of action the grace of God will teach him to deny his pride, passion, sensuality, and worldly lusts, and to live holily, soberly and righteously, in this present world. Religion in its power,-O how lovely doth it make a man! With what wisdom and prudence doth such an one act! With what sweetness and love, and yet with what majesty! What a brave master was Abraham! And what made him so, but the fear of God? This, this will make a man merciful, patient, meek, heavenly-minded, and yet diligent in his place; (Matt. xi. 29;) this will make him exemplary, and, as much as in him lies, to act like God in his place. And what injury can such a person do? Can he be cruel, that hath such a Master as Christ? Can he find in his heart to be unmerciful, who hath obtained mercy? If a man be very holy himself, his example will have a drawing power in it to allure to that which is so good, and be a constant check to that which is bad: such an one is under the promise of God's blessing; and he will teach him, and give him wisdom to discharge the duty of his place he is made "partaker of the divine nature," (2 Peter i. 4,) and so enabled in some measure to act in a conformity to the divine will.* It was no small commendation which Paul gave of Philemon, when he spake of the "church in his house." (Phil. 2.) When our first parents were in their pure state, what homage did all the creatures give them, as their visible Lord! And had not man, by his fal!, forfeited this prerogative, and by denying God's sovereignty lost their own, they had, no doubt, still kept their dominion over the creatures. And now, the more of holiness is in a man, and the more near God, and like him, the more likely [is he] to get and keep a majesty and dominion in his place. Surely, "great holiness commands respect and reverence;" and rather choose to have your inferiors reverence than fear you; for admiration and love accompany reverence; but hatred, fear. O what a noble thing were man, if goodness and purity did always accompany superiority and government! These are, and shall be, honourable, in spite of malice itself. A right worshipping of God is the captain of all virtue; § and when this divine seed is cast into the soul, it lays the foundation of brave and true honour and respect; such a one,he offers himself a sacrifice to God, and makes a temple for God in himself, and then in his family; and such a master, who would grudge to ? How sweet must obedience then be, when nothing is commanded but what God commands, and it is interest and profit to obey! (1 Peter v. 1.) O, sirs, little do you think how much power a meek, holy, grave conversation hath. Who that hath the least spark of ingenuity in him will not be restrained, if not conquered, by it? O that masters would but try this way! And if honouring God do not more secure their honour than severity, then let me be counted a deceiver. This, this is the most effectual way to make servants good, -to be good yourselves; this will bring them to a true relish of religion, when it is pressed upon them by precept and example. (1 Sam. i. 21.) I have known some servants that have blessed the day that ever they saw their masters' faces. O let your excellency allure and draw those under you, as the sun doth men's eyes, or as meat and drink doth the hungry.|| serve : : 2. Endeavour the good of the souls of those under your charge with all your might be in travail to see Christ formed in their souls. (Rom. x. 1.) Give them no rest till you have prevailed with them to be in good earnest for heaven: allow them time for prayer, reading of the word, hearing of good sermons, and for conversing with good books: commend to them Baxter's "Call to the Unconverted," and Mr. Thomas Vincent's "Explanation of the Assembly's Catechism," &c.; and observe what company they keep; and if you know a holy, experienced servant, commend their society and example to them. Keep a constant watch over your servants: remember what temptations they are exposed to; know how they spend their time; call them oft to an account, and look well to your books it will do them no hurt, and you much good: be oft, in meekness and pity, treating with them about their everlasting concerns; and let your carriage bring full evidence along with it of your dear love to their immortal souls. Labour, as well as you can, to convince them of the corruption of their nature, of the evil of sin, of their lost and undone state, of their impotency and utter inability to save themselves, or to make the least satisfaction to divine justice, or to bear that punishment that is due unto them for every sin; show them their absolute need of a Christ, and that, without him, there is no salvation; make them to understand what the new birth is, what kind of change it is, and how necessary; and warn them of the danger of miscarriage in conversion, and of taking-up with a half-work, and resting in the outward part of religion, and their own righteousness. (Matt. v. 20.) Put them upon labouring to know God in Christ: "This is life eternal, to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom he hath sent." (John xvii. 3.) Do what you can possibly to convince their judgments of the reasonableness, profitableness, and sweetness of religion, where it is in its reality, vigour, and constancy: (Prov. iii. 17; Rom. xii. 1; Matt. xi. 28-30; 1 Tim. iv. 8:) take-off the imputations and aspersions which the unexperienced, foolish infidel would cast upon Christianity. Never think you can commend Christ too much to them. (Prov. iii. 15.) O, if you could allure their souls, captivate their hearts, and make them in love with Him who is "altogether lovely!" (Canticles v. 16.) O let them not alone, till you see them deeply affected with these things! Expostulate the case with them frequently by themselves. Ask them what they think of the estate of their souls, and leave not with their sullen silence. Ask them plainly, how they can eat, or drink, or sleep, without Christ and pardon; and what they mean, to be so unconcerned. Tell them that death may be nearer them than they imagine; and that, as death leaveth them, judgment will find them. Tell them that their stupidity is an effect of that deadness their souls lie under; and that, if they be not awakened quickly, they must be unconceivably and eternally miserable. Ask them what they have to say against the ways of God, and what they have to plead for their neglecting their souls, for sin and for Satan. Tell them, these things are matters of such weight, that they need not much time to determine what must be done; it is a matter of such vast importance, that it calls for the greatest speed, diligence, and care imaginable; and that you cannot be satisfied till you see this work done. Catechise and instruct them con stantly, at least once a week. Let the word sound daily in their ears, and pray twice a-day with them; let some time be allowed them for secret duties; and put them upon the performance of them spiritually and constantly. Keep them not too long at work, or in the shop, on Saturday night. The Jews had their preparation for the sabbath; and the ancient Christians did not fall short of them in their preparation for the Lord's day. Let the sabbath be carefully spent in secret, family, and public duties; and, for the better direction in your duties upon that day, I refer you to that excellent piece, Mr. Wells's Practical Sabbatarian ;" a book it is pity any great family should want. Cause your servants to bear you company to hear the most powerful preacher you can; require an account of what they hear, and let the sermons be repeated in your family; and ask them what it was that did most affect their hearts, and labour to press things home afresh upon their souls. And if you perceive any good inclinations in them, encourage them greatly, and improve them all you can; and if you do not see what you would presently, be not quite discouraged, and cast them off as hopeless. "Exhort them daily, while it is called to-day;" (Heb. iii. 13;) and if you see them still dull, hard-hearted, and under a spirit of slumber, be yet the more earnest: who knows but a little more patience and compassion and zeal may prevail? But if, after long using the fore-mentioned means, you find them still refractory, stubborn, and to slight your counsel, and run-on in sin, and to grow worse and worse, you must add sharp reproofs; (Prov. xxix. 19;) and if they do no good, but they make a mock at them, and endeavour to jeer their fellow-servants out of their duty too, then you must add blows to your words. Stripes are fit for the back of a fool; (Prov. xxvi. 3;) and if neither exhortations, reproofs, nor corrections will prevail, but they continue still like sons of Belial, rebellious to God and you; then remember your duty is to ease your house of them. (Psalm ci. 4.) Consider well what danger there is of their infecting the rest of your servants and children; consult your own peace, honour, and profit. Let not a liar, a company-keeper, a vile person, dwell in your house, when you have used all possible means for his reclaiming: "What fellowship should light have with darkness?" (2 Cor. vi. 14.) Remember that God hath made you a prophet, a priest, and a king in your own family. 3. Another duty of masters is, diligently and faithfully to instruct their servants in their calling.—Conceal nothing of the mystery of your art from them: I mean, of what is lawful; for if you are skilled in the art of cheating, you must unlearn that yourselves, and never teach them that which will hazard their ruin. Some masters are ready to hide the most profitable and ingenious part of their trade from their servants. Remember, sirs, that law and nature, reason and religion, all command you to be faithful in this thing. Their parents or friends put them to you to teach them an honest calling; and you promised you would do it; and it is dishonesty in the highest degree to fail in this. 4. Be just, compassionate, and loving.-Be as ready to commend and encourage them for doing their duty, as to reprove them for the neglect of it. Let them want nothing that is fitting for them in the place they are in. Let their food be wholesome, seasonable, and sufficient; (Prov. xxxi. 15;) let their clothing be warm, sweet, and decent; let their lodging be warm, and sweet, and wholesome; not too far from your eye and ear. Let them have rest sufficient to recruit nature, and to fit them for God's service and yours. And in case of sickness, let them have such tendance, physic, and diet as they need. You cannot imagine what obligations you may by this lay upon your servants to fidelity; how acceptable this is to God, and how much reputation it will get you among men. See an excellent example in the centurion. (Matt. viii. 5, 9.) "Give unto your servants that which is just and equal." (Col. iv. 1.) It was Job's commendation, "that he did not despise the cause of his handmaid.” (Job xxxi. 13.) Use your tongues to sweetness: a soft word sooner prevails than a hard blow or curse. Be punctually faithful to your contract with them; pay them their wages to the full: it is better to do more, than less, than your bargain. In a word, "as the elect of God, put-on bowels of pity, and put-off all these, anger, wrath, malice, cursing: " remember "the wrath of man works not the righteousness of God." (Col. iii. 12; James i. 20; Eph. iv. 26.) Be angry for nothing but sin. Remember, a Christ-like gospelspirit is a spirit of love and peace, meekness and faithfulness; with these things God and man are well pleased. (Gal. v. 22.) 5. Discharge your servants with sweetness and love, and do not grudge that they should have a livelihood as well as you.-Send them out of your family with the counsel, the good-will of a father, and reckon, one that was a faithful servant to you seven years deserves to be esteemed next a child ever after. To this end it would not be amiss, if you give him as good a report as he deserves, to raise his reputation and credit; and if you help him as far as you are well able in his setting-up, you will not repent it upon a death-bed, nor at the day of judgment. In old time God did require, that when a servant served six years, he should not be sent away empty; "but," saith the text, "thou shalt furnish him liberally out of thy flock, and out of thy floor, and out of thy wine-press : and that wherewith the Lord thy God hath blessed thee thou shalt give unto him." (Deut. xv. 13, 14.) And I know not why this may not be practised still, where the master is wealthy and able, and the servant poor and deserving: neither do I know where the gospel gives us a discharge from the works of charity and mercy. (Col. iii. 13; Rom. xiii. 9, 10; 1 Thess. iv. 9.) I come now to exhort masters to this work, to perform their duty. And this I shall press with a few MOTIVES. 1. Consider, what a Master God is to his servants.-He is most just and righteous in all his dealings: who can accuse him of the least unrighteousness? Who can say, he hath done him wrong, and that he is a hard Master? Come, let any testify against God, and make good their charge if they can. Is not he full of pity, and ready to forgive? How ready to moderate his anger when he is highly provoked! It is not without good reason that the prophet saith, "Who is a God like unto our God?" And he is ready to teach his servants, and to help their infirmities; and if their work be hard, he doth bear the heavier part of it. He is ready to keep them company, to succour and encourage and comfort them. He provides all things needful for them: he delights in the prosperity of his servants, and loves to see his servants thrive: he gives them many a token of his love here: but, O, "what great things hath he laid up for them! Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man to conceive it." Their reward is exceeding great, sure, and eternal. (Isai. xlv. 21; Psalm xcii. 15; James v. 3—8; Psalm ciii. 14; Mal. iii. 17; Micah vii. 18; Exod. xxxiv. 6; Psalm xxv. 4; Job xxxvi. 22; Isai. xxviii. 26; Rom. viii. 26; Psalm xxxii. 8; Isai. xliii. 2; Dan. iii. 25; Psalm xxiii. 1; xxxiv. 10; xix. 11; xxxi. 19, 20.) 0, what harm would it do you to be like God? Do not your servants deserve more kindness from you than you or any other doth from God? 2. Consider, what need your servants have of your utmost care in the fore-mentioned particulars.-They are young, unexperienced, heady, nay, naturally ignorant, proud, dead; children of wrath, enemies to God; every moment in danger of miscarrying. And at whose hand will their blood be required, think you, if you do not your duty to warn, reprove, correct them? 3. Consider, how much it will be for your honour.-How high an esteem will all good men have for you! How great a value must wise magistrates set on you! What reason hath the city and corporation to rise-up and call such "blessed!" How great and how common a good such are, is scarce to be expressed. Such shall have a good report, in spite of wickedness; your servants cannot but look upon you as their counsellor, master, father, and give you suitable respect and honour. 4. Consider, how pleasing and acceptable this is to God.-Such the Lord is nigh to; his eyes behold [them] with delight. It is not he that observes his great sacrifices, it is not he that makes many prayers, it is not he that makes the greatest show of religion outwardly, that is accepted; * but it is he that gives-up his heart first to God, as a warm sacrifice full of love, and then his house unto the Lord: (Joshua xxiv. 15 :) this, this is the man that God will visit, comfort, bless; (Psalm i. 3;) this is he that, ere long, shall hear his great Master's commendation, and have a welcome to glory. (Matt. xxv. 34.) 5. Consider, how much profit and pleasure you shall have here.-By your diligence and care, you may be enriched; there is God's promise for your security. (Prov. xxviii. 20; x. 6.) By this your trade is likely to thrive, your credit rise greatly, your custom increase; and when the careless master makes haste to poverty, a wise, diligent, and faithful [master] is in the most likely way to get, improve, and keep an estate. I might say, what pleasure and comfort a man cannot but take in his family, when every one acts regularly in their place! 6. Consider, how much good your faithfulness may do others.-Your servants may, for aught that I know, call you their spiritual fathers, and bless God for ever for your examples, exhortations, prayers; and your servants may instruct your children, and be frequently instilling one good thing or other into them, and influence them more than you are aware • HIEROCLES. |