Description
Like John Bunyan in Bedford gaol, Samuel Rutherford did his best work while suffering imprisonment for the gospel.
His opponents had meant to silence him but instead they perpetuated his ministry through the centuries for it was out of this period that most of his famous Letters came. Addressed to high and low they were so prized by the recipients that the first collection by Robert McWard appeared in 1664 just three years after Rutherford’s death. the successive editions contained more letters until they grew to the 365 in Andrew Bonar’s classic edition.
From this, ‘the most remarkable series of devotional letters that the literature of the Reformed churches can show’, the great leaders in the Church as well as the humblest Christians have drawn strength. It is said of Robert Murray M’Cheyne that ‘the Letters of Samuel Rutherford were often in his hand.’ This abridged edition contains sixty-nine of these letters.
Endorsements
‘When we are dead and gone let the world know that Spurgeon held Rutherford’s Letters to be the nearest thing to inspiration which can be found in all the writings of mere men.’
— C. H. SPURGEON
‘Surprising though it may seem in a world of large books, of all those owned by our family this may be the one we have most often lent or quoted to friends.’
— SINCLAIR B. FERGUSON
Table of Contents
Apart from the Bible, ‘such a book as Mr. Rutherford’s Letters the world never saw the like.’
— RICHARD BAXTER
1 TO A CHRISTIAN GENTLEWOMAN 1
[On the death of a daughter]
2 TO MARION M'NAUGHT 4
Submission, perseverance and zeal recommended
3 TO LADY KENMURE 6
God’s inexplicable dealings with his people well-ordered
4 TO MARION M‘NAUGHT 9
[In prospect of the Lord's Supper]
5 TO MARION M‘NAUGHT 11
The threatened introduction of the Service-Book
6 TO JOHN KENNEDY 14
Deliverance from shipwreck
7 TO LADY KENMURE 18
A union for prayer recommended
8 TO LADY KENMURE 20
[On the death of Lord Kenmure)
9 TO MARION M'NAUGHT 23
The prospect of exile in Aberdeen
10 TO LADY KENMURE 24
[On the eve of banishment to Aberdeen)
11 TO LADY CULROSS 27
[On the occasion of banishment to Aberdeen)
12 TO ROBERT CUNNINGHAM 29
Consolation to a brother in tribulation
13 TO ALEXANDER GORDON 33
Rutherford's feeling upon leaving Anworth
14 TO LADY KENMURE 34
Rutherford's enjoyment of Christ in Aberdeen
15 TO HUGH M'KAIL 37
Christ to be trusted amid trial
16 TO MARION M'NAUGHT 39
Comfort under tribulations
17 TO JOHN GORDON, ELDER 40
Will Christ at all hazards
18 TO ROBERT BLAIR 45
God's arrangements sometimes mysterious
19 TO ROBERT GORDON 48
Visits of Christ
20 TO LADY KENMURE 52
None worthy but Christ
21 TO DAVID DICKSON 53
God's dealings
22 TO ALEXANDER HENDERSON 56
Sadness because Christ's Headship not set forth
23 TO JOHN GORDON, YOUNGER 58
Reasons for being earnest about the soul
24 TO MARION M'NAUGHT 60
Adherence to duty amidst opposition
25 TO WILLIAM LIVINGSTONE 61
Counsel to a youth
26 TO THB LAIRD OF CARLETON 62
Increasing sense of Christ's love
27 TO JOHN FLEMING 66
Directions for Christian conduct
28 TO LADY BOYD 70
Lessons learned in the school of adversity
29 TO JOHN STUART 74
Commercial misfortunes
30 TO DAVID DICKSON 79
Christ's infinite fulness
31 TO JOHN CLARK 81
Marks of difference between Christians and
32 TO EARLSTON, YOUNGER 83
Dangers of youth
33 TO WILLIAM DALGLEISH 89
Fragrance of the ministry
34 TO JOHN STUART 94
Hope for Scotland
35 TO EARLSTON, YOUNGER 98
Sufferings
36 TO WILLIAM GORDON 102
Testimony to Christ's worth
37 TO JOHN HENDERSON 105
Practical hints
38 TO ALEXANDER COLVILL 106
Regrets for being silenced in ministry
39 TO JAMES HAMILTON 108
Suffering for Christ's Headship
40 TO PARISHIONERS OF ANWOTH 111
Protestation of care for their souls and for the glory of God
41 TO LADY KILCONQUHAR 122
The interests of the soul most urgent
42 TO LORD CRAIGHALL 128
Standing for Christ
43 TO HUGH M'KAIL 132
The Law
44 TO FULK ELLIS 133
Friends in Ireland
45 TO JAMBS LINDSAY 137
Desertions and their use
46 TO JAMBS HAMILTON 142
Christ's glory not affected by his people's weakness
47 TO LADY GAITGIRTH 143
Christ all example in Cross-bearing
48 TO MARION M'NAUGHT 146
Prospects of his ministry
49 TO JAMES BAUTIE 148
Spiritual difficulties resolved
50 TO THOMAS CORBET 156
Godly counsels
51 TO WILLIAM GLENDINNING 157
Sweetness of trial
52 TO MARION M'NAUGHT 160
A Spring-tide of Christ's love
53 TO JOHN GORDON 161
Heaven hard to be won
54 TO PARISHIONERS OF KILMALCOLM 164
Spiritual sloth
55 TO ALEXANDER LEIGHTON 174
Christs' prisoner in bonds at London
56 TO JAMES WILSON 178
Advices to a doubting soul
57 TO DAVID DICKSON 183
[On the death of a son]
58 TO LADY BOYD 185
Proceedings of tile Westminster Assembly
59 TO LADY KENMURE 187
Westminster Assembly Religious sects
60 TO J.G. 189
Depression in a cloudy day
61 TO WILLIAM GUTHRIE 191
Depression under dark trials
62 TO LADY RALSTON 193
Duty of preferring to live rather than die
63 TO LADY KENMURE 197
Trials
64 TO JAMES DURHAM 199
[On his deathbed]
65 TO JAMES GUTHRIE, ROBERT TRAILL and other brethren imprisoned in Edinburgh Castle 200
On suffering for Christ
66 TO MISTRESS CRAIG 202
[On the death of her son]
67 TO JAMES GUTHRIE 205
Steadfastness under persecution
68 TO ROBERT CAMPBELL 207
Steadfastness in protest against prelacy and popery
69 TO BRETHERN IN ABERDEEN" 209
Sinful conformity and schismatic designs reproved
Brief Notes on Rutherford’s Correspondents 215
An Outline of Rutherford’s Life 223
Product Details
Title: Letters of Samuel Rutherford: A selection
Author: Samuel Rutherford
Publisher: Banner of Truth
Pages: 240
Binding: Paperback
Size: 18.1 x 12.0 x 1.2 cm
ISBN: 9781800402713