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/4

( 4 ) quity; a War wherein there is no Diſcharge, neither will Wickedneſs deliver them that are given to it. And what the glorious Conſequences of Holineſs are, they know, who not only in this life have taſted how gracious the Lord is,) but now, being at reſt from their Labours, taſte alſo how glorious he is. How little doth it ſink in the Apprehen- ſions of the moſt part of Men, that even theſe who hang down their Heads, being in Heavineſs through manifold Temptations, muſt one Day rejoice, and lift up their Heads, becauſe their Redemption draweth nigh. And, truly, if you lift up your Eyes to the Conſideration of the holy and ſpotleſs "Nature of God, who is of purer Eyes than that he can behold Iniquity, you will eaſily be induced to be lieve, that they muſt be fully drained from the Dregs of all Impurity, who are inſtalled in ſuch glorious Privileges, ſpoken of, Rev. vii. 15. and 16. They have waſhed their Robes, and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb, there- fore are they before the Throne of God, and ſerve him Day and Night in his Temple; and he that ſitteth on the Throne ſhall dwell among them; they ſhall hunger no more, nor thirſt any more, nor: ſhall the Sun light on them, nor any Heat. They are above the Reach of all Miſery, becauſe they are above the Reach of all sin : But, becauſe the Children of the Kingdom, while they are in this ſtrange Land, militant againſt innumerable Oppoſitions, are yet in a great Meaſure infected with ſome ſinful Stain ; whether we look upon them diſtributively, there is not one juſt Man upon Earth, that ſo doth good as he ſinneth not; there is, even in a Paul, Sin dwelling within, bindering him from the Good which he would, and prompting him to the Evil which he would not; or whether we look upon them collectively, there are ſome in the whole Collection of Believers, who, by ſome palpable Back-ſliding, offend the whole Generation of the Righteous; and, therefore, they cannot ſay to their Enemy, o Enemy, Deſtructions are come to a perpetual End.