[ 1388] Men to be carefull in the choyce of Servants.
COnstantius, the Father of that good Emperour Constantine, gave it out up∣on a time,* 1.1 that all such Christians as would not leave their Religion and deny the Faith, should be deprived both of their honours and their Offices, and thereupon some (with Demas and Diotrephes, loving preheminency) forsook Christ, and embraced this present world;* 1.2 Others stood confidently to it, account∣ing all but dung and drosse in comparison of Christ,* 1.3 with whom they chose rather to dye, then for life or liberty, honour or offices to deny him; When the Empe∣rour had by this means made a perfect discovery, who were true Christians, and who false, by a publique Edict he banished all the halting Hypocrites out of his Dominions, saying; They would never be faithfull to him, who were false unto their God. And what he then said of Subjects, may as truly now be said of Servants; They can never be faithful to their Masters, that are false to their Maker. It doth therefore concern Men to take up David's resolution,* 1.4 to be careful in the choyce of their Servants, and to entertain such onely as have been well principled in Religion, such as have been well instructed in their duties to God and Man; if otherwise they may prove to be poyson to their Children, Moaths to their Wardrobes, Thieves to their store, and an ill Example to the whole Fa∣mily.