Vol 16 - TO THE VISCOUNTESS OF KENAIURE.

TO THE VISCOUNTESS OF KENAIURE
MADAM,
GRACE, mercy, and peace, be to you! I received your Ladyship's letter; it refreshed me in my heaviness: the blessing and prayers of a prisoner of CHRIST come upon you! Since my coming hither, GALLOWAY sent me not a line: but I want not kindness of one, who has the gate of it;—CHRIST (if he had never done more for me since I was born) hash engaged my heart, and gained my blessing,, in this house of my pilgrimage. It pleases my Well-beloved to dine with a poor prisoner, and the King's spikenard casteth a fragrant smell. Nothing. grieveth me, but that I eat my feasts alone, and that I cannot edify his saints. My silence eats me up; but he has told me, that he thanked' me no less than if I were preaching daily. He sees how gladly I would be at it; and therefore my wages are going on in heaven, as if I were still preaching CHRIST. Captains pay daily bed-fast soldiers, although they do not march, nor carry armor. " Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of my LORD, and my LORD shall be my strength." (Ira. 49: 5.) My garland, The banished Minister," (the term for me at Aberdeen,) shamed' me not. I have seen the white side of CHRIST'S cross. How lovely has he been to his oppressed servant! The LORD executeth judgment for the oppressed, he giveth food to the hungry: the LORD looseth the prisoner; the LORD raiseth them that are bowed down: the LORD preserveth the stranger." (Psalms 146:7-9.) If it were come to exchanging of crosses, I would not exchange my cross with any. I am well pleased with CHRIST, and he with me. It is true, for all this, I get my meat with many strokes, and am cast down for the case of my distressed brother; yet I hope the LORD will be surety for his servant. But now, upon some weak experience, I am come to love a rumbling and raging Devil best; seeing we must have a Devil to hold the saints waking, I wish a cumbersome Devil, rather than a secure and sleeping one. At my first coming hither, I said he had cast me over the wall of the vineyard, like a dry tree; but it was his mercy, I see, that the fire did not burn the dry tree. And now, as if my LORD JESUS had done that fault, and not I, (who belied my LORD,) he has made amends, and he spoke not one word against me; but he has come again, and quickened my soul with his presence. Nay, now I think the cross of CHRIST JESUS My LORD, and these comforts that accompany it, better than the world's rent. Your Ladyship wrote to me, that you are yet an ill scholar. Madam, ye must go in at heaven's gates with your book in your hand, still learning. You have had your own large share of troubles, and a double portion; but it says that your Father counted' you not a bastard. I long to bear of the child. I write the blessings of CHRIST'S prisoner and the mercies of Go]) to him: let him be CHRIST'S and yours between you; but let CHRIST be the lender, and ye the borrower, not an owner. Madam, it is not long since I did write to your Ladyship, that CHRIST is keeping mercy for you; and I still abide by it. Love him dearly there is in him that which you never saw; he is ever nigh; he is a tree of life, green and blossoming, both summer and winter. I invite you anew to come to him. " Come and see," will speak better things of him, than I can do: " Come nearer," will say much. Goff never thought this world a portion worthy of you; he will not give you ESAU's portion, but reserves the inheritance of JACOB for you. Are ye not well married now Have you not a good husband now My heart cannot express what sad nights I have for " the Virgin-Daughter of my people." Woe is me! for our time is coming. Now the blessing of our dearest LORD JESUS, and the blessing of him that is separate from his brethren, come upon you!
Yours, at Aberdeen, the prisoner of CHRIST,
Aberdeen.
S. R.