[486] Wodrow MSS. vol. xlv. 8vo, No. 13. "This letter," says Wodrow,
"is taken from a copy; but is certainly Mr. Rutherford's to Lady
Ralston of that ilk, which I have from her grandchild, and, as far as
I can see, is not printed."
[LADY RALSTON, whose maiden name was Ursula Mure, was daughter to
William Mure of Glanderston, a respectable family in the county
of Renfrew, and wife of William Ralston of that ilk. Mr.
Alexander Dunlop, minister of Paisley, was married to one of her
sisters, and Mr. John Carstairs to another. Lady Ralston was a
woman of distinguished piety. Mr. Dunlop, who "was most impartial
in his judgment of persons of worth," spoke in the highest terms
of her Christian character. One day, commending her to Mrs.
Hastie, wife of Mr. Alexander Hastie, minister of Glasgow, he
spoke so much to her commendation that Mr. Hastie said to him, "I
wonder to hear you speak so much to the praise of that lady; I
think you speak more of her than of your own wife." He answered,
"Sanders, I love truly to be just to everybody. I think my wife
is truly a good woman, and all the rest of the sisters are good
women; but I must say, Lady Ralston is a person more than
ordinary. I know very few come her length; yea, Sanders, I truly
think shame to even myself to be a Christian beside her, when I
look to her carriage. She is a very odd [singular] woman"
(Wodrow's "Analecta"). Mr. John Carstairs also bears testimony to
her Christian excellence, and to the kindness she had shown to
him and his family, particularly after his ejection from his
church in Glasgow, in 1662, for conscience' sake.]
(_DUTY OF PREFERRING TO LIVE RATHER THAN DIE--WANT OF UNION IN THE
JUDGMENTS OF THE GODLY._)
RIGHT WORTHY ESTEEMED IN YOUR EXCELLENT LORD JESUS,--With much desire
I have longed to hear how you were, since I heard of your being so
near the harbour, as seemed; and now, to my great satisfaction, I am
informed of your recovery. As for yourself, I grant, to have entered
in at the ports of the mansions of glory had been best by far; but,
yet to stay a little longer here is much more comfortable to yours.
Therefore, Mistress, dearly respected in the Lord, you are even
heartily welcome, though to share yet further with Zion in her
manifold tribulations. Yea, I believe yourself thinks it no
disadvantage, but rather one great addition of honour, to come back
and bear His reproach yet more, in a world of opposition to Him. For
(to speak so) it is an advantage that is not to be had in heaven
itself; for, although the inhabitants of that land agree in one to
sing the song of the Lamb's praise and commendation, so it is
here-away, and here only, where we have occasion to endure shame and
contradiction for His worthy sake. Considering, therefore, the honour
of the cross with the glory of the life to come, the saints are hereby
rendered completely happy and honourable. It's much selfishness (as I
judge it when I get seen best into the mystery of our Lord's cross) to
make post haste to be in the land of rest, when a storm of
persecution is rising for Christ; for the sluggard and peevish spirit
loves rest upon any terms, though never so dishonourable. It is in
effect, then, far more honourable to seek conformity to Christ in His
cross, than to[487] precipitate in desiring to be like Him in glory,
and despise and fly away from His sufferings. We use to say they are
very evil-worthy of the sweet who will not endure the sour. I think
Christ's pilgrim weeds (He being a Man of sorrows and griefs) are more
honourable than ever it became the like of us to wear; especially
considering our poor base descent, whom He will have honoured with
conformity to Himself. Woe's me that I, and many the like of me within
the land, look so frowardly on Christ's cross, as though it were not
His love-allowance to all His followers! It's plainly our gross
ignorance that is the cause thereof. Faith, I grant, would suffer
affliction for Him with good-will, rather than the least iniquity
should be committed; but sense loves no bands. For faith, keeping the
sway, puts oft-times the carnal man in bondage, and that occasions
strife betwixt the flesh and the spirit. The spirit smells no freedom
or deliverance but that which comes from above; the flesh would aye
have deliverance, without examination of the terms, or wherefrom it
comes. As it is the mark of Christ's sheep, that they will hear His
voice, and will not acknowledge a stranger, so it is the mark of
faith, that it will only receive orders from heaven. When He declares
His mind for bands, it submits to bands, not replying objections to
the contrary; and again, when He says, "Show yourselves, ye prisoners
of hope," it discovers time and way, and obeys to come forth, but not
till then. But the flesh maketh ever haste, and the first and nearest
ease is aye its best choice. The Lord keep His dear people from
wanting of any exercise that is measured out by Him to them, now when
He hides His face, lest we be turned aside to strange gods! And when
He shows Himself again (as He will assuredly do), we ken our
change.[488] It is far safer to dwell a little in faith's prison than
in sense's fairest liberty. I see nothing so comfortable an evidence
of God's staying into, and healing of, this broken and poor land, than
that faithful testimony of His precious servants (and strengthened
only by Him) against the late and sore defection.[489] Yet, if the
Lord had not left us a remnant, we had been as Sodom and like to
Gomorrah. And exalted be our God, only wise and free in His love, that
ever any testimony was given! for the hour of temptation was very dark
to all once. But to some He showed much light, and helped them with a
little help. Others, also, able and dear to Him, He hath letten, as
yet, remain under the cloud. But the mystery of His wisdom is so high
in this, that I profess it may render all flesh humble in the dust,
and to glory henceforth in nothing but in His upholding strength and
free love. Always,[490] when His due time comes, He will make His
servants see that which they do not now see. But, alas! in the
meantime, there is no harder matter of our trouble to be looked to
than the grievous differences of judgments and affections among the
Lord's servants; which I know is much pondered by you. And I trust
that all our worthy dear friends will labour to the utmost, according
to Christ's command, to have the breach made up again, that Satan get
not advantage therethrough; for I think nothing makes more for his
ends than the defacing of union amongst the Lord's dear ones. I think
it should be amongst our many requests to Him "in whom all the
building useth to be fitly framed together in love;" yea, the
obtaining of this request were a great advantage to the poor kirk. And
if the Lord take pleasure in us, there is yet hope in Israel
concerning this thing; but if not, it is like to prove a probable
token, amongst some others, of Christ's taking down His tabernacle in
this land: which, if He do, we will have sad days. But the
consideration of His pitiful compassion holds forth ground to believe
otherwise; upon which ground it is like that He will give us a door of
hope, though He do not give full deliverance yet. For our hope is not
perished yet from the Lord, because men and carnal reason say so; for
none of these are bands or rules to the Almighty! Yea, Zion's lowest
ebb shall be the first step to her rise. I have no other reason to
give but "the zeal of the Lord of hosts [will] perform it" (Isa. ix.
7); and in confidence of it, I remain,
[487] Too?
[488] Come to know how much we are changed.
[489] Rutherford alludes to the opposition made by the Protesters to
the Public Resolutions.
[490] Nevertheless.
Yours in all trouble,