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/13

( 13 ) 4thly, Theſe Companions cannot be followed without turning aſide, eſpecially in a Time of hot Perſecution ; who enſlave their Conſciencies to the Commandments of Men, that never inquire any further into their Actions, than hew they may ſerve to purchaſe them the Favour of Men. Souls OF SALE, I may call them, that by Hope or Fear, do with their Conſciencies as Servants or Slaves do with their Li- berty; that have their Conſciencies at every Beck of Men for a little Hire. Certainly however complying with any ſinful Courſe againſt the Light of Conſcience may ſhrowd a Man from the Indignation of Men, it ſhall render him ſo much the more obnoxious to the Indignation of God. All law- ful Commands of created Power bind the Conſcience, 11- pon this Account alone, that the Power commanding is an Ordinance of God, as it bath a Stamp and Impreſſion of divine Authority, if therefore any created Power ſhall command any thing by God diſcharged, there cannot be any Obligation upon the Conſcience upon that account, except we ſay, divine Authority in one thing ſhould con- tradict itſelf in another ; therefore, in every Action of a Man's Life, by whatever Authority it be commanded, he is ever to inquire at his own Conſcience, whether it be right in the Sight of God or not, elſe he doth it not in Faith, and ſo ſinneth. Let a Man be caſt into the hotteſt Tribulation, this will be a Comfort to him, which is to Paul, Acts xxiii. I. I have lived in all good Conſcience Lefore God unto this Day. Whereas it will be a heavy Challenge, which you have in Job, xxxvi. 21. Take heed, regard not Iniquity, theſe haft thou choſen rather than Affliction. The Second Thing imported in the firſt general Propo- ſition, is this, That theſe Companions here ſpoken of may be ſo prevailing as to have many Followers; they go by Flocks, the Flocks of thy Companions. 'Tis natural to all Men to love Pleaſures more than God, and to reſpect Chriſt B