ABERDEEN, _Sept. 7, 1637_.
CCXLIV.[351]--_To_ MARION M'NAUGHT.
[351] _Aberdeen_ is affixed to this letter; and if written from
_Aberdeen_ it must have been in 1637. Hence the letter is inserted
here. At the same time, the reference to events points to some time
about 1633. It is possible that "_Aberdeen_" is a mistake for
_Anwoth_.
"And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all
people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in
pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together
against it."--ZECH. xii. 13.
(_PROCEEDINGS OF PARLIAMENT--PRIVATE MATTERS--HER DAUGHTER'S
MARRIAGE._)
WELL-BELOVED SISTER,--I have been sparing to write to you because I
was heavy at the proceedings of our late Parliament.[352] Where law
should have been, they would not give our Lord Jesus fair law and
justice, nor the benefit of the house, to hear either the just
grievances, or the humble supplications of the servants of God.[353]
Nothing resteth, but that we lay our grievances before our crowned
King, Jesus, who reigneth in Zion. And howbeit it be true, that the
Acts of the Perth Assembly for conformity are established, and the
King's power to impose the surplice, and other mass-apparel, upon
ministers, be confirmed,[354] yet what men conclude is not Scripture.
Kings have short arms to overturn Christ's throne; and our Lord hath
been walking and standing upon His feet at this Parliament, when
fifteen earls and lords, and forty-four commissioners for burghs, with
some barons, have voted for our kirk,[355] in face of a king who, with
much awe and terror, with his own hand, wrote up the voters for or
against himself.[356] Long before this kirk, in the second Psalm, the
ends of the earth (Scotland and England) were gifted of the Father to
His Son, Christ; and that is an old Act of Parliament decreed by our
Lord, and printed four thousand years ago. Their Acts are but yet
printing. The first Act shall stand, let all the potentates of the
world, who love Christ's room better than Himself, rage as they
please. Though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea, yet
there is a river that cometh out of the sanctuary, and the streams of
it refresh the city of God. That well is not yet cried down in
Scotland, nor can it dry up: therefore, still believe and trust in
God's salvation. If you knew the whole proceedings, it is the Lord's
mercy that matters have gone at our Parliament, as they have gone. The
Lord Jesus, in our King's ears, to His great provocation and grief,
hath gotten many witnesses; and we saw in all the Son of God
overturning their policy, and making the world know how well He loveth
His poor sun-burnt bride in Scotland. The Lord liveth, and blessed be
the God of our salvation.
[352] The Parliament held at Edinburgh in June 1633.
[353] Mr. Thomas Hog, minister of the Gospel at Dysart, in his own
name, and in the name of other ministers, before the sitting down of
the Parliament, presented a paper, entitled, "Grievances and Petitions
concerning the Disordered Estate of the Reformed Kirk within this
realm of Scotland," to Sir John Hay, Clerk Register, to be laid before
the Parliament.
[354] The reference here is to two Acts passed by the Parliament in
June 1633, the one ratifying all Acts made before in favour of the
church, and consequently ratifying the Acts of Perth, and other Acts
made for settling and advancing the estate of bishops; the other,
asserting the King's prerogative of enjoining churchmen to wear
whatever apparel he chose.
[355] This was the number of members of Parliament who voted against
the above Acts.
[356] "The King's taking pen and paper in hand in the time of the
voting, was a sufficient ground of apprehending fear" (Scot's
"Apologetical Narration").
For the matter betwixt your husband and Carleton, I trust in God it
shall be removed. It hath grieved me exceedingly. I have dealt with
Carleton, and shall deal. Put it off yourself upon the Lord, that it
burden you not.
I have heard of your daughter's marriage: I pray the Lord Jesus to
subscribe the contract, and to be at the banquet, as He was at the
marriage of Cana of Galilee. Show her from me, that though it be true
that God's children have prayed for her, yet the promise of God is
made to her prayers and faith especially: and, therefore, I would
entreat her to seek the Lord to be at the wedding. Let her give
Christ the love of her virginity and espousals, and choose Him first
as her Husband, and that match shall bless the other. It is a new
world she entereth into, and therefore she hath need of new
acquaintance with the Son of God, and of a renewing of her love to
Him, whose love is better than wine. "The time is short: let the
married be as though they were not married; they that weep, as though
they weeped not; they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; they
that buy, as though they possessed not; they that use this world, as
though they used it not: for the fashion of this world passeth away"
(1 Cor. vii. 29, 30, 31). Grace, grace be her portion from the Lord. I
know that you have a care on you of it, that all be right: but let
Christ bear all. You need not pity Him, if I may say so; put Him to
it, He is strength enough.
The Spirit of the Lord Jesus be with you.
Your friend, in his dearest friend, Christ Jesus,