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/9

( 9 ) eternal Perdition; and the Devil makes a proſperous Pro- fanity a Temptation to the Children of God to turn aſide, and make Choice of their Deluſions: When a Believer ſeeth Profanity rejoicing, enjoying as it were the Cool of the Day, while he endureth the Heat of it, he is tempted to ſay, with Aſaph, Pſal. lxxiii. Surely I have cleanſed myſelf in vain, and waſhen my Hands in Innocency. As it is a love- ly thing, in the Eyes of God and his people, to ſee them going up in Tribes to give Thanks to the Lord, ſo it is a pleaſant thing, in the Eyes of the Prince of Darkneſs, to ſee his Servants go forth by Bands, to fee them join toge- ther, and break their Sleep, that they may give themſelves to Drunkenneſs, Whoredoms and Blaſphemy. How har- monious a Melody is it in the Ears of Hell, which you have, Prov. i. II. Come with us, let us lay wait for Blood's let us lurk privily for the Innocent, without Cauſe, let us ſwal- low them up alive as the Grave, and whole as thoſe that go down into the Pit. There is not only many Devils in! one Man many Times, but even one Devil in many Men, whereby they are ſo harmonious in Profanity: He not on- ly would have one Man faying for himſelf, Depart from me, O Lord, but he would have ſuch a Voice, iſſuing from Societies and Corporations, Depart from us, Almighty, for we deſire not the knowledge of thy Ways; that whole Cities ſhould entertain Chriſt after the Cuſtom of the Gadarens, praying him to depart out of their Coaſts. O how ſtrong- ly does the Pulſe of Men beat toward Profanity, and all Manner of Abomination! that not only Motives of Reaſon from Virtue and Honeſty, but even Bonds of Religion are broken asunder. Heaven and Earth oftentimes mourn for Compaſſion over theſe who boaſt themſelves of their Heart's Deſire, and bleſs them whom the Lord abhorreth: I muſt appeal to Honour itſelf, and ask, whether it were much for Reputation, that this ſhould be the Records of Hiſtory con- cerning you, that you were given to Drunkenneſs, Un- cleanness