For myself, I am as well as Christ's prisoner can be; for by Him I am master and king of all my crosses. I am above the prison, and the lash of men's tongues; Christ triumpheth in me. I have been casten down, and heavy with fears, and haunted with challenges. I was swimming in the depths, but Christ had His hand under my chin all the time, and took good heed that I should not lose breath; and now I have gotten my feet again, and there are love-feasts of joy, and spring-tides of consolation betwixt Christ and me. We agree well; I have court with Him; I am still welcome to His house. Oh, my short arms cannot fathom His love! I beseech you, I charge you, to help me to praise. Ye have a prisoner's prayers, therefore forget me not.
I desire Sibylla to remember me dearly to all in that parish who know Christ, as if I had named them.
Grace, grace be with you.
Yours, in his sweet Lord Jesus,
S. R.
Aberdeen, March 13, 1637.
[CXLII.—To my very dear brother, William Livingstone.]
[Probably one of his Anwoth parishioners. There are Livingstones in that neighbourhood to this day.]