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/22

( 22 ) fures; for at his Right-hand there is Fulneſs of Toy, and Rivers of Pleaſures for ever more : He will not be deceiv- ed by their Craftineſs, nor conſtrained by their Power, to fide with them againſt his People ; for he is wile in Heart, and mighty in Strength; who ever hardened themſelves a- gainſt him, and proſpered? How unreaſonable then is it to turn aſide from him by the Flacks of his Companions ? ſince all the World cannot make God your Enemy, when in turning aſide from them you follow him. But, if you fol- low the World and for fake him, he can make all the World your Enemies, or deſtroy you and the World both. 3dly, There is a Peace of Conſcience which paſſeth all Underſtanding, which is a continual Feaſt. Rather let all the Creatures ſet themſelves in Array againſt a Man, than that his Sins ſet themſelves in order before him. Better: one Handful with Quietness, than both the Hands full with Vexation of Spirit; better to be ſcorched in the hotteſt Furnace of Tribulation, than to have the Heart and Soul burnt up with the unquenchable Flames of a ſelf torment- ing Conſcience. Bleſſed therefore is that Man, even in the Midſt of outward Miſery, who retaineth a good Con- ſcience ; this cannot be reached by any Armour of Devils or Men. Oh! that thoſe Fools, whoſe Hearts are perpe- tually in the Houſe of Mirth, would consider their latter End! The Beginning of a Sinner's Day may be ſweet, but their End is bitter as Wormwood. Men may hoo! wink their Conſcience all the Days of their Life ; but, O how dreadful is it when Death begins to draw the Veil, and repreſent things as they are in themſelves ? I think I hear the Shrieks and Howlings of a damned Spirit in Pri- ſon, when I read thoſe dolorous Expreſſions of an evil Conſcience, Prov. v. 11, 12, 13; he had been dehort- ing Men from Sin, and, upon this Conſideration, left thou mourn at laſt (faith he) when thy Fleſh and Body are con- ſumed, and ſay, How have I hated Inſtruction, and my Heart deſpiſed