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/48

( 48 ) ſus Chriſt, which by his Blood he hath' purchaſed, and ascended up on high to beſtow as a Gift upon it; as being the very Goſpel Miniſtry in its Simplicity and Purity from the Inventions of Men, and ſo the Mean by which other Ordinances are adminiſtered, and the moſt fundamental Truths made effectual in the Hearts of his People; and therefore that it ought, with that ſame Carefulneſs, to be contended for ; Experience, both of the having and want- ing of it, hath given it this Epiſtle of Commendation, ſo as it may be both known and read of all Men. Which is alſo true of the ſolemn Engagements of the Nation there- to, by the National Covenant, and ſolemn League and Covenant, which I have eſteemed, in their Rife and Re- newing, pregnant Performances of that Promiſe, Iſa. xliv. 5. where it is evident, that, where Church Reformations come to any Maturity, they arrive at this Degree of ſay- ing, I am the Lord's, and ſubſcribing with the Hand unto the Lord. So was it in the Days of the Reforming Kings of Judah, and, after the Reſtoration from the Captivity, in the Days of Nehemiah. This ſame Promiſe did the Lord Jeſus make Yea and Amen to us, when he redeem- ed us from ſpiritual Babylon; which is ſo much the great- er Evidence, that theſe were the very Motions of God's Spirit in our firſt Reformers, that they were expreſsly de- ſigned againſt the greateſt Motions of the Spirit of Dark- neſs in Antichriſt and his Suppoſts, and againſt the greateſt Confirmations that ever theſe Abominations attained by the Decrees of the Council of Trent, and that bloody Bond called the Holy League. And therefore whatever Indignity is done unto theſe Covenants, I do eſteem to be no leſs than doing Deſpite unto the Spirit of Grace, in his moſt eminent exerting of himſelf; but eſpecially declaring a- gainſt the fame, as flowing from a Spirit of Sedition and Rebellion, to be a Sin of the fame Nature with theirs, who aſcribed Chriſt his caſting out of Devils to Beelzebub ; and that