding out Christ, that I have never lighted upon. O, if I could find it out ! Alas, how soon are we pleased Avith our own shadow in a glass ! It were good to be beginning in sad earnest to find out God, and to seek the right tread of Christ. Time, custom, and a good opinion of ourselves, our good meaning, and our lazy de- sires, our fair shows, and the world's glistering lustres, and these broad passments and buskiugs of religion, that bear bulk in the kirk, is that wherewith most satisfy themselves : but a watered bed with tears, a dry throat with praying, eyes a fountain of tears for the sins of the land, is rare to be found among us. 0 if 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 un- kindness, and complained of His fickleness and inconstancy, because He would have no more of my service nor preaching, and had casten me out of the inheritance of the Lord. And 1 confess now, this was but a bought plea, and I was a fool, yet He hath 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 hath chided himself friends Avith me, and hath taken away the mask, and hath renewed His wonted favour, in such a manner, that He hath paid me "my hundred-fold in this life ;" and one to the hundred. This prison is my banqueting-house; I am handled as softly and delicately as a doated child. I am nothing behind (I see) with Christ. He can in a month make up a year's losses : and I write this to you, that I may entreat, nay, adjure and charge you, by the love of our Well-beloved, to. help me to praise, and to tell all your Christian acquaintances to help me ; for I am as deeply drowned in His debt as any dyvour can be : and yet, in this fair sun-blink, I have some- thing to keep me from startling, or being exalted above measure. His ^Vord is a fire shut up in my bowels, and I am weary with forbeai'ng. The ministers in this town are saying, they shall have my prison changed into less bounds, because they see God with me. My mother hath born me a man of contention, one that striveth with the whole earth. The late wrongs and oppressions done to my brother keep my sails low ; yet I defy crosses to em- bark me in such a plea against Christ, as I was troubled with of late. I hope to over-hope and over-believe my troubles. I have cause now to trust Christ's promise more than His gloom. Re- member my hearty affection to your Avife. My soul is grieved for ] 1 8 LEITER XLVII. the success of our brethren's journey to New England ; but, God hath somewhat to reveal, that we see not. Grace be with you. Pray for the prisoner. Yours, in his only Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, Jan. 1, 1637. LETTER XLVII. —To Margaret Balantine. Mistress, — Grace, mercy, and peace be unto you. It is more than time that I should have written to you ; but it is yet good time, if I could help your soul to mend your pace, and to go more swiftly to your heavenly country; for truly, ye have need to make all haste, because the inch of your day that remaineth will quickly slip away ; for whether we sleep or wake, our glass runneth, the tide bideth no man. Beware of a beguile in the matter of your .salvation. Woe, woe for evermore to them that lose that prize ; for what is behind when the soul is once lost, but that sinners warm their bits of clay-houses at a lire of their own kindling, for a day or two, which doth rather suffocate with its smoke than warm them, and at length they lie down in sorrow, and are clothed with everlasting shame ! t would seek no further measure of faith to begin withal, than to believe really and steadfastly the doctrine of God's justice, his all-devouring wrath and everlasting burning, where sinners are burnt, soul and body, in a river and great lake of fire and brimstone. Then they would wish no more goods, but the thou- sandth part of a cold fountain-well to cool their tongue ; they would then buy death, with enduring of pain and torment for as many years as God hath created drops of rain since the creation ; but there is no market in buying or selling life or death there. O I alas, the greatest part of this world run to the place of that tor- ment, rejoicing, and dancing, eating, drinking, and sleeping. My counsel to you is, that ye start in time to be after Christ ; for if ye go quickly, Christ is not far before you. Ye shall overtake Him. O Lord God, what is so needful as this. Salvation, Salvation ? Fie upon this condemned and foolish world, that will give so little for salvation ! 0, if there were a free market of salvation proclaimed in that day when the trumpet of God shall awake the dead, how many buyers would be then ? God send me no more happiness, but that salvation, which the blind world (to their eternal woe) letteth slip through their fingers. Therefore look if ye can give out your money (as Isaiah speaketh, ch. Iv. 2,) for bread, and lay Christ and his blood in wodset for heaven. It is a dry and hungry bairn's part of goods that Esau's are hunting for here. I see thou- sands following the chase, and in the pursuit of such things, while in the meantime they lose the blessing ; and when all is done, they have caught nothing to roast for supper, but lie down hungry ; and LETTER XLVIII. 119 besides they go to their bed (when they die) without a candle, for God saith to them, Isaiah 1. 21, "This shall ye have at my hand, ye shall lie down in sorrow." And truly this is as ill-made a bed to lie upon as one could wish ; for he cannot sleep soundly nor rest sweetly who hath sorrow for his pillow. Rouse, rouse up, therefore, your soul, and spier how Christ and your soul met together. I am sure they never got Christ who were not once sick at the yolk of the heart for Him ; too, too many whole souls think they have met with Christ, who had never a wearied night for the want of Him. But, alas ! what richer are men that they dreamed the last night they had much gold, and when they awoke in the morn- ing they found it was but a dream ? What are all the sinners in the world in that day when heaven and earth shall go up in a flame of fire, but a number of beguiled dreamers ? Every one shall say of his hunting and his conquest ; " Behold it was a dream ;" every man in that day will tell his dream. I beseech you in the Lord Jesus, beware, beware of unsound work, in the matter of your salvation : ye may not, ye cannot, ye do not want Christ. Then after this day convene all your lovers before your soul ; and give them their leave, and strike hands with Christ, that thereafter there may be no happiness to you but Christ ; no hunting for anything but Christ; no bed at night (when death cometli) but Christ : Christ, Christ, who but Christ 1 I know this much of Christ, He is not ill to be found, not lordly of His love; woe had been my part of it for evermore, if Christ had made a dainty of Himself to me ; but God be thanked, I gave nothing for Christ ; and now I protest, before men and angels, Christ cannot be exchanged, Christ cannot be sold, Christ cannot be weighed ; where would angels or all the world find a balance to weigh Him in ? All lovers blush when ye stand beside Christ. Woe upon all love but the love of Christ. Hunger, hunger for evermore, be upon all heavens, but Christ. Shame, shame for evermore be upon all glory, but Christ's glory. I cry, death, death upon all lives, but the life of Christ. O, what is it that holdeth us asunder ? O, that once we could have a fair meeting ! Thus recommending Christ to you, and you to Him for evermore, I rest. Grace be with you. Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, 1637. LETTER XLVIII. —To Jonet Kennedy. Loving and dear Sister, — Grace, mercy, and peace be unto you. I received your letter. I know the savour of Christ in you (that the virgin's love to follow^) cannot be blown away with winds, either from hell or the evil smelled air of this polluted world. Sit 120 LETTER XLIX. far aback from the walls of this pest-house, even the pollutions of this defiling world. Keep your taste, your love and hope in heaven ; it is not good, your love and your Lord should be in two sundry countries. Up, up after your lover, that ye and He may be together. A King from heaven hath sent for you ; by faith He showeth you the new Jerusalem, and taketh you alongst in the Spirit through all the ease-rooms and dwelling-houses in heaven, and saith, "Ail these are thine, this palace is for thee and Christ;" and if ye only had been the chosen of God, Christ would have built that one house for you and Himself Now, it is for you and many also. Take with you in your journey what ye may carry with you, your conscience, faith, hope, patience, meekness, good- ness, ]3rotherly kindness ; for such wares as these are of great price in the high and new country whither ye go. As for other things that are but the world's vanity and trash, since they are but the house-sweepings, ye shall do best not to carry them with you ; ye found them here, leave them here, and let them keep the house. Your sun is well turned and low : be nigh your lodging against night. We go one and one, out of this great market, till the town be empty, and the two lodgings heaven and hell be filled. At length there will be nothing in the earth but toom walls and burnt ashes, and therefore it is best to make away. Antichrist and his master are busy to plenish hell, and to seduce many ; and stars, great church-lights, are falling from heaven, and many are misled and seduced, and make up with their faith, and sell their birthright by their hungry hunting, for I know not what. Fasten your grips fast upon Christ. I verily esteem Him the best aught that 1 have. He is my second in prison ; having Him, though my cross were as heavy as ten mountains of iron, when he putteth his sweet shoulder under me and it, my cross is but a feather. I please myself in the choice of Clirist, he is my waile, in heaven and earth ; I rejoice that He is in heaven before me : God send a joyful meeting : and in the meantime the traveller's charges for the way, I mean, a burden of Christ's love to sweeten the journey, and to encourage a breathless runner, for when I lose breath climbing up the mountain, He maketh new breath. Now, the very God of peace establish you to the day of His appearance. Yours, in his only Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, Sept 9, 1637, LETTER XLIX.— To Margaret Reid. My vert dear and worthy Sister. — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. Ye are truly blessed of the Lord, however a sour world gloom upon you, if ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, LETTER L. 121 find be not moved away from the hope of the Gospel. It is good, there is a heaven, and it is not a night dream or a fancy ; it is a wonder that men deny not that there is a heaven, as they deny there is a way to it, but of men's making. You have learned of Christ, that there is a heaven, contend for it, and contend for Christ ; bear well and submissively the hard cross of this step- mother world, that God will not have to be yours. I confess it is hard, and I would I were able to ease you of your burthen, but believe me this world (which the Lord will not have to be yours) is but the dross, the refuse and scum of God's creation, the portion of the Lord's poor hired servants: the moveables, not the heritage; a hard bone casten to the dogs, holden out of the new Jerusalem, whereupon they rather break their teeth than satisfy their appetite. It is your Father's blessing and Christ's birthright that our Lord is keeping for you ; and I persuade you, your seed also shall inherit the earfli (if that be good for them) ; for that is promised to them, and God's bond is as good and better than if men would give every one of them a bond for thousand thousands. Ere ye was born, crosses in number, measure, and weight, were written for you, and your Lord will lead you through them : make Christ sure, and the blessings of the earth shall be at Christ's back. I see many professors for the fashion follow on ; but they are professors of glass, 1 would cause a little knock of persecution ding them in twenty pieces, and so the world should laugh at the shreds. Therefore, make fast work, see that Christ lay the ground-stone of your profession ; for Avind, and rain, and speats, will not wash away His building : His works have no shorter date than to stand for ever- more. I should twenty times have perished in my affliction, if I had not leaned my weak back, and laid my pressing burden, both upon the stone, the foundation-stone, the corner-stone laid in Zion ; and I desire never to rise off this stone. Now the very God of peace confirm and establish you unto the day of the blessed appear- ance of Christ Jesus. God be with you. Yours, in his dearest Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen. LETTER L.— To James Bautie. Loving Brother. — Grace, mercy, and peace be unto you. I received your letter, and render you thanks for the same ; but I have not time to answer all the heads of it, as the bearer can inform you. 1. Ye do well to take yourself at the right stot, when ye wrong Christ by doubting and misbelief; for this is to nick-name Christ, and term Him a liar, which being spoken to our prince, would be hanging or heading ; but Christ hangeth not always for 122 LETTER L. treason. It is good that He may registrat a believer's bond a hundred times, and more than seventy times a day have law against us, and yet He spareth us as a man doth his son that serveth him. No tender-hearted mother, who may have law to kill her suckling child, would put in execution that law. 2. For your failings, even when ye have a set tryst with Christ, and when ye have a fair seen advantage, by keeping your appointment with Him, and sal- vation Cometh to the very passing of the seals, I would say two things. 1, Concluded and sealed salvation may go through and be ended, suppose ye write your name to the tail of the covenant with ink that can hardly be read. Neither, think 1 ever any man's salvation passed the seals ; but there was an odd trick or slip, in less or more, upon the fool's part, who is infested in heaven. In the most grave and serious work of our salvation, I think Christ had ever good cause to laugh at our silliness, and to put on us His merits that we might bear weight. 2. It is a sweet law of the new covenant, and a privilege of the new burgh, that the citizens pay according to their means ; for the new covenant saith not, so mucli obedience by ounce weights, and no less, under the pain of damnation. Christ taketh as poor men may give : where there is a mean portion, He is content with the less, if there be sincerity : broken sums and little feckless obedience will be pardoned, and hold the foot with Him ; know ye not, that our kindly Lord retaineth His good old heart yet ? He breaketh not a bruised reed, nor quencheth the smoking flax : but if the wind blow, He holdeth His hands about it till it rise to a flame. The law cometh on with three O yes's, with all the heart, with all the soul, and with all the whole strength : and where would poor folks like you and me furnish all these sums 1 It feareth me (nay it is most certain), that if the payment were to come out of our purse, when we should put our hand in our bag, we would bring out the wind or worse. But the new covenant seeketh not heap-meat nor stinted obedience, as the condition of it, because forgiveness hath always place. Hence I draw this conclu- sion. To think matters betwixt Christ and us go back, for want of heaped measure, is a piece of old Adam's pride, who would either be at legal payment or nothing. We would still have God in our common, and buy His kindness with our merits ; for beggarly pride is devil's honesty, and blusheth to be in Christ's common, and scarce giveth God a grammercy and a lifted cap (except it be the Phari- see's unlucky God I thank thee), or a bowed knee to Christ : it will only give a good day for a good day again ; and if he dissemble his kindness, as it were in jest, and seem to misken it, it in earnest spurneth with the heels, and snuffeth in the wind, and careth not much for Christ's kindness. If he will not be friends, let him go saith pride ; beware of this thief, when Christ offereth LETTER L. 123 himself. 3. No marvel then, of whisperings, whether you be in the covenant or not. For pride it maketh loose work of the cove- nant of grace, and will not let Christ be full bargain-maker. To speak to you particularly and shortly. 1. All the truly regenerated cannot determinately tell you the measure of their dejections ; be- cause Christ beginneth young with many, and stealeth into their heart, ere they w^t of themselves, and becometh homely wdth them, with little din or noise. I grant, many are blinded, in rejoicing in a good cheap conversion that never cost them a sick night ; Christ's physic wrought in a dream upon them. But for that, I would say, if other marks be found, that Christ is indeed come in, never make a plea with Him, because He will not answer, Lord Jesus how earnest thou in, whether in at door or window ? make Him welcome since He is come. " The wind bloweth where it listeth ;" all the world's wit cannot perfectly render a reason, why the wind should be a month in the east, six weeks possibly in the west, and the space only of an afternoon in the south or north. Ye will not find out all the nicks and steps of Christ's way with a soul, do what ye can; for sometimes He will come in stepping softly, like one walking beside a sleeping person, and slip to the door, and let none know He was there. 2. Ye object the truly regenerate should love God for Himself: and ye fear that ye love Him more for His benefits (as incitements and motives to love Him) than for Himself. I answer, to love God for Himself as the last end, and also for His benefits, as incitements and motives to love Him may stand well together ; as a son loveth his mother, because, she is his mother, howbeit, she be poor ; and he loveth her for an apple also. I hope ye will not say, that benefits are the only reason and bottom of your love ; it seemeth there is a better foundation for it : always if a hole be in it, sew it up shortly. 3. Ye feel not such mourning in Christ's absence as ye would. I answer, that the regenerate mourn at all times ; and all in a like measure for His absence, I deny. There are different degrees of mourning, less or more, as they have less or more love to Him, and less or more sense of His absence. But, 1. Some they say must have. 2. Sometimes they miss not the Lord, and then they cannot mourn, howbeit, it is not long so, at least, it is not always so. 3. Ye challenge yourself, that some truths find more credit with you than others. Ye do well, for God is true in the least, as well as in the greatest, and He must be so to you ; ye must not call Him true in the one page of the leaf, and false in the other; for our Lord, in all His writings, never contradicted Him- self yet, although the best of the regenerate have slipped here ; always labour ye to hold your feet. 4. Comparing the estate of one truly regenerate (whose heart is a temple to the Holy Ghost) and yours (which is full of uncleanliness and corruption), ye stand dumb 124 LETTER L. and discouraged, and dare not, sometimes, call Christ heartsomely your own. I answer, the best regenerate have their defilements, and (if I may speak so) their drafF-poke that will clog behind them all their days ; and wash as they will, there will be filth in their bosom. But let not this put you from the well. 2. I answer, albeit there be some ounce weights of carnality, and some squint look, or eye in our neck to an idol ; yet love in its own measure may l.^ sound, for glory must purify and perfect our love, it will never till then be absolutely pure ; yet, if the idol reign and have the yoke of the heart, and the keys of tlie house, and Christ only be made an underling to run errands, all is not right ; therefore, ex- amine well. 3. There is a twofold discouragement; one of unbelief, to conclade, and make doubting the conclusion, for a mote in your eye, and a by-look to an idol : this is ill. There is another dis- couragement of sorrow for sin, when ye find a by-look to an idol this is good and a matter of thanksgiving ; therefore, examine here also. 5. The assurance of Jesus's love, ye say, would be the most comfortable news that ever ye heard. Answer, that may stop twenty holes, and loose many objections. That love hath telling in it, I trow. 0 that He knew and felt it as I have done. I wish ye a share of my feast ; sweet, sweet hath it been to me. If my Lord had not given me His love 1 would have fallen through the causey of Aberdeen ere now. But for you hing on, your feast is not far off; ye shall be filled ere ye go, there is as much in our Lord's pantry, as will satisfy all His bairns, and as much wine in His cellar as will quench all their thirst. Hunger on; for there is meat in hunger for Christ : go never from Him, but fash Him (who yet is pleased with the importunity of hungry souls) with a dishful of hungry desires, till He fill you ; and if He delay, yet come not ye away, albeit, ye should fall a swoon at His feet. 6. Ye crave my mind, whether sound comfort may be found in prayer, when con- viction of a known idol is present. I answer : an idol, as an idol, cannot stand with sound comfort ; for that comfort that is gotten at dagon's feet, is a cheat or blea-flumme, yet sound comfort and con- viction of an eye to an idol, may as well dwell together as tears and joy; but let this do you no ill, I speak it for your encouragement, that ye may make the best out of your joys ye can, albeit, ye find them mixed with motes. 2. Sole conviction, if alone, without re- morse and grief, is not enough, therefore, lend it a tear if ye do win at it. 7. Ye question when ye win to more fervency sometimes, with your neighbour in prayer, than when your alone, whether hypocrisy be in it or not? I answer, if this be always, no question, a spice of hypocrisy is in it, which would be taken head to ; but possibly desertion may be in private, and presence in public, and then the case is clear. 2. A fit of applause may occasion by accident a LETTER L. 125 rubbing off a cold heart, anS so heat and life may come ; but it is not the proper cause of that heat : hence God, of His free grace, will ride His errands upon our stinking corruption ; but corruption is but a mere occasion and accident, as the playing on a pipe re- moved anger from the prophet, and made him fitter to prophesy, 2 Kings iii. 15. 8. Ye complain of Christ's short visits, that He will not bear you company one night, but when ye lie down warm at night, ye rise cold at morning. Answer, I cannot blame you (nor any other, who knoweth that sweet guest) to bemoan His with- drawings, and to be most desirous of His abode and company ; for He would captivate and engage the affection of any creature that saw His face : since He looked on me, and gave me a sight of His fair love, He gained my heart wholly, and got away with it : well, well may He brook it ; He shall keep it long ere I fetch it from Him. But I shall tell you what ye shall do : treat Him well, give Him the chair and the board-head, and make Him welcome to the mean portion ye have ; a good supper and kind entertainment maketh the guest love the inns the better : yet sometimes Christ hath an errand elscAvhere, for mere trial, and then, though ye give Him king's-cheer, He will away ; as is clear in desertions for mere trial, and not for sin. 9. Ye seek the difference betwixt the motions of the Spirit, in their least measure, and the natural joy of your own heart. Answer, as a man can tell, if he joy and delight in his wife, as his wife ; or if he delight and joy in her for satisfaction of his lust ; but hating her person, and so loving her for her flesh, and not grieving when ill befalleth her: so will a man's joy in God and his whorish natural joy be discovered : if he sorrow for anything that may offend that Lord, it will speak the singleness of his love to Him. 10. Ye ask the reason, why sense overcometh faith. Answer, because sense is more natural, and near of kin to our own selfish and soft nature. Ye ask, if faith in that case be sound? Answer, if it be chased away it is neither sound nor unsound, be- cause it is not faith; but it might be and was faith, before sense did blow out the act of believing. Lastly, ye ask what to do, when promises are borne in upon you, and sense of impenitency, for sins of youth, hindreth application. I answer, if it be living sense, it may stand with application ; and in this case, put to your hand and eat your meat in God's name : if false, so that the sins of youth are not repented of, then as faith and impenitency cannot stand together, so neither that sense and application can consist. Brother, excuse my brevity for time straiteneth me, that I get not my mind said in these things, but must refer that to a new^ occasion, if God offer it. Brother, pray for me. Grace be with you. Yours, in his dearest Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, 1637. 126 LETTER LI. LETTER LI. — To John Stuart, Provost of Ayr, now in Ireland. Much honoured Sir, — Grace, mercy, and peace be unto you. I long to hear from you, being now removed from my flock, and the prisoner of Christ at Aberdeen. I would not have you to think it strange, that your journey to New England hath gotten such a dash : it indeed hath made my heart heavy ; yet I know it is no dumb providence, but a speaking one, whereby our Lord speaketh His mind to you, though, for the present, ye do not well understand what He saith : however it be, He who sitteth upon the floods hath shown you His marvellous kindness in the great depths. I know your loss is great and your hope is gone far against you. But I entreat you, sir, expound aright our Lord's laying an hinderance in the way. I persuade myself, your heart aimeth at the footsteps of the flock, to feed beside the shepherd's tents, and to dwell beside Him whom your soul loveth, and that it is your desire to remain in the wilderness wliere the woman is kept from the dragon ; and this being your desire, remember that a poor prisoner of Christ said it to you that, " That miscarried journey is with child to you of mercy and consolation, and shall bring forth a fair birth, and the Lord shall be midwife to the birth ; wait on, he that believeth maketh not haste," Isa. xxviii. 16. I hope ye have been asking what the Lord meaneth, and what further may be His will, in re- ference to your return. My dear brother, let God make of you what He will. He will end all with consolation, and shall make glory out of your sufferings ; and would ye wish better work ? This water was in your way to heaven, and written in your Lord's book ; ye behoved to cross it : and, therefore, kiss His wise and unerring providence. Let not the censures of men, who see but the outside of things (and scarce well that), abate your courage and rejoicing in the Lord; howbeit, your faith seeth but the black side of providence, yet it hath a better side, and God shall let you see it. Learn to believe Christ better than His strokes; Himself and His promises, better than His glooms. Dashes and disappointments are not canonic scripture ; fighting for the promised land, seemed to cry to God's promise, thou liest. If our Lord ride upon a straw His horse shall neither stumble nor fall, Rom. viii. 28. " For we know that all things work together for good to them that love God," ergo^ shipwreck, losses, &c., work together for the good of them that love God: hence I infer, that losses, disappointments, ill tongues, loss of friends, houses, or country, are God's workmen, set on work, to work out good to you, out of everything that befalleth you. Let not the Lord's dealings seem harsh, rough, or unfatherly, because it is unpleasant. When the Lord's blessed will bloweth cross your desires, it is best in humility to strike sail to Him, and to be wil- LETTER LI. 127 ling to be laid any way our Lord pleaseth : it is a point of denial of yourself, to be as if ye had not a will, but had made a free disposi- tion of it to God, and had sold it over to Him; and to make use of His will for your own is both true holiness, and your ease and peace, ye know not what the Lord is working out of this, but ye shall know it hereafter. And what I write to you, I write to your wife. I compassionate her case, but entreat her not to fear or faint ; this journey is a part of her wilderness to heaven and the promised land, and there are fewer miles behind : it is nearer the dawning of the day to her than when she went out of Scotland. 1 would be glad to hear that ye and she have comfort and courage in the Lord. Now, as concerning our kirk : our service-book is ordained by open proclamation and sound of trumpet to be read in all the kirks of this kingdom : our prelates are to meet this month for it and our canons, and for a reconciliation betwixt us and the Lutherans. The professors of Aberdeen university are charged to draw up the articles of an uniform confession. But reconciliation with popery is intended ; this is the day of Jacob's visitation ; the ways of Zion mourn : our gold is become dim : the sun is gone down upon our prophets. A dry wind, but neither to fan nor to cleanse is coming upon this land : and all our ill is coming from the multiplied transgressions of this land, and from the friends and lovers of Babel amongst us. Jer. xxxi. 35, " The violence done to me and my flesh be upon thee Babylon, shall the inhabitants of Zion say, and my blood upon the inhabitants of Chaldea, shall Jerusalem say." Now, for myself, I was three days before the high-commission, and accused of treason preached against our king. A minister being witness, went well nigh to swear it ; G-od hath saved me from their malice. 1. They have deprived me of my ministry. 2. Silenced me, that I exercise no part of the ministerial function within this kingdom, under the pain of rebellion. 3. Confined my person within the town of Aberdeen, where I find the ministers working for my confinement in Caithness or Orkney, far from them ; because some people here (willing to be edified) resort to me. At my first entry. I had heavy challenges within me, and a court fenced (but, I hope not in Christ's name), wherein it was asserted, that ray Lord would have no more of my service and was tired of me : and like a fool I summoned Christ also for unkindness, my soul fainted and I refused comfort, and said, " What ailed Christ at me, for I desired to be faithful in His house V Thus in my rovings and mistakings, my Lord Jesus bestowed mercy on me, who am less than the least of all saints. I lay upon the dust and bought a plea from Satan against Christ, and he was content to sell it ; but at length, Christ did show Himself friends with me, and in mercy pardoned and past my part of it, and only complained that a court 128 LETTER LII. should be holden in His bounds, without His own allow^ance. Now I pass from my compearance, and as if Christ had done the fault, He hath made the mends, and returned to my soul ; so that now His poor prisoner feedeth on the feasts of love. My adversaries know not what a courtier I am now with my royal King, for w^hose crown I now suffer. It is but our soft and lazy flesh that hath raised an ill report of the cross of Christ. O sweet, sweet is His yoke ! Christ's chains are of pure gold, sufferings for him are per- fumed. I would not give my weeping, for the laughing of all the fourteen prelates. I would not exchange my sadness with the world's joy. 0 lovely, lovely Jesus, how sweet must Thy kisses be, when Thy cross smelleth so sweetly ! O, if all the three kingdoms had part of my love feasts, and of the comforts of a doated prisoner. Dear brother, I charge you to praise for me, and seek help of our acquaintance there, to help me to praise. Why should I smother Christ's honesty to me. My heart is taken up with this, that my silence and sufferings may preach ; I beseech you in the bowls of Christ to help me to praise. Remember my love in Christ to your wife, to Mr Blair, and Mr Livingston, and Mr Cunningham. Let me hear from you, for I am anxious what to do ; if I saw a call for New England, I would follow it. Grace be with you. Yours, in our Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, 1G37. LETTER LH.— To John Stuart, Provost of Ayr. Much honoured and dearest in Christ, — Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, be upon you. I expected the comfort of a letter to a prisoner from you, ere now. 1 am here, sir, putting off a part of my inch of time, and when I awake first in the morning [which is always with great heaviness and sadness] this question is brought to my mind, am I serving God or not? not that I doubt of the truth of this honourable cause, wdierein I am engaged (I dare venture into eter- nity and before my judge that I now suffer for the truth : because that I cannot endure that my Master, who is a free-born King, should pay tribute to any of the shields or potsherds of the earth. O, that I could hold the crown upon my Princely King's head with my sinful arm, howbeit it sliould be stroke from me in that service from the shoulder blade), but my closed mouth, my dumb sabbaths, the memory of my communion with Christ, in many fair, fair days in Anwoth (whereas now my Master getteth no service of my tongue, as then) hath almost broken my faith in two halves ; yet in my deepest apprehensions of his anger, I see through a cloud LETTER LII. 129 that I am wrong, and He in love to my soul hath taken up the controversy betwixt faith and apprehensions, and a decreet is past on Christ's side of it, and T subscribe the decreet. The Lord is equal in His ways, but my guiltiness often over-mastereth my believing : I have not been well-known, for except as to open out- breakings, I want nothing of what Judas and Cain had ; only. He hath been pleased to prevent me in mercy, and to cast me into a fever of love for Himself, and His absence maketh my fever most painful ; and beside. He hath visited my soul, and watered it with His comforts ; but yet I have not what I would, the want of real and felt possession is my only death : I know Christ pitieth me in this. The great men, my friends, that did for me, are dried up like winter brooks of water : all say, no dealing for that man, his best will be, to be gone out of the kingdom. So I see they tire of me ; but believe me, I am most gladly content that Christ breaketh all my idols in pieces, it hath put a new edge upon my blunted love to Christ. I see He is jealous of my love, and will have all to Himself In a word, these six things are my burden. 1. I am not in the vineyard, as others are ; it may be, because Christ thinketh me a withered tree, not worthy its room, but God forbid. 2. Woe, woe, woe is coming upon my harlot-mother, this apostate kirk ; the time is coming, when we shall wish for dove's wings, to flee and hide us ; 0 for the desolation of this land ! 3. I see my dear Master Christ going His alone (as it were) mourning in sackcloth ; his fainting friends, fear that King Jesus shall lose the field, but He must carry the day. 4. My guiltiness and the sins of my youth are come up against me, and they would come in the plea in my sufferings, as deserving causes in God's justice : but I pray God, for Christ's sake, He never give them that room. Woe is me that I cannot get my royal, dreadful, mighty, and glorious Prince of the kings of the earth set on high. Sir. ye may help me and pity me in this, and bow your knee and bless His name, and desire others to do it, that He hath been pleased in my sufferings to make atheists, papists, and enemies about me say, it is like God is wnth this prisoner. Let hell and the powers of hell (I care not) be let loose against me to ' do their worst, so being Christ and my Father, and His Father, be magnified in my sufferings. 6. Christ's love hath pained me, for ♦ howbeit His presence hath shamed me and drowned me in debt, yet He often goeth away, when my love to Him is burning ; He seemeth to look like a proud w^ooer, who will not look upon a poor match, who is dying of love. I will not say He is lordly ; but I know He is wise in hiding Himself from a child and a fool, who maketh an idol and a god of one of Christ's kisses, which is idolatry. 1 fear I adore His comforts more than Himself, and that I love the apples of life better than the tree of life. Sir, write to me. Com- K 130 LETTER LIII. mend me to your wife, mercy be her portion. Grace be with you. Yours, in his dearest Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, 1G37. LETTER LIIL— To John Stuart, Provost of Ayr. Worthy and dearly Beloved in our Lord, — Grace, mercy, and ])eace be to you. I was refreshed and comforted with your letter. What I wrote to you for your comfort, I do not remember : but 1 believe, love will prophesy homew^ard, as it would have it. I wish I could help you to praise His great and holy name, who keepeth the feet of His saints, and hath numbered ail your goings. I know our dearest Lord will pardon, and pass by our honest errors and mistakes, when we mind His honour; yet I know, none of you have seen the other half and the hidden side of your wonderful return home to us again. I am confident ye shall yet say, that God's mercy blew your sails back to L-eland again. Worthy and dear sir, I cannot but give you an account of my present state, that ye may go an errand for me, to my high and royal Master, of whom I boast all the day. I am as proud of His love (nay I bless my- self, and boast more of my present lot) as any poor man can be of an earthly king's court, or of a kingdom. First, I am very often turning both the sides of my cross, especially my dumb and silent sabbaths, not because I desire to lind a crook or defect in my Lord's love, but because love is sick with fancies and fears whether or not the Lord hath a process leading against my guiltiness, that I have not yet well seen, I. know not; my desire is to ride fair, and not to spark dirt (if with reference of Him, I may be permitted to make use of such a word) in the face of my only, only Well-Beloved ; but fear of guiltiness is a tale-bearer betwixt me and Christ, and is still whispering ill tales of my Lord to weaken my faith. I had rather a cloud went over my comforts by these messages, than that my faith should be hurt ; for if my Lord get no wrong by me, verily, I desire grace not to care what become of me. I desire to give no faith, nor credit to my sorrow, that can make a lie of my best friend, Christ; woe, woe be to them all who speak ill of Christ. Hence these thoughts awake with me in the morning, and go to bed vrith me. O what service can a dumb body do in Christ's house! O, 1 think the Word of God is imprisoned also ! O, I am a dry tree ! Alas I I can neither plant nor water ! O, if my Lord would but make dung of me, to fatten, and make fertile His own corn-ridges in Mount Zion! 0, if I might but speak to three or four herd-boys of my worthy Master, I would be satisfied to be the meanest and most obscure of all the pastors in ] LETTER LIU. 131 this land, and to live in any place, in any of Christ's basest out- houses; but He saith, ''Sirra, I will not send you, I have no errands for you there-away." My desire to serve Him is sick of jealousy, lest He be unwilling to employ me. Secondly, This is seconded with another. 0, all that I have done in Anwoth, the fair work that my Master began there, is like a bird dying in the shell ! and what will I then have to show of all my labour, in the day of my compearance before Him, when the Master of the vineyard calleth the labourers, and givetli them their hire ? Thirdly, But truly, when Christ's sweet wind is in the right airt, I repent, and 1 pray Christ to take law-borrows of my quarrelous and unbelieving sad- ness and sorrow (Lord, rebuke them that put ill betwixt a poor servant like me and his good Master) : then I say, whether the black cross will or not, I must climb, hands and feet, up to my Lord. I am now ruing from my heart, that I pleasured the law (my old dead husband), so far as to apprehend wrath in my sweet Lord Jesus ; I had far rather take an hire to plead for the grace ot God ; for I think myself Christ's sworn debtor : and the truth is, to speak of my Lord what I cannot deny, I am over head and ears drov^med in many obligations to His love and mercy. He handleth me sometimes so, that I am ashamed almost to seek more for a four- hours, but to live content, till the marriage-supper of the Lamb, with that which He giveth ; but I know not how greedy, and how ill to please love is ; for either my Lord Jesus hath taught me ill manners, not to be content of a seat, except my head lie in Kis bosom, and except I be fed with the fattest of Kis house ; or else I am grown impatiently dainty and ill to please, as if Christ were obliged, under this cross, to do no other thing but bear me in His arms, and as if I had claim by merit for my sulit^ring for Him. But I wish He would give me grace to learn to go on my own feet, and to learn to want His comforts, and to give thanks and believe, when the sun is not in my firmament, and when my Y\ ell-Beloved is from home, and gone another errand. 0, what sweet peace have I, w^hen I find Christ holdeth and I draw; when I climb up, and He shutteth me down ; when I grip Him and embrace Him, and He seemeth to loose the grips and flee av/aj' from me. I think there even is a sweet joy of faith, and contentedness, and peace, in His very tempt- ing unkindness, because my faith saith, " Christ is not in sad earnest with me, but trying if 1 can be kind to His mask and cloud that covereth Him, as vf ell as to His fair face." I bless His great name, that I love Kis vail, that goeth over His face, while God send better. For faith can kiss God's tempting reproaches, when He nicknameth a sinner, " A dog, not worthy to eat bread with the bairns." I think it an honour that Christ miscalleth me, and reproacheth me. I will take that well of Him, bowbeit, I would not bear it well, if another 132 LETTER LIV. would be tliat homely ; but because I am His ov/n (God be thanked) He may use me as He pleaseth. I must say, the saints have a sweet life betwixt them and Christ ; there is much sweet solace of love betwixt Him and them, when He " feedeth among the lilies," and " Cometh into His garden, and maketh a feast of honeycombs, and drinketh His wine and His milk," and crieth, " Eat, 0 friends, drink, be ye drunken, O well-beloved." One hour of this labour is worth a shij)ful of world's drunken and muddy joy. Nay, even the gate of heaven is the sunny side of the brae, and the very gar- den of the world ; for the men of this world have their own nnchristeiied and profane crosses ; and woe be to them and their cursed crosses both, for their ills are salted with God's vengeance, and are ill-seasoned with our Father's blessing. So they are no fools who choose Christ, and sell all things for Him; it is no bairn's market, nor a blind block ; we know well what we get and what we give. Now, for any resolution to go to any other kingdom, I dare not speak one word. My hopes of enlargement are cold, my hopes of re-entry to my Master's ill-dressed vineyard again are far colder. I have no seat for my faith to sit on, but bare omnipotency, and God's holy arm and good-will ; here I desire to stay, and ride at anchor, and winter, while God send fair weather again, and be pleased to take home to His house my harlot-mother. O, if her Husband would be that kind, as to go and fetch her out of the brothel-house, and chase her lovers to the hills ; but there will be sad days ere it come to that. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you. Yours, in our Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, 1637. LETTER LIV.— To the Lady Busbie. Mistress, — Although not acquaint, yet because we are Father's children, I thought good to write unto you : howbeit, my first dis- course and communing with you of Christ be in paper ; yet I have cause, since I came hither, to have no paper-thoughts of Him ; for in my sad days, He is become the flower of my joys, and I but lie here, living upon His love, but cannot get so much of it as fain I would have ; not because Christ's love is lordly, and looketh too high ; but because I have a narrow vessel to receive His love, and I look too low : but I give under my own hand-write to you a tes- timonial of Christ and His cross, that they are a sweet couple, and that Christ hath never yet been set in His own due chair of honour amongst us all. 0, I know not where to set Him ! O, for a high seat to that royal Princely One ! O, that my poor withered soul had once a running-over flood of that love to put sap in my dry LETTER LV. 133 root, and that that flood would spring out to the tongue and pen, to utter great things, to the high and due commendation of such a fair One ! O, Holy, Holy, Holy One ! Alas ! there are too many dumb tongues in the world and dry hearts, seeing there is employ- ment in Christ for them all, and ten thousand w^orlds of men and angels more, to set on high and exalt the greatest Prince of the kings of the earth. Woe is me, that bits of living clay dare come out, to rush hard-heads with Him ; and that my unkind mother, this harlot-kirk, hath given her sweet half-marrow such a meeting, for this land hath given up with Christ, and the Lord is cutting Scotland in two halves, and sending the worst half, the harlot-sister, over to Rome's brothel-house to get her fill of Egypt's love. I would my sufierings (nay, suppose I were burnt quick to ashes) might buy an agreement betwixt His fairest and sweetest love, and His gaudy lewd wife. Fain would I give Christ His Avelcome-home to Scotland again if He would return. This is a black day, a day of clouds and darkness, for the roof-tree of my Lord Jesus his fair Temple is fallen, and Christ's back is towards Scotland. O, thrice blessed are they, who would hold Christ with their tears and pray- ers ! I know ye will help to deal with Him, for He shall return again to this land ; the next day shall be Christ's, and there shall be a fair green young garden for Christ in this land, and God's summer-due shall lie on it all the night, and we shall sing again our new marriage-song to our Bridegroom, concerning His vineyard; but who knoweth whether we shall live and see it? I hear the Lord hath taken pains to afflict and dress you as a fruitful vine for Himself. Grow and be green, and cast out your branches, and bring forth fruit. Fat and green, and fruitful may ye be, in the true and sappy root. Grace, grace, free grace be your portion. Remember my bonds with prayers and praises. Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, 1637. LETTER LV.— To Ninian Mure. Loving Friend, — I received your letter. I entreat you now in the morning of your life, seek the Lord and His face. Beware of the follies of dangerous youth, a perilous time for your soul. Love not the world ; keep faith and truth with all men in your covenants and bargains : walk with God, for He seeth you : do nothing but that which ye may and would do, if your eye-strings were breaking and your breath growing cold. Ye heard the truth of God from me ; my dear heart follow it and forsake it not, prize Christ and salvation above all the world. To live after the guise and course 134 LETTER LVI. of the rest of the world will not bring you to heaven : without faith in Christ, and repentance, ye cannot see God. Take pains for salvation ; press forward toward the mark of the prize of the high calling. If ye watch not against evils night and day, which beset you, ye will come behind. Beware of lying, swearing, uucleanness, and the rest of the works of the flesh ; because for these things the wrath of God cometh upon the children of disobedience : how sweet soever they may seem for the present, yet the end of these courses is the eternal wrath of God, and utter darkness, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. Grace be with you. Your loving pastor, S. R. Aberdeen, 1637. LETTER LVL— To Mr Thomas Garven. Reverend and dear Brother, — Grace, mercy, and peace be unto you. I am sorry that what joy and sorrow drew from my imprisoned pen, in my love-fits, hath made you, and many of God's children ]3elieve, that there is something in a broken reed, the like of me, except that Christ's grace hath bought such a sold body. I know not what else any may think of me, or expect from me : my stock is less (my Lord knoweth I speak truth) than many believe, my empty sounds have promised too much. I would be glad to lie under Christ's feet, and keep and receive the off-fallings or the old pieces of any grace, that fall from His sweet fingers to forlorn sinners. I lie often uncouth like, looking in at the King's windows ; surely I am unworthy of a seat in the King's hall-floor. I but often look afar off both feared and framed like to that fairest face, fearing He bid me look away from Him ; my guiltiness riseth up upon me, and I have no answer for it. I oflfered my tongue to Christ, and my pains in His house, and what know I what it meaneth, when Christ will not receive my poor propine ; when love will not take, we expone it will neither take nor give, borrow nor lend. Yet Christ hath another sea compass He saiieth by than my short and raw thoughts ; I leave His part of it to Himself. I dare not expound His dealing, as sorrow and misbelief often dictateth to me. I look often with bleared and blind eyes to my Lord's cross ; and when I look to the wrong side of His cross, I know I miss a step and slide : surely, I see I have not legs of my own for carry- ing me to heaven ; I must go in at heaven's gates, borrowing strength from Christ. I am often thinking, O, if He would but give me leave to love Him, and if Christ would but open up His wares, and the infinite, infinite [)lyes, and windings, and corners of His soul- delighting love, and let me see it, backside and foreside. LETTER LYII. 135 and give me leave but to stand beside it, like an hungry man beside meat, to get my fill of wondering, as a preface to my fill of enjoying : but verily, I think my foul eyes would defile His fair love to look to it. Either my hunger is over humble (if that may be said), or else I consider not what honour it is to get leave to love Christ. O that He would pity a prisoner, and let out a flood upon the dry ground ! It is nothing to Him to fill the like of me ; one of His looks would do me meikle world's good, and Him no ill. I know, I am not at a point yet with Christ's love, I am not yet fitted for so much as I would have of it ; my hope sitteth neighbour with meikle black hunger, and certainly, I do not but think, there is more of that love ordained for me than I yet com- prehend, and T know not the weight of the pension the King Avill give me. I shall be glad if my hungry bill get leave to lie beside Christ waiting on an answer : now I would be full and rejoice, if I got a poor man's alms of that sweetest love : but, I confidently believe, there is a bed made for Christ and me, and that we shall take our fill of love in it ; and I often think when my joy is run out, and at the lowest ebb, that I would seek no more, but my rights past the king's great seal, and that these eyes of mine could see Christ's hand at the pen. If your Lord call you to suffering, be not dismayed ; there shall be a new allowance of the King for you, when ye come to it. One of the softest pillows Christ hath is laid under His witnesses' head, though often they must set down their bare feet among thorns. He hath brought my poor soul to desire and wish. 0, that my ashes, and the powder I shall be dis- solved into, had well-tuned tongues to praise Him. Thus, in haste, desiring your prayers and praises, I recommend you to my sweet, sweet Master, my honourable Lord, of whom I hold all. Grace be with you. Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, 1637. LETTER LVn.— To Jean Brow n. Mistress, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. I am glad that ye go on at Christ's back in this dark and cloudy time. It were good to sell other things for Him ; for when all these days are over, we shall find it our advantage, that we have taken part with Christ. I confidently believe His enemies shall be His footstool, and that He shall make green flowers, dead, withered hay, when the honour and glory shall fall off them, like the bloom or flower of a green herb, shaken with the wind. It were not wisdom for us to think, that Christ and the Gospel will come and sit down at our fireside ; nay, but we must go out of our warm houses, and seek Christ and His Gospel. It is not the sunny side of Christ that we 136 LETTER LYII. must look to, and we must not forsake Him for want of that ; but must set our face against what may befall us, in following on, till He and we be through the briers and bushes on the dry ground. Our soft nature would be borne through the troubles of this miserable life in Christ's arms. And it is His wisdom, who knoweth our mould, that His bairns go wet-sliod and cold-footed to heaven. O, how sweet a thing were it for us to learn to make our burdens light by framing our hearts to the burden, and making our Lord's will a law! I find Christ and His cross not so ill to please, nor yet such troublesome guests, as men call them. Nay, I think patience should make Christ's water good wine, and this dross, good metal: and we have cause to Avait on, for ere it be long our Master will be at us, and bring this whole world out before the sun and the daylight in their blacks and whites. Happy are they, who are found watching. Our sand-glass is not so long as we need to weary : time will eat away, and root out our woes and sorrow: our heaven is in the bud, and growing up to an harvest, why then should we not follow on, seeing our span-length of time will come to an inch? Therefore, I commend Christ to you, as your last living and longest living Husband, and the Staff of your old age: let Him have now the rest of your days; and think not much of a storm upon the ship that Christ saileth in ; there shall no passenger fall overboard ; but the crazed ship and the sea-sick passenger shall come to land safe. I am in as sweet communion with Christ as a poor sinner can be ; and am only pained that He hath much beauty and fairness, and I little love ; He great power and mercy, and I little faith ; He much light, and I bleared eyes. 0, that I saw Him in the sweetness of His love, and in His marriage clothes, and were over head and ears in love with that Princely One, Christ Jesus my Lord ! Alas ! my riven-dish and running-out vessel can hold little of Christ Jesus. I have joy in this, that I would not refuse death before I put Christ's lawful heritage in men's trysting ; and what know I, if they would have pleased both Christ and me ? Alas ! that this land hath put Christ to open rouping, and to an, "Any man more bids?" Blessed are they who would hold the crown on His head, and buy Christ's honour with their own losses. I rejoice to hear your son John is coming to visit Christ and taste of His love. I hope he shall not lose his pains, or rue of that choice. I had always (as I said often to you) a great love to dear Mr John Brown, because I thought I saw Christ in him more than in his brethren ; fain would I write to him, to stand by my sweet Master, and I wish ye would let him read my letter, and the joy I have, if he will appear for, and side with my Lord Jesus. Grace, grace be with you. Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, March 13, 1637. LETTERS LVIII. AND LIX. 137 LETTER LVIII.— To Jean M'Millan. Loving Sister, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you I cannot come to you to give you my counsel ; and howbeit, I would come, I cannot stay with you; but I beseech you keep Christ, for 1 did what I could to put you within grips of Him. I told you Christ's testament and latter will plainly, and I kept nothing back that my Lord gave me ; and I gave Christ to you with good will. I pray you, make Him your own, and go not from that truth I taught you in one hair-breadth ; that truth shall save you, if ye follow it. Salvation is not an easy thing, and soon gotten ; I often told you few are saved, and many, many damned. I pray you, make your poor soul sure of salvation, and make the seeking of heaven your daily task. If ye never had a sick night and a pained soul for sin, ye have not yet lighted upon Christ ; look to the right marks of having closed with Christ, if ye love Him better than the world, and would quit all the world for Him, then that saith the work is sound. 0, if ye saw the beauty of Jesus, and felt the smell of His love, ye would run through fire and water to be at Him. God send you Him. Pray for me, for I cannot forget you. Grace be with you. Your loving pastor, S. R. Aberdeen, 1637. LETTER LIX.— To the Lady Busbie. Mistress, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. I am glad to hear that Christ and ye are one, and that ye have made Him your one thing. Whereas many are painfully toiled in seeking many things, and their many things are nothing. It is only best, ye set your- self apart, as a thing laid up and out of the gate for Christ alone ; for ye are good for no other thing but Christ, and He hath been going about you these many years by afflictions, to engage you to Himself; it were a pity and a loss to say Him nay. Verily, 1 could wish that I could swim through hell and all the ill weather in the world, and Christ in my arms; but it is my evil and folly that except Christ come unsent for, I do not go to seek Him. When He and I fall in reckoning we are both behind. He in payment, and I in counting; and so marches lie still unrid, and counts uncleared be- twixt us. O, that He would take His own blood for counts and mis- counts, that I might be a free man, and none had any claim to me, but only, only Jesus. I will think it no bondage to be rooped, comprised, and possessed by Christ ; as His bondman, think well of the visitations of your Lord. For I find one thing I saw not well before, that when the saints are under trials, and well humbled, little 138 LETTER LIX, sins raise great cries and war-shouts in the conscience ; and in prosperity, conscience is a Pope to give dispensations, and let out and in, and give latitude and elbow-room to our heart. O, how little care we for pardon, at Christ's hand, when we make dispen- sations ! And all is but bairn's play, till a cross without beget an heavier cross within, and then we play no longer with our idols. It is good still to be severe against ourselves, for we but transform God's mercy into an idol, and an idol that hath a dispensation to give, for turning of the grace of God into wantonness. Happy are they who take up God, v/rath, justice, and sin, as they are in themselves. For we have miscarrying light that parteth with child, when we have good resolutions ; but God be thanked, that salvation is not rolled upon our wheels. O, but Christ hath a saving eye ! Salvation is in His eyelids : when He first looked on me, I was saved ; it cost Him but a look, to make hell quit of me. O merits, free merits, and the dear blood of God, was the best gate that ever we could have gotten of hell ! O, what a sweet, O, what a safe and sure way is it, to come out of hell leaning on a Saviour ! that Christ and a sinner should be one, and have heaven betwixt them, and be halvers of salvation, is the wonder of salva- tion. What more humble could love be? and what an excellent smell doth Christ cast on His lower garden, where there grow but wild flowers, if we speak by way of comparison ; but there is nothing but perfect garden-flowers in heaven, and the best plenish- ing that is there is Christ. We are all obliged to love heaven for Christ's sake ; He graceth heaven and all His Father's house with His presence. He is a rose that beautifieth all the upper garden of God ; a leaf of that rose of God, for smell, is worth a world. O, that He would blow His smell upon a withered and dead soul ! Let us then go on to meet with Him, and to be filled with the sweetness of His love. Nothing will hold Him from us ; He hath decreed to put time, sin, hell, devils, men, and death out of the way, and to rid the rough way betwixt us and Him, that we may enjoy one another. It is strange and wonderful, that He would think long in heaven without us, and that He would have the com- pany of sinners to solace and delight himself withal in heaven : and now the supper is abiding us. Christ the Bridegroom, with desire, is waiting on till the Bride, the Lamb's wife, be busked for the marriage, and the great hall be rid for the meeting of that joyful couple. 0 fools, what do we here ? and why sit we still ? Why sleep we in the prison ? Were it not best to make us wings to flee up to our blessed Match, our Marrow, and our Fellow friend ! I| think, mistress, ye are looking there-away, and this is your second or third thought ; make forward, your guide waiteth on you. I cannot but bless you, for your care and kindness to the saints. LETTER LX. 139 God give you to find mercy in that day of our Lord Jesus, to whose saving grace I recommend you. Yours, in our Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, 1637. LETTER LX.— To William Rigge, of Athernie. Much honoltied and ttorthy Sir, — Your letter, full of complaints, bemoaning your guiltiness, hath humbled me ; but give me leave to say, ye seem to be too far upon the law's side, ye will not gain much to be the law's advocate : I thought ye had not been the la^v's, but grace's man. Nevertheless, I am sure ye desire to take God's part against yourself. Whatever your guiltiness be, yet when it falleth into the sea of God's mercy, it is but like a drop of blood fallen in the great ocean. There is nothing here to be done, but let Christ's doom light upon the old man, and let him bear his condem- nation, seeing in Christ he was condemned : for the law hath but power over your worst half; let the blame, therefore, lie where the blame should be, and let the new man be sure to say, " I am comely as the tents of Kedar, howbeit I be black and sun-burnt, by sitting neighbour beside a body of sin." I seek no more here, but room for grace's defence and Christ's wdiite throne, whereto a sinner condemned by the law may appeal. But the use that I make of it is, I am sorrow that I am not so tender and thin-skinned, though I am sure Christ m.ay find employm.ent for his calling in me, if in any living, seeing from my youth upward I have been making up the blackest process, that any minister in the world or any other can answ^er to. And when I had done this, I painted a providence of my own, and wrote ease for myself and a peaceable ministry, and the sun shining on me, till I should be in at heaven's gates. Such green and raw thoughts had I of God. 1 thought also of a sleeping devil, that w^ould pass by the like of me, lying in moors and out-fields. So I bigged the gook's nest, and dreamed of dying at ease, and living in a fool's paradise ; but since I came hither, I am often so, as that they w^ould have much rhetoric that would persuade me, that Christ hath not written wrath on my dumb and silent sabbaths (w^hich is a persecution of the latest edition, being used against none in this land, that I can learn of, besides me) ; and often I lie under a non-entry, and w^ould gladly sell all my joys, to be confirmed King Jesus's free-tenant, and to have sealed assurances ; but I see often blank papers. And my greatest desires are these two, 1. That Christ Avould take me in hand to cure me, and undertake for a sick man. I know I should not die under His hand. And yet in this, while I still doubt, I believe through a cloud, that sorrow. 140 LEITEK LXI. which hath no eyes, hath but put a vail on Christ's love. 2. It pleaseth Him often, since I came hither, to come with some short blinks of His sweet love, and then, because I have none to help me to praise His love, and can do Him no service in my own person (as I thought once I did in His temple), then I die with wishes and desires to take up house and dwell at the well-side, and to have Him praised and set on high. But alas ! what can the like of me do, to get a good name raised upon my Well-Beloved Lord Jesus, suppose T could desire to be suspended for ever of my part of heaven for His glory ? I am sure if I could get my will of Christ's love, I could be once over head and ears in the believed, apprehended, and seen love of the Son of God, it were the fulfilling of the desires of the only happiness I would be at. But the truth is, I hhider my communion with Him because of want of both faith and repentance, and because I will make an idol of Christ's kisses : I will neither lead nor drive, except I see Christ's love run in my channel ; and when I wait and look for him the upper way, I see His wisdom is pleased to phiy me a slip, and come the lower way ; so that I have not the right art of guiding Christ. For there is art and wisdom required in guiding of Christ's love aright when we have gotten it. O, how far are His ways above mine ! O, how little of Him do I see ! And when I am as dry as a burnt heath in a droughty summer, and when my root is withered, how- beit I think then, that I would drink a sea full of Christ, ere ever I would let the cup go from my head ; yet I get nothing but dehays, as if He would make hunger my daily food ; I think my- self also hungered of hunger ; the rich Lord Jesus satisfy a famished man. Grace be with you. Your own, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, Sept. 10, 1637. LETTER LXI. — To his Worthy and much Honoured Friend, FuLK Elies. Worthy and mcch honoured in our Lord, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. I am glad of our more than paper acquaintance : seeing we have one Father, it reckonetli the less, though we never saw one another's faces. I profess myself most unworthy to follow the camp of such a worthy and renowned Captain as Christ. O, alas ! I have cause to be grieved, that men expect anything of such a wretched man as I am. It is a wonder to me, if Christ can make anything of my naughty, short, and narrow love to Him ; surely it is not worth the nptaking. 2. As for our lovely and beloved Church in Ireland, my heart bleedeth for her desolation ; but I be- LETTER LXI. 141 lieve our Lord is only lopping the vine-trees, but not intending to cut them down or root them out. It is true, seeing we are heart atheists by nature, and cannot take providence aright (because we halt and crook ever since we fell), we dream of a halting provi- dence, as if God's yard, whereby he measureth joy and sorrow to the sons of men, were crooked and unjust, because servants are on horseback, and princes go on foot ; but our Lord dealeth good and evil, and some one portion or other to both, by ounce weights, and measureth them in a just and even balance. It is but folly to measure the Gospel by summer or winter weather : the summer- sun of the saints shineth not on them in this life. How should we have complained, if the Lord had turned the same providence that we now stomach at, upside down, and had ordered matters thus, that first the saints should have enjoyed heaven, glory, and ease, and then Methusalem's days of sorrow and daily miseries? we should think a short heaven no heaven : certainly His ways pass finding out. 3. Ye complain of the evil of heart atheism, but it is to a greater atheist than any man can be that ye write to of that. 0, light findeth not that reverence and fear, as a plant of God's setting should find in our soul ! How do we by nature, as others, detain and captivate the truth of God in unrighteous- ness, and so make God's light a bound prisoner? And even when the prisoner breaketh the gaol and cometh out in belief of a God-head, and in some practice of holy obedience, how often do we of new, lay hands on the prisoner, and put our light again in fetters ? Certainly, there cometh great mist and clouds from the lower part of our soul, our earthly affections, to the higher part, which is our conscience, either natural or renewed, as smoke in a lower house breaketh up, and defileth the house above : if we had more practice of obedience, we should have more sound light. I think, lay aside all other guiltiness, this one, the violence done to God's candle, in our soul, were a sufficient dittay against us ; for there is no helping of this, but by striving to stand in awe of God's light ; lest light tell tales of us, we desire little to hear ; but since it is not without God, that light sitteth neighbour to will (a lawless Lord), no marvel that such a neighbour should leaven our judg- ment and darken our light. I see there is a necessity, that we protest against the doings of the old man, and raise up a party against our worst half, to accuse, condemn, sentence, and with sorrow bemoan the dominion of sin's kingdom ; and withal, make law, in the new covenant, against our guiltiness ; for Christ oi ce condemned sin in the flesh, and we are to condemn it over again : and if there had not been such a thing as the grace of Jesus, I should have long since given up with heaven, and with the expec- tation to see God. But grace, grace, free grace, the merits of 142 LETTER LXII. Christ for nothing, white, and fair, and large, Saviour- mercy (which is another sort of thing than creature -mercy, or law-mercy, yea a thousand degrees above angel-mercy) hath been and must be the rock, that we, drowned souls, must swim to ; new washing, renewed application of purchased redemption, by that sacred blood that sealeth the free covenant, is a thing of daily and hourly use to a poor sinner: till we be in heaven, our issue of blood v/ill not be quite dried up ; and therefore we must resolve to apply peace to our soul from the new and living way ; and Jesus, who cleanseth and cureth the leprous soul, lovely Jesus, must be our song on this side of heaven's gates, and even when we have won the castle, then, must we eternally sing, worthy, worthy is the Lamb, who hath saved us and washed us in His own blood. I would counsel all the ransomed ones to learn this song, and to drink and be drunk with the love of Jesus. O fairest, O highest, O loveliest One, open the well ! O water the burnt and withered travellers with this love of Thine 1 I think it is possible on earth to build a young new Jerusalem, a little, new heaven of this surpassing love. God either send me more of this love, or take me quickly over the water, where I may be filled with His love ; my softness cannot take witli want ; I profess, I bear not hunger of Christ's love fair : I know not, if I play foul play with Christ, but I would have a link of that chain of His providence mended, in pining and delaying the hungry on-waiters. For myself, I could wish that Christ would let out upon me more of that love : yet to say Christ is a niggard to me, I dare not : and if I say, I have abundance of His love, I should lie. I am half straitened to complain and cry, Lord Jesus, hold Thy Iiand no longer. Worthy sir, let me have your prayers in my bonds. Grace be with you. Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. K. Aberdeen, Sept. 7, 1637. LETTER LXII.— To James Lindsay. Dear Brother, — The constant and daily observing of God's going alongst with you, in His coming, going, ebbing, flowing, embracing and kissing, glooming and striking, giveth me (a witless and lazy observer of the Lord's way and working) an heavy stroke : could I keep sight of Him, and know when I want, and carry as became me in that condition, I would bless my case. But, 1. For desertions, I think them like Ij-ing-lay of lean and weak land, for some years, while it gather sap for a better crop : it is possible to gather gold where it may be had with moonlight. O, if I could but creep one foot, or half a foot, nearer into Jesus ; in LETTER LXII. 143 such a dismal uiglit as that, when He is away I should think it an happy absence. 2. If I knew the Beloved were only gone away for trial, and for further humiliation, and not smoked out of the house with new provocations, I would forgive desertions, and hold my peace at His absence, but Christ's bought absence (that I bought with my sin) is two running boils at once, one upon either side, and what side then can I lie on ? 3. I know, as night and shadows are good for flowers, and moonlight and dews are better than a continual suu ; so is Christ's absence of special use, and it hath some nourishing virtue in it, and giveth sap to humility, and putteth an edge on hunger, and furnisheth a fair field to fjiith to put forth itself, and to exercise its fingers in gripping, it seeth not what. 4. It is mercy's wonder, and grace's wonder, that Christ will lend a piece of the lodging, and a back-chamber beside Him- self, to our lusts ; and that He and such swine should keep house together in our soul : for suppose they couch and contract them- selves into little room when Christ cometh in, and seem to lie as dead under His feet, yet they often break out again. And that a foot of the old man, or a leg or arm nailed to Christ's cross, looseth the nail, or breaketh out again ; and yet Christ beside this unruly and misnurtured neighbour, can still be making heaven in the saints, one way or other; may not I say. Lord Jesus, what doest thou here? Yet here He must be, but I will but loose my feet to go on into this depth and wonder, for free mercy and infinite merits took a lodging to Christ and us beside such a loathsome guest as sin. 5. Sanctification and mortification of our lusts are the hardest part of Christianity. It is in a manner as na- tural to us to leap, when we see the New Jerusalem, as to laugh when we are tickled. Joy is not under command, or at our nod, when Christ kisseth ; but O, how many of us would have Christ divided in two halves, that we might take the half of Him only, and take His ofRce, Jesus and salvation ; but Lord is a cumbersome word, and to obey and work out our own salvation, and to perfect holiness, is the cumbersome and stormy northside of Christ, and that we eschew and shift. 6. For your question, the access that reprobates have to Christ (which is none at all ; for to the Father in Christ neither can they, nor will they come, because Christ died not for them ; and yet by law, God and justice overtaketh them)^ I say, first, there are with you more worthy and learned than I am, Messrs Dickson, Blair, and Hamilton, who can more fully satisfy you ; but I shall speak in brief, what I think of it, in these assertions. 1. All God's justice toward man and angels floweth from an act of the absolute, sovereign free-will of God, who is our Former and Potter, and we are but clay ; for if He had forbidden to eat of the rest of the trees of the garden of Eden, and commanded 144 LETTER LXII. Adam to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil ; that com- mand no doubt had been as just as this, "Eat of all the trees, but not at all of the tree of knowledge of good and evil." The reason is, because His will is before His justice by order of nature, and what is His will is His justice, and He willeth not things without Himself, because they are just. God cannot, God needeth not to hunt sanctity, holiness, or rigliteousness from things without Him- self; and so not from the actions of men or angels, because His will is essentially holy and just, and the prime rule of holiness and justice : as the fire is naturally light, and inclineth upward, and the earth heavy, and inclineth downward. The 2d assertion then is, that God saith to reprobates, " Believe in Christ (who hath not died for your salvation) and ye shall be saved," is just and right, because His eternal and essentially just v^^ill hath so enacted and decreed. Suppose natural reason speak against this, this is the deep and special mystery of the Gospel. God hath obliged hard and fast all the reprobates in the visible church to believe His promise, " He that believeth shall be saved," and yet in God's decree and secret intention, there is no salvation at all decreed and intended to reprobates ; and yet the obligation of God being from His sovereign free-will, is most just, as is said in the first assertion. 3d assertion. The righteous Lord hath right over the reprobates and all reasonable creatures that violate His commandments : this is easy. 4th assertion. The faith that God seeketh of reprobates is, that they rely upon Christ, as despairing of their own righteous- ness, leaning wholly, and withal humbly, as weary and laden, upon Christ, as on the resting-stone laid in Zion ; but He seeketh not, that without being weary of their sin they rely on Christ, mankind's Saviour ; for to rely on Christ, and not to weary of sin, is presumption, not faith. Faith is ever neighbour to a contrite spirit, and it is impossible that faith can be where there is not a casten down and contrite heart in some measure for sin. Now it is certain God coramandeth no man to presume, oth assertion. Then reprobates are not absolutely obliged to believe that Christ died for them in particular ; for in truth, neither reprobates nor others are obliged to believe a lie, only they are obliged to believe Christ died for them, if they be first weary, burdened, sin-sick, and condemned in their own consciences, and stricken dead and killed with the law's sentence, and have indeed embraced Him as offered, which is a second and subsequent act of faith, following after a coming to Him, and closing with Him. 6th assertion. Reprobates are not formally guilty of contempt of God and misbelief, because they apply not Christ and the promises of the Gospel to themselves in particular, for so they should be guilty because they believe not a God never obliged them to beiieve. 7th assertion. I LETTER LXIIT. 145 Justice hath a right to punish reprobates, because out of pride of heart, confiding in their own righteousness, they rely not upon Christ as a Saviour of all them that come to Him : this God may justly oblige them unto ; because in Adam they had perfect ability to do, and men are guilty, because they love their own inability, and rest upon themselves, and refuse to deny their own righteousness, and to take them to Christ, in whom there is righteousness for wearied sinners. 8th assertion. It is one thing to rely, lean, and rest upon Christ, in humility and weariness of spirit, and denying our own righteousness, believing Him to be the only righteousness of wearied sinners; and it is another thing to believe Christ died for me — John, Thomas, Anna — upon an intention, and decree, to save us by name. For, 1. The first goeth first, the latter is always after in due order. 2. The first is faith, the second is a fruit of faith. 3. The first obligeth reprobates and all men in the visible kirk the latter obligeth only the weary and laden, and so only the elect and efFectually called of God. 9th assertion. It is a vain order, I know not if Christ died for me — John, Thomas, Anna — by name ; and therefore I dare not rely on Him ? the reason is, be- cause it is not faith to believe God's intention and decree of elec- tion at the first ere ye be wearied : look first to your own intention and soul if ye find sin a burden, and can, and do rest, under that burden upon Christ ; if this be once, now come and believe in par- ticular, or rather apply by sense (for in my judgment it is a fruit of belief, not belief) and feeling the good will, intention, and gracious purpose of God anent your salvation : hence, because there is malice in reprobates and contempt of Christ, guilty they are, and justice hath law against them : and which is the mystery, they cannot come up to Christ, because He died not for them ; but their sin is, that they love this their inability to come to Christ, and he w^ho loveth his chains, deserveth chains : and thus, in short, remember my bonds. Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, Sept. 7, 1G37. LETTER LXIIL— To the Earl of Cassills. My vert honourable and noble Lord, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to your lordship. Pardon me to express my earnest desire to your lordship, for Zion's sake, for whom Ave should not hold our peace. I know your lordship will take my pleading on this behalf, in the better part, because the necessity of a falling and weak church is urgent. I believe your lordship is one of Zion's friends, and that by obligation ; for when the Lord shall count and write up the people, it shall be written, this man was born there : therc- L 146 LETTER LXIII. tore because your lordship is a born son of the house, I hope your desire is, that the beauty and glory of the Lord may dwell in the midst of the city, whereof your lordship is a son. It must be without all doubt the greatest honour of your place and house to kiss the Son of God, and for His sake to be kind to His oppressed and wronged bride, who now, in the day of her desolation, beggetli help of you that are the shields of the earth. I am sure many kings, princes, and nobles, in the day of Christ's second coming, Avould be glad to run errands for Christ, even barefooted, througli lire and water ; but in that day He will have none of their service. Now, He is asking if your lordship will help Him against the mighty of the earth; when men are setting their shoulders to Christ's fair and beautiful tent in this land, to loose its stakes, and to break it down ; and certainly, such as are not with Christ are against Him ; and blessed shall your lordship be of the Lord, blessed shall your house and seed be, and blessed shall your honour be, if ye empawned and lay inChrist's hand, the earldom of Cassills (and it is but a shadow in comparison of the city made without hands), and lay it even at the stake, rather than Christ and born-down truth want a witness of you, against the apostacy of this land. Ye hold your lands of Christ, your charters are under Llis seal, and He who hath many crowns on His head,dealeth, cutteth, and carveth pieces of this clay- heritage to men at His pleasure. It is little your lordship hath to give Him ; He will not sleep long in your common, but shall surely pay home your losses for His cause. It is but our bleared eyes that look through a false glass to this idol god of clay, and think something of it. They who are passed with their last sentence to heaven or hell, and have made their reckoning, and departed out of this smoky inn, have now no other conceit of this world, but as a piece of beguiling, well-lustred clay ; and how fast doth time (like a flood still in motion) carry your lordship out of it? and is not eternity coming with wings ? court goeth not in heaven as it doth here. Our Lord (who hath all you, the nobles, lying in the shell of His balance) esteemeth you accordingly as ye are the Bridegroom's friends or foes ; your honourable ancestors, with the hazard of their lives, brought Christ to our hands, and it shall be cruelty to the posterity if ye lose Him to them. One of our tribes, Levi's sons, the watchmen, are fallen from the Lord, and have sold their mother, and their father also, and the Lord's truth for their new velvet-world, and their satin-church. If ye, the nobles, play Christ a slip, now when His back is at the wall (if I may so speak), then may we say, that the Lord hath casten water upon Scotland's smoking coal : but we hope better things of you. It is no wisdom, however it be the state-wisdom now in request, to be silent, when they are casting lots for a better thing than Christ's coat. All this LETTER LXIV. 147 land, and ever}-- man's part of the play for Christ, and the tears of poor and friendless Zion (now going dool-like in sackcloth), are up in heaven before our Lord, and there is no question but our King and Lord shall be Master of the fields at length, and we would all be glad to divide the spoil with Christ, and to ride in triumph Mdth Him. But, 0 how few will take a cold bed of straw in the camp with Him ! how fain would men have a Avell-thatched house above their heads all the way to heaven ? And many now would go to heaven the land- way (for they love not to be sea-sick), riding up to Christ upon footmantles, and rattling coaches, and rubbing their velvet with the princes of the land, in the highest scats. If this be the way Christ called straight and narrow, I quit all skill of the way to salvation. Are they not now rouping Christ and the Gos- pel? have they not put our Lord Jesus to the market, and he who out-biddeth his fellow shall get Him? O, my dear and noble lord, go on (howbeit the wind be in your face) to back our princely. Captain ; be courageous for Him : fear not these who have no sub- scribed lease of days, the worms shall eat kings : let the Lord Jehovah be your fear ; and then, as the Lord liveth, the victory is yours. It is true, many are striking up a new way to heaven; ])i3t my soul for theirs, if they find it ; and if this be not the only way, whose end is Christ's Father's house : and my weak experience, since the day I was first in bonds, hath confirmed me in the trutii and assurance of this: let doctors and learned men cry the coutrarv. I am persuaded this is the way : the bottom hath fallen out of botii their wit and conscience at once; their book hath beguiled them, for we have fallen upon the true Christ. I dare hazard, if I alone had ten souls, my salvation upon this stone, that many now break their bones upon. Let them take this fat world, 0, ])oor and hungry is their paradise ! therefore, let me entreat your lordship, by your compearance before Christ, now while this piece of the afternoon of your day is before you (for ye know not when your sun will turn and eternity shall benight you), let your glory, honour, and might, worldly, be for our Lord Jesus : and to His rich grace and tender mercy, and to the never dying comforts of His gracious Spirit, I recommend your lordship and noble house. Your lordship, at all obedience, S. ii. Aberdeen, Sept, 9, 1637. LETTER LXIY.— To the Lady Largirie. Mistress, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. I hope ye know what conditions past betwixt Christ and you at your first meeting. Ye remember, He said, your summer days would have clouds, and 148 LETTER LXV. your rose a prickly thorn beside it : Christ is unmixed in heaven, all sweetness and honey ; here Ave have Him with His thorny and rough cross; yet I know no tree beareth sweeter fruit then Christ's cross, except I would raise a lying report on it. It is your part to take Christ, as He is to be had in this life : suiFerings are like a wood planted round about His house, over door and window; if we could hold fast our grips of Him, the field were won. Yet a little while and Christ shall triumph : give Christ His own short time to spin out these two long threads of heaven and hell to all mankind, for certainly the thread will not break ; and when He hath ac- complished His work in Mount Zion, and hath refined His silver, He will bring new vessels out of the furnace, and plenish His house, and take up house again. I counsel you to free yourself of clog- ging temptations, by overcoming some, and contemning others, and watching over all. Abide true and loyal to Christ, for few now are fast to Him ; they give Christ blank paper for a bond of service and attendance, now when Christ hath most ado : to waste a little blood with Christ, and to put our part of this drossy world in pawn over in His hand, as willing to quit it for Him, is the safest cabinet to keep the world in. But these who would take the world and all their flitting on their back, and run away from Christ, they will fall by the way, and leave their burden behind them, and be taken captive themselves. Well, were my soul to put all 1 have, life and soul, over in Christ's hands ; let Him be forthcoming for all. If any ask how I do? I answer, none can be but well that are in Christ : and if I were not so, my sufferings had melted me away in ashes and smoke. I thank my Lord that He hath something in me that this fire cannot consume. Eemember my love to your husband, and show him from me, I desire that he may set aside all things, and make sure work of salvation, that it be not a seeking when the sand-glass is run out, and time and eternity shall tryst together : there is no errand so weighty as this : O, that he would take it to heart. Grace be with you. Yours, in Christ Jesus his Lord, S. R. Aberdeen . LETTER LXV.— To the Lady Dungueigh, Mistress, — I long to hear from you, and how ye go on with Christ. I am sure that Christ and ye once met : I pray you, fasten your grips; there is holding and drawing, and much sea-way to heaven, and we are often sea-sick ; but the voyage is so needful, that we must on any terms take shipping with Christ. I believe it is a good country we are going to, and there is ill lodging in this smoky house of the world, in which we are yet living. O, that we should LKTTER LXVI. 149 love smoke so ^vell and clay that holdetli our feet fast ! it were our happiness to follow on after Christ, and to anchor ourselves upon the Rock in the upper side of the vale. Christ and Satan are now drawing two parties, and they are blind who see not Scotland divided in two camps, and Christ coming out with His white banner of love, and He hangeth that over the heads of His soldiers : and the other captain, the dragon, is coming out with a great black flag, and crieth, the world, the world, ease, honour, and a whole skin, and a soft couch ; and there lie they, and leave Christ to fend for Himself. My counsel is, that ye come out and leave the multitude, and let Christ have your company. Let them take clay, and this present world, who love it : Christ is a more Avorthy and noble portion : blessed are these who get Him. It is good, ere the storm rise, to make ready all, and to be prepared to go to the camp with Christ, seeing He will not keep the house, nor sit at the fireside with couchers : a shower for Christ is little enough. 0, I find all too little for Him ! woe, woe, woe is me, that I have no propine for my Lord Jesus : my love is so feckless, that it is a shame to offer it to Him. O, if it were as broad as heaven, as deep as the sea, I would gladly bestow it upon Him ! I persuade you, God is wring- ing grapes of red wine for Scotland, and this land shall drink, and spue, and fall: His enemies shall drink the thick of it, and the grounds of it : but Scotland's withered tree shall blossom again, and Christ shall make a second marriage with her, and take home His wife out of the furnace. But if our eyes shall see it, He knoweth, who hath created time. Grace be with you. Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, 1637. LETTER LXN^L— To Jonet M-Culloch. Lovixa Sister, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you : hold on your course, for it may be I will not soon see you : venture through the thick of all things after Christ, and lose not your Master, Christ, in the throng of this great market. Let Christ know how heavy, and how many a stoneweight you, and your cares, burdens, crosses, and sins are; let Him bear all: make the heritage sure to yourself: get charters and writs passed and through, and put on arms for the battle, and keep you fast by Christ, and then let the wind blow out of what airt it will, your soul will not blow in the sea. I find Christ the most steadable friend and companion in the world to me now : the need and usefulness of Christ is seen best in trials. O, if He be not well worthy of His room ! Lodge Him in house and heart ; and stir up your husband to seek the Lord. I wonder He hath never written to me : I do not forget him. I taught you the 150 LETTER LXVII. whole counsel of God, and delivered it to you ; it will be inquired for at your hands ; have it in readiness against the time that the Lord ask for it ; make you to meet the Lord and rest and sleep in the love of that fairest among the sons of men. Desire Christ's beauty: give out all your love to Him, and let none fall by. Learn in prayer to speak to Him. Help your mother's soul, and desire her from me, to seek the Lord and His salvation ; it is not soon found, many miss it. Grace be with you. Your loving pastor, S. R. Aberdeen, 1G37. LETTER LXVII.— To my Lord Craighall. My Lord, — I cannot expound your lordship : contrary tides, and these tentations, wherewith ye are assaulted, to be any other thing but Christ trying you, and saying unto you, " And will ye also leave me ?" I am sure, Christ hath a great advantage against you, if ye play foul play to Him, in that the Holy Spirit hath done His part, in evidencing to your conscience, that this is the way of Christ, wherein ye shall have peace ; and the other, as sure as God liveth, the Antichrist's way ; therefore, as ye fear God, fear your light, and stand in awe of a convincing conscience. It is far better for your lordship to keep your conscience, and to hazard, in such an honourable cause, your place; than wilfully, and against your light, to come under guiltiness. Kings cannot heal broken consciences ; and when death and judgment shall comprise your soul, your coun- sellors and others cannot become caution to justice for you. Ere it be long, our Lord will put a final determination to acts of parliament and men's laws, and will clear you before men and angels of men's unjust sentences. Ye received honour, and place, and authority, and riches, and reputation from your Lord, to set forward and ad- vance the liberties and freedom of Christ's kingdom. Men whose consciences are made of stoutness, think little of such matters, which, notwithstanding, encroach directly upon Christ's royal prerogative. So would men think it a light matter for Uzzah to put out his hand to hold the Lord's falling ark, but it cost him his life. And who doubteth, but a carnal friend will advise you, to shut your window, and pray beneath your breath. Ye ir.ake too great a din with your prayers ; so would a head-of-wit speak, if ye were in Daniel's place : but men's overguilded reasons will not help you, when your conscience is like to rive with a double charge. Alas, alas ! when will this world learn to submit their wisdom to the wisdom of God ? I am sure your lordship hath found the truth ; go not then to search it over again ; for it is ordinary for men to make doubts, when they have a mind to desert the truth. Kings are not their own men, LETTERS LXVIII. AND LXIX. 151 their ways are in God's hand. I rejoice, and am glad, that ye resolve to walk with Christ, howbeit His court be thin. Grace be with your lordship. Your lordship, in his sweet Master and Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, Sept, 7, 1637. LETTER LXVIII.— To William Riggie, of Athernie. Worthy and much honoured Sir, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to yon. How sad a prisoner would I be if I knew not that my Lord Jesus had the keys of the prison Himself, and that His death and blood hath bousfht a blessinof to our crosses as well as to our- selves. I am sure, troubles have no prevailing right over us, it they be but our Lord's sergeants, to keep us in ward, while we are in this side of heaven : I am persuaded also, that they shall not go over the bound-road nor enter into heaven with us ; for they find no welcome there, where there is no more death, neither sorrow nor crying, neither any more pain : and, therefore, we shall leave them behind us. O, if I could get as good a gate of sin, even this woeful and wretched body of sin, as I get of Christ's cross ! Nay, indeed, I think the cross beareth both me and itself, rather than I it, in comparison of the tyranny of the lawless flesh and wicked neighbour, that dwelleth beside Christ's new creature. But O, this is that which presseth me down and paineth me : Jesus Christ in His saints, sitteth neighbour with an ill second, corruption, dead- ness, coldness, pride, lust, worldliness, self-love, security, falsehood, and a world of more the like, which I find in me, that are daily doing violence to the new man. O, but we have cause to carry low sails, and to cleave fast to free grace, free, free grace ! blessed be our Lord that ever that way was found out. If my one foot were in heaven, and my soul half in, if free-will and corruption were absolute lords of me, I should never win wholly in. O, but the sweet, new, and living way that Christ hath stroke up to our home be a safe way. I find now presence and access a greater dainty than before, but yet the Bridegroom looketh through the lattice and through the hole of the door. 0, if He and I were in fair dry land together in the other side of the water. Grace be with you. Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, Sept, 30, 1637. LETTER LXIX.— To the Lady Kilconquhair. Mistress, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you : I received your letter. I am heartily content ye love and own this oppressed and wronged cause of Christ, and that now, when so many are mis- carried, ye are in any measure taken with the love of Jesus : weary 152 LETTER LXX. not, but come in and see if there be not more in Christ than the tongue of men and angels can express : if ye seek a gate to heaven, the way is in Him, or, He is it. What ye want is treasured up in Jesus, and He saitli, all His are yours, even His kingdom. He is content to divide it betwixt Him and you, yea. His throne and His glory, Luke xxi. 29, Job xvii. 24, Rev. iii. 21 ; and therefore take pains to climb up to that besieged house to Christ : for devils, men, and armies of temptations are lying about the house, to hold out all that are out, and it is taken with violence. It is not a smooth and easy way, neither will your weather be fair and pleasant ; but whosoever saw the invisible God and the fair city, make no reckoning of losses or crosses. In ye must be, cost you what it will ; stand not for a price, and for all that ye have, to win the castle ; the rights to it are won to you, and it is disponed to you, in your Lord Jesus's Testament ; and see what a fair legacy your dying Friend, Christ, hath left you : and there wanteth nothing but possession. Then, get up, in the strength of the Lord ; get over the water to possess that good land ; it is better than a land of olives and vine-trees ; for the tree of life, that beareth twelve manner of fruits every month, is there before you, and a pure river of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb, is there. Your time is short, therefore lose no time : gracious and faithful is He, who hath called you to His kingdom and glory. The city is yours by free conquest and by promise, and therefore let no uncouth lord-idol put you from your own. The devil hath cheated the simple heir of His paradise, and by enticing us to taste of the forbidden fruit, hath, as it were, bought us out of our kindly heritage ; but our Lord, Christ Jesus, hath done more than bought the devil by, for he hath redeemed the wodset, and made the poor heir free to the inheritance. If we knew the glory of our elder brother in heaven, we would long to be there to see Him, and to get our fill of heaven : we children think the earth a fair garden, but it is but God's out-field, and wild, cold, barren ground. All things are fading that are here. It is our happiness to make sure Christ to ourselves. Thus, remembering my love to your husband, and wishing to him, what I write to you, I commit you to God's tender mercy. Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, Sept. 13, 1G37. LETTER LXX.— To the Lady Craighall. Honourable and Christian Lady, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. I cannot but write to your ladyship of the sweet and glorious terms I am in with the most joyful King that ever was under this well thriving and prosperous cross. It is LETTER LXX. 163 my Lord's salvation, wrought by His own right hand, that the water doth not suffocate the breath of hope and joyful courage in the Lord Jesus : for His own person is still in tlie camp with His poor soldier. I see the cross is tied with Christ's hand to the end of an honest profession : we are but fools to endeavour to loose Christ's knot. When I consider the comforts of God, I durst not consent to sell or wodset my short life-rent of the cross of the Lord Jesus. I know that Christ bought, with His own blood, a right to sanctified and blessed crosses, in as far as they blow me over the water, to my long desired home : and it were not good that Christ should be the buyer and I the seller. I know time and death shall take sufferings fairly off my hand. I hope we shall have an honest parting at night, when this piece, cold and frosty afternoon-tide of my evil and rough day shall be over. Well, is my soul of either sweet or sour, that Christ hath any part or portion in : if He be at the one end of it, it shall be well with me. I shall die ere I libel faults against Christ's cross ; it shall have my testimonial under my hand, as an honest and saving mean of Christ, for mortification and faith's growth. I have a stronger assurance, since I came over forth, of the excellency of Jesus than I had before. I am rather about Him, than in Him, while I am absent from Him in this house of clay : but I would be in heaven for no other cause, but to essay and try. what boundless joy it must be, to be overhead and ears in my Well-Beloved Christ's love. O, that fliir One hath my heart for evermore I but alas, it is over little for Him ! O, if it were better and more worthy for His sake ! 0, if I might meet with Him face to face, in this side of eternity, and might have leave to plead with Him, that I am so hungered »iuid famished here, with the niggardly portion of His love that He giveth me ! 0, that I might be carver and steward myself, at mine own will, of Christ's love ! (if J may lawfully wish this) then would I enlarge my vessel (alas ! a narrow and ebb soul), and take in a sea of His love. My hunger, for it is hungry and lean, in believ- ing that ever I shall be satisfied with that love, so fain would I have what I know I cannot hold. O Lord Jesus, delightest Thou, delightest Thou, to pine and torment poor souls with the want of Thy incomparable love ! O, if 1 durst call Thy dispensation cruel ! I know Thou Thyself art mercy, without either brim or bottom ; I know Thou art a God bank- full of mercy and love, but 0, alas ! little of it Cometh my way. I die to look afar off to that love, because I can get but little of it : but hope saith, this providence shall ere long look more favourably upon poor bodies, and me also. Grace be with your ladyship's spirit. Your ladyship, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, Sept. 10, 1637. 154 LETTERS LXXI. AND LXXII. LETTER LXXL— To Mr James Hamilton. Reverend and dear Brother, — Peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord Jesus. I am laid low, when I remember what I am and that my outside casteth such a lustre, when I find so little within. It is a wonder, that Christ's glory is not defiled in run- ning through such an unclean and impure channel. But I see Christ will be Christ, in the dreg and refuse of men : His art. His shining wisdom. His beauty, speaketh loudest in blackness, weakness, dead- ness, yea, in nothing. I see nothing, no money, no worth, no good, no life, no deserving is the ground that omnipotency delighteth to draw glory out of. 0, how sweet is the inner side of the walls of Christ's house, and a room beside Himself! my distance from Him maketh me sad. O, that we were in other's arms ! O, that the middle things betwixt us were removed ! I find it a difficult matter to keep all stots with Christ : when He laugheth, I scarce believe it, I would so fain have it true. But I am like a low man looking up to a high mountain, whom weariness and fainting overcometh. I would climb up, but I find that I do not advance in my journey as I would wish : yet I trust He shall take me home against night. I marvel not that Antichrist in his slaves is so busy, but our crowned King seeth and beholdeth, and will arise for Zion's safety. I am exceedingly distracted with letters and company that visit me. What I can do, or time will permit, I shall not omit : excuse my brevity, for I am straitened. Remember the Lord's prisoner. I desire to be mindful of you. Grace, grace be with you. Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, September 7, 1637. LETTER LXXIL— To Mr George Dunbar. Reverend and dearly beloved in the Lord, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you : because your words have strengthened many, I was silent, expecting some lines from you in my bonds, and this is the cause why I wrote not to you : but now I am forced to break off and speak. I never believed, till now, that there was so much to be found in Christ, in this side of death and of heaven. 0, the ravishments of heavenly joy that may be had here, in the small gleanings of comforts that fall from Christ ! What fools are we, who know not, and consider not the weight and the telling that is in the very earnest-penny, and the first fruits of our hoped for harvest. How sweet, how sweet, is our investment ! 0, what then must personal possession be ! I find that my Lord Jesus hath not miscooked or spilt this sweet cross. He hath an eye on the fire and the melting gold, to separate the metal and the dross. O, how much time would it take me, to read my obligations to LETTER LXXII. 155 Jesus my Lord, who will neither have the faith of His own to be burnt to ashes ; nor yet will have a poor believer in the fire to be half raw, like Ephraim's unturned cake ! this is the wisdom of Him, who hath His fire in Zion, and His furnace in Jerusalem. I need not either bud or flatter temptations, crosses : nor strive to buy the devil or this malicious world by, or redeem their kindness with half a hair-breadth of truth : He who is surety for His servant for good, doth powerfully overrule all that. I see my prison hath neither lock nor door ; I am free in my bonds, and my chains are made of rotten straw^, they shall not bide one pull of faith. I am sure they are in hell, who would exchange their torments with our crosses, suppose they should never be delivered, and give twenty thousand years torment to boot, to be in our bonds for ever : and therefore we wrong Christ, who sigh and fear, and doubt, and despond in them. Our suf- ferings are waslien in Christ's blood, as well as our souls ; for Christ's merits bought a blessing to the crosses of the sons of God ; and Jesus hath a back-bond of all our temptations, that the free wr.rders shall come out by law and justice, in respect of the infinite and irreat sum that the Redeemer paid. Our troubles owe us a free passage through them : devils, and men, and crosses, are our debtors ; and death, and all storms, are our debtors, to blow our poor tossed bark over the water fraught free, and to set the travellers in their own known ground : therefore, we shall die and yet live : we are over the Avater (some way) already ; we are married, and our tocher-good is paid ; we are already more than conquerors. If the devil and the world knew how the court with our Lord shall go,T am sure they would hire death to take us off their hand ; our sufferings are the only wreck and ruin of the black kingdom : and yet a little, and the Antichrist must play himself with the bones and slain bodies of the Lamb's fol- lowers; iDut withal, we stand with the hundred forty and four thousand, who are with the Lamb, upon the top of Mount Zion : Antichrist and his followers are down in the valley ground, we have the advantage of the hill. Our temptations are always beneath, our waters are be- neath our breath ; as dying and behold we live. I never heard before of a living death, or a quick death, but ours : our death is not like the common death ; Christ's skill, His handywork, and a new cast of Christ's admirable art, may be seen in our quick death. I bless the Lord, that all our troubles come through Christ's fingers, and that He casteth sugar among them : and casteth in some ounce weights of heaven and of the spirit of glory (that resteth on suffering believers) in our cup, in which there is no taste of hell. My dear brother, ye know all these better then I : I send water to the sea, to speak of these things to you : but it easeth me to desire you, to help me to pay tribute of praise to Jesus. O, what praises I owe Him ! I w^ould I were in my free heritage, that I might begin to pay my 156 LETTERS LXXIII. AND LXXIV. debts to Jesus. I entreat for jour prayers and praises : I forget not you. Your brother and fellow -sufferer in, and for Christ, S. R. Aberdeen, September 17, 1637. LETTER LXXIIL— To Mr David Dickson. Reverend and well-beloved Brother in the Lord, — I bless the Lord, who hath so wonderfully stopped the ongoing of that lawless process against you. The Lord reigneth, and hath a saving eye upon you, and your ministry ; and therefore, fear not what men can do. I bless the Lord, that the Irish ministers find em- ployment, and the professors, comfort of their ministry. Believe me, I durst not, as I am now disposed, hold an honest brother out of the pulpit. I trust the Lord shall ;2uard you, and hide you in the shadow of His hand : I am not pleased with any that are against you in that. I see this in prosperity, men's conscience will not start at small sins: but if some had been where I have been, since I came from you, a little mote would have caused their eye water, and troubled their peace. 0, how ready are we to incline to the Avorld's hand ! our arguments being well examined are often drawn from our skin : the whole skin and a peaceable tabernacle is a topic maxim, in great request in our logic. I find a little breirding of God's seed in this town, for the which the doctors have told me their mind, that they cannot bear with it, and have examined and threatened the peo- ple that haunt my company. I fear I get not leave to winter here, and whither I go, I know not ; I am ready at the Lord's call. I would 1 could make acquaintance with Christ's cross, for I find comforts lie to, and follow upon the cross. I suffer in my name by them : I take it as a part of the crucifying of the old man. Let them cut the throat of my credit, and do as they like best with it, when the wind of their calumnies hath blown away my good name from me, in the way to heaven ; I know Christ will take my name out of the mire, and wash it, and restore it to me again. I would have a mind (if the Lord would be pleased to give me it) to be a fool for Christ's sake. Sometimes, while I have Christ in my arms, I fall asleep with the sweetness of His presence, and He in my sleep stealeth away out of my arms, and when I awake I miss Him. I am much comforted with my lady Pitsligo, a good woman, and acquainted with God's ways. Grace be with you. Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, September 11, 1637. LETTER LXXIV.— To the Right Honourable my Lord LOWDOUN. Right Honourable, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to your lord- ship. I rejoice exceedingly that I hear your lordship hath a good LETTER LXXIY. 157 mind to Christ, and His now borne-down truth. My very dear lord, go on, in the strength of the Lord, to carry your honour and worldly glory to the New Jerusalem, for this cause, your lordship received these of the Lord. This is a sure way for the establish- ment of your house, if ye be of these, who are willing in your place, to build Zion's old waste places in Scotland. Your lordship wanteth not God's and man's law both, now to come to the streets for Christ. And suppose the bastard laws of man were against you, it is an honest and zealous error, if here ye slip against a point or punctilio of standing policy. When your foot slippeth in such known ground, as is the royal prerogative of our high and most truly dread Sovereign (who hath many crowns on His head) and the liberties of His house, He Avill hold you up. Blessed shall they be, who take Babel's little ones and dash their heads against stones : I wish your lordship have a share of that blessing, with other worthy nobles in our land. It is true, it is now accounted wisdom for men to be partners in pulling up the stakes, and loosing the cords of the tent of Christ ; but I am persuaded, that that wisdom is cried down in heaven, and shall never pass for true wisdom with the Lord, whose word crieth shame upon wit, against Christ and truth : and accordingly it shall prove shame and confusion of face in the end. Our Lord hath given your lord- ship light of a better stamp, and learnino: also, wherein ye are not behind the disputer and the scribe. O, what a blessed thing is it, to see nobility, learning and sanctitication, all concur in one ! for these ye owe yourself to Christ and His kingdom. God hath bewildered and bemisted the wit and the learning of the scribes and disputers of tliis time ; they look asquint to the Bible. This blinding and be- misting world blindfoldeth men's light, that they are afraid to see straight out before them, nay their Aery light playeth the knave, or worse, to truth. Your lordship knoweth, within a little while, policy against truth will blush, and the works of men shall burn, even their spider web, who spin out many hundred ells and webs of in- diiference, in the Lord's worship, more than ever Moses, who would have an hoof material, and Daniel, who would have a look out at a window, a matter of life and death, than ever (I say) these men of God dreamed of. Alas, that men dare shape, carve, cut, and clip our King's princely testament, in length and breadth, and in all dimensions, answerable to the conceptions of such policy, as a head of wit thinketh a safe and trim Avay of serving God. How have men forgotten the Lord, that they dare go against even that truth which once they preached themselves, howbeit, their sermons now be as thin sown as strawberries in a wood or wilderness. Cer- tainly the sweetest and safest course is, for this short time of the afternoon of this old and declining world, to stand for Jesus : He 158 LETTER LXXIV. hath said it, and it is our part to believe it, that ere it be long, time shall be no more, and the heaven shall wax old as a garment. Do we not see it already an old holey and threadbare garment ? Doth not cripple and lame nature tell us that the Lord will fold up the old garment, and lay it aside, and that the heavens shall be folded together as a scroll, and this pest-house shall be burnt Avith fire, and that both plenishing and walls shall melt with fervent heat? for at the Lord's coming He will do with this earth as men do with a leper-house, He will burn the walls with fire, and the plenishing of the house also, 2 Pet. iii. 10, 11, 12. My very dear lord, how shall ye rejoice in that day, to have Christ, angels, heaven, and your own conscience to smile upon you. I am persuaded, one sick night, through the terrors of the Almighty, would make men (whose con- science hath such a wide throat, as an image, like a cathedral church would go down it) have other thoughts of Christ and His worship, than now they please themselves with. The scarcity of faith in the earth saith, we are hard upon the last nick of time. Blessed are those who keep their garments clean against the Bridegroom's coming, there shall be spotted clothes, and many defiled garments, at His last coming; and therefore, few found worthy to walk with Him in white. I am persuaded, my lord, this poor travailing woman, our pained church, is with child of victory, and shall brhig forth a man-child, that shall be caught up to Grod and His throne, howbeit, the dragon (in his followers) be attending the childbirth-pain, as an Egyptian midwife, to receive the birth, and strangle it, Isa xxix. 8; but they shall be disappointed who thirst for the destruction of Zion, they shall be as when a hungry man dreameth that he eateth, but behold he awaketh, and his soul is empty; or when a thirsty man dreameth that he drinketh, but behold he awaketh and is faint, and his soul is not satisfied : so shall it be, I say, with the multitude of all the nations, that fight against Mount Zion. Therefore, the weak and feeble, these that are as signs and wonders in Israel, have chosen the best side, even the side that victory is upon ; and, I think, this is no evil policy. Yerily, for myself, I am so well pleased with Christ and His noble and honest-born cross, this cross that is come of Christ's house, and is of kin to Himself, that I should weep, if it should come to niffering and bartering of lots and condition with those that are at ease in Zion : I hold still my choice and bless my- self in it. I see and I believe, there is salvation in this way, that is every where spoken against. I hope to go to eternity, and to ven- ture upon the last evil to the saints, even upon death, fully persuaded that this only, even this, is the saving way for racked consciences, and for Aveary and laden sinners, to find ease and peace for ever- more into. And indeed, it is not for any Avorldly respect, that I speak so of it. The weather is not so hot, that I have great cause LE^^TER LXXV. 159 to startle in my prison, or to boast of that entertainment, that my good friends, the prelates, intend for me, which is banishment, if they shall obtain their desire, and effectuate what they design ; but let it come, I rue not that I made Christ my wail and my choice ; I think Him ay the longer, the better. My lord, it shall be good service to God, to hold your noble friend and chief upon a good course, for the truth of Christ. Now the very God of peace establish your lordship in Christ Jesus unto the end. Your lordship, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, Sept. 10, 1637. LETTER LXXY.— To the Laird of Gaitgirth. Much honoured Sir, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you : I can do no more but thank you in paper, and remember you to Him whom I serve, for your kindness and care of a prisoner. I bless the Lord, the cause I suffer for, needeth not to blush before kings : Christ's white, honest, and fair truth, needeth neither wax pale for fear, nor blush for shame. I bless the Lord, who hath graced you to own Christ now, when so many are afraid to profess Him, and hide Him, for fear they suffer loss by avouching Him. Alas! that so many in these days are carried with the times ; as if their con- science rolled upon oiled wheels ; so do they go any way the wind bloweth them : and because Christ is not market-sweet, men put Him away from them. Worthy and much honoured sir, go on to own Christ and His oppressed truth : the end of sufferings for the Gospel is rest and gladness : hght and joy is sown for the mourners in Zion, and the harvest (which is of God's making for time and manner) is near : crosses have right and claim to Christ in His members, till legs and arms, and whole mystical Christ be in heaven : there will be rain, and hail, and storm in the saints' clouds, ever till God cleanse with fire the works of creation, and till He burn the borch-hoiise of heaven and earth, that men's sin hath subjected unto vanity. They are blessed who suffer and sin not, for suffering is the badge that Christ hath put upon His followers : take what way we can to heaven, the way is edged up with crosses ; there is uo way, but to break through them; wit and wiles, shifts and laws, will not find out a way about the cross of Christ, but we must through. One thing by experience, my Lord hath taught me, that the waters betwixt this and heaven may all be ridden, if we be well iLorsed, I mean, if we be in Christ, and not one shall drown by the way, but such as love their own destruction. 0, if we could wait on for a time, and believe in the dark the salvation of God ! at least we are to believe good of Christ, till He give us the slip (which is 160 LETTER LXXVI. impossible), and to take His word for caution, that He shall fill up all the blanks in His promises, and give us what we want : but to the unbeliever Christ's testament is white, blank, unwritten paper. Worthy and dear sir, set your face to heaven, and make you to stoop at all the low entries in the way : that je may receive the kingdom as a child: without this, He that knew the way said, there is no entry in. O, but Christ be Avilling to lead a poor sinner ! O, what love my poor soul hath found in Him, in the house of my pilgrimage ! Suppose love in heaven and earth were lost, J dare swear, it may be found in Christ. Now the very God of peace establish you, till the day of the glorious appearance of Christ. Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, Sept. 7, 1637. LETTER LXXYL— To the Lady Gaitgirth. Much honoured and Christian Lady, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. I long to hear how it goeth with you and your Child- ren. I exhort you, not to lose breath, nor to faint in your journey: the way is not so long to your home, as it was ; it will wear to one step or an inch at length, and ye shall come ere long to be within your arm-length of the glorious crown. Your Lord Jesus did sweet and pant, ere Pie got up that mount, he was at, " Father save me," Mnth it: it was He Avho (Psal. xxii. 14) said, "I am poured out like water; all My bones are out of joint (Christ was as if they had broken Him upon the wheel) ; My heart is like wax, it is melted in the midst of My bowels:" ver. 15, " My strength is dried up like a potsherd." I am sure ye love the way the better that His holy feet trode it before you. Crosses have a smell of crossed and pained Christ. I believe your Lord will not leave you to die your alone in the way. I know ye have sad hours, when the Comforter is hid imder a vail, and when ye inquire for Him, and find but a toom nest : this, I grant, is but a cold good day, when the seekermisseth Him whom the soul loveth : but even His unkindness is kind, His absence lovely. His mask a sweet sight, till God send Christ Himself in His own sweet presence : make His sweet comforts your own, and be not strange and shamefjist with Christ : homely dealing is best for Him, it is His liking. When your winter storms are over, the sum- mer of your Lord shall come: your sadness is with child of joy, He will do you good in the latter end. Take no heavier lift of your children, than your Lord alloweth ; give them room beside your heart, but not in the yoke of your heart, where Christ should be ; for then they are your idols, not your bairns. If your Lord take any of them home to His house before the storm come on, take it LETTER LXXVII. 161 well, the Owner of the orchard may take down two or three apples off His own trees, before niidsiimmer, and ere they get the harvest sun ; and it would not be seemly that His servant, the gardener, should chide Him for it. Let our Lord pluck his own fruit at any season He pleaseth ; they are not lost to you, they are laid up so well, as that they are coffered in heaven, where our Lord's best jewels lie. They are all free goods th^-t are there ; death can have no law to arrest anything that is within the walls of the New Jeru- salem. All the saints, because of sin, are like old rusty horologies, that must be taken down, and the wheels scoured and mended, and set up again in better case than before. Sin hath rusted both soul and body : our dear Lord, by death, taketh us down to scour the wheels of both, and to purge us perfectly from the root and remainder of sin, and we shall be set up in better case than before. Then pluck up your heart, heaven is yours, and that is a word few can say. Now the Great Shepherd of the sheep, and the very God of Peace confirm and establish you, to the day of the appearance of Christ our Lord. Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R Aberdeen, Sept. 7, 1637. LETTER LXXVIL— To his Reverend and very Dear Brother, Mr George Gillespie. My very dear Brother, — I received yours. I am still with the Lord, His cross hath done that which I thought impossible once. Christ keepeth tryst in the fire and water with his own, and cometh ere our breath go out, and ere our blood grow cold. Blessed are they whose feet escape the great golden net that is now spread. It is our happiness to take the crabbed, rough, and poor side of Christ's world, which is a lease of crosses and losses, for Him : for Christ's incomes and casualties that follo^7 Him are many. And it is not a little one, that a good conscience may be had in following Him. This is true gain, and most to be laboured for and loved. Many give Christ for a shadow, because Christ was rather beside their conscience in a dead and reprobate light than in their conscience. Let us be baUusted with grace, that we be not blo\vn over, and that we stagger not. Yet a little while and Christ arid His redeemed ones shall fill the field and come out victorious. ' Christ's glory of triumphing in Scotland is yet in the bud and in the birth, but the birth cannot prove an abortive. " He shall not faint nor be dis- couraged, till He have brought forth judgment unto victory." Let us still mind our covenant, and the very God of peace be with you. Your brother in Christ, S. R. Aberdeen, Sept. 9, 1637. M 162 LETTER LXXVIII. LETTER LXXVIII.— To Mr Matthew Mowat. Reverend and dear Brother, — I am refreshed with your letters. I would take all well at my Lord's hands that He hath done, if I knew I could do my Lord any service in my suffering. SujDpose my Lord would make a stop-hole of me, to fill a hole in the wall of His house, or a pinning in Zion'^new work; for any place of trust in my Lord's house, as steward, or chamberlain, or the like ; surely, I think myself (my very dear brother, I speak not by any proud figure or trope) unworthy of it ; nay, I am not worthy to stand be- hind the door. If my head, and feet, and body were half out, half in, in Christ's house, so I saw the fair face of the Lord of the house, it would still my greening and love-sick desires. When I hear that the men of God are at^work and speaking in our Lord Jesus's name, I think myself but an outcast or outlaw, chased from the city to lie on the hills and live amongst the rocks and out-fields. O, that I might but stand in Christ's out-house, or hold a candle in any low vault of His house ! But I know this is but the vapours that arise out of a quarrelous and unbelieving heart to darken the wisdom of God. And your fault is just mine, that I cannot believe my Lord's bare and naked word. I must either have an apple to play me with, and shake hands with Christ, and have seal, caution, and witness to His word, or else I count myself loose ; howbeit I have the word and faith of a King. 0, I am made of unbelief, and cannot swim but where my feet may touch the ground ! alas, Christ, under my temp- tations, is presented to me as lying-waters, as a dyvour and a co- zener ! we can make such a Christ as temptations (casting us in a night-dream) doth feign and devise (and temptations represent Christ ever unlike Himself), and we in our folly listen to the tempter. If I could minister one saving word to any, how glad would, my soul hel but I myself (which is my greatest evil) often mistake the cross of Christ : for I know if we had wit, and knew well that ease slayeth us fools, we would desire a market where we might barter or niffer our lazy ease with a profitable cross ; howbeit there be an outcast natural betwixt our desires and tribulation. But some give a dear price and gold for physic which they love not, and buy sickness, howbeit they wish rather to have been whale than to be sick. But surely, brother, ye shall not have my advice (howbeit alas, I cannot follow it myself) to contend with the honest and faithful Lord of the house ; for go He or come He, He is aye gra- cious in His departure. There are grace, and mercy, and loving- kindness upon Christ's back-parts : and when He goeth away the proportion of His face, the image of that fair Sun, that stayeth in eyes, senses, and heart, after He is gone, leaveth a mass of love be- hind it in the heart. The sound of His knock at the door of His LETTER LXXIX. 163 beloved, after He is gone and past, leaveth a share of joy and sorrow- both : so we have something to feed upon till He return, and He is more loved in His departure, and after He is gone, than^ before ; as the day in the declining of the sun and towards the evening is often most desired. And as for Christ's cross, I never received evil of it, but what was of mine own making. When I miscooked Christ's physic, no marvel that it hurt me, for since it was on Christ's back, it hath always a sweet smell, and these 1600 years it keepeth the smell of Christ ; nay it is elder than that too, for it is a long time since Abel first hanselled the cross, and had it laid upon His shoulders ; and down from Him all alongst to this very day, all the saints have known what it is. I am glad that Christ hath such a relation to this cross, and that it is called the cross of our Lord Jesus, Gal. vi. 14. His reproaches, Heb. xiii. 13 ; as if Christ would claim it as His proper goods, and so it cometh in the reckoning among Christ's own property. If it were simple evil, as sin is, Christ, who is not the author nor owner of sin, Avould not own it. I wonder at the ene- mies of Christ (in whom malice hath run away with wit, and will is up, and wit down) that they would essay to lift up the stone laid in Zion. Surely it is not laid in such sinking ground, as that they can raise it or remove it ; for when we are in their belly, and they have swallowed us down, they will be sick and spue us out again. I know Zion and her Husband cannot both sleep at once : I believe our Lord once again shall water with His dew the withered hill of Mount Zion in Scotland, and come down, and make a new marriage again, as He did long since. Remember our covenant. Your excuse for your advice to me is needless. Alas, many sit beside light as sick folks beside meat, and cannot make use of it. Grace be with you. Your brother in Christ, S. R. Aberdeen, Sept. 7, 1637. LETTER LXXIX.— To Mr John Meine. Dear Brother, — I received your letter. I cannot but testify under mine own hand that Christ is still the longer the better, and that this time is the time of loves. When I have said all I can, others may begin and say, I have said nothing of Him, I never knew Christ to ebb or flow, wax or wane. His mnds turn not when He seemeth to change, it is but we who turn our wrong side to Him. I never had a plea vnth Him in my hardest conflicts but of mine own making. 0, that I could live in peace and good neighbourhood with such a second, and let Him alone. My unbelief made many black lies, but my recantation to Christ is not worth the 1G4 LETTER LXXX. hearing. Surely He hath borne with strange gades in me : He knoweth my heart hath not natural wit to keep quarters with such a Saviour. Ye do well to fear your own backsliding : I had stood sure, if I had in my youth borrowed Christ to be my bottom : but He that beareth His own weight to heaven, shall not fail to slip and sink. Ye had no need to.be barefooted among the thorns of this apostate generation, lest a stob strike up in your foot, and cause you to halt all your days. And think not, Christ will do with you, in the matter of suffering, as the pope doth in the matter of sin. Ye shall not find that Christ will sell a dispensation, or give a dyvour's j^rotection against crosses ; crosses are proclaimed as common accidents to all the saints, and in them stand eth a part of our communion with Christ. But there lieth a sweet casuality to the cross, even Christ's presence and His comforts, when they are sanctified. Eemember my love to your father and mother. Grace be with you. Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, Sept. 7, 1637. LETTER LXXX.— To John Fleeming, Bailiff of Leith. Much honoured in the Lord, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. I am still in good terms with Christ ; however my Lord's wind blow, I have the advantage of the calm and sunny side of Christ. Devils, and hell, and devil's servants are all blown blind in pursuing the Lord's little bride : they shall be as a night-dream who fight against Mount Zion. Worthy sir, I hope ye take to heart the worth of your calling : this great fair and meeting of people will scail, and the port is open for us : as fast as time weareth out, we flee away : eternity is at our elbow. 0 how blessed are they who in time make Christ sure for themselves. Salvation is a great errand ; I find it hard to fetch heaven. 0, that we could take pains on our lamps for the Bridegroom's coming. The other side of this world will be turned up incontinent, and up shall down, and these that are weeping in sackcloth shall triumph on white horses, with Him, whose name is the word of God. These dying idols, the fair creatures, that Ave whorishly love better than our Creator, will pass away like snow-water. The God-head, the God- head, a communion with God in Christ to be halvers mth Christ of the purchased house and inheritance in heaven, should be your scope and aim. For myself, when I lay my counts, 0, what telling, O, what weighing is in Christ ! 0, how soft are His kisses ! 0, love, love surpassing, in Jesus ! I have no fault to that love, but that it seemeth to deal niggardly with me : I have little of it. 0, that I LETTER LXXXI. 165 had Christ's seen and read band, subscribed by Himself, for my fill of it ! AVhat garland have I, or what crown, if 1 looked right on things, but Jesus ? 0, there is no room in us, on this side of the water, for that love ; this narrow bit earth, and these ebb and narrow souls can hold little of it, because we are full of rifts. I would glory, glory would enlarge us (as it will) and make us tight, and close up our seams and rifts, that we might be able to compre- hend it, which yet is incomprehensible. Remember my love to your Avife. Grace be mth you. Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, Sept. 7, 1637. LETTER LXXXL— To Alexander Gordon of Earlestoun. Much honoured Sir, — Howbeit I would have been glad to have seen you ; yet seeing our Lord hath been pleased to break the snare of your adversaries, I heartily bless our Lord on your behalf. Our crosses for Christ are not made of iron, they are softer and of more gentle metal. It is easy for God to make a fool of the devil, the father of all fools. As for me, I but breathe out what my Lord breatheth in : the scum and froth of my letters, I father upon my own unbelieving heart. I know your Lord hath something to do with you, because Satan and malice have shot sore at you ; but your bow abideth in its strength. Ye shall not, by my advice, be a halver mth Christ, to divide the glory of your deliverance, betwixt yourself and Him, or any other second mean whatsoever : let Christ (as it setteth Him well) have all the glory, and triumph His alone. The Lord set Himself on high in you : I see Christ can borrow a cross for some hours, and set His servants beside it, rather then under it, and win the plea too, yea, and make glory to Himself, and shame to His enemies, and comfort to His children out of it. But Avhether Christ buy or borrow crosses. He is King of crosses, and King of devils, and King over hell, and King over malice. When He was in the grave. He came out, and brought the keys with Him : He is Lord-jailor : nay, what say I ? He is Captain of the castle, and He hath the keys of death and hell ; and what are our troubles but little deaths : and He, who commandeth the great castle, commandeth the little also. 2. I see a hardened face and two skins upon our brows, against the winter hail and stormy wind, is meetest for a poor traveller in a winter journey to heaven. 0, what art is it to learn to endure hardness, and to learn to go barefooted either through the de\irs fiery coals or his frozen waters ! 3. I am persuaded a sea-venture with Christ maketh great riches : is not our King Jesus His ship coming home, and shall 166 LETTER LXXXII. not we get part of the gold ; alas, we fools miscount our gain when we seem losers. Believe me, I have no challenges against this well- born cross, for it is come of Christ's house, and is honourable, and His propine, to you it is given to suffer. 0, what fools are we to undervalue His gifts, and to lightly that which is true honour ! for if we could be faithful, our tackling shall not loose, nor our mast break, nor our sails blow into the sea. The bastard crosses, the kinless and base-born crosses of worldlings, for evil doing, must be heavy and grievous ; but our afflictions are light and momentary. 4. I think myself happy that I have lost credit with Christ, and that in this bargain I am Christ's sworn dyvour to whom He will lippen nothing ; no not one pin in the work of my salvation. Let me stand in black and white in the dyvour-book before Christ, I am happy that my salvation is concredited to Christ's mediation : Christ oweth no faith to me, to lippen anything to me ; but 0, what faith and credit I owe to him ! Let my name fall, and let Christ's name stand in honour with man and angel. Alas, I have no room to spread out my affection before God's people ; and I see not how I can shout out and cry out the loveliness, the high honour, and the glory of my fairest Lord Jesus. 0, that He would let me have a bed to lie in, to be delivered of my birth, that I might paint Him out in His beauty to men as I do. 5. I wondered once at provi- dence, and called white providence black and unjust, that I should be smothered in a town, where no soul will take Christ off my hand : but providence hath another lustre with God than with my bleared eyes. I proclaim myself a blind body, who know not black and white in the uncouth course of God's providence. Suppose Christ would set hell where heaven is, and devils up in glory beside the elect angels (which yet cannot be), I would I had a heart to acquiesce in His way without further dispute. I see, infinite wisdom is the mother of His judgments and His ways pass finding out. 6, I cannot learn ; but I desire to learn to bring my thoughts, will, and lusts in under Christ's feet, that He may trample upon them ; but alas, I am still upon Christ's wrong side. Grace be with you. Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R Aberdeen, Sept. 12, 1637. LETTEK LXXXH.— To Robert Lennox of Disdove. WORTRHY AND DEAR BROTHER, — I forget you not in my bonds : I know ye are looking to Christ, and, I beseech you, follow your look. I ca!n say more of Christ now by experience (though He be infinitely above and beyond all that can be said of Him) than when I saw you. I am drowned overhead and ears in His love. Sell, LETTER LXXXIII. 167 sell, sell all things for Christ. If this whole world were the balk of a balance, it should not be able to bear the weight of Christ's love. Man and angels have short arms to fathom it. Set your feet upon this piece blue and base clay of an overgilded and fair plastered world : an hour's kissing of Christ is worth a world of worlds. Sir, make sure work of your salvation ; build not upon sand ; lay the foundation ujDon the Rock in Zion. Strive to be dead to this world, and to your will and lusts. Let Christ have a commanding power and a King throne in you. Walk with Christ, howbeit the wind should take the hide off youf face. I promise you, Christ will win the field. Your pastors cause you to err ; except you see Christ's word, go not one foot Avith them. Counte- nance not the reading of that Romish service-book. Keep your garments clean, as ye would walk with the Lamb clothed in white. The wrongs I suffer are upon record in heaven : our great Master and Judge will be upon us all, and bring us before the sun in our blacks and whites. Blessed are they who watch and keep themselves in God's love. Learn to discern the Bridegroom's tongue, and to give yourself to prayer and reading. Ye was often a hearer of me. I would put my heart blood upon the doctrine I taught, as the only way to salvation : go not from it, my dear brother. What I write to yourself I write to your Avife also. Mind heaven and Christ, and keep the spunk of the love of Christ you have gotten ; Christ shall blow on it, if ye entertain it, and your end shall be peace. There is a fire in our Zion ; but our Lord is but seeking a new bride refined and purified out of the fur- nace. I assure you, howbeit we be nick-named puritans, all the powers of the world shall not prevail against us. Remember, though a sinful man write it to you, these people shall yet be in Scot- land as a green olive-tree, and a field blessed of the Lord, and it shall be proclaimed, " Up, up Avdth Christ, and down, down with all contrary powers." Sir, pray for me (I name you to the Lord), for further evil is determined against me. Remember my love to Christian Murray and her daughter. I desire her, in the edge of her evening, to wait a little, the King is coming, and He hath some- thing, that she never saw, with Him. Heaven is no dream. " Come and see" will teach her best. Grace, grace be with you. » Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, Sept. 13, 1637. LETTER LXXXUL— To Marion M'Knaught. Dearest in our Lord Jesus, — Count it your honour that Christ hath begun at you to fine you first. '^ Fear not," saith the " Amen, 168 LETTER LXXXIV. the true and faithful Witness." I write to you, as my Master liveth, upon the word of my Eoyal King, continue in prayer and in watching, and your glorious deliverance is coming. Christ is not far off; a iig, a straw for all the bits of clay that are risen against us. " Ye shall thrash the mountains, ^and fan them like chaff," Isa. xli. If ye slack your hands at your meetings, and your watching to prayer, then it would seem our Eock hath sold us; but be diligent, and be not discouraged. I charge ye in Christ, rejoice, give thanks, believe, be strong in the Lord. That burning bush in Galloway and Kirkcudbright shall not be burnt to ashes for the Lord is in the bush. Be not discouraged that banishment is to be pro- cured by the king's warrant to the council against me ; the earth is my Lord's ; I am filled mth His sweet love, and running over. I rejoice to hear ye are in your journey : such news as I hear of all your faith and love, rejoice my sad heart. Pray for me, for they seek my hurt ; but I give myself to prayer. The blessing of my Lord, and a prisoner of Christ's blessing be with you. 0 chosen and greatly beloved woman, faint not. Fie, fie if ye faint now, ye loose a good cause ; double your meetings ! cease not for Zion's sake, and hold not your peace, till He make Jerusalem a praise in the earth. Yours, in Christ Jesus, his Lord, S. R. Aberdeen, 1637. LETTER LXXXIV.- To Thomas Corbet. Dear Friend, — I forget you not. It shall be my joy that ye follow after Christ till ye find Him. My conscience is a feast of joy to me, that I sought in singleness of heart. For Christ's love, to put you upon the King's high-way to our Bridegroom and our Father's house ; thrice blessed are ye, my dear brother, if ye hold the way. I believe ye and Christ once met, I hope ye will not sunder with Him. Follow the counsel of the man of God, Mr William Dalgleish. If ye depart from what I taught you in a hair- breadth, for fear or favour of men, or desire of ease in this world, I take heaven and earth to witness, that ill shall come upon you in end. Build not your nest here ; this world is an hard, ill-made bed ; no rest in it for your soul. Awake ! awake ! and make haste to seek that Pearl, Christ, that this world seetli not ; your night, and your Master, Christ, will be upon you within a clap ; your handljreadth of time will not bide you. Take Christ, howbeit a storm follow Him ; howbeit this day be not yours and Christ's, the morrow will be yours and His. I would not exchange the joy of my bonds and imprisonment for Christ with all the joy of this dirty and foul-skinned world. I have a love-bed with Christ, and am filled with His love. I desire your wife to do what I write to LETTER LXXXV. 169 you : let her remember how dear Christ would be to her, when her breath turneth cold, and the eye-strings shall break. O, how joyful should my soul be, to know that I had brought on a marriage betwixt Christ and that people, few or many ; if it be not so, I will be woe to be a witness against them. Use prayer ; love not the world ; be humble, and esteem little of yourself ; love your enemies, and pray for them ; make conscience of speaking truth when none knoweth but God. I never eat but I pray for you all. Pray for me. Ye and I shall see one another up in our Father's house. I rejoice to hear that your eye is upon Christ. Follow on, hing on, and quit Him not. The Lord Jesus be with your spirit. Your affectionate brother, in our Lord Jesus. S. R. Aberdeen, 1637. LETTER LXXXV.— To Alexander Gordon of Earlestoun. Much honoured Sir, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. I received your letter which refreshed me. Except from your son and my brother, I have seen few letters from my accjuaintance in that country, which maketh me heavy ; but I have the company of a Lord who can teach us all to be kind, and hath the right gate of it ; though for the present I have seven ups and downs every day, yet I am abundantly comforted and feasted with my King and Well-Beloved daily. It pleaseth Him to come and dine with a sad prisoner and a solitary stranger. His spikenard casteth a smell, yet my sweet hath some sour mixed with it, wherein I must acquiesce ; for there is no reason that His comforts be too cheap, seeing they are delicacies ; why should He not make them so to His own. But I verily think now, Christ hath led me up to a nick in Christianity, that I was never at before ; I think all before was but childhood and bairn's play. Since I departed from you, I have been scalded, while the smoke of hell's fire went in at my throat, and I would have bought peace with a thousand j^ears' torment in hell : and I have been up also, after these deep down-castings and sorrows, before the Lamb's white throne, in my Father's inner court, the great King's din- ing-hall, and Christ did cast a covering of love over me ; He hath casten in a coal in my soul, and it is smoking among the straw, and keeping the hearth warm. I look back to what I was before, and I laugh to see the sand-houses I built when I was a child. At first, the remembrance of many fair feast-days with my Lord Jesus in public, which are now changed into silent Sabbaths, raised a great tempest, and (if I may speak so) made the de^dl ado in my soul : the devil came in, and would prompt me to make a plea with Christ, and to lay the blame on Him as a hard master. But now these mists are blown away, and I am not only silenced, as to all 1 70 LETTER LXXXV. quarrelling, but fully satisfied. Now, I wonder that any man living can laugh upon the world, or give it a hearty good-day. The Lord Jesus hath handled me so, that as I am now disposed, I think never to be in this world's common again for a night's lodging : Christ beareth me good company ; He hath eased me, when I saw it not, lifting the cross off my shoulders, so that I tliink it to be but a fea- ther, because underneath are everlasting arms. God forbid it came to bartering or niffering of crosses ; for I think my cross so sweet, that I know not where I would get the like of it. Christ's honey- combs drop so abundantly, that they sweeten my gall. Nothing breaketh my heart, but that I cannot get the daughters of Jerusalem, to tell them of my Bridegroom's glory : I charge you, in the name of Christ, that ye tell all ye. come to of it ; and yet it is above tell- ing and understanding. 0, if all the kingdom were as I am, except my bonds ! they know not the love-kisses that my only Lord Jesus wasteth on a doated prisoner. On my salvation, this is the only way to the new city. I know Christ hath no dumb seals ; would He put His privy seal upon' blank paper? He hath sealed my sufferings with comforts. I Avrite this to confirm you. I write now, what I have seen, as well as heard. Now and then, my silence burneth up my spirit ; but Christ hath said, thy stipend is running up with interest in heaven, as if thou wert preaching : and this from a King's mouth rejoiceth my heart. At other times, I am sad for dwelling in Kedar's tents. There are none (that I yet know of) but two persons in this town that I dare give my word for : and the Lord hath removed my brethren and my acquaintance far from me : and it may be, I be forgotten in the place, where the Lord made me the instrument to do some good : but I see this is vanity in me. Let Him make of me what He pleaseth, if He make salvation out of it to me. I am tempted and troubled that all the fourteen prelates should have been armed of God against me only, while the rest of my brethren are still preaching ; but I dare not say one word, but this, it is good, Lord Jesus, because Thou hast done it. Woe is me for the virgin daughter ; woe is me for the desolation of the virgin daughter of Scotland ! 0, if my eyes were ,a fountain of tears to weep day and night for that poor widow kirk, that po0r miserable harlot ! alas, then my Father hath put to the door my poor harlot mother ! 0, for that cloud of black wrath, and fury of the indignation of the Lord, that is hanging over the land. Sir, write to me, I beseech you : I pray you also be kind to my afflicted brother. Eemember my love to your wife : and the prayers and the blessing of the prisoner of Christ be on you. Frequent your meetings for prayer and communion with God, they would be sweet meetings to me. Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, Feb. 16, 1637. LETTER LXXXVI. 171 LETTEE LXXXVI.— To Robert Gordon, of Knockbrex. My dear Brother, — Grace, mercy, and peace be multiplied upon you. I am almost wearying, yea wondering, that ye write not to me ; though I know it is not forgetfulness. As for myself, I am every way well, all glory to God : I was before at a plea mth Christ, but it was bought by me and unlawful, because His whole providence was not yea and nay to my yea and nay, and because I believed Christ's outward look better than His faithful promise. Yet He hath in patience waited on, while I be come to myself, and hath not taken advantage of my weak apprehensions of His goodness. Great and holy is His name ; He looketh to what I desire to be, and not to what I am. One thing I have learned, if I had been in Christ, by way of adhesion only, as many branches are, I should have been burnt to ashes, and this world should have seen a suffering minister of Christ turned (of something once in show) into unsavoury salt. But my Lord Jesus had a good eye, that the tempter should not play foul play, and blow out Christ's candle. He took no thought of my stomach, and fretting and grudging humour, but of His ovm. grace ; when He burned the house He saved His own goods. And I believe, the de\dl, and the per- secuting world, shall reap no fruit of me but burned ashes : for He will see to His own gold, and save that from being consumed with the fire. 0, what owe I to the file, to the hammer, to the furnace of my Lord Jesus ! AVho hath now let me see how good the wheat of Christ is, that ccoeth throuerh 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, godliness is more than the outside, and this world's passements and their buskings. Who knoweth the truth of grace without a trial? 0, how little getteth Christ of us, but that which He winneth (to speak so) with much toil and j^ains ! And how soon would faith freeze with- out 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 hath ? when Christ blesseth 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 Lord, that maketh deep furrows on my soul ? I know He is no idle husbandman, He pur- poseth a crop. 0, that this white, withered lay ground Avere made fertile to bear a crop for Him, by whom it is so painfully dressed^ and that this fallow ground were broken up 1 Why was I (a fool) grieved, that He put His garland and His rose upon my head, the glory and honour of His faithful witnesses ? I desire now to make no more pleas with Christ. Verily, He hath not put me to a loss by what I suffer, He oweth me nothing ; for in my bonds, how sweet 172 LETTER LXXXVII. and comfortable have the thoughts of Him been to me : wherein I And a sufficient recompense of reward ! * How blind are my adver- saries, who sent me to a banquetting-house : to a house of wine, to my lovely Lord Jesus, His love-feasts, and not to a prison or place of exile? Why should I smother my Husband's honesty, or sin against His love, or be a niggard in giving out to others what I get for nothing ? Brother, eat with me and give thanks. I charge 3^ou before God, that ye speak to others, and invite them to help me to praise ! 0 my debt of praise, how weighty is it, and how far run up ! 0, that others would lend me to pay, and learn me to praise ! 0, I a drowned dyvour ! Lord Jesus take my thoughts for payment. Yet I am in this hot summer-blink with the tear in my eye ; for, by reason of my silence, sorrow, sorrow hath 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 hath borne me a man of contention. Write to me your mind anent Y. C. I cannot forget him ; I know not what God hath to do with him. And your mind anent my parishioners' behaviour, and how they are served in preaching ; or if there be a minister as yet thrust in upon them, which I desire greatly to know, and which I much fear. Dear brother, ye are in my heart, to live and to die with you. Visit me with a letter. Pray for me. Remember my love to your wife. 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, S. R. Aberdeen, Jan. 1, 1637. LETTER LXXXVH.—To my Well-Beloved and Reverend Brother, Mr. Robert Blair. Reverend and dearly-beloved Brother, — Grace, mercy, and peace from God \)ur Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ be to you. It is no great wonder, my dear brother, that ye be in heavi- ness for a season, and that God's will, in crossing your design and desires to dwell amongst a people, whose God 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 com- manding will, can, by no good logic, be concluded from events of pr'ovidence. The Lord sent Paul many errands, for the sj^reading 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 fighting against, and ready to kill them who had the promise, or keep them from possessing that good land, which the Lord tlioir God had given th-em. I know ye ha^'e most to do with sub- LETTER LXXXVII. 173 mission of spirit ; but I persuade myself, ye have learned in every condition, wherein ye are cast, therein to be content, and to say, " Good is the ^\dll of the Lord, let it be done." I beheve the Lord tackleth His ship often to fetch the wind, and that He purposeth to bring mercy out of your sufferings and silence, which (I know from mine own experience) is grievous to you. Seeing He knowetli our wilHng mind to serve Him, our wages and stipend is running to the fore with our God ; even as some sick soldiers get their pay, when then they are bed-fast and not able to go to the fields with others. " Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord, and my God shall be my strength," Isa. xlix. 3 ; and we are to believe it shall be thus, ere all the play be played. Jer. li. 35, " The violence done to me and my flesh, be upon Babylon, and the great whore's lovers, shall the inhabitants of Zion say, and my blood be upon Chaldea, shall Jerusalem say ; " and Zech. xii. 2, " Behold I vnW make Jerusalem a cup of trembling to all the people about, when they shall be in the siege, both against Judah and Jerusalem;" ver. 3, "And in that day, I will make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people : they that burden themselves with it shall be broken in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered against it." When they have eaten and swallowed us up, they shall be sick and vomit us out living men again. The devil's stomach cannot digest the church of God. Sufl'ering is the other half of our ministry, howbeit the hardest : for we would be content our King Jesus would make an open proclamation, and cry down crosses, and cry up joy, gladness, ease, honour, and peace. But it must not be so ; through many afflictions we must enter into the kingdom of God : not only by them, but through them must we go : and wiles will not take us by the cross : it is folly to think to steal to heaven with a whole skin. For myself, I am here a prisoner, con- fined in Aberdeen, threatened to be removed to Caithness, because I desire to edify in this town ; and I am openly preached against in the pulpits, in my hearing, and tempted with disputations by the doctors, especially by D. B. Yet I am not ashamed of my Lord Jesus, His garland and crown. I would not exchange my weeping with the fourteen prelates' painted laughter. At my first coming here, I took the dorts at Christ, and would forsooth summon Him for unkindness; I sought a plea of my Lord, and was tossed with challenges, whether He loved me or not 1 and disputed all over again that He had done to me; because "His word was a fire shut up in my bowels, and I was weary with forbearing;" because I said I was cast out of the Lord's inheritance. But now, I see, I was a fool : my Lord miskent all, and did bear with my foolish jealousies, and miskent that ever I wronged His love, and now He is come again with mercy under His wings. I pass from my (0 witless) summons : He is God (I see^ l74 LETTER LXXXVIII. and I am man. Now it hath pleased Him to renew His love to my soul, and to date His poor prisoner. Therefore, my dear brother, help me to praise and show the Lord's people with yon, what He hath done to my soul, that they may pray and praise : and I charge yon, in the name of Christ, not to omit it ; for, for this cause I write to you, that my sufferings may glorify my royal King, and edify His church in Ireland. He knoweth how one of Christ's love-coals hath burnt my soul, with a desire, to have my bonds to preach His glory, whose cross I now bear. God forgive you, if ye do it not. But I hope the Lord will move your heart, to proclaim in my behalf the sweetness, excellency, and glory of my royal King. It is but our soft flesh that hath raised a slander on the cross of Christ ; I see now the white side of it. My Lord's chains are all overgilded. 0, if 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. Eefresh me with a letter from you ; few know what is betwixt Christ and me. Dear brother, upon my salvation, this is His truth that we suffer for. Christ would not seal a blank charter to souls. Courage, courage, joy, joy, for evermore ! 0 joy unspeakable and glorious ! 0, for help to set my crowned King on high ! 0 for love to Him, who is altogether lovely ! That love which many waters cannot quench, neither can the floods drown ! I remember you, and I bear your name on my breast to Christ ; I beseech you, forget not His afflicted prisoner. Grace, mercy, and peace be with you. Salute in the Lord from me, Mr Cuninghame, Mr Livingston, Mr Eidge, Mr Colwart, &c. Your brother and fellow-prisoner, S. E. Aberdeen, Feb. 7, 1637. LETTEE LXXXVIII.— To John Kennedy, Bailiff of Ayr. Worthy and well-beloved Brother, — Grace, mercy, and peace be unto you. I am yet waiting what our Lord will do for His afflicted church, and for my re-entry to my Lord's house. 0, that I could hear the forfeiture of Christ (now casten out of His inheritance) recalled and taken off by open proclamation; and that Christ were restored to be a freeholder and a landed heritor in Scotland; and that the courts, fenced in the name of the bastard prelates (their godfather's, the Pope's bailiffs and sheriffs), were cried down ! 0, how sweet a sight were it to see all the tribes of the Lord in this land fetching home again our banished King Christ, to His own palace. His sanctuary, and His throne ! I shall think it mercy to my soul, if my faith shall out- watch all this winter night, and not nod or slumber, till my Lord's summer day dawn upon me. It is much, if faith and hope, in the sad nights LETTER LXXXVIII. 175 of our heavy trial, escape with a whole skin, aud without crack or crook ; I confess, unbelief hath not reason to be either father or mother to it (for unbelief is always an irrational thing) ; but how can it be, but such weak eyes as ours must cast water in a great smoke, or that a weak head should not turn giddy when the water runneth deep and strong ? But God be thanked, that Christ, in tlis children, can endure a stress and storm, howbeit soft nature would fall down in pieces. 0, that I had that confidence as to rest on this, though He should grind me into small powder, and bray me into dust, and scatter the dust to the four winds of heaven ; that my Lord would gather up the powder, and make me up a new vessel again, to bear Christ's name to the world. I am sure that love, bottomed and seated upon the faith of His love to me, would desire and endure this, and would even claim and thriep kindness upon Christ's strokes, and kiss His lovely glooms ; and both spell and read salva- tion, upon the wounds made by Christ's sweet hands. 0, that I had but a promise from the mouth of Christ of His love to me ; and then, howbeit my faith were as tender as paper, I think longing, and dwining, and greening of sick desires would cause it to bide out the siege, till the Lord came to fill the soul vdih His love ; and I know also, in that case faith should abide green and sappy at the root, even at mid-winter ; and stand out against all storms. However it be, I know Christ winneth heaven in despite of hell ; but I owe as many praises and thanks to free grace, as would lie betwixt me and the utmost border of the highest heaven — suppose ten thousand heavens were all laid above other. But, oh, I have nothing that can hire or bud grace ; for if grace would take hire, it were no more grace ; but all our stability, and the strength of our salvation is anchored and fastened upon free grace. And I am sure Christ hath by His death and blood casten the knot so fast, that the fingers of devils, and hell full of sins, cannot lose it ; and that bond of Christ (that never yet was, nor never shall, nor can be registrated) standeth surer than hea,ven or the days of heaven, as that sweet pillar of the covenant, whereupon we all hang. Christ and all his little ones under his two wings, and in the compass or circle of His arms, is so sure, that cast Him and them in the ground of the sea. He shall come up again, and not lose one; an odd one cannot, nor shall not be lost in the telling. This was always God's aim, since Christ came in >the play, betwdxt Him and us, to make men dependent creatures, and in the work of our salvation to put created strength, and arms, and legs of clay quite out of play, and out of office and court : and now God hath substituted in our room, and accepted His Son the Mediator for us, and all that we can make. If this had not been, I would have skinked over and forgone my part of paradise and salva- tion for a breakfast of dead moth-eaten earth ; but now I would 176 LETTER LXXXIX. not give it, nor let it go, for more than I can tell ; and truly they are silly fools, and ignorant of Christ's worth (and so full ill-trained and tutored), who tell heaven and Christ over the board for two, feathers or two straws of the devil's painted pleasures, only lustred in the utter side. This is our happiness now, that our reckonings at night, when eternity shall come upon us, cannot be told ; we shall.be so far gainers, and so far from being superexpended (as the poor fools of this world are, who give out their money, and get in but black hunger), that angels cannot lay our counts, nor sum our advantage and incomes, who knoweth, how far is it to the bot- tom of our Christ, and to the ground of our heaven ? Who ever weighed Christ in a pair of balances 1 Who hath seen the foldings and plyes, and the heights and depths of that glory, which is in Him, and kept for us ? 0, for such a heaven, as to stand afar off, and see, and love, and long for Him, while time's thread be cut, and. this great work of creation dissolved, at the coming of our Lord ! Now to His grace I recommend you. I beseech you also, pray for a re-entry to me into the Lord's house, if it be His good will. Yours, in His sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, Jan. 6, 1637. LETTER LXXXIX.— To Elizabeth Kennedy. Mistress, — Grace, mercy, and peace be unto you. I have long had a purpose of writing to you, but I have been hindered. I heartily desire that ye would mind }'Our journey, and consider to what airt your soul setteth its face ; for all come not home at night, who suppose they have set their face heaven-ward. It is a woeful thing to die and miss heaven, and to lose house-room with Christ at night. It is an evil journey, where travellers are benighted in the fields. I persuade myself, that thousands shall be deceived and ashamed of their hope ; because they cast their anchor in sinking sands, they must lose it. Till now, I knew not the pain, labour, nor difficulty that there is to win home; nor did I understand so well, before this, what that meaneth : " the righteous shall scarcely be saved." 0, how many a poor professor's candle is blown out, and never lighted again ! I see ordinary profession, and to be ranked amongst the children of God, and to have a name among men, is now thought good enough to carry professors to heaven ; but certainly, a name is but a name, and will never bide a blast of God's storm. I counsel you not to gi\ie your soul, or Christ rest, nor your eyes sleep, till ye have got- ten something that will bide the fire and stand out the storm. I am sure if my one foot were in heaven, and then He would say, fend thyself, I will hold my grips of thee no longer ! I should go LETTER LXXXIX. 177 no further, but presently fall down in as many pieces of dead nature. They are happy for evermore who are overhead and ears in the love of Christ, and know no sickness but love-sickness for Christ, and feel no pain but the pain of an absent and hidden Well-Beloved. We run our souls out of breath, and tire them in coursing and gallop- ing after our own night- dreams (such are the rovings of our mis- carrying hearts), to get some created good thing in this life and on this side of death. We would fain stay and spin out a heaven to ourselves in this side of the water ; but sorrow, want, changes, crosses, and sin are both woof and warp in that ill-spun web. O, how sweet and dear are these thoughts that are still upon the things which are above ! and how happy are they who are longing to have little sand in their glass, and to have time's thread cut, and can cry to Christ, Lord Jesus have over, come and fetch the driery passenger ! I wish our thoughts were more frequently than they are on our country, O, but heaven casteth a sweet smell afar off to those who have spiritual smelling ! God hath made man}- fair flowers, but the fairest of them all is heaven, and the flower of all flowers is Christ. 0, why do we not flee up to that lovely One ? Alas, that there is such scarcity of love, and lovers of Christ, amongst us all? Fie, fie upon us, who love fair things, as fair gold, fair houses, fair lands, fair pleasures, fair honours, and fair persons, and do not pine and melt away with love for Christ ! 0, would to God I had more love for His sake ! O, for as much love as would lie betwixt me and heaven for His sake ! 0, for as much love as would. go round about the earth and over the heaven ; yea, the heaven of heavens, and ten thousand worlds, that I might let all out upon fair, fair, only fair Christ! But, alas! I have nothing for Him ; yet He hath much for me. It is no gain to Christ that He getteth my little feckless span-length and hand- breadth of love. If men would have something to do with their hearts and their thoughts, that are always rolling up and down, like men with oars in a boat, after sinful vanities, they may find great and sweet employment to their thoughts upon Christ. If these frothy, fluctuating, and restless hearts of ours would come all about Christ, and look into His love, to bottomless love, to the depth of mercy, to the unsearchable riches of His grace, to inquire after and search into the beauty of God in Christ, they would be swalloAved up in the depth, and height, length, and breadth of His goodness. O, if men would draw the curtains and look into the inner side of the ark, and behold how the fulness of the Godhead dwelleth in Him bodily ! O, who would not say, " Let me die, let me die ten times, to see a sight of Him !" Ten thousand deaths were no great price to give for Him. I am sure, sick, fainting love would heighten- the market and raise the price to the double for Him. But, alas; N 1 78 LETTER XC. if men and angels were rouped and sold at the dearest price, they would not all buy a night's love or a four-and-twenty hours' sight of Christ ! 0, how happy are they who get Christ for nothing ! God send me no more for my part of paradise but Christ ; and surely I were rich enough, and as well heavened, as the best of them, if Christ were my heaven. I can write no better thing to you than to desire you, if ever ye laid Christ in a count, to take Him up and count over again, and weigh Him again and again : and after this have no other to court your love, and to woo your soul's delight, but Christ. He will be found worthy of all your love ; howbeit, it should swell upon you, from the earth to the uppermost circle of the heaven of heavens. To our Lord Jesus and His love J commend you. Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, 1637. LETTER XC— To Jonet Kennedy. Mistress, — Grace, mercy, and peace be unto you. Ye are not a little obliged to His rich grace, who hath separated you for Himself, and for the promised inheritance with the saints in light, from this condemned and guilty world. Hold fast Christ, contend for Him ; it is a lawful plea to go to holding and drawing for Christ ; and it is not possible to keep Christ peaceably, having once gotten Him, except the devil were dead. It must be your resolution to set your face against Satan's northern tempests and storms for salvation. Nature would have heaven come sleeping to us in our beds. We would all buy Christ, so being we might make price ourselves; but Christ is worth more blood and lives than either ye or I have to give Him. When we shall come home, and enter to the possession of our Brother's fair kingdom, and when our heads shall find the weight of the eternal crown of glory, and when we shall look back to pains and sufferings ; then shall we see life and sorrow to be less than one step or stride from a prison to glory ; and that our little inch of time-suffering is noteworthy of our first night's welcome home to heaven. 0, what then will be the weight of every one of Christ's kisses ! 0, how weighty and of what worth shall every one of Christ's love-smiles be ! 0, when once He shall thrust a wearied traveller's head betwixt His blessed breasts, the poor soul shall think one kiss of Christ hath fully paid home forty or fifty years' wet feet, and all its sore hearts and light sufferings it had in following after Christ ! O, thrice blinded souls, whose hearts are charmed and bewitched with dreams, shadows, feckless things, night vanities, and night fancies of a miserable life of sin. Shame on us who sit still, fettered with the love and liking of the loan of a piece of dead clay. O, poor fools who are beguiled with painted things, and this world's fair weather and smooth promises, and rotten worm- LETTER XCI. 179 eaten hopes ! may not tlie devil laugh, to see us give out our souls, and get in but corrupt and counterfeit pleasures of sin. O, for a sight of eternity's glory, and a little tasting of the Lamb's marriage- supper! Half a draught or a drop of the wine of consolations, that is up in our banqueting-house, out of Christ's own hand, would make our stomachs loathe the brown bread and the sour drink of a miserable life. O, how far are we bereft of wit, to chase, and hunt, and run till our souls be out of breath, after a condemned happiness of our own making ! And do we not sit far in our own light to make it a matter of bairn's play, to skink and drink over paradise and the heaven that Christ did sweet for, even for a blast of smoke, and for Esau's morning breakfast ? O, that we were out of ourselves and dead to this world, and this world dead and crucified to us, and then we should be close out of love and conceit of any masked and fairded lover whatsoever. Then Christ would win and conquer to Himself a lodging in the inmost yoke of our heart. Then Christ should be our night-song and our morning-song. Then the very noise and din of our AVell-Beloved's feet, when He cometh, and His first knock or rap at the door should be as the news of two heavens to us. 0, that our eyes and our soul's smelling should go after a blasted and sun-burnt flower, even this plastered, fair, out-sided world ; and then we have neither eye nor smell for the flower of Jesse, for that "Plant of renown," for Christ, the choicest, the fairest, the sweetest rose that ever God planted ! 0, let some of us die to feel the smell of Him, and let my part of this rotten world be for- feited and sold for evermore, providing I may anchor my tottering soul upon Christ ! I know it is sometimes at this. Lord, what wilt Thou have for Christ? But, O Lord, canst Thou be budded or pro- pined with any gift for Christ? O Lord, can Christ be sold? or rather, may not a poor needy sinner have Him for nothing ? If 1 can get no more, O let me be pained to all eternity with longing for Him. The joy of hungering for Christ should be my heaven for evermore, Alas, that 1 cannot draw souls and Christ together. But I desire the coming of His kingdom, and that Christ (as I assuredly hope He shall) w^ould come upon withered Scotland, as rain upon the new mown grass. O let the King come ! O let His kingdom come ! O let their eyes rot in their eye-holes, who will not receive Him home again to reign and rule in Scotland ! Grace, grace be with you. Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, 1637. LETTER XCI.— To his Reverend and Dear Brother, Mr David Dickson. Reverend and dearest Brothek, — "What joy have I out of 180 LETTER XCI. heaven's gates, but that my Lord Jesns be glorified in my bonds'? Blessed be ye of the Lord who contribute anything to my obliged and indebted praises. Dear brother, help me, a poor dyvour, to pay tlic interest, for I cannot come nigh to render the principal. It is not jest nor sport which maketh me to speak and write as I do. I never before came to that nick or pitch of a communion with Christ that I have now attained unto for my confirmation. I have been these two sabbaths or three in private, taking instruments in the name of God, that my Lord Jesus and I have kissed each other in Aberdeen, the house of my pilgrimage. I seek not an apple to play me with, He knoweth whom I serve in the Spirit, but a seal ; I but beg earnest, and am content to suspend and frist glory while supper time. I know this world will not last with me ; for my moonlight is noon daylight, and my four hours above my feasts, when I was a preacher ; at which times also, 1 was embraced very often in His arms. But who can blame Christ to take me on behind Him (if I may say so) on His white horse, or in His chariot paved with love, through a water. Will not a father take his little doated Davie in his arms, and carry him over a ditch or a mire ? My short legs could not step over this laire or sinking mire, and therefore my Lord Jesus will bear me through. If a change come and a dark day, so being that He will keep my faith without flaw" or crack, 1 dare not blame Him; howbeit I get no more, wdiile I come to heaven. But ye know, the physic behoved to have sugar ; my faith was fallen asvvoon, and Christ but held up a swooning man's head. Indeed I pray not for a doated bairn's diet, He knoweth, I would have Christ sour or sweet, any way, so being, it be Christ indeed. I stand not now upon paired apples, or sugared dishes; but I cannot blame Him to give ; and I must gape and make a wdde mouth. Since Christ will not pantry-up joys, He must be w^elcome, who will not hideaway. 1 seek no other fruit, but that He may be glorified. He knoweth, I would take hard fare to have His name set on high. I bless you for your counsel. I hope to live by faith, and sv/im without a mass <:»r bundle of joyful sense under my chin; at least to venture, albeit I should be ducked. Now, for my case, I think the council should be essayed, and the event referred to God. Duties are ours, ami events are God's. I shall go through yours upon the covenant at leisure, and write to you my mind thereanent, and anent the Armi- nian contract betwixt the fiither and the son. I beseech you set to, to go through Scripture. Yours on the Hebrews is in great request ^vith all who would be acquainted with Christ's testament. I pur- pose, God willing, to set about Hosea, and to try if I can get it to tlie press here. It refresheth me much, that ye are so kind to my brother; I hope your counsel shall do him good; I recom- mend him to you, since I am so far from him. I am glad that LETTER XCII. 181 the dying servant of God, famous and faithful Mr Cuninghame, sealed your ministry before he fell asleep. Grace, grace be with you. Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, March 7, 1G37. LETTER XCTL— To the much Honoured William Riggie of Athernie. Much honoured Sir, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. I received your long-looked-for and short letter ; I would ye had spoke more to me, w^ho stand in need. I find Christ, as ye write, aye the longer the better, and, therefore, cannot but rejoice in His salvation, who hath made my chains my wings, and hath made me a king over my crosses and over my adversaries. Glory, glory, glory to His high, high, and holy name. Not one ounce, not one grain-weight more is laid on me than He hath enabled me to bear. And I am not so much wearied to suffer as Zion's haters are to persecute. O, if I could find a way, in any measure, to strive to be even with Christ's love ; but that I must give over ! 0, who would help a dyvour to pay praises to the King of saints, who triumpheth in His weak servants ? I see, if Christ but ride upon a worm, or a feather. His horse will neither stumble nor fall. " The worm Jacob is made by Him, a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth, to thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and to make the hills as chaff and to fan them, so as the wind shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter them." Isa. xli. 14, lo, 16. Christ's enemies are but breaking their own heads in pieces upon the rock laid in Zion, and the stone is not removed out of its place. Faith hath cause to take courage from our very afflictions ; the devil is but a whet-stone to sharpen the faith and patience of the saints. I know He but heweth and polisheth stones all this time for the new Jerusalem. But in all this, three things have much moved me, since it hath pleased my Lord to turn my moonlight into daylight. First, He hath yoked me to work, to wrestle with Christ's love of longing, wherewith I am sick-pained, fainting, and like to die, because I cannot get Himself, which I think a strange sort of desertion, for I have not Himself (whom if I had, my love-sickness w-ould cool, and my fever go away ; at least, I should know the heat of the fire of complacency, which would cool the scorching heat of the fire of desire), and yet I have no penury of His love, and so I dwine, I die, and He seemeth not to rue on me. I take instruments in His hand that I Avould have Him ; but I cannot get Him, and my best cheer is black hunger : I bless Him for that feast. Secondly, old challenges now and then revive and cast all down. I go halting 182 LETTER XCIIT. and sighing, fearing there be an unseen process yet coming out, and that heavier than I can answer. I cannot read distinctly my surety's act of cautionery for me in particular, and my discharge ; and sense, rather than faith, assureth me of what I have ; so unable am I to go, but by a hold. I could (with reverence of my Lord) forgive Christ, if He would give me as much faith as I have hunger for Him. I hope the pardon is now obtained, but the peace is not so sure to me as I would wish. Yet one thing I know there is not a way to heaven but the way He hath graced me to profess and sufter for. Thirdly, woe, woe is me, for the virgin daughter of Scotland, and for the fearful desolation and wrath appointed for this land ; and yet, all are sleeping, eating and drinking, laughing and sporting, as if all were well. 0, our dim gold, our dumb, blind pastors ; the sun is gone down upon them, and our nobles bid Christ send for Himself, if He be Christ. It were good we should learn in time the way to our stronghold. Sir, howbeit not acquainted, remember my love to your wife. I pray God establish you. Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, March 9, 1637. LETTER XCIIL— To John Ewart, Bailiff of Kirkcudbright. My very worthy and dear Friend, — I cannot but most kindly thank you for the expressions of your love. Your love and respect to me is a great comfort to me. I bless His high and glorious name, that the terrors of great men have not affrighted me from open avouching of the Son of God ; nay. His cross is the sweetest burden that ever I bare : it is such a burden as wings are to a bird, or sails to a ship, to carry me forward to my harbour. I have not much cause to fall in love with the world ; but rather to wish, that He who sitteth upon the floods would bring my broken ship to land, and keep my conscience safe in these dangerous times, for wrath from the Lord is coming on this sinful land. It were good, thatwe, prisoners of hope, knew of our stronghold to run to, before the storm come on ; therefore, sir, I beseech you, by the mercies of God, and comforts of His Spirit, by the blood of your Saviour, and by your compearance before the sin-revenging Judge of the world, keep your garments clean, and stand for the truth of Christ, which ye profess. When the time shall come that your eye-strings shall break, your face wax pale, your breath grow cold, and this house of clay shall totter, and your one foot shall be over the march in eternity, it shall be your comfort and joy that ye gave your name to Christ. The greatest part of the world think heaven at the next door, and that Chris- tianity is an easy task ; but they will be beguiled. Worthy sir, I beseech you make sure work of salvation; I have found by LETTERS XCIV. AND XCV. 18S experience, that all I could do, hath had much ado in the day of my trial ; and therefore lay up a sure foundation for the time to come. I cannot requite you for your undeserved favours to me and my now afflicted brother ; but I trust to remember you to God. Remember me heartily to your kind wife. Yours, in his only Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, March 13, 1637. LETTER XCIV.— To William Fullerton, Provost of Kirkcudbright. Much honoured Sir, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. I am obliged to your love in God. I beseech you, sir, let nothing be so dear to you as Christ's truth, for salvation is worth all the world, and therefore be not afraid of men that shall die. The Lord shall do for you in your suffering for Him, and shall bless your house and seed ; and ye have God's promise, that ye shall have His pre- sence in fire, water, and in seven tribulations. Your day will wear to an end, and your sun go down. In death, it will be your joy that ye have ventured all ye have for Christ, and there is not a promise of heaven made but to such as are willing to suffer for it. It is a castle taken by force. This earth is but the clay-portion of bastards, and therefore no wonder the world smile on its own ; but better things are laid up for His lawfully begotten bairns whom the world hateth. I have experience to speak this. For I would not exchange my prison and sad nights with the court, honour, and ease of my adversaries. My Lord is pleased to make many un- known faces to laugh upon me, and to provide a lodging for me ; and He himself visiteth my soul with feasts of spiritual Comforts. O, how sweet a Master is Christ ! blessed are these who lay down all for Him. I thank you kindly for your love to my distressed brother. Ye have the blessing and prayers of the prisoner of Christ to you, your wife, and children. Remember my love and blessing to William and Samuel. I desire them in their youth to seek the Lord and fear His great name ; to pray twice a day (at least) to God, and to read God's word ; to keep themselves from cursing, lying, and filthy talking. Now, the only wise God, and the presence of the Son of God be with you all. Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, March 13, 1637. LETTER XCV.— To the Worthy and much Honoured Mr Alexander Colvill of Blair. Much honoured Sir, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. The bearer hereof, M. R. F., is most kind to me; I desire you to thank 184 LETTER XCVI. him ; but none is so kind as my only royal King and Master, whose cross is my garland. The King dineth with His prisoner, and His spikenard casteth a smelL He hath led me up to such a pitch and nick of joyful communion with Himself as I never knew before. When I look back to bygones, I judge myself to have been a child at A, B, C with Christ. Worthy sir, pardon me, I dare not con- ceal it from you, it is as a fire in my bowels. In His presence, who seeth me, I speak it, I am pained with the love of Christ ; He hath made me sick and wounded me. Hunger for Christ out-runneth faith. I miss faith more than love. O, if the three kingdoms would come and see ! 0, if they knew His kindness to my soul ! It hath pleased Him to bring me to this, that 1 will not strike sails to this world, nor flatter it, nor adore this clay-idol, that fools wor- ship. As I am now disposed, I think I will neither borrow nor lend with it ; and yet I get my meat from Christ with nurture ; for seven times a day I am lifted up and casten down. My dumb sabbaths burthen my heart and make it bleed. I want not fearful challenges, and jealousies sometimes of Christ's love, that He hath casten me over the dyke of the vineyard as a dry tree. But this is my infirmity. By His grace I take myself in these ravings. It is kindly that faith and love both be sick, and fevers are kindly to most joyful communion with Christ. Ye are blessed, who avouch Christ openly before the princes of this kingdom, whose eyes are upon you. It is your glory to lift Him up on His throne, to carry His train, and bear up the hem of His robe royal. He hath an hiding-place for M. A. C. against the storm. Go on and fear not what man can do : the saints seem to have the worst of it (for apprehensions can make a lie of Christ and of His love), but it is not so ; providence is not rolled upon unequal and crooked wheels : " All things work together for the good of those who love God, and are called according to His purpose." Ere it be long, we shall see the white side of God's providence. My brother's case hath moved me not a little. He wrote to me your care and kindness. Sir, the prisoner's blessings and prayers I trust shall not go by you. " He that is able to keep you, and to present you before the presence of His face with joy, establish your heart in the love of Christ." Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, Feb. 19, 1637, LETTER XCVI.— To Earlestown, Younger. Honoured and dear Brother, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. I received your letter which refreshed my soul. I thank God the court is closed ; I think shame of my part of it. I pass LETTER XCVI. 185 now from my unjust summons of unkindness, libelled against Clirist my Lord. He is not such a Lord and Master as I took Him to be ; verily, He is God, and I am dust and ashes. I took Christ's glooms to be as good as scripture-speaking wrath, but I have seen the other side of Christ, and the white side of His cross now. I behoved to come to Aberdeen, to learn a new mystery in Christ, that His promise is better to be believed than His looks ; and that the devil can cause Christ's glooms speak a lie to a weak man. Nay, verily, I was a child before, all bygones are but bairns' play. I would I could begin to be a Christian in sad earnest. I need not blame Christ, if I be not one ; for He hath sliowed me heaven and hell in Aberdeen. But the truth is, for all my sorrow Christ is nothing in my debt ; for His comforts have refreshed my soul. I have heard and seen Him in His sv/eetness, so, as I am almost saying, it is not He that I was wont to meet with. He laugheth more cheer- fully ; His kisses are more sweet and soul-refreshing than the kisses of the Christ I saw before were (though he be the same) ; or rather, the King hath led me up to a measure of joy and communion with my Bridegroom that I never attained to before ; so that often I think I will neither borrow nor lend with this world, I will not strike sail to crosses, nor flatter them, to be quit of them, as I have done. Come all crosses ; welcome, welcome ! so I m.ay get my heart full of my Lord Jesus. I have been so near Him, as I have said, I take instruments, this is the Lord, leave a token behind thee, that I may never forget this. Now what can Christ do more to date one of His poor prisoners? Therefore, sir, I charge you, in the name of my Lord Jesus, praise with me, and shov/ to others what He hath done unto my soul. This is the fruit of my suffer- ings, that I desire Christ's name may be spread abroad in this kingdom in my behalf. I hope in God not to slander Him again ; yet in all this, I get not my feasts Avithout some mixture of gall ; neither am I free of old jealousies, for He hath removed my lovers and friends far from me ; He hath made my congregation desolate, and taken away my crown ; and my dumb sabbaths are like a stone tied to a bird's foot, that wanteth not wings, they seem to hinder me to flee, v>'ere it not that I dare not say one word, but, " well done, Lord Jesus." We can in our prosperity sport ourselves, and be too bold with Christ ; yea, be that insolent as to chide with Him ; but under the water we dare not speak. I wonder now of my sometimes boldness, to chide and quarrel Christ, to nickname providence, when it stroked me against the hair ; but now swim- ming in the waters, 1 think my will is fallen to the ground of the water. I have lost it. I think I would fain let Christ alone and give Him leave to do with me what He pleaseth, if He would smile upon me. Verily, we know not what an evil it is to spiU and in- 186 LETTER XCVII. dulge ourselves, and to make an idol of our will. I was once I would not eat except I had wailed meat ; now I dare not complain of crumbs and pairings under His table. I was once that I would make the house ado, if I saw not the world carved and set in order to my liking ; now I am silent, when I see God hath set servants on horseback and is fattening and feeding the children of perdi- tion. I pray God, I never find my will again. O, if Christ would subject my will to His and trample it under His feet, and liberate me from that lawless lord ! Now, sir, in your youth gather fast, your sun will mount to the meridian quickly, and thereafter decline. Be greedy of grace. Study above anything, my dear brother, to mortify your lusts. O, but pride of youth, vanity, lust, idolizing of the world, and charming pleasures take long time to root them out! As far as ye are advanced in the way to heaven, as near as ye are to Christ, as much progress as ye have made in the way of mortification, ye will find that ye are far behind, and have most of your work before you. I never took it to be so hard, to be dead to my lusts and to this world. When the day of visitation cometh, and your old idols come weeping about you, ye will have much ado not to break your heart ; it is best to give up in time with them, so as ye could at a call quit your part of this world for a drink of water or a thing of nothing. Verily, I have seen the best of this world, a moth-eaten, thread-bare coat: I purpose to lay it aside, being now holey and old. 0, for my house above not made with hands ! Pray for Christ's prisoner, and write to me. Remember my love to your mother. Desire her from me to make for removing ; the Lord's tide will not bide her ; and to seek an heavenly mind, that her heart may be often there. Grace be with you. Yours and Christ's prisoner, S. R. Aberdeen, Feb. 20, 1637. LETTER XCVII.— To Robert Glendining. My dear Friend, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. I thank you most kindly for your care of me, and your love and respective kindness to my brother in his distress. I pray the Lord, ye may find mercy in the day of Christ, and I entreat you, sir, to consider the times ye live in, and that your soul is of more worth to you than the whole world, which, in the day of the blowing of the last trumpet, shall lie in white ashes, as an old castle burnt to nothing: and remember that judgment and eternity is before you. My dear and worthy friend, let me entreat you in Christ's name, and by the salvation of your soul, and by your compearance before the dreadful and sin-revenging Judge of the world, make your accounts ready : LETTER XCVIII. 187 read them ere ye come to the water side ; for your afternoon will wear short, and your sun fall low and go down : and ye know that this long time your Lord hath waited on you. 0, how comfortable a thing shall it be to you, when time shall be no more, and your soul shall depart out of the house of clay, to vast and endless eternity, to have your soul dressed up and prepared for your Bridegroom ! No loss is comparable to the loss of the soul, there is no hope of regaining that loss. 0, how joyful would my soul be to hear that ye would start to the gate, and contend for the crown, and leave all vanities, and make Christ your garland ! let your soul put away your old lovers, and let Christ have your whole love : I have some experience to write of this to you. My witness is in heaven. I would not exchange my chains and bonds for Christ, and my sighs for ten worlds' glory. I judge this clay-idol, that Adam's sons are roup- ing and selling their souls for, not worth a drink of cold water. O, if your soul were in my soul's stead, how sick would ye be of love for that fairest One, that fairest among the sons of men ! May-flowers, and morning-vapours, and summer-mist, posteth not so fast away as these worm-eaten pleasures that we follow. We build castles in the air, and night-dreams are our day idols that we dote on. Salvation, salvation is our only one necessary thing. Sir, call home your thoughts to this work, to inquire for your Well-Beloved : this earth is the portion of bastards; seek the son's inheritance, and let Christ's truth be dear to you. I pawn my salvation on it, that this is the honour of Christ's kingdom I now suffer for (and this world I hope shall not come between me and my garland), and that this is the way to life. When ye and I shall lie lumps of pale clay upon the cold ground, our pleasures, that we now naturally love, shall be less than nothing in that day. Dear brother, fulfil my joy, and betake you to Christ without further delay, ye will be fain at length to seek to Him, or do infinitely worse. Remember my love to your wife. Grace be with you. Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, March 13, 1637. LETTER XCVIII.— To William Glendining. Well-beloved and dear Brother, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. I thank you most kindly for your care and love to me, and, in particular, to my brother in his distress in Edinburgh. Go on through your waters without wearying, your Guide knoweth the way, follow Him, and cast your cares and tentations upon Him : and let not worms, the sons of men, affright you; they shall die, and the moth shall eat them : keep your garland, there is no less at 188 LETTER XCIX. the stake, in this game betwixt us and the world, than our consci- ence and salvation : we have need to take head to the game, and not to yield to thera. Let them take other things from us ; but here, in matters of conscience, we must hold and draw with kings, and set ourselves in terms of opposition with the shields of the earth. O, the sweet communion for evermore that hath been between Christ and His poor prisoner ! He wearieth not to be kind. He is the fairest sight I see in Aberdeen, or any part that ever my feet were in. Kemember my hearty kindness to your wife ; I desire her to believe, and lay her cares on God, and make fast work of salvation. Grace be with you. Yours, in his only Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, March 13, 1G37. LETTER XCIX.— To Jean Brown. Well-beloved and dear Sister, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. I received your letter, which I esteem an evidence of your Christian affection to me, and of your love to my honourable Lord and Master. My desire is, that your communion with Christ may grow, and that your reckonings may be put by hand with your Lord, ere ye come to the water side. O, who knoweth how sweet Christ's kisses are ! who hath been more kindly embraced and kissed than I, His banished prisoner ? If the comparison could stand, I would not exchange Christ with heaven itself. He hath left a dart and arrow of love in my soul, and it paineth me till He come and take it out. I find pain of these wounds, because I would have possession. I know now, this worm-eaten apple, the plastered rotten world, that the silly children of this world are beating, and buffeting, and pul- ling others' ears for, is a portion for bastards good enough : and that is all they have to look for. I offend not that my adversaries stay at home at their own fireside with more yearly rent than I ; should I be angry that the goodman of this house of the world casteth a dog a bone to hurt his teeth? He hath taught me to be content with a borrowed fireside and an uncouth bed ; and I think I have lost nothing, the income is so great. O, what telling is in Christ ! O, how weighty is my fair garland, my crown, my fair supping-hall in glory, where I shall be above the blows and buffet- ings of prelates ! Let this be yonr desire, and let your thoughts dwell much upon that blessedness that abideth you in the other world. The fair side of the world will be turned to you quickly, when ye shall see the crown. I hope ye are near your lodging. O, but I would think myself blessed for my part to win the house before the shower come on ! For God hath a quiver full of arrows to shoot at and shower down upon Scotland. Ye have the prayers LETTER C. 189 of a prisoner of Christ. I desire Patrick to give Christ his young love, even the flower of it, and put it bj all others. It were good to start soon to the way. He should thereby have a great advan- tage in the evil day. Grace be with you. Yours, in his only Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, March 7, 1637. LETTER C— To Mr John Fergushill. Reverend and well- beloved in the Lord, — I was refreshed with your letter. I am sorry for that lingering and longsome visitation that is upon your wife ; but I know ye take it as a mark of a law- fully begotten child, and not of a bastard, to be under your Father's rod. Till ye be in heaven, it will be but foul weather, one shower up and another down. The lintel-stones and pillar of the new Jerusalem suffer more knocks of God's hammer and tools than the common side-wall stones. And if twenty crosses be Avritten for you in God's book they will come to nineteen, and then at last to one, and after that nothing but your head betwixt Christ's breasts for evermore, and His own soft hand to dry your face and wipe away your tears. As for public sufferings for His truth, your Master also will see to these. Let us put Him in His own office to comfort and deliver. The gloom of Christ's cross is worse than itself. ] cannot keep up what He hath done to my soul. My dear brother, will I not get help of you to praise and to lift Christ upon high ! He hath pained me with His love, and hath left a love arrow in my heart that hath made a wound, and swelled me up with desires, so that I am to be pitied for want of real possession. Love would have the company of the party loved : and my greatest pain is the want of Him ; not of His joys and comforts, but of a near union and communion. This is His truth, I am fully persuaded, I now suffer for. For Christ hath taken upon Him to be witness to it by His sweet comforts to my soul ; and shall I think Him a false wit- ness, or that He v/ould subscribe blank paper ? I thank His high and dreadful name for v/hat He hath given ; I hope to keep His seal and His pawn till He come and lose it Himself. I defy hell to put me off it, but He is Christ, and He hath met with His prisoner, and I took instruments in His own hand, that it was He and no other for Him. When the devil fenceth a bastard court in my Lord's ground and giveth me forged summons, it will be my shame to misbelieve after such a fair, broad seal. And yet Satan and my apprehension sometimes make a lie of Christ, as if He hated me ; but I dare believe no evil of Christ. If He would cool my love- fever for Himself, with real presence and possession, I would be rich ; but 1 dare not be mislearned, and seek more in that kind ; 190 LETTER CI. howbeit it be no shame to beg at Christ*s door. I pity my adver- saries ; I grudge not that my Lord keepeth them at their own fire- side, and hath given me a borrowed bed, and a borrowed fireside. Let the good man of the house cast a dog a bone, why should I of- fend ? I rejoice that the broken bark shall come to land, and that Christ will on the shore welcome the sea-sick passenger. We have need of a great stock against this day of trial that is coming ; neither chaif nor corn in Scotland, but it shall once pass through God's sieve. Praise, praise, and pray for me, for I cannot forget you. I know ye will be friendly to my afilicted brother, who is now em- barked in the same cause with me. Let him have your counsel and comforts. Remember my love in Christ to your wife, her health is coming and her salvation sleepeth not. Ye have the prayers and blessing of a prisoner of Christ. Sow fast, deal bread plentifully. The pantry door will be locked on the bairns in appearance ere long. Grace, grace be with you. Aberdeen, March 7, 1637. Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. LETTER CI. — To his Reverend and Dear Brother, Mr Robert Douglass. My vert reverend and dear Brother, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you : I long to see you in paper. I cannot but write to you that this which I now suffer for is Christ's truth, because He hath been pleased to seal my sufferings with joy unspeakable and glorious. I know He will not put His seal upon blank paper. Christ hath not dumb seals, neither will He be witness to a lie. I beseech you, my dear brother, help me to praise, and to lift Christ up on His throne above the shields of the earth. I am astonished and confounded at the greatness of His kindness to such a sinner. I know Christ and I shall never be even, I shall die in His debt. He hath left an arrow in my heart that paineth me for want of real possession ; and hell cannot quench this coal of God's kindling. I wish no man slander Christ or His cross for my cause, for I have much cause to speak much good of Him. He hath brought me to a nick and degree of communion with Himself that 1 knew not before. The din and gloom of our Lord's cross is more fearful and hard than the cross itself. He taketh the bairns in His arms when they come to a deep water ; at least, when they lose ground, and are put to swim, then His hand is under their chin. Let me be helped by your prayers, and remember my love to your kind wife, Grace be with you. Your brother and Christ's prisoner, S. R. Aberdeen, March 7, 1637. LETTERS CII. AND Cni. 191 LETTER CII. — To his Lo^dng Friend, John Henderson. LoTiNG Friend, — Continue in the love of Christ and the doctrine which I taught you faithfully and painfully according to my mea- sure : I am free of your blood. Fear the dreadful name of God. Keep in mind the examinations which I taught you, and love the truth of God. Death, as fast as time flieth, chaseth you out of this life. It is possible ye make your reckoning with your Judge before I see you ; let salvation be your care night and day, and set aside hours and times of the day for prayer. I rejoice to hear that there is prayer in your house ; see that your servants keep the Lord's day. This dirt and god of clay, I mean the vain world, is not worth the seeking. An hireling pastor is to be thrust in upon you, in the room to which I have Christ's warrant and right. Stand to your liberties, for the word of God alloweth you a vote in choosing your pastor. What 1 write to you, I write to your wife. Commend me heartily to her. The grace of God be with you. Your loving friend and pastor, S. R. Aberdeen, March 14, 1637. LETTER cm.— To m Hugh Henderson. My reverend and dear Brother, — I hear ye bear the marks of Christ's dying about with you, and that your brethren have cast you out for your Master's sake. Let us wait on till the evening, and till our reckoning in black and white come before our Master. Brother, since we must have a devil to trouble us, I love a raging devil best. Our Lord knoweth what sort of devil we have need of. It is best Satan be in his own skin, and look like himself. Christ weeping looketh like Himself also, with whom Scribes and Pharisees were at yea and nay, and sharp contradiction. Ye have heard of the patience of Job when he lay in the ashes; God was with him, claw- ing and curing his scabs, and letting out his boils, and comforting his soul, and He took him up at last. That God is not dead yet. He will stoop and take up fallen bairns. Many broken legs since Adam's days hath He spelked, and many weary hearts hath He refreshed ; bless Him for comfort. Why ? None cometh dry from David's well ; let us go amongst the rest, and cast down our toom buckets into Christ's ocean, and suck consolations out of Him. We are not so sore stricken, but we may fill Christ's hall with weeping. We have not gotten our answer from Him yet. Let us lay up our broken pleas to a full sea, and keep them till the day of Christ's coming ! We and this world will not be even till then. They would take our garment from us, but let us hold and them draw. Brother, 192 LETTER CIV. it is a strange world if we laugh not. I never saw the like of it, if there be not paiks the man for this contempt done to the Son of God. We must do as those who keep the bloody napkin to the bailiff and let him see blood. We must keep our wrongs to our Judge, and let Him see our bluddered and foul faces. Prisoners of hope must run to Christ with the gutters that tears have made on their cheeks. Brother, for myself, I am Christ's doated one for the present, and I live upon no deaf nuts (as we use to speak), He hath opened fountains to me in the wilderness. Go, look to ray Lord Jesus, His love to me is such that I defy the world to find either brim or bottom in it. Grace be with you. Your brother, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, March 13, 1637. LETTER CIV.— To the Lady Robertland. Mistress, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. I shall be glad to hear that your soul prospereth, and that fruit groweth upon you after the Lord's husbandry and pains in Llis rod, that hath not been a stranger to you from your youth. It is the Lord's kindness that He will take the scum off us in the fire. Who knoweth how need- ful winnowing is to us, and what dross Vv^e must want ere we enter into the kingdom of God ? So narrow is the entry to heaven, that our knots, our bunches and lumps of pride, and self-love, and idol- love, and world-love must be hammered off us, that we may throng in, stooping low, and creeping through that narrow and thorny entry. And now for myself, I find it the most sweet and heavenly life to take up house and dwelling at Christ's fireside, and set down my tent upon Christ, that foundation stone, who is sure and faithful ground and hard under foot. 0 ! if 1 could win to it, and proclaim myself not the world's debtor nor a lover obliged to it ; and that I mind not to hire or bud this world's love any longer ; but defy the kindness and feud of God's whole creation what- somever ; especially the lower vault and clay part of God's crea- tures, this vain earth. For what hold I of His world? a borrowed lodging and some year's house-room, and bread and water, and fire and bed, and candle, &c., are all a part of the pension of my King and Ijord, to whom I owe thanks, and not to a creature. I thank God, that God is God, and Christ is Christ, and the earth the earth, and the devil the devil, and the world the world, and that sin is sin, and that everything is what it is. Because He hath taught me, in my wilderness, not to shuffle my Lord Jesus, nor to intermix Him with creature vanities, nor to spin or twine Christ or His sweet love in one web, or in one thread, with the world and tlie things thereof. O, if LETTER CIT. 193 I could hold and keep Christ all alone and mix Him with nothing! O, if I could cry down the price and weight of my cursed self, and cry up the price of Christ, and double, and triple, and augment, and heighten to millions the price and worth of Christ ! 1 am (if I durst speak so, and might lawfully complain) so hungeredly tutored by Christ Jesus, my lil3eral Lord, that His nice love, which my soul would be in hands with, flieth me ; and yet I am trained on to love Him, and lust, and long, and die for His love, whom I cannot see. It is a wonder to pine away with love for a covered and hid lover, and to be hungered with His love, so as a poor soul cannot get his fill of hunger for Christ. It is hard to be hungered of hunger, whereof such abundance for other things is in the world. But sure if we were tutors, and stewards, and masters, and lord- carvers of Christ's love, we should be more lean and worse fed than we are. Our meat doeth us the more good, that Christ keepetli the keys, and that the wind and the air of Christ's sweet breathing, and of the influence of His Spirit, is locked up in the hands of the good pleasure of Him, who bloweth where He listeth. I see there is a sort of impatient patience required in the want of Christ as to His manifestations and waiting-on. They thrive who wait on His love, and the blowing of it, and the turning of His gracious wind ; and they thrive who in that on-waiting make haste, and din, and much ado, for their lost and hidden Lord Jesus. However it be. God feed me with Him any way. If He would come in, I shall not dispute the matter where He got a hole, or how He opened the lock. I should be content that Christ and I met; suppose He should stand on the other side of hell's lake, and cry to me, " either put in your foot and come through, else ye shall not have me at all." But what fools are we inthetaking up of Him andof His dealing ! He hath a gate of His own beyond the thoughts of men. that no foot hath skill to follow Him. But we are still ill scholars, and will go in at heaven's gates wanting the half of our lesson, and shall still be bairns solongasweare undertime's hands, andtilleternitycauseasun to arise in our souls that shall give us wit. We may see how we spill and mar our own fair heaven and our salvation, and how Christ is every day putting in one bone or other in these fallen souls of ours, in the right place again ; and that in this side of the new Jerusalem, we shall still have need of forgiving and healing grace. I find crosses Christ's carved work that He marketh out for us, and that with crosses He figureth and portrayeth us to His own image, cutting away pieces of our ill and corruption. Lord cut. Lord carve, Lord wound. Lord do anything that may, perfect thy Father's image in us, and make us meet for glory. Pray for me (I forget not you) that our Lord would be pleased to lend me house-room to preach His righteousness, and tell what I have heard and seen of Him. o 194 LETTEK CV. Forget not Zion that is now in Christ's calmes and in His forge God bring her out new work. Grace, grace be with you . Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, Jan. 4, 1637. LETTER C v.— To the Earl of Cassills. Right honourable and my yery good Lord, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to your lordship. I hope your lordship will be pleased to pardon my boldness, if (upon report of your zealous and forward mind, that I hear our Lord hath given you, in this His honourable cause, when Christ and His gospel are so foully wronged) I speak to your lordship in paper, entreating your lordship to go on in the strength of the Lord, toward and against a storm of Antichristian wind that bloweth upon the face of this, your poor mother church, Christ's lily amongst the thorns. It is your lordship's glory and hap- piness, when ye see such a blow coming upon Christ, to cast up your arm to prevent it ; neither is it a cause that needeth to blush before the sun, or to flee the sentence or censure of impartial beholders, seeing the question indeed (if it were rightly stated) is about the royal prerogative of our princely and royal Law-giver, our Lord Jesus, whose ancientmarch-stonesandland-bounds, our bastard-lords, tiie earthly generation of tyrannizing prelates, have,boldly and shame- fully removed; and they who have but half an eye, may see that it is the greedy desires of time-idolizing Demas's, and the itching scab of ambitious and climbing Diotrephes's (who love the goat's life to climb till they cannot And a way to set their soles on ground against), that hath made such a wide breach in our Zion's beautiful walls: and these are the men who seek no hire for the crucifying of Christ, but His coat. O, how forlorn and desolate is the bride of Christ made to all passers by ! Who seeth not Christ buried in this land ; His pro- phets hidden in caves, silenced, banished, andimprisoned, truth weep- ing in sackcloth before the judges, parliament, and the rulers of the land ? But her bill is cast by them, and holiness hideth itself, fear- ing the streets, for the reproaches and persecution of men ; justice is fallen a swoon in the gate, and the long shadows of the evening are stretched out upon us. Woe, woe to us, for our day flieth away. What remaineth, but that the Antichrist set down his tent in the midst of us, except your lordship, and others with you, read Christ's supplication, and give him that which the most lewd and scandalous wretches in tliis land may have before a judge, even the poor man's due, law and justice, for God's sake. 0, therefore, my noble and dear lord, as ye have begun, go on in the mighty power and strength .of the Lord, to cause our Lord in His gospel and afflicted members LETTER CVI. 195 laugh, and to cause the Christian churches (whose eyes are all now upon you) to sing for joy, w^hen Scotland's moon shall shine like the light of the sun, and the sun like the light of seven days in one. Ye can do no less than run and bear up the head of your dying and swooning mother-church, and plead for the production of her ancient charters. They hold out and put out, they hold in and bring in, at their pleasure, men in God's house ; they stole the keys from Christ and His church, and came in like the thief and the robber, not by the door, Christ; and now their song is authority, authority, obedience to church governors. When such a bastard and lawless pretended step- dame as our prelacy is gone mad, it is your place, who are the nobles, to rise and bind them; at least, law should fetter such wild bulls as they are, w^ho push all who oppose themselves to their domination. Alas ! what have we lost, since prelates were made master-coiners, to change our gold in brass, and to mix the Lord's wine with their water ? Blessed for ever shall ye be of the Lord, if ye help Christ against the mighty, and shall deliver the flock of God, scattered upon the mountains in the dark and cloudy day, out of the hands of these idol-shepherds. Fear not men, that shall be moth-eaten clay, that shall be rolled up in a chest, and casten under the earth. Let the holy one of Israel be your fear, and be courageous for the Lord and His truth. Remember your accounts coming upon you with wings, as fast as time posteth away. Remember what peace Avith God in Christ, and the presence of the Son of God, in the revealed and felt sweetness of His love, will be to you, when eternity shall put time, to the door, and ye shall take good-night at time, and this little shepherd's tent of clay, this inns of a borrowed earth. I hope your lordship is now and then sending out thoughts to view this world's naughtiness and vanity and the hoped-for glory of the life to come ; and that ye resolve, that Christ shall have yourself and all yours at command for Him, His honour and gospel. Thus trusting your lordship will pardon my boldness, I pray, that the only wnse God, the very God of peace, may preserve, strengthen, and establish you to the end. Your lordship, at all command and obedience in Christ, S. R. Aberdeen 1637. LETTER CYL— To the Lady Rowaland. Madam, — Though not acquainted, I am bold in Christ to speak to your ladyship in paper. I rejoice in our Lord Jesus on your behalf, that it hath pleased Him (whose love to you is as old as Himself) to manifest the favour of His love in Christ Jesus to your soul, in the revelation of His will and mind to you, now when so many are 196 LETTER CVII. shut up in unbelief. 0, tbe sweet change ye have made in leaving the black kingdom of this world and sin, and coming over to our Bridegroom's new kingdom, to know and to be taken with the love of the beautiful Son of God. I beseech you, madam, in the Lord, make now sure work, and see tliat the old house be casten down and raised from the foundation, and that the new building of your soul be of Christ's own laying ; for then, wind and storm shall neither loose it, nor shake it asunder. Many now take Christ by guess. Be sure that it be He, and only He, whom ye have met with. His sweet smell, His lovely voice. His fair face. His sweet working in the soul will not lie, they will soon tell if it be Christ indeed (and I think your love to the saints speaketh that it is He) ; and therefore, I say, be sure that ye take Christ Himself, and take Him with His Father's blessing : His Father alloweth Him well upon you, your lines are well fallen, it could not have been better, nor so well with you, if they had not fallen in these places. In heaven or out of heaven there is nothing better, nothing so sweet and excellent, as the thing ye have lighted on, and therefore hold you with Christ : joy, much joy may ye have of Him. But take His cross with Him- self cheerfully. Christ and His cross are not separable in this life ; howbeit, Christ and His cross part at heaven's door, for there is no house-room for crosses in heaven : one tear, one sigh, one sad heart, one fear, one loss, or thought of trouble cannot find lodging there : they are but the marks of our Lord Jesus down in this wide inns, and stormy country, on this side of death. Sorrow and the saints are not married together, or suppose it were so, heaven shall make a divorce. I find His sweet presence eateth out the bitterness of sorrow and suffering. I think it a sweet thing, that Christ saith of my cross, half mine, and that He divideth these sufferings with me, and taketh the largest share to Himself; nay, that T, and my Avhole cross, are wholly Christ's. O, what a portion is Christ ! O that the saints would dig deeper in the treasures of His wisdom and excellency ! Thus recommending your ladyship to the good- will and tender mercies of our Lord, I rest. Your ladyship, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, Sept. 7, 1G37. LETTER CVIL— To Robert Gordon of Knoxbrex. My very worthy and dear Friend, — Grace, mercy, and peace be unto you. Though all Galloway should have forgotten me, I would have expected a letter from you ere now. But I will not expound it to be forgetfulness of me. Now, my dear brother, I cannot show you how matters go betwixt Christ and me. I find my Lord going and coming seven times a day. His visits are LETTER CVII. 197 short, but they are both frequent and sweet. I dare not for my life think of a challenge of ray Lord. I hear ill tales, and hard reports of Christ, from the tempter and my flesh, but love believeth no evil I may swear that they are liars, and that apprehensions make lies of Christ's honest and unalterable love to me. I dare not say, that I am a dry tree, or that I have no room at all in the vineyard ; but yet, I often think, that the sparrows are blessed who may resort to the house of God in Anwoth, from which I am banished. Temptations, that I supposed to be stricken dead and laid upon their back, rise again and revive upon me; yea, I see that while I live, temptations will not die. The devil seemeth to brag and boast as much as if he had more court with Christ than I have, and as if h« had charmed and blasted my ministry, that I shall do no more good in public ; but his wind shaketh no corn. I will not believe Christ would have made such a mint to have me to Himself, and have taken so much pains upon me as He hath done, and then slip so easily from possession, and lose the glory of what He had done; nay, since I came to Aberdeen, 1 have been taken up to see the new land, the fair palace of the Lamb. And will Christ let me see heaven to break my heart, and never give it to me? I shall not think my Lord Jesus giveth a dumb earnest, or putteth His seals to blank paper, or intendeth to put me off with fair and false promises. I see that now which I never saw well before. 1. I see faith's necessity in a fair day is never known aright; but now I miss nothing so much as faith. Hunger in me runneth to fair and sweet promises ; but when I come, I am like a hungry man tha,t wanteth teeth, or a weak stomach having a sharp appetite, that is filled with the very sight of meat ; or like one stupified with cold under the water, that would fain come to land, but cannot grip any thing casten to him. I can let Christ grip me but I cannot grip Him I love to be kissed and to sit on Christ's knee ; but I can- not set my feet to tlie ground, for afflictions bring the cramp upon my faith. All I now do is to hold out a lame faith to Christ like a beggar holding out a stump, instead of an arm or leg, and cry Lord Jesus, work a miracle. O, what would 1 give to have hands and arms to grip strongly and fold heartsomely about Christ's neck, and to have my claim made good with real possession ! I think my love to Christ hath feet abundance and runneth swiftly to be at Him, but it wanteth hands and fingers to apprehend Him. I think I Avould give Christ every morning my blessing, to have as much faith as I have love and hunger ; at least, I miss faith more then love and hunger. 2. I see mortification, and to be crucified to the world, is not so highly accounted of by us as it should be. O, how heavenly a tiling is it to be dead, and dumb, and deaf to this world's sweet music ! I confess it hath pleased His Majesty to make me 198 LETTER CVIII. laugh at children who are wooing this world for their match. I see men lying about the world as nobles about a king's court, and I wonder what they are a-doing there. As I am at this present, I would scorn to court such a feckless and petty princess, or buy this world's kindness with a bow of my knee. I scarce now either hear or see what it is that this world ofFereth me ; I know it is little it can take from me, and as little it can give me. I recom- mend mortification to you above anything. For, alas, we but chase feathers flying in the air, and tire our own spirits for the froth and overgilded clay of a dying life. One sight of what my Lord hath let me see, within this short time, is worth a world of worlds. 3. I thought courage in the time of trouble for Christ's sake a thing that I might take up at my foot : I thought the very re- membrance of the honesty of the cause would be enough : but 1 was a fool in so thinking. I have much ado now to win to one smile ; but I see joy groweth up in heaven, and it is above our short arm. Christ will be steward and dispenser Himself, and none else but He. Therefore, now,Icount much of one drachm-weight of spiritual joy; one smile of Christ's face, is now to me as a kingdom, and yet He is no niggard to me of comforts. Truly, I have no cause to say, that I am pinched with penury, or that the consolations of Christ are dried up ; for He hath poured down rivers upon a dry wilder- ness, the like of me to my admiration : and in my very swoonings^ He holdeth up my head, and " stayeth me with flagons of wine," and " comforteth me with apples.'"' My house and bed are strawed with kisses of love. Praise, praise with me. O, if ye and I betwixt us could lift up Christ upon His throne, howbeit all Scotland should cast Him down to the ground ! My brother's case toucheth me near ; I hope ye will be kind to him, and give Him your best counsel. Remember my love to your brother, to your wife, and G. M., desire Him to be faithful and repent of his hypocrisy ; and say that I wrote it to you : I wish him salvation. Write to me your mind anent C. E. and C. Y. and their wives, and I. G., or any others in my parish. I fear I am forgotten amongst them ; but I cannot forget them. The prisoner's prayers and blessing come upon you. Grace, grace be with you. Your brother, in the Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, Feb. 9, 1637. LETTER CVni.— To my Lord Balmerinoch. My very noble and truly honourable Lord, — I make bold to write news to your Lordship from my prison, though your lordship have experience more than I can have. At my first entry here, I LETTER CIX. 199 was not a little casten down with challenges for old unrepented of sins ; and Satan, and my own apprehensions, made a lie of Christ, that he had casten a dry, withered tree over the dyke of the vine- yard ; but it was my folly, blessed be His gi'eat name, the iire cannot burn the dry tree. He is pleased now to feast the exiled prisoner vrith His lovely presence, for it suiteth Christ well to be kind ; and He dineth and suppeth with such a sinner as I am. I am in Christ's tutoring here. He hath made me content with a borrowed fireside, and it casteth as much heat as mine own. I want nothing at all but real possession of Christ. And He hath given me a pawn of that also, which I hope to keep till He come Himself to loose the pawn. I cannot get help to praise His high name. He hath made me a king over my losses, imprisonment, banishment, and only my dumb sabbaths stick in my throat. But I forgive Christ's wisdom in that. I dare not say one word. He hath done it, and I will lay my hand upon my mouth. If any other had done it to me, I could not have borne it. Now, my lord, I must tell your lordship, that I would not give a drink of cold water for this clay-idol, this plastered Avorld. I testify, and give it under mine own hand, that Christ is most worthy to be suffered for. Our lazy flesh (which would have Christ to cry down crosses by open proclamation) hath but raised a slander upon the cross of Christ. My lord, I hope ye will not forget what He hath done for your soul. I think ye are in Christ's count-book as His obliged debtor. Grace, grace be with your spirit. Your lordship's obliged servant, S. R. Aberdeen, March 13, 1637. LETTER CIX.— To Alexander Gordon of Knockgray. Dear Brother, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. I long to hear how your soul prospereth. I expected letters from you ere now. As for myself, I am here in good case, well-feasted with a great King. At my first coming here, I was that bold as to take up a jealousy of Christ's love : I said I was cast over the dyke of the Lord's vineyard as a dry tree ; but I see if I had been a withered branch, the fire would have burnt me long ere now : blessed be His high name who hath kept sap in the dry tree. And now, as if Christ had done the wrong, He hath made the mends, and hath miskent my ravings (for a man under the water cannot well com- mand his wit, far less his faith and love), because it was a fever, my Lord Jesus forgave me that among the rest. He knoweth in our afflictions, we can find a spot in the fairest face that ever was, even in Christ's face : I would not have believed that a gloom 200 LETTER ex. should have made me to misken my old Master ; but we must be whiles sick ; sickness is but kindly to both faith and love. But, O, how exceedingly is a poor doated prisoner obliged to sweet Jesus ! My tears are sv^^eeter to me than the laughter of the fourteen prelates to them. The worst of Christ, even His chaff, is better then the world's corn. Dear brother, I beseech you, I charge you, in the name and authority of the Son of God, help me to praise His highness ; and I charge you, also, to tell all your acquaintance, that my Master may get many thanks. O, if my hairs, all my members, and all my bones, were well tuned tongues to sing the high praises of my great and glorious King! Help me to lift Christ up upon His throne, and to lift Him up above all the thrones of the clay-kings, the dying sceptre-bearers of this world. The prisoner's blessing, the blessing of him that is separated from his brethren, be upon them all, who will lend me a lift in this work. Show this to that people with you, to whom sometimes I preached. Brother, my Lord hath brought me to this, that I will not flatter the world for a drink of water : I am no debtor to clay: Christ hath made me dead to that. I now wonder that ever I was such a child long since as to beg at such beggars ! Fie upon us, who woo such a black-skinned harlot, when we may get such a fair, fair match up in heaven. O, that I could give up with this clay-idol, this masked, painted, overgilded dirt, that Adam's sons adore ! we make an idol of our will : as many lusts in us, as many gods. We are all god-makers. We are like to lose Christ, the true God, in the throng of these new and false gods. Scotland hath cast her crown off her head : the virgin- daughter hath lost her garland : woe, woe to our harlot mother. Our day is coming, a time when women shall wish they had been childless, and fathers shall bless miscarrying wombs and dry breasts : many houses, great and fair, shall be desolate. This kirk shall sit on the ground all the night, and the tears shall run down her cheeks : the sun hath gone down upon her prophets. Blessed are the prisoners of hope, who can run into their stronghold, and hide themselves for a little till the indignation be overpast. Com- mend me to your wife, your daughters, your son-in-law, and to A. T. Write to me of the case of your kirk. Grace be with you. I am much moved for my brother, I entreat for your kindness and counsel to him. Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, Feb, 23, 1637. LETTER ex.— To my Lady Mak, Younger. Mt very noble and dear Lady, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. I received your ladyship's letter, which hath comforted LETTER CXI. 201 ray soul. God give you to find mercy in the day of Christ. I am in as good terms and court with Christ as an exiled oppressed prisoner of Christ can be. I am still welcome to His house; He knoweth my knock, and letteth in a poor friend. Under this black, rough tree of the cross of Christ, He hath ravished me with His love, and taken my heart to heaven with Him ; well and long may He bruik it. I would not niifer Christ with all the joys that man orangel can devise beside Him. Who hath such cause to speak honour- ably of Christ as I liave? Christ is King of all crosses, and He hath made His saints little kings under Him, and He can ride and triumph upon weaker bodies than I am (if any can be weaker), and His horse will neither fall nor stumble. Madam, your ladyship hath much ado with Christ, for your soul, husband, children, and house. Let Him find much employment, for His calling with you; for He is such a Friend as deligliteth to be burdened with suits and employments; and the more ye lay on Him, and the more homely ye be with Him, the more welcome. O, the depth of Christ's love ! It hath neither brim nor bottom. 0, if this blind world saw His beauty ! When I count with Him for His mercies to me, I must stand still and wonder, and go away as a poor dyvour, who hath nothing to pay: free fuigiveness is my payment. 1 would I could get Him set on high for His love hath made me sick, and I die except I get real possession. Grace, grace be with you. Your ladyship, at all obedience in Christ, S. R. Aberdeen, March 13, 1637. LETTER CXL— To Jamks M^Adam. My very dear and worthy Friend, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. I long to hear of your growing in grace, and of your ad- vancing in your journey to heaven. It will be the joy of my heart to hear that ye hold your face up the brae, and wade through ten- tations, without fearing what man can do. Christ shall, when He ariseth, mow down His enemies, and lay bulks (as they used to speak) on the green, and fill the pits with dead bodies, Psal, ex, 6; they shall lie like handfulls o withered hay when He ariseth to the prey. Salvation, salvation, is the only necessary thing. This clay-idol, the world, is not to be sought ; it is a morsel not for you, but for hunger-bitten bastards. Contend for salvation : your Master Christ won heaven with strokes ; it is a besieged castle, it must be taken with violence. O, this world thinketh heaven but at the next door, and that godliness may sleep in a bed of down till it come to heaven ; but that will not do it. For myself, I am as well as Christ's prisoner can be ; for by Him I am master and 202 LETTER CXII. king of all my crosses : I am above the prison and the lash of men's tongues ; Christ triumpheth in me. I have been casten down, and heavy with fears, and hunted with challenges. I was swimming in the depths, but Christ had His hand under my chin all the time, and took good heed that I should not loose breath ; and now I have gotten my feet again, and there are love-feasts of joy, and spring-tides of consolation, betwixt Christ and me. We agree well. I have court with Him ; I am still welcome to His house. 0, my short arms cannot fathom His love ! I beseech you, I charge you, help me to praise. Ye have a prisoner's prayers, therefore forget me not. I desire Sibilla to remember me dearly to all in that parish who know Christ, as if I had named them. Grace, grace be with you. Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, March 13, 1637. LETTER CXII. — To my very Dear Brother, William Liying- STONE. My very dear Brother, — I rejoice to hear that Christ hath run away with your young love, and that ye are so early in the morn- ing matched with such a Lord, for a young man is often a dressed lodging for the devil to dwell in. Be humble and thankful for grace, and weigh it not so much by weight as if it be true. Christ will not cast water on your smoking coal ; He never yet put out a dim candle that w^as lighted at the Sun of Righteousness. I recommend to you prayer and watching over the sins of your youth ; for I know missive letters go between the devil and young blood ; Satan hath a friend at court in the heart of youth ; and there, pride, luxury, lust, re- venge, forgetfulness of God, are hired as his agents ; happy is your soul if Christ man the house, and take the keys Himself and com- mand all (as it suiteth Him full well, to rule all wherever He is). Keep Him and entertain Christ well ; cherish His grace, blow upon your own coal, and let Him tutor you. Now, for myself, know I am fully agreed with my Lord. Christ hath put the Father and me in others' arms, many a sweet bargain He made before, and He hath made this among the rest. I reign as king over my crosses. I will not flatter a temptation, nor give the devil a good word : I defy hell's iron gates. God hath passed over my quarreling of Hini at my entry here, and now He feedeth and feasteth with me. Praise, praise with me ; and let us exalt His name together. Your brother in Christ, S. R. Aberdeen, March 13, 1637. I LETTER CXIII. 203 LETTER CXIIT— To William Gordon of White Parke. Worthy Sir, — Grace, mercy, and peace be unto you. I long to hear from you. I am here, the Lord's prisoner and patient, handled as softly by my physician as if I were a sick man under cure. I was at hard terms with my Lord and pleaded with Him ; but I had the worst side. It is a wonder He should have suffered the like of me to have nick-named the Son of His love, Christ, and to call Him a changed Lord, who had forsaken me ; but misbelief hath never a good word to speak of Christ. The dross of my cross gathered a scum of fears in the fire, doubtings, impatience, unbelief, challenging of providence as sleeping, and not regarding my sorrow ; but my goldsmith, Christ, was pleased to take off the scum and burn it in the fire. And blessed be my finer, He hath made the metal better and furnished new supply of grace, to cause me to hold out weight ; and I hope He hath not lost one grain weight by burning His ser- vant. Now, His love in my heart casteth a mighty heat. He knoweth that the desire 1 have to be at Himself paineth me. I have sick nights and frequent fits of love fevers for my Well-Beloved. No- thing paineth me now but want of presence. I think it long till day. I challenge time as too slow in its pace, that holdeth my only, only fair One, my love, my Well-Beloved from me. 0, if we were together once! I am like an old crazed ship that hath endured many storms, and that would fain be in the lee of the shore, and feareth new storms. I would be that nigh heaven that the shadow of it might break the force of the storm, and the crazed ship might win to land. My Lord's Sun casteth a heat of love and beam of light on my soul. My blessing, thrice every day, upon the sweet cross of Christ. I am not ashamed of my garland, " The banished Minister " (which is the term of Aberdeen). Love, love defileth reproaches. The love of Christ hath a croslet of proof on it, and arrows will not draw blood of it. We are more than conquerors through the blood of Him that hath loved us, Rom. viii. The devil and the world, they cannot wound the love of Christ. I am further from yielding to the course of defection than when I came hither. Sufferings blunt not the fiery edge of love. Cast love in the fioods of hell, it will swim above. It careth not for the world's busked and plastered offers. It hath pleased my Lord so to line my heart with the love of my Lord Jesus, that as if the field were already won, and I on the other side of time. I laugh at the world's golden pleasures, and at this dirty idol that the sons of Adam worship. This worm-eaten god is that which my soul hath fallen out of love with. Sir, you were once my hearer : I desire now to hear from^ you and your wife. I salute her and your children with blessings. I am glad that ye are still hand-fasted with Christ. Go on in your 204 LETTERS CXIV. AND CXV. journey, and take the city by violence. Keep your garments clean. Be clean virgins to your Husband, the Lamb. The world shall follow you to heaven's gates, and ye would not wish it to go in with you. Keep fast Christ's love. Pray for me, as I do for you. The Lord Jesus be with your spirit. Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, March 13, 1637. LETTER CXIV.— To Mr George Gillespie. Reverend and dear Brother, — I received your letter. As for my case, brother, I bless His glorious name, my losses are my gain, my prison a palace, and my sadness joyfulness. At my first entry, my apprehensions wrought so upon my cross, that I became jealous of the love of Christ, as being by Him thrust out of the vineyard, and I was under great challenges (as ordinarily melted gold casteth first a drossy scum, and Satan and our corruption form the first words, that the heavy cross speaketh and say, God is angry; He loveth you not). But our apprehensions are not canonical. They dite lies of God and Christ's love; but since my spirit was settled, and the clay fallen to the bottom of the well, I see better what Christ was doing. And now my Lord is returned with salvation under His wings, now I want little of half a heaven, and I find Christ every day so sweet, comfortable, lovely, and kind, as three things only trouble me. 1. I see not how to be thankful, or how to get help to praise that royal King, who raiseth up these that are bowed down. 2. His love paineth me, and woundelh my soul, so as I am in a fever for want of real presence. 3. An excessive desire to take instruments in God's name, that this is Christ and His truth I now suffer for; yea, the apple of the eye of Christ's honour, even the sovereignty and royal pri- vileges of our King and Law giver Christ. And, therefore, let no man scar at Christ's cross, or raise an ill report upon Him or it, for He beareth the sufferer and it both. I am here troubled with the dis- putes of the great doctors (especially with D. B,, in ceremonial and Arminian controversies, for all are corrupt here) ; but I thank God with no detriment to the truth or discredit to my profession. So then I see that Christ can triumph in a weaker man nor I, and who can be more weak? But His grace is sufficient for me. Brother, remember our old covenant, and pray for me, and write to me your case. The Lord Jesus be with your spirit. Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, March 13, 1637, LETTER CXV.— To John Meine. Dear Brothkr, — Grace, mercy, and peace be unto you. I won- der ye sent me not an answer to my last letter, for I stand in need LETTER CXVI. 20$ of it. I am still in some piece of court with our great King, whose love would cause a dead man speak and live. Whether my court will continue or not I cannot well say ; but I have His ear fre- quently, and (to His glory only I speak it) no penury of the love- kisses of the Son of God. He thinketh good to cast apples to me in my prison to play withal, lest I should think lon^ and faint: I must give over all attempts to fathom the depth of His love. All I can do is but to stand beside His great love, and look and wonder. My debts of thankfulness affright me. I fear my creditor get a dyvour bill and a ragged account : I would be much the better of hel[). O, for help ! And that ye would take notice of my case. Your not writing to me maketh me think, ye suppose that 1 am not to be bemoaned, because he is comfortable ; but 1 have pain in my unthankfulness, and pain in the feeling of His love, while I am sick again for real presence and real possession of Christ ; yet there is no gooked (if I may speak so) nor fond love in Christ. He casteth me down sometimes with challenges for old faults, and I know, He knoweth well that sweet comforts are swelling, and therefore sorrow must make a vent to the wind. My dumb sabbaths are undercotting wounds. The condition of this oppressed kirk, and my brother's case (I thank you and your wife for your kind- ness to him), hold my sore smarting and keep my wounds bleeding ; but the ground work standeth sure. Pray for me. Grace be with you. Remember me to your wife. Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, March 14, 1637. LETTER CXVI.— To Mr Thomas Garven. Reverend ani> dear Brother, — I bless you for your letter. It was a shower to the new mown grass. The Lord hath given you the tongue of the learned ; be fruitful and humble. It is possible ye come to my case or the like ; 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 dry land, my loss rich loss. O, if the walls of my prison be high, wide, and large, and the place sweet ! no man knoweth it ; no man, I say, knoweth it (my dear brother) so well as He and I ; no man can put it down in black and white, as my Lord hath sealed it in my heart. My poor stock is grown since I came to Aberdeen. And if any had known the wrong I did in being jealous of such an honest 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 recom- pense Him is folly. If I had as many angels' tongues as there 206 LETTER CXVII. 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, to praise ; yet my Lord Jesus would ever be behind with me. We will never get our accounts fitted: a pardon must close the reckoning; for His comforts to me in this His honourable cause, have almost put me beyond the bounds of modesty ; howbeit I will not let every one know what is betwixt us. Love, love (I mean Christ's love) is the hottest coal that ever I felt. 0, but the smoke of it be hot ! Cast all the salt sea on it, it will flame; hell cannot quench it. Many, many waters will not quench love. Christ is turned over to His poor prisoner in a mass and globe of love. I wonder He should waste so much love upon such a waster as I am ; but He is no waster, but abundant in mercy. He hath no niggard's alms, when He is pleased to give. O, that I could invite all the nation to love Him ! Free grace is an unknown thing. This world hath heard but a bare name of Christ, and no more. There are infinite plies in His love that the saints will never win to unfold. I would it were better known, and that Christ got more of His own due than He doeth. Brother, ye have chosen the good part who have taken part with Christ. Ye will see Him win the field, and ye shall get part of the spoil when He divideth it. They are but fools who laugh at us ; for they see but the backside of the moon ; yet our moonlight 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, and we find the four-hours sweet and comfortable. 0, 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 contain 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 sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, March 14, 1G37. LETTER CXVII.— To Bethaia Aird. Worthy Sister, — Grace, mercy, and peace be unto you. I know ye desire news from my prison, and I shall show you news. At ray first entry hither, Christ and I agreed not well upon it. The devil made a plea in the house, and I laid the blame upon Christ ; for my heart was fraughted with challenges, and I feared that I was an outcast, and that I was but a withered tree in the vineyard, and but held the sun off the good plants with my idle shadow, and there- fore, my Master had given the evil servant the fields to fend Him. LETTER CXYIII. 207 Old guiltiness said (as witness) all is true. My apprehensions were with child of faithless fears, and unbelief put a seal and amen to all. I thought myself in a hard case. Some said I had cause to rejoice that Christ had honoured me to be a witness for Him ; and I said in my heart, these are words of men who see but mine outside and cannot tell if I be a false witness or not. If Christ had, in this matter, been as wilful and short as I was, my faith had gone over the brae and broken its neck; but we were well met, — a hasty fool, and a wise, patient, and meek Saviour. He took no law-advantage of my folly, but waited on till my ill-blood was fallen, and my drumbled and troubled well began to clear. He was never a whit angry at the fever-ravings of a poor tempted sinner; but He merci- fully forgave, and came (as it well becometh Him) with grace and new comfort to a sinner who deserved the contrary. And now He is content to kiss my black mouth, to put His hand in mine, and to feed me with as many consolations as would feed ten hungry souls ; yet I dare not say, He is a waster of comforts, for no less would have borne me up ; one grain weight less would have casten the balance. Now, who is like to that royal King, crowned in Zion? Where will I get a seat for royal majesty to set Him on ? If I could set Him as far above the heavens, as thousand thousands of heights, devised by men and angels, I would think Him but too low. I pray you, for Grod's sake, my dear sister, help me to praise. His love hath neither brim nor bottom ; His love is like Himself, it passeth all natural understanding. I go to fathom it with my arms, but it is as if a child would take the globe of sea and land in his two short arms. Blessed and holy is His name. This must be His truth I now suffer for, for He would not laugh upon a lie, nor be witness with His comforts to a night-dream. I entreat for your prayers, and the prayers and blessing of a prisoner of Christ be upon you. Grace be with you. Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, March 14, 1637. LETTER CXVIIL— To Alexander Gordon of Knockgray. Dear Brother, — I have not leisure to write to you. Christ's ways were known to you long before I (who am but a child) knew any- thing of Him. What wrong and violence the prelates may, by God's permission, do unto you for your trial, I know not ; but this I know, that your ten days' tribulation wdll end. Contend to the last breath for Christ. Banishment out of these kingdoms is deter- mined against me, as I hear ; this land does not bear me up. I pray you recommend my case and bonds to my brethren and sisters with you : I intrust more of my spiritual comfort to you and them that 208 LETTER CXIX. way, my dear brother, than to many in this kingdom besides. I hope ye will not be wanting to Christ's prisoner. Fear nothing, for I assure you, Alexander Gordon of Knockgray shall win away, and get his soul for a prey. And what can he then want that is worth the having? Your friends are cold (as ye write), and so are these in whom I trusted much. Our Husband doeth well in break- ing our idols in pieces : dry wells send us to the fountain. My life is not dear to me, so being I may fulfil my course with joy. I fear, you must remove, if your new hireling will not bear your dis- countenancing of him ; for the prelate is afraid Christ get you, and that he hath no will of. Grace be with you. Yours, in his sweet Lord and Master, S. R. Aberdeen, 1637. LETTER CXIX.— To John Fleeming, Bailiff of Leith. Worthy and dearly beloved in the Lord, — Grace, mercy, and peace be unto you. 1 received your letter. I wish I could satisfy your desire in drawing up and framing for you a Christian direc- tory. But the learned have done it before me, more judiciously than I can ; especially Mr Rodgers, Greenham, and Perkins ; not- withstanding, I shall show you what I would have been at myself (howbeit, I came always short of my purpose). 1. That hours of the day, less or more time for the word and prayer be given to God, not sparing the twelfth hour or mid-day, howbeit it should then be the shorter time. 2. In the midst of worldly employments, there would be some thoughts of sin, judgment, death, and eternity, with a word or two of ejaculatory prayer (at least) to God. 3. To beware of wandering of heart in private prayers. 4. Not to grudge, howbeit ye come from prayer without sense or joy. Down-cast- ing, sense of guiltiness, and hunger is often best for us. 5. That the Lord's day, from morning to night, be spent always either in private or public worship. 6. That words be observed, wandering and idle thoughts be avoided, sudden anger and desire of revenge, even of such as persecute the truth, be guarded against, for we often mix our zeal with our own wild fire. 7. That known, dis- covered, and revealed sins, that are against the conscience, be eschewed, as most dangerous preparatives to hardness of heart. 8. That in dealing with men, faith and truth in covenants and traf- ficking be regarded, that we deal with all men in sincerity, that conscience be made of idle and lying words, and that our carriage be such, as that they who see it may speak honourably of our sweet Master and profession. 9. I have been much challenged. 1. For not referring all to God as- the last end. That I do not eat, drink, LETTER CXIX. 209 sleep, journey, speak, and think for God. 2. That I have not benefited by good company, and that I left not some word of con- viction even upon natural and wicked men, as by reproving swear- ing in them, or because of being a silent witness to their loose carriage, and because I intended not in all companies to do good. 3. That the woes and calamities of the kirk and particular pro- fessors have not moved me. 4. That the reading of the life of David, Paul, and the like, when it humbled me, I (coming so far short of their holiness) laboured not to imitate them, afar off at least, according to the measure of God's grace. 5. That unrepented sins of youth were not looked to and lamented for. 6. That sud- den .stirrings of pride, lust, revenge, love of honours were not resisted and mourned for. 7. That my charity was cold. 8. That the experiences I had of God's hearing me in this and the other particular being gathered, yet in a new trouble I had alwaj^s (once at least) my faith to seek as if I were to begin at A. B. C. again. 9. That I have not more boldly contradicted the enemies speaking against the truth, either in public church-meetings, or at tables, or ordinary conference. 10. That in great troubles, I have received false reports of Christ's love and misbelieved Him in His chastening, whereas the event hath said all was in mercy. 11. Nothing more moveth me and weigheth my soul, than that I could never for my heart, in my prosperity, so wrestle in prayer with God, nor be so dead to the world, so hungry and sick of love for Christ, so heavenly minded, as when ten stone weight of a heavy cross was upon me. 12. That the cross extorted vows of new obedience, which ease hath blown away, as chaff before the wind. 13. That practice was so short and narrow, and light so long and broad. 14. That death hath not been often meditated upon. 15. That I have not been careful of gaining others to Christ. 16. That my grace and gifts bring forth little or no thankfulness. There are some things also whereby I have been helped. As, 1. I have benefited by rid- ing alone, a long journey, in giving that time to prayer. 2. By abstinence and giving days to God. 3. By praying for others ; for, by making an errancl to God for them, I have gotten something for myself. 4. I have been really confirmed, in many particulars, that God heareth prayers, and therefore I used to pray for anything of how little importance soever. 5. He enabled me to make no ques- tion that this mocked way, which is nicknamed, is the only way to heaven. Sir, these and many more occurrences in your life would be looked into. And, 1. Thoughts of Atheism would be watched over, as if there be a God in heaven, which will trouble and assault the be^t at sometimes. 2. Growth in grace would be cared for above all things, and falling from our first love mourned for. 3. Conscience made of praying for the enemies who are blinded. Sir, I thank you P 210 LETTER CXX. most kindly for your care of my brother and me also ; I hope it is laid up for yon and remembered in heaven. I am still ashamed with Christ's kindness to such a sinner as I am : He hath left a fire in 'my heart, that hell cannot cast water on to quench or extinguish it. Help me to praise, and pray for me ; for ye have a prisoner's blessing and prayers. Remember my love to your wife. Grace hQ with you. Yours, in Christ Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, March 15, 1637. LETTER CXX.— To Robert Gordon of Knockbrex. My very dear Brother, — Grace, mercy, and peace be unto you. I thought to have answered your two letters upon this occasion, though I cannot say all that I would. Your timeous word (not to delight in the cross, but in Him who sweeteneth it) came to me in due time. I find the consolations and off-fallings that follow the cross of Christ so sweet, that I almost forget myself ; my desire and ^m:- pose is, when Christ's honeycombs drop, neither to refuse to receive and feed upon His comforts, nor yet to make joy m^ bastard-god, or my new-found heaven ; but what shall I say ? Christ very often, in His sweet comforts, cometli unsent for, and it were a sin to close the door upon Him. It is not unlawful to love and delight in Christ's apples, when I am not doatingly wooing, nor eagerly begging kisses ; but when they come clean from the timber (like kindness itself, that cometh of its own accord) then I cannot but laugh upon Him, who laugheth upon me. If joy and comforts came single and alone, with- out Christ Himself, I think I would send them back again the gate they came, and not make them welcome ; but when the King's train cometh, and the King in the midst of the company, 0 how am I overjoyed with floods of love ! I fear not that two great speats of love wash away the growing corn, and loose my plants at the roots. Christ doeth no skaitli where He cometh ; but certainly I would wish such spiritual wisdom as to love the Bridegroom better than His gifts. His propines, or drink-money. I would be further in upon Christ than at His joys ; they but stand in the utter side of Christ. I would wish to be in as a seal on His heart ; in where His love and mercy lodgeth, beside His" heart. My Well-Beloved hath ravished me ; but it is done with consent of parties, and it is allow- able enough. But, my dear brother, ere I part with this subject, I must tell you (that ye may lift up my King in praises witji me), Christ hath been keeping something these fourteen years for me, that I have now gotten in my heavy days, that I am in for His name's sake ; even an opened coffer of perfumed comforts and fresh joys coming new, and green, and powerful, from the fairest, fairest LETTER CXX. 211 face of Christ my Lord. Let the sour law, let crosses, let hell be cried down. Love, love hath shamed me from my old ways. Whether I have a race to rim, or some work ado, I see not ; but I think Christ seemeth to leave heaven (to say so) and His court, and come down to laugh, and play, and sport with a daft bairn. I am not this plain with many I write to. It is possible I be miscon- strued, and doomed to seek a name ; but my Witness above know- eth I seek to have a good name raised upon Christ. I 'observe it to be our folly to seek little from Christ ; because our four-hours may not be our supper, nor our propine sent by the Bridegroom our tocher good, nor our earnest our principal sum. But I trow few of us know hov\^ much may be had of Christ for a four-hours and a propine and earnest. We are like the young heir who knoweth not the whole bounds of his own lordship. Certainly it is more than my part to say, 0 SAveetest Lord Jesus, what, howbeit I were split and broken in five thousand shreds or bits of clay, so being every shred had a heart to love Thee, and every one as many tongues as there are stars in heaven to sing praises to Thee, before man and angel, for evermore ? Therefore, if my sufferings cry goodness, and praise, and honour upon Christ, my stipend is well paid. Each one knoweth not what a life Christ's love is. Scar not at suffering for Christ ; for Christ hath a chair, and a cushion, and sweet peace for a sufi'erer. Christ's trencher from the first mess of the high-table is for a sinful mtness. 0, then, brother, who but Christ ! who but Christ ! Hold your tongue of lovers, where He cometh out ! 0 all flesh, 0 dust and ashes ! 0 angels, 0 glorified spirits, 0 all the shields of the world, be silent before Him, come hither and behold our Bridegroom, stand still and wonder for evermore at Him 1 Why cease we to love and wonder, to kiss and adore Him ? It is a hard matter that days lie betwixt me and Him and hold us a-under. 0, how long, how long ! 0, how many miles are there to my Bridegroom's dwell- ing-house ; it is a pain to frist Christ's love any longer. But it may be, a drunken man lose his feet, and miss a step. Ye write to me ball-binks are slippery. I do not think my doating world will still last, and that feasts will be my ordinary food. I would have humility, patience, and faith, to set down both my feet when I come to the north-side of the cold and thorny hill. It is ill my common to be sweir to go an errand for Christ, and to take the wind upon my face for Him. Lord, let me never be a false witness to deny that I saw Christ take the pen in His hand and subscribe my writs. My dear brother, ye complain to me ye cannot hold sight of me ; but were I a footman I should go at leisure, but sometimes the King taketh me into His coach, and draweth me, and then I outrun myself; but alas, I am still a forlorn transgres- sor ; 0 how unthankful ! I will not put you off your sense of deadness ; :312 LETTER CXX. but let me say this, who gave you proctor-fee, to speak for the law, that can speak for itself, better than ye can do 1 I would not have you to bring your ditty in your own bosom with you to Christ. Let the old man and the new man be summoned before Christ's white throne, and let them be confronted before Christ, and let each one of them speak for themselves. I hope, howbeit the new man complain of his lying among the pots, which maketh the believer look back ; yet he can say also, I am comely as the tents of Kedar. Ye shall not have my advice not to bemoan your dead- ness ; but I find by some experience (which ye knew before I knew Christ) it suiteth not a ransomed man of Christ's buying, to go and plea for the sour law, our old forcasten husband ; for we are now not under the law (as a covenant) but under grace. Ye are in no man's common but Christ's. I know he bemoaneth you more than ye do yourself. I say this, because I am wearied of complaining. I thought it had been humility to imagine that Christ was angry with me, both because of my dumb sabbaths and my hard heart ; but I feel now nothing but aching wounds : my grief, whether I will or not, swelleth upon me. But let us die in grace's hall floor pleading before Christ. I deny nothing that the Mediator will challenge me of ; but I turn it all back upon Himself. Let Him look His own old counts if He be angry, for He will get no more of me. When Christ saith, I want repentance ; I meet Him with this, true Lord ; but thou art made a King and Prince to give me repentance. Acts v. 3L When Christ bindeth a challenge upon us, we must bind a promise back upon Him. Be woe and lay yourself in the dust before God (which is suitable) ; but withal, let Christ take payment in His own hand, and pay Himself off the first end of His own merits ; else He will come behind for anything we can do. I am every way in your case, as hard-hearted and dead, as any man ; but yet I speak to Christ through my sleep. Let us then proclaim a free market for Christ, and swear ourselves bare, and desire and cry on Him to oome without money and buy us, and take us home to our Ransom-payer's fireside, and let us be Christ's free-boarders : because we do not pay the old, we may not refuse to take on Christ's new debt of mercy. Let us do our best, Christ will still be behind with us, and many terms will run together. For my part, let me stand for evermore in His book for a forlorn dyvour. I must desire to be this far in His common of new, as to desire to kiss His feet. I know not how to win to a heartsome fill and feast of Christ's love ; for I do neither buy, nor beg, nor borrow ; and yet I cannot want it ; I do not want it. 0 if I could praise Him ! yea, I would rest content with a heart submissive and dying of love for Him ; and howbeit I won never personally in at heaven's gates. 0, would to God, I could send in my praises to LETTER CXXI. 213 my incomparable Well-Beloved, or cast my love-songs of that matchless Lord Jesus over the walls, that they may light in His lap before men and angels ! Now, grace, grace be with you. Ee- member my love to your wife, and daughter, and brother John. Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R Aberdeen, June 11, 1637. LETTER CXXL— To Alexander Gordon of Earlstown. Much honoured and worthy Sir, — Grace, mercy, and peace be unto you : I long to hear from you. I received few letters since I came hither ; I am in need of a word. A dry plant would have some watering. My case betwixt Christ my Lord and me standeth between love and jealousy, faith and suspicion of His love. It is a marvel He keepeth house with me. I make many pleas with Christ, but He ra aketh as many agreements with me. I think His unchangeable love hath said, I defy thee to break me and change me : if Christ had such changeable and new thoughts of my salvation as I have of it, I think I should then be at a sad loss. He humoureth not a fool like me in my unbelief, but rebuketh me and fathereth kind- ness upon me. Christ is rather like the poor friend and needy prisoner (begging love) than I am. I cannot for shame get Christ said nay of my whole love ; for He will not want His errand for the seeking. God be thanked my Bridegroom tireth not of woo- ing. Honour to Him, He is a Avilful suitor of my soul. But as love is His, pain is mine, that I have nothing to give Him. His count-book is full of my debts of mercy, kindness, and free love towards me. 0 that I might read with watery eyes ! 0 that He would give me the interest of interest to pay back ! Or rather my soul's desire is, that He would comprise my person, soul and body, love, joy, confidence, fear, sorrow, and desire, and drive the puynd, and let me be rouped and sold to Christ, and taken home to my Creditor's house and His fireside. The Lord knoweth, if I could, I would sell myself mthout reversion to Christ. 0 sweet Lord Jesus make a market and overbid all my buyers ! I dare swear there is a mystery in Christ which I never saw. A mystery of love. 0 if He would lay by the lap of the covering that is over it, and let my greening soul see it ! I would break the door, and be in upon Him, to get a wombful of love ; for I am an hungered and famished soul. 0, sir, if ye or any other would tell Him how sick my soul is, dying for want of a hearty draught of Christ's love. 0 if I could doat (if I may make use of that word in this case) as much upon Himself as I do upon His love ! it is a pity that Christ Himself should not rather be mv heart's choice then Christ's mani- 214 LETTER CXXI. fested love, Ifc would satisfy me, in some measure, if I had any bud to give for His love ; sJiall I offer Him my praises 1 Alas, He is more than praises ! I give it over to get Him exalted according to His worth, which is above what can be known ; yet all this time I am tempting Him to see if there be both love and anger in Him against me. I am plucked from His flock (dear to me) and from feed- ing His lambs. I go therefore in sackcloth as one who has lost the wife of his youth. Grief and sorrow are suspicious and spue out against Him the smoke of jealousies, and I say often, " Show me wherefore thou contendest with me?" Tell me Lord, read the process against me ; but I know I cannot answer His allegiance ; I will loose the cause when it cometh to open pleading. 0 if I could force my heart to believe dreams to be dreams ! yet when Christ giveth my fears the lie, and saith to me, thou art a liar, then I am glad. I resolve to hope, to be quiet, and to lie on the brink upon my side, till the waterfall and the ford be ridable, and howbeit, there be pain upon rue in longing for deliverance, that I may speak of Him in the great congregation ; yet I think there is joy in that pain and on-vraiting, and I even rejoice that He putteth me off for a time and shifteth me. 0 if I could wait on for all eternity, howbeit I should never get my soul's desire, so being He were glorified ! I would wish my pain and my ministry could live long to serve Him, for I know I am a clay vessel and made for His use, 0 if my very broken shreds could serve to glorify Him ! I desire Christ's grace, to be willingly content, that my hell (ex- cepting His hatred and displeasure), which I put out of all play (for submission to this is not called for), were a preaching of His glory to men and angels for ever and ever! When all is done, what can I add to Him 1 or what can such a clay shadow as I do 1 I know He needeth not me, I have cause to be grieved and to melt away in tears (if I had grace to do it, Lord grant it to me) to see my Well-Beloved's fair face spitted upon by dogs ; to see loons pulling the crown off my royal King's head; to see my harlot-mother and my sweet Father agree so ill, that they are going to skail and give up house ; my Lord's palace is now a nest of un- clean birds, 0, if harlot, harlot Scotland would rue upon her provoked Lord, and pity her good Husband, who is broken with her whorish heart ! But these things are hid from her eyes. I have heard of late of your ncAV trial by the Bishop of Galloway. Fear not clay and worm's meat : let truth and Christ get no wrong in your hand ; it is your gain, if Christ be glorified, and your glory to be Christ's witness ; I persuade you your sufferings are Chnst's advantage and victory ; for He is pleased to reckon them so. Let me hear from you, Christ is but winning a clean kirk out of the fire; He will win this play; He will not be in your common for LETTER CXXII. 215 any charges ye are at in His service ; He is not poor to sit in your debt ; He will repay an hundred-fold more, it may be, even in this life. The prayers and blessing of Christ's prisoner be with you. Aberdeen, 16 Your brother, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. Oi. LETTER CXXIL— To his Reverend and Loving Brother, j\Ir John Nevay. Reverend and dear Brother, — Grace, mercy, and peace be unto you. I received yours of April 11, as I did another of March 25, and a letter for Mr Andrew Cant. I am not a little grieved that our mother-church is running so quickly to the brothel-house, and that we are hiring lovers and giving gifts to the great mother of fornications. Alas, that our Husband is like to quit us so shortly. It were my part (if I were aj^le), when our Husband is departing, to stir up myself to take hold of Him and keep Him in this land ; for I know Him. to be a sweet second, and a lovely companion to a poor prisoner. I find my extremity hath sharpened the edge of His love and kindness, so as He seemeth to devise new ways of express- ing the sweetness of His love to my soul. Suffering for Christ is the very element wherein Christ's love liveth and exerciseth itself in casting out flames of fire and sparks of heat to warm such a frozen heart as I have ; and if Christ weeping in sackcloth be so sweet, I cannot find any imaginable thoughts to think what He will be when we, clay bodies (hawing put ofi" mortality), shall come up to the marriage-hall and great palace, and behold the King clothed in His robes roj^al, sitting on His throne. I would desire no more for my heaven beneath the moon, while I am sighing in this house of clay, but daily renewed feasts of love with Christ, and liberty now and then to feed my hunger with a kiss of that fairest face, that is like the sun in his strength at noon-day. L would willingly subscribe an ample resignation to Christ of the fourteen prelacies of this land, and of all the most delightful pleasures on earth, and forfeit my part of this clay-god, this earth, which Adam's foolish children wor- ship, to haA^e no other exercise but to he in a love-bed with Christ, and fill this hungered and famished soul with kissing, embracing, and real enjojing of the Son of God. And I think then I might write to my friends, that I had found the golden world, and look out and laugh at the poor bodies who are slajing one another for feathers ; for verily, brother, since I came to His prison, I have con- ceived a new and extraordinary opinion of Christ, which I had not before ; for I perceive wefrist all our joys to Christ, till He and we be in our own house above, as married parties ; thinking that there 216 LETTER CXXII. is nothing of it here to be sought or found, but only hope a^d fair promises ; and that Christ will give us nothing here but tears, sadness, crosses, and that we shall never feel the smell of the flowers of that high garden of paradise above till we come there. Nay, but I find it is possible to find young glory and a young green paradise of joy even here, I know Christ's kisses will cast a more strong and refreshful smell of incomparable glory and joy in heaven than they do here. Because a drink of the well of life, up at- the well's head, is more sweet and fresh by far, than that which we get in our borrowed, old, running-out vessels, and our wooden dishes here ; yet I am now persuaded it is our folly to frist all till the term day, seeing abundance of earnest will not diminish anything of our principal sum. We dream of hunger in Christ's house while we are liere, although He allowetli feasts upon all the bairns within God's household. It were good then to store ourselves with more borrowed kisses of Christ, and with more borrowed visits, till we enter heirs to our new inheritance, and our Tutor put us in pos- session of our own, when we are past minority. 0, that all the young heirs would seek more, and a greater and a nearer commu- nion with my Lord-tutor, the prime Heir of all, Christ ! I wish, for my part, I could send you and that gentleman, who wrote his com- mendations to me, into the King's innermost cellar and house of wine to be filled with love. A drink of this love is worth the having indeed. We carry ourselves but too nicely with Christ our Lord, and our Lord loveth not niceness, and dryness, and uncouthness in friends. Since need force, we must be in Christ's common, then, let us be in His common ; for it will be no other ways. Now for my present case, in my imprisonment, deliverance (for any appear- ance I see) looketh cold-like. My hope, if it looked to or leaned upon men, should wither soon at the root like a May-flower. Yet I resolve to ease myself with on-waiting on my Lord, and to let my faith swim where it loseth ground. I am under a necessity either of fainting (which I hope my Master, of whom I boast all the day, shall avert), or then to lay my faith upon Omnipotency, and to wink and stick by my grip. And I hope my ship shall ride it out, seeing Christ is willing to blow His sweet wind in my sails, and mendeth and closeth the leaks in my ship, and ruleth all. It will be strange if a believing passenger be casten overboard. As for your master, my lord and my lady, I will be loath to forget them. I think my prayers (such as they are) are due debt to him, and I shall be far more engaged to his lordship if he be fast for Christ (as I hope he will), now when so many of his coat and quality slip from Christ's back and leave Him to fend for Himself. I entreat you, remember my love to that worthy gentleman, A. C, who saluted me in your letter. I have heard LETTER CXXIII. 217 that he is one of my Master's friends, for the which cause I am tied to him : I wish he may more and more fall in love with Christ. Now for your question, as far as I really conceive. J think God is praised two ways. First, by a concional profession of his Highness before men, such as is the very hearing of the word, and receiving of either of the sacraments, in Avhich acts by profession, we give out to men, that He is our God, witli whom we are in covenant, and our Lawgiver. Thus eating and drinking in the Lord's supper is an annunciation and profession before men that Christ is our slain Eedeemer. Here, because God speaketh to us, not we to Him ; it is not a formal thanksgiving but an annunciation or predication of Christ's death, concional, not adorative ; neither hath it God for the immediate object, and therefore no kneeling can be here. Secondly. There is another praising of God, formal, when we are either formally blessing God or speaking His praises. And this I take to be twofold. 1. When we directly and formally direct praises and thanksgi\ang to God : this may well be done kneeling, in token of our recognizance of His Highness : yet not so, but it may be standing or sitting, especially seeing joyful elevation (which should be in praising) is not formally signified by kneeling. 2. When we speak good of God, and declare His glorious nature and attributes, extolling Him before men, to excite men to conceive highly of Him. The former I hold to be worship every way im- mediate, else I know not any immediate worship at all : the latter hath God for the subject, not properly the object, seeing the pre- dication is directed to men immediately rather than to God ; for here we speak of God, by way of praising, rather titan to God. And for my own part, as I am for the present minded, I see not how this can be done kneeling, seeing it is prcedicatio Dei et Chrisii, non laudatio aid henedidio Dei. But observe that it is formal prais- ing of God and not merely concional, as I distinguished in the first member ; for in the first member, any speaking of God, or of His works of creation, providence, and redemption, is indirect and concional praising of Him, and formally preaching, or an act of teaching, not an act of predication of His praises ; for there is a difference betwixt the simple relation of the virtues of a thing, which is formally teaching, and the extolling of the Avorth of a thing by way of commendation, to cause others to praise with us. Thus recommending you to God's grace, I rest, Yours, in our Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, June 15, 1637. LETTER CXXIIL— To Mr. J. R. Dear Brother, — Grace, mercy, and peace be unto you. Upon the report I hear of you, without any further acquaintance, except 218 LETTER CXXIII. our straitest bonds in our Lord Jesus, I thought good to write unto you, hearing of your danger to be thrust out of the Lord's house for His .name sake. Therefore, my earnest and humble desire to God is, that ye may be strengthened in the grace of God, and by the power of His might, to go on for Christ, not standing in awe of a worm that shall die. I hope ye will not put your hand to the ark to give it a wrong touch, and to overturn it, as many now do, when the archers are shooting sore at Joseph, whose bow shall abide in its strength. We owe to our royal King and princely Master a testimony. 0, how blessed are they who can ward a blow off Christ and his borne-down truth ! men think Christ a gone man now, and that He shall never get up His head again. And they be- lieve His court is failed, because he suifereth men to break their spears and swords upon Him ; and the enemies to plough Zion and make long and deep their furrows on her back. But it would not be so if the Lord had not a sowing for His ploughing. What can He do but melt an old drossy kirk, that He may bring out a new bride out of the fire again ? I think Christ is just now repairing His house and exchanging His old vessels with new vessels, and is going through this land, and taking up an in venture and a roll of so many of Levi's sons and good professors, that He may make them new work for the second temple. And whatsoever shall be found, not to be for the work, shall be casten over the wall. When the house shall be builded. He shall lay by His hammers as having no more to do with them. It is possible He do worse to them than lay them by ; and I think the vengeance of the Lord, and the vengeance of His temple, shall be upon them. I desire no more but to keep weight when I am past the fire. And I can now, in some weak measure, give Christ a testimonal of a lovely ;and loving companion under suffering for Him. I saw Him before 1but afar off. His beauty to my eye-sight groweth. A fig, a straw, •for ten worlds, plastered glory, and for childish shadows ; the idol of clay (this gocl, the world) that fools fight for. If I had a lease of Christ of my own dating (for whoever once cometh nigh hand, and taketh a hearty look of Christ's inner side, shall never ring nor wrestle themselves out of tlis love-grips again), I would rest contented in my prison ! yea, in a prison without light of sun or candle, providing Christ and I had a love-bed, not of mine, but of Christ, His own making, that we might lie together among the lilies till the day break and the shadows flee away. Who knoweth how sweet a drink of Christ's love is 1 0, but to live on Christ's love is a king's life ! the worst things of Christ, even that which seemeth to be the refuse of Christ, His hard cross. His black cross, is white and fair : and the cross r.eceiveth a beau- tiful lustre and a perfumed smell from Jesus. My dear brother, LETTER CXXIV. 219 scar not at it. While ye have time to stand upon the watch tower and to speak, contend with this land, plead with yonr harlot mother, who hath been a treacherous half-marrow to her Husband, Jesus : for I would think liberty to preach one day the root and top of my desires, and M'ould seek no more of the blessings that are to be had on this side of time till I be over the water, but to spend this my crazed clay-house in His service and saving of souls. But I hold my peace because He hath done it. My shallow and ebb thoughts are not the compass Christ saileth by. I leave His ways to Himself, for they are far, far above me. Only I would contend ^viih Christ for His love, and be bold to make a plea with Jesus my Lord for a heart-fill of His love ; for there is no more left to me. What standeth beyond the far end of my sufferings, and what shall be the event. He knoweth ; and I hope, to my joy, shall make me know, when God shall unfold His decrees concerning me ; for there are windings, and to's and fro's in His Avays, which blind bodies like us cannot see. This much for further acquaintance. So recom- mending you, and what is before you to the grace of God, I rest. Your very loving brother, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, Jiuie 16, 1637. LETTER CXXIV.— To Mr WiLLi.m Dalgleish. Reverend and well-beloved Brother, — Grace, mercy, and peace be unto you. I have heard somewhat of your trials in Galloway. I bless the Lord, who hath begun first in that corner to make you a new kirk to Himself. Christ hath the less ado behind when He hath refined you. Let me entreat you, my dearly beloved, to be fast to Christ. My witness is above, my dearest brother, that ye have added much joy to me in my bonds, when I hear that you grow in the grace and zeal of God for your Master. Our ministry, whether by preaching or suflfering, will cast a smell through the world both of heaven and hell, 2 Cor. ii. 15, 16. I persuade you, my d^ar brother, there is nothing out of heaven, next to Christ, dearer to me than my ministry, and the worth of it, in my estimation, is swelled, and paineth me exceed- ingly, yet I am content, for the honour of my Lord, to surrender it back again to the Lord of the vineyard. Let Him do with me and it both what He thinketh good : I think myself too little for Him. And let me speak to you, how kind a fellow-prisoner is Christ to me ! Believe me, this kind of cross (that would not go by my door, but would needs visit me) is still the longer the more Avelcome to me. It is true my silent Sabbaths have been and are still as glassy ice, whereon my faith can scarce hold its feet, as I am often blown on my back and off my feet wit]i a storm of doubting: 220 LETTER CXXIV. yet truly my bonds all this time cast a mighty and rank smell of high and deep love in Christ. I cannot indeed see through my cross to the far end ; yet I believe I am in Christ's books, and in His decree (not yet unfolded to me) a man triumphing, dancing, and singing over on the other side of the Red Sea, and laughing and praising the Lamb, over beyond time, sorrow, deprivation, ]3relates' indignation, losses, want of friends, and death. Heaven is not a fowl flying in the air (as men use to speak of things that are uncertain) ; nay, it is well paid for, Christ's comprisement lieth on glory, for all the mourners in Zion, and shall never be loosed. Let us be glad and rejoice that we have blood, losses, and wounds, to show our Master and Captain at His appearance, and what we suffered for His cause. Woe is me, my dear brother, that I say often, I am but dry bones, which my Lord will not bring out of the grave again, and that my faithless fears say, " 0, I am a dry tree that can bear no fruit ; I am an useless body, who can beget no children to the Lord in His house ! " Hopes of deliverance look cold and uncertain and afar off, as if I had done with it. It is much for Christ (if I may say so) to get lawborrows of my sorrow and of my quarrelous heart. Christ's love playeth me fair play, I am not wronged at all : but there is a tricking and false heart within me that still playeth Christ foul play. I am a cumbersome neighbour to Christ ; it is a wonder that He dwelleth beside the like of me ; yet I often get the advantage of the hill above my temptations, and then I despise the temptation, even hell itself and the stink of it, and the instruments of it, and am proud of my honour- able Master. And I resolve, whether contrary winds will or not, to fetch Christ's harbour : and I think a wilful and stiff con- tention with my Lord Jesus for His love very lawful : it is some- times hard to me to win my meat upon Christ's love, because my faith is sick, and my hope withereth, and my eyes wax dim, and unkind and comfort-eclipsing clouds go over the fair, and bright, and light Sun, Jesus. And then, when I and my temptation tryst the matter together, we spill all through unbelief. Sweet, sweet for evermore would my life be, if I could keep faith in exercise. But I see my fire cannot always cast light. I have even a poor man's hard world, when He goeth away. But surely, since my entry hither, many a time hath my fair Sun shined without a cloud. Hot and burning hath Christ's love been to me ; I have no vent to the expression of it. I must be content with stolen and smothered de- sires of Christ's glory. 0 how far is His love behind the hand with me ! I am just like a man who hath nothing to pay his thou- sands of debt : all that can be gotten of him, is to seize upon his person. Except Christ would seize upon myself, and make the readiest payment that can be of my heart and love to Himself, I LETTER CXXIV. 221 have no other thing to give Him. If my sufferings could do be- holders good, and edify His kirk, and proclaim the incomparable worth of Christ's love to the world, 0 then how would my soul be overjoyed, and my sad heart cheered and calmed ! Dear l3rother, I cannot tell what is become of my labours among that people. If all that my Lord builded by me be casten down, and the bottom fallen out of the profession of that parish, and none stand by Christ, whose love I once preached, as clearly and plainly as I could (though far below its worth and excellency), to that people ; if so, how can I bear it '? And if another make a foul harvest, where I have made a painful and honest sowing, it wiU not soon digest with me ; but I know His ways pass finding out. Yet my Avitness, both within me and above me, knoweth, and my pained breast upon the Lord's day at night, my desire to have had Christ, awful, and amiable, and sweet to that people, is now my joy ; and it was my desire and aiiii to make Christ and them one. If I see my hopes die in the bud, ere they bloom a little, and come to no fruit, I die with grief. 0, my God, seek not an account of the violence done to me by my brethren, whose salvation I love and desire. I pray, that they and I be not heard as contrary parties in the day of our compearance before our Judge, in that process led by them against my ministry, which I received from Christ. I know a little inch, and less than the third part of this span-length and hand-breadth of time which is posting away, will put me without the stroke and above the reach of either brethren or foes. And it is a short-lasting injury done to me and to my pains in that part of my Lord's vineyard. 0, how silly an advantage is my deprivation to men, seeing my Lord Jesus hath many ways to recover His own losses, and is irresistible to compass His own glorious ends, that His lily may grow amongst thorns, and His little kingdom exalt itself, even under the swords and spears of contrary powers ! but, my dear brother, go on in the strength of His^ rich grace whom ye serve. Stand fast for Christ. Deliver the Gos- pel off your hand, and your ministry to your Master, with a clean and undefiled conscience. Loose not a pin of Christ's tabernacle : do not so much as pick with your nail at one board or border of the ark. Have no part or dealing, upon any terms, in a hoof, in a closed window, or in a bowing of your knee, in casting down of the temple ; but be a mourning and speaking witness against them who now ruin Zion. Our Master will be on us all, in a clap, ere ever we wit. That day ^vill discover all our whites and our blacks concerning this controversy of poor, oppressed Zion. Let us make our part of it good that it may be able to abide the fire, when hay and stubble shall be burnt to ashes. Nothing, nothing (I say nothing) but sanctification can abide the Lord's fan. I stand to my testimony that I preached often of Scotland. Lamentation, mourning, and 222 LETTER CXXV. woe abideth thee, 0 Scotland. 0 Scotland, the fearful quarrel of a broken covenant standeth good with thy Lord. Now, remember my love to all friends, and ■ to my parishioners, as if I named each one of them particularly. I recommend you and God's people, committed by Christ to your trust, to the rich grace of our all-suffi- cient Lord. Eemember my bonds. Praise my Lord who beareth me up in my sufferings. As ye find occasion (according to the wisdom- given you), show our accjuaintance what the Lord hath done to my soul. This I seek not, verily, to hunt my own praise, but that my sweetest -and dearest Master my be magnified in my sufi'erings. I rest, your brother, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. E. Aberdeen, June 17, 1637. LETTEE CXXY.— To Marion M'Knaught. Dearly beloved in our Lord Jesus Christ, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. Few know the heart of a stranger and prisoner ; I am in the hands of mine enemies. I would honest and lawful means w"ere essayed for bringing me home to my charge, now wdien Mr A. E. and Mr H. E. are restored. It concerneth you of Galloway most to use supplications and addresses for this purpose, and try if by fair means I can be brought back again. As for liberty, without I be restored to my fiock, it is little to me, for my silence is my greatest prison. However it be, I wait for the Lord, I hope not to rot in my sufi'erings. Lord give me submission to wait on ; my heart is sad, that my days flee away, and I do no service to my Lord in His house, now when His harvest and the souls of perish- ing people require it ; but His ways are not like my ways, neither can I find Him out. 0, that He would shine upon my darkness, and bring forth my morning light, from under the thick cloud, that men have spread over me ! 0, that the Almighty would lay my cause in a balance and weigh me, if my soul was not taken up, when others were sleeping, how to have Christ betrothed with a bride in that part of the land ! But that day that my mouth was most unjustly and cruelly closed, the bloom fell off" my branches, and my joy did cast the fiower ; howbeit, I have been casting my- self under Christ's feet, and wrestling to believe under a hidden and covered Lord ; yet my fainting cometh before I eat, and my faith hath bowed with the sore cast and under this almost insup- portable weight. 0, that it break not ! I dare not say that the Lord hath put out my candle, and hath casten water upon my poor €oal, and broken the stakes of my tabernacle ; but I have tasted bitterness and eaten gall and wormwood since that day my Master laid bonds upon me to speak no more. I speak not this because the Lord is uncouth to me, but because beholders, that stand on LETTER CXXVI. 223 dry land, see not my sea-storm. The witnesses of my cross are but strangers to my sad days and nights. 0, that Christ would let me alone, and speak love to me, and come home to me, and bring summer with Him ! 0, that I might preach His beauty and glory, as once I did, before my clay-tent be removed to darkness, and that I might lift Christ off the ground, and my branches might be watered with the dew of God, and my joy in His work might grow green again, and bud, and send out a flower ! But I am but a short- sighted creature, and my candle casteth not light afar off. He knoweth all that is done to me, how that when I had but one joy and no more, and one green flower that I esteemed to be my garland. He came in one hour and dried up my flower at the root, and took away mine only eye, and mine only one crown and garland. What can I say? Surely my guiltiness hath been remembered before Him, and He was seeking to take down my sails and to land the flower of my delights, and to let it lie on the coast Hke an old broken ship that is no more for the sea. But I praise Him for this wailed stroke, I welcome this furnace ; God's wisdom made choice of it for me, and it must be best because it was His choice. 0, that I may wait for Him till the morning of this benighted kirk break out ! This poor afiiicted kirk had a fair morning ; but her night came upon her before her noon-day, and she was like a traveller forced to take house in the morninsr of his journey. And now her adversaries are the chief men in the land, her ways mourn, her gates languish, her children sigh for bread, and there is none to be instant with the Lord, that He would come again to His house, and dry the face of his weeping spouse, and comfort Zion's mourners, who are waiting for Him. I know. He shall make corn to grow upon the top of His withered Mount Zion again. Remember my bonds, and forget me not. 0, that my Lord would bring me again amongst you with abundance of the Gospel of Christ ! But 0, that I may set down my desires where my Lord biddeth me ! Remember my love in the Lord to jomy husband, God make him faithful to Christ; and my blessing to your three children. Faint not in prayer for this kirk. Desire my people not to receive a stranger and intruder upon my ministry : let me stand in that right and station that my Lord Jesus gave me. Grace, grace be with you. Yours, in his sweet Lord and Master, S. R, Aberdeen, 1637. LETTER CXXVI.— To John Gordon at Risco. Dear Brother, — I earnestly desire to know the case of your soul, and to understand that ye have made sure work of heaven and sal- vation. 1. Remember, salvation is one of Christ's dainties He giveth 224 LETTER cxxvr. but to a few. 2. That it is violent sweating and striving that taketh heaven. 3. That it cost Christ's blood to purchase that house to sinners, and to set mankind down the King's free tenants and freeholders. 4. That many make a start towards heaven who fall on their back and win not up to the top of the mount ; it plucketh heart and legs from them, and they sit down and give it over, be- cause the devil setteth a sweet-smelled flower to their nose (this fair busked world), wherewith they are bewitched, and so forget or refuse to go forward. 5. Remember, many go far on, and reform many things, and can find tears, as Esau did ; and suffer hunger for the truth, as Judas did ; and wish and desire the end of the righteous, as Baalam did ; and profess fair, and fight for the Lord, as Saul did ; and desire the saints of God to pray for them, as Pharaoh and Simon Magus did ; and prophesy and speak of Christ, as Caiaphas did ; walk softly, and mourn for fear of judgment, as Ahab did ; and put away gross sins and idolatry, as Jehu did ; and hear the word of God gladly, and reform their life in many things, ac- cording to the word, as Herod did ; and say, '' Master (to Christ), I will follow thee, whithersoever thou goest," as the man who offered to be Christ's servant, Matt. viii. ; and may taste of the virtues of the life to come, and be partakers of the wonderful gifts of the Holy Spirit, and taste of the good word of God, as the apostates who sin against the Holy Ghost, Heb. vi. : and yet all these are but like gold in clink and colour, and watered brass, and base metal. These are written that we should try ourselves, and not rest till we be a step nearer Christ than sun-burnt and wither- ing professors can come. 6. Consider, it is impossible that your idol-sins and ye can go to heaven together ; and that they, who will not part with these, can indeed love Christ at the bottom ; but only in word and show, which will not do the business. 7. Re- member how swiftly God's post-time fiieth away, and that your forenoon is already spent, your afternoon will come, and then your evening, and at last, night, when ye cannot see to work. Let your heart be set upon finishing of your journey, and summing, and lay- ing your accounts with your Lord. 0, how blessed shall ye be to have a joyful welcome of your Lord at night. How blessed are they, who, in time, take sure course with their souls ! Bless His great name for what ye possess in goods and children, ease and worldly contentment, that He hath given you; and seek to be like Christ, in humility and lowliness of mind, and be not great and entire with the Avorld ; make it not your god, nor your lover, that ye trust into, for it will deceive you. I recommend Christ and His love to you in all things ; let Him have the flower of your heart and your love ; set a low price upon all things but Christ, and cry down in your thoughts clay and dirt that will not comfort you. LETTER CXXVII. 225 when ye get summons to remove, and compear before your Judge, to answer for all the deeds done in the body. The Lord give you wisdom in all things. I beseech you, sanctify God in your speaking, for holy and reverend is His name ; and be temperate and sober ; companionry (as it is called) is a sin that holdeth men out of heaven. I will not believe that ye will receive the ministry of a stranger, who will preach a new and uncouth doctrine to you. Let my salvation stand for it, if I delivered not the plain and whole counsel of God to you in His word. Read this letter to your wife, and remember my love to her, and request her to take heed to do what I write to you. I pray for you and yours. Remember me in your prayers to our Lord, that He would be pleased to send me amongst you again. Grace be with you. Your lawful and loving pastor, S. R. Aberdeen, 1637. LETTER CXXVIL— To Mr Hugh Hexdekson. Reverend and dear BROinET?, — Who knoweth but the wind may turn into the Avest again upon Christ and His desolate bride in this land ? and that Christ may get His summer by-course again ; for He hath had ill weather this long time, and could not find law or justice for Himself and His truth these many years. I am sure the wheels of this crazed and broken kirk run all upon no other axle-tree, nor is there any other to roll them, and cog them, and drive them, but the wisdom and good pleasure of our Lord. And it were a just trick, and glorious, of never-sleeping providence, to bring our brethren's darts, they have shot at us, back upon their own heads. Suppose they have two strings in their bow, and can take one as another faileth them, yet there are more than three strings upon our Lord's bow ; and, besides, He cannot miss the white that He shooteth at. I know. He shufileth up and down in His hand the great body of heaven and earth, and that kirk and commonwealth are in His hand like a stock of cards, and that He dealeth the play to the mourners in Zion, and those that say, "Lie down, that we may go over you," at His own sovereign pleasure : and I am sure, Zion's adversaries, in this play, shall not take up their own stakes again. O, how sweet a thing it is to trust in Him ! when Christ hath slept out His sleep (if I may speak so of Him, who is the Watchman of Israel, that neither slumbereth nor sleep- eth), and His own are tried. He will arise as a strong man after wine, and make bare His holy arm, and put on vengeance as a cloak, and deal vengeance thick and double amongst the haters of Zion. It may be we see Him sow, and send down maledictions and ven- Q 226 LETTER CXXVIII. / geances, as thick as drops of rain or hail, upon His enemies. For our Lord oweth them abhick day, and Heuseth duly to pay His debts: neither His friends and followers, nor His foes and adversaries, shall have it to say, that He is not faitliful and exact in keeping His word. I know no bar in God's way but Scotland's guiltiness, and He can come over that impediment and break that bar also, and then say to guilty Scotland, as He said, Ezek. xxxvi., "Not for your sakes," &c. On-waiting had ever yet a blessed issue, and to keep the word of God's patience, keepeth still the saints dry in the water, cold in the iire, and breathing and blood-hot in the grave. What are prisons of iron walls and gates of brass to Christ? not so good as feal-dykes, fortifications of straw, or old tottering walls : if He give the word, then the chains will fall off the arms and legs of His prisoners. God be thanked that our Lord Jesus hath the tutoring of king, and court, and nobles, and that He can dry the gutters and the mii-es in Zion, and lay causeys to the temple with the carcases of bastard lord prelates and idol shepherds. The corn on the house-tops got never the husbandman's prayers, and so is seen on it, for it filleth not the hand of mowers. Christ and truth and innocency worketh even under this earth ; and verily there is hope for the righteous. We see not what conclusions pass in heaven anent all the affairs of God's house : we need not give hire to God to take vengeance of His enemies; for justice worketh without hire. O, that the seed of hope would grow again and come to maturity. And that we could importune Christ, and double our knocks at His gate, and cast our cries and shouts over the wall, that He might come out and make our Jerusalem the praise of the whole earth, and give us salvation for walls and bulwarks : if Christ bud, and grow green, and bloom, and bear seed again in Scotland, and His Father send Him two summers again in one year, and bless His crop. 0, what cause have we to rejoice in the free salvation of our Lord, and to set up our banners in the name of our God ! 0 that He would hasten the confusion of the leprous strumpet, the mother and mis- tress of abominations in the earth, and take graven images out of the way, and come in with the Jews in troops, and agree with His old outcast and forsaken wife, and take them in again to His bed of love! Grace be with you. Yours, in our Master and Lord, S. R. Aberdeen, 1637. LETTER CXXVIIL— To the Lady Largikie. Mistress, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. I exhort you in the Lord to go on in your journey to heaven, and to be content of LETTER CXXIX. 227 such fiirc by the way as Christ and Plis followers have had before yon ; for they had always the wind on their fjices, and our Lord hath not clianged the way to us, for our ease, but will have us following our sweet Guide. Alas, how doth sin clog us in our journey and retard us! Avhat fools are we to have a by-god, or an- other lover or match to our souls beside Christ? It were best for U5, like ill bairns (who are best heard at home), to seek our own home, and to sell our hopes of this little clay inns and idol of the earth, where we are neither well summered nor well wintered. O, that our souls would fall so at odds with the love of this world as to think of it as a traveller doeth of a drink of water, which is not any part of liis treasure, but goeth away with the using; for ten miles' journey maketh that drink to Him as nothing! O, that we had as soon done with this world, and could as quickly dispatch the love of it ! But as a child cannot hold two apples in his little hand, but the one putteih the other out of its room ; so neither can we be masters and lords of two loves. Blessed were we if we could make ourselves masters of that invaluable treasure, the love of Christ; or rather suffer ourselves to be mastered and subdued to Christ's love, so as Christ were our all things, and all other things our nothings, and the refuse of our delights. O, let us be ready for shipping against the time our Lord's wind and tide call for us ! Death is the last thief that shall come without din or noise of feet and take our souls away, and we shall take our leave at time and face eternity, and our Lord shall lay together the two sides of this earthly taber- nacle, and fold us and lay us by as a man layeth by his clothes at night, and put the one half of us in a house of clay, the dark grave, and the other half of us in heaven or hell. Seek to be found of your Lord in peace, and gather in your flitting, and put your soul in order, for Christ will not give a nail-breadth of time to our little sand-glass. l*ray for Zion and for me Llis prisoner, that He would be pleased to bring me amongst you again full of Christ, and fraughted and laden with the blessings of His Gospel. Grace, grace be with you. Yours, in his only Lord and Master, S. R. Aberdeen, ]637. LETTER CXXIX.— To Earlestown, Younger. Worthy a^d dearly beloved in the Lord, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. I long to hear from you. I remain still a pris- oner of hope, and do think it service to the Lord to wait on still with submission, till the Lord's morning-sky break and His summer- day dawn ; for I am persuaded it is a piece of the chief errand of our life that God sent us, for some years, down to this earth among 228 LETTER CXXIX. devils and men, the firebrands of the devil and temptations, that we might suffer for a time here amongst our enemies ; otherwise He might have made heaven to wait on us, at our coming out of the womb, and have carried us home to our country, without letting us set down our feet in this knotty and thorny life : but seeing a piece of suffering is carved to every one of us, less or more, as infinite wisdom hath thought good, our part is to harden and habituate our soft and thin-skinned nature; to endure fire and water, devils, lions, men losses, woe hearts, as these that are looked upon by God, angels, men, and devils. O, what folly is it to sit down and weep upon a decree of God, that is both dumb and deaf at our tears, and must stand still as immovable as God who made it ; for who can come behind our Lord to alter or better what He hath decreed and done t It were better to make windows in our prison, and to look out to God and our country heaven, and to cry, like fettered men who long for the King's free air, ''Lord, let thy kingdom come: 0, let the Bridegroom come ! And, O day, 0 fair day, O everlasting summer-day, dawn and shine out, break out from under the black night sky and shine !" I am persuaded, if every day a little stone in the prison walls were broken, and thereby assurance given to the chained prisoner lying under twenty stone of irons upon arms and legs, that at length his chain should wear in two pieces, and a hole should be made at length as wide as he might come safely out to his long desired liberty, he would in patience wait on till time should hole the prison wall and break his chains. The Lord's hope- ful prisoners, under their trials, are in that case. Years and months will take out now one little stone, then another of this house of clay, and at length time shall win out the breadth of a fair door, and send out the imprisoned soul to the free air in heaven ; and time shall file oflf, by little and little, our iron bolts, Mdiich are now on legs and arms, and out-date and wear our troubles thread-bare and holey, and then wear them to nothing. For what I suffered yester- day, I know shall never come again to trouble me. O, that we could breathe out new hope and new submission every day in Christ's lap ! For certainly a weight of glory well weighed (yea, increasing to a far more exceeding and eternal weight) shall recom- pense both weight and length of light, and clipped and short-dated crosses. Our waters are but ebb, and come neither to our chin nor to the stopping of our breath. I may see (if I woidd borrow eyes from Christ) dry land and that near. Why, then, should we not laugh at adversity, and scorn our short-born and soon-dying temp- tations. I rejoice in the hope of that glory to be revealed, for it is no uncertain glory we look for ; our hope is not hung upon such an untwisted thread as "I imagine so," or " it is likely;" but the cable, the strong tow of our fastened anchor, is the oath and the promise LETTER LXXX. 229 of Him who is eternal verity; our salvation is fastened with God's own hand and with Christ's own strength to the strong stoup of God's unchangeable nature, Mai. iii. 6, " I am the Lord, I change not, and therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed." We may play, and dance, and leap upon our worthy and immovable Rock : the ground is sure and good, and will bide hell's brangling, and devil's brangling, and the world's assaults. 0, if our faith could ride it out against the high and proud winds and waves, when our sea seemeth all to be on fire ! O, how oft do I let my grips go ! I am put to swimming and half sinking. I find the devil hath the advantage of the ground in this battle, for he fighteth in known ground in our corrupt nature. Alas! that is a friend near of kin and blood to himself, and will not fail to fall foul upon us. And hence it is that He, " who saveth to the uttermost," and " leadeth many sons to glory," is still righting my salvation, and twenty times a day I ravel my heaven, and then I must come with my ill-ra- velled work to Christ, to cumber Him (as it were), to right it ; and to seek again the right end of the thread ; and to fold up again my eternal glory with His own hand ; and to give a right cast of His lioly and gracious hand to my marred and spilt salvation. Certainly, it is a cumbersome thing to keep a foolish child from falls and broken brows, and weeping for this and that toy, and rash running, and sickness, and bairns' diseases ; ere he win through them all, and win out of the mires, he costeth meikle black cumber and fashrie to his keepers. And so is a believer a cumbersome piece of work and an ill-ravelled hesp (as we use to say) to Christ. But God be thanked for many spilt salvations, and many ill- ravelled hesps hath Christ mended since first He entered tutor to lost mankind. O, what could we, bairns, do without Him ? how soon would we mar all? But the less of our weight be upon our own feeble legs, and the more that we be on Christ, the strong Eock, the better for us. It is good for us that ever Christ took the cumber off us : it is our heaven to lay many weights and burdens upon Christ, and to make Him all we have, root and top, beginning and ending of our salvation. Lord, hold us here. Now to this Tutor and rich Lord, I recommend you. Hold fast till He come, and remember His prisoner. Grace, grace be with you. Yours, in his and your Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, 1637. LETTER CXXX.— To Mr William Dalgleish. Reverend and dear Brother, — Grace, mercj'^, and peace be to you. I received your letter. I bless our high and only wise Lord, who hath broken the snare that men had laid for you ; and I hope 230 LETTER CXXX. that now ITe shall keep you in His house in despite of the powers of hell. Wlio knowelh but the streets of our Jerusalem sliall yet be filled with young men, ana with old men and boys, and women with child, and that they shall plant vines in the mountains of Samaria? 1 am sure the wheels, paces, and motions of this poor church are tempered and ruled not as men would, but according to the good pleasure and infinite wisdom of our only wise Lord. I am here waiting in hope that my innocenc}', in this honourable cause, shall melt this cloud that men have casten over me. I know my Lord had His own quarrels against me, and that my dross stood in need of this hot furnace ; but I rejoice in this, that fair truth, beautiful truth (whose glory my Loj'd cleareth to me more and. more), beareth me company, and that my weak aims to honour my Master, in bringing guests to His house, now swell upon me in comforts, and that I am not afraid to want a witness in heaven, that it was my joy to have a crown put upon Christ's head in that country. O Avhat joy would I have to see the wind turn upon the enemies of the cross of Christ, and to see my Lord Jesus restored with the voice of praise to His own free throne again, and to be brought amongst you to see the beauty of the Lord's house! I hope that country will not be so silly as to suffer men to pluck you away from them, and that ye will use means to keep my place empty, and to bring me back again to the people to whom I have Christ's right and His church's lawful calling. Dear brother, let Christ be dearer and dearer to you ; let the conquest of souls be top and root, fiower and bloom of your joys and desires, in this side of sun and moon : and in the day when the Lord shall pull up the four stakes of this clay-tent of the earth, and the last pickle of sand shall be at the nick of falling down in your Avatch-glass, and the Master shall call the servants of the vineyard to give them their hire, ye will esteem tlie bloom of this world's glory like the colours of the rainbow, that no man can put in his purse and trea- sure. Your labours and pains shall then smile upon you. My Lord now hath given me experience (howbeit, Aveak and small) that our best fare here is hunger ; we are but at God's by-board in this lower house ; we have cause to long for supi)er-time and the high table up in the high palace: this world deserveth nothing but the utter court of our soul. Lord hasten the marriage-supper of the Lamb. I find it still peace to give up with this present world as with an old decourted and cast-olf lover. My bread and drink in it is not so much worth, that I should not loathe the inns, and pack up my desires for Christ, that I have sent out to the feckless crea- tures in it. Grace, grace be with you. Your afifectionate brother and Christ's prisoner, S. R. Aberdeen, 1637. LETTER CXXXI. 231 LETTER CXXXI.— To the Laird of Cally. Mlxii honoured Sir, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. I long to hear how your soul prospereth. I have that confidence that your soul mindeth Christ and salvation. I beseech you in the Lord give more pains and diligence to fetch heaven than the country-sort of lazy professors, who think their own faith and their own godliness, because it is their own, best, and content themselves with a coldrife custom and course, with a resolution to summer and winter in that sort of profession, that the multitude and the times favour most, and are still shaping, and clipping, and carving their faith according as it may best stand with their summer sun and a whole skin ; and so breathe out both hot and cold in God's matters according to the course of the times. This is their com- pass they sail toward heaven by instead of a better. Worthy and dear sir, separate yourself from such, and bend yourself, to the utmost of your strength and breath, in running fast for salvation, and in taking Christ's kingdom, use violence. It cost Clirist and ail His followers sharp showers and hot sweats ere they won to the top of the mountain. But still our soft nature would have heaven coming to our bedside when we are sleeping, and lying down with us, that we might go to heaven in warm clothes; but all that came there found wet feet by the way, and sharp storms that did take the hide off their face, and found to's and fro's, and up's and down's, and many enemies by the way. It is impossible a man can take his lusts to heaven with him, such wares as these will not be welcome there. 0, how loathe are we to forego our packalds and burdens that hinder us to run our race witli patience ! it is no small work to displease and anger nature that we may please God. O, if it be hard to win one foot or half an inch out of our own will, out of our own wit, out of our own ease and worldly lusts, and so to deny ourselves, and to say, it is not I but ( hrist, not I but grace, not I but God's glory, not I but God's love constraining me, not 1 but the Lord's word, not I but Christ's commanding power as King in me ! O what pains and what a death is it to nature, to turn me, myself, my lust, my ease, my credit over in my Lord, my Saviour, my King, and ray God, my Lord's will, my Lord's grace ! but alas ! that idol, that whorisli creature, myself, is the master- idol we all bow to. AVhat made Eve miscarry? and what hurried her headlong upon the forbidden fruit, but that wretched thing, herself? what drew that brother-murderer to kill Abel? that wild himself. AVhat drove the old world on to corrupt their ways? who, but themselves r.nd their own pleasure? What was the cause of Solomon's falling into idolatry and multi- plying of strange wives ? what, but himself, whom he would rather 232 LETTER CXXXII. pleasure than God ? What was the hook that took David and snared him first in adultery, but his self-lust ; and then in murder, but his self-credit and self-honour? What led Peter on to deny his Lord ? was it not a piece of himself, and self-love to a whole skin ? What made Judas sell his Master for thirty pieces of money, but a piece of self-love, idolizing of avaricious self? What made Demas to go off the way of the Gospel to embrace this present world ? even self-love, and love of gain for himself. Every man blameth the devil for his sins, but the great devil, the house-devil of every man, the house-devil that eateth and lieth in every man's bosom, is that idol that killeth all, himself. O blessed are they who can deny themselves and put Christ in the room of themselves ! O, would to the Lord, I had not a myself, but Christ ; nor a my lust, but Christ; nor a my ease, but Christ; nor a my honour, but Christ I 0 sweet word. Gal. ii. 20, " I live no more, but Christ liveth in me ! " 0, if every one would put away himself, his own self, his own ease, his own pleasure, his own credit, and his own twenty things, his own hundred things, that he setteth up as idols above Christ ! Dear sir, I know ye will be looking back to your old self, and to your self-lust and self-idol, that ye set up in the lusts of youth above Christ. Worthy sir, pardon this my freedom of love : God is my witness that it is out of an earnest desire after your soul's eternal welfare, that I use this freedom of speech. Your sun 1 know is lower, and your evening-sky and sun- setting nearer, than when I saw you last. Strive to end your task before night, and to make Christ yourself, and to acquaint your love and your heart with the Lord. Stand now by Christ and His truth, Avhen so many fail foully and are false to Him. I hope ye love Him and His truth ; let me have power with you to confirm you in Him. I think more of my Lord's sweet cross than of a crown of gold and a free kingdom lying to it. Sir, I remember you in my prayers to the Lord, according to my promise. Help me with your prayers, that our Lord would be pleased to bring me amongst you again with the Gospel of Christ. Grace, grace be with you. Yours, in his sweetest Lord and Master, S. R. Aberdeen, 1637. LETTER CXXXn.— To John Gordon, of Cardonness, Younger. Dearly beloved in our Lord, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. I long exceedingly to hear of the case of your soul, which hath a large share both of my prayers and careful thoughts. Sir, remember that a precious treasure and prize is upon this short play that ye are now upon, even the eternity of well or woe to your LETTER CXXXII. 233 soul standeth upon the little point of your ill or well-employed short and swift-posting sand-glass, " Seek the Lord, while He may be found;" the Lord waiteth upon you. Your soul is of no little price. Gold or silver, of as much bounds as would cover the highest heavens round about, cannot buy it. To live as others do, and to be free of open sins that the world crieth shame upon, it will not bring you to heaven ; as much civility and country-discretion as would lie between you and heaven, will not lead you one foot or one inch above condemned nature ; and therefore take pains upon seeking of salvation, and give your will, wit, humour, the green desires of youth's pleasures, off your hand to Christ. It is not possible for you to know, till experience teach you, how dan- gerous a time youth is. It is like green and wet timber ; when Christ casteth lire on it, it taketh not fire. There is need here of more than ordinary pains ; for corrupt nature hath a good back- friend of youth, and sinning against light will put out your candle and stupify your conscience, and bring upon it more coverings and skins, and less feeling and sense of guiltiness; and when that is done, the devil is like a mad horse, that hath broken the bridle and runneth away with his rider whither he listeth. Learn to know, that which the apostle knew, the deceitfulness of sin; strive to make prayer, and reading, and holy company, and holy conference your delight ; and when delight cometh in, ye shall by little and little smell the sweetness of Christ, till at length your soul be overhead and ears in Christ's sweetness: then shall ye be taken up to the top of the mountain with the Lord, to know the ravishments of spiritual love, and the glory and excellency of a seen, revealed, felt, and embraced Christ : and then ye shall not be able to loose yourself off Christ, and to bind your soul to old lovers : then, and never till then, are all the paces, motions, walkings, and wheels of your soul in a right tune and in a spiritual temper. But if this world and the lusts thereof be your delight, I know not what Christ can make of you ; ye cannot be metal to be a vessel of glory and mercy. As the Lord liveth, thousand thousands are beguiled with security, be- cause God, and wrath, and judgment is not terrible to them. Stand in awe of God, and of the warnings of a checking and rebuk- ing conscience : make others to see Christ in you moving, doing, speaking, and thinking ; your actions will smell of Him, if He be in you; there is an instinct in the new-born babes of Christ, like the instinct of nature, that leads birds to build their nests and bring up their young, and love such and such places, as woods, forests, and wildernesses better than other places. The instinct of nature maketh a man love his mother-country above all countries. The instinct of renewed nature and supernatural grace, will lead you to such and such works, as to love your country above, to sigh to be 234 LETTER CXXXIII. clothed with your house not made with hnnds, and to cnll 3^our borrowed prison here below a borrowed prison, and to look upon it servant-like and piliirim-likc. And tlie pilgrim's eye and look is a disdainful- like discontented cast of his eye, his heart crying after liis eye, Fie, fie, this is not like my country. I recommend to you the mending of a hole and reforming of a failing, one or other, every week, and put off a sin or a ])iece of it, as of anger, wrath, lust, intemperance, every day, that ye may more easily master the remnant of your corruption. God hath given you a wife, love her, and let her breasts satisfy you ; and for the Lord's sake, drink no waters but out of your own cistern ; strange wells are poison. Strive to learn some new way against your corruption from the man of God, M. W. D., or other servants of God. Sleep not sound till ye iind yourself in that case that ye dare look death in the face, and durst hazard your soul upon eternity. I am sure many ells and inches of the short thread of your life are by hand since I saw you ; and that thread have an end, and ye have no hands to cast a knot and add one day or a finger-breadth to the end of it. AVhen hearing and seeing, and the utter walls of the clay- house shall fail down, and life shall render the besieged castle of clay to death and judgment, and ye find your time worn, ebb and run out, what thoughts will ye then have of idle pleasures that possibly are now sweet? what bud or hire Avould ye then give for the Lord's favour? and what a price wou!d ye then give for pardon ? It Avere not amiss to think, "What, if I were to receive a doom, and to enter into a furnace of fire and brimstone? what, if it come to this, that I shall have no portion but utter darkness? and what, if I be brought to this, to be banished frotn the presence of God, and to be given over to God's sergeants, the devil, and the power of the second death?" Put your soul, by supposition, in such a case, and consider what horror would take hold of you, and Avhat then ye would esteem of pleasing yourself in the course of sin ! O, dear sir, for the Lord's sake, awake to live righteously and love your poor soul ; and after ye have seen this my letter, say with yourself, " The Lord will seek an account of this Avarning I have received." Lodge Christ in your family. Receive no stranger-hireling as your pastor. 1 bless your children. Grace be with you. Your lawful and loving pastor, S. E. Aberdeen, 1637. LETTER CXXXIII.— To my Lokd Boyd. My VERY HONOURABLE AND GOOD LoRD, — Gracc, mercy, and peace be to your lordship. Out of the worthy report that I LETTER CXXXIII. 235 hear of your lordship's zeal for this borne-down and oppressed Gospel, 1 am bold to write to your lordsliip, beseeching you, by the mercies of God, by the honour of our royal and princely King Jesus, by the sorrows, tears, and desolation of your afflicted motlier-cliurch, and by the peace of your conscience and your joy in the day of Christ, that your lordship would go on, in the strength of your Lord and in the power of His might, to bestir yourself for the vindicating of the fallen honour of your Lord Jesus. O blessed hands for evermore that shall help to put the crown upon the head of Christ again in Scotland! I dare promise, in the name of our Lord, that this shall fasten and fix the pillars and the stakes of your own honourable house upon earth, if ye lend, and lay in pledge in Christ's hand (upon spiritual hazard), life, estate, house, honour, credit, moyen, friends, the favour of men (suppose kings with three crowns), so being ye may bear witness and acquit your- self as a man of valour and courage to the Prince of your salva- tion, for the purging of His temple, and sweeping out the lordly Diotrephes's, time-courting Demas's, corrupt Ilymeneus's and Philitus's, and other such oxen that with their dung defile the temple of the Lord. Is not Christ now crying, " Who will help me? who will come out with me, to take part with me, and share in the hojiour of my victory over these mine enemies, who have said, we Avill not have this man to rule over us?" My very hon- ourable and dear lord, join, join (as ye do) with Christ, He is more worth to you and your posterity than this world's May-flowers, and withering riches, and honour that shall go away as smoke and evanish in a night vision, and shall in one h:df-hour, after the blast of the archangel's trumpet, lie in white ashes. Let me beseech your lordship to draw by the lap of time's curtain, and look in through that window to great and endless eternity, and consider if a worldly price (suppose this little round clay-globe of this ashy and dirty earth, the dying idol of the fools of this world, were all your own) can be given for one smile of Christ's God-like and soul ravishing countenance, in that day when so many joints and knees of thousand thousands wailing shall stand before Christ trembling, shouting, and making their prayers to hills and mountains to fall upon them and hide them from the face of the Lamb. 0, how many would sell lordships and kingdoms that day and buy Christ! But, oh ! the market shall be closed and ended ere then. Your lordship hath now a blessed venture of winning court with the Prince of the kings of the earth ; He Himself weeping, truth borne down and fallen in the streets, and an oppressed Gospel ; Christ's bride with watery eyes, and spoiled of her veil, her hair hanging about her eyes, forced to go in ragged apparel; the banished, silenced, and imprisoned prophets of (5od, who have not the favour 236 LETTETl CXXXIV. of liberty to prophesy in sackclotli : all these, I say, call for your help. Fear not worms of clay, the moth shall eat them as a gar- ment ; let the Lord be your fear. He is with you, and shall fight for you : thus shall ye cause the blessing of those who are ready to perish come upon you, and ye shall make the heart of this your mother-church to sing for joy. The Lamb and His armies are with you, and the kingdoms of the earth are the Lord's. I am persuaded there is not another gospel, nor another saving-truth, than that which ye now contend for. I dare hazard my heaven and salva- tion upon it, that this is the only saving way to glory. Grace, grace, be with your lordship. Your lordship, at all respective obedience in Christ, S. R. Aberdeen, 1637. LETTER CXXXIV.— To Robert Gordon, Bailiff of Ayr. Worthy Sir, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. I long to hear from you. Our Lord is with Llis afflicted kirk, so that this burning bush is not consumed to ashes. I know submissive on-waiting for the Lord shall at length ripen the joy and deliverance of His own,, who are truly blessed on-waiters. What is the dry and miscarry- ing hope of all them who are not in Christ, but confusion and wind? O, how pitifully and miserably are the children of this world beguiled, whose wine cometh home to them water, and their gold, brass and tin ! And what wonder that hopes builded upon sand should fall and sink. It were good for us all to abandon the forlorn, and blasted, and withered hope we have had in the creature, and let us henceforth come and drink water out of our own well, even the Fountain of living waters, and build ourselves and our hope upon Christ our Rock. But alas ! that natural love that we have to this borrowed home that we were born in, and that tiiis clay-city, the vain earth, should have the largest share of our heart ! Our poor, lean, and empty dreams of con- fidence in something beside God, are no further travelled than up and down the naughty and feckless creatures. God may say of us, as he said, Amos vi. 13, "Ye rejoice in a thing of nought." Surely, we spin our spider's web with pain, and build our rotten and totter- ing house upon a lie, and falsehood, and vanity. O, when will we learn to have thoughts higher than the sun and moon, and learn our joy, hope, confidence, and our soul's desires to look up to our best country, and to look down to clay- tents, set up for a night's lodging or two in this unknown land, and laugh at our childish conceptions and iranginations that suck our joy out of creatures, woe, sorrow, losses, and grief. 0, sweetest Lord Jesus ! 0, fairest Godhead ! 0, flower of man and angels, why are we such strangers to and far- LETTER CXXXV. 237 off beholders of Thy glory 1 O, it were our happiness for evermore, that God would cast a pest, a botch, a leprosy upon our part of this great whore, a fair and Avell-busked world, that clay might no longer deceive us ! but O that God m.ay burn and blast our hope here- away, rather than our hope should live to burn us! xA,las! the wrong side of Christ (to speak so). His black side, His suffering side. His wounds, His bare coat, His wants. His wrongs, the oppressions of men done to Him, are turned towards men's eyes, and they see not the best and fliirest side of Christ, nor see they His amiable face and His beauty, that man and angels wonder at. Sir, lend your thoughts to these things, and learn to contemn this world, and to turn your eyes and heart away from beholding the masked beauty of all things under time's law and doom. See Him who is invisible, and His invisible things ; draw by the curtain, and look in with liking and longing to a kingdom undefiled, that fadeth not away, re- served for you in the heaven. This is worthy of your pains, and worthy of your soul's sweating, and labouring, and seeking after, night and day. Fire will jflee over the earth and all that is in it, even destruction from the Almighty. Fie, fie, upon that hope that shall be dried up by the root! Fie upon the drunken night-bargains, and the drunken and mad covenant, that sinners make with death and hell after cups, and when men's souls are mad and drunken with the love of this lawless life ! They think to make a nest for their hopes, and take quarters and conditions of hell and death, that they shall have ease, long life, peace ; and, in the morning, when the last trumpet shall awake them, then they rue the block. It is time, and high time, for you to think upon death and your accounts, and to remember what ye are, where ye will be before the year of our Lord 1700. I hope ye are thinking upon this ; pull upon your soul and draw it aside from the company that it is with, and round and whisper into it news of eternity, death, judgment, heaven, and hell. Grace, grace be with you. Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, 1637. LETTER CXXXY.— To Alexander Gordon of Earlestown. Much honoured Sir, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. It is like if ye, the gentry and nobility of this nation, be men in the streets (as the word speaketh) for the Lord, that He will now deliver His flock, and gather and rescue His scattered sheep from the hands of cruel and rigorous lords, that have ruled over them with force. O, that mine eyes might see the moonlight turn to the light of the sun. But I still fear the quarrel of a broken covenant in Scotland 238 LETTER CXXXV. standeth before the Lord. However it be, I avouch it before the world, the tabernacle of the Lord shall again be in the midst of Scotland, and the glory of the Lord shall dwell in beauty, as the light of many days in one, in this land. O, what could my soul desire more, next to my Lord Jesus, while I am in this flesh, but that Christ and His kingdom might be great amongst Jews and Gentiles, and that the isles (and amongst them, overclouded and darkened Britain) miglit have the glory of a noon-day's sun? O, that I had anything (I will not except my part in Christ) to wodset or lay in pledge to redeem and buy such glory to my highest and royal Prince, my sweet Lord Jesus! My poor little heaven were well bestowed, if it could stand a pawn for ever to set on high the glory of my Lord ; but I know He needeth not wages nor hire at ray hand : yea, I know if my eternal glory could weigh down in w^eight its alone, all the eternal glory of the blessed angels, and of all the spirits of just and perfect men glorified, and to be glorified. O, alas ! liow far am I engaged to forego it for, and give it over to Christ ; so being He might thereby be set on high above ten thou- sand thousand millions of heavens, in the conquest of many, many nations to His kingdom ! O, that His kingdom would come ! O, that all the world w^ould stoop before Him ! O, blessed hands that shall put the crown upon Christ's head in Scotland ! But, alas ! I can scarce get leave to ware my love on Him. I can find no ways to out my heart upon Christ, and my love that I Avitli ray soul bestow on Him, it is like to die upon my hand, and I think it no bairn's play to be hungered with Christ's love. To love Hira and to want Him, wanteth little of hell. I am sure. He knoweth how my joy would swell upon me, from a little well to a great sea, to have as much of His love, and as wide a soul answerable to compre- hend it, till I cried, " Hold Lord, no more : " but I find He will not have me to be mine own steward, nor mine own carver. Christ keepeth the keys of Christ (to speak so) and of His own love, and He is a wiser distributor than I can take up ; I know there is more in Him than would make me run over like a coast-full sea. I were happy for evermore to get leave to stand but be- side Christ and His love, and to look in, suppose I were interdicted of God to come near hand, touch or embrace, kiss or set to my sin- ful head, and drink myself drunken with that lovely thing. God send me that I would have, for I now verily see more clearly than before our folly in drinking dead waters, and in playing the whoro with our soul's love upon running out wells and broken shreds of creatures of yesterday, whom time will unlaw with the penalty of losing their being and natural ornaments. O ! when a soul's love is itching (to speak so) for God, and when Christ in His boundless aad bottom] ess love, beauty, and excellency, coraeth and rubbeth LETTER CXXXV. 239 up and excitelh that love, what can be lieaven if this be not hea- ven ? I am sure this bit feckless, narrow, and short love of re.iren- erated sinners, was born for no other end, but to breathe, and live, and love, and dwell in the bosom and betwixt the breasts of Christ. Where is there a bed or a lodging for the saints' love but Christ! O, that He would take ourselves off our hand, for neither we, nor the creatures, can be either due conquest or lawful heritage to love ! Christ, and none but Christ, is Lord and propiietor of it. 0 alas! how pitiful is it that so much of our love gocth by Him ! 0, but we be wretched wasters of our soul's love ! I know it is the deep of bottomless and unsearchable providence that the saints are suffered to play the whore from God, and that their love goeth a hunting, when God knowetli, it shall cost nothing of that at supper time. The renewed would have it otherwise; and Avhy is it so, seeing our Lord can keep us without nodding, tottering, or reeling, or any fall at all? Our desires, I hope, shall meet with perfection; but God will have our sins an office- house for God's grace, and hath made sin a matter of an unlaw and penalty for the Son of God's blood ; and howbeit sin should be our sorrow, yet there is a Fort of acquiescing and resting upon God's dispensation required of us, that there is such a thing in us as sin, whereupon mercy, for- giveness, healing, curing, in our sweet physician, may find a field to work upon. O Avhat a deep is here, that created wit cannot take up ! However matters go, it is our happiness to win new ground daily in Christ's love, and to purchase a new piece of it daily, and to add conquest to conquest, till our Lord Jesus and we be so near other, that Satan shall not draw a straw or a thread betwixt us. And for myself, I have no greater joy in my well-favoured bonds for Christ, than that I know, time shall put Him and me together, and that my love and longing hath room and liberty, amidst my bonds and foes (whereof there are not a few here of all ranks), to go visit the borders, and utter coasts of my Lord Jesus's country, and see, at least afar off and darkly, the country which shall be mine inheritance, which is my Lord Jesus's due, both through birth and conquest. I dare avouch to all that know God, that the saints know not the length and largeness of the sweet earnest, and of the sweet green sheaves before the harvest, that might be had on this side of the water, if we should take more pains : and that we all go to heaven with less earnest and lighter purses of the hoped for sum than otherwise we might do, if we took more pains to win further in upon Christ in this pilgrimage of our absence from Him. Grace, grace, and glory be your portion. Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, 1637. 240 LETTER CXXXVT. LETTER CXXXVI.— To John Lawrie. Dear Brother, — I am sorry that ye, or so many in this kingdom, should expect so much of me, an empty reed. Verily, I am a naughty and poor body. But if the tinkling of my Lord Jesus's iron chains on legs and arms could sound the high praises of my royal King, whose prisoner I am, O how would my joy run over! if my Lord would bring edification to one soul by my bonds, I am satisfied ; but I know not what I can do to such a princely and beautiful Well-Beloved. He is far behind with me. Little thanks to me, to say to others. His wind bloweth on me, who am but wi- thered and dry bonds. But since ye desired me to write to you, either help me to set Christ on high for His running over love, in that the heat of His sweet breath hath melted a frozen heart, else I think ye do nothing for a prisoner. 1 am fully confirmed that it is the hon- our of our LaAvgiver I suffer for now. I am not ashamed to give out letters of recomm.endation of Christ's love to as many as will extol the Lord Jesus and His cross. If I had not sailed this sea-way to heaven, but had taken the land-way as many do, I should not have known Christ's sweetness in such a measure. But the truth is, let no man thank me ; for I caused not Christ's wind to blow upon me. His love came upon a withered creature, whether I would or not (and yet by coming it procured for me a welcome.) A heart of iron and iron doors will not hold Christ out. I give Him leave to break iron locks and come in, and that is all. And now I know not, whether pain of love for want of possession, or sorrow that I do not thank Him, paineth me most : but both work upon me. For the first, O that He would come and satisfy the longing soul and ■fill the hungry soul with these good things ! I know, indeed, my guiltiness may be a bar in His way, but He is God, and ready to forgive. And for the other, woe, w^oe is me, that I cannot find a heart to give back again my unworthy little love for His great sea- full of love to me. 0, that He would learn me this piece of grati- tude ! O, that I could have leave to look in, through the hole of the door, to see His face and sing His praises ! or could break up one of His chamber window^s to look in upon His delighting beauty, till my Lord send more. Any little communion with Him, one of His love-looks should be my begun heaven. I know, He is not lordly, neither is the Bridegroom's love proud, though I be black and unlovely, and unworthy of Him. I would seek but leave, and withal grace to spend my love upon Him. I counsel ye to think highly of Christ, and of free, free grace, more than ye did before ; for I know that Christ is not known amongst us. I think I see more of Christ than ever I saw ; and yet I see but little of what may be seen. 0, that He would draw-by the curtains, and that LETTER CXXXYII. 2 tl the King would come out of His gallery and His palace, that I might see Him ! Christ's love is young glory and young heaven ; it would soften hell's pains to be filled with it. What would I refuse to suiFer if I could but get a draught of love at my heart's desire? 0, what price can be given for Him. Angels cannot weigh Him : O, His weight, His worth, His sweetness, His over- passing beauty ! If men and angels would come, and look to that great and princely One, their ebbness would never take up His depth; their narrowness would never comprehend His breadth, height, and length. If ten thousand thousand worlds of angels were created, they might all tire themselves in wondering at His beauty, and begin again to wonder of new. O, that I could win nigh Him, to kiss His feet, to hear His voice, to find the smell of His ointments! But, oh, alas, I have little, little of Him ; yet I long for more ! Remember my bonds, and help me with your prayers, for I would not nitifer, or exchange my sad hours, with the joy of my velvet adversaries. Grace be with you. Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, June 10, 1637. LETTER CXXXVIL— To Mr James Fleming. Reverend and well-belo^t?d in our Lord, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. I received your letter, which hath refreshed me in my bonds. I cannot but testify unto you, my dear brother, what sweetness I find in our Master's cross ; but alas ! what can I either do or suffer for Him? If I myself alone had as many lives as there have been drops of rain since the creation, I would think them too little for that lovely One, our Well-Beloved ; but my pain and my sorrow is above my sufferings, that I find not ways how to set out the praises of His love to others. I am not able by tongue, pen, or sufferings to provoke many to fall in love with Him, but He knoweth whom I love to serve in the Spirit, what I would do, and suffer by His own strength, so being I might make my Lord Jesus lovely and sweet to many thousands in this land. I think it amongst God's wonders, that He will take any praise or glory, or any testimony to His honourable cause, from such a forlorn sinner as I am. But when Christ worketh. He needeth not ask the question by whom He vvill be glorious. I know, seeing His glory at the beginning did shine out of poor nothing, to set up such a fair house for man and angels, and so many glorious creatures, to proclaim His goodness, power, and wisdom, if I were burnt to ashes, out of the smoke and powder of my dissolved body, He could raise glory to Himself. His glory is His end ; O, that I could join R 242 LETTER CXXXVII. with Him to make it my end ! I would think that fellowship with Him sweet and glorious. But, alas, few know the guiltiness thai is on my part. It is a wonder that this good cause hath not been marred and spilt in my foul hands. But I rejoice in this, that mv sweet Lord Jesus hath found something ado, even a ready market for His free grace and incomparable and matchless mercy in my wants. Only my loathsome wretchedness and my wants have qualified me for Christ and the riches of His glorious grace, He behoved to take me for nothing, or else to want me. Few kno^v' the unseen and private reckonings betwixt Christ and me; yet His love. His boundless love, would not bide away, nor stay at home with Himself; and yet I do not make it welcome, as I ought, when it is come unsent for and without hire. How joyful is my heart that ye write ye are desirous to join with me in praising, for it is charity to help a dyvour to pay his debts ; but when all have helped me, my name shall stand in His count-book under ten thou- sand thousands of sums unpaid : but it easeth my heart that His dear servants will but speak of my debts to such a sweet creditor. I desire He may lay me in His own balance and weigh me, if I would not fain have a feast of His boundless love made to my own soul and to many others. One thing I know, we shall not all be able to come near His excellency with eye, heart, or tongue; for He is above all created thoughts; "All nations before Him are as no- thing, and as less than nothing; He sitteth in the circuit of heaven, and the inhabitants of the earth are as grasshoppers before Him ! " O, that men would praise Him ! Ye complain of your private case. Alas ! I am not the man who can speak to such an one as ye are. Any sweet presence I have had in this town is (I know) for this cause, that I might express and make it known to others ; but I never find myself nearer Christ, and with that royal and princely One, than after a great weight and sense of deadness and graceless- ness! I think the sense of our wants, when withal we have a restlessness and a sort of spiritual impatience under them, and can make a din, because we want Him whom our soul loveth, is that which maketh an open door to Christ : and when we think we are going backward, because we feel deadness, we are going forward : lor the more sense the more life, and no sense arguetli no life. There is no sweeter fellowship with Christ than to bring our wounds and our sores to Him. But, for myself, I am ashamed of Christ's goodness and love since the time of ray bonds; for He hath been pleased to open up new treasures of love and felt sweetness, and give visitations of love and access to Himself in this strange land. I would think a fill of His love, young and green heaven. And when He is pleased to come, and the tide is in, and the sea full, and the King and a poor prisoner together in the house of wine, the black LETTER CXXXYIII. 248 tree of the cross is not so heavy as a feather. I cannot, I do not but give Christ an honourable and ^ilorious testimony. I see the Lord can ride through His enemies' bands and triumph in the sufferings of His own, and that this bUnd world seeth not that suffering is Christ's armour wherein He is victorious. And they that contend with Zion see not what He is doing, when they are set to work as undersmiths and servants, to the work of refining of the saints (Satan's hand, also by them, is at the melting of our Lord's vessels of mercy) and their office in God's house, is to scour and cleanse vessels for the King's table. I marvel not to see them triumph and sit at ease in Zion ; our Father must lay up His rods, and keep them carefully, for His own use. Our Lord cannot want fire in His house ; His furnace is in Zion, and His fire in Jerusalem. But little know the adversaries the counsel and the thoughts of the Lord. And for your complaints of your ministry, I now think all I did too little. Plainness, freedom, watchfulness, fidelity, shall swell upon you, in exceeding large comforts, in your suiferings. The feeding of Christ's lambs in private visitations and catechising, in painful preaching, and fair honest and free warning of the flock, are a suf- ferer's garland. O, ten thousand times blessed are they who are honoured of Christ to be faithful and painful in wooing a bride to Christ. My dear brother, I know ye think more on this than I can write ; and I rejoice that your purpose is in the Lord's strength, to back your wronged Master, and to come out, and call yourself Christ's man, when so many are now denying Him, as fearing that Christ cannot do for Himself and them. I am a lost man for ever, or this, this is the way to salvation, even this way, that they call heresy, that men now do mock and scoff at. I am confirmed now that Christ will accept of His servant's suffering's as good service to Him at the day of His appearance, and that ere it be long He will be upon us all, and men in all their blacks and whites shall be brought out before God, angels, and men. Our Master is not far off. O, if we could wait on and be faithful ! The good v/ill of Plim who dwelt in the bush, the tender favour and love, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Help me with your prayers, and desire from me other brethren to take courage for their Master, Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, Aug. 15, 1637. LETTER CXXXVIIL— To Mr John Meine. Worthy and dear Brother, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. I have been too long in answering your letter, but other business took me up. I am here waiting if the fair wind will turn upon 244 LETTER CXXXIX. Christ's sails in Scotland, and if deliverance be breaking out to this overclouded and benighted kirk. O, that we could contend by prayers and supplications with our Lord for that effect ! I know He hath not given out His last doom against this land. I have little of Christ in this prison, but groanings, and longings, and desires. All my stock of Christ is some hunger for Him (and yet I cannot say but I am rich in that), my faith, and hope, and holy practice of new obedience are scarce worth the speaking of: but blessed be my Lord, who taketh me, light, and clipped, and naughty, and feckless as I am. I see Christ will not prig with me, nor stand upon stepping-stones, but cometh in at the broad side, without ceremonies, or making it nice, to make a poor ransomed one His own. O, that I could feed upon His breathing, and kissing, and embracing, and upon the hopes of my meeting and His, when love- letters shall not go betwixt us, but He shall be messenger Himself then ! But there is required patience on our part till the summer- fruit in heaven be ripe for us ; it is in the bud, but there be many things to do before our harvest come. And we take ill with it, and can hardly endure to set our paper face to one of Christ's storms, and to go to heaven with wet feet, and pain, and sorrow. We love to carry heaven to heaven with us, and would have two summers in one year, and no less than two heavens ; but this will not be for lis : one, and such an one, may suffice us well enough. The Man Christ got but one only, and shall we have two ? Remember my love in Christ to your father, and help me with your prayers. If ye would be a deep divine, I recommend to you, sanctification. Fear Him, and He shall reveal His covenant to you. Grace be with you. Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, Jan. 5, 1G37. LETTER CXXXIX.— To Cardonness, Elder. Much honoured Sir, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. I have longed to hear from you, and to know the estate of your soul and the estate of that people with you. I beseech you, sir, by the salvation of your precious soul, and the mercies of God, make good and sure work of your salvation, and try upon what ground-stone ye have builded. Worthy and dear sir, if ye be upon sinking sand, a storm of death and a blast will loose Christ and you, and wash you close off the rock. 0, for the Lord's sake, look narrowly to the work. Read over your life with the light of God's daylight and sun ; for salvation is not casten doAvn at every man's door. It is good to look to your compass, and all ye have need of, ere ye take shipping ; for no wind can blow you back again. Remember when LETTER CXXXIX. 245 the race is ended, and the plaj either won or lost, and je are in the utmost circle and border of time, and shall put your foot within the march of eternity, and all your good things of this short night-dream shall seem to you like the ashes of a blaze of thorns or straw, and your poor soul shall be crjdng, "Lodging, lodging, for God's sake:" .then shall your soul be more glad at one of your Lord's lovely and homely smiles, than if He had the charter of three worlds for all eternity. Let pleasures and gain, will and desires of this world be put over in God's hands, as arrested and fenced goods that ye can- not intromit with. Now when ye are drinking the ground of your cup, and ye are upon the utmost ends of the last link of time, and old age, like death's long shadow, is casting a covering upon your days, it is no time to court this vain life, and to set love and heart upon it. It is near after-supper ; seek rest and ease for your soul in God through Christ. Believe me, I find it hard wrestling to play fair with Christ, and to keep good quarters with Him, and keep love to Him in integrity and life, and to keep a constant course of sound and solid daily communion with Christ: temptations are dailv breaking the thread of that course, and it is not easy to cast a knot again, and many knots make evil work. 0, how fair have many ships been plying before the wind, that in an hour's space have been lying in the sea bottom ! how many professors cast a golden lustre, as if they were pure gold, and yet are, under that skin and cover, but base and reprobate metal ! and how many keep breath in their race many miles, and yet come short of the prize and the garland I Dear sir, my soul would mourn in secret for you, if I knew your case with God to be but false work. Love to have you anchored upon Christ, maketh me fear your tottering and slips. False under-water, not seen in the ground of an enlightened conscience, is dangerous ; so is often failing and sinning against light. Know this, that these who never had sick nights nor days in conscience for sin, cannot have but such a peace with God, as will undercot and break the flesh again, and end in a sad war at death. O, how fearfully are thousands beguiled with false hide-grown over old sins, as if the soul were cured and healed ! Dear sir, I saw ever nature mighty, lofty, head}^, and strong in you, and it was more for you to be mortified and dead to the world than another common man. Ye will take a low ebb, and a deep cut, and a long lance to go to the bottom of your wounds in saving humiliation, to make you a won prey for Christ. Be humbled, walk softly; down, down for God's sake, my dear and worthy brother, with your topsail. 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 and the sinner. The lavv^ of God will not want one farthing of the sinner : God forgetteth not both the cautioner and the sinner ; and every man 240 I.ETTEK CXXXIX. must pay either in his own person (O, Lord, save you from that payment), or in his cautioner, Christ. It is violence to corrupt nature for a man to be holy, to lie down under Christ's feet, to quit will, pleasure, worldly love, earthly hope, and an itching of heart after this fairded and overgilded world, and to be content that Christ trample upon all. Come in, come in to Christ, and see what ye want, and find it in Him. He is the short cut (as we use to say), and the nearest way to an outgate of all your burdens. I dare avouch, ye shall be dearly welcome to Him ; my soul would be glad to take part of the joy ye should have 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, hath swelled upon me to the greatness of two heavens. O, for a soul as wide as the outmost circle of the highest heaven that containeth all, to contain His love ! and yet I could hold little of it. O, world's wonder ! O, if my soul might but lie wdthin the smell of His love, suppose I could get no more but the smell of it ! O, but it is long to that day when I shall have a free world of Christ's love ! O, what a sight to be up in heaven in that fair orchard of the new paradise, and to see, and smell, and. touch, and kiss that fair field-flower, that ever-green tree of life ! His bare shadow were enough for me ; a sight of Him would be the earnest of heaven to me. Fie, fie upon us, that we have love lying rusting beside us, or, which is worse, wasted away upon loath- some objects, and Christ should lie His alone. Woe, woe is me, that sin hath made so many mad men, seeking the fool's paradise, fire under ice, and some good and desirable thing, without and apart from Christ. Christ, Christ, nothing but Christ, can cool our love's burn- ing languor. O, thirsty love, wilt thou set Christ, the well of life, to thy head and drink thy fill ; drink and spare not ; drink love, and be drunken with Christ. Nay, alas ! the distance betwixt us and Christ is death. 0, if we were clasped in others' arms ! we should never twin again, except heaven twinned and sundered us, and that cannot be. I desire your children to seek this Lord. Desire them from me, to be requested for Christ's sake, to be blessed and liappy, and come and take Christ and all things with Him. Let them beware of glassy and slippery youth, of foolish young motions, of worldly lusts, of deceivable gain, of wicked company, of cursing, lying, blaspheming, and foolish talking ; let them be filled with the Spirit, acquaint themselves with daily praying, and with the store- house of wisdom and comfort, the good Word of God. Help the souls of the poor people. O, that my Lord would bring me again among them, that I might tell uncouth and great tales of Christ to them. Receive not a stranger to preach any other doctrine to them. LETTER CXL. 247 Pray for me, His prisoner of hope ; I pray for you without ceasing. I write my blessing, earnest prayers, the love of God, and the sweet presence of Christ to you, and yours, and them. Grace, grace, grace be with you. Your lawful and loving pastor, S. R. Aberdeen/ 1(J37. LETTER CXL.— To the Earl of Lothian. Right honourable, and jiy very worthy and noble Lord, — Out of the honourable and good report that I hear of your lordship's good will and kindness (in taking to heart the honourable cause of Christ and His afflicted church and wronged truth in this land), I make bold to speak a word in paper to your lordship at this dis- tance, which I trust your lordship will take in good part. It is your lordship's honour and credit to put to your hand (as ye do, all honour to God) to the falling and tottering tabernacle of Christ in this your mother-church, and to own Christ's wrongs as your own wrongs. 0, blessed hand, which shall wipe and dry the watery eyes of our weeping Lord Jesus, now going mourning in sackcloth in His members, in His spouse, in His truth, and in the prerogative royal of His kingly power ! He needeth not service and help from men ; but it pleaseth His wisdom to make the wants and losses, sores and wounds of His spouse, a tield and an office-house for the zeal of His servants to exercise themselves in : therefore, my noble and dear lord, go on ; go on in the strength of the Lord against all oppo- sition to side with wronged Christ. The defending and warding of strokes off Christ, His bride, the King's daughter, is like a piece of the rest of the way to heaven, knotty, rough, stormy, and full of thorns. Many would follow Christ, but with a reservation, that by open proclamation Christ would cry down crosses, and cry up fair weather, and a summer sky and sun, till we were all fairly landed at heaven. I know your lordship hath not so learned Christ, but that ye intend to fetch heaven, suppose your father were standing in your way, and to take it with the wind on your face ; for so both storm and wind was on the fair face of your lovely fore-runner, Christ, all His way. It is possible the success, answer not your desire in this worthy cause ; what then ? Duties are ours, but events are the Lord's ; and I hope if your lordship, and others with you, shall go on to dive to the lowest ground and bottom of the knavery and prefidious treachery to Christ, of the cursed and wretched prelates, the Antichrist's first-born and the first fruit of his foul womb, and shall deal with our sovereign (law going before you) for the reasonable and impartial hearing of Christ's bill of complaints, and set yourselves singly to seek the Lord and His face, 248 LETTER CXL. your righteousness shall break through the clouds that prejudice hath drawn over it, and ye shall, in the strength of the Lord, bring our banished and departing Lord Jesus home again to His sanctuary. Neither must your lordship advise with flesh and blood in this, but wink, and in the dark reach your hand to Christ and follow Him. Let not men's fainting discourage you, neither be afraid of men's canny wisdom, who in this storm take the nearest shore, and go to the lee and calm side of the Gospel, and hide Christ (if ever they had Him) in their cabinets, as if they were ashamed of Him, or as if Christ were stolen wares and would blush before the sun. My very dear and noble lord, ye have rejoiced the hearts of many, that ye have made choice of Christ and His Gospel, whereas such great temptations do stand in your way. But I love your profession the better, that it endureth winds. If we knew ourselves well, to want temptations is the greatest temptation of all. Neither is father, nor mother, nor court, nor honour in this overlustred world, with all its paintry and farding, anything else, when they are laid in the balance with Christ, but feathers, shadows, night-dreams, and straws. O, if this world knew the excellency, sweetness, and beauty of that high and lofty One, that fairest among the sons of men ! verily they should see, if their love were bigger then ten heavens, all in circles without other, that it were all too little for Christ cur Lord. 1 hope your choice shall not repent you, when life shall come to that twilight betwixt time and eternity, and ye shall see the utmost bor- der of time, and shall draw the curtain and look into eternity, and shall one day see God take the heavens in His hands and fold them together like an old holey garment, and set on fire this clay part of the creation of God, and consume away in smoke and ashes the idol-hopes of poor fools, who think there is not a better country than this low country of dying-clay. Children cannot make com- parison aright betwixt this life and that to come ; and therefore the babes of this world, who see no better, mould in their own brain a heaven of their own coining, because they see no further than the nearest side of time. I dare lay in pawn my hope of heaven that this reproached way is the only way of peace : I find it is the way that the Lord hath sealed with His comforts now in my bonds for Christ ; and I verily esteem and find chains and fetters for that lovely one Christ, to be watered over with sweet consolations and the love smiles of that lovely Bridegroom, for whose coming we wait. And when He cometh, then shall the blacks and whites of all men come before the sun, then shall the Lord put a final decision upon the pleas that Zion liath with her adversaries ; and as fast as time posteth away (which neither sitteth, nor standeth, nor sleepeth), as fast is our hand-breadth of this short winter-night flying away, and the sky of our long lasting day drawing near its breaking. LETTER CXLI. 249 Except your lordship be pleased to plead for me against the tyranny of prelates, I shall be forgotten in this prison ; for they did shape my doom according to their new lawless canons, which is, that a deprived minister shall be utterly silenced and not preach at all, which is a cruelty contrary to their own former practices. Now, the only wise God, the very God of peace confirm, strengthen, and establish your lordship upon the stone laid in Zion, and be with you for ever. Your lordship, at all respective obedience in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. E. Aberdeen, 1637. LETTER CXLL— To Jean Brown. Mistress, —Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. I long to hear how your soul prospereth. I earnestly desire your on-going toward your country. I know ye see your day melteth away by little and little, and that in short time ye will be put behind time's bounds ; for life is a post that standeth not still, and our joys here are born weeping rather than laughing, and they die weeping. Sin, sin, this body of sin and corruption, imbittereth and poisoneth all our enjoyments. O, that I were where I shall sin no more ! 0, to be freed of these chains and iron fetters that we carry about with us ! Lord loose the sad prisoners. Who of the children of God have not cause to say, that they have their fill of this vain life, and like a full and sick stomach to wish, at mid-supper, that the supper were ended, and the table drawn, that the sick man might win to bed and enjoy rest ? We have cause to tire at mid-supper of the best messes that this world can dress up for us, and to cry to God, that He would remove the table and put the sin-sick souls to rest with Himself. 0, for a long play-day with Christ and our long lasting vacance of rest ! Glad may their souls be that are safe over the firth, Christ having paid the freight. Happy are they who have past their hard and wearisome time of apprenticeship, and are now freemen and citizens in that joyful high city, the new Jerusalem. Alas ! that we should be glad of, and rejoice in, our fetters and our prison-house, and this dear inns, a life of sin, where we are absent from our Lord and so far from our home. 0, that we could get bonds and law-suretyship of our love, that it fasten not itself on these claj-dreams, these clay-shadows, and worldly vanities ! We might be oftener seeing what they are doing in heaven, and our heart more frequently upon our sweet treasure above. We smell of the smoke of this lower house of the earth, because our heart and our thoughts are here. If we could haunt up with God, we should smell of heaven and of our country 250 LETTER CXLTI. above, and we should look like our country, and like strangers or people not born or brought up here-aAvay, Our crosses would not bite upon us, if we were heavenly minded. I know no obligation the saints have to this world, seeing we fare but upon the smoke of it ; and if there be any smoke in the house, it bloweth upon our eyes. All our part of the table is scarce worth a drink of water, and when we are stricken we dare not weep, but steal our grief away betwixt our Lord and us, and content ourselves with stolen sorrow behind backs. God be thanked, we have many things that so stroke us against the hair, as we may pray, " God keep our bet- ter home ; God bless our Father's house, and not this smoke that bloweth us to seek our best lodging." I am sure this is the best fruit of the cross, when we, from the hard fare of the dear inns, cry the more, that God Avould send a fair wind to land us, hungered and oppressed strangers, at the door of our Father's house, which now is made in Christ our kindly heritage. O then let us pull up the stakes and stoops of our tent, and take our tent on our back, and go with our flitting to our best home, for " here we have no continuing city." I am waiting in hope here to see what my Lord will do with me. Let Him make of me what He pleaseth ; pro- viding He make glory to Himself out of me, I care not. I hope, yea, I am now sure, that I am for Christ, and all that I can or may make is for Him. I am His everlasting debtor or dyvour, and still shall be ; for alas I have nothing for Him, and He getteth little service of me ! Pray for me, that our Lord would be pleased to give me house-room, that I may serve Him in the calling He hath called me unto. Grace be with you. Aberdeen, 1637. Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. LETTER CXLIL— To Robert Stuart. My very dear Brother, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. Ye are heartily welcome to my world of suifering, and heartily welcome to my Master's house ; God give you much joy of your new Master. If I have been in the house before you, I were not faithful to give the house an ill name, or to speak evil of the Lord of the family. 1 rather wish God's Holy Spirit (0 Lord breathe upon me with that Spirit) to tell you the fashions of the house. One thing I can say, by on-waiting, ye will grow a great man with the Lord of the house. Hang on till ye get some good from Christ. Lay all your loads and your weights by fliith upon Christ. Ease yourself, and let Him bear all : He can, He does. He will bear you, howbeit hell were upon your back, I rejoice that He is come and LETTER CXLII. 251 hath chosen you in the furnace, it was even there where ye and He set tryst ; that is an old gate of Christ's, He keepeth the good old fashion with you, that was in Hosea's days, Hosea ii. 14, '^ There- fore behold I will allure her, and bring her to the w^ilderness and speak to her heart." There was no talking to her heart while He and she were in the fair and flourishing city and at ease ; but out in the cold, hungry, waste wilderness, He allureth her,^ He whispered in news into her ear there, and said, " Thou art mine." What would ye think of such a bed? Ye may soon do worse than say, " Lord, holds all ; Lord Jesus, a bargain be it ; it shall not go back on my side." Ye have gotten a great advan- tage in the way to heaven, that ye have started to the gate in the morning. Like a fool, as I was, I suffered ray sun to be high in the heaven, and near afternoon, before ever I took the gate by the end. I pray you now keep the advantage ye have. My heart, be not lazy, set as quickly up the brae on hands and feet, as if the last pickle of sand were running out of your glass, and death were coming to turn the glass ; and be very careful to take heed to your feet in that slippery and dangerous way of youth that ye are walk- ing in. The devil and temptations now have the advantage of the brae of you, and are upon your wand-hand and your working-hand. Dry timber will soon take fire. Be covetous and greedy of the grace of God, and beware that it be not holiness that cometh only from the cross, for too many are that way disposed, Psalm Ixxviii. 34, "When He slew them then they sought Him, and they returned and inquired early after God," ver. 35. "Nevertheless they did flatter Him with their mouth, and they lied unto Him with their tongues." It is a part of our hypocrisy to give God fair, white words, when He hath us in His grips (if I may speak so), and to flatter Him till we win to the fair flelds again. Try well green godliness, and examine what it is ye love in'Christ. If ye love but Christ's sunny- side, and w^ould have only summer-Aveather and a land-gate, not a sea-way to heaven, your profession will play you a slip, and the winter well will go dry again in summer. Make no sports nor bairn's play of Christ ; but labour for a sound and lively sight of sin, that ye may judge yourself an undone man, a damned slave of hell and sin, one dying in your own blood, except Christ come and rue upon you, and take you up ; and therefore make sure and fast work of conversion. Cast the earth deep ; and down, down with the old work, the building of confusion, that was there before, and let Christ lay new work, and make a new- creation within you. Look if Christ's rain goeth down to the root of your withered plants, and if His love wound your heart while it bleed with sorrow for sin, and if it can pant and fall aswoon, and be like to die for that lovely one, Jesus. I know Christ will not be hid where He is, 252 LETTER CXLII. grace will ever speak for itself, be fruitful in well-doing. The sanctified cross is a fruitful tree, it bringetli forth many apples. If I should tell you, by some weak experience, what I have found in Christ, ye or others could hardly believe me. I thought not the hundredth part of Christ long since that I do now ; though alas ! my thoughts are still infinitely below His worth. I have a dwining, sickly, and pained life for a real possession of Him, and am troubled -svitli love brashes and love fevers ; but it is a sweet pain. I would refuse no conditions, not hell excepted (j-eserving always God's hatred), to buy possession of Jesus ; but alas, I am not a merchant who have any money to give for Him ! I must either come to a good cheap market where wares are had for nothing, else I go home empty : but I have casten this work upon Christ to get me Himself. I have His faith, and truth, and promise (as a pawn of His) all engaged, that I shall obtain that which my hungry desires would be at, and I esteem that the choice of my happiness. And for Christ's cross, especially the garland and the flower of all crosses, to suiFer for His name, I esteem it more than I can write or speak to you. And I write it under mine own hand to you, it is one of the steps of the ladder up to our country, and Christ (whoever be one) is still at the heavy end of this black tree, and so it is but as a feather to me. I need not run at leisure because of a burden on my back, my back never bare the like of it ; the more heavily crossed for Christ, the soul is still the lighter for the journey. Now would to God, all cold-blooded, faint-hearted soldiers of Christ, would look again to Jesus and to His love ; and when they look, I would have them to look again and again, and fill themselves with beholding of Christ's beauty; and I dare say then, that Christ should come in great court and request with many. The virgins would flock fast about the Bridgroom, they would embrace and take hold of Him and not let Him go. But Vv'hen I have spoken of Him till my head rive, I have said just nothing, I may begin again. A God-head, a God-head is a world's wonder. Set ten thousand thousand new made worlds of angels and elect men, and double them in number, ten thousand, thousand, thousand times ; let their heart and tongues be ten thousand thousand times more agile and large than the heart and tongues of the seraphims that stand with six wings before Him, Isa. vi. 2 ; when they have said all for the glorifying and praising of the Lord Jesus, they have but spoken little or nothing : His love will bide all possible crea- tures to praise. O, if I could wear this tongue to the stump in ex- tolling His highness ! But it is my daily growing sorrow that I nm confounded with His incomparable love, and He doth so great things for my soul, and He got never yet anything of me worth the speaking of. Sir, I charge you, help me to praise Him. It is a LETTER CXLIII. 253 shame to speak of what He hath done for me, and what I do to Him again. I am sure, Christ hath many drowned dyvours in heaven beside Him, and when we are convened, man and angel, at the great day. in that fair, last meeting, we are all but His drowned dyvours. It is hard to say who oweth Him most. If men could do no more, I would have them to wonder. If we cannot be filled with Christ's lov^e, we may be filled with wondering. Sir, I would I could persuade you to grow sick for Christ and to long after Him, and be pained with love for Himself; but His tongue is in heaven who can do it. To Him and His rich grace, I recommend you. I pray you, pray for me, and forget not to praise. Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, June 17, 1637. LETTER CXLHL— To the Lady Gaitgirth. Mistress, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. I long to know how matters stand betwixt Christ and your soul. I know ye find Him still the longer the better ; time cannot change Him in His love. Ye may yourself ebb and flow, rise and fall, wax and wane ; but your Lord is this day as He was yesterday ; and it is your com- fort that your salvation is not rolled upon wheels of your own making, neither have ye to do with a Christ of your own shaping. God hath singled out a Mediator, strong and mighty ; if ye and your burdens were as heavy as ten hills or hells. He is able to bear you and save you to the uttermost. Your often seeking to Him cannot make you a burden to Him. I know Christ compassionateth you, and maketh a moan for you in all your dumps and under your down-castings; but it is good for you that He hideth Himself some- times ; it is not niceness, dryness, nor coldness of love, that causeth Christ to withdraw and slip in under a curtain and a vail that ye cannot see Him ; but He knoweth, ye could not bear with up-sails, a fair gale, a full moon, and a high spring-tide of His felt love, and always a fair summer-day and a summer-sun of a felt, and possessed, and embracing Lord Jesus. His kisses and His visits to His dear- est ones are thin sown. He could not let out His rivers of love upon His own, but these rivers would be in hazard to loose a young plant at the root ; and He knoweth this of you. Ye should, there- fore, frist Christ's kindness, as to its sensible and full manifestations, till ye and He be above sun and moon ; that is the country where ye will be enlarged for that love, which ye do not now contain. Cast the burden of your sweet babes upon Christ, and lighten your heart by laying your all upon Him ; He will be their God. I hope to see you up the mountain yet, and glad in the salvation of God. Frame yourself for Christ, and gloom not upon His cross. I find 254 LETTER CXLIV. Hira so sweet, tlint my love, suppose I would charge it to remove from Christ, it would not obey me. His love hath stronger fingers than to let go its grips of us bairns, who cannot go but by such a hold as Christ. It is good that we want legs of our own, since we may borrow from Christ ; and it is our happiness that Christ is under an act of cautionery for heaven, and that Christ is booked in heaven as the principle debtor for such poor bodies as we are. I request you, give the laird, your husband, thanks for his care of me, that he hath appeared in public for a prisoner of Christ. I pray, and write mercy and peace, and blessings to him and his. Grace, grace be with you for ever. Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, 1637. LETTER CXLIV.— To Mr John Fergushill. Reverend and dear Brother, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. My longings and desires for a sight of the new builded tabernacle of Christ again in Scotland, that tabernacle that came down from heaven, hath now taken some life again, when I see Christ making a mint to sow vengeance among His enemies. I care not if this land be ripe for such a great wonderful mercy ; but I know He must do, whenever it is done, w^ithout hire. I find the grief of my silence and my fear to be holden at the door of Christ's house swelling upon me ; and the troth is, were it not that I am dated now and then with pieces of Christ's sweet love and comforts, I fear I should have made an ill browst of this honourable cross, that I know such a soft and silly-minded body as I am is not worthy of. For I have little in me but softness and superlative and excessive apprehensions of fear, and sadness, and sorrow, and often God's terrors do surround me, because Christ looketh not so favourably upon me as a poor witness would have Him. And I wonder how I have past a year and a quarter's imprisonment without shaming my sweet Lord, to whom I desire to be faithful; and I think I shall die but even mint- ing and aiming to serve and honour my Lord Jesus. Few know how toom and empty I am at home ; but it is a part of marriage- love and husband-love, that my Lord Jesus goeth not to the streets with His chiding against me. It is but stolen and concealed anger that I find and feel, and Plis glooms to me are kept under roof, that He will not have mine enemies hearing what is betwixt me and Christ. And, believe me, I say the truth in Christ, the only gall and worm- wood in my cup, and that which hath filled me with fear, hath been, lest my sins, that sun and moon and the Lord's children were never witness to, should have moved my Lord to strike me with LETTER CXLIV. 255 dumb sabbaths. Lord, pardon mv soft and weak jealousies, if I be here in an error. My very dear brother, I would have looked for more large and more particular letters from you for my comfoi-t in this ; for your words before have strengthened me. I pray you, mend this, and be thankful and painful while ye have a piece or corner of the Lord's vineyard to dress. O, would to God I could have leave to follow you to break the clods ! but I wish I could command my soul silence, and wait upon the Lord. I am sure, while Christ lives, I am well enough friend-stead. I hope He will extend His kindness and power for me ; but God be thanked, it is not worse with me than a cross for Christ and His truth. I know He might have pitched npon many more choice and worthy witnesses if He had pleased ; but I seek no more (be what timber I will, suppose I were made of a piece of hell) than that my Lord, in His infinite art, hew glory to His name, and enlargement to Christ's kingdom out of me. O, that I could attain to this, to desire that my part of Christ might be laid in pledge for the heightening of Christ's throne in Britain ! Let my Lord redeem the pledge, or if He please, let it sink and drown unredeemed. But what can I add to Him ? or what way can a smothered and borne-down prisoner set out Christ in open market as a lovely and desirable Lord to many souls '? I know He seeth to His own glory better than my ebb thoughts can dream of, and that the wheels and paces of this poor distempered kirk are in His hands, and that things shall roll as Christ will have them. Only, Lord tryst the matter so, as Christ may be made a Householder and Lord again in Scotland, and wet faces for His departure may be dried at His sweet and much desired welcome home. I see in all our trials, our Lord will not mix our wares and His grace overhead through other ; but He will have each man to know His own, that the like of me may say, in my sufferings, this is Christ's grace, and this is but my coarse stuff; this is free grace, and this is but nature and reason. We know what our legs would play us, if they should carry us through ail our waters ; and the least thing our Lord can have of us is, to know we are grace's debtors, or grace's dyvours, and that nature is of a base house and blgod, and grace is better born, and of kin and blood to Christ, and of a better house. 0, that I were free of that idol that they call myself, and that Christ were for myself, and my- self a decourted cipher and a denied and foresworn thing ! but that proud thing, myself, will not play except it ride up side for side with Christ, or rather have place before Him. O, myself, another devil, as evil as the prince of devils, if thou could give Christ the way and take thine own room, which is to sit as low as nothing or corruption ! 0, but we have much need to be ransomed and re- deemed by Christ from that master-tyrant, that cruel and lawless 256 LETTER CXLV. lord, ourself ; nay, when I am seeking Christ, and out of myself, I have the third part of a squint eye upon that vain, vain thing, myself, myself, and something of mine own. But I must hold here. I desire you to contribute your help, to see if I can be restored to my wasted and lost flock. I see not how it can be, except the lords would procure me a liberty to preach ; and they have reason. 1 . Because the opposers and my adversaries have practised their new canons upon me, whereof one is, that no deprived minister preach under the pain of excommunication. 2. Because my op- posing of these cannons was a special thing that incensed Sidserf against me. 3. Because I was judicially accused for my book against the Arminians, and commanded by the chancellor to acknow- ledge I had done a ftiult in writing against Dr Jackson, a wicked Arminian. Pray for a room in the house to me. Grace, grace be (as it is) your portion. Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. E-. Aberdeen, 1637. LETTER CXLV.— To John Stuart, Provost of Ayr. Worthy Sir, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. I long for the time when I shall see the beauty of the Lord in His house ; and would be as glad of it as of any sight on earth, to see the halt, the blind, and the lame come back to Zion with supplications, Jer. xxxi. 8, 9. " Going and weeping and seeking the Lord, asking the way to Zion v/ith their faces thitherward," Jer. 1. 5, 6. And to see the woman travailing in birth, delivered of the man-child of a blessed reformation. If this land were humbled, 1 would look that our skies should clear and our day dawn again ; and ye should then bless Christ, v/ho is content to save your travail, and to give Himself to you, in pure ordinances on this side of the sea. I know the mercy of Christ is engaged by promise to Scotland, notwithstanding He bring wrath, as I fear He shall, upon this land. I am waiting on for enlargement, and half-content that my faith bow, if Christ, while He bow it, keep it unbroken ; for .who goeth through a fire without a mark or a scald. I see the Lord making use of this fire to scour His vessels from their rust. O that my will were silent, and as " a child weaned from the breasts!" Psalm cxxx. But, alas, who hath a heart that will give Christ the last word in flyting, and will hear, and not speak again"? 0, contestations and quer- lous replies (as a soon saddled spirit, " I do well to be angry, even to the death," Jon. iv. 9), smell of the stink of strong corruption ! O, blessed soul, that could sacrifice his will and go to heaven, having lost his will, and made resignation of it to Christ ! I would seek no l£tter cxlv. 257 more but that Christ were absolute King over my will, and that my will were a sufferer in all crosses, without meeting Christ with such a word, why is it thus ? I wish still, that my love had but leave to stand beside beautiful Jesus, and to get the mercy of look- ing to Him, and burning for Him, suppose possession of Him were suspended and fristed, till my Lord fold together the leaves and two sides of the little shepherd's tents of clay. 0, what pain is iu longing for Christ under an over-clouded and eclipsed assurance ! What is harder than to burn and dwine with longings and deaths of love, and then to have blanks and uninked paper for assurance of Christ in real fruition or possession ? O, how sweet were one line or half a letter of a written assurance under Christ's own hand ! but this is our exercise daily, that guiltiness shall overmist and darken assurance : it is a miracle to believe, but for a sinner to believe is two miracles. But O, what obligations of love are we under to Christ, who beareth with our wild apprehensions, in suffer- ing them to nick-name sweet Jesus, and to put a lie upon His good name ! If He had not been God, and if long-suffering in Christ were not like Christ Himself, we should long ago have broken Christ's mercies in two pieces, and put an iron-bar upon our own salvation, that mercy should not have been able to break or over- leap ; but long-suffering in God, is God Himself, and that is our salvation, and the stability of our heaven is in God. He knew (who said, *' Christ in you the hope of glory," Col. i. 27, for our hope and the bottom and pillars of it is Christ God) sinners are anchor-fast and made stable in God : so that if God do not change (which is impossible), then my hope shall not fluctuate. O, sweet stability of sure-bottomed salvation ! who could win heaven if this w^ere not ? and who could be saved if God were not God, and if He were not such a God as He is ? O, God be thanked, that our salvation is coasted, and landed, and shored upon Christ, who is Master of winds and storms ! and what sea-winds can blow the coast or the land out of its place ? bulwarks are often casten down, but coasts are not re- moved ; but suppose that were, or might be, yet God cannot reel nor remove. O, that we go from this strong and un movable Lord, and that we loose ourselves (if it were in our power) from Him ! Alas, our green and young love hath not taken with Christ, as being unacquainted with Him. He is such a wide, and broad, and deep, and high, and surpassing sweetness, that our love is too little for Him. But 0, if our love, little as it is, could take band with His great and huge sweetness and transcendent excellency ! O, thrice blessed, and eternally blessed, are they, who are out of themselves and above themselves, that they may be in love united to Him. I am often rolling up and down the thoughts of my faint and sick desires of ex- pressing Christ's glory before His people ; but I see not through the s '25S LETTER CXLYI. throng of impediments, and cannot find eyes to look higher, and so I put many things in Christ's way to hinder Him, that I know He would but laugh at, and with one stride set His foot over them all. 1 know not if my Lord will bring me to His sanctuary or not ; but 1 know He hath the placing of me, either within or without the house, and that nothing will be done without Him ; but I am often thinking and saying within myself that my days flee away, and I see no good, neither yet Christ's work thriving ; and it is like the grave shall prevent the answer of my desires of saving souls as I would. But, alas, I cannot make right work of His ways, I neither ispell nor read my Lord's providence aright. My thoughts go away that I fear they meet not God ; for it is like God will not come the way of my thoughts, and I cannot be taught to crucify to Him my wisdom and desires, and to make Him King over my thoughts ; for 1 would have a princedom over my thoughts, and would boldly and blindly prescribe to God, and guide myself in a way of my own making. But I hold my peace here, let Him do His will. Grace, grace be with you. Yours, in his sweetest Lord and Master, S. R. Aberdeen, 1637, LETTER CXLVL— To Carsluth. Much honoured Sir, — I long to hear how your soul prospereth. T earnestly desire you to try how matters stand between your soul Hrid the Lord : think it no easy matter to take heaven by violence. Salvation cometh now to the most part of men in a night-dream : there is no scarcity of faith now, such as it is ; for ye shall not now light upon the man who will not say he hath faith in Christ. But alasl dreams make no man's rights. Worthy sir, I beseech you in the Lord, give your soul no rest till ye have real assurance and Christ's rights confirmed and sealed to your soul. The common faith, and country-holiness, and week-day's zeal, that are among people, will never bring men to heaven. Take pains for your salvation; for in that day, when ye shall see many men's labours, and conquests, and idol riches lying in ashes, when the earth and all the works thereof shall be burnt with fire, 0, how dear a price would your soul give for God's favour in Christ ! It is a blessed thing to see Christ with up-sun, and to read over your papers and soul-accounts with fair daylight. It will not be time to cry for a lamp when the Bridegroom is entered into His chamber and the door shut. Fie, fie upon blinded and base souls, wdio are committing whoredom with this idol clay, and hunting a poor, wretched, hungry heaven, a hungry breakfast, a day's meet, from this hungry world, with the LETTER CXLVI. 259 forfeiting of God's favour, and the drinking over tbeir heaven over the board (as men use to speak), for the laughter and sports of this short forenoon ! All that is under this vault of heaven, and betwixt us and death, and in this side of sun and moon, are but toys' night- visions, head-fancies, poor shadows, watery froth, godless vanities at their best, and black hearts, and salt and sour miseries, sugared over and confected with an hour's laughter or two. and the conceit of riches, honour, vain, vain court and lawless pleasures. Sir, if ye look both to the laughing side and the weeping side of this world, and if ye look not only upon the skin and colour of things but into their inwards and the heart of their excellency, ye shall see that one look of Christ's SAveet and lovely eye, one kiss of His fairest face, is v/orth ten thousand worlds of such rotten stuff as the foolish sons of men set their hearts upon. O, sir, turn, turn your heart to the other side of things, and get it once free of these entanglements, to consider eternity, death, the clay-bed, the grave, awsom judgment, everlasting burning quick in hell, where death would give as great a price (if there were a market where death might be bought and sold) as all the world. Consider heaven and glory; but alas! why speak I of considering these things, which have not entered into the heart of man to consider? Look into th^se depths (without a bottom) of loveliness, sweetness, beauty, excellency, glory, goodness, grace, and mercy that are in Christ, and ye shall then cry down the whole world and all the glory of it, even when it is come to the summer- bloom : and ye shall cry, up with Christ, up with Christ's Father, up with eternity of glory. Sir, there is a great deal of less sand in your glass than when I saw you, and your afternoon is nearer even- tide nov/ than it was. As a Hood carried back to the sea, so doth the Lord's swift post, time, carry you and your life with wrings to the grave. Ye eat and drink, but time standeth not still ; ye laugiu but your day fleeth away ; ye sleep, but your hours are reckoned and put by hand. O, how soon will time shut you out of the poor, and cold, and hungry inns of this life ! and then, what will yester- day's short-born pleasures do to you, but be as a snow-ball melted away, many years since, or worse ; for the memory of these plea- sures useth to fill the soul with bitterness. Time and experience will prove this to be true ; and dying men, if they could speak, would make this good. Lay no more on the creatures than tliey are able to carry. Lay your soul and your weights upon God ; make Him your only, only best Beloved. Your errand to this life is to make sure an eternity of glory to your soul, and to match your soul with Christ : your love, if it were more than all the love of angels in one, is Christ's due. Other things, worthy in themselves, in respect of Christ, are not worth a windlestraw, or a drink of cold water. I doubt not but in death ye will see all things more distinctly, and that then '2Q0 LETTER CXLVII. the world shall bear no more bulk than it is worth, and that then it shall couch and be contracted into nothing, and ye shall see Christ longer, higher, broader, and deeper than ever He was. 0, blessed conquest, to lose all things and to gain Christ ! I know not what ye have if ye want Christ. Alas, how poor is your gain if the earth were all yours in free heritage, holding it of no man of clay, if Christ be not yours ! O, seek all niidses, lay all oars in the water, put forth all your power, and bend all your endeavours, to put away and part with all things, that ye may gain and enjoy Christ. Try and search His word, and strive to go a step above and beyond ordinary profes- sors, and resolve to sweat more, and run faster than they do, for salvation. Men's mid-way, cold and wise courses in godliness, and their neighbour-like cold and wise pace to heaven, Avill cause many a man want his lodging at night and lie in the fields. I recommend Christ and His love to your seeking, and yourself to the tender mercy and rich grace of our Lord. Remember my love in Christ to your wife. I desire her to learn to make her soul's anchor fast upon Christ Himself. Few are saved. Let her consider, what joy the smiles of God in Christ will be, and what the love-kisses of sweet, sweet Jesus, and a welcome home to the new Jerusalem from Christ's own mouth, will be to her soul; when Christ shall fold together the clay tent of her body, and lay it by His hand for a time, till the fair morning of the general resurrection. I avouch before God, man, and angel, that I have not seen, nor can imagine, a lover to be com- parable to lovely Jesus. I would not exchange or niffer Him with ten heavens. If heaven could be without Him, what could we do there ? Grace, grace be with you. Your soul's eternal well-wisher, S. R. Aberdeen, 1637. LETTER CXLVII.— To Cassin Carrie. Much honoured Sir, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. I have been too long in v/riting to you. I am confident ye have learned to prize Christ, and His love and favour, more than ordi- nary professors, who scarce see Christ with half an eye, because their sight is taken up with eyeing and liking the beauty of this over- gilded world, that promiseth fair to all its lovers, but in the push of a trial, when need is, can give nothing but a fair beguile. I know ye are not ignorant that men come not to this world as some do to a market to see and to be seen ; or as some come to behold a May- game, and only to behold and to go home again. Ye came hither to treat with God, and to tryst with Him in his Christ, for salvation to your soul, and to seek reconciliation with an angry and wrath-' LETTER CXLTII. 261 ful God, in a covenant of peace made to you in Christ, and this is more than an ordinary sport or the play, that the greatest part of the world give their heart unto. And therefore, worthy sir, I pray you by the salvation of your soul, and by the mercy of God, and your compearance before Christ, do this in sad earnest, and let not salvation be your by-work, or your holiday's task only, or a work by the way : for men think, that this may be done in three day>' space on a feather-bed, when death and they are fallen in hands together, and that with a word or two they shall make their soul- matters right. Alas, this is to sit loose and unsure in the matters of our salvation. Nay, the seeking of this world and the glory of it, is but an odd and by-errand, that we may slip, so being Ave make salvation sure. O, when will men learn to be that heavenly -wise, as to divorce from, and free their soul of all idle lovers, and make Christ the only, only one, and trim and make ready their lamps, while they have time and day ! How soon will this house skail, and the inns where the poor soul lodgeth fall to the earth! how soon will some few years pass away, and then when the day is ended, and this life's lease expired, what have men of the world's glory, but dreams and thoughts f 0, how blessed a thing is it to labour for Christ, and to make Him sure ! Know and try in time your hold- ing of Him, and the rights and charters of heaven, and upon what terms ye have Christ and the Gospel, and what Christ is worth in your estimation, and how lightly ye esteem of other things, and how dearly of Christ ! I am sure, if ye see Him in His beauty and glory, ye shall see Him to be all things, and that incomparable jewel of gold, that ye should seek ; howbeit ye should sell, wod-set, and forfeit your few years' portion of this life's joys. O happy soul for evermore, who can rightly compare this life with that long- lasting life to come, and can balance the weighty glory of the one with the light golden vanity of the other ! The day of the Lord is now near at hand, and all men shall come out in their blacks and whites as they are. There shall be no borrowed, lying colours in that day, when Christ shall be called Christ, and no longer nick- named : now men borrow Christ and His white colour, and the lustre and farding of Christianity ; but how many counterfeit masks will be burnt in the day of God, in the fire that shall burn the earth and the works that are in it. And, howbeit Christ have the hardest part of it now, yet in the presence of my Lord, whom I serve in the Spirit, I would not nifrer or exchange Christ's prison, bands, and chains with the gold chains and lordly rents and smil- ing and happy-like heavens of the men of this world. I am far from thoughts of repenting because of my losses and bonds for Christ. I wish all my adversaries were as I am, except my bonds. Worthy, worthy, worthy for evermore is Christ, for whom we should suffer 2G2 LETTER CXLVIII. pains like hell's pains, far more the short hell that the saints of God iiave in this life. Sir, I wish your soul may be more acquainted with the sweetness of Christ. Grace, grace be with you. Yours, in his only liord and Master, S. R. Aberdeen, 1637. LETTER CXLVIII.— To his Parishioners at Anwoth. Dearly beloved in ouu Lord, — Grace, mercy, and peace from <^od our Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ he multiplied upon you. I long exceedingly to hear of your on-going and advancement in your journey to the kingdom of God. My only jo}^ out of heaven is, to hear that the seed of God sown among you is growing and coming to an harvest ; for I ceased not, while I was among you, in season and out of season (according to the measure of grace given unto me^, to warn and stir up your minds. And I am free from the blood of all men ; for I have communicated to you the whole counsel of God. And, I now again charge and warn you, in the great and di-eadful name, and in the sovereign authority of the King of kings and Lord of lords: and I beseech you also by the mercies of God, and by the bowels of Christ, by your appearance l)efore Christ Jesus our Lord, by all the plagues that are written in (xod's book, by your part of the holy city, the new Jerusalem, that ye keep the truth of God as I delivered it to you, before many witnesses, in the sight of God and His holy angels ; for now the last days are come and coming, when many forsake Christ Jesus, and He saith to you, will ye also leave me? Remember that I fore- warned you to forbear the dishonouring of the Lord's blessed name in swearing, blaspheming, cursing, and the profaning of the Lord's sabbath ; willing you to give that day from morning to night to praying, praising, hearing of the word, conferring, and speaking j!Ot your own words but God's words, thinking and meditating on (rod's nature, word, and works. And that every day at morning and at night (at least), ye should sanctify the Lord by praying in your houses publicly in the hearing of all ; that ye should in any sort forbear the receiving of the Lord's Supper, but after the form that I delivered it to you, according to the example of Christ our Lord ; that is, that ye should sit as banqueters at one table with our King, and eat, and drink, and divide the elements one to another. The timber and stones of the church walls shall bear witness, that my soul was refreshed with the comforts of God in that Supper ; and that crossing in baptism was unlawful, and against Christ's ordinances ; and that no day (besides the sabbath, which is of His own appointment) should be kept holy and sancti- lied with preaching and the public worship of God, for the memory LETTER CXL^'III. 263 of Christ's birth, death, resurrection, and ascension, seeing such days, so observed, are unlawful, will-worship, and not warranted in Christ's word ; and that everything in God's worship not warranted by Christ's Testament and Word, was unlawful. And also, that idolatry, worshipping of God before hallowed creatures, and ador- ing of Christ by kneeling before bread and wine, was unlawful. And that ye should be humble, sober, modest ; forbearing pride, envy, malice, w^rath, hatred, contention, debate, lying, slandering, stealing, and defrauding your neighbours in grass, corn, or cattle, in buying or selling, borrowing or lending, taking or giving, in bargains or covenants. And that ye should w^ork with your own hands, and be content with that which God hath given you. That ye should study to know God and His will, and keep in mind the doctrine of the catechism, which I taught you carefully, and speak of it in your houses and in the fields, w^ien ye lie down at night, and when ye rise in the morning. That ye should believe in the Son of God and obey His commandments, and learn to make your accounts in time with your Judge; because death and judgment are before you. And if ye have now penury and want of that Avord, which I delivered to you in abundance ; yea (to God's honour I speak it, without arrogating anything to myself, who am but a poor empty man) ye had as much of the word in nine years, while I was among you, as some others have had in many. Mourn for your loss of time and repent. My soul pitieth you that ye should suck dr}^ breasts and be put to draw at dry wells. O, that ye would esteem highly of the Lamb of God, your Well-Beloved Christ Jesus, whose virtues and praises I preached unto you with joy, and which He did countenance and accompany with some power; and that ye would call to mind the many fair days and glorious feasts in our Lord's house of wine, that ye and I have had with Christ Jesus ! But if there be any among you that take liberty to sin, because I am removed from amongst you, and forget that word of truth which ye heard, and turn the grace of God into wantonness, I here, under my hand, in the name of Christ my Lord, w^rite to such persons all the plagues of God, and the curses that ever 1 preached in the pul- pit of Anwoth against the children of disobedience : and, as the Lord liveth, the Lord Jesus shall make good what I write unto you. Therefore, dearly beloved, fulfil my joy. Fear the great and dreadful name of the Lord ; seek God with me. Scotland's judgment sleepeth not. Awake and repent. The sword of the Lord shall go from the north to the south, from the east to the west, and through all the corners of the land, and that sword shall be drunk with your blood amongst the first ; and I shall stand up as witness against you, if ye do not amend your ways and your doings, and turn to the Lord w^ith all your heart. I beseech you also, my 264 LETTER CXLIX. beloved in the Lord, my joy and my crown, offend not at the sufferings of me, the prisoner of Jesus Christ ; I am filled with joy and with the comforts of God. Upon my salvation, I know and am persuaded it is for God's truth and the honour of my King and royal Prince Jesus I now suffer. And howbeit this town be my prison, yet Christ hath made it my palace, a garden of pleasures, a field and orchard of delights. I know likewise, albeit I be in bonds, that yet the word of God is not in bonds, my spirit also is in free-ward. Sweet, sweet, have His comforts been to my soul ; my pen, tongue, and heart, have not words to express the kindness, love, and mercy of my Well-Beloved to me, in this house of my pil- grimage. I charge you to fear and love Christ, and to seek a house not made with hands, but your Father's house above. This laughing and white-skinned world beguileth you, and if ye seek it more than God, it shall play you a slip to the endless sorrow of your heart. Alas, I could not make many of you fall in love with Christ, how- beit, I endeavoured to speak much good of Him, and to commend Him to you (which as it was your sin, so it is my sorrow) ; yet once again suffer me to exhort, beseech, and obtest you in the Lord, to think of His love, and to be delighte and Lord, and libelled unkindness against Him ; but now I pass ■ from that foolish pursuit ; I give over the plea ; He is God and I ! am man. I was loosing a fast stone, and digging at the ground stone (the love of my Lord) to shake and unsettle it ; but God be thanked it is fast ; all is sure. In my prison, He hath shown me daylight; He doth not hide His love any longer. Christ was dis- guised and masked, and I apprehended it was not He ; and He hath said, " It is I, be not afraid;" and now His love is better than wine. O that all the virgins had part of the Bridegroom's love, whereupon He maketh me to feed ! Help me to praise : I charge you, madam, help me to pay praises, and tell others, the daughters of Jerusalem, how kind Christ is to a poor prisoner. He hath paid me my hundred-fold ; it is well told me, and one to the hundred. I am nothing behind with Christ. Let not fools, because of their lazy soft flesh, raise a slander and an ill report upon the cross of Christ ; it is sweeter than fair. I see grace groweth best in winter. This poor persecuted kirk, this lily among the thorns, shall blossom and laugh upon the Gardener ; the Husbandman's blessing shall light upon it. 0, if I could be free of jealousies of Christ after this, and believe and keep good quarters with my dearest Husband ! for He hath been kind to the stranger. And yet in all this fair hot summer- weather, I am kept from saying, "It is good to be here," with my silence, and with grief to see my mother wounded and her vail taken from her, and the fair temple casten down; and my belly is pained, my soul is heavy for the captivity of the daughter of my people, and because of the fury of the Lord and His fierce indigna- LETTER CLXVIII. 287 lion against apostate Scotland. I pray yon, madam, let me have that which is my prayer here, that my sufferings may preach to the four quarters of this land : and, therefore, tell others how open- handed Christ hath been to the prisoner and the oppressed stranger. "Why should I conceal it ? I know no other way how to glorify Christ, but to make an open proclamation of His love, and of His soft and sweet kisses to me in the furnace, and of His fidelity to such as suffer for Him. Give it me under your hand, that ye will help me to pray and praise, but rather to praise and rejoice in the salvation of God. Grace, grace be with you. Yours, in his dearest and only, only Lord Jesus, S. E. Aberdeen, Dec, 30, 1636. LETTER CLXVin.— 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 pros- pereth, 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. Alt other things, as houses, lands, children, husband, friends, country, credit, health, wealth, honour, may be wanted ; but heaven is vour one thing necessary, the good part that 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 by the way that are slain with security. I have now been led by my Lord Jesus to such a nick in Christianity as I think little of former things. O, what I want! I want so many things, that I am almost asking if I had anything at all. Every man thinketh he is rich enough in grace till he take out his purse aud tell his money, and then he findeth his pack but poor and light in the day of a heavy trial. I found I had not to bear my expenses, and should have fainted if want and penury had not chased me to the store-house of all. I beseech you, make con- science of your ways ; deal kindly, and with conscience with your tenants. To fill a breach, or a hole, make not a greater breach in the conscience. I msh 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 burnt 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 hath brought me to this, that I would not give a drink ot cold water for this world's kindness. I wonder that men long after love or care for these feathers. It is almost an uncouth world to me 288 LETTER CLXIX. to think, that men are so mad as to block with dead earth. To give out conscience and to get in clay again is a strange bargain. I have written my mind at length to your husband. Write to me again his case, I cannot forget him in my prayers ; I am looking, Christ hath some claim to him. My counsel is, that ye bear with him when passion overtaketh him, "A soft answer putteth away wrath;" answer him in wdiat he speaketh, and apply yourself in the fear of God to him, and then He will remove a pound weight of your heavy cross that way, and so it shall become light. When Christ hideth Himself, wait on and make din till He return, it is not time then to be carlessly patient ; I love it to be grieved Avhen He hideth His smiles: yet believe His love in a patient on -waiting and believing in the dark. Ye must learn to swim and hold up your head above the water, even when the sense of His presence is not with you to hold up your chin. I trust in God, He shall bring your ship safe to land. I counsel you, study sanctification, and to be dead to this world ; urge kindness on Knockbrex ; labour to benefit by his company, the man is acquaint with Christ. I beg the help of your prayers, for I forget not you. Counsel your hus- band to fulfil my joy and to seek the Lord's face. Show him from me that my joy and desire is to hear he is in the Lord ; God casteth him often in my mind, I cannot forget him. I hope Christ and he have something to do together. Bless John from me. I write blessings to him, and to your husband, and to the rest of your children. Let it not be said, I am not in your house, through ne- glect of the sabbath-exercise. Your lawful and loving pastor, in his only, only Lord, S. R. Aberdeen, Feb. 20, 1637. CLXIX.— To Janet M'Culloch. Dear Sister, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. I long to hear how your soul prospereth. I am as well as a prisoner of Christ can be, feasted and made fat with the comforts of God. Christ's kisses are made sweeter to my soul than ever they were. I would not change my Master with all the kings of clay upon the earth. O, my Well-Beloved is altogether lovely and loving, I care not what flesh can do. I persuade my soul, I delivered the truth of Christ to you ; slip not from it, for no boasts or fear of men. If ye go against the truth of Christ that I now suffer for, I shall bear witness against you in the day of Christ. Sister, fasten your grips fast on Christ ; follow not the guises of this sinful world. Let not this clay- portion of earth take up your soul ; it is the portion of bastards, and ye are a child of God; therefore, seek your Father's heritage. LETTER CLXX. 289 Send up your heart to see the dwelling-house and fair rooms in the new city. Fie, fie upon these who cry, up with the world and down with conscience and heaven. We have bairns' wits, and therefore we cannot prize Christ aright. Counsel your husband and mother to make them for eternity ; that day is drawing nigh. Pray for me the prisoner of Christ; I cannot forget you. Your lawful and loving pastor, S. R. Aberdeen, Feb. 20, 1637. LETTER CLXX.— To my Lord Craighall. My Lord, — I received Mr L.'s letter with your lordship's, and his learned thoughts in the matter of ceremonies. I owe respect to the man's learning, for that I hear him opposite to Arminian heresies. But (with reverence of that worthy man) I wonder to hear such popish like expressions as he hath in his letter, as your lordship may spare doubtings, when the king and church have agreed in the settling of such orders, and the church's direction in things indif- ferent and circumstantial (as if indifferent and circumstantial were all one) should be the rule of every private Christian. I only viewed the papers in two hours' space, the bearer hastening me to write. I find the worthy man not so seen in this controversy, as some turbu- lent men of our country, as he calleth refusers of conformity. And let me say it, I am more confirmed in nonconformity, when I see such a great wit play the agent so slenderly ; but I will lay the blame on the weakness of the cause, not on the meanness of Mr L.'s learning. I have ever been and still am confident that Britain cannot answer one argument a scandalo ! and I longed much to hear Mr L. speak to the cause; and I would say, if some ordinary divine had answered as Mr L. doeth, that he understood not the nature of a scandal. But I dare not vihfy that worthy man so. I am now upon the heat of some other employment, I shall, but God willing, answer this to the satisfying of any not prejudged. I will not say that every one is acquaint with the reason in my letter, from God's presence and bright shining face in suffering for this cause. Aristotle never knew the medium of the conclusion ; and Christ saith few know it. (See Rev. ii. 17.) I am sure a conscience standing in awe of the Almighty, and fearing to make a little hole in the bottom for fear of under- water, is a strong medium to hold off* an erroneous conclusion in the least wung or lith of sweet, sweet truth, that concerneth the royal prerogative of our Kingly and highest Lord Jesus. And my wit- ness is in heaven, I saw neither pleasure, nor profit, nor honour to hook me or catch me in entering in prison for Christ, but the wind on my face for the present : and if I had loved to sleep in a whole skin with the ease and present delight that I saw on this side of sun u "9^ LETTER CLXXr. and moon, I should have lived at ease in good hopes to fare as well as others. The Lord knoweth, I preferred preaching of Christ, and stil do, to anything next to Christ Himself, and their new canons took^my one, my one joy from me, which was to me as the poor man s one eye that had no more ; and alas, their is little lodging in their heart tor pity or mercy, to pluck out a poor man's one eye for a thing different, i. e., for knots of straws and things (as they mean) off the way to heaven. I desire not that my name take lourney and go a pilgnni to Cambridge, for fear I come in the ears of au- thority: I ani sufficiently burnt already. In the meantime, be pleased to try if the Bishop of bt Andrews and Glasgow, Galloway's ordin- ary, wiU be pleased to abate from the heat of their wrath and let me go to my charge. Few know the heart of a prisoner, yet I hope the Lord shall hew His own glory out of as knotty timber as I am. lleep Christ, my dear and worthy Lord : pretended paper-argu- ments from angering the mother-church, that can reel, and nod, and stagger are not of such weight as peace with the Father and Husband: let the wife gloom, I care not if the Husband lau-h. Remember my service to my lord your father, and mother, a^nd your lady. Grace be with you. Yours, at all obedience in Christ, S. E. Aberdeen, Jan. 24, 1637. LETTER CLXXI.~To his Reverend and Dear Brother, Mr Robert Blair. Reverend and dear BROTHER,-The reason ye gave for your not writmg to me affecteth me much, and giveth me a dash, when such an one as ye conceive an opinion of me, or anything in me. The truth IS, when I come home to myself, O what penury do I find, and how feckless is my supposed stock, and how little have 1 ' He to whom I am as crystal, and who seeth through me, and perceiveth the least mote that is in me, knoweth that I speak what I think and am convinced of. But men cast me through a gross and wide sieve. My very dear brother the room of the least of all saints is too great for the like of me. But least this should seem art, to fetch home leputation, I speak no more of it : it is my worth to be Christ's ran- and He IS the Physician of whom I stand in need. Alas! how often play I fast and loose with Christ? He bindeth, I loose ; He build- eth, I cast down ; He trimmeth up a salvation for me, and I mar it ; I cast out with Christ, and He agreeth with me again twenty times a day ; I forfeit my kingdom and heritage. I lose what I had ; but Christ IS at my back and folloAving on to stoop and take up what falletli from me. Were I in heaven and had the crown on my LETTER CLXXI. 291 head, if free will were my tutor, I should lose heaven ; seeing I lose myself, what wonder I should let go and lose Jesus my Lord ? 0, well to me for evermore that I have cracked my credit with Christ and cannot by law at all borrow from Him upon my feckless and worthless bond and faith I for my faith and reputation with Christ is, that I am a creature that God will not put any trust into. I was and am bewildered with temptations, and wanted a guide to heaven. 0^ what have 1 to say of that excellent, surpassing, and super-emi- nent thing they call " The grace of G-od," the way of free redemption in Christ ! And when poor, poor I, dead in law, was sold, fettered, and imprisoned injustice's closest ward, which is hell and damnation ; when I, a wretched one, lighted upon noble Jesus, eternally kind Jesus, tender-hearted Jesus ; nay, when He lighted upon me first, and knew me, I found that He scorned to take a price or anything, like hire of angels, or seraphims, or any of His creatures; and there- fore, I would praise Him for this, that the whole army of the redeemed ones sit rent-free in heaven. Our holding is better than blench. We are all free-holders ; and seeing our eternal feu-duty is but thanks : 0 woeful me, that I have but spilt thanks, and broken, lame, and miscarried praises to give Him ! and so my silver is not good and current with Christ, were it not that free merits have stamped it and washen it and me both ! And for my silence, I see somewhat better through it noAV. If my high and lofty One, my princely and royal Master say, *' Hold, hold thy peace, I lay bonds on thee, thou speak none," I would fain be content, and let my fire be smothered under ashes, without light or flame. I cannot help it. I take laws from my Lord, but I give none. As for your journey to F., ye do well to follow it. The camp in Christ's ordinary bed. A carried bed is kindly to the beloved, down in this lower house. It may be, and who knoweth but our Lord hath some centurions ye are sent to. Seeing your angry mother denieth you lodging and house-room with her, Christ's call to unknown faces must be your second wind, seeing ye cannot have a first. 0 that our Lord would w^ater again, with a new visit, this piece withered, and dry hill of our widow, Mount Zion ! My dear brother, I will think it comfort if ye speak my name to our Well-Beloved wherever ye are. I am mindful of you. O, that the Lord would yet make the light of the moon in Scotland like the light of the sun, and the light of the sun seven-fold brighter. For myself, as yet I have received no answer whither to go : I wait on. O, that Jesus had my love ! Let matters frame as they list, I have some more to do with Christ: yet I would fain we were nearer. Now, the great Shepherd of the sheep, the very God of peace, establish and confirm you till the day of His coming. Yours, in his lovely and sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, Sept. 9, 1637. 292 LETFER CLXXII. LETTER CLXXII.— To the Lady Carleton. Mistress, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. My soul longeth once again to be amongst you, and to behold that beauty of the Lord that I would see in His house. But I know not if He, in whose hands are all our ways, seeth it expedient for His glory. I owe my Lord (I know) submission of spirit, suppose He should turn me into a stone or pillar of salt. O, that I were he in whom my Lord could be glorified ; suppose my little heaven were forfeited to buy glory to Him before men and angels ; suppose my want of His presence, and separation from Christ, were a pillar as high as ten heavens for Christ's glory to stand upon above all the world! What am I to Him ? How little am I (though my feathers stood out as broad as the morning light, to such a high, to such a lofty, to such a never-enough admired and glorious Lord ! My trials are heavy because of my sad sabbaths ; but I know they are less than my high provocations. I seek no more but that Christ may be the gainer, and I the loser ; that He may be raised and heightened, and I cried down, and my worth made dust before His glory. O, that Scot- land, all with one shout, would cry up Christ, and that His name were high in this land ! I find the very utmost borders of Christ's high excellency and deep sweetness heaven and earth's wonder. O, what is He, if I could win in to see His inner side ! 0 ! I am run dry of loving, and wondering, and adoring of that greatest and most admirable One ! Woe, woe is me, I have not half-love for Him! Alas, what can my drop do to His great sea ! What gain is it to Christ that I have casten my little sparkle in His great fire ! What can I give to Him ? 0, that I had love to fill a thousand worlds, that I might empty my soul of it all upon Christ ! I think I have now just reason to quit my part of any hope or love that I have to this scum, and the refuse of the dross of God's workmanship, this vain earth. I owe to this stormy w^orld (whose kindness and heart to me hath been made of iron, or of a piece of a wild sea-island that never a creature of God yet lodged in) not a look, I owe it no love, no hope, and therefore, O, if my love were dead to it, and my soul dead to it ! What am I obliged to this house of my pilgrimage ? A straw for all that God hath made, to my soul's liking, except God and that lovely one Jesus Christ. Seeing I am not this world's debtor, I desire I may be stripped of all confidence in anything but my Lord, that He may be for me, and I for my only, only, only Lord, that He may be the morning and evening tide, the top and the root of my joys, and the heart and flower and yolk of all my soul's delights. O, let me never lodge any creature in my heart and confidence ; let the house be for Him. I rejoice that sad days cut off a piece of the lease of my short life ; and that my shadow LETTER CLXXIII. 293 (even while I suffer) weareth long, and my evening hastenetli on. I have cause to love home with all my heart, and to take the op- portunity of the day to hasten to the end of my journey, before the night come on, wherein a man cannot see to walk or work ; that once after my falls, I may at night fall in, weary and tired as I am, in Christ's bosom, and betwixt His breasts. Our prison cannot be our best country. This world looketh not like heaven, and the happiness that our tired souls would be at ; and therefore it were good to seek about for the wind, and hoist up our sails towards our new Jerusalem, for that is our best. Remember a prisoner to Christ. Grace, grace be with you. Yours, in his only Lord and Master, S. R. Aberdeen, 1637. LETTER CLXXIII.— To my Lord Craighall. My Lord, — I received one letter of your lordship's from C, and another of late from A. B., wherein I find your lordship in perplex- ity what to do : but let me entreat your lordship not to cause your- self mistake truth and Christ, because they seem to encounter with your peace and ease. My lord, remember that a prisoner hath written it to you ; as the Lord liveth, if ye put to your hand with other apostates in this land, to pull down the sometime beautiful tabernacle of Christ in this land, and join hands with them in one hair-breadth to welcome Antichrist to Scotland, there is wrath gone out from the Lord against you and your house. If the terror of a king hath overtaken you, and your lordship looketh to sleep in your nest in peace, and to take the nearest shore, there are many Avays, too, too many ways, how to shift Christ with some ill-washen and foul distinctions ; but assure yourself, suppose a king should assure you he would be your God (as he shall never be, for that piece of service), your clay-god shall die, and your carnal coun- sellors, when your conscience shall storm against you, and ye com- plain to them, they will say. What is that to us ? Believe not that Christ is weak, or that He is not able to save : of two fires that ye cannot pass, take the least. Some few years will bring us all out in our blacks and whites before our Judge ; eternity is nearer to you than ye are aware of. To go on in a course of defection, when an enlightened conscience is stirring and looking you in the face, and crying vvithin you, that ye are going in an evil way, is a step to the sin against the Holy Ghost. Either many of this land are near that sin, or else I know not what it is. And if this, for w^hich I now suffer be not the way of peace and the King's highway to salvation, I believe there is not a way at all : there is not such breadth and 294 LETTER CLXXIII. elbow-room in the way to heaven as men believe. Howbeit this day be not Christ's, the morrow shall be His. I believe assuredly our Lord shall repair the old waste places and His ruined house in Scotland, and this wilderness shall yet blossom as the rose. My very worthy and dear lord, wait upon Him who hideth His face from the house of Jacob, and look for Him ; wait patiently a little upon the Bridegroom's return again, that your soul may live, and ye may rejoice with the Lord's inheritance. I dare pawn my life and soul for it, if ye take this storm with borne-down Christ, your sky shall quickly clear, and your fair morning dawn. Think fas the truth is) that Christ is just now saying, " And will ye also leave me? " Ye have a fair occasion to gratify Christ now, if ye will stay with Him, and want the night's sleep with your suffering Saviour one hour. Now, when Scotland hath fallen asleep, and leaveth Christ to fend for Himself, I profess myself but a weak feeble man. When I came first to Christ's camp, I had nothing to maintain this war, or to bear me out in this encounter, and I am little better yet ; but since I find furniture, armour, and strength from the consecrated Captain, the Prince of our salvation, w^ho was perfected through suffering, I esteem suffering for Christ a king's life. I find that our wants qualify us for Christ ; and howbeit your lordship write, ye despair to attain to such a communion and fellowship (which I would not have you to think), yet would ye nobly and courageously venture to make over to Christ, for His honour now lying at the stake, your estate, place, and honour: He would lovingly and largely requite you, and give you a king's word for a recompense. Venture upon Christ's come, and I dare swear ye shall say as it is, Psal. xvi. 7 ; "I bless the Lord who gave me counsel." My very worthy lord, many eyes in both the kingdoms are upon you now, and the eye of our Lord is upon you ; acquit yourself manfully for Christ. Spill not this good play. Subscribe a blank submission, and put it in Christ's hands. Win, win the blessings and prayers of your sighing and sorrowful mother-church seeking help. Win Christ's bond (who is a King of His word) for a hundred-fold more even in this life. If a weak man hath past a promise to a king to make a slip to Christ (if we look to flesh and blood I wonder not of it, possibly I might have done worse myself) but add not further guiltiness to go on in such a scandalous and foul way. Remember that there is a woe, woe to him by whom offences come. This woe came out of Christ's mouth, and it is heavier than the woe of the law. It is the Mediator's vengeance, and that is two vengeances to those that are enlightened. Free yourself from unlawful anguish about advising and resolving. When the truth is come to your hand, hold it fast, go not again to make a new search and inquiry for truth. It is easy to cause conscience believe as ye will, not as ye LETTER CLXXIV. 295 know. It is easy for you to cast your light into prison, and detain God's truth in unrighteousness ; but that prisoner will break ward to your incomparable torture. Fear your light, and stand in awe of it ; for it is from God. Think what honour it is, in this life also, to be enrolled to the succeeding ages amongst Christ's witnesses, stand- ing against the re-entry of Antichrist. I know certainly your light looking to two ways, and to the two sides, crieth shame upon the course that they would counsel you to follow. The way that is halfer and compartner Avith the smoke of this fat world and with ease, smelleth strong of a foul and false way. The Prince of peace. He who brought again from the dead the great Shepherd of His sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, establish you, and give you sound light, and counsel you to follow Christ. Eemember my obliged service to my lord your father, and mother, and your lady. Grace be with you. Your lordship's at all obliged obedience, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, August 10, 1637. LETTER CLXXIV.— To Jean Gordon. My very dear and loving Sister, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. I long to hear from you. I exhort you to set up the brae to the King's city that must be taken with violence. Your after- noon's sun is wearing low. Time will eat up your frail life, like a worm gnawing at the root of a May-flower. Lend Christ your heart. Set Him as a seal there. Take Him in within, and let the world and children stand at the door ; they are not yours, make you and them for your proper owner, Christ. It is good He is your Husband and their Father. What missing can there be of a dying man, when God filleth his chair? Give hours of the day to prayer. Fash Christ (if I may speak so) and importune Him, be often at His gate ; give His door no rest ; I can tell you. He will be found. O wiiat sweet fellowship is betwixt Him and me ! I am imprisoned, but He is not imprisoned. He hath shamed me with His kindness ; He hath come to my prison, and run away vnih my heart and all my love. Well may He brook it : I wish my love get never an owner but Christ. Fie, fie upon all lovers, that held us so long asunder ! we shall not part now. He and I shall be heard before He win out of my grips : I resolve to wrestle with Christ ere I quit Him. But my love to Him hath casten my soul in a fever and there is no cooling of my fever till I get real possession of Christ. O strong, strong love of Jesus, thou hast Avounded my heart Avith thine arrows ! O pain ! O pain of love for Christ ! who Avill help me to praise ? Let me have your prayers. Grace be with you. Yours, in his SAveet Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, March 13, 1637. 296 LETTERS CLXXV. A2^D CLXXVI. LETTER CLXXV.— To Grissal Fullerton. Dear Sister, — I exhort you in the Lord to seek your one thing, Mary's good part, that shall not be taken from you. Set your heart and soul on the children's inheritance. This clay-idol, the world, is but for bastards, and ye are his lawful begotten child. Learn the way (as your dear mother hath gone before you) to knock at Christ's door. Many an alms of mercy hath Christ given to her, and hath abundance behind to give to you. Ye are the seed of the faithful and born within the covenant — claim your right. I would not exchange Christ Jesus for ten worlds of glory. I know now (blessed be my Teacher) how to shut the lock and unbolt my Well -Beloved's door, and He maketh a poor stranger welcome when he cometh to His house. I am swelled rfp, and satisfied with the love of Christ, that is better than wine. It is a fire in my soul; let hell and the world cast water on it, they will not mend them- selves. I have now gotten the right gate of Christ. I recommend Him to you above all things. Come and find the smell of His breath. See if His kisses be not sweet. He desireth no better than to be much made of. Be homely with Him, and ye shall be the more welcome. Ye know not how fain Christ would have all your love. Think not this is imagination's and bairn's play we make din for. I would not suffer for it, if it were so. I dare pawn my heaven for it, that it is the way to glory. Think much of truth, and abhor these ways devised by men in God's worship. The grace of Christ be with you. Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, March 14, 1637. LETTER CLXXVL— To Patrick Carsen. Dear and loving Friend, — I cannot but, upon the opportunity of a bearer, exhort you to resign the love of your youth to Christ, and, in this day, while your sun is high, and your youth serveth you, to seek the Lord and His face ; for there is nothing out of heaven so necessary for you as Christ. And ye cannot be ignorant but your day will end, and the night of death will call you from the pleasures of this life, and a doom given out in death standeth for ever as long as God livetb. Youth ordinarily is a post and ready servant for Satan to run errands ; for it is a nest for lust, cursing, drunkenness, blaspheming of God, lying, pride, and vanity. O, that there were such an heart in you as to fear the Lord, and to dedicate your soul and body to His service. When the time cometh that your eye-strings shall break, and your face wax pale, LETTERS CLXXVII. AND CLXXVIII. 297 and legs and arms tremble, and your breath grow cold, and your poor soul look out at your prison-house of clay to be set at liberty, then a good conscience, and your Lord's favour, shall be worth all the world's glory. Seek it as your garland and crown. Grace be with you. Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, March 14, 1636, LETTER CLXXVII.— To John Carsen. My well-beloved and dear Friend, — Every one seeketh not God, and far fewer find Him, because they seek amir's. He is to be sought for above all things, if men would find what they seek. Let feathers and shadows alone to children, and go seek your Well- Beloved. Your only errand to the world is, to woo Christ; therefore, put other lovers from about His house, and let Christ have all your love, without minching or dividing it. It is little enough, if there Avere more of it. The serving of the world and sin hath but a base reward, and smoke instead of pleasures ; and but a night-dream, for true ease to the soul. Go where ye will, your soul shall not sleep sound but in Christ's bosom. Come in to Him, and lie down, and rest you on the slain Son of God and in- quire for Him. I sought Him, and now a fig for all the worm-eaten pleasures and moth-eaten glory out of heaven since I have found Him, and in Him all I can want or wish. He hath made me a king over the world. Princes cannot overcome me. Christ hath given me the marriage-kiss, and He hath my marriage-love ; we have made up a full -bargain, that shall not go back on either side. O, if ye, and all in that country, knew what sweet terms of mercy are betwixt Him and me ! Grace be with you. Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, March 11, 1637. LETTER CLXXVIII.— To my Lady Boyd. Madam, — I would have written to your ladyship ere now, but people's believing there is in me that which I know there is not, hath put me out of love Avith writing to any ; for it is easy to put religion to a market and public fair, but alas ! it is not so soon made eye-sweet for Christ. My Lord seeth me a tired man far behind. I have gotten much love from Christ, but I give Him little or none again. My white side cometh out in paper to men, but at home and within, I find much black-work, and great cause of a 298 LETTER CLXXVIII. low sail, and of little boasting; and yet, howbeit I see challenges to be true, the manner of the tempter's pressing of them is unhonest, and, in my own thoughts, knavish like. My peace is, that Christ may find sale and outing of His wares, in the like of me, I mean, for saving grace. I wish all professors to fall in love with grace ; all our songs should be of His free grace. We are but too lazy and careless in seeking of it. It is all our riches we have here, and glory in the bud. I wish I could set out free grace. I was the law's man, and under the law, and under a curse; but grace brought me from under that hard lord, and I rejoice that I am grace's freeholder. I pay tribute to none for heaven, seeing my land and heritage holdeth of Christ, my new King. Infinite wisdom hath devised this excellent way of freeholding for sinners: it is a better way to heaven than the old way that was in Adam's days. It hath this fair advantage, that no man's emptiness and want layeth an inhibition upon Christ or hindereth His salvation (and that is far best for me) ; but our new Landlord putteth the names of dyvours and Adam's forlorn heirs and beggars, and crooked and blind, in the free charters ; heaven and angels may wonder that we have gotten such a gate of sin and hell. Such a back-entry out of hell as Christ made, and brought out the captives by, is more than my poor shallow thoughts can comprehend. I would think suf- ferings, glory (and I am sometimes not far from it), if my Lord would give me a new alms of free grace. I hear that the prelates are intending banishment for me ; but for more grace, and no other hire, I would make it welcome. The bit of this clay-house, the earth, and the other side of the sea, are my Father's. If my sweet Lord Jesus would bud my suiferings, with a new measure of grace, I were a rich man. But I have not now of a long time found such high spring-tides as formerly. The sea is out, and the wind of His Spirit calm, and I cannot buy a wind, or by requesting the sea cause it to flow again ; only, I wait on, upon the banks and shore-side, till the Lord send a full sea, that with up-sails I may lift up Christ. Yet sorrow for His absence is sweet ; and sighs, with " Saw ye Him whom my soul loveth," have their own delights. 0 that I might gather hunger against His long-looked for return ! Well were my soul, if Christ were the element, mine own element, and that I loved and breathed in Him, and if I could not live without Him. I allow not laughter upon myself when He is away ; yet He never leaveth the house, but He leaveth drink-money behind Him, and a pawn that He will return. Woe, woe to me, if He should go away and take all His flitting with Him. Even to dream of Him is sweet. To build a house of pining wishes for His return, to spin out a web of sorrow, and care, and languishing, and sighs, either dry or wet, as they may be, because He hath no leisure (if I may LETTER CLXXIX. 299 speak so) to make a visit, or to see a poor friend, sweeteneth and refreslieth the thoughts of the heart. A misty dew will stand for rain and do some good, and keep some greenness in the herbs till our Lord's clouds rue upon the earth, and send down a watering of rain. Truly, I think Christ's misty dew a welcome message from heaven till my Lord's rain fall. Woe, woe is me for the Lord's vineyard in Scotland. Howbeit the father of the house embrace a child, and feed him, and kiss him, yet it is sorrow and sadness to the children that our poor mother hath gotten her leave, and that our father hath given up house. It is an unheart- some thing to see our father and mother agree so ill ; yet the bastards, if they be fed, care not. 0 Lord, cast not water on Scotland's smoking coal. It is a strange gate the saints go to heaven ; our enemies often eat and drink us, and we go to heaven through their bellies and stomachs, and they vomit the church of God undigested among their hands, and even v/hile we are shut up in prisons by them, we advance in our journey. Eemember my service to my lord, your kind son, who was kind to me in my bonds, and was not ashamed to own me. I would be glad that Christ got the morning service of his life now in his young years. It would suit him well to give Christ his young and green love. Christ's stamp and seal would go far down in a young soul, if he would receive the thrust of Christ's stamp. I would desire him to make search for Christ, for nobles now are but dry friends to Christ. The grace of God our Father, and the good will of Him who dwelt in the bush, be with your ladyship. Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, 1637. LETTER CLXXIX.— To the Lady Cardonness, Elder. "Worthy and well-beloved in the Lord, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. I long to hear from you in paper, 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 de- spised, but most lovely Son of God : I cannot but recommend Him unto you, as your Husband, your Well-Beloved, your Portion, your Comfort, and your Joy. I speak this of that lovely One, because I praise and commend the foord (as we use to speak) as I find it. He hath watered with His sweet comforts an oppressed prisoner. He was always kind to my soul ; but never so kind as now, in my greatest extremities. I dine and sup with Christ ; He visiteth my soul with the visitations of love in the night watches. I persuade my soul that this is the way to heaven, and His own truth I now suiFer for. 300 LETTER CLXXX. I exhort you, in tlie name of Christ, to continue in the truth which I delivered to you. I-Iake Christ sure to your soul ; for your day draweth nigh to an end. Many slide back now, who seemed to be Christ's friends, and prove dishonest to Him. 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 (Ps. xxxix.), will, within a short time, come to a finger-breadth, and at length to nothing. O, how sweet and comfortable shall the feast of a good conscience be to you, 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 of your dying body, and shall long to be out, and to have the jailor to open the door, that the prisoner may be set at liberty. Ye draw nigh the waterside. Look your accounts ; ask for your Guide to take you to the other side : let not the world be your portion. What have ye to do with dead clay ? Ye are not a bastard but a lawful begotten child : therefore, set your heart on the inheritance. Go up before hand and see your lodging. Look through all your Father's rooms in heaven ; in your Father's house are many dwelling-places. Men take a sight of lands ere they buy them. I know Christ hath made the bargain already : but be kind to the house ye are going to, and see it often. 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 at home. Counsel him to deal mercifully with the poor people of God under him : they are Christ's and not his ; therefore, desire him to show them merciful dealing and kindness, and to be good to their souls. I desire you to write to me. It may be that my parish forget me ; but my witness is in heaven, I do not, I do not forget them. They are my sighs in the night, and my tears in 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 ray soul to hear, that my ministry hath left the Son of God among them, and that they are walking in Christ ! 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 Avord 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, in his only Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, March 6, 1637. LETTER CLXXX.--T0 Mr James H.oiilton. Reverend and dearly beloved in our Lord, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. Our acquaintance is neither in bodily presence LETTER CLXXX. 301 nor in paper, but as sons of the same Father and sufferers for the same truth. Let no man doubt but the state of our question, we are now forced to stand to, by suffering exile and imprisonment, is, if Jesus should reign over His kirk or not 1 0, if mj sinful arm could hold the crown on His head, howbeit it should be stricken off from the shoulder blade. For your ensuing and feared trial, my very dearest in our Lord Jesus, alas! what am I to speak to comfort a soldier of Christ, who hath done an hundred times more for that worthy and honourable cause than I can do ? But I know, these whom the world was not worthy of, wandered up and down in deserts, and in moun- tains, and in dens, and caves of the earth; and that while there is one member of mystical Christ out of heaven, that member must suffer strokes till our Lord Jesus draw in that member within the gates of the new Jerusalem, which He will not fail to do at last ; for not one toe or finger of that body but it shall be taken in within the city. What can be our part in this pitched battle betwixt the Lamb and the dragon, but to receive the darts in patience, that rebound off us on upon our sweet Master ; or rather light first upon Him, and then rebound off Him upon His servants? I think it a sweet north wind that bloweth first upon the fair face of the chief among ten thousand and then lighteth upon our sinful and black faces. When once the wind bloweth off Him upon me, I think it hath a sweet smell of Christ, and so must be some more than a single cross. I know ye have a guard about you, and your attendance and train for your safety is far beyond your pursuer's force or fraud. It is good under feud to be near our warhouse and strong- hold . We can do but little to resist them, who persecute us and oppose Him, but keep our blood and our wounds to the next court- day, when our complaints will be read. If this day be not Christ's, I am sure the morrow shall be His. As for anything I do in my bonds, when now and then a word falleth from me, alas, it is very little ! I am exceedingly grieved that any should conceive anything to be in such a broken and empty reed ; let no man impute it to me, that the free and unbought wind (for I gave nothing for it) bloweth upon an empty reed. I am His overburdened debtor. I cry, down with me, down, down with all the excellency of the world, and up, up with Christ. Long, long may that fair One, that holy One be on high. My curse be upon them that love Him not. O how glad would I be if His glory would grow out and spring up out of my bonds and sufferings ! Certainly, since I became His prisoner. He hath won the yoke and heart of my soul. Christ is even become a new Christ to me, and His love greener than it was, and now I strive no more with Him, His love shall carry it away. I lay down myself under His love : I desire to sing, and to cry, and to proclaim myself, even under the water, in His common, and eternally indebted 302 LETTER CLXXXI. to His kindness. I will not offer to quit commons with Him (as we use to say), for that will not be. Ail, all for evermore be Christ's. "What farther trials are before me, I know not ; but 1 know Christ will have a saved soul of me over on the other side of the water, in the yonder side of crosses, and beyond men's wrongs. I had but one eye, and that they have put out. My one joy, next to the flower of my joys, Christ, was to preach my sweetest, sweetest Master and the glory of His kingdom, and it seemed no cruelty to them to put out the poor man's one eye. And now I am seeking about to see if suffering will speak my fair One's praises; and I am trying if a dumb man's tongue can raise one note, or one of Zion's springs, to advance my Well-Beloved's glory. O if He would make some glory to Himself out of a dumb prisoner! I go with child of His word, I cannot be delivered. None here will have my Master, alas ! what aileth them at Him ? I bless you for your prayers, add to them praises. As I am able, I pay you home. I commend your diving in Christ's Testament ; I would I could set out the dead man's goodwill to His friends in His sweet Testament. Speak a prisoner's hearty commendations to Christ: fear not your ten days will over. These that are gathered against Mount Zion, their eyes shall melt away in their eye-holes, and their tongues consume away in their mouths, and Christ's withered garden shall grow green again in Scotland. My Lord Jesus hath a word hid in heaven for Scotland, not yet brought out. Grace be with you. Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen July 7, 1637. LETTER CLXXXI.— To Mrs Stuart. Mistress, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. I am sorry that ye take it so hardly that I have not written to you. I am judged to be that which I am not. I fear if I were put in the fire, I should melt away, and fall down in shreds of painted nature. For truly I have little stuff" at home that is worth the eye of God's servants. If there be anything of Christ's in me (as I dare not deny some of His work), it is but a spunk of borrowed fire that can scarce warm my- self and hath little heat for standers by. I would fain have that which ye and others believe I have, but ye are only witnesses to my outer side and to some words in paper. O that He would give me more than paper-grace or tongue-grace ! Were it not that want paineth me, I should have skailed house and gone a begging long since ; but Christ hath left me with some hunger that is more hot than wise, and is ready often to say, if Christ longed for me as I do for Him, we should not be long in meeting ; and if He loved my company as well as I do His, even while I am writing this letter to LETTER CLXXXI. 303 you, we should flee in others' arms. But I know there is more will than wit in this languor and pining love for Christ ; and no marvel for Christ's love would have hot harvest long ere midsummer. But if I have any love to Him, Christ hath both love to me and wit to guide His love : and 1 see the best thing I have hath as much dross beside it, as might curse me and it both ; and if it were for no more, we have need of a Saviour to pardon the very faults and diseases, and weakness of the new man, and to take away (to say so) our godly sins, or the sins of our sanctiiication, and the dross and scum of spiritual love; woe, woe is me ! O what need is there then of Christ's calling to scour and cleanse, and wash away an ugly old body of sin, the very image of Satan ! I know nothing surer than that there is an office for Christ among us. I wish for no other heaven in this side of the last sea, that I must cross, than this service of Christ, to make my blackness beauty, my deadness life, my guiltiness sanctification. I long much for that day when I will be holy. O, what spots are yet unwashen ! 0, that I could change the skin of the leopard and the moor, and niffer it with some of Christ's fairness ? were my blackness and Christ's beauty carded through other (as we use to speak), His beauty and holiness would eat up my filthiness. But 0, I have not casten old Adam's hue and colour yet ! I trow, the best of us hath a smell yet of the old loathsome body of sin and guiltiness. Happy are they for evermore who can employ Christ, and set His blood and death on work, to make clean work to God, of foul souls. I know, it is our sin, that we w^ould have sanctification on the sunny side of the hill, and holiness with nothing but summer, and no crosses at all. Sin hath made us as tender as if we were made of paper or glass. 1 am often thinking, what I would think of Christ and burning quick together, of Christ and torturing, and hot melted lead poured in at mouth and navel ; yet I have some weak experi- ence (but very weak indeed), that suppose Christ and hell's torments were married together, and if there were no finding of Christ at all, except I went to hell's furnace, that there, and in no other jDlace, I could meet with Him, I trow, if I were as I have been since I was His prisoner, I would beg lodging for God's sake in hell's hottest furnace that I might rub souls with Christ. But, God be thanked, I shall find Him in a better lodging. We get Christ better cheap than so, when He is rouped to us, we get Him but with a shower of summer -troubles in this life, as sweet and as soft to believers as a May-dew. I would have you and myself helping Christ mystical to weep for his wife : and 0 that we could mourn for Christ buried in Scotland, and for His two slain witnesses killed, because they prophesied ! If we could so importune and solicit God, our buried Lord and His two buried witnesses should rise again. Earth, and 304 LETTER CLXXXII. clay, and stone will not bear clown Christ and the Gospel in Scot- land. I know not if I will see the second Temple and the glory of it ; but the Lord had deceived me if it be not to be reared up again. I would wish to give Christ His welcome-home again. My bless- ing, my joy, my glory, and love be on the home-comer. I find no better use of suffering, than that Christ's winnowing putteth chaff and corn in the saints to sundry places, and discovereth our dross from His gold, so as corruption and grace are so seen, that Christ saith in the furnace, " That is mine, and this is yours. The scum and the grounds, thy stomach against the persecutors, thy impati- ence, thy unbelief, thy quarrelling, these are thine. And faith, on- waiting, love, joy, courage, are mine." 0, let me die one of Christ's on-waiters, and one of His attendants : I know your heart and Christ are married together, it were not good to make a divorce. Rue not of that meeting and marriage with such a Husband. Pray for me, His prisoner. Grace, grace be with you. Yours, in His sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, 1637, LETTER CLXXXII.— To Mr Hugh M'Kaill. Reverend and dear Brother, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. I received your letter, I bless you for it. My dry root would take more dew and summer-rain than it getteth, were it not Christ will have dryness and deadness in us to work upon. If there were no timber to work upon, art would die and never be seen. I see, grace hath a field to play upon and to course up and down in our wants, so that I am often thanking God, not for guiltiness, but for guiltiness for Christ, to whet and sharpen His grace upon. I am half content to have boils for my Lord Jesus's plasters. Sickness hath this advantage, that it draweth out sweet Physician's hand and His holy and soft fingers to touch our withered and leper skins : it is a blessed fever that fetcheth Christ to the bedside. I think my Lord's, "How doest thou with it, sick body?" is worth all my pained nights. Surely, I have no more for Christ, but emptiness and want ; take or leave, He will get me no otherwise. I must sell my- self, and my wants to Him, but I have no price to give for Him. If He would put a fair and a real seal upon His love to me, and bestow upon me a larger share of Christ's love (wdiich I would fainest be in hands with of anything, I except not heaven itself), I should go on sighing and singing under His cross. But the worst is, many take me for somebody, because the wind bloweth upon a withered pri- soner: but the truth is, I am both lean and thin in that wherein many believe I abound. I would (if bartering were in my power) niffer LETTER CLXXXII. 303 joy with Christ's love and faith, and instead of the hot sunshine, he content to walk under a cloudy shadow, with more grief and sad- ness, to have more faith and a fair occasion of setting forth and commending Christ, and to make that lovely One, that fair One, that sweetest and dearest Lord Jesus, market-sweet for many ears and hearts in Scotland : and if it were in my power to roup Christ to the three kingdoms, and withal to persuade buyers to come, and to take such sweet wares as Christ, I would think to have many sweet bargains betwixt Chi-ist and the sons of men. I would I could be humble and go with a low sail. I would I had desires with wings and running upon wheels, swift, and active, and speedy, in longing for Christ's honour. But I know my Lord is as wise here, as I do be thirsty, and infinitely more zealous of His honour than I can be hungered for the manifestation of it to men and angels. But, O, that my Lord would take my desires ofi my hand, and add a thousand-fold more unto them, and sow spiritual inclina- tions upon them, for the coming of Christ's kingdom to the sons of men, that they might be higher and deeper, and longer and broader ! For my longest measures are too short for Christ, my depth is ebb, and the breadth of my affections to Christ narrow and pinched. O for an engine and a wit to prescribe ways to men how Christ might be all in all the world ! Wit is here behind affection, and affection behind obligation. O, how little do I give to Christ : and how much hath He given me ! O, that I could sing grace's praises, and love's praises ! seeing I was like a fool, soliciting the law, and making moyen to the law's court for mercy, and found challenges that way; but now I deny that judge's power; for I am grace's man ; I hold not worth a drink of water of the law, or of any lord, but Jesus. And till I bethought me of this, I was slain with doubtings, and fears, and terrors. I praise the new court, and the new Landlord, and the new salvation purchased in Jesus, His name, and at His instance. Let the old man, if he please, go make his moan to the law, and seek acquaintance thereaway, because he is condemned in that court. I hope, the new man, and I, and Christ together shall not be heard : and this is the more soft and the more easy way for me and for my cross together. Seeing Christ singeth my welcome home, and taketh me in, and maketh short counts and short work of reckoning betwixt me and my judge, I must be Christ's man, and His tenant, and subject to His court. I am sure, suffering for Christ could not be borne otherwise. But I give my hand and my faith to all who would suffer for Christ ; they shall be well handled, and fare well in the same way, that I have found the cross easy and light. Grace be with you. Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, July 8, 1G37. X 306 LETTER CLXXXIII. LETTER CLXXXIII.— To Alexander Gordon of Garlock. Dear Brother, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. If Christ were as I am, that time could work upon Him to alter Him, or that the morrow could be a new day to Him, or bring a new mind upon Him, as it is to me a new day, I could not keep a house or a covenant with Him. But I find Christ to be Christ, and that He is far, far, even infinite heaven's height above man. And that is all our happiness. Sinners can do nothing but make wounds that Christ may heal them ; and make debts, that He may pay them ; and make falls, that He may raise them ; and make deaths, that He may quicken them ; and spin out and dig hehs to themselves, that He may ransom them. Now I will bless the Lord that ever there was such a thing as the free grace of God and a free ransom given for sold souls : only, alas guiltiness maketh me ashamed to apply Christ, and to think it pride in me to put out my unclean and withered hand to such a Saviour ! But it is neither shame nor pride for a di'owning man to swim to a rock, nor for a ship-broken soul to run himself ashore upon Christ. Suppose once I be guilty, need force I cannot, I do not go by Christ, We take in good part that pride, that beggars beg from the richer. And who is so poor as we? and who is so rich as He who selleth fine gold? Rev. iii. 18. I see then, it is our best (let guiltiness plead what it listeth) that we have no mean under the covering of heaven, but to creep in lovvdy and submissively Avith our wants to Christ. I have also cause to give His cross a good name and report. 0, how worthy is Christ of my feckless and light suffering, and how hath He deserved it at ray hands, that for His honour and glory I should lay my back under seven hells' pain in one, if He call me to that. But, alas ! my soul is like a ship run on ground through ebbness of water : I am sanded, and my love is sanded ; I find not how to bring it on float again ; it is so cold and dead, that I see not how to bring it to a flame. Fie, fie upon the meeting that my love hath given Christ : woe, woe is me, I have a lover Christ, and yet I want love for Him. I have a lovely and desirable Lord, who is love- worthy, and who beggeth my love and heart, and I have nothing to give Him. Dear brother, come further in on Christ, and see a new treasure in Him ; come in, and look down, and see angels wonder, and heaven and earth's wonder of love, sweetness, majesty, and excellency in Him. I forget you not. Pray for me, that our Lord would be pleased to send me among you again, fraughted and full of Christ. Grace, grace be with you. Yours, in liis sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen. 1637. I LETTER CLXXXIV.- 307 LETTER CLXXXIV.— To John Bell, Elder. My very loving Friend, — Grace, mercy and peace be to you. I have very often and long expected your letter, but if ye be well in soul and body I am the less solicitous. I beseech you in the Lord 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 now come upon you, advise with Christ, ere ye put your foot in the ship and turn your back on this life. Many are beguiled with this, that they are free of scandalous and crying abominations; but the tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is "for the fire : the man that is not born again, cannot enter into the kingdom of God ; common honesty will not take men to heaven. Alas, that men should think they ever met with Christ, who had never a sick night through the terrors of God in their soul, or a sore heart for sin. I know the Lord hath given you light and the knowledge of His will, but that is not all, neither will that do your turn. I wish you an awakened soul, and that ye beguile not 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 casten to every man's door. Many are carried over sea and land to a far country in a ship while as they sleep much of all the way; but men are not landed at heaven sleeping. The righteous are scarcely saved : and many run as fast, as either ye or I, who miss the prize and the crov/n. God send me salvation, and save me from a dis- appointment, and I seek no more. Men think it but a stride or a step over to heaven ; but when so few are saved, even of a number like the sand of the sea, but a handful and a remnant (as God's word saith), what cause have we, to shake ourselves out of ourselves, and to ask our poor soul ; Whither goest thou ? where shalt thou lodge at night? where are thy charters and writs of thy heavenly inheritance ? I have known a man turn a key in a door and lock it by. Many men leap over (as they think) and leap in. O see I see that ye give not your salvation a wrong cast, and think all is well, and leave your soul loose and uncertain : look to your build- ing, 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, S. R. Aberdeen, 1637. 308 LETTER CLXXXV. LETTER CLXXXY.— To William Gordon of Robertown. Dear Brother, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. So often as I think on our case in our soldier's night-watch, and of our fight- ing-life in the fields, while we are here, I am forced to say, prisoners in a dungeon condemned by a judge, to want the light of the sun, and moon, and candle, till their dying day, are no more, nay, not so nuicli to be pitied as we are ; for they weary of their life, they hate their prison ; but we fall to in our prison, where we see little, to 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 archangel, 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 on face and sides, which meet us in this life, have not learned us mortification, and made us dead to this world ! We buy our own sorrow, and we pay dear for it, when we spend out our love, our joy, our desires, our confidence, upon an handful of snow and ice, that time will melt aw^ay to nothing, 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, and rotten waters, even till our bedtime ; and then in the resurrection, when we shall be awakened, our yesternight's sour drink and swinish dregs shall rift up upon us ! and sick, sick shall many a soul be then. ] know no wholesome fountain but one. I know not a thing worth the buying but heaven. And my own mind is, if comparison were made betwixt Christ and heaven, I would sell heaven with my blessing and buy Christ. 0, if I could raise the market for Christ, and heighten the market a pound for a penny, and cry up Christ in men's estimation ten thousand talents more then men think of Him ! But they are shaping Him, and cry- ing Him down, and valuing Him at their unworthy halfpenny ; or else exchanging and bartering Christ with the niisernble old fallen house of this vain world, or then they lend Him 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, and the summer-sun of the Gospel, is the usury they would be at ; so when the trial cometh, they quit the stock for the interest and loose all. Happy are they who can keep Christ byHimself alone, and keep Him clean and whole till God come and count with them. I know in your hard and heavy trials long since, ye thought well and highly of Christ ; but truly no cross should be old to us. We should not forget them be- cause years are come betwixt us and them, and cast them by hand as we do old clothes. We may make a cross old in time, new in LETTER CLXXXYI. 309 use, and as fruitful as in the beginning of it. God is where and what He was seven years ago, whatever change be in us : I speak not this, as if I thought ye had forgotten what God did to have your love long since; but that ye may awake yourself in this sleepy age, and remember fi'uitfuliy of Christ's first wooing and suiting of your love both with fire and water, 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 ; for I have lost and casten by hands many summons the Lord sent to me, and therefore the Lord hath given me double charges, that I trust in God shall not rive me. I bless His great name who is no niggard in holding in crosses upon me, but spendeth largely His rods, that He may save me from this perishing world. How plen- tiful God is in means of this kind is esteemed by many, one of God'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 for our well, and to have our love, should not be run away from or fled from. God send me no worse mercy than the sanctified cross of Christ portendeth, and I am sure I should be happy and blest. Pray for me that I may find house-room in the Lord's house to speak in His name. Remember my dearest love in Christ to your wife. Grace, grace be with you. Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, 1636, LETTER CLXXXVL— To my Lady Boyd. IMadam, — Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, be multiplied upon you. I have reasoned with your son at large. I rejoice to see him set his face in the right airt, now when the nobles love the sunny side of the Gospel best, and are afraid that Christ wants soldiers, and shall not be able to do for Himself Madam, our debts of obligation to Christ are not small ; the freedom of grace and salvation is the wonder of man and angels, but mercy in our Lord scorneth hire. Ye are bound to lift Christ on high, who hath given you eyes to discern the devil now coming out in his whites, and the idolatry and apostacy of the time, well w:ishen with fair pretences ; but the sin is black, and the water foul. It were art, I confess, to wash a black devil and make him white. I am in strange ups and downs, and seven times a day I lose ground. I am put often to swimming, and again my feet are set on the Uock that is higher than myself. He hath now let me see four things 1 never saw before, 1. The supper will be great cheer that is up in the great hall with the royal King of glory, when the 310 LETTER CLXXXVI. four hours, the standing drink, in this driery wilderness, is so sweet. When He bloweth a kiss afar off to His poor heart-broken mourners in Zion, and sendeth me but His hearty commendations till we meet, I am confounded with wonder to think what it shall be when the fairest among the sons of men shall lay a King's sweet soft cheek to the sinful cheeks of poor sinners. O time, time go swiftly and hasten that day ! sweet Lord Jesus post, come flying like a young hart or a roe upon the mountains of separation. I think we should tell the hours carefully, and look often how low the sun is. For love hath no bo, it is pained, pained in itself, till it come in grips with the party beloved. 2. I find Christ's absence love's sickness and love's death. The wind that bloweth out of the airt, where my Lord Jesus reigneth, is sweet smelled, soft, joyful, and heartsome to a soul burnt with absence. It is a pain- ful battle for a soul sick of love to fight with absence and delays. Christ's "not yet," is a stounding of all the joints and liths of the soul ; a nod of His head, when He is under a mask, would be half a pawn to say, Fool, what aileth thee? " He is coming," would be life to a dead man. I am often in my dumb sabbaths seeking a new plea with my Lord Jesus, God forgive me, and I care not, if there be not two or three ounce weight of black wrath in my cup. For the third thing, I have seen my abominable vileness. If I were well known, there would none in this kingdom ask how I do. Men take my ten to be an hundred, but I am a deeper hypocrite and shal- lower professor than every one belie veth, God knoweth I feign not. But I think my reckonings on the one page written in great letters, and His mercy to such a forlorn and wretched dyvour on the other, more than a miracle. If I could get my finger ends upon a full assurance, I trow, I should grip fast. But my cup wanteth not gall, and upon my part despair might be almost excused, if every one in this land saw my inner side. But I know I am one of them who have made great sale and a free market to free grace. If I could be saved, as I would fain believe, sure I am I have given Christ's blood. His free grace, and the bowels of His mercy, a large field to work upon, and Christ hath manifested His art (I dare not say to the uttermost : for He can, if He Avould, for- give all the devils and damned reprobates in respect of the wideness of His mercy), I say, to an admirable degree. 4. I am stricken with fear of unthankfulness. This apostate kirk hath played the harlot with many lovers ; they are spitting in the face of my lovely King and mocking Him, and I do not mend it; and they are run- ning away from Christ in troops, and I do not mourn and be grieved for it, I think Christ lieth, like an old forecasten castle, forsaken of the inhabitants : all men run away now from Him. Truth, innocent truth, goeth mourning and wringing her hands in LETTER CLXXXYII. 311 sackcloth and ashes. Woe, woe, woe is me, for the virgin daughter of Scotland. Woe, woe to the inhabitants of this land, for they are gone back with a perpetual backsliding. These things take me so up, that a borrowed bed, another man's fireside, the wind upon my face (I being driven from my lovers, and dear acquain- tance, and my poor flock), find no room in my sorrow : I have no spare or odd sorrow for these. Only I think the sparrows and swallows, that build their nests in the kirk of Anwoth, blessed birds. Nothing hath given my faith a harder back-set, till it crack again, than my closed mouth ; but let me be miserable myself alone, God keep my dear brethren from it. But still I keep breath, and when my royal and never, never-enough praised King returneth to His sinful prisoner, I ride upon the high places of Jacob, I divide Shechem, I triumph in His strength. If this kingdom would glorify the Lord in my behalf, I desire to be weighed in God's even balance in this point ; if I think not my wages paid to the full, I shall crave no more hire of Christ. Madam, pity me in this, and help me to praise Him. For whatever I be, the chief of sinners, a devil and a most guilty devil, yet it is the apple of Christ's eye, His Honour and glory as the head of the church, that I suflfer for now, and that I will go to eternity with. 1 am greatly in love with Ifclr M. M. : I see Him stamped with the image of God. I hope well of your son, my Lord Boyd. Your ladyship and your children have a prisoner's prayers. Grace, grace be with you. Your ladyship, at all obedience in Christ, S. R. Aberdeen, May 1, 1637. LETTER CLXXXVIL— To Mr Thomas Garven. Dear Brother, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. I rejoice that ye cannot be quit of Christ (if I may speak so), but He must, He will have you. Betake yourself to Christ, my dear brother. It is a great business to make quit of superfluities, and of those things which Christ cannot dwell with. I am content with my own cross, that Christ hath made mine by an eternal lot, because it is Christ's and mine together. I marvel not that winter is without heaven, for there is no winter within it. All the saints, therefore, have their own measure of winter before their eternal summer. O ! for the long day, and the high sun, and the fair garden, and the King's great city up above these visible heavens ! What God layeth on, let us suffer : for some have one cross, some seven, some ten, some half a cross — yet all the saints have whole and full joy, and seven crosses have seven joys. Christ is cumbered with me (to speak so) and my cross, but He falleth not off me, we are not at variance. I find 312 LETTER CLXXXVIII. the very glooms of Ciirist's wooing a soul, sweet and lovely. I had rather have Christ's buffet and love-stroke than another king's kiss. Speak evil of Christ who will, I hope to die with love thoughts of Him. O, that there are so few tongues in lieaven and earth to extol Ilim ! I wish His praises go not down amongst us. Let not Christ be low and lightly esteemed in the midst of us; but let all hearts and all tongues cast in their portion, and contribute something to make Him great in Mount Zion. Thus recommending you to His grace, and remembering my love to your wife and mother, and your kind brother, R., and entreating you to remember my bonds, I rest, Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, Sept. 8, 1637. LETTER CLXXXVIH.— To the Laikd of Moncriefe. MocH HONOURED SiR, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. Although not acquaint, yet at the desire of your worthy sister, the Lady Leys, and upon the report of your kindness to Christ and His oppressed truth, I am bold to write to you, earnestly desiring you to join with us (so many as in these bounds profess Christ), to wrestle with God, one day of the week (especially the Wednesday), for mercy to this fallen and decayed kirk, and to such as suffer for Christ's name ; and for your own necessities, and the necessities of others who are by covenant engaged in that business; for we have no other armour in these evil times but prayers, now when wrath from the Lord is gone out against this backsliding land. For ye know we can have no true public ftists, neither are the true causes of our humiliation ever laid before the people. Now, very worthy sir, I am glad in the Lord, that the Lord reserveth any of your place, or of note, in this time of common apostacy, to come forth in public to bear Christ's name before men, w^hen the great men think Christ a cumbersome neighbour, and that religion carrieth hazards, trials, and persecutions with it. I persuade myself it is your glory and your garland, and shall be your joy in the day of Christ, and the stand- ing of your house and seed to inherit the earth, that ye truly and sincerely profess Christ. Neither is our King, whom the Father hath crowned in Mount Zion, so weak, that He cannot do for Him- self and His own cause. I verily believe they are blessed, who can hold the crown upon His head, and carry up the train of His robe- royal, and that He shall yet be victorious and triumph in this land. It is our part to back our royal King, howbeit there were not six in the land to follow Him. It is wisdom now to take up and discern the devil and the Antichrist coming out in their whites, and the apos- tacy and idolatry of this land, washen with foul water : I confess it is art to wash the devil till his skin be white. For myself, sir, I have LETTEll CLXXXVIII. 313 bought a plea against Christ since I came hither, in judging iny princely Master angry at me, because I Avas cast out of the vineyard as a withered tree, my dumb sabbaths working me much sorrow. But I see now, sorrow hath not eyes to read love written upon the cross of Christ, and therefore I pass from my rash plea. Woe, woe is me that I should have received a slander of Christ's love to my soul : and for all this, my Lord Jesus hath forgiven all, as not wil- ling to be heard with such a fool, and is content to be, as it were, confined with me, and to bear me company, and to feast a poor oppressed prisoner. And now I write it under my hand, worthy sir, that I think well and honourably of this cross of Christ. I wonder that he will take any glory from the like of me. I find that when He but sendeth His hearty commendations to me, and but bloweth a kiss afar off, I am confounded with wondering what the supper of the Latnb will be, up in our Father's dining-palace of glory, since the four hours in His dismal wilderness, and when in prisons, and in our sad days, a kiss of Christ is so comfortable. O, how sweet and glorious shall our case be, when that fairest among the sons of men shall lay His fair face to our now sinful faces, and wipe away all tears from our eyes ! 0, time, time, run swiftly and hasten that day ! O, sweet Lord Jesus, come flying like a roe or a young hart ! Alas ! that we, blind fools, are fallen in love with moonshine and shadows. How sweet is the Avind that bloweth out of the airt where Christ is ! Every day we may see some new thing in Christ; His love hath neither brim nor bottom. 0 if I had help to praise Him! Heknoweth if my suiferings glorify His name, and encour- age others to stand fast for the honour of our supreme Lawgiver Christ, my wages then are paid to the full. Sir, help me to love that never-enough praised Lord. I find now that the faith of the saints under sutfering for Christ is fair before the wind and with full sails carried upon Christ, and L hope to lose nothing in this furnace but dross ; for Christ can triumph in a weaker man than I am, if there be any such. And when all is done. His love paineth me, and leaveth me under such debt to Christ, as I can neither pay principal nor interest. 0 if He would comprise myself, and if I were sold to Him as a bondman, and that He Avould take me home to His house and fireside ; for I have nothing to render to Him ! Then, after me, let no man think hard of Christ's sweet cross, for I would not change my sighs with the painted laughter of all my adversaries. I desire grace in patience to wait on, and to lie upon the brink till the water fill and flow : I know He is fast coming. Sir, ye will excuse my boldness ; and till it please God, I see you, ye have the prayers of a prisoner of Christ, to whom I recommend you, and in whom I rest. Yours, at all obedience in Christ, S. R. Aberdeen, May 14, 1G37. 314 LETTERS CLXXXIX. AND CXC. LETTER CLXXXIX.— To John Clark. Loving Brother, — Hold fast Christ without wavering, and con- tend for the faith, because Christ is not easily gotten nor kept. The lazy professor hath put heaven (as it were) at the very next door, and thinketh to fly up to heaven in his bed and in a night-dream ; but truly that is not so easy a thing as most men believe. Christ Himself did sweat ere He won this city, howbeit He was the free- born Heir. It is Christianity, my heart, to be sincere, unfeigned, honest, and upright-hearted before God ; and to live and serve God, suppose there were not one man or Avoman, in all the world dwell- ing beside you, to eye you. Any little grace that ye have, see that it be sound and true. Ye may put a difference betwixt you and reprobates if ye have these marks. 1. If ye prize Christ and His truth, so as ye will sell all and buy Him, and suffer for it. 2. If the love of Christ keepeth you back from sinning more than the law or fear of hell. 3. If ye be humble, and deny your own will, wit, credit, ease, honour, the world and the vanity and glory of it. 4. Your profession must not be barren and void of good works. 5. Ye must in all things aim at God's honour ; ye must eat, drink, sleep, buy, sell, sit, stand, speak, pray, read, and hear the word with a heart purpose that God may be honoured. 6. Ye must show yourself an enemy to sin, and reprove the works of darkness, such as drunkenness, swearing, and lying, albeit the company should hate you for doing so. 7. Keep in mind the truth of God that ye heard me teach, and have nothing to do with the corruptions and new guises entered into the house of God. 8. Make conscience of your calling, in covenants, in buying, and selling. 9. Acquaint yourself with daily praying, commit all your ways and actions to God by prayer, supplication, and thanksgiving, and count not much of being mocked ; for Christ Jesus was mocked before you. Per- suade yourself that this is the way of peace and comfort I now suffer for. I dare go to death and into eternity with it, though men may possibly seek another way. Remember me in your prayers, and the state of this oppressed church. Grace be with you. Your soul's well wisher, S. R. Aberdeen, 1(337. LETTER CXC— To Cardonness, Elder. Much honoured Sir, — I long to hear how your soul prospereth. I wonder that ye write not to me, for the Holy Ghost beareth me witness, I cannot, I dare not, I do not forget you, nor the souls of those with you, who are redeemed by the blood of the great Shep- herd. Ye are in my heart in the night-watches, ye are my joy and LEITEK CXC. 315 crown in the day of Christ. 0 Lord, bear witness, if my soul thirst - eth for anything out of heaven, more than for your salvation. Let God lay me in an even balance and try me in this. Love heaven, let your heart be on it. Up, up and visit the new land, and view the fair city, and the white throne and the Lamb, the bride's Hus- band, in his Bridegroom's clothes, sitting on it. It were time your soul vshould cast itself and all your burdens upon Christ. I beseech you by the wounds of your Redeemer, and by your compearance before Him, and by the salvation of 3^our soul, lose no more time ; run fast, for it is late : God hath sworn by Himself, who made the world and time, that time shall be no more (Rev. x). Ye are now upon the very border of the other life : your Lord cannot be blamed for not giving you warning. I have taught the truth of Christ to you, and delivered unto you the whole counsel of God, and I have stood before the Lord for you, and I shall yet still stand : awake, awake to do righteously. Think not to be eased of the burdens and debts that are on your house by oppressing any, or being rigorous to those that are under you. Remember how 1 endeavoured to walk before you in this matter as au example : " Behold here am I witness against me, before the Lord and His anointed, whose ox or whose ass have I taken? Whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed ?" Who knoweth how my soul feedeth upon a good con- science, when I remember how I spent this body in feeding the lambs of Christ? At my first entry hither, I grant, I took a stomach against my Lord, because he had casten me over the dyke of the vineyard as a dry tree, and would have no more of my service. My dumb sabbaths broke my heart, and I would not be comforted: but now He, whom my soul loveth, is come again, and it pleaseth Him to feast me with the kisses of His love. A King dineth with me, and His spikenard casteth a sweet smell : the Lord my witness is above, that I write my heart to you. I never knew, by my nine years' preaching, so much of Christ's love, as He hath taught me in Aberdeen by six months' imprisonment. I charge you in Christ's name, help me to praise, and show that people and country the loving kindness of the Lord to my soul, that so my suiferings may some- Avay preach to them when I am silent. He hath made me know, now better than before, what it is to be crucified to the world. I would not now give a drink of cold water for all the world's kind- ness ; I owe no service to it, I am not the flesh's debtor. My Lord Jesus hath doated His prisoner, and hath thoughts of love concerning me. I would not exchange my sighs with the laughing of my ad- versaries. Sir, I write this to inform you, that ye may know it is the truth of Christ I now suffer for, and He hath sealed my suffer- ings with the comforts of His Spirit on my soul'; and I know He put- 31 G LETTER CXC. tetli notlTisseal upon blank paper. Now, sir, I have no comfort earthly but to know that I have espoused, and shall present a bride to Christ in that congregation. The Lord hath given you much, and there- fore He will require much of you again. Number your talents, and see what ye have to render back again, ye cannot be enough per- suaded of the shortness of your time. I charge you to write to me, and in the fear of God be plain with me, whether or no ye have made your salvation sure. I am confident and hope the best ; but I know, your reckonings with your Judge are many and deep. Sir, be not beguiled, neglect not your one thing (Philip, iii. 13), your one necessary thing (Luke x. 42), the good part that shall not be taken from you. Look beyond time ; things here are but moon- shine, they have but children's wit who are delighted with shadows and deiuded with feathers flying in the air. Desire your children, in the morning of their life, to begin and seek the Lord, and to remember their Creator in the days of their youth (Eccles. xii. 1), to cleanse their way, by taking heed thereto, according to God's word (Psal. cxix. 9), youth is a glassy age. Satan finds a swept chamber (for the most part) in youthhood, and a garnished lodging for himself and his train. Let the Lord have the flower of their age. The best sacrifice is due to Him. Instruct them in this, that they have a soul, and tliat this life is nothing in comparison of eter- nity. They will have much need of God's conduct in this world, to guide them by those rocks upon which most men split ; but far more need when it cometh to the hour of death and their compear- ance before Christ. 0, that there were such a heart in them to fear the name of the great and dreadful God, who hath laid u)) great things for those that love and fear Him! I pray that God may be their portion. Show others of my parishioners, that I write to them my best wishes and the blessings of their lawful pastor. Say to them from me, that I beseech them, by the bowels of Christ, to keep in mind the doctrine of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, which I taught them, that so they may lay hold on eternal life, striving together for the faith of the Gospel, and making sure salva- tion to themselves. Walk in love and do righteousness : seek peace, love one another, wait for the coming of our Master and Judge : receive no doctrine contrary to that which I delivered to you. If ye fall away, and forget it and that catechism which I taught you, and so forsake your own mercy, the Lord be judge betwixt you and me. I take heaven and earth to witness, tliat such shall eternally perish : but if they serve the Lord, great will their reward be when they and I shall stand before our Judge. Set forward up the mountain to m.oet with God: climb up, for your Saviour calleth on you. It may be, God call you to your rest when I am far from LETTER CXCI. 317 you, but je have my love and the desires of my heart for your soul's welfare. He that is holy, keep you from falling, and establish you, till His own glorious appearance. Your affectionate and lawful pastor. S. R. Aberdeen, 1637. LETTER CXCI.— To Carponness, Younger. Much honoured Sir, — I long to hear whether or not your sonl be handfasted with Christ. Lose your 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 an heart in you, as to think what an ill conscience will be to you, when ye are upon the border of eternity, and your one foot out of time. 0, then, ten thousand, 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 conscience 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 indent and 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, before they be hid from you eyes. Dear brother, fulfil my joy, and begin to seek the Lord while He may be found. Forsake the follies of deceiving and vain youth. Lay hold upon eternal life. Whoring, night-drinking, and mis-spend- ing of the sabbath, the neglecting of prayer in your house, and refusing of an offered salvation, will burn up your soul with the terrors of the Almighty, when your awakened conscience shall flee in your face. Be kind and loving to your wife ; make conscience of cherishing her, and not being rigidly austere. Sir, I have not a tongue to express the glory that is laid up for you in your Father's house, if ye reform your doings, and 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 iifty years, Avhen ye look back to it, ye shall laugh at the evanishing vanities thereof, as feathers flying in the air, and at the 318 LETTER CXCII, houses of sand witliin the sea-mark, which the children of men are building. Give up with courting of this vain world. Seek not the bastard's movables, but the Son's heritage in heaven. Take a trial of Christ, look unto Him, and His love shall so change you, that ye shall be taken with Him, and never choose to go from Him. I have experience of Flis sweetness in this house of my pil- grimage here. My witness, who is above, knoweth I would not exchange my sighs and tears with the laughing of the fourteen prelates. There is nothing 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 and spilt resolutions ; but to it, and to it again. Woo about Christ till you get your soul espoused as a chaste virgin to Him: use the mea,ns of profiting with your conscience. Pray in your family, and read the word. Remember how our Lord's day was spent when I was among you. It will be a great challenge to you before God, if ye forget the good that was done within the walls of your house on the Lord's days ; and if ye tarn aside after the fashions of this world, and if ye go not in time to the kirk to wait on the public worship of God, and if ye tarry not at it, till all the exercises of religion be ended. Give God some of your time, both morning, and evening, and afternoon ; and, in so doing, rejoice the heart of a poor oppressed prisoner. Rue upon your own soul, and from your heart fear the Lord. Now, " He that brought again from the dead, the great Shepherd of His sheep, by the blood of the eternal cove- nant, establish your heart with His grace, and present you before His presence with joy." Your affectionate and loving pastor, S. R. Aberdeen, 1637, LETTER CXCIL— To Cakletown. Much honoured Sir, — I will not impute your not writing to me to forge tfuln ess : 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 and prison that were mysteries to me before. As, 1. I see His bottomless and boundless love and kindness, and my jeal- ousies 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. Thou liest. I had well nigh lost my grips. I wondered if it was Christ or not ; for the mist and smoke of my perturbed heart made me mistake my Master Jesus. My faith was dim, and hope frozen and cold, and my love, which caused jealousies, it had some LETTER CXCII. 819 warmness and heat and smoke, but no flame at all: yet I was look- ing for some good of Christ's old claim to me. I thought I had forfeited all my rights, but the tempter was too much upon my counsels and was still blowing the coal. Alas ! I knew not well before how good skill my Intercessor and Advocate, Christ, hath of pleading and pardoning me such follies. Now He is returned to my soul with healingunder His wings, and I amnothing behind with Christ now, for He hath overpaid me by His presence the pain I was put to by on-Avaiting, and any little loss I sustained by my witnessing against the wrongs done to Him. I trow, it was a pain to my Lord to hide Himself any longer. In a manner, He was challenging His un- kindness, and repented Him of His glooms: and now wdiat want I on earth tliat 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 hft 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 Lord Jesus w^ill do with me. I dare not now nick-name or speak one word against the all- seeing and over- watching providence of my Lord. I see. 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 gray hairs, and to lie on the sunny side of the mountain, in my ministry at Anwoth. But now I have nothing to say against a borrowed fireside and another's man's house, nor Kedar's tents, where I live, being removed far from my acquaintance, my lovers, and my friends. 1 see, God hath the world on His wheels, and casteth it as a potter doth a ves- sel on the wheel. I dare not say, that there is any inordinate or irregular motion in providence ; the Lord hath done it, I will not go to law with Christ, for I would gain nothing of that. 3. I have learned some greater mortification, and not to mourn after or seek to suck the world's dry breasts. Nay, my Lord hath filled me with such dainties, that I am like to a fall banqueter who is not for common cheer. AVhat have I to do to fall down upon my knees and worship mankind's great idol, the world ? I have a better God than any clay god ; nay, at present, as I am now disposed, I care not much to give this world a discharge of my life-rent of it, for bread and water, I know it is not my home, nor my Father's house, it is but His footstool, the outer cloister of His house, His out-field and moor-ground. Let bastards take it, I hope never to think my- self in its common for honour or riches ; nay, now, I say to laughter, thou art madness. 4. 1 find it most true, that the greatest tempta- tion out of hell, is, to live without temptations ; if my waters should stand, they would rot. Faith is the better of the free air, and of the sharp winter storm in its face. Grace withereth without ad- versity. The devil is but God's master fencer, to teach us to handle 320 LETTER CXCIII. our weapons. 5. I 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. The thoughts of my old sins are as the summons of death to me. And of late, my brother's case hath stricken me to the heart. When my wounds are closing, a little rifle causeth them to bleed afresh. So thin-skinned is my soul, that I think it is like a tender man's skin, that may touch no- thing. Ye see how short I would shoot of the prize, if His grace were not sufficient for me. Woe is me for the day of Scotland ; woe, woe is me for my harlot mother, for the decree is gone forth, Women of this land shall call the childless and miscarrying wombs blessed. The anger of the Lord is gone forth, and shall not return till He perform the purpose of His heart against Scotland. Yet He shall make Scotland a new sharp instrument, having teeth to thresh the mountains and fan the hills as chaff. The prisoner's blessing be upon you. Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, March 14, 1637. LETTER CXCni. -To the Lady Busbie. Mistress, — I know ye are thinking sometimes what Christ is doing in Zion, and that the haters of Zion may get the bottom of our cup, and the burning coals of our furnace, that we have been tried in those many years by-gone 0, that this nation would be awakened, to cry mightily unto God, for the setting up of a new tabernacle to Christ in Scotland. O, if this kingdom knew how worthy Christ were 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 into 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 all love- worthy, Christ! O what pains and charges it costeth Christ ere He get us ; and when all is done, we are not worth the having. It is a wonder that He should seek the like of us, but love overlooketh blackness and fecklessness; 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. I find that in all our sufferings, Christ is but I'idding marches, that every one of us may say, mine and thine, and that men may know by their crosses, how weak a bottom nature is to stand under a trial ; that then, which our Lord intendeth, in all our sufferings, is, to bring grace in court and request amongst us. I would succumb LETTER CXCIII. \2[ and 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 were easy, for I behoved to die, if Christ should pass by with straitened bowels ; and who then would take us up in our straits i I know, we may say, that Christ is kindest in His love when we are at our weakest ; and that if Christ had not been to the fore, in our sad days, the waters had gone over our soul. His mercy hath a set period and appointed place, how far and no further the sea of affliction shall tiow, and Avliere the waves thereof shall be stayed : He prescribeth how much pain and sorrow, both for weight and measure, Ave must have. Ye have then good cause to recal 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 saints 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 lay and lavish out their love upon false ap- pearances and night-dreams. Alas! that Christ should fare the worse, because of His own goodness, in making peace and the Gos- pel to ride together ; and that we have never yet weighed the worth of Christ in His ordinances, and that now we are like to be deprived of the well, ere Ave have tasted the SAveetness of the Avater. It may be with Avatery eyes, and a Avet face and Avearied feet, Ave seek Christ, and shall not find Him. O, that this land Avere humbled in time, and by prayers, cries, and humiliation, Avould bring Christ in at the church door again, noAV when His back is turned toward 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, Ave have bought it Avith our iniquities ; for even the Lord's own children are fallen asleep. And, alas ! professors are made all of shoAvs and fashions, and are not at pains to recover themselves again. Every one hath his set measure of faith and holiness, and contenteth him- self with a stinted measure of godliness, as if that Avere enough to bring them to heaven. We forget, that as our gifts and light groAA\ so God's gain and the interest of His talents should groAV also, and that we cannot pay God Avith the old use and Avont (as we use to speak) which Ave gave Him seven years ago ; for this were to mock the Lord, and to make price Avith Him as Ave list. 0 Avhat difficulty is there in our Christian journey, and how often come Ave short of many thousand things that are Christ's due : and \Ye consider not how far our dear Lord is behind Avith us ! Mistress, I cannot render you thanks, as I Avould, for your kindness to my brother, an op- pressed stranger ; but I remember you unto the Lord, as I am able. I entreat you, think upon me, His prisoner; and pray, that the Lord Y 322 LETTER CXCIV. would be pleased to give me room to speak to His people in His name. Grace, grace be with you. Yours, in his sweet Lord and Master, S. R. Aberdeen, 1637, LETTER CXCIV.— To Fulwood, Younger. Much honoured Sir, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. Upon the report of this worthy bearer concerning you, I thought good to speak a word to you : it is enough for acquaintance, that we are one in Christ. My earnest desire to you is, that ye would, in the fear of God, compare your inch and hand-breadth of time with vast eternity, and your thoughts of this now fair, blooming, and green world with the thoughts ye shall have of it, when corruption and worms shall make their houses in your eye-holes, and shall eat your tiesh, and make that body dry bones : if ye do so, I know then that your light of this world's vanity shall be more clear than now it is; and I am persuaded, ye shall then think that men's labours for this clay-idol are to be laughed at. Therefore come near and take a view of that transparent beauty that is in Christ, which would busy the love of ten thousand millions of worlds and angels, and hold them all at work. Surely I am grieved that men will not spend their whole love upon that royal and princely Well-Beloved, that high and lofty One. For it is cursed love that runneth another way than upon Him. And for myself, if I had ten loves, and ten souls, O, how ghid would I be, if He would break in upon me, and take possession of them all ! Woe, woe is me that He and I are so far asunder ! I hope we shall be in one country and one house to- gether. Truly pain of love-sickness for Jesus maketh me to think it long, long, long to the dawning of that day. 0, that He would cut short years, and months, and hours, and overleap time, that we might meet ! And for this truth, sir, that ye profess, I avow before the world of men and angels, that it is the way and only way to our country, the rest are by-ways ; and that what I suffer for is the apple of Christ's eye, even His honour as Lawgiver and King of His church. I think death too little ere I forsook it. Do not, sir, I beseech you in the Lord, make Christ's court thinner by drawing back from Him; it is too thin already; for I dare pledge my heaven upon it. He shall win this plea, and the fools that plea against Him shall lose the wager, which is their part of salvation, except they take better heed to their ways. Sir, free grace, that we give no hire for, is a jewel our Lord giveth to few. Stand fast in the hope ye are called unto. Our Master will rend the clouds, and will be upon us quickly, and clear our cause, and bring us all out in our blacks and LETTER CXCV. 323 whites. Clean, clean garments, in the Bridegroom's eye, are of great worth. Step over this hand-breadth of world's glory into our Lord's new world of grace, and ye will laugh at the feathers that children are chasing in the air. I verily judge, that this inns, men are building their nest in, is not worth a drink of cold water. It is a rainy and smoky house : best we come out of it, lest we be choked with the smoke there- of. 0, that my adversaries knew how sweet my sighs for Christ are, and what it Avere for a sinner to lay his head between Christ's breasts, and to be overhead and ears in Christ's love ! Alas, I cannot cause paper speak the height, and breadth, and depth of it ! I have not a balance to weigh my Lord Jesus' worth. Heaven, ten heavens, would not be the beam of a balance to weigh Him in. I must give over praising of Him. Angels see but little of Him. O if that fair One would take off the mask off His fair face that I might see Him ! a kiss of Him through His mask is half a heaven. O day, dawn ! O time, run fast ! O Bridegroom, post, post fast, that we may meet ! 0 heavens, cleave in two, that that bright face and head may set itself through the clouds ! O that the corn were ripe, and this world prepared for His hook ! Sir, be pleased to remember a prisoner's bonds. Grace be with you. Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, July 10, 1637. LETTER CXCV.— To Mr Hugh M'Kaill. My very dear Brother, — Ye know that men may take their sweet fill of the sour law in grace's ground and betwixt the Mediator's breasts, and this is sinner's safest way ; for there is a bed for wearied sinners to rest them in, in the new covenant, though no bed of Christ's making to sleep in. The law shall never be my doomster, by Christ's grace, if I get no more good of it. I shall find a sore enough doom in the Gospel to humble and to cast me down. It is (I grant) a good rough friend to follow a traitor to the bar, and to back him, till he come to Christ. AYe may blame ourselves, who cause the law to crave well paid debt, to scar us away from Jesus and dispute about a righteousness of our own, a world in the moon, a chimera, and a night-dream, that pride is father and mother to. There cannot be a more humble soul than a believer ; it is no pride for a drowning man to catch hold of a rock. I rejoice that the wheels of this confused world are rolled and cogged, and driven according as our Lord will. Out of whatever airt the wind blow, it will blow us on our Lord : no wind can blow our sails overboard, because Christ's skill and the honour of His wisdom are empawned and laid down at the stake for the sea-passengers, 324 LETTER CXCVI. that He shall put them safe off His hand on the shore, in His Father's known bounds, our native home ground. My dear brother, scar not at the cross of Christ. It is not seen yet what Christ wdll do for you when it cometh to the worst ; He will keep His grace till ye be at a strait, and then bring forth the decreed birth for your salvation. Ye are an arrow of His own making, let Him shoot you against a wall of brass, your point shall keep whole. I cannot, for multitude of letters and distractions of friends, prepare what I would for the times. I have not one hour of spare time, sup- pose the day were forty hours long. Eemember me in prayer. Grace be with you. Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, Sept. 5, 1637. LETTER CXCVL— To His Reverend and Dear Brother, Mr David Dickson. My reverend and dear Brother, — I fear ye have never known me well. If ye saw my inner side, it is possible ye would pity me, but ye would hardly give me either love or respect. Men mistake me the whole length of the heavens. My sins prevail over me, and the terrors of their guiltiness. I am put often to ask, if Christ and I did ever shake hands together in earnest. I mean not that my feast-days are quite gone, but I am made of extremities. I pray God, ye never have the woeful and driery experience of a closed mouth ; for then ye shall judge the sparrows that may sing in the church of Irwin, blessed birds. But my soul has been refreshed and watered, when I hear of your courage and zeal for your never-enough praised, praised Master, in that ye put the men of God, chased out of Ireland, to work. 0, if I could confirm you ! I dare say in God's presence, that this shall never hasten your suffering, but shall be I>avid Dickson's feast and speaking joy, that while he had time and leisure, he put many to work, to lift up Jesus, his sweet IMaster, high in the skies. O man of God, go on, go on, be valiant for that plant of renown, for that Chief among ten thousands, for that Prince of the kings of the earth. It is but little that I know of God, yet this I dare write, Christ shall be glorified in David Dickson, howbeit Scot- land be not gathered. I am pained, pained, that I have not more to give my sweet Bridegroom ; His comforts to me are not dealt with a niggard's hand, but I would fain learn not to idolize comfort, sense, joy, and sweet-felt presence. All these are but creatures, and no- thing but the kingly robe, the gold ring, and the bracelets of the Bridegroom : the Bridegroom Himself is better than all the orna- ments that are about Him. Now I would not so much have these as God Himself, and to be swallowed up of love to Christ. I see, LETTER CXCVII. olo ill delighting in a communion with Christ, we may make more gods than one ; but, however, all was but bairn's play between Christ and me till now. If one would have SAvorn unto me, I would not have believed w4iat may be found in Christ. I hope ye pity my pain that much, in my prison, as to help me yourself, and to cause others to help me, a dyvour, a sinful wretched dyvour, to pay some of my debts of praise to my great King. Let my God be Judge and Witness, if my soul would not have sweet ease and comfort to have many hearts confirmed in Christ and enlarged with His love, and many tongues set on work, to set on high my royal and princely Well-Beloved. 0, that my suiferings could pay tribute to such a King ! I have given over Avondering at His love ; for Christ hath manifested a piece of art upon me, that I never revealed to any living ; He hath gotten fair and rich employment, and sweet sale, and a goodly market for His honourable calling of showing mercy on me, the chief of sinners. Every one knoweth, not so well as I do, my woefully often-broken covenants ; my sins against light, working in the very act of sinning, hath been met with admirable mercy ; but alas ! He will get nothing back again but wretched unthankfulness ! I am sure, if Christ pity anything in me, next to my sin, it is pain of love for an armful and soulful of Himself, in faith, love, and begun fruition. My sorrow is, that I cannot get Christ lifted ofi" the dust in Scotland, and set on high, above all the skies and heaven of heavens. Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. Al>erdeen, May 1, 1637. LETTER CXCVII.— To his Reverend and Dear Brother, Mr John Livingstone. My reverend and dear Brother, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. I long to hear from you, and to be refreshed with the comforts of the bride of our Lord Jesus in Ireland. I suffer with you in grief, for the dash that your desires to be at N. E. have received of late. But if our Lord, who hath skill to bring up His children, had not seen it your best, it should not have befallen you. Hold your peace, and stay yourselves upon the Holy One of Israel. Hearken what He saith in crossing of your desires, He will speak peace to His people. I am here removed from my flock, and silenced and confined in Aberdeen, for the testimony of Jesus. And I have been confined in spirit also with desertions and chal- lenges. I gave in a bill of quarrels and complaints of unkindness against Christ, who seemed to cast me over the dyke of the vine- yard as a dry tree, and separated me from the Lord's inheritance. 326 LETTER CXCVIII. But bigh, high, and loud praises be to our royal crowned King in Zion, that He bath not burnt the dry branch. I shall yet live and see His glory. Your mother church for her whoredom is like to be cast off. The bairns may break their heart to see such chiding betwixt the husband and the wife. Our clergy is upon a reconcili- ation with the Lutherans, and the doctors are writing books and drawing up a common confession at the council's command. Our service-book is proclaimed with sound of trumpet. The night is fallen down upon the prophets. Scotland's day of visitation is come. It is time for the bride to weep, while Christ is a saying, " He will choose another wife." But our sky will clear again. The dry branch of cut down Lebanon will bud again and be glori- ous, and they shall yet plant vines upon her mountains. Now, my dear brother, I write to you for this end, that ye may help me to praise, and seek help of others with you, that God may be glorified in my bonds. My Lord Jesus hath taken the withered, dry stranger, and His broken-in heart prisoner, into His house of wine. O ! 0 ! If ye and all Scotland, and all our bret^iren with you, knew how I am feasted! Christ's honeycombs drop comforts. He dineth with His prisoner, and the King's spikenarcl casteth a smell. The devil cannot get it denied, but we suffer for the apple of Christ's eye, His royal prerogatives as King and Lawgiver. Let us not fear or faint. He will have His gospel once again rouped in Scotland, and have the matter going to voices to see who will say, let Christ be crowned King in Scotland. It is true, Antichrist stir- reth his tail, but I love a rumbling and raging devil in the kirk (since the church militant cannot, or may not want a devil to trou- ble her) rather than a subtle or sleeping devil. Christ never yet got a bride without stroke of sword. It is now nigh the Bride- groom's entering into His chamber, let us awake and go in with Him. I bear your name to Christ's door. I pray you, dear brother, for- get me not. Let me hear from you by a letter, and I charge you, smother not Christ's bounty towards me. I write what I have found of Him in the house of my pilgrimage. Eemember my love to all our brethren and sisters there. The Keeper of the vineyard watch for His besieged city, and for you. Tour brother, and fellow-sufferer, S. R. Aberdeen, Feb. 7, 1637. LETTER CXCVIII.— To Mr ErHRAiM Melvin. Reverend and dear Brother, — I received your letter, and am contented with all my heart that our acquaintance in our Lord con- tinue. I am wrestling, as I do, up the mount with Christ's cross. LETTER CXCIX. 327 My second is kind, and able to help. As for your questions, because of my manifold distractions and letters to multitudes, I have not time to answer them. What shall be said in common for that shall be imparted to you, for I am upon these questions ; therefore spare me a little, for the service-book would take a great time. But I think, Siciit cleosculatio religiosa imaginis. aut etiam elementorum, est in se idololatria externa, et si intentio deoscidandi tota, quanta in actu est,feratur in Deum ^puTOTu-rou; ita genicidatio coram pane^ qiiando, nempe, ex instituto totus homo externiis et internus versari debeat circa elemenfaria signa est adoratio relativa, et adoralio ipsins panis. Ratio : intentio ado- randi objectum materiale, non est de essentia externce adorationis^ ut patet in deosculatione religiosa. Sic, geniculatio coram imagine Bahylonicd est externa adoratio imaginis, et si trespueri mente intendissent adorare Je- hovam. Sic qui ex metii solo, aut spe pretii aut inanis glories, geniculatur coram aureo vitulo Jerohoami (quod ah ipso rege, qui nulla religione indvc- tus, sed lihidine dominandi tantum, vitulum erexit, factitatum esse, textus satis luculenter clamat), adorat vitulum externa adoratione ; esto quod putaret vitulum esse meram creaturam, et honore nulla dignum : quia geniculatio, sive nos nolumus sive volurnus, ex instituto, Dei et naiurco, in actu religiosa, est sijmholum, religiosce adorationis. Ergo, sicut panis signat corpus Christi, etsi absit actus omnis nostrcB intentionis, sic religiosa geniculatio, sublatd omni intentione humand, est externa adoratio panis, coram quo adoramus, ut coram signo vicario et reproesentativo Dei. Thus recommending you to God's tender mercy, I desire that ye would remember me to God. Sanctification shall settle you most in the truth. Grace be with you. Your brother in Christ Jesus, S. E-. Aberdeen, 1637. LETTER CXCIX.— To a Gentlewoman upon the Death of her Husband. Mistress, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. I cannot but re- joice and withal be grieved at your case. It hath pleased the Lord to remove your husband (my friend, and this kirk's faithful profes- sor) soon to his rest ; but shall we be sorry that our loss is his gain, seeing his Lord would want his company no longer. Think not much of short summons ; for seeing he walked with his Lord in his life, and desired that Christ should be magnified in him at his death, ye ought to be silent and satisfied. When Christ cometh for His own He runneth fast. Mercy, mercy to the saints goeth not at lei- sure ; love, love in our Redeemer is not slow ; and withal He is homely with you, who cometh at His own hand to your house, and intromitteth, as a friend, with anything that is yours. I think He 328 LETTER CC. would fain borrow and lend with yon. Now lie shall meet with the solacious company, the fair flock, and blessed bairn-time of the first- born, banqueting at the marriage-supper of the Lamb. It is mercy that the poor wandering sheep get a dyke-side in this stormy day, and a leaking ship a safe harbour, and a sea-sick passenger a sound and soft bed ashore. Wrath, wrath, wrath from the Lord is coming upon this land that he hath left behind him. Know therefore, that your Lord Jesus, His wounds, are the wounds of a lover, and that He will have compassion upon a sad -hearted servant, and that Christ hath said He will have the husband's room in your heart. He loved you in your first husband's time, and He is but wooing you still ; give Him heart and chair, house and all. He will not be made companion with any other ; love is full of jealousies, He will have all your love, and who should get it but He ? I know, ye allow it upon Him ; there are comforts, both sweet and satisfying, laid up for you, wait on. Frist Christ, He is an honest debtor. Now for mine own case, I think some poor body would be glad of a doated prisoner's leavings. I have no scarcity of Christ's love. He hath wasted more comforts upon His poor banished servant, than v/ould have refreshed many souls. Mj burden was once so heavy, that one ounce-weight would have casten the balance and broken my back ; but Christ said, hold, hold, to my sorrow, and hath wiped a bluthered face, which was foul with Aveeping. I may joyfully go my Lord's errands with Avages in my hands ; deferred hopes need not to make me dead swier (as we use to say) ; my cross is both my cross and my reward. O ! that men would sound His high praises ! I love Christ's worst reproaches, His glooms. His cross, better than all this world's plastered glory ; my heart is not longing to be back again from Christ's country, it is a SAveet soil I am come to. I (if any in the world) have good cause to speak much good of Him. 0 ! hell were a good cheap price to buy Him at. 0, if all the three kingdoms were Avitnesses to ray pained, pained soul, OA^ercome and wounded Avith Christ's love ! I thank you most kindly, my dear sister, for your love and tender care to my brother. I Avill think myself obliged to you, if ye con- tinue his friend, he is more to me than a brother uoaa^, being en- gaged to suffer for so honourable a Master and cause. Pray for Christ's prisoner, and grace, grace be Avith you. Yours, in his SAveet Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, March 7, 1636. LETTER CC— To his Reverend and Dear Brother, Mr John Nevay. My reverend and dear Brother, — Grace, mercy, and peace be LETTEPw CCI. 329 to you. I have exceeding many I write to, else I would be kinder in paper. I rejoice that my sweet Master hath any to back Him. Thick, thick may my royal King's court be. 0, that His kingdom might grow! It were my joy to have His house full of guests. Except that I have some cloudy days, for the most part 1 have a king's life with Christ. He is all perfumed with the powders of the merchant : He hath a King's face and a King's smell : His chariot, wherein He carrieth His poor prisoner, is of the wood of Lebanon, it is paved with love. Is not that soft ground to walk or lie on ? I think better of Christ than ever I did ; my thoughts of His love grow and swell on me. I never write to any of Him so much as I have felt. O if, if I could write a book of Christ and of His love ! Suppose I were made white ashes, and burnt for this same truth that men count but as knots of straws, it were my gain, if my ashes could proclaim the worth, excellenc}^, and love of my Lord Jesus. There is much telling in Christ, I give over the weighing of Him ; heaven would not be the beam of a balance to weigh Him in. What eyes be on me, or what wind of tongues be on me, I care not. Let me stand in this stage in the fool's coat, and act a fool's part to the rest of this nation. If I can set my Well-Belovfd on high, and witness fair for Him, a fig for their Hosanna. If I can roll myself in a lap of Christ's garment, I will lie there, and laugh at the thoughts of dying bits of clay. Brother, we have cause to weep for our harlot mother, her husband is sending her to Rome's brothel-house, which is the gate she liketh well. Yet I persuade you, there shall be a fair after-growth for Christ in Scotland, and this church shall sing the Bridegroom's welcome-home again to His own house. The worms shall eat them first, ere they cause Christ take good night at Scotland. I am here assaulted with the doctors' guns ; but I bless the Father of light, they draw not blood of truth. I find no lodging in the heart of natural men, who are cold friends to my Master. I pray you, remember my love to that gentleman A. C, my heart is knit to Him, because He and I have one Master. Remember my bonds, and present my service to my lord and my lady. I wish Christ may be dearer to them than to many of their place. Grace be with you. Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, July 7, 1637. LETTER CCI.— To my Lady Boyd. Madam, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. Few (I believe) know the pain and torment of Christ's fristed love : fristing of Christ's presence is a matter of torment. I know a poor soul that o30 LETTER CCI. would lay all oars in the water for a banquet or feast of Christ's love. I cannot think, but it must be up-taking and sweet to see the white and red of Christ's fair face ; for He is, white and ruddy, and the chiefest among ten thousand, Cant. v. 10. I am sure that must be a well-made face of His, heaven must be in His visage ; glory, glory for evermore must sit on His countenance. I dare not curse the mask and covering that is on His face ; but O if there were a hole in it ; 0 if God would tear the mask ; fie, fie upon us, we were never shamed till now, that we do not proclaim our pining and languish- ing for Him. I am sure, never tongue spake of Christ as He is. 1 am still of that mind, and still will be, that we wrong and un- dervalue that holy, holy One, in having such short and shallow thoughts of His weight and worth. O, if I could have but leave to stand beside and see the Father weigh Christ the Son, if it were possible : but how every one of them comprehendeth another, we, who have eyes of clay, cannot comprehend ; but it is pity for ever- more, and more than shame, that such an one as Christ should sit in heaven His alone for us. To go up thither one's errand, and on purpose to see, were no small glory. 0 that He would strike out windows, and fair and great lights, in this old house, this fallen down soul, and then set the soul near hand Christ, that the rays and beams of light, and the soul-delighting glances of the fair, fair God- head, might shine in at the windows and fill the house! A fairer and more near and direct sight of Christ would make room for His love ; for we are but pinched and straitened in His love. Alas, it were easy to measure and weigh all the love that we have for Christ by inches and ounces! Alas, that we should love by measure and weight, and not rather have floods and feasts of Christ's love ! O, that Christ would break down the old narrow vessels of these narrow and ebb souls, and make fair, deep, wide, and broad souls, to hold a sea and a full tide, flowing over all its banks, of Christ's love! 0, that the Almighty would give me my request ! that I might see Christ come to His temple again (as He is minting, and it is like minding to do) ; and if the land were humbled, the judgments threatened are with this reservation — I know if we shall turn and repent. O, what heaven should we want on earth, to see Scotland's moon like the light of the sun, and Scotland's sunlight seven-fold, like the light of seven days, in the day that the Lord bindeth up the breach of His people, and healeth the sti-oke of their wounds ! Isa. XXX. 26. Alas, that we will not pull and draw Christ to his old tents again, to come and feed among the lilies, till the day break and shadows flee away ! O, that the nobles would go on, in the strength and courage of the Lord, to bring our lawful King Jesus home again ! I am persuaded He shall return again in glory to this land : but happy were they who could help to convoy Him to LETTER ecu. 331 His sanctuary, and set Him again up upon the mercy-seat betwixt the cherubims. O sun, return to darkened Britain ! O, fairest among all the sons of men, O most excellent One, come home again, come home, and win the praises and blessings of the mourners in Zion, the prisoners of hope, that wait for Thee ! I know, He can also triumph in suffering, and weep and reign, and die and triumph, and remain in prison, and yet subdue His enemies. But how happy were I to see the coronation-day of Christ, to see His mother, who bare Him, put the crown upon His head again, and cry with shout- ing till the earth should ring, " Let Jesus our King live and reign for evermore." Grace, grace be with your ladyship. Your ladyship at all obedience in Christ, S. R. Aberdeen, 3637. LETTER CCIL— To Mr Alexander Colyill of Blair. Much honoured Sir, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. I would desire to know how my lord took my letter I sent him, and how he his : I desire nothing, but that he be fast and honest to my royal Master and King. I am well every way, all praise to Him, in whose books I must stand for ever as His debtor. Only my sil- ence paineth me. I had one joy out of heaven, next to Christ my Lord, and that was to preach Him to this faithless generation, and they have taken that from me. It was to me as the poor man's one eye, and they have put out that eye. I know the violence done to me, and His poor bereft bride, is come up before the Lord ; and suppose I see not the other side of my cross, or what my Lord will bring out of it, yet I believe the vision shall not tarry, and that Christ is on His journey for my deliverance. He goeth not slowly, but passeth over ten mountains at one stride. In the meantime, I am pained with His love, because I want real possession. When Christ cometh He stayeth not long; but certainly the blowing of His breath upon a poor soul is heaven upon earth; and when the wind turneth into the north and He goeth away, I die till the wind change in the west, and He visit His prisoner. But He holdeth me not often at His door. I am richly repaid for suffering for Him. O, if all Scotland were as I am, except my bonds ! O, what pain I have, because I cannot get Him praised by my sufferings ! O, that heaven within and without, and the earth were paper, and all the rivers, fountains, and seas were ink, and I able to write all the paper, within and without, full of His praises, and love, and excellency, to be read by man and angel ! nay, this is little, I owe my heaven for Christ, and to desire, howbeit I should never enter in at the gates of the new Jerusalem, to send my love and my praises over the wall to Christ. Alas, that time and days lie betwixt Him and me, and adjourn our meeting ! It is my part to cry, 0, when will the «>o2 LETTERS CCIII. AND CCIV. night be past, and the day dawn, that we shall see one another ! Be pleased to remember my service to my lord, to Avhom I wrote; and show him, that for his affection to me, I cannot but pray for him, and earnestly desire that Christ miss him not out of the roll of those that are His witnesses, now when his kingly honour is called in question. It is his honour to hold up Christ's royal train, and to be an instrument to hold the crown upon Christ's head. Show him, because I love his true honour and standing, that this is my earnest desire for him. Now I bless you ; and the prayers of Christ's prisoner come upon you ; and His sweetest presence, whom ye serve in the Spirit, accompany you. Yours, at all obliged obedience in Christ, S. R. Aberdeen, June, 23, 1637. LETTER CCIII.— To Mr JohxN Row. Reverend and dear Brother, — I received yours. I bless His high and great name, I like my sweet Master still the longer the better. A sight of His cross is more awsom than the weight of it. I think the worst things of Christ, even His reproaches and His cross (when 1 look on these not with bleared eyes), far rather to be chosen than the laughter and worm-eaten joys of my adversaries. O, that they were as I am, except my bonds ! My v^^itness is above, my ministry, next to Christ, is dearest to me of anything ; but I lay it down at Christ's feet, for His glory and His honour as supreme Law- giver, which is dearer to me. My dear brother, if ye will receive the testimony of a poor prisoner of Christ, who dare not now dis- semble for the world, I believe certainly, and expect thanks from the Prince of tlie kings of the earth for my poor hazards (such as they are) for His honourable cause, whom I can never enough extol for His running over love to my sad soul, since I came hither. O that I could get Him set on high and praised I I seek no more, as the top and root of my desires, but that Christ may make glory to Himself, and edification to the weaker, out of ray sufferings. I desire ye would help me both to pray and praise. Grace be with you. Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, July 8, 1637. LETTER CCIV.— To the Lady Culross. Madam, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. I am much refreshed with your letter, now at length come to me. I find my Lord Jesus Cometh not in that precise way that I lay wait for Him, He hath a gate of His own. O, how high are His ways above my ways! I see but little of Him. It is best not to offer to learn Him a lesson, but to give Him absolutely His OAvn will in coming, going, ebbing, flowing, and in the manner of His gracious working. I LETTER CCIV. 333 want nothing but a back-burden of Christ's love: I would go through hell, and the thick of the damned de\dls, to have a hearty feast of Christ's lore ; for He hath fettered me with His love, and run away, and left me a chained man. Woe is me, that I was so loose, rash, vain, and gi'aceless, in my unbelieving thoughts of Christ's love. But what can a soul under a non-entry (when my rights were wodset and lost) do else, but make a false libel against Christ's love ? I know yourself, madam, and many more, will be witnesses against me, if I repent not of my unbelieF; for I have been seeking the Pope's wares, some hire for grace within myself I have not learned, as I should do, to put my stock and all my treasure in Christ's hand ; but I would have a stock of mine own ; and ere I was aware, I was taking hire to be the law's advocate, to seek justification by works : I forgot that grace is the only gar- land that is worn in heaven upon the heads of the glorified. And now I half rejoice that I have sickness for Christ to work upon ; since I must have wounds, well is my soul, I have a day's work for my Physician Christ. I hope to give Christ his own calling ; it setteth Him full well to cure diseases. My ebbings ai-e very low, and the tide is far out, Avhen my Beloved goeth away ; and then I cry, oh, cruelty ! to put out the poor man's one eye, and that, that was my joy next to Christ, to preach my Well-Beloved ; then 1 make a noise about Christ's house, looking uncouth-like in at His window, and casting my love and my desires over the v.all, till God send better. I am often content my bill lie in heaven till the day of my departure, providing I had assurance that mercy shall be written on the back of it. I would not care for on- waiting ; but when I draAv in a tired arm, and empty hand withal, it is much to me, to keep my thoughts in order ; but I will not get a gate for Christ's love : when I have done all I can, I would fain yield to His stream, and row with Christ, and not against Him. But while I live, I see that Christ's kingdom in me will not be peaceable, so many thoughts in me rise up against His honour and kingly power. Surely, I have not expressed all His sweet kindness to me ; I spare to do it, lest I be deemed to seek myself; but His breath hath smelled of the powder of the merchants and of the King's spikenard. I think I conceive new thoughts of heaven, because the card and the map of heaven, that He letteth me now see, is so fair and so SAveet, I am sure M'e are niggards and sparing bodies in seeking. 1 verily judge, we know not how much may be had in this life ; there is yet something be- yond all we see, that seeking would light upon. O, that my love- sickness would put me to a business, when all the world are found sleeping, to cry and knock ! But the truth is, since I came hither, I have been wondering, tliat after my importunity to have my fill of Christ's love, I have not gotten a real sign, but have come from 334 LETTER CCV. Him crying hunger, hunger. I think Christ letteth me see meat, in my extremity of hunger, and giveth me none of it. When I am near the apple, He draweth back His hand, and goeth away, to cause me to follow ; and again, when I am within an arm's length to the apple. He maketh a new break to the gate, and I have Him to seek of new. He seemeth not to pity my dwining and my swoon- ing for His love. I dare sometimes put my hunger over to Him to be judged, if I would not buy Him with a thousand years in the hottest furnace in hell, so being I might enjoy Him. But my hun- ger is fed with want and absence. I hunger and I have not, but my comfort is to lie and wait on, and to put my poor soul and my suiferings in Christ's hand. Let Him make anything out of me, so being He be glorified in my salvation ; for I know I am made for Him ! 0 that my Lord may win His own gracious end in me ! I will not be at ease, while I but stand so far aback. O, if I were near Him and with Him, that this poor soul might be satisfied with Himself. Your son-in-law, W. G-., is now truly honoured for His Lord and Master's cause. When the Lord is fanning Zion, it is a good token that he is a true branch of the Vine that the Lord begin- neth first to dress him. He is strong in his Lord, as he hath written to me, and his wife is his encourager, which should make you rejoice. For your son, who is your grief, your Lord waited on you and me till we were ripe and brought us in. It is your part to pray and wait upon him : when he is ripe. He will be spoken for. Who can command our Lord's wind to blow ? I know it shall be your good in the latter end. That is one of your waters to heaven, ye could , not go about it ; there are the fewer behind. I remember you, and him, a,nd yours, as I am able. But alas ! I am believed to be some- thing, and I am nothing but an empty reed. Wants are ray best riches, because 1 have these supplied by Christ. Remember my dearest love to your brother : I know he pleadeth with his harlot mother for her apostasy. I know, also, ye are kind to my worthy Lady Kenmure, a woman beloved of the Lord, who hath been very mindful of my bonds. The Lord give her and her child to find mercy in the day of Christ. Great men are dry and cold in doing for me : the tinkling of chains for Christ affrighteth them : but let my Lord break all my idols, I will yet bless Him. I am obliged to my Lord Lorn : I wish him mercy. Remember my bonds with praises, and pray for me that my Lord may leaven the north by my bonds and sufferings. Grace be with you. Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, July 9, 1637. LETTER CCV.— To Alexander Gordon of Knockgray. Dear Brother, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. There is no LETTER CCV. 335 question but our mother-church hath a Father, and that she shall not die without an heir, that her enemies shall not make Mount Zion their heritage. We see whithersoever Zion's enemies go, suppose they dig many miles under the ground, yet our Lord findeth them out, and He hath vengeances laid up in store for them, and the poor and needy shall not always be forgotten. Our hope was drooping and withering, and man was saying, " What can God make out of the old dry bones of this buried kirk ? the prelates and their fol- lowers were a grave above us : it is like our Lord is to open our graves and purposeth to cause His two slain witnesses rise the third day. O how long wait I to hear our weeping Lord Jesus sing again, and triumph, and rejoice, and divide the spoil ! I find it hard work to believe when the course of providence goeth cross- ways to our faith, and when misted souls in a dark night cannot know east by west, and our sea- compass seemeth to fail us. Every man is a believer in daylight. A fair day seemeth to be made all of faith and hope. What a trial of gold is it to smoke it a little above the fire ? But to keep gold perfect yellow coloured amidst the flames, and to be turned from vessel to vessels, and yet to cause our furnace sound, and speak and cry the praises of the Lord, is another matter. T know my Lord made me not for fire, howbeit He hath fitted me in some measure for the fire. I bless His high name, that I wax not pale, neither have I lost the colour of gold, and that His fire hath made me somewhat thin, and that my Lord may pour me in any vessel He pleaseth. For a small wager, I may justly quit my part of this world's laughter, and give up with time, and cast out with the pleasures of this world. I know a man who wondered to see any in this life laugh and sport ; surely our Lord seeketh this of us, as to any rejoicing in present perishing things. I see above all things, and that we may sit down and fold legs and arms and stretch ourselves upon Christ, and laugh at the feathers that children are chasing here. For I think the men of this world, like children in a danger- ous storm in the sea, that play and make sport with the white foam of the waves thereof, coming in to sink and drown them ; so are men making fool's sports with the white pleasures of a stormy world that will sink them. But alas, what have we to do with their sports that they make ! If Solomon said of laughter that it was madness, what may we say of this world's laughing and sporting themselves with gold, and silver, and honours, and court, and broad large con- quests, but that they are poor souls in the height and rage of a fever gone mad ? Then a straw, a fig for all created sports and rejoicing out of Christ. Nay, I think that this world at its prime and per- fection, when it is come to the top of its excellency and to the bloom, might be bought with an halfpenny, and that it would scarce weigh the worth of a drink of water. There is nothing 336 LETTER ccvr. better than to esteem it our crucified idol that is dead and slain, as Paul did, Gal. vi. 14. Then let pleasures be crucified, and riches be crucified, and court and honour be crucified; and since the apostle saith, the world is crucified to him, we may put this world to the hanged man's doom and to the gallows, and who will give much for a hanged man ? and as little should we give for a hanged and crucified world. Yet what a sweet smell hath this dead carnon to many fools in the world? and how many wooers and suiters findeth this hanged carrion ? Fools are pulling it off the gallows and contending for it. 0, when shall we learn to be mortified men, and to have our fill of those things that have but their short sum- mer-quarter of this life ? If Ave saw our Father's house, and that great and fair city, the new Jerusalem, which is up above sun and ' moon, we would cry to be over the water, and to be carried in Christ's arms out of this borrowed prison. Grace, grace be with you. Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, 1636. LETTER CCVL— To the Laird of Carletown. Worthy Sir, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. I received your letter, and am heartily glad tliat our Lord hath begun to work for the apparent delivery of this poor oppressed kirk. O that sal- vation would come for Zion ! I am for the present hanging by hope, waiting what my Lord will do with me, and if it will please my sweet Master to send me amongst you again, and keep out a hireling from my poor people and flock. It were my heaven, till I come home, even to spend this life in gathering in some to Christ. I have still great heaviness for my silence and my forced standing idle in the market, when this land hath such a plentiful thick har*^ vest ; but I know His judgments, who hath done it, past finding out. I have no knowledge to take up the Lord in all his strange ways and passages of deep and unsearchable providences, for the Lord is before me, and I am so be-misted that I cannot follow Him : He is behind me, and following at the heels, and I am not aware of Him ; He is above me, but His glory so dazzleth my twilight of short knowledge that I cannot look up to Him : He is upon my right hand, and I see Him not : He is upon my left hand, and within me, and goeth and cometh, and His going and coming are a dream to me : He is round about me, and compasseth all my goings, and still I have Him to seek : He is every way higher, and deeper, and broader than the shallow and ebb hand-breadth of my short and dim light can take up ; and therefore I would my heart could be silent, and sit down in the learnedly-ignorant, wondering at that Lord, whom men and angels cannot comprehend. I know, the LETTER CC7I. 337 noon-daylight of the highest angels, who see Him face to face, seeth not the borders of His infiniteness. They apprehend God near hand, but they cannot comprehend Him. And therefore it is my happiness to look afar olf and to come near to the Lord's back parts, and to light my dark candle at His brightness, and to have leave to sit and content myself with a traveller's light, without the clear vision of an enjoyer. I would seek no more till I were in ray country, but a little watering and sprinkling of a withered soul, with some half-out-breakings and half-out-lookings of the beams and small ravishing smiles of the fairest face of a revealed and believed- on Godhead. A little of God would make my soul bank-full. 0, that I had but Christ's odd oif-fallings, that He would let but the meanest of His love-rays and love-beams fall from Him, so as I might gather and carry them with me ! I would not be ill to please with Christ, and veiled visions of Christ; neither would I be dainty in seeing and enjoying of Him. A kiss of Christ blown over His shoulder, the parings and crumbs of glory that fall under His table in heaven, a shower like a thin May-mist of His love, would make me green, and sappy, and joyful, till the summer-sun of an eternal glory break up. O, that I had anything of Christ ! O, that I had a sip or half a drop out of the hollow of Christ's hand of the sweetness and excellency of that lovely One ! 0 that ray Lord Jesus would rue upon me, and give me but the meanest alms of felt and believed salvation ! O, how little were it for that infinite sea, that infinite fountain of love and joy, to fill as many thousand thousand little vessels the like of me, as there are minutes of hours since the creation of God ! I find it true, that a poor soul finding half a smell of the Godhead of Christ, hath desires paining and wounding the poor heart so, with longings to be up at Him, that make it sometimes think, were it not better never to have felt anything of Christ than thus to lie dying twenty deaths under these felt wounds for the want of Him ? 0 where is He ? O fairest, where dwellest thou? 0 never-enough admired Godhead! how can clay win up to thee? How can creatures of yesterday be able to enjoy thee? O what pain is it, that time and sin should be as so many thousand miles betwixt a loved and longed for Lord, and a dwiniiig and love-sick soul, who would rather than all the world have lodging with Christ ! O let this bit love of ours, this inch and half span- length of heavenly longing, meet with thy infinite love ! O, if the little I have were swallowed up with the infiniteness of that excel- lency which is in Christ? 0, that we little ones were in at the greatest Lord Jesus, our wants should soon be sw^allow^ed up with His fulness. Grace, grace be wdth you. Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R. Aberdeen, May 1, 16o7. Z 338 LETTER CCVII. LETTER CCVII.— To Robert Gordon of Knockbrex. Dear Brother, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. I received your letter from Edinburgh. I would not wish to see another heaven while I get mine own heaven, but a new moon like the light of the sun, and a new sun like the light of seven days, shining upon my poor self, and the church of Jews and Gentiles, and upon my withered andsun-burntmother, the Church of Scotland, and upon her sister churches, England and Ireland ; and to have this done, to the setting on high our great King ; it maketh not, howbeit I were separate from Christ, and had a sense of ten thousand years' pain in hell, if this were. 0 blessed nobility, O glorious renowned gentry, O blessed were the tribes in this land to wipe my Lord Jesus's weeping face, and to take the sackcloth off Christ's loins, and to put His kingly robes upon Him? O, if the Almighty would take no less wager of me, than my heaven, to have it done ! But my fears are still for wrath once upon Scotland. But I know her day shall clear up, and glory shall be upon the top of the mountains, and joy at the noise of the married wife once again. O, that our Lord would make us to contend, and plead, and wrestle, by praj^ers and tears, for our Husband's restoring of His forfeited heritage in Scotland. Dear brother, I am for the present in no small battle betwixt felt guiltiness, and pining, longings, and high fevers for ray Well-Beloved's love. Alas! I think Christ's love playeth the niggard to me, and I know, it isnot for scarcity of love, there is enough in Him; but my hunger prophesieth of in-holding and sparingness in Christ, for I have but little of Him and little of His sweetness. It is a dear summer with me ; yet there is such joy in the eagerness and working of hunger for Christ, that I am often at this, that if I had no other heaven but a continual hunger for Christ, such a heaven of ever-working hunger were still a heaven to me. I am sure, Christ's love cannot be cruel, it must be a rueing, a pitiful, a melting-hearted love. But suspension of that love I think it half a hell, and the want of it more than a whole hell. When I look to my guiltiness, I see my salvation one of our Saviour's greatest miracles either in heaven or earth. I am sure, I may defy any man to show me a greater wonder. But seeing I have no wares, no hire, no money for Christ, He must either take me with want, misery, corruption, or then want me. O, if He would be pleased to be compassionate and pitiful- hearted to my pining fevers of longing for Him, or then give me a real pawn to keep, out of His own hand, till God send a meeting betwixt Him and me ; but I find neither as yet ; howbeit He who is absent be not cruel nor unkind, yet His absence is cruel and unkind. His love is like it- self; His love is His love ; but the covering and the cloud, the vail and the mask of His love, is more wise than kind, if I durst speak LETTER CCVIII. 339 my apprehensions. I lead no process now against the suspension and delay of God's love. I would with all my heart frist till a day ten heavens, and tlie sweet manifest[i.tions of His love. Certainly I think I could give Christ much on His word. But my whole pleading is about intimated and born-in assurance of His love. 0 if He would persuade me of mv heart's desire of His love at all, He should have the term-day of payment at His own carving. But I know raving unbelief speaketh its pleasure, while it looketh upon guiltiness and this body of coiTuption. O, how loathsome and burdensome is it to carry about a dead corpse, this old carrion of corruption ! O, how steadable a thing is a Saviour to make a sinner rid of his chains and fetters! I have now made a new question, whether Christ be more to be loved for giving sanctification, or for free justification ? And I hold He is more and most to be loved for sanctification : it is in some respect greater love in Him to sanctify than to justify, for He maketh us most like Himself, in His own essential portraiture and image, in sanctifying us. Justification doth but make us happy, which is to be like the angels only. Neither is it such a misery to lie a condemned man and under un forgiven guiltiness, as to serve sin, and work the works of the devil; and therefore, I think, sancti- fication cannot be bought, it is above all price, God be thanked for ever that Christ was a told-down price for sanctification. Let a sinner (if possible) lie in hell for ever, if he make Him truly holy, and let him lie there burning in love to God, rejoicing in the Holy Ghost, hanging upon Christ by faith and hope : that is heaven in the heart and bottom of hell. Alas! I find a very thin harvest here, and few to be saved. Grace, grace be with you. Yours, in his lovely and longed-for Lord Jesus, S. E. Aberdeen, 1637. LETTER CCYIIL— To my Lord Craighall. My Lord, — I persuade myself, notwithstanding of the greatness of this temptation, ye will not let Christ want a witness of you, to avow Him before this evil generation. And if ye advise with God's truth (the perfect testament of Christ, that forbiddeth all men's additions to His worship), and with the truly learned, and with all the sancti- fied in this laud, -and with that warner within you (that will not fail to speak against you, in God's time, if ye be not now fast and fixed for Christ), I hope then your lordship will acquaint yourself as a man of courage for Christ, and refuse to bow your knee superstitiously and idolatrously to wood or stone, or any creature whatsoever. I persuade myself when ye shall take good night at this world, ye shall think it God's truth I now write. Some fear your lordship have obliged yourself to his majesty by promise to satisfy his desire. If it be so, my dear and worthy lord, hear me for your soul's good. Think upon swimming ashore after this shipwreck, and be pleased 340 LETTER CCIX- to write your humble apology to his majesty ; it may be God give give you favour in his eyes. However it be, far be it from you to think, a promise made out of weakness, and extorted by the terror of a king, should bind you to wrong your Lord Jesus. But for my- self, I give no faith to that report, but I believe ye shall prove fast to Christ. To His grace I recommend you. Your lordship, at all obedience in Christ, S. E-. Aberdeen, July 8, 1637. LETTER CCIX.— To my Lord Craighall. My Lord, — Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. I am not only content, but I exceedingly rejoice, that I find any of the rulers of this land, and especially your lordship, so to affect Christ and His truth, as ye dare, for His name, come to yea and nay with monarchs in their face. I hope. He who hath enabled you for that, will give more, if ye show yourself courageous, and as His word speaketh, a man in the streets for the Lord. But I pray your lordship give me leave to be plain with you, as one who loveth both your honour and your soul. I verily believe, there was never idolatry at Rome; never idolatry condemned in God's word by the prophets, if religious kneel- ing before a consecrate creature, standing in room of Christ crucified, in that very act, and that for reverence of the elements (as our act cleareth), be not idolatry. Neither will your intention help, which is not of the essence of worship; for then Aaron saying, " To-morrow shall be a feast for Jehovah," that is, for the golden calf, should not have been guilty of idolatry ; for he intended only to decline the lash of the people's fury, not to honour the calf. Your intention to honour Christ is nothing, seeing religious kneeling by God's institu- tion doth necessarily import religious and divine adoration, suppose our intention were both dead and sleeping. Otherwise kneeling before the image of God, directing prayer to God, were lawful, if our intention go right. My lord, I cannot in this bounds dispute ; but if Cambridge and Oxford, and the learning of Britain, will an- swer this argument, and the argument from active scandal, which your lordship seemeth to stand upon, I will turn a formalist, and call myself an arrant fool, by doing what I have done in my suf- fering for this truth. I do much reverence Mr L's learning, but, my lord, I will answer what he writes in that to pervert you from the truth, else repute me beside an hypocrite, an ass also, and I hope ye shall see something upon that subject, if the Lord permit, that no sophistry in Britain shall answer. Courtiers' arguments, for the most part, are drawn from their own skin, and are not worth a straw for your conscience. A marquess or a king's word, when ye stand before Christ's tribunal, shall be lighter than wind. The Lord knoweth I love your true honour and the standing of your LETTER CCIX. 341 house, but I would not your honour or house were established upon sand, and hay, and stubble. But let me, my very dear and worthy lord, most humbly beseech you, by the mercies of God, by the consolations of His Spirit, by the dear blood and wounds of your lovely Redeemer, by the salvation of your soul, by your com- pearance before the awful face of a sin -revenging and dreadful Judge, not to set in comparison together your soul's peace, Christ's love, and His kingly honour, now called in question, with your place, honour, house, or ease, that an inch of time will make out of the way. I verily believe, Christ is now begging a testimony of you, and is saying, "And will ye also leave me?" It is possible the wind shall not blow so fair for you all your life, for coming out and appearing before others, to back and countenance Christ, the fairest among the sons of men, the Prince of the kings of the earth, Isa. li. 7. " Fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be afraid of their revilings," v. 8, " For the moth shall eat them up like a gar- ment, and the worm shall eat them like wool." When the Lord shall begin He shall make an end, and mow down His adversaries, and they shall lie before Him like withered hay, and their bloom shaken oiF them. Consider how many thousands in this kin