Rutherford revised (50)

50. To Marion M'Naught             From Anwoth 22 Apr 1635

Well-beloved and dear sister,- I know your heart is cast down because of the trouble likely to come up on this church; and it appears that a hireling will be forced upon Christ's flock in that town; but send a heavy heart up to Christ and it will be welcomed. Those who are with the beast and the dragon, must make war on the Lamb,  'and theLamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.' (Rev 17:14) Our ten days will be ended; all the former things will be forgotten when we will be up before the throne. Christ has always been like this in the world; He has always been the defender, and is still in the camp, fighting the church's battles. The enemies of the Son of God will be fed with their own flesh, and will drink in their own blood; and therefore, at the end of their part and will be hard: so we may look forward and pity them. Until the number of the elect is filled, Christ's clothes must be rolled in blood. He comes from Edom, from the killing of His enemies, 'clothed in dyed in garments, glorious in His dress, travelling in the greatness of His strength. ' Who is this, says he, that appears in this glorious state? Our great He! that He who is mighty to save, whose glory shines while He sprinkles the blood of His enemies, and stains all His clothes. The glory of His righteous revenge shines forth in these stains (Is 63:1). But seeing that our world is not here, we poor children, far from home, must pass through many waters, crying as we go, and believing that we do not wrong the Lord's faithfulness. seeing he has said.' I, I am he who comforts you; who are you that you are afraid of man who dies,

of the son of man who is made like grass,'(Is 51:12). ' When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.'(Is 43:2).

   There is a cloud gathering and a storm coming. This land will be turned upside down; and if ever  the Lord spoke to me (think about it), Christ's bride will be glad of a hole to hide her head in, and the dragon may so win as to chase the woman and her man child over the sea. But there will be a gleaning, two or three berries left at the top of the olive tree, of which God will say,'Do not destroy them, for there is a blessing in them'. After that the sun will shine on Christ's old bride, and under a clear skies, she will sing as in the days of her youth. The Antichrist and the great red dragon will cut Christ's branches, and make his vine as is short stump, under the feet of those who carry the mark of the beast; but the Plant of Renown, the Man whose name is the Branch, will bud again and blossom as the rose, and there will be fair white flowers again, with very pleasant fruits on that tree of life. May He have a fair season! Grace grace be on that blessed and beautiful tree under whose shadow we will sit, and His fruit will be sweet to our taste. But Christ will woo his handful in the fire, and choose His own in the furnace of suffering. But whatever happens, He dare not, He will not kill His children. Love will not let Him make end of them. The covenant will make Him hold his hand.   Fear not, then, says the First and the Last, He who is dead and is alive. We do not see Christ sharpening and making his sword ready for his enemies; and therefore, our faithless hearts say, as the Zion did,' The Lord has forsaken me'. But the Lord reprimands her, and says,'Well, well, Zion, is that well said?' Think again for you wrong me. Can a woman forget her sucking child,  that she would not not care about the fruit of womb? Yes, she may; but I will not forget you, look I have written you on the palms of my hands (Is 49:15,16). You break your heart and grow sad, and forget Christ has your name written on the palms of His hand in big letters. In the name of the Son of God, believe that buried Scotland, dead and buried with her dear Bridegroom, Will rise again on the third day, and that there will be a new growth after the old timber is cut down.

   I recommend you and your burdens and sad heart, to the support of His grace and good will, who lived in the Bush; to Him who were separated from His brothers. From a distance, try your husband to see if he can be persuaded to think about going to America. 

   O to see the sight,  next to Christ's coming in the clouds the most joyful;  our elder brothers the Jews and Christ fall upon one another's necks and kiss each other! They have long been apart; they will be kind to one another when they meet. O day! O longed for and lovely dawn! O sweet Jesus, let me see that sight which will really be like life from the dead,  You and your ancient people in mutual embraces.

   Ask your daughter to join with Christ in suffering for Him; for the cross is an old tenancy and plot of land the lies close to Christ's house. Our dear Chief has that rent in his inheritance. But tell her the day is near dawn,  the sky is parting; our Beloved will be upon us before we ever know it. The Antichrist, and death and hell, and Christ's enemies and ours will be bound and then thrown into the bottomless pit. The Lord Jesus be with your spirit.

   Yours in his sweet Lord Jesus,  S.R.