Christ's Prisoner
by Samuel Rutherford
Letter 104 To Lady Kenmure
Greetings - Thanksgiving for Recovery
Madam, grace, mercy, and peace be to you. Your letter refreshed me. The right hand of Him who has authority over life and death have been gracious to that sweet child.** I dare not, I do not, forget him and your ladyship in my prayers.
How to Respond to Failure
Madam, in regard to yourself. I am encouraged when people complain about their failures, so long as they are trying to do something about them. This is because I see many people who think that holiness is satisfied, if they merely complain, and then do nothing. It is as if saying "I am sick" could cure an invalid. These people seem to think that complaining about failure was a magic charm to eradicate guilt!** I am glad that you are wrestling and struggling on** in this dead age, when many have lost tongue, arms, and legs for Christ.**
Labour for Communion with Christ
I urge you, Madam, a nearer communion with Christ, and a growing communion. There are curtains to be opened in Christ that we have never seen before, and new layers of love in Him. I despair that I will ever make it to the far end of that love, there are so many layers in it. Therefore dig deep, and sweat, and labour.** Take pains for Him, and set aside as much time as you can in each day for Him. Christ will be won with labour.**
Christ's Love for a Prisoner
I, His exiled prisoner, sought Him, and He has taken pity on me, and made a moan for me, as he does for His own. I do not know what to do with Christ. His love surrounds me and overwhelms me. I am burdened by it; but oh, how sweet and lovely is that burden! I dare not keep it inside me. I am so in love with His love, that if His love were not in heaven, I would not be willing to go there. Oh, what pondering, what telling there is in Christ's love!**
Love at No Cost
I fear nothing now so much as losing Christ's cross,** and the showers of love that accompany it. I wonder how it could be that such a slave could be exalted to a place of honour, at His own elbow. O that I should ever kiss such a fair, fair, fair face as Christ's!** But I dare not refuse to be loved. There is nothing within me, that is the cause for Him to look upon me and love me. God never gained anything from me. His love cost me nothing. Oh, the many pounds** of His love under which I am sweetly pressed!
Stage Christianity
Now, Madam, let me tell you that most people only have a stage Christianity. They consider it to be a mask easily put on or taken off. I myself thought it would be an easy thing to be a Christian, and that seeking God would only be like a jaunt next door. But O the windings, the turnings, the ups and downs that He has led me through! And even so, it still seems as if it will be a long way to the shore.**
Arrows of Love
He speaks in my inmost being during the night. When I awake, I find His love arrows, that He shot at me, sticking in my heart.** ** Who will help me to praise? Who will come to lift up with me, and set on high, His great love? And yet I find that a flood of challenges will come in at midsummer, and question me.** But it is only to keep a sinner in order.
How to Consider the World
As for friends, I would not think the world to properly be the world if friends did not leave me. Using God's wisdom, I hope to use the world as an intelligent employer uses an untrustworthy employee. He does not trust him with money or anything important that he might steal. I pray to God that I will not trust this world with my joys, comforts, or confidence. If I did, it would put Christ out of His proper place in my heart.** Indeed, Madam, from my few experiences I counsel you to give Christ the authority over all the business of your life. Fasten all your burdens on the Peg fastened in David's house (Isa. 22:23).** Woe to me, if ever the world should teach me anything about consolation. Away, away, with any such false teachers. Christ then would laugh at me and say, "Now you're warned. Be careful who you trust."
A Wail for Scotland
Woe is me, for my mother the prostitute, the Kirk of Scotland! Oh, who will wail for her!**
Farewell - Family Concerns
Now the presence of the great Angel of the Covenant** be with you and that sweet child.**
Yours in his sweet Lord Jesus,
Samuel Rutherford
Aberdeen, March 7, 1637
Word format
Whyte on Lady Kenmure
Letter 230
To the Right Honourable and Christian Lady, my Lady Kenmure Believers Safe though Tried — Delight in Christ's Truth
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
Word format
Whyte on Lady Kenmure
http://www.puritansermons.com/
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