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yet they are masters, 1 Tim. vi. 1.; and if they be fellow Chriftians, that takes not away the distance of stations,

ver. 2.

3. Carefulness to maintain the credit of the family, not disclosing the secrets thereof, nor blazing abroad their infirmities. The king of Syria was troubled to think that any of his fervants fhould be as fpies upon him, 2 Kings vi. 11. And furely tale-bearing fervants must be a great plague to a family. It is reckoned among the mischiefs of an evil time, when there is no trufting of any body that a man's enemies are thofe of his own houfe, Mich. vii. 6. It is a Judas-like treachery, when men or women are brought into a house to eat their bread and work their work, to go abroad among others and wound their reputation.

4. Standing to the master's allowance, both in things determined by condition and not determined. Some things, are determined by condition, that the fervants may require; and when the mafter allows that, though the fervant may think it two little, he ought not to take more at his own hand. So when fervants are allowed to keep fo many beasts, and no more, it is their fin to keep more; though they may think it is no fault if they can get it kept fecret, it does no great wrong to the mafter. But that is injuftice to the mafter, andy our fin before God, in whofe fight it will be reckoned theft, Gen. xxx. 23. And in things not determined by condition, as the measure of diet and liberty, certainly the master's allowance in that is to be ftood to. As to their diet, it is obferved of the virtuous woman, Prov. xxxi. 15." She giveth meat to her household:" they do not take it at their own hand. The fecret wafte that fome make in the houses of others for their bellies, is oft-times, I believe, punished with hungry bellies when they come to their own. As for their liberty and time, it is carved out by the masters, not by the fervants, ver. 15. 18. And for fervants to take their mafter's time to employ for themselves, without their master's allowance, is injuftice.

5. Meek and patient fubmiffion to the checks and rebukes of the master, not answering again, Tit. ii. 9. The ears of fervants are bored to hear, and their tongues not filed to fpeak. It is very good reason, will ye fay, when we are in a fault; though many will not take a word in that cafe, without giving the mafter as good as he brings. But if they have

done no fault, they think they are not obliged to bear a re-
buke. But the spirit of God does not teach fo, 1 Pet. ii. 18.
19. 20. "Servants, be subject to your mafters, with all fear,
not only to the good and gentle, but alfo to the froward.
For this is thank-worthy, if a man for confcience toward
God endure grief, fuffering wrongfully. For what glory is
it, if, when ye be buffeted for
be buffeted for your faults, ye fhall take it pa-
tiently? but if, when ye do well, and fuffer for it, ye take it
patiently; this is acceptable with God." It may be the ma-
fter's fin to chide unreasonably, but it is the fervant's fin not
to bear it meekly. Sarah dealt hardly with her maid, which
was her fin; yet the angel will not allow Hagar to take
her heels for it, but obliges her to return and fubmit, Gen.
xvi. 9.

9. Lastly, Serving them confcientioufly and honeftly. If fervants expect their wages, they owe their master service; and God will have them to make confcience of their fervice. If we look to the word of God, there is much that

this.

goes to (1.) Servants must be obedient and pliable to the commands of the master in all lawful things, Tit. ii. 9. Though the fervice required may be painful and hard yet they ought not to refuse it. Thus Jacob ferved Laban, Gen. xxxi. 40. 41. without confidering, that he was as good a man as his master was. They that put their necks under the yoke, fhould refolve to bear it.

(2.) Ye fhould follow the mafters direction in the management of the work, not only doing what you are bidden, but as ye are bidden, Pfal. cxxiii. 2. The mafter is the eye to direct, and the fervant the hand to do what is directed. That the fervant may calmly advise the master, there is no doubt; but they that will do nothing pleasantly, if they get not their own way of it, forget themfelves and their duty.

(3.) Ye fhould do your business cheerfully, Col. iii. 23. Such a fervant was Jacob to his uncle Laban, Gen. xxix. 20. Sullennefs and going about business grudgingly, makes it unacceptable, though otherwife well done.

(4.) Ye fhould do your business fingly. This a fervant does when he does not confult his own eafe and humour, but his master's true intereft, truly aiming at the thriving of his affairs, carefully avoiding every thing that may tend to

his lofs; and therefore pursuing his interest when the master is abfent as well as when present, aiming at his duty, as under the eye of God.

(5.) Ye fhould do your business faithfully. Faithfulness is a neceffary qualification in a good fervant, Matth. xxiv. 45. Servants having their master's fubftance among their hands, had need to be faithful, they having occafion to wrong him eafily, if they have no refpect to confcience. But the fear of God will make people faithful to men in little and in great things. They muft not take of their master's goods to their own use, without his allowance, Tit. ii. 10. They must be faithful in their accounts, and not give up accounts, as the unjust steward did, Luke xvi. 6. ; nor alledge falfe commiffions from their master, as Gehazi did, 2 Kings v. 22. Jacob's faithfulness was his comfort, that though he had his master's flocks among his hands, he was free of them, Gen. xxxi. 38.

false

6. Diligence and carefulness about their mafter's business, Prov. xxii. ult. Negligence and careleffness is a piece of injustice, whereby fervants defraud their masters, Prov. xviii. 9.; for the lofs may be all one to the mafter, whether it be procured wilfully or through careleffness.

7. Lastly, Readiness and quickness in the dispatch of businefs. A flothful lazy fervant is most uneasy, Prov. x. 26. Such a one, quick and ready, was Abraham's fervant, Gen. xxiv. 33. 56. It is an apoftolical precept, Rom. xii. 11. "Not flothful in business; fervent in fpirit;" for fervants fhould ply their work, and honeftly employ their strength for their master's behoof, Gen. xxxi. 6.

SECONDLY, I come now to fhew the duty of masters with refpect to their fervants, 1. In the choice of them; and, 2. When they have got them.

First, In the choice of fervants, two things are to be noticed.

1. Chriftian mafters fhould look to the converfation of thofe whom they take to be their fervants, that they be piously inclined, as David did, Pfal. ci. 6. left they bring an Achan into their camp. A pious fervant may bring a bleffing to the mafter, as in Jofeph's cafe. It is obfervable, that Potiphar faw that God was with Jofeph, ere he entrusted him with his bufinefs, Gen. xxxix. 3, 4. When Jonah came to the shipmaster, he took him into his fhip without

afking questions, but ere all was done he was made to do it, Jonah i. 8.

2. They should look to their fitness and ability for their fervice, Pfal. cxii. 5. So Laban had knowledge of what Jacob could do before he engaged with him; for he ftaid with him a month, Gen. xxix. 14, 15.

Secondly, When they have got them. There are two things in the general that they owe unto them.

1. That which is juft. Just things must be done to all, and particularly to thofe that are under us. God takes fpecial notice of injuftice done by fuperiors to inferiors, who cannot fo well get themselves righted. And by the law of ftrict justice masters are,

(1.) To allow their fervants fufficient maintenance, whether within or without the house, Prov. xxvii. 27. If mafters get their work, it is just they fhould allow them food convenient, whereby they may be fitted for their work. The mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn was not to be muzzled; for our fakes doubtlefs God faith it, that thofe who work fhould eat fufficiently.

(2.) To give them payment of their wages, the keeping back whereof is a great oppreffion and crying fin, Jam. v. 4. Masters fhould beware of all fraud and deceit in this. It ftands as a blot on Laban's memory, that he did not keep conditions with Jacob, but changed his wages ten times, Gen. xxxi. 41.; for which he might make fome plaufible pretence as well as others. To pay them what is infufficient, putting them off with any thing that may make up account, is unjuft, Amos viii. 6. Nay, the keeping it up, and delaying to pay them, when it is in the power of our hand, is contrary to juftice, Deut. xxiv. 14, 15.

(3.) They should require no more of them than they are able to do. Servants fhould not be kept idle, Prov. xxix. 21.; neither fhould they be rigorously preffed above their power, but allowed convenient time for reft and refreshment, Lev. xxv. 43. It is juft, not only because they are fellowcreatures, but fellow Chriftians.

(4.) Overfight and direction in what they fhould do, Prov. xxxi. 27. Thus Boaz is found in the field with his reapers. It is very unjust to find fault with what fervants do, while men will not be at pains to tell them how they would have their business done.

2. They owe them that which is equal by the law of Christian meekness and charity. Now, thus they owe unto them these things.

(1.) Mafters ought to rule their fervants gently and meekly, as being of the fame blood with themselves, Eph. vi. 9. A proud and imperious carriage does not become Christianity. They fhould moderate or relax threatening, not do all with them with boasting and terror, but by meeknefs draw them on.

(2.) They should be ready to hear them in what they have to fay. It is the character of a Nabal, that "he was fuch a fon of Belial, that a man could not fpeak to him," 1 Sam. xxv. 17. Job declares himself to have been of another temper, Job xxxi. 13. The advice of a fervant, modeftly propofed, is not to be flighted, 2 Kings v. 13, 14.; and if there be any thing they have to complain of, masters fhould hearken thereto, and do them right, as they would have God to hearken to themselves.

(3.) They should be wary of hearkening to ill tales concerning them, Prov. xxix. 12. An eafiness to believe every tale makes an uneafy life, especially ill tales concerning those in whom people are particularly concerned.

(4.) They ought to take care of them when they are fick, efpecially when they have none other to care for them. It is highly reasonable that they should be cared for in their fickness by thofe in whofe fervice they have fpent their ftrength, Matt. viii. 6. It is noted as a piece of the cruelty of an Amalekite, that he left his fervant when sickness overtook him, 1 Sam. xxx. 13..

(5.) They should encourage and fhew special favour, even by letting fomething beyond condition fall to faithful and diligent fervants. This is very equal; reafon, interest, and religion, call for it, Prov. xiv. ult. For a faithful fervant is one of the best of friends.

(6.) Laftly, They should be concerned for the good of the fouls of their fervants. For in this cafe mafters are instead of parents to them. They fhould inftruct them in the principles of religion, and labour to train them up in the ways of godlinefs, fetting them on and ftirring them up to duty, Gen. xviii. 19. They fhould daily pray with them and for them, by keeping up religious duties in their family, Jer. x. 25. And they fhould labour to bring them to the public

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