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The Loveliness of Christ: Selections from the Letters of Samuel Rutherford
Like so many saints before him, Samuel Rutherford did his best work while he was imprisoned for the gospel. While in exile from his hometown, he wrote hundreds of letters to his friends and members of his congregation. These letters were treasured up and printed several years after his death in 1661. From this, “the most remarkable series of devotional letters that the literature of the Reformed churches can show,” Christians of all walks have drawn strength. The Loveliness of Christ is a collection of short excerpts from these letters “in which some of Rutherford s most helpful thoughts are allowed to stand out in their unadorned wisdom and power. Those familiar with Andrew Bonar s great nineteenth-century collection of the Letters of Samuel Rutherford will feel that this setting of brief quotations makes Rutherford’s words sparkle like diamonds on a dark cloth in a jeweller’s shop. [We hope that you], in meditating on these pages, will find here help, comfort, wise counsel, and spiritual compass, and to say with Rutherford, ‘Every day we may see some new thing in Christ. His love hath neither brim nor bottom’” (Sinclair Ferguson, foreword to previous edition).
116 pages, Paperback
First published October 28, 1990
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About the author
Samuel Rutherford
172 books77 followersSamuel Rutherford, Scottish minister and covenanter Rutherford was born about the year 1600 near Nisbet, Scotland. Little is known of his early life. In 1627 he earned a M.A. from Edinburgh College, where he was appointed Professor of Humanity. He became minister of the church in Anwoth in 1627. It was a rural parish, and the people were scattered in farms over the hills.
His first years in Anwoth, though, were touched with sadness. His wife was ill for a year and a month, before she died in their new home. Two children also died during this period.
In 1636 Rutherford published a book defending the doctrines of grace (Calvinism) against Armininism. This put him in conflict with the Church authorities, which were dominated by the English Episcopacy. He was called before the High Court, deprived of his ministerial office, and exiled to Aberdeen. This exile was a sore trial for the beloved pastor. He felt that being separated from his congregation was unbearable. However, because of his exile, we now have many of the letters he wrote to his flock, and so the evil of his banishment has been turned into a great blessing for the church worldwide.
In 1638 the struggles between Parliament and King in England, and Presbyterianism vs. Episcopacy in Scotland culminated in momentous events for Rutherford. In the confusion of the times, he simply slipped out of Aberdeen and returned to his beloved Anwoth. But it was not for long. The Kirk (Church of Scotland) held a General Assembly that year, restoring full Presbyterianism to the land. In addition, they appointed Rutherford a Professor of Theology of St. Andrews, although he negotiated to be allowed to preach at least once a week.
The Westminster Assembly began their famous meetings in 1643, and Rutherford was one of the five Scottish commissioners invited to attend the proceedings. Although the Scots were not allowed to vote, they had an influence far exceeding their number. Rutherford is thought to have been a major influence on the Shorter Catechism.
During this period in England, Rutherford wrote his best-known work, Lex Rex, or The Law, the King. This book argued for limited government, and limitations on the current idea of the Divine Right of Kings.
When the monarchy was restored in 1660, it was clear that the author of Lex Rex would could expect trouble. When the summons came in 1661, charging him with treason, and demanding his appearance on a certain day, Rutherford refused to go. From his deathbed, he answered, "I must answer my first summons; and before you."
His first years in Anwoth, though, were touched with sadness. His wife was ill for a year and a month, before she died in their new home. Two children also died during this period.
In 1636 Rutherford published a book defending the doctrines of grace (Calvinism) against Armininism. This put him in conflict with the Church authorities, which were dominated by the English Episcopacy. He was called before the High Court, deprived of his ministerial office, and exiled to Aberdeen. This exile was a sore trial for the beloved pastor. He felt that being separated from his congregation was unbearable. However, because of his exile, we now have many of the letters he wrote to his flock, and so the evil of his banishment has been turned into a great blessing for the church worldwide.
In 1638 the struggles between Parliament and King in England, and Presbyterianism vs. Episcopacy in Scotland culminated in momentous events for Rutherford. In the confusion of the times, he simply slipped out of Aberdeen and returned to his beloved Anwoth. But it was not for long. The Kirk (Church of Scotland) held a General Assembly that year, restoring full Presbyterianism to the land. In addition, they appointed Rutherford a Professor of Theology of St. Andrews, although he negotiated to be allowed to preach at least once a week.
The Westminster Assembly began their famous meetings in 1643, and Rutherford was one of the five Scottish commissioners invited to attend the proceedings. Although the Scots were not allowed to vote, they had an influence far exceeding their number. Rutherford is thought to have been a major influence on the Shorter Catechism.
During this period in England, Rutherford wrote his best-known work, Lex Rex, or The Law, the King. This book argued for limited government, and limitations on the current idea of the Divine Right of Kings.
When the monarchy was restored in 1660, it was clear that the author of Lex Rex would could expect trouble. When the summons came in 1661, charging him with treason, and demanding his appearance on a certain day, Rutherford refused to go. From his deathbed, he answered, "I must answer my first summons; and before you."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 138 reviews
June 30, 2019
Superb selection from Rutherford's Letters, and this edition is very nicely done.
January 3, 2020
More and more over the years I have come to believe that the true beauty of the gospel is best seen not when life is easy and peaceful, but rather when Christians display joy and contentment in Christ in all circumstances even through suffering and trials.
This little book, made up of excerpts from letters by the great Scottish pastor Samuel Rutherford drives this point home. These gems from Rutherford point the reader to Christ in times of sickness, persecution, and loss of loved ones. This was a wonderful book to read in order to orient the new year in the right direction!
This little book, made up of excerpts from letters by the great Scottish pastor Samuel Rutherford drives this point home. These gems from Rutherford point the reader to Christ in times of sickness, persecution, and loss of loved ones. This was a wonderful book to read in order to orient the new year in the right direction!
August 31, 2017
If you are looking for reading to balance your intake of prosperity theology, this is the book. In these extracts from Rutherford's writings, the theme is often the importance of suffering in the Christian's life.
"Why should I be startled at the plow of my Lord, that maketh deep furrows on my soul? I know He is no idle husbandman; He purposeth a crop."
"Whether God comes to His children with a rod or a crown, if He comes Himself with it, it is well. Welcome, welcome, Jesus."
"He and His cross are two good guests, and worth the lodging."
These, and many other quotes, are worth pondering and savoring. An excellent little book!
"Why should I be startled at the plow of my Lord, that maketh deep furrows on my soul? I know He is no idle husbandman; He purposeth a crop."
"Whether God comes to His children with a rod or a crown, if He comes Himself with it, it is well. Welcome, welcome, Jesus."
"He and His cross are two good guests, and worth the lodging."
These, and many other quotes, are worth pondering and savoring. An excellent little book!
August 27, 2023
Warm, pastoral, and beautiful.
"Lord cut, Lord carve, Lord wound, Lord do anything that may perfect God's image in us and make us ready for glory."
"Duties are ours, events are the Lord's."
Other highlights include the portions on children of saints dying, the section on Christ's ransom for our sins, and lastly, the comfort we have in great suffering.
I'd love to get a physical copy for our home.
"Lord cut, Lord carve, Lord wound, Lord do anything that may perfect God's image in us and make us ready for glory."
"Duties are ours, events are the Lord's."
Other highlights include the portions on children of saints dying, the section on Christ's ransom for our sins, and lastly, the comfort we have in great suffering.
I'd love to get a physical copy for our home.
September 6, 2023
An excellent book ! Had so much wisdom sprinkled throughout the book , found myself making the yummy sounds and saying amen out loud , was very encouraging and uplifting, would definitely recommend!
June 16, 2021
I need to get the print book, and a permanent place on my nightstand.
If this were a music album, it would be "Best of Rutherford." The quotes are deep, but without the context of the entire letter, they sometimes come across as random. Oh, man. Rutherford is so "other", so not-modern. Like my friend said, this is a good antidote to prosperity gospel. His similes are striking. He uses quotidian examples (e.g. plowing, wine cellars, sailing, seasons, eating, drinking) that make his quotes memorable.
SR's words are hard (but Simon Vance - swoon - reads the notes that explain odd Scottish words) both in syntax and in concept. This is like a parent gently but firmly telling a toppled toddler to hop up and shake it off. SR reminds us of Christ and does it without being trite.
I'm still working through his complete letters (32 hours on audio). But I need small bites of them instead of massive draughts.
If this were a music album, it would be "Best of Rutherford." The quotes are deep, but without the context of the entire letter, they sometimes come across as random. Oh, man. Rutherford is so "other", so not-modern. Like my friend said, this is a good antidote to prosperity gospel. His similes are striking. He uses quotidian examples (e.g. plowing, wine cellars, sailing, seasons, eating, drinking) that make his quotes memorable.
SR's words are hard (but Simon Vance - swoon - reads the notes that explain odd Scottish words) both in syntax and in concept. This is like a parent gently but firmly telling a toppled toddler to hop up and shake it off. SR reminds us of Christ and does it without being trite.
I'm still working through his complete letters (32 hours on audio). But I need small bites of them instead of massive draughts.
May 3, 2022
Phenomenal!!! I carried this book around in my back pocket at Disneyland and read it while waiting in line. It was like reading a selection of epic tweets by a Puritan! I loved it! Talk about redeeming the time! I was learning about my great Savior while waiting in line for silly rides! So awesome! Highly recommended
November 10, 2024
Good book for those tough days.
January 4, 2025
Amazing and encouraging little book recommended by my pastor! Highly encourage reading it!
June 12, 2024
I thank God for Samuel Rutherford who lived out what he believed, not only as a "normal Christian", but a man transformed by the immeasurable love of Jesus Christ for him, a miserable, undeserving sinner. There are so many treasures to be found and amazed upon in this short booklet but most importantly, Christ Jesus, who is worthy of all glory. My heart was stirred as I read paragraph after paragraph of excerpts from this man's letters. What love, what joy, what gratefulness to the Father, and complete trust in the Lord! Do I live like that? Do I really love Jesus for who He is? Have I been transformed by the love of God?
"I have a lover, Christ, and yet I want love for Him. I have a lovely and desirable Lord, who is love-worthy, and who beggeth my love and heart, and I have nothing to give Him. Dear brother, come further in on Christ, and see a new treasure in Him: come in, and look down, and see angel’s wonder, and heaven and earth’s wonder of love, sweetness, majesty, and excellency in Him."
"Christ is a well of life, but who knoweth how deep it is to the bottom? This soul of ours hath love, and cannot but love some fair one; and O, what a fair One, what an only One, what an excellent, lovely, ravishing One is Jesus. O, come all and drink at this living well; come, drink, and live for evermore; come, drink, and welcome; welcome, saith our fairest Bridegroom."
I'm definitely reading this over again and again!
"I have a lover, Christ, and yet I want love for Him. I have a lovely and desirable Lord, who is love-worthy, and who beggeth my love and heart, and I have nothing to give Him. Dear brother, come further in on Christ, and see a new treasure in Him: come in, and look down, and see angel’s wonder, and heaven and earth’s wonder of love, sweetness, majesty, and excellency in Him."
"Christ is a well of life, but who knoweth how deep it is to the bottom? This soul of ours hath love, and cannot but love some fair one; and O, what a fair One, what an only One, what an excellent, lovely, ravishing One is Jesus. O, come all and drink at this living well; come, drink, and live for evermore; come, drink, and welcome; welcome, saith our fairest Bridegroom."
I'm definitely reading this over again and again!
December 24, 2025
A worthwhile read every time.
April 25, 2025
Brief meditations on Christ taken from his letters. Worth keeping around.
June 15, 2021
“Lay all your loads and your weights by faith upon Christ. Ease yourself, and let Him bear all. He can, He does, He will bear you.”
Perspective shifting and hope giving.
Perspective shifting and hope giving.
January 11, 2024
I would give this book a hundred stars if I could. Such wisdom, such encouragement, such powerful reminders of the breadth and depth and detail of Christ’s love for you. You cannot read these collected comments of Rutherford without being warmed, challenged, encouraged, and caught up in the beauty of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Read this book. Read it again. Read it often. Get copies to give to friends and to strangers.
Read this book. Read it again. Read it often. Get copies to give to friends and to strangers.
April 10, 2023
Providențială.
May 13, 2013
"I persuade myself if ye could prize Christ, nothing could be bitter to you."
A slim book that packs a powerful punch. Not only were Rutherford's words immensely comforting and strengthening, but reading his expression of a genuine, simple, joyful trust in the Lord spurred me to study Christ and love and praise him more.
A slim book that packs a powerful punch. Not only were Rutherford's words immensely comforting and strengthening, but reading his expression of a genuine, simple, joyful trust in the Lord spurred me to study Christ and love and praise him more.
September 2, 2023
“To live on Christ’s love is a king’s life”
Perfect 5 stars. The Loveliness of Christ, What a perfect title for this small treasury. Beautiful, line after line.
Note to self: buy a physical copy, re-read often.
Perfect 5 stars. The Loveliness of Christ, What a perfect title for this small treasury. Beautiful, line after line.
Note to self: buy a physical copy, re-read often.
December 15, 2025
I loved it for the season I am in; I could open it and be interrupted and have to put it down but still felt like I got to read something rich and helpful! I don’t think it would be as enjoyable if I sat and read a lot at one time… I would want the context for all the quotes 😉🥰. But as a little book to get snippets out of here and there it was just perfect and I think I’ll just keep it by the nursing chair and start it over again.
August 6, 2023
Excellent little book. Short statements of truth for the heart. Reads somewhat like the Proverbs. Very encouraging book.
September 10, 2016
Treasures of quotes in this book,
No pen, no words, no image can express to you the loveliness of my only, only Lord Jesus.
"Let our Lord's sweet hand square us and hammer us, and strike off the knots of pride, self-love and world-worship and infidelity, that he may make us stones and pillars in his Father's house."
No pen, no words, no image can express to you the loveliness of my only, only Lord Jesus.
"Let our Lord's sweet hand square us and hammer us, and strike off the knots of pride, self-love and world-worship and infidelity, that he may make us stones and pillars in his Father's house."
February 27, 2024
Compilation of quotes from letters/sermons to the congregation. Good stuff:
DESIRING CHRIST/CHRIST INEXHAUSTIBLE
“Wants are my best riches, for I have these supplied by Christ.”
“Every day we may see some new thing in Christ. His love hath neither brim nor bottom!”
“I find that our wants qualify us for Christ.”
“Christ is as full a feast as ye can have to hunger.”
“Acquaint yourself with Christ's love, and ye shall not miss to find new goldmines and treasures in Christ.”
To live on Christ’s love is a king's life.”
“When I look over beyond the line and beyond death, to the laughing side of the world, I triumph, and ride upon the high places of Jacob: howbeit, otherways I am a faint, deadhearted, cowardly man, oft borne down and hungry in waiting for the marriage supper of the Lamb. Never-theless, I think it the Lord's wise love that feeds us with hunger, and makes us fat with wants and desertion.”
“If there were ten thousand, thousand millions of worlds, and as many heavens full of men and angels, Christ would not be pinched to supply all our wants, and to fill us all.”
COMMUNION WITH CHRIST:
“There is no sweeter fellowship with Christ than to bring our wounds and our sores to Him.”
“Send A heavy heart up to Christ, it shall be welcome.”
“Find Christ the most steadfast friend and companion in the world to me now: the need and usefulness of Christ is seen best in trials. O, if He be not well worthy of His room! Lodge Him in house and heart.”
“I urge upon you a nearer communion with Christ and a growing communion. There are curtains to be drawn by in Christ that we never saw, and new foldings of love in Him. I despair that ever I shall win to the far end of that love, there are so many plies in it; therefore dig deep, and sweat, and labour, and take pains for Him, and set by so much time in the day for Him as you can: He will be won with labour.”
JEALOUSY OF CHRIST’S LOVE
“Let Christ’s love bear most court in your soul, and that court will bear down the love of other things.”
“See Christ’s love is so kingly that it will not abide a marrow? it must have a throne all alone in the soul”
“It is our folly to divide our narrow and little love. It will not serve two; best then hold it whole and together, and give it to Christ! for then, we get double interest for our love, when we lend it to and lay it out upon Christ; and we are sure besides that the stock cannot perish”.
“I am most gladly content that Christ breaketh all my idols in pieces: it hath put a new edge upon my blunted love to Christ. I see He is jealous of my love, and will have all to Himself.”
OTHER:
“Find crosses Christ carved work that He marketh out for us, and that with crosses He figureth and portrayeth us to His own image, cutting away pieces of our ill and corruption. Lord cut, Lord carve, Lord wound, Lord do anything that may perfect Thy Father's image in us, and make us meet for glory!”
“It is Impossible to be submissive and religiously patient, if ye stay your thoughts down among the confused rollings and wheels of second causes, as O, the place! O, the time! O, if this had been, this had not followed! O, the linking of this accident with this time and place! Look up to the master motion and the first wheel”.
“Your rock doth not ebb and flow, but your sea.”
“I wonder many times that ever a child of God should have a sad heart, considering what their Lord is preparing for them.”
“Glorify the Lord is your sufferings, and take His banner of love, and spread it over you. Others will follow you, if they see you strong in the Lord; their courage shall take life from your Christian carriage.”
“None have the right to joy but we, for joy is sown for us, and an ill summer or harvest will not spill the crop.”
“My dear brother, let God make of you what He will, He will end all with consolation, and shall make glory out of your sufferings; and would ye wish better work?”
“But it is neither shame nor pride for a drowning man to swim to a rock, nor for a ship-broken soul to run himself ashore upon Christ.”
DESIRING CHRIST/CHRIST INEXHAUSTIBLE
“Wants are my best riches, for I have these supplied by Christ.”
“Every day we may see some new thing in Christ. His love hath neither brim nor bottom!”
“I find that our wants qualify us for Christ.”
“Christ is as full a feast as ye can have to hunger.”
“Acquaint yourself with Christ's love, and ye shall not miss to find new goldmines and treasures in Christ.”
To live on Christ’s love is a king's life.”
“When I look over beyond the line and beyond death, to the laughing side of the world, I triumph, and ride upon the high places of Jacob: howbeit, otherways I am a faint, deadhearted, cowardly man, oft borne down and hungry in waiting for the marriage supper of the Lamb. Never-theless, I think it the Lord's wise love that feeds us with hunger, and makes us fat with wants and desertion.”
“If there were ten thousand, thousand millions of worlds, and as many heavens full of men and angels, Christ would not be pinched to supply all our wants, and to fill us all.”
COMMUNION WITH CHRIST:
“There is no sweeter fellowship with Christ than to bring our wounds and our sores to Him.”
“Send A heavy heart up to Christ, it shall be welcome.”
“Find Christ the most steadfast friend and companion in the world to me now: the need and usefulness of Christ is seen best in trials. O, if He be not well worthy of His room! Lodge Him in house and heart.”
“I urge upon you a nearer communion with Christ and a growing communion. There are curtains to be drawn by in Christ that we never saw, and new foldings of love in Him. I despair that ever I shall win to the far end of that love, there are so many plies in it; therefore dig deep, and sweat, and labour, and take pains for Him, and set by so much time in the day for Him as you can: He will be won with labour.”
JEALOUSY OF CHRIST’S LOVE
“Let Christ’s love bear most court in your soul, and that court will bear down the love of other things.”
“See Christ’s love is so kingly that it will not abide a marrow? it must have a throne all alone in the soul”
“It is our folly to divide our narrow and little love. It will not serve two; best then hold it whole and together, and give it to Christ! for then, we get double interest for our love, when we lend it to and lay it out upon Christ; and we are sure besides that the stock cannot perish”.
“I am most gladly content that Christ breaketh all my idols in pieces: it hath put a new edge upon my blunted love to Christ. I see He is jealous of my love, and will have all to Himself.”
OTHER:
“Find crosses Christ carved work that He marketh out for us, and that with crosses He figureth and portrayeth us to His own image, cutting away pieces of our ill and corruption. Lord cut, Lord carve, Lord wound, Lord do anything that may perfect Thy Father's image in us, and make us meet for glory!”
“It is Impossible to be submissive and religiously patient, if ye stay your thoughts down among the confused rollings and wheels of second causes, as O, the place! O, the time! O, if this had been, this had not followed! O, the linking of this accident with this time and place! Look up to the master motion and the first wheel”.
“Your rock doth not ebb and flow, but your sea.”
“I wonder many times that ever a child of God should have a sad heart, considering what their Lord is preparing for them.”
“Glorify the Lord is your sufferings, and take His banner of love, and spread it over you. Others will follow you, if they see you strong in the Lord; their courage shall take life from your Christian carriage.”
“None have the right to joy but we, for joy is sown for us, and an ill summer or harvest will not spill the crop.”
“My dear brother, let God make of you what He will, He will end all with consolation, and shall make glory out of your sufferings; and would ye wish better work?”
“But it is neither shame nor pride for a drowning man to swim to a rock, nor for a ship-broken soul to run himself ashore upon Christ.”
January 5, 2025
A much needed balm to my soul. Some favs:
“He delighteth to take up fallen bairns and to mend broken brows: binding up of wounds is his office.”
“I see grace groweth best in winter.”
“If contentment were here, heaven were not heaven.”
“All saints have their own measure of winter before their eternal summer. O! for the long day, and the high sun, and the fair garden, and the King’s great city up above these visible heavens! What God layeth on, let us suffer, for some have one cross, some seven, some ten, some half a cross ~ yet all the saints have whole and full joy, and seven crosses have seven joys.”
“Our pride must have winter weather to rot it.”
“He cutteth off your love to the creature, that ye might learn that God only is the right owner of your love, sorrow, loss, sadness, death, or the worst things that are, except sin: but Christ knoweth well what to make of them, and can put His own in the crosses common, that we shall be obliged to affliction, and thank God, who learned us to make our acquaintance with such a rough companion, who can hale us to Christ.”
“My dear brother, let God make of you what He will, Hd will end all with consolation, and shall make glory out of your sufferings; and would ye wish better work?”
“Be humbled, walk softly; down with your topsail. Stoop, stoop! it is a low entry to go in at heavens gates.”
“Dry wells send us to the fountain.”
“He delighteth to take up fallen bairns and to mend broken brows: binding up of wounds is his office.”
“I see grace groweth best in winter.”
“If contentment were here, heaven were not heaven.”
“All saints have their own measure of winter before their eternal summer. O! for the long day, and the high sun, and the fair garden, and the King’s great city up above these visible heavens! What God layeth on, let us suffer, for some have one cross, some seven, some ten, some half a cross ~ yet all the saints have whole and full joy, and seven crosses have seven joys.”
“Our pride must have winter weather to rot it.”
“He cutteth off your love to the creature, that ye might learn that God only is the right owner of your love, sorrow, loss, sadness, death, or the worst things that are, except sin: but Christ knoweth well what to make of them, and can put His own in the crosses common, that we shall be obliged to affliction, and thank God, who learned us to make our acquaintance with such a rough companion, who can hale us to Christ.”
“My dear brother, let God make of you what He will, Hd will end all with consolation, and shall make glory out of your sufferings; and would ye wish better work?”
“Be humbled, walk softly; down with your topsail. Stoop, stoop! it is a low entry to go in at heavens gates.”
“Dry wells send us to the fountain.”
May 1, 2022
This book contains great selections from Rutherford’s letters. So it looks like so many great quotes from him, I actually enjoy it. Pastors and ministers will be very blessed by his pastoral writings.
Why bother reading a dead man’s letters at all?
Let me quote him so you can answer it yourself,
“Glorify the Lord in your sufferings, and take His banner of love, and spread it over you. Others will follow you, if they see you strong in the Lord; their courage shall take life from your christian carriage.”
“God knoweth that ye are His own. Wrestle, fight, go forward, watch, fear, believe, pray; and then ye have all the infallible symptoms of one of the elect of Christ within you.”
“I am most gladly content that Christ breaketh all my idols in pieces; it hath put a new edge upon my blunted love to Christ. I see He is jealous of my love, and will have all to Himself.”
“His cross is the sweetest burden that ever I bare; it is such a burden as wings are to a bird, or sails to a ship, to carry me forward to my harbour.”
Lastly,
“If Christ Jesus be the period, the end and lodging-home, at the end of your journey, there is no fear, ye go to a friend … ye may look death in the face with joy.”
Why bother reading a dead man’s letters at all?
Let me quote him so you can answer it yourself,
“Glorify the Lord in your sufferings, and take His banner of love, and spread it over you. Others will follow you, if they see you strong in the Lord; their courage shall take life from your christian carriage.”
“God knoweth that ye are His own. Wrestle, fight, go forward, watch, fear, believe, pray; and then ye have all the infallible symptoms of one of the elect of Christ within you.”
“I am most gladly content that Christ breaketh all my idols in pieces; it hath put a new edge upon my blunted love to Christ. I see He is jealous of my love, and will have all to Himself.”
“His cross is the sweetest burden that ever I bare; it is such a burden as wings are to a bird, or sails to a ship, to carry me forward to my harbour.”
Lastly,
“If Christ Jesus be the period, the end and lodging-home, at the end of your journey, there is no fear, ye go to a friend … ye may look death in the face with joy.”
September 3, 2022
“Ye have only these two shallow brooks, sickness and death, to pass through; and ye have also a promise that Christ shall do more than meet you, even that he shall come Himself, and go with you, foot for foot, yea and bear you in His arms.”
This sweet, short little book is filled to the brim with a tenderness towards Jesus that we need more of. Rutherford has an incredible affectionate heart towards his Savior, and this short little book invites us into this kindness.
This isn’t what I expected. There’s no theological treatise or doctrinal statements. It’s simply a man imploring you to savor Christ, and making beautiful arguments for how lovely Christ is.
Great devotional read. Flies by quickly. So incredibly quotable.
This sweet, short little book is filled to the brim with a tenderness towards Jesus that we need more of. Rutherford has an incredible affectionate heart towards his Savior, and this short little book invites us into this kindness.
This isn’t what I expected. There’s no theological treatise or doctrinal statements. It’s simply a man imploring you to savor Christ, and making beautiful arguments for how lovely Christ is.
Great devotional read. Flies by quickly. So incredibly quotable.
February 25, 2024
A rare five stars.
This is a tiny book, with just short quotes of Rutherford's letters, which can be found more completely at Banner of Truth.
I read them devotionally, 2 pages a day.
The older English is a bit hard to follow at times, but footnotes explain when needed.
Most of these quotes relate to affliction and trouble - I haven't studied Rutherford's history, but am quite sure he had a keen pastoral sense to respond to write to those suffering troubles with the "balm of Gilead."
You won't see this much on social media, but many of Christ's people are hurting, and in need of not just encouragement but also an understanding from God's view of what is happening to them. This little booklet delivers in spades.
Highly recommended.
This is a tiny book, with just short quotes of Rutherford's letters, which can be found more completely at Banner of Truth.
I read them devotionally, 2 pages a day.
The older English is a bit hard to follow at times, but footnotes explain when needed.
Most of these quotes relate to affliction and trouble - I haven't studied Rutherford's history, but am quite sure he had a keen pastoral sense to respond to write to those suffering troubles with the "balm of Gilead."
You won't see this much on social media, but many of Christ's people are hurting, and in need of not just encouragement but also an understanding from God's view of what is happening to them. This little booklet delivers in spades.
Highly recommended.
June 23, 2021
Picked this up in an effort to read more books from the past. It is basically excepts from Rutherford’s writings and personal letters. Mostly 1 sentence to 1 paragraph long. They are thoughtful and valuable nuggets. Here are a couple:
His well done is worth a shipfull of good days and early honors.
If Christ Jesus be the period, the end and longing home, at the end of your journey, there is no fear, ye go to a friend... ye may look death in the face with joy.
I bless the Lord, that all our troubles come through Christ’s fingers.
Nevertheless, I think it is the Lord’s wise love feeds us with hunger, and makes us fat with wants and desertion.
His well done is worth a shipfull of good days and early honors.
If Christ Jesus be the period, the end and longing home, at the end of your journey, there is no fear, ye go to a friend... ye may look death in the face with joy.
I bless the Lord, that all our troubles come through Christ’s fingers.
Nevertheless, I think it is the Lord’s wise love feeds us with hunger, and makes us fat with wants and desertion.
September 12, 2024
Very rich quotes. I didn't realize this was more of a compilation of quotes. I listened to it on audiobook and definitely recommend getting it in print instead. Each quote needed to be lingered on, meditated on but on audiobook it was right on to the next idea and hard to contemplate. So my rating is more for the format than the content. The content was rich and I would love to revisit in book format.
February 22, 2025
Enlightening. Devotional. Lovely.
It is said often that the luster and glory of Christ shines forth preeminently when saints are in seasons of struggle and persecution. This is a great example and a great selection from the letters of Samuel Rutherford.
"No pen, no words, no image can express to you the loveliness of my only, only Lord Jesus."
It is said often that the luster and glory of Christ shines forth preeminently when saints are in seasons of struggle and persecution. This is a great example and a great selection from the letters of Samuel Rutherford.
"No pen, no words, no image can express to you the loveliness of my only, only Lord Jesus."
June 3, 2025
“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, The Loveliness of Christ
July 13, 2025
5 stars for Rutherford, 4 stars for the format. I think it was a bit hard to follow the quotes as an audiobook. The few letters that are read in whole were easier to follow.
Rutherford is clearly a man who was truly in love with Christ and he is such an encouragement to the believer who is suffering. I look forward to reading more from him!
Rutherford is clearly a man who was truly in love with Christ and he is such an encouragement to the believer who is suffering. I look forward to reading more from him!
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