140. CXLI.—To JAMES MACADAM
CXLI.—To JAMES MACADAM
[John Livingstone ("Histor. Relation"), along with Marion M’Naught and other such, mentions John Macadam and Christian Macadam of Waterhead, near Carsphairn, as eminent Christians. The person to whom this letter is addressed may have been one of that family. The famous road engineer in our day, Macadam, born at Waterhead, was descended from this ancient family.
It seems that the Christian Macadam mentioned above was afterwards Lady Cardoness; and because of her connection with this correspondent of Rutherford’s, we may give the inscription on her tomb. The tomb is part of the enclosed pile close to the old Anwoth church. The inscription is on the north side of the pile:— "Christian M’Adam, Lady Cardynes. Departed 16th June of 1628. Ætatis suæ, 33.
"Ye gazers on the trophy of a tomb, Send out one groan for want of her whose life, Twice born on earth, now is in earth’s womb.
Lived long a virgin, now a spotless wife.
Church keeps her godly life, the tomb her corpse, And earth her precious name. Who then does lose? Her husband? No, since heaven her soul doth gain."] (THE KINGDOM TAKEN BY FORCE.) MY VERY DEAR AND WORTHY FRIEND,—Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. I long to hear of your growing in grace, and of your advancing in your journey to heaven. It will be the joy of my heart to hear that ye hold your face up the brae, and wade through temptations without fearing what man can do. Christ shall, when He ariseth, mow down His enemies, and lay bulks (as they use to speak) on the green, and fill the pits with dead bodies (Psalms 110:6; "the places"). They shall lie like handfuls of withered hay, when He ariseth to the prey. Salvation, salvation is the only necessary thing. This clay idol, the world, is not to be sought; it is a morsel not for you, but for hunger-bitten bastards. Contend for salvation. Your Master, Christ, won heaven with strokes: it is a besieged castle; it must be taken with violence. Oh, this world thinketh heaven but at the next door, and that godliness may sleep in a bed of down till it come to heaven! But that will not do it. For myself, I am as well as Christ’s prisoner can be; for by Him I am master and king of all my crosses. I am above the prison, and the lash of men’s tongues; Christ triumpheth in me. I have been casten down, and heavy with fears, and haunted with challenges. I was swimming in the depths, but Christ had His hand under my chin all the time, and took good heed that I should not lose breath; and now I have gotten my feet again, and there are love-feasts of joy, and spring-tides of consolation betwixt Christ and me. We agree well; I have court with Him; I am still welcome to His house. Oh, my short arms cannot fathom His love! I beseech you, I charge you, to help me to praise. Ye have a prisoner’s prayers, therefore forget me not.
I desire Sibylla to remember me dearly to all in that parish who know Christ, as if I had named them.
Grace, grace be with you.
Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus,
S. R.
ABERDEEN, March 13, 1637.