A Christian family builded by God, directing all governours of families how to act. 1. Gods timber and framing. 2. Gods foundation and upper building. 3. Gods finishing. 4. Gods furnishing. The sum whereof is shewed after the epistle. By Robert Abbott, Pastour of the Church of God at Austines, near Pauls gate in Watling-street in London.

SECT. 15.

THe last paire are as rafters in Gods building, when it comes to the high∣est; and are,

• 1. Masters, and
• 2. Servants.

1. Servants must be obedient to their masters according to the flesh. By Masters you may not understand those that usurp authoritie over the consciences of men: for this none must doe, and none must suffer according to Pauls rule, Be not the servants of men: but those that are Masters according to the flesh, that is, who rule over the body.

By Servants, you must understand those that by Covenant cannot dispose of their service as they please, but must be at the com∣mand of those that hire them. Now, these must be obedient, of which they must weigh,

• 1. The Ground,
• 2. The manner,
• 3. The reason of it.

1. The ground is that subjection which is due from the servant to the master. By this he stoops under the authoritie of his master, and it must be discovered three wayes.

1. By inward reverence, his master bear¦ing

the Image of Gods soveraigntie; in which respect God saith, If I be your master, where is my fear?

2. By out ward expressing of it in speech and gesture, as that wearie servant, when he came from the field, did not refresh at his pleasure, but waited upon his masters leisure.

3. By patient bearing of rebukes though bitter, and unjust; as Peter saith, servants be subject to your masters with all fear, not one∣ly to the good and gentle, but also the froward, for this is thank worthy.

[Quest.] But hath a servant no remedy if he be wronged?

[Answ.] God forbid, for the Magistrate beareth not the sword in vain.

If that cannot be had he may withdraw for the present, till the storm be over, as David from Saul, and the Egyptian from the Amalekite, and then come again.

2. The manner of his obedience is,

• 1. Readily.
• 2. Pleasingly.
• 3. Silently.
• 4. Faithfully.
• 5. Diligently.

1. Readily, having their eyes alwayes to their masters to be directed by a word, or a nod. Thus did the Centurions, when he said to one goe, he went, to another come, he came; to another, doe this, and he did it:

when it was otherwise with Jobs servants, according to his complaint, I called my ser∣vant and he gave me no answer, I entreated him with my mouth in vain, it was for want of fear, in reference to reverence to their ma∣ster; and for want of trembling in reference to the judgement of the Lord.

2. Pleasingly, pleasing their masters in all things, saith Paul, not as men-pleasers with eye service, but with singlenesse of heart as in Gods sight, as good Jacob did to churlish Laban. If you ask wherein they must please them? God saith, according to the flesh in all lawfull and honest things.

The masters are over the flesh, not the spi∣rit: therefore slaves are called bodies, because commands of masters reach onely to the bo∣dy. The servants must obey onely in out∣ward things. As the dominion of masters is limited, so is the obedience of servants.

3. Silently, not answering again, saith Paul, therefore that rule is good. Let the servant speak in one syllable to his master.

Yet I shall shew you two things.

• 1. Wherein servants may speak?
• 2. Wherein they may not speak?

1. They may speak in three cases; First, when just occasion is offered by questions: for they are condemned who when they under∣stand will not answer.

Secondly, when they receive wrong from

their masters, they may with humble respect clear themselves, as David did of treason, by shewing his innocencie by three signes, the lap of Sauls garment, his water pot, and speare.

Thirdly, when wholsome and good ad∣vice may doe their masters good, as you see not onely in Naamans servants when they ad∣vised him to follow the Prophets counsel though it seemed but mean unto him, and al∣so in Job when he was in his prosperitie.

2. They may not speak in two cases. First, by private mutterings and grumblings a∣gainst the command of their masters.

Secondly, by open crossing and thwarting them by perverse and snarling words, to pro∣voke them to anger and displeasure.

4. Faithfully, as, Jacob obeyed Laban, by bearing the heat of the day, and burthen of the night for his good; and Joseph obeyed both Potiphar, and the Jaylor, who looked not to any thing under his hand, so faithfull was he. This faithfulnesse stands in two things.

1. In seeking to encrease their masters good to their lawful power: for talents are put out to the servants for the masters gain.

2. In not diminishing them. They must be no pickers and stealers, saith Paul.

[Object.] They will say, I may make bold with a little which hurts not my master.

[Sol.] But I say, crack conscience (for a little) which doth a little hurt, and who will trust

thee in more? If Achans toung of gold lye before thee thou wilt not spare. God delights to say to a good servant, Thou hast been faith∣full in a little.

[Object.] But haply thou wilt say, my master is hard and this provokes me to do otherwise then I would.

[Sol.] I say, it matters not, thou goest by this way, from the service of an hard master, to the service of an harder, The Devil, and what gainst thou by that?

5. Diligently. He that waits on his master shall be honoured, saith Solomon. For this cause servants are said to stand before their ma∣sters, to be alwayes at hand upon every oc∣casion: and Heathens painted servants with their hands full of tools to imply their diligence about any work that their masters set them about.

[Quest.] But you may ask me whether servants are never free from this obedience to their ma∣sters?

[Answ.] I answer, they are not free from the habit of it, so long as they are under Covenant. Yet they are from the acts of it at three times, when they are the Lords prisoners by sick∣nesse in truth not pretended: when they are to rest in the night except in extraordinarie cases; and when they are bound, according to good orders of the Family, to serve the Lord either privately with their masters, or publikely upon the Lords day.

Now thirdly, the reasons why servants

must thus obey are these. 1. Because thus they honour Christ. They are more Christs then their masters; therefore they obey as the servants of Christ. 2. Because this is acceptable to God, and he will pay better wages then men; for they shall receive the reward of inhe∣ritance. 3. Because thereunto they are called, and heartned by Christs example, who ser∣ved to the uttermost for our good.

Oh that all servants would learn to be better servants then they are or have been, according to these directions. I am sure, if they doe not, at the last they will lie down in sorrow. Oh that they would carefully studie the lessons of servants as they are laid down in the good word of God! Oh that the patterns of noble servants in the Scrip∣ture lay before them, as of Eliezer Abrahams servant, that faithful, praying and diligent man: and of Jacob when he was a servant to Laban, and of the Centurions servants, who were at such a punctual beck. Oh that they would never forget Pauls motive, That you may adorn the Doctrine of God our Saviour in all things! Oh that they would think what a disgrace it is for unworthy servants to live under the blessed beams of this Gospel of light, and life. Certainly, if God set these things home, they would alter their course, and be obedient according to Christs will.

Notes

• Eph. 6. 5.
• 1 Cor. 7.
• Mal. 1. 6.
• Luke 17. 7.
• 1 Pet. 2. 18 19.
• Rom. 13.
• Ps. 123. 2.
• Matth. 8. 9.
• Job 19. 16.
• Quoad Re∣verentiam Dominorum; quoad Judi∣cium Domi∣ni.
• Tit. 2. 9. Tit. 2. 6.
• Apoc. 18. 13 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• Col. 3. 22.
• Tit. 2. 10. Sit servus monosylla∣bus Domino.
• Prov. 29. 19
• 1 Sam. 24. 10, 11.
• 2 Kings 5. 13. Job 31. 13.
• Gen. 38. 39 40.
• Matth. 25. 27. Tit. 2.
• Matth. 25.
• Prov. 27. 18. 1 Kings 17. 1. 2 Kings 5. 16.
• Eph. 6. 6. 1 Pet. 2. 19, 20. Col. 3. 24. 1 Pet. 2. 21.
• Col. 3. 1 Pet. 2. Tit. 2, Eph. 6.
• Gen. 24. Gen. 31. Matth. 8. Tit. 2. 10.