CLXXI.--_To the_ LAIRD OF MONCRIEFF.
[SIR JOHN MONCRIEFF, of that ilk, was the eldest son of William
Moncrieff of that ilk, by his wife Anne, daughter of Robert Murray of
Abercarnie, who was his second wife. He was a zealous Covenanter, and
a ruling elder in the parish of Carnbee, in which he resided. His name
appears in the list of the General Assembly's Commission for the
public affairs of the Church, in the years 1646 and 1648; and he was
an active member of the Presbytery of St. Andrews. He died about the
close of the year 1650. Lady Leyes, to whom reference is made in this
letter, was his third sister Jean, married to Hay of Leyes, in
Aberdeenshire (Douglas' "_Baronage of Scotland_," p. 46).]
(_CONCERT IN PRAYER--STEDFASTNESS TO CHRIST--GRIEF MISREPRESENTS
CHRIST'S GLORY._)
MUCH HONOURED SIR,--Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. Although not
acquainted, yet at the desire of your worthy sister, the Lady Leys,
and upon the report of your kindness to Christ and His oppressed
truth, I am bold to write to you, earnestly desiring you to join with
us (so many as in these bounds profess Christ), to wrestle with God,
one day of the week, especially the Wednesday, for mercy to this
fallen and decayed kirk, and to such as suffer for Christ's name; and
for your own necessities, and the necessities of others who are by
covenant engaged in that business. For we have no other armour in
these evil times but prayer, now when wrath from the Lord is gone out
against this backsliding land. For ye know we can have no true public
fasts, neither are the true causes of our humiliation ever laid before
the people.
Now, very worthy Sir, I am glad in the Lord, that the Lord reserveth
any of your place, or of note, in this time of common apostasy, to
come forth in public to hear Christ's name before men, when the great
men think Christ a cumbersome neighbour, and that religion carrieth
hazards, trials, and persecutions with it. I persuade myself that it
is your glory and your garland, and shall be your joy in the day of
Christ, and the standing of your house and seed, to inherit the earth,
that you truly and sincerely profess Christ. Neither is our King, whom
the Father hath crowned in Mount Zion, so weak, that He cannot do for
Himself and His own cause. I verily believe that they are blessed who
can hold the crown upon His head, and carry up the train of His robe
royal, and that He shall be victorious, and triumph in this land. It
is our part to back our royal King, howbeit there was not six in all
the land to follow Him. It is our wisdom now to take up, and discern,
the devil and the antichrist coming out in their whites, and the
apostasy and idolatry of this land washen with foul waters. I confess
that it is art to wash the devil till his skin be white.
For myself, Sir, I have bought a plea against Christ, since I came
hither, in judging my princely Master angry at me, because I was cast
out of the vineyard as a withered tree, my dumb Sabbaths working me
much sorrow. But I see now that sorrow hath not eyes to read love
written upon the cross of Christ; and, therefore, I pass from my rash
plea. Woe, woe is me, that I should have received a slander of
Christ's love to my soul! And for all this, my Lord Jesus hath
forgiven all, as not willing to be heard[271] with such a fool; and is
content to be, as it were, confined with me, and to bear me company,
and to feast a poor oppressed prisoner. And now I write it under my
hand, worthy Sir, that I think well and honourably of this cross of
Christ. I wonder that He will take any glory from the like of me. I
find when He but sendeth His hearty commendations to me, and but
bloweth a kiss afar off, I am confounded with wondering what the
supper of the Lamb will be, up in our Father's dining-palace of glory,
since the four-hours in this dismal wilderness, and (when in prisons
and in our sad days), a kiss of Christ, are so comfortable. Oh, how
sweet and glorious shall our case be, when that Fairest among the sons
of men will lay His fair face to our now sinful faces, and wipe away
all tears from our eyes! O time, time, run swiftly and hasten this
day! O sweet Lord Jesus, come flying like a roe or a young hart! Alas!
that we, blind fools, are fallen in love with moonshine and shadows.
How sweet is the wind that bloweth out of the airth where Christ is!
Every day we may see some new thing in Christ; His love hath neither
brim nor bottom. Oh, if I had help to praise Him! He knoweth that if
my sufferings glorify His name, and encourage others to stand fast for
the honour of our supreme Lawgiver, Christ, my wages then are paid to
the full. Sir, help me to love that never-enough-praised Lord. I find
now, that the faith of the saints, under suffering for Christ, is fair
before the wind, and with full sails carried upon Christ. And I hope
to lose nothing in this furnace but dross; for Christ can triumph in a
weaker man than I am, if there be any such. And when all is done, His
love paineth me, and leaveth me under such debt to Christ, as I can
neither pay principal nor interest. Oh, if He would comprise myself,
and if I were sold to Him as a bondman, and that He would take me home
to His house and fireside; for I have nothing to render to Him! Then,
after me, let no man think hard of Christ's sweet cross; for I would
not exchange my sighs with the painted laughter of all my adversaries.
I desire grace and patience to wait on, and to lie upon the brink,
till the water fill and flow. I know that He is fast coming.
[271] Not willing to be heard disputing with such a fool.
Sir, ye will excuse my boldness: and, till it please God that I see
you, ye have the prayers of a prisoner of Christ; to whom I recommend
you, and in whom I rest.
Yours, at all obedience in Christ,