2. Servants owe their masters reverence, as well as obedience.

The Apostle says to them, "Obey your masters with fear and trembling." Entertain a respect for the superiority of their station-a concern, lest you prejudice their interest-a fear lest you incur their displeasure. Do nothing unnecessarily to provoke themadjust your manners to their inclination; and, as far as innocence will allow, please them well in all things. The Apostle Peter gives similar advice, "Be subject to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but to the froward." If they are men of hasty and difficult tempers, then conduct toward them with the greater caution and prudence. Never disturb them needlessly, nor irritate them wantonly; but by your easy, accommodating and discreet carriage, soften the harshness, and smoothe the ruggedness of their spirits.

3. From servants there is an honor, as well as fear, due to their masters.

"Let as many servants as are under the yoke, count their own masters worthy of all honor, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed;" or that the gospel be not reproached among infidels, as if it encouraged the insolence of servants. "And they who have believing masters, let them not despise them," or treat them as if they were but equals, "because they are brethren" in the Christian relation; for this dissolves not men's natural and civil relations; "but rather let them do service" to such masters the more cheerfully, "because they are faithful and beloved."

Servants must not only treat their masters respectfully in their presence, but be tender of their honor and reputation at all times-not speaking evil of themnot reporting every instance of misconduct which they observe in the family-not complaining of the government which they are under, unless the occasion be ur

gent; and then, only to those from whom they are to expect redress.

4. Cheerfulness in their obedience is recommended by the Apostle. "With good will do service." "Be obedient to your masters-please them well in all things, not answering again," not murmuring, objecting and cavilling; but acting with a ready mind.

5. Diligence or faithfulness is another duty which they owe to their master..

They should consider his business as their own; and act in it with the same attention and care, as if they were immediately interested. They should serve him "with singleness of heart, not with eye service"-and "with all good fidelity," "not purloining" his property, neglecting his business, or doing his work de-. ceitfully.

6. They are to be patient and submissive, though they meet with usage more severe than they think reasonable; not breaking their own obligations, or deserting their master's service for trivial causes, but bearing his smaller indiscretions, without complaint; and, in cases of real injury, seeking relief in a prudent manner, and by lawful means. "Be subject to the froward," says the Apostle, " as well as the good and gentle.""Let every man abide in the calling wherein he is called. Art thou called being a servant, care not for it; but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather."

Finally In all their service, they should act with an aim to please God, and to obtain his approbation. "Be obedient to your masters as to Christ-with good will do service, as to the Lord, and not to men."

A regard to God is to be the governing principle in all the duties of the social life, as well as in those of piety. Even the servant is, on this principle, to obey his master. When this governs us, then our secular, domestic and civil duties, become a part of pure and undefiled religion.

says,

By way of encouragement to servants, the Apostle "with good will do 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 bond or free." In Christ Jesus there is no distinction of bond or free, rich or poor: They are all one in him.

Mankind are called to serve God in various stations and capacities. Some act in a larger, and some in a narrower sphere. Some are appointed to higher, and some to humbler services. But all are the servants of God; all are accountable to him; all should walk, not as pleasing men, but God who searcheth the heart. We esteem and regard our fellow men very much according to external distinctions of rank and fortune. God looks on their hearts-he approves or condemns them according to the difference of real characters. The servant, who from the heart does God's will, and acts with fidelity and diligence in his humble station, aiming in all things to please the Supreme Lord, and in obedience to him, serving his earthly master, and hoping for acceptance through the atonement of the great redeemer, this man is as highly approved, and will be as surely rewarded in heaven, as if he had acted on the most conspicuous theatre, or moved in the largest circle. Our future happiness depends not on external circumstances, but on the holy dispositions and tempers of the hidden man of the heart. While the unbelieving master, or the impious monarch, is rejected of God; the believing servant, who acts in singleness of heart to the Lord; the humble and contented beggar, rich in faith, shall receive of the Lord an inheritance in the kingdom prepared for them who love him.

Secondly. We pass now to consider the duty of masters to their servants. The Apostle says, "Ye masters, do the same things to them."-Shew to them the same benevolence and faithfulness in your place, as

they, in theirs, are required to shew to you.

"For

bear threatening." Let your government be mild and prudent; not passionate and severe. "And know,

that your master also is in heaven;" and to him you must give an account of your conduct toward servants, as well as they of their conduct toward "And there is no respect of persons with him."

you;

In the epistle to the Colossians, this precept is thus expressed: "Masters give unto your servants that which is just and equal, knowing that ye also have a master in heaven."

The terms, justice and equity, are often used in the same sense; but sometimes they express different ideas. To give a servant that which is just, is to deal with him according to contract or agreement. To give him that which is equal, is to treat him fairly, honestly, kindly, according to reason and conscience; whether we are bound by an explicit bargain or not. bargain or not. And as there are different sorts of servants, so these two terms are chosen to express all that variety of obligations, which we may be under to them, according to their various conditions.

With respect to apprentices, the contract binds the master not only to give them a comfortable support, or such part of it as the contract specifies, but also to instruct them in his business and profession. They give their time and labor for his art and skill. If he withholds from them that skill for which they agree to serve him; or conceals from them any part of it through negligence or design; or employs them in other business so far, that they have not opportunity to acquire the necessary knowledge of his art, he is guilty of injustice and fraud. He violates the engagement which he made either expressly, or according to the natural understanding of the parties.

With respect to laborers, who in scripture are called hired servants, justice obliges us to give them the stipulated wages, when they have faithfully performed the VOL. III.

3 x

promised service. Thus it is enjoined in the law of Moses. "Thou shalt not oppress the hired servant that is poor and needy, whether he be of thy brethren, or of the strangers that are within thy gates; at his day shalt thou give him his hire, (for he is poor, and setteth his heart upon it) lest he cry against thee to the Lord, and it be sin unto thee.”

And with respect to all servants of every denomination, equity requires, that we treat them with humanity and kindness-that we endeavor to make their service easy, and their condition comfortable, that we forbear rash and passionate language-that we overlook accidental errors, and remit trivial faults-that we impose only such labor as is reasonable in itself, and suitable to their capacity-that our reproofs be calm, and our counsels well timed-that the restraints we lay upon them be prudent and salutary-that we allow them reasonable time for rest and refreshment, for the culture of their minds, and for attendance on the worship of God that we set before them a virtuous example, instil into them useful principles, warn them against wickedness of every kind, especially against the sin which most easily besets them-that we afford them opportunity for reading and private devotion, and furnish them with the necessary means of learning the way of salvation-that we attend to the preservation of their health, and have compassion on them in sickness; and, in a word, that we contribute all proper assistance to render them useful, virtuous and happy.

These are the principal duties comprised in the Apostle's direction, "Ye masters do the same things -and give to your servants that which is just and equal."

To engage the master in the performance of these duties, let him consider, that whatever worldly distinction there may be between him and those who serve him, they are men as well as he; they are partakers of the same rational nature, and of the same flesh and