Letters of Samuel Rutherford

"The Letters of Samuel Rutherford" complied by Banner of Truth Trust in an abridged edition contains letters (many written while Rutherford was imprisoned for his religious views) that are more than just important historical documents, they are edifying devotional prose. These missives (Rutherford lived in the 17th century) from the splendid pen of this persecuted Scottish Puritan are centered on Christ and overflowing with potent vocabulary and sage advice. Rutherford on his need for the prayers of his fellow Christians writes: "I do esteem nothing out of heaven, and next to a communion with Jesus Christ, more than to be in the hearts and prayers of the saints" (p. 176). One of my favorite quotes declares: "But grace, grace, free grace, the merits of Christ for nothing, white and fair, and large Savior-mercy hath been and must be the rock that we drowned souls must swim to" (p. 130). These inspiring letters lifted the hearts of Charles Spurgeon, Robert Murray M'Cheyne, and Richard Baxter. This outstanding volume makes a potent and stirring devotional tool for personal or for family use. One Way to God: Christian Philosophy and Presuppositional Apologetics Examine World Religions

Samuel Rutherford (1600-61) was one of the great Scottish puritan Presbyterians, most famous today for his Lex Rex. He was an ardent Calvinist, and was awaiting trial for treason when he died. His letters were collected in printed posthumously (1664). This nicely packaged Banner of Truth set are an abridged edition. "I find it most true, that the greatest temptation out of hell is to live without temptations. If my waters should stand, they would rot. Faith is the better of the free air, and of the sharp winter storm in its face. Grace withereth without adversity. The devil is but God's master fencer, to teach us to handle our weapons." -Samuel Rutherford

A very fine work indeed! These letters have a lot of insight and wisdom packed into them!! A few of the letters were not very interesting to me, but as a whole I found that reading this was a very profitable exercise for me!

Aside from Holy Scripture, there is no other writing I have found so close to my heart as the Letters of Samuel Rutherford. If you do not own it, buy it; that is, if you love the Lord Jesus and desire to love Him more, buy it and read it. There is no effort in reading it whatsoever. On the contrary, there is a deep longing for more and more, as it becomes nearly impossible to put it down. Rutherford's letters epitomize the hearts of the Scottish Covenanters, whom he would have surely joined in death by martyrdom if not for his fatal illness. The sweetness of being a child of God is made undisputably known to him who reads these beautiful words.