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Rh men, as in the deſpite of all the defections and backſlidings of the backſlidden people of God, they ſhall not be able to hinder it when the Lord ſhall return: and, therefore, people of God, I charge you to believe it, that he hath a mind to return; for it will help to hold up your fainting hearts in this bad form that ye are to go throw. And now, ſirs, I know it is neither right nor lawful for any miniſter in Scotland, or Chriſtian to join with him in taking houſes to preach in, and leave the fields. It were better for us all, ſirs, to go to the fields in froſt and ſnow until we were wet to the ſkin on our knees, e'er we bow to one of them, king or council or any of them; for I know that the Lord will never blefs the labours of any that hath their liberty from them, whether miniſter or profeſſor, but ſuch miniſters and profeſſors ſhall be blaſted, and their labours blaſted and fruitleſs, if their ſouls be not in hazard, I ſadly fear and am miſtaken. This being the main head, that Chriſt our Lord is head of the church, and king in Zion, and this they deny on the matter, and if that be not dangerous and ſad, judge ye, to conſent to let Chriſt's crown go on the head of any king in the world, and this is the ſin that ſhall ruin theſe three lands; no rank ſhall eſcape from the king to the beggar, miniſters and profeſſors, and all ſhall go with the judgment, for all have ſinned for the moſt part, and have joined with ſinful courſes that we have taken to ſhun ſuffering; the Lord ſhall take theſe things and make them inſtruments and means to bring ſad ſufferings on us, and then we ſhall ſuffer with an evil conſcience in the midſt of the form that is coming on; and I fear it ſhall be ſadder nor I can ſpeak of, or you think of at this time: and therefore, in the name of the Lord, I charge you to lay theſe things to heart, and mourn all of you before the Lord for the grievous ſins of all ranks, from the greateſt to the ſmalleſt, and labour to have a ſuitable weight upon your hearts before the