ANWOTH, _Dec. 5, 1634_.
XLI.--_For_ MARION M'NAUGHT.
(_THE CHURCH'S TRIALS--COMFORT UNDER TEMPTATIONS--DELIVERANCE--A
MESSAGE TO THE YOUNG._)
WELL-BELOVED SISTER,--My love in Christ remembered. I hear of good
news anent our kirk; but I fear that our King will not be resisted,
and therefore let us not be secure and careless. I do wonder if this
kirk come not through our Lord's fan, since there is so much chaff in
it; howbeit I persuade myself, the Son of God's wheat will not be
blown away. Let us be putting on God's armour, and be strong in the
Lord. If the devil and Zion's enemies strike a hole in that armour,
let our Lord see to that;--let us put it on, and stand. We have Jesus
on our side; and they are not worthy such a Captain, who would not
take a blow at His back. We are in sight of His colours; His banner
over us is love; look up to that white banner, and stand, I persuade
you, in the Lord of victory.
My brother writeth to me of your heaviness, and of temptations that
press you sore. I am content it be so: you bear about with you the
mark of the Lord Jesus. So it was with the Lord's apostle, when he was
to come with the Gospel to Macedonia (2 Cor. vii. 5): his flesh had no
rest; he was troubled on every side, and knew not what side to turn
him unto; without were fightings, and within were fears. In the great
work of our redemption, your lovely, beautiful, and glorious Friend
and Well-beloved Jesus, was brought to tears and strong cries; so as
His face was wet with tears and blood, arising from a holy fear and
the weight of the curse. Take a drink of the Son of God's cup, and
love it the better that He drank of it before you. There is no poison
in it. I wonder many times that ever a child of God should have a sad
heart, considering what their Lord is preparing for them.
Is your mind troubled anent that business that we have now in hand in
Edinburgh.[130] I trust in my Lord, the Lord shall in the end give to
you your heart's desire; even howbeit the business frame not, the Lord
shall feed your soul, and all the hungry souls in that town. Therefore
I request you in the Lord, pray for a submissive will, and pray as
your Lord Jesus bids you, "Thy will be done on earth, as it is in
heaven." And let it be that your faith be brangled with temptations,
believe ye that there is a tree in our Lord's garden that is not often
shaken with wind from all the four airts? Surely there is none. Rebuke
your soul, as the Lord's prophet doth: "Why art thou cast down, O my
soul? why art thou disquieted within me?" (Psalm xliii. 11). That was
the word of a man who was at the very over-going of the brae and
mountain; but God held a grip of him. Swim through your temptations
and troubles to be at that lovely, amiable person, Jesus, to whom your
soul is dear. In your temptations run to the promises: they be our
Lord's branches hanging over the water, that our Lord's silly,
half-drowned children may take a grip of them; if you let that grip
go, you will fall to the ground. Are you troubled with the case of
God's kirk? Our Lord will evermore have her betwixt the sinking and
the swimming. He will have her going through a thousand deaths, and
through hell, as a cripple woman, halting, and wanting the power of
her one side (Micah iv. 6, 7), that God may be her staff. That broken
ship will come to land, because Jesus is the pilot. Faint not; you
shall see the salvation of God,--else say, that God never spake His
word by my mouth; and I had rather never have been born, ere it were
so with me. But my Lord hath sealed me. I dare not deny I have also
been in heaviness since I came from you, fearing for my unthankfulness
that I be deserted. But the Lord will be kind to me, whether I will or
not. I repose that much in His rich grace, that He will be loath to
change upon me. As you love me, pray for me in this particular.
[130] Efforts to obtain redress from grievances inflicted by the
prelatic party.
After advising with Carletoun, I have written to Mr. David Dickson
anent Mr. Hugh M'Kail,[131] and desired him to write his mind to
Carletoun, and Carletoun to Edinburgh, that they may particularly
remember Mr. Hugh to the Lord; and I happened upon a convenient trusty
bearer by God's wonderful providence.
[131] See Letter LXXI.
No further. I recommend you to the Lord's grace, and your husband and
children. The Lord Jesus be with your spirit.
Yours in the Lord,