Required reading
The Letters of Samuel Rutherford (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Letters 18 to 21.
My summary
Today we read letters addressed to:
(i) Blair;
(ii) Gordon;
(iii) Kenmure;
(iv) Dickson.
The subjects of the letters include:
(i) God's providence;
(ii) Rutherford's suffering and his responses to suffering;
(iii) the benefits of suffering;
(iv) children;
(v) theological books.
What grabbed me
Rutherford was very honest about his responses to suffering: 'For myself, I am here a prisoner confined in Aberdeen, threatened to be removed to Caithness, because I desire to edify in this town ; and am openly preached against in the pulpits in my hearing, and tempted with disputations by the doctors, especially by D. B. Yet I am not ashamed of the Lord Jesus, His garland, and His crown. I would not exchange my weeping with the painted laughter of the fourteen prelates. At my first coming here I took the dorts [sulks] at Christ, and would, forsooth, summon Him for unkindness. I sought a plea of my Lord, and was tossed with challenges whether He loved me or not ; and disputed over again all that He had done to me, because His word was a fire shut up in my bowels, and I was weary with forbearing, because I said I was cast out of the Lord's inheritance. But now I see that I was a fool. My Lord miskent [showed favour] all, and did bear with my foolish jealousies ; and miskent that ever I wronged His love.'
Thankfully God forgives us even when we rail against him.
Next week's reading
Read Letters 22 to 27.
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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