To My Lord Craighall — Letter 67
My Lord.
I cannot interpret your lordship's contrary tides and the temptations with which you are assaulted to be anything other than Christ trying you, and saying to you: 'Will you also leave me?' I am sure Christ has a great advantage against you if you play false with him, in that the Holy Spirit has done his part in evidencing to your conscience that this is the way of Christ wherein you shall have peace, and the other way is, as sure as God lives, the Antichrist's way. Therefore, as you fear God, fear your light and stand in awe of a convincing conscience. It is far better for your lordship to keep your conscience and to hazard your place in such an honorable cause, than willfully and against your light to come under guiltiness. Kings cannot heal broken consciences, and when death and judgment shall seize your soul, your counselors and others cannot become surety to justice for you. Before long our Lord will put a final determination to acts of parliament and men's laws, and will clear you before men and angels of men's unjust sentences. You received honor, place, authority, riches, and reputation from your Lord, to set forward and advance the liberties and freedom of Christ's kingdom. Men whose consciences are made of boldness think little of such matters, which nonetheless directly encroach upon Christ's royal prerogative. So would men think it a small matter for Uzzah to put out his hand to hold the Lord's falling ark, but it cost him his life. And who doubts but a worldly friend will advise you to shut your window and pray beneath your breath? 'You make too great a noise with your prayers' — so would a sharp wit speak if you were in Daniel's place. But men's over-gilded reasons will not help you when your conscience is like to burst with a double charge. Alas, alas, when will this world learn to submit their wisdom to the wisdom of God! I am sure your lordship has found the truth; do not then go back to search it over again, for it is ordinary for men to manufacture doubts when they have a mind to desert the truth. Kings are not their own men; their ways are in God's hand. I rejoice and am glad that you resolve to walk with Christ, though his court be thin. Grace be with your lordship.
Aberdeen, September 7, 1637. Your lordship's in his sweet Master and Lord Jesus, S. R.
