Christian Behavior, Section 7
Concerning Servants.
Servants also, they have a work to do for God, in their place and station among men.
The Apostles assert Masters under a threefold consideration.
1. The believing Master.
2. The unbelieving Master.
3. The froward Master.
For all which, Servants are furnished with counsel and advice in the Word, for the demeaning of themselves under each of them.
But before I speak in particular to any of these, I will in general shew you the duty of Servants.
First, Thou art to look upon thy self as thou art; that is, as a Servant, not a Child, nor a Wife, thou art inferior to these; wherefore count thy self under them, and be content with that station. For three things the Earth is disquieted▪ and for four which it cannot bear: one is a Servant when he reigneth, Prov. 30. 21, 22.
It is out of thy place, either to talk or do, as one that reigneth.
Secondly, Consider, that thou being a Servant, what is under thy hand, is not thy own, but thy Masters: Now, because it is not thy own, thou oughtest not to dispose of it; but because it is thy Masters, thou oughtest to be faithful. Thus it was with Joseph, Gen. 39. 7, 8, 9. but if thou do otherwise, know that thou shalt receive of God for the wrong that thou doest; and there is with God no respect of persons, Col. 3. 25. Wherefore,
Thirdly, Touching thy work and imployment, thou art to do it as unto the Lord, and not for man; and indeed then servants do their business as becomes them, when they do all in obedience to the Lord, as knowing, that the place in which they now are, it is the place where Christ hath put them, and in which he expecteth they should be faithful.
Servants, saith Paul, be obedient to them that are your Masters—with fear & trembling, in singleness of heart, as unto Christ; not with eye service, as men-pleasers, but as the Servants of Christ, doing the Will of God from the heart, Ephes. 6. 5, 6.
Observe a little the Word of God to Servants.
1. Servants must be obedient. …
2. Not with that obedience that … serve man only: servants must have the… eye on the Lord in the work they do … their Masters.
3. That their work in their service … the Will and Ordinance of God.
From which I conclude, that thy wo… in thy place and station, as thou art a ser…vant, is as really God's Ordinance, an… as acceptable to Him, in its kind, as … Preaching, or any other work for God and that thou art as sure to receive a re…ward for thy labour, as he that hangs, … is burnt for the Gospel. Wherefore sai… the Apostle to servants, Whatsoever … do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not … men, knowing that of the Lord you shall re…ceive the reward of inheritance; for ye serv… the Lord Christ, Col. 3. 22, 23, 24.
And now touching the three sorts … Masters mentioned before.
First, For the believing Master; Sai… Paul, They that have believing Master… let them not despise them because they … brethren, but rather do them service bec… they are faithful and beloved, and partakers (with the Servants) of the heaven… Benefits, 1 Tim. 6. 2. (Servants, if they have not a care of their hearts, will be so much in the consideration of the relation that is betwixt their Masters and they, as brethren, that they will forget the relation that is between them as Masters and Servants: now, though they …ought to remember the one, yet let them take heed of forgetting the other: Know thy place as a Servant, while thou considerest that thy Master and thee are Brethren, and do thy work for him faithfully, humbly, and with meekness, because he is a Master faithful and beloved, and partaker of the heavenly Benefit.) If any man teach otherwise, saith the Apostle Paul, and consent not to wholsome Words, even the Words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Doctrine which is according to godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions, and strife of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the Truth, supposing that gain is godliness; from such withdraw thy sel… 1. Tim. 6. 3, 4, 5.
Secondly, For the unbelieving Maste… (for of them Paul speaks in the first ver… of this 6. of Timothy) Let as many servants, saith he, as be under the yoak, cou… their own Masters worthy of all honour, th… the Word of God & his Doctrine be not blasphemed.
Servants living with unbelieving Masters, are greatly ingaged to be bot… watchful, faithful, and trusty. Ingaged▪ I say, 1. From the consideration of th… condition of their Master; for, he bein… unbelieving, will have an evil eye upo… thee, and upon thy doings, and so much the more because thou professest: as i… the case of Saul and David, 1. Sam. 18▪ 8, 9, &c.
2. Thou art ingaged because of th… profession thou makest of the Word … God; for by thy profession, thou dost … both God and his Word before thy M…ster, and he hath no other wit but to blas…phem them, if thou behave thy self un…worthily. Wherefore Paul bids Tit… Exhort Servants to be obedient to their own Masters, and to please them well in all things, …ut answering again (not giving par…at…ng answers, or such as are cross or pro…oking) not purloining, but shewing all good …delity, that they may adorn the Doctrine of God our Saviour, in all things, Tit. 2. 9, 10.
That Servant, who in an unbelievers …amily, doth his work before God, as God's Ordinance, he shall adorn the Doctrine of God, if not save his Master …y so doing; but if he doth otherwise, …e shall both stumble the Unbeliever, dishonour God, offend the Faithful, and …ting guilt upon his own Soul.
Thirdly, For the froward Master; …hough I distinguish him from the unbe…iever, yet it is not because he may not be such, but because every unbeliever …oth not properly go under that name. …ow with this froward and peevish fel…ow, thou art to serve as faithfully for …he time thou standest bound, as with …e most pleasant and rational Master in …e world. Servants, saith Peter, be sub…t to your Masters, with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the … ward, 1 Pet. 2. 18. And if thy peev… Master will still be froward, either … of spite to thy Religion, or because he … without reason concerning thy labo… (thou to the utmost of thy power labou…ing faithfully) God then reckoneth the… a sufferer for well doing, as truly, as … thou wast called upon the stage of th… world before men, for the matters of th… Faith. Wherefore Peter adds this … couragement to Servants, to the exho…tation he gave them before, This is tha… worthy, saith he, if a man for Conscien… toward God endureth grief, suffering wro… fully; for what glory is it, if when ye be bu… feted for your faults you take it patiently▪ but if when you do well, and suffer for it, … take it patiently, this is acceptable wit… God, 1 Pet. 2. 19, 20.
Wherefore be comforted concerni… thy condition, with considering, that G… looks upon thee, as on Jacob in the fa…ly of Laban; & will right all thy wrong and recompence thee for thy faith… wise, and godly Behaviour, before, … the service of thy froward Master.
Wherefore be patient, I say, and abound … thy faithfulness in thy place and cal…g, till God make a way for thy escape …om this place; and when thou mayest … made free, use it rather, 1 Cor. 7. 21.