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/21

( 21 ) Temptation. Yea, Affliction is the Lord's Furnace, where in the more they be tried, they come forth the more pu- riſied; Job xxxvi. 8, 9, 10. If the Righteous be bound in Fetters, and held in Cords of Affliction, then le ſheweth them their work and Tranſgreſſions wherein they have ex- ceeded; he openeth alſo their Ears to Diſcipline, and com- mandeth them to return from Iniquity. The Concluſion of a believing Soul under Affliction is, If God puniſh me ſo: Sharply for thoſe Sins that I have already committed a- gainſt him, much more ſhall I not be ſtricken if I revolt any more? This is the Concluſion of Ezra, ix. 6, 7, 13, and 14. I am aſhamed and bluſe to lift up my Face to thee, O my God; for our Tranſgreſions are gone up to the Hea- vens : And for this we, our Kings and our Prieſts, have been delivered over to a Spoil and Confusion. And after all this is come upon us for our evil Deeds, (ſeeing thou haſt puniſhed us leſs than our Iniquities deſerve) should we again break thy Commandments, would thou not be angry with us till thou had conſumed us, and had left no Remnant nor E- ſcaping ? So that Afflictions are to a Believer Diſengage- ments from Sin; and 'tis a dreadful thing, not withſtand- ing of Judgments, to be incorrigible. If we conſider the ſad Conſequences of it upon Pharaoh, it may bring all ſuch to this concluſion ; My Fleſh trembleth for Fear of thee, and is afraid of thy righteous Judgments. A ſecond thing imported in this Reſt is, Peace with God through Jeſus Chriſt. This is a Shadow from the ſcorch- ing Sun, under which a reconciled Believer may fit, and the Lord's Fruit be ſweet to his Taſte: No Worm can: come at the Root of this Gourd, to make it wither. Ene- mies may do much to purchaſe the People of God Enemies among Men on Earth, but they can never purchaſe them Enemies in Heaven. The Lord will not be bribed by their Gifts; for all the Beaſts of the Field are his, and the Cattle on a thouſand Hills: He will not be allured by their Plea- ſures;