Your's in his sweet Lord Jesus, Aberdeen, July 8, 1637. S. R. Samuel and William; shew them the ministers are raging; but I love that I will them to seek God in their a rumbling and roaring devil best. youth. Grace is yours. I beseech you in the Lord, my dear sister, wait for the salvation of God. Slack not your hands in meeting to pray, fear not flesh and blood; we have been all over-feared, and that gave lowns the confidence to shut me out of Galloway. Remember my love to John Carsen, and Mr. John Brown; I never could get my love LETTER XXXIX. For MARION MACNAUGHT. Lord Jesus, මම Your's in his sweet Lord Jesus, මම S. R. Much honoured and dearest in our sweet off that man, I think Christ hath something to do with him. Desire GRACE, mercy and peace from God your husband from me, not to think our Father and from our Lord Je-ill of Christ for his cross; many missus, I know the Lord will do for ken Christ, because he hath the cross your town. I hear the Bishop is on his back; but he will cause us afraid to come amongst you; for so all laugh yet. I beseech you as ye it is spoken in this town, and many would do any thing for me, rememnow rejoice here to pen a supplica- ber my Lady Marshall to God, and tion to the council for bringing me her son the Earl of Marshall, espehome to my place, and for repairing cially her Christian daughter, my other wrongs done in the country; Lady Pitsligo. I shall go to death and see if you can procure that three with it, that Christ will return again or four hundred in the country, no-to Scotland, with salvation in his blemen, gentlemen, countrymen, and wings, and to Galloway. Grace be citizens subscribe it; the more the with you. better. It may be it will affright the bishop, and by law no advantage can Aberdeen, be taken against you for it. I have not time to write to Carletoun and Knockbrex; but I would you did speak them in it, and let them advise with Carletoun. Mr. A. thinketh well of it, and I think others shall approve it. I am still in good case with Christ, my court is no less than it was, the door of the Bridegroom's house of wine is open, when such a poor stranger as I came athort. I change, but Christ abideth still the same. They have put out I HAVE been sparing to write to you my one poor eye, my only joy, to because I was heavy at the proceedpreach Christ, and to go errands ings of our late parliament, where betwixt him and his bride. What law should have been; they would my Lord will do with me, I know not give our Lord Jesus fair law and not; it is like I shall not winter in justice, nor the benefit of the house, Aberdeen, but where it shall be else, to bear either the just grievances, or I know not. There are some blos- the humble supplications of the sersomings of Christ's kingdom in this vants of God nothing rests, but town, and the smoke is rising, and that we lay our grievances before LETTER XL. For MARION MACNAUGHT. Zech. xii. 3. And in that day I will make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all the people; all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it. Well-beloved Sister, our crowned King Jesus, who reigns | be removed; it hath grieved me exin Zion. And how beit it be true, ceedingly. I have dealt with Carthat the acts of Perth assembly for letoun, and shall deal; put it off conformity are established, and the yourself upon the Lord, that it burking's power to impose the surplice, den you not. I have heard of your and other mass-apparel, upon mini- daughter's marriage; I pray the sters, be confirmed; yet what men Lord Jesus to subscribe the con conclude, is not scripture: kings tract, and be at the banquet, as he have short arms to overturn Christ's was at the marriage in Cana of Galthrone, and our Lord hath been ilee: shew her from me that though walking and standing upon his feet it be true that God's children have at this parliament, when fifteen prayed for her, yet the promise of Earls and Lords, and forty-four com- God is made to her prayers and faith missioners and burrows, with some especially and therefore I would Barons, have voted for our kirk, in entreat her to seek the Lord, to be face of a king, who, with much awe at the wedding: let her give Christ and terror, with his own hand wrote the love of her virginity and espouup the voters for or against himself. sals, and choose him first as her Long before this kirk, in the second Husband, and that match shall bless Psalm, the ends of the earth, Scot- the other. It is a new world she land and England, were gifted of entereth into, and therefore hath the Father to his Son Christ; and need of new acquaintance with the this is an old act of parliament de- Son of God, and of a renewing of creed by our Lord, and printed four her love to him, whose love is better thousand years ago; their acts are than wine. 1 Cor. vii. 29. The time but yet printing. The first act shall is short, let the married be as though stand, let all the potentates of the they were not married;' ver. 30. world, who love Christ's room bet- They that weep, as though they ter than himself, rage as they please. weeped not; they that rejoice, as Though the mountains be carried though they rejoiced not: they that into the midst of the sea, yet there buy as though they possessed not;' is a river that cometh out of the ver. 31. They that use this world, sanctuary, and the streams of it re- as though they used it not for the fresh the city of God: that Well is fashion of this world passeth away. not yet cried down in Scotland, nor Grace, grace be her portion from the can it dry up; therefore still believe Lord. I know you have a care on and trust in God's salvation. If you you of it, that all be right; but let knew the whole proceedings, it is Christ bear all, you need not pity the Lord's mercy that matters have him, (if I may say so) put him to it, gone at our parliament as they have he is strong enough. The Spirit of gone. The Lord Jesus in our the Lord Jesus be with you. : LETTER XLII. I am well, honour to God. I have Your's in the Lord, upon my labours there, cut off my Aberdeen, Jan. 3d, 1637. life with sorrow; there I wrestled Your friend and Christ's prisoner, Aberdeen, Nov. 22. S. R. LETTER XLIII. For MARION MACNAUGHT. S. R. GRACE, mercy and peace be to you. And love shewed towards me, now a pri-follow, is the way of man. soner of Christ, is laid up for you in for the present powers, I suffer heaven, and you shall know, that it from them, and look for more: is come up in remembrance before God hath a controversy with them: God. Pray, pray for my desolate and, my soul enter not into their flock, and give them your counsel, secrets. Only I should beseech, when you meet with any of them. request, and obtest you in the It shall be my grief to hear, that a Lord, and by your appearance bewolf enter in upon my labours: but fore Christ, follow the way of the if the Lord permit it, I must be Lord, and the steps trode by the silent: my sky will clear; for Christ gracious in that place, which the layeth my head in his bosom, and Lord followed with life and power. admitteth me to lean there. I never My heart is filled with sorrow, conknew before what his. love was in sidering what communion with God such a measure; if he leave me he some of that country had, and how leaves me in pain, and sick of love; much they were in edifying and and yet my sickness is my life and helping one another in his way, and health: I have a fire within me, I how little of that there is now in that defy all the devils in hell, and all country. Your mother kept in life the prelates in Scotland to cast in that place, and quickened many water on it. I rejoice at your about her to the seeking of God, courage and faith: pray still, as if My desire to you is, that ye would I were on my journey, to come succeed her in that way, and be letand be your pastor. What iron-ting a word fall to your brethren and gates, or bars are able to stand it others, that may encourage them to out against Christ? for when he bloweth they open to him. I remember your husband. Grace, grace be with you. Your's in his sweet Lord Jesus, Aberdeen, March 11, 1637. LETTER XLIV. For GRISSEL FULLERTON. Mistress, S. R. look toward the way of God; you will have need of it ere it be long, See how you may have a gracious minister, and no neutral there, to succeed and follow the servant of God, now asleep in the Lord. There is a great and wide difference between a name of godliness, and the power of godliness; that is hottest when there are fewest witnesses. The deadness upon many, and the defection of the land, is great: blesrela-sed are they who seek the Lord and his face. I shall entreat you to remember me to your husband, and all friends: I desire to forget none who are in Christ. REMEMBERING Well what remember to God. I will speak nothing to you of the present sad differences; but if I have, or ever Your brother in the Lord, LETTER XLV. To a Gentlewoman, Mistress, S. R. had any nearness to God, that other I BESEECH you, have me excused, way, which I trust I shall never if the daily employments of my call ing shall hinder me to see you ac- for us in Christ, shall not be lost. cording as I would wish; for I dare Thus recommending you to the tennot go abroad, since many of my der mercy and loving kindness of people are sick, and the time of our God, I rest. communion draws near: but frequent the company of your worthy and honest-hearted pastor Mr. Robert, to whom the Lord hath given the tongue of the learned, to minister a word in due season to the weary. Remem Your very loving and affectionate brother, S. R. Aberdeen, Sept. 21, 1636. LETTER XLVII. KENMURE. ber me to him, and to your husband. For the right honourable, my Lady Viscountess of LETTER XLVI. මේ For WILLIAM FULLERTON, Provost of Madam, GRACE, mercy and peace be to your Ladyship. I long to hear from you, and that dear child; and for that cause I trouble you with letters. I am for the present thinking the sparrows and the swallows, that build their nests in Anwoth, blessed birds. The Lord hath made all my congre. gation desolate. Alas, I am oft at this, Shew me wherefore thou contendest with me. O earth, earth, cover not the violence done to me. I know it is my faithless jealousy in this my dark night, to take a friend for a foe; yet hath not my Lord made any plea with me. I chide with him, but he giveth me fair words: seeing my sins and the sins Much honoured and very dear friend, GRACE, mercy and peace be to you. I am in good case, blessed be the Lord, remaining here in this uncouth town, a prisoner for Christ and his truth; and I am not ashamed of his cross, my soul is comforted with the consolations of his sweet presence for whom I suffer. I earnestly entreat you, to give honour and authority to Christ, and for Christ; and be not dismayed for flesh and blood, of my youth deserved strokes, how while you are for the Lord, and for am I obliged to my Lord, who his truth and cause. And howbeit amongst many crosses hath given we see truth put to the worse for the me a wailed and chosen cross, to time; yet Christ will be a friend to suffer for the name of my Lord truth, and will do for those who dare Jesus? Since I must have chains, hazard all that they have for him, he would put golden chains on me, and for his glory. Sir, our fair day watered over with many consolations: is coming, and the court will change, seeing I must have sorrow (for I and wicked men will weep afternoon, sinned, O Preserver of mankind) he and screr than the sons of God, who hath wailed out for me joyful sorweep in the morning. Let us be-row, honest, spiritual and glorious lieve and hope for God's salvation. sorrow. My crosses come through Sir, I hope I need not write to you, mercy and love's fingers, from the for your kindness and love to my kind heart of a Brother, Christ my brother, who is now to be distressed Lord; and therefore they must be for the truth of God, as well as I am. sweet and sugared. O what am 1! I think myself obliged to pray for such a lump, such a rotten mass of you and your worthy and kind bed- sin, to be counted a child worthy to fellow and children, for your love to be nurtured and stricken with the him and me also. I hope your pains best and most honurabe rod in |