The Holy Life and Happy Death of John Bruen, Chapter 19
CHAP. XIX.
His familiar converſing with old Robert.THis old Robert though but a ſervant, yet being rich in grace, his Maſter did ſo much eſteeme and affect, that he would as often as conveniently he could, have him neare unto him, he would often goe to the Hop-yard, or threſhingflore (where commonly his buſineſſe lay) to talk and conferre with him, and ſometime for his owne exerciſe to take ſome part and portion in the labour with him alſo. This he did for their mutuall comfort and contentment, in provoking one another to holy duties, and communicating ſuch things as they had read or heard, for increaſe of godlineſſe and goodneſſe one in another.
Such is the nature and temper of humility and ſincerity. The maſter never a whit the more abaſed, becauſe he did bow himſelfe to the low condition, and company of a ſervant; nor the ſervant ever a jot more proud or preſuming, becauſe of this his Maſters kind and Chriſtian dealing with him. They were both of them gainers, and no looſers, by ſuch intercourſe and exchange of Chriſtian offices.Both gainers by it. Which I could wiſh, ſome of our Gentlemen and Gentlewomen did well weigh and conſider, who thinke they ſhould loſe, or let fall much of their greatneſſe, if they ſhould uſe to ſpeake kindly, or talke familiarly with their godly ſervants, about their owne occaſions, or other good things, for by this ſtately ſtrangeneſſe, they make themſelves leſſe able to doe good unto others, and deprive others of their liberty and opportunity to do that good, they deſire unto them againe, and ſo both are loſers and neither of them any gainer by this ſtately ſtiffneſſe.
Others dealing otherwiſe are loſers by their ſtatelines.It was not thus betwixt Abraham and Eliezar, Moſes and Ioſhua, Eli and Samuel, Naaman and his ſervants, Job and his maid-ſervant, David and his family, Chriſt and his Apoſtles, Paul and his followers, all theſe ſerving one another in love, and every member ſeeking to ſuccour each other, the eye the hand, and the hand the foot: the foot, and eye, and hand the whole body.
Thus they continued many yeares together maſter and ſervant, faithfull in their places, and fruitfull in every good worke, either doing good, or receiving good for themſelvs and for others in the family:Mis kind uſage of him. wherein yet this is farther very remarkable in this gracious Gentleman, that when this his old ſervant became impotent through age, having ſpent about thirty yeares in his ſervice, and now growing towards foureſcore, as unfit for countrey labour, as old Barzilla was for court ſervice; yet was he ſo far from caſting him off, or turning him away in his old age, that for many yeares together he did nouriſh and feed him, with ſome of the beſt morſels from his owne table,In his old age. by his owne hand, permitting him to ſit in the parlor or buttery not farre from him, that even at meale time he might as occaſion ſerved conferre with him. And thus he dealt with him in great mercy and compaſſion, as if he had been his owne brother, of the ſame loynes and wombe with him, even all the dayes of his life untill his dying day, and the very houre of his death.
Vntill the day and houre of his death.A good example for rebuke of many mercileſſe and prophane Maſters, who deale no better oftentimes with their impotent and old ſervants, than they doe with their old Dogs; firſt grow weary of them, and then turne them off their hand without any meanes or maintenance,To the reproofe of mercileſſe maſters. 1 Sam. 30.13. to live on a Commons or dye in a ditch: being herein more like unto that curſed and cruell Amalakite (than unto this Gentleman, or any good Chriſtian) who forſooke his ſervant, and left him in an open field behind him, in great danger, and diſtreſſe, becauſe he fell ſicke upon his hand.