A Book for Beginners, Chapter 12
CHAP. XII. The Duties of Servants.
THough Servants be not now mere Slaves and Bondmen, as they were in the Apoſtles days; yet they are in a ſtate of ſubjection, and are tied to ſuch Obedience as we find enjoyned in the Apoſtolical Writings; even for this reaſon, becauſe they are now in a far better condition. Harken therefore to your Duty, as it is plainly ſet forth in the Holy Scripture. And remember,
I. Firſt of all, that you are bound to ſtudy to pleaſe your Maſters and Miſtreſſes, by doing as they bid you, in their buiſineſs wherein they imploy you. II. Titus 9. A branch of which is, (as you will find in that place) not to contradict them, and ſtand diſputing with them. Much leſs ought you to I be ſaucy and irreverent in your Anſwers, or in your Behaviour towards them, 1 Tim. VI. 1.
II. Remember alſo to be Faithfull in your truſt, and never to deceive them in the ſmalleſt matter; but be ſure to ſhew all good fidelity, as the Apoſtle there teaches you. II. Tit. 10.
III. Part of which Fidelity is, to be diligent in your buiſineſs, and to diſpatch it as ſoon as you can: and to be ſolicitous alſo to doe your work well; which S. Peter and S. Paul ſeem to mean, when they bid you ſerve them with all fear, 1 Pet. II. 18. and with fear and trembling, VI. Epheſ. 5.
IV. And both this Diligence, and Solicitude, and Truſtineſs, muſt be performed not onelyonly when they have their eye upon you; but when their back is turned, and they are abſent from you. VI. Epheſ. 6. III. Coloſſ. 22. If you gad abroad, or ſlacken your labour and care, when they are not at home, or do not ſee you; you do not ſerve them as Chriſtians, that ſtudy to pleaſe God, but as vile Slaves, and Menpleaſers, that mind nothing but to avoid their anger.
V. Be content alſo with your Allowance; and ſubmit to ſuch Reſtraints as they lay upon you: which ſeems to be included in the Apoſtolical Precept before mentioned, II. Tit. 10. For more then this, you ought to take their hard Words, nay and Corrections, patiently. I cannot ſay, but you may ſeek a remedy from your Governours and theirs, if they abuſe you; but a Blow that does no hurt, much more an angry Chiding, ſhould not ſeem any great matter to you: But you had better bear it, ſaying nothing, or meekly praying them to ſpare you, then increaſe their wrath by anſwering again angrily. Howſoever all ill words are utterly unlawfull. Reade 1 Pet. II. 18.
VI. The Apoſtles alſo would have you to ſerve them with good will, VI. Epheſ. 7. and whatſoever you doe, to doe it heartily, III. Coloſſ. 23. One note of which is, when you go about your buiſineſs chearfully, and do not grumble at your work; much leſs grumble at this, that you are Servants, and not as good as thoſe whom you ſerve.
It is very uncomfortable to your Maſters, as well as your ſelves, when you go about your work with a diſcontented ſpirit and a ſour heart, lowring and pouting, as we ſpeak: which proceeds from hence, that you forget you are ſerving the Lord, when you are diligent in their buiſineſs, and look upon your ſelves onelyonly as Servants of Men. This the Apoſtles correct, when they bid you be obedient to your Maſters as unto Chriſt: Not with eye-ſervice, as menpleaſers, but as the ſervants of Chriſt; doing the will of God from the heart: With good will doing ſervice, as unto the Lord, and not unto men. VI. Epheſ. 5, 6, 7. Where he four times (within the compaſs of 3 verſes) puts you in mind of this, that you are doing God's will, and ſerving the Lord Chriſt; when you are doing their buiſineſs which they enjoyn you.
If you think of this, you will not goe about it heavily, and diſcontentedly: eſpecially if you conſider the motive whereby the Apoſtle incourages you; knowing that whatſoever good thing a man doeth, (though in the meaneſt place,) the ſame ſhall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free. VI. Epheſ. 8. Knowing that of the Lord ye ſhall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye ſerve the Lord Chriſt. III. Coloſſ. 24.