PAGE 204
worthy servants, especially in these dayes, when the kingly and
royall office of Jesus Christ is called in
question.1
Now this is a small thing, you will say; it is but a matter of discipline
and government, a matter anent what offices should be in
the house of the Lord, — whether may we acknowledge such a lordly
dominion, yea or not? A gardiner is appointed to keep his master's
ground.
Then2
cometh one, and saith, I shall not meddle with
your fruit-trees, your flowers, nor your herbs. I wiU but only cast
down your walls, and cut up your hedges, and that is but a small
thing. Is it so, (saith the other,) you will even undoe all in so
doing; for the wild beasts and boars of the forests will come in?
Our blessed Lord Jesus was of another minde when he said, the
servant that was faithfull to me (it was faithfull in a little) I will
make him ruler over much. If it be a small thing, the more that
man testifies respect to his master. There's a tennant, — liis neigh-
bour begins and takes a butt, or half a ridge, and sayes it is a very
small thing. Is it soe ? What vnh his master say to him, — should
you have suffered the other to have
changed3
the marchstone? I appointed you to
doe4
soe and so, and to tell me of my harm.
Master, sayes he, it was but a small thing, and you have ground
enough besides. Will any nobleman or master take that well off
his hand? Satan
shapes5
a tryall,
puts6
it to such ane frame, he
can draw it to a small point, and set it (as ye use to say) in aciem
novaculi, like ane razor's edge, that although there seem little
between the two, the one side is a denying of Christ, and the other
a confessing of him. [Nahasse might have said, I will thrust out
your ryt eye, you will see weell enough with the left, (1 Sam. xi.;)
what great matter the men of Jabesh-gilead to want their ryt eyes?
Such a part of their priviledge, it is trew. Christians dow not go to
controll alwayes in such a way, but they will tak from them such
**************
1
And many of the worthy servants of the Lord, it hes beene then- judgment
in these dayes especially, the Idngly and royall office of Jesus Christ is called in
question.
2
"There."
3
"Take away."
4
"To have done."
5
"Can shape."
6
"He can put."
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PAGE 205
a part of their patrimony and liberty, and they will say this is but
a small thing.1]
It may be you that are the people think the ministers in Scotland
too peremptory in these dayes, and think, — should ye not have
more respect to us that are your people? May you not come some
length that you and we may abide together; may you not doe so?
It seems you care little for us when you will not goe so little a
length, — why but it may be done? The Apostle saith, (and some
may make use of the word,) the Lord knows whether or not we
have love to you, and coidd desyre to doe any thing that lay in
our power for your welfare, and, it may be, are as sensible as some
of yourselves what your condition will be when you and we are
seperate. But I give you this parable. A man gets his master's
flock to keep, and gets such instructions, — Abide by your flock,
and goe not to acknowledge any judicator beyond the border, if
any call you to such a court. He gets summonds to a forreign
barron's court, and they say, if you refuse to goe they will drive
the flock and spoil your master's goods. Sayes the man, I am in a
strait; I will betray my master's liberty if I goe, and the flock
may be abused if I goe not. But my Master hath given me
assureance his flock shall not want: nothing shall ail them: he
hath given them (as ye say) in steelbow: all the elect he will make
answer for them: it shall not be skin and birn, but a fair and
comely flock weell washen in his own blood. The Father's justice
shall not find spot or wrinkle in any of them. Now they will
have his servants goe; will ye but doe this, goe and book yourselves
in that court, although an unlawfull court and an unlawfull
office; but rather then expose your master's flock to hazard, doe
so. Nay, saith he, my master hath other servants to put to his
flock, and he hath given me that assureance, doe as I will, and
others as they will, let them drive and poynd, and cause them to
stand, as they say, till their chafts fall, my Master hath assured me
**************
1
The lines enclosed in brackets are not in the MS. from which this edition
is taken, nor in Mr M'Crie's MS. They are supplied from MS. vol. xxvii. in
Adv. Lib.
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