ST. ANDREWS, _March 27, 1640_.
CCXCVIII.--_To his Reverend and dear Brother, MR. DAVID DICKSON, on
the Death of his Son._
["When told that Mr. Dickson had some children removed by death,
Mr. S. Rutherford presently called for a pen, and wrote a
profitable letter to Mr. Dickson; 'for' (said he) 'when one arm
is broken off and bleeds, it makes the other bleed with it'"
(Wodrow's "Analecta").]
(_GOD'S SOVEREIGNTY, AND DISCIPLINE BY AFFLICTION._)
REVEREND AND DEAR BROTHER,--Ye look like the house whereof ye are a
branch: the cross is a part of the liferent that lieth to all the sons
of the house. I desire to suffer with you, if I could take a lift of
your house-trial off you; but ye have preached it ere I knew anything
of God. Your Lord may gather His roses, and shake His apples, at what
season of the year He pleaseth. Each husbandman cannot make harvest
when he pleaseth, as He can do. Ye are taught to know and adore His
sovereignty, which He exerciseth over you, which yet is lustred with
mercy. The child hath but changed a bed in the garden, and is planted
up higher, nearer the sun, where he shall thrive better than in this
outfield muir-ground. Ye must think your Lord would not want him one
hour longer; and since the date of your loan of him was expired (as it
is, if ye read the lease), let Him have His own with gain, as good
reason were. I read on it an exaltation and a richer measure of grace,
as the sweet fruit of your cross; and I am bold to say, that that
college where your Master hath set you now shall find it.
I am content that Christ is so homely with my dear brother David
Dickson, as to borrow and lend, and take and give with him. And ye
know what are called the visitations of such a friend: it is, Come to
the house, and be homely with what is yours. I persuade myself, upon
His credit, that He hath left drink-money, and that He hath made the
house the better of Him. I envy[426] not His waking love, who saw that
this water was to be passed through, and that now the number of
crosses lying in your way to glory are fewer by one than when I saw
you. They must decrease. It is better than any ancient or modern
commentary on your text, that ye preach upon in Glasgow. Read and
spell right, for He knoweth what He doeth. He is only lopping and
snedding a fruitful tree, that it may be more fruitful. I congratulate
heartily with you His new welcome to your new charge.
[426] Read "envy not," that is, fret not at His love, which is fully
awake to what it is doing.
Dearest brother, go on, and faint not. Something of yours is in
heaven, beside the flesh of your exalted Saviour; and ye go on after
your own. Time's thread is shorter by one inch than it was. An oath is
sworn and past the seals, whether afflictions will or not, ye must
grow, and swell out of your shell, and live, and triumph, and reign,
and be more than a conqueror. For your Captain, who leadeth you on, is
more than conqueror, and He maketh you partaker of His conquest and
victory. Did not love to you compel me, I would not fetch water to the
well, and speak to one who knoweth better than I can do what God is
doing with him.
Remember my love to your wife, to Mr. John,[427] and all friends
there. Let us be helped by your prayers, for I cease not to make
mention of you to the Lord, as I can.
[427] Dickson's eldest son, who became Clerk to the Exchequer of
Scotland.
Grace be with you.
Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus,