“Jabez,” Zephaniah said, as they turned into the house, “I had not thought to hear a son of mine rise in rebellion against his father.”

“Father,” Jabez said, “for forty-five years I have been a good son to you; but it is time that I took my stand.  It seems to me that the principles upon which the soldiers of Cromwell fought, were the principles which animated the Israelites of old.  Exodus, Judges, and Kings were the groundwork of their religion, not the Gospels.  It has gradually been borne upon me that such is not the religion of the New Testament, and, while I seek in no way to dispute your right to think as you choose, I say the time has come when I and my wife will act upon our principles.”

“It is written, Honour thy father and thy mother,” Zephaniah said sternly.

“Ay, father, I have honoured you, and I shall honour you to the end; but a man has no right to give up his conscience to his father; for it is written, also, that a man shall leave father and mother, and wife and home to follow the Lord.  I have heard you, father, and the elders of our church, quote abundant texts from Scripture, but never one, that I can recall, from the New Testament.  Hitherto, I have been as an Israelite of Joshua’s time.  Henceforward, I hope to be a Christian.  I grieve to anger you, father, and for years I have held my peace rather than do so; but the time has come when the spirit within me will no longer permit me to hold my peace.  In all worldly matters, I am still your obedient son, ready to labour to my utmost to gather up wealth which I do not enjoy, to live a life as hard as that of the poorest tenant on our lands; but, as touching higher matters, I and my wife go our own way.”

Without a word, Zephaniah took his hat and strode away from the house, and, after much angry communing with himself, went to the minister and deacons of his chapel, and laid the facts of the rebellion before them, and asked their advice.

They were in favour of peace, for two of them were his tenants, and they knew that the time could not be very far off when Jabez would take the old man’s place, and it would be a serious matter, indeed, to the chapel, were he to be driven from its fold.

“We cannot expect that all shall see with our eyes, Zephaniah,” the minister said, “and, indeed, the offer, which thou sayest the man Davenant made, was a generous one.  It would be well, indeed, for our brethren throughout Ireland, did all the original owners of their lands so treat them.  Thousands who, but a few months since, were prosperous men, are now without a shelter wherein to lay their heads.  The storm is sweeping over us, the elect are everywhere smitten, and, should James Stuart conquer, not a Protestant in Ireland but must leave its shores.  Therefore, although I would counsel no giving up of principle, no abandonment of faith, yet I would say that this is no time for the enforcement of our views upon weak vessels.  I mourn that your son should, for the time, have fallen away from your high standard, but I say it were best to be patient with him.”