Vol 16 - TO MR. JAMES GUTHRIE,

TO MR. JAMES GUTHRIE,
Minister of the Gospel at Stirling.
WE are very often, comforted: with the word' of Promise; though' we stumble not a little at the work of holy Providence, when we see some earthly men flourishing as a green herb, and the people of GOD counted as sheep for the slaughter, and killed all the: day long., And yet, both the word of Promise, and the works of Providence, are from Him, whose ways are equal, holy, and spotless, As for me, when I think of God’s dispensations, he might justly have brought, to the marketcross, and to the light, my secret abominations, which would have been no small reproach to the. holy name of CHRIST; but in: mercy he has covered. These and carved out more honorable, causes of suffering, of. which we Axe unworthy. And. now, dear Brother, much depends upon. the manner of suffering, especially, that his precious truths be owned with all heavenly boldness, and a reason of our hope given in meekness and, fear, and the, royal, crown of our, LORD JESUS CHRIST, the Prince of the Kings of the earth, avouched.,; There; are yet a few., names in the land, that have not defiled, their. garments; and a holy, seed, one whom the LORD will have mercy, like the four or five olive,branches upon the top of the shaken, olivetree, and whose ye. shall. lie, toward the; Lord their, Maker. Think it not strange, whatsoever men devise; against you. Whether it be exile,—the earth is the LORD'S; or perpetual imprisonment,—the LORD is your light and, liberty;, or a violent and public death,the Kingdom of heaven consists in a fair company of glorified martyrs and witnesses, of whom JESUS CHRIST is the chief witness, who for that cause was born, and came into the world. Happy are ye, if you give testimony to the world of your preferring JESUS CHRIST to all powers; and the LORD will make the innocency of his despised witnesses in this land to shine to after generations, and will take the manchild up to GOD and to his throne, and prepare a hidden place in the wilderness for the mother, and cause the earth to help the woman. Be not terrified; fret not: forgive your enemies: bless and cursenot; for though both you and I should be silent, heavy are the judgment and indignation from the LORD, which await the unfaithful watchmen of the Church of Scotland. The souls under the altar are crying for justice, and there is an answer returned already: the LORD's salvation will not tarry. Cast the burden of wife and children on the LORD CHRIST. He cares for you and them: your blood is precious in his sight. The everlasting consolations of the LORD bear you up, and give you hope: for your salvation (if not your deliverance)
is concluded.
Your own Brother,
S. R.
St. Andrew's,
Feb. 15, 1661.