ABERDEEN, _March 14, 1637_.
CLII.--_To_ MR. THOMAS GARVEN.
[This correspondent was one of the ministers of Edinburgh. Letters
CLXV. and CCXLVII. also are addressed to him. Brodie, in his "Diary,"
June 1662, speaks of hearing him preach.]
(_A PRISONER'S JOYS--LOVE OF CHRIST--THE GOOD PART--HEAVEN IN SIGHT._)
REVEREND AND DEAR BROTHER,--I bless you for your letter; it was a
shower to the new-mown grass. The Lord hath given you the tongue of
the learned. Be fruitful and humble.
It is possible that ye may come to my case, or the like; but the water
is neither so deep, nor the stream so strong, as it is called. I think
my fire is not so hot; my water is dry land, my loss rich loss. Oh,
if[236] the walls of my prison be high, wide, and large, and the place
sweet! No man knoweth it, no man, I say, knoweth it, my dear brother,
so well as He and I; no man can put it down in black and white as my
Lord hath sealed it in my heart. My poor stock hath grown since I came
to Aberdeen; and if any had known the wrong I did, in being jealous of
such an honest lover as Christ, who withheld not His love from me,
they would think the more of it. But I see, He must be above me in
mercy. I will never strive with Him; to think to recompense Him is
folly. If I had as many angels' tongues, as there have fallen drops of
rain since the creation, or as there are leaves of trees in all the
forests of the earth, or stars in the heaven, to praise, yet my Lord
Jesus would ever be behind with me.[237] We will never get our
accounts fitted. A pardon must close the reckoning; for His comforts
to me in this honourable cause have almost put me beyond the bounds of
modesty; howbeit I will not let every one know what is betwixt us.
Love, love (I mean Christ's love), is the hottest coal that ever I
felt. Oh, but the smoke of it be hot! Cast all the salt sea on it, it
will flame; hell cannot quench it; many many waters will not quench
love. Christ is turned over to His poor prisoner in a mass and globe
of love. I wonder that He should waste so much love upon such a waster
as I am; but He is no waster, but abundant in mercy. He hath no
niggard's alms, when He is pleased to give. Oh that I could invite all
the nation to love Him! Free grace is an unknown thing. This world
hath heard but a bare name of Christ, and no more. There are infinite
plies in His love that the saints will never win to unfold; I would it
were better known, and that Christ got more of His own due than He
doth.
[236] "Oh if;" _q.d._, What will you say if I tell you that the walls
of my prison are, etc.
[237] Never have got His due from me.
Brother, ye have chosen the good part, who have taken part with
Christ. Ye will see Him win the field, and shall get part of the spoil
when He divideth it. They are but fools who laugh at us; for they see
but the backside of the moon, yet our moonlight is better than their
twelve-hours' sun. We have gotten the New Heavens, and, as a pledge of
that, the Bridegroom's love-ring. The children of the wedding-chamber
have cause to skip and leap for joy; for the marriage-supper is
drawing nigh, and we find the four-hours sweet and comfortable. O
time, be not slow! O sun, move speedily, and hasten our banquet! O
Bridegroom, be like a roe or a young hart upon the mountains! O
Well-beloved, run fast, that we may once meet!
Brother, I restrain myself for want of time. Pray for me; I hope to
remember you. The good-will of Him who dwelt in the bush, the tender
mercies of God in Christ, enrich you. Grace be with you.
Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus,