Page:Cry from the dead, or, The ghost of the famous Mr James Guthrie appearing.pdf/28

 uſe and exerciſe of religion, but even of morality, and that common civility that is to be found amongſt the heathen. 2. By that horrible treachery and perjury, that is in the matter of the covenant, and cauſe of God and work of reformation: 'Be aſtoniſhed, O ye heavens, at this, and he ye horribly afraid, and be ye very deſolate, faith the Lord; for my people have committed two great evils, they have forſaken me the fountain of waters, and have hewed them out ciſterns, broken ciſterns, that can hold no waters:' ſhall he break the covenant and proper? 'Shall the throne of iniquity have ſellowſhip with God, which frameth miſchief by a law?' I fear the Lord be about to bring a ſword on theſe lands which ſhall avenge the quarrel of his covenant. 3. Horrible ingratitude, the Lord after ten years oppreſſion, and bondage, hath broken the yoke of ſtrangers from off our necks: but what do we render to him for this goodneſs? Moſt of the fruit of our delivery is, to work wickedneſs, and to ſtrengthen ourſelves to do evil. 4. A moſt dreadful idolatry, and ſacrificing to the creature, we have 'changed the glory of the incorruptible God, into the image of corruptible man,' in whom many have placed almoſt all their ſalvation and deſire, and have turned that which might have been a bleſſing unto us, (being kept in a due line of ſubordination under God) into on idol of jealouſy, by preferring it before him. God is alſo wroth with a generation of carnal, corrupt, time ſerving miniſters: I know, and bear teſtimony, that in the church of Scotland, there is a true and faithful miniſtry: bleſſed be God, we have yet many who ſtudy their duty, and deſire to be found faithful to their Lord and Maſter; and I pray you to honour, and reverence and eſteem much of there for their works ſake: and I pray them to be encouraged in their Lord and Maſter, who is with them, to make them as iron pillar and brazen walls, and as a ſtrong defenced city in the faithful following of their duty: but, oh! that there were