PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
Letters of Samuel Rutherford (Third Edition)
Rutherford, Samuel, 1600?-1661 · 345,819 words · 915 reading sections
(_ON THE DEATH OF LORD KENMURE--DESIGNS OF AND DUTIES OF AFFLICTION._)
MY VERY NOBLE AND WORTHY LADY,--So oft as I call to mind the comforts that I myself, a poor friendless stranger, received from your Ladyship here in a strange part of the country, when my Lord took from me the delight of mine eyes (Ezek. xxiv. 16), as the Word speaketh (which wound is not yet fully healed and cured), I…
886 wordsSECTION 122S. R.
ANWOTH, _Sept. 14, 1634_. XXXVIII.--_To_ MARION M'NAUGHT.…
8 wordsSECTION 123(_CHRIST'S CARE OF HIS CHURCH, AND HIS JUDGMENTS ON HER ENEMIES._)
MISTRESS,--My dearest love in Christ remembered. I entreat you charge your soul to return to rest, and to glorify your dearest Lord in believing; and know that for the good-will of Him that dwelleth in the bush, the burning kirk shall not be consumed to ashes; but "Blessing shall come on the head of Joseph, and upon th…
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ANWOTH, _Sept. 25, 1634_. XXXIX.--_To my_ LADY KENMURE.…
9 wordsSECTION 125(_PREPARATION FOR DEATH AND ETERNITY._)
MADAM,--All dutiful obedience in our Lord remembered. I know ye are now near one of those straits in which ye have been before. But because your outward comforts are fewer, I pray Him whose ye are to supply what ye want another way. For howbeit we cannot win to the bottom of His wise providence, who ruleth all; yet it …
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ANWOTH, _Nov. 29, 1634_. XL.--_To my_ LADY KENMURE.…
9 wordsSECTION 127(_WHEN MR. RUTHERFORD HAD THE PROSPECT OF BEING REMOVED FROM ANWOTH._)
MADAM,--My humble obedience in the Lord remembered. Know it hath pleased the Lord to let me see, by all appearance, that my labours in God's house here are at an end; and I must now learn to suffer, in the which I am a dull scholar. By a strange providence, some of my papers, anent the corruptions of this time, are com…
312 wordsSECTION 128S. R.
ANWOTH, _Dec. 5, 1634_. XLI.--_For_ MARION M'NAUGHT.…
8 wordsSECTION 129(_THE CHURCH'S TRIALS--COMFORT UNDER TEMPTATIONS--DELIVERANCE--A MESSAGE TO THE YOUNG._)
WELL-BELOVED SISTER,--My love in Christ remembered. I hear of good news anent our kirk; but I fear that our King will not be resisted, and therefore let us not be secure and careless. I do wonder if this kirk come not through our Lord's fan, since there is so much chaff in it; howbeit I persuade myself, the Son of God'…
827 wordsSECTION 130EDINBURGH, 1634.
_P.S._--MISTRESS,--I had not time to give my advice to your daughter Grizel; you shall carry my words therefore to her. Show her now, that in respect of her tender age, she is in a manner as clean paper, ready to receive either good or ill; and that it were a sweet and glorious thing for her to give herself up to Chris…
315 wordsSECTION 131(_THE WORLD PASSETH AWAY--SPECIAL PORTIONS OF THE WORD FOR THE AFFLICTED--CALL TO KIRKCUDBRIGHT._)
MADAM,--The cause of my not writing to your Ladyship was not my forgetfulness of you, but the want of the opportunity of a convenient bearer; for I am under more than a simple obligation to be kind (on paper, at least) to your Ladyship. I bless our Lord, through Christ, who hath brought you home again to your own count…
884 wordsSECTION 132Part 132
Madam, I persuade myself that this world is to you an unco inn; and that ye are like a traveller, who hath his bundle upon his back, and his staff in his hand, and his feet upon the door-threshold. Go forward, honourable and elect lady, in the strength of your Lord (let the world bide at home and keep the house), with …
443 wordsSECTION 133KIRKCUDBRIGHT.
XLIII.--_For_ MARION M'NAUGHT.…
4 wordsSECTION 134(_WHEN MR. RUTHERFORD WAS IN DIFFICULTY AS TO ACCEPTING A CALL TO KIRKCUDBRIGHT, AND CRAMOND._)
MUCH HONOURED AND DEAR MISTRESS,--My love in Christ remembered. I am grieved at the heart to write anything to you to breed heaviness to you; and what I have written, I wrote with much heaviness. But I entreat you in Christ's name, when my soul is under wrestlings, and seeking direction from our Lord (to whom His viney…
606 wordsSECTION 135ANWOTH.
XLIV.--_For_ MARION M'NAUGHT.…
4 wordsSECTION 136(_TROUBLES THREATENING THE CHURCH._)
WELL-BELOVED SISTER,--My love in Jesus Christ remembered. Your daughter is well, thanks be to God. I trust in Him ye shall have joy of her; the Lord bless her. I am now presently going about catechising. The bearer is in haste. Forget not poor Zion; and the Lord remember you, for we shall be shortly winnowed. Jesus, pr…
286 wordsSECTION 137ANWOTH.
XLV.--_For_ MARION M'NAUGHT.…
4 wordsSECTION 138(_IN THE PROSPECT OF THE COMMUNION, AND OF TRIALS TO THE CHURCH._)
WELL-BELOVED SISTER IN CHRIST,--You shall understand I have received a letter from Edinburgh, that it is suspected that there will be a General Assembly, or then some meeting of the bishops; and that at this synod there will be some commissioners chosen by the Bishop; which news have so taken up my mind that I am not s…
328 wordsSECTION 139ANWOTH.
XLVI.--_To_ MARION M'NAUGHT.…
4 wordsSECTION 140(_TOSSINGS OF SPIRIT--HER CHILDREN AND HUSBAND._)
WELL-BELOVED AND DEAR SISTER,--My tender affection in Christ remembered. I left you in as great heaviness as I was in since I came to this country; but I know you doubt not but that (as the truth is in Christ) my soul is knit to your soul, and to the soul of all yours; and I would, if I could, send you the largest part…
739 wordsSECTION 141ANWOTH.
XLVII.--_For_ MARION M'NAUGHT.…
4 wordsSECTION 142(_SUBMISSION TO GOD'S ARRANGEMENTS._)
WORTHY AND BELOVED MISTRESS,--My love in Christ remembered. I have sent you a letter from Mr. David Dick[136] concerning the placing of Mr. Hugh M'Kail with themselves; therefore I write to you now only to entreat you in Christ not to be discouraged thereat. Be submissive to the will of your dear Lord, who knoweth best…
392 wordsSECTION 143ANWOTH.
[136] David Dickson. [137] About four miles east from Earlston. It has a small loch, where are ruins of an old castle. XLVIII.--_For_ MARION M'NAUGHT.…
26 wordsSECTION 144(_TROUBLES FROM FALSE BRETHREN--OCCURRENCES--CHRIST'S COMING--INTERCESSION._)
WELL-BELOVED SISTER,--I know you have heard of the success of our business in Edinburgh. I do every Presbytery day see the faces of my brethren smiling upon me, but their tongues convey reproaches and lies of me a hundred miles off, and have made me odious to the Bishop of St. Andrews, who said to Mr. W. Dalgleish that…
925 wordsSECTION 145S. R.
EDINBURGH, _Dec. 1634_. XLIX.--_To_ MARION M'NAUGHT.…
7 wordsSECTION 146(_SPOILING OF GOODS--CALL TO KIRKCUDBRIGHT--THE LORD REIGNETH._)
WELL-BELOVED AND DEAR SISTER,--My love in Christ remembered. God hath brought me home from a place where I have been exercised with great heaviness, and I have found at home new matter of great heaviness, yet dare not but in all things give thanks. In my business in Edinburgh,[138] I have not sinned nor wronged my par…
403 wordsSECTION 147ANWOTH.
[The following brief note, addressed to Marion M'Naught, may be read as a sort of postscript to the foregoing, though generally printed as a separate Letter.] DEAR MISTRESS,--I have not time this day to write to you; but God, knowing my present state and necessities of my calling, will, I hope, spare my mother's life …
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L.--_For_ MARION M'NAUGHT.…
4 wordsSECTION 149(_CHRIST COMING AS CAPTAIN OF SALVATION--HIS CHURCH'S CONFLICT AND COVENANT--THE JEWS--LAST DAYS APOSTASY_.)
WELL-BELOVED AND DEAR SISTER,--I know your heart is cast down for the desolation like to come upon this kirk and the appearance that an hireling shall be thrust in upon Christ's flock in that town; but send a heavy heart up to Christ, it shall be welcome. Those who are with the beast and the dragon, must make war with …
947 wordsSECTION 150Part 150
[140] In the Preface to his "Peaceable Plea," he expresses the same yearnings towards the Jews. And also in "Trial of Faith," sermon xiii. Desire your daughter to close with Christ upon terms of suffering for Him; for the cross is an old mealing and plot of ground that lyeth to Christ's house. Our dear Chief had aye t…
121 wordsSECTION 151S. R.
ANWOTH, _April 22, 1635_. LI.--_To_ MARION M'NAUGHT.…
8 wordsSECTION 152(_PUBLIC TEMPTATIONS--THE SECURITY OF EVERY SAINT--OCCURRENCES IN THE COUNTRY-SIDE._)
LOVING AND DEAR SISTER,--For Zion's sake hold not your peace, neither be discouraged, for the on-going of this persecution. Jehovah is in this burning Bush. The floods may swell and roar, but our ark shall swim above the waters; it cannot sink, because a Saviour is in it. Because our Beloved was not let in by His spous…
636 wordsSECTION 153ANWOTH, 1635.
LII.--_For_ MARION M'NAUGHT.…
4 wordsSECTION 154(IN THE PROSPECT OF HER HUSBAND BEING COMPELLED TO RECEIVE THE COMMAND OF THE PRELATES--SAINTS ARE YET TO JUDGE.)
WELL-BELOVED MISTRESS,--I charge you in the name of the Son of God, to rest upon your Rock, that is higher than yourself. Be not afraid of a man, who is a worm, nor of the son of man, who shall die. God be your fear. Encourage your husband. I would counsel you to write to Edinburgh to some advised lawyers, to understan…
416 wordsSECTION 155S. R.
ANWOTH, _July 8, 1635_. [141] Bishop Sydserff wished to force a minister upon the people of Kirkcudbright, in room of Mr. Glendinning, whom he ordered to be imprisoned, because he would not conform to Episcopacy. Provost Fullarton (husband of M. M'Naught), along with other magistrates, refused to imprison Mr. Glendinn…
61 wordsSECTION 156(_ENCOURAGEMENT UNDER TRIAL BY PROSPECT OF BRIGHTER DAYS._)
MISTRESS,--My love in Christ remembered. Having appointed a meeting with Mr. David Dickson, and knowing that B. will not keep the Presbytery, I cannot see you now. Commend my journey to God. My soul blesseth you for your last letter. Be not discouraged; Christ will not want the Isles-men. "The Isles shall wait for His …
207 wordsSECTION 157ANWOTH.
LIV.--_For_ MARION M'NAUGHT.…
4 wordsSECTION 158(_PUBLIC WRONGS--WORDS OF COMFORT._)
LOVING AND DEAR SISTER,--I fear that you be moved and cast down, because of the late wrong that your husband received in your Town Council. But I pray you comfort yourself in the Lord; for a just cause bides under the water only as long as wicked men hold their hand above it; their arm will weary, and then the just cau…
661 wordsSECTION 159ANWOTH.
LV.--_To_ MARION M'NAUGHT.…
4 wordsSECTION 160(_WHEN HE HAD BEEN THREATENED WITH PERSECUTION FOR PREACHING THE GOSPEL--THE SAINTS SHALL YET WIN THE DAY._)
WORTHY AND WELL-BELOVED MISTRESS,--My love in Christ remembered. I know ye have heard of the purpose of my adversaries, to try what they can do against me at this Synod for the work of God in your town when I was at your Communion. They intend to call me in question at the Synod for treasonable doctrine. Therefore help…
324 wordsSECTION 161ANWOTH.
LVI.--_To my_ LADY KENMURE.…
5 wordsSECTION 162(_REASONS FOR RESIGNATION--SECURITY OF SAINTS--THE END OF TIME._)
MADAM,--I received your Ladyship's letter from J. G.[143] I thank our Lord ye are as well at least as one may be who is not come home. It is a mercy in this stormy sea to get a second wind; for none of the saints get a first, but they must take the winds as the Lord of the seas causeth them to blow, and the inn as the …
887 wordsSECTION 163S. R.
ANWOTH, _Jan. 18, 1636_. LVII.--_For_ MARION M'NAUGHT.…
8 wordsSECTION 164(_IN THE PROSPECT OF REMOVAL TO ABERDEEN._)
HONOURED AND DEAREST IN THE LORD,--Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. I am well, and my soul prospereth. I find Christ with me. I burden no man; I want nothing; no face looketh on me but it laugheth on me. Sweet, sweet is the Lord's cross. I overcome my heaviness. My Bridegroom's love-blinks fatten my weary soul. I soo…
107 wordsSECTION 165S. R.
EDINBURGH, _April 5, 1636_. _P.S._--My charge is to you to believe, rejoice, sing, and triumph. Christ has said to me, Mercy, mercy, grace and peace for Marion M'Naught. LVIII.--_To my_ LADY KENMURE.…
35 wordsSECTION 166(_ON OCCASION OF EFFORTS TO INTRODUCE EPISCOPACY._)
RIGHT HONOURABLE,--I cannot find a time for writing some things I intended on Job, I have been so taken up with the broils that we are encumbered with in our calling. For our prelate will have us either to swallow our light over, and digest it contrary to our stomachs (howbeit we should vomit our conscience and all, in…
255 wordsSECTION 167S. R.
ANWOTH, _June 8, 1636_. [146] Alluding to Gen. xxxii. 14, and Isa. xl. 11. LIX.--_To_ EARLSTON, _Elder_. [ALEXANDER GORDON of Earlston was descended from the house of Gordon of Lochinvar, and the residence of his family at first was Gordon of Airds (about a mile from the New Galloway Railway Station, on a wooded hei…
764 wordsSECTION 168(_NO SUFFERING FOR CHRIST UNREWARDED--LOSS OF CHILDREN--CHRIST IN PROVIDENCE._)
MUCH HONOURED SIR,--I have heard of the mind and malice of your adversaries against you. It is like they will extend the law they have, in length and breadth, answerable to their heat of mind. But it is a great part of your glory that the cause is not yours, but your Lord's whom you serve. And I doubt not but Christ wi…
822 wordsSECTION 169Part 169
Expound well these two rods on you, one in your house at home, another on your own person abroad. Love thinketh no evil. If ye were not Christ's wheat, appointed to be bread in His house, He would not grind you. But keep the middle line, neither despise nor faint (Heb. xii. 5). Ye see your Father is homely with you. St…
235 wordsSECTION 170S. R.
ANWOTH, _July 6, 1636_. LX.--_To_ MARION M'NAUGHT.…
8 wordsSECTION 171(_WHEN HE WAS UNDER TRIAL BY THE HIGH COMMISSION._)
MY DEAR AND WELL-BELOVED IN CHRIST,--I am yet under trial, and have appeared before Christ's forbidden lords,[152] for a testimony against them. The Chancellor and the rest tempted me with questions, nothing belonging to my summons, which I wholly declined, notwithstanding of his threats. My newly printed book against …
254 wordsSECTION 172EDINBURGH, 1636.
[152] The prelates; alluding to 1 Pet. v. 3. [153] _Exercitat. Apol. pro Divinâ Gratiâ_, published this year (1636) at Amsterdam. [154] Calling them "Lords." [155] Brother to Lady Kenmure, and afterwards the celebrated Marquis of Argyle. See Letter LXI. also. LXI.--_To the truly Noble and Elect Lady, my LADY VISCOU…
63 wordsSECTION 173(_HIS ONLY REGRETS--THE CROSS UNSPEAKABLY SWEET--RETROSPECT OF HIS MINISTRY._)
NOBLE AND ELECT LADY,--That honour that I 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…
826 wordsSECTION 174S. R.
EDINBURGH, _July 28, 1636_. [156] See Letter CXL. LXII.--_To the LADY CULROSS, on occasion of his banishment to Aberdeen._ [ELIZABETH MELVILLE, wife of James Colvill, the eldest son of Alexander, Commendator of Culross, was the daughter of Sir James Melville of Halhill, in Fife. Her father was ambassador from Queen …
424 wordsSECTION 175(_CHALLENGES OF CONSCIENCE--THE CROSS NO BURDEN._)
MADAM,--Your letter came in due time to me, now a prisoner of Christ, and in bonds for the Gospel. I am sentenced with deprivation and confinement within the town of Aberdeen. But O my guiltiness, the follies of my youth, the neglects in my calling, and especially in not speaking more for the kingdom, crown, and sceptr…
692 wordsSECTION 176S. R.
EDINBURGH, _July 30, 1636_. LXIII.--_To MR. ROBERT CUNNINGHAM, Minister of the Gospel at Holywood, in Ireland._ [MR. ROBERT CUNNINGHAM was for some time employed as chaplain to the Earl of Buccleuch's regiment in Holland. On the return of the troops to Scotland, he removed to the north of Ireland, where he was admitt…
324 wordsSECTION 177(_CONSOLATION TO A BROTHER IN TRIBULATION--HIS OWN DEPRIVATION OF MINISTRY--CHRIST WORTH SUFFERING FOR._)
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 …
882 wordsSECTION 178Part 178
I 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 brethren in the Lord, Mr. Blair, Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Livingston, and Mr. M'Clelland,[160] and acquaint them with my troubles, and …
217 wordsSECTION 179S. R.
From IRVINE, being on my journey to Christ's Palace in Aberdeen, _August 4, 1636_. [160] Correspondents who, because of the oppressive measures of the prelates, intended to proceed to New England. There was a M'Lelland of Balmagachan, near Roberton, in the parish of Borgue; but this is not he. This was John M'Lelland,…
69 wordsSECTION 180(_HIS FEELINGS UPON LEAVING ANWOTH._)
MUCH HONOURED SIR,--I find small hopes of Q.'s business.[161] I intend, after the council-day, to go on to Aberdeen. The Lord is with me: I care not what man can do. I burden no man, and I want nothing. No king is better provided than I am. Sweet, sweet, and easy is the cross of my Lord. All men I look in the face (of …
191 wordsSource & rights
Public domain in the USA; original historical text digitized by Project Gutenberg.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.