Letters of Samuel Rutherford

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Weight 0.21 kg
Dimensions 18.1 × 12.1 × 1.3 cm
ISBN 9781800402713
topic

Encouragement, Life Issues, Spiritual Growth
format

Book
Original Pub Date

1664
Banner Pub Date

May 1, 1973
Binding

Paperback, eBook (ePub & Kindle), Paperback & eBook (ePub & Kindle)
page-count

208
series

Puritan Paperbacks
Recent Pub Date Year

1973

Endorsements

‘The nearest thing to inspiration which can be found in all the writings of mere man.’ — C. H. SPURGEON

‘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

Apart from the Bible, ‘such a book as Mr. Rutherford’s Letters the world never saw the like.’ — RICHARD BAXTER

Book 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.

Table of Contents Expand ↓

1 TO A CHRISTIAN GENTLEWOMAN 13
[On the death of a daughter]
2 TO MARION M’NAUGHT16
Submission, perseverance and zeal recommended
3 TO LADY KENMURE 18
God’s inexplicable dealings with his people well-ordered
4 TO MARION M’NAUGH 20
[In prospect of the Lord’s Supper]
5 TO MARION M’NAUGHT 22
The threatened introduction of the Service-Book
6 TO JOHN KENNEDY 25
Deliverance from shipwreck
7 TO LADY KENMURE 29
A union for prayer recommended
8 TO LADY KENMURE 31
[On the death of Lord Kenmure)
9 TO MARION M’NAUGHT 33
The prospect of exile in Aberdeen
10 TO LADY KENMURE 34
[On the eve of banishment to Aberdeen)
11 TO LADY CULROSS 37
[On the occasion of banishment to Aberdeen)
12 TO ROBERT CUNNINGHAM 39
Consolation to a brother in tribulation
13 TO ALEXANDER GORDON 42
Rutherford’s feeling upon leaving Anworth
14 TO LADY KENMURE 43
Rutherford’s enjoyment of Christ in Aberdeen
15 TO HUGH M’KAIL 49
Christ to be trusted amid trial
16 TO MARION M’NAUGHT 47
Comfort under tribulations
17 TO JOHN GORDON, ELDER 48
Will Christ at all hazards
18 TO ROBERT BLAIR 52
God’s arrangements sometimes mysterious
19 TO ROBERT GORDON 55
Visits of Christ
20 TO LADY KENMURE 58
None worthy but Christ
21 TO DAVID DICKSON 59
God’s dealings
22 TO ALEXANDER HENDERSON 61
Sadness because Christ’s Headship not set forth
23 TO JOHN GORDON, YOUNGER 63
Reasons for being earnest about the soul
24 TO MARION M’NAUGHT 65
Adherence to duty amidst opposition
25 TO WILLIAM LIVINGSTONE 66
Counsel to a youth
26 TO THB LAIRD OF CARLETON 67
Increasing sense of Christ’s love
27 TO JOHN FLEMING 70
Directions for Christian conduct
28 TO LADY BOYD 73
Lessons learned in the school of adversity
29 TO JOHN STUART 76
Commercial misfortunes
30 TO DAVID DICKSON 81
Christ’s infinite fulness
31 TO JOHN CLARK 83
Marks of difference between Christians and
32 TO EARLSTON, YOUNGER 84
Dangers of youth
33 TO WILLIAM DALGLEISH 90
Fragrance of the ministry
34 TO JOHN STUART 94
Hope for Scotland
35 TO EARLSTOH, YOUNGER 97
Sufferings
36 TO WILLIAM GORDON 101
Testimony to Christ’s worth
37 TO JOHN HENDERSON 104
Practical hints
38 TO ALEXANDER COLVILL 105
Regrets for being silenced in ministry
39 TO JAMES HAMILTON 106
Suffering for Christ’s Headship
40 TO PARISHIONERS OF ANWOTH 109
Protestation of care for their souls and for the glory of God
41 TO LADY KILCONQUHAR 118
The interests of the soul most urgent
42 TO LORD CRAIGHALL 123
Standing for Christ
43 TO HUGH M’KAIL 126
The Law
44 TO FULK ELLIS 128
Friends in Ireland
45 TO JAMBS LINDSAY 131
Desertions and their use
46 TO JAMBS HAMILTON 135
Christ’s glory not affected by his people’s weakness
47 TO LADY GAIT GIRTH 137
Christ all example in Cross-bearing
48 TO MARION M’NAUGHT 139
Prospects of his ministry
49 TO JAMES BAUTIE 140
Spiritual difficulties resolved
50 TO THOMAS CORBET 147
Godly counsels
51 TO WILLIAM GLENDINNING 148
Sweetness of trial
52 TO MARION M’NAUGHT 150
A Spring-tide of Christ’s love
53 TO JOHN GORDON 152
Heaven hard to be won
54 TO PARISHIONERS OF KILMALCOLM 155
Spiritual sloth
55 TO ALEXANDER LEIGHTON 163
Christs’ prisoner in bonds at London
56 TO JAMES WILSON 166
Advices to a doubting soul
57 TO DAVID DICKSON 171
[On the death of a son]
58 TO LADY BOYD 173
Proceedings of the Westminster Assembly
59 TO LADY KENMURE 175
Westminster Assembly Religious sects
60 TO J.G. 176
Depression in a cloudy day
55 TO WILLIAM GUTHRIE 178
Depression under dark trials
56 TO LADY RALSTON 179
Duty of preferring to live rather than die
63 TO LADY KENMURE 183
Trials
64 TO JAMES DURHAM 185
[On his deathbed]
65 TO JAMES GUTHRIE, ROBERT TRAILL and other brethren imprisoned in Edinburgh Castle 186
On suffering for Christ
66 TO MISTRESS CRAIG 188
[On the death of her son]
67 TO JAMES GUTHRIE 190
Steadfastness under persecution
68 TO ROBERT CAMPBELL 192
Steadfastness in protest against prelacy and popery
69 TO BRETHERN IN ABERDEEN” 194
Sinful conformity and schismatic designs reproved
BRIEF NOTES ON RUTHERFORD’S CORRESPONDENTS 199
AN OUTLINE OF RUTHERFORD’S LIFE 205

2 testimonials for Letters of Samuel Rutherford

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  1. Teresa –

    If I could read nothing else, besides the word of God, I would forevermore only read Samuel Rutherford’s Letters. They alone have done more to encourage me to treasure Christ, to put off sin and self, to strive after holiness, and to desire to live a life worthy of our precious Lord than anything else I have yet come across. If I could give someone only one Puritan book, it would be Samuel Rutherford’s Letters.

  2. Ian Kirk –

    I have read many Puritan authors down through the years, but few books have left such an indelible mark upon my soul as Rutherford’s Letters. One feels instinctively that here is the heart of a true Pastor who loves Christ’s Body so deeply, that he is able to express the compassion and love of Christ in such beautiful prose.
    I cannot think of any other work of Christian literature which has so encouraged, consoled, warned and indeed, broken my heart, than these Letters.
    It is no exaggeration to say that Mr Rutherford knew what it was to experience deep communion with His Saviour.
    This book deserves to be at the bedside of every true Christian, and read before sleep!

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