Rutherford Revised - (28)

28. To Lady Kenmure                  From Anwoth  1 Apr 1633

Madam, - I am afraid now (as many others are) that at the sitting of our Parliament, our Lord Jesus and his bride will be roughly handled. And it must be so since false and declining Scotland, whom our Lord  took off the rubbish and out of hell, and made a fair bride for Himself,  has broken her faith with her sweet Husband and has put on the forehead of a prostitute. And therefore he says he will remove himself. Would to God we could stir at ourselves to take hold of Him, who being highly provoked by the handling He has met with, is ready to leave! Alas! we do not persistently pray for Him to stay among us. If we could only weep before him, and in holy faith struggle with Him and say, 'we will not let you go'; it may be that then, He who is easy to be persuaded, would yet, despite our many provocations, condescend to stay and feed among the lilies, until that fair and desirable day break, and the shadows fly away. Ah, what call for mourning is there, when our gold has become dull and the face of our Nazarites, sometimes whiter than snow, has now become blacker than coal and Levi's house, once comparable to fine gold, is now changed and become like dishes in whom he has no pleasure. Madam, think on this; that when our Lord who has his handkerchief to wipe the face of the mourners in the church, shall come to wipe away all tears from their eyes; he will wipe yours also, in passing among others. I am confident Madam, that the Lord will build a new house for Himself of our rejected and scattered stones; for our bridegroom cannot lack for a wife. Can he live a widower? No, He will embrace both us, the little young sister, and her elder sister the Church of the Jews, and there will be a special day. And therefore, we have  reason to rejoice; yes, to sing and shout for joy. The church has been since the world began, hanging by a thin thread, and all the hands of hell and of the wicked have been pulling at this thread. But thank God; they are only breaking their arms by pulling; but the thread is not broken; for the sweet fingers of Christ our Lord, have spun and twisted it. Lord, hold the thread unbroken!

   Madam stir up your husband to hold onto the covenant and do good. What has he to do with the world? It is not his inheritance. Desire him to build and to put his hand to lay a stone or two on the wall of God's house before he leaves here. I have heard also Madam that your child is taken; but whether we have or want, it is best as He pleases. Whether she be with you or in Gods keeping; think it all one; no, then I think it is the better of the two, that she is with Him. I trust in our Lord that there is something stored up and kept for you; for our kind Lord who has wounded you will not be so unkind as not to soothe the pain of your green wound, and therefore, still claim Christ as your own, and own him as your one thing. So finally, I recommend your ladyship, your soul and spirit, bound to Him who keeps His Father's promises and will faithfully keep them, even to that fairest among the sons of men, our sweet Lord Jesus, the fairest, the sweetest, the most delicious Rose of all his Father's great field. The smell of that rose perfume your soul!

  Your Ladyship's, any sweetest Lord Jesus,   S.R.