tribunal to appear before, where his Judge was his friend, and was dead before that time came, being taken away from the evil to come. When on his death-bed, he lamented much that he was withheld from bearing witness to the work of reformation since the year 1638; and upon the 28th of February, he gave a large and faithful Testimony* against the sinful courses of that time, which testimony he subscribed twelve days before his death, being full of peace and joy in believing. During the time of his last sickness, especially when his end drew near, he often broke out into a kind of sacred rapture, extolling and commending the Lord Jesus, whom he often called his blessed Master his kingly King. Some days before his death, he said, "I shall shine-I shall see him as he is I shall see him reign, and all his fair company with him and I shall have my large share; mine eyes shall see my Redeemer, these very eyes of mine, and no other for me: this may seem a strong word, but it is no fancy or delusion; it is true, it is true: let my Lord's name be exalted, and if he will, let my name be ground to pieces, that he may be all in all." few kings and great folks come." When they returned and told he was dying, the Parliament put to a vote, Whether or not to let him die in the college? It carried, "Put him out," only a few dissenting. My Lord Burleigh said, "Ye have voted that honest man out of the college, but ye cannot vote him out of heaven." Some said, "He would never win there, hell was too good for him." Burleigh said, “I wish I were as sure of heaven as he is; I would think myself happy to get a grip of his sleeve to haul me in." See Walker's Rem. page 171. This Testimony, and some of his Last Words, will be found at the end of this volume. The day before his death, he said, “O that all my brethren, in the public, may know what a Master I have served, and what peace I have this day: I shall sleep in Christ, and when I awake, I shall be satisfied with his likeness." And he said, "This night shall close the door, and put my anchor within the vail, and I shall go away in a sleep, by five of the clock in the morning." On the 19th of March, 1661, about five o'clock in the morning, as he himself had foretold, Mr. Rutherford died, who may justly be accounted among the sufferers of that time; for surely he was a martyr both in his own design and resolution, and by the design and determination of men. Few men ever ran so long a race without cessation, so constantly, so unweariedly, and so unblameably. Two things, rarely to be found in one man, were eminent in him; namely, a quick invention and sound judgment, and these accompanied with a homely but clear expression, and graceful elocution: so that such as knew him best were in a strait whether to admire him most for his penetrating wit and sublime genius in the schools, and peculiar exactness in disputes and matters of controversy, or his familiar condescension in the pulpit, where he was one of the most moving and affectionate preachers in his time, or perhaps in any age of the church.-To sum up all in a word, he seems to be one of the most resplendent lights that ever arose in this horizon. In all his writings he breathes the true spirit of religion; but in his every way admirable Letters, he seems to have outdone himself, as well as every body else; which, although jested on by the profane wits of the age, because of some homely and familiar expressions in them, it must be owned, by all who have any relish for true piety, that they contain such sublime flights of devotion, that they must at once ravish and edify every sober, serious, and understanding reader. Among the posthumous works of the laborious Mr. Rutherford, are his "Letters;" "The Trial and Triumph of Faith;" "Christ's Dying and Drawing of Sinners," &c." A Discourse on Prayer;" "A Discourse on the Covenant;"" On Liberty of Conscience;" "A survey of Spiritual Antichrist;" "A survey of Antinomianism;"" Antichrist Stormed;" and several other controversial pieces, such as "Lex Rex;"" The Due Right of Church Government;"" The Divine Right of Church Government;" and "Peaceable Plea for Presbytery;" also a "Summary of Church Discipline," and a "Treatise on the Divine Influence of the Spirit." There are also a variety of his Sermons in print, some of which were preached before both houses of Parliament, in the years 1644 and 1645. He wrote also upon Providence; but that being in Latin, is only in the hands of a few; as are also the greater part of his works, being so seldom republished. There is also a volume of "Sermons, Sacramental Discourses," &c. |