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/51

( 51 ) privy to any Reſolution there nent, nor conſcious of any Intelligence at home or abroad concerning it, I was moſt ingenuous : As they have wronged me much, who ſaid, that I denied, upon Oath, that which they were able to make out againſt me, or knew to be Truth, but none al- ledge Perjury againſt me, but ſuch as are ſo manifeſtly guilty of it before the World, that their Tongues in ſuch Alledgances are no Slander. Although I be judged and condemned as a Rebel amongſt Men, yet I hope, even in order to this Action, to be accep- ted as loyal before God. Nay, there can be no greater Act of Loyalty to the King, as the Times new go, than for every Man to do his utmoſt for the Extirpation of that a- bominable Plant of Prelacy, which is the Bene of the Throne and of the Country: Which if it be not done, the Throne ſhall never be eſtabliſhed in Righteouſneſs, until theſe Wicked be removed from before it. Sure I am, theses who are now condemned as Rebels againſt him by them, are ſuch as have ſpent much Time in Prayer for him, and do more ſincerely with his Standing, and have endeavours- ed it more by this late Action ſo much condemned, than the Prelates by condemning them to Death. This Diſaſter bath heightened greatly the Afflictions of our Church, and ought to teach all of you to drink the Wine of Aſtoniſhment. Ye have not known Tribulation till now: Now we judge them happy that are fallen aſleep and removed far away, and know that God hath been tak0 ing away his Servants from the Evils that were to come. Know that God's Deſign is to make many Hearts contrite, that have been formerly too whole, and have not lament- ed ſufficiently the Removal of his Ordinances and Miniſtry, and the Reproach rubbed upon the Work of Reformation Beware that your Sorrow be not a momentany Motion of common Compaſſion, that evaniſheth when, it may be there is ſome Intermiſſion in this violent Courſe of ſhed- ding innocent Blood. Labour to have a conſtant Impreſſion E 2 that