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       *       *       *       *       *

  LETTERS

  OF

  SAMUEL RUTHERFORD

[Illustration: RUTHERFORD'S WALK.]

[Illustration: title page]


  LETTERS

  OF

  SAMUEL RUTHERFORD

  _With a Sketch of his Life_

  AND

  _Biographical Notices of His Correspondents_

  BY THE

  REV. ANDREW A. BONAR, D.D.
  AUTHOR OF "MEMOIR AND REMAINS OF ROBERT MURRAY M'CHEYNE"

  THIRD EDITION

  LONDON
  THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY
  56 PATERNOSTER ROW AND 65 ST. PAUL'S CHURCHYARD




PREFACE.


Most justly does the old Preface to the earlier Editions begin by
telling the Reader that "These Letters have no need of any man's
epistle commendatory, the great Master having given them one, written
by His own hand on the hearts of all who favour the things of God."
Every one who knows these "Letters" at all, is aware of their most
peculiar characteristic, namely, the discovery they present of the
marvellous intercourse carried on between the writer's soul and his
God.

This Edition will be found to be the most complete that has hitherto
appeared. It is the same as that of 1863, in two vols., with two
slight alterations, viz. the footnotes are for the most part removed
to the Glossary, and a few of the notices are condensed, but nothing
omitted of any importance. On the other hand, one or two slight
additions have been made. Attending carefully to the chronological
arrangement, the Editor has sought, by biographical, topographical,
and historical notices, to put the Reader in possession of all that
was needed to enable him to enter into the circumstances in which each
Letter was written, so far as that could be done. The appended
Glossary of Scottish words and expressions (many of them in reality
old English), the Index of Places and Persons, the Index of Special
Subjects, and the prefixed Contents of Each Letter, will, it is
confidently believed, be found both interesting and useful. The Sketch
of Rutherford's Life may be thought too brief; but the limits within
which such a Sketch must necessarily be confined, when occupying the
place of a mere Introduction, rendered brevity inevitable.

Every Letter hitherto published is to be found in this Edition. The
ten additional Letters of the Edition 1848, along with two more, added
since that time, are all inserted in their chronological place. The
publishers have taken great pains with the typography.




CONTENTS.


                                                                  PAGE

  Sketch of _Samuel Rutherford_,                                     1

  1. To _Marion M'Naught_.--Children to be Dedicated to God,        33

  2. To _a Christian Gentlewoman, on the death of a
           Daughter._--Christ's Sympathy with, and Property in
           us--Reasons for Resignation,                             34

  3. To _Lady Kenmure, on occasion of illness and spiritual
           depression_.--Acquiescence in God's Purpose--Faith in
           exercise--Encouragement in view of Sickness and
           Death--Public Affairs,                                   36

  4. To _Lady Kenmure, on death of her infant Daughter_.--
           Tribulation the Portion of God's People, and intended
           to wean them from the World,                             40

  5. To _Lady Kenmure, when removing from Anwoth_.--Changes--
           Loss of Friends--This World no abiding Place,            42

  6. To _Marion M'Naught, telling of his Wife's illness_.--Inward
           Conflict, arising from Outward Trial,                    44

  7. To _Lady Kenmure_.--The Earnest of the Spirit--Communion
           with Christ--Faith in the Promises,                      46

  8. To _Marion M'Naught_.--His Wife's Illness--Wrestlings with
           God,                                                     49

  9. To _Marion M'Naught_.--Recommending a Friend to her
           Care--Prayers asked,                                     50

  10. To _Marion M'Naught_.--Submission, Perseverance, and Zeal
            recommended,                                            50

  11. To _Lady Kenmure_.--God's Inexplicable Dealings with His
            People well ordered--Want of Ordinances--Conformity
            to Christ--Troubles of the Church--Mr. Rutherford's
            Wife's Death,                                           52

  12. To _Marion M'Naught_.--God Mixeth the Cup--The Reward of
            the Wicked--Faithfulness--Forbearance--Trials,          54

  13. To _Marion M'Naught, when exposed to reproach for her
            principles_.--Jesus a Pattern of Patience under
            Suffering,                                              57

  14. To _Marion M