and serue them faithfully it doth appeare by Iosua that godlie seruaunt of Moses who béeyng brought vp euer vnder so holie a Prophet of God was by that meanes and the prouidence of God made méet for the high calling of gouernourship after the death of his Master Moses ouer all the people of Israel as yée may reade Iosua 1.1 A good seruant will both honor feare his master as the child doth his father saith the Prophet Malach. 1.6 He that hath knowledge will not grudge when he is reformed or corrected for his faults the ignorant and retchlesse seruant shall not câ—me to honour Eccle. 10.26 A soft answeare mild word geuen by the seruant putteth away the wrath of an angry master but gréeuous reprochful words with â—aunt for taunt stirreth vp strife more more to their further punishment and Gods displeasure Prou. 15.1 A foolish seruant despiseth his masters instruction but hee y t regardeth correction and will amend for it is prudent Prou. 15.5 A scorner loueth not that master that rebuketh him for his faults neither will he tarrie with the wise Prou. 15.12 He y t refuseth instruction despiseth his owne soule but he that obeyeth correction getteth vnderstanding Prou. 15.32 A seruant that is of a seruile rebellious nature will not be chastened with wordes though hee vnderstande and know what to doe yet he will not regard the pacience of his master nor séeke to please him by doing his duetie Prou. 19.19 Hée that hateth to be reformed his life shal be shortened and that seruant that abhorreth babling repeating of words quencheth wickednesse He that refraineth his tongue may liue with a troublesome man and he that hateth babling murmuring shall haue lesse euill done vnto him Eccle. 19.5.6 Declare not thy masters or mistres secrets or maners neither to friend nor foe If thou knowest ought amisse by them let it dye with thée reueale it not for anie opportunitie so shalt thou be sure to find fauour both before God man Eccle. 19.7.8 It was a great griefe shame to Susannas seruants to heare their mistres slandred or reproched with any dishonestie or incontinencie of life as appeareth Susâ—n 1.27 If a seruant say stubbornely vnto his master I will not doe as it pleaseth thée though afterward he doe it yet shall hee displease him that nourisheth him Eccle. 19.21 That seruant that knoweth his masters will and doth it not accordingly shal be beateÌ„ with many stripes but he y t knoweth it not yet doth â—ommit faultes worthie of stripes shal be beaten but with a fewe strokes Luke 12.47 It is much better to reprooue theÌ„ to beare euill will and he that acknowledgeth his fault shal be preserued from further hurt O how good a thing is it wheÌ„ thou art reprooued to shew repeÌ„tance and humilitie and to promise amendement and obedience for so shalt thou escape wilfull sinne Eccle. 20.2.4 Who so hateth to be reformed is in the way of sinners but he that feareth y e Lord coÌ„uerteth y e heart abhorreth stubbornes Eccle. 21,6 A foolish seruant will not suffer himselfe to be taught and there bée some too wittie to encrease bitternesse Eccle. 21.12 For a seruant that is oft punished cannot be without some scarre no more then he that nameth and sweareth by God continually caÌ„ be faultlesse Eccle. 23.10 A murmuring and grudging seruant y t is enuious at his masters liberalitie towardes his fellow seruants deserueth due reprehension rebuke as appeareth in the parable Math. 20.11.13 Yea it is vile impudencie and malapert arrogancie a thing vtterly to be abhorred of all maides and seruants to reproch their masters children with their faultes to their faces and to checke or taunt them with vnséemely termes as Raguels maydes did his daughter Sara much more impudencie is it for the maide to vse reprochfull wordes to hir mistres hir selfe reade the storie of Sara Tobit 3.9 Séeke not excuses when thou shouldest doe thy worke neither be ashamed thereof through pride in the time of aduersitie for better is he that laboureth and hath plentie of all thinges then he that goeth gorgeously séekes his dinner or wanteth bread Eccle. 10.27 He that is slouthfull in his worke is euen the brother of him that is a great waster Prou. 18.9 Solomon deriding them that inuent vaine excuses because they would not doe their duetie saith The slouthful seruant saith O there is a Lion without I dare not goe for feare least I bee slaine in the stréete Prou. 22.13.26.13 As the doore turneth vpon the hookes or hinges so doth the slouthfull seruant vpon his bedde and is lâ—th to rise early to goe about his businesse Prou. 26.14 A slouthfull hyreling hideth his hand in his bosome and it gréeueth him to put it out againe to his mouth Prou. 26.15 The sluggard is wiser in his owne conceite then seuen men that can render a reason Prou. 26.16 As Uineger is to the téeth and as smoke is hurtful to the eyes so is the slouthfull seruant to them that he serueth for he is but a trouble and gréefe vnto his master or mistresse that setteth him about any businesse Prou. 10.26 It is a shame for the seruaÌ„t to be idle liue at pleasure in delights when hee séeth his master worke and take paines such an honest seruant was Urias who vtterly refused to liue at ease in Dauids court so long as his captaine Ioab trauelled in warfare reade 2. Sam. 11.11 The diligent and faithfull seruant that truelie dischargeth the trust that his master hath put him in shall bée well rewarded but the idle and sluggish seruant that neglecteth his duetie and is voyde of all care to doe his businesse faithfully is without all excuse and shal be iudged of his owne euill déedes as appeareth in Luke 17. 17.22 Seruants be coÌ„tent with your wages accuse not your fellowes falsely or vniustly Luke 3.14 For the vnmercifull brawling and currish natured seruant that hath no pitie on his fellowes but most cruelly despitefully vseth and intreateth theÌ„ both within without his masters house shall surely be cast out a doores and put in prison where hee shall become slaue to the gaylor till his crueltie be wel reuenged as appeareth in the parable Math. 18.28 Wicked seruantes doe manie euils vnknowen to their masters as did the seruants of Abimelech that stopped Abrahams welles of water vnwitting to their Lord master whereby grew great strife contention as appeareth Gen. 21.26 The seruant that through vile couetous bribery lying slandereth the word of God and profession of his Gospel shall surely bee plagued as was Gehezi that lied vnto his master Elisha c. as appeareth 2. Kig 5.21 A théefe is better then a seruant accustomed to lye but they both shall haue destruction to heritage Eccle. 20.24 The conditions of a lying seruant are euer vnhonest their shamâ— is euer with them Eccle. 20.25 That seruant which either
of malice with Iudas or of rashnes with Peter or Dauids seruants 1. Sam. 24.5 shal perswade his master to resist the will of God to doe anie thing contrary to his word is to be accounted as a limme of Sathan an vtter enemie to his master all godlinesse reade Math. 16.22 Yea the day shal come that I will visite all those that daunce vpon the threshold so proudely which fill their masters houses by cruelty and deceipt saith the Lord who hereby threatneth the seruants of y e rulers magistrates which inuade other mens houses possessions reioyce leape for ioy wheÌ„ they can get anie pray to please their master withal Zephani 1.9 It is playne robberie and theft for the seruant to take away the good name of his master or the honor praise that hee hath deserued or is due vnto him this would not Ioab take from Dauid as appeareth 2. Sam. 12.28 That seruant y t is put in trust with all his masters goodes yet deceiueth him is a most vnthankful wretch shall surely be plagued this would not Ioseph do for no temptation as appeareth Gen. 39 8â— The seruant that feareth God and standeth in awe of his iudgementes as Ioseph did shall doe no wicked nor villainous act towards his master or mistresse for anie temptation or alluremeÌ„ts reade Pâ—tiphers wife Gen. 31.8 No seruant is bound to obey the wicked commaundements of his Lorde or master but stoutly in the feare of the Lorde hée ought to resist and refuse them because there it is better to obey God theÌ„ man as did the seruants of Saul who refused to kill the priests of y e Lorde at their kings coÌ„mandement 1. Sam. 32.17 as did his armour bearer who refused to thrust him thorow 1. Sam. 31.4 A faithfull seruant will not slicke to venture hazard his life and limmes for his masters preseruation health safegard so did Dauids meÌ„ as appeareth 2. Sam. 23.16 And also Ittay his seruaÌ„t 2. Sam 15.21 and Peter Math. 26.35 Iohn 18.10 The seruant that betrayeth his master for rewards or conspireth the death of their master or mistresse or otherwise riseth vp against them to hurt or molest them shall be sure neuer to escape Gods heauie iudgements but for their rebellion and treason come to a fearfull and horrible end with Iudas Math 26. 27.5 Act. 1.18 and with Iohn 22. King 9.14 and Zimri 1. King 16.9 Yea rather it is the part of euery faithfull seruant if they shall sée or vnderstand of anie perill dangers or mischiefe to be comming towards their maisters foorthwith to tell vtter them to their masterand geue them the best counsell they can to the end he may wisely in time preuent them to his further safegarde for so did the good seruaÌ„ts of Bethsaba 1. Sam. 25.14 and of Naaman 2. King 5.13 of Dauid 2. Sam. 18.3 and as Ioseph did to Pharao Gen. 41.33 Pleasure is not séemely for a foole much lesse for a seruant to haue rule ouer princes Neither is the free vse of things to be committed to him that cannot vse them aright Prou. 19.10 Yea it is a thing hatefull both to God man for an handmayde to presume to be heire to her mistresse reade more Eccle. Art thou forced with Hagar to start or run away from thy Dame for hir rough dealing with thée O yet with the same Hagar call to God for helpe succour returne home againe to thy Dame humble thy selfe vnder her haÌ„d as she did or at least procure some good frieÌ„d to write in thy cause to reconcile thée again to thy master as Onesimus did S. Paul to his master Philemon 1.10 For the seuerity of y e dame or master should not make y e seruaunt desperate nor to neglect hir duety nor to renounce all obedience but paciently to endure correction and by all meanes to séeke reconciliation as Hagar did Gen. 16.4.9 Yea though thy master change thy wages neuer so oft be somewhat sharpe and hard vnto thée yet serue thou coÌ„stantly faithfully haue pacience neither doe thou starte away for anie light occasion offred but call vpon God trust in him so shall he not suffer thy master or dame to hurt or abuse thée Gen. 31.7 For surely the propertie of all good seruants is paciently to tarie out all their terme of yéeres for which they are bound yea to endure correctioÌ„ labour and hardnes as the heate by day the cold by night vtterly to abandon all nicenesse to forbeare all vaine pleasures idlenesse Moreouer to looke diligently to their masters goodes that nothing perish vnder their charge by their negligence or default if any thing be wasted stolen or lost by their carelesnesse to make it good restore the same or the value therof to their masters contentmeÌ„t To vse no churlish or â—itter spéech vnto their betters gouernors to content theÌ„selues with their wages wheÌ„ they depart to go away quietly carrie nothing with them of their masters goodes but that which is their owne Thus did that godly maÌ„ Iacob as ye may read at large Gen. 31.38 whose example I woulde wish all godly seruantes to imitate So should God testifie for their righteous seruice by rewarding them and blessing them in their owne houses as he did y â— same Iacob manie others Gen. 30.26 Yea so should God for their sakes also blesse prosper their master all his houshold as he did Labans for Iacobs sake Gen. 39.5.8 Pharao for Iosephs sake Genâ— For vpon the faithful seruanâ—s and maidens in those dayes will I powre out my spirite saith God Ioel. 2.29 But the seruant that wasteth his masters goods wilfully shall sodenly be called to an account of his Lord master and beeing founde faultie and culpable shal be vtterly thrust out of seruice and bée forced to make this or the like pitifull mone and woeful lamentation say alas alas what shal I doe for my master hath put me away I can neither digge nor labour with my handes to get mine owne lyuing and to begge I am ashamed to steale I dare not alas what shal I now do what shall I most wretched caitiffe doe and who will nowâ— receiue me into their house and seruice c. Luke 16.1 The seruant abideth not in the housâ— for euer but is made frée at the terme of his yéeres but the sonne abideth euer this is the and difference betwéene a seruant a sonne Ioh. 8.34 Happie is he that hath not serued suche as are vnwoorthy of him Eccle. 25.8 Yée seruants ought not to looke for thankes at your masters haÌ„ds as though he were bound so to do because yée haue done y â— which your master commanded you to doe for wheÌ„ yée haue done all those things which are commanded you yet say we are vnprofitable seruants wâ— haue but done that which was our duetie to doe Luke 17.9.10 Of
the preaching of the Gospell Act. 16.14 The kéeper of the prison also where Paul was in bonds beléeued and was baptized with all his houshold at Paules preaching so that both he and all his houshold were saued Act. 16.31 The like did Iustus and Chrispus Act. 18.7.8 that worshipped god all their household to the good example of all godly and christian masters dames Euery particuler master and christian housholder ought often w t Dauid to say and repeate the 101. Psalme For therein is conteined briefly the dutie of all godly masters both towards God their seruaÌ„ts so shall they walke in their house with a perfect heart Psal. 101. A wise master will instruct his seruants family with disretion the gouernance of a prudent man or woman is well ordered As the master is so are his seruants looke what maner of man the good man of the familie is such are all they that dwell with him and like mistres like maid Eccle. 10.1 An vnwise ruler or master destroieth his houshold and seruants but where a wise maÌ„ hath gouernaÌ„ce there y e family prosper Ec. 10.3 Let him that gouerneth or ruleth do it with diligence and wait on his office and calling doing his dutie in the feare of God saith Saint Paule Rom. 12.8 Thou shalt not rule ouer thy seruant or maid cruelly but shalt fearâ— thy God and remember that thou waâ—t a seruant thy selfe Leuit. 25. 43. Deut. 15.15 If thou smite thy seruant or thy maid with a rod and he or she die vnder thy hand presently thou shalt surely bée punished for it but if thy seruant so beaten continue a day or two and then die thou shalt not bée punished by the ciuill magistrate but before God thou art a murtherer for he is thy monie Also if a man smite out his seruants tooth or perish his eye he shall let his seruant goe out frée for his blemish and hurt so God reuengeth crueltie of masters or dames in most little things Exodus 21. 27. If an oxe goare a mans seruant or maid the owner of the oxe shall giue vnto the master thirtie shekels of siluer and the oxe shal be stoned Exod. 21.32 If iniquitie be in thine hand put it farre away and let no wickednes dwell in thy tabernacle that is renouÌ„ce thine owne euill works and sée they offend not God ouer whom thou hast charge then shalt thou lift vp thy face without spot and shalt bée stable and not feare any miserie Iob. 11.14.15 Giue thy hired seruant some rest and ease for they that labour truly are worthie of refreshing Iob. 7.2 Hée that troubleth his owne house shall inherite the winde and like a foole shal become seruant to the wise That is the couetous man that spareth his riches to the hindrance of his family shal be depriued thereof miserably and become poore and néedie yea a slaue to the godly which are the true possessours of the gifts of God Pro. 11.29 For there is a time to spare and a time to spend Eccle. 3.6 doe all things therefore in due order A wise and huswifely woman buildeth her house by taking paine to profit hir familie and doing that which concerneth hir dutie in hir house diligently but the foolish dame destroyeth it with hir ownâ— idle hands Prou. 14.1 As a bird that wandreth from hir nest so is a woman that gaddeth from hir owne house is oft flitting froÌ„ place to place nothing carefull of hir familie Pro. 8.27 Accuse not a seruant vnto his master least hée curse thée speake euill of thée and so hurt thy selfe and offend by accusing him without a cause prou 30.10 Take no héede to euery word that is spoken neither care for theÌ„ nor credite them least thou heare thy seruant curssing therfore thine owne heart knoweth that thou thy selfe also hast oftentimes cursed and spoken euill by other men Ecclesiastes 7.22 Bée not as a Lion in thine owne house neither beat thy seruant for thy fancie destroying thy houshold folkes nor oppresse them that are vnder thée Eccl. 4.30 Whereas thy seruant worketh truly intreate him not euill nor the hyreling that bestoweth himselfe wholy for thée and is faithfull vnto thée Eccl. 7.20 Let thy soule loue a faithfull and discréete seruant and defraud him not of his libertie neither leaue him a poore man as Laban woulde haue done Iacob Eccle. 7.21 Blame nor condemne not thy seruant before thou haue inquired and tried out the fault vnderstand the matter or complaint first and when thou hast made inquisition then reforme thy houshold righteously if Potipher had kept this rule Ioseph had not bin so rashly cast in prison at the wrongfull complaint of his lecherous mistres Eccl. 11.7 Reproue thy seruant least he doe euill and if he haue done it reproue him also that hee doe it no more Tell thy seruant of his fault least he bée ignorant and say I haue not done it so a slander be raised vpon thee and giue no credite to euery worde Giue thy seruant warning I say before thou threaten him and being without anger giâ—e place to the lawe of the most high Eccl. 19.13 c. Take héed of theÌ„ that bée of thine owne houshold for a mans enemies are they of his owne housholde Eccle. 32,22 Mat. 7.6 The yooke and the whip bow downe the hard necke so came thine euill seruant with the whip and correction Set him to worke for that belongeth vnto him if hée bée not obedient put on more heauie letters and binde his féete to a clogge but bée not too excessiue nor punish him not too muche in any wise nor without discretion doe nothing Eccle. 33.23 c. Bee not ashamed ta beate an euill seruant to the blood for so were slaues vsed in olde time Eccl. 42.5 Some masters there bée saith Christ that binde heauie burdens gréeuous to bée borne and lay them on their seruants shoulders but they themselues will not moue them with on finger Matthewe 23. 4. Hée that ruleth let him do it with diligence discretion waite on his office Rom. 12.8 Yée Masters and dames doe yée the same thinges vnto your seruants that are good and right in the sight of God and men putting away threatning and knowe that euen your master also is in heauen neither is there respect of person with him whether hée be bond or frée seruant or master For the cruell master that doth wrong shall receiue for the wrong that hée hath doone Ephe 6.9 Collos. 4. 1. 3.25 A master must bée one that can rule his owne houshold honestly hauing children and seruants vnder obedience with all honestie no fighter no striker nor giuen to wickednesse For if any cannot rule his owne house howe shall hée bée a profitable member in the church of God If there bée any that prouideth not for his owne house and familie and namelie for them that bée of his owne housholde he denieth the faith and is worse then an
shéepe and of thy corne and of thy wine and of that wherwith the Lord hath blessed thée and remember that thou wast a seruant thy selfe in the lande of Egypt c. Deut. 15.12 Exod. 21. Thou shalt not oppresse an hired seruant that is néedy and poore by withholding his wages from him that hée hath earned by his work neither of the stranger that is in the land nor of thy brethren Thou shalt giue him his hire for his day neither shall the sunne goe downe vpon it For hée is poore and therewith susteineth â—he his life least hée cry against thée vnto the Lord and that turne to be sinne vnto thée Deut. 24.14 Leuit. 19.19 If I haue with holden their wages saith holy Iob that laboured for me or gréeued the soules of the men of my tabernacle or be an extorcioner or briber or cruell man then let mine arme rot from my shoulders Iob. 31.13 Let not the wages of any man which hath wrought for thée tary with thée but giue him it out of hand For if thou serue God hée also will pay thée Tobâ— 4.14 Yea Tobit rather added and increased the wages of his man then diminished one iote for his faithfull seruice as a most thankefull master requiting so painefull a seruant in his businesse Tob. 5.8.12.1.13.1 Iudith also at her death made hir maid Abia frée because she had faithfully and truly serued hir all hir life Iudith 16.23 Alexander king of Macedon also in his death bed distributed his kingdome liberally among all his chiefe seruants whom hée had brought vp of children and they raigned after his death in his roome as appeareth 1. Macha 1.7 For equitie and liberalitie is to bée vsed indifferently to all seruants as appeareth in the parable of the housholder Matthewe 20.1 And to him that worketh the wages is due not by fauour but by debt and to bée paide therefore vnto thy seruant without grudging Rom. 4.4 Because the workeman is worthie of his meate Math. 10.10 And the labourer is worthie of his wages Neither shalt thou mosell the mouth of the oxe that treadeth out the corne 1. Timoth. 5.18 Finally I will come néere to iudgement and bée a swift witnesse against those that wrongfully kéepe backe the hirelings wages and oppresse the stranger and feare not me saith the Lord of hostes Malach. 3.5 The dutie of handmaides and seruants towardes their Masters and Dames LET euery one abide in the same vocation wherein hée is called art thou called being a seruant care not for it For although god hath called thée to serue in this life yet thinke not thy condition vnworthie for a Christian but reioyce that thou art deliuered by Christ from the miserable slauerie of sin and death But if thou mayest bée frée vse it rather For he or shée that is called of the Lord being a seruant is the Lords fréeman or fréewoman Likewise hée or shée that is called being frée is Christes seruant Yée are bought with a price bée not seruants of men Brethren let euery man wherein he was called therein abide with God sincerely as in the presence of God 1 Cor. 7.20 Let euery seruant be subiect to his gouernour For there is no power but of God of whom the powers and gouernours that be are ordeined Whosoeuer therefore resisteth the authoritie of y e gouernour or master resisteth the ordinance of God and they that resist shall receiue vnto themselues iudgement euen both the punishment of the Iudges and Magistrates and also the vengeance of God neither are masters or gouernours to be feared of seruants for good workes but for euill wilt thou then bee without feare of thy Master or gouernour do well then and be faithfull diligent in thy seruice so shalt thou haue praise of the same For hee is the minister of God for thy wealth but if thou doe euill and bee stubborne rebellious then feare for God hath not giuen him authoritie ouer thee in vaine Wherfore yée seruants must be subiect obedieÌ„t vnto your masters not because of wrath or for feare only but also especially for loue conscience sake Rom. 13.1 Seruants be obedient vnto them that are your bodily masters according to the flesh and haue dominioÌ„ ouer your bodies but not ouer your soules and that in all things with feare treÌ„bling in singlenes of heart as vnto Christ not with seruice to the eye as meÌ„ pleasers but as the seruants of Christ doing y e will of God froÌ„ the heart with good will and whatsoeuer yée do do it heartily as to the Lorde and not vnto men knowing that of the Lord yée shall receiue the reward of the inheritance whether yée be bond or free For yée serue the Lord Christ but he that doth wrong whether he be master or seruaÌ„t shal be sure to receiue punishmeÌ„t for y e wrong y t hée hath done For there is no respect of persons with God Ephe. 6.5 Col. 3.22 Yée seruants giue ye dutie to whom ye owe dutie feare to whom feare belongeth honour to whom yée owe honour and seruice to whoÌ„ seruice appertainethâ— and owe nothing to any but loue For hée that loueth fulfilleth the law Rom. 13. Let as many seruants as are vnder the yoke of seruitude count their masters and dames worthie of all honour that y e name of God his doctrine be not euill spokeÌ„ off they that haue beléeuing masters let them not despise theÌ„ because they are brethren but rather do seruice because they are faithfull and beloued and partakers of the benefite that is of the grace of God as their seruants are and hauing the same adoption 1. Tim. 6.1 Obey them that haue the ouersight of you and submit your selues for they watch for your soules as they that must giue as accounts that they may doe it with ioy and not with griefe for y t is vnprofitable for you Heb. 13.17 Let seruants bée subiect to their masters and please them in all thinges not answering againe neither pickers â—ilchers or stealers from them but that they shall shew all good faithfulnesse and truth towards them that they may adorne the doctrine of God our Sauiour in all things Tit. 2.9 Seruants bée yée subiect to your masters and mistresses with all feare not only if they bée good and courteous but also though they bée froward and â—estie for this is thanke worthie if you for conscieÌ„ce sake towards God knowing that God laieth this necessitie or charge vpon you endure griefe and suffer wrongâ—ully For what prayse is it if when yée be buffetted for your faultes yée take it patiently knowing that yée haue well deserued it but if when yée doe wel yée suffer wrong take it patiently at your masters or dames hand without any murmuring grudging resisting taunting or answering againe this is acceptable to God your reuenger for héereunto are yée called Yea Christ himselfe also suffered for vs leauing vs an exaÌ„ple that wée should follow his steps who did
no sinne neither was there guile found in his mouth who when he was reuiled reuiled not againe when hée suffered he threatned not but committed it to him that iudgeth righteously 1. Pet. 2.18 Euen so doe yée knowing that Gods eye obserueth what iniurie soeuer your masters or dames either thinke say or doe against you so reuenge it Yée seruants let your loue to God and man whome yée serue â—ée without dissimulation abhorre that which is euill cleaue diligeÌ„tly vnto that which is good Bée not slouthfull to doe your seruice but be faithfull in heart and feruent in spirit seruing the Lord reioysing in hope of Gods blessing patient in your sufferings continue in feruent prayer both for your selues your masters c. Rom. 12.9 c. O yée seruants know yee not that to whomsoeuer yée hire giue your selues as seruants to obey his seruants yée are to whome yée obey whether it be of sinne vnto death or of obedience vnto righteousnesse yes bée yée well assured that yée cannot be iust which doe not obey God and in him your bodily masters and dames and that eueâ— from the heart vnfeignedly as the true seruants of righteousnes and as those y t wholy giue theÌ„ their meÌ„bers as seruants to holmes cleanenesse all maner of godlines remeÌ„bring that the wages of sinne is death to all y t giue their meÌ„bers as seruants to vncleannes disobedience and iniquitie to commit iniquitie vpon iniquitie Româ— 6.16 No man can serue two masters For either hée shall hate the one and loue the other or els leane to the one and despise the other Mat. 6.24 The eyes of a manseruant must euer looke vnto the handâ— of his master and bée diligent to attend vpon them and the eyes of an hand maiden must looke vnto the hand of hir mistres to wait attentiuely vpon hir and they both ought continually to waite vpon the Lorde their God and call vpon him for mercy and grace to accoÌ„plish their duties to his glory Psal. 123. A discréete seruant shall haue rule ouer a lewd sonne and he shall deuide the heritage among the brethren that is shal be made gouernour ouer the children Prov. 17.2 That seruant that honoureth not the sonne the same honoureth not the â—ather his master which hath entertained him Iohn 5. 23. Hée that kéepeth the fig trée shall eate the fruite thereof so hee that waiteth diligently vpon his master shall come to honour Pro. 27.18 Séest thou not that they which bée diligent in their businesse stande before Kinges and not among the simple people Prou. 23.29 Unto the seruant that is wise shall they that are frée doe seruice Eccle. 10.26 Hée that is wise in his businesse shall finde good and hee that trusteth in the Lord he is blessed Prou. 16.20 Who so is a faithfull and wise seruant him shall his master make ruler ouer his houshold to giue them their portion of meate in due season yea blessed shall that seruant be whom his master when hée commeth shall find diligent watchfull and faithfull in doing his dutie For verily hée shal be made ruler ouer all his masters goods Mat. 24.45 But as for the euill froward natured seruant which saith in his heart â—ush my master doth deferre his coÌ„ming beginneth to smitâ— his fellow seruants and maides to eat and drinke with the drunke and to bée drunke also with tipling banqueting in his masters absence that wicked seruants master will come in a day when he thinketh not at an houre when he is not aware of and will cut him off and thrust him out of his doores and giue him his portion with hypocrites and rebels Math. 24.25 Luke 12.42 The good seruant that hath béen faithfull ouer litle of his masters goods employed it to y e best commoditie most profite of his master that he could in way of honestie good dealing shal be made ruler ouer much be receiued into his masters house to bee partaker of y e same true gotten goods commoditie with ioy But that euill vnprofitable seruant y t shall impudently say thus master I know y t thou wast an hard maÌ„ reaping where thou sowedst not gathering wher thou strowedst not I therefore being afraide of thy cruell hard dealing went hid my talent or goods which thou deliueredst me in y e earth behold yet héere is thine own but wtout any increase or profite That slothfull and idle seruant I say that hath béen nothing profitable to his master nor aduantaged him ought towards his meat drinke wages shall haue that taken away which was giuen him to vse and he shal be cast out as an vnprofitable meÌ„ber into vtter darknes wher shal be wéeping gnashing of téeth as it is in the parable Math. 25. 14. Luke 19.12 The diligence of the seruants to please their masters causeth theÌ„ to become most deare vnto their masters dames to lacke nothing that may do them good as yée may reade of the Centurion who gaue this good report of his seruants for their diligence that hée could not so soone bid them goe but they ran come but they made hast came doe this or y t but they did it faithfully and therefore he made his earnest prayers vnto God for them when they were sicke to heale them neither did they want any thing that was necessarie for their preseruation or maintenance Mat. 8.9 A seruant or labouring man y t is giuen to drunkennes shall not bée rich he that maketh not much of small thinges committed to his charge shall fall by litle litle into pouertie himselfe Eccle. 19.1 The Ceremonie that was vsed in olde time y t the seruant shoulde put his hand vnder his masters thigh sweare vnto him fidelitie declareth y e seruaÌ„ts obedience towards their masters y t they should vow to be faithfull loyall true vnto theÌ„ in al their affaires as appeareth Abrahams seruant did Gen. 24.2.9 And that they should diligently pray prayse God for their master all his they haue example in the same Abrahams seruant who did so Ge. 24.12.47 The fidelitie that all godlie seruauntes owe to their masters and dames ought to cause them euer to preferre their masters businesse and affayres to their owne necessitie as did that good olde seruant of holie AbrahaÌ„ who would neither eate nor drinke vntill hée had done his masters affaires thorowly In whom also is liuely set foorth the condition and obedience of all faithfull and trustie seruants for imitation and example to be followed of them Gen. 24.33 As also in the persoÌ„ of Iacob that serued Laban so faithfully many yéeres Gen. 30. And in the person of Ioseph y e faithfull vertuous chast seruant of Potiphers Gen. 39.41 And in the holie man Dauid that so ofteÌ„ endured the crueltie of his master king Saul 1. Sam. 20. c. That they are blessed which haue their education with good men