[_Disdove_, or Disdow, is a farm about two miles from Gatehouse
and a mile from Girthon Manse, a single mansion among trees.
_Lennox's_ name often occurs in the "Minute-book of Comm. of
Covenanters." Was he connected with _Lennox of Cally_?]
(_MEN'S FOLLY IN UNDERVALUING CHRIST--IT IS HE THAT
SATISFIETH--ADMIRATION OF HIM._)
DEAR BROTHER,--Grace, mercy, and peace be to you.--I beseech you in
the Lord Jesus, make fast and sure work of life eternal. Sow not
rotten seed: every man's work will speak for itself, what his seed
hath been. Oh, how many see I, who sow to the flesh! Alas, what a crop
will that be, when the Lord shall put in His hook to reap this world
that is ripe and white for judgment!
I recommend to you holiness and sanctification, and that you keep
yourself clean from this present evil world. We delight to tell our
own dreams, and to flatter our own flesh with the hope which we have.
It were wisdom for us to be free, plain, honest, and sharp with our
own souls, and to charge them to brew better, that they may drink
well, and fare well, when time is melted away like snow in a hot
summer. Oh, how hard a thing is it, to get the soul to give up with
all things on this side of death and doomsday! We say that we are
removing and going from this world; but our heart stirreth not one
foot off its seat. Alas! I see few heavenly-minded souls, that have
nothing upon the earth but their body of clay going up and down this
earth, because their soul and the powers of it are up in heaven, and
there their hearts live, desire, enjoy, rejoice. Oh! men's souls have
no wings; and, therefore, night and day they keep their nest, and are
not acquainted with Christ. Sir, take you to your one thing, to
Christ, that ye may be acquainted with the taste of His sweetness and
excellency; and charge your love not to dote upon this world, for it
will not do your business in that day, when nothing will come in good
stead to you but God's favour. Build upon Christ some good, choice,
and fast work; for when your soul for many years hath taken the play,
and hath posted, and wandered through the creatures, ye will come home
again with the wind.[327] They are not good, at least not the soul's
good. It is the infinite Godhead that must allay the sharpness of your
hunger after happiness, otherwise there shall still be a want of
satisfaction to your desires: and if He should cast in ten worlds into
your desires, all shall fall through, and your soul will still cry,
"Red hunger! black hunger!" But I am sure there is sufficient for you
in Christ, if ye had seven souls and seven desires in you.
[327] Like a ship running before the wind.
Oh, if I could make my Lord Jesus market-sweet, lovely, desirable, and
fair to all the world, both to Jew and Gentile! Oh, let my part of
heaven go for it, so being He would take my tongue to be His
instrument, to set out Christ in His whole braveries of love, virtue,
grace, sweetness, and matchless glory, to the eyes and hearts of Jews
and Gentiles! But who is sufficient for these things? Oh, for the help
of angels' tongues, to make Christ eye-sweet and amiable to many
thousands! Oh, how little doth this world see of Him, and how far are
they from the love of Him, seeing there is so much loveliness, beauty,
and sweetness in Christ, that no created eye did ever yet see! I would
that all men knew His glory, and that I could put many in at the
Bridegroom's chamber-door, to see His beauty, and to be partakers of
His high, and deep, and broad, and boundless love. Oh, let all the
world come nigh and see Christ, and they shall then see more than I
can say of Him! Oh, if I had a pledge or pawn to lay down for a seaful
of His love! that I could come by so much of Christ, as would satisfy
greening and longing for Him, or rather increase it, till I were in
full possession! I know that we shall meet; and therein I rejoice.
Sir, stand fast in the truth of Christ that ye have received. Yield to
no winds, but ride out, and let Christ be your anchor, and the only
He, whom ye shall look to see in peace. Pray for me, His prisoner,
that the Lord would send me among you to feed His people.
Grace, grace be with you.
Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus,