Letters in Two Parts, Part 1 · LETTER 8 – LETTER 10
To the noble & Christian lady the VICOUNTESSE of KENMURE. (8)
MADAM.
GRace, mercy & peace be to you, I would not omit the occasion to write to your La: with the bearer: I am glad the childe is well, Gods favour even in the eyes of men be seen upon him: I hope your La: is thinking upon these sad & woefull dayes, wherein we now live; when our Lord in his righteous judgment, is sending the kirk the gate she is going, to Romes brothell house to seek a lover of her own, seeing she hath given up with Christ her husband. O what sweet comfort, what rich salvation, is laid up for these, who had rather wash and roll their garments in their own blood, then break out from Christ by Apostasie! keep your self in the love of Christ, & stand far aback from the pollutions of the vvorld: side not with these times, and hold off from coming nigh the signs of a conspiracie with these, that are now come out against Christ; that ye may be One keept for Christ onelyonly: I know your La: thinketh upon this, and how ye may be humbled for your self & this backsliding land; for Iavouch, that wrath from the Lord is gone out against Scotland. I think ay the longer the better of my Royall and worthy master, he is become a new welbeloved to me now, in renewed consolations, by the presence of the spirit of grace and glory: Christs garments smell of the powder of the marchant when he cometh out of his Ivory chambers; O his perfumed face, his fair face, his lovely & kindly kisses, have made me a poor prisoner see, there i… more to be had of Christ in this life, then I beleeved: we think all is but a little earnest, a four hours, a small tasting we have, or is to be had in this life, (which is true compared with the inheritance) but yet I know it is more, It is the Kingdom of God within us. Woe, woe, is me, that I have not ten loves, for that one Lord Jesus, and that love f…ileth, & d…ieth up in loving him; & that I finde no way to spend my love-desires, and the yolke of my heart upon that fairest, & dearest one: I am far behinde with my narrow heart. O how ebbe a soul have I to take in Christs love! for let worlds be multiplied according to Angels understanding, in millions, while they weary themselves; these worlds would not contain, the thousand part of his love. O if I could yoke in amongst the thick of Angels, & Seraphims, & now-glorified Saints; & could raise a new love-song of Christ, before all the world! I am pained with wondering at new opened treasures in Christ, if every finger, member, bone, and joynt, were a torch burning in the hottest fire in hell, I would they could all send out love-praises, high songs of praise for evermore, to that plant of renown, to that royall & high Prince Jesus my Lord: but alace his love swelleth in me, & findeth no vent: alace what can a dumb prisoner doe or say for him. O for an ingine to write a book of Christ and his love, nay I am left of him bound, & chained with his love, I cannot finde a loosed soul to lift up his praises, and give them out to others; but oh my day light hath thick clouds, I cannot shine in his praises, I am often like a ship plying about to seek the wind, I saile at great leisure, and cannot be blowne upon that lovliest Lord. O if I could turn my sailes to Christs right arth, & that I had my hearts wishes of his love! But, I but marre his praises, nay I know no comparison of what Christ is, and what his worth is, all the Angels, & all the glorified, praise him not so much as in halfes, who can advance him or utter all his praises? I want nothing, unknown faces favour me, enemies must speak good of the truth, my masters cause purchaseth commendation. The hopes of my enlargement from appearances are cold, my faith hath no bed to sleep upon, but omnipotency. The goodwill of the Lord, & his sweetest presence be with you and that childe. Grace & peace be yours.
Aberden, 1637. Your Lae in all duty in his sweet Lord Iesus, S. R.
To the right honourable & Christian Lady the VICOUNTESSE of KENMURE. (9)
MADAM.
GRace, mercy & peace be to your La: I would not omit to write a line with this christian bearer, one in your La: own case, driven neer to Christ, in, and by, her affliction. I wish that my friends in Galloway forget me not, however it be Christ is so good, that I will have no other tutour, suppose I could have waile & choise of ten thousand beside: I think now five hundred heavie hearts for him too little. I wish Christ now weeping, suffering, & contemned of men, were more dear & desirable to many souls then he is: I am sure if the saints wanted Christs crosse, so profitable & so sweet, they might for the gain and glory of it, wish it were lawfull, either to buy or borrow his crosse; but it i… a mercy that the saints have it laid to their hand for nothing, for I know no sweeter way to heaven, then through free grace, & hard trials together, & one of these cannot well want another. O that time would Post faster, & hasten our long-looked for communion, with that fairest, fairest among the sons of men! O that the day would favour us, & come, and put Christ & us in others armes? I am sure a few yeers will doe our turn, & the souldiers hour-glasse will soon run out. Madam look to your lamp, and look for your Lords coming, & let your heart dwell aloof from that sweet childe; Christs jealousie will not admit two equall loves in your La: heart, he must have one, & that the greatest; a little one to a creature may, & must suffice a soul married to him, your maker is your husband, Isa. 54. I would wish you well, & my obligation these many yeers by gone speak no lesse to me, but more I can neither wish, nor pray, nor desire for to your La: then Christ singled & wailed out, from all created good things: or Christ howbeit wet in his own blood, and wearing a crown of thorns. I am sure the saints at their best, are but strangers to the weight, & worth of the incomparable sweetnesse of Christ: He is so new, so fresh in excellency, every day of new, to these that search more and more in him, as if heaven could furnish as many new Christs (If I may speak so) as there are dayes betwixt him & us, & yet he is one and the same. Oh we love an unknown lover, when we love Christ! Let me hear how the childe is every way, the Prayers of a prisoner of Christ be upon him, grace for evermore even while glory perfect it, be with your La:
Aberd. 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Iesus, S. R.
To the noble & Christian lady the VICOUNTESSE of KENMURE. (10)
MADAM.
NOtwithstanding the great haste of the bearer I would blesse your La: in paper: desiring, that since Christ hath ever envied, that the world should have your love by him, that ye give your self out for Christ, and that ye may be for no other. I know none worthy of you but Christ, Madam I am either suffering for Christ, and this is either the sure and good way, or I have done with heaven and will never see Gods face (which I blesse him cannot be.) I write my blessing to that sweet childe that ye have borrowed from God, he is no heritage to you but a loan, love him as folks doe borrowed things: my heart is heavie for you. They say the Kirk of Christ hath neither son, nor heir, and therefore her enemies shall possesse her: but I know she is not that ill friended, her husband is her heir, and she his heritage. If my Lord would be pleased I would desire some were dealt with, for my return to Anwoth, but if that never be, I thank God Anwoth is not heaven, preaching is nor Christ, I hope to wait on. Let me hear how the childe is, and your La: minde & hopes of him, for it would ease my heart to know that he is well. I am in good terms with Christ, but oh my guiltinesse, yet he bringeth not plea's betwixt him and me to the streets, and before the sun. Grace, grace, for evermore be with your La:
Aberd. 1637. Your La: at all obedience in Christ, S. R.