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/12

( 12 ) great Madneſs is it for a Man to fell that, for a momentary "Advantage, which is of more Excellency than his very 'Soul is worth ; yet ſuch Madneſs is oftentimes incident to thoſe who fit in the Chair of Wiſdom and Truth. 'Tis "given as a Character whereby to diſcern a falſe Prophet from a true, Matt. vii. 16. By their Fruits ye ſhall know them. And certainly this is a Character which not only comes within the Compaſs of Reaſon, but even offers itſelf to the Judgment of the Eyes and Ears. How heavy a Complaint is that, Iſa. iii. 12. O my People, they who lead thee cauſe thee to err, and deſtroy the Way of thy Paths. Teachers in the myſtical Body of Chriſt may be ſaid to poſſeſs the Place of the Eye; they ought to deſcry Danger afar off, and forewarn of it ; and how lamentable is it when theſe Eyes threaten Dangers, when theſe that look out at the Windows are darkened? They are ſuch Eyes as ought to diſcern even Mots in the Eyes of others : How fad is it, when they themſelves are full of the Beams of Profanity and Maliciouſneſs? They are as a City ſet upon a Hill; how lamentable is it, when that City is drowned with ſuch a Vomit as is ſpoken of in Iſa. xxviii. 8. All Tables are filled with Vomit, there is no Place clean? What is that Vomit ? ſee Verſe 7. The Prieſt and the Prophet have erred through ſtrong Drink, they are ſwallowed up of Wine. It is not ſufficient for them to ſwallow it; they are ſwallowed up of it; they are as a Candle ſet upon a Hill. How deplo- rable a Condition ſhall we be in, if that Light that is in us be Darkneſs, if that Candle be covered under the Buſhel of Covetouſneſs, vain Glory and Pride ? Is it poſſible you can follow the Flocks of ſuch Companions without turning aſide ? Nay, let every Man deſerve a Commendation of Nobility, upon that Account that is given to the Bereans, that would not take the Word of a Paul upon Truſt, but ſearched the Scriptures whether theſe things were ſo. 4thly,