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exercise it in a peculiar manner. But ftill there are two confiderations, that will make fome difference in this duty.

First, Servants are of different degrees; fome of them are entertained for particu lar purposes, expreffed, or well understood on both fides; and if they answer these purposes fairly, and honestly, they have difcharged the duty of their service.

Secondly, No fervants now among us are in the fame condition, that servants were in formerly; and particularly, when the Scriptures were written; for thofe were flaves, and the word might properly be tranflated fo. And therefore, though fervants are obliged, no doubt,

ftill, and as much as ever they were, to Tit. ii. 9. be faithful and honeft, not purloining, but

fhewing all good fidelity; yet they are not bound to all the fame things, nor for the fame time. With us, they moftly hire themfelves; and it is to fervice, not fervi

tude.

tude. By the law of the land, they are not flaves; and there is no Chriftian law, that obliges them to become fuch. Art 1 Cor. vii. thou called being a fervant, or flave? care not for it; but if thou mayeft be made free, ufe it rather.

ZI.

It is both prudent and right in fervants to be refpectful alfo, as well as honeft. Wife and Christian counsel is that, which is given them by the Apoftle, if they can to please their own masters well in all Tit. ii. 9. things, not answering again without murmurings, complaints, reluctance, which make their fervice more painful and less acceptable. Yet in these countries, where they ferve only upon agreement, they may certainly infift upon the conditions of it.

And though they are obliged by all the ties of reason, and religion, and their own intereft to behave themselves well in their fervice; it may be, they are bound by

none

none of these to continue in it: and, excepting only the cafe of contracts for a fixed time, and fome little reftraints also which are established by cuftom, when they judge that they can be treated with more kindness, or receive a better recompence from a new mafter, or in another ftation, they are at liberty to try. Conscience towards God does not oblige 1Pet. ii. them to fuffer thus wrongfully: the counfels fuggested by prudence, may be followed with innocence.

19.

Eph. vi. 9.

And ye, mafters, do the fame thing unto them; that is, act in the fame reasonable and religious manner; be as confiderate and equitable, as you expect them to be respectful and honeft; in one word, be fuch mafters, as you would wish to meet with, if you were fervants. Forbearing threatening: It is a fign you want skill in the art of governing, if you have much occafion for severity; and you must want both religion and humanity, if you use it

when

when it is not neceffary. Take care that none of the offences you would correct, nor any other, be any way owing to yourfelves; be not partakers of their fins, by giving them encouragement or provocation to commit them, or fetting an example of them; Knowing that your master alfo is in heaven. Knowing this; you need not have recourse to imagination, to make you fee what is reasonable in this cafe, and induce you to do, as you would be done to. The fuppofition that you too are servants, is very true: You have a mafter, as well as they, and the fame that they have; who will deal fairly by you both, accord ing to your merit and not rank: and a very confiderable part of your merit will confift in your good behaviour to them. You shall meet from God with the mercy you fhew; at the time when you will want it. But if you be injurious and oppreffive, if you be lordly, and infolent, and inhuman; it had been better you had been born to beg, or that you had VOL. II.

M

never

never been born. Your dead body will be buried with a little more ceremony

than their's; and there ends all your

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glory: The grave is the concluding Luke xvi. scene of earthly greatnefs: The rich man died, and was buried. Then a different ver. 23. profpect opens: And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and feeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bofom. There will be an exchange of ftation in the Mark x. world to come: Many that are firft, fhall be laft; and the laft, firft.

31.

Princes, Magiftrates, Superiours of every fort, have a right to respect and honour, and to obedience, according to their place, and their relation to us, and the Jaws of that civil fociety in which we live. These duties, resembling so nearly what we owe to our parents, rank easily under the fame rule. The relation has been often expreffed by the fame name; Numb. xi. the obligations are fimilar. Mofes faid unto the Lord, wherefore haft thou afflicted

II, &c.

and

thy

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