(_RESIGNATION UNDER BEREAVEMENT--HIS OWN ENJOYMENT OF CHRIST'S LOVE._)
MISTRESS,--Grace, mercy, and peace be to you.
I cannot but rejoice, and withal be grieved, at your case. It hath
pleased the Lord to remove your husband (my friend, and this kirk's
faithful professor[201]) soon to his rest; but shall we be sorry that
our loss is his gain, seeing his Lord would want his company no
longer? Think not much of short summons; for, seeing he walked with
his Lord in his life, and desired that Christ should be magnified in
him at his death, ye ought to be silent and satisfied. When Christ
cometh for His own, He runneth fast: mercy, mercy to the saints goeth
not at leisure. Love, love in our Redeemer is not slow; and withal He
is homely with you, who cometh at His own hand to your house, and
intromitteth, as a friend, with anything that is yours. I think He
would fain borrow and lend with you. Now he shall meet with the
solacious company, the fair flock, and blessed bairn-teme of the
first-born, banqueting at the marriage supper of the Lamb. It is a
mercy that the poor wandering sheep get a dyke-side in this stormy
day, and a leaking ship a safe harbour, and a sea-sick passenger a
sound and soft bed ashore. Wrath, wrath, wrath from the Lord is coming
upon this land that he hath left behind him. Know, therefore, that the
wounds of your Lord Jesus are the wounds of a lover, and that He will
have compassion upon a sad-hearted servant; and that Christ hath said,
He will have the husband's room in your heart. He loved you in your
first husband's time, and He is but wooing you still. Give Him heart
and chair, house and all. He will not be made companion with any
other. Love is full of jealousies: He will have all your love; and who
should get it but He? I know that ye allow it upon Him. There are
comforts both sweet and satisfying laid up for you: wait on. First
Christ; He is an honest debtor.
[201] Confessor.
Now for mine own case. I think some poor body would be glad of a
dawted prisoner's leavings. I have no scarcity of Christ's love: He
hath wasted more comforts upon His poor banished servant than would
have refreshed many souls. My burden was once so heavy, that one ounce
weight would have casten the balance, and broken my back; but Christ
said, "Hold, hold!" to my sorrow, and hath wiped a bluthered face,
which was foul with weeping. I may joyfully go my Lord's errands, with
wages in my hands. Deferred hopes need not make me dead-sweir (as we
used to say): my cross is both my cross and my reward. O that men
would sound His high praise! I love Christ's worst reproaches, His
glooms, His cross, better than all the world's plastered glory. My
heart is not longing to be back again from Christ's country; it is a
sweet soil I am come to. I, if any in the world, have good cause to
speak much good of Him. Oh, hell were a good-cheap price to buy Him
at! Oh, if all the three kingdoms were witnesses to my pained, pained
soul, overcome with Christ's love!
I thank you most kindly, my dear sister, for your love to, and tender
care of, my brother. I shall think myself obliged to you if ye
continue his friend. He is more to me than a brother now, being
engaged to suffer for so honourable a Master and cause.
Pray for Christ's prisoner; and grace, grace be with you.
Yours in his sweet Lord Jesus,