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

ithat with this Aggravation, that thefe Scribes and Phari-
ifees came never the Length of profeding Chrift, and fub-
imitting themfeives to him and his Ways.
But we are condemned to Death upon the Account of
(this Covenant, for adhering to the Duties therein fvvorn to,
jby fuch as once did as much themfeives as we have done,
and (bine of them more than fome of us. Which Con-
diderations have moved me to great Fears of God’s Wrath
jagainll the Land, according to the Curfe that we are bound
Minder, if we Ihould break, that Covenant, and, in the Fear
dof it, many times to pour out my Soul before the Lord.
.And as foon as I heard of a Party up in Arms in behalf of
ithe Covenant, ( all other Doors being Ihut, whereby the
.'Bedrefs of the manifed Violations of it might be obtained,
land thefe, bymanifcli and unheard of Violence, obtruded
upon others ) to go along with them, being bound by that
^Covenant againfl deteftablc Indifferency and Neutrality in
Ithis Matter, and to efteem every Injury done to any en¬
gaged in this Covenant, upon account of it, as done to my-
Ijfelf: Very Confcience of Duty urged me to this, againd
ijfome Reludtancy of Fear of what might follow. Upon the
(fame Reafons, at Lanerk, with the reft, I declared my Ad-
-i herence to the Covenant, by my lifting up of my Hand,
3 after the Articles thereof were read.
I. And here I cannot but, with Grief of Heart, acknowledge
T my fainting in a Day of Trial, that, being engaged with
5 them upon fuch Accounts, I many times in Fear defigned
;>:to withdraw, and at length did ; which as it was the Oc-
| calion of my falling into the Hands of the Enemy, fb I
15 think, among other things, it was the Caule why God de-
. livered me into their Hands. Upon the fame Fear, in all
ii my Examinations, I have denied my Engagement with
H them, and endeavoured to vindicate myfelf, by aflerting
I the real Defigns I had to part from them, and have utterly
i caft away the Glory of a Teftimony, which my very being
| in their Company, as a Favourer of the Ends of the Co-
E venant.