Probably one of his Anwoth parishioners.
MY VERY DEAR BROTHER, -- I rejoice to hear that Christ has run away with
your young love, and that ye are so early in the morning matched with
such a Lord; for a young man is often a dressed lodging for the devil
to dwell in. Be humble and thankful for grace; and weigh it not so much
by weight, as if it be true. Christ will not cast water on your smoking
coal; He never yet put out a dim candle that was lighted at the Sun of
Righteousness. I recommend to you prayer and watching over the sins of
your youth; for I know that missive letters go between the devil and
young blood. Satan has a friend at court in the heart of youth; and
there pride, luxury, lust, revenge, forgetfulness of God, are hired as
his agents. Happy is your soul if Christ man the house, and take the
keys Himself, and command all, as it suiteth Him full well to rule
wherever He is. Keep Christ, and entertain Him well. Cherish His grace;
blow upon your own coal; and let Him tutor you.
Now for myself: know that I am fully agreed with my Lord. Christ has
put the Father and me into each other's arms. Many a sweet bargain He
made before, and He has made this among the rest. I reign as king over
my crosses. I will not flatter a temptation, nor give the devil a good
word: I defy hell's iron gates. God has passed over my quarreling of
Him at my entry here, and now He feedeth and feasteth with me.
Praise, praise with me; and let us exalt His name together.
Your brother in Christ.
ABERDEEN, March 13, 1637
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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.