ffections, and to measure by their own corrupt reason spiritual
discipline, but that they do seriously think with themselves, and consider
in their minds, how much better it were that the lusts of the flesh were,
as with a bridle, tamed; and that the repentance, amendment, and gaining
of vicious men unto salvation may be sought, than that sinners be left to
their own disposition, and be permitted to follow their own lusts without
controlment, and by their evil example to draw others headlong into ruin
with themselves; and seeing either the keys of discipline must take no
rust, or the manners of Christians will certainly contract much rust: what
is here to be chosen, and what is to be shunned, let the wise and godly,
who alone take to heart the safety of the church, judge.

THE END.

A SERMON PREACHED BEFORE THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF COMMONS AT THEIR LATE
SOLEMN FAST

A

SERMON

PREACHED BEFORE

THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF COMMONS

AT THEIR LATE SOLEMN FAST,

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27, 1644.

BY GEORGE GILLESPIE,

MINISTER AT EDINBURGH, 1642.

"When the Lord shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory"--Psal.
cii. 16.

EDINBURGH:

ROBERT OGLE AND OLIVER AND BOYD.

M. OGLE & SON AND WILLIAM COLLINS, GLASGOW. J. DEWAR, PERTH. W. MIDDLETON,
DUNDEE

G. & R. KING, ABERDEEN. W. M'COMB, BELFAST.

HAMILTON, ADAMS, & CO., AND JAMES NISBET & CO., LONDON.

REPRINTED BY A. W. MURRAY, MILNE SQUARE, EDINBURGH.

1844.

PREFACE TO THE READER.

Divine providence hath made it my lot, and a calling hath induced me (who
am less than the least of all the servants of Christ) to appear among
others in this cloud of public witnesses. The scope of the sermon is to
endeavour the removal of the obstructions, both of _humiliation_ and
_reformation_; two things which ought to lie very much in our thoughts at
this time. Concerning both I shall preface but little. _Reformation_ hath
many unfriends, some upon _the right hand_, and some upon _the left_;
while others cry up that _detestable indifferency_ or _neutrality_