Vol 16 - TO MARION MACKNAUGHT.

TO MARION MACKNAUGHT
MY dearest love in CHRIST remembered:--I entreat you, charge your soul to return to rest, •and to glorify your dearest LoiD in believing; and know that, for the good will of him that dwells in the bush, the burning Kirk shall not be consumed to ashes; but (Dent. 33: 16) " Blessing shall come on the head of JOSEPH, and upon the top of the head of him that was separated from his brethren." And are not the saints separated from their brethren, and sold, and hated For (Genesis 49:23-24,) " the archers have sorely grieved JOSEPH, and shot at him, and hated him: but his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty GOD of JACOB: from thence is the Shepherd, the stone of ISRAEL."—The stone of ISRAEL shall not be broken in pieces. Though it is hammered upon by the children of this world, we shall live and not die. Our Lord has done all this, to see if we will believe, and not give over; and I am persuaded, that you will stick by your work. The eye of CHRIST has been upon all this business; and he taketh good heed too, who is for him, and who is against him. Let us do our part, as we would be approved of CHRIST. The Son of GOD is near to his enemies; if they were not deaf, they might hear the noise of his feet: and he will come with a start upon his weeping children, and take them on his knee, and lay their head in his bosom, and dry their watery eyes. And this day is fast coming; " Yet a little time, and the vision will speak, it will not tarry." These questions between us and our adversaries will all be decided in yonder day, when the Son of GOD shall come, and rid all pleas; and it will be seen whether we or they have been for CHRIST, and who have been pleading for BAAL. It is not known what we are now; but when our life shall appear in glory, then we shall see who laughs fastest in that day. Therefore we must " possess our souls in patience," and " go into our chamber," and rest " until the indignation be past." We shall not weep long, when our LORD shall take us up in the day that he gathereth his jewels. My dear friend, lay down your head upon CHRIST'S breast. Weep not; the Lion of the tribe of Judah will arise. " The sun is gone down upon the Prophets, and our gold is become dim; and the LORD feedeth his people with waters of gall and wormwood:" yet CHRIST standeth. but behind the wall; his bowels are moved for Scotland; he waiteth (as ISAIAH says) " that he may show mercy." If we would go home, and take our brethren with us, " weeping with our faces towards Zion, asking the way thitherward," he would bring back our captivity. We may not think that GOD has no care of his own honor, while men tread it under their feet; he will " clothe himself with vengeance as with a cloak," and appear against our enemies for our deliverance. Ye were never yet beguiled, and GOD will not begin with you. Wrestle still with the Angel of the Covenant, and you shall get the blessing: Fight; he delighteth to be overcome by wrestling. Grace,
grace, and mercy, be with you!
YOURS in CHRIST,
Anwoth,
S. R. Sept. 25, 1634.