Madam,—
Grace, mercy, and peace be to your Ladyship—
God be thanked you are yet in possession of Christ,
and that sweet child. I pray God that the first may be a sure heritage, and the second a loan for your comfort, while you do good to His poor, afflicted, withered Mount Zion. And who knows but our Lord has comforts laid up in store for her and you! I am persuaded that Christ has bought you away from the devil, and hell, and sin, so that they have no claim to you; and that is a rich and invaluable mercy. Long since, you were half challenging death's cold kindness, in being so slow and reluctant to come to loose a tired prisoner; but you stand in need of all the crosses, losses, changes, and sad hearts that befell you since that time.** Christ knows that the body of sin unsubdued will take them all, and more: we know that Paul had need of the devil's service, to buffet him**; and far more we. But, my dear and honourable Lady, spend your sand-glass** well. I am sure that you have law to raise a suspension against all that devils, men, friends, worlds, losses, hell, or sin, can decree against you. It is good that your crosses will but convey you to heaven's gates: in, they cannot go; the gates shall be closed upon them, when you shall be admitted to the throne. Time does not stand still, eternity is hard at our door. Oh, what is laid up for you! Therefore, harden your face against the wind. And the Lamb, your Husband, is making ready for you. The Bridegroom is eagerly preparing for that day**, as gladly as you would wish to have it yourself. He has not forgotten you.
I have heard a rumour of the prelates' purpose to banish me. But let it come, if God so wills: the other side of the sea is my Father's ground, as well as this side**. I owe bowing to God, but no servile bowing to crosses: I have been but too soft in that. I am comforted that I am persuaded fully, that Christ is my partner with me in this well-born and honest cross**; and if He claim right to the best half of my troubles (as I know He does to the whole), I shall remit over to Christ what I shall do in this case**. I know certainly, that my Lord Jesus will not misuse nor waste my sufferings; He has use for them in His house.
Oh, what it works on me to remember that a stranger, who comes not in by the door, will build hay and stubble upon the golden foundation which I laid amongst that people at Anwoth!** But I know that Providence does not squint, but looks straight through all men's darkness. Oh that I could wait upon the Lord! I had but one eye, one joy, one delight, even to preach Christ; and my mother's sons were angry at me, and have put out the poor man's one eye, and what have I behind?** I am sure that this sour world has deservedly lost my heart; but oh that there were a daysman** to lay his hands upon us both, and determine upon my part of it. Alas, that innocent and lovely truth should be sold!** My tears are little worth, but yet for this thing I weep. I weep, alas, that my fair and lovely Lord Jesus should be misrepresented in His own house! It matters little what five hundred of me feel; yet, at the same time, faith is not drowned in me. Our King still lives.
I write the prisoner's blessings: the good-will, and long-lasting kindness, with the comforts of the very God of peace, be to your Ladyship, and to your sweet child. Grace, grace be with you. Your Honour's, at all obedience, in his sweet Lord Jesus,
S.R.
Aberdeen, Sept. 5, 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.