Religion & morality > 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

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End. There is feme Sm at the Root, therefore there muft
be fome Mifery in the Bloflbm. The Church, in this Chap¬
ter, is confcious to herfelf of a Biacknefs marring her Com-
linefs, and likeways hath the Experience of a burning
blemiihing her Beauty. There is a twofold Deformity
conceivable in the Church of God, one inward, another
outward; that inward is real, confifting in the Remnant of
Corruption, not yet perfectly purged out; that which is out¬
ward is rather apparent, having its Exigence rather in the
Apprehenfions of the hood-winked World, which judgeth
alter the outward Appearance, accounting them the Fil-
thinefs of the Earth, andOif-fcouring of all Things, who,
in the Judgment of God, which is according to Truth, are
the excellent ones of the Earth : the Fil l! arifeth from the
Oppofition of Satan, by an inward Enemy Sin ; the Second
arifeth from the Oppofition of Satan, by the open Enmity
of Men, who are fo infatuate, as to condefcend to be the
Executioners of his Rage againlt Believers. And truly this
Difpenfation of God rnay give juft Ground of wonderin'*
at him; that he, who loves his People with an everlafting
and an unchangeable Love, ftiould permit thofe, who have
the Devil for their Mafter, fo much to over-power them
who have Angels for their Servants. Yet oftentimes it
comes to pafs, that the People of God are fo put to it
that they, in a Manner, know not what to do ; the Sun of
Affliction and Perfecution beats fo fore upon’ them that
they are tempted to feek a Shelter,by turning afide to the
Company of thefe who account the World and the Things
thereof fo alluring Rivals, that they are worthy for whom
Chnft fflould be forfaken, till their Love prompt them to
feek a Shelter in h.s Company, whom their Soul loveth
and from him alone; therefore faith fhe, Tell me, 0 thou
v)hom my Scul loveth. ’
. Tlle Strain of this Book is entirely parabolical, and as
it were an Enlargement of die Parable, Matt. xxii. of
3 the