ABERDEEN, _July 5, 1637_.
CCX.--_To my_ LADY BOYD.
(_HIS SOUL FAINTING FOR CHRIST'S MATCHLESS BEAUTY--PRAYER FOR A
REVIVAL._)
MADAM,--Grace, mercy, and peace be to you.--Few, I believe, know the
pain and torment of Christ's fristed love: fristing with Christ's
presence is a matter of torment. I know a poor soul that would lay all
oars in the water for a banquet or feast of Christ's love. I cannot
think but it must be uptaking and sweet, to see the white and red of
Christ's fair face; for He is white and ruddy, and the chiefest among
ten thousand (Cant. v. 10). I am sure that must be a well-made face of
His: heaven must be in His visage; glory, glory for evermore must sit
on His countenance. I dare not curse the mask and covering that are on
His face; but oh, if there were a hole in it! Oh, if God would tear
the mask! Fy, fy upon us! we were never ashamed till now, that we do
not proclaim our pining and languishing for Him. I am sure that never
tongue spake of Christ as He is. I am still of that mind, and still
will be, that we wrong and undervalue that holy, holy One, in having
such short and shallow thoughts of His weight and worth. Oh, if I
could but have leave to stand beside and see the Father weigh Christ
the Son, if it were possible! But how every one of them comprehendeth
another, we, who have eyes of clay, cannot comprehend. But it is a
pity for evermore, and more than shame, that such an one as Christ
should sit in heaven His lone for us. To go up thither once-errand and
on purpose to see, were no small glory. Oh that He would strike out
windows, and fair and great lights, in this old house, this
fallen-down soul, and then set the soul near-hand Christ, that the
rays and beams of light and the soul-delighting glances of the fair,
fair Godhead might shine in at the windows, and fill the house! A
fairer, and more near, and direct, sight of Christ would make room for
His love; for we are but pinched and straitened in His love. Alas, it
were easy to measure and weigh all the love that we have for Christ,
by inches and ounces! Alas, that we should love by measure and weight,
and not rather have floods and feasts of Christ's love! Oh that Christ
would break down the old narrow vessels of these narrow and ebb souls,
and make fair, deep, wide, and broad souls, to hold a sea and a full
tide (flowing over all its banks) of Christ's love!
Oh that the Almighty would give me my request! that I might see Christ
come to His temple again, as He is minting, and, it is like, minding
to do. And if the land were humbled, the judgments threatened are with
this reservation (I know), "If ye will turn and repent." Oh, what a
heaven should we have on earth, to see Scotland's moon like the light
of the sun, and Scotland's sun-light sevenfold, like the light of
seven days, in the day that the Lord bindeth up the breach of His
people, and healeth the stroke of their wound! (Isa. xxx. 26). Alas,
that we will not pull and draw Christ to His old tents again, to come
and feed among the lilies, till the day break, and the shadows flee
away! Oh that the nobles would go on, in the strength and courage of
the Lord, to bring our lawful King Jesus home again! I am persuaded
that He shall return again in glory to this land; but happy were they,
who would help to convoy Him to His sanctuary, and set Him again up
upon that mercy-seat, betwixt the cherubim. O sun, return to darkened
Britain! O fairest among all the sons of men, O most excellent One,
come home again! come home, and win the praises and blessings of the
mourners in Zion, the prisoners of hope, that wait for Thee! I know
that He can also triumph in suffering, and weep and reign, and die and
triumph, and remain in prison and yet subdue His enemies; but how
happy were I to see the coronation-day of Christ, to see His mother,
who bare Him, put the crown upon His head again, and cry with
shouting, till the earth should ring, "Let Jesus, our King, live and
reign for evermore!"
Grace, grace be with your Ladyship.
Your Ladyship's, at all obedience in Christ,