A couple years ago I started writing a series of Sunday posts about various Puritan authors. I thought I would bring that back. But instead of dedicating each post to a different author, I’d rather share quotes and reflections from the Puritan authors I’m currently reading.

I shared a post a little while ago that included a quote from Samuel Rutherford. Since last summer, I have been making it a habit to read from his Letters on Sunday mornings before church. Very quickly I realized how quotable he is and found myself agreeing with Charles Spurgeon who held that the Letters were as near to being inspired as anything written by a mere man.

Rutherford was a minister in 17th century Scotland during a very tumultuous time. His letters show a deep love for his flock, a passion for the beauty and worth of Christ and an understanding of suffering that few in the 21st century West can relate to. Here is something I read this morning concerning the love of Christ.

Alas! I can speak nothing of it, but wonder at three things in His love: – First, freedom. O that lumps of sin should get such love for nothing! Secondly, the sweetness of his love. I give over either to speak or write of it; but those who feel it, may better bear witness what it is. But it is so sweet, that, next to Christ Himself, nothing can match it. Nay, I think that a soul could live eternally blessed only on Christ’s love, and feed upon no other thing. Yea, when Christ in love giveth a blow, it doeth a soul good; and it is a kind of comfort and joy to it to get a cuff with the lovely, sweet, and soft hand of Jesus. And, thirdly, what power and strength are in His love! I am persuaded it can climb a steep hill, with hell upon its back; and swim through water and not drown; and sing in the fire, and find no pain; and triumph in losses, prisons, sorrows, exile, disgrace, and laugh and rejoice in death.

Are you as challenged as I am reading through that? If only I knew the love of Christ like this. But I’m afraid my spiritual appetite is too weak and willing to settle for a bite here and there instead of sitting down to the banquet feast that he offers. May we, like Rutherford, learn like the psalmist to feast on the abundance of God’s house, slaking our thirst from the river of his delights (Psalm 36:8).