ABERDEEN, _June 15, 1637_.
CLXXVII.--_To_ MARION M'NAUGHT.
(_CHRIST SUFFERING IN HIS CHURCH--HIS COMING--OUTPOURINGS OF LOVE FROM
HIM._)
WORTHY AND DEAREST IN THE LORD,--I ever loved (since I knew you) that
little vineyard of the Lord's planting in Galloway; but now much more,
since I have heard that He who hath His fire in Zion, and His furnace
in Jerusalem, hath been pleased to set up a furnace amongst you with
the first in this kingdom. He who maketh old things new, seeing
Scotland an old, drossy, and rusted kirk, is beginning to make a new,
clean bride of her, and to bring a young, chaste wife to Himself out
of the fire. This fire shall be quenched, so soon as Christ has
brought a clean spouse through the fire! Therefore, my dearly beloved
in the Lord, fear not a worm. "Fear not, worm Jacob" (Isa. xli. 15).
Christ is in that plea, and shall win the plea. Charge an unbelieving
heart, under the pain of treason against our great and royal King
Jesus, to dependence by faith, and quiet on-waiting on our Lord. Get
you into your chambers, and shut the doors about you. In, in with
speed to your stronghold, ye prisoners of hope. Ye doves, fly into
Christ's windows till the indignation be over, and the storm be past.
Glorify the Lord in your sufferings, and take His banner of love, and
spread it over you. Others will follow you, if they see you strong in
the Lord. Their courage will take life from your Christian carriage.
Look up and see who is coming! Lift up your head, He is coming to
save, in garments dyed in blood, and travelling in the greatness of
His strength. I laugh, I smile, I leap for joy, to see Christ coming
to save you so quickly. Oh, such wide steps Christ taketh! Three or
four hills are but a step to Him; He skippeth over the mountains.
Christ hath set a battle betwixt His poor weak saints and His enemies.
He waleth the weapons for both parties, and saith to the enemies,
"Take you a sword[281] of steel, law, authority, parliaments, and
kings upon your side; that is your armour." And He saith to His
saints, "I give you a feckless tree-sword in your hand, and that is
suffering, receiving of strokes, spoiling of your goods; and with your
tree-sword ye shall get and gain the victory." Was not Christ dragged
through the ditches of deep distresses and great straits? And yet
Christ, who is your Head, hath won through with His life, howbeit not
with a whole skin. Ye are Christ's members, and He is drawing His
members through the thorny hedge up to heaven after Him. Christ one
day will not have so much as a pained toe. But there are great pieces
and portions of Christ's mystical body not yet within the gates of the
great high city, the New Jerusalem; and the dragon will strike at
Christ, so long as there is one bit or member of Christ's body out of
heaven. I tell you, Christ will make new work out of old, forcasten
Scotland, and gather the old broken boards of His tabernacle, and pin
them and nail them together. Our bills and supplications are up in
heaven; Christ hath coffers full of them. There is mercy on the other
side of this His cross; a good answer to all our bills is agreed upon.
[281] In old editions, "_word_;" but the contrast, "tree-sword" (sword
of _wood_, instead of _steel_), shows the true reading.
I must tell you what lovely Jesus, fair Jesus, King Jesus hath done to
my soul. Sometimes He sendeth me out a standing drink,[282] and
whispereth a word through the wall; and I am well content of kindness
at the second hand: His bode[283] is ever welcome to me, be what it
will. But at other times He will be messenger Himself, and I get the
cup of salvation out of His own hand (He drinking to me), and we
cannot rest till we be in other's arms. And oh, how sweet is a fresh
kiss from His holy mouth! His breathing that goeth before a kiss upon
my poor soul is sweet, and hath no fault but that it is too short. I
am careless, and stand not much on this, howbeit loins, and back, and
shoulders, and head should rive in pieces in stepping up to my
Father's house. I know that my Lord can make long, and broad, and
high, and deep glory to His name, out of this bit feckless body; for
Christ looketh not what stuff He maketh glory out of.
[282] It is like the stirrup-cup.
[283] Offer made in order to bargain.
My dearly beloved, ye have often refreshed me. But this is put up in
my Master's account; ye have Him debtor for me. But if ye will do
anything for me (as I know ye will) now in my extremity, tell all my
dear friends that a prisoner is fettered and chained in Christ's love
(Lord, never loose the fetters!); and ye and they together take my
heartiest commendations to my Lord Jesus, and thank Him for a poor
friend.
I desire your husband to read this letter. I send him a prisoner's
blessing. I will be obliged to him, if he will be willing to suffer
for my dear Master. Suffering is the professor's golden garment; there
shall be no losses on Christ's side of it. Ye have been witnesses of
much joy betwixt Christ and me at communion feasts, the remembrance
whereof (howbeit I be feasted in secret) holeth my heart; for I am put
from the board-head and the King's first mess to His by-board. And His
broken meat is sweet unto me; I thank my Lord for borrowed crumbs, no
less than when I feasted at the communion table at Anwoth and
Kirkcudbright. Pray that I may get one day of Christ in public, such
as I have had long since, before my eyes be closed. Oh that my Master
would take up house again, and lend me the keys of His wine-cellar
again, and God send me borrowed drink till then!
Remember my love to Christ's kinsmen with you. I pray for Christ's
Father's blessing to them all. Grace be with you; a prisoner's
blessing be with you. I write it and abide by it, God will be glorious
in Marion M'Naught, when this stormy blast shall be over. O woman
beloved of God, believe, rejoice, be strong in the Lord! Grace is thy
portion.
Your brother, in his sweet Lord Jesus,