their hire beginning from the last unto the first To withold the Labourers Wages is a crying sin Deut. 24.14 Thou shalt not oppress a hired Servant that is poor and needy thou shalt give him his hire at his Day neither shall the Sun go down upon it lest he cry against thee unto the Lord and it be sin unto thee Jam. 5.4 Behold the hire of the Labourers which have Reapt down your Fields which is of you kept back by fraud cryeth and the cryes of them which have Reaped are entred into the ears of the Lord of Sabbaoths 3. Bear with many infirmities and small faults in Servants not being too couriosly sollicitious to pry thereinto Eccl. 7.21 22. Take no heed to all words that are spoken lest thou hear thy Servant curse thee for often times also thine own Heart knoweth that thou thy self hast cursed others 4. Do the same things unto them forbearing threatning knowing that your Master also is in Heaven neither is there respect of Persons with him Ephes 6.5 Deal by them as you would have your Heavenly Master deal by you and as you would have Earthly Masters deal by you if you were Servants They are to obey you in the Lord so command them only in the Lord command them nothing against their own consciences You would have them serve you not with eye-eye-service but sincerly and in singleness of Heart so shew your selves kind to them not dissemblingly or fraudulently but uprightly and conscionably You would have them leave nothing of your work undone so leave nothing of their Wages unpaid Carry not your selves Imperiously Harshly Churlishly nor Nabal-like to them give them not provoking or irritating Language 5. Walk exemplarily in all Holiness and Righteousness of conversation before them especially in the performance of Family-duties The eyes of Servants are much on their Masters and Mistresses to mark what they say and do Prov. 29.12 If a Ruler hearken to Lyes all his Servants are wicked Ps 101.2 3 4. I will walk within mine House with a perfect Heart mine Eyes be upon the faithful of the Land that they may dwell with me He that walketh in a perfect way he shall serve me he that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my House he that telleth Lyes shall not tarry in my sight Let not wickedness dwell within your Tabernacles that so God may make the Habitation of your Righteousness prosperous Job 8.6 Col. 4.12 Masters continue in Prayer and watch in the same with Thanksgiving Duties of Servants 1. Honour your Masters 1 Tim. 6.1 Let as many Servants as are under the Yoke count their own Masters worthy of all Honour that the name of God and his Doctrine be not Blasphemed 1 Pet. 2.18 2. Do in all things Lawful according to their command Ephes 6.5 And Col. 3.22 Obey in all things your Masters according to the Flesh Tit. 2.9 3. Do their work chearfully and readily at all times when their eye is off as when upon you and as remembring you are still under God's eye Col. 3.22 23 24. Not with eye-eye-service as Men-pleasers but in singleness of Heart fearing God And whatsoever ye do do it heartily as to the Lord and not unto Men knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the Inheritance for ye serve the Lord Christ Ephes 6.5 6 7 8. Doing the Will of God from the Heart with good will doing service as to the Lord and not to Men knowing that whatsoever good thing any Man doth the same shall he receive of the Lord whether he be bound or free 4. Disclose not their secrets neither discourse of things out of the Family to their prejudice Servants must not be as spies in the House nor Tale-tellers out of it for such are worse than Thieves 5. Be diligent in the quick dispatch of their bussiness and speedy execution of their commands Gen. 24.31 Abraham's Servant vvould not eat till he had told his errand and as soon as he had done he sayes thus v. 54. Send me away that I may go to my Master 6. Do for them as for your selves nay prefer their business before your own Gen. 30.30 The Lord faith Jacob to Laban hath Blessed thee since my coming to thee and now when shall I provide for mine own House also See Gen. 37.38 Do not Purloin Steal or Wast their Goods by riotous Eating Drinking or any unnecessary expences you must not wittingly or willingly cousen them of a Farthing Tit. 2.10 Not purlonging but shewing all good fidelity that they may adorn the Doctrine of God our Saviour in all things Mat. 25.23 7. When you are Rebuked or Chid for your faults do not return any proud or sawcy replies but rather answer with silence Tit. 2.9 Not answering again Prov. 15.1 A soft Answer turneth away Wrath but grievous words stir up Anger 8. If Providence cast you upon such as are harsh and untoward who both in words and deeds do misuse you carry it meekly and patiently towards them 1 Pet. 2.18 19. Servants be subject not only to the good and gentle but also to the froward for this is thankworthy If a Man for conscience towards God endure grief suffering wrongfully for even hereunto were ye called 9. If ye are Servants to such as are Godly shew them not the less but rather more respect upon that account 1 Tim. 6.2 3 4. They that have believing Masters let them not despise them because they are Brethren but rather do them service because they are Faithful and Beloved partakers of the benefit These things Teach and Exhort if any Man Teach otherwise and consent not to wholsome words even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Doctrine which is according to Godliness he is Proud knowing nothing but doating about questions and strifes and words whereof cometh envy Thus you have had some delineation of the Duties which you owe unto God and others The Conclusion of all shall commend some few things which concern every particular Christian in reference to the right orderâ—ing of his own Conversation 1. Let God have the first Fruits of your thoughts every Morning you will find it profitable and advantageous to your Souls to begin and end every day with some Godly meditations As soon as you awake let this or some such thought enter into your Heart O what mercy is it I am yet out of Hell that the Lord has given me any comfortable refreshment this last Night my awaking thus after Sleep and rising after a lying down may serve as an Ebmleme to put me in mind of the Resurrection of the Body after it hath slept the sleep of Death in the Grave for some season O how comfortable to the Eye is the Light of the Sun after a dismal Darkness but how much more comfortable would the Light of God's countenance prove to my dark and disconsolate Heart shewing himself as a reconciled God to me in the Blood of a Saviour What is the end of God
lowliness of Mind let each esteem other better than themselves Rom. 12.16 Mind not high things but condescend to Men of low Estate 5. If any difference in Principles or Practices fall out among you persue after Peace notwithstanding thereof especially if it be not in fundamentals of Faith and if it be visible that what the parties that differ from you do is from a Principle of Conscience and are in all other things conscientious Rom. 4.2 3. One believeth that he may eat all things another who is weak eateth Herbs Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not v. 17 18 19. The Kingdom of God is not Meat and Drink but Righteousness and Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost for he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God and approved of Men Let us therefore follow after the things which make for Peace and things wherewith one may edifie another Phil. 3.15 16. Let as many as be perfect be thus minded and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded God shall reveal even this unto you Nevertheless whereto we have already attained let us walk by the same Rule let usmind the same thing Ephes 4.3 4 5 6. 6. Harbour not suspicious thoughts of one anothers Hypocrisy Rom 14.4 Who art thou that judgest another Man's Servant To his own Master he standeth or falleth yea he shall be holden up v. 10. Why dost thou judge thy Brother We shall all stand before the Judgment-seat of Christ Jam. 4.11 12. Speak not evil one of another Brethren he that speaketh evil of his Brother and judgeth his Brother speaketh evil of the Law and judgeth the Law but if thou judge the Law thou art not a Doer of the Law but a Judge There is one Law-giver who is able to save and to destroy Who art thou that judgest another Matth. 7.1 2. Judge not that ye be not Judged for with what Judgment ye Judge ye shall be Judged and with what Measure meet it shall be Measured to you again 7. Be very tender of doing any thing that may give just cause of offence to your Spiritual Relations especially in matters indifferent Rom. 14.13 14. Let no Man put a stumbling-Block or an occasion to fall in his Brother's way I know and am perswaded by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of it self i. e. none of those Meats which were unclean under the Law are so now made under the Gospel but to him that esteemeth any thing unclean to him it is unclean If thy Brother is destroyed with thy Meat thou walkest not charitably destroy not him with thy Meat for whom Christ Dyed 1 Cor. 9.10 11 12 13. Take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling Block to them that are Weak For if any Man see thee which hast knowledge sit at Meat in the Idols Temple Shall not the Conscience of him that is weak be emboldned to eat those things which are offered to Idols And through thy knowledge shall the weak Brother perish for whom Christ Died But when ye sin so against the weak Brethren and wound their weak Conscience ye sin against Christ wherefore if Meat make my weak Brother to offend I will eat no Flesh while the World standeth lest I make my weak Brother to offend 1 Cor. 10.23 24. All things are Lawful for me but all things are not expedient all things are Lawful for me but all things edifie not let no Man seek his own but every Man another Wealth v. 32.33 Give none offence neither to the Jews nor to the Gentiles nor to the Church of God even as I please all Men in all things not seeking mine own profit but the profit of many that they may be saved Matth. 18.6 7. Gal. 5.13 1 Pet. 2.16 8. Visit one another as frequently as your occasions will give leave and let your Visits be as Acts of Charity When you come together spend not your time in talking of News Trifles or against others but fall upon some Soul-edifying discourse Mal. 3.16 They that feared the Lord spake often to another and the Lord hearkned and heard it and a Book of Remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord and thought upon his Name and they shall be mine saith the Lord of Hosts in that Day when I make up my Jewels Ephes 4.29 Let no corrupt Communication proceed out of your Mouth but that which is good to the use of edifying that it may Minister Grace to the hearers Col. 4.6 Let your Speech be always with Grace seasoned with Salt 9. Pray one for another Ephes 6.18 Praying always with all Prayer and Supplication in the Spirit watching thereunto with all Perseverance and Supplication for all Saints 10. Shew a tender Sympathy with each other in your several conditions 1 Pet. 3.8 Have compassion one of another and be pitiful 1 Cor. 12.26 If one of the Members do suffer all the Members should suffer with it If one Member be Honoured all the Members should rejoyce with it Gal. 6.2 Bear one anothers Burdens and so fulfill the Law of Christ 11. Confess your faults one to another and forgive one another even where there has been not only supposed but real injuries Jam. 5.16 Col. 3.12 13. Put on as the elect of God Holy and Beloved Bowels of Mercies Kindness Humbleness of Mind Meekness Longsuffering forbearing one another and forgiving one another even as Christ forgave you so also do ye Matth. 5.23 If thou bring thy gift to the Altar and there remembrest that thy Brother hath ought against thee leave there thy gift before the Altar and go thy way first be reconciled to thy Brother and then come and offer thy gift 12. If there are such among you as are really Poor Sick Aged and Infirm not able to work for themselves or impoverished by the Hand of Providence contribute to their necessities out of that which God has lent you 1 John 3.17 Who so hath this World's Good and seeth his Brother need and shutteth up his Bowels of compassion from him how dwelleth the Love of God in him Read the whole Eighth Ch. of the 2 Epistle to the Corinthians Where the Apostle exhorts them unto a liberal distrubition to the poor Saints at Jerusalem from the example of the Macedonians from the commendation of their former forwardness from the example of Christ and the Spiritual profit that would redound to themselves thereby Moreover Brethren we do you to wit of the Grace of God bestowed on the Churches of Macedonia how that in a great tryal of Affliction the abundance of their Joy and their deep Poverty abounded unto the Riches of their liberality For to their Power I bear record yea and beyond their Power they were willing of themselves praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift and take upon us the fellowship of Ministring to the Saints Therefore as ye abound in every thing in Faith in Utterance in
Nature Temper Talents Disposition and Inclination Prov. 20.11 Even a Child is known by his doings what way he is inclined whether to good or evil 4. Provide Temporals for them by all Lawful and Honest ways without wronging your own Consciences or others Prov. 19.14 House and Riches are the Inheritance of Fathers 2 Cor. 12.14 The Children ought not to lay up for their Parents but the Parents for their Children 1 Tim. 5.8 If any provide not for his own specially for those of his own House he hath denyed the Faith and is worse than an Infidel 5. As much as in you lieth transmit a Blessing to your Posterity with Temporals being chiefly Sollicitous that they may become the Children of God having true Grace wrought in their Souls Prov. 8.10 11. Receive my Instruction and not Silver and Knowledge rather than choice Gold For Wisdom is better than Rubies and all things that may be desired are not to be compared to it Psal 37.16 6. Improve not your parental Authority with too much rigour lest they be driven to take desperate courses Col. 3.21 Fathers provoke not your Children to anger lest they be discouraged When once they are of Age deal with their Consciences convincing them of the sinfulness of their ways mixing lenity and tenderness with your Authority Ephes 6.4 Bring them up in the Nurture and Admonition of the Lord. Charge them to serve the Lord God of your Fathers 1 Thes 2.11 Gen. 18.19 I know Abraham that he will command his Houshold and his Children after him and they shall keep the way of the Lord to do Justice an Judgment Deut. 32.46 Set your Hearts unto all the words which I testifie amongst you this day which ye shall command your Children to observe to do all the words of this Law 7. Provide fit matches for them being carefull that they Marry in the Lord Gen. 24.2 3 4. Abraham said to his Servant thou shalt not take a Wife unto my Son of the Daughters of the Canaanites among whom I dwell but thou shalt go to my Country and to my Kindred and take a Wife unto my Son Isaac 8. Be much in seeking the Lord for them that they may be abundantly Blessed with all Blessings Spiritual and Temporal Parents Prayers may prove their Childrens best Portion even a Treasure laid up in Heaven for them Children of many Prayers seldom miscarry Be affected towards your Children as Paul to the Galatians Chap. 4. v. 19. My little Children of whom I Travel in Birth again until Christ be formed in you Job sent and sanctified his Children Chap 1. v. 5. i.e. He sent up Prayers to God for them he offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all Duties of Children to Parents 1. Give them all due Reverence and Respect Ep. 6.2 Honour thy Father and thy Mother which is the first Commandment with Promise that it may be well with thee and thou mayest live long on the Earth 2. Obey their counsels and commands Prov 23.22 Harken unto thy Father that begat thee and despise not thy Mother when she is Old And 30.17 The Eye that mocketh at his Father and despiseth to obey his Mother the Ravens of the Valley shall pick it out and the young Eagles shall eat it Col 3.20 Ephes 6.1 3. Submit to their correction Heb. 12.8 We have had Fathers of our Flesh which have corrected us and we gave them reverence v. 7. What Son is he whom the Father chasteneth not 4. Trace the steps of your godly Parents Joh. 8.39 If ye were Abraham's Children ye would do the works of Abraham 1 Pet. 3.6 Whose Daughters ye are as long as ye do well 2 Tim. 1.5 When I remember the unfeigned Faith that is in thee which dwelt first in thy Grandmother Lois and thy Mother Eunice and I am perswaded that in thee also Rom. 4.11 12 19 20 21.22 5. Dispose not of your selves in Marriage without their consent Where Parents consent is wanting as one saith there God's blessing is away Yea a Curse comes often upon such Matches Seth's Sons Marrying with Cain's Daughters without the consent of their godly Parents had a wretched Posterity Juda Marrying a Canaanite without his Father's advice contrary to the principle of the pious Patriarchs which was against the mixed Marriages of an Israelite with a Canaanite had two such Sons that God would not suffer them to live but slew them himself Gen. 38.2 3. and 26.34 34. with 27.46 Esau marrying after the same manner his Wives were a grief of mind to his Father and Mother Rebecca said to Isaac I am weary of my life because of the Daughters of Heth if Jacob take of them for a Wife what good shall my life do me 6. If Providence do so impoverish your Parents that they have not a competence for a subsistence you ought to provide for them and supply their wants 1 Tim. 5.4 If any Widow have Children or Nephews let them learn first to shew Piety at home and to requite the Parents for that is good and acceptable before God v. 16. If any Man or Woman that believeth have Widows let them relieve them and let not the Church be charged that it may relieve them that are Widows indeed Joseph nourished his Father with all his houshold and Brethren Gen. 47.12 Ruth gave of her gleanings to her Mother-in-law Naami ch 2.18 Matth. 15.5 Be not more unnatural than the Stork which feeds her aged Parents carrying them on her Shoulders into the Meadows and bringing them back again Duties of Masters to Servants 1. Be Christianly affectionate both to the Souls and Bodies of your Servants Catechise and Instruct them in the knowledge of God Exhort them to serve God with their Souls as well as your selves with their Bodies Allow them time for Reading the Scriptures and Private Prayer See that they Sanctifie the Sabbath in hearing Sermons and in other religious exercises craving an account how they have profited Be not too rigorous in imposing hard labour upon them which they cannot perform Do not over-task nor over-work them like the Egyptians to the Israelites Exod. 5.7 8. A righteous Man is merciful to his Beast how much more to his Servant If they fall Sick in your service be wanting the use of no means that may be for their recovery not like the hardhearted Amalekite that left his Servant in the Field because of Sickness 2 Sam. 30.13 but like the Centurion who besought Christ to cure his paralytick Servant Mat. 8.5 6 7. 2. Give unto your Servants that which is just and equal knowing also that you have a Master in Heaven Col. 4.1 Let them have Food an Rayment Meat Drink and Wages according to their deserts and your agreement with them Luke 17.8 Gird thy self and serve me till I have Eaten and Drunken and afterwards thou shalt Eat and Drink Prov. 31.15 And 27.27 Mt. 20.8 The Lord of the Vineyard saith unto the Steward call the Labourers and give them