Samuel Rutherford
The following extract, slightly edited for clarity, is from a sermon on Revelation 19:11-14, “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness doth he judge and make war,…” which Rutherford preached on the thanksgiving day of a communion season at Kirkcudbright, Galloway, in the 1630’s. He comments on the phrase: “In righteousness He doth judge and make war.”
IN battles amongst men, much blood is spilt, falsehood, and violence used, while those who may be strongest, whether it is right or not, keep the field. Nay in very deed, are not kingdoms often ruined by them? As to Nebuchadnezzar’s, the Medes and Persians did so. Men pull it among themselves, and the thing they get is a bit of a kingdom with an ill conscience, which never does them good. They are like so many men striving about a clay vessel; they pull and they pull, and one pulls the side from the vessel and breaks it in pieces.
Christ makes not war with the shedding of innocent blood. When he takes a city, He plays not foul play as other captains do, where often the soldier’s right to a country is by the point of the sword; for there is no difference betwixt his sword, his conscience, and his musket. But it is not so with Christ.
How is it then? First, when Christ takes a city, nation or country, He has God’s right to it, and His Father’s promise of it. “He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth,” (Psal, 72:8).
Second, when besieged men give up themselves to Christ, O! but they get good lodging and victuals from Him. They live and are Christ’s captives, but are kings and priests to God. Christ’s captives have a king’s life of it.
Third, Christ makes not war in a passion, but sweetly to His people in the end, though seemingly bitter at the first. But when Christ’s enemies, who get the worse, are all driven to pieces with a rod of iron, they have no comfort; yet He hath done them no wrong, He hath made His war in righteousness… But there is sweetness and comfort to those whom Christ takes in and wins to the obedience of the gospel.
Has Christ fought a battle with the devil and sin, and won you? Then He hath better right to you than you have to the coat on your back. Be glad ye are His own; He won you with the sweat of His brow. It is true, ye deserve not Christ, but indeed He deserves you; therefore be glad and humble, for Christ will not lack His own. Who can rob, spoil, and oppress Christ? I know well He is able to hold His own with the best of them.
Then fear not that ye be lost, for Christ’s right cannot be broken. God must give Him justice and law, and by law you are His; for open market-right is a good right, and Christ has that to you.