Page:Last publick sermon, being a faithful and free one, preached by Mr. Hugh Mackaile ... upon the Sabbath immediately preceeding that 8th of September 1662, the day affixed for the removing of the ministers of Edinburgh from their kirks.pdf/11

( 11 ) How fad a Matter is it, that, when Chriſtians meet toge- ther, there ſhould be a Meeting of Corruptions not of Gra- ces, a Meeting of Reaſon not of Religion? Should a wife Man utter vain Knowledge, and fill his Belly with the Eaſt Wind; ſhould he reaſon with unprofitable Talk, or with Speech- es wherewith he can do no good? Beloved, the great Deſign of the Devil is to undo you eternally; if thou be among theſe impenitent Companions that turn aſide from Chriſt, he ſtrives to keep thee there if thou haft engaged thy Soul to the Love of Chriſt, he labours either to aboliſh thy Grace, or elſe to weaken it, not only by the evil Example of the openly Profane, but alſo by the Unwatch- fulneſs of true Believers : Therefore ought every one to ſet a Watch over his own Converſation, both when the Wicked are before him, that nothing eſcape thee which may occa- ſion Reproach to Religion, and alſo before other Believers, that nothing eſcape thee that may tempt them to turn aſide unto that fame Unwatchfulneſs. The Conſideration of the Unprofitableneſs of our ordinary Converſation might tempt a tender Heart to an utter Abhorrence of all Society, to chuſe rather to be among the dumb Beaſts of the Wil- derneſs, than among Men, under whoſe Tongues are Vanity, to put to their Selah to that Wiſh of David, Pſal. lv. 6. o that I had Wings like a Dove, then would I fly away and be at Reſt; lo, I would wander afar off, and remain in the Wilderneſs, Selah. 3dly, Falſe Teachers are Companions that cannot be followed, without turning aſide: Wherefore ſuch as ſay and do not, or ſuch as, either for Fear or Hope, ſuppreſs a neceſſary Truth, or broach a damnable Error, a ſpurious Brood of ſuch hath ever been the Bane of the Church of God in all Ages : Some build with one Hand and caſt down with the other; ſome pull down with both Hands; many ramverſe that Command, Prov. xxiii. 23. Buy the Truth and ſell it not ; they felt the Truth and buy it not : How great