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A good master well served. A brief discourse on the necessary properties & practices…Cotton Mather, 1696

A Good Master well Served

pp. 3–5584 passagespart 1 of 3

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.

:8p. 3

A Good Master well Served

:9p. 3

It is Written, in Tit. II. 9, 10.

:10p. 3

Exhort Servants to be obedient unto their own Masters, and to please them well in all things, no answering again. Not purloining, but showing all good fidelity, tha• they may adorn the Doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.

Exhort Servants to be obedient unto their own Masters, and to please them well in all things, no answering again. Not purloyning, but shewing all good fidelity, tha• they may adorn the Doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.

:11p. 3

It is also Written, in 1 Tim. VI. 1, 2.

:12p. 3

Let as many Servants as are under the yoke, count their own Masters worthy of all honour: that th• Name of God, and his Doctrine be not blasphemed. And they that have believing Masters, let them no despise them, because they are brethren: but rather do them Service, because they are faithful, and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These thing teach and exhort.

:22unnumbered page

We find therefore that the Scriptures of God often and largely insist on the Duties of men, […] those Relative Capacities, wherein they stand obliged unto one another. But among the rest, •he Duties of Masters and Servants are pressed, with a vary frequent, fervent and pungent Inculcation; and this most especially in the Inspired Epistles of the New Testament. In the Days of Primitive Christianity, there were Christianized Masters, who had much ado to lay aside, the fierce, harsh, brutish and bloody Usage of their Servants, whereto in their Paganism they had been accustomed; and there were Christianized Servants who on the other side had much ado to maintain a due Respect unto their Masters, after they were by Regeneration advanced unto the privileges of the Gospel, and made the Sons and Heirs of God. For this Cause, the Apostles, do very emphatically Demonstrate it, that Christianity will Teach persons to be better Masters, and better Servants, than ever they were before.

We find therefore that the Scriptures of God often and largely insist on the Duties of men, 〈…〉 those Relative Capacities, wherein they stand obliged unto one another. But among the rest, •he Duties of Masters and Servants are pressed, with a vary frequent, fervent and pungent Inculcation; and this most especially in the Inspi•ed Epistles of the New Testament. In the Days of Primitive Christianity, there were Christianized Masters, who had much adoe to lay aside, the fierce, harsh, bruitish and bloody Usage of their Servants, whereto in their Paganism they had been accustomed; and there were Christianized Servants who on the other side had much ado to maintain a due Respect unto their Masters, after they were by Regeneration advanced unto the priviledges of the Gospel, and made the Sons and Heirs of God. For this Cause, the Apostles, do very emphatically Demonstrate it, that Christianity will Teach persons to be better Masters, and better Servants, than ever they were before.

:25unnumbered page¶1

I. But the first of those Counsels, which as proper and needful for you is; Oh! see to […] You that are Masters, and have Servants, I E• treat you, see to it, That you be not yourselv• the Servants of the worst Masters in th• World. You do a little bear the Image of Go• in that Government, which you have over you Servants; but God forbid, that you should be• at the same Time, the Image of the Devil, an be under the Government of that Wicked One Very Lamentable was the Curse of Canaan, […] Ger. 9. 25. He shall be a Servant of Servant And how lamentably Cursed then will you […] to make your Servants, if their Master must […] a Servant of the Devil. Poorly sit is that man to Command others, who shall be himself Commanded always by the Devil, and by the Earth Sensual Devilish Inclinations of his own Hear Sirs, Do you first your selves become the Servants ⟨image ?⟩of God, and then you may have Blessings in, you will be Blessings to, those that shall become Servants unto your selves. There is this Lesson divers times in the Bible given you, Know that you have a Master in Heaven. I say then, Learn this Lesson; and let every Master say, The Lord of Heaven shall be my Master. I remember the Servant of Abraham seemed, as it were to value himself, upon the score of his having such a Master; said he, in Gen. 24. 34. I am Abraham's Servant. Indeed, a Master that shall be like Abraham, an Exemplary Believer, and a Religious Householder, will give Servants cause to be ambitious of Living with him. Whereas,

I. But the first of those Counsils, which as proper and needful for you is; Oh! see to 〈…〉 You that are Masters, and have Servants, I E• treat you, see to it, That you be not yourselv• the Servants of the worst Masters in th• World. You do a little bear the Image of Go• in that Government, which you have over you Servants; but God forbid, that you should be• at the same Time, the Image of the Devil, an be under the Government of that Wicked One Very Lamentable was the Curse of Canaan, 〈…〉 Ger. 9. 25. He shall be a Servant of Servant And how lamentably Cursed then will you 〈…〉 to make your Servants, if their Master must 〈…〉 a Servant of the Devil. Poorly sit is that man to Command others, who shall be himself Commanded always by the Devil, and by the Earth Sensual Devilish Inclinations of his own Hear Syrs, Do you first your selves become the Servants ⟨image ?⟩of God, and then you may have Blessings in, you will be Blessings to, those that shall become Servants unto your selves. There is this Lesson divers times in the Bible given you, Know that you have a Master in Heaven. I say then, Learn this Lesson; and let every Master say, The Lord of Heaven shall be my Master. I remember the Servant of Abraham seem'd, as it were to value himself, upon the score of his having such a Master; said he, in Gen. 24. 34. I am Abrahams Servant. Indeed, a Master that shall be like Abraham, an Exemplary Believer, and a Religious Housholder, will give Servants cause to be ambitious of Living with him. Whereas,

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II. But having thus Embrace that Service, from which the biggest Master or Monarch, is not Excused, a Second of those Counsels, wherewith you should now be advised is, To be as Well Advised as you can in the Choice of your Servants. It was the good Resolution of a Renowned Master, in Psal. 101. 4, 6. I will not know a wicked person; mine eyes shall be upon the Faithful of the Land, that they may dwell with me; he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall Serve me; He that works Deceit shall not dwell within my House, he that telleth Lies, shall not tarry in my ⟨image ?⟩sight. I beseech you, do not Choose to Harbour in your Houses a Traitor and a Rebel against the God of Heaven; but as far as may be, Choose those to Serve you, that profess them selves willing to Serve the God, that made both you and them. It is true, and, alas, that it is true! there is too much Scarcity of Godly Servants, to afford a Choice, unto us all; but if we can't have Godly Servants, yet let it not be our Choice, to have Servants, that shall be noted for any visible and notorious Ungodliness; you had better take a Serpent into your Houses, than a Profane, Swearing, Cursing, Drinking, Wanton, Thievish, Lying, Child of the Old Serpent. There are many little Ingenuities, which are used by men, for the Trials of their Servants, before they have them; the Trials of their Capacity, their Sedulity, their Fidelity; but let your main Trials for your Servants be, Whether they can say, as he, in 1 King. 18. 12. I thy Servant fear the Lord from my Youth. Now, a good Report, of them, is therefore to be sought for An Onesimus, a Servant Born again, will be a profitable Servant.

II. But having thus Embrace that Service, from which the biggest Master or Monarch, is not Excused, a Second of those Counsils, wherewith you should now be advised is, To be as Well Advised as you can in the Choice of your Servants. It was the good Resolution of a Renowned Master, in Psal. 101. 4, 6. I will not know a wicked person; mine eyes shall be upon the Faithful of the Land, that they may dwell with me; he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall Serve me; He that works Deceit shall not dwell within my House, he that telleth Lies, shall not tarry in my ⟨image ?⟩sight. I beseech you, do not Choose to Harbour in your Houses a Traitor and a Rebel against the God of Heaven; but as far as may be, Choose those to Serve you, that profess them selves willing to Serve the God, that made both you and them. It is true, and, alas, that it is true! there is too much Scarcity of Godly Servants, to afford a Choice, unto us all; but if we can't have Godly Servants, yet let it not be our Choice, to have Servants, that shall be noted for any visible and notorious Ungodliness; you had better take a Serpent into your Houses, than a Profane, Swearing, Cursing, Drinking, Wanton, Thievish, Lying, Child of the Old Serpent. There are many little Ingenuities, which are used by men, for the Trials of their Servants, before they have them; the Trials of their Capacity, their Sedulit•y, their Fidelity; but let your main Trials for your Servants be, Whether they can say, as he, in 1 King. 18. 12. I thy Servant fear the Lord from my Youth. Now, a good Report, of them, is therefore to be sought for An Onesimus, a Servant Born again, will be a profitable Servant.

:32p. 10–11

The first Thing that you owe to your Servants, is, Work. Let them have Work to do, and let their Work be well done; countenance them not in any Idleness, whereof there comes no Goodness. Now in Ordering the Work of your Servants, you must Lay no Sinful Commands upon them, nor appoint them any Evil Work. It is your Title in the Book of God, Masters according to the Flesh. You may Command no further than the Flesh of your Servants; they may not by any Sin wrong their own Souls, to gratify you; nor may you Command them to do any of those things which are, the Works of the Flesh. Your Authority over your Servants, ⟨p. 11⟩is Derived from God; Oh! Let not that Auth• rity he employed against Him. The Master and the Servants did but bring Everlasting Ruin […] on one another, in that horrid Action, where• we read, in a Sam. 13. 28, 29. Absalom Commanded his Servants to Commit a most pernicio• Villainy, saying, Fear not, have not I Commands you? And the Servants of Absalom, it follows, […] as be Commanded. Send not your Servants upon the Devils Business; make not your Servant▪ the Tools of any Wickedness; Let not you Servants be bidden, like Sennacherib's, to Reproach the Almighty Lord; No, but like another Abraham, show that you would not have the Conscience of a Servant in any thing Imposed […] Again, in Ordering the Work of your Servants you must Lay no Cruel Commands upon their not appoint them Too Hard Work. If you must be Merciful to a Beast, you must much more […] Merciful to a Servant, in your not Over-working of him. A Servant must not be handled like: Beast. The Strength of your Servants must b• considered:

The first Thing that you owe to your Servants, is, Work. Let them have Work to do, and let their Work be well done; countenance them not in any Idleness, whereof there comes no Goodness. Now in Ordering the Work of your Servants, you must Lay no Sinful Commands upon them, nor appoint them any Evil Work. It is your Title in the Book of God, Masters according to the Flesh. You may Command no further than the Flesh of your Servants; they may not by any Sin wrong their own Souls, to gratify you; nor may you Command them to do any of those things which are, the Works of the Flesh. Your Authority over your Servants, ⟨p. 11⟩is Derived from God; Oh! Let not that Auth• rity he employed against Him. The Master and the Servants did but bring Everlasting Ruine 〈…〉 on one another, in that horrid Action, where• we read, in a Sam. 13. 28, 29. Absalom Conmanded his Servants to Commit a most pernicio• Villany, saying, Fear not, have not I Commands you? And the Servants of Absalom, it follows, 〈…〉 as be Commanded. Send not your Servants upon the Devils Business; make not your Servant▪ the Tools of any Wickedness; Let not you Servants be bidden, like Sennackeribs, to Reproach the Almighty Lord; No, but like another Abraham, show that you would not have the Conscience of a Servant in any thing Imposed 〈…〉 Again, in Ordering the Work of your Servants you must Lay no Cruel Commands upon their not appoint them Too Hard Work. If you must be Merciful to a Beast, you must much more 〈…〉 Merciful to a Servant, in your not Over-working of him. A Servant must not be handled like: Beast. The Strength of your Servants must b• considered:

:34p. 11–13

And you must so Proportion their Work to it that they may not Complain of you, as th• over burdened, over driven Israelites did, of their Egyptian Taskmasters. Don't put them upon Cries and Groans, which God will hear in Heaven His Holy Habitation! There are some whole Countries in the World, against whom the ⟨p. 12⟩[…] the Servant, is dreadfully gone up unto the •ord of Sabaoth. It was the Law in Israel in •ev. 25. 46. Ye shall not Rule •ver one another with •igour. Be a Master, but be not a Tyrant: Let •ot your Servants have their Lives Embittered, […] Healths Impaired, their Bodies Macerated, […] your Tyranny. A David once, when he was himself, would not meddle with a thing, whereby the Blood of a Servant had been Exposed. Yea, 'Twas the Speech of a Generous pagan, Our Servants are as our Poor Friends, and […] in our Houses not merely for Servitude, but for Patronage. But this is not all you have to do, about the Work of your Servants; You are also faithful to Death your Servants the Work of •hat Calling, for the learning whereof, any of •hem are bound unto you. While you use them •or Servants, you must so use them, that in Time •hey may come to be Masters. If Servants are with you, to Learn, any Mystery in your Occupation, t'will be a most Complicated, Cozenage and Robbery in you, to Conceal that Mystery from •hem. Hide not from them any Ingenious or significant Part of your Trade, out of any Covetous, Envious, Undermining purposes. It was Enjoined about a Servant, arriving to the Period of his Prentice-ship, in Deut. 15. 13, 14. Thou shalt not let him go away Empty; thou shalt furnish him Liberally: This was that he might not be under […] Necessity of becoming a Servant again. Those Masters, who by letting their Servants go away ⟨p. 13⟩Unfurnished with the Skill of their Trades, do necessitate them unto the Second Service […] Journey men, are guilty of a great Iniquity. But, if there be any Mystery of Iniquity in any […] your Trades, don't let your Servants understand any of Them. Show them not any Subtle and Shuffling Tricks, which belong to the Arts of Cheating. No, I will speak in the words of: Witty Writer, If thou art Skilled in any Black Art keep that unto thy self, and the Devil from whence it came. If you put them upon the doing of any Fraudulent thing for your advantage, you will make them Incur that Threatening, in Zeph. 1. 9.

And you must so Proportion their Work to it that they may not Complain of you, as th• over burdened, over driven Israelites did, of their Egyptian Taskmasters. Don't put them upon Cries and Groans, which God will hear in Heaven His Holy Habitation! There are some whol Countryes in the World, against whom the ⟨p. 12⟩〈…〉 the Servant, is dreadfully gone up unto the •ord of Sabaoth. It was the Law in Israel in •ev. 25. 46. Ye shall not Rule •ver one another with •igour. Be a Master, but be not a Tyrant: Let •ot your Servants have their Lives Embittered, 〈…〉 Healths Impaired, their Bodies Macerated, 〈…〉 your Tyranny. A David once, when he was himself, would not meddle with a thing, whereby the Blood of a Servant had been Exposed. Yea, 'Twas the Speech of a Generous •agan, Our Servants are as our Poor Friends, and 〈…〉 in our Houses not meerly for Servitude, but for Patronage. But this is not all you have to do, about the Work of your Servants; You are also faithfull to Death your Servants the Work of •hat Calling, for the learning whereof, any of •hem are bound unto you. While you use them •or Servants, you must so use them, that in Time •hey may come to be Masters. If Servants are with you, to Learn, any Mystery in your Occupation, t'will be a most Complicated, Cousenage and Robbery in you, to Conceal that Mystery from •hem. Hide not from them any Ingenious or significant Part of your Trade, out of any Cove•eous, Envious, Undermining purposes. It was Enjoined about a Servant, arriving to the Period of his Prentice-ship, in Deut. 15. 13, 14. Thou shalt not let him go away Empty; thou shalt furnish him Liberally: This was that he might not be under 〈…〉 Necessity of becoming a Servant again. Those Masters, who by letting their Servants go away

:36p. 13–14

But now, having well ordered the Work of your Servants, the Second thing that you owe to them, is, food. Let them not want their Food, nor any of that Physic, or that Clothing, which may come under the Reckoning of, A Food Convenient for them. This is the Demand of God, in Col. 4. 1. Masters, give unto your Servants, that which is just and equal. It is but just and equal, that you should Food them, and Help them, that Serve you. As for the Diet of your Servants, when they are Well, which is one thing that belongs unto their Food, this is to be Wholesome and Enough. It was said, in Luk. 15. 17. How many Hired Servants of my Fathers, have Bread Enough. They will not for Shame ask for Dainties. The Proverbs of the Wise man, have Stigmatized, ⟨p. 14⟩A Servant that is Delicately brought up. Nevertheless, Bread they should have; and so much Meat, and so much Drink, as may be reasonably Esteemed, Enough. Our Lord ha's told […], The Labourer is Worthy of it. Again, As for the Relief of your Servants, when they are Ill, which is another thing that belongs unto their Food, you are to show your Compassion on them, […] it. He was a Detestable Amalekite, of whom • was said, in 1 Sam. 30. 13. My Master left me, because Three Days agone, I fell sick. The Neglect of them, is their Sickness, will be a sort of Murder, in the Account of God: and a withholding of any Justice from them for their Sickness, is as Dishonourable, as Uncharitable. The Centurion, was a Soldier, and though the Persons of that Profession, are usually more Hard hearted than others are, yet when he had a Servant lying Sick, how much concerned was he!

But now, having well ordered the Work of your Servants, the Second thing that you owe to them, is, food. Let them not want their Food, nor any of that Physick, or that Cloathing, which may come under the Reckoning of, A Food Convenient for them. This is the Demand of God, in Col. 4. 1. Masters, give unto your Servants, that which is just and equal. It is but just and equal, that you should Food them, and Help them, that Serve you. As for the Diet of your Servants, when they are Well, which is one thing that belongs unto their Food, this is to be Wholesome and Enough. It was said, in Luk. 15. 17. How many Hired Servants of my Fathers, have Bread Enough. They will not for Shame ask for Dainties. The Proverbs of the Wise man, have Stigmatized, ⟨p. 14⟩A Servant that is Delicately brought up. Nevertheless, Bread they should have; and so much Meat, and so much Drink, as may be reasonably Esteemed, Enough. Our Lord ha's told 〈…〉, The Labourer is Worthy of it. Again, As for the Relief of your Servants, when they are Ill, which is another thing that belongs unto their Food, you are to show your Compassion on them, 〈…〉 it. He was a Detestable Amalekite, of whom • was said, in 1 Sam. 30. 13. My Master left me, because Three Dayes agone, I fell sick. The Neglect of them, is their Sickness, will be a sort of Murder, in the Account of God: and a witholding of any Justice from them for their Sickness, is as Dishonourable, as Uncharitable. The Centurion, was a Souldier, and though the Persons of that Profession, are usually more Hard harted than others are, yet when he had a Servant lying Sick, how much concerned was he!

:37p. 14–15

Once more, The Clothing of your Servants, at all Times, this also is a thing, that goes with their Food; and it should be Neat, Warm, and Modest. It is mentioned as the Character of a good Mistress, in Prov. 31. 21. She is not afraid of the snow, for her Household; for all her Household are Clothed [not, with Scarlet, as it is in our Translation; but] With Double Garments. Garments for the Winter, as well as for the Summer, and Garments for the Lords Day as well as for the Week-Day; and these Double Garments, for the Sobriety of them, well becoming the Condition ⟨p. 15⟩of a Servant; a Master should see that a Servant may be supplied with such Double Garments But this also, is not all that pertains unto the Food of the Servants; for there are some Servants, to whom Wages are by Contract Engaged; and it will be a Crying Sin, to Withhold those Wages. When a Laban, Oppressed a Servant, either by Denying, or by Delaying, of his Righteous Wages, the Righteous God Interposes, with a Vengeance against such a Master There are two Sentences of Sacred Writ, which fall methinks like Thunderbolts upon the Heads of such Oppressors; The One is that in Jer. 22. 13. Woe to him that uses his Neighbours Service, without Wages, and giveth him not for his Work. The Other is that in Deut. 24. 14, 15. Thou shalt not Oppress, an Hired Servant: At his Day thou shalt give him his Hire, neither shall the Sun go down upon it; for he is poor, and setteth his Heart upon it; Left he Cry against thee to the Lord, and it be come Sin unto thee.

Once more, The Clothing of your Servants, at all Times, this also is a thing, that goes with their Food; and it should be Neat, Warm, and Modest. It is mentioned as the Character of a good Mistress, in Prov. 31. 21. She is not afraid of the snow, for her Houshold; for all her Houshold are Clothed [not, with Scarlet, as it is in our Translation; but] With Double Garments. Garments for the Winter, as well as for the Summer, and Garments for the Lords Day as well as for the Week-Day; and these Double Garments, for the Sobriety of them, well becoming the Condition ⟨p. 15⟩of a Servant; a Master should see that a Servant may be supplied with such Double Garments But this also, is not all that pertains unto the Food of the Servants; for there are some Servants, to whom Wages are by Contract Engaged; and it will be a Crying Sin, to Withold those Wages. When a Laban, Oppressed a Servant, either by Denying, or by Delaying, of his Righteous Wages, the Righteous God Interposes, with a Vengeance against such a Master There are two Sentences of Sacred Writ, which fall methinks like Thunderbolts upon the Heads of such Oppressors; The One is that in Jer. 22. 13. Wo to him that uses his Neighbours Service, without Wages, and giveth him not for his Work. The Other is that in Deut. 24. 14, 15. Thou shalt not Oppress, an Hired Servant: At his Day thou shalt give him his Hire, neither shall the Sun go down upon it; for he is poor, and setteth his Heart upon it; Left he Cry against thee to the Lord, and it be come Sin unto thee.

:38p. 15–16

But the Food of your Servants, being thus provided for, Discipline, is the Third Thing that you owe unto them: and this Discipline is to have a twofold Aspect, The punishment of Evil […], and, The praise of them which do well. Faulty Servants are to be Rebuked; and some Servants are so Refractory, as to come under that Lash, in Prov. 29. 19. A Servant will not be Corrected by words; for though be understand, he will not Answer. Servants may not be Indulged in any ⟨p. 16⟩slothful, and much less, in any Thievish, practice; and if Servants have any Ill Haunts, Drunkenness, Wantonness, Gaming, and Company-keeping, they are to be strictly Restrained therefrom. If Words will not operate upon them, you know the Portion of, The Servant who knows his Masters Will, and does it not. And, yet, even the Stripes of such a Servant, must be so moderated with Humanity, that he may not be thereby Killed, or Maimed: Eye for Eye, Tooth for Tooth, and Life for Life, will be demanded, by the Righteous God, the Judge of the Crippled Servant. But Faithful Servants are at the same Time, to be Rewarded: We should let such Desirable Servants perceive, that they are to us, as his was to him, in Luc. 7. 2. The Centurions Servants was dear unto him. There are certain Encouragements, of Liberty to be granted unto Servants at some Seasons; and there are the Encouragements of Preferment, whereof some Servants may be capable; we are to Encourage all the ways that we can, the Servant that shall any way deserve it.

But the Food of your Servants, being thus provided for, Discipline, is the Third Thing that you owe unto them: and this Discipline is to have a twofold Aspect, The punishment of Evil 〈…〉, and, The praise of them which do well. Faulty Servants are to be Rebuked; and some Servants are so Refractory, as to come under that Lash, in Prov. 29. 19. A Servant will not be Corrected by words; for though be understand, he will not Answer. Servants may not be Indulged in any ⟨p. 16⟩•lothful, and much less, in any Thievish, practice; and if Servants have any Ill Haunts, Drunkenness, Wantonness, Gaming, and Company-keeping, they are to be strictly Restrained therefrom. If Words will not operate upon them, you know the Portion of, The Servant who knows his Masters Will, and does it not. And, yet, even the Stripes of such a Servant, must be so moderated with Humanity, that he may not be thereby Killed, or Maimed: Eye for Eye, Tooth for Tooth, and Life for Life, will be demanded, by the Righteous God, the Judge of the Creepled Servant. But Faithful Servants are at the same Time, to be Rewarded: We should let such Desirable Servants perceive, that they are to us, as his was to him, in Luc. 7. 2. The Centurions Servants was dear unto him. There are certain Encouragements, of Liberty to be granted unto Servants at some Seasons; and there are the Encouragements of Preferment, whereof some Servants may be capable; we are to Encourage all the wayes that we can, the Servant that shall any way deserve it.

:39p. 16–18

But are these Three Things, all that you owe unto your Servants? No, There is a Fourth, which is of more Importance than all the Rest; And this is, Your Care about the Souls of your Servants. It will be the Care of an Abraham, He will Command his Household, that they shall keep the way of the Lord. It […] be the Care of a Joshua, As for me and my House, we will Serve ⟨p. 17⟩the Lord. The Apostle says of Ministers, They watch for Souls, as they that must give an Account; Thus it may be said of Masters; They must give an Account of the Souls, that belong unto their Houses. Masters, When any Servant comes to Live with you, the God of Heaven does betrust you with another Precious and Immortal Soul; a […] to be Instructed, a Soul to be Governed a Soul to be brought home unto the Lord. At he said, in 1 King. 20. 20, 39. Behold, one brought a man to thee, and said, Keep this man; […] by any means, he be missing, then shall thy Life be for his: Even so, God has brought the Soul […] thy Servant unto […] Soul; if that Soul be utterly […] nothing for the Salvation of it, thy Soul shall go for that Soul. May the […] on you, cause you, to be […] of your Servants, that […] ever! Jab could say, in […] 31. 13. I despises not the Cause of my Man servant, or my Maid servant. Hast thou a Man servant, or a Maid servant? On! Despise not the […] Servant But you'll say, What shall we Do? I answer; Do This for your Servants; Leave them not Unacquainted with, and […] in, the […] of Religion. Let your Servants be able to say of you, as in Math. 22. 16. Master, the Teachest the way of God, […] Truth; and let then not be Ignorant of any saving Truth. Again Do This for your Servants; enquire critically ⟨p. 18⟩into their Spiritual Estate before God. Be prudently Inquisitive into their Experiences, into their Temptations, into their Behaviours. Further, Do This for your Servants; Reprove every Miscarriage that may be Discerned in them. Show them all the Paths of the Destroyer, whereto they may be Inclining, and Lovingly, Solemnly, Scripturally Chide them out of those Paths. Once more, Do This for your Servants; Require them to Do the Things that will be pleasing unto God. Charge them to Repent of Sin, Believe on Christ, and Consider their Ways, and Prepare for their Eternity, and not Omit the Daily Devotions of a New-Creature.

But are these Three Things, all that you owe unto your Servants? No, There is a Fourth, which is of more Importance than all the Rest; And this is, Your Care about the Souls of your Servants. It will be the Care of an Abraham, He will Command his Houshold, that they shall keep the way of the Lord. It 〈…〉 be the Care of a Joshua, As for me and my House, we will Serve ⟨p. 17⟩the Lord. The Apostle says of Ministers, They watch for Souls, as they that must give an Account; Thus it may be said of Masters; They must give an Account of the Souls, that belong unto their Houses. Masters, When any Servant comes to Live with you, the God of Heaven does betrust you with another Precious and Immortal Soul; a 〈…〉 to be Instructed, a Soul to be Governed a Soul to be brought home unto the Lord. At he said, in 1 King. 20. 20, 39. Behold, one brought a man to thee, and said, Keep this man; 〈…〉 by any means, he be missing, then shall thy Life be for his: Even so, God has brought the Soul 〈…〉 thy Servant unto 〈…〉 Soul; if that Soul be utterly 〈…〉 nothing for the Salvation of it, thy Soul shall go for that Soul. May the 〈…〉 on you, cause you, to be 〈…〉 of your Servants, that 〈…〉 ever! Jab could say, in 〈…〉 31. 13. I despises not the Cause of my Man servant, or my Maid servant. Hast thou a Man servant, or a Maid servant? On! Despise not the 〈…〉 Servant But you'l say, What shall we Do? I answer; Do This for your Servants; Leave them not Unacquainted with, and 〈…〉 in, the 〈…〉 of Religion. Let your Servants be able to say of you, as in Math. 22. 16. Master, the Teachest the way of God, 〈…〉 Truth; and let then not be Ignorant of any saving Truth. Again Do This for your Servants; enquire critically ⟨p. 18⟩into their Spiritual Estate before God. Be prudently Inquisitive into their Experiences, into their Temptations, into their Behaviours. Further, Do This for your Servants; Reprove every Miscarriage that may be Discerned in them. Show them all the Paths of the Destroyer, whereto they may be Inclining, and Lovingly, Solemnly, Scripturally Chide them out of those Paths. Once more, Do This for your Servants; Require them to Do the Things that will be pleasing unto God. Charge them to Repent of Sin, Believe on Christ, and Consider their Wayes, and Prepare for their Eternity, and not Omit the Daily Devotions of a New-Creature.

:40p. 18–19

Especially, the Commandment Charges you, to Charge your Man servants, and your Maid servants, That they Remember the Sabbath Day, to Sanctify it. If you will do such Things for your Servants, it will be said of you, as it was of Solomon, in 1 King. 10. 8. Happy are thy men, happy are these thy Servants, that stand continually before thee. But, Oh! Do one thing more, for the Souls of your Servants; That is, Pray for them, You, Pray with them, continually. There was a Prophet, that had a Servant, of whom, 'tis reported, in 2 King. 6. 17. He Prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, Open his Eyes, that he may see; and the Lord Opened the Eyes of the Young man. A pathetic, a pertinent Prayer of a Master, for a Servant; Lord, Open the Eyes of my Servant, that he may not go on blinded with Sin; and, Lord, Open the Heart ⟨p. 19⟩of my Servant, that he may cordially Receive the Influences of thy Grace! There was a Captain that had a Servant, of whom, 'tis reported, in Math 8. 7. He came, saying, Lord, my Servant Lies at home, Sick of the Palsy, grievously Tormented. Every Master should thus be concerned in Prayer for a Servant; Lord, I have a Servant sick by Sin O bring him out of his grievous Maladies! and Lord, I have a Servant under sinful Estrangements from thee, O let him not Lie in his grievous Unregeneracy! I have known Masters who rarely have had any Servants, but what have afterwards proved the Servants of God: Why, The Secret Prayers of those Masters, fetch the Spirit of God from Heaven, on almost all that Live with them. Thus ought, Masters to Pray; and in the hearing of their Servants too, they ought thus to Pray. There was a pious man, who had an House full of Servants; but it is reported, in Acts 10. 2. He feared God with all his House, and prayed unto God always. A Praying Master, like Abraham, will be very like to have Servants, like unto himself. But, Woeful, Rueful, will be the Condemnation of those Prayerless Masters, whose unhappy Servants, must bring in this Testimony before the Judgment Seat of God, Lord, This man did never quicken us to Pray unto thy Majesty; we seldom heard him at Prayer, for a whole Week, or a whole Month together! Masters, Consider of these Things in the Fear of God: and Mistresses, Consider also, what is to be your part, in the doing thereof.

Especially, the Commandment Charges you, to Charge your Man servants, and your Maid servants, That they Remember the Sabbath Day, to Sanctifie it. If you will do such Things for your Servants, it will be said of you, as it was of Solomon, in 1 King. 10. 8. Happy are thy men, happy are these thy Servants, that stand continually before thee. But, Oh! Do one thing more, for the Souls of your Servants; That is, Prap for them, You, Prap with them, continually. There was a Prophet, that had a Servant, of whom, 'tis reported, in 2 King. 6. 17. He Prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, Open his Eyes, that he may see; and the Lord Opened the Eyes of the Young man. A pathetick, a pertinent Prayer of a Master, for a Servant; Lord, Open the Eyes of my Servant, that he may not go on blinded with Sin; and, Lord, Open the Heart ⟨p. 19⟩of my Servant, that he may cordially Receive the Influences of thy Grace! There was a Captain that had a Servant, of whom, 'tis reported, in Math 8. 7. He came, saying, Lord, my Servant Lies at home, Sick of the Palsey, grievously Tormented. Every Master should thus be concerned in Prayer for a Servant; Lord, I have a Servant sick by Sin O bring him out of his grievous Maladies! and Lord, I have a Servant under sinful Estrangements from thee, O let him not Ly in his grievous Unregeneracy! I have known Masters who rarely have had any Servants, but what have afterwards prov'd the Servants of God: Why, The Secret Prayers of those Masters, fetch the Spirit of God from Heaven, on almost all that Live with them. Thus ought, Masters to Pray; and in the hearing of their Servants too, they ought thus to Pray. There was a pious man, who had an House full of Servants; but it is reported, in Acts 10. 2. He feared God with all his House, and prayed unto God alwayes. A Praying Master, like Abraham, will be very like to have Servants, like unto himself. But, Woful, Rueful, will be the Condemnation of those Prayerless Masters, whose unhappy Servants, must bring in this Testimony before the Judgment Seat of God, Lord, This man did never quicken us to Pray unto thy Majesty; we seldome heard him at Prayer, for a whole Week, or a whole Month together! Masters, Consider of these Things in the Fear of God: and Mistresses, Consider also, what is to be your part, in the doing thereof.

:44p. 21–22¶1

1. This is the first Counsel that calls for your Attention; Servants, In the first place, Become the Devoted Servants, of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is, The Lord of all. O that you might all of you •e able to say, as he in Psal. 116. 16. O Lord, Truly I am thy Servant, I am thy Servant. It is Observable, That the Homage which we owe unto the Heavenly Lord, is ordinarily described by Metaphors drawn from the Service, of an Earthly Master. Among such Metaphors, I take a special Notice of this One; That the Lords calling of a man to Serve him, is expressed by His calling of that man, unto His Feet: In the Hebrew Original of the Old Testament, the […] for, A Servant, usually is, One at the Feet of his Master. At their Tables they Lay down on Carpets, and so the Servants that waited on them, stood at their Feet behind them. Thus among the Roman Writers also. Ad Pedes, or, A Pedibus, is the Phrase for a Servant: ⟨p. 22⟩he was a, Serv•s, who, Ad Pedes steterate Well then; Servants, Do you come away unto the Feet of the Lord Jesus Christ; and whatever Service you have to do for your Masters, Let something analogous to that Service be done in the first place, unto that Holy, Holy, Holy Lord Almighty. It is commanded you, in Eph. 6. 5. 6, 7. Servants, Be obedient unto your Masters, as unto Christ; Not with Eye service, but as the Servants of Christ; with good will, doing service as unto the Lord. And it is again commanded you, in Col. 3. 2, 3, 4. Servants, whatever ye do, do it Heartily, as unto the Lord; for ye serve the Lord Christ. So then, This is the first Thing, that is to be urged upon you; Oh! That you would become the Sincere, and Hearty Servants of the Lord Jesus Christ! Then we shall hope to see you, Dutiful Servants unto those Masters and Mistresses, under whom our Common Lord hath Stationed you.

1. This is the first Counsil that calls for your Attention; Servants, In the first place, Become the Devoted Servants, of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is, The Lord of all. O that you might all of you •e able to say, as he in Psal. 116. 16. O Lord, Truly I am thy Servant, I am thy Servant. It is Observable, That the Homage which we owe unto the Heavenly Lord, is ordinarily described by Metaphors drawn from the Service, of an Earthly Master. Among such Metaphors, I take a special Notice of this One; That the Lords calling of a man to Serve him, is expressed by His calling of that man, unto His Feet: In the Hebrew Original of the Old Testament, the 〈…〉 for, A Servant, usually is, One at the Feet of his Master. At their Tables they Lay down on Carpets, and so the Servants that waited on them, stood at their Feet behind them. Thus among the Roman Writers also. Ad Pedes, or, A Pedibus, is the Phrase for a Servant: ⟨p. 22⟩he was a, Serv•s, who, Ad Pedes steterate Well then; Servants, Do you come away unto the Feet of the Lord Jesus Christ; and whatever Service you have to do for your Masters, Let something analogous to that Service be done in the first place, unto that Holy, Holy, Holy Lord Almighty. It is commanded you, in Eph. 6. 5. 6, 7. Servants, Be obedient unto your Masters, as unto Christ; Not with Eye service, but as the Servants of Christ; with good will, doing service as unto the Lord. And it is again commanded you, in Col. 3. 2, 3, 4. Servants, whatever ye do, do it Heartily, as unto the Lord; for ye serve the Lord Christ. So then, This is the first Thing, that is to be urged upon you; Oh! That you would become the Sincere, and Hearty Servants of the Lord Jesus Christ! Then we shall hope to see you, Dutiful Servants unto those Masters and Mistresses, under whom our Common Lord hath Stationed you.

:46p. 22–23

First, Renounce, and, Forsake, the Service of those Invisible Masters, a Slavery to whom, is inconsistent, with the Service of the Lord Jesus Christ. Our Lord Jesus Christ hath said, in Math. 6. 24. Ye cannot Serve God and Mammon. Thus, ye cannot Serve the Lord Jesus Christ, and Serve the World, the Fresh, and the Devil. Joshua ⟨p. 23⟩said unto the Idolatrous People, Ye cannot Serve the Lord. And, I say unto all, that still make sublunary Vanities their Idols, Ye cannot Serve the Lord. Hear this. All ye Unregenerate Servants! Tis possible your Service, to the Houses where you Sojourn, may for some things be Irksome Enough unto you; Oh! but you are in another Service, that would be a Million times more Irksome, if you were not stark Dead in Trespasses & Sins. The Fashions of the World, you must Humour, the Cravings of the Flesh, you must Fulfil the Temptations of the Devil, you cannot Resist. It may be said of you, as in Jer. 5. 19. Ye have served strange Gods. Wretched Servants! Oh! That you were more sensible of your horrible Captivity; When will you be Aware, when will you be Weary of it! I tell you, a Turkish, or a Spanish Slavery, is not a thousandth part so miserable, as the Accursed Slavery of your Souls, to the Invisible Destroyers of your Souls. But will you at length take a Course, for your own Deliverance, O Wretched Servants, that you are?

First, Renounce, and, Forsake, the Service of those Invisible Masters, a Slavery to whom, is inconsistent, with the Service of the Lord Jesus Christ. Our Lord Jesus Christ hath said, in Math. 6. 24. Ye cannot Serve God and Mammon. Thus, ye cannot Serve the Lord Jesus Christ, and Serve the World, the Fresh, and the Devil. Joshua ⟨p. 23⟩said unto the Idolatrous People, Ye cannot Serve the Lord. And, I say unto all, that still make sublunary Vanities their Idols, Ye cannot Serve the Lord. Hear this. All ye Unregenerate Servants! Tis possible your Service, to the Houses where you Sojourn, may for some things be Irksome Enough unto you; Oh! but you are in another Service, that would be a Million times more Irksome, if you were not stark Dead in Trespasses & Sins. The Fashions of the World, you must Humour, the Cravings of the Flesh, you must Fulfill the Temptations of the Devil, you cannot Resist. It may be said of you, as in Jer. 5. 19. Ye have served strange Gods. Wretched Servants! Oh! That you were more sensible of your horrible Captivity; When will you be Aware, when will you be Weary of it! I tell you, a Turkish, or a Spanish Slavery, is not a thousandth part so miserable, as the Accursed Slavery of your Souls, to the Invisible Destroyers of your Souls. But will you at length take a Course, for your own Deliverance, O Wretched Servants, that you are?

:47p. 23–24

If any one should Counsel you, to Run away, from the Christian Masters in whose Houses you reside, he would be a Wicked Counsellor. A Run away Servant, is a Dishonest, and a Disgraced sort of a Creature, among all the Sober part of Mankind. It was uttered, as at Extreme Reproach, upon those to whom it was offered, in 1 Sam. 25. 10. There be many Servant now adays, that break away, Every man, from […] ⟨p. 24⟩Master. They are not meet Prisoners of War, out by the Providence of God brought under further Necessities and Obligations; and yet they think of Turning Fugitives! The Devil is the Driver of those Unfaithful Servants, who Unlawfully Defeit the Service, wherein the Good Hand of God has fixed them; and the Unavoidable Common where unto all such Run away Servants, do generally Run themselves, would make one think that none but the Devil Driven would at […]. Wherefore, As when a Servant hard[…] withal, was Running away, an Angel of the Lord appeared unto that Servant, and said, in Gen 169. Return to thy Mistress, and submit thy self unto her Hands; thus, if any of you are Designing or Desiring to Run away from your Masters, I do bring you a Prohibition from our Great LORD this Day, Stay with thy Master, & submit thy self unto him; if thou wouldest not have the plagues of God, pursue thee, wheresoever thou […]. Hearken to me, in this thing, thou uneasy Servant, and Poor Servant, If sinners entice thee to Run away, Consent thou act.

If any one should Counsel you, to Run away, from the Christian Masters in whose Houses you reside, he would be a Wicked Counsellor. A Run away Servant, is a Dishonest, and a Disgraced sort of a Creature, among all the Sober part of Mankind. It was uttered, as at Extream Reproach, upon those to whom it was offered, in 1 Sam. 25. 10. There be many Servant now adayes, that break away, Every man, from 〈…〉 ⟨p. 24⟩Master. They are not meet Prisoners of War, out by the Providence of God brought under further Necessities and Obligations; and yet they think of Turning Fugitives! The Devil is the Driver of those Unfaithful Servants, who Unlawfully Defeit the Service, wherein the Good Hand of God has fixed them; and the Unavoidable Common where unto all such Run away Servants, do generally Run themselves, would make one think that none but the Devil Driven would at 〈…〉. Wherefore, As when a Servant hard〈…〉 withal, was Running away, an Angel of the Lord appeared unto that Servant, and said, in Gen 169. Return to thy Mistress, and submit thy self unto her Hands; thus, if any of you are Designing or Desiring to Run away from your Masters, I do bring you a Prohibition from our Great LORD this Day, Stay with thy Master, & submit thy self unto him; if thou wouldest not have the plagues of God, pursue thee, wheresoever thou 〈…〉. Hearken to me, in this thing, thou uneasy Servant, and Poor Servant, If sinners entice thee to Run away, Consent thou act.

A Good Master well Served

Reformers309

Puritans1,782

Westminster Assembly24

Evangelicals36

A Good Master well Served