SERM ON XIII.

FIFTH COMMANDMENT. PART V.

COLOS. iii. 22.

SERVANTS, OBEY IN ALL THINGS YOUR MASTERS ACCORDING TO THE FLESH; NOT WITH EYE SERVICE, AS MEN PLEASERS, BUT IN SINGLENESS OF HEART, FEARING

GOD.

TH

HE Ten Commandments are delivered, most of them, in few words, with a dignity fuited to the authority by which they are enjoined, and a fimplicity answerable to the manners of that age when they were spoken. The

great

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great capital duties of religion and morality are fingled out and commanded, or rather the violation of them is forbidden in plain and general terms. A fair and honeft mind is the best of all interpreters. He who applies himself to the keeping of these few commands with fuch a difpofiMark xii. tion, will not be far from the kingdom of God. To perfons of a captious and corrupt temper, no words are sufficient; the prohibition never reaches their cafe; the command is never binding to them: the whole volume of the scriptures, and all the writings of all the moralifts in the world, are too little to enforce a virtue on a depraved heart, and explain what men will not understand,

There are two or three duties, which I would throw together here, and make the fubject of one difcourfe. They are of importance, and one or other of them makes part of the duty of moft perfons: it is of little confequence under what

head

head they are arranged, provided they be well understood and practised.

20.

22.

It is written, Children, obey your parents Colof. iii. in all things: in like manner, and the fame words, Servants, obey in all things your Colof. iii. mafters; it follows, not with eye fervice as men pleasers, but in fingleness of heart, fearing God: knowing, that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance. Obedience and fidelity conftitute a great part of what is due from a fervant; and they are evidently due: obedience is immediately implied in the relation of a servant; and fidelity should accompany all the intercourse between man and man. They are plainly reasonable and right; and therefore well pleafing to God, as the discharge of filial duty is: Secondly, they are as plainly required by him; and fo may be advanced at the fame time into an obedience to God also and Thirdly, He promises, we fee, himself to repay this fervice, as well as the other of children to

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their parents, both liberally, and in a way

Colof. iii. peculiarly fuitable: Ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance.

Your recompence for being good fervants to men, will be, that you fhall become the children of God. He will look upon you as his fons: You shall be adopted into his family, and made heirs Rom. ii. of his heavenly kingdom. For there is no refpect of perfons with him: He is the fame

II. X. I2.

28.

22.

Lord over all. In his eye there is no Gal. iii. diftinction: There is neither bond nor free: 1 Cor. vii. He that is called in the Lord, being a fervant, is the Lord's freeman: likewife also he that is called being free, is Christ's fervant. The highest angels in heaven are God's ministers and meffengers, and are glorious and happy in their obedience: and the very meaneft of the fons of men, if not wanting in the duties of their present station, whatever it be, fhall be advanced Luke xx. to the fame likeness; for They are equal unto the Angels, and are the children of God,

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being the children of the refurrection. The lowest offices become the fteps of our highest advancement. Every station is holy, that is filled by a devout perfon. He who doth service as unto the Lord, is as he that miniftereth at the altar. Though your time and hands are taken up, more perhaps than they should be, by a hard master, you have your hearts and affections free. Love God, and keep his commandments, and your lot is to be envied. There is referved in heaven for Pet. i.4. you, an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away.

18, 19.

Servants, be fubject to your masters with 1 Pet. ii. all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but alfo to the froward. For this is thank worthy, if a man for confcience toward God endure grief, fuffering wrongfully. There is indeed no station of life, in which the virtue of patience will not be much wanted. It is very neceffary, both for fervants and masters: though the former are called to

exercise

E