PROPER TREATMENT OF SERVANTS. FEBRUARY 2. 41 Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal, knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.-Thou shalt not rule them with rigour, but shalt fear thy God.-Blessed is he that considereth the poor; the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble. HAS Providence so far blessed your external condition, that not only the comforts, but many of the superfluities of life are at your command, and the services of your fellow beings wait on your will? Then you are the steward of a responsible trust, and will hereafter be called to render an account of your stewardship. Think not that in paying the wages of your domestics, not only honestly, but liberally, you have done all for them which they have a right to require and expect of you. Remember, though in a humbler state, they are still your fellow beings, and by becoming inmates of your house acquire a title to your kindness and vigilance beyond the common claims of human nature. Let it be your care not only to provide for their comfortable accommodation, but to know that they are not oppressed with excessive labour; let them have no reasonable cause to say, or to think, that your only anxiety with regard to them is, a selfish desire to avail yourself of all their time and strength but rather convince them that you seek to advance their improvement in virtue and happiness. To do this, is undoubtedly your duty so far as you have the ability; and this may be done without lessening the respect which it is proper they should feel for you on the contrary, this sentiment would be increased in their minds, by perceiving in your conduct towards them, a just regard for their welfare, and a readiness to attend to their reasonable wants. Strive to obtain an influence over their affections, for the purpose of leading those affections in the path of truth and duty. If you can thus guide your domestics to religious thoughts and feelings, and attach them to your person and your interests, by the bonds of affection and esteem, you will well fulfil the duty enjoined by the gospel, and may hope from your heavenly Master the same condescension, kindness and lenity, though infinitely greater in degree, than that you have shewn to those who were subordinate to you. If, on the contrary, in disobedience to the dictates of humanity and the precepts of Christ, you treat with harshness, or even with indifference and neglect, the unfortunate beings whom poverty compels to serve you; you will not only injure your worldly interest, by employing those who have no motive but worldly gain in serving you, and consequently will not be anxious to serve you prudently and faithfully; but you will offend your master in heaven, who is also theirs; and who will not fail to plead their cause, and to punish those who neglect, who injure or oppress, the poor, the ignorant, and the unfortu nate. O let not servile fear degrade the mind, Be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh-not with eye service as men-pleasers; but as the servants of Christ.-Be subject to your masters, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. In this section of our country, slavery is not permitted; none of us are bound by cruel laws to serve a hard master; yet even here, Providence permits that inequality of property and condition, which obliges some to obtain the means of comfortable subsistence by entering the families of those who are more prosperous, and rendering their personal services for a pecuniary compensation. Have you thus placed yourself in voluntary subjection to another: the spirit of this command applies to you. It is your duty to be faithful to your employers, to consult their interest, to be careful of their property which is entrusted to your care; and to remember, that if in any respect you defraud or injure them, you so far disobey and offend him who is both your master and theirs. Think not that your lot is hard; murmur not that you must minister to others, instead of being privileged to rule. You know, that while some rule, others must be ruled; and that relative duties belong to each party. You may be assured also that, in many cases, the trials of those whom you envy, are greater than your own. You are willing, perhaps, to conduct with fidelity and respect towards those who are courteous, attentive and kind to you; but you are not disposed to be equally faithful, to the haughty, the unreasonable, and the froward. It is true you cannot feel the same sentiments towards the latter; it cannot be expected that you should; but if you choose to remain in the service of such persons, you can, you ought to be equally faithful to their interests. You can restrain the irritable feelings which their caprice may excite, and not augment their resentment or discontent, by petulant replies, or wilful omissions of duty. Since you are not bound to them for life, either controul your own temper, rule your own spirit, and continue with them in the faithful discharge of your duties, or candidly acknowledge your unfitness, or inabilty; and seek another residence. Let no motive seduce you to receive the wages of sin, by professing to perform the duties of your station, while you are deceiving and defrauding those who confide in your integrity. There is no disgrace in any situation or condition of life which is conscientiously sustained. A domestic may be more truly respected and beloved, than the man whom he serves. Our Lord came not to be ministered unto, but to minister; and as an example of humility he washed the feet of his disciples. Surely then, no office can be too mean, no situation too humble for his followers, if it is dignified by the spirit of his religion, and graced by the love and self-denial which he exemplified. Listen then with meekness and humility to the teachings of your Lord; submit to the condition he has allotted you on earth, constantly striving by a strict performance of all its duties, to qualify yourself for higher duties and holier services, in that state where all men will meet as brethren; where all will serve one master, even him, whose service is perfect freedom. Honour and shame from no condition rise, VIRTUE OUR INTEREST. FEBRUARY 4. 43 Doth not wisdom cry, and understanding put forth her voice ?—Unto you, Omen, I call; and my voice is to the sons of men.-O ye simple, understand wisdom; for whoso findeth me, findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the Lord. He that sinneth against me, wrongeth his own soul; all they that hate me love death. THIS is the declaration of "Wisdom"-not the wisdom of disputing philosophy; or the shrewdness of calculating avarice—not the policy which dictates the intrigues of courts, or the penetrating foresight which directs the movements of armies; but the wisdom which is from above, pure, and peaceable, and gentle, which directs to far nobler pursuits and higher ends than the profoundest wisdom of this world proposes. It is the true wisdom of holy affections, of exalted virtue, of sincere repentance, of confiding hope-and is it not true that whoever disregards these principles of conduct, degrades and wrongs his own soul? Does not he, who, corrupted and infatuated with the allurements of sense, turns with aversion from these true sources of life and happiness, love the death, from which there may be no resurrection? the death of moral sentiment, of divine spirituality, without which, animal existence of immortal duration is a curse, rather than a blessing? Rightly is that called wisdom which produces the greatest and most durable happiness of our everlasting existence, and that virtue and faith which the gospel teaches, which is to prepare us for the joys of eternity, is far more worthy of the name of wisdom than all that lauded policy of human study, aiming only at the fleeting, imperfect, unsatisfactory enjoyments of life, which in a few years must pass forever from our sight. Dearly, dearly indeed, is purchased all the honours, and power, and wealth of empires, if the corruptions of vice should corrode the soul, and forever exclude it from the felicity of the eternal world. The "wages of sin is death," says the Apostle. Where, then, is the wisdom of pursuing it—is it not the extreme of folly, to waste the critical, the flying moments of our probation here, in the pursuit of objects unworthy of an intellectual being, and transient as themselves; and overlook the momentous, all absorbing considerations of eternal destiny? It surely is, and well does it become us earnestly to offer the petition, "give us wisdom that sitteth by thy throne; O send her out of thy holy heavens, and from the throne of thy glory, that being present she may labour with us, that we may know what is pleasing unto thee." Ah, wretched souls, who strive in vain! A nobler toil may I sustain, A nobler satisfaction win.. I would resolve with all my heart, Whose service is a rich reward. 44 KINDNESS AMIDST SOCIAL RELATIONS. FEBRUARY 5. How good and how pleasant it is for Brethren to dwell together in unity.—Į beseech you brethren, that there be no divisions among you.-He who hateth his Brother is a murderer. GOD, who appoints the various relations of life, has annexed to each special duties, and has made these duties the means of much happiness, and the occasion of calling forth and perfecting many virtues-How strong then is our obligation, how imperative the command, which is imposed by him who formed our natures, and who in assigning these relative duties, has consulted our truest interest, our virtue, our peace. Listen then with reverent attention to the injunction here addressed to you in the form of a request; mark how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity, and if you are a brother or a sister, resolve that by your means no divisions shall occur, no strife shall arise, to disturb the domestic peace of your family.-If it be possible for you to feel, and still more to cherish, an unkind or envious feeling towards one so nearly related to yourself; if you can hate the offspring of the same earthly parents; you have reason to tremble with fear; to look forward with painful anxiety; for that heart must be cold, and hard; that mind must be perverted, which can resist the bonds of natural affection; which can deny the claims of kindred and the ties of blood. If you have thus begun to oppose the designs, to disregard the authority, and to contemn the kindness, which instituted and hallowed these domestic relations; you are thus preparing for a deep revolt from your highest Benefactor; for a course of sin and misery. If you cannot live in peace and love with those who have the strongest claims on your affection, what motive will be sufficient to induce the performance of kind and social duties towards other fellow beings? Oh reflect, ere the words of unkindness fall from your lips, or the feelings of ill will arise in your heart, towards a brother or a sister; that he who hateth his brother, hath the spirit of a murderer; and that if this spirit is not immediately subdued, it will daily acquire new strength till it will lead you from unkindness to malignity, cruelty, and revenge; from disobedience, to guilt; and thus destroy all your virtue, and embitter all your life. Be advised then, be entreated, ere habit become nature, and your chains are too strong for human power to break, to check every unkind feeling and resist every temptation to envy or revenge.-Cultivate a spirit of charity, forbearance and love towards all men; but especially, towards those who are daily and hourly with you; who own the same parental care; live under the same roof, and are objects of equally affectionate interests to the same earthly parents. So shall your gracious Saviour own you as a friend and a brother; for he is not ashamed to call those brethren who obey his precepts; and his most impressive precept, his new commandment was, that we should love one another as he loved us. Still let your kind, fraternal heart, The generous pleasure know, Ever to share a brother's joy, And weep a brother's woe. Children obey your parents in the Lord.-Honour thy Father and Motherwhich is the first commandment with a promise.-My son hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother.-The eye that mocketh at his father and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out and the young eagles shall eat it. ARE you so happy as to have kind, affectionate, religious parents? Then this command must be equally a duty and a pleasure, if your own feelings are affectionate; if you have any just sense of moral obligation. Hard indeed must be that heart, insensible that conscience, which does not willingly and cheerfully, and constantly discharge these filial duties to such parents; which does not seek to do something more than fulfil the letter of this law. But all are not so blest. Some are compelled, however unwillingly, to admit the painful conviction, that their parents are not wholly worthy of respect and reverence; that if in every particular, strict obedience be rendered to them, the precepts of the gospel must be sometimes disregarded. But this is not a common case. Few parents, however deficient in christian principle themselves, will be so regardless of reputation, as to command their children to act in opposition to known duty. Should such a case occur, disobedience is no longer a crime. "Obey your parents in the Lord," but not in opposition to his will. Yet even in such a case, forget not what is still due to a parent; and let your conduct prove that it is not wilful disobedience to them; but respect for a higher authority, which governs you. He whose example we are bound to respect, and strive to imitate, was obedient even unto death, to his Heavenly Father, and in the midst of his severe sufferings on the cross, was mindful of his mother. Let his example strengthen the injunction which is addressed to you, and deeply impress on your mind and heart, the love and duty which you owe to them, in whose hands, and under whose care, God has placed you. If they are Christians in heart and life, you can have no reason, no excuse for neglecting your whole duty. If they are unreasonable, or capricious, or even severe; you must not therefore consider yourself exempted from the duties of a child. God has imposed on you this trial, should it prove a hard one, he will assist you to support it; he will bless your endeavours to perform your duty; and it may be your happy lot, by your gentleness, your faithfulness, your obedience, to soften the heart and engage the attention of your parents; by your good conduct they may be led to reflection, and won to religion; and thus you may become in a secondary sense, the instrument of spiritual life to those from whom you derived your earthly existence. Listen then with reverence and love to the sacred commandment which is so strongly binding on you as a child, and from which no earthly power can release you.-Honour and obey your parents. |