PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
Letters of Samuel Rutherford (Third Edition)
Rutherford, Samuel, 1600?-1661 · 345,819 words · 915 reading sections
(_CHRIST'S WAY OF SHOWING HIMSELF THE BEST--WHAT FITS FOR HIM--YEARNING AFTER HIM INSATIABLY--DOMESTIC MATTERS._)
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. Oh, how high are His ways above my ways! I see but little of Him. It is best not to offer to learn Him a les…
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As 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 that it shall be your good in the latter end. That is one of your waters to heaven,…
304 wordsSECTION 543ABERDEEN, 1637.
CCXXIII.--_To ALEXANDER GORDON of Knockgray._…
7 wordsSECTION 544(_STATE OF THE CHURCH--BELIEVERS PURIFIED BY AFFLICTION--FOLLY OF SEEKING JOY IN A DOOMED WORLD._)
DEAR BROTHER,--Grace, mercy, and peace be to you.--There is no question but our mother-church hath a Father, and that she shall not die without an heir: her enemies shall not make Mount Zion their heritage. We see that whithersoever Zion's enemies go, suppose they dig many miles under ground, yet our Lord findeth them …
786 wordsSECTION 545ABERDEEN, 1637.
CCXXIV.--_To FULWOOD, the Younger._ [WILLIAM SEMPLE of Fulwood, in the parish of Houston, near Kilmalcolm, in Renfrewshire, was probably connected with Semple of Beltrees, in the parish of Lochwinnoch.]…
31 wordsSECTION 546(_VANITY OF THE WORLD IN THE LIGHT OF DEATH AND CHRIST--THE PRESENT TRUTH--CHRIST'S COMING._)
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 v…
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ABERDEEN, _July 10, 1637_. CCXXV.--_To his Parishioners._ (_PROTESTATION OF CARE FOR THEIR SOULS AND GLORY OF GOD--DELIGHT IN HIS MINISTRY, AND IN HIS LORD--EFFORTS FOR THEIR SOULS--WARNING AGAINST ERRORS OF THE DAY--AWFUL WORDS TO THE BACKSLIDER--INTENSE ADMIRATION OF CHRIST--A LOUD CALL TO ALL._) DEARLY BELOVED AN…
79 wordsSECTION 548Part 548
I long exceedingly to know if the oft-spoken-of match betwixt you and Christ holdeth, and if ye 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. Next to my Lord Jesus and this fallen kirk, ye have the greatest share of my …
1,204 wordsSECTION 549Part 549
[339] Thus. [340] See Letter CLXI. The Service-Book, which has no author's name. 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 way, to the dog's vomit again. Let me speak to these men. It was not without God's special direction, that th…
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I know there are some believers among you, and I write to you, O poor broken-hearted believers: all the comforts of Christ in the Old and New Testaments are yours. Oh, what a Father and Husband ye have! Oh, if I had pen and ink, and ingine to write of Him! Let heaven and earth be consolidated into massy and pure gold, …
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Oh that ye were all hand-fasted to Christ! O my dearly-beloved in the Lord, I would I could change my voice, and had a tongue tuned by the hands of my Lord, and had the art of speaking of Christ, that I might point out to you the worth, and highness, and greatness, and excellency of that fairest and renowned Bridegroom…
609 wordsSECTION 552S. R.
ABERDEEN, _July 13, 1637_. CCXXVI.--_To the_ LADY KILCONQUHAR. [LADY KILCONQUHAR, whose maiden name was Helen Murray, being the third daughter of Sir Archibald Murray of Blackbarony, was the wife of Sir John Carstairs of Kilconquhar, in the county of Fife. Her mother, Margaret Maule, was of the family of Panmure. The…
129 wordsSECTION 553Part 553
MISTRESS,--Grace, mercy, and peace be to you.--I am glad to hear that ye have your face homewards towards your 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 hereaway; and, therefore, I would counsel you to make sure the charters and …
1,754 wordsSECTION 554Part 554
Remember my love to your husband. I wish all to him that 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,…
54 wordsSECTION 555S. R.
ABERDEEN, _August 8, 1637_. CCXXVII.--_To my_ LORD CRAIGHALL.…
9 wordsSECTION 556(_STANDING FOR CHRIST--DANGER FROM FEAR, OR PROMISES OF MEN--CHRIST'S REQUITALS--SIN AGAINST THE HOLY SPIRIT._)
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 perplexity what to do. But let me entreat your Lordship not to cause yourself to mistake Truth and Christ, because they seem to encounter with your peace and ease. My Lord, remember that a prisone…
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If a weak man[342] hath passed a promise to a king, to make slip to Christ (if we look to flesh and blood, I wonder not of it; possibly I might have done worse myself), add not further guiltiness to go on in such a scandalous and foul way. Remember that there is a wo, wo to him by whom offences come. This wo came out o…
350 wordsSECTION 558S. R.
ABERDEEN, _August 10, 1637_. CCXXVIII.--_To_ MR. JAMES FLEMING. [JAMES FLEMING was minister of Abbey St. Bathans, now called Yester, a parish in the Presbytery of Haddington, East Lothian. He had previously lived some time in England, and is described by Livingstone as "an ingenuous, single-hearted man." Livingstone …
185 wordsSECTION 559(_GLORY GAINED TO CHRIST--SPIRITUAL DEADNESS--HELP TO PRAISE HIM--THE MINISTRY._)
REVEREND AND WELL-BELOVED 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 my lone had as many lives as there…
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I see that the Lord can ride through His enemies' bands, and triumph in the sufferings of His own; and that this blind world seeth not that sufferings are Christ's armour, wherein He is victorious. And they who contend with Zion see not what He is doing, when they are set to work, as under-smiths and servants, to the w…
434 wordsSECTION 561S. R.
ABERDEEN, _August 15, 1637_. CCXXIX.--_To MR. HUGH MACKAIL of Irvine._…
12 wordsSECTION 562(_THE LAW--THIS WORLD UNDER CHRIST'S CONTROL FOR THE BELIEVER._)
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 the 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…
383 wordsSECTION 563S. R.
ABERDEEN, _Sept. 5, 1637_. CCXXX.--_To the Right Honourable and Christian Lady, my_ LADY KENMURE.…
15 wordsSECTION 564(_BELIEVER SAFE THOUGH TRIED--DELIGHT IN CHRIST'S TRUTH._)
MADAM,--Grace, mercy, and peace be to your Ladyship.--God be thanked ye are yet in possession of Christ, and that sweet child. I pray God that the former may be a sure heritage, and the latter a loan for your comfort, while ye do good to His poor, afflicted, withered Mount Zion. And who knoweth but our Lord hath comfor…
690 wordsSECTION 565S. R.
ABERDEEN, _Sept. 5, 1637_. CCXXXI.--_To the Right Honourable my_ LORD LINDSAY. [JOHN, TENTH LORD LINDSAY, resided at Byres, a house near _Balgonie_, which in old charters is mentioned along with _Pitcruvie_ as belonging to the Lindsays. He was the son of Robert, ninth Lord Lindsay, by his wife Lady Christian Hamilton…
329 wordsSECTION 566(_THE CHURCH'S DESOLATIONS--THE END OF THE WORLD, AND CHRIST'S COMING--HIS ATTRACTIVENESS._)
RIGHT HONOURABLE AND MY 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…
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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 that you 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 hous…
488 wordsSECTION 568S. R.
ABERDEEN, _Sept. 7, 1637_. CCXXXII.--_To my_ LORD BOYD.…
9 wordsSECTION 569(_SEEKING CHRIST IN YOUTH--ITS TEMPTATIONS--CHRIST'S EXCELLENCE--THE CHURCH'S CAUSE CONCERNS THE NOBLES._)
MY VERY HONOURABLE AND GOOD LORD,--Grace, mercy, and peace be to you.--I am glad to hear that you, in the morning of your short day, mind Christ, and that you love the honour of His crown and kingdom. I beseech your Lordship to begin now to frame your love, and to cast it in no mould but one, that it may be for Christ …
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I have cause to speak this, because, except you possess and enjoy 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 …
819 wordsSECTION 571S. R.
ABERDEEN, _Sept. 7, 1637_. [345] Dunces. [346] Wiseacres. CCXXXIII.--_To his Worthy and much Honoured Friend_ FULK ELLIS. [FULK ELLIS was the eldest son of Major Edmond Ellis of Carrickfergus, an English colonist. Edmond was a man of distinguished piety, and a zealous Covenanter. "Through all the difficulties and v…
204 wordsSECTION 572(_FRIENDS IN IRELAND--DIFFICULTIES IN PROVIDENCE--UNFAITHFULNESS TO LIGHT--CONSTANT NEED OF CHRIST._)
WORTHY AND MUCH HONOURED IN OUR LORD,--Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. 1. I am glad of our more than paper acquaintance. Seeing we have one Father, it reckoneth the less, though we never see one another's face. I profess myself most unworthy to follow the camp of such a worthy and renowned Captain as Christ. Oh, al…
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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! Oh, water the burnt and withered travellers with this love of Thine! I think it is possible on earth to build a young New Jerusalem, a little new heaven, of t…
249 wordsSECTION 574(_DESERTIONS, THEIR USE--PRAYERS OF REPROBATES, AND HOW THE GOSPEL AFFECTS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY._)
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) a heavy stroke. Could I keep sight of Him, and know when I want, and carry as became…
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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. Dickso…
1,033 wordsSECTION 576Part 576
Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus,…
6 wordsSECTION 577S. R.
ABERDEEN, _Sept. 7, 1637_. CCXXXV.--_To my_ LORD CRAIGHALL.…
9 wordsSECTION 578(_FEAR GOD, NOT MAN--SIGN OF BACKSLIDING._)
MY LORD,--I cannot expound your Lordship's contrary tides, and these temptations wherewith ye are assaulted, to be any other thing than Christ trying you, and saying unto you, "And will ye also leave Me?" I am sure that Christ hath a great advantage against you, if ye play foul play to Him, in that the Holy Spirit hath…
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ABERDEEN, _Sept_. 7, 1637. CCXXXVI.--_To_ MR. JAMES HAMILTON. [Letter CCXV.]…
11 wordsSECTION 580(_CHRIST'S GLORY NOT AFFECTED BY HIS PEOPLE'S WEAKNESS._)
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, running through such an unclean and impure channel. But I see th…
305 wordsSECTION 581S. R.
ABERDEEN, _Sept_. 7, 1637. CCXXXVII.--_To the_ LAIRD OF GAITGIRTH. [Letter CLXXXVII.]…
12 wordsSECTION 582(_TRUTH WORTH SUFFERING FOR--LIGHT SOWN, BUT EVIL IN THIS WORLD TILL CHRIST COME._)
MUCH HONOURED SIR,--Grace, mercy, and peace be to you.--I can do no more than thank you on paper, and remember you to Him whom I serve, for kindness and care of a prisoner. I bless the Lord, that the cause I suffer for needeth not to blush before kings: Christ's white, honest, and fair truth needeth neither to wax pal…
546 wordsSECTION 583S. R.
ABERDEEN, _Sept. 7, 1637_. CCXXXVIII.--_To the_ LADY GAITGIRTH.…
9 wordsSECTION 584(_CHRIST AN EXAMPLE IN BEARING CROSSES--THE EXTENT TO WHICH CHILDREN SHOULD BE LOVED--WHY SAINTS DIE._)
MUCH HONOURED AND CHRISTIAN LADY,--Grace, mercy, and peace be to you.--I long to hear how it goeth with you and your children. 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 wi…
598 wordsSECTION 585S. R.
ABERDEEN, _Sept. 7, 1637_. CCXXXIX.--_To_ MR. MATTHEW MOWAT. [Letter CXX.]…
11 wordsSECTION 586(_WHAT AM I?--LONGING TO ACT FOR CHRIST--UNBELIEF--LOVE IN THE HIDING OF CHRIST'S FACE--CHRIST'S REPROACH._)
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 that I could do my Lord any service in my suffering; suppose my Lord would make a stop-hole of me, to fill a hole in the wall of His house, or a pinning in Zion's new work. For any place o…
945 wordsSECTION 587S. R.
ABERDEEN, _Sept. 7, 1637_. CCXL.--_To MR. JOHN MEINE, Jun._ [See Letter LXXXI.]…
14 wordsSECTION 588(_CHRIST THE SAME--YOUTHFUL SINS--NO DISPENSING WITH CROSSES._)
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 that I have said nothing of Him. I never knew Christ to ebb or flow, wax or wane. His winds turn not;…
322 wordsSECTION 589S. R.
ABERDEEN, _Sept. 7, 1637_. CCXLI.--_To JOHN FLEMING, Bailie of Leith._…
12 wordsSECTION 590(_RICHES OF CHRIST FAIL NOT--SALVATION--VANITY OF CREATED COMFORTS--LONGING FOR MORE OF CHRIST._)
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 w…
401 wordsSECTION 591S. R.
ABERDEEN, _Sept. 7, 1637_. CCXLII.--_To the_ LADY ROWALLAN. [LADY ROWALLAN, whose maiden name was Sarah Brisbane, being the fourth daughter of John Brisbane of Bishoptown, was the third wife of Sir William Mure of Rowallan (Robertson's "Ayrshire Families"). "In 1639 Lady Rowallan lost her husband, who died in the six…
273 wordsSECTION 592(_JESUS THE BEST CHOICE, AND TO BE MADE SURE OF--THE CROSS AND JESUS INSEPARABLE--SORROWS ONLY TEMPORARY._)
MADAM,--Though not acquainted, I am bold in Christ to speak to your Ladyship on 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 s…
499 wordsSECTION 593S. R.
ABERDEEN, _Sept. 7, 1637_. CCXLIII.--_For_ MARION M'NAUGHT.…
8 wordsSECTION 594(_HIS OWN PROSPECTS--HOPES--SALUTATIONS._)
MUCH HONOURED AND DEAREST IN OUR SWEET LORD JESUS,--Grace mercy, and peace, from God our Father, and from our Lord Jesus. I know that the Lord will do for your town. I hear that the Bishop is afraid to come amongst you: for so it is spoken in this town. And many here rejoice now to pen a supplication to the Council, f…
489 wordsSECTION 595S. R.
ABERDEEN, _Sept. 7, 1637_. CCXLIV.[351]--_To_ MARION M'NAUGHT. [351] _Aberdeen_ is affixed to this letter; and if written from _Aberdeen_ it must have been in 1637. Hence the letter is inserted here. At the same time, the reference to events points to some time about 1633. It is possible that "_Aberdeen_" is a mistak…
97 wordsSECTION 596(_PROCEEDINGS OF PARLIAMENT--PRIVATE MATTERS--HER DAUGHTER'S MARRIAGE._)
WELL-BELOVED SISTER,--I have been sparing to write to you because I was heavy at the proceedings of our late Parliament.[352] Where law should have been, they would not give our Lord Jesus fair law and justice, nor the benefit of the house, to hear either the just grievances, or the humble supplications of the servants…
858 wordsSECTION 597ABERDEEN.
CCXLV.--To my LADY BOYD.…
5 wordsSECTION 598(_IMPERFECTIONS--YEARNINGS AFTER CHRIST--CHRIST'S SUPREMACY NOT INCONSISTENT WITH CIVIL AUTHORITY._)
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 …
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All that your Ladyship can expect for your good-will to me and my brother (a wronged stranger for Christ), is the prayers of a prisoner of Jesus, to whom I recommend your Ladyship, and your house and children; and in whom I am, Madam, Your Ladyship's in Christ,…
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ABERDEEN, _Sept. 8, 1637_. CCXLVI.--_To_ MR. THOMAS GARVEN. [Letter CLII.]…
11 wordsSource & rights
Public domain in the USA; original historical text digitized by Project Gutenberg.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.