245. CCXLVI.—To MR. THOMAS GARVEN [Letter CLII.]

CCXLVI.—To MR. THOMAS GARVEN [Letter CLII.] (HEAVEN’S HAPPINESS—JOY IN THE CROSS.)

DEAR BROTHER,—Grace, mercy, and peace be to you.—I rejoice that ye cannot be quit of Christ (if I may speak so), but that He must, He will have you. Betake yourself to Christ, my dear brother. It is a great business to make quit of superfluities, and of those things which Christ cannot dwell with. I am content with my own cross, that Christ hath made mine by an eternal lot, because it is Christ’s and mine together. I marvel not that winter is without heaven, for there is no winter within it: all the saints, therefore, have their own measure of winter, before their eternal summer. Oh for the long day, and the high sun, and the fair garden, and the King’s Great City up above these visible heavens! What God layeth on let us suffer; for some have one cross, some seven, some ten, some half a cross. Yet all the saints have whole and full joy; and seven crosses have seven joys. Christ is cumbered with me (to speak so) and my cross; but He falleth not off from me; we are not at variance. I find the very glooms of Christ’s wooing a soul sweet and lovely. I had rather have Christ’s buffet and love-stroke, than another king’s kiss. Speak evil of Christ who will, I hope to die with love thoughts of Him. Oh that there are so few tongues in heaven and earth to extol Him! I wish His praises go not down amongst us. Let not Christ be low and lightly esteemed in the midst of us: but let all hearts and all tongues cast in their portion, and contribute something to make Him great in Mount Zion.

Thus recommending you to His grace, and remembering my love to your wife and mother, and your kind brother, R. B., and entreating you to remember my bonds, I rest, Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus,

S. R.

ABERDEEN, Sept. 8, 1637.