PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
Letters of Samuel Rutherford (Third Edition)
Rutherford, Samuel, 1600?-1661 · 345,819 words · 915 reading sections
(_HEAVEN'S HAPPINESS--JOY IN THE CROSS._)
DEAR BROTHER,--Grace, mercy, and peace be to you.--I rejoice that ye cannot be quit of Christ (if I may speak so), but that 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 m…
324 wordsSECTION 602S. R.
ABERDEEN, _Sept. 8, 1637_. [359] Probably, Robert Blair. CCXLVII.--_To_ JANET KENNEDY. [Letter LXXXVIII.]…
14 wordsSECTION 603(_THE HEAVENLY MANSIONS--EARTH A SHADOW._)
LOVING AND DEAR SISTER,--Grace, mercy, and peace be to you.--I received your letter. I know that the favour of Christ in you (whom the virgins love to follow) cannot be blown away with winds, either from hell, or the evil-smelled air of this defiled world. Sit far aback from the walls of this pesthouse, even the pollut…
504 wordsSECTION 604S. R.
ABERDEEN, _Sept. 9, 1637_. CCXLVIII.--_To_ MARGARET REID. [_Probably an Anwoth parishioner._]…
13 wordsSECTION 605(_BENEFITS OF THE CROSS, IF WE ARE CHRIST'S._)
MY VERY 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, and be not moved away from the hope of the Gospel. It is good that there is a heaven, and it is not a night-dream or a fancy. It i…
447 wordsSECTION 606ABERDEEN.
CCXLIX.--_To_ JAMES BAUTIE. [JAMES BAUTIE, in 1637, seems to have been preparing for the ministry. He became chaplain to the regiment of the Lord of Ards, in Ireland, and was ordained minister over the Presbyterian congregation at Ballywater, in the county of Down, in 1642. He was clerk to the Presbytery in 1644. Refu…
121 wordsSECTION 607(_SPIRITUAL DIFFICULTIES SOLVED._)
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[361] when ye wrong Christ by doubting and misbelief. For this is to nickna…
679 wordsSECTION 608Part 608
3rdly, No marvel, then, of whisperings, Whether you be in the covenant or not? for pride maketh loose work of the covenant 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; becau…
940 wordsSECTION 609Part 609
6thly, Ye crave my mind, whether sound comfort may be found in prayer, when conviction of a known idol is present. I answer: (1st), An idol, as an idol, cannot stand with sound comforts; for that comfort that is gotten at Dagon's feet is a cheat or blaflume. Yet sound comfort, and conviction of an eye to an idol, may a…
757 wordsSECTION 610ABERDEEN, 1637.
CCL.--_To the_ LADY LARGIRIE. [Letter CXCV.]…
7 wordsSECTION 611(_PART WITH ALL FOR CHRIST--NO UNMIXED JOY HERE._)
MISTRESS,--Grace, mercy, and peace be to you.--I hope ye know what conditions passed betwixt Christ and you, at your first meeting. Ye remember that He said, your summer days would have clouds, and your rose a prickly thorn beside it. Christ is unmixed in heaven, all sweetness and honey. Here we have Him with His thorn…
458 wordsSECTION 612ABERDEEN.
CCLI.--_To the_ LADY DUNGUEICH. [LADY DUNGEUCH, or DUNGUEICH, was sister to _Marion M'Naught_, for her own name was _Sarah M'Naught_, and she is mentioned in the Registers as "second heir to her father, _John M'Naught of Kilquhannady_" [or Kilquhanatie (Letter V.)], "on 31st March 1646, in the three merk lands of Dumg…
122 wordsSECTION 613(_JESUS OR THE WORLD--SCOTLAND'S TRIALS AND HOPES._)
MISTRESS,--I long to hear from you, and how you go on with Christ. I am sure that Christ and you once met. I pray you to 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…
436 wordsSECTION 614ABERDEEN, 1637.
[365] The dregs. CCLII.--_To_ JONET MACCULLOCH. [See Letter CI.]…
10 wordsSECTION 615(_CARES TO BE CAST ON CHRIST--CHRIST A STEADY FRIEND._)
LOVING SISTER,--Grace, mercy, and peace be to you.--Hold on your course, for, it may be, that I shall 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 stone-weight you and your cares, b…
290 wordsSECTION 616ABERDEEN, 1637.
CCLIII.--_To his Reverend and very dear Brother_, MR. GEORGE GILLESPIE.…
11 wordsSECTION 617(_CHRIST THE TRUE GAIN._)
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…
237 wordsSECTION 618S. R.
ABERDEEN, _Sept. 9, 1637_. CCLIV.--_To his Reverend and dear Brother_, MR. ROBERT BLAIR.…
14 wordsSECTION 619(_PERSONAL UNWORTHINESS--GOD'S GRACE--PRAYER FOR OTHERS._)
REVEREND AND DEAR BROTHER,--The reason ye give for not writing to me affecteth me much, and giveth me a dash, when such an one as ye conceive an opinion of me, or of anything in me. The truth is, when I come home to myself, oh, what penury do I find, and how feckless is my supposed stock, and how little have I! He to w…
953 wordsSECTION 620S. R.
ABERDEEN, _Sept. 9, 1637_. CCLV.--_To the_ LADY CARLETON. [Letter XV.]…
11 wordsSECTION 621(_SUBMISSION TO GOD'S WILL--WONDERS IN THE LOVE OF CHRIST--NO DEBT TO THE WORLD._)
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 the spirit, suppose He would tu…
715 wordsSECTION 622ABERDEEN, 1637.
CCLVI.--_To WILLIAM RIGGE of Athernie._…
7 wordsSECTION 623(_THE LAW--GRACE--CHALKING OUT PROVIDENCES FOR OURSELVES--PRESCRIBING TO HIS LOVE._)
MUCH HONOURED AND WORTHY SIR,--Your letter, full of complaints, bemoaning your guiltiness, hath humbled me. But give me leave to say that 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 law's but grace's man; nevertheless, I am sure that ye desire…
853 wordsSECTION 624S. R.
ABERDEEN, _Sept. 10, 1637_. [368] The use I make of your letter is, it humbles me that I am not so tender as you, and "_thin-skinned_," _i.e._ easily made to feel. [369] Be forced along; "drive," as a neuter verb. CCLVII.--_To the_ LADY CRAIGHALL. [Letter LXXXVI.]…
49 wordsSECTION 625(_THE COMFORTS OF CHRIST'S CROSS--DESIRES FOR CHRIST._)
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 my Lord's salvation, wrought by His own right hand, that the water doth not suffoc…
602 wordsSECTION 626S. R.
ABERDEEN, _Sept. 10, 1637_. [370] He was banished to the north of the Firth of Forth. CCLVIII.--_To the Right Honourable my_ LORD LOUDON.…
24 wordsSECTION 627(_THE WISDOM OF ADHERING TO CHRIST'S CAUSE._)
RIGHT HONOURABLE,--Grace, mercy, and peace be to your Lordship.--I rejoice exceedingly to hear that your Lordship hath a good mind to Christ, and His now borne-down truth. My very dear Lord, go on, in the strength of the Lord, to carry your honours and worldly glory to the New Jerusalem. For this cause your Lordship re…
831 wordsSECTION 628Part 628
I am persuaded, my Lord, that this poor travailing Woman, our pained church, is with child of victory, and shall bring forth a Man-child all lovely and glorious, that shall be caught up to God and to His throne, howbeit the dragon, in his followers, be attending the childbirth pain, as an Egyptian midwife, to receive t…
431 wordsSECTION 629S. R.
ABERDEEN, _Sept. 10, 1637_. [373] The Earl of Argyle. CCLIX.--_To_ MR. DAVID DICKSON.…
14 wordsSECTION 630(_DANGER OF WORLDLY EASE--PERSONAL OCCURRENCES._)
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.[374] The Lord reigneth, and has 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 employment…
465 wordsSECTION 631S. R.
ABERDEEN, _Sept. 11, 1637_. CCLX.--_To ALEXANDER GORDON of Earlston._…
11 wordsSECTION 632(_ALL CROSSES WELL ORDERED--PROVIDENCES._)
MUCH HONOURED SIR,--Howbeit I should have been glad to have seen you; yet, seeing that our Lord hath been pleased to break the snare of our 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 t…
837 wordsSECTION 633S. R.
ABERDEEN, _Sept. 12, 1637_. CCLXI.--_To the_ LADY KILCONQUHAIR. [See Letter CCXXVI.]…
12 wordsSECTION 634(_THE KINGDOM TO BE TAKEN BY VIOLENCE._)
MISTRESS,--Grace, mercy, and peace be to you.--I received your letter. I am heartily content, that ye love and own this oppressed and wronged cause of Christ; and that now, when so many have miscarried, ye are in any measure taken with the love of Jesus. Weary not, but come in and see if there be not more in Christ tha…
532 wordsSECTION 635S. R.
ABERDEEN, _Sept. 13, 1637_. CCLXII.--_To ROBERT LENNOX of Disdove._ [See Letter CCXIII.]…
14 wordsSECTION 636(_INCREASING EXPERIENCE OF CHRIST'S LOVE--SALVATION TO BE MADE SURE._)
WORTHY AND DEAR BROTHER,--I forget you not in my bonds. I know that you are looking to Christ; and I beseech you to follow your look. I can 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 over head and ears in His love. Sell,…
530 wordsSECTION 637S. R.
ABERDEEN, _Sept. 13, 1637_. CCLXIII.--_To_ MARION M'NAUGHT.…
8 wordsSECTION 638(_HOPE IN TRIAL--PRAYER AND WATCHFULNESS._)
DEAREST IN OUR LORD JESUS,--Count it your honour, that Christ hath begun at you to refine you first. "Fear not," saith the Amen, the True and Faithful Witness. I write to you, as my Master liveth, upon the word of my royal King, continue in prayer and in watching, and your glorious deliverance is coming! Christ is not …
290 wordsSECTION 639ABERDEEN, 1637.
CCLXIV.--_To_ THOMAS CORBET. [_One of his Anwoth parishioners._]…
10 wordsSECTION 640(_GODLY COUNSELS--FOLLOWING CHRIST._)
DEAR FRIEND,--I forget you not. It will be my joy that ye follow after Christ till ye find Him. My conscience is a feast of joy to me, that I fought in singleness of heart, for Christ's love, to put you upon the King's highway to our Bridegroom, and our Father's house. Thrice blessed are ye, my dear brother, if ye hold…
401 wordsSECTION 641ABERDEEN, 1637.
CCLXV.--_To_ MR. GEORGE DUNBAR. [GEORGE DUNBAR was minister of Ayr. Adhering with zeal to Presbytery, he was summoned before the High Commission Court in the beginning of the year 1622. On appearing, he gave in a paper declining its authority; but the Court passed sentence of deprivation upon him, and condemned him to…
212 wordsSECTION 642(_CHRIST'S LOVE IN AFFLICTION--THE SAINT'S SUPPORT AND FINAL VICTORY._)
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 t…
782 wordsSECTION 643S. R.
ABERDEEN, _Sept. 17, 1637_. [378] Our head is high enough above the waters to let us breathe. CCLXVI.--_To JOHN FLEMING, Bailie of Leith._…
25 wordsSECTION 644(_COMFORT ABOUNDING UNDER TRIALS._)
WORTHY SIR,--Grace, mercy, and peace be to you.--The Lord hath brought me safe to this strange town. Blessed be His holy name, I find His cross easy and light, and I hope that He will be with His poor sold Joseph, who is separated from his brethren. His comforts have abounded towards me, as if Christ thought shame (if …
258 wordsSECTION 645S. R.
ABERDEEN, _Sept. 20, 1637_. CCLXVII.--_To WILLIAM GLENDINNING, Bailie of Kirkcudbright._…
12 wordsSECTION 646(_THE PAST AND THE FUTURE--PRESENT HAPPINESS._)
WORTHY SIR,--Grace, mercy, and peace be to you.--I am well, honour be to God! as well as a rejoicing prisoner of Christ can be, hoping that one day He, for whom I now suffer, will enlarge me, and put me above the threatenings of men. I am sometimes sad, heavy, and casten down, at the memory of the fair days I had with…
461 wordsSECTION 647S. R.
ABERDEEN, _Sept. 21, 1637_. CCLXVIII.--_To the_ EARL OF CASSILLIS. [Letter CXXVIII.] (_ANXIETY FOR THE PROSPERITY OF ZION--ENCOURAGEMENT FOR THE NOBLES TO SUPPORT IT--THE VANITY OF THIS WORLD, AND THE FOLLY AND MISERY OF FORSAKING CHRIST--THE ONE WAY TO HEAVEN._)…
41 wordsSECTION 648Part 648
MY VERY 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 we should not hold our peace. I know that your Lordship will take my pleading on this behalf in the better part, because the necessity of a falling and wea…
1,112 wordsSECTION 649Part 649
Your Lordship's, at all obedience,…
5 wordsSECTION 650S. R.
ABERDEEN, _Sept. 9, 1637_. [380] It is "hands" in old editions. [381] Alluding to Matt. xxi. 44. CCLXIX.--_To his Parishioners at Anwoth._ (_EXHORTATION TO ABIDE IN THE TRUTH, IN PROSPECT OF CHRIST'S COMING--SCRIPTURAL MODE OF OBSERVING ORDINANCES SUCH AS THE SABBATH, FAMILY PRAYER, AND THE LORD'S SUPPER--JUDGMENTS…
840 wordsSECTION 651Part 651
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, write to such persons all the plagues of God, and the curses that ever I preached i…
513 wordsSECTION 652S. R.
ABERDEEN, _Sept_. 23, 1637. CCLXX.--_To the_ LADY BUSBIE. [Letter CXXXIII.]…
11 wordsSECTION 653(HIS EXPERIENCE OF CHRIST'S LOVE--STATE OF THE LAND AND CHURCH--CHRIST NOT DULY ESTEEMED--DESIRES AFTER HIM, AND FOR A REVIVAL.)
MISTRESS,--Although not acquaint, yet because we are Father's children, I thought good to write unto you. Howbeit my first discourse 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 l…
600 wordsSECTION 654ABERDEEN, 1637.
CCLXXI.--_To EARLSTON, Younger._…
5 wordsSECTION 655(_PROSPERITY UNDER THE CROSS--NEED OF SINCERITY, AND BEING FOUNDED ON CHRIST._)
MUCH HONOURED SIR,--Grace, mercy, and peace be to you.--I am well. Christ triumpheth in me, blessed be His name. I have all things. I burden no man. I see that this earth and the fulness thereof is my Father's. Sweet, sweet is the cross of my Lord. The blessing of God upon the cross of my Lord Jesus! My enemies have co…
392 wordsSECTION 656S. R.
ABERDEEN, _Sept. 22, 1637_. CCLXXII.--_To_ JOHN GORDON. [Letter CXLVII.]…
10 wordsSECTION 657(_CHRIST ALL WORTHY--THIS WORLD A CLAY PRISON--DESIRE FOR A REVIVAL OF CHRIST'S CAUSE._)
WORTHY AND DEAR BROTHER,--Grace, mercy, and peace be to you.--I have been too long in writing to you, but multitude of letters taketh much time from me. I bless His great name whom I serve in the spirit, that if it come to voting, amongst angels and men, how excellent and sweet Christ is, even in His reproaches and in…
813 wordsSECTION 658ABERDEEN, 1637.
CCLXXIII.--_To WILLIAM RIGGE of Athernie._…
7 wordsSECTION 659(_COMFORT IN TRIALS FROM THE KNOWLEDGE OF CHRIST'S POWER AND WORK--THAT WILL SOON BE OVER--CORRUPTION--FREE GRACE._)
WORTHY AND MUCH HONOURED SIR,--Grace, mercy, and peace be to you.--How sad a prisoner should I be, if I knew not that my Lord Jesus had the keys of the prison Himself, and that His death and blood have bought a blessing to our crosses, as well as to ourselves! I am sure that troubles have no prevailing right over us, i…
379 wordsSECTION 660S. R.
ABERDEEN, _Sept. 30, 1637_. CCLXXIV.--_To_ JAMES MURRAY. [This may be James Murray of whom Livingstone, in his "Characteristics," writes, "An Israelite indeed, in whom was no guile." He was a writer in Edinburgh; hence, perhaps, the expectation of news as to what Government was doing, in the close of the letter.]…
52 wordsSource & rights
Public domain in the USA; original historical text digitized by Project Gutenberg.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.