LVI.--_To my_ LADY KENMURE.
(_REASONS FOR RESIGNATION--SECURITY OF SAINTS--THE END OF TIME._)
MADAM,--I received your Ladyship's letter from J. G.[143] I thank our
Lord ye are as well at least as one may be who is not come home. It is
a mercy in this stormy sea to get a second wind; for none of the
saints get a first, but they must take the winds as the Lord of the
seas causeth them to blow, and the inn as the Lord and Master of the
inns hath ordered it. If contentment were here, heaven were not
heaven. Whoever seek the world to be their bed, shall at best find it
short and ill-made, and a stone under their side to hold them waking,
rather than a soft pillow to sleep upon. Ye ought to bless your Lord
that it is not worse. We live in a sea where many have suffered
shipwreck, and have need that Christ sit at the helm of the ship. It
is a mercy to win to heaven, though with much hard toil and heavy
labour, and to take it by violence ill and well as it may be. Better
go swimming and wet through our waters than drown by the way;
especially now when truth suffereth, and great men bid Christ sit
lower and contract Himself in less bounds, as if He took too much
room.
[143] J. Gordon.
I expect our new prelate[144] shall try my sitting. I hang by a
thread, but it is (if I may speak so) of Christ's spinning. There is
no quarrel more honest or honourable than to suffer for truth. But the
worst is, that this kirk is like to sink, and all her lovers and
friends stand afar off; none mourn with her, and none mourn for her.
But the Lord Jesus will not be put out of His conquest so soon in
Scotland. It will be seen that the kirk and truth will rise again
within three days, and Christ again shall ride upon His white horse;
howbeit His horse seem now to stumble, yet he cannot fall. The fulness
of Christ's harvest in the end of the earth is not yet come in. I
speak not this because I would have it so, but upon better grounds
than my naked liking. But enough of this sad subject.
[144] Sydserff.
I long to be fully assured of your Ladyship's welfare, and that your
soul prospereth, especially now in your solitary life when your
comforts outward are few, and when Christ hath you for the very
uptaking. I know His love to you is still running over, and His love
hath not so bad a memory as to forget you and your dear child, who
hath two fathers in heaven, the one the Ancient of Days. I trust in
His mercy He hath something laid up for him above, however it may go
with him here. I know it is long since your Ladyship saw that this
world had turned your stepmother and did forsake you. Madam, you have
reason to take in good part a lean dinner and spare diet in this life,
seeing your large supper of the Lamb's preparing will recompense all.
Let it go, which was never yours but only in sight, not in property.
The time of your loan will wear shorter and shorter, and time is
measured to you by ounce weights; and then I know your hope shall be a
full ear of corn and not blasted with wind. It may be your joy that
your anchor is up within the veil, and that the ground it is cast upon
is not false but firm. God hath done His part: I hope ye will not deny
to fish and fetch home all your love to Himself; and it is but too
narrow and short for Him if it were more. If ye were before pouring
all your love (if it had been many gallons more) in upon your Lord, if
drops fell by in the in-pouring, He forgiveth you. He hath done now
all that can be done to win beyond it all, and hath left little to woo
your love from Himself, except one only child. What is His purpose
herein He knoweth best, who hath taken your soul in tutoring. Your
faith may be boldly charitable of Christ, that however matters go, the
worst shall be a tired traveller, and a joyful and sweet welcome home.
The back of your winter night is broken. Look to the east, the day sky
is breaking. Think not that Christ loseth time, or lingereth
unsuitably. O fair, fair, and sweet morning! We are but as sea
passengers. If we look right, we are upon our country coast: our
Redeemer is fast coming, to take this old worm-eaten world, like an
old moth-eaten garment, in His two hands, and to roll it up and lay it
by Him. These are the last days, and an oath is given, by God Himself,
that time shall be no more (Rev. x. 6); and when time itself is old
and grey-haired, it were good we were away. Thus, Madam, ye see I am,
as my custom is tedious in my lines. Your Ladyship will pardon it.
The Lord Jesus be with your spirit.
Your Ladyship's at all obedience in Christ,