TO SERVANTS.

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of their fuperiors. And indeed, when the former of these contradicts the latter, it is not to be wo wondered that it lofes all its authority. How is it imaginable that a fervant should profit by the wholefome admonitions of a master, in whofe countenance, language, and deportment, vice is every day held up to his view in its most hideous forms? Is it to be expected that leffons of meeknefs, pronounced by lips accustomed to wrath and violence, fhould perfuade? Is it to be expected that cenfures on guile and difhonefly, fhould come with energy from a base and unprincipled heart? Is it to be expected that men fhould be deterred from intemperance and lewdness, by the remonftrances of those who live in a courfe of diffipation and criminal indulgence? Virtue it is true, is no lefs amiable for its being reproached by their conduct, who would be understood to be its friends. But then fuch mafters muft not wonder, that their fervants regard their actions rather than their words, and by copying after thefe repay them in their own coin for the affronts they thus offer to decency and common fenfe.

On the contrary, where virtuous inftructions and virtuous characters are in perfect unifon, they will fcarce fail to produce the defired effect on the minds of fervants. Awed by the authoriry of the former, and allured by the fweetnefs of the latter, they will find it difficult to refift the dictates of truth, honour and decency. Reproofs will ftrike their confciences with double force, and counfels infinuate themfelves to their hearts with peculiar pleafure. They will be proud to imitate the virtues of their fuperiors, and dread the idea of drawing on themselves the cenfures of those, who are equally venerable and lovely in their

eyes.

eyes. "And hence it commonly happens, though not always, that good mafters have good fervants; and people are generally difpofed to form their opinion of the heads of families, by the behaviour of thofe who ferve them. It now remains,

THIRDLY, To confider the attention which it is incumbent on mafters to pay to the religious interefts of their fervants.

Religion is a due regard to the authority of God: and thofe cannot be called good morals which do not proceed from that principle. It is however poffible, that men who have no proper regard to the divine authority, may yet be induced, by the fear of man and a concern for their worldly interefts, to behave themfelves in the general with integrity, fobriety, and decency. But it is religion, and that only, which will infallibly fecure the good morals of fervants: they who fear God cannot allow themfelves to do a bad action. And this is a good reafon why the heads of families fhould ufe their utmost endeavours to promote religion among their domeftics. If you would be ferved with integrity, attention and cheerfulness, look well to this point. This object gained, whatever little indifcretions your fervants may be guilty of, you may be sure your fubftance will not be purloin ed, your affairs neglected, or your authority affronted.

But religion is a concern that affects the perfonal intereft of fervants in the highest degree-their happiness both here and hereafter. A pious mafter there. fore, feparate from the confideration of the benefit that will accrue to his domeftic concerns from their fearing God, will eatueftly with to promote these

their beft interefts.

And how is this to be done? I My u anfwer, by feasonable counfels and admonitions; by a regular attention to family duty; and by requiring their conftant and ferious attendance on public worfhip. Subjects thefe on which we have largely infift ed in a former difcourfe, and therefore fhall only here fubjoin a few general remarks, fnbmitting them to the Chriftian prudence and benevolence of maflers.

If then we would allure our fervants to the love and practice of religion, we should, in the first place, do our utmost to conciliate their affection to us. Having gained their efteem and good-will, we fhall have the more easy access to their hearts. Perfuaded that we fincerely wish them well, they will the more readily attend to what we fay. Whilft we are endeavouring to convince, them of the truth, and to make them fenfible of the importance of religion, we fhould take particular care that they have full proof from the general courfe of our behaviour, not only that we are ourselves perfuaded of its truth, but that we do indeed confider it as by far the most important concern in the whole world. The fervour of our devotion, accompanied with the frictnefs of our morals, will have an effect to awaken their attention, at certain feafons, to thefe great matters. But at the fame time we should guard against a prejudice, which often nips the first ferious thoughts in the bud, and creates a disgust that no reafoning can fubdue; I mean a notion that religion is a fevere, four, ill-natured thing. Servants will narrowly watch their mafters, and if they obferve a continual gloom on their counte nances, and a forbidding aufterity and referve in their manners, they will conclude that, this business of reli.

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gion which they talk fo much of, can be no very agreeable thing. We fhould therefore ftudiously ayoid this great evil, and endeavour by an open, frank, cheerful, good-natured deportment (all which I am fure religion teaches) to convince them, that it is as friendly to their prefent comfort, as to their everlafting happinefs.-Events of a providential kind that are awakening, fuch as narrow efcapes from danger, fickness, and particularly death when it enters ithe our houses, should be carefully improved. At fuch times they will be more fufceptible of religious im preffions than at others, and affectionate counfels addreffed to their hearts on these occafions, will be like ly, with the bleffing of God, to produce very important effects.-Sufficient time we fhould allow them for recollection and prayer, and to this end guard against an evil which in too many families is the bane of religion, I mean frequent and late entertainments in the evening. How is it poffible that fervants, diftracted with the hurries of domeftic concerns to very near midnight, fhould either before they go to rest, or at an early hour they are obliged to rife, have proper calinness or leisure for ferving God in their retirements?-Serious books, particularly the Bible, we should put into their hands, earnestly wifhing them to read them and lay them to heart.-In fine, thefe and all other measures we take to promote the great object of their falvation, should be crowned with our fervent prayers to God, remembering ourselves, and taking pains to fix that fentiment on their minds, that the grace of God is abfolutely neceffary to renew the heart, and prepare men for another state.

And now need any arguments be used to urge maf

ters,

f

inks

re

ters, who fear God, to their duty in all thefe particulars? Have you no tenderness for your fervantsno compaffion for their precious and immortal fouls Have you no with that they may efcape the wrath to come, and be happy with God for ever? Do you not confider their fpiritual as well as temporal interefts, in a fenfe entrusted to your care? Perhaps Providence fent them into your families for purposes of the most falutary nature. Perhaps, under the direction of heaven, they left another house and came to yours, as Onefimus did to Pa Paul, that you might ceive them for ever." How great will be your joy, if, in the nobleft fenfe, they should be born under your roof! if in their dying moments they fhould have it to tell you, that their admiffion to your family was the most favourable event of their life! And how unutterable will be the pleafure you will feel on the great day of account, to hear it reported by the lips of the bleffed Jefus, your Mafler and Judge, that you had been the inftrument of faving this and that foul from the miseries of hell, and forming them for the happiness and glory of heaven.

Thus have we confidered at large the reciprocal duties of mafiers and fervants. And we will now clofe the whole with reminding one another of the character and conduct of the bleffed God, as our master towards us; and of ours, as fervants towards him. As to God, my brethren, his character as a master is perfect in the highest degree. He hath an uncontrouled authority over us, to which he is entitled by every imaginable confideration: and that authority is exerted in concurrence with infinite wifdom, juftice, and goodness. He requires obedience to his will in

all