PERTH, _Nov. 23, 1650_.
CCCXXXII.--_To the much honoured and truly worthy_ COLONEL GILBERT
KER.
(_CHRISTS CAUSE DESERVES SERVICE AND SUFFERING FROM US._)
"For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it
shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it."--HAB.
ii. 3, 4.
MUCH HONOURED AND WORTHY SIR,--Your chains now shine as much for
Christ (the cause being His) as your sword was made famous in acting
for that cause; and blessed are such as can willingly tender to Christ
both action and blood, doing and suffering. Resisting unto blood is
little for that precious and never-enough exalted Redeemer, who, when
ye were a-buying, gave blood somewhat dearer than ye gave for Him,
even the blood of God (Acts xx. 28). I know a man, who, upon the
receipt of a letter that ye were killed and the people of God
destroyed, wished that he might be quickly under the wall of the
higher palace from under the dint[481] of the storm, and who longed to
have the weather-beaten and crazy bark safely landed in that harbour
of eternal quietness.
[481] The blow, Zachary Boyd ("Last Battle") speaks of "the dint of
God's judgment-stroke."
What further service Christ hath for you, I know not; it is enough
that in your captivity[482] ye offer your service to Christ. But if I
see anything, it looketh like a merciful defeat. I see the nobles and
the state falling off from Christ, and the night coming upon the
prophets; which we should pray to prevent, because it is a rare thing
to see a fallen star ever win up again to the firmament to shine. And
what if this be the thick darkness going before the break of day?
Sure, Sir, the sun shall rise upon Scotland; but if I shall see it, or
how near is it to that day, I leave that to Him, even unto Jehovah,
who "createth upon every dwelling-place in Mount Zion, and upon her
assemblies, a cloud and a smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming
fire by night." But, Sir, "the wilderness shall rejoice and blossom as
a rose:" and happy he who hath a bone, or an arm, to put the crown
upon the head of our highest King, whose chariot is paved with love.
Were there ten thousand millions of heavens created above these
highest heavens, and again as many above them, and as many above them
till angels were wearied with counting, it were but too low a seat to
fix the princely throne of that Lord Jesus (whose ye are) above them
all. Created heavens are too low a seat of majesty for Him. Since,
then, there is none equal to your Master and Prince who hath chosen
out for you (amongst many sufferings for sin) that only cross which
cometh nearest in likeness to His own cross, watered with consolation,
take courage, and comfort yourself in Him who hath chosen you to glory
hereafter and to conformity with Him here. We fools would have a cross
of our own choosing, and would have our gall and wormwood sugared, our
fire cold, and our death and grave warmed with heat of life; but He
who hath brought many children to glory, and lost none, is our best
Tutor. I wish that, when I am sick, He may be keeper and comforter. I
judge it a blessed Fall that we are forfeited heirs, broken and out of
credit, and that Christ is become a Tutor in the place of free-will,
and that we are no more our own. I am broken and wasted with the wrath
that is on the land, and have been much tempted with a design to have
a pass from Christ; which, if I had, I would not stay to be a witness
of our defection for any man's intreaty. But I know it is my softness
and weakness, who would ever be ashore when a fit of sea-sickness
cometh on; though I know I shall come soon enough to that desirable
country, and shall not be displaced: none shall take my lodging.
[482] On the 1st of December 1650, being Sabbath, the west country
forces of the Covenanters were scattered at Hamilton by a party of
English, under the conduct of Lambert. Several of them were killed,
and Colonel Ker was wounded and taken. (Lamont's "Diary," p. 24.)
Sir, many eyes are upon you, and the godly are exceedingly refreshed
that ye listen not to the ways of many about you, who with fair words
make merchandise of souls. Sir, if the way you are in be not the way
of Christ, then wo to me, for I am eternally lost. But truly, the Lord
Christ's dealings with Colonel Gilbert Ker hath proven to me, that the
New Testament and the covenant of grace is a piece that a solemn
meeting and assembly of all created angels (join all their wits
together) could not have devised. Since, Sir, ye paid nothing for the
change that Christ made, and ye will take that debt of free grace to
heaven with you (for what was Christ Jesus indebted to you, more than
to all your kindred and name!), therefore, since ye are made His own,
follow no other way. What is my salvation, though I should lay it in
pawn (it is but a poor pledge), that this, this only is the way! But
Christ is surety Himself that it is the way. The Forerunner went
before you, and He is safely landed: and there is a fair company
before you of such as "have come out of great tribulation, and have
washed their garments, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb,"
to whom these promises are now performed: "He that overcometh shall
eat of the tree of life, that is in the midst of the paradise of God;"
and, "God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall
be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be
any more pain"--"He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them;
they shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more, neither shall the
sun light on them, nor any heat; for the Lamb that is in the midst of
the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains
of waters."
I may, Sir, possibly keep you from better work. The God of peace, that
brought again from the dead the Great Shepherd of the sheep, through
the blood of the eternal covenant, make you perfect.
Yours, in Jesus Christ,