Religion & morality > Cloud of witnesses, for the royal prerogatives of Jesus Christ, or, The last speeches and testimonies of those who suffered for the truth in Scotland, in the years 1681-1688, with an appendix, containing the Queensferry paper, Torwood excommunications, &c

JOHN FINLAY.
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have believed, that the adversary and the enemy should
have entered the gates of Jerusalem. For the sins of her
prophets, and the iniquities of her priests, they have shed
the blood of the just in the midst of her. They have
wandered as blind men in the streets, they have polluted
themselves with blood, so that men could not touch their
garments.” Lam. iv. 11—14. This may be our regret be¬
fore God. “ Her Nazarites were purer than snow, they
were whiter than milk, they were more ruddy in body
than rubies, their polishing was of sapphire : their visage
is blacker than a coal: they are not known in the streets :
their skin cleavethto their bones, it is withered, it is become
like a stick,” &c. O how unnatural-like were it for the
mother to let the child, the fruit of her womb, perish for
lack of the breasts : would she be free of the child’s blood,
it perishing for want of its natural food ? And O how
many are this day perishing for want of the lively preached
gospel ! “ even the sea monsters draw out the breasts, they
give suck to their young ones ; but the daughters of my peo¬
ple are become cruel, like the ostriches in the wilderness.”
I have him to bless for this, that I am not this day fight¬
ing against him in an open stated war, and so bearing arms
against him and his people, for there is no more in me, as
to myself, than those that are imbruing their hands deeply
in the blood of the saints.
I have him to bless for this, that ever he opened mine
eyes to see the mystery of iniquity that abounds, and hath
its seat in the heart: as also, in some measure, to see
the remedy in the blood of Jesus, with his Spirit engaging
me to himself, letting me see himself altogether precious,
making me to see that “ it is better to be a door-keeper in
the house of God, than to dwell in the pleasures of sin for
a season.” “ Thou shall guide me with thy counsel, and
afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven
but thee ? and there is none upon earth that I desire besides
thee.” Ps. Ixxiii. 24, 25.
I have his holy name to bless that ever he honoured me
to know any thing, how small soever, of his persecuted
truths, viz., his crown, kingdom, and privileges, now when
many, by their acts and laws, have taken his crown and
sceptre and royal robe from him, and settled the whole
government of his house upon a man that i§ but a worm ;
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