servants. As, 1, "Be honest, not purloining," Tit. ii. 10, not secreting, or privately keeping back any thing for yourself: not taking, using, disposing, or giving away the least thing belonging to your master, without his leave, without his knowledge and consent first asked and obtained. To do otherwise is no better than plain theft, and cuts off all pretensions to honesty. Equally dishonest it is to hurt or waste any thing, or to let it be lost through your carelessness or negligence. Whatever, therefore, your fellowservants do, keep yourself pure and let not the custom of the world, but the Word of God, be the rule of all your actions.

18. Secondly, Be true, not barely, tell no wilful lie, either to your master or your fellow-servants, but let "all your conversation be in simplicity and godly sincerity. Even if you are overtaken in a fault, use no deceit, no equivocating or prevarication to hide it, or to excuse either yourself or any of your fellow-servants, or to prevent anger that may ensue. Herein also St. Peter observes, "Christ left you an example, that you might tread in his steps." not only did," committed, "no sin, but there was no guile found in his mouth." Let there be none found in your's: in spite of all temptations to the contrary, "speak the truth from your heart," and whatever inconveniences spring herefrom, God will turn them all into blessings.

" He

Be

19. Thirdly," Be faithful" as St. Paul expresses it, "shew all good fidelity,” Tit. ii. 10. This is good, beautiful, honourable in all men. It ennobles the lowest station, and causes it to shine in the eyes of God and man. faithful, 1, With regard to your master's goods; preserving, yea, and increasing them to the uttermost of your power. Whatever is committed to your trust, whether within doors or without, so carefully preserve that it be not lost, spoiled, or impaired, under your hands. If you see any damage done to your master's goods, redress it yourself, if you can if you cannot, immediately make it known to your master, that he may find means of redressing it. And not only preserve, but do all that in you lies to increase

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your master's goods. The talents which were committed to the faithful servants, were by their industry increased to as many more. So that it is not sufficient not to lessen your master's substance, but you should labour to better it. Study his interest as you would your own, and promote it by all possible means. Regard not your pleasure, your ease, nor any thing but your conscience in comparison of it. Be faithful, 2, With regard to his reputation. Conceal his faults and infirmities as far as possible. Some of these you can hardly avoid observing, being continually under his roof. But whatever you observe of this kind, keep it in your own breast. Let it go no farther; reveal it not to strangers, no, not even to your fellow-servants. Never make either his supposed or real failings the subjects of your discourse. Beware you do not wound him behind his back, nor suffer others to do it in your presence. Endure no tatling or tale-bearing concerning him in the family, but prevent or stop it with all diligence. Whenever you can do it consistently with truth, and so far as you can, defend him: and in every point be just as tender of his character as of your own. To this head may be referred, faithfulness in keeping the secrets of your master. Many of these you cannot but know, by reason of the close connexion which is between you, your continually abiding so near together, and the many employments he has for you. All these, therefore, you are carefully to conceal, provided they tend not to the dishonour of God, or to the danger of the church or common-wealth, or indeed of any private person. For Jonathan is commended for discovering the mischief which Saul had secretly intended against David, I Sam. xx. 12. Be faithful, 3, With regard to his soul. With all the plainness which your station allows, and yet with all respect and humility "rebuke, and suffer not sin upon him." The time, the manner, and the other circumstances relating to this difficult task, God will give you to choose aright, if your eye be single, and you seek his direction by earnest prayer.

20. Fourthly, Be patient. In your patience possessing your souls, steadily follow the preceding directions, and be thus subject, not only to the good and gentle masters, but also to the froward: to those who are neither good nor gentle, who have neither religion nor good-nature; that it may appear you do your service unto the Lord, and not unto men. But it may be proper, in the mean time, to observe, that the state of English servants is widely different from the state of those to whom St. Paul and St. Peter wrote. Many of those, (perhaps the greater part,) were slaves, who, by the miserable constitution of their country, were the absolute property of their masters, as much as were his sheep and oxen. Therefore, it was not in their power to leave or change their masters, but they were constrained to stay with them till death. Consequently those directions were peculiarly necessary for those who were in such a situation: "This is thank-worthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? But if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God," 1 Pet. ii. 19, 20. But to those who are born under an happier constitution, undoubtedly the first advice should be,"If thou mayest be free," from a froward, ill-natured man, then use it rather. Do not bind yourself at all, if you can honestly avoid it, (as you generally may,) to any one, who, you have reason to believe, is an unjust or an unmerciful man. And if you are bound to such an one already, yet if you should "suffer wrongfully" from him; "if you do well," and suffer notwithstanding, it is by no means your duty to endure it. Rather it is your duty to appeal to the magistrate, who is the minister of God to you for good, and to desire of him such a remedy as the laws of your country allow. In this manner "commit yourself" and your cause "to him, that judgeth righteously." But even in this case, till you are free from the unrighteous man, remember the example Christ hath left, "who, when he was reviled, re

viled not again; when he suffered, threatened not." How much more should you tread in these his steps, with regard to things of smaller moment, to those inconsiderable instances either of injustice or unkindness, which are to be expected in almost every family, and for which even our laws provide no remedy? Here undoubtedly you are called to suffer : and see that you do so with all meekness and gentleness. Not only "when you are reviled, revile not again," but "answer not again," Tit. ii. 10. Open not your mouth, unless silence might have the appearance of sullenness or disrespect: and then do it in as few words as the matter will bear, and with all the softness you are master of.

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21. Before he closes the subject, St. Paul does not fail to remind you, what great encouragement you have, to persevere in all these duties of your station, whatever difficulties you meet with therein. For hereby you may adorn the gospel of God our Saviour in all things." So strong an expression is scarcely to be found in all the writings of the Apostle, when he speaks to persons of the highest rank, as he here uses to men of low degree. You, therefore, are peculiarly called of God to be an honour to your profession of Christianity; to shew what manner of men they are who serve the Lord Christ. See then that you, in particular, walk circumspectly, accurately, exactly, that either your unbelieving masters may be won by your conversation, or at least believers confirmed and comforted.

22. Still further encouragement you have in "knowing, that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance;" that inheritance reserved for you in heaven, which is of infinitely greater value than any which your master now enjoys, or any which you can receive on earth. You know that the day is coming when your common Master will descend in the clouds of heaven. And

you are assured in that day, "Whatsoever good thing a man hath done,” while he was "serving God in his generation, the same shall he receive from the Lord, whether he be bond or free :" "The same,"—that is, a reward proportionable thereto, in

an additional degree of glory. Therefore, let nothing be wanting now. "Work your work betimes, and in his time he will give you your reward." Now be honest, be true, be faithful, be patient. Now "obey your masters with fear, yea, with fear and trembling." Do them service with sin gleness of heart, with good-will, with your whole soul. Do this for the honour of the gospel, for the glory of God your Saviour, for the present good of your own soul, and for the increase of your eternal inheritance.