To Ninian Mure — Letter 55

Loving friend.

I received your letter. I entreat you now in the morning of your life, seek the Lord and his face. Beware of the follies of dangerous youth — a perilous time for your soul. Love not the world; keep faith and truth with all men in your covenants and dealings. Walk with God, for he sees you. Do nothing but what you may and would do if your eye-strings were breaking and your breath growing cold. You heard the truth of God from me, my dear one; follow it and forsake it not. Prize Christ and salvation above all the world. To live after the fashion and course of the rest of the world will not bring you to heaven. Without faith in Christ and repentance, you cannot see God. Take pains for salvation; press forward toward the mark of the prize of the high calling. If you do not watch against evils night and day that beset you, you will fall behind. Beware of lying, swearing, uncleanness, and the rest of the works of the flesh, because for these things the wrath of God comes upon the children of disobedience. However sweet they may seem for the present, yet the end of these courses is the eternal wrath of God and utter darkness, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. Grace be with you.

Aberdeen, 1637. Your loving Pastor, S. R.