PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
Letters of Samuel Rutherford (Third Edition)
Rutherford, Samuel, 1600?-1661 · 345,819 words · 915 reading sections
(_THE CHRISTIAN LIFE A MYSTERY TO THE WORLD--CHRIST'S KINDNESS._)
DEAR BROTHER,--I received your letter. I am in good health of body, but far better in my soul. I find my Lord no worse than His word. "I will be with him in trouble," is made good to me now. He heareth the sighing of the prisoner. Brother, I am comforted in my royal Prince and King. The world knoweth not our life; it i…
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ABERDEEN, _Nov. 21, 1637_. CCLXXV.--_To_ MR. JOHN FERGUSHILL. [Letter CXII.]…
11 wordsSECTION 663(_SPIRITUAL LONGINGS UNDER CHRIST'S CROSS--HOW TO BEAR IT--CHRIST PRECIOUS, AND TO BE HAD WITHOUT MONEY--THE CHURCH._)
REVEREND AND WELL-BELOVED IN OUR LORD JESUS,--I must still provoke you to write by my lines. Whereat ye need not wonder, for the cross is full of talk, and speak it must, either good or bad: neither can grief be silent. I have no dittay nor indictment to bring against Christ's cross, seeing He hath made a friendly agr…
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I have been waiting to see what friends of place and power would do for us. But when the Lord looseneth the pins of His own tabernacle, He will have Himself to be acknowledged as the only builder-up thereof; and, therefore, I would take back again my hope that I lent and laid in pawn in men's hands, and give it wholly …
559 wordsSECTION 665ABERDEEN, 1637.
CCLXXVI.--_To_ WILLIAM GLENDINNING. [Letter CXXXVII.]…
6 wordsSECTION 666(_SWEETNESS OF TRIAL--SWIFTNESS OF TIME--PREVALENCE OF SIN._)
DEAR BROTHER,--Grace, mercy, and peace be to you.--Your case is unknown to me, whether ye be yet our Lord's prisoner at Wigtown, or not. However it be, I know that our Lord Jesus hath been inquiring for you; and that He hath honoured you to bear His chains, which is the golden end of His cross; and so hath waled out a …
774 wordsSECTION 667ABERDEEN, 1637.
CCLXXVII.--_To my_ LADY BOYD.…
5 wordsSECTION 668(_SENSE OF UNWORTHINESS--OBLIGATION TO GRACE--CHRIST'S ABSENCE--STATE OF THE LAND._)
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 with 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…
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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,…
26 wordsSECTION 670ABERDEEN, 1637.
CCLXXVIII.--_To the_ EARL OF CASSILLIS.…
6 wordsSECTION 671(_AMBITION--CHRIST'S ROYAL PREROGATIVE--PRELACY._)
RIGHT HONOURABLE AND VERY GOOD LORD,--Grace, mercy, and peace be to your Lordship.--I hope that your Lordship will be pleased to pardon my boldness, if, upon report of your zealous and forward mind, which I hear our Lord hath given you in this His honourable cause, when Christ and His Gospel are so foully wronged, I sp…
878 wordsSECTION 672ABERDEEN, 1637.
CCLXXIX.--_For_ MARION M'NAUGHT.…
4 wordsSECTION 673(_A SPRING-TIDE OF CHRIST'S LOVE._)
MY DEAR AND WELL-BELOVED SISTER,--Grace, mercy, and peace be to you.--I am well; honour to God. I have been before a court set up within me of terrors and challenges; but my sweet Lord Jesus hath taken the mask off His face, and said, "Kiss thy fill!" and I will not smother nor conceal the kindness of my King Jesus. He…
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ABERDEEN, _Nov. 22, 1637_. [389] Gordon of Knockbrex. CCLXXX.--_To JOHN GORDON, at Rusco._[390] [Letter CCLXXII.]…
18 wordsSECTION 675(_HEAVEN HARD TO BE WON--MANY COME SHORT IN ATTAINING--IDOL SINS TO BE RENOUNCED--LIKENESS TO CHRIST._)
[390] This seems to have been the letter referred to by Mrs. Veitch, wife of Mr. William Veitch, minister of Dumfries, when she says: "One day, having been at prayer, and coming into the room, where one was reading a letter of Mr. Rutherford's (then only in MS.), directed to one John Gordon of Rusco, giving an account …
854 wordsSECTION 676ABERDEEN, 1637.
CCLXXXI.--_To my_ LORD LOUDOUN.…
5 wordsSECTION 677(_TRUE HONOUR IN MAINTAINING CHRIST'S CAUSE--PRELACY--LIGHT OF ETERNITY._)
RIGHT HONOURABLE AND VERY WORTHY LORD,--Grace, mercy, and peace be to you.--Hearing of your Lordship's zeal and courage for Christ our Lord in His honourable cause, I am bold (and plead pardon for it) to speak in paper by a line or two to your Lordship, since I have not access any other way, beseeching your Lordship, b…
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My dear and noble Lord, the eye of Christ is upon you; the eyes of many noble, many holy, many learned and worthy ones, in our neighbouring churches about, are upon you.[392] This poor church, your mother and Christ's spouse, is holding up her hands and heart to God for you, and doth beseech you with tears to plead for…
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ABERDEEN, _Jan. 4, 1638_. CCLXXXII.--_To the_ LADY ROBERTLAND. [This is probably the _Lady Robertland_ (her own name was _Fleming_) mentioned in Livingstone's "Characteristics" as "one deeply exercised in mind, who often got as rare outgates." She was a great help to the poor people of _Stewarton_, during the time of…
81 wordsSECTION 680(_AFFLICTIONS PURIFY--THE WORLD'S VANITY--CHRIST'S WISE LOVE._)
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 His 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 h…
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Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus,…
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ABERDEEN, _Jan. 4, 1638_. CCLXXXIII.--_To his Reverent and Respected Friend, THOMAS MACCULLOCH of Nether Ardwell._ [See "Ardwell" in notice at Letter CI.] [This letter is given from the "Christian Instructor" for January 1839, furnished by one who had the MS. Why Rutherford calls his correspondent "reverent," we do n…
104 wordsSECTION 683(_EARNEST CALL TO DILIGENCE--CIRCUMSPECT WALKING._)
REVERENT AND MUCH RESPECTED,--Grace, mercy, and peace be to you.--I long to hear how your soul prospereth, and I expected you would have written to me. My earnest desire to you is, that you would seek the Lord and His face. I know that you are not ignorant that your daylight is going fast away, and your sun declining. …
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ABERDEEN, _Jan. 5, 1638_. CCLXXXIV.--_To the Honourable, Reverend, and Well-beloved Professors of Christ and His truth in sincerity, in Ireland._ [At the date of this letter the Presbyterian Church of Ireland was in a very depressed condition. In 1634 Robert Blair, with some other ministers, were deposed for nonconfo…
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How many of us have been here deceived, and have 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 that he dare to stay away from Christ's side. I desire that ye shew him this from me; for I loved him once in Christ, neithe…
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[395] It requires skill. [396] Alluding to 2 Thess. ii. 8. "Ἄνομος," that Lawless one. [397] Stand for. 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 wrack of the most part of the world. Oh, how many professors go …
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ABERDEEN, _Feb. 4, 1638_. CCLXXXV.--_To_ ROBERT GORDON _of Knockbrex_.…
10 wordsSECTION 688(_NOT OUR CROSS, BUT CHRIST, THE OBJECT OF ATTRACTION--TOO LITTLE EXPECTED FROM HIM--SPIRITUAL DEADNESS._)
MY VERY DEAR BROTHER,--Grace, mercy, and peace be unto you.--I thought to have answered your two letters on 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 consolation and off-fallings that follow the…
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My dear brother, ye complain to me that ye cannot hold sight of me. But were I a footman, I would 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 transgressor. Oh how unthankful! I will not put you off your sense of darkness; but …
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ABERDEEN, _June 11, 1638_. CCLXXXVI.--_To the Parishioners of Kilmalcolm._[401] [401] Kilmalcolm is a rural parish in Renfrewshire, and one of the most sequestered. It was once a favoured vineyard. Shortly after the Reformation, Knox dispensed the communion there when on a visit to Lord Glencairn, who resided within …
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I. Ye write, that God's vows are lying on you; and security, strong and sib to nature, stealing on you who are weak. I answer: 1. Till we be in heaven, the best have heavy heads, as is evident. Cant. v. 1; Ps. xxx. 6; Job xxix. 18; Matt. xxvi. 33. Nature is a sluggard, and loveth not the labour of religion; therefore, …
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IV. So to complain of yourselves, as to justify God, is right; providing ye justify His Spirit in yourselves. For men seldom advocate against Satan's work and sin in themselves, but against God's work in themselves. Some of the people of God slander God's grace in their souls; as some wretches used to do, who complain …
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VIII. The Liar (John viii. 44), as ye write, challengeth the work as formal; yet ye bless your Cautioner for the ground-work He hath laid, and dare not say but ye have assurance in some measure. To this I say: 1. It shall be no fault to save Satan's labour, and challenge it yourselves,[403] or at least examine and cens…
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ANWOTH, _Aug. 5, 1639_. [405] My being transferred to another part of the land. [406] About this time Rutherford (who, it will be observed from the place whence this letter is dated, was now relieved from confinement at Aberdeen) had received two separate calls, one from Edinburgh, to become one of the city ministers…
82 wordsSECTION 695(_ON THE DEATH OF HER CHILD--CHRIST SHARES IN HIS PEOPLE'S SORROWS._)
MADAM,--Grace, mercy, and peace be to you.--I know that ye are near many comforters, and that the promised Comforter is near at hand also. Yet, because I found your Ladyship comfortable to myself in my sad days, which are not yet over my head, it is my part and more, in many respects (howbeit I can do little, God knowe…
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I would gladly plead for the Comforter's part of it, not against you, Madam (for I am sure ye are not his party[409]), but against your grief, which will have its own violent incursions in your soul: and I think it be not in your power to help it. But I must say, there are comforts allowed upon you; and, therefore, wan…
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KIRKCUDBRIGHT, _Oct. 1, 1639_. CCLXXXVIII.--_To the persecuted Church in Ireland._[410] [410] When the National Covenant had been solemnly renewed throughout almost the whole of Scotland, every means was used to prevent the Presbyterians in Ireland from entering into it. To accomplish this, an oath was imposed in May…
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I hope that ye are not ignorant that, as peace was left to you in Christ's testament, so the other half of the testament was a legacy of Christ's sufferings. "These things have I spoken, that in Me ye might have peace; in the world ye shall have trouble" (John xvi. 33). Because, then, ye are made assignees and heirs to…
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Alas! I fear that Scotland be undone and slain with this great mercy of reformation, because there is not here that life of religion, answerable to the huge greatness of the work that dazzleth our eyes. For the Lord is rejoicing over us in this land, as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride: and the Lord hath changed…
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Now I exhort you, in the Lord Jesus, not to be dismayed nor afraid for the two tails of these smoking firebrands, the fierce anger of the Deputy with civil power, and of the bastard prelates with the power of the Beast; for they shall be cut off. They may well eat you and drink you, but they shall be forced to vomit yo…
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And when all is done, suppose there were no sweetness in our Lord's cross, yet it is sweet for His sake, for that lovely One, Jesus Christ, whose crown and royal supremacy is the question this day in Great Britain, betwixt us and our adversaries. And who would not think Him worthy of the suffering for? What is burning …
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Pray for your sister-church in Scotland; and let me entreat you for the aid of your prayers for myself, and flock, and ministry, and my fear of a transportation from this place of the Lord's vineyard.[412] Now the very God of peace sanctify you throughout. Grace be with you all. [412] See note, Letter CCLXXXVI. The de…
85 wordsSECTION 703ANWOTH, 1639.
CCLXXXIX.--_To his Reverend and much honoured Brother, DR. ALEXANDER LEIGHTON, Christ's Prisoner in bonds at London._ [DR. ALEXANDER LEIGHTON was descended of an ancient family in Forfarshire, whose chief seat was Ulys-haven, or Usen, near Montrose. Besides studying for the Christian ministry, he qualified himself as …
343 wordsSECTION 704(_PUBLIC BLESSINGS ALLEVIATE PRIVATE SUFFERINGS--TRIALS LIGHT WHEN VIEWED IN THE LIGHT OF HEAVEN--CHRIST WORTHY OF SUFFERING FOR._)
REVEREND AND MUCH HONOURED PRISONER OF HOPE,--Grace, mercy, and peace be to you.-- It was not my part (whom our Lord hath enlarged) to forget you His prisoner. When I consider how long your night hath been, I think Christ hath a mind to put you in free grace's debt so much the deeper, as your sufferings have been of s…
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For myself, I am content to feed upon wondering, sometimes, at the beholding but of the borders and skirts of the incomparable glory which is in that exalted Prince. And I think ye could wish for more ears to give than ye have, since ye hope these ears ye now have given Him shall be passages to take in the music of His…
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ST. ANDREWS, _Nov. 22, 1639_. CCXC.--_To a Person unknown, anent Private Worship in time and place of public._[413] [413] From a copy among the Wodrow MSS., vol. xxix. 4to, No. 13. REVEREND AND DEAR BROTHER,--I do not know a private worship, set and intended, compatible with a public worship set and intended. Ejacul…
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_January 16, 1640._ [414] Savours of the sect called "Brownists." [415] While at the same time I may add. CCXCI.--_To MR. HENRY STUART, his Wife, and two Daughters, all Prisoners of Christ at Dublin._ [HENRY STUART was a gentleman of considerable property in Ireland. He himself, his wife, and family, consisting of …
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I believe that your prison is enacted in God's court not to keep you till your hope breathe out its life and last. Your cross is under law to restore you again safe to your brethren and sisters in Christ. Take heaven's and Christ's back-bond for a fair back-door out of your suffering. The Saviour is on His journey with…
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Ye are sibber to Christ now, when you are imprisoned for Him, than before; for now the strokes laid on you do come in remembrance before our Lord, and He can own His own wounds. A drink of Christ's love, which is better than wine, is the drink-silver which suffering for His majesty leaveth behind it. It is not your sin…
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And what, then, can come wrong to you, O honourable witnesses of His kingly truth? Men have no more of you to work upon than some inches and span-lengths of sick, coughing, and phlegmatic clay. Your spirits are above their Benches, Courts, or High Commissions. Your souls, your love to Christ, your faith, cannot be summ…
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What I write to one, I write to you all that are sound-hearted in that kingdom, whom, in the bowels of Christ, I would exhort not to touch that oath. Albeit the adversaries put a fair meaning on it, yet the swearer must swear according to the professed intent and godless practice of the oath-makers, which is known to t…
200 wordsSECTION 712ST. ANDREWS, 1640.
CCXCII.--_To MRS. PONT, Prisoner at Dublin._ [MRS. PONT, whose maiden name was Isabel Stewart, was the wife of Mr. Pont, minister of a parish in the diocese of Raphoe. Pont declined to use the prescribed ceremonies of the church, and condemned the increasing severities towards nonconformists, together with the unscrip…
365 wordsSECTION 713(_SUPPORT UNDER TRIALS--THE MASTER'S REWARD._)
WORTHY AND DEAR MISTRESS,--Grace, mercy, and peace be to you.--The cause which ye suffer for, and your willingness to suffer, is ground enough of acquaintance for me to write to you; although I do confess myself unable to speak for the encouragement of a prisoner of Christ. I know that ye have advantage beyond us who …
868 wordsSECTION 714ST. ANDREWS, 1640.
CCXCIII.--_To_ MR. JAMES WILSON. [There was a cotemporary of that name, the minister of Inch, in the Presbytery of Stranraer. There was also a _James Wilson_ who was a friend of Blair, and minister of Dysart in 1653. (See Row's "Life of Blair.") This letter indicates that the correspondent was a man of thought and edu…
57 wordsSECTION 715(_ADVICES TO A DOUBTING SOUL--MISTAKES ABOUT HIS INTEREST IN GOD'S LOVE--TEMPTATION--PERPLEXITY ABOUT PRAYER--WANT OF FEELING._)
DEAR BROTHER,--Grace, mercy, and peace be multiplied upon you.--I bless our rich and only wise Lord, who careth so for His new creation that He is going over it again, and trying every piece in you, and blowing away the motes of His new work in you. Alas! I am not so fit a physician as your disease requireth. Sweet, sw…
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Secondly: Ye say, that ye know not what to do. Your Head said once the same word, or not far from it. "Now is My soul troubled, and what shall I say?" (John xii. 27). And faith answered Christ's "What shall I say?" with these words: "O tempted Saviour, askest Thou, 'What shall I say?' Say, 'Pray, Father, save Me from t…
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ST. ANDREWS, _Jan. 8, 1640_. CCXCIV.--_To my_ LADY BOYD.…
10 wordsSECTION 718(_SINS OF THE LAND--DWELLING IN CHRIST--FAITH AWAKE SEES ALL WELL._)
MADAM,--I received your Ladyship's letter; but because I was still going through the country for the affairs of the church, I had no time to answer it. I had never more cause to fear than I have now, when my Lord hath restored me to my second created heaven on earth, and hath turned my apprehended fears into joys, and…
810 wordsSECTION 719ST. ANDREWS.
CCXCV.--_To his very dear Friend_, JOHN FENWICK. [MR. JOHN FENWICK was an Englishman, who suffered considerably for nonconformity. He is mentioned in Row's "Life of R. Blair," where it is said that "John Fenwick was one of the best of the Commissioners sent by Cromwell to visit the Universities." He was a Puritan and …
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But why do ye complain of waters going over your soul, and that the smoke of the terrors of a wrathful Lord do almost suffocate you, and bring you to death's brink? I know that the fault is in your eyes, not in Him. It is not the rock that fleeth and moveth, but the green sailor. If your sense and apprehension be made …
683 wordsSource & rights
Public domain in the USA; original historical text digitized by Project Gutenberg.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.