ABERDEEN, _March 7, 1637_.
[Illustration: IRVINE.]
CX.--_To his Reverend and Dear Brother_, MR. DAVID DICKSON.
[DAVID DICKSON (sometimes shortened into DICK), born in 1583, was
the only son of Mr. John Dickson, a pious and wealthy merchant in
Glasgow. After finishing his studies at the University of
Glasgow, he was admitted Professor of Philosophy in that
University, which office he held for eight years. In 1618 he was
ordained minister of Irvine, where he laboured with much
acceptance and success. In 1622, refusing to practise the
ceremonies then imposed upon the Church by the Perth Articles, he
was summoned by James Law, Archbishop of Glasgow, to appear
before the High Commission Court. He appeared, but declined the
authority of the Court in ecclesiastical matters. The result was,
that he was deprived of his charge at Irvine, and banished to
Turriff, in Aberdeenshire. There, however, he was employed every
Sabbath by the incumbent of the parish. Yielding to the
solicitations of the Earl of Eglinton and the town of Irvine, the
Bishop granted him liberty to return to his old charge about the
end of July 1623. He resumed his pastoral duties with increased
ardour; and in addition to his Sabbath labours, preached every
Monday (the market-day of Irvine), for the benefit of the rural
population. Great numbers, particularly from the neighbouring
parish of Stewarton, attending these meetings, the result was the
famous Stewarton Revival, which lasted from 1623 to 1630. After
the renewal of the National Covenant, in 1638, Dickson, who was
then distinguished as a leader, in conjunction with Alexander
Henderson and Andrew Cant, was sent on a mission to Aberdeen, to
explain the Covenant to the inhabitants who were hostile to it,
when the celebrated controversy between the three commissioners
and the doctors of Aberdeen, on the subject, took place. In 1642
he was appointed Professor of Divinity in the University of
Glasgow, in which office he was associated with the celebrated
Robert Baillie. He was afterwards translated to the same office
in the University of Edinburgh. In the differences between the
Resolutioners and Protesters, he took the side of the former;
but, on seeing how matters went upon the restoration of Charles
II., is reported to have said to one who visited him on his
deathbed, that the Protesters were the truest prophets. He died
in December 1662. Dickson was a man of more than ordinary
talents, of extensive theological acquirements, of a very
intrepid spirit, and a popular preacher. He was the author of
various works, which have been highly esteemed.]
(_GOD'S DEALINGS--THE BITTER SWEETENED--NOTES ON SCRIPTURE._)
REVEREND AND DEAREST BROTHER,--What joy have I out of heaven's gates,
but that my Lord Jesus be glorified in my bonds? Blessed be ye of the
Lord who contribute anything to my obliged and indebted praises. Dear
brother, help me, a poor dyvour, to pay the interest; for I cannot
come nigh to render the principal. It is not jest nor sport which
maketh me to speak and write as I do: I never before came to that nick
or pitch of communion with Christ that I have now attained to. For my
confirmation, I have been these two Sabbaths or three in private,
taking instruments in the name of God, that my Lord Jesus and I have
kissed each other in Aberdeen, the house of my pilgrimage. I seek not
an apple to play me with (He knoweth, whom I serve in the spirit!),
but a seal. I but beg earnest, and am content to suspend and frist
glory whill supper-time. I know that this world will not last with me;
for my moonlight is noonday light, and my four hours above my feasts
when I was a preacher; at which time, also, I was embraced very often
in His arms. But who can blame Christ to take me on behind Him (if I
may say so), on His white horse, or in His chariot, paved with love,
through a water? Will not a father take his little dawted Davie in his
arms, and carry him over a ditch or a mire? My short legs could not
step over this lair, or sinking mire; and, therefore, my Lord Jesus
will bear me through. If a change come, and a dark day (so being that
He will keep my faith without flaw or crack), I dare not blame Him,
howbeit I get no more whill I come to heaven. But ye know that the
physic behoved to have sugar: my faith was fallen aswoon, and Christ
but held up a swooning man's head. Indeed, I pray not for a dawted
bairn's diet: He knoweth that I would have Christ, sour or sweet,--any
way, so being it be Christ indeed. I stand not now upon pared apples,
or sugared dishes, but I cannot blame Him to give, and I must gape and
make a wide mouth. Since Christ will not pantry up joys, He must be
welcome who will not bide away. I seek no other fruit than that He may
be glorified. He knoweth that I would take hard fare to have His name
set on high.
I bless you for your counsel. I hope to live by faith, and swim
without a mass or bundle of joyful sense under my chin; at least to
venture, albeit I should be ducked.
Now for my case: I think that the council should be essayed, and the
event referred to God;--duties are ours, and events are God's.
I shall go through yours upon the Covenant at leisure, and write to
you my mind thereanent; and anent the Arminian contract betwixt the
Father and the Son. I beseech you, set to, to go through
Scripture.[206] Yours on the Hebrews is in great request with all who
would be acquainted with Christ's Testament. I purpose, God willing,
to set about Hosea, and to try if I can get it to the press here.
[206] Rutherford seems here to allude to a plan of furnishing short
commentaries on the whole Bible, which was suggested and set on foot
by Dickson at the beginning of the seventeenth century. "The Hebrews,"
as is mentioned in this letter, together with "The Psalms" and
"Matthew," were undertaken by Dickson; and "Hosea," which Rutherford
here intimates his intention to undertake, but never accomplished, was
contributed by Hutchison in his stead. In the Preface to one of the
earliest editions of the Letters, a complaint is made that some one
was secreting a MS. commentary of Rutherford's upon "Isaiah."
It refresheth me much that ye are so kind to my brother. I hope your
counsel will do him good. I recommend him to you, since I am so far
from him. I am glad that the dying servant of God, famous and faithful
Mr. Cunningham, sealed your ministry before he fell asleep.
Grace, grace be with you.
Yours in his sweet Lord Jesus,