S U N D A Y   S N I P P E T S  # 3 5           1 6  J U L Y  ' 9 4


             from `The Letters of Samuel Rutherford'
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S. Rutherford was a pastor and theologian of 17th-century
Scotland.  He was a bold preacher who laboured to please his
Master, King Jesus.   The author of `Lex Rex', and a divine
(theologian) at the Assemble of Westminster (1643), Rutherford is
perhaps best loved for his `Letters', many of which he wrote from
prison to his beloved parishioners about his Christian
experience, and how they could be encouraged by the presence of
Christ in their lives.  

The following is a letter (number CCCVII) whose date & address
are lost to us, but is supposed to be written to an influential
young man in Anwoth, Scotland.  It was written from the town of
St. Andrews.  The topic: Necessity of Godliness in its Power.


     WORTHY SIR,- I am heartily glad that you have any  mind of
me, or my ministry while I was with you.  I wish you the fruit of
it.  I trust that you strive for the power of godliness, that has
been so preached in the land; for salvation cometh not to every
man's door, and the way to heaven is a straiter and narrower
passage than each man thinketh.  And you are now in the most
glassy part of your life, when it is easy to follow, and when the
lusts of youth are rank and strong.  And happy are you that
can pass through these dangers with a good conscience.  So my
real advice is, that you acquaint yourself with prayer, and with
searching the Scriptures of God, that He may show you that good
way that bringeth rest to the soul. The ordinary faith and the
country godliness will not save you.  There must be more [than]
the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees ere a man ever
enter the kingdom of God.  And I shall desire that you will take
to heart the worth and price of an immortal soul, and the
necessity of dying, and the fearful account of judgement at the
back of death, that you may be saved.
     As for my ministry among you again, I can easier desire it
than see through it.  The Lord of the harvest take care for you,
and send you a pastor according to God's heart; and that's as
rare as ever, for all our reformation.
     Remember my heart's love and respect to your mother and
sister.  Grace be with you.
     Your sometime pastor and still friend in God,
                                                     S.R.

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"Sunday Snippets" is the trademark of G. MacKenzie Strickland.  May be 
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`The Letters of Samuel Rutherford', over 350 of them, are
published by The Banner of Truth Trust, Edinburgh & Pennsylvania.




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