Samuel Rutherford

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1884 edition. Excerpt: ... . CHAPTER I. TE VIOTDALE.--EARL Y DA YS. FEW persons will deny that Samuel Rutherford's name is pre-eminently one of those which are "worth remembering." It lives not only in local traditions, but in the civil and ecclesiastical history of his country at one of its most eventful periods; it shines in Scotland's list of great preachers, apostolic pastors, and good confessors, and is treasured among the rich stores of our religious literature. It is embalmed in our Christian biography. No Pope's decree was needed for his canonization; the Christian heart of many a land has long since done this. "They crowned him long ago." In some of our remotest colonies, where Scottish households sprung from old Puritan roots abound, it is no infrequent practice to designate one of then sons by his saintly name. Half a century after his death, the famous Halyburton left it behind him as his dying wish, that his dust might be buried beside that of Rutherford, there to wait till the resurrection's dawn. And down through more than two centuries, the thoughts of good men, as his image has risen before them, have done with him what. the old Masters did with their portraits of the early saints, as they looked from their canvas "with their calm, sweet faces," when they surrounded them with an aureola of holy light. His life has, of course, been frequently written, and sometimes well written, but it is needful that the story should at times be re-told, were it for no other ends than anew to enforce its lessons, and to restore freshness to its colours. Some time in the year 1600, Samuel Rutherford was born in the parish of Nisbet, afterwards annexed to Crailing, in the district of Teviotdale, and county of Roxburgh, about four miles from the beautiful border town...