[CCCIII.—For the Right Honourable, my Lady Boyd.]
(SIN OF THE LAND—READ PRAYERS—BROWNISM.)
M ADAM,—I doubt not but the debt of many more than ordinary favours to this land layeth guiltiness upon this nation. The Lord hath put us in His books as a favoured people in the sight of the nations, but we pay not to Him the rent of the vineyard. And we might have had a gospel at an easier rate than this Gospel; but it would have had but as much life as ink and paper have. We stand obliged to Him who hath in a manner forced His love on us, and would but love us against our will.
Anent read prayers. Madam, I could never see precept, promise, or practice for them, in God's word. Our church never allowed them, but men took them up at their own choice. The word of God maketh reading (1 Tim. iv. 3) and praying (1 Thess. v. 17) two different worships. In reading, God speaketh to us (2 Kings xxii. 10, 11); in praying, we speak to God (Ps. xxii. 2, xxviii. 1). I had never faith to think well of them. In my weak judgment, it were good if they were out of the service of God. I cannot think them a fruit or effect of the Spirit of adoption, seeing the user cannot say of such prayers, "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditations of my heart, be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my Strength and my Redeemer," which the servants of God ought to say of their prayers (Ps. xix. 14). For such prayers are meditations set down in paper and ink, and cannot be his heart-meditations who useth them. The saints never used them, and God never commanded them; and a promise to hear any prayers, except the pouring out of the soul to God, we can never read.
As for separation from worship for some errors of a church, the independency of single congregations, a church of visible saints, and other tenets of Brownists,[431] they are contrary to God's word. I have a treatise at the press at London against these conceits, as things which want God's word to warrant them.[432] The Lord lay it not to their charge, who depart from the covenant of God with this land to follow such lying vanities.
I did see lately your daughter, the Lady Ardross.[433] The Lord hath given her a child and deliverance.
Now, recommending your Ladyship to the rich grace of Christ, I rest yours at all respectful observance in Christ,
S. R.
St. Andrews.