Christian Directions, Chapter 29
CHAP. XXIX.
Of Servants Duties to their Masters.
HAving shewed the Duties of Masters in reference to their Servants, Come wee now to the Duties of Servants in reference to their Masters; which may be brought to three heads viz. 1 Obedience. 2 Diligence. 3 Faithfulness.
I. Obedience is that the Apostle St. Paul often presseth upon Servants,Ephes. 6. 5, 6. as a main and principal duty.Col. 3. 22. And indeed no inferiours are more bound to obedience than Servants. Your Obedience must be manifested in two particulars.
1 In a ready yeelding to your Masters commands. For indeed it is the proper work of a Servant to hearken to his Masters Precepts, and to yeeld ready obedience unto them.
2 In a patient bearing of reproofs and corrections, yea though the correction be wrongfully inflicted, without just cause, which the Apostle Peter expresly requireth of Servants, for saith hee, Servants be subject to your Masters with all fear,1 Pet. 2. 18, 19, &c. not onelyonly to the good and gentle, but also to the froward: For this is thank-worthy, if a man for conscience towards God, indure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if when yee be buffeted for your faults, yee take it patiently? but if when yee do well, and suffer for it, yee take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. And if unjust correction ought patiently to be born, then much more unjust reproofs. But if the reproof or correction be just, then you ought speedily to amend and reform the things for which you are …ustly reproved or corrected. For the Manner of Servants Obedience, the Apostle sets it down in several expressions. As
1 It must be a sincere Obedience. This the Apostle Paul sets down with two expressions in one verse.foreign. Col. 3. 22.
1 Negatively, Not with eye-service.
2 Affirmatively, With singleness of heart.
Not with eye-service, which implieth a meer outward service only, to satisfie the eye of man, But with singleness of heart, q. d. Let not your Obedience be hypocritical, meerly to be seen of your Masters, but let it be in truth and uprightness of heart, doing service to your Masters in the sincerity of your hearts, without any hypocrisie or dissimulation, labouring in your Masters absence as well as in his presence, remembring Gods eye is ever upon you.
2 Your obedience must be consciencious, for conscience sake, because the Lord requireth it at your hands; so much the Apostle expresseth,Col. 3. 23 for speaking to Servants, he saith, Whatsoever yee, doe, doe it heartily, as to the Lord, q. d. whatsoever service yee doe to your Masters, doe it for the Lords sake, because he hath commanded it, and therefore doe it out of conscience to the Word, and command of God, who requireth you to yeeld sincere service and obedience to your Masters, for this will stirre you up to doe it after the best manner you can, that so God may accept thereof, and reward you for the same.
3 Your obedience must be cheerful. This the Apostle intimateth, Collos. 3. 23. where he saith, Whatsoever yee doe, doe it heartily: i. e. whatsoever yee doe in the service of your Masters,foreign. doe it from the heart, as it is in the Greek, that is, with good will, as the Apostle in another place expounds himself, saying,Ephes. 6. 7 foreign. With good will doing service; or us the Greek word properly signifieth, with a good and cheerful mind. So that Servants ought not to doe their work grudgingly, or discontentedly, as it were with an ill will, but cheerfully, with a good will.
4 Your obedience must be universal unto every thing which they require of you; foreign. Col. 3. 22.so much the Apostle expresseth, Servants, saith he, obey your Masters in all things, i. e. not only in such things as seem easie, and most pleasing to your fancy, but whatsoever they command you, being not contrary to the Word of God, but are in themselves honest and lawful; for if they shall command you to lye, swear, or to use false weights and measures, which are things forbidden by God, you ought not therein to yeeld to their commands, but to say unto them,Ioseph servus est, fed pravis Domin… suae cupiditatibus servire nescit. Gregor. as Ioseph did to his Mistris, How shall I doe this great wickedness, and sin against God? though hee was a Servant to his Master, yet would hee not be a Servant to his Mistris lusts.
II. Another Duty incumbent upon Servants is, Diligence in dispatching their Masters work and business, without loitering, or minding their own ease and pleasure; but as their strength and time is their Masters, so they ought to put forth their strength, and imploy their whole time in their Masters service; I say, their whole time, excepting some part thereof for their secret devotions, especially their Morning and Evening Prayers unto God: for Servants must have respect to their Master in Heaven, as well as to their Master on earth, and make as much conscience of performing their duty to him, as to their Masters according to the flesh; for indeed, the Lord is the best Master, who gives the best wages, and largest rewards.
III. Another Duty is Faithfulness. Servants must shew all faithfulness to their Masters,Tit. 2. 10 as the Apostle expresseth. Both that trust that is reposed in Servants, and that account that is to bee taken of them require faithfulness. Doe you not remember what the Lord said to his Steward, Give an account of thy stewardship? Luke 16. 2 Mat. 25. 19And were not all the servants to whom talents were committed called to an account? How then doth it concern all Servants to be faithful to their Masters, which they ought to express both in their words and deeds.
1 In words, not daring to excuse any unwarrantable act with the telling of a lye, which is to adde sin unto sin; let all lying Servants consider the fearful Judgement executed on Gehaz…, who when his Master asked him where he had been, presently answered him with a lye,2 King. 5. 25 saying, Thy servant went no whither; whereupon he went out of his presence a Leper as white as snow.
2 In deeds, and that several wayes.
1 Not disposing their Masters goods at their own pleasures, either to themselves, by taking more than is allowed them, or to others, by giving any part thereof away. Many Servants think they may lawfully give away Victuals, and other things of their Masters to the Poor; but though they may inform their Masters, or Mistresses, of such things in the house meet to be given away, and likewise of persons fit to receive such almes; yet have they no power of themselves to give away any thing of their Masters: and pretence of Charity is no good excuse for Theft.
2 Not pilfering and purloyning their Masters goods to their own private use, which the Apostle expresly condemneth in Servants, Tit. 2. 10. Let all pilfering Servants know, that there is a Book full of Curses and Plagues against every one that stealeth, or sweareth, which Book is large, twenty cubits long, and ten cub its broad, Zech. 5. 2, 3and yet is filled with Curses that shall come swiftly upon them, as the Prophet Zechary speaketh.
3 But rather labouring to preserve, and increase their Masters estate by all good and lawful means.Tit. 2. 10. Thus the Apostle Paul expresseth the duties of Servants, Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity, viz. to their Masters, in increasing their estate, which is highly commended in that faithful servant in the Parable, for which hee received from his Lord and Master, both a gracious approbation, in these words, Well done good and faithful servant, thou hast been faithful in a few things, and also a plentiful remuneration, in the next words, I will make thee Ruler over many things, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. So that hee that is faithful in a little, taketh the best course to become Ruler of much, if the Lord see it good for him.