To the Lady Kilconquhar — Letter 69
Mistress.
Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. I received your letter. I am heartily glad you love and own this oppressed and wronged cause of Christ, and that now when so many are led astray, you are in any measure taken with the love of Jesus. Weary not, but come in and see if there is not more in Christ than the tongue of men and angels can express. If you seek a gate to heaven, the way is in him — or rather, he is it. What you lack is treasured up in Jesus, and he says all his are yours, even his kingdom; he is content to divide it between him and you — yes, his throne and his glory — see Luke 21:29, John 17:24, Revelation 3:21. Therefore take pains to climb up to that besieged house, to Christ, for devils, men, and armies of temptations are lying about the house to shut out all who are outside. It is taken by force. It is not a smooth and easy way, nor will your weather be fair and pleasant; but whoever has seen the invisible God and the fair city makes no reckoning of losses or crosses. In you must go, cost you what it will; do not hesitate at any price, and with all that you have, to win the castle. The rights to it have been won for you and it is given to you in your Lord Jesus's testament — see what a fair legacy your dying friend Christ has left you. And there wants nothing but possession. Then get up in the strength of the Lord; get over the water to possess that good land. It is better than a land of olives and wine trees, for the tree of life that bears twelve kinds of fruits every month is there before you, and a pure river of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb, is there. Your time is short, therefore lose no time. Gracious and faithful is he who has called you to his kingdom and glory. The city is yours by free conquest and by promise, and therefore let no strange idol-lord put you from your own. The devil has cheated the rightful heir of his paradise, and by enticing us to taste of the forbidden fruit has, as it were, bought us out of our true heritage. But our Lord Christ Jesus has done more than bought the devil by; for he has redeemed the mortgage and made the poor heir free to the inheritance. If we knew the glory of our elder brother in heaven, we would long to be there to see him and to get our fill of heaven. We children think the earth a fair garden, but it is but God's outfield and wild, cold, barren ground. All things are fading that are here; it is our happiness to make Christ sure to ourselves. Thus remembering my love to your husband, and wishing him what I write to you, I commit you to God's tender mercy.
Aberdeen, September 13, 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R.
