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Christian Behavior With a word of direction to all backsliders. By J O H N.B U N Y A N. 1674. Written in 1663, while imprisoned in Bedford Prison. This was John Bunyan's third book during his first incarceration. |
CONCERNING SERVANTS.
ervants also, they have a work to do for God, in their place and
station among men.
The apostles assert masters under a threefold consideration. First, The believing
master. Second, The unbelieving master. Third, The froward master.
For all which, servants are furnished with counsel and advice in the word, for the
demeaning of themselves, under each of them.
But before I speak in particular to any of these, I will in general show you the
duty of servants.
1. Thou art to look upon thyself as thou art; that is, as a servant, not a child,
nor a wife; thou art inferior to these; wherefore count thyself under them, and be
content with that station. 'For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four
which it cannot bear.' One is 'a servant when he reigneth' (Prov 30:21, 22). It is
out of thy place, either to talk or do, as one that reigneth.
2. Consider, that thou being a servant, what is under thy hand is not thy own but
thy master's. Now, because it is not thy own thou oughtest not to dispose of it;
but because it is thy master's, thou oughtest to be faithful. Thus it was with Joseph
(Gen 39:8, 9). But if thou do otherwise, know that thou shalt receive of God for
the wrong that thou dost; and there is with God 'no respect of persons' (Col 3:25).
Wherefore,
3. Touching thy work and employment, thou art to do it as unto the Lord, and not
for man; and, indeed, then servants do their business as becomes them, when they
do all in obedience to the Lord, as knowing that the place in which they now are,
it is the place where Christ hath put them, and in which he expecteth they should
be faithful. 'Servants,' saith Paul, 'be obedient to them that are your master's,
- with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart as unto Christ; not with eye-service,
as men-pleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart'
(Eph 6:5, 6).
Observe a little the word of God to servants. 1. Servants must be obedient; yet,
2. Not with that obedience that will serve man only. Servants must have their eye
on the Lord, in the work they do for their masters. 3. That their work in this service
is the will and ordinance of God. From which I conclude, that thy work in thy place
and station, as thou art a servant, is as really God's ordinance, and as acceptable
to him, in its kind, as is preaching, or any other work, for God; and that thou art
as sure to receive a reward for thy labour, as he that hangs or is burnt for the
gospel.
Wherefore, saith the apostle to servants, 'Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to
the Lord, and not unto men, knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward
of the inheritance; for ye serve the Lord Christ' (Col 3:23, 24).
And now touching the three sorts of masters mentioned before.
First, For the believing master; saith Paul, 'They that have believing masters, let
them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because
they are faithful and beloved, and partakers, with the servants, 'of the' heavenly
'benefit' (1 Tim 6:2). Servants, if they have not a care of their hearts, will be
so much in the consideration of the relation that is betwixt their masters and they,
as brethren, that they will forget the relation that is between them as masters and
servants. Now, though they ought to remember the one, yet let them take heed of forgetting
the other. Know thy place, as a servant, while thou considerest that thy master and
thee are brethren, and do thy work for him faithfully, humbly, and with meekness,
because he is a master faithful and beloved, and partaker of the heavenly benefit.
'If any man teach otherwise,' saith the apostle Paul, 'and consent not to wholesome
words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according
to godliness; he is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions, and strifes
of words; whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, perverse disputings
of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness:
from such withdraw thyself' (1 Tim 6:3- 5).
Second, For the unbelieving masters, for of them Paul speaks in the first verse of
the 6th of Timothy, 'Let as many servants,' saith he, 'as are under the yoke count
their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be
not blasphemed.' Servants living with unbelieving masters, are greatly engaged to
be both watchful, faithful, and trusty. Engaged, I say, 1. From the consideration
of the condition of their master; for he being unbelieving, will have an evil eye
upon thee, and upon thy doings, and so much the more because thou professest. As
in the case of Saul and David (1 Sam 18:8, 9 &c). 2. Thou art engaged because
of the profession thou makest of the word of God; for by thy profession thou dost
lay both God and his word before thy master, and he hath no other wit but to blaspheme
them, if thou behave thyself unworthily. Wherefore Paul bids Titus 'exhort servants
to be obedient to their own masters, and to please them well in all things, not answering
again;' not giving parroting answers, or such as are cross or provoking, not purloining,
but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour
in all things' (Titus 2:9, 10). That servant, who in an unbeliever's family doth
his work before God, as God's ordinance, he shall adorn the doctrine of God, if not
save his master by so doing; but if he doth otherwise, he shall both stumble the
unbeliever, dishonour God, offend the faithful, and bring guilt upon his own soul.
Third, For the froward master, though I distinguish him from the unbeliever, yet
it is not because he may not be such, but because every unbeliever doth not properly
go under that name. Now with this froward and peevish fellow, thou art to serve as
faithfully for the time thou standest bound, as with the most pleasant and rational
master in the world: 'Servants,' saith Peter, 'be subject to your masters with all
fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward' (1 Peter 2:18). And
if thy peevish master will still be froward, either out of spite to thy religion,
or because he is without reason concerning thy labour thou to the utmost of thy power
labouring faithfully God then reckoneth thee a sufferer for well-doing, as truly
as if thou wert called upon the stage of this world before men, for the matters of
thy faith. Wherefore Peter adds this encouragement to servants, to the exhortation
he gave them before: 'This is thank worthy,' saith he, 'if a man for conscience toward
God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if when ye be buffeted
for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? But if when ye do well, and suffer for
it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God' (1 Peter 2:19, 20). Wherefore
be comforted concerning thy condition, with considering that God looks upon thee,
as on Jacob in the family of Laban; and will right all thy wrongs, and recompense
thee for thy faithful, wise, and godly behaviour, before, and in the service of thy
froward master. Wherefore, be patient, I say, and abound in faithfulness in thy place
and calling, till God make a way for thy escape from this place; and when thou mayest
be made free, use it rather (1 Cor 7:21).
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