ought to conduct secular cases, either for themselves or for
CHAP. XYIIL] IMPOrvTANCE OF CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE. 14V
"' He that is faithful in that which is least, is faithful also in much." ^ That which is least, then, is very little ; but to be faithful in that which is least is great. For as the nature of the circle, viz. that all lines drawn from the centre to the circimiference are equal, is the same in a great disk that it is in the smallest coin ; so the greatness of justice is in no degree lessened, though the matters to which justice is applied be small.
36. And when the apostle spoke about trials in regard to secular affairs (and what were these but matters of money ?), he says : " Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints ? Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world ? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters ? Know ye not that we shall judge angels ? how much more things that pertain to this life ? If, then, ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the Church. I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you ?
no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren ? But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers. Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another : why do ye not rather take wrong ? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded ? Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren. Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?" ^ Why is it that the apostle is so indignant, and that he thus accuses, and upbraids, and chides, and threatens ? Why is it that the changes in his tone, so frequent and so abrupt, testify to the depth of his emotion ? Why is it, in fine, that he speaks in a tone so exalted about matters so very trifling ? Did secular matters deserve so much at his hands ? God forbid. No ; but all this is done for the sake of justice, charity, and piety, which in the judgment of every sober mind are great, even when applied to matters the very least.
37. Of course, if we were giving men advice as to how they ought to conduct secular cases, either for themselves or for their connections, before the church courts, we would rightly advise them to conduct them quietly as matters of little
» Luke xvi. 10. 21 Cor. vi. 1-9.