To John Gordon at Risco in Galloway — Letter 36
My worthy and dear brother.
Do not waste your short hourglass, which runs very fast; seek your Lord in time. Let me obtain of you a letter under your hand — a promise to God, by his grace, to take a new course of walking with God. Heaven is not at the next door; I find it hard to be a Christian. There is no little pressing and thronging to thrust in at heaven's gates; it is a castle taken by force. Many shall strive to enter in and shall not be able. I beseech and implore you in the Lord: make conscience of rash and passionate oaths, of raging and sudden vengeful anger, of night-drinking, of needless companionship, of Sabbath-breaking, of hurting any under you by word or deed, of hating your very enemies. Unless you receive the kingdom of God as a little child and be as meek and sober-minded as a babe, you cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That is a word that should touch you near, and make you stoop and cast yourself down and make your great spirit fall. I know this will not be easily done, but I urge it upon you, as you value your part of the kingdom of heaven. Brother, I may from fresh experience speak of Christ to you. Oh, if you saw in him what I see! A river of God's unseen joys has flowed from bank to brim over my soul since I parted with you. I wish I had a share less, so that you might have it — that your soul might be lovesick for Christ, or rather satisfied with him. This clay idol, the world, would then seem to you not worth a thing. Time will eat you out of possession of it when the eye-strings break and the breath grows cold and the imprisoned soul looks out at the windows of the clay house, ready to leap out into eternity. What would you give then for a lamp full of oil? Oh, seek it now. I desire you to correct and curb swearing, lying, drinking, Sabbath-breaking, and idle spending of the Lord's day in absence from the church, as far as your authority reaches in that parish. I hear a man is to be forced into the place to which I have God's right; I know you should have a voice, by God's Word, in that (see Acts 1:15-26 and Acts 6:3-5). You would be loath that any bishop should put you out of your earthly possession, and this is your rightful place. What I write to you, I write to your wife. Grace be with you.
Aberdeen, March 14, 1637. Your loving Pastor, S. R.
