Letters of Samuel Rutherford

A selection

Author

Samuel Rutherford

Category Christian Living, Letters, Puritan Paperback Specials, Puritan Paperbacks

Series Puritan Paperbacks

Letters of Samuel Rutherford: A Selection

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Weight	0.46 lbs
Dimensions	7.13 × 4.75 × 0.5 in
ISBN	9781800402713
Binding	Paperback, eBook (ePub & Kindle), Paperback & eBook (ePub & Kindle)
Topic	Encouragement, Life Issues, Spiritual Growth
Original Pub Date	1664
Banner Pub Date	May 1, 1973
Recent Pub Date Year	2024
Page Count	240
Format	Book
Series	Puritan Paperbacks

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

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	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

Testimonials

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Teresa – January 17, 2016

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.
Ian Kirk – January 11, 2017

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!