ANWOTH, _Feb. 1, 1630_.
VIII.--_For_ MARION M'NAUGHT, _on occasion of his wife's illness_.
(_WRESTLINGS WITH GOD._)
MISTRESS,--My love in Jesus Christ remembered. I am in good health;
honour to my Lord; but my wife's disease increaseth daily, to her
great torment and pain night and day. She has not been in God's house
since our communion, neither out of her bed. I have hired a man to
Edinburgh to Doctor Jeally and to John Hamilton.[95] I can hardly
believe her disease is ordinary, for her life is bitter to her; she
sleeps none, but cries as a woman travailing in birth. What will be
the event, He that hath the keys of the grave knoweth. I have been
many times, since I saw you, that I have besought the Lord to loose
her out of body, and to take her to her rest. I believe the Lord's
tide of afflictions will ebb again; but at present I am exercised with
the wrestlings of God, being afraid of nothing more than this, that
God has let loose the tempter upon my house. God rebuke him and his
instruments. Because Satan is not cast out but by fasting and prayer,
I entreat you remember our estate to our Lord, and entreat all good
Christians whom ye know, but especially your pastor,[96] to do the
same. It becomes us still to knock, and to lie at the Lord's door,
until we die knocking. If He will not open, it is more than He has
said in His word. But He is faithful. I look not to win away to my
home without wounds and blood. Welcome, welcome cross of Christ, if
Christ be with it. I have not a calm spirit in the work of my calling
here, being daily chastised; yet God hath not put out my candle, as He
does to the wicked. Grace, grace be with you and all yours.
Yours in the Lord,