A Puritan at Heart

I.E. Lex Rex:

Neither do I believe, that the Magistrate is not subordinate to the Kingdom of Christ, as mediator, but subordinate to God as creator only. Though some divines teach, that there should have been kings and supreme powers in the world, though man had never fallen in sin, and a Saviour had never been in the world, and so that kings are warranted by the law of nature, and nations, and not by any law evangelic and mediatory; yet we think with reverence, this argument not strong, for generation and creation and multiplication of mankind should have been in the world, though never a sinner nor a Saviour shoudl have been in the world, yet are creation, generation and multiplication of mankind, by our divines, junus trelacaitus, gomaras, Calvin, Beza, Melanchton, Polarnus, Rollucus and many others, and with warrant of the word of God, made means subordinate to the excecution of the decree of predestination to Glory, which decree is executed in Christ, as the mean and meritorious cause of salvation purchased in his blood. What [though] heathen Magistrates as Magistrates know not Christ as mediator; ergo, they are not means subordinate to Christ’s Mediatory Kingdom[?]. It follows not; for by Christ, the wisdom of God, kings do reign, [cf Prov 8], though many of them know him not. As they are created by Christ, as the second person of the Trinity [cf John1], though they know not the second person of the Trinity. It is their sin that they know him now. [1644] [Samuel Rutherford on the extent of the Mediatorial reign of Christ]

When lacking either energy to type something up or time, that is when I import something from my now defunct blog, but there was only 30 odd posts over there so very soon it will ALL be new quotes, and (DV) I will be more organized.

On the Lord’s Day:

More Dear to me than Ever,

It adds to my rejoicing that I have so good and gracious a wife to part with for the Lord Jesus. In thy grief, I have been grieved; but in thy joy I have been comforted. Surely, nature could never help thee to bear so heavy a stroke with so much silence and submission to the hand of God! Oh, dearest, every line which thou writest me gladdeneth my heart. I dare not think that there is such a creature as Mary Love in the world. For Kit and Mall [the two living children], I can think of them without trouble, leaving them to so good a God and so good a mother.

Be comforted concerning thy husband, who may more honour God in his death than in his life. The will of the Lord be done; he is fully satisfied with the hand of God. Though there is but little between him and death, he knows there is but little between him and heaven, and that ravisheth his heart.

The Lord bless and requite for thy wise and good counsel. Thou hast presented me; the very things I thought to have written to thee, thou hast written to me. I have had more comfort from thy gracious letters that from all the counsel I have had elsewhere in the world. Well, be assured, we shall meet in heaven. I rest till I rest in heaven, thy dying but comforted friend.

Christopher Love

“Dear Cousin,
“I thankfully acknowledge your love in your kind remembrance of me upon this opportunity. Alas you do too highly prize my lines and my company. I may be ashamed to own your expressions, considering how unprofitable I am, and the mean improvement of , my talent.
“Yet to honour my God, by declaring what He hath done, for my soul, in this I am confident, and I will be so. Truly, then this, I find: that He gives springs in a dry barren wilderness where no water is. I live you know where in Meshec, which they say signifies prolonging; in Kedar which signifies blackness; yet the Lord foresaketh me not. Though He do prolong, yet I He will I trust bring me to His tabernacle, to His resting place. My soul is with the congregation of the First-born, my body rests in hop: and if here, I may honour my God, either by doing or by suffering, I shall be most glad.
“Truly no poor creature have more need to put himself forth in the cause of God than I. have had plentiful wages beforehand; and I am sure I shall never earn the least mite. The Lord accept me in His Son, and give me to walk in the light, as He is the light! He it is that enlighteneth our blackness, our darkness, I dare not say He hideth His face from me. He giveth me to see light in His light. One beam in a dark place has much refreshment in it:–blessed be His name for shining upon so dark a heart as mine! You know what manner of life mine hath been. Oh, I lived in and loved darkness and hated light; I was the chief; a chief of sinners. This is true: I hated godliness, yet God had mercy upon me. O the riches of His mercy! Praise Him for me, pray for me that He who hath begun a good work would perfect it in the day of Christ.
“Salute all my friends in that family whereof you are yet a member. I am much bound unto them for their love. I bless the Lord for them; and that my son by their procurement is so well. Let him have your prayers, your counsel; let me have them.
“Salute your sister and husband from me;- He is not a man of his word! He promised to write of Mr Wrath of Epping, but as yet I have received no letters; put him in mind to do what with the convieniency maybe done for the poor cousin I did solicit him about.

“Once more, farewell. The Lord be with you, so prayeth
Your truly loving cousin,
“Oliver Cromwell”

"They are all but dung, yet they are Christ's creatures, and out of obedience to him I take them; my eyes shall see my redeemer, I know he shall stand the last day upon the earth, and I shall be caught up in the clouds to meet him in the air, and I shall be ever with him, and what would you have more, there is an end; there is an end; I have been a wretched sinful man, but I stand at the best pass that ever a man did, Christ is mine, and I am his. I shall live and adore him; glory, glory, to my Creator, and to my Redeemer for ever; glory shines in Immanuel's land." [some of Samuel Rutherford's last words]

Ely 13th October, 1638

“Dear Cousin,
“I thankfully acknowledge your love in your kind remembrance of me upon this opportunity. Alas you do too highly prize my lines and my company. I may be ashamed to own your expressions, considering how unprofitable I am, and the mean improvement of , my talent.
“Yet to honour my God, by declaring what He hath done, for my soul, in this I am confident, and I will be so. Truly, then this, I find: that He gives springs in a dry barren wilderness where no water is. I live you know where in Meshec, which they say signifies prolonging; in Kedar which signifies blackness; yet the Lord foresaketh me not. Though He do prolong, yet I He will I trust bring me to His tabernacle, to His resting place. My soul is with the congregation of the First-born, my body rests in hop: and if here, I may honour my God, either by doing or by suffering, I shall be most glad.
“Truly no poor creature have more need to put himself forth in the cause of God than I. have had plentiful wages beforehand; and I am sure I shall never earn the least mite. The Lord accept me in His Son, and give me to walk in the light, as He is the light! He it is that enlighteneth our blackness, our darkness, I dare not say He hideth His face from me. He giveth me to see light in His light. One beam in a dark place has much refreshment in it:–blessed be His name for shining upon so dark a heart as mine! You know what manner of life mine hath been. Oh, I lived in and loved darkness and hated light; I was the chief; a chief of sinners. This is true: I hated godliness, yet God had mercy upon me. O the riches of His mercy! Praise Him for me, pray for me that He who hath begun a good work would perfect it in the day of Christ.
“Salute all my friends in that family whereof you are yet a member. I am much bound unto them for their love. I bless the Lord for them; and that my son by their procurement is so well. Let him have your prayers, your counsel; let me have them.
“Salute your sister and husband from me;- He is not a man of his word! He promised to write of Mr Wrath of Epping, but as yet I have received no letters; put him in mind to do what with the convieniency maybe done for the poor cousin I did solicit him about.

“Once more, farewell. The Lord be with you, so prayeth
Your truly loving cousin,
“Oliver Cromwell”