Page:Cry from the dead, or, The ghost of the famous Mr James Guthrie appearing.pdf/30

 'you out of his mouth.' You that lament after the Lord, and mourn for all the abominations that are in this city, and in the land, and take pleaſure in the ſtones and duſt of Zion, caſt not away your confidence, but be comforted and encouraged in the Lord; he will yet appear to your joy: God hath not call away his people, nor work in Britain and Ireland, I hope it ſhall once more revive by the power of his Spirit, and take root downward, and bear fruit upward, and of this I am now confident. There is yet a holy ſeed and precious remnant, whom God will preſerve, and bring forth; but how long or dark our night may be, I do not know, the Lord ſhorten it for the lake of his choſen. In the mean while be ye patient, and ſtedfaſt, 'unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord,' and in love one to another; beware of ſnares which are ſtrawed thick; cleave to the covenant and work of reformation, do not decline the croſs of Chriſt: 'chooſe rather to ſuffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleaſures of ſin for a ſeaſon, and account the reproach of Chriſt greater riches, than all the treaſures of the world.' Let my death grieve none of you, it will be both more profitable and advantagious both for me and for you, and for the church of God, and for Chriſt's intereſt and honour, than my life could have been. I forgive all men the guilt of it and I deſire you to do ſo alſo: 'Pray for them that perſecute you, and bleſs them that curſe you; bleſs, I ſay, and curſe not.' I die in the faith of the apoſtles and primitive Chriſtians, and proteſtant reformed churches, particularly of the church of Scotland, whereof I am a member and miniſter. I do bear my witneſs and teſtimony to the doctrine, worſhip, diſcipline, and government of the church of Scotland, by kirk-ſeſſions, preſbyteries, ſynods, and general aſſemblies popery, and prelacy, and all the trumpery of ſervice and ceremonies, that wait upon them I do abhor. I do bear my witneſs unto the national covenant of Scotland, and