NOBLE AND ELECT LADY, -- That honor that I have prayed for these sixteen
years, with submission to my Lord's will, my kind Lord has now bestowed
upon me, even to suffer for my royal and princely King Jesus, and for
His kingly crown, and the freedom of His kingdom that His Father has
given Him. The forbidden lords have sentenced me with deprivation, and
confinement within the town of Aberdeen. I am charged in the King's
name to enter against the 20th day of August next, and there to remain
during the Kings pleasure, as they have given it out. Howbeit Christ's
green cross, newly laid upon me, be somewhat heavy, while I call to
mind the many fair days sweet and comfortable to my soul and to the
souls of many others, and how young ones in Christ are plucked from the
breast, and the inheritance of God laid waste; yet that cross of Christ
is accompanied with sweet refreshments, with the joy of the Holy Ghost,
with faith that the Lord hears the sighing of a prisoner, with
undoubted hope (as sure as my Lord liveth) after this night to see
daylight, and Christ's sky to clear up again upon me, and His poor
kirk; and that in a strange land, among strange faces, He will give
favor in the eyes of men to His poor oppressed servant, who dow not but
love that lovely One, that princely One, Jesus, the Comforter of his
soul. All would be well, if I were free of old challenges for
guiltiness, and for neglect in my calling, and for speaking too little
for my Well-beloved's crown, honor, and kingdom. This is my only
exercise, that I fear I have done little good in my ministry.
I apprehend no less than a judgment upon Galloway, and that the Lord
shall visit this whole nation for the quarrel of the Covenant. But what
can be laid upon me, or any the like of me, is too light for Christ.
Christ dow bear more, and would bear death and burning quick, in His
quick servants, even for this honorable cause that I now suffer for.
Yet for all my complaints (and He knoweth that I dare not now
dissemble), He was never sweeter and kinder than He is now. My dear
worthy Lady, I give it to your Ladyship, under my own hand, my heart
writing as well as my hand welcome, welcome, sweet, sweet and glorious
cross of Christ; welcome, sweet Jesus, with Thy light cross. Thou hast
now gained and gotten all my love from me; keep what Thou hast gotten!
Only woe, woe is me, for my bereft flock, for the lambs of Jesus, that
I fear shall be fed with dry breasts. But I spare now. Madam, I dare
not promise to see your Ladyship, because of the little time I have
allotted me; and I purpose to obey the King, who has power of my body;
and rebellion to kings is unbeseeming Christ's ministers. Madam, bind
me more (if more can be) to your Ladyship; and write thanks to your
brother, my Lord of Lorn, for what he has done for me, a poor and
unknown stranger to his Lordship. I shall pray for him and his house,
while I live. Now, Madam, commending your Ladyship, and the sweet
child, to the tender mercies of the Lord Jesus, and His good-will who
dwelt in the Bush.
EDINBURGH, July 28, 1636
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Rutherford was also known for his spiritual and devotional works, such as Christ Dying and drawing Sinners to Himself and his Letters. Concerning his Letters, Charles Spurgeon wrote: "When we are dead and gone let the world know that Spurgeon held Rutherford's Letters to be the nearest thing to inspiration which can be found in all the writings of mere men". Published versions of the Letters contain 365 letters and fit well with reading one per day.
Rutherford was a strong supporter of the divine right of Presbytery, the principle that the Bible calls for Presbyterian church government. Among his polemical works are Due Right of Presbyteries (1644), Lex, Rex (1644), and Free Disputation against Pretended Liberty of Conscience.
Samuel Rutherford was a Scottish Presbyterian theologian and author. He was one of the Scottish Commissioners to the Westminster Assembly.
Born in the village of Nisbet, Roxburghshire, Rutherford was educated at Edinburgh University, where he became in 1623 Regent of Humanity (Professor of Latin). In 1627 he was settled as minister of Anwoth in Galloway, from where he was banished to Aberdeen for nonconformity. His patron in Galloway was John Gordon, 1st Viscount of Kenmure. On the re-establishment of Presbytery in 1638 he was made Professor of Divinity at St. Andrews, and in 1651 Rector of St. Mary's College there. At the Restoration he was deprived of all his offices.
Rutherford's political book Lex, Rex (meaning "the law [and] the king" or "the law [is] king") presented a theory of limited government and constitutionalism. It was an explicit refutation of the doctrine of "Rex Lex" or "the king is the law." Rutherford was also known for his spiritual and devotional works, such as Christ Dying and drawing Sinners to Himself and his Letters.