ABERDEEN, _Jan. 1, 1637_.
LXXVII.--_To my_ LADY BOYD.
[LADY BOYD, whose maiden name was Christian Hamilton, was the
eldest daughter of Thomas, first Earl of Haddington. She was
first married to Robert, ninth Lord Lindsay of Byres, who died in
1616. She married for her second husband, Robert, sixth Lord
Boyd, who died in August 1628. Lady Boyd was distinguished for
piety, and a zealous Presbyterian. Livingstone gives her a place
among "some of the professors in the Church of Scotland of his
acquaintance, who were eminent for grace and gifts;" eulogizes
her as "a rare pattern of Christianity, grave, diligent, and
prudent;" and adds, "She used every night to write what had been
the case of her soul all the day, and what she had observed of
the Lord's dealing." He speaks of residing for some time, during
the course of his ministry, in the house of Kilmarnock, with "the
worthy Lady Boyd." Some of her letters are given by Wodrow in his
life of Boyd of Trochrig (pp. 166, 272.) She used to reside much
at Badenheath, in the parish of Chryston, near Glasgow, and there
John Livingston visited her.]
(_ABERDEEN--EXPERIENCE OF HIMSELF SAD--PRESSING FORWARDS._)
MADAM,--Grace, mercy, and peace be unto you. The Lord hath brought me
to Aberdeen, where I see God in few. This town hath been advised upon
of purpose for me; it consisteth either of Papists, or men of Gallio's
naughty faith. It is counted wisdom, in the most, not to countenance a
confined minister; but I find Christ neither strange nor unkind; for I
have found many faces smile upon me since I came hither. I am heavy
and sad, considering what is betwixt the Lord and my soul, which none
seeth but He. I find men have mistaken me; it would be no art (as I
now see) to spin small,[171] and make hypocrisy a goodly web, and to
go through the market as a saint among men, and yet steal quietly to
hell, without observation: so easy is it to deceive men. I have
disputed whether or no I ever knew anything of Christianity, save the
letters of that name. Men see but as men, and they call ten twenty,
and twenty an hundred; but O! to be approved of God in the heart and
in sincerity is not an ordinary mercy. My neglects while I had a
pulpit, and other things whereof I am ashamed to speak, meet me now,
so as God maketh an honest cross my daily sorrow. And, for fear of
scandal and stumbling, I must bide this day of the law's pleading: I
know not if this court kept within my soul be fenced in Christ's name.
If certainty of salvation were to be bought, God knoweth, if I had ten
earths, I would not prig with God. Like a fool, I believed, under
suffering for Christ, that I myself should keep the key of Christ's
treasures, and take out comforts when I listed, and eat and be fat:
but I see now a sufferer for Christ will be made to know himself, and
will be holden at the door as well as another poor sinner, and will be
fain to eat with the bairns, and to take the by-board, and glad to do
so. My blessing on the cross of Christ that hath made me see this! Oh!
if we could take pains for the kingdom of heaven! But we sit down upon
some ordinary marks of God's children, thinking we have as much as
will separate us from a reprobate; and thereupon we take the play and
cry, "Holiday!" and thus the devil casteth water on our fire, and
blunteth our zeal and care. But I see heaven is not at the door; and I
see, howbeit my challenges be many, I suffer for Christ, and dare
hazard my salvation upon it; for sometimes my Lord cometh with a fair
hour, and O! but His love be sweet, delightful, and comfortable. Half
a kiss is sweet; but our doting love will not be content with a right
to Christ, unless we get possession; like the man who will not be
content with rights to bought land, except he get also the ridges and
acres laid upon his back to carry home with him! However it be, Christ
is wise; and we are fools, to be browden and fond of a pawn in the
loof of our hand. Living on trust by faith may well content us. Madam,
I know your Ladyship knoweth this, and that made me bold to write of
it, that others might reap somewhat by my bonds for the truth; for I
should desire, and I aim at this, to have my Lord well spoken of and
honoured, howbeit He should make nothing of me but a bridge over a
water. Thus, recommending your Ladyship, your son, and children to His
grace, who hath honoured you with a name and room among the living in
Jerusalem, and wishing grace to be with your Ladyship, I rest,
Your Ladyship's in his sweetest Lord Jesus,