N07105:126
The well-ordered family
The well-ordered family: wherein the duties of it's [sic] various members are described and urged. A small, but very comprehensive piece, suitable to be in the hand of every householder [sic]; and may be especially seasonable in the present day. / By that eminently pious and learned divine, Mr. Isaac Ambrose, Minister of the Gospel at Preston. ; [Two lines from John]The well-ordered family: wherein the duties of it's [sic] various members are described and urged. A small, but very comprehensive piece, suitable to be in the hand of every housholder [sic]; and may be especially seasonable in the present day. / By that eminently pious and learned divine, Mr. Isaac Ambrose, Minister of the Gospel at Preston. ; [Two lines from John]
Boston: printed by S. Kneeland, 1762
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.
5. Objct. But some may object, That all Men are alike, and that there is no Difference as betwixt Masters and Servants; nay, it is expressly forbidden to be Servants of Men. 1 Cor. 7.23.
5. Objct. But some may object, That all Men are alike, and that there is no Difference as betwixt Masters and Servants; nay, it is expresly forbidden to be Servants of Men. 1 Cor. 7.23.
I answer, To be a Servant, in that Place, is not simply to be in Subjection under another, but to be so obsequious to Man, as to prefer him before God: Hence the Apostle elsewhere in the Duties of Servants, lays down this Antithesis, Not as Men-pleasers, but as the Servants of Christ; again, doing Service as to the Lord, and not to Men: The meaning is, That we must do Duty to a Master, not as merely to a Man, but as to one in Christ's Stead. Masters, by virtue of their Office and Place, bear the Image of Christ; Christ communicates his Authority unto them, and so in performing Duty to Masters, we perform Duty to Christ, and in denying Duty to Masters, we deny Duty to Christ: Thus the Lord said to Samuel, when the People rejected his Government, They have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. Consider this, all ye that are Servants, though Masters should neither reward your good Service, nor revenge your ill Service, yet Christ will do both: This is your Prerogative that fear God, above all other Servants; others may serve their Masters with Fear and Trembling, in Singleness of Heart, and with good Will, but only Christians and Saints do Service as to Christ; and this makes them not content themselves with doing the Thing, but to endeavour to do it after the best Manner they can, so as God and Christ may accept of it.
I answer, To be a Servant, in that Place, is not simply to be in Subjection under another, but to be so obsequious to Man, as to prefer him before God: Hence the Apostle elsewhere in the Duties of Servants, lays down this Antithesis, Not as Men-pleasers, but as the Servants of Christ; again, doing Service as to the Lord, and not to Men: The meaning is, That we must do Duty to a Master, not as meerly to a Man, but as to one in Christ's Stead. Masters, by vertue of their Office and Place, bear the Image of Christ; Christ communicates his Authority unto them, and so in performing Duty to Masters, we perform Duty to Christ, and in denying Duty to Masters, we deny Duty to Christ: Thus the Lord said to Samuel, when the People rejected his Government, They have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. Consider this, all ye that are Servants, though Masters should neither reward your good Service, nor revenge your ill Service, yet Christ will do both: This is your Prerogative that fear God, above all other Servants; others may serve their Masters with Fear and Trembling, in Singleness of Heart, and with good Will, but only Christians and Saints do Service as to Christ; and this makes them not content themselves with doing the Thing, but to endeavour to do it after the best Manner they can, so as God and Christ may accept of it.