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/16

( 16 ) People of God have a bard Part of it, having ſo many Enemies and ſo few Friends. 4thly, Yet, notwithſtanding of this, 'tis very unreaſon- able, in the Account of the Lover of Chriſt, to turn afide from him by the Flocks of his Companions, therefore ſhe hath her Recourfe to him alone, with a Why ſhould I be as one? &c. There is not ono Tribulation that can ſeize upon a Believer, but there is abundant Confolation to overcome it in Chriſt; ſo that, though all the World ſhould forſake him, the Lovers of Chriſt have no Reaſon to do ſo, but rather may ſay with Peter, Lord, to whom ſhall we go but unto thee, for thou haft the Words of eternal Life? The Truth of this will evidently appear to you, if you. will follow the Words, in theſe ſix or ſeven Conſidera- tions. 1ſt, That any Reſt that can be had by turning aſide from Jeſus Chriſt is not his Reſt ; it is not a Reſt of his giving, nor in his Company : If his Reſt can be had by turning aſide, why ſhould ſhe, after ſo ſerious an Inquiry after his Reſt, evidence ſo great an Averſation from turning aſide by the Flocks of his Companions ? It is the Happi- neſs of a Believer, that the Reſt which he hath, cither in Poſſeſſion or Right, is one of God's Proviſion; and it were the Wiſdom of the People of God to reject all Motions of Reſt, which the Lord setteth rot his Seal unto : The World's Peace and the Lord's Indignation often-times run in one and the fame Channel ; you may escape the Fury of profane Men, if you will comply with them in their Pro- fanity, but except you ſo follow Peace with Men, as alſo to follow Holineſs, you cannot ſee the Face of God. O beware, Beloved, of chuſing the World's Peace upon ſuch Terms as will engage the Lord to trouble you. What a Madneſs ſhall it be for you to place the Foundation of your Quietneſs and Reſt in the Favour of a poor Reed fha- ſen with the Wind ? Is not this to bring you within the Compaſs