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

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.

Thirdly, in regard of our owne good to, such as be masters must bee carefull ouer their seruants in this regard, for take this for a generall rule, hee that will not bee faithfull to God, ⟨image 89⟩will neuer bee faithfull to man, hee that hath no care to serue God in duties of religion, will haue lesse care to serue his master in the duties of his calling, as indeede they haue; for if the honour of God and their owne saluation will not moue them, why should they bee moued for their masters profit or businesse, but hee that serues God with a good conscience, will serue his master with a good conscience, and though his master bee not present to rebuke him, his owne conscience will checke him, and when the feare of his master will not keepe from idlenesse and vntrustinesse, the feare of God will keepe him, and the commandement of God will restraine him: else either they will doe nothing, or what they doe is all for eie seruice to bee seene of men, and when the masters eie is off, then by idlenesse or wastfulnesse or pilfering they will hurt one more then the faithfull keeping of the sabboth can hinder them, for that will not hinder them at all, but bee a meanes to bring, the blessing of God on their labours in the weeke day. As Iacob a faithfull seruant to God, was blessed in all Labans businesse, and Ioseph a true worshipper of the Lord, had prosperitie to follow him, and accompanie him in all his trauailes. Therfore if wee will shew our loue to God, and to them, and desire that they bee faithfull to vs, and God should blesse their labours in our affaires, bring them to the seruice of God, and exercises of religion on the sabboth, and haue a care that they breake not the holy day of the Lord.