Vol 16 - TO JOHN GORDON.

TO JOHN GORDON.
WORTHY AND DEAR BROTHER,
GRACE, mercy, and peace, be to you! I have been too long in writing to you; but multitude of letters taketh much time from me. I bless his great name, whom I serve with my spirit, if it came to voting amongst angels and men, how excellent and sweet CHRIST is, even in his reproaches and in his "cross, I cannot but vote, that all that is in him, both cross and crown, enjoyments and glooms, smiles and frowns, are sweet and glorious. GOD send me no more happiness in’heaven, or out of heaven, but CHRIST! For I find this world, when I have looked upon it on both sides, within and without, and when I have seen even the laughing side of it, to be but a fool's idol, a clay prison. LORD, let it not be the nest that my hope buildeth in! I have now cause to judge my part of this earth not worth a blast of smoke, or a mouthful of brown bread. I wish my hope may take a running leap, and skip over time's pleasures, and this vain earth, and rest upon my LORD. O how great is our night darkness in this wilderness! To have any conceit at all of this world, is as if a man should enclose his handful of water, and, holding his hand in the river, say that all the water of the flood was his; as if it were indeed all within the compass of his hand. Who would not laugh at the thoughts of such an idiot Verily they have but a handful of water, and are but like a child clasping his two hands about a shadow, who idolize any created hope. I now put the price of a dream, or fable, upon all things, but Got', and that desirable one, my Lord JESUS. Let all the world be nothing, (for nothing was their seed and mother,) and let Gan be all things.—My very dear Brother, know that ye are as near heaven, as ye are fur from yourself, and far from the love of a bewitching world: for this world, in its gain and glory, is but the great and notable common harlot, with whom all the sons of men have been enamored for these five thousand years. The children they have begotten are but vanity, dreams, imaginations, and night thoughts: for there is no good ground here, under the covering of heaven, for the poor wearied souls of men to set down their' foot upon. 9h! He who is called Got', that One whom they term JESUS CHRIST, is indeed worth the having; even if I had given away all without my eyeholes, my soul, and myself, for JESUS my LORD! O let the claim be cancelled, that the creatures have to me! O that he would claim poor me,—my silly, light, and worthless soul! O that he would pursue his claim to the utmost, and not be without me; for it is my pain to be without him! I see nothing in this life, but mires, and dreams, and beguiling ditches, and ill ground for us to build upon. I am fully persuaded of CHRIST'S victory in Scotland; but I fear lest this land be not ripe and white for mercy. O that we could be awakened to prayers and humiliation! Then should the sun shine like seven suns in the heaven; then should the temple of CHRIST be built upon the mountaintops; and, the land from coast to coast should be filled with the glory of the LORD. Brother, your hourglass will quickly pass; and therefore take order with matters between you and CHRIST, before it come to open pleading: there are no quarters to be had of CHRIST, in open judgment. I know, ye see your. thread wearing short; and therefore lose not time. Remember me, his prisoner, that it would please the LORD to bring me again amongst you with abundance of the Gospel. Grace, grace be with you!
Yours in JESUS,
S. R.