ANWOTH, _Nov. 26, 1631_.
XX.--_To my_ LADY KENMURE.
(_ASSURANCE OF CHRIST'S LOVE UNDER TRIALS--FULNESS OF CHRIST--HOPE OF
GLORY._)
MADAM,--I am grieved exceedingly that your Ladyship should think, or
have cause to think, that such as love you in God, in this country,
are forgetful of you. For myself, Madam, I owe to your Ladyship all
evidences of my high respect (in the sight of my Lord, whose truth I
preach, I am bold to say it) for His rich grace in you.
My Communion, put off till the end of a longsome and rainy harvest,
and the presbyterial exercise (as the bearer can inform your
Ladyship), hindered me to see you. And for my people's sake (finding
them like hot iron, that cooleth being out of the fire, and that is
pliable to no work), I do not stir abroad; neither have I left them at
all, since your Ladyship was in this country, save at one time only,
about two years ago. Yet I dare not say but it is a fault, howbeit no
defect in my affection; and I trust to make it up again, so soon as
possibly I am able to wait upon you.
Madam, I have no new purpose to write unto you, but of that which I
think (nay, which our Lord thinketh) needful, that one thing, Mary's
good part, which ye have chosen (Luke x. 42). Madam, all that God
hath, both Himself and the creatures, He is dealing and parting
amongst the sons of Adam. There are none so poor as that they can say
in His face, "He hath given them nothing." But there is no small odds
betwixt the gifts given to lawful bairns and to bastards; and the more
greedy ye are in suiting, the more willing He is to give, delighting
to be called open-handed. I hope your Ladyship laboureth to get
assurance of the surest patrimony, even God Himself. Ye will find in
Christianity, that God aimeth, in all His dealings with His children,
to bring them to a high contempt of, and deadly feud with the world,
and to set an high price upon Christ, and to think Him One who cannot
be bought for gold, and well worthy the fighting for. And for no other
cause, Madam, doth the Lord withdraw from you the childish toys and
the earthly delights that He giveth unto others, but that He may have
you wholly to Himself. Think therefore of the Lord, as of one who
cometh to woo you in marriage, when ye are in the furnace. He seeketh
His answer of you in affliction, to see if ye will say, Even so I take
Him. Madam, give Him this answer pleasantly, and in your mind do not
secretly grudge nor murmur. When He is striking you in love, beware to
strike again: that is dangerous; for those who strike again shall get
the last blow.
If I hit not upon the right string, it is because I am not acquainted
with your Ladyship's present condition; but I believe your Ladyship
goeth on foot, laughing, and putting on a good countenance before the
world, and yet ye carry heaviness about with you. Ye do well, Madam,
not to make them witnesses of your grief, who cannot be curers of it.
But be exceedingly charitable of your dear Lord. As there be some
friends worldly of whom ye will not entertain an ill thought, far more
ought ye to believe good evermore of your dear friend, that lovely
fair person, Jesus Christ. The thorn is one of the most cursed, and
angry, and crabbed weeds that the earth yieldeth, and yet out of it
springeth the rose, one of the sweetest-smelled flowers, and most
delightful to the eye, that the earth hath. Your Lord shall make joy
and gladness out of your afflictions; for all His roses have a
fragrant smell. Wait for the time when His own holy hand shall hold
them to your nose; and if ye would have present comfort under the
cross, be much in prayer, for at that time your faith kisseth Christ
and He kisseth the soul. And oh! if the breath of His holy mouth be
sweet, I dare be caution, out of some small experience, that ye shall
not be beguiled; for the world (yea, not a few number of God's
children) know not well what that is which they call a Godhead. But,
Madam, come near to the Godhead, and look down to the bottom of the
well; there is much in Him, and sweet were that death to drown in such
a well. Your grief taketh liberty to work upon your mind, when ye are
not busied in the meditation of the ever-delighting and all-blessed
Godhead. If ye would lay the price ye give out (which is but some few
years' pain and trouble) beside the commodities ye are to receive, ye
would see they are not worthy to be laid in the balance together: but
it is nature that maketh you look what ye give out, and weakness of
faith that hindereth you to see what ye shall take in. Amend your
hope, and frist your faithful Lord awhile. He maketh Himself your
debtor in the new covenant. He is honest; take His word: "Affliction
shall not spring up the second time" (Nahum i. 9). "He that overcometh
shall inherit all things" (Rev. xxi. 7). Of all things, then, which ye
want in this life, Madam, I am able to say nothing, if that be not
believed which ye have in Rev. iii. 5, 21: "The overcomer shall be
clothed in white raiment. To the overcomer I will give to sit with Me
in My throne, as I overcame, and am set down with My Father in His
throne." Consider, Madam, if ye are not high up now, and far ben in
the palace of our Lord, when ye are upon a throne in white raiment, at
lovely Christ's elbow. O thrice fools are we, who, like new-born
princes weeping in the cradle, know not that there is a kingdom before
them! Then let our Lord's sweet hand square us and hammer us, and
strike off the knots of pride, self-love, and world-worship, and
infidelity, that He may make us stones and pillars in His Father's
house (Rev. iii. 12). Madam, what think ye to take binding with the
fair corner-stone Jesus? The Lord give you wisdom to believe and hope
your day is coming. I hope to be witness of your joy, as I have been a
hearer and beholder of your grief. Think ye much to follow the heir of
the crown, who had experience of sorrows, and was acquainted with
grief? (Isa. liii. 3). It were pride to aim to be above the King's
Son: it is more than we deserve, that we are _equals_ in glory, in a
manner. Now commending you to the dearest grace and mercy of God, I
rest
Your Ladyship's, at all obedience in Christ,