A supplement to The Morning-exercise at Cripple-Gate, or, Several more cases of conscience practically…

I come now to lay down the positive duties of Masters, and that I shall do with somewhat more brevity.

¹First, Let all Masters endeavour to be God's Servants: True Religion and divine Principles in the heart will give a man the best measures 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? ²this, this will make a man merciful, patient, meek, heavenly minded, and yet diligent in his place: 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 ⟨p. 453⟩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 a 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, ³and 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.

¹First, Let all Masters endeavour to be God's Servants: True Religion and divine Principles in the heart will give a man the best measures 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?