ABERDEEN, _Feb. 20, 1637_.
C.--_To the_ LADY CARDONESS.
(_THE ONE THING NEEDFUL--CONSCIENTIOUS ACTING IN THE WORLD--ADVICE
UNDER DEJECTING TRIALS._)
MY DEARLY BELOVED, AND LONGED-FOR IN THE LORD,--Grace, mercy, and
peace be to you--I long to hear how your soul prospereth, and how the
kingdom of Christ thriveth in you. I exhort you and beseech you in the
bowels of Christ, faint not, weary not. There is a great necessity of
heaven; ye must needs have it. All other things, as houses, lands,
children, husband, friends, country, credit, health, wealth, honour,
may be wanted; but heaven is your one thing necessary, the good part
that shall not be taken from you. See that ye buy the field where the
pearl is. Sell all, and make a purchase of salvation. Think it not
easy; for it is a steep ascent to eternal glory; many are lying dead
by the way, that were slain with security.
I have now been led by my Lord Jesus to such a nick in Christianity,
as I think little of former things. Oh, what I want! I want so many
things, that I am almost asking if I have anything at all. Every man
thinketh he is rich enough in grace, till he take out his purse, and
tell his money, and then he findeth his pack but poor and light in the
day of a heavy trial. I found that I had not to bear my expenses, and
I should have fainted, if want and penury had not chased me to the
storehouse of all.
I beseech you to make conscience of your ways. Deal kindly, and with
conscience, with your tenants. To fill a breach or a hole, make not a
greater breach in the conscience. I wish plenty of love to your soul.
Let the world be the portion of bastards; make it not yours. After the
last trumpet is blown, the world and all its glory will be like an old
house that is burnt to ashes, and like an old fallen castle, without a
roof. Fy, fy upon us, fools! who think ourselves debtors to the world!
My Lord hath brought me to this, that I would not give a drink of cold
water for this world's kindness. I wonder that men long after, love,
or care for these feathers. It is almost an unco world to me. To think
that men are so mad as to block with dead earth! To give out
conscience, and get in clay again, is a strange bargain!
I have written my mind at length to your husband. Write to me again
his case. I cannot forget him in my prayers; I am looking up (Ps. v.
3). Christ hath some claim to him. My counsel is, that ye bear with
him when passion overtaketh him: "A soft answer putteth away wrath."
Answer him in what he speaketh, and apply yourself in the fear of God
to him; and then ye will remove a pound weight of your heavy cross,
that way, and so it shall become light.
When Christ hideth Himself, wait on, and make din till He return; it
is not time then to be carelessly patient. I love to be grieved when
He hideth His smiles. Yet believe His love in a patient onwaiting and
believing in the dark. Ye must learn to swim and hold up your head
above the water, even when the sense of His presence is not with you
to hold up your chin. I trust in God that He will bring your ship safe
to land. I counsel you to study sanctification, and to be dead to this
world. Urge kindness on Knockbrex. Labour to benefit by his company;
the man is acquainted with Christ.
I beg the help of your prayers, for I forget not you. Counsel your
husband to fulfil my joy, and to seek the Lord's face. Show him, from
me, that my joy and desire is to hear that he is in the Lord. God
casteth him often in my mind, I cannot forget him. I hope Christ and
he have something to do together. Bless John from me. I write
blessings to him, and to your husband, and to the rest of your
children. Let it not be said, "I am not in your house," through
neglect of the Sabbath exercise.
Your lawful and loving pastor in his only, only Lord,