whatever other Helps they want of God Only let them Remember to add this Instruction to the former Of daily endeavoring to Practice Patience Humility and Meekness amidst the many Trials and Provocations they meet with in their State They cannot fail of meeting some every Day either from those whom they serve or from their Companions and if under these Trials they would be mindful to Humble themselves to suppress all Impatience to avoid Contentions and receive both the Troubles and Difficulties of their Place as from the Hand of God this Practice of Humility Patience and Self-denial would supply all the want of Prayer and set them on forward in their Way to Heaven above any thing else they can possibly do This I most earnestly recommend to Servants because the great Art of Salvation is for all Christians to practice those Virtues which particularly seem to belong to their State and to Advance towards Heaven in that way in which God seems to call them Now as the Rich are to do this by Hospitality and Alms-giving Church men by being true to the Duties of their Function Parents by the Care of their Estate Children and Family the Afflicted and Sick by submitting to their Trouble and Pain so Servants are to do this by bearing the Burthen of their State by Patiently Humbly and Meekly accepting all the Uneasiness of it so that if they cannot Pray give Alms c. like others they have still a way to Heaven as direct as any others and there can be no Miscarriage but because they will not walk in the way belonging to their State and in which God calls them to him SECT VIII Other Duties of Servants in regard of themselves VVHen Servants have learnt the practice of these Rules their Improvement in the Knowledge of God and in the Sense of Eternity will find them daily more Time for Prayer But especially on Sundays and Holy-days when having some Rest from their usual Labors they will be Careful to take the Advantage of such leisure by turning their Thoughts to God and employing some Time in Prayer and the Business of Eternity This is certainly one Duty of Servants as well as of others to sanctifie the Lord's Day as far as their Circumstances will permit by the Worship of God by Prayer and by carrying on the Work of their Salvation And because neither Prayer nor any part of the great Affair of the Soul can be well perform'd without due Instruction in the Christian Doctrin therefore all those Servants who think in earnest of providing for Eternity make this one Business of Sundays and Holy-days to be well Instructed in the Principles of Christian Doctrin This they do by constantly Reading such Books as are proper for this End and by Hearing those who are willing to teach them And if they cannot Read themselves they desire this Charity of others to Read to them take all Opportunities of hearing Instructions and follow such as are willing to give them The Instruction I here speak of is not to be confin'd to Catechisms but extends to all those Books which teach the Practice of a Christian Life The Difficulties and Temptations and Distractions which Servants as well as others must meet with oblige them to Read and Hear such Books or Instructions that by them their Hearts may be rais'd towards God be quicken'd in his Service and be inspir'd with new Resolutions of Fighting against their own Passions and Sin and carefully avoiding all the Occasions of it Those who are not Constant in thus conversing with Good Books Neglect their own Souls and tho' they are never so well Instructed yet if by Reading they do not Revive what they know their Knowledge is not likely to bring forth much Fruit but will be smother'd by the continual Business Snares and Dissipations of Life so as to be in danger of becoming wholly useless in them Hence it must be reckon'd a Fault in Servants on Sundays and Holy-days to Neglect Reading or Hearing others Read what may be for their Instruction and as for such who at that time Contrive purposely to be out of the way to be Sleeping Conversing or running Abroad rather than be employ'd in the manner as the Day requires and is for their Spiritual Good there needs no other Mark to fear the Worst of them for as those Branches which receive no Nourishment from the Root must certainly Wither and Die so those Christians must be in the way of a Spiritual Death who make it a Custom to deny themselves that Nourishment which is Necessary for the Life of the Soul Those then who are subject to this ill Custom thro' Sloth or Neglect must not wonder if their Ignorance be great if their Passions be violent if they are Strangers to Virtue if they are Fond of what is Idle and Vicious for how can it possibly be otherwise since they are careless in making use of those Means by which Knowledge Strength and Grace is to be Communicated to them SECT IX More Duties of Servants in regard of themselves THere is still another General Duty they owe themselves and that is to be watchful against all Corruption and Sin and more especially against that to which they find their Nature most inclin'd whether it be Swearing Lying Back-biting Quarrelling filthy Speaking unbecoming Familiarities or whatever else it be by which God is Offended For since they know there is no place in Heaven for such Sins these must either be Amended or else they must conclude themselves to live in the Displeasure of God and then how vain is the Hope of coming to the Possession of him This Work is not to be effected but by Labor in which they are never to be tir'd and they who Work so hard for Bread and a Poor Salary are not to wonder if Heaven is to Cost them some Pains But one Principal part in this Work consists in avoiding the Occasions of Evil by declining their Conversation who are the Encouragers or Promoters of what is Sinful in them and if it cannot be wholly declin'd in a Family they are at least so to manage their part as neither to Consent to nor Concurr in any thing that is Offensive to God If any Fellow-Servants are subject to Murmur against those who are over them or against the Absent If any are accustom'd to Contentions if any to Spiteful Whisperings or Malicious Suggestions if any to Immoderate Songs or Discourses the others who are present are not any ways to encourage or approve such Sinful Conversation they are not to shew themselves pleas'd with it but are bound to express their dislike of it either by leaving the Company or condemning their Discourse upon the Spot There can be nothing more necessary for so doing but a Good Will and a Good Resolution for tho' there may be greater difficulty in regard of their Betters yet when all are Equals any one may take that Liberty as to reprove whatever is publickly Sinful in the
possible they should escape being in a perpetual Fret within and a perpetual War without The Case therefore of Servants is not so particular in this Point but it belongs to other States all having this Hardship to bear in some degree or other And this many Servants find who changing their Condition in hopes of being reliev'd in their present Complaints see themselves oblig'd to another fort of Compliance such as makes them think all their past Uneasiness to have been a Happiness in comparison of what they now suffer Q. Then you recommend Silence as a General Rule for Servants under all manner of Reproof A. There must however be some Exceptions as when a Master presses a Servant to give an Answer for thus it may prove that there may be as great a Direspect in this Stubborn Silence as there is at other times in being too forward in answering It may likewise be allow'd them in any Reproof to make their Plea in short by declaring the Truth and if this be not accepted then to submit in Silence and Patience rather than justifie themselves by Passion It cannot likewise be disapprov'd in Servants to speak when they can do it in a Respectful manner and Masters seem easie in the Liberty they take All therefore that I discourage here in Servants is only such Speaking such Replies and such Answers as are not becoming their Condition but having something of Disrespect in them are to be condemn'd as Offences against the General Duty of their State And this being a Duty which God has impos'd on them they are bound to comply with it as they desire to be his Servants If it be troublesome it is a Trouble which may be overcome by watchful Endeavors their own Interest obliges them to take Pains in this Victory that they may have Peace here and hereafter SECT II. Of Fidelity in duly performing what they undertake Q. WHat is the Fidelity belonging to Servants A. 'T is a Duty by which they are oblig'd to be Faithful in all whatever belongs to their Charge Q. In what does this chiefly consist A. It consists chiefly in two Points that is in duly performing what they undertake and in managing with Care whatever is entrusted with them Q. How are they to satisfie the first Part of duly performing what they undertake A. S. Paul tells them how Ephes 6. 6. They are to do all Not with Eye-Service as pleasing Men but as the Servants of Christ doing the Will of God from the Heart Doing their Service with good Will as to the Lord and not as to Men knowing that whatever Good thing Man does the same he shall receive of our Lord whether he be Bond or Free Q. What does S. Paul teach Servants in these Words A. He teaches them several things First That they ought to look on themselves as the Servants of God 2 dly That in whatever Service they perform they are to endeavor not only to please the Eye of Men but do all with that Care as to please the Eye of God 3 dly That the Motive in all they do ought to be to comply with the Will of God 4 thly That the Comfort of all their Labors is to be that the most difficult Labors are due to God that God will be the Recompence of whatever is done faithfully who has no Respect of Persons but will reward the Servant according to his Works as well as the Master Now if Servants are to do all things not as pleasing the Eye of Men but as pleasing God it is very plain that Servants are not only to be Careful and Exact in what they do when their Master's Eye is to examin their Work but likewise when they have no Eye over them to commend their Diligence or reprove their Neglect Because the Work they undertake is their Duty and ought to be done for Duty sake and because God always sees them This is the Fidelity belonging to Servants as to this Point and is the Meaning of S. Paul's Words when he bids them do all not with Eye-Service as pleasing Men but as the Servants of Christ and doing the Will of God from the Heart And if they follow his Direction they may be sure besides the Yearly Wages from their Master they will have God to reward them Whence 't is very evident those Servants are wanting to their Duty and commit a Sin who are then only careful when they have an Eye over them or know what they do will be seen but in other Circumstances when they have no Witness and apprehend no Reproof of their Neglect do their Work carelesly or leave it undone for these are only Eye-Servants they forget that they are the Servants of God and instead of a Reward will find him the Punisher of their Neglect SECT III. Of Fidelity in managing what is entrusted with them Q. HOW are Servants to satisfie the other part of Fidelity which is that Of managing with Care whatever is entrusted with them A. They satisfie this by being so Careful and Just in all they undertake that their Master be not a Loser in any Way thro' their Fault By this then Servants are oblig'd First To be so careful of whatever Goods are under their Charge that they be not injur'd lost or stoln by their Sloth or Neglect You know how many things require the Care of Servants as in all belonging to Furniture Cloaths to Eating and Drinking c. Without this due Care some of them are very much prejudiced others become wholly Useless and the Masters are often great Sufferers by Servants not being diligent in what they undertake and is their Duty to do Secondly They are oblig'd to see there be no Waste of any thing under their Charge but must manage all with as much Care and Frugality as if it were their own I need not here mention Particulars they who know what belongs to a Family know likewise there is scarce any thing in it but what is subject to Waste and that tho' the Concern seems not much yet at the Years end 't is a great Expence to the Master if in the Use and Care of every thing there be not that due Management in Servants which is necessary to prevent the Waste of them Thirdly They are oblig'd to see that nothing under their Care be mis-spent broken or lost And they are to reckon all that mis-spent which is not employ'd according to their Order whom they serve Whence it cannot be allow'd them either to give away or to treat Companions or Friends with what belongs to their Master any further than they have his Order or have sufficient Reason to presume of his Consent And as they are not to do this themselves so neither are they to give Opportunity to others of doing it thro' their Neglect by carelesly leaving the Keys of things under their Charge in publick or by letting Doors or Boxes be open which they ought to keep lockt For whatever comes thus to be
Sinful and have a Mark set upon them by the Apostle as things not to be nam'd amongst Christians They are not purposely to use any such Expressions which having a Double Meaning may be taken in an ill Sense for tho' this may be intended only for Mirth yet 't is Jesting with Poyson and may as certainly bring Death to the Soul as if it were design'd to Kill They are not to use with their Companions any such Freedom of Words or Actions which are the Effects of Lightness and Corruption and carry with them the evident danger of Sin and as for all beyond this 't is so notoriously Criminal that it needs no Caution here They are not to carry their Companions into ill Company or such Houses where they are in danger of being drawn into Excess They are not to invite or perswade their Fellow-Servants to such Divertisements Games or Entertainments which are forbid by the Master or may be the Occasion of keeping ill Hours They are not to turn Informers against their Companions except in such Cases where Justice or Charity oblige them to it And if they carry Stories to their Masters push'd on by a Secret Malice or Ill-will against any they in this Offend against Charity and not only injure their Neighbor but do a much greater Injury to their own Souls by making God their Enemy and incurring the Guilt of such a Sin which cannot be forgiven but by making Restitution for whatever wrong they have done This is a Point in which those Servants are very much concern'd who having the Ear of their Master or Mistress are in the daily Occasion of falling into this Sin And the Temptation is so great whether by their own Itch of Talking or by the Hopes of Recommending themselves or by Flattering their indiscreet Curiosity who seem desirous of Hearing all that passes in their Family that if they have not a great Command of themselves and as great Discretion in Distinguishing what is fit to be told and what not they will every Day Offend against Charity and Justice and by these Sins make Void whatever Good they otherwise do in Order to Salvation These Rules ought to be observ'd with Care by all such Servants as desire to satisfie their Duty to God and Man And where there is not this Care it can be no wonder if such Servants fall into remarkable Disorders and are judg'd by all that know them as unfit for a well Disciplin'd Family SECT VII Duties of Servants in regard of themselves Q. THere is one Principal Question yet to come and that is What are the Duties of Servants in Regard of themselves A. One Duty is that of Prayer For this being a Means appointed by God by which Christians are to obtain such Graces and Blessings as they daily want it must be as necessary for Servants as for any other Rank and the Neglect of it can be esteem'd no less than withdrawing themselves from the Protection of Heaven and Robbing their own Souls of those Helps which are necessary for making them Faithful Servants and Good Christians Q. How can they perform this Duty who have so little time to themselves and being generally tir'd are fitter for Sleep than Prayer A. Let them but make the best use of what Time they have and God will certainly accept it as he did the Widows Mite when she had no more to give It cannot be expected they should employ as much Time in Prayer as those who have their Hours at Command But if they make their Business the Excuse of their Sloth and upon this pretext Neglect their Duty to God when if they were more Careful and Industrious they might find Time for performing it they will have God the Judge of their Insincerity and Sloth in his Service to whom it is known however they may hide it from all others All Services are not so hard as to allow no Time for Prayer And if all those Servants who make this their Excuse would Examin themselves and see how much Time they find every Day for Unnecessary Sleeping Curious Gazing Idle Talking c. they might soon discover that 't is not Excess of Business but want of Good-Will is the general Occasion of their not finding Time to Pray And that a little more Resolution with better Management would help them to all the Time that could be necessary for this Duty Leaving therefore these with the Advice of being more Industrious I turn to such who are really so streightn'd in Time that they cannot find Opportunity to Pray And to these I give the following Instructions First That they endeavor to be Constant in saying some short Prayer in the Morning Offering themselves to the Protection of God for the following Day and to be preserv'd from all Sin Secondly That if by any Accident they are hinder'd in this they be careful to supply it by raising up their Hearts to God even when they are at Work and earnestly begging the same Protection of him Thirdly That often in the Day they would turn their Thoughts towards God and Speak to him from their Hearts with this Assurance that if they could say no more than such short Sentences as these Lord have Mercy on me O God be Merciful to me a Sinner Jesus forgive me my Sins O God thy Will be done in me O God desend me from all Evil O God be thou my Comfort and my Strength O God Save my Soul c. such short Prayers said from the Heart might find as good acceptance with God as the longer Devotions of these who have more Time Fourthly That they would Offer up all the Work they do to God Beginning it in his Name and Ending it to his Glory For since all their Labors are to satisfie the Duties of their State and this is what God requires of them they may Offer up to him every Work as done in Compliance with his Will and thus observe S. Paul's Advice in Doing their Service with Good-Will as to the Lord. Fifthly That since God himself enjoin'd Labor on Adam and his Posterity for the Punishment of Sin Gen. 3. 19. they would Submit to all their Labors as to the Execution of this Sentence pronounc'd by God against Sin Sixthly That as often as they find difficulty in any part of their Duty as in Rising in the Morning or in hard Work or in doing such things to which they have a dislike or in complying with Humors or Submitting to Passions c. they would consider it is God s Will it should be so that it is the Punishment God has set upon Sin and upon these Motives of satisfying the Will and Justice of God perswade themselves to a ready Compliance and make Nature bend to that to which it is most averse If these Rules be observ'd no Servant need complain for want of Time to Pray for that by this way all they do will be Prayer and become a proper Means for obtaining the Divine Grace and
rest nay this is so much the Duty of every one Present that to sit still in Silence while God is publickly Offended and our Neighbor justly Scandalized is no less than concurring in the Sin and the Silent Hearers are as guilty as the Speakers I cannot tell how Christians can do otherwise than is here prescrib'd and yet excuse themselves as Innocent for I believe God will admit of no Excuse it being Impossible for one who has a Zeal for God's Honor or his Law to sit still a Silent Witness of Companions scandalously Offending him and let them go on without Reproof for such are certainly Traitors and not the Servants of God who can stand thus and see his Cause betray'd Q. Reproof will be an Encouragement and no Check to some who desire nothing more than to Vex their Companions A. If a Reproof be given in earnest and Threats added if necessary of Publishing their Scandals by informing those to whom it belongs a better effect might be expected But if upon sufficient Trial there be no Amendment the Case may be such as to oblige a Servant to seek Remedy by changing Place Q. When A. When it carries with it the danger of Sin as in a Custom of Immodest Jesting Filthy Discourse or too much Freedom in Action For the danger of Sin is so great here that if expressing in good earnest a dislike of it has no Effect there is a necessity of informing those who have more Authority and if there be no Care taken to reform it by removing those who give the Scandal I know of no other Expedient but quitting the Place since no Servant can satisfie a good Conscience if they abide in a Place where they are daily in danger of being drawn into Sin Q. What think you then of those Servants who being in Public Houses must hear all manner of Lewdness and are daily expos'd to the Abuses of every Wicked and Drunken Guest A. I think they take no Care of their Souls and by loving danger are likely to Perish in it Q. Are there still any farther Duties under this Head A. There is one more which is that of making a good use of leisure Hours by all that which is Sinful or Dangerous I except not against Innocent Mirth at any time when it is no hindrance to their Duty nor against Innocent Recreation at Times allow'd them But Corruption is so general and the Temptation of Idle Hours so great that if Servants are not very Cautious they may be easily drawn into variety of Snares The First Snare is in Conversation which is subject to many Evils already mention'd as to Back-biting the Absent Murmuring against Superiors Immodest Songs Immodest Stories or Discourse and to Freedoms which are of the worst Consequence Those who are not Resolute in avoiding the Evils of this Snare whether at Home or Abroad but give Encouragement to them either directly or by too much easiness in complying cannot be Good Christians and are in the way to Ruin and this much more if they are for singling out those whose Principles are not Good and seem Fond of Corner-conversation Another Snare is in Divertisements or Entertainments and under this Head I bring all those Incoveniencies to which great numbers are expos'd especially Clerks of the Law and Apprentices those who shutting up Shop early and being not tied to the strict Disciplin of a Family have some Hours every Night to dispose of And here how many the Mischiefs are let it be reckon'd not by Imaginary Fears but by Example By the Example of those who affecting a Genteel Air have found Company to be Early Fops and have been made so Airy as never more to be Serious enough for Business By the Example of those who being drawn into Gaming have been soon Bubbled out of all their Stock and by defrauding their Master have kept up the Credit of their Broken Fortune By the Example of those who being engag'd in Clubs have been Corrupted with all that is Lewd and Vicious By the Example of those who being charm'd with Wit have been taught to laugh at all that is Sacred By the Example of those who Fond of Music and Balls could never more Relish the dull Business of the Desk or the Shop Let the number be taken of those who being surpriz'd in this Snare have prov'd the Affliction of their Parents the Scandal of their Church the Corrupters of Youth and then it will appear of how great Consequence it is that all of this Rank should be careful in the better use of their leisure Hours since of the vast number that become lost to all that is Honorable and Good I believe there is scarce One in Ten but what must derive his Ruin from the want of this Care And while the Proof of this Mischief is so great be no less than the Presumption or Madness for Apprentices c. to put themselves in the way of this General Ruin by abusing their leisure Time and to pretend there is no danger in it I think I need add no more on this or any other Head but having given these hints to Servants of the Duties of their State and of the Difficulties belonging to it I leave them with this Encouragement That tho' their Condition be but Mean and their Life Difficult yet they are as capable of Salvation as any other State of Christians Let them but be Faithful in their Duties to God and to those whom they serve and be watchful against the Corruption of Sin and they will find God their Eternal Recompence who without respect of Persons is the Reward of all that are Good whether Bond or Free THE Contents Sect. I. OF the Respect due from Servants to Masters Pag. 3 Sect. II. Of Fidelity in duly performing what they undertake 11 Sect. III. Of Fidelity in managing what is entrusted with them 14 Sect. IV. Of Obedience due to Masters 20 Sect. V. Of Duties to Fellow-Servants 28 Sect. VI. Other Duties to Fellow-Servants 32 Sect. VII Duties of Servants in regard of themselves 36 Sect. VIII Other Duties of Servants in regard of themselves 41 Sect. IX More Duties of Servants in regard of themselves 44 FINIS