======================================================================== V. TO LADY KENMURE by Samuel Rutherford ======================================================================== Summary: Samuel Rutherford's sermon emphasizes the necessity of enduring suffering with faith, finding comfort in Christ's presence, and recognizing God's wisdom in our trials. Topics: "Suffering With Christ", "Gods Sovereignty" Scripture References: Psalm 34:19, Romans 5:3, Romans 8:18, 2 Corinthians 4:17, Hebrews 2:10, 1 Peter 1:6 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ DESCRIPTION ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Samuel Rutherford preaches about the fellowship and communion with the sufferings of Christ, emphasizing that our earthly condition cannot be more pleasant or easier than His, as through afflictions, He was made perfect. He encourages believers to trust in God's infinite wisdom, even when His ways seem contrary to our desires, knowing that there is a just reason behind His decrees. Rutherford reminds the audience that in the clarity of eternity, they will see the depth of God's wisdom and how every trial and affliction led them to the glorious crown of glory, urging them to believe, suffer, hope, and wait on the Lord. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CONTENT ------------------------------------------------------------------------ MADAM, -- Grace, mercy, and peace be multiplied upon you. I received your Ladyship's letter, in the which I perceive your case in this world smelleth of a fellowship and communion with the Son of God in His sufferings. Ye cannot, ye must not, have a more pleasant or more easy condition here, than He had, who 'through afflictions was made perfect' (Heb. 2.10). We may indeed think, Cannot God bring us to heaven with ease and prosperity? Who doubteth but He can? But His infinite wisdom thinketh and decreeth the contrary; and we cannot see a reason for it, yet He hath a most just reason. We never with our eyes saw our own soul; yet we have a soul. We see many rivers, but we know not their first spring and original fountain; yet they have a beginning. Madam, when ye are come to the other side of the water, and have set down your foot on the shore of glorious eternity, and look back again to the waters and to your wearisome journey, and shall see, in that clear glass of endless glory, nearer to the bottom of God's wisdom, ye shall then be forced to say, 'If God had done otherwise with me than He hath done, I had never come to the enjoying of this crown of glory.' It is your part now to believe, and suffer, and hope, and wait on; for I protest, in the presence of that all-discerning eye, who knoweth what I write and what I think, that I would not want the sweet experience of the consolations of God for all the bitterness of affliction. Nay, whether God come to His children with a rod or a crown, if He come Himself with it, it is well. Welcome, welcome, Jesus, what way soever Thou come, if we can get a sight of Thee! And sure I am, it is better to be sick, providing Christ come to the bedside and draw by the curtains, and say, 'Courage, I am thy salvation', than to enjoy health, being lusty and strong, and never to be visited of God My wife now, after long disease and torment, for the space of a year and a month, is departed this life. The Lord hath done it; blessed be His name. I have been diseased of a fever tertian for the space of thirteen weeks, and am yet in the sickness, so that I preach but once on the Sabbath with great difficulty. I am not able either to visit or examine the congregation. The Lord Jesus be with your spirit. ANWOTH, June 26, 1630. ======================================================================== Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/samuel-rutherford/v-to-lady-kenmure/ ========================================================================