Rutherford’s letters, and there were over 360 of them, have been described in glowing terms by readers who have benefitted from them over this span of time. When they were first written they were for the personal reading by the recipients, but in many ways they are timeless and open for all. The popular book containing his letters has been reprinted many times up to the present day. Many people have spoken highly of Rutherford’s letters and the spiritual benefit and knowledge that they have received from them.
Although Samuel Rutherford died 350 years ago and not many will have heard of him outside Scotland, they may know about his letters for which he was famous. However, as we shall soon see, Samuel Rutherford had a much larger contribution to make to the Christian cause, particularly to his native Scotland but also to the whole country and the world at large.
Well, Faith Cook in her book “Samuel Rutherford and his friends”, says “Over 350 years have passed since the small fair-haired pastor of Anwoth took up his pen, and in his scarcely legible hand began to write letters to the scattered members of his congregation and to his friends. And yet the letters still live on, flowing straight from his own deep experience of the Son of God. Rutherford’s words moved, challenged and consoled the hearts of those to whom he wrote. They were read and re-read then carefully treasured up and at last in 1664, three years after his death, were gathered up together and published for the first time.” There were 365 of them.
Humble Beginnings
Samuel Rutherford was born in 1600 in the parish of Nisbet in the county of Roxburgh about 4 miles from the town of Jedburgh which is just inside the boundary of Scotland in what is now called the Borders Region of Scotland.
Not a great deal is known of his early years, his father was a respectable farmer, and Samuel had 2 brothers, George and James. They were all sent to a school in nearby Jedburgh abbey. When Samuel was about 4 he had a very dramatic experience. When he was playing with friends on the village green, he fell into the village well. His friends ran to get help and when they arrived they found a very wet Samuel sitting on the grass. When they asked how he got out, he just said – “A bonny white man came and drew me out of the well” – No one was ever to find out who this bonny white man was, but by God’s providence Samuel’s life was spared.
Samuel Rutherford – Scholar
He appears to have done well at school, and in 1617 he went to the University of Edinburgh, where he studied classics, philosophy and physics for 4 years. He graduated with a Master of Arts Degree, and 2 years later in 1623 he was appointed the Professor of Latin language and Literature at the University, and was called the Regent of Humanities. His primary duties included teaching Latin and Greek and lecturing on Roman literature.
As is so often the case when reading biographies by different authors concerning men like Samuel Rutherford, it is very unclear as to when he became a Christian. Some say it was in 1624, but Andrew Bonar suggests that it was not until 1626. It is clear though that he suddenly came to a clear and saving faith in Christ. He said – “O but Christ hath a saving eye. When He first looked on me I was saved, It cost Him but a look to make hell quit to me”.
After Samuel Rutherford began his university teaching he married Eupham Hamilton. Soon however a scandal arose in connection with this marriage and it is very unclear from the biographers who have studied the University records what exactly transpired. It is thought that some in the University and Church hierarchy in Edinburgh did not like what he was saying and his power of influence in the University. They used his marriage to Eupham and the scandalous reports to get rid of Samuel. Whatever the facts were, Rutherford resigned his professorship under a cloud.
Whether this disturbed his conscience or not, it is clear that for the rest of his life, he remembered with regret and repentance the sins of his younger years. He was to write – “The old ashes of the sins of my youth are a new fire of sorrow to me”.
Samuel was, as we have already seen a great thinker and during his final years teaching at the University, he also studied theology and prepared for the ministry.
And So to Anwoth
When Rutherford completed his theological studies in 1627 he responded to an invitation from Sir John Gordon of Lochinvar to come to pastor the church in the parish of Anwoth in Galloway and Rutherford was to be its first pastor.
As Rutherford commenced the pastorate that was to last 9 years he said, “I have received the commission from the royal and princely Master my Lord Jesus to preach Christ to the people”. His was the passionate desire of the true pastor for his people’s conversion and his records say that he seemed to be always praying, always preaching, always visiting the sick, always catechising, always writing or studying. As Faith Cook says in her book “when he walked it was observed that he held his face upwards” – what a wonderful description of a pastor.
He was greatly concerned for the responsibility he had been given for his flock at Anwoth.The congregation was a widely scattered one and Rutherford must have spent hours trudging along upland tracks to visit his people in their isolated farms and cottages.
It is very evident from looking at some of his letters (many of which were written to his congregation) that he had gained an intimate knowledge of the family circumstances and spiritual needs of those for whom he had a responsibility.
Many of his letters and sermons were rich in references to rural life, and these long walks he used to take must have given him much of the graphic imagery that he drew from the world of nature.
During those early days at Anwoth, Samuel Rutherford found that the work of the reformation in the previous century had left its mark. John Welsh, John Knox’s son-in-law had been the minister in Kirkcudbright 25 years earlier, this was just down the road, and there were still other faithful ministers then, scattered here and there over Galloway and Ayrshire who were in agreement with Rutherford in his theological and ecclesiastical principles, and he held up high the banner of the reformation.
Samuel Rutherford – His Character & Devotion
Rutherford’s letters show that he was a very thoughtful man. It has been observed that during this period of his life, tenderness was one of his most characteristic qualities. He was also powerful in his handling of practical subjects and denouncing the prevalent vices of the day. In his preaching he had a power to arrest and captivates the people’s attention.
Rutherford spent a lot of time in his personal devotions with his God, he used to get up every morning at 3am for Bible reading, meditation and prayer. He had a special hallowed spot midway between the manse and the church among the trees, which was caIled Rutherford’s Walk, where he used to go for prolonged devout thought and prayer.
After a while attendance at the Church grew. From many parishes, far remote to Anwoth and without a faithful ministry, multitudes flocked to hear Rutherford, hungering for the teaching of heavenly truth.
A very intriguing incident is recorded by all the writers on Samuel Rutherford, this was a visit from an Archbishop. The actual date is uncertain but seems to have been early on in his ministry at Anwoth, when Archbishop Usher was on his way from England to his diocese in Armagh. Passing by Anwoth on the road to Portpatrick and the boat to Ireland one Saturday afternoon, he was anxious to hear the preaching of Rutherford, whose fame had obviously spread far. The Archbishop assumed the disguise of a wayfaring man and turned up at the manse asking for a lodging for the night.
As good pastors are not to be forgetful to entertain strangers, he was received readily. It was the practice of Mrs Rutherford while her husband was preparing for the coming Lords Day to gather together her servants and the strangers within her house for catechizing, and on this occasion the stranger in lowly garb joined the little group. To test the knowledge of the wayfarer she asked him how many commandments there were to which he answered 11. Later in the evening she told her husband about the wayfarer and the answer given with her fears that the stranger was not well instructed in religion.
When Rutherford got up early at 3 in the morning for his private devotions in his usual place, he was astonished to find that someone had got there before him, and even more surprised to discover that it was the stranger deep in prayer.
After a time of prayer Rutherford accosted him and told him that he didn’t think he was who he seemed to be. Usher then revealed who he was and they spent the next few hours talking about their religious experiences, remarkable as it was Usher was not averse to conform to the simple form of Presbyterian worship. Rutherford asked him to preach that morning at the church at Anwoth, whereupon he preached on the text “A new commandment I give unto you that you love one another”. Furthermore the Archbishop decided to delay his journey for another day, so that he could spend more time in spiritual conversation with Rutherford.
Samuel Rutherford was to experience many personal trials during his days at Anwoth, both his children died in infancy, and in 1630 his young wife Eupham died after suffering for 13 months from a distressing and lingering disease.
One of his most faithful friends at Anwoth was a lady called Marion M’Naught, she was to become one of his principle correspondents, of whom he wrote – “Blessed be the Lord, that in God’s mercy I found in this country such a woman to whom Jesus is dearer than her own heart “. The earliest letter to survive from Rutherford’s pen was written to her. She was married to the Provost of Kirkudbright, and it is clear from the writings that at all opportunities she would be found listening under his ministry.
When Rutherford’s wife Eupham was dying she sent her daughter Grizzell to look after them, and after she died Rutherford was himself ill and for 3 months was unable to preach. Again Marion M’Naught despatched her daughter to look after him until he was fit and well.
Troubles – From Anwoth to Exile
Samuel Rutherford was living in troubled days for the true Church of Jesus Christ. The Reformation in the previous century under such men as Knox had restored the Word of God to its rightful pre-eminence, and the un-Biblical church practices had been replaced by Biblical ones.
It was not therefore very surprising that Rutherford’s ministry following, as it did the same biblical mould as Knox, was closely watched by those bishops and clergy anxious to bring the Church back to pre-reformation forms. The influence of a man of Rutherford’s ability could not be confined to a quiet country parish in deepest Galoway, He was in close touch with other prominent reformed church leaders in Edinburgh and throughout Scotland who were opposed to the introduction of changes in the manner of worship that were the mere traditions of men. He had joined with them in their public outcry against these evils and condemned the divergence from the true doctrine of the Reformed Church.
To this end he wrote a book in Latin in 1634, the title of which was “Exercitationes Apologeticae pro Divine Gratia” this exposed with devastating clarity the errors of Arminianism and Archbishop Laud the Archbishop of Canterbury.
These bishops now had great power over what could and couldn’t be preached, and they were able to institute a High Commission Court composed of the Bishop and a few like minded clergymen whom he had the exclusive right to nominate. As this court had the power to imprison or otherwise punish all within their jurisdiction who resisted their authority, it is easy to see how terrible oppression to the true gospel was looming fast.