Samuel Rutherfoord

“ The people o God, according to the laudable custom of other ancient Churches, the Protestants in France and Holland, and the renowned princes of Germany, did carry on the work, in an innocent self-defensive war, which the Lord did abundantly bless. When our land and church were thus contending for that begun Reformation, these in authority did still oppose the work: And there were not wanting, men from among ourselves, men of prelatical spirits, who, with some other time-serving courtiers, did not a little undermine the building. ”

“ The lordly spiritual government in and over the church, is given into Christ, and none else; he is the sole ecclesiastic lawgiver. It is proper to him to smite with the rod of his mouth; nor is there any other shoulder, in heaven or in earth, that is able to bear the government. As this hath been the great controversy betwixt our Lord Jesus and the powers of the world from the beginning ”

“ I had rather be in Scotland beside angry Jesus Christ, (knowing he mindeth no evil to us) than in any Eden or garden on the earth. From which it is evident, that he chose rather to susser affliction in his native country, than to leave his charge and flock in time of danger. ”

“ And in the National Covenant, divers times sworn by the King Majesty, the state and church of Scotland, and sea ed by the testimony and subscriptions of the Noble Barons, Gentlemen, Citizens, Ministers and Professors of all ranks: as also in the Solemn League and Covenant, in the three kingdoms of Scotland England, and Ireland. And I do judge, and in my conscience believe, that no power on earth can absolve and liberate the people of God from the bond and sacred ties of the oath of God. ”

“ Whom the Lord of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance.'
⁠The Church of Scotland had once as much of the presence of Christ, as to the power and purity of Doctrine, Worship, Discipline, and Government, as many we read of, since the Lord took his ancient people to be his covenanted Church. The Lord stirred up our nobles to attempt a reformation in the last age, through many difficulties, an against much opposition, from those in supreme authority: He made bare his holy arm ”

“ I am persuaded, that Asa acted warrantably, in making a law that the people should stand to the covenant, and in receiving into the covenant such as were not his kingdom, 2 Chron. xv. 6, 10. As did also Hezekiah, in sending a proclamation through all the tribes, from Dan to Beersheba, that they should come and keep the passover unto the Lord at Jerusalem, 2 Chron. xxx. 6, 7. though their own principles did not come along with them: Yea, and it is nature's law, warranted by the word, That nations should encourage, and stir up on another, to seek the true God. ”

“ For me, I have got the victory, and Christ is holding out both him arms to embrace me.' At another time, to some friends present, he said, 'At the beginning of my sufferings, I had mine own fears, like other sinse men, lest I should faint, and not be carried creditably through, and I laid this before the Lord, and as sure as ever he spoke to me in his word, as sure as his Spirit witnesseth to my heart, he hath accepted my sufferings. ”

“ We are not for an army of Saints, and free of all mixture of ill affected men: But it seems an high prevarication for churchmen to counsel and teach, That the weight and trust of the affairs of Christ, and his kingdom, should be laid upon the whole party of such as, have been enemies to our cause ”

“ THOUGH the Lord needeth not a Testimony from such a wretched man as I, and if all the world should be silent, the very stones would cry, it is more than debt, that I should confess Christ, before men and angels. It would satisfy me not a little, that the throne of the Lord Jesus were excited above the clouds, the Heaven of heavens, and on both sides of the sun ; and that all possible praise and glory were ascribed to him. That, by his grace, I might put my seal, such as it is, unto that song, even the new song of these, who with a loud voice sing, Rev. ”

“ Rutherfoord, who may justly be accounted among the sufferers of that time; for surely he was a martyr both in his own design and resolution, and for the design and determination of men. Few men ever ran so long a race without cessation, so constantly, so unweariedly, and so unblameably. ”

“ Since we are very shortly to appear before our dreadful Master and Sovereign, we cannot pass from our protestation, trusting we are therein accepted of him; though we should ly under the imputation of dividing spirits, and unpeaceable men. ”

“ You may think it an easy thing in me, a dying man, that am now going out of the reach of all that men can do; but He, before whom I stand, knows, that I dare advise no colleague or brother to do what I would not cordially do myself, upon all hazard; and as for the causes of God's wrath, that men have now condemned, tell Mr. ”

“ We are not, in this particular, contending that a prince, who is not a convert or a found believer, falls from his royal dominion; the scriptures of God warrant us to pray for and obey in the Lord, princes and supreme magistrates, that are otherwise wicked; and to render all due obedience to them, Rom. xii. 2, 5. 2 Tim. ii. 12. I Pet. ii. 18. Our souls should. be afflicted before the Lord, for the burning of the causes of God's wrath. ”

“ He was before that venerable assembly held at Glasgow in 1638, and gave an account of all these his former proceedings with respect to his confinement, and the causes thereof. By them he was appointed to be professor of divinity at St. Andrews, and colleague in the ministry with worthy Mr. ”