Xv to Lady Boyd

Lady Boyd, whose maiden name was Christian Hamilton, was the daughter

of a distinguished lawyer and inherited his abilities and strength of

character. She was a trusted friend of many of the leading ministers of

the Church of Scotland in her day. When she died the whole Scottish

Parliament suspended its sitting to attend her funeral. See also

letters LVII, LXII and LXV.

MADAM, -- Grace, mercy and peace be unto you. The Lord has brought me to

Aberdeen, where I see God in few. This town has been advised upon of

purpose for me; it consisteth either of Papists, or men of Gallio's

naughty faith. It is counted wisdom, in the most, not to countenance a

confined minister; but I find Christ neither strange nor unkind; for I

have found many faces smile upon me since I came hither. I am heavy and

sad, considering what is betwixt the Lord and my soul, which none seeth

but He. I find men have mistaken me; it would be no art (as I now see)

to spin small and make hypocrisy a goodly web, and to go through the

market as a saint among men, and yet steal quietly to hell, without

observation: so easy is it to deceive men. I have disputed whether or

no I ever knew anything of Christianity, save the letters of that name.

Men see but as men, and they call ten twenty and twenty an hundred; but

O! to be approved of God in the heart and in sincerity is not an

ordinary mercy. My neglects while I had a pulpit, and other things

whereof I am ashamed to speak, meet me now, so as God maketh an honest

cross my daily sorrow. Like a fool, I believed, under suffering for

Christ, that I myself should keep the key of Christ's treasures, and

take out comforts when I listed, and eat and be fat: but I see now a

sufferer for Christ will be made to know himself, and will be holden at

the door as well as another poor sinner, and will be fain to eat with

the bairns, and to take the by-board, and glad to do so. My blessing on

the cross of Christ that has made me see this! Oh! if we could take

pains for the kingdom of heaven! But we sit down upon some ordinary

marks of God's children, thinking we have as much as will separate us

from a reprobate; and thereupon we take the play and cry, 'Holiday!'

and thus the devil casteth water on our fire, and blunteth our zeal and

care. But I see heaven is not at the door; and I see, howbeit my

challenges be many, I suffer for Christ, and dare hazard my salvation

upon it; for sometimes my Lord cometh with a fair hour and O! but His

love be sweet, delightful, and comfortable.

Madam, I know your Ladyship knoweth this, and that made me bold to

write of it, that others might reap somewhat by my bonds for the truth;

for I should desire, and I aim at this, to have my Lord well spoken of,

and honored, howbeit He should make nothing of me but a bridge over a

water.

Thus recommending your Ladyship, your son and children, to His grace,

who has honored you with a name and room among the living in Jerusalem,

and wishing grace to be with your Ladyship.

ABERDEEN