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/44

( 44 ) His Father coming to him that Morning to bid him farewell, his laſt Words to him were, after Prayer and "little Diſcourſe, " That his Suffering would do more hurt " to the Prelates, and be more edifying to God's People "than if he were to continue in the Miniſtry for twenty " Years." And then he deſired his Father to leave him elſe he would but trouble him; " And I deſire it of you " ſaid he, as the beſt and laſt Service you can do me, te " go to your Chamber and pray earneſtly to the Lord to " be with me on that Scaffold; for how to carry there is " my Care, even that I may be ſtrengthened to endure to " the End." About two of the Clock in the Afternoon he was carri- ed to the Scaffold with other five that ſuffered with him, where he appeared, to the Conviction of all that former- ly knew him, with a fairer, better, and more ſtaid Coun- tenance, than ever they had before obſerved. Being come to the foot of the Ladder, he directed his Speech North- ward to the Multitude ; and premising, "That as his " Years in the World had been but few, ſo his Words at " that Time ſhould not be many.” He ſpoke to the Peo- ple the Speech and Teſtimony which he had before writ- ten and ſubſcribed. Having done ſpeaking to the People, who heard him with great Attention, he ſung a Part of the xxxi. Pſalm ; and then prayed with ſuch Power and Fervency, as forced many to weep bitterly. Having ended, he gives his Cloak and Hat from him; and when he turned himſelf, and took hold of the Ladder to go up, he ſaid with an audible Voice, " I care no more to go up this Ladder and over it, than " if I were going home to my Father's Houſe." And, as the went up, hearing a great Noiſe amongſt the People, he called down to his Fellow Sufferers, ſaying, " Friends and " Fellow Sufferers, be not afraid'; every step of this Lad- der is a Degree nearer Heaven." Then, having ſeated himſelf