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/50

( 50 ) venant, and as one willing to contribute my beſt Endea- vours for the promoving of them, but eſpecially my de- claring for the Covenant, did bear unto the Truth and Ordinances of Jeſus Chriſt, againſt this untoward Generation: This I confeſs to be no leſs than a denying of Jeſus Chriſt, and a being aſhamed of his Words before Men; but I hope the Lord, who remembercth that we are but frail Duſt, ſhall not lay it to my Charge, but, according to his Faith- fulneſs and Grace, will forgive me, who, by this publick Confeſſion, take to myſelf Shame and Confuſion of Face, and flee to the Propitiation offered to all Sinners in Jeſus Chriſt. And theſe things as they have procured this Death unto me, as an Act of God's Juſtice, ſo they mind me of other Evils in mine own Heart, that have been the Source of this my Unwillingneſs to take on Chriſt's Croſs : My Heart hath not ſtudied to maintain that Spirituality in walking with God, and edifying Exemplarineſs with others, that became one that had received the Firſt-fruits of the Spirit, and aimed at the Miniſtry of the Goſpel, living in Times of ſo much Calamity for the Church of God, and particular Afflictions as to myſelf. If I had ſpent my Days in groaning after my Houſe from Heaven, would I have ſhifted ſo fair an Occaſion of being clothed with it? Alas, that I have loved my Lord and Maſter Jeſus Chriſt ſo little ! Alas, that I have done ſo little Service to him, that I have ſo little Labour to follow me to my everlaſting Reſt! This I ſpeak to thoſe eſpecially with whom I have familiarly converſed in my Pilgrimage, that, feeing the Lord will not grant me Life to teſtify my real Reformation of theſe things, my Acknowledgment at Death may have In- fluence upon them, to ſtudy not only Godlineſs, but the Power of it. As I acknowledge, that I have not been free and inge- nuous in theſe Particulars ſorementioned, ſo in other things, wherein I interponed that holy Name of God, as to the put being upon the Contrivance of this riſing in Arms, nor privy