ST. ANDREWS, _Jan. 8, 1640_.
CCXCIV.--_To my_ LADY BOYD.
(_SINS OF THE LAND--DWELLING IN CHRIST--FAITH AWAKE SEES ALL WELL._)
MADAM,--I received your Ladyship's letter; but because I was still
going through the country for the affairs of the church, I had no time
to answer it.
I had never more cause to fear than I have now, when my Lord hath
restored me to my second created heaven on earth, and hath turned my
apprehended fears into joys, and great deliverance to His church,
whereof I have my share and part. Alas! that weeping prayers, answered
and sent back from heaven with joy, should not have laughing praises!
Oh that this land would repent, and lay burdens of praises upon the
top of the fair Mount Zion! Madam, except this land be humbled, a
Reformation is rather my wonder than belief, at this time. But surely
it must be a wonder, and what is done already is a wonder. Our Lord
must restore beauty to His churches without hire; for we are sold
without money, and now our buyers repent them of the bargain, and
would gladly give again better-cheap than they bought us. They
devoured Jacob, and eat up His people as bread; now Jacob is growing a
living child in their womb, and they would fain be delivered of the
child, and render the birth. Our Lord shall be midwife. Oh that this
land be not like Ephraim, "An unwise son, that stayeth too long in the
place of the breaking forth of children!" Your Ladyship is blessed
with children who are honoured to build up Christ's waste places
again. I believe that your Ladyship will think them well bestowed on
that work, and that Zion's beauty is your joy. This is a mark and
evidence from heaven, which helpeth weak ones to hold their grip, when
other marks fail them.
I hope that your Ladyship is at a good understanding with Christ, and
that, as becometh a Christian, ye take Him up aright; for many mistake
and misshape Christ in His comings and goings. Your wants and falls
proclaim that ye have nothing of your own but what ye borrow; nay,
yourself is not your own, but Christ hath given Himself to you. Put
Christ to the bank, and heaven shall be your interest and income. Love
Him, for ye cannot over-love Him. Take up your house in Christ. Let
Him dwell in you, and abide in Him; and then ye may look out of
Christ, and laugh at the clay-heavens that the sons of men are seeking
after on this side of the water. Christ mindeth to make your losses
grace's great advantage. Christ will lose nothing of you; nay, not
even your sins, for He hath a use for them, as well as for your
service; howbeit ye are to loathe yourself for these. I hope that ye
fetch all the heaven ye have here in this life from that which is up
above, and that your anchor is casten as high and deep as Christ. (Oh,
but it is far and many a mile to the bottom!) If I had known long
since, as I do now (though still, alas! I am ignorant), what was in
Christ, I would not have been so late in starting to the gate to seek
Him. Oh what can I do or say to Him who hath made the North render me
back again! A grave is no sure prison to Him for the keeping of dry
bones. Wo is me, that my foolish sorrow and unbelief, being on
horseback, did ride so proudly and witlessly over my Lord's
providence! But when my faith was asleep, Christ was awake; and now,
when I am awake, I say He did all things well. O infinite wisdom! O
incomparable loving-kindness! Alas, that the heart I have is so little
and worthless for such a Lord as Christ is! Oh what odds find the
saints in hard trials, when they feel sap at their roots, betwixt them
and sun-burned, withered professors! Crosses and storms cause them to
cast their blooms and leaves. Poor worldlings, what will ye do when
the span-length of your forenoon's laughter is ended, and when the
weeping side of providence is turned to you?
I put all the favours which ye have bestowed on my brother upon
Christ's score; in whose books are many such counts, and who will
requite them. I wish you to be builded more and more upon the stone
laid in Zion, and then ye shall be the more fit to have a hand in
rebuilding our Lord's fallen tabernacle in this land; in which ye
shall find great peace when ye come to grips with death, the king of
terrors.
The God of peace be with your Ladyship, and keep you blameless till
the day of our Lord Jesus.
Your Ladyship's, at all obedience in his sweet Lord and Master,