To Sir James Stewart, Lord Provost of Edinburgh

[Sir James Stewart of Kirkfield and Cultness, to whom this letter is addressed, was a man of high Christian excellence. “Sir James Stewart,” said the celebrated George Gillespie, “has more sterling religion in ready cash than any man ever I knew; he is always agreeably composed and recollected, in a permanent devout frame of spirit, and such as I should wish to have in my last moments” (“Coltness Collections,” p. 15). He was a zealous Covenanter, and suffered considerably for his principles during the persecution of Charles II. He died March 31, 1681, at his own house at Edinburgh, in the seventy-third year of his age, in the full assurance of faith. Rutherford wrote this letter on occasion of his own election to be Professor of Divinity in the College of Edinburgh.]

Richt honorablee

T HE mater of my transportation is so poor a contraversie, I truely not beeing desyrous to be the subject of any dine in the Generall Assemblie of the Kirk of Scotland whoe have greater bussines to doe, and haveing suffered once the paine of transportation, moist humbly intreat your w. [worships] that favour as to cast yor thoughts vpon some fitter man; for as it is vnbeseemeing me to lie or dissemblee, so I must friely show you it will but mak me the subject of suffereing and passive obedience, and I trust your w. [worships] intend not that hurt to me, and I am persuaded it is not yor mind, it shall be my prayer to God, to send that worthie societie an hable and pious man. Grace be with you.

Yours at all humblee
observance in the Lord
Samuel Rutherfurd
for the richt honorable my varie good lord,
Sr James Steuart proveist of Edinbrugh and
remanent magistrats Counsellers of the Citie.

S Andrews the
Last of Junii
1649