Vol 16 - TO MR. JAMES FLEMING.

TO MR. JAMES FLEMING.
Reverend and well beloved in our LORD,
GRACE, mercy, and peace, be to your I cannot but testify unto you, my dear brother, what sweetness I find in our Master's cross; but, alas! what can I either do or suffer for him If I had as many lives as there have been drops of rain since the creation, I would think them too little for our Wellbeloved; but my sorrow is, that I find not ways to set out the praises of his love to others. I am not able, by tongue, pen, or sufferings, to provoke many to fall in love with him; but he knows, whom I love to serve in the spirit, what I would do and suffer by his strength, if I might so make my LORD JESUS lovely to many thousands in this land. I think it amongst GOD’s wonders, that he will take any praise or glory from such a forlorn sinner as I am. But when CHRIST worketh, he needeth not ask the question, by whom he will be glorious. I know that,—since his glory at the beginning did shine out of nothing, to set up such a fair house for men and angels, and so many glorious creatures to proclaim his goodness, power, and wisdom, if I were burned to ashes, out of the smoke of my dissolved body he could raise glory to himself. His glory is his end; O that I could join with him, to make it my end! I would think that fellowship with him sweet and glorious. But, alas, few know the guiltiness that is on my part; it is a wonder that this good cause has not been marred in my foul hands: but I rejoice in this, that my LORD JESUS has found a ready occasion for the exercise of his free grace, and matchless mercy, in my wants. My loathsome wretchedness and wants have alone qualified me for CHRIST, and for the riches of his glorious grace. One thing I know, we shall not all be able to come near his excellency with eye, heart, or tongue; for he is above all created thoughts. " C All nations before him are as nothing, and less than nothing; he sitteth in the circuit of heaven, and the inhabitants of the earth are as grasshoppers before him." O that men would praise him! I never find myself nearer CHRIST, than after, a great weight and sense of deadness, and gracelessness: I think the sense of our wants, when withal we have a restlessness, and a sort of spiritual impatience under them, is that which maketh an open door to CHRIST; and when we think we are going backward, because we feel deadness, we are going forward: for the more sense, the more life; and no sense argueth no life. There is no sweeter fellowship with CHRIST, than to bring our wounds and our sores to him. But for myself, I am ashamed of CHRIST'S goodness since the time of my bonds; for he has been pleased to open new treasures of grace, and to give visitations of love, and access to himself, in this strange land. I would think a fullness of his love to be young and green heaven; and when he is pleased to come, and the tide is in, and the sea full, and the King and a poor prisoner together in the house of wine, the black tree of the cross is not so heavy as a feather. I cannot but give CHRIST an honorable testimony. I see the LORD can ride through his enemies' bands, and triumph in the sufferings of his own. This blind world sees not that suffering is CHRIST'S armor, wherein He is victorious: and they that contend with Zion, see not what He is doing, when they are set to work, as under smiths and servants, to the task of refining the saints, or that their. office in GOD’s house is to scour and cleanse the vessels for the King's table. I marvel not to see them triumph, and sit at ease in Zion; our Father must lay up his rods_ and keep them carefully for his own use: our LORD cannot want fire in his house; his furnace is in Zion, and his fire in Jerusalem; " but the adversaries little know the counsels and the thoughts of the LORD. As to your complaints of your ministry, I now think all I did too little. Plainness, freedom, watchfulness, and fidelity, shall swell upon you, in exceeding large comforts, in your sufferings. The feeding of CHRIST'S lambs in private visitations and catechizing, in painful preaching, in fair honesty, and free warning of the flock, is a sufferer's garland. O ten thousand times blessed are they, who are honored of CHRIST to be faithful and painful in winning souls to CHRIST! My dear brother, I know that ye think more on this than I can: and I rejoice that your purpose is, in the LORD'S strength, to come out, and call yourself CHRIST'S man, when so many are denying him, as fearing that CHRIST cannot do for himself and them. I am a lost man for ever, or this is the way to salvation, even this way which they call heresy, and which men now do mock and scoff at. I am confirmed now that CHRIST will accept of his servants' sufferings as good service to him at the day of his appearance. Our Master is not far off: O that we could wait on, and be faithful! The tender favor and love of our Lord JESUS CHRIST be with you! Help me with your prayers; and desire my other brethren to take courage for their Master.
Aberdeen,
Yours in his LORD JESUS,
Aug. 15, 1637.