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

And also in an other kind of unfaithfulness is in riotous servants, that can rid of no work, but meat and drink, to carouse and drink healths, and drink one an other under the table; let them alone they be men of proof, for such matters, but if it be to do any thing of good service to the family, that the master should be the better for it, yet can do nothing. These be unfaithful; for an idle person is a companion with the waster, and such be thieves, for they live out of a calling, they obey no law, nor have any warrant from God to use any of his creatures.

And also in an other kinde of vnfaithfulnesse is in riotous seruants, that can rid of no worke, but meat and drinke, to carowse and drinke healths, and drinke one an other vnder the table; let them alone they be men of proofe, for such matters, but if it be to doe any thing of good seruice to the familie, that the master should be the better for it, yet cā doe nothing. These be vnfaithfull; for an idle person is a companion with the waister, and such be theeues, for they liue out of a calling, they obey no law, nor haue any warrant from God to vse any of his creatures.

A fourth duty in servants, is to serve God in their calling. For admit one do all the former. that he reverence his master in his heart, and never give him an ill word or show a froward gesture, never disobey him, nor be unfaithful nor idle, but so careful, that he would not rob his master of the least matter in his greatest necessity: yet all this will afford no comfort, unless one have done it for conscience, and hath served God in it. This is the main duty and pillar of the rest, that one do it not principally because his master commands, but because ⟨p. 14⟩God commands, not because his Masters eye is upon him, but because Gods pure eyes behold him, either to punish him if he do not his duty, or to reward him if he do it faithfully. This is the cheese point at which servants must aim; Commandment. Ephes. 6. 5. In singleness of your heart as unto Christ. And there is a reason why one must chiefly seek to please God and not man, for if one do so, this will follow, that one shall not do it in eye service, that is this, when the Master looks on to be so nimble and ready to do as much as two or three; but no sooner the Masters eye is turned away, but all is given over and the time spent idle, and nothing is done, or if it be tis naughtily and negligently. But where this is not, that one chiefly respects God, his obedience can never be constant, it is but by sits and starts, and hangs upon the masters eye; take away that and all is done. Secondly, if one serve not God, then he, is straight discouraged at unkindness, here's no reward for ones pains, no respect had of ones labour; indeed if one serve his master only, he may truly say so of times, but if one serve God and do it in obedience to God, he cannot at any time say, here is no consideration had of ones diligence; twere impious to say so, & to make God a liar & unfaithful. but there is sufficient consideration and reward if one serve God, for then if his master do not recompense him, he whom he serveth will. As the example of Jacob shows. He serve a covetous master one that made no conscience of his promise to a poor man, as this is always the trick of a covetous man, he cares not what promise he break to a poor man.