Vol 16 - TO MR. ROBERT BLAIR.

TO MR. ROBERT BLAIR.
Reverend and dearly beloved Brother,
GRACE, mercy, and peace, from GOD our FATHER, and from our LORD JESUS CHRIST, be to you! It is no great wonder, my dear Brother, that -ye be in heaviness for a season, and that GOD's will, in crossing your design and desires to dwell amongst a people whose Gott is the LORD, should move you. I deny not but ye have cause to inquire, what his Providence speaketh in this to you; but GOD's directing and commanding will can by no good logic be concluded from events of Providence. The LORD sent PAUL on many errands, for the spreading of his Gospel, where he found lions in his way. A promise was made to his people of the Holy Land and yet many nations in the way fought against them who had the promise, to keep them from possessing that good land which the LORD their GOD had given them. I persuade myself ye have learned, in every condition, wherein ye are, therein to be content, and to say, " Good is the will of the LORD; let it be done." The LORD purposeth to bring mercy out of your sufferings and silence, which as I know by experience, are grievous to you. Seeing he knows our willing mind to serve him, our wages are running on with our GOD; even as some sick soldiers get their pay, when they are bed-fast, and not able to go to the field with others. And when they have swallowed us up, they shall be sick, and vomit us out living men again: the Devil's stomach cannot digest the Church of GOD. Suffering is one half of our ministry, although the hardest: for we would be content if our King JESUS would make an open proclamation, and cry down crosses, and cry up joy, gladness, ease, honor, and peace; but it must not be so: " Through much tribulation, we must enter into the kingdom of Gott; " not only by it, but through it must we go. It is folly to think to steal to heaven with a whole skin. My dear Brother, help me to show the LORD'S people with you, what he has done to my soul, that they may pray and praise. I charge you, in the name of CH R.I sT, not to omit it; for, for this cause I write to you, that my sufferings may glorify my King, and edify his church in Ireland. I hope the LORD will move your heart to proclaim, in my behalf, the excellency and glory of my King. It is but our soft flesh that has raised a slander on the cross of CHRIST; I see now the white side of it; my LORD'S chains are all over gilded. O that Scotland and Ireland had part of my feast! And yet I get not my meat but with many strokes. There are none here to whom I can speak; I dwell in Kedar's tents. Refresh me with a letter from you. Courage, courage, joy, joy for evermore! O joy. unspeakable and glorious! O for help to set my crowned King on high! O for love to Him, who is altogether. lovely! That love which many waters cannot quench, neither can the floods drown! I remember you, and bear your name on my breast to CHRIST,: I beseech you, forget not his prisoner. Grace, mercy, and peace, be with you!. Your brother and fellow-prisoner,
Aberdeen, Feb. 7, 1637.