Christian Behavior, Section 3 – Section 4
Touching Correction.
First, See if fair words will win them from evil: This is God's way with his Children, Jer. 25. 4, 5.
Secondly, Let those words you speak to them in your reproof, be both sober, few, & pertinent, adding always some sutable sentence of the Scripture therewith; as if they lie, then such as Rev. 21. 8. 27. If they refuse to hear the Word, such as 2 Chron. 25. 14, 15, 16.
Thirdly, Look to them that they b… not companions with those that are rud… and ungodly, shewing with soberness a continual dislike of their naughtiness, often crying out to them, as God did of old unto his; Oh! do not this abominable thing that I hate, Jer. 44. 4.
Fourthly, Let all this be mixed with such love, pitty, and compunction of Spirit, that if possible, they may be convinced, you dislike not their persons but their sins. This is God's way, Psal. 99. 8.
Fifthly, Be often indeavouring to fasten on their Consciences the day of their Death and Judgement to come. Thus also God deals with his, Deut. 32. 29.
Sixthly, If thou art driven to the Rod, then, 1. Strike advisedly in cool blood; and soberly shew them, 1. Their fault; 2. How much it is against thy heart thus do deal with them; 3. And that what thou dost, thou dost it in conscience to God, and love to their Souls; 4. And tell them, that if fair means would have done, none of this severi…y should have been: This, I have proved it, will be a means to afflict their hearts as well as their bodies; and it being the way that God deals with his, it is the most likely to accomplish its end.
Seventhly, Follow all this with prayer to God for them, and leave the issue to Him.
Folly is bound up in the heart of a Child; but the Rod of Correction will fetch it out, Prov. 22. 15.
Lastly, Observe these Cautions.
1. Take heed that the mis-deeds for which thou corectest thy Children be not learn'd them by thee. Many Children learn that wickedness of their Parents, for which they beat and chastise them.
2. Take heed thou smile not upon them to encourage them in small faults, lest that thy carriage to them, be an encouragement to them to commit greater.
3. Take heed thou use not unsavory and unseemly words in thy chastising of them, as railing, mis-calling, and the like; this is devilish.
4. Take heed thou do not use them to many chiding words and threatnings, mixed with lightness and laughter; this will harden: Speak not much, nor often, but pertinent to them with all gravity.
Of Masters to Servants.
MAsters also have a work to do as they stand related to their Servants.
And first, If possible they can, to get them that fear God. He that worketh deceit, saith David, shall not dwell within my House; and he that telleth lies, shall not tarry in my sight, Psal. 101. 7.
Secondly, But if none at the present but unbelievers can be got to do thy labour; Then,
1. Know that it is thy duty so to behave thy self to thy Servant, that thy service may not only be for thy good, but for the good of thy Servant, and that both in body and soul: Wherefore deal with him, as to admonition, as with thy Children; give him the same Bread of God thou givest to them; & who knows, but that if thou with spiritual Dilicates bringest up thy Servant, but he may become thy spiritual Son in the end, Prov. 29. 21.
2. Take heed thou do not turn thy Servants into slaves by over-charging them in thy work, thorow thy greediness. To make men serve with rigor, is more like to Israels enemies than Christian Masters, Exod. 1. 14.
3. Take heed thou carry not thy self to thy Servant, as he of whom it is said, he is such a Son of Belial, that his Servants could not speak to him; 1 Sam. 25. 14, 15, 16, 17.
And the Apostle bids you forbear, to threaten them, because you also have a Master in Heaven, Ephes. 6. 9. as who should say, your Servants cannot be guilty of so many miscariages against you, as you are guilty of against Christ: wherefore do wi…h, and to your Servants, as you would have your Master do with you.
4. Take heed that thou neither circumvent him at his coming into thy service, …o… at his going out.
1. Servants at their going into service, may be beguised two wayes.
First, By their Masters lying unto them, saying, their work is so small, and so easie, when it is indeed, if not too burdensome, yet far beyond what at first was said of it. This is beguiling of them.
Secondly, The other way is, whe… Masters greedily seek to wier-draw their Servants to such wages, as indeed is too little and inconsiderable for such work and labour. Both these the Apostle opposeth, where he saith, Masters give unto your Servants that which is just, just labour, and just wages, knowing that you also have a Master in Heaven, Col. 4. 1.
2. As Servants may be circumvented at their coming into their labour, so also they may be at their going out. Which … done by Masters that either change …eir wages, like heathenish Laban, Gen, 31. 7. or by keeping it back, like thos… against whom God will be a swift Wit…ess, Mal. 3. 5.
3. Take heed that thou make not a gain of thy place because thou art gracious, or livest conveniently for the means of Grace.
Servants that are truly godly, they care not how cheap they serve their Masters, provided they may get into godly Families, or where they may be convenient for the Word. But now, if a Master or Mistris should take this opportunity to make a prey of their Servant, this is abominable; this is making a gain of Godliness, and merchandize of the things of God (1 Tim. 6. 5.) and of the soul of thy Brother.
I have heard some poor Servants say, That in some carnal families, they have had more liberty to God's things, and more fairness of dealing, than among Professors. But this stinketh: and as Jacob said concerning the cruelty of his two Sons, so may I say of such Masters, they make Religion stink before the inhabitants of the Land, Gen. 34. 30.
In a word, learn of the Lord Jesus to carry your selves well to your Servants, that your Servants also may learn something of the kindness of Christ by your deportment to them: Servants are g… ers aswel as comers; take heed that thou give them no occasion to scandal the Gospel when they are gone, for what they observed thee unrighteously to do when they were with thee.
Then Masters carry it rightly toward their Servants, when they labour both in word and life to convince them, that the things of God are the One thing necessary.
That which Servants are commanded to do, touching their fear, their singleness of heart, their doing what they d… as to the Lord, and not to men; the Master is commanded to do the same things unto them, Ephes. 5. 6, 7, 8, 9.