Quaint Sermons of Samuel Rutherford

HE Lord, beloved in Him, in this chapter is looking upon the case of a captive people, looking upon the case of a people that were both weak, few, poor, and were also amongst the midst of their enemies. And the Lord knows well what are the thoughts of His children when they are in such a case. He knows well enough what is in the heart of these who are strangers unto Him. And He knows also the heart and thoughts of His people

1 In MS., “For preparation to a fast, August 22, 1G-10.” The Scotch army of from 20,000 to 30,000 men had crossed the English border two days before, August 20, 1640. The sermon is full of allusions to the army. This and following sermon on the same text, and the sermons on Hosea viii. 1-3, and John xx. 8, were all preached at this period. The fast day had been appointed by the General Assembly which commenced its proceedings at Aberdeen on the 28th of the preceding month of July. Rutherford was present at this meeting of the Assembly, and took part in the discussions that arose in regard to disorders said to have taken place at night meetings for prayer and reading the Scriptures, &c. Kutherford defended these meetings. See Stevenson’s “History of the Church and State of Scotland,” Book III., chap. 5, p. 893.

when they are in captivity. And for that reason, to hold up their head above the water, which now might have swallowed them up, and put them in peril of losing for ever the promise that the Lord had made, in the words that now are read there is an encouragement given unto the captive Kirk, unto a base, miserable, weak, and destitute people, amongst the midst of their enemies. And in the words there be thir T particulars remarkable.

First of all there is an encouragement, “Fear not.”

(2) A description of the party to whom the Lord speaks this: “Worm Jacob” and the “Men of Israel.” And

(3) There is a warrant why the Lord speaks this, and why He comforts “Worm Jacob.” “Fear not, says the Lord thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.” (4) There is a reason of this taken from a promise of God, and the promise it is set down two ways in the words: first, in general terms on God’s part, “I will help thee;” second, more particularly on the people’s part, what they shall be, “I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth: thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and shalt make the hills as caff.“2 All the powers in the world that are against thee, albeit they be grown, and high above the rest, as indeed the enemies of the Kirk of Christ, they are swelled pieces of clay, and yet the Lord says that the Kirk shall get strength from Him to thrash these mountains, and to beat the hills, &c. And, lastly, by whose strength is this done, and who shall get the thanks of it?” Thou shalt rejoice in the Lord, and glory in the Holy

1 These, Chaff.

One of Israel.” That is, thou shalt thank Me for doing of this, and not thyself and thy power.

Now, if ye will consider to whom it is that the Lord speaks this, and gives this encouragement — to a worm and to Jacob, a worm! He says to them, “Fear not.” It would teach us this meikle,1 that a distressed Kirk and people they have cause to rejoice upon luck’s head,2 long before the deliverance come. And the reasons wherefore a distressed Kirk and people may rejoice on luck’s head,2 even before the deliverance come, they are very good.

First, if ye will look to God, who bids them rejoice, He knows very well what will be the end of all the troubles of the Kirk, and He knows very well what will be the end of these who are tremblers of them; for His Kirk and people He knows that they shall laugh, and in the end shall rejoice in His salvation. He knows there the rod of the wicked shall not always rest upon the lot of the righteous. The Lord’s Kirk maun3 laugh and rejoice when He calls them to it. And there is none who has right to be merry and to rejoice but the Kirk and people of God, and so He knows that their time is coming. And He knows also what shall be the end of the wicked who are tremblers of them (Psa. xxxvii. 13); it is said of them that the Lord laughs at them, for He sees their day afar off. He sees them when they are in all their mirth and joviality, and knows there is a black hour coming upon them, albeit they see it not themselves; and therefore He laughs at them.

And then a second reason wherefore the Kirk may

1 Much. a In the chance of winning. 3 Must.

rejoice upon luck’s head before the deliverance come, is because the Kirk of God they see this also, what is to come, and so may rejoice beforehand, they know how all shall be in the end. And that is the difference between the Kirk’s enemies and the Kirk. The enemy knows not what will be the night-year,2 and what the end of things will be, and therefore they are led to hell blindlings.3 They know not what is at the foot of the stair where they are coming down. But where faith is, it has the gift of prophesying and foresight there, albeit hand should join in hand, and all armies by sea and land should gather against them, yet it shall be well with them in despite of them all, as it is, Isa. iii. 10: “Say ye to the righteous, it shall be well with him, for they shall eat the fruit of their doings. Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him, for the fruit of his doings shall be upon him.” Faith tells these news beforehand.

A third reason whereupon they may rejoice beforehand is this — if we will look unto God’s dispensation, His people under trouble may rejoice upon luck’s head l before their deliverance come; I say, if we look unto His dispensation of justice and mercy, albeit the people of God be worms and despised ones in the eyes of the world, they need not to cast away their confidence for all that, because there is mercy in God, and it maun 4 out to His people. Let them mourn and weep before noon; yet in God’s wise dispensation they maun4 laugh afternoon. Let them be sorry and afflicted, and borne down

1 In the chance of winning. 3 “With the eyes closed.

2 What will occur a year after this, a this night-year.” 4 Must.

this year, yet there is light sown for the righteous and joy for the upright in heart. And if ye will look upon the other side, to the wicked, and to those who trouble the Kirk, there is justice in God, and so they may not win away with it. They maun in the dispensation of God’s justice be taen2 order with. They may not aye3 be in prosperity and laugh. They maun J of necessity mourn at last, and the righteous shall rejoice. Their shell of the balance shall go down, and the godless shall go up. When the short heaven of the wicked is expired, they maun l sorrow then, for there are righteousness and justice in God, and it is a righteous thing with God, that He recompense to them who trouble the Kirk vexation and sorrow, and to them who are troubled joy and peace.

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