ABERDEEN, _March 14, 1637_.
CXLVII.--_To JOHN GORDON, at Rusco, in the Parish of Anwoth,
Galloway._
[It is said that "Rusco" means "a boggy place," referring to the
original state of the place. The old tower or castle still stands
on a gentle slope, three miles from Gatehouse and two from
Anwoth, but uninhabited. The wooded height of Castramont was part
of the domain. It was at this old mansion (Rusco) that Robert
Campbell, laird of Kinzeancleugh, the friend of John Knox, died
of fever, in 1574, when on a visit to Gordon of Lochinvar,
"expressing his confidence of victory, and his desire to depart
and be with Christ."]
(_PRESSING INTO HEAVEN--A CHRISTIAN NO EASY ATTAINMENT--SINS TO BE
AVOIDED._)
MY WORTHY AND DEAR BROTHER,--Misspend not your short sand-glass, which
runneth very fast; seek your Lord in time. Let me obtain of you a
letter under your hand, for a promise to God, by His grace, to take a
new course of walking with God. Heaven is not at the next door; I find
it hard to be a Christian. There is no little thrusting and thringing
to thrust in at heaven's gates; it is a castle taken by force;--"Many
shall strive to enter in, and shall not be able."
I beseech and obtest you in the Lord, to make conscience of rash and
passionate oaths, of raging and sudden avenging anger, of night
drinking, of needless companionry, of Sabbath-breaking, of hurting any
under you by word or deed, of hating your very enemies. "Except ye
receive the kingdom of God as a little child," and be as meek and
sober-minded as a babe, "ye cannot enter into the kingdom of God."
That is a word which should touch you near, and make you stoop and
cast yourself down, and make your great spirit fall. I know that this
will not be easily done, but I recommend it to you, as you tender
your part of the kingdom of heaven.
Brother, I may, from new experience, speak of Christ to you. Oh, if ye
saw in Him what I see! A river of God's unseen joys has flowed from
bank to brae over my soul since I parted with you. I wish that I
wanted part, so being ye might have; that your soul might be sick of
love for Christ, or rather satiated with Him. This clay-idol, the
world, would seem to you then not worth a fig; time will eat you out
of possession of it. When the eye-strings break, and the breath
groweth cold, and the imprisoned soul looketh out of the windows of
the clay-house, ready to leap out into eternity, what would you then
give for a lamp full of oil? Oh seek it now.
I desire you to correct and curb banning, swearing, lying, drinking,
Sabbath-breaking, and idle spending of the Lord's day in absence from
the kirk, as far as your authority reacheth in that parish.
I hear that a man is to be thrust into that place, to the which I have
God's right. I know that ye should have a voice by God's word in that
(Acts i. 15, 16, to the end; vi. 3-5). Ye would be loath that any
prelate should put you out of your possession earthly; and this is
your right. What I write to you, I write to your wife. Grace be with
you.
Your loving Pastor,