Letters of Samuel Rutherford: (Third Edition)Rutherford, Samuel
Religion
Letters of Samuel Rutherford: (Third Edition)
Rutherford, Samuel
Rutherford, Samuel, 1600?-1661 -- Correspondence
Madam, fearing to be tedious to you, I break off here, commending you
(as I trust to do while I live), your person, ways, burdens, and all
that concerneth you, to that Almighty who is able to bear you and your
burdens. I still remember you to Him, who will cause you one day to
laugh. I expect that, whatever ye can do, by word or deed, for the
Lord's friendless Zion, ye will do it. She is your mother; forget her
not; for the Lord intendeth to melt and try this land, and it is high
time we were all upon our feet, and falling about to try what claim we
have to Christ. It is like the bridegroom will be taken from us, and
then we shall mourn. Dear Jesus, remove not, else take us with Thee.
Grace, grace be with you for ever.
Your Ladyship's, at all dutiful obedience,
S. R.
ANWOTH, _Jan. 14, 1632_.
XXII.--_To_ JOHN KENNEDY. (_Letter_ LXXV.)
(_DELIVERANCE FROM SHIPWRECK--RECOVERY FROM THREATENED DEATH--USE OF
TRIALS--REMEMBRANCE OF FRIENDS._)
MY LOVING AND MOST AFFECTIONATE IN CHRIST,--I salute you with grace,
mercy, and peace, from God our Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ.
I promised to write to you, and although late enough, yet I now make
it good. I heard with grief of your great danger of perishing by the
sea, and of your merciful deliverance with joy. Sure I am, brother,
that Satan will leave no stone unrolled, as the proverb is, to roll
you off your Rock, or at least to shake and unsettle you: for at that
same time the mouths of wicked men were opened in hard speeches
against you, by land, and the prince of the power of the air was angry
with you by sea. See then how much ye are obliged to that malicious
murderer, who would beat you with two rods at one time; but, blessed
be God, his arm is short; if the sea and wind would have obeyed him,
ye had never come to land. Thank your God, who saith, "I have the keys
of hell and of death" (Rev. i. 18); "I kill, and I make alive" (Deut.
xxxii. 39); "The Lord bringeth down to the grave and bringeth up" (1
Sam. ii. 6). If Satan were jailor, and had the keys of death and of
the grave, they should be stored with more prisoners. Ye were knocking
at these black gates, and ye found the doors shut; and we do all
welcome you back again.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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