|
Loving and dear sister–I received your letter. I know that the favour of Christ in you (whom the virgins love to follow) cannot be blown away with the winds, either from hell, or the evil-smelled air of this defiled world. Sit afar back from the walls of this pesthouse, even the pollutions of this defiling world. Keep your taste, your love, and hope in heaven; it is not good that your love and your Lord should be in two sundry countries. Up, up after your lover, that ye and He maybe 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, "All these are thine; this place is for thee and Christ." And if ye only hd been the chosen of God, Christ would have built that one house for you and Himself; now it is for you and many others also. Take with you in your journey what you may carry with you, your conscience, faith, hope, patiences, meekness, goodness, brotherly kindness; for such wares as these are of great price in the High and new country wither ye go. As for other things, which are but the worlds vanity and trash, since they are but the house-sweepings, ye will 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-light are falling from heaven, and many are misled and seduced, and m ake up with their faith and sell their birthrights by their hungry hunting for I know not what. Fasten your grips fast upon Christ. I verily esteem Him the best aught that I have. He is my second in prison. Having Him though my cross were as heavy as ten thousand 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 Christ; He is my wale in heaven and earth. I rejoice that He is in heaven before me. God send a joyful meeting; and in the meaningtime, the travellers charges for the way, I mean a burden of Christ's love, to sweeten the journey and to encourage the breathless runner; for when I lose breath, climbing up a mountain, He maketh new breath.
REVEREND AND DEAR BROTHER–Ye know that this is a time in which all men almost seek their own things, and not the things of Jesus Christ. Ye are your lone, as a beacon on the top of the mountain; but faint not: Christ is a numerous multitude Himself, yea, millions. Though all the nations were convened against Him round about, yet doubt not but He will, at last, arise for the cry of the poor and needy.
For me, I am now near eternity; and for ten thousand worlds I dare not venture to pass from the protestation against the corruptions of the time, nor go alongst with the shameless apostasy of the many silent and dumb watchmen of Scotland. But I think it my last duty to enter a protestation in Heaven, before the righteous Judge, against the practical and legal breach of Covenant and all oaths imposed on the Reformation, the introducing of popery and the mystery of iniquity, is now set on foot in the three kingdoms; and whosoever would keep their garments clean are under that command, "Touch not, taste not, handle not."
The Lord calleth you dear brother, to be still, "stedfast, unmovable and abounding in the work of the Lord." Our Royal kingly Master is upon His journey, and will come, and will not tarry; and blessed is the servant who shall be found watching when He cometh. Fear not men, for the Lord is your light and salvation. It is true, it is somewhat sad and comfortless that ye are your lone; but so it was with our precious Master; nor are ye your lone, for the Father is with you. It is possible that I shall not be an eyewitness to it in the flesh, but I believe He cometh quickly who will remove our darkness, and shine gloriously in the Isle of Britain, as a crowned King, either in a formally sworn covenant, or in His own glorious way; which I leave to the determination of His infinite wisdom and goodness. And this is the hope and confidence of a dying man, who is longing and fainting for the salvation of God.
Beware of the ensnaring bonds and obligations by any hand writ or otherwise to give unlimited obedience to any authority, but only in the Lord. For all innocent self-defence (which is according to the covenant, the Word of God, and the laudable example of the reformed churches) is now intended to be utterly subverted and condemned; and what is taken from Christ, as the flower of His prerogative-royal, is now put upon the head of a mortal power; which must be that great idol of indignation that provoketh the eyes of His glory. Dear brother, let us mind the rich promises that are made to those that overcome, knowing that those that endure to the end shall be saved.
I thank you for your letter. I cannot but show you that as I never expected anything from Christ but much good and kindness, so he hath made me to find it in the house of my pilgrimage. And believe me brother, I give it to you under mine own hand-writ, that whoso looketh to the white side of Christ's cross, and can take it up handsomely with faith and courage, shall find it such a burden as sails are to ships or wings to a bird. I find that my Lord hath over-gilded that black tree, and hath perfumed it, and oiled it with joy and consolation. Like a fool, once I would chide and plead with Christ and slander him to others, of unkindness. But I trust in God not o call his glooms unkind again; for he hath taken from me sackcloth; and I verily cannot tell you what a poor Joseph and prisoner doth now think of kind Christ.I will chide no more, providing he will quit me all bygones; for I am poor, I am taught in this ill weather to go to the lee-side of Christ, and to put in between me and the storm; and (I thank God) I will on the sunny side of the brae. I write it that ye may speak on my behalf the praises of my Lord to others, that my bonds may preach. O, if all Scotland knew the feats and love-blinks and visits that the prelates have sent unto me, I will verily give my Lord Jesus a free discharge of all that I, like a fool, laid to his charge and beg him pardon, to the mends. God grant that in my temptations I will come not on his wrong side again and never again fall a raving against my physician in my fever.
What have you to do here? This world never looked like a friend upon you; you owe it little love; it looked ever so sour-like upon you: howbeit you should woo it, it will not match with you; and therefore, never seek warm fire under cold ice. This is not a field where your happiness growth; it is up above, where there are a great multitude which no man can number, of all nations and kindreds, and people and tongues, standing before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothes with white robes, and palms in their hands. (Rev 7:9) What you could never get here you shall find there. And withal, consider how, in all these trials (and truly they have been many), your Lord hath been loosing you at the root from perishing things, and hunting after you to grip your soul. Madam, for the Son of God's sake, let him not miss his grip, but stay and abide in the love of God, as Jude saith.
My Dear and Worthy Sister- You are truly blessed in the Lord, however a sour world gloom and frown on you, if you continue in the faith settled and grounded, 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 and a fancy. It is a wonder that men deny not there is a heaven, as they deny there is any to it but of men's making. You have learned of Christ that there is a heaven; and contend for it and for Christ. Bear well and submissively the hard thrust of this stepmother world, which God will not have to be yours. I confess it is hard, and, would to God, I were able to lighten your burden; but believe me, this world which the Lord will not have to be yours, is but the dross, refuse, and scum of God's creation, the portion of the Lord's poor hired servants, the moveables not the heritage, a hard bone cast 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 persuade yourself also that (if it be good for them and you) your seed also shall inherit the earth, for that is promised to them, and God's bond is as good as if He would give very one of them a bond for thousand thousands.
Ere ye were born crosses in number, measure and weight, were written for you; and your Lord will lead you through them. Make Christ sure, and the world and the blessings of the earth shall be at Christ's back and beck. I see many professors for the fashion; professors of glass; I would make a little knock of persecution ding them in twenty pieces, and the world would laugh at the shreds. Therefore, make fast work; see that Christ be the ground-stone of your profession. The sore wind and rain will not wash away His building; His work hath no less date than to stand evermore. I should twenty times have perished in my affliction, if I had not laid my weak back and pressing burden, both, upon the Stone, the Corner-stone laid in Zion. I am not twice fain (as the proverb is), but once for ever, of this Stone. Now the God of peace establish you to the day of the appearance of Jesus Christ.
Yours,
S.R.
Sure I am, it is better to be sick, providing Christ come to thy bed-side, and draw aside the curtains and say, "Courage, I am thy salvation.” That to enjoy health, being lusty and strong, and never to be visited by God. Worthy and dear lady, in the strength of Christ, fight and overcome. You are now alone, but you may have, for the seeking, three always in your company, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. I trust they are near you. You are now deprived of the comfort of a lively ministry; so were Israel in their captivity; yet hear God’s promise to them: Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord God, although I have cast them far off among the heathen, and although I have scattered them among the countries where they shall come,"[Ezek 11.16]. Behold a sanctuary! For a sanctuary, God himself, in the place and room of the temple of Jerusalem: I trust in God, that carrying this temple about with you, you shall see Jehovah's beauty in his house
|
