Advertisement In The 1783 Edition.
ADVERTISEMENT IN THE 1783 EDITION.
The Editor of this present edition of the Rev. Mr. RUTHERFOORD'S LETTERS, does not propose to entertain the reader with any encomiums upon the worthy Author, whose praise is already in the churches; or any commendation of his unparalleled Letters, which have already been so well relished by the religious part of mankind: all that is intended, is only to point out the superior excellence of this Edition to any of the former ones. It will appear obvious to every one, upon the smallest attention and reflection, that most of the former impressions of this part of our Author's performances, have been printed both upon a very small type, and an extreme coarse paper, which made the perusing of them, (tho' excellent in themselves) very unpleasant to the reader, and often marred that edification that might otherwise have arisen from them. To remedy which, was the design of the Editor in offering the following edition of Mr. RUTHERFOORD'S LETTERS to the public; an edition which, he hopes, from the largeness of the type, goodness of the paper, and elegancy of print, will do justice to the Author, be a credit to himself, and at the same time yield pleasure and satisfaction to the reader.
Most of the late editions of these LETTERS have been considerably curtailed, in lopping off a large PREFACE from the beginning of them, tending to cast light upon the Book, and the transactions of those times; and also some of the late impressions have left out the POSTSCRIPT, usually subjoined to the end of them; both supposed to be wrote by the Rev. Mr. M'WARD. As the suppressing of these was complained of by the public, they are both retained in this impression. And to render this edition still more acceptable to the public, the publisher has added Mr. RUTHERFOORD'S Testimony to the covenanted work of Reformation, between 1638, and 1649. And also his Dying Words, containing several advices to some ministers and near relations.
That nothing might be wanting that has a tendency to reflect honour upon the justly esteemed Author, to gratify the candid reader, the editor begs leave to conclude, with subjoining the account and character given of him, by the late Rev. Mr. ROBERT WODROW, author of the History of the Sufferings of the Church of Scotland. That bright and shining light of his time, Mr. Samuel Rutherfoord, may justly come in among the sufferers, during this session of Parliament, [viz. in the year 1661.] To be sure, he was a martyr, both in his own resolution, and in men's designs and determination. He is so well known to the learned and pious world, that I need say little of him. Such who knew him best were in a strait whether to admire him for his sublime genius in the school, and peculiar exactness in matter of dispute and controversy; or his familiar condescensions 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.
But he seems to have outdone himself, as well as every body else in his admirable, and every way singular LETTERS, which, though jested upon by profane wits, because of some familiar expressions, yet will be owned, by all who have any relish of piety, to contain such sublime flights of devotion, and to be fraughted with such massy thoughts, as loudly speak a soul united to Jesus Christ in the closest embraces, and must needs at once ravish and edify every serious reader.
The parliament were to have had an indictment laid before them against this holy man, if his death had not prevented it. After his book, intitled LEX REX, had been ordered to be burnt at the cross of Edinburgh, and the gate of the new college of St. Andrews, where he was divinity professor; in their great humanity they were pleased, when every body knew Mr. Rutherfoord to be in a dying condition, to cause cite him to appear before them at Edinburgh, to answer a charge of high treason. But he had a higher tribunal to appear before, where his judge was his friend.
Mr. Rutherfoord died in March 1661, the very day before the Act Recissory was passed in the parliament. This eminent saint, and faithful servant of Jesus Christ, lamented, when near his end, That he was withheld from bearing witness to the work of Reformation, since the year 1638, and giving his public testimony against the evil courses of the present time; otherwise he was full of peace and joy in believing.—I have a copy before me of what could be gathered up of his dying words, and the expressions this great man had during his sickness1.