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NExt vnto parents and chil∣dren, wherby the family is increased, is a second sort of couples, which are helpes therunto. And they are Masters and seruants.
The Master is a member in the fa∣milie, which hath power and beareth rule ouer the seruant. And his dutie stands principally in three things.
First, To make a good choice of his seruants; which is then done, when he inquireth first after such as feare God, and be willing to serue him. Paul makes the seruice and feare of God the maine ground of true obedience in seruants, Ephes. 6. 5. 6. 7. Colos. 3. 22. It was the rule of Dauids choice, Psal. 101. 6. Hee that walketh in the perfect way, he shall serue me. Abrahams chiefe seruāt of his house, was a man that feared God, as appea∣reth, in that he made conscience of his oath, Gen. 24. 2. 3. and prayed also for successe in the busines whereabout he was sent. Gen. 24. 12. O Lord God of my Master Abraham, I beseech thee send mee good speed this day, and shew mercie to my Master Abraham. Cornelius of Caesarea, the Captaine of the Italian band, had a souldier that daily attended on him, who feared God, and seruants also be∣side him, to whom hee made knowne the heauenly vision which hee saw, Act. 10. 7.
Secondly, To enioyne them labour, and not to require more of them, then their strength will beare. The master is
to rule ouer the seruant in iustice. And then is his cōmandement vniust, whē it will not stād with the course of nature, with the abilitie of his seruant, or with the word of God. Therefore he is to re∣quire labour at their hāds proportiona∣ble to their strength, & yeeld thē some∣times intercession & rest. Leuit. 25. 46. Ouer your brethen the children of Israel, ye shall not rule ouer one another with crueltie. 1. Pet. 3. 8. Bee pitifull, bee courteous, one beare with another. And for the furthe∣rance of busines, it is conuenient that the master be oftentimes present with the seruāts in their works. Prou. 27. 23. Be diligent to know the state of thy flock, and take heed to thy heards. The good matron ouerseeth the waies of her houshold, Prou. 31. 27.* 1.1 A man of Libya being asked, what it was that might make a horse fat; he answered, The masters eye.
Thirdly, To recompence the dili∣gence and paines of his seruant, and that three waies.
First, by giuing him his due of meat and drinke for the present. The good matron giueth the portion to her houshold,
and the ordinary to her maids, Prou. 31. 15.
Secondly, by paying him his hire in the end of his seruice: The labourer is worthie of his wages. Luk. 10. 7. Well done, good seruant and faithfull; thou hast been faithfull in little, I will make thee ruler ouer much; enter into thy masters ioy. Mat. 25. 21.
Heere three caueats are to be obser∣ued. I. That the wages be proportio∣nable to the work. II. That it be paid in due time, without deferring. So the Master of the vine-yard, when euen was come, called his seruants together, to giue thē their hire, Mat. 20. 8. III. That the seruāt be not defrauded of any part of his due. For this is a crying sin; Deut. 24. 15. Thou shalt giue him his hire for his day, neither shall the Sunne go downe vpon it—lest hee crie against thee vnto the Lord, and it bee sinne vnto thee. Iam. 5. 4. Behold, the hire of the labourers which haue reaped your fields, which is kept backe by fraud, crieth, and the cries of them which haue reaped, are entred into the eares of the Lord of hosts.
Thirdly, if the seruant in time of his seruice be sicke, the masters care must
be by all means possible to procure his recouery. Equitie must be the rule in these cases; and masters are to do to their seruants that which is iust and equall. Col. 4. 1. Now the seruant haplie falles sicke by and in his seruice, and his health yeelds not only profit to his master, but incouragement also to himselfe. The good Centurion in case of his seruants sicknesse, tooke the best course to haue him restored, Matth. 8. 6.
Arist. Oeconom. 7.