ST. ANDREWS, _March 6. 1640_.
CCXCVII.--_To the_ LADY FINGASK.
[This lady has been supposed to be LADY ANNE MONCRIEFF, wife of
Sir John Dundas of Fingask in Perthshire. She was daughter of
William Moncrieff of that ilk, and her mother was one of the
Murrays of Abercarnie. See notice prefixed to the letter to "The
Laird of Moncrieff." At the same time, it is not impossible that
Rutherford, who was then at St. Andrews, may be writing to a lady
in the neighbourhood; for we find ("Inquisit. Retornat.
Abbreviat.") that the ancestors of the martyr Thomas Forret
possessed the estate of "_Fyngask_, in regalitate Sanctæ
Andreæ."]
(_FAITH'S MISGIVINGS--SPIRITUAL DARKNESS NOT GRACE--CHRIST'S LOVE
INIMITABLE._)
MADAM,--Grace, mercy, and peace be to you.--Though not acquainted,
yet, at the desire of a Christian, I make bold to write a line or two
unto you, by way of counsel, howbeit I be most unfit for that.
I hear, and I bless the Father of lights for it, that ye have a spirit
set to seek God, and that the posture of your heart is to look
heavenward, which is a work and cast of the Mediator Christ's right
hand, who putteth on the heart a new frame. For the which I would have
your Ladyship to see a tie and bond of obedience laid upon you, that
all may be done, not so much from obligation of law, as from the tie
of free love; that the law of ransom-paying by Christ may be the chief
ground of all our obedience, seeing that ye are not under the law, but
under grace. Withal, know that unbelief is a spiritual sin, and so not
seen by nature's light; and that all which conscience saith is not
Scripture. Suppose that your heart bear witness against you for sins
done long ago: yet, because many have pardon with God that have not
peace with themselves, ye are to stand and fall by Christ's esteem and
verdict of you, and not by that which your heart saith. Suppose it
may, by accident, be a good sign to be jealous of your heavenly
Husband's love, yet it is a sinful sign; as there be some happy sins
(if I may speak so), not of themselves, but because they are
neighboured with faith and love. And so, worthy Lady, I would have
you to hold by this, that the ancient love of an old husband standeth
firm and sure. And let faith hing by this small thread, that He loved
you before He laid the corner-stone of the world, and therefore He
cannot change His mind; because He is God, and resteth in His love.
Neither is sin in you a good reason wherefore ye should doubt of Him,
or think, because sin hath put you in the courtesy and reverence of
justice, that therefore He is wroth with you: neither is it
presumption in you to lay the burden of your salvation on One mighty
to save, so being that ye lay aside all confidence in yourself, your
worth and righteousness. True faith is humble, and seeth no way to
escape but only in Christ. And I believe that ye have put an esteem
and high price upon Christ: and they cannot but believe, and so be
saved, who love Christ, and to whom He is precious; for the love of
Christ has chosen Christ as a lover. And it were not like God, if ye
should choose Him as your liking, and He not choose you again. Nay, He
hath prevented you in that, for ye have not chosen Him, but He hath
chosen you.
O consider His loveliness and beauty, and that there is nothing which
can commend and make fair heaven, or earth, or the creature, that is
not in Him in infinite perfection; for fair sun and fair moon are
black, and think shame to shine before His fairness (Isa. xxiv. 23;
Job xxv. 5). Base heavens, and excellent Jesus! weak angels, and
strong and mighty Jesus! foolish angel-wisdom, and only wise Jesus!
short-living creature, and long-living and ever-living Ancient of
days! Miserable, and sickly, and wretched are those things that are
within time's circle, and only, only blessed Jesus! If ye can wind-in
into His love (and He giveth you leave to love Him, and allurements
also), what a second heaven's paradise, a young heaven's glory, is it
to be hot and burned with fevers of love-sickness for Him! And the
more your Ladyship drink of this love, there is the more room, and the
greater delight and desire for this love. Be homely, and hunger for a
feast and fill of His love; for that is the borders and march of
heaven. Nothing hath a nearer resemblance to the colour, and hue, and
lustre of heaven than Christ loved, and to breathe out love-words and
love-sighs for Him. Remember what He is. When twenty thousand millions
of heaven's lovers have worn their hearts threadbare of love, all is
nothing, yea, less than nothing, to His matchless worth and
excellency. Oh so broad and so deep as the sea of His desirable
loveliness is! Glorified spirits, triumphing angels, the crowned and
exalted lovers of heaven, stand without His loveliness (Ps. xvi. 2),
and cannot put a circle on it. Oh if sin and time were from betwixt us
and that royal King's love! that high Majesty (eternity's Bloom and
Flower of high lustred beauty) might shine upon pieces of created
spirits, and might bedew and overflow us, who are portions of endless
misery and lumps of redeemed sin.
Alas! what do I? I but spill and lose words in speaking highly of Him
who will bide and be above the music and songs of heaven, and never be
enough praised by us all; to whose boundless and bottomless love I
recommend your Ladyship, and am,
Your Ladyship's, in Christ Jesus,