On Early Piety
To William Livingstone,
Aberdeen, March 13th, 1637.
Rejoice to hear that Christ hath run away with your young love, and that you are, so early in the morning, matched with such a Lord; for a young man is often a dressed lodging for the devil to dwell in. Be humble and thankful for grace, and judge it not so much by weight, as by its truth. Christ will not cast water on your smoking coal, He never yet put out a dim candle, that was lighted at the sun of righteousness.
I recommend to you prayer and watching over the sins of your youth; for I know missive letters go between the devil and young blood; Satan hath a friend at court in the heart of youth; and there, pride, luxury, lust, revenge, forgetfulness of God, are hired as his agents. Happy is your soul if Christ man the house, and take the keys Himself, and command all (as it suiteth Him full well to rule all wherever He is); keep and entertain Christ well, cherish His grace; blow upon your own coal, and let Him tutor you.
Now for myself, know I am fully agreed with my Lord: Christ hath put the Father and me in other’s arms; many a sweet bargain He made before; and He hath made this among the rest. I reign as king, over my crosses; I will not flatter a temptation, nor give the devil a good word; I defy hell’s iron gates. God hath passed over my quarrelling against him at my entry here, and now He feedeth and feasteth with me. Praise, praise with me, and let us exalt His Name together.
Samuel Rutherford.
Advices to Youth
To Ninian Murc,
Aberdeen, 1673.
Loving Friend,
I received your letter, I interest you, now in the morning of your life, seek the Lord and His face. Beware of the folly of dangerous youth, a perilous time for your soul: love not the world; keep faith and truth with all men in your covenants and bargains; walk with God, for he seeth you. Do nothing but that which you may and would do if your eye-strings were breaking and your breath growing cold. You heard the truth of God from me; my dear heart, follow it, and forsake it not, prize Christ and salvation above all the world. To live after the guise and course of the rest of the world will not bring you to heaven; without faith in Christ, and repentance you cannot see God. Take pains for salvation; press forward toward the mark of the prize of the high calling. If you watch not against evils night and day, which beset you, you will come behind. Beware of lying, swearing, uncleanness, and the rest of the works of the flesh; because for “these things the wrath of God cometh upon the children of disobedience.” How sweet soever they may seem for the present, yet the end of these courses is the eternal wrath of God, and utter darkness, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. Grace be with you.
Your loving Pastor,
Samuel Rutherford.
Select Sayings
Think not the common way of serving God, as neighbours and others do, will bring you to heaven.
This world is a great forest of thorns in your way to heaven but you must go through it.
Why should we, believers, go to heaven weeping, as if we were likely to fall down through the earth for sorrow? None have right to joy but we; joy is sown for us, and an ill summer or harvest will not spoil the crop.
Light, and the saving use of light, are far different.
Our pride must have winter weather to rot it.
Events are Gods; let us do, and not plead against God’s office; let him sit at his own helm, who moderateth all events.
It would be no difficult art to go through the market as a saint among men, and yet steal quietly without observation.
Hurt not your conscience with any known sin.
The worst things of Christ, his reproaches, His Cross, are better than Egypt’s treasures.
Happy are they who are found watching; our sand-glass is not so long that we need grow weary; time will eat away and root out our woes and sorrows; our heaven is in the bud, and growing up to a harvest; why then shall we not follow on, seeing our span-length of time will come to an inch.
Think not much of a storm upon the ship that Christ saileth in; no one shall fall.