The bright star which leadeth wise men to our Lord Jesus Christ, or, A…

And even bond men are commanded, notwithstanding their low estate, & the baseness of their condition, yet, to bring some glory to God, and win some reverence to their glorious profession, by their good dealing. No man is in so mean a place, and so contemptible a degree but that he must if he will, take the name of Christ upon him, & the profession of christian religion, he must adorn, ⟨p. 55⟩and deck it, which he may do, by being faithful and diligent in his place, and giving every man his due conscionably. Even a servant, if he be not audacious, and saucy, and malapart, and picking, and false, but trusty and diligent, and serviceable, and patient, and meek, and humble, he keeps Gods commandment, he glorifies God, he graces religion, he works out his own salvation, doth what in him lies, to convert his unbelieving master, and shall have a reward for this, as well as if he were in an higher and more honourable calling, that the world made more account off. Therefore this serves again to confute those professors, that are so slenderly seen in the meaning of Gods commandments, as that they think if they be not common swearers, and outrageous blasphemers, the third commandment hath nothing to say them, & they be free from the breach of it. But this and all other of Gods commandments are broken, as well by omission, as commission, as well by not performing that that is therein enjoined, as by doing that that is forbidden, for God doth not give a law altogether negative, but it consists of a part affirmative to. And because neglecting obedience to the first branch of this holy commandment, & care not to cross God in that that is nearest unto him, therefore he crosseth & plagueth them in that that they do most set by.

And euen bond men are commanded, notwithstanding their low estate, & the basenesse of their condition, yet, to bring some glory to God, and win some reuerence to their glorious profession, by their good dealing. No man is in so meane a place, and so contemptible a degree but that he must if he will, take the name of Christ vpon him, & the profession of christian religion, he must adorne, ⟨p. 55⟩and deck it, which he may doe, by being faithfull and diligent in his place, and giuing euerie man his due conscionably. Euen a seruant, if he be not audacious, and saucie, and malapart, and picking, and false, but trustie and diligent, and seruiceable, and patient, and meeke, and humble, he keepes Gods commandement, he glorifies God, he graces religion, he works out his owne saluation, doth what in him lyes, to conuert his vnbeleeuing master, and shall haue a reward for this, as well as if he were in an higher and more honorable calling, that the world made more account off. Therefore this serues againe to confute those professors, that are so slenderly seene in the meaning of Gods commandements, as that they think if they be not common swearers, and outragious blasphemers, the third commandement hath nothing to say them, & they be free from the breach of it. But this and all other of Gods commandements are broken, as well by omission, as commission, as well by not performing that that is therein enjoyned, as by doing that that is forbidden, for God doth not giue a law altogether negatiue, but it consists of a part affirmatiue to. And because neglecting obedience to the first braunch of this holy commandement, & care not to crosse God in that that is neerest vnto him, therfore he crosseth & plagueth them in that that they doe most set by.