ST. ANDREWS, _May 14, 1651_.
CCCXXXIV.--_To the worthy and much honoured_ COLONEL GILBERT KER.
(_COMFORT UNDER THE CLOUD HANGING OVER SCOTLAND--DISSUASION FROM
LEAVING SCOTLAND._)
MUCH HONOURED AND WORTHY SIR,--I know not why the people of God should
not take notice of the bonds of any who have blood in readiness to be
let out for His cause; and I judge it was not of you that ye died not
in the undecided controversy which the Lord of the whole earth hath
with the men whom He hath sent against us.
Dear and much honoured in the Lord, let me entreat you to be far from
the thoughts of leaving this land. I see it, and find it, that the
Lord hath covered the whole land with a cloud in His anger. But though
I have been tempted to the like, I had rather be in Scotland beside
angry Jesus Christ, knowing that He mindeth no evil to us, than in
Eden or any garden in the earth; if we can remain united with the
Lord's remnant in the land.[485] He layeth up wrath for all sorts of
adversaries in Britain. Though I should never see the glory of His
glittering sword in Britain, I would be solaced in the innocent
thought (far from revenge) that the saints shall dip their feet in the
blood of the slain of the Lord. And truly, Sir, I suppose that ye
cannot but come to these thoughts and weak desires before the Hearer
of prayer, for as little as ye think of and value yourself. For me, if
I could mind you in your bonds, I purpose not to stand to the account
you give, or thoughts ye have of yourself; though I know ye are not a
whit, more or less, before Him who weigheth His own according to the
weight of imputed righteousness, for my apprehensions. Christ cannot
mistake you, men may; and the calculation and esteem of free grace
maketh you to be what you are. I hope to see you an everlastingly
obliged debtor to Him whom ye shall praise but never pay. And truly ye
have no riches but that debt: and I know that ye love to be engaged to
Jesus Christ, the most excellent of creditors. Much joy and sweetness
may ye have, in standing written in His book. I desire to do it
myself, and I would have you also highly to esteem the design of
Christ, who hath raised the riches of the glory of so much grace above
the circle of the heaven of heavens, out of very nothings; and
contrived His thoughts of love, so that lumps of glorified clay should
stand before Him, for all ages, the burdened and loaden debtors of
free, eternally free grace. Sir, ye cannot cast the count of the rents
of your so great inheritance of glory.
[485] Rutherford here refers to a call which he had received (on the
death of De Maets, or Dematius) to fill the Chair of Divinity in the
University of Utrecht, to which he was elected without being
consulted. He, however, declined to accept the invitation. The call
was conveyed to him first verbally, by his brother James, then an
officer in a regiment lying at Grave in Brabant; and next formally in
writing.
Grace be with you.
Your servant, in his own Lord Jesus,