Letters in Two Parts, Part 1 · LETTER 127
To JOHN GORDON. At Risco. (127)
Dear Brother.
I Earnestly desire to know the case of your soul, & to understand that ye have made sure work of heaven & salvation. 1. Remember, Salvation is one of Christ's dainties he giveth but to a few. 2. That it is violent sweating & striving that taketh heaven. 3. That it cost Christ blood to purchase that house to sinners & to set mankinde down, the King's free tenants & free-holders. 4. That many make a start toward heaven who fall on their back & win not up to the top of the mount, it plucketh heart & legs from them, & they sit down & give it over, because the devil setteth a sweet smelled flower to their nose [this fair busked World] wherewith they are bewitched & so forget or refuse to goe forward. 5. Remember, many goe far on & reform many things & can finde tears as Esau did, & suffer hunger for the truth as Iudas did, & wish & desire the end of the righteous as Balaam did, & profess fair & fight for the Lord as Saul did, & desire the saints of God to pray for them as Pharaoh & Simon Magus did, & prophesie & speak of Christ as Caiaphas did, walk softly & mourn for fear of judgement as Ahab did, & put away gross sins & idolatry as Iehu did, & hear the word of God gladly & reform their life in many things according to the word as Herod did, & say, Master, to Christ, I will follow thee whither soever thou goest, as the man who offered to be Christ's servant, Math. 8. & may taste of the vertues of the life to come & be partaker of the wonderfull gifts of the holy spirit & taste of the good word of God, as the Apostates who sin against the Holy Ghost, Heb 6. & yet all these are but like gold in clink & colour & watered brass & base mettall. These are written that we should try our selves & not rest till we be a step nearer Christ then sun-burnt & withering professors can come, 6. Consider, it is impossible that your Idol-sins & ye, can goe to heaven together, & that they who will not part with these, can indeed love Christ at the bottom; but onelyonly in word & shew: which will not doe the business. 7. Remember how swiftly God's post, time, flieth away, & that your forenoon is already spent, your afternoon will come & then your evening & at last night, When ye cannot see to work: let your heart be set upon finishing of your journey, & summing & laying your accounts with your Lord. O how blessed shall ye be, to have a joyfull welcome of your Lord at night! How blessed are they who in time take sure course with their soul! Bless his great name for what ye possess in goods & children, ease & worldly contentment, that he hath given you; & seek to be like Christ in humility & lowliness of minde, & be not great & intire with the world: make it not your God nor your lover that ye trust into; for it will deceive you: I recommend Christ & his love to you in all things, let him have the flower of your heart & your love, set a low price upon all things but Christ, & cry down in your thoughts clay & dirt that will not comfort you, when ye get summonds to remove, & compear before your Judge, to answer for all the deeds done in the body. The Lord give you wisdom in all things: I beseech you sanctifie God in your speaking, for holy and reverend is his name: & be temperate & sober, companionry [as it is called] is a sin that holdeth men out of heaven. I will not beleeve that ye will receive the ministry of a stranger, who will preach a new & uncouth doctrine to you: Let my salvation stand for it, if I delivered not the plain & whole counsel of God to you in his word. Read this letter to your wife, & remember my love to her, & request her to take heed to doe what I write to you: I pray for you & yours. Remember me in your prayers to our Lord, that he would be pleased to send me amongst you again. Grace be with you.
Aberd. 1637. Your lawfull & loving Pastor, S. R.