“Well,” said Joel, as he and the miller, followed by their respective families, proceeded towards the mill, where the household of the Strides’ were to pass the remainder of the day, “well, this is a bold sermon for a minister to preach in times like these!  I kind o’ guess, if Mr. Woods was down in the Bay, ’render unto Caesar the things that are Caesars,’ wouldn’t be doctrine to be so quietly received by every congregation.  What’s your notion about that, Miss Strides?”

Miss Strides thought exactly as her husband thought, and the miller and his wife were not long in chiming in with her, accordingly.  The sermon furnished material for conversation throughout the remainder of the day, at the mill, and divers conclusions were drawn from it, that were ominous to the preacher’s future comfort and security.

Nor did the well-meaning parson entirely escape comment in the higher quarters.

“I wish, Woods, you had made choice of some other subject,” observed the captain, as he and his friend walked the lawn together, in waiting for a summons to dinner.

“In times like these, one cannot be too careful of the political notions he throws out; and to own the truth to you, I am more than half inclined to think that Caesar is exercising quite as much authority, in these colonies, as justly falls to his share.”

“Why, my dear captain, you have heard this very sermon three or four times already, and you have more than once mentioned it with commendation!”

“Ay, but that was in garrison, where one is obliged to teach subordination.  I remember the sermon quite well, and a very good one it was, twenty years since, when you first preached it; but—­”

“I apprehend, captain Willoughby, that ’tempora mutantur, et, nos mutamus in illis.’ That the mandates and maxims of the Saviour are far beyond the mutations and erring passions of mortality.  His sayings are intended for all times.”

“Certainly, as respects their general principles and governing truths.  But no text is to be interpreted without some reference to circumstances.  All I mean is, that the preaching which might be very suitable to a battalion of His Majesty’s Fortieth might be very unsuitable for the labourers of the Hutted Knoll; more especially so soon after what I find is called the Battle of Lexington.”

The summons to dinner cut short the discourse; and probably prevented a long, warm, but friendly argument.

That afternoon and evening, captain Willoughby and his son had a private and confidential discourse.  The former advised the major to rejoin his regiment without delay, unless he were prepared to throw up his commission and take sides with the colonists, altogether.  To this the young soldier would not listen, returning to the charge, in the hope of rekindling the dormant flame of his father’s loyalty.