Letters of Samuel Rutherford

Author

Samuel Rutherford

Category Letters

Look Inside Price

Out of stock

You must register to use the waitlist feature. Please login or create an account

Weight	2.18 lbs
Dimensions	8.8 × 5.75 × 1.8 in
ISBN	9780851513881
Binding	Cloth-bound
Topic	Encouragement, Life Issues
Original Pub Date	1664
Banner Pub Date	Apr 7, 2006
Page Count	744
Format	Book

EndorsementsRead More ↓

‘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

‘These letters will ever be precious to all who are sensible of their own, and the Church’s decay and corruptions-The wound and the cure are therein so fully opened out: self is exposed, specially spiritual self. He will tell you, ‘There is as much need to watch over grace, as to watch over sin.’ He will show you God in Christ, to fill up the place usurped by self. The subtleties of sin, idols, snares, temptations, self-deceptions, are dragged into view from time to time. And what is better still, the cords of Christ are twined round the roots of these bitter plants, that they may be plucked up.

Not is it otherwise in regard to corruption in public, and in the Church. We do not mean merely the open corruption of error, but also the secret ‘grey hairs’ of decay. Hear him cry, ‘There is universal deadness on that fear of God. O where are the sometime quickening breathings and influences form heaven that have refreshed His hidden ones!’ and then he laments, in the name of the saints, ‘We are half satisfied with our witherdness; nor have we as much of his strain who doth eight times breathe out that suit [Ps 119], Quicken me!’ ‘We live far from the well, and complain but dryly of our dryness.’ — ANDREW BONAR

Book Description

These letters will ever be precious to all who are sensible of their own, and the Church’s decay and corruptions– The wound and the cure are therein so fully opened out: self is exposed, specially spiritual self. He will tell you, ‘There is as much need to watch over grace, as to watch over sin.’ He will show you God in Christ, to fill up the place usurped by self. The subtleties of sin, idols, snares, temptations, self-deceptions, are dragged into view from time to time. And what is better still, the cords of Christ are twined round the roots of these bitter plants, that they may be plucked up.

Nor is it otherwise in regard to corruption in public, and in the Church. We do not mean merely the open corruption of error, but also the secret ‘gray hairs’ of decay. Hear him cry, ‘There is universal deadness on that fear of God. O where are the sometime quickening breathings and influences from heaven that have refreshed His hidden ones!’ And then he laments, in the name of the saints, ‘We are half satisfied with out witherdness; nor have we as much of his strain who doth eight times breathe out that suit, Quicken me!’ ‘We live far from the well, and complain but dryly of our dryness.’ — Andrew Bonar

Table of Contents Expand ↓

No. of Letters	PEOPLE WITH MORE THAN ONE LETTER
48	Lady Kenmure
45	Marion M’Naught
10	Lady Boyd
8	Colonel Gilbert Ker
6	Robert Gordon of Knockbreck
5	Alexander Gordon of Earlston
5	Lord Craighall
5	Mr David Dickson
4	Alexander Gordon of Knockgray
4	John Fleming, Bailie of Leith
4	John Gordon of Cardoness, Elder
4	John Stuart, Provost of Ayr
4	Lady Culross
4	Mr John Scot, at Oxnam
4	William Glendinning, Bailie of Kirkcudbright
3	Earlston, the Elder
3	Earlston, the Younger
3	John Gordon of Cardoness, Younger
3	John Kennedy, Bailie of Ayr
3	Lady Busbie
3	Mr Thomas Garven
3	The Laird of Carleton
3	William Dalgleish, Minister of the Gospel
3	William Rigge of Athernie
2	Alexander Colville of Blair
2	Barbara Hamilton
2	Grizzel Fullerton, daughter of Marion M'Naught
2	Janet Kennedy
2	Jean Brown
2	John Gordon, at Rusco
2	John Henderson, in Rusco
2	John Nevay
2	Lady Cardoness
2	Lady Gaitgirth
2	Lady Largirie
2	Lord Boyd
2	Lord Loudon
2	Mr George Gillespie
2	Mr Hugh Henderson, Minister of Dalry
2	Mr Hugh M’Kail, Minister of Irvine
2	Mr James Guthrie, Minister at Stirling
2	Mr John Fergushill
2	Mr John Meine, Junior
2	Mr John Murray, Minister at Methven
2	Mr Matthew Mowat, Minister of Kilmarnock
2	Mr Robert Blair
2	Mr Thomas Wylie, Minister of Borgue
2	Robert Gordon, Bailie of Ayr
2	Robert Lennox of Disdove
2	The Earl of Cassillis
2	The Laird of Cally
2	William Fullerton, Provost of Kirkcudbright

	PEOPLE WITH ONE LETTER	Page
	Sketch of Samuel Rutherford	1

	To a Christian Gentlewoman, on the death of a Daughter	34
	To John Kennedy - Deliverance from Shipwreck	74
	To a Gentleman at Kirkcudbright, excusing himself from visiting	83
	To Mr Robert Cunningham, at Holywood, in Ireland - Consolation to a Brother in Tribulation	140
	To William Gordon of Roberton - How Trials are Misimproved	153
	To Margaret Ballantine - Value of the Soul, and Urgency of Salvation	166
	To the Earl of Lothian - Advice as to Public Conduct	174
	To Jean Blown - The Joys of this Life embittered by Sin	177
	To Elizabeth Kennedy - Danger of Formality	183
	To the Rev John Livingstone - Resignation	190
	To Mr Ephraim Melvin - Kneeling at the Lord's Supper a species of Idolatry	192
	To Janet Macculloch - Christ's Sufficiency	210
	To Lady Cardoness, Elder - Christ and His Cause Recommended	213
	To a Gentlewoman, upon the death of her Husband	217
	To Lady Kaskiberry - Gratitude for Kindness	222
	To Lady Earlston - Following Christ not Easy	223
	To Mr Robert Douglas - Greatness of Christ's Love revealed to those who suffer for Him	229
	To Mr Alexander Henderson - Sadness because of Christ's Headship not set forth	232
	To Mr Matthew Moncat, Minister at Kilmarnock - Plenitude of Christ's Love	242
	To William Halliday - Diligence in securing Salvation	245
	To a Gentlewoman after the death of her Husband	245
	To Lady Forret - Sickness a Kindness	249
	To John Carsen - Nothing worth the Finding but Christ	251
	To Jean Macmillan - Strive to enter In	259
	To John Ewart, Bailie of Kirkcudbright - The Cross no Burden	262
	To Robert Glendinning, Minister of Kirkcudbright - Prepare to meet thy God	264
	To Lord Balmerinoch - His happy Obligations to Christ	267
	To Lady Mar, Younger - No Exchange for Christ	269
	To James Macadam - The Kingdom taken by Force	270
	To William Livingstone - Counsel to a Youth	271
	To William Gordon of Whitepark - Nothing lost by Trials	272
	To Mr Georqe Gillespie, Minister of Kirkcaldy - Suspicions of Christ's Love Removed	273
	To Jean Gordon - God the Satisfying Portion	275
	To Mr Tames Bruce, Minister of the Gospel - Misjudging of Christ's Ways	276
	To Lady Hallhill - Christ's Crosses better than Egypt's Treasures	278
	To John Osburn, Provost of Ayr - Adherence to Christ	280
	To John Meine, Senior - Enjoyment of God's Love	281
	To Bethaia Aird - Unbelief under Trials	284
	To Patrick Carsen - Early Devotedness to Christ	287
	To Ninian Mure, one of the family of Cassincarrie - A Youth Admonished	307
	To the Laird of Moncrieff - Concert in Prayer	321
	To John Clark - Marks of Difference betwixt Christians and Reprobates	323
	To John Laurie - Christ's Love	330
	To Earleton, the Younger - Dangers of Youth	348
	To Mr J-R - Christ the Purifier of His Church	355
	To Robert Stuart - Christ chooses His own in the Furnace	363
	Mr John Fergushill of Ochiltree - Desponding Views of his own State	368
	To the Laird of Carsluth - Necessity of making sure of Salvation	373
	To the Laird of Cassincarrie - Earnestness about Salvation	376
	To Sibylla Macadam - Christ's Beauty and Excellence	380
	To William Gordon, at Kenmure - Testimony to Christ's Worth	399
	To Margaret Fulterton - Christ, not Creatures, worthy of all Love	401
	To a Christian Gentlewoman - God's Skill to bless by Affliction	412
	To Mr James Harnilum, Minister of the Gospel - Suffering for Christ's Headship	418
	To Mistress Stuart - Personal Unworthiness	421
	To Alexander Gordon of Garloch - Free Grace finding its Materials in us	425
	To John Bell, Elder - Danger of Trusting to a Name to Live	427
	To Mr John Row, Minister of the Gospel - Christ's Crosses better than the World's Joys	429
	To Fulwood, the Younger - Vanity of the World in the light of Death and Christ	436
	To his Parishoners - Protestation of Care for their Souls, and for the Glory of God	438
	To Lady Kilconquhar - The Interests of the Soul and Urgent	445
	To Mr James Fleming, Minister of the Gospel - Glory Gained to Christ	451
	To Lord Lindsay of Byres - The Church's Desolations	457
	To Fulk Ellis - Friends in Ireland	463
	To James Lindsay - Desertions, their Use	466
	To Mr James Hamilton, Minister of the Gospel - Christ's Glory not affected by His People's Weakness	471
	To the Laird of Gaitgirth - Truth worth Suffering for	471
	To Lady Rowallan - Jesus the Best Choice, and to be made sure of	478
	To Margaret Reid - Benefits of the Cross, if we are Christ's	487
	To James Bautie - Spiritual Difficulties Solved	489
	To Lady Dumqueich - Jesus or the World	495
	To Janet Mcculloch - Cares to be cast on Christ	496
	To Lady Carleton - Submission to God's Will	500
	To Lady Craighall - The Comforts of Christ's Cross	503
	To Lady Kilconquhair - The Kingdom to be taken by Violence	510
	To Thomas Corbet - Godly Counsels	514
	To Mr George Dunbar, Minister of the Gospel - Christ's Love in Affliction	515
	To his Parishioners at Anwoth - Exhortation to abide in the Truth, in prospect of Christ's Coming	521
	To John Gordon - Christ all Worthy	527
	To James Murray - The Christian Life a Mystery to the World	530
	To the Earl of Cassilis - Ambition	538
	To Lord Loudoun - True Honour in maintaining Christ's cause	543
	To Lady Robertland - Afflictions purify	545
	To Thomas Macculloch of Nether Ardwell - Earnest Call to Diligence	548
	To the Professors of Christ and His Truth in Ireland - The Way to Heaven ofttimes through Persecution	549
	To the Parishioners of Kilmalcolm - Spiritual Sloth	559
	To the Persecuted Church in Ireland - Christ's Legacy of Trouble	568
	To Dr Alexander Leighton - Public Blessings alleviate Private Sufferings	575
	To a Person unknown - Anent Private Worship	578
	To Henry Stuart, and Family, Prisoners of Christ at Dublin - Faith's preparation for Trial	579
	To Mrs Pont, Prisoner at Dublin - Support under Trials	585
	To Mr James Wilson - Advices to a Doubting Soul	588
	To John Fenwick - Christ the Fountain	593
	To Peter Stirling - Believers' Graces all from Christ	599
	To Lady Fingask - Faith's Misgivings	600
	To Agnes Macmath, on the Death of a Child - Reason for Resignation	607
	To James Murray’s Wife - Heaven a Reality	612
	To a Young Man in Anwoth - Necessity of Godliness in its Power	615
	To Mistress Taylor, on her Son's Death - Suggestions for Comfort under Sorrow	620
	To Mistress Hume, on her Husband's Death	625
	To a Christian Friend, on the Death of his Wife	629
	To a Christian Brother, on the Death of his Daughter	630
	To a Christian Gentlewoman - Views of Death and Heaven	632
	To Lady Ardross, in Fife, on her Mother's Death	639
	To M O - Gloomy Prospects for the Backsliding Church	640
	To Sir James Stewart, Lord Provost of Edinburgh - Declining Chair in Edinburgh	645
	To Mistress Gillespie, Widow of George Gillespie - On the Death of a Child	646
	To the Earl of Balcarras - Regarding some Misunderstanding	648
	To William Guthrie - Depression under Dark Trials	652
	To Lady Ralston, Ursula Mure - Duty of Preferring to Live rather than Die	665
	To a Minister of Glasgow - Encouraging Words to a Suffering Brother	668
	To Simeon Ashe - Views of the Presbyterians as to Allegiance to the Protector	681
	To Mr James Durham, Minister of Glasgow, some few days before his Death	685
	To the Presbytery of Kirkcudbright - Union	689
	To Mr Guthrie, Mr Trail, and the rest of their Brethren imprisoned in the Castle of Edinburgh - On Suffering for Christ	692
	To Several Brethren - Reasons for Petitioning his Majesty after his return, and for owning such as were censured while about so necessary a Duty	694
	To a Brother Minister - Judgment of a Draught of a Petition, to have been presented to the Committee of Estates	696
	To Mistress Craig, upon the Death of her hopeful Son - Nine Reasons for Resignation	699
	To Mr Robert Campbell - Stedfastness to Protest against Prelacy and Popery	703
	To Believers at Aberdeen - Sinful Conformity and Schismatic Designs reproved	704
	Index of the Chief Places and Individuals referred to in the Letters	711
	Index of Special Subjects	715
	Glossary	718
	Editions of Rutherford's Letters	736

Testimonials

Submit your testimonial

Joshua J. Mills – February 8, 2019

The Letters of Samuel Rutherford are outstanding. This book has done my soul the most good out of any Banner book (I do not say that lightly). Rutherford has taught me three lessons: (1) The importance of union and communion with Christ, (2) the supreme beauty of Christ, and (3) a proper perspective on suffering. To see more of my thoughts, I have attached a post that expresses the lessons I have learned from the Letters of Samuel Rutherford:

https://fountoflife.home.blog/2019/02/08/grace-in-winter-lessons-from-samuel-rutherford/
Matteob – June 15, 2022

These letters show Samuel Rutherford was filled with the Holy Spirit and a loving, encouraging Pastor. Working my way through these letters slowly I have found nourishment and encouragement in dark times. They are beautifully written and warm. I would also recommend the little book by Banner called “Samuel Rutherford and his Friends” which gives some background on the receivers of these letters.
AM – December 5, 2023

We discovered Samuel Rutherford while reading Charles Spurgeon, his startlingly high recommendation being reminiscent of St. Chrysostom’s of St. Paul. We may never be great, but we should “eat” what the Greats eat, feed where they feed. We never read a Rutherford letter without copying out sentences and paragraphs on paper and to friends almost to the point of feeling that we are rewriting the entire book. One cannot help loving his tender, sincere heart. He is on our bedside shelf for reading one letter+ each morning, along with Charles Spurgeon (M & E) and Thomas A Kempis (Imitation), our daily reads. When we get to the end of these books, we start right back at the beginning. We are sending Letter CII out in our Christmas cards this year.
Benjamin Hegan – December 15, 2024

Hugely overrated to be honest. There are odd sections and lines of wonderful devotion with superb clarity but overall I didn’t overly enjoy it. The hype destroyed it for me because not every word of it is almost inspired and perfect, like the reviews would lead you to believe. So much of it is grounded in his current circumstances or those of his congregation and contemporaries. As another reviewer has said, it may be better if you read a biography of his life before you read this – but I don’t think that that would transform it. It’s ok. I’m a strong Presbyterian and love Rutherford. I really wanted to love this work and wanted to give it a higher rating. To say I enjoyed it however would be a lie so I must be honest. I will read it again another time when I know more about Rutherford’s life but I’ve learnt that being skeptical when most say a book is amazing is exactly the correct attitude. Read it if you want but I struggle to recommend it. Controversial I know but I must be honest.
Marc Daniel Rivera (KristiyaKnow) – August 12, 2025

For a long time, I’ve wanted to get the full edition of The Letters of Samuel Rutherford. While I’ve owned the shorter Puritan Paperback edition (with just 69 letters), it always felt like a sampler. That smaller volume is excellent, but at less than one-fifth of the complete collection, it can only hint at the depth and variety found in Rutherford’s writings. This Banner of Truth edition, reprinted from Andrew Bonar’s 1891 classic, contains all 365 letters—providentially enough to read one a day for an entire year—as well as a 30-page biographical introduction.

Like John Bunyan in Bedford jail, Rutherford did some of his most enduring work in confinement. His opponents tried to silence him by imprisonment, but they ended up preserving his ministry for centuries. First published in 1664, these letters were treasured by their recipients and copied, circulated, and eventually gathered into print. The result is a pastoral and devotional collection that has been blessing readers for over 350 years.

I’ve owned a few books of letters by different personalities, including John Calvin, C.S. Lewis, and J.R.R. Tolkien, and this, by far, is my favorite in terms of usability. Each letter comes with a descriptive heading summarizing the main theme—an invaluable guide when reading devotionally. There’s also the thoughtful inclusion of brief biographical notes on the letter recipients, scattered throughout the book. This added feature gives context and depth to the correspondence and helps you picture the relationships and situations that prompted Rutherford’s words. At the back, a glossary explains archaic terms, which makes these 17th-century letters surprisingly accessible to a modern reader.

Since this is a facsimile of the 1891 edition, it retains its original old-style font and typesetting. For some, this might seem dated. For me, it’s part of the charm. The woodcut illustrations, decorative drop caps, and period layout add to the overall reading experience. It feels like holding a piece of the past in your hands.

The table of contents itself is devotional. It’s remarkable to see the range of situations Rutherford addressed: grief, encouragement, counsel, rebuke, theological reflection, and even political advice. These letters show him in full dimension: not only as a theologian, but as a caring pastor, a loyal friend, and a warm Christian brother. They also reveal his plain humanity—sympathetic, earnest, and deeply Christ-centered.

Consider his letter “To a Christian Gentlewoman, on the death of a Daughter.” Rutherford does not dismiss grief but acknowledges the pain of a mother whose “nature… being, as it were, cut and halved” is deeply wounded. Yet he lifts her eyes to Christ, reminding her that in all her afflictions, He is afflicted, and that her daughter is not lost but in the safest of hands. His analogies are vivid, comparing her daughter’s life to a lease that has reached its term, and his counsel is tender yet firm: honor God, submit to His will, and rejoice that a part of yourself is glorified in heaven.

Then there is his letter “To Marion M‘Naught,” written in anticipation of the Lord’s Supper. Here, Rutherford’s joy in Christ overflows. He invites her to the “banquet” where Jesus Himself is host, urging her to rejoice in His salvation. Yet even in this joyful setting, his pastoral concern extends outward. His letters are never one-dimensional; joy is tempered with realism, and exhortation is softened with personal affection.

Throughout these 365 letters, there are some recurring themes: the sufficiency of Christ, the value of the soul, the refining purpose of trials, the danger of spiritual complacency, and the urgency of salvation. He writes to noblemen and to farmers, to ministers and to widows, to friends and to near-strangers. In every case, Christ is the center—whether Rutherford is encouraging perseverance, comforting in grief, or warning against sin.

Reading this collection is like walking with Rutherford through the varied seasons of the Christian life. His counsel is never generic. It is specific, situational, and personal. Yet, because his theology is so rooted in Scripture, his words transcend time and circumstance. His analogies linger in the mind long after reading.

If you’ve never read books of letters before, you might want to begin with the Puritan Paperback selection as a gentle introduction. But for those ready to dive deeper, this full edition is an extraordinary resource. You can use it for daily devotional reading, thematic study, or simply as encouragement in seasons of trial.

This is not a book to rush through. Some letters will draw you into deep meditation, others will send you straight to prayer. It’s the kind of volume you keep within reach, to revisit when you need a word of wisdom, comfort, or holy exhortation. And with exactly 365 letters, it offers a devotional supplement for a year of sustained spiritual nourishment.

More items to consider:

The Works Of David Clarkson

3 Volume Set

by David Clarkson

price

Learn More Add to Cart

Description

Contains 365 of Rutherford’s incomparable letters, with a sketch of his life by the editor, Andrew Bonar, a Glossary and Index. ‘Every page is sweetly perfumed with the Saviour’—Gospel Standard. 744pp.