For your bairns, now at rest (I speak to you and your wife, and cause her read this). _1st_, I am a witness for Barbara's glory in heaven. _2ndly_, For the rest, I write it under my hand, there are days coming on Scotland when barren wombs, and dry breasts, and childless parents shall be pronounced blessed. They are, then, in the lee of the harbour ere the storm come on. 3_rdly_, They are not lost to you that are laid up in Christ's treasury in heaven. _4thly_, At the Resurrection, ye shall meet with them; thither they are sent before, but not sent away.[225] _5thly_, Your Lord loveth you, who is homely to take and give, borrow and lend. _6thly_, Let not bairns be your idols; for God will be jealous, and take away the idol, because He is greedy of your love wholly. [225] He alludes to the almost classical saying, "Præmissi, non amissi." See Letter IV. I bless you, your wife, and children. Grace for evermore be with you. Your loving pastor, S. R. ABERDEEN. CXXIV.--_To JOHN GORDON of Cardoness, Elder._ (_CALL TO EARNESTNESS ABOUT SALVATION--INTRUSION OF MINISTERS._) HONOURABLE, AND DEAREST IN THE LORD,--Your letter hath refreshed my soul. My joy is fulfilled if Christ and ye be fast together. Ye are my joy and my crown. Ye know that I have recommended His love to you. I defy the world, Satan, and sin. His love hath neither brim nor bottom in it. My dearest in Christ, I write my soul's desire to you. Heaven is not at the next door. I find Christianity to be a hard task; set to in your evening. We would all keep both Christ and our right eye, our right hand and foot; but it will not do with us. I beseech you, by the mercies of God, and your compearance before Christ, look Christ's account-book and your own together, and collate them. Give the remnant of your time to your soul. This great idol-god, the world, will be lying in white ashes on the day of your compearance; and why should night-dreams, and day-shadows, and water-froth, and May-flowers run away with your heart? When we win to the water-side, and black death's river-brink, and put our foot into the boat, we shall laugh at our folly. Sir, I recommend unto you the thoughts of death, and how ye would wish your soul to be when ye shall lie cold, blue, ill-smelling clay. For any hireling to be intruded, I, being the King's prisoner, cannot say much; but, as God's minister, I desire you to read Acts i. 15, 16, to the end, and Acts vi. 2-5, and ye shall find that God's people should have a voice in choosing church-rulers and teachers. I shall be sorry if, willingly, ye shall give way to his unlawful intrusion upon my labours. The only wise God direct you. God's grace be with you. Your loving pastor, S. R. ABERDEEN. CXXV.--_To the_ LADY FORRET.