Reward they will have from God for this Charity they may Hope to be better serv'd there being nothing that can better sit Servants for being every way Faithful to their Masters than the due Knowledge of their Duties to God The want of this Knowledge being a general Occasion of their failing in many Obligations which belong to their State and running into Disorders SECT V. They are to reprove whatever they observe in them displeasing to God THIS Care again of Masters ought to have another Branch and that is in Reproving whatever they observe in their Servants displeasing to God Hence they are not to Tolerate in them any ill Custom as of Swearing Lying Drinking c. but upon the Knowledge of any such Disorder to labor for its Reformation and if upon sufficient Trial there be no Amendment to remove those that give the Scandal that so Vice may have its due Discouragement and their Corruption may not be Communicated to those of the Family who are as yet Innocent Those Heads of Families who are presently exasperated upon the Ordinary Neglects of Servants in the Business of their Place and yet know them to live in the daily Transgression of God's Commands without any Concern for Correcting their Disorders give Demonstration of their own unhappy State in being so Solicitous for the things of this World and having so little Zeal for the next And tho' this may not touch them at present yet the effect of this Indifferency will fall Heavy at last when they shall be call'd to an Account for all the Sins of their Servants which have been encourag'd by their Silence and grown up under the favor of their Connivance Those then who will escape the weight of this Charge must with a watchful Eye inspect all the Ways of their Servants as to the Method of their Conversation at home and all the Circumstances of their going abroad both as to the Places and Company they frequent and the Hours of their going out and returning home Without this care how shall Masters be able to give an Account of their Servants And what will the Disciplin of a Family be when Youth are left to the Liberty of their own Inclinations without the Apprehension of any to question or controul them Whence I cannot but think those Masters much to Blame whose Servants being early discharg'd every Evening from their Business and Attendance have some Hours left to their own Discretion without being call'd to any Account of their Management For those who Reflect on the Corruption of our Age and the little Confidence that can be had in unexperienc'd Years must see that this is nothing less than putting into the Hands of Youth daily Opportunities of ruining themselves And such Numerous Instances there are of this Liberty abus'd to the Irrecoverable loss of Youth that 't is a subject deserves Tears especially when we consider the sad Disappointment of Parents who after a Pious Education having placed out their Children and being satisfied in the Provision they have made for their Livelihood find them afterwards lost to all that is Good by the Neglect of their Masters and the unreasonable Liberties they have given them The Consequence of this Sin both in the Affliction of Parents and in the Ruin of Youth brings so heavy a Charge after it that I cannot see how Masters will be able to answer it since 't is seldom in their Power to make any Reparation for the Mischiefs they do by such Neglects which have still a greater Aggravation of guilt if observing the Disorders of their Clerks or Apprentices they purposely let them go on that so when out of their Time there may be no probability of their taking Clients or Customers out of their Hands for this has such a Complication of Injustice in it that it would be a Reproach even in a Heathen and therefore not to be reconcil'd with the Principles of the Christian Profession All Heads of Families then who have Thoughts of providing for another World must be watchful that all those under their Care be a daily part of their Care in advising and reproving and cutting off as much as may be all the Opportunities by which the Indiscretion of Youth is industrious in drawing Mischief on it self For without this Care they cannot satisfie the Obligations they have undertaken either to God or Man SECT VI They ought to give them good Example and be Just in paying their Wages ONE Principal part of this Care must be in giving Good Example to their Servants for without this the best Advice cannot be expected to be very successful As to all Family-duties therefore those who are the Heads ought to be most Regular as in Prayer and keeping good Hours c. For since nothing can go on well in any Family where Disciplin is not observ'd this must be a daily part of the Master's Concern to see that good Order be kept and not only that it be kept by others but that he be Punctual as far as Business will permit in leading the way For if he by any Habitual Disorder gives ill Example it must needs make his Advice Ridiculous and it cannot but be fear'd but where there is so much Ignorance and Weakness it will soon have Followers notwithstanding all the Care that can be us'd by others for Authority is more prevalent in Evil than in Good and therefore to think that a Family should be Regular and the Master only Disorderly is a Thought without Experience and can give no more than groundless Hopes I conclude now these Duties of Masters with that of being Just to their Servants in the due Payment of their Wages and of complying with whatever other Conditions were agreed upon at their Enterance for tho' they were made only with Servants yet Justice ought to be as strictly observ'd with them as with others who have both Power and Money to make good their Right God requires this at the Hands of Masters and 't is with the Addition of such Threats to such as fail in it that if from them the guilt be Measur'd the Consequence of no other Sin can more justly be Apprehended than of this Oppression which Cries to Heaven for Vengeance These Rules may serve for Masters as far as concerns their Servants but there being still many other Difficulties which these do not reach to belonging to their State if they are engag'd in any kind of Traffic or Trade therefore I must carry on these Instructions farther so as to give some Light in this way also which a Universal Corruption has cover'd with such great Darkness that the Path of Truth and Justice is scarce to be discern'd by those few who are willing to walk in it Instructions for Traders SECT I. The Danger of their Profession and General Rule for avoiding it TRading is in it self lawful but the eagerness of Gain and Covetousness has mixt it with so many Injustices that what of it self is irreprovable is
Instructions FOR MASTERS TRADERS Laborers c. Printed in the Year 1699. Instructions FOR Masters Traders Laborers c. SECT I. Masters are to be Moderate in their Commands Q. ARE there not Duties which God lays upon Masters in regard of their Servants A. Every State has particular Duties belonging to it and none can be a Good Christian who is not careful in enquiring into and satisfying them Q. What are the Duties in particular belonging to Masters and Mistresses in relation to their Servants A. They are several First in the Exercise of their Authority in Commanding They are to command nothing that is Sinful For Masters in their Families being the Vice-gerents of God they ought to Order nothing contrary to the Commands of God by whose Authority they act And if they give Orders contrary to this their Commission they are not only to answer for their own Sin but likewise for the Sins of their Servants complying with such their undue Orders Again they ought not to hinder their Servants from doing what God requires of them And since God has given Command to Servants as well as to all other Christians to Worship him to seek the Kingdom of God and to work out their Salvation Masters are not to hinder their Servants from complying with these Duties which God exacts from them neither directly by forbidding them nor indirectly by oppressing them with so much Business as to allow them no opportunity for satisfying the Commands of God For this is to incurr the guilt of Pharaoh's Sin who when God had commanded the Children of Israel to go and offer Sacrifice to him in the Desart doubled their Tasks and by new Burthens confin'd them at home Secondly Where God's Service is not particularly concern'd there ought yet to be Moderation in all Commands so as not to burthen Servants with more Work than they are well able to do For tho' it be a great Fault to let Servants live without Business so to betray them to all the Mischiefs of Idleness yet to be unconcern'd at the Hardships put upon Servants and not to value what they suffer is a great Fault too not only in the want of Compassion but of Charity which being the love of our Neighbor as of our selves cannot allow of this Cruelty of laying on Burthens without any Consideration for those who are to bear them I cannot tell but it may look Great to Command without Compassion and I know a Wordly and Covetous Spirit thinks nothing too much for Servants when it carries with it the prospect of Interest But however it may look it is certain there is no Greatness in it but that of Pharaoh for there can be no Generosity where there is so much Cruelty there is none but a slavish Spirit is fit to make Slaves And as for the Covetous and Worldly Temper 't is so Mean and Base in it self that there needs no more to mark the Oppression of Servants with Infamy than to see it the Fruit of that Contemptible Spirit The Rule therefore ought to be between both Extremes so as to keep Servants employ'd for their own sakes as well as their Masters and yet still with that Moderation as to consider what is necessary for their Health and Rest and not to think that because their Misfortunes make them serve they therefore have no Sense or Feeling This Compassion is one Ingredient of the Good Christian and where-ever 't is excluded either by Passion Imperiousness Covetousness or Immoderate Niceness there is the Resemblance of an Ill Compound which has Gall thrown in instead of Honey SECT II. They are to be Moderate in the way of Commanding and Reproving AS there is to be Moderation in Commands so likewise in the way of Commanding for tho' Servants are subject yet they are not to be treated as Dogs If some are of that slavish Temper that they will do nothing except they be ill treated then it is they themselves that make the spur necessary But this must not be taken up as a Plea to justifie Passion or Pride in other Cases For certainly there are many Servants whose Fidelity and Willing Temper need not Passion to push it on And here all Peevish and Imperious Commands either in Words or Tone of the Voice is an Argument of their Weakness who are in Power A like Moderation is to be us'd in finding Fault and Reproving because Reproof ought to be ever Just and Reasonable and it cannot be so but by bearing proportion with the Fault now these being very different as some being the Effect of Carelesness some of Sloth some of Mistake some of Oversight enquiry ought to be first made before Reproof be given for otherwise it may do more harm than good by creating an ill Opinion of their Injustice who give it First then It cannot be allow'd to find fault with every thing a Servant does for besides it being the certain way to keep Servants in an ill Humor there is nothing can more discourage them from being Industrious than when notwithstanding the best of their Care they are sure to be blam'd This Nice Exceptious Temper that is never to be pleas'd may easily spoil but will never make a Good Servant But it punishes it self in its own uneasiness by many Changes bringing sometimes such Servants into the House whose Crimes shew them the unreasonableness of their Impatience in not bearing with ordinary Failings Secondly They ought not with Passion declaim against such Faults which are no more than Oversights or the Effect of some Accident because it is not Just and with those of a Good Temper it is very unreasonable since the very Accident it self is Grief enough without the addition of a Master's Passionate Resentments which only serve to change the Grief into Confusion and instead of making a Servant more careful puts him beyond himself and makes him not know what he does But Thirdly If Servants are faulty thro' Neglect or Carelesness I except not against Reproof but approve it as necessary and think those Masters are very much to be condemn'd who passing by such Faults in silence give their Servants Encouragement to become good for nothing In this Case too much Easiness is Weakness and Connivance is not Charity but the Silence of an Enemy But then the Reproof ought to be suited to the Person and the Fault Some are to be treated with sharpness such whose Dull or Heedless Temper has no Life but from the Spur And others will be prejudiced by this Severity In all Cases Reproof is to be reasonable and therefore as free from Passion as may be because this seeing nothing right is not qualified either for being Judge or doing Justice For which reason S. Paul cautions Masters against it advising them to forbear threatning and putting them in mind that they also have a Master in Heaven with whom there is no respect of Persons Ephes 6. 9. Where he disswades not Masters from giving just Reproof but puts them
in mind of considering how they do it because they likewise are Servants of a Master in Heaven who will call them to an Accompt for whatever they do against their Servants unreasonably and in Passion SECT III. They are to be Careful of their Servants in Health and Sickness BEsides Commanding and Reproving Masters have still another Duty to their Servants in the Care of them seeing that nothing be wanting necessary for Life and Health For since Servants spend their Lives and often hazard their Health in their Master's Service both ought to have part in the Master's Care And therefore as those are much to be commended for their Tenderness and Charity who are not only Solicitous for their Children but likewise for their Servants in seeing they are provided with all that is sitting both as to Diet and Lodging and sparing them in all that may prejudice their Health and then expressing a more particular Concern when Indisposition or Sickness demands it So those Masters are as much to be Censur'd who being immoderately Nice in whatever belongs to themselves make their Servants no part of their Care but oppressing them with unreasonable Labor SECT III. They are to be Careful of their Servants in Health and Sickness BEsides Commanding and Reproving Masters have still another Duty to their Servants in the Care of them seeing that nothing be wanting necessary for Life and Health For since Servants spend their Lives and often hazard their Health in their Master's Service both ought to have part in the Master's Care And therefore as those are much to be commended for their Tenderness and Charity who are not only Solicitous for their Children but likewise for their Servants in seeing they are provided with all that is fitting both as to Diet and Lodging and sparing them in all that may prejudice their Health and then expressing a more particular Concern when Indisposition or Sickness demands it So those Masters are as much to be Censur'd who being immoderately Nice in whatever belongs to themselves make their Servants no part of their Care but oppressing them with unreasonable Labor let them want Necessaries and exposing their Health upon every Humor either let them lye Comfortless when they are Sick or turn them out of Doors which is to treat them with much less Care than their Horses or Dogs This is very unlike the Spirit of the Centurion mention'd in the Gospel who when his Servant was Sick sent some Principal Men of the Jews to petition Christ in his behalf and this Solicitude of a Heathen is a Reproach to such Christians who think it beneath them to have a Concern for their Servants and shew their Greatness in being Uncharitable even where Charity is so much due as to be within one degree of Justice if it be not wholly so SECT IV. They are to see that their Servants do their Duty to God THis Care of Masters ought to be farther extended even to the Care of their Servants Souls so far at least as to see they perform their Duty to God in doing Good and avoiding Evil as far as falls within Family-Disciplin First then They are to examin whether they say their Prayers and are present at the Public Worship of God The Ignorance or Careless Temper of too many Servants is proof enough of the Necessity of this Inspection and Concern in Masters and the Omission of this Enquiry is enough to draw upon them the guilt of their Servants Neglects Secondly They are to see they have time to perform these Duties and therefore are to take Care they be not so oppress'd with Business as to have no opportunity or leisure for the Service of God Excess of Business may be sometimes a real hindrance and if it be generally so there is a necessity of considering how it may be moderated Necessary Works cannot be omitted but how many things are there in a Family which are the Commands only of Pride Excess Humor or Niceness And is it not more reasonable in a Christian that some of these at least should be retrench'd than that Servants for giving attendance to them should be oblig'd to live as Heathens If the thing be consider'd Faith can have there no Influence where the Decision is not in favor of Servants for allowing them so much time at least that they may not be forced to renounce the Practice of Christianity in Compliance with the Weakness or Vice of those whom they serve This enquiry again ought to be made because many make Excessive Business their Excuse for not Praying and performing other Spiritual Duties when in reality 't is nothing better than Neglect and Sloth is at the Root of all their Omissions For which Reason Masters ought to Examin their Servants that so they may confound the Slothful with their Neglect and help to Contrive for those of better Inclinaons who have a Good Will but for want of Management cannot find Time to Pray Thirdly This enquiry ought to be made with a stricter Eye as to Sundays and Holy-days to see if they take care to Sanctifie them according to their Institution The great Liberty in Prophaning these Days or at least in passing them over without any Concern for answering the purposes for which they were ordain'd ought to press Christian Masters to call their Servants to an Account And a Principal care ought to be on their own parts to see that by unnecessary Business they be not hinder'd in the Duties of those Days Nay more they ought to Contrive things so and exact so little Service from them that having their time at Command the Masters may be in no danger of their Servants Neglects being charg'd upon them Hence it cannot but be advisable on these Days to dispence with that Niceness which on other Days may be exacted in Cleaning of Rooms Dinner may be so order'd as to excuse a great part of their usual Drudgery in preparing it and of the Attendance in waiting unseasonably at Table Visits may be excluded till a fitting time and going abroad with Retinue put off till the Duty of the Day be over By this and other like Management those who have the Care of Families may shew the best kind of Compassion to their Servants in giving them great Opportunities for Saving their Souls and taking all Excuses out of their Hands But since no part of the Duty of these Days can be well perform'd without due Instruction in the Christian Doctrin hence are Masters to see that their Servants have all necessary Convenience for being Taught what they are oblig'd to know Many are so unhappy either in their Education or the Dulness of their Temper that 't is not a little help will serve for their Instruction this Circumstance is therefore to be well consider'd and Provision must be made for every one according to their Wants If some Service be excus'd for Accomplishing this so necessary Work the Masters will be no losers in the End since besides the
Sufferers for want of their Money and sometimes those are the greatest who seem least Importune in Demanding their own At least their Inconveniencies are not to be disputed who solicite for their due and therefore tho' it be no surprize that Men of no Principles Contract Debts on all sides and are not concern'd in paying yet it is a matter of just wonder that those who seem serious in the Business of Salvation and make a Scruple of being Unjust should be so little Solicitous in Paying what they Owe but let their Debts run on with no more Reflection than as if no Body were injur'd by their Debts unpaid or that it was not their Duty to pay them They seem to think little of it and so are at Rest within themselves but to me their Case looks so very ill by Reason of the many Injuries they may do by their Neglect that in my Opinion 't is much safer for them to consider it in time than to run the hazard of the Injustice which may be charg'd upon them Lastly In many Masters of Families and Gentlemen of Estates For when I consider these upon the Title of Justice bound to provide for their Children and Family I cannot but conclude that the Neglect of this is doing contrary to Justice contrary to that Duty which God has laid upon them and they by a virtual Contract have undertaken And what then must I say of Tradesmen or others who live by their Industry when thro' Sloth or Ill Company they neglect their Business and expose their Children c. to all the Mischiefs of Want What of Gentlemen who either thro' want of Care or the Immoderate Expences of an Idle Extravagant or Vicious Life waste their estates and many ways Injure if not wholly Ruin their Family Can these think themselves Just I do not say to God but to Men while they Prodigally throw away their Estates of which according to the Christian Scheme they are no more than Principal Stewards and ought to manage for the good of their Posterity to whom whilst they give a Being they ought likewise to provide a Well-being Can they think themselves Just while to gratifie their Humors their Vices and Idle Company they are more Cruel to the Children of their own Bowels than the worst of Enemies I cannot tell what their Thoughts may be tho' I fear they do not think but to make a Judgment from the Infinite Mischiefs I have seen brought upon Generations by this unchristian Method I think the Violence of Thieves and Murtherers may more likely find Mercy than the Treachery of these Modish Parricides And therefore whatever their Profession be to esteem them for Christians is what I cannot do without Violence to all the Principles I have learnt from Christ and his Gospel Infinite other Injustices there are but from the Consideration of these Particulars I think they may be easily discover'd by those who are not resolv'd to smother all the Principles of Nature Reason and Faith which God has given them and therefore I conclude with this Request to all those who are any ways engag'd in Money-concerns that they would be watchful against all the Temptations of unjust Gain and not lose their Souls for any Advantage that can be expected from over-reaching or defrauding their Neighbor but to be contented with the Fruit of Fair and Just dealing hoping for the Blessing of God on it and esteeming a Little with the Comfort of a Good Conscience better than the Abundance of Fraud and Injustice for thus only can they Act as Christians THE Contents Sect. 1. MAsters are to be Moderate in their Commands Pag. 3. Sect. II. They are to be Moderate in the way of Commanding and Reproving 6 Sect. III. They are to be Careful of their Servants in Health and Sickness 10 Sect. IV. They are to see that their Servants do their Duty to God 11 Sect. V. They are to reprove whatever they observe in them displeasing to God 16 Sect. VI. They ought to give them good Example and be Just in paying their Wages 20 Instructions for Traders Sect. I. The Danger of their Profession and General Rule for avoiding it 22 Sect. II. Frauds and Injustice in the Goods they Sell. 24 Sect. III. In the Price 27 Sect. IV. In the Seller 31 Sect. V. In the Buyer and of Stoln Goods 34 Sect. VI. In Workmen and Laborers 41 Sect. VII In Lawyers Physicians Surgeons 44 Sect. VIII In paying Wages or Hire 47 Sect. IX In Governors Overseers of Colledges Hospitals c. in Trustees Overseers of the Poor Masters of Schools Debtors Masters of Families Gentlemen of Estates FINIS