Xxx. to Join Stuart, Provost of Ayr
Samuel Rutherford reflects on his struggles with faith and the desire to serve God amidst challenges and uncertainties.
Samuel Rutherford preaches about finding comfort in God's mercy and grace, even in the midst of struggles and uncertainties. He expresses his desire to serve God faithfully, despite feeling inadequate and unworthy. Rutherford acknowledges his doubts and fears, yet he ultimately surrenders them to Christ, seeking to trust in God's plan and provision. He reflects on the challenges he faces in his faith journey, but remains anchored in God's omnipotence and goodwill, choosing to wait patiently for His guidance and blessings.
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WORTHY AND DEAR BELOVED IN OUR LORD, -- Grace, mercy, and peace be to
you. I was refreshed and comforted by your letter. What I wrote to you
for your comfort, I do not remember. I wish I could help you to praise
His great and holy name, who keepeth the feet of His saints and has
numbered all your goings. I know our dearest Lord will pardon and pass
by our honest errors and mistakes when we mind His honor; yet I know
none of you have seen the other half and the hidden side of your
wonderful return home to us again.
I am confident you shall yet say
that God's mercy blew your sails back to Ireland again.
Worthy and dear sir, I cannot but give you an account of my present
state that you may go an errand for me to my high and royal Master.
First, I am very often turning both the sides of my cross, especially
my dumb and silent Sabbaths; not because I desire to find a defect in
my Lord's love, but fear of guiltiness is a tale-bearer between me and
Christ, and is still whispering ill thoughts of my Lord, to weaken my
faith. I would rather a cloud went over my comforts than that my faith
should be hurt; for if my Lord get no wrong by me, I verily desire
grace not to care what becomes of me. Hence these thoughts awake with
me in the morning and go to bed with me.
O what service can a dumb body
do in Christ's house! O I am a dry tree! If I might but speak to three
or four herd boys of my worthy Master, I would be satisfied to be the
meanest and most obscure of all the pastors in this land, and to live
in any place, in any of Christ's basest outhouses! But He saith,
'Sirrah, I will not send you, I have no errands for you thereaway.' My
desire to serve Him is sick of jealousy, lest He be unwilling to employ
me Secondly, This is seconded by another.
Oh! all that I have done in
Anwoth, the fair work that my Master began there, is like a bird dying
in the shell; and what will I then have to show of all my labour, in
the day of my compearance before Him, when the Master of the vineyard
calleth the laborers, and giveth them their hire? Thirdly, But truly,
when Christ's sweet wind is in the right airth, I repent, and I pray
Christ to take law burrows of my quarrelous unbelieving sadness and
sorrow.
But I wish He would give me grace to learn to go on my own feet
and to learn to do without His comforts, and to give thanks and
believe, when the sun is not in my firmament, and when my Well-beloved
is from home, and gone another errand.
Now, for any resolution to go to any other kingdom, I dare not speak
one word. My hopes of enlargement are cold, my hopes of reentry to my
Master's ill-dressed vineyard again are far colder. I have no seat for
my faith to sit upon but bare omnipotence and God's holy arm and
goodwill. Here I desire to stay and ride at anchor and winter, while
God send fair weather again. But there will be sad days see it come to
that. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you.
ABERDEEN, 1637
Sermon Outline
- I points: - Introduction and greeting - Reflection on the Lord's mercy - Importance of faith amidst struggles
- II points: - Personal struggles with silence and doubt - Desire for service despite feelings of inadequacy - Longing to communicate the Gospel
- III points: - Concerns about the effectiveness of past efforts - Anticipation of accountability before Christ - Hope for future opportunities in ministry
- IV points: - Learning to trust in God without visible comforts - The challenge of faith in difficult times - Desire for perseverance and strength
- V points: - Reflections on the uncertainty of future plans - Reliance on God's omnipotence - Commitment to remain steadfast in faith
Key Quotes
“I know our dearest Lord will pardon and pass by our honest errors and mistakes when we mind His honor.” — Samuel Rutherford
“O what service can a dumb body do in Christ's house!” — Samuel Rutherford
“I have no seat for my faith to sit upon but bare omnipotence and God's holy arm and goodwill.” — Samuel Rutherford
Application Points
- Trust in God's mercy even when facing doubts and struggles.
- Seek opportunities to serve others, regardless of personal feelings of inadequacy.
- Learn to maintain faith during difficult times, relying on God's strength.