To the Right Honourable and Christian Lady, the Viscountess of Kenmure — Letter 6

Madam.

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. I received your ladyship's letter; it refreshed me in my heaviness. The blessing and prayers of a prisoner of Christ come upon you. Since my coming here, Galloway sent me not a line, except what my brother Earlston and his son did write. I cannot get my papers transported. But Madam, I want not kindness of one who has the gate of it. Christ (if he had never done more for me since I was born) has engaged my heart and gained my blessing, in this house of my pilgrimage. It pleases my well-beloved to dine with a poor prisoner, and the king's spikenard casts a fragrant smell. Nothing grieves me but that I eat my feasts alone, and that I cannot edify his saints. O that this nation knew what is between him and me — none would shrink at the cross of Christ! My silence eats me up, but he has told me he thanks me no less than if I were preaching daily; he sees how gladly I would be at it, and therefore my wages are going forward up in heaven, as if I were still preaching Christ. Captains pay their bedridden soldiers duly, however they do not march nor carry arms. Though Israel be not gathered, yet he shall be glorious in the eyes of my Lord, and my Lord shall be my strength (Isaiah 49:5). My garland — the banished minister (the title of Aberdeen) — shames me not. I have seen the white side of Christ's cross; lovely has he been to his oppressed servant. (Psalm 146:7) the Lord executes judgment for the oppressed, he gives food to the hungry, the Lord loosens the prisoner, the Lord raises them that are bowed down, the Lord preserves the stranger. If it were come to exchanging of crosses, I would not exchange my cross with any; I am well pleased with Christ, and he with me — I hope none shall hear us. It is true, for all this, I get my meat with many strokes, and am seven times a day up and down, and am often anxious and cast down for the case of my oppressed brother; yet I hope the Lord will be surety for his servant. But now upon some weak, very weak experience, I am come to love a rumbling and raging devil, because seeing we must have a devil to hold the saints waking, I wish a burdensome devil rather than a secure and sleeping one. At my first coming here, I took offense at Christ, and took up a stomach against him; I said he had cast me over the wall of the vineyard like a dry tree. But it was his mercy, I see, that the fire did not burn the dry tree; and now, as if my Lord Jesus had done the fault and not I (who belied my Lord), he has made the first amends, and he spoke not one word against me, but has come again and quickened my soul with his presence. In fact, now I think the very asperity and casualties of the cross of Christ Jesus my Lord, and these comforts that accompany it, better than the world's set rent. O how many rich windfalls are in my king's house! I am persuaded and dare stake my salvation on it, that it is Christ's truth I now suffer for. I know his comforts are no dreams; he would not put his seal on blank paper, nor deceive his afflicted ones that trust in him. Your ladyship wrote to me that you are yet an ill scholar. Madam, you must go in at heaven's gates with your book in your hand, still learning. You have had your own large share of troubles, and a double portion; but it says your Father counts you not a bastard — fully-begotten children are nurtured (Hebrews 12:8). I long to hear of the child; I write the blessings of Christ's prisoner and the mercies of God to him. Let him be Christ's and yours between you, but let Christ be the whole play-maker; let him be the lender and you the borrower, not an owner. Madam, it is not long since I did write to your ladyship that Christ is keeping mercy for you, and I abide by it still, and now I write it under my hand: love him dearly, win in to see him. There is in him that which you never saw; he is high, he is a tree of life, green and blossoming both summer and winter. There is a secret in Christianity to which whoever comes, they see and feel more than others can do. I invite you anew to come to him; 'come and see' will speak better things of him than I can do — come nearer, come nearer will say much. God never thought this world a portion worthy of you; he would not even you to a gift of dirt and clay. Indeed, he will not give you Esau's portion, but reserves the inheritance of Jacob for you. Are you not well married now? Have you not a good husband now? My heart cannot express what sad nights I have for the virgin daughter of my people. Woe is me, for our time is coming (Ezekiel 7:10): behold the day, behold it is come, the morning has gone forth, the rod has blossomed, pride has budded, violence is risen up in a rod of wickedness; the sun is gone down upon our prophets. A dry wind upon Scotland, but neither to fan nor to cleanse. But out of all question, when the Lord has cut down his forest, the after-growth of Lebanon shall flourish; they shall plant vines in our mountains, and a cloud shall yet fill the temple. Now the blessing of our dearest Lord Jesus, and the blessing of him that is separated from his brethren, come upon you.

Yours at Aberdeen, the prisoner of Christ, S. R.