Letters of Samuel Rutherford: (Third Edition)Rutherford, Samuel
Religion
Letters of Samuel Rutherford: (Third Edition)
Rutherford, Samuel
Rutherford, Samuel, 1600?-1661 -- Correspondence
Madam, many eyes are upon you, and many would be glad your Ladyship
should spill a Christian, and mar a good professor. Lord Jesus, mar
their godless desires, and keep the conscience whole without a crack!
If there be a hole in it, so that it take in water at a leak, it will
with difficulty mend again. It is a dainty, delicate creature, and a
rare piece of the workmanship of your Maker; and therefore deal gently
with it, and keep it entire, that amidst this world's glory your
Ladyship may learn to entertain Christ. And whatsoever creature your
Ladyship findeth not to smell of Him, may it have no better relish to
you than the white of an egg.
Madam, it is a part of the truth of your profession to drop words in
the ears of your noble husband continually of eternity, judgment,
death, hell, heaven, the honourable profession, the sins of his
father's house. He must reckon with God for his father's debt:
forgetting of accounts payeth no debt. Nay, the interest of a
forgotten bond runneth up with God to interest upon interest. I
knoweth he looketh homeward, and loveth the truth; but I pity him with
my soul because of his many temptations. Satan layeth upon men a
burden of cares above a load,[125] and maketh a pack-horse of men's
souls when they are wholly set upon this world. We owe the devil no
such service. It were wisdom to throw off that load into a mire, and
cast all our cares over upon God.
[125] A burden above a load, or a load above a burden, is a phrase for
a very heavy weight.
Madam, think ye have no child. Subscribe a bond to your Lord that she
shall be His if He take her; and thanks, and praise, and glory to His
holy name shall be the interest for a year's loan of her. Look for
crosses, and while it is fair weather mend the sails of the ship.
Now hoping your Ladyship will pardon my tediousness, I recommend your
soul and person to the grace and mercy of our sweet Lord Jesus, in
whom I am,
Your Ladyship's, at all dutiful obedience in Christ,
S. R.
ANWOTH, _Nov. 15, 1633_.
XXXI.--_To my_ LADY KENMURE.
(_A UNION FOR PRAYER RECOMMENDED._)
MADAM,--Having received a letter from some of the worthiest of the
ministry in this kingdom, the contents whereof I am desired to
communicate to such professors in these parts as I know love the
beauty of Zion, and are afflicted to see the Lord's vineyard trodden
under foot by the wild boars out of the wood, who lay it waste, I
could not but also desire your Ladyship's help to join with the rest,
desiring you to impart it to my Lord your husband, and if ye think it
needful, I shall write to his Lordship, as Mr. G. G.[126] shall
advertise me.
[126] Mr. George Gillespie; see Letter cxliv.
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