Samuel Rutherford’s 9 Marks of a True Christian
“In Samuel Rutherford, we find a rare combination of the precise mind of a theologian but also the passionate heart of a poet. When you read his descriptions of Christ, when you read his descriptions of the love of Christ for His Church and His Church for Him, his imagery reminds me of the Song of Solomon.”
― Dr. John Snyder, PURITAN: All of Life to the Glory of God
Samuel Rutherford (1600–1661) was a seventeenth century Puritan pastor, theologian, author, and thinker.
Samuel Rutherford wrote hundreds of personal letters throughout his lifetime in which he speaks tenderly, warmly, and devotionally of Christ and of the Christian life.
In The Letters of Samuel Rutherford, he writes of nine marks of a true believer.
Hold fast Christ without wavering, and contend for the faith, because Christ is not easily gotten nor kept. The lazy professor hath put heaven as it were at the very next door and thinketh to fly up to heaven in his bed, and in a night-dream.
But truly that is not so easy a thing as most men believe. Christ Himself did sweat ere He won this city; howbeit He was the freeborn heir. It is Christianity to be sincere, unfeigned honest, and upright-hearted before God; and to live and serve God, supposing there was not one man nor woman in all the world dwelling beside you, to eye you. Any little grace that you have, see that it be sound and true.
You may put a difference betwixt you and reprobates, if you have these marks:
1. If ye prize Christ and his truth so as you will sell all and buy him, and suffer for it.
2. If the love of Christ keepeth you back from sinning, more than the law, or fear of hell.
3. If you be humble and deny your own will, wit, credit, ease, honour, the world, and the vanity and glory of it.
4. Your profession must not be barren and void of good works.
5. You must in all things aim at God’s honor. You must eat, drink, sleep, buy, sell, sit, stand, speak, pray, read, and hear the Word, with a heart-purpose that God may be honored.
6. You must show yourself an enemy to sin, and reprove the works of darkness, such as drunkenness, swearing, and lying, albeit the company should hate you for so doing.
7. Keep in mind the truth of God that you heard me teach, and have nothing to do with the corruptions and new guises entering into the house of God.
8. Make conscience of your calling, in covenants, in buying and selling.
9. Acquaint yourself with daily praying; commit all your ways and actions to God by prayer, supplication, and thanksgiving. And count not much of being mocked, for Christ Jesus was mocked before you.
Persuade yourself that this is the way of peace and comfort which I now suffer for. I dare go to death and into eternity with it, though men may possibly see another way.