Samuel Rutherford, writing to a friend moving away from his parish:

I have received many and divers dashes and heavy strokes since the Lord called me to the ministry; but indeed I esteem your departure from us amongst the weightiest. But I perceive God will have us deprived of whatsoever we idolize, that He may have His own room. I see exceeding small fruit of my ministry, and would be glad to know of one soul to be my crown and rejoicing in the day of Christ. Thought I spend my strength in vain, yet my labour is with my God (Isaiah 49:4). I wish and pray that the Lord would harden my face against all, and make me to learn to go with my face against a storm.

from Letters of Samuel Rutherford
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