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/5

( 5 ) End. There is ſome Sin at the Root, therefore there muſt be ſome Miſery in the Bloſſom. The Church, in this Chap- ter, is conſcious to herſelf of a Blackneſs marring her Com- lineſs, and likeways hath the Experience of a burning blemiſhing her Beauty. There is a twofold Deformity conceivable in the Church of God, one inward, another outward; that inward is real, conſiſting in the Remnant of Corruption, not yet perfectly purged out; that which is out- ward is rather apparent, having its Exiſtence rather in the Apprehenſions of the hood-winked World, which judgeth after the outward Appearance, accounting them the Fil- thineſs of the Earth; and off-ſcouring of all Things, who, in the Judgment of God, which is according to Truth, are the excellent ones of the Earth : the Firſt ariſeth from the Oppoſition of Satan, by an inward Enemy Sin; the Second arifeth from the Oppoſition of Satan, by the open Enmity of Men, who are ſo infatuate, as to condeſcend to be the Executioners of his Rage againſt Believers. And truly this Diſpenſation of God may give juſt Ground of wondering at him; that he, who loves his People with an everlaſting and an unchangeable Love, ſhould permit thoſe, who have the Devil for their Maſter, ſo much to over-power them who have Angels for their Servants. Yet oftentimes it comes to paſs, that the People of God are ſo put to it, that they, in a Manner, know not what to do; the Sun of Affiction and Perſecution beats ſo fore upon them, that they are tempted to ſeek a Shelter, by turning aſide to the Company of theſe who account the World and the Things thereof ſo alluring Rivals, that they are worthy for whom Chriſt ſhould be forſaken, till their Love prompt them to ſeek a Shelter in his Company, whom their Soul loveth, . and from him alone ; therefore faith ſhe, Tell me, O thou, whom my Soul loveth. The Strain of this book is entirely parabolical, and as it were an Enlargement of the Parable, Mett. xxii. of A 3 the