By the Rev. JOHN LIVINGSTONE.
TO the Flock of Jesus Christ in Ancrum, light, life, and love, and the consolation of the Holy Ghost be multiplied. Well-beloved in the Lord—That which our sins, even yours and mine, have been a long time procuring, and which hath been often threatened, but never well believed, is now come, even a separation. How long it may continue, it is in the Lord’s hand; but it will be our part to search out and mourn for these sins that have drawn down such a stroke. It is not needful to look much to instruments; I have from my heart forgiven them all, and would wish you to do the like, and pray for them that it be not laid to their charge. But let us look to Him, without whose doing there is no evil in a city; for He hath torn, and He will heal us; He hath smitten, and He will bind us up. Let us neither despise His chastening, nor faint when we are rebuked of Him. It may be we shall not suddenly find out every controversy He hath against us; but if there be upright dealing in such things as are obvious, and an impartial dealing for discovering of what is hid, He will reveal even that to us. Neither is there any greater hindrance of repentance than a
*This letter was written in 1663 when permission to visit his flock had been refused after sentence of banishment had been passed on him.—Editor.
secure, desperate questioning whether He will accept of us or not. Christ hath been, and will be, in all ages, a stone of stumbling and rock of offence to such as stumble at the Word, and refuse to receive His rich offers; but to others a foundation and a corner-stone, elect and precious, and he that believeth on Him shall not be confounded. We have reason to believe that whatever He doth is only best. God saw all that He had made, and, behold, it was very good. That word will hold through to the world’s end.
For my part I bless His name I have great peace in the matter of my suffering. I need not repeat—you know my testimony of the things in controversy. Jesus Christ is a king, and only hath power to appoint the officers and government of His house. It is a fearful thing to violate the oath of God, and fall into the hands of a living God. It could not well have been expected that there having been so fair and so general professions through the land, the Lord would put men to it; and it is like it shall come to every man’s door, that when every one, according to their inclinations, have acted their part, and He seems to stand by, He may come at last and act His part, and vindicate His glory and truth.
I have often showed you that it is the greatest difficulty under heaven to believe that there is a God, and a life after this; and have often told you, that for my part, I could never make it the chief part of my work to insist upon the particular debates of the time, as being assured that if a man drink in the knowledge and [the love of] the main foundations of the Christian religion, and have the work of God’s Spirit in his heart, to make him walk with God, and make conscience of his ways, such a man (except he be giddy with self-conceit) shall not readily mistake Christ’s quarrel, to join either with a profane atheist party, or a fanatic atheist party, but the secret of the Lord will be with them that fear Him, and He will show them His covenant. And I have thought it not far from a sure argument, that a course is not approved of God, when generally all they that are godly, and all profane men turning penitent,
loathe it, and, it may be, cannot tell why; and, generally, all the profane at the first sight, and all that had a profession of piety when they turn loose, embrace it, and it may be [they] cannot tell why. There may be diversity of judgment, and sometimes sharp debates among them that are going to heaven; but certainly one spirit guides the seed of the woman, and another spirit the seed of the serpent; and blessed are they that know their Master’s will, and do it; blessed are they that endure to the end.
Both you and I have great cause to bless the Lord. Howbeit, I be the unworthiest of all that ever spoke in His name; yet my labour amongst you hath not been altogether in vain, but some have given evidence of a real work of the Spirit of grace upon their heart and life—of which number some are already in glory, and others wrestling through an evil world; and I trust some that have not yet given great evidence of a real work of the Spirit of God upon their heart, may have the seed of God in them, that they may in due time bud forth, at least at their death. But, ah! what shall be said of them in whom yet an evil spirit of drunkenness, of greed, and falsehood, of malice, of licentiousness, of wilful ignorance and neglect of prayer, and all the means of salvation, is still reigning and raging, who possibly will now be glad that they get loose reins to run to all wickedness, yea, may be carried on to open apostacy and persecution? These, and all of you, I request, in the bowels of our Lord Jesus Christ, yea, I entreat and charge you, in the name and authority of Him who shall judge the quick and the dead, that ye turn speedily to the Lord, and make conscience of prayer morning and evening, and read, or cause read to you, some of His Word, where you will find all things necessary for faith and conversation. It is true, snares and temptations are many and strong from Satan, from the world, and from the mind and heart within; but faith in God, and diligent seeking of Him, shall overcome them all. Shall not the care of your immortal souls go beyond the love of this life, or anything of this world? Oh! that you would but taste and see the goodness of the Lord,
and take an essay for a while of sincere serving Him, and prove Him if He will not open the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing. Let me obtain this of you as a recompense of all the labour I have had amongst you, and as an allaying of the sufferings I am put to, that after you read this, you will set some time apart, each of you alone, or in your families, as you have conveniency, to think on these directions which have been formerly given you from the Word of God, and deal earnestly with Him, that you may remember and obey them, and engage your hearts to Him, that in His strength you will walk in His ways; and if any shall stubbornly neglect such a wholesome counsel that comes from an earnest desire of your salvation, I will be forced to bear witness against you; yea, these words you now here read shall bear witness against you in the day of the Lord, that light was holden out to you, and you loved darkness rather than light. But I desire to hope better things of you.
If the Lord see it good, we may see the day that we may meet again, and bless His name solemnly, that although He was angry, His anger is turned away; but if not, the good will of the Lord be done. I think I may say that I could have been well content, although it had been with many discouragements and straits, to have gone on and served you all as I could in the Gospel of Jesus Christ; but the prerogative royal of Jesus Christ, and the peace of a man’s own conscience, are not to be violated on any consideration, neither [could] there have been a blessing on aught that is done against these.
I was very desirous, and used means, that I might have come and seen you, and at last, in a private way, bidden you farewell, ere I had gone, but wise Providence hath otherwise ordered it. Yet, howsoever, I carry your names amongst with me in my book, yea, shall carry them in my heart whithersoever I go; and beg your mutual prayers for me, that I may be kept faithful, and fruitful, and blameless, even to the end, and that, if it be His will, I may be restored to you. In the meantime love, and help one another; have a care to breed your children to know the Lord, and to keep themselves from the pollutions of an evil
world. I recommend to you above all books (except the blessed Word of God) the Confession of Faith and Larger Catechism: be grounding yourselves, and one another, against the abominations of Popery, in case it should prove the trouble of the time, as I apprehend it may. Let a care be had of the poor and sick; there is left as much in an ordinary way as will suffice for meat and money for a year or more. I cannot insist on the several particulars wherein possibly you would crave advice. The Word is a lamp, and the Spirit of Christ will lead into all truth. The light that comes after unfeigned humiliation and self-denial, and earnest prayer, and search of the Scriptures, is a sure light. I know that my word and write are of small value, yet I could not forbear, but in a few words salute you before I went. And now, dearly-beloved and longed for, farewell. The Lord of all grace, who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Jesus Christ, after you have suffered a while, make you perfect, establish, settle, strengthen you. To Him be glory and dominion, for ever and ever. Amen. By your loving servant and pastor in the Lord, John Livingstone.