CCCXXXI.--_To the worthy and much honoured_ COLONEL GILBERT KER.
(_COURAGE IN THE LORD'S CAUSE--DUTY IN REGARD TO PROVIDENCE TO BE
OBSERVED--SAFETY IN THIS._)
MUCH HONOURED AND WORTHY SIR,--It is considerable that the Lord may,
and often doth call to a work and yet hide Himself, and try the faith
of His own. If I conceive aright, the Lord hath called you to act
against that enemy; and the withdrawers of their sword (in my weak
apprehension) add their zeal unto, and take upon them the guilt of
that unjust invasion of this land made by Cromwell's army, and of the
blood of the Lord's people in this kingdom; since the sword, put into
the hand of His children, is to execute wrath and vengeance upon
evil-doers. The Lord's time of appearing for His broken land is
reserved to the breathings of the Spirit of the Lord, such as came
upon Gideon and Samson; and that is an act of princely and royal
sovereignty in God. Ye are, Sir, to lay hold on opportunities of
Providence, and to wait for Him.
As for your particular treating by yourselves with the invaders of our
land, I have no mind to it, and do look upon their way as a carrying
on of the mystery of iniquity; for Babylon is a seat of many names.
Sir, let[478] this controversy stand undecided till the Second
Appearance of Jesus Christ, and our appeal lie before the throne
undiscussed till that day, I hope to lie down in the grave in the
faith of the justness of our cause. I speak nothing of the maintaining
the greatness of men, not subordinate to the Prince of the kings of
the earth. I judge that the blood of the witnesses of Jesus is found
upon the skirts of this society, as well as in Babylon's skirts. I
believe that the way of the Lord is Colonel Gilbert Ker's strength and
glory; and I should be content to want my part of him (which is, I
confess, precious and dear in Christ), so that he be spent in the
service of Him who will anon make inquisition for the blood of the
truly godly; which these men have shed, after fair warning that they
were the godly of Scotland.
[478] Supposing that this controversy remains undecided.
Worthy Sir, believe; faint not. Set your shoulder under the glory of
Jesus that is misprised in Scotland, and give a testimony for Him. He
hath many names in Scotland, who shall walk with Him in white. This
despised Covenant shall ruin Malignants, Sectaries, and Atheists. Yet
a little while, and behold He cometh, and walketh[479] in the
greatness of His strength, and His garments dyed with blood. Oh, for
the sad and terrible day of the Lord upon England, their ships of
Tarshish, their fenced cities, etc., because of a broken covenant!
[479] The Hebrew of Isa. lxiii. 1 is alluded to (צֹעֶה): "_marching on_
in the greatness of His strength." Rutherford, in the latter part of
his life, studied Isaiah very closely. See Sketch of his Life.
A conference with the enemy, not to hinder acting (Oh that the Lord
would thereby, or by some other way, remove the cloud that is over
you!), if authority should concur, were to be desired; but it can
hardly be expected. However, in the way of duty, and in the silence of
faith, go on. If ye perish, ye are the first of the creation with whom
the Lord hath taken that dispensation. I should humbly desire you,
Sir, to look to that: "Dying, and, behold, we live; killed all the day
long, and yet more than conquerors." There shall be the heat and
warmness of life in your graves and buried bones. But look not for the
Lord's coming the higher way only, for He may come the lower way. Oh,
how little of God do we see, and how mysterious is He! Christ known is
amongst the greatest secrets of God. Keep yourself in the love of God;
and, in order to that, as far in obedience and subjection to the King
(whose salvation and true happiness my soul desireth), and to every
ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, and to the fundamental laws of
this kingdom, as your Lord requireth. Sir, ye are in the hearts and
prayers of the Lord's people in this kingdom, and in the other
two.[480] The Lord hath said, "There is blessing in the cluster of
grapes; destroy it not."
[480] England and Ireland.
Grace, grace be upon the head of him that is separated from his
brethren; and the good-will of Him that dwelt in The Bush be with you.
Your servant, in his sweet Lord Jesus,