ANWOTH, _Nov. 15, 1633_.
XXXI.--_To my_ LADY KENMURE.
(_A UNION FOR PRAYER RECOMMENDED._)
MADAM,--Having received a letter from some of the worthiest of the
ministry in this kingdom, the contents whereof I am desired to
communicate to such professors in these parts as I know love the
beauty of Zion, and are afflicted to see the Lord's vineyard trodden
under foot by the wild boars out of the wood, who lay it waste, I
could not but also desire your Ladyship's help to join with the rest,
desiring you to impart it to my Lord your husband, and if ye think it
needful, I shall write to his Lordship, as Mr. G. G.[126] shall
advertise me.
[126] Mr. George Gillespie; see Letter cxliv.
Know, therefore, that the best affected of the ministry have thought
it convenient and necessary, at such a time as this, that all who love
the truth should join their prayers together, and cry to God with
humiliation and fasting. The times, which are agreed upon, are the two
first Sabbaths of February next, and the six days intervening betwixt
these Sabbaths, as they may conveniently be had, and the first
Sabbath of every quarter. And the causes, as they are written to me,
are these:
1. Besides the distresses of the Reformed churches abroad, the many
reigning sins of uncleanness, ungodliness, and unrighteousness in this
land, the present judgments on the land, and many more hanging over
us, whereof few are sensible, or yet know the right and true cause of
them.
2. The lamentable and pitiful estate of a glorious church (in so short
a time, against so many bonds), in doctrine, sacrament, and
discipline, so sore persecuted, in the persons of faithful pastors and
professors, and the door of God's house kept so straight by bastard
porters, insomuch that worthy instruments, able for the work, are held
at the door, the rulers having turned over religion into policy, and
the multitude ready to receive any religion that shall be enjoined by
authority.
3. In our humiliation, besides that we are under a necessity of
deprecating God's wrath, and vowing to God sincerely new obedience,
the weakness, coldness, silence, and lukewarmness of some of the best
of the ministry, and the deadness of professors, who have suffered the
truth both secretly to be stolen away, and openly to be plucked from
us, would be confessed.
4. Atheism, idolatry, profanity, and vanity, should be confessed; our
king's heart recommended to God; and God intreated, that He would stir
up the nobles and the people to turn from their evil ways.
Thus, Madam, hoping that your Ladyship will join with others, that
such a work be not slighted, at such a necessary time, when our kirk
is at the overturning, I will promise to myself your help, as the Lord
in secrecy and prudence shall enable you, that your Ladyship may
rejoice with the Lord's people, when deliverance shall come; for true
and sincere humiliation come always speed with God. And when
authority, king, court, and churchmen oppose the truth, what other
armour have we but prayer and faith? whereby, if we wrestle with Him,
there is ground to hope that those who would remove the burdensome
stone (Zech. xii. 3) out of its place, shall but hurt their back, and
the stone shall not be moved, at least not removed.
Grace, grace be with you, from Him who hath called you to the
inheritance of the saints in light.
Your Ladyship's at all submissive obedience in his sweet Lord Jesus.