and in the
power of his might."

A SERMON PREACHED BEFORE THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE HOUSE OF LORDS, IN THE
ABBEY CHURCH AT WESTMINSTER.

A

SERMON

PREACHED BEFORE THE

RIGHT HONOURABLE THE HOUSE OF LORDS,

IN THE ABBEY CHURCH AT WESTMINSTER,

AUGUST 27, 1645;

BEING THE DAY APPOINTED FOR SOLEMN AND PUBLIC HUMILIATION.

BY GEORGE GILLESPIE,

MINISTER AT EDINBURGH, 1642.

"Aliae sunt leges Caesarum, aliae Christi: aliud Papinianus, aliud Paulus
noster praecipit."--_Hieron. in Epitaphio Fabioloe_

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 AND CO., LONDON.

1645.

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

1844.

PREFACE TO THE READER.

I have in this sermon applied my thoughts toward these three things: 1.
The soul-ensnaring error of the greatest part of men, who choose to
themselves such a way to the kingdom of heaven as is broad, and smooth,
and easy, and but little or nothing at all displeasing to flesh and blood,
like him that tumbled down upon the grass and said, _Utinam hoc esset
laborare_. 2. The grumbling and unwillingness which appeareth in very
many, when they should submit to that reformation of the church which is
according to the mind of Jesus Christ, like them that said to the seers,
"See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak
unto us smooth things," Isa. xxx, 10; and again, "Let us break their bands
asunder, and cast away their cords from us," Psal. ii. 3. 3. The sad and
desolate condition of the kingdom of Scotland, then calling for our
prayers and tears, and saying, "Call me not Naomi (pleasant), call me Mara
(bitter): for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me," Ruth i. 20.
We were "pressed out of measure, above strength," and "had the sentence of
death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God
which raiseth the