The 'Duty of Children and Ser1Jants to one anotlm·. CHAP. XV. The 'Duties of [bildren nnd Fellow,fer)Jants to one another. IT is not eafie ro refolvc, whether good GavtrJt(Jurt, or good fiVorvfervants in a family be the Virca. 1 • greater help and btnetit, to each of the inferiouu. I-'or fervants are. {o much together, and fo free and familiar wirh each other, that they have the more opportumry to be ufcful to each other, l if they have bur abilitie~ and hearts. It is needful therefore that you know your duty to one another, both for doing and getting that good which otherwifc will be loll. . . 9. 1 • Direct. I· L?vt one: .JHvtber unfeignedly aJ your [tlvr~: Avoid g!/ CtJtiWWon and fallmg out DirtO. 2 , with one a;wtber, or any thing tbat would weakm your love to one another: efpeciaUy difference/ abusd )'Oifr ptrfon:Jl inter~(fJ, in point of profit, provifion or reputtJtion. Take heea uf rhe Spirit ofenvy, which will make your hearts rife agah1tl rhofe chat are preferred hefore you, or that are ufed better thln you: Remcmberthe fin and rnifay ofCain, and take wat:.ning by him. Give place to others, and in honoz1r prefer othirJ, and feek not to be preferred bcfDrc them, Rom. 12· ro, t6. God delighreth to exalt the humble that ab1fe thernfelves, and ro cat\ down thofc that exalt themfelves. When the intercH of your fle(h can make you hart or fall out with each other, what a fearful fign is it of a fieOily mind ! Ram. 8. 6, 13. 1· 2· Direcr. 2· 'tak._c l><td of ~<fin~ provbkj>tg wordJ, againj! w!J a~hrr. for thefe are the bellows D~eJ. 3• to blow up that which the Apoflle callcth the fire of HcU, J•m. 3· 6. A foul tongue fetteth on fire the courfe of nature, and therefore it may fet a family on fire, Jam. 3· 5, 6. Where envying and flrifr i1, tlure ir ccmfujion and every evil work,: V. 1 5, 16. If ye be angry, refrain your tongues and fin not, and let ttot the Sun go doan upon your wrath, neither give placet~ the Devil, Ephef. 4• 26, 21· Let aU bitterncji, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil fpeakJng, be put away from JOftl, with aU tiz,s/ice: and be1e kJnd one to ~.mother, tender htarted, forgiviJtg one anotherl even as God fsr Chrijfs fake hatb forgivtn yoll, Ephcf. 4· 31, 32· Revilers jhaU ttot inherit the KingdomofGorJ, 1 Cor. 6. 10. 9· 3· Direct. 3· Help one another with love and wi/Jingneji in yeur labours: and do not grudge at Dirttl. -+~ on«; another, and fay fuch a one doth ld.S than I; but be as ready eo help another, as you would be hclpt your [elves. It is very amiable to fee a family of fuch children and fervants, that all take one anothers concernrnents as their own; and are not filfijh againfl: each other. Pfal. I33• 1. Behold horv gooti and how pleafant it U, for brethren to dwell together in u11ity I &c. . ~· 4·. Direct. 4· 1al;y heed th.t you provenot 'tempterr to dra!" each nthtr to fin and mijiry• . Either Dire/1. 5 • by Joymng togtthcr in ryotoufnefs, or wrongmg your Maflers, or fecret revelling, and then m lymg to conceal it: Or lell immodefl familiarity draw thofe of different fexes into a fnare. Abundance of tin and rnifery hath fo\lowed fuch tempting familiarity of men and maids that were fellow fervants. The.ir nearne(o; giveth them npportllnity, and the Devil provoketh them to take their opportunity ; :md frorh irnrnodd~ wanton dalliance, and unchall:e words, they proceed at lafl to more lafcivioufnefs, to their own undoing; Bring not the {haw to the fire, if you would not have it burn. . ~. 5· Direct. 5· Watch over ont anotber. for mutu11l preforvation again(t tbe fin aHd temptatio;u -gbich Direll. 6. you are moft in danger of Agree to tell each other of your faults, not proudly or pa(fionately, but in love : and rcfolvc to take it 1hankfully from each other. If any one talk foolithly and idly, or wantonly and immoddlly, 0r tell a lye, or take Gods name in vain, or neglect their duty tv God or man, or deal unfaithfully in their truft or labour, let the other ferioufly cell him of his fin, and c.tll him to repentance : And let not him that is guihy rake it ill , anti angrily fnap at the reprover, or jufiifie or excufc the fault, or hit h~m prefemly in the teeth with his own; bur humbly thank 1 him, and promife amendment. 0 how happy might G.rv.mrs be) if they would faithfUlly watch over one anorher? 9• 6. Dind. 6. Jl'l;en you are together and your worl(.. wiU aVow it , ltt your difcourfe be f~ech ar Dirtll· 7• tendetb t() tdification, and to the fpiritual good of the fpeak.fr or the bearer/. Some work there is that mull be thought on, and talked of while it is doing, and will not allow you ltifure to think or fpeak of · other things, till it is done: Bur vcty much of the work of moll fervants may be as well done, though they think and rpcak t<'gcther of heavenly things; bdides all other limes when thdr work is over. 0 rake this time to bt:· fpeaking of good fO one another. lt is like that fome one of you hath more knowledge than the reil. Lee the reil be asking his counfel and infhud:ions and let him bend. hirnrelf to do thetl) go~d: Or if you are equal i.n k~owlcdge, yet fiir up the gr 1 ace that is in Y.ou 1f you have any ; or lln up your ddires atrer H, rf you have' none. Wafie not your preoous rim: in va~11ty: .Multiply not the fin of idle words. 0 what a load dorh lye on many a foul that r~eh:th 1r nor, 111 th1. g.nlt of thde two fins, L?{I of time, a;1d idJr wordJ: To be guilry of the fame hns onr and ov~r, LV~ty d;;y, ar.~ make a conllant ptaCbce ot them, and this againfi your own knowledge and conference, 1s a more gnevous cafe than m•wy think of. \Vhcreas it you would C cc c 2 live
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