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/8

( 8 ) with a great deal of Tenderneſs and Familiarity; Tell me (ſaith ſhe) where thou feedeſt, and where thou makeſt thy Flocks to reſt at Noon ? 3dly, an Argument, whereby ſhe preſſeth the hearing of her Suit; and it is from the Diſad- vantage ſhe might through Frailty ſuſtain ; Why should I be as one that turneth aſide by the Flocks of thy Companions ? I ſhall draw up theſe three things in one Propoſition, and, in unfolding of it, touch them particularly. Propoſ. Although the ſincere Lovers of Jeſus Chriſt may be ſo ſcorched by the Heat of Affiction and Tribula- tion, as not to know where to find Paſture or Reſt, yet 'tis ſo unreaſon able a thing in their Eyes to turn aſide by the Flocks of his Companions, that they will feck Paſture and Reſt in his Company, and from him alone. This may be, at firſt Reading, perceived to be the very Scope of the Words. There are theſe four Things in it : '1ſt, That there are ſome Companions of Jeſus Chriſt, whom, even in the Extremities, we cannot follow, without turning aſide. By Companions of Chriſt here, un- derſtand not theſe who are really ſo, whom he honoureth with the Title of his Friends, John xv. 14. You are my Friends, if you do whatſoever I command you, or, at leaſt, as they come under that Notion; but theſe whoſe Work and Deſign have a Tendency to ſet the Soul at Variance with Jeſus Chriſt, or at a Diſtance from him, who, when the Lord Jeſus, the eternal Wiſdom of the Father, crieth, Turn in hither; they upon the other hand, by Word or evil Example, fay, Turn in hither. I ſhall reckon out in general theſe four Companions whom we cannot follow, without turning aſide. Firſ. Theſe who carry it written upon the Face of their Converſation, in Capital Letters, that he that runs may read it, that they are Enemies to Jeſus Chriſt; and theſe are the openly profane. 'Profanity abounding is a ſpiritual Peſtilence; Souls are thereby tumbled over by Heaps into eternal