Samuel Rutherford and his friends

A man may be known by the company he keeps. In this new work, Rutherford's friends are called in to give us a fresh look at the man who has long been held in such high affection by Christian people around the world. Faith Cook first traces how, in the troubled and controversial days in which Rutherford lived, he learned that "God has many flowers, but the fairest of them all is heaven, and the flower of all flowers is Christ." The remaining thirteen chapters provide fascinating stories of some twenty of his correspondents, many notable in their own right. These were days when "a man must either sin or suffer" and most of Rutherford's friends chose the latter course. Two were martyred, two exiled and all paid a high price for allegiance to the truth. Although these short biographies form the bulk of this book, its primary aim is to cast further light on Rutherford's genius as a faithful counsellor and spiritual guide. We are introduced to the depth and beauty of his Letters and brought to share in the wisdom and consolation of his pastoral ministry. - Back cover.