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Letters of Samuel Rutherford-hardback

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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.

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!

"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letters (many written while Rutherford was imprisoned for his religious views) that are more than just important historical documents, they are edifying devotional prose.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.
The Necessary Existence of God: The Proof of Christianity Through Presuppositional Apologetics

"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.
Truth, Knowledge and the Reason for God: The Defense of the Rational Assurance of Christianity

Title: Letters of Samuel Rutherford

Author: Samuel Rutherford as selected by Andrew A. Bonar

First Copy Right: 1664

Type of Book: Hardback

General Subject: Inspiration, Christian Living

Price: $39.00

ISBN: 0-85151-388-3

The purpose of this book is extremely difficult to nail down. A collection of Rutherford's letters were published 3 years after his death. This compilation was published in 1891 and these letters were selected by Andrew A Bonar. Bonar's purpose of selecting these letters seems to come from the book jacket where he is quoted as saying, "What a wealth of spiritual ravishment we have here! This edition is a noble volume and we shall measure the soundness of Scotch religion very much by the sale of this work. One page of Rutherford is worth a thousand tomes of the Downgrade frothiness."

It seems that the purpose of this volume is to inspire, instruct, and to inculcate the very grace of God to those who would read these letters. These letters serve as a very large door way into the heart of this great pastor. They show his knowledge and love of the Savior and his love and commitment to his people.

Rutherford wrote various letters that encouraged, edified, or engaged the recipients in the grace and knowledge of God. He wrote these letters from the view point of a pastor who was deeply aware of his charge and responsibility before his God to shepherd the sheep trusted to him. Rutherford made no attempt to be technical or dramatical. He wrote beautiful biblical theology which was coated by God's grace.

The author's style is homy, personal, parochial, and precious. He writes in the formal prose of his day, yet the letters flow informally from his heart to his people.

This book effected me very deeply. The heart and depth of this man's relationship with God is almost beyond comprehending. One cannot read these letters without grieving over one's sense of one's own lack of intimacy and yet a joy in knowing one can strive for this intimacy. Rutherford's language is almost heavenly, it was bathed in constant prayer. If Bonar's purpose was to inspire, edify, and demonstrate God's grace, that purpose was certainly accomplished. I would recommend this book to every believer who wants to know what it is like to walk in the shadow of God.

The theme of this book is inspirational letters of a pastor to his people. The thesis seems to be, pastors must comfort, instruct, and edify their people.

Rutherford develops this theme by simple narration. He also uses explanations and analytsis to present his various truths in various letters.

For example in letter four, he is writing to a parishioner whose infant daughter had died. He paints a tremendous picture of where a believer's affections should really be by writing:

"Build your nest upon no tree here; for ye see God hath sold the forest to death; and every tree whereupon we would rest is ready to be cut down, to the end we may fly and mount up, and build upon the Rock, and dwell in the holes of the Rock."

This book was extremely interesting and inspiring. It is an extremely valuable tool in Christian growth.

Samuel Rutherford was a Scottish pastor and theologian. He was a professor at Edinburgh College in Scotland. He was an author having published a book defending the Doctrines of Grace and his book Le Rex (The Law and the King) caused him to be charged with treason. He died before he could respond to a governmental summons.

My general conclusions is that is an extremely valuable addition to any believer's "library." This book will have a major impact on those who truly drink deep from the well of grace which each letter is bathed with.