The Pilgrim Path---Jeremiah 31: 3

“I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore, I have continued my faithfulness to you.”

CONTINUED FAITHFULNESS

Back in the late 1970’s I came upon the name of Samuel Rutherford in some notations by Hudson Taylor (his work on the “Song of Songs—Union & Communion”). The more I dug---the more I was blessed by Rutherford. He was born around 1600 in Scotland. Here is anecdote he used to tell of himself (via Ellen Lister’s studies):

As a child of perhaps five or six years of age he fell into the village well. His playmates, of course, rushed to the nearest house with the alarming news that Sammy had fallen into the well. Moments later, however, when his would-be rescuers came hurrying to the spot, they were astonished to find a bedraggled little figure sitting on a mound of grass not far from the well, soaked to the skin, but safe. They turned to the lad for an explanation. “A bonnie white man came and drew me out of the well,” was the simple reply. This was an experience Samuel Rutherford never forgot. The precise identity pf the “bonnie white man” may be unknown but undeniably the God of heaven, seeing the child in imminent danger, sent from above, took him, and drew him out of many waters. Samuel Rutherford had a place in God’s plans and his life was precious in His sight. A day was to come when he was to play a strategic role in the history of the Christian Church and become a consolation to God’s afflicted people through countless generations.

When Rutherford finished his Masters at the University of Edinburgh, he becomes minister at Anwoth (1627). He marries Euphan Hamilton. Sadly, his first wife dies---along with their young child (1630). In 1636, Rutherford is exiled to Aberdeen and placed under house arrest because of his strong “reformation” views---that seriously counter those of Bishop Laud and his High Commission in Edinburgh. Rutherford would “see” better days in the Scottish Church. The National Covenant would be signed in 1638. He would become professor of Divinity at St. Andrews in 1639. He would become a Commissioner of the Church of Scotland to the Westminster Assembly in 1643. He would marry Jean McMath in 1640. At Rutherford’s death, only one of their seven children borne to him by his second wife had survived (their daughter Agnes). Rutherford “knew” what it was to climb the Hill Difficulty. Spurgeon used to say, “his letters perhaps come closest to inspiration---than anything I have handled---they have blessed my soul.” Here are a few snippets from the Anwoth days that Rutherford sent to Lady Kenmure. She had lost three infant daughters. After the death of each child Rutherford wrote letters of consolation and care:

“I believe faith will teach you to kiss a striking LORD…If our dear LORD pluck up one of his roses who can challenge him? …Let the movables go; why not? They are not yours. Fasten your grips upon the heritage; and our LORD Jesus give your Ladyship to grow as a palm-tree on God’s Mount Zion; howbeit shaken with winds, yet the root is fast.”

Not long after the death of her husband, Lady Kenmure gave birth to a son (John). The precious boy died at age four. Here are some of Rutherford’s words to his dear friend:

“Madam, I would that I could divide sorrow with you, for your ease. But I am a beholder…the God of comfort speak to you, and allure you with his feasts of love…I shall believe, for my part, that he mindeth to distill heaven out of this loss…for wisdom devised it, and love laid it on, and Christ owneth it as his own and putteth your shoulder beneath only a piece of it…Madam, subscribe to the Almighty’s will; put your hand to the pen, and let the cross of your LORD Jesus have your submissive and resolute Amen.”

A FEW MORE QUOTES

“I have a little, little of him; yet I long for more.”

“O, what I owe to the file, to the hammer, to the furnace of my LORD Jesus.”

“There is nothing but perfect garden-flowers in heaven, and the best plenishing that is there is Christ.”

“I find crosses Christ’s carved work that he marketh out for us, and that with crosses he figureth and portrayeth us to his own image, cutting away pieces of our ill and corruption. LORD cut, LORD carve, LORD wound, LORD do anything that may perfect thy Father’s image in us and make us meet for glory.”

“Look up to him and love him! O, love and live”

“Our pride must have winter weather to rot it.”

“He hath made all his promises good to me and hath filled up all the blanks with his own hand.”

“None have right to joy but we, for joy is sown for us, and an ill summer or harvest will not spoil the crop.”

“Christ and his cross together are sweet company, and a blessed couple. My poison is my palace, my losses are rich losses, my pain easy pain, my heavy days are holy days and happy days. I may tell a new tale of Christ to my friends.”

“Christ should be our night song and our morning song.”

HYMN

I am not skilled to understand

What God has willed, what God has planned;

I only know at his right hand

Is One who is my Savior!

Dora Greenwell, 1873

Grace and Peace in Jesus Christ Our Risen LORD, Pastor Jason