A20559:302
The bright star which leadeth wise men to our Lord Jesus Christ, or, A…
The bright star which leadeth wise men to our Lord Jesus Christ, or, A familiar and learned exposition on the ten commandments gathered from the mouth of a faithful pastor by a gracious young man, sometime scholar in Cambridge.The bright star which leadeth wise men to our Lord Jesus Christ, or, A familiar and learned exposition on the ten commandements gathered from the mouth of a faithfull pastor by a gracious young man, sometime scholler in Cambridge.
London: printed by John Harison for Thomas Man, 1603London: printed by Iohn Harison for Thomas Man, 1603
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Secondly, if one bear any love to his servants or children, even for their own sakes, he must see to them that they break not the sabbath, but that they come to such exercises where they may receive the spirit of God, and the chief good to their souls: always a good governor must govern for the good of those that be under him, now what greater good can he do to them, then to use those means whereby they may know God in Christ Jesus, and be brought to salvation. So that if one will not show a disloyal hart against God, and unloving and unfaithful hart to his people, that he cares not for their salvation, he must see that they keep the sabbath so far as it belongs to him, namely by being outwardly present at the works of religion.
Secondly, if one beare any loue to his seruants or children, euen for their owne sakes, hee must see to them that they breake not the sabboth, but that they come to such exercises where they may receiue the spirit of God, and the chiefe good to their soules: alwaies a good gouernour must gouerne for the good of those that bee vnder him, now what greater good can hee doe to them, then to vse those meanes whereby they may know God in Christ Iesus, and bee brought to saluation. So that if one will not shew a disloyall hart against God, and vnlouing and vnfaithfull hart to his people, that hee cares not for their saluation, hee must see that they keepe the sabboth so farre as it belongs to him, namely by being outwardly present at the workes of religion.
Thirdly, in regard of our own good to, such as be masters must be careful over their servants in this regard, for take this for a general rule, he that will not be faithful to God, ⟨image 89⟩will never be faithful to man, he that hath no care to serve God in duties of religion, will have less care to serve his master in the duties of his calling, as indeed they have; for if the honour of God and their own salvation will not move them, why should they be moved for their masters profit or business, but he that serves God with a good conscience, will serve his master with a good conscience, and though his master be not present to rebuke him, his own conscience will check him, and when the fear of his master will not keep from idleness and untrustiness, the fear of God will keep him, and the commandment of God will restrain him: else either they will do nothing, or what they do is all for eye service to be seen of men, and when the masters eye is off, then by idleness or wastefulness or pilfering they will hurt one more then the faithful keeping of the sabbath can hinder them, for that will not hinder them at all, but be a means to bring, the blessing of God on their labours in the week day. As Jacob a faithful servant to God, was blessed in all Labans business, and Joseph a true worshipper of the Lord, had prosperity to follow him, and accompany him in all his travails. Therefore if we will show our love to God, and to them, and desire that they be faithful to us, and God should bless their labours in our affairs, bring them to the service of God, and exercises of religion on the sabbath, and have a care that they break not the holy day of the Lord.