[JOHN STUART, Provost of Ayr, is described by Livingstone as "a godly
and zealous Christian of a long standing," and from his earliest
years. Inheriting, after the death of his father, considerable
property, he largely applied it to benevolent purposes. Such was his
disinterested love to those who were the friends of Christ and His
truth, that he called a number of them whose straitened condition he
knew, to meet with him in Edinburgh; and after some time spent in
prayer, told them he had brought a little money to lend to each of
them, which they were not to offer to pay back till he required it, at
the same time requiring them to promise not to make this known during
his life. Not long after (the plague raging with severity in Ayr, and
trade becoming, in consequence, much depressed) he himself fell into
pecuniary difficulties, which made him at that time remove from the
country. Borrowing a little money, he went over to France, and coming
to Rochelle, loaded a ship with salt and other commodities, which he
purchased at a very cheap rate. He then returned the nearest way to
England, and thence to Ayr, in expectation of the ship's return. After
waiting long, he was informed that it was taken by the Turks, which,
considering the loss which others in that case would sustain, much
afflicted him. But it at last arrived in the Road. It was on this
occasion that his friend John Kennedy, going out to the vessel in a
small boat, was driven away by a storm. (See notice of Kennedy, Letter
LXXV.) Stuart having sold the commodities which he brought from
France, not only was enabled by the profits to pay all his debts, but
cleared twenty thousand merks. (Fleming's "Fulfilling of the
Scriptures.") He joined with Mr. Blair, Mr. Livingstone, and others,
in their plan of emigrating to New England, though they were forced to
give it up. This good man was much afflicted on his death-bed, so that
one day he said, "I testify, that except when I slept, or was in
business, I was not these ten years without thoughts of God, so long
as I would be in going from my own house to the cross; and yet I doubt
myself, and am in great agony, yea, at the brink of despair." But a
day or two before he died, all his doubts were dispelled; and to Mr.
Ferguson, the pious minister of Ayr, he said, referring to his
struggle with temptations at that time, "I have been fighting and
working out my salvation with fear and trembling, and now I bless God
it is perfected, sealed, confirmed, and all fears are gone."]
(_COMMERCIAL MISFORTUNES--SERVICE-BOOK--BLESSEDNESS OF TRIAL._)
MUCH HONOURED SIR,--Grace, mercy, and peace be unto you. I long to
hear from you, being now removed from my flock, and the prisoner of
Christ at Aberdeen. I would not have you to think it strange that your
journey to New England hath gotten such a dash.[247] It indeed hath
made my heart heavy; yet I know it is no dumb providence, but a
speaking one, whereby our Lord speaketh His mind to you, though for
the present ye do not well understand what He saith. However it be, He
who sitteth upon the floods hath shown you His marvellous kindness in
the great depths. I know that your loss is great, and your hope is
gone far against you; but I entreat you, sir, expound aright our
Lord's laying all hindrances in the way. I persuade myself that your
heart aimeth at the footsteps of the flock, to feed beside the
shepherds' tents, and to dwell beside Him whom your soul loveth; and
that it is your desire to remain in the wilderness, where the Woman is
kept from the Dragon. (Rev. xii. 14.) And this being your desire,
remember that a poor prisoner of Christ said it to you, that that
miscarried journey is with child to you of mercy and consolation; and
shall bring forth a fair birth on which the Lord will attend. Wait on;
"He that believeth maketh not haste" (Isa. xxviii. 16).
[247] See note at Letter LXIII.
I hope that ye have been asking what the Lord meaneth, and what
further may be His will, in reference to your return. My dear brother,
let God make of you what He will, He will end all with consolation,
and will make glory out of your sufferings; and would you wish better
work? This water was in your way to heaven, and written in your Lord's
book; ye behoved to cross it, and, therefore, kiss His wise and
unerring providence. Let not the censures of men, who see but the
outside of things, and scarce well that, abate your courage and
rejoicing in the Lord. Howbeit your faith seeth but the black side of
providence; yet it hath a better side, and God will let you see it.
Learn to believe Christ better than His strokes, Himself and His
promises better than His glooms. Dashes and disappointments are not
canonical Scripture; fighting for the promised land seemed to cry to
God's promise, "Thou liest." If our Lord ride upon a straw, His horse
shall neither stumble nor fall. "For we know that all things work
together for good to them that love God" (Rom. viii. 28); _ergo_,
shipwreck, losses, etc., work together for the good of them that love
God. Hence I infer, that losses, disappointments, ill-tongues, loss of
friends, houses, or country, are God's workmen, set on work to work
out good to you, out of everything that befalleth you. Let not the
Lord's dealing seem harsh, rough, or unfatherly, because it is
unpleasant. When the Lord's blessed will bloweth across your desires,
it is best, in humility, to strike sail to Him, and to be willing to
be led any way our Lord pleaseth. It is a point of denial of yourself,
to be as if ye had not a will, but had made a free disposition of it
to God, and had sold it over to Him; and to make use of His will for
your own is both true holiness, and your ease and peace. Ye know not
what the Lord is working out of this, but ye shall know it hereafter.
And what I write to you, I write to your wife. I compassionate her
case, but entreat her not to fear nor faint. This journey is a part of
her wilderness to heaven and the promised land, and there are fewer
miles behind. It is nearer the dawning of the day to her than when
she went out of Scotland. I should be glad to hear that ye and she
have comfort and courage in the Lord.
Now, as concerning our kirk; our Service-Book is ordained, by open
proclamation and sound of trumpet, to be read in all the kirks of the
kingdom.[248] Our prelates are to meet this month about our
Canons,[249] and for a reconciliation betwixt us and the Lutherans.
The Professors of Aberdeen University are charged to draw up the
Articles of an uniform Confession; but reconciliation with Popery is
intended. This is the day of Jacob's visitation; the ways of Zion
mourn, our gold is become dim, the sun is gone down upon our prophets.
A dry wind, but neither to fan nor to cleanse, is coming upon this
land; and all our ill is coming from the multiplied transgressions of
this land, and from the friends and lovers of Babel among us. "The
violence done to me and to my flesh be upon thee, Babylon, shall the
inhabitant of Zion say; and, My blood upon the inhabitants of Chaldea,
shall Jerusalem say."[250]
[248] The Service-Book, or Liturgy, at this time imposed upon
Scotland, was that of England, but with numerous alterations. The Act
of Privy Council, enjoining the use of the Service-Book, is dated 20th
December 1636; and it was next day proclaimed at the cross of
Edinburgh: but it was not published till towards the end of May 1637.
Its title is, "The Booke of Common Prayer and Administration of the
Sacraments and other parts of Divine Service, for the use of the
Church of Scotland. Edinburgh, 1637." This book was extremely
obnoxious to the great body of the ministers and people of Scotland,
both from the manner of its introduction, which was by the sole
authority of the King, without the Church having been even consulted
in the matter, and from the doctrines which it contained, in which it
approached nearer to the Roman Missal than the English liturgy. It was
drawn up by James Wedderburn, Bishop of Dunblane, and John Maxwell,
Bishop of Ross, with the assistance of Sydserff, Bishop of Galloway,
and Ballenden, Bishop of Aberdeen. It was revised by Archbishop Laud,
and Wren, Bishop of Norwich. Kirkton mentions that he saw the original
copy corrected by Laud's own hands, and that all his corrections
approached towards Popery and the Roman Missal. (Kirkton's "History,"
p. 30.)
[249] "The Book of Canons" was, in obedience to the King's orders,
drawn up by four of the Scottish bishops,--Sydserff of Galloway,
Maxwell of Ross, Ballenden of Aberdeen, and Whiteford of Dunblane. It
received the Royal sanction, and became law in 1635. This book, like
the Service-Book which followed it, was extremely obnoxious to the
people of Scotland, because it was imposed solely by Royal authority,
and from the nature of the canons themselves, which prescribed a
variety of ceremonial and superstitious rites in the observance of
baptism and the Lord's Supper; invested bishops with uncontrollable
power; inculcated the doctrine of the King's supremacy in matters
ecclesiastical as well as civil,--affirming that no meeting of General
Assembly could be held unless called by the King's authority; with
other unscriptural innovations.
[250] Jer. li. 35.
Now for myself: I was three days before the High Commission, and
accused of treason preached against our King. (A minister being
witness, went well nigh to swear it.) God hath saved me from their
malice. _1stly_, They have deprived me of my ministry; _2ndly_,
Silenced me, that I exercise no part of the ministerial function
within this kingdom, under the pain of rebellion; _3rdly_, Confined my
person within the town of Aberdeen, where I find the ministers working
for my confinement in Caithness or Orkney, far from them, because some
people here (willing to be edified) resort to me. At my first entry, I
had heavy challenges within me, and a court fenced (but I hope not in
Christ's name), wherein it was asserted that my Lord would have no
more of my services, and was tired of me; and, like a fool, I summoned
Christ also for unkindness. My soul fainted, and I refused comfort,
and said, "What ailed Christ at me? for I desired to be faithful in
His house." Thus, in my rovings and mistakings, my Lord Jesus bestowed
mercy on me, who am less than the least of all saints. I lay upon the
dust, and bought a plea from Satan against Christ, and He was content
to sell it. But at length Christ did show Himself friends with me, and
in mercy pardoned and passed my part of it, and only complained that a
court should be holden in His bounds without His allowance. Now I pass
from my compearance; and, as if Christ had done the fault, He hath
made the mends, and returned to my soul; so that now His poor prisoner
feedeth on the feasts of love. My adversaries know not what a courtier
I am now with my Royal King, for whose crown I now suffer. It is but
our soft and lazy flesh that hath raised an ill report of the cross of
Christ. O sweet, sweet is His yoke! Christ's chains are of pure gold;
sufferings for Him are perfumed. I would not give my weeping for the
laughing of all the fourteen prelates; I would not exchange my sadness
with the world's joy. O lovely, lovely Jesus, how sweet must Thy
kisses be, when Thy cross smelleth so sweetly! Oh, if all the three
kingdoms had part of my love-feast, and of the comfort of a dawted
prisoner!
Dear Brother, I charge you to praise for me, and to seek help of our
acquaintance there to help me to praise. Why should I smother Christ's
honesty to me? My heart is taken up with this, that my silence and
sufferings may preach. I beseech you in the bowels of Christ, to help
me to praise. Remember my love to your wife, to Mr. Blair, and Mr.
Livingstone, and Mr. Cunningham. Let me hear from you, for I am
anxious what to do. If I saw a call for New England, I would follow
it. Grace be with you.
Yours in our Lord Jesus,