S U N D A Y   S N I P P E T S (tm) # 6 9                   9 June '96

                  A Letter of Samuel Rutherford (2)
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S. Rutherford was a pastor and theologian of 17th-century
Scotland.  He was a bold preacher who laboured to please his
Master, King Jesus.   The author of `Lex Rex', and a divine
(theologian) at the Assembly of Westminster (1643), Rutherford is
perhaps best loved for his `Letters', many of which he wrote from
prison to his beloved parishioners about his Christian
experience, and how they could be encouraged by the presence of
Christ in their lives.  

The following letter to a fellow pastor was dated July 8, 1637 from a 
prison in Aberdeen.

"Reverend and Dear Brother - ...I bless His high and great name, that I 
like my sweet Master still the longer the better; a sight of His cross is 
more awsome than the weight of it.  I think the worst things of Christ,
even His reproaches and His cross,.. far rather to be chosen than the 
laughter and worm-eaten joys of my adversaries.  Oh that they were as I
am, except my bonds!  My witness is above, that my ministry, next to Christ,
is dearest to me of anything; but I lay it down at Christ's feet for 
His glory and His honour as supreme Lawgiver, which is dearer to me.

My dear brother, if ye will receive the testimony of a poor prisoner of
Christ, who dare not now dissemble for the world, I believe certainly, and
expect thanks from the Prince of the kings of the earth, for my poor 
hazards (such as they are) for His honourable cause, whom I can never 
enough extol for His running-over love to my sad soul, since I came hither.
Oh that I could get Him set on high and praised!  I seek no more, as the
top and root of my desires, than that Christ may make glory to Himself,
and edification to the weaker (Phil. 1:14), out of my sufferings.  I desire
ye would help me both to pray and praise.

Grace be with you.  Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus,
                                                     S.R.
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`The Letters of Samuel Rutherford', over 350 of them, are
published by The Banner of Truth Trust, Edinburgh & Pennsylvania.




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