Page:Brief historical relation of the life of Mr. John Livingston Minister of the Gospel.pdf/66

( 66 ) ye call that a ſmall thing? His small things are very great things. It might be proven unto you, that there never was a controverſy ſince the beginning of the world, even touching the moſt momentous truths, that was not accounted a ſmall thing, while it was an occaſion of trial; and that the thing which is now become the occaſion of trial to many, is no leſs than the free exerciſe of the kingly and royal office of, in the diſcipline and government of his houſe. But ſome of you will ſay, This is but a matter of diſcipline and government, and why need we make ſo great ado about this? For ſilencing ſuch objections, let us uſe this compariſon; A gardner is appointed to keep his maſter’s garden, and after a while he calls down the rails and hedges about the ſame: His maſtler challenges him for doing ſo; The other anſwers, I have not meddled with your fruit-trees, your flowers nor your herbs, I have only call down the fences, and that is but a ſmall thing. You poſſibly reckon it ſo, ſays his maſter, but in doing that small thing, you open a gap for the beaſts to come in and ſpoil all. Our bleſsed was of another mind, when he ſaid. The faithful ſervant is faithful in a little, and if it be a ſmall thing, the ſervant that is faithful in it, doth thereby teſtify his love to his maſter, as much as in a greater matter. Take another ſimilitude; A tenant, in his maſter’s abſence, doth, upon the intreaty of his neighbour tenant, give him a butt or half a ridge of ground: and when, at his maſter’s return, he is challenged for ſuffering the other to change his march-ſtone, he anſwers. It was a ſmall thing. Sir, and ye have ground enough beſides. Would his maſter accept that anſwer off his hand? Satan always ſhapes a trial, and puts it to ſuch a frame he can draw to a ſmall point, and ſet it, as ye uſe to ſay, in aciem novaculi, like a raſor’s edge, that many think there is little between the two; and yet the one ſide is a denying of, and the other a confeſſing him. It may be you that are the people, think the miniſters too peremptory in theſe days, and that we might go on ſome length, that ye and we may abide together; it ſeems (ſay you) that we care little for you, when we will not yield ſomewhat. The Lord knows whether