Primary Source

Letters of Samuel Rutherford, Vol. 1

Name: Letters of Samuel Rutherford, Vol. 1
Author: Samuel Rutherford

Samuel Rutherford 1891

Rutherford's first volume of letters presents his theological correspondence, offering insights into Reformed doctrine and pastoral guidance.

Edinburgh: Oliphant, Anderson & Ferrier, 1891

From the text

The opening of the work as printed, in the spelling of this edition.

OF Samuel Rutherford. PRINTED BY MURRAY AND GIBB, W. P. KENNEDY, AND JOHN MACLAREN. LONDON : . . HAMILTON, ADAMS, & CO. GLASGOW : . . DAVID BRYCE & CO.

The Letters OF Samuel Rutherford With Biographical Sketches of His Correspondents, EDITED BY THE REV. ANDREW A. BONAR, GLASGOW. WITH SKETCH OF HIS LIFE. VOL. I. EDINBURGH : WILLIAM P. KENNEDY, 79 GEORGE STREET JOHN MACLAREN, 138 PRINCES STREET.

"He would send me as a spy into this wilderness of suffering, to see the land, and to try the ford ; and I cannot make a lie of Christ's cross ; I can report nothing but good both of Him and it." — [Let. 118.]

PREFACE.

Most justly does the old Preface to the earlier Editions begin by telling the Reader that " these Letters have no need of any man's epistle commendatory, the great Master having given them one, written by His own hand on the hearts of all who favour the things of God." Every one who knows these " Letters" at all, is aware of their most peculiar characteristic, namely, having given them one, written by His own hand on the hearts of all who favour the things of God." Every one who knows these " Letters" at all, is aware of their most peculiar characteristic, namely, the discovery they present of the marvellous intercourse carried on between the writer's soul and his God. This Edition will be found to be the most complete that has hitherto appeared. Attending carefully to the chronological arrangement, the Editor has sought, by biographical, topographical, and historical notices, to put the Reader in possession of all that was needed to enable him to enter into the circumstances in which each Letter was written, so far as that could be done. The Explanatory Notes, the appended Glossary of Scottish words and expressions (many of them in reality old English), the Index of Places and Persons, the Index of Special Subjects, and the prefixed Contents of each Letter, will, it is confidently believed, be found both interesting and useful.

reality old English), the Index of Places and Persons, the Index of Special Subjects, and the prefixed Contents of each Letter, will, it is confidently believed, be found both interesting and useful. The Sketch of Rutherford's life may be thought too brief ; but the limits within which such a Sketch must vi PREFACE. necessarily be confined, when occupying the place of a mere Introduction, rendered brevity inevitable. Every Letter hitherto published is to be found in this Edition. The ten additional Letters of the Edition 1848, along with two more, added since that time, are all inserted in their chronological place. The publishers have taken great pains with the typography. Glasgow, 27th November 1862. CONTENTS OF VOL. I. Sketch of Samuel Rutherford ^ i To Marion M'Naught. — Children to be Dedicated to God, . 95 To a Christian Gentlewoman, on the death of a Daughter. — Christ's Sympathy with, and Property in us — Reasons for Resignation, 36 To Lady Kenmure, on occasion of illness and spiritual depression.

To a Christian Gentlewoman, on the death of a Daughter. — Christ's Sympathy with, and Property in us — Reasons for Resignation, 36 To Lady Kenmure, on occasion of illness and spiritual depression. — Acquiescence in God's purpose — Faith in exercise — Encouragement in view of Sickness and Death — Public Affairs, . . 39 To Lady Kenmure, on death of her infant Daughter. — Tribulation the Portion of God's People, and intended to Wean them To Lady Kenmure, when removing from Anwoth. — Changes — Loss of Friends — This World no Abiding-Place, . . 46 To Marion M^Naught, telling of his Wife's illness. — Inward Conflict, arising from Outward Trial, . . . . .48 To Lady Kenmure. — The Earnest of the Spirit — Communion with Christ — Faith in the Promises, . . . .51 To Marion M^Naught. — His Wife's Illness — Wrestlings with God, 54 To Marion M^ Naught. — Recommending a Friend to her Care — To Marion M^Naught. — Submission, Perseverance, and Zeal To Lady Kenmure. — God's Inexplicable Dealings with His People well ordered — Want of Ordinances — Conformity to Christ— Troubles of the Church— Mr Rutherford's Wife's Death, . 58 To Marion M^ Naught. — God Mixeth the Cup — The Reward of the Wicked — Faithfulness — Forbearance — Trials, . . 61 To Marion M^ Naught , when exposed to reproach for her principles.— Jesus a Pattern of Patience under Suffering, . . 65 viii • CONTENTS. 14. To Marion M^ Naught, in prospect of the Lord's Supper. — Abundance in Jesus — The Restoration of the Jews — Enemies of God, 67 15. To Marion M^ Naught. — The threatened Introduction of the Service-Book — Troubles of the Church — Private Wrongs, .

upper. — Abundance in Jesus — The Restoration of the Jews — Enemies of God, 67 15. To Marion M^c Naught. — The threatened Introduction of the Service-Book — Troubles of the Church — Private Wrongs, . 69 16. To Marion M^c Naught. — Proposal to Remove him from Anwroth — Babylon's Destruction, and Christ's Coming — The Young 17. To Marion M^c Naught. — The Prospects of the Church — Arminianism — Call to Prayer — No Help but in Christ, . . 74 18. To Marion M^c Naught, in prospect of the Lord's Supper. — Prayer Solicited — The Church's Prospects, . . . . .76 19. To Lady Kenmure. — Encouragement to Abound in Faith from the Prospect of Glory — Christ's Unchangeableness, . . 77 20. To Lady Kenmure. — Assurance of Christ's Love under Trials — Fulness of Christ— Hope of Glory, 80 21. To Lady Kenmure. — Self-denial — Hope of Christ's Coming — Loving God for himself, ...... 83 22. To John Kennedy. — Deliverance from Shipwreck — Recovery from threatened Death — use of Trials — Remembrance of Friends, 86 23. To Lady Kenmure.