A Brief Life and Times of Samuel
Rutherford
by William Carson
Before and During his Exile
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 pastor of the church in Anwoth in 1627. Anwoth
was a rural parish, and the people were scattered in farms over the hills. He
had a true pastor's heart, and he was ceaseless in his labours for his flock.
We are told that men said of Rutherford, "He was always praying, always
preaching, always visiting the sick, always catechising, always writing and
studying." Of course it helps when you get up at 3:00 every morning!
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. Nevertheless God used this time of suffering to prepare
Rutherford to be God's comforter of suffering people. Rutherford's preaching
was unparalleled. While he was not a good speaker, his preaching drew great
attention. An English merchant said of him, "I came to Irvine, and heard a
well-favoured, proper old man (Dickson)
with a long beard, and that man showed me all my heart. Then I went to St.
Andrews, where I heard a sweet, majestic-looking man (Blair), and he showed me
the majesty of God. After him I heard a little, fair man (Rutherford), and he
showed me the loveliness of Christ."
In 1636 Rutherford published a book
defending the doctrines of grace (Calvinism) against Arminianism. 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.
After His Exile
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 your day
arrives, I will be where few kings and great folks come." He died on 30th March
1661.
See Thomson's "Life of
Rutherford" here