Vol 16 - TO THE VISCOUNTESS OF KENMURE.
TO THE VISCOUNTESS OF KENMURE.
MADAM,
UPON the offered opportunity of this worthy bearer, I could not omit to answer the heads of your letter.—I. I think not much to set down in paper some good things of CHRIST, and to feed my soul with wishes to be one with CHRIST; for a wish is but a broken and half love; but verily to "come and see" is a harder matter: but, oh, I have rather smoke than fire: I have little or nothing to say, but that I am one who has found favor in his eyes.--2. You write that 1: am filled with knowledge, and stand not in need of these warnings: but. certainly my light is dim; and how many have full coffers, and yet empty bellies!
Light, and the saving use of light, arc far different. O what need have I to have the ashes blown away. from my dying fire! I may be a book-man, and yet be an idiot and a stark fool in CHRIST's way. Therefore as night-watchers hold one another waking, by speaking to one another, so have we need to hold one another on. foot: sleep stealeth away the light of watching, even the light that reproves sleeping. I doubt not but more would reach heaven, if they believed not heaven to be at the next door. The world's negative holiness, " no adulterer, no murderer, no thief," maketh men believe they are already saints.—$. I find you complaining of yourself, and it becometh a sinner so to do. I would love my pain and soreness with my wounds, although these should bereave me of my night's sleep, better than my wounds without pain.--4. Be not afraid for little grace. Our split works, losses, deadness, coldness, wretchedness, are the ground on which the good husbandman labouteth.—5. You write that his comppssions fail not, notwithstanding that your service to CHRIST miscarrieth. To that I answer, Gott forbid that there were buying and selling between CHRIST and us; for then free grace might go to play. But all the vessels, great and small, that we have, are fastened upon the sure nail. (Isaiah 22:24.) The only danger. is, that we give grace more to do, than GOD giveth it, that is, by turning his grace into wantonness. Grace be with you!
Aberdeen,
Yours in his LORD JESUS,
March 14, 1637