ABERDEEN, _August 8, 1637_.
CCXXVII.--_To my_ LORD CRAIGHALL.
(_STANDING FOR CHRIST--DANGER FROM FEAR, OR PROMISES OF MEN--CHRIST'S
REQUITALS--SIN AGAINST THE HOLY SPIRIT._)
MY LORD,--I received one letter of your Lordship's from C., and
another of late from A. B., wherein I find your Lordship in perplexity
what to do. But let me entreat your Lordship not to cause yourself to
mistake Truth and Christ, because they seem to encounter with your
peace and ease. My Lord, remember that a prisoner hath written this to
you, that, "as the Lord liveth, if ye put to your hand with other
apostates in this land, to pull down the sometime beautiful tabernacle
of Christ in this land, and join hands with them in one hair-breadth
to welcome Antichrist to Scotland, there is wrath gone out from the
Lord against you and your house." If the terror of a king hath
overtaken you, and your Lordship looketh to sleep in your nest in
peace, and to take the nearest shore, there are many ways (too, too
many ways) how to shift Christ with some ill-washen and foul
distinctions. But assure yourself, suppose a king should assure you
that he would be your god (as shall never be) for that piece of
service, your clay god shall die. And your carnal counsellors, when
your conscience shall storm against you, and ye complain to them, will
say, "What is this to us?" Believe not that Christ is weak, or that He
is not able to save. Of two fires that you cannot pass, take the
least. Some few years will bring us all out in our blacks and whites
before our Judge. Eternity is nearer to you than you are aware of. To
go on in a course of defection, when an enlightened conscience is
stirring, and looking you in the face, and crying within you, "That
you are going in an evil way," is a step to the sin against the Holy
Ghost. Either many of this land are near that sin, or else I know not
what it is. And if this, for which I now suffer, be not the way of
peace and the King's highway to salvation, I believe there is not a
way at all. There is not such breadth and elbow-room in the way to
heaven as men believe.
Howbeit this day be not Christ's, the morrow shall be His. I believe
assuredly that our Lord will repair the old waste places and His
ruined houses in Scotland; and that this wilderness shall yet blossom
as the rose. My very worthy and dear Lord, wait upon Him who hideth
His face from the house of Jacob, and look for Him. Wait patiently a
little upon the Bridegroom's return again, that your soul may live,
and that ye may rejoice with the Lord's inheritance. I dare pawn my
soul and life for it, that if ye take this storm with borne-down
Christ, your sky shall quickly clear, and your fair morning dawn.
Think (as the truth is) that Christ is just now saying, "And will ye
also leave Me?" Ye have a fair occasion to gratify Christ now, if ye
will stay with Him, and want the night's sleep with your suffering
Saviour one hour, now when Scotland hath fallen asleep, and leaveth
Christ to fend for Himself. I profess myself but a weak, feeble man.
When I came first to Christ's camp, I had nothing to maintain this
war, or to bear me out in this encounter; and I am little better yet.
But since I find furniture, armour, and strength from the consecrated
Captain, the Prince of our salvation, who was perfected through
suffering, I esteem suffering for Christ a king's life. I find that
our wants qualify us for Christ. And, howbeit your Lordship write that
ye despair to attain to such a communion and fellowship (which I would
not have you to think), yet, would ye nobly and courageously venture
to make over to Christ, for His honour now lying at the stake, your
estate, place, and honour, He would lovingly and largely requite you,
and give you a king's word for a recompense. Venture upon Christ's
"Come," and I dare swear ye will say, "I bless the Lord who gave me
counsel" (Ps. xvi. 7). My very worthy Lord, many eyes, in both the
kingdoms, are upon you now, and the eye of our Lord is upon you.
Acquit yourself manfully for Christ; spill not this good play.
Subscribe a blank submission, and put it into Christ's hands. Win, win
the blessings and prayers of your sighing and sorrowful mother-church
seeking your help: win Christ's bond (who is a King of His word), for
a hundredfold more even in this life.
If a weak man[342] hath passed a promise to a king, to make slip to
Christ (if we look to flesh and blood, I wonder not of it; possibly I
might have done worse myself), add not further guiltiness to go on in
such a scandalous and foul way. Remember that there is a wo, wo to him
by whom offences come. This wo came out of Christ's mouth, and it is
heavier than the wo of the law. It is the Mediator's vengeance, and
that is two vengeances to those who are enlightened. Free yourself
from unlawful anguish, about advising and resolving. When the truth is
come to your hand, hold it fast; go not again to make a new search
and inquiry for truth. It is easy to cause conscience to believe as ye
will, not as ye know. It is easy for you to cast your light into
prison, and detain God's truth in unrighteousness: but that prisoner
will break ward, to your incomparable torture. Fear your light, and
stand in awe of it: for it is from God. Think what honour it is in
this life also to be enrolled to the succeeding ages amongst Christ's
witnesses, standing against the re-entry of Antichrist. I know
certainly that your light, looking to two ways, and to the two sides,
crieth shame upon the course that they would counsel you to follow.
The way that is halver and copartner with the smoke of this fat world
(Ps. xxxvii. 20), and wit and ease, smelleth strong of a foul and
false way.
[342] That is, If you, in a moment of weakness, have made a rash
promise that gives Christ the go-by.
The Prince of peace, He who brought again from the dead the great
Shepherd of His sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, establish
you, and give you sound light, and counsel you to follow Christ.
Remember my obliged service to my Lord your father, and mother, and
your lady.
Grace be with you.
Your Lordship's, at all obliged obedience, in his sweet Lord Jesus,