Page:Spiritual exercise of soul, and blessed departure of Dame Mary Rutherford Lady Hundaly, and Mary M'Konnel, cousin to the said lady; which fell out in the year 1640; both died in London.pdf/12

 perfection; but to seek it in your self, and if ye get it not, to be cast down, beware of that: Ye have had some kind of Longing to come home again, when ye have been like a wandring Sheep, bleeting to be at the Sheepfold: Now Christ says, I came to seek and save that which is last: He will bring you home on his own Shoulders, and will rejoyce in you more nor in others that were not lost, Luke xv. 4. 5. 7. Assure your self that the Promises made to backsliding Israel belong to you: Find ye an aking and relenting of Heart for your Appostacy? Are ye longing to come back to God? Are ye willing to crave Pardon for your former Declinings; then assure your self ye did not wholly fall away: For Christ's Light is a constant Light, it never wholly goes out where it is once kindled: It is true, it may have its own Ebbings and Flowings; but when it decline it will come to again: Tho' it seem dead, yet there is a little Kindling in it, which the Spirit of God will soon blow up again. Seeing then the Lord is seeking and calling you home again, beware to fit his Call: For he will make you answer, and give an Account for your Refusal. Next, to that your so terrible Objection of Backsliding, let the Prophet Jeremiah's Answer satisfy you: For, to Israel that had played the Harlot with many Lovers, Jer.iii. 1. The Lord says, 12. Ver. Return, O backsliding Israel, and I will cause mine Anger to fall on you; for I am merciful, faith the Lord, I will not keep Anger for ever. Ver. 14. ''Turn, &c. I am married to you''. So whatever hath been your Apostacy, acknowledge it and return, here is a Promise of Acceptance.

At another Time, I coming to her, after some Grones she was observed to have in her Sleep, she said; I have been troubled and mastered by my Corruptions this Night.

Said I, Complain to Jesus your Captain-general: Tell him that ye cannot be quit of your Corruptions and Satan's Temptations; and he will hold up his Banner, which will be a Scar-crow to terrify your Soul's Enemy.

Said she, How can I ever look Christ in the Face,