I thank you for your letter. I cannot but show you that as I never expected anything from Christ but much good and kindness, so he hath made me to find it in the house of my pilgrimage. And believe me brother, I give it to you under mine own hand-writ, that whoso looketh to the white side of Christ's cross, and can take it up handsomely with faith and courage, shall find it such a burden as sails are to ships or wings to a bird. I find that my Lord hath over-gilded that black tree, and hath perfumed it, and oiled it with joy and consolation. Like a fool, once I would chide and plead with Christ and slander him to others, of unkindness. But I trust in God not o call his glooms unkind again; for he hath taken from me sackcloth; and I verily cannot tell you what a poor Joseph and prisoner doth now think of kind Christ.I will chide no more, providing he will quit me all bygones; for I am poor, I am taught in this ill weather to go to the lee-side of Christ, and to put in between me and the storm; and (I thank God) I will on the sunny side of the brae. I write it that ye may speak on my behalf the praises of my Lord to others, that my bonds may preach. O, if all Scotland knew the feats and love-blinks and visits that the prelates have sent unto me, I will verily give my Lord Jesus a free discharge of all that I, like a fool, laid to his charge and beg him pardon, to the mends. God grant that in my temptations I will come not on his wrong side again and never again fall a raving against my physician in my fever.[Samuel Rutherford]
Labels: Samuel Rutherford
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