Semper Ubi Sub Ubi

A Firm Word from Rutherford

An excerpt from Samuel Rutherford's Letters, that I was reading this afternoon follows. When did you last hear such words from a pastor? Yet for many in the church, I suspect such words are needful smelling salts!

O how little is your hand-breadth and span-length of days here! Your inch of time is less that when you and I parted. Eternity, eternity is coming, posting on with wings; then shall every man’s blacks and whites be brought to light. O how low will your thoughts be of this fair-skinned but heart-rotten apple, the vain, vain, feckless world, when the worms shall make them houses in your eye-holes, and shall eat off the flesh from the balls of your cheeks, and shall make that body a number of dry bones! Think not that the common gate of serving God, as neighbours and others do, will bring you to heaven. Few, few are saved. The devil’s court is thick and many. He hath the greatest number of mankind for his vassals. I know this world is a forest of thorns in your way to heaven; but you must go through it. Acquaint yourselves with the Lord; hold fast Christ; hear his voice only. Bless his name; sanctify and keep holy his day; keep the new commandment, ‘Love one another’; let the Holy Spirit dwell in your bodies; and be clean and holy.

Love not the world; lie not; love and follow the truth. Learn to know God. Keep in mind what I taught you, for God will seek an account of it when I am far from you. Abstain from all evil and all appearance of evil. Follow good carefully, and seek peace and follow after it. Honour your king and pray for him. Remember me to God in your prayers; I cannot forget you.