Principles of Faith and Good Conscience, Chapter 34
CAP. XXXIV.
The duty of Maſters and Servants.
Q. IF I be a Maſter, What is my duty to my ſervants.
A. There be four duties of Maſters: 1. they muſt give to their ſervants things equall and juſt, that is, equall a commands, equall workes, b equall wages, taking c care of them both in ſickneſſe and in health. [Avoiding cruelty and hard uſage; contenting themſelves with that which a well minded ſervant may with a good conſcience and honeſt care performe.] a 1 Cor. 7.23. Exod. 5.18, 19. 2 Sam. 24. 4. b Mal. 3.5. Jam. 5.4. Deut. 24.15. Gen. 31.6, 7, 12. c 1 Sam. 30.12, 13. Prov. 31.15. Mat. 8.6.
Q. What's the ſecond?
A. Maſters muſt not be froward and threatning to them. [Rebukes muſt be ſparing, and with moderation, elſe out ſervice will be their bondage. Eph. 6.9.
Q. What's the third?
A. Maſters muſt heare the cauſe and grievances of their ſervants. Job. 31.13. 14, 15.
Q. Why is the fouth duty of Maſters?
A. They muſt chuſe, a and encourage godly ſervants, or elſe labour to make them ſuch by b inſtructing them, by rebuking & reſtraining them from ill companies. [Such as have ſpent their time with us with love and fidelity, the greateſt reckoning is to be made of them.] Prov: 27.18. Act. 10.2, 7. Pſal. 101, 6, 7. Gen. 30.27. Gen. 18.19. Exod. 20.10.
Q. If I be a Servant, VVhat is my duty to my Maſter?
A. There be three duties of Servants: 1. They muſt doe ſervice to their Maſters faithfully, willingly, deſirous to pleaſe them well in what they doe, not croſſing and anſwering againe, not ſlubbering over buſineſſe for faſh…ons ſake. Eph. 6.5, 6, 7. Gen. 31.6. Tit. 2.9.
Q. What's the ſecond duty of Servants?
A. They muſt not filch and purloyne, but procure their Maſters credit and profit what they can. Tit. 2.10. Gen. 31.38, 29.2 Sam. 12.28.
Q. What's their third duty?
A. They muſt ſubmit to the inſtructions, and beare the rebukes of their Maſters, without ſtomack and murmuring. 1 Pet. 2. 18. Gen. 16.9.
Q. This is the Servants duty: What followes hereof?
A. Therefore they be naughty Servants, that be idle, and ſlothfull, & untruſty, not caring for their Maſters credit or profit, or whether they be pleaſed or diſpleaſed.
The duty of Kings and Rulers, and Subjects under them.
Q What is the duty of Kings and Rulers?
A. They muſt ſtudy to preſerve the people in a wealth, b peace and godlineſſe, protecting them from wrongs, and thy themſelves muſt not c oppreſſe them in any kind, by violence, or d wreſting of judgement. a 2 Sam. 1.24. b 1 Tim. 2.2. Deut. 17.17. c Ezek. 46.18. 2 Sam. 23.3. Mic. 3.9, 10, 11. Mic. 7.3, 4 2 Chr. 16.10. 2 Chr. 10.4. d Amos 5.7.
Q. VVhat other duty is there of Kings and Magiſtrates?
A. They muſt be a terror to the evill, & an encouragement to the good. Rom. 13.3. Amos 5.10. Mic. 3.2.
Q. VVhat is due from Subjects and inferiours, to their Kings and Rulers?
A. Firſt, obedience to all their lawfull commands. [In the Lord.]Subjects duty. Tit. 3.1. 1 Pet: 2.13. Eccl. 8.2. For the Lords ſake, and in regard of the Oath of God.
Q. VVhat, ſecondly?
A. VVe muſt render unto them their dues of Tribute and cuſtome, as it doth belong to them by any right of Law, Statute, cuſtome, or otherwiſe. Ro: 13.4, 6, 7. Mat. 22.21. [Tribute is a duty, not a curteſy, & men ſin if they withhold it; for they attend continually upon our good.]
Q. VVhat followes hereof?
A. They are naughty people that a inwardly deſpiſe, or b cutwardly curſe and revile, or diſobey, and c riſe up againſt their Rulers, or withhold their dues. a 1 Sam. 10.27. Eccl. 10.20. 1 King: 21.13. b Act. 23.5. Joſh. 1.18. c 1 Sam. 24.6.
Q. But is it lawfull in no caſe for Subjects to riſe up in Armes againſt their lawfull Soveraigne?
A. No, in no caſe; a No ſupreme Power whatſoever, or whereſoever reſiding, ought to be reſiſted by thoſe that are under them, b eſpecially if they have ſworn Allegiance unto them. a 1 Sam. 24.6. Rom. 13.2. VVhoſoever reſiſteth the Power, reſiſteth the Ordinance of God: The Powers are nor from beneath, but from above. Joh. 19.11. There is no power but of God. Ro: 13.1. with Pſ. 82.6. He is the Miniſter of God. Rom. 13.4. God is the Soveraigne Lord of the Whole earth, and Kings are his deputies, and Vicegerents; in them God is reſiſted, & they that reſiſt ſhall receive to themſelves damnation. Pro. 30, 31, 32. & a King, againſt whom there is no riſing up. If we cannot with good conſcience obey them, yet we muſt be ſubject, and ſubmit unto them. 1 Pet. 2.13, 14, 16. b Ezek. 17.15, 16. Judg. 9.19, 20, 24, 45, 56, 57. ſee.