Vol 16 - TO MR. ROBERT CUNINGHAME,

TO MR. ROBERT CUNINGHAME,
Minister of the Gospel.
Well-beloved and Reverend Brother,
GRACE, mercy, and peace, be to you! I thought good to take the opportunity of writing to you; seeing it has seemed good to the LORD of the Harvest to lay upon us a more honorable service, _ even to suffer for his name. I have had a desire to see you in the face; yet now, being the prisoner of CHRIST, it is taken away. I am greatly comforted to hear of your soldier's stately spirit for your princely and royal Captain, JESUS, our LORD, and of the grace of GOD in the rest of our dear brethren with you. You have heard of my trouble, I suppose. It has pleased our LORD JESUS to let loose these LORDs in his house, to deprive me of my ministry at Anwoth, and to confine me eight-score miles from thence to Aberdeen; and also (which was not done to any before) to inhibit me to speak at all in JESUS's name within this kingdom, under the pain of rebellion. But let our crowned King in Zion reign; by his grace the loss is theirs, the advantage is CIIR.IST's and truth's. although this honest cross gained some ground on me by my heaviness, and inward challenges of con-science for a time were sharp; yet now, for the encouragement of you all, I dare say it, " Welcome, welcome, sweet cross of CHRIST." I verily think that the chains of my LORD JESUS are all overlaid with pure gold, and that his cross is perfumed, and that it smelleth of CHRIST; that the victory shall be by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of his truth; and that CHRIST, though now lying on his back, in his weak servants, and oppressed truth, shall yet ride over his enemies, and shall strike through Kings in the day of his wrath.
Blessed are they who are content to take strokes with a weeping CHRIST. Faith will trust, the LORD, and is not hasty nor headstrong; neither is faith so timorous, as to flatter a temptation, or to bribe the cross. My heart is woe indeed for my Mother-Church, that has played the harlot with many lovers; for her husband has a mind to sell her for horrible transgressions, and heavy will the hand of the LORD be upon this backsliding nation. Yet I trust that Scotland's skies shall clear again; that CHRIST shall build again the old waste places of JACOB; that our dead and dry bones shall become an army of living men; and that our Well-beloved may feed among the lilies, until the day break, and the shadows flee away. Only let us be faithful to him, to him that can ride through hell and death, and his horse never stumble; and let him make of me a bridge over a water, so that his high and holy name may be glorified in me. Strokes from the Mediator's hand are very sweet; he has always been dear to my soul; but since I suffered for him, he has been more precious to me than before. O that every hair of my head, and every member and every bone in my body, were a man to witness a faire confession for him! I would think all too little for him. Oft borne down, and hungry in waiting for the marriage-supper of the Lamb.; nevertheless I think it the LORD's wise love that feeds us with hunger, and makes its fat with such wants and desertions. I know not, my dear brother, if our worthy brethren be gone to sea or not; if they be yet with you, acquaint them with my troubles, and entreat them to pray for the poor afflicted prisoner of CHRIST: they are dear to my soul; I seek your prayers and theirs for my flock; their remembrance breaks my heart. I desire to love that people, and others my dear acquaintance in CHRIST, with love in GOD, and as GOD loves them. I know that he who sent me to the West and South, sends me also to the North: I will charge my soul to believe and to wait for him, and will follow his providence, and not go before it, nor stay behind it. Now, my dear brother, taking farewell, I commend you all to the word of his grace, and to the work of his SPIRIT,—to him who holdeth the seven stars in his right hand,—that you may be kept spotless till the day of JESUS our LORD.
Your Brother in affliction, in our LORD JESUS.
August 4, 1636.