ABERDEEN, _June 16, 1637_.
CLXXXIII.--_To_ MR. J---- R----.
[It is highly probable that the individual to whom this letter is
addressed was John Row, son of John Row, minister of Carnock, a
grandson of John Row the reformer, and contemporary of Knox. In
1632 he was appointed master of the Grammar School of Perth, in
which situation he continued for some years. The year after his
appointment, he was in some danger of expulsion, for refusing to
join in the observance of the Lord's Supper after the manner
enjoined by the Perth Articles. At the time when this letter was
written, he appears to have been exposed to a similar danger. In
1641 he was ordained minister of St. Nicholas Church, Aberdeen;
and in 1652 was elevated to be Principal of King's College. Row
was a man of learning, and was the author of the first Hebrew
grammar printed in Scotland. He died in 1646.]
(_CHRIST THE PURIFIER OF HIS CHURCH--SUBMISSION TO HIS WAYS._)
DEAR BROTHER,--Grace, mercy, and peace be unto you. Upon the report
which I hear of you, without any further acquaintance, except our
straitest bonds in our Lord Jesus, I thought good to write unto you,
hearing of your danger to be thrust out of the Lord's house for His
name's sake. Therefore, my earnest and humble desire to God is, that
ye may be strengthened in the grace of God, and, by the power of His
might, to go on for Christ, not standing in awe of a worm that shall
die. I hope that ye will not put your hand to the ark to give it a
wrong touch,[296] and to overturn it, as many now do, when the archers
are shooting sore at Joseph, whose bow shall abide in its strength. We
owe to our royal King and princely Master a testimony. Oh, how blessed
are they who can ward a blow off Christ, and His borne-down truth! Men
think Christ a gone man now, and that He shall never get up His head
again; and they believe that His court is failed, because He suffereth
men to break their spears and swords upon Him, and the enemies to
plough Zion, and make long and deep their furrows on her back. But it
would not be so, if the Lord had not a sowing for His ploughing. What
can He do, but melt an old drossy kirk, that He may bring out a new
bride out of the fire again? I think that Christ is just now repairing
His house, and exchanging His old vessels with new vessels, and is
going through this land, and taking up an inventory and a roll of so
many of Levi's sons, and good professors, that He may make them new
work for the Second Temple; and whatsoever shall be found not to be
for the work, shall be casten over the wall. When the house shall be
builded, He will lay by His hammers, as having no more to do with
them. It is possible that He may do worse to them than lay them by;
and I think the vengeance of the Lord, and the vengeance of His
temple, shall be upon them.
[296] In old editions, "totch;" and explained to be a sudden push,
such a push, too, as sets the object in motion. The allusion is to 2
Sam. vi. 6.
I desire no more than to keep weight when I am past the fire; and I
can now, in some weak measure, give Christ a testimonial of a lovely
and loving companion under suffering for Him. I saw Him before, but
afar off. His beauty, to my eyesight, groweth. A fig, a straw for a
ten worlds' plastered glory, and for childish shadows, the idol of
clay (this god, the world) that fools fight for! If I had a lease of
Christ of my own dating (for whoever once cometh nigh-hand, and taketh
a hearty look of Christ's inner side, shall never wring nor wrestle
themselves out of His love-grips again), I would rest contentedly in
my prison, yea, in my prison without light of sun or candle, providing
Christ and I had a love-bed, not of mine, but of Christ's own making,
that we might lie together among the lilies, till the day break and
the shadows flee away. Who knoweth how sweet a drink of Christ's love
is! Oh, but to live on Christ's love is a king's life! The worst
things of Christ, even that which seemeth to be the refuse of Christ,
His hard cross, His black cross, is white and fair; and the cross
receiveth a beautiful lustre and a perfumed smell from Jesus. My dear
brother, scaur not at it.
While ye have time to stand upon the watch-tower and speak, contend
with this land. Plead with your harlot-mother, who hath been a
treacherous half-marrow to her husband Jesus. For I would think
liberty to preach one day the root and top of my desires; and would
seek no more of the blessings that are to be had on this side of time,
till I be over the water, than to spend this my crazy clay-house in
His service, and saving of souls. But I hold my peace, because He hath
done it. My shallow and ebb thoughts are not the compass which Christ
saileth by. I leave His ways to Himself, for they are far, far above
me: only I would contend with Christ for His love, and be bold to make
a plea with Jesus, my Lord, for a heart-fill of His love; for there is
no more left to me. What standeth beyond the far end of my sufferings,
and what shall be the event, He knoweth, and I hope, to my joy, will
make me know, when God will unfold His decrees concerning me. For
there are windings, and tos and fros, in His ways, which blind bodies
like us cannot see.
Thus much for farther acquaintance; so, recommending you, and what is
before you, to the grace of God, I rest,
Your very loving brother in his sweet Lord Jesus,