Hence, in addressing any peer of the realm, they never used
the common formula of "my lord," for though the peer in question might
justly be the lord over many possessions, and tenants, and servants, yet
he was no lord over their heritages or persons. Neither did they ever
use the terms excellency, or grace, or honour, upon similar occasions.
They considered that the bestowing of these titles might bring them
under the necessity of uttering what might be occasionally false. "For
the persons, says Barclay, obtaining these titles, either by election or
hereditarily, may frequently be found to have nothing really in them
deserving them, or answering to them, as some, to whom it is said your
excellency may have nothing of excellency in them, and he, who is called
your grace, may be an enemy to grace, and he, who is called your honour,
may be base and ignoble." They considered also, that they might be
setting up the creature, by giving him the titles of the creator, so
that he might think more highly of himself than he ought, and more
degradingly than he ought, of the rest of the human race.
But, independently of these moral considerations, they rejected these
titles, because they believed, that Jesus Christ had set them an example
by his own declarations and conduct on a certain occasion.
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