Aberdeen Prison
24th Xber, 1676.
Dear Friend,
Thy letter in answer to mine of the 6th of September came yesternight to my hand and was very
acceptable unto me in my present bonds, my fervent desires always remain for thee to hear that
thou continueth under a sense of thy present condition, and seeth the need thou has to partake of
the Spiritual riches of Christ's Kingdom which are more desirable than all the world, this is good
in its place but thou must not satisfy thyself to abide here, but must apply thyself to that divine
grace and light that hath shewn thee thy poverty in which there is power to make thee rich, if thou
can receive and suffer it to dwell richly in thee, I confess that so needful inward silence is hard to
the natural mind especially to those who have enriched their spirits with great variety of notions
and have laboured to deck themselves with the wisdom and knowledge of this world, thy
eminency wherein though it commended thee to the world renders now that which is most needful
so difficult for thee and makes that thy friend because of her greater simplicity and less
attainments in these things has a readier access to possess and enjoy the naked truth which for this
cause of old was more readily received by poor fishermen and simple women than by the great
Rabbies and wise Greeks, yet thy difficulties are not so great, nor thy encumbrances so invincible
but that the grace of God which has appeared unto thee and has really touched thee with a sense
of thy condition is sufficient for thee, therefore beware that the Enemy do not betray thee (after
the Lord hath thus awakened thee) as if sufficient grace were not given thee to deliver thee from
all thy temptations for God as he is powerful so he is willing thou should overcome and his grace
will not be to thee in vain unless thou make it so by unfaithfulness, in that seed and light that has
appeared to thee, there is strength to deliver thee from all though the appearance of it be small yet
there is might in it as it is received therefore it is compared to a grain of mustard seed. Remember
that parable. I know no calling (however it were lawful otherways) that ought to divert thee from
this so necessary a business, the Kingdom of God ought to be sought after in the first part, though
it were with the neglect of other matters which will be abundantly made up otherways and caring
for the better part, it matters not though other matters be disregarded for a season. For this man
was commended of the Lord Jesus, and indeed when the Lord touches the heart of any to draw
them out of the Spirit of this world there is great retirement and abstraction both of mind and
body necessary for a season, because of the soul's weakness at such a time and its capacity to be
entangled with any diversion, therefore let me not only seriously advise thee...to draw near to the
Lord in the small appearance of his seed in thy heart and for that end abstract thyself from the
multiplicity of thy outward affairs though thou should leave undone not only all things that are
superfluous, but even some things that may appear to thee at present to be needful in that respect,
and afterwards when through such retirement to be more acquainted and so more distinctly to
perceive and discern the witness of God in thy soul...thou will be more capable clearly to
distinguish betwixt the precious and the vile and more enabled to forsake the one and follow the
other. If upon a pressing outward business or to visit a relation or friend after the flesh thou can
retire thyself for a season from these outward diversions far more ought thou to disentangle
thyself when the Lord calls for it by the awakening of his seed in thy heart for the redemption of
thy soul, two things are therefore absolutely needful...to wit, faith and obedience, faith in the
measure and manifestation of the light and grace that hath appeared so as not to be befooled by
the Enemy and kept under his bonds through a faithless persuasion that the temptations and
difficulties are too great or too strong, for any grace already obtained, and obedience in the things
already clearly discovered especially in acts of forbearance in whatever is seen not so profitable or
acceptable, and not a deferring to obey in things already seen through a hope and foolish desire to
see and understand more, this is to resemble the unprofitable servant that hid his talent, and
judged God a hard master, it is needful then to believe in the power and virtue of God's grace
received, not doubting but as more is needed it will be added, and to obey in all things already
manifested, not meddling in things as yet not seen...I hope thou will take in good part my freedom
herein which proceedeth from pure love and an earnest desire I have that thou may go on so as
not to loose the glorious prize that is set before thee, which is better than an earthly crown. My
soul breaths to the Lord for thee that this may be thy portion, for the obtaining whereof I with my
brethren do at present contentedly suffer these bonds though we see no way of outward
deliverance, not doubting but the Lord will bring it about in his own time. In the belief whereof is
at present patiently satisfied thy assured friend,
Barclay
1. 1.. Ibid., pages 53-58.