Balfour,« replied Morton, »much of this sort of
language, which, I observe, is so powerful with others, is entirely lost on me.
It is proper you should be aware of this before we commune further together.«
(The young clergyman here groaned deeply.) »I distress you, sir,« said Morton;
»but perhaps it is because you will not hear me out. I revere the Scriptures as
deeply as you or any Christian can do. I look into them with humble hope of
extracting a rule of conduct and a law of salvation. But I expect to find this
by an examination of their general tenor, and of the spirit which they uniformly
breathe, and not by wresting particular passages from their context, or by the
application of Scriptural phrases to circumstances and events with which they
have often very slender relation.«
    The young divine seemed shocked and thunderstruck with this declaration, and
was about to remonstrate. »Hush, Ephraim!« said Burley; »remember he is but as a
babe in swaddling clothes. - Listen to me, Morton. I will speak to thee in the
worldly language of that carnal reason, which is for the present, thy blind and
imperfect guide. What is the object for which thou art content to draw thy
sword? Is it not that the church and state should be reformed by the free voice
of a free parliament, with such laws as shall hereafter prevent the executive
government from spilling the blood, torturing and imprisoning the persons,
exhausting the estates, and trampling upon the consciences of men, at their own
wicked pleasure?«
    »Most certainly,« said Morton; »such I esteem legitimate causes of warfare,
and for such I will fight while I can wield a sword.«
    »Nay, but,« said Macbriar, »ye handle this matter too tenderly; nor will my
conscience permit me to fard or daub over the causes of divine wrath« --
    »Peace, Ephraim Macbriar!« again interrupted Burley.
    »I will not peace,« said the young man. »Is it not the cause of my Master
who hath sent me? Is it not a profane and Erastian destroying of his authority,
usurpation of his power, denial of his name, to place either King or Parliament
in his place as the master and governor of his household, the adulterous husband
of his spouse?«
    »You speak well,« said Burley, dragging him aside, »but not wisely. Your own
ears have heard this night in council how this scattered remnant are broken and
divided,