Vol 16 - TO JOHN STEWART, PROVOST OF AYR, Now in Ireland.

TO JOHN STEWART, PROVOST OF AYR, Now in Ireland.
MUCH HONORED SIR,
GRACE, mercy, and peace, be unto you! I long to hear from you; being now removed from my flock, and the prisoner of CHRIST at Aberdeen. I would not have you think it strange, that your journey to New England has gotten such a dash. It indeed has made my heart heavy; yet I know it is no dumb Providence, but a speaking one, whereby our LORD speaketh his mind to you, though for the present ye do not well understand what he says. However it be, He who sitteth upon the floods has shown you his’ marvelous kindness in the great deeps. I know your loss is great, and your hope is gone far against you; but I entreat you,’Sir, expound aright our LORD's laying hindrances in the way. I persuade myself that your heart aimeth at the footsteps of the flock, and to dwell beside him whom your soul loves; and that it is your desire to remain in the wilderness, where the woman is kept from the dragon. And this being your desire, remember that a poor prisoner of CHRIST said, " That miscarried journey is pregnant with mercy and. consolation, and shall bring " forth a fair birth." Wait on: "le that believeth. maketh not. haste." (Isaiah 28:16.) I hope ye have been asking what the Lord meaneth, and what further may be his will. My dear Brother, let GOD make of you what he. will. He will end all with consolation, and shall make glory out of your sufferings; and would you' wish better work This water was in your way to heaven; ye behoved to cross it; and therefore embrace his wise and unerring Providence. Let not the censures of men, who see but the outside of things, (and scarcely that well,) abate your rejoicing in the LORD. although your faith sees but the black side of Providence, yet it has a better side; and GOD shall let you see it. If our Lon') ride upon a straw, his horse shall neither stumble nor fall: " For we know that all things work together for good to them that love GOD:" Therefore, shipwreck, losses, &c., work together for the good of them that Jove GOD. Hence I infer, that losses, disappointments, ill tongues, and loss. of friends, houses, or country, are, GOD’s workmen, still at work, to work out good to you out of every thing that befalleth you. Let not the Loup's dealing seem harsh, rough, or unfatherly, because it is unpleasant: When, the LORD’s blessed will bloweth crow to your desires, it is best in humility to strike sail to him, and to be' willing to be led in any way our LORD pleases. It is a point of denial` of yourself, to be as if your had 'not a will, but: had sold it over to him; and to makth use of, his, will far your own, is both true holiness, and: your; ease and peace " Ye know not what the Lord is, working out of this; but ye shall know it hereafter. Now, for myself, I was three days before the HighCommission, and accused of. preaching treason against our Kings A Minister, being witness, went well nigh to swear it And, they have(1.) deprived me of. my ministry;(2.) silenced me, requiring that I exercise no part of the ministerial 'function within. this kingdom) under the pain of rebellion,;(3.) confined my' person within, the town of Aberdeen,'where I find the Ministers working for: my containment in Caithness or Orkney, far from them, because some people here resort to me. My adversaries know not what a courtier I am now with my Royal King. It is but our soft and lazy flesh that has raised an ill report/ of the cross of CHRIST. Sweet is his yoke; CHRIST’s chains are of pure gold sufferings for him ate perfumed: I would not give my weeping for the laughing of all the fourteen Prelates; I would not exchange my sadness with the world's joy. Yours in our Lord JESUS,
Aberdeen, 1637.
S. R