Gods Holy Mind Touching Matters Moral, Tract 2 · Part 53 – Part 54
Now conce…ning Masters and Seruants: and first touching Seruants.
Quest. Wherein stands the due respect, and due carriage of Seruants towards their Masters?
Answ. In yeelding foure things to their Masters: namely
Reuerence.
Subiection:
Faithfulnesse, and
Thankefulnesse.
Quest. What is that reuerence that Seruants are to yeeld to their Masters?
Answ. It is two fold: inward, and outward.
Quest. What is the Inward reuerence, that Seruants are to yeeld to their Masters?
Answ. This;Malac. 1.6. Ephes. 6.5.6.7. Colo. 3.22.23.24. 1 Pet. 2.18. They are to thinke and to esteeme reuerently of their Masters, and to carrie in their hearts a reuerent awe and feare of them, descerning Gods Image in them; and that they stand in Christ his stead to them, in regard of their authority and power as they be their Masters; though they be neuer so poore or meane in the world.
Quest. Are Seruants to esteeme reuerently of wicked and vngodly Masters, such as are not members of Christ: and to carry in their hearts a reuerent feare of them, as bearing Gods Image, and as standing in Christ his stead to them?
Answ. As they be their Masters they are; though they be neuer so vile: for a Master, as he is a master is designed of the Lord to that Office, and hath his power from him; and howsoeuer he be qualified, as he is a Master he beares the Image of God, and stands in Christ his stead to his Seruant, and the Seruant is so to account of him. 1 Tim. 6.1. He speakes of seruants that had Infidell Masters, as appeares. vers. 2.
Quest. Is not a Seruant bound to esteeme more reuerently of his Master, being religious and truly fearing God, then if he bee wicked and vngodly?
Answ. Yes; he is bound to esteeme reuerently of his Master, being religious, in a double respect: he is to carry in his heart a reuerent awe and feare of him as he is his Master: and he is also to reuerence him, and to louelove him as he is religious: 1 Tim. 6.2. beloued (that is) beloued of God, or worthy to be beloued.
Quest: What is the outward reuerence that seruants are to yeeld to their Masters?
Answ. This; it is a manifestation of their inward reuerence: they are to manifest their inward reuerence and feare of their Masters, by their reuerent behauiour towards them, both in word and deede: as by giuing them reuerent titles, by bowing to them, by standing bare in their pres…nce, if men seruants;King. 5.13.5. …o. 27.18. …cts. 10.7. and by an humble and submissiue countenance and carriage, either when their Masters speake to them, or they speake to their masters.
Quest: Are seruants to yeeld like measure of outward reuerence to all masters, of what place or calling soeuer they be?
Answ. As they be their masters they are; for so they doe equally beare the Image of God before them, and are equally to be reuerenced: but if the master be not only a master, but also a Magistrate or a Minister, or such like; in that respect, more reuerence is to bee yeelded to him by his seruants, because therein also he beareth the Image of God.
Quest. VVhat is that subiection that seruants are to yeeld to their Masters?
Answ. This; It is an humble, ready, and willing submitting of themselues to the exercise and practise of that speciall authoritie and power that their Masters hauehave ouer them.Tit. 2.9. … Pet. 2.18.
Quest. Wherein standeth that humble, ready, and willing submission of Seruants, to the exercise and practise of the authority, and power that their masters hauehave ouer them.
Answ. In yeelding obedience to their Masters,Ephes. 6.5. Colos. 3.22. the submission of seruants to the exercise and practise of the authoritie and power their Masters hauehave ouer them: it stands in being obedient to their Masters.
Quest. What is that obedience that Seruants are to yeeld to their Masters?
Answ. This; it is a ready and willing yeelding to the voice, and will of their Masters, euen a cheerefull yeelding to that which is said to them of their Masters, and willed by their Masters to be done, or suffered of them.
Quest. Wherein standeth the ready and willing yeelding of Seruants to the voice and will of their Masters?
Answ. In two things.
Quest. VVhat is the first of those?
Ans. This; it is a ready and a cheerefull yeelding, so farr as they are able, to those things which their Masters teach them, or counsell them, whether they be things that pertaine to their honest and lawfull callings, and be their ordinary workes; or they be dutyes of Piety and Religion:Gen. 24.2.3.4. & 9.10. 1. Sam. 15.15. Luk. 7.8. Luk. 17.7.8:9. and a ready and a cheerefull doing (as they are able) of things commanded by their Maste…s, being things fitting, honest, and lawfull, though they be neuer so base, or neuer so laborious and painefull.
Quest. What is the second thing, wherein stands the ready and willing yeelding of Seruants, to the voice and will of their Masters?
Answ. This;Gen. 16.6.8.9. 1 Pet. 2.18.20. Tit. 2.9. it is a meeke and patient bearing of that checke, rebuke, or correction that is laid on them, by their Masters; yea though the correction be without iust cause, or vnreasonable, and more then it ought to be.
Quest. Is a good, a gracious, and religious Seruant, to obey a wicked and gracelesse Master?
Answ. As he is his master, he is, though neuer so vile,Ephes. 6.5. Colos. 3.22. 1. Cor: 7.23. but not as hee is a wicked man, and commands wicked things: as to lye, to sweare, to breake the Sabbath, and such like: for masters, are but Masters according to the flesh, they hauehave not power ouer the seruants soule and conscience, to impose any thing vponupon it that is vnlawfull. Ephe. 6.5. Colos. 3.22. 1 Cor. 7.23. The Apostle forbids seruice to men (that is) in things not commanded by God, nor warranted in the Word of God.
Quest. Is a Seruant, being a Iourneyman or hyred but for a day; or one whose Master is his Brother, his Ʋncle or his Kinsman, bound to such duty and obedience as other Seruants are?
Answ. Yes, as he is a Seruant he is; eueryevery Seruant is bound to ye…l… duty and obedience to his Master, as he is his Master: though he be his Brother, his Vncle, or his Kinsman, as if he were not: and during the time that hee is in his Masters seruice, how long, or how sho…t a time soeuer it bee. Ephes. 6.5. Colos 3.22. The Apostle speakes indefinitely, Gen. 29 15.16. &c. Iacob serued his Vncle Laban.
Quest. Are not seruants bound to some more particular duties and seruices of their Masters then to others?
…en. 15.2. …en. 24.2. …en. 39.5.9.Answ. Though Seruants are not to refuse the doing of any thing, commanded by their Masters in the time of neede, being able to doe it: and the thing being fitting to their sex, and honest, and lawfull; yet they are bound more to their particular duties, and seruices that concerne them, in respect of their order and degree, and in regard of their quality, and condition in the Family,…at. 24.45. …uke. 2.8. …om. 12.7. then they are to other duties and seruices: as if they be Shepheards, or Butlers, or Carters, or Stewards, or such like.
Quest. Are Seruants to be directed by the will of their Masters, and to depend on their direction in eueryevery particular thing, so as they may doe nothing without their Masters direction?
Gen. 39.5.6.8Answ. If their Masters will direct them in eueryevery particular, they are to follow their direction, beeing honest and lawfull,Exodus. 3.1. vnl…sse they can otherwise perswade them: but if Seruants be appointed by their Masters, their businesse and imployment in generall,Mat. 24.44. and be trusted by them for the doing of it; they may then doe the particular things belonging to that businesse, without their masters speciall direction.
Quest. What is that faithfulnesse that Seruants are to yeeld to their Masters?
Answ. This;Coloss. 3.22.23. Tit. 2.10. it is a yeelding of sincere and single hearted seruice to their Masters, and a doing their best endeauour in eueryevery thing, to answer that trust their masters doe repose in them.
Quest. Wherein is that faithfulnesse that Seruants are to yeeld to their Masters, euen their sincere and single hearted seruice, and their endeauour in eueryevery thing to be expressed?
Answ. In three things.
Quest. What is the first of those?
Answ. This; In diligence and painefulnesse;Ephs. 6.5.6. Col. 3.22.23. Gen. 24.33. Gen. 31.40. Seruants are to be diligent in doing that busines they are set about by their Masters; and to doe it with the vttermost strength of their minds and bodies, or both, according to the qualitie of the businesse: and that as well in the absence, as in the presence of their Masters.
Question. What is the second thing, wherein that faithfulnesse that Seruants are to yeeld to their Masters, is to bee expressed?
Answ. This; in trusty seruice,Mat. 25. from 19. to 29. Titus. 2.10. Gen. 31.38.39. Gen. 39.6.8. in a care of their Masters good and profit, and lawfull aduantage: they are at all times to bee as carefull and thrifty for their Masters and their Families, as they would bee for themselues, and their owne Families.
Quest. What is the third thing, wherein that faithfulnes that seruants are to yeeld to their Masters, is to be expressed?
Answ. This; in secresie,2 Sam. 15.13. 2 King 6.11. Micha. 7.5.6. and care of their masters good name; Seruants are to keepe secret the honest intents, sayings, and doings of their Masters, which their masters would not hauehave discouered: and as much as may bee, to hide and couer their Masters wants and infirmities, and not to blaze them abroad.
Quest. What is that thankefulnesse that seruants are to yeeld to their Masters?
Answ. This; it is not only an acknowledgement in word of their Masters care ouer them for their good, and of the good they receiue from them (their Masters being carefull, as they ought to be for their good) but a care and an endeauour also in Seruants, so farre as they are able, to answer that care of th…ir Masters, and that good they receiue from them, by doing good to them againe.
Quest. VVherein standeth that care and endeauour of Seruants, to answer the care of their Masters for their good, and the good they receiue from them, by doing good to them againe?
Answ. In three things.
Quest. What is the first of those?
…en. 39.8.9. …al. 101.6:7. …o. 14.35.Ans. This; in yeelding comfort, and in b…inging credit to their Masters, by their honest, religious, and good carriage: Seruants are to endeauour to bring comfort, and credit to their Masters, by answering that regard that is had of them, and that good that is done to them of their Masters, by their honest and religious good life.
Quest. What is the second thing, wherein stands the care and and endeauour of Seruants, to answer the care of their Masters for their good, and the good they receiue from them, by doing good to them againe?
Answ. This; in praying for their Masters, and for direction and good successe in their Masters businesse:Tim. 2:1.2. …en: 24.12. Seruants are to pray for all in authority, so especially for their Masters.
Quest. VVhat is the third thing, wherein stands the care and endeauour of Seruants, to answer the care of their Masters for their good; and the good they receiued by them, by doing good to them againe?
Answ. This: in praysing God for the good gifts of their Masters,1 Tim. 2.1.2. Gen. …4.27. and for the paines they tooke with them for their good, and for the good successe they find in the workes and businesses of their Masters: for their masters being good and religious, and honest, they hauehave the benefit of their gifts and paynes.
Quest. Are Seruants to yeeld thankefulnesse to their masters that are carelesse of doing good to them; and to vnkind and hard dealing Masters?
Answ. Though seruants cannot bee truly saide to yeeld thankfulnesse to such masters, they receiuing no good from them; yet they are in conscience towards God to doe that which conce…nes them, in carrying themselues honestly and religiously in the se…uice of such masters:Ephes. 6.7.8. Coloss. 3.23.24. euen for the credit of their masters, and in praying for them that God would giuegive them better hearts: and in praying for good successe in the workes and busin…sses they are set about by such masters, looking for their reward from the Lord. Seruants are not to faile in their dutie, because the masters are carelesse of theirs.
Quest: What if masters bee extreamely couetous and hard to their seruants, and doe wrong them extreamely in their food, in their wages and other things, what are seruants then to doe?
Answ. They are (as much as may be) to endure the couetousnes and hardnesse of their masters, during the time that they serue them,Gen. 31.41.42. as part of their crosse laide on them by the Lord; and in patience to commit their wrongs to the Lord, who will one day ease them: but if the wrongs done to them by their masters be such as cannot be endured without danger of life, or vtter vndoing,Coloss. 3.25. they may then acquaint the magistrate with th…ir case, and the magistrate may and ought to relieue them.
Quest. Wherein stands the due respect and due carriage of masters towards their seruants?
Answ. In two things.
First, in a wise and right vsage and …xercise of their power and authority ouer their s…ruants.
Secondly, in being helpefull to their seruants for their good.
Quest. Wherein stands the wise and right vsage and exercise of that power and authority that masters hauehave ouer their seruants?
Answ. It stands both in dealing ius…ly with their seruants,Coloss. 4.1. and also in doing that which is equall and conscionable to them.
Quest. Wherein stands the iust dealing of masters with their seruants?
Answ. In three things.
Quest: What is the first of those?
Answ. This; in requiring of their seruants, not onelyonly things lawfull and possible, but things also proportionable to their abilitie and strength, for as masters are not to suffer their seruants to be idle, so they are not to oppresse them, or to ouer-burden them with workes and businesses. Leuit: 25.46.…euit▪ 25.46. Ouer your brethren the children of Israel, yee shall not rule one ouer another with cruelty. Prou: 12.10.…rou: 12.10. A righteous man will not ouer-load his beast, but regards the life of it, much more then, the life of his brethren.
Quest: What is the second thing wherein stands the iust dealing of masters with their seruants?
Answ. This; in yeelding to their seruants meate, drinke, and apparell fitting for them in regard of their seruice, and in regard of their order and degree, and their qualitie and condition in the family; or competent wages to prouide the same, being carefull that their seruants hauehave their meate, drinke, and their whole wages in due season, Deut: 24.14.15.…eut▪ 24.14.15. Prou: 31.15.21.…rou: 31.15.21. Mat: 10.10.…at: 10.10. The worke man is worthy of his meat (that is) of all necessaries for the maintenance of this life. Leuit: 19.13.…euit: 19.13. Iam: 5.4.…am: 5.4.
Quest: What is the third thing wherein stands the iust dealing of masters with their seruants?
Answ. This; in yeelding to their seruants iust censure and correction for their faults: masters must not censure and correct their seruants without iust cause, or excessiuely; but they are wisely and discreetly to admonish, and to checke and rebuke their seruants when they doe amisse with words,Prou: 19.29. Prou: 29.19. Exod: 21:20. if that will serue the turne: if not, they are then to giuegive them seasonable, due, and moderate correction.
Quest. How are masters to order their censure and correction of their seruants, that it may be iust, and due, and moderate?
Answ. Thus; they are not to take notice of eueryevery little ouer-sight, or of small offences of their seruants, but to wincke at them, and to let them slip; and if the fault be greater, deseruing admonition, or rebuke, or correction, they are then to measure it, not according to the nature and qualitie of the offence, and to the condition and state of the person; and to consider how often or how seldome the seruant hath fallen into that fault, and to rebuke or correct the seruant not in rage or passion, but with compassion and mourning in their hearts for the sinne of the seruant, and with a desire to helpe him or her out of it, entreating the Lord to make it profitable to that purpose. Eccles: 3.23. Luk: 12.47.48. Ephes: 6.9. The Apostle bids men not to be ready to threaten, &c. not so often or so as many doe; much lesse otherwayes to abuse them.
Quest. What if a seruant remaine stubborne or disobedient, and be not bettered by iust, and due, and moderate correction: what is the master then to doe?
Answ. If the master hauehave many times giuen his seruant iust and due correction,Psal. 101.7. Ioh: 8.35. and hauehave sought to God for a blessing on it, and yet the seruant is nothing amended by it; but h…e findes that the seruant is still obstinate, stubborne and disobedient, then the master may an… ought to remooue such a seruant, and to put him or her out of his seruice.
Quest. Wherein stands the equall and conscionable dealing of masters with their seruants?
Answ. In three things.
Quest: What is the first of those?
Answ This; in yeelding to their seruants mo…erate rest from their labours, and lawfull and seasonable recreation, without which s…ruants cannot continue with any cheerefuln…sse in the duties of their callings: and especially, masters are bound in consci…nce to allow their se…uants liberty to sanctifie the Sabbath, to keepe an holy rest to God on that day both in publike and priuate: and hence it is said, that thy seruant and handmaid may rest, and the stranger may bee refreshed, Exod. 23.12.Exod: 23.12. Deut: 5.14.Deut: 5.14. Prou: 12.10.Prou: 12.10. He will allow his beast rest, much more his seruant.
Quest. What is the second thing wherein stands the equall and conscionable dealing of masters with their seruants, and their doing of that which is equall and iust with them?
Answ. This; in being carefull for their seruants when they fall sicke in their seruice, prouiding according to their abilitie things needfull for them in time of their sicknes: the master is bound in conscience to prouide according to his abilitie, all good meanes for the recouery of the health of his sicke seruant, and that he may hauehave good vsage in the time of his weakenesse. Mat: 8.5 6.Mat: 8.5.6. The Centurion tooke the best way to hauehave his seruant healed. 1. Sam: 30.13.1. Sam. 30.13. If a mans Horse or Oxe bee diseased hee will seeke out for meanes to cure his disease; much more should hee doe so for his seruant.
Quest. May not a master stoppe and keepe backe so much of his seruants wages as hee hath spent on him, and laid out for him in the time of his sickenes? Is a master bound in conscience to giuegive his seruant his whole wages, hee being sicke on his hand a long time, and not able to doe him any worke?
Answ. The master is bound in equitie and conscience to giuegive his seruant his whole wages though hee bee sicke on his hand a long time, and he may not abridge him of any part of his wages for the time of his sickenesse; because the seruant is then restrained from working, not by his owne negligence, but by the hand of God: and it may be he hath gotten his sickenesse by his faithfull paines taking in his masters seruice, as Iacob said, Gen: 31.40.Gen. 31.40. &c.
Quest. What is the third thing wherein stands the equall and conscionable dealing of masters with their seruants, and their doing of that which is equall and iust with them?
Answ: This; in yeelding to their seruants according to their abilitie some further recompence ouer and aboue their wages when they depart from them, according to the good and faithfull seruice they hauehave done them, and according to the time they hauehave beene with them. Deut: 15.13.14.Deut: 15.13.14. the Lord commanded that when there was a manumission, the master should giuegive the seruant a liberall reward of his sheepe, and of his corne, and of his wine, wherewith the Lord had blessed him.
Quest. What if a seruant hauehave stollen and purloyned from his master in the time of his seruice, may not then the master stoppe so much of his wages as the losse comes to at his going away?
Answ. If the seruant be truly penitent for his fault,Philem. Epist. 18.19. and the master be able to beare the losse, hee is rather to forgiue him; but if either the seruant bee not penitent for his fault, or the master not able to beare the losse; he may then lawfully make stoppe of his wages.
Quest. Wherein are masters to bee helpefull to their seruants for their good?
Answ. In two respects.
First in regard of their calling.
Secondly in regard of Religion.
Quest. How are masters to bee helpfull to their seruants for their good, in regard of their calling?
Answ. They are to see them follow the workes of their calling, and they are to ouersee them in their workes, and to direct them in the doing of them;Pro. 29.21. Exod. 35.34. Pro. 31.27: not onelyonly so as may bee for their owne present good and lawfull benefit; but so also as may bee for the good of their seruants in time to come, teaching them wherein they are vnskilfull and neede teaching especially in their trade and mysterie, faithfully opening that to them, & so as they may best & most easily learne it.
Quest. Are Tradesmen and Artificers bound to impart their whole skill to their seruants, and to acquaint them with all they know concerning their trade?
Answ. If they bee such seruants as they hauehave taken on condition to teach them their trade, they are bound to impart to them what they know touching that trade that may lawfully bee vsed, and they are not to conceale any thing from them that may bee therein helpefull to them:Psal. 15.4. for men are to communicate their good gifts of what kind soeuer to others so farre as they may be for their good; especially, where they are bound to it by couenant.
Quest. How are masters to be helpefull to their seruants for their good in regard of Religion?
Answ. Two wayes.
Quest. What is the first of those?
Answ. This; they are to be carefull that their seruants keepe an holy rest to God on the Sabbath; endeauouring to fit them for publike holy exercises, and bringing them to the publike assemblies in due time, and looking that there they behaue themselues religiously the whole time of the exercise; and after the publike exercises are ended, taking account of that which they hauehave heard, that they may profit in knowledge and holy obedience. Exod. 20.10. The charge is principally laid vponupon the Master. Psal. 42.4. Act. 10.24.33. Seruants hauehave as great right in the Sabbath, the Word and Sacraments, as their Masters.
Quest. What is the second way, whereby Masters are to bee helpefull to their Seruants, for their good, in regard of christian Religion?
Ans. This; they are carefully, diligently in priuate to instruct their Seruants in the holy Scriptures, and in the grounds of Religion, that they may grow in knowledge; and may reape benefit by the publike ministerie of the Word;…en. 18.19. …eut. 6.7. …osh. 24.15. …erem. 10.25. and they are daily to pray with them, and for them, that the Lord would bestow on them all needfull graces.
Quest. Is a Master necessarily bound at all times, in his owne person to instruct his Seruants, and to pray with them, and for them?
Answ. He is; vnlesse hee bee either sicke and weake, and not able to doe those things, or be hindered by publike imployment on a lawfull calling, so as hee cannot at sometimes performe them; if it bee so, then hee may lawfully hauehave and vse a deputie: and thus much may be gathered out of that speech of Christ. Mat. 24.45.46.
Hitherto of the first way whereby certaine persons, men or women; doe stand in relation one to another: either as Inferiours or Superiours, in a priuate Family. Now to the second way whereby persons stand in relation one to another in publike, and that either in Church or common wealth.
Quest. What is the relation of certaine persons, either of Superioritie, or Inferioritie in the Church?
Answ. It is that which is betweene the Minister and his People; or betweene the Pastor and his Flocke.