Vol 16 - TO WILLIAM GORDON, OF ROBERTOUN

TO WILLIAM GORDON, OF ROBERTOUN
DEAR BROTHER,
GRACE, mercy, and peace, be to you! So often as I think of our fighting life, in the field, while we are here, I am forced to say, that prisoners in a dungeon, condemned to want the light of the sun and candle till their dying day, are not so much to be pitied as we are. For they, weary of their life, hate their prison; but we in our prison drink ourselves drunk with the night-pleasures of our weak dreams, and we long for no better life than this. But at the blast of the last trumpet, and the shout of the Arch-' angel, when GOD. shall take down the shepherd's tent of this fading world, we shall not have so much as a drink of water of all the dreams that we now build on. Alas! that the sharp and bitter blasts which meet us in this life, have not made us dead to this world! We buy our own sorrow, and we pay dear for it, when we spend our love, our joy, our desires, our confidence, upon a handful of snow and ice, which time will melt away; and go thirsty out of the drunken inns, when all is done. Alas! that we inquire not for the clear fountain; but are so foolish, as to drink foul, muddy waters, even till our bed-time; and then, in the resurrection, when we shall be awakened, sick, sick shall many a soul be! I know no wholesome fountain but one; I know not a thing worth the buying but heaven. And my mind is, if comparison were made between CHRIST and heaven, I would sell heaven and buy CHRIST. O that I could cry up CHRIST in men's estimation, ten thousand talents more than men think of him! But they are crying him down, or else exchanging CHRIST with the miserable old fallen house. of this vain world; or they lend hint out upon interest, and play the usurers with CHRIST: because they profess him, and give out before men that CHRIST is their treasure and stock, and, in the mean time, praise of men, and a name, and ease, are the usury they would be at; so when the trial cometh, they quit the stock for the interest, and lose all. Happy are they, who can keep CHRIST alone, and keep him clean and whole, till GOD come and count with them. I know, in your heavy trials long since, you thought highly of CHRIST; but truly no cross should be -old to us: we should not forget them, because years are come between us and them, and cast them by, as we do old clothes; we' may make a cross, which is old in time, new in use, and as fruitful as in the beginning of it. GOD is what he was seven years ago, whatever change be in as: I speak not this as if I thought you had forgotten what GOD did to have your love long since; but that you may awake yourself in this sleepy age, and remember CHRIST'S first wooing your love, and try if he got his answer, or if ye be yet to give him it. For I find in myself, that water runneth not faster through a sieve, than our warnings slip from us.. I bless his great name, who is no niggard in holding crosses upon me, that he may save me from this perishing world. How plentiful GOD is in means of this kind, is esteemed by many one of Go D's unkind mercies; but CHRIST'S cross is neither a cruel nor unkind mercy, but the love-token of a father. I am sure, a lover, chasing us in order to have our love, should not be fled from. GOD, send me no worse mercy than the sanctified cross of CHRIST, and I am sure I should be happy. Pray for me, that I may find house-room in the LORD's house, to speak in his name. Grace, grace be with you!
Yours in JESUS,
S. R.