Iii. to Marion Mcnaught, When His Wife Was Ill
The sermon is a heartfelt expression of Samuel Rutherford's struggles with suffering and his reliance on God's strength and presence.
Samuel Rutherford, in a letter to Marion McNaught, expresses his deep struggles and heaviness, seeking her prayers as his wife is tormented and he feels overwhelmed by God's chastisement. Despite the storm, he acknowledges the difficulty of keeping sight of God but finds comfort in the assurance of heaven and the strength of Christ to overcome. Rutherford reflects on the bitterness of being a Christian yet finds solace in the absence of poison in Christ's cup, praying for deliverance from temptation and the kingdom of Satan's attacks.
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Marion McNaught, a niece of Viscount Kenmure, married William
Fullerton, Provost of Kirkcudbright. She was a close and lifelong
friend of Rutherford. The manner in which he discusses with her the
most profound questions of Christian doctrine and personal religion, as
well as the tangled affairs of Church and State, are sufficient
evidence of her outstanding gifts and graces. Forty-five letters to her
have survived. Letters VI and XXXIX below are also to her.
LOVING AND DEAR SISTER, -- If ever you would pleasure me, entreat the
Lord for me, now when I am so comfortless, and so full of heaviness,
that I am not able to stand under the burthen any longer. The Almighty
hath doubled His stripes upon me, for my wife is so sore tormented
night and day, that I have wondered why the Lord tarrieth so long. My
life is bitter unto me, and I fear the Lord be my contrair party. It is
(as I now know by experience) hard to keep sight of God in a storm,
especially when He hides Himself, for the trial of His children. If He
would be pleased to remove His hand, I have a purpose to seek Him more
than I have done. Happy are they that can win away with their soul. I
am afraid of His judgments. I bless my God that there is a death, and a
heaven. I would weary to begin again to be a Christian, so bitter is it
to drink of the cup that Christ drank of, if I knew not that there is
no poison in it. Pray that God would not lead my wife into temptation.
Woe is my heart, that I have done so little against the kingdom of
Satan in my calling; for he would fain attempt to make me blaspheme God
in His face. I believe, I believe, in the strength of Him who hath put
me in His work, he shall fail in that which he seeks. I have comfort in
this, that my Captain, Christ, hath said, I must fight and overcome the
world, and with a weak, spoiled, weaponless devil, 'the prince of this
world cometh, and hath nothing in me'. Desire Mr Robert to remember me,
if he love me. Grace, grace be with you, and all yours.
Remember Zion. Hold fast that which you have, that no man take the
crown from you. The Lord Jesus be with your spirit.
ANWOTH, Nov. 17, 1629
Sermon Outline
- The Weight of Suffering
- The burden of his wife's illness
- The Lord's seeming absence
- The temptation to blaspheme
Key Quotes
“It is hard to keep sight of God in a storm, especially when He hides Himself, for the trial of His children.” — Samuel Rutherford
“I would weary to begin again to be a Christian, so bitter is it to drink of the cup that Christ drank of, if I knew not that there is no poison in it.” — Samuel Rutherford
“The prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me” — Samuel Rutherford
Application Points
- You can find comfort in the strength of God, who has put you in His work, and in the promise that He will help you overcome the world.
- You can resist the temptation to blaspheme God by holding fast to your faith and remembering that Christ has overcome the world and has given you the strength to overcome it.
- You can seek God more by praying for His presence and guidance, and by holding fast to your faith in Him.