To John Fleming, Bailie of Leith — Letter 81
Much honored in the Lord.
Grace, mercy and peace be to you. I am still in good terms with Christ; however my Lord's wind may blow, I have the advantage of the calm and sunny side of Christ. Devils and hell and the devil's servants are all struck blind in pursuing the Lord's little bride; they shall be as a night-dream who fight against mount Zion. Worthy sir, I hope you take to heart the worth of your calling. This great fair and gathering of people will disperse, and the port is open for us. As fast as time wears out, we fly away; eternity is at our elbow. O how blessed are they who in time make Christ sure for themselves! Salvation is a great errand; I find it hard to fetch heaven. O that we could take pains to trim our lamps for the bridegroom's coming! The other side of this world will be turned up presently, and up shall come down, and those who are weeping in sackcloth shall triumph on white horses with him whose name is The Word of God. These dying idols — the fair creatures that we faithlessly love better than our Creator — will pass away like snow water. The Godhead, the Godhead, a communion with God in Christ — to be sharers with Christ of the purchased house and inheritance in heaven — should be your scope and aim. For myself, when I lay my accounts, O what worth, O what weight is in Christ! O how soft are his kisses! O love, love surpassing in Jesus! I have no fault with that love but that it seems to deal sparingly with me; I have little of it. O that I had Christ's seen and read bond, subscribed by himself, for my fill of it! What garland have I, or what crown, if I looked rightly at things, but Jesus? O there is no room in us on this side of the water for that love! This narrow little earth and these shallow and narrow souls can hold little of it because we are full of cracks. I wish glory — glory would enlarge us, as it will — and make us tight and close up our seams and cracks, that we might be able to comprehend it, which yet is incomprehensible. Remember my love to your wife. Grace be with you.
Aberdeen, September 7, 1637. Yours in his sweet Lord Jesus, S. R.
