1 was not a witness to his death, being called out of the kingdom: but, if you will credit those whom I do credit, (and I dare not lie,) he died comfortably. It is true, he died before he did so much service to Christ on earth, as I hope and heartily desire that your son Mr Hugh, (very dear to me in Jesus Christ,) will do. But that were a real matter of sorrow if this were not to counterbalance it, that he hath changed service-houses, but hath not changed services or Master. "And there shall be no more curse; but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him." 1 What he could have done in this lower house, he is now upon that same service in the higher house; and it is all one, it is the same service and the same Master, only there is a change of conditions. And ye are not to think it a bad bargain for your beloved son, where he hath gold for copper and brass, eternity for time. I believe that Christ hath taught you, (for I give credit to such a witness of you, as your son Mr Hugh,) not to sorrow because he died. All the knot? must be, "He died too soon, he died too young, he died in the morning of his life." This is all; but sovereignty must silence your thoughts. I was in your condition; I had but two children, and both are dead since I came hither.3 The supreme and absolute Former of all things, giveth not an account of any of his matters. The good Husbandman may pluck his roses, and gather in his lilies at mid-summer, and, for aught I dare say, in the beginning of the first summer month; and he may transplant young trees out of the lower ground to the higher, where they may have more of the sun, and a more free air, at any season of the year. What is that to you or me? the goods are his own. The Creator of time and winds did a merciful injury (if I dare borrow the word) to nature, in landing the passenger so early. They love the sea too well, who complain of a fair wind and a desirable tide, and a speedy coming ashore; especially a coming ashore in that land where all the inhabitants have everlasting joy upon their heads. He cannot be too early in heaven. His twelve hours were not short hours. And withal, if ye consider this, had ye been at his bed-side 2 Difficulty. 'Rev. xxii. 3. 3 He had lost two children before going to London, and the above is in reference to the death of other two after he came there. and should have seen Christ coming to him, ye would not, ye could not have adjourned Christ's free love, who would want him no longer. And dying in another land, where his mother could not close his eyes, is not much. Who closed Moses' eyes? And who put on his winding-sheet? For aught I know, neither father nor mother, nor friend, but God only. And there is as expeditious, fair, and easy a way betwixt Scotland and heaven, as if he had died in the very bed he was born in. The whole earth is his Father's; any corner of his Father's house is good enough to die in. It may be that the living child, (I speak not of Mr Hugh,) is more grief to you than the dead. Ye are to wait on, if at any time God will give him repentance. Christ waited as long possibly on you and me, certainly longer on me; and if he should deny repentance to him, I could say something to that; but I hope better things of him. It seemeth that Christ will have this world your stepdame. I love not your condition the worse; it may be a proof that ye are not a child of this lower house, but a stranger. Christ seeth not good only, but your only good, to be led thus to heaven. And think this a favour, that he hath bestowed on you free, free grace, that is, mercy without hire;— ye paid nothing for it. And who can put a price upon any thing of royal and princely Jesus Christ? And God hath given to you to suffer for him the spoiling of your goods. Esteem it as an act of free grace also. Ye are no loser, having himself; and I persuade myself, that if ye could prize Christ, nothing could be bitter to you. Grace, grace be with you. Your brother and well-wisher, LONDON, 1645. CCCIX.-To BARBARA HAMILTON. S. R. [BARBARA HAMILTON was the wife of Mr John Mein, merchant, Edinburgh, noticed before, (see p. 274;) and sister to the first wife of the famous Mr Robert Blair. (Life of John Livingstone.) She was a woman of eminent piety, and also distinguished for her public spirit. As an evidence of this last feature of her character the following anecdote may be added: When Mr Blair, and several other 1 was not a witness to his death, being called out of the kingdom: but, if you will credit those whom I do credit, (and I dare not lie,) he died comfortably. It is true, he died before he did so much service to Christ on earth, as I hope and heartily desire that your son Mr Hugh, (very dear to me in Jesus Christ,) will do. But that were a real matter of sorrow if this were not to counterbalance it, that he hath changed service-houses, but hath not changed services or Master. "And there shall be no more curse; but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him." What he could have done in this lower house, he is now upon that same service in the higher house; and it is all one, it is the same service and the same Master, only there is a change of conditions. And ye are not to think it a bad bargain for your beloved son, where he hath gold for copper and brass, eternity for time. I believe that Christ hath taught you, (for I give credit to such a witness of you, as your son Mr Hugh,) not to sorrow because he died. All the knot? must be, "He died too soon, he died too young, he died in the morning of his life." This is all; but sovereignty must silence your thoughts. I was in your condition; I had but two children, and both are dead since I came hither.3 The supreme and absolute Former of all things, giveth not an account of any of his matters. The good Husbandman may pluck his roses, and gather in his lilies at mid-summer, and, for aught I dare say, in the beginning of the first summer month; and he may transplant young trees out of the lower ground to the higher, where they may have more of the sun, and a more free air, at any season of the year. What is that to you or me? the goods are his own. The Creator of time and winds did a merciful injury (if I dare borrow the word) to nature, in landing the passenger so early. They love the sea too well, who complain of a fair wind and a desirable tide, and a speedy coming ashore; especially a coming ashore in that land where all the inhabitants have everlasting joy upon their heads. He cannot be too early in heaven. His twelve hours were not short hours. And withal, if ye consider this, had ye been at his bed-side 1 Rev. xxii. 3. 2 Difficulty. 3 He had lost two children before going to London, and the above is in reference to the death of other two after he came there. and should have seen Christ coming to him, ye would not, ye could not have adjourned Christ's free love, who would want him no longer. And dying in another land, where his mother could not close his eyes, is not much. Who closed Moses' eyes? And who put on his winding-sheet? For aught I know, neither father nor mother, nor friend, but God only. And there is as expeditious, fair, and easy a way betwixt Scotland and heaven, as if he had died in the very bed he was born in. The whole earth is his Father's; any corner of his Father's house is good enough to die in. It may be that the living child, (I speak not of Mr Hugh,) is more grief to you than the dead. Ye are to wait on, if at any time God will give him repentance. Christ waited as long possibly on you and me, certainly longer on me; and if he should deny repentance to him, I could say something to that; but I hope better things of him. It seemeth that Christ will have this world your stepdame. I love not your condition the worse; it may be a proof that ye are not a child of this lower house, but a stranger. Christ seeth not good only, but your only good, to be led thus to heaven. And think this a favour, that he hath bestowed on you free, free grace, that is, mercy without hire;ye paid nothing for it. And who can put a price upon any thing of royal and princely Jesus Christ? And God hath given to you to suffer for him the spoiling of your goods. Esteem it as an act of free grace also. Ye are no loser, having himself; and I persuade myself, that if ye could prize Christ, nothing could be bitter to you. Grace, grace be with you. Your brother and well-wisher, CCCIX.-To BARBARA HAMILTON. S. R. [BARBARA HAMILTON was the wife of Mr John Mein, merchant, Edinburgh, noticed before, (see p. 274;) and sister to the first wife of the famous Mr Robert Blair. (Life of John Livingstone.) She was a woman of eminent piety, and also distinguished for her public spirit. As an evidence of this last feature of her character the following anecdote may be added: When Mr Blair, and several other Presbyterian ministers, who had been deposed by the bishops in Ireland for nonconformity, had come over to Scotland in 1637, and Blair was threatened with still harsher treatment from the Scottish prelates, she desired him to draw up a petition to the privy council, for liberty to himself and other ministers in similiar circumstances, to preach the Gospel publicly, wherever they got a call, engaging that she and other like-minded women would put it into the hands of the Treasurer as he went into the council. Blair having done so, and delivered to her the petition, she proceeded without delay to carry her purpose into effect. The first council day immediately fol lowing, she convened no inconsiderable number of the religious matrons of Edinburgh, who drew up in a line from the council-house door to the street, and the oldest matron was appointed to present the petition to the Treasurer. On perceiving the old woman presenting to him a paper, the Treasurer, suspecting that it was something which would be disagreeable to the council, put her aside, and went quickly from her towards the council-house door. Observing this, Barbara Hamilton immediately stepped forward, and took the paper out of the old feeble woman's hand, and coming up to the Treasurer,“ did with her strong arm and big hand fast grip his gardie," [i. e. arm] saying, "Stand, my lord, in Christ's name, I charge you, till I speak to you." His lordship looking back, replies, "Good woman, what would you say to me?" "There is," said she, "a humble supplication of Mr Blair's. All that he petitions for, is that he may have liberty to preach the Gospel, &c. I charge you to befriend the matter, as you would expect God to befriend you in your distress, and at your death!" He replied, "I shall do my endeavour, and what I can in it." The result was that Blair's supplication was granted by the council. (Life of Robert Blair, pp. 153, 154.) This letter which Rutherford addressed to this lady, was written on the occasion of the death of her son-in-law, probably Mr William Hume, minister, who was married to her daughter Barbara Mein. See notice of Mrs Hume prefixed to the following letter. On death of her son-in-law-God's purposes. WORTHY FRIEND,-Grace be to you. I do unwillingly write unto you of that which God hath done concerning your son-in-law; only I believe, ye look not below Christ and the highest and most supreme act of providence, which moveth all wheels. And, certainly, what came down enacted and |