John Gordon, the elder, laird of Cardoness, was a very difficult
parishioner, and a man of strong passions. His estate was heavily
burdened by debt. Part of the purpose of this letter is a protest
against the attempt to meet his debts by an inequitable raising of the
rents of the farms and cottages on the estate. And there was a son (to
whom a later letter is addressed, letter XXXIV), who was following the
example of his father's wild youth. See also Letters XXXVI and XLVI.
MUCH HONORED SIR, -- I long to hear how your soul prospereth. I wonder
that ye write not to me; for the Holy Ghost beareth me witness, that I
cannot, I dare not, I do not, forget you, nor the souls of those with
you, who are redeemed by the blood of the great Shepherd. Ye are in my
heart in the night-watches; ye are my joy and crown in the day of
Christ. O Lord, bear me witness, if my soul thirsteth for anything out
of heaven, more than for your salvation.
Love heaven; let your heart be on it. It were time that your soul
cast itself, and all your burdens, upon Christ. I beseech you by the
wounds of your Redeemer, and by your compearance before Him, and by the
salvation of your soul, lose no more time; run fast, for it is late. Ye
are now upon the very border of the other life. Your Lord cannot be
blamed for not giving you warning. I have taught the truth of Christ to
you, and delivered unto you the whole counsel of God, and I have stood
before the Lord for you, and I will yet still stand. Awake, awake to do
righteously. Think not to be eased of the burdens and debts that are on
your house by oppressing any, or being rigorous to those that are under
you. Remember how I endeavored to walk before you in this matter, as an
example. 'Behold, here am 1, witness against me, before the Lord and
His Anointed: whose ox or whose ass have I taken? Whom have I
defrauded? Whom have I oppressed?' (I Sam. 12.3). Who knoweth how my
soul feedeth upon a good conscience, when I remember how I spent this
body in feeding the lambs of Christ?
The Lord is my witness above that I write my heart to you. I never
knew by my nine years' preaching so much of Christ's love as He has
taught me in Aberdeen by six months' imprisonment. I charge you in
Christ's name to help me to praise; and show that people and country
the loving kindness of the Lord to my soul, that so my sufferings may
someday preach to them when I am silent. He has made me to know now
better than before what it is to be crucified to the world.
I would not exchange my sighs for the laughing of my adversaries, for
He has sealed my sufferings with the comforts of His Spirit on my soul.
Now, Sir, I have no earthly comfort, but to know I have espoused, and
shall present a bride to Christ in that congregation. The Lord has
given you much, and therefore He will require much of you again; number
your talents, and see what you have to render back again; you cannot be
enough persuaded of the shortness of your time. I charge you to write
to me, and in the fear of God, be plain with me, whether or not you
have made your salvation sure: I am confident, and hope the best; but I
know, your reckonings with your Judge are many and deep. Sir, be not
beguiled, neglect not the one thing, your one necessary thing, 'the
good part that shall not be taken from you'; look beyond time; things
here are but moonshine; they have but children's wit, who are delighted
with shadows, and deluded with feathers flying in the air.
Desire your children in the morning of their life, to begin and seek
the Lord, and 'to remember their Creator in the days of their youth',
to 'cleanse their way, by taking heed thereto, according to God's
word'. Youth is a glassy age. Satan too often finds a 'swept chamber',
and a 'garnished lodging' for himself and his train, in youthhood. Let
the Lord have the flower of their age; the best sacrifice is due to
Him; instruct them in this, that they have a soul, and that this life
is nothing in comparison of eternity; they will have much need of God's
conduct in this world, to guide them bye those rocks upon which most
men split; but far more need when it cometh to the hour of death, and
their compearance before Christ. Oh that there were such an heart in
them, to fear the name of the great and dreadful God, who has laid up
great things for those that love and fear Him! I pray that God may be
their portion. Show others of my parishioners, that I write to them my
best wishes, and the blessings of their lawful pastor. Say to them from
me, that I beseech them, by the bowels of Christ, to keep in mind the
doctrine of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, which I taught them; so
that they may lay hold on eternal life, striving together for the faith
of the Gospel, and making sure salvation to themselves. Walk in love,
and do righteousness: seek peace; love one another. Wait for the coming
of our Master and Judge. Receive no doctrine contrary to that which I
delivered to you. If ye fall away, and forget it, and that Catechism
which I taught you, and so forsake your own mercy, the Lord be Judge
betwixt you and me. I take heaven and earth to witness, that such shall
eternally perish. But if they serve the Lord, great will their reward
be when they and I shall stand before our Judge. Set forward up the
mountain, to meet with God; climb up, for your Savior calleth on you.
It may be that God will call you to your rest, when I am far from you;
but ye have my love, and the desires of my heart for your soul's
welfare. He that is holy, keep you from falling, and establish you,
till His own glorious appearance.
Your affectionate and lawful pastor.
ABERDEEN, 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.