Letters of Samuel Rutherford - Rutherford - XI - Letters 41 to 43

Required reading
The Letters of Samuel Rutherford (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Letters 41 to 43.

My summary
Today we read letters addressed to:
(i) Lady Kilconquhar;
(ii) Lord Craighall;
(iii) Hugh M'Kail.

Rutherford speaks about:
(i) the beauty of Christ in comparison to all else;
(ii) God's future repair of Scotland;
(iii) submission to Christ;
(iv) the sourness of the law as opposed to grace;
(v) the sovereignty of the Lord;
(vi) the perseverance of the saints.

What grabbed me
I loved the way Rutherford explained the great need of all men: 'You came to this life about a necessary and weighty business, to tryste with Christ concerning your precious soul, and the eternal salvation of it. This is the most necessary business ye have in this life ; and your other concerns beside this are but toys, and feathers, and dreams, and fancies. This is in the greatest haste, and should be done first. Means are used in the Gospel to draw on a meeting betwixt Christ and you. If ye neglect your part of it, it is as if ye would tear the contract before Christ's eyes, and give up the match, that there may be no more communing about that business. I know that other lovers beside Christ are in suit of you, and your soul hath many wooers ; but I pray you to make a chaste virgin of your soul, and let it love but one. Most worthy is Christ alone of all your soul's love, howbeit your love were higher than the heaven, and deeper than the lowest of this earth, and broader than this world. Many, alas ! too many, make a common strumpet of their soul for every lover that cometh to the house. Marriage with Christ would put your love and your heart by the gate, out of the way, and out of the eye of all other unlawful suitors ; and then you have a ready answer for all others, " I am already promised away to Christ ; the match is concluded, my soul hath a husband already, and it cannot have two husbands." '

Give your soul to Christ and to Christ alone.

Next week's reading
Read Letters 44 to 47.

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.