Vol 16 - TO CARDONESS, ELDER.

TO CARDONESS, ELDER.
MUCH HONORED SIR,.
GRACE, mercy, and peace, be to you! I have longed to hear from you, and to know the state of your soul, and the state of that people with you. I beseech you, Sir, by the mercies of GOD, make sure work of your salvation. If ye be upon sinking sand, a storm of death will loose CHRIST and you, and wash you off the rock: O, for the LORD's sake, look narrowly to the work. Read over your life, with the light of God; for salvation is not cast down at every man's door. It is good to look to your compass, and all ye have need of, before ye take shipping; for no wind can blow you back again. Remember, when the race is ended, and the play either won or lost, and ye are in the utmost circle and border of time, and small put your foot within eternity, and all your good things of this short night-dream shall seem to you like the ashes of a blaze of thorns; then shall your soul be more glad at one of your LORD'S smiles, than if ye had the charters of three worlds for all eternity. Now when old age, like death's long shadow, is casting a covering upon your days, it is no time to court this vain life; seek rest for your soul in GOD through CHRIST. Believe me, I find it hard wrestling, to keep good quarters with him, and to keep a constant course of sound and solid daily communion with CHRIST: temptations are daily breaking the thread of that course, and it is not easy to cast a knot again. O how fair have many ships been playing before the wind, that, in an hour's space, have been lying in the sea-bottom! How many professors cast a lustre, as if they were pure gold, and yet are but base and reprobate metal! And how many keep breath in their race many miles, and yet come short of the prize. Dear Sir, my soul would mourn in secret for you, if I knew your case with GOD to be but false work. Those who had never sick nights nor days for sin, have but such a peace with -GOD as will end in a sad war. I always saw nature lofty, heady, and strong in you; and it was more for you to be dead to the world than a common man: ye will take a deep cut, and a long lance, to go to the bottom of your wounds, in saving humiliation. Be humbled, walk softly; down, down, for Got's sake, with your top-sail; stoop, stoop; it is a low entry to go in at heaven's gates. There is infinite justice in the party ye have to do with: it is his nature not to acquit the guilty: the law of GOD will not want one farthing of the sinner: GOD. forgetteth not both the surety and the sinner; and every man must pay, either in his own person, (O LORD, save you from that payment) or in his surety, CHRIST. Come in, come in to CHRIST, and see what you want, and find it in him. I dare say, angels' pens, angels' tongues, nay, as many worlds of angels as there are drops of water in all the seas, and fountains, and rivers of the earth, cannot paint him out to you. I think, his sweetness, since I was a prisoner, has swelled upon me to the greatness of two heavens. O for a soul as wide as the utmost circle of the highest heaven, that containeth all, to contain his love and even then I could hold little of it. O what a sight to be up in heaven, in that fair orchard of the new paradise; and to see, and smell, and taste, and touch that Tree of Life! Woe, woe is me, that sin has made so many madmen, seeking the fools' paradise, some good and desirable thing, without and apart from CHRIST. CHRIST, CHRIST, nothing but CHRIST, can cool our love's burning languor. O thirsty love! wilt you set Cult's t, the well of life, to thy head, and drink thy fill' Pray for me, his prisoner of hope. I pray for you without ceasing. I write my blessing, my earnest prayers, the love of GOD, and the sweet presence of CHRIST, to you and yours. Grace, grace be with you!
Your lawful and loving Pastor,
Aberdeen, 1637. S. R.