ABERDEEN, _May 1, 1637_.
CLXVIII.--_To his reverend and dear Brother_, MR. DAVID DICKSON.
(_CHRIST'S INFINITE FULNESS._)
MY REVEREND AND DEAR BROTHER,--I fear that ye have never known me
well. If ye saw my inner side, it is possible that ye would pity me,
but you would hardly give me either love or respect: men mistake me
the whole length of the heavens. My sins prevail over me, and the
terrors of their guiltiness. I am put often to ask, if Christ and I
did ever shake hands together in earnest. I mean not that my
feast-days are quite gone, but I am made of extremes. I pray God that
ye never have the woful and dreary experience of a closed mouth; for
then ye shall judge the sparrows, that may sing on[264] the church of
Irvine, blessed birds. But my soul hath been refreshed and watered,
when I hear of your courage and zeal for your never-enough-praised,
praised Master, in that ye put the men of God, chased out of Ireland,
to work.[265] Oh, if I could confirm you! I dare say, in God's
presence, "That this shall never hasten your suffering, but will be
David Dickson's feast and speaking joy (viz.), that while he had time
and leisure, he put many to work, to lift up Jesus, his sweet Master,
high in the skies." O man of God, go on, go on; be valiant for that
Plant of renown, for that Chief among ten thousands, for that Prince
of the kings of the earth. It is but little that I know of God; yet
this I dare write, that Christ will be glorified in David Dickson,
howbeit Scotland be not gathered.
[264] _On_, not "_in_," as in old editions.
[265] When Mr. Robert Blair and Mr. John Livingstone, who had been
deposed in Ireland by the Bishop of Down, were obliged to leave that
country, they came over to Irvine in 1637, to Mr. Dickson. Dickson had
been advised by some respectable gentlemen not to ask them to preach,
lest the bishops should thereby take occasion to remove him from his
ministry. But his reply was: "I dare not be of their opinion, nor
follow their counsel, so far as to discountenance these worthies, now
when they are suffering for holding fast the name of Christ, and every
letter of that blessed name, as not to employ them as in former times.
Yea, I would think my so doing would provoke the Lord, so that I might
upon another account be deposed, and not have so good a conscience"
("Life of Robert Blair").
I am pained, pained, that I have not more to give my sweet Bridegroom.
His comforts to me are not dealt with a niggard's hand; but I would
fain learn not to idolise comfort, sense, joy, and sweet, felt
presence. All these are but creatures, and nothing but the kingly
robe, the gold ring, and the bracelets of the Bridegroom; the
Bridegroom Himself is better than all the ornaments that are about
Him. Now, I would not so much have these as God Himself, and to be
swallowed up of love to Christ. I see that in delighting in a
communion with Christ, we may make more gods than one. But, however,
all was but bairns' play between Christ and me till now. If one would
have sworn unto me, I would not have believed what may be found in
Christ. I hope that ye pity my pain that much, in my prison, as to
help me yourself, and to cause others help me, a dyvour, a sinful
wretched dyvour, to pay some of my debts of praise to my great King.
Let my God be judge and witness, if my soul would not have sweet ease
and comfort, to have many hearts confirmed in Christ, and enlarged
with His love, and many tongues set on work to set on high my royal
and princely Well-beloved. Oh that my sufferings could pay tribute to
such a king! I have given over wondering at His love; for Christ hath
manifested a piece of art upon me, that I never revealed to any
living. He hath gotten fair and rich employment, and sweet sale, and a
goodly market for His honourable calling of showing mercy, on me the
chief of sinners. Every one knoweth not so well as I do, my
wofully-often broken covenants. My sins against light, working[266] in
the very act of sinning, have been met with admirable mercy: but,
alas! He will get nothing back again but wretched unthankfulness. I am
sure, that if Christ pity anything in me next to my sin, it is pain of
love for an armful and soulful of Himself, in faith, love, and begun
fruition. My sorrow is, that I cannot get Christ lifted off the dust
in Scotland, and set on high, above all the skies, and heaven of
heavens.
Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus,