160 1. ~flat. ap, Laa. de JraDei. (;, 18, J. An Expojition upon the ons, than Io!.is Mafter's; yea alth?ugh_ the th_ing b~ ~ot fi~1ply impofliblc in it felf, but only to the Servant, confidenug e1ther h1s Inabl!Jty or Imployment; or if it be hugely inconvenient, or prejudicial, or unfeafonable, the Mafl:t:r ought not in Confcience_ or ~rudence to exaCt. it. For, as ~o con~mand things unlawful, is Impiety, and tlungs 1mpoffible. Folly; fo to reqmre things unreafonable and ptt:judicial is mere Tyranny: And as fuch it is recorded in Pharaoh and his Task·mafters wh~ to weary and wear out the lfraelitts, cxatl:ed the whole tale of Bricks, but ~vould not allow Straw to make them. 3diy. A Mafter's Command ought not to be Vain and Impertinent; but he fh.ould have fame fwaying Reafon, though perhaps not always fit to be communicated to the Servant why he commands filCh things from him, Reafon fufficieAt to fatisfy his own Judgment, and his own Confcience. Thefe three Rules ought to be obferved by Ma!ters ; they ought to command nothing that is unlawful to be done ; nothing but what is poffiblc; nothing but what is profitable and ufeful. And this is the firft Part of a Mafter's Government, vi%.. Prudent commanding his Servants. Secondly, It is theMafter's Duty to correct thofe Servants that are ftubborn and difobedient. The wife Man tells us, Prtr.J. J.9. 19. There is" Servant rpho wj/1 not be conefled with words; for although he underftand, he wilt not anfwer. Yet here Prudence muft be the meafure of what Difcipline is fit for them, according to their Age, Difpofition, and Nature of their Offence. A Reproof will work more effeCtually with fome than Stripes; and thofe who have ingenuous Spirits, thour;h in a fcrvile Condition, will either be difcouraged, or exafperated by a toorigorous Ufagc. And God bath exprefiy interpofed his Will in this Particular, Levit. 25. 3~. Thoujhalt not Rule over him with Rigour, but j11ak fur thy (Jod. Inded no Corret\:ion is to be infl.itl:ed on them out of Pailion and Revenge : But either, Jft. For Reformation and Amendment, that they may be the more wary fdr the future; Or, 2dly. For example's fake, to terrify others from the fame, or the like Offences. Even an Heathen could fay, Nemofapiem punit, quia peccatum eft, fed ne pelletur: No wife Man doth punifh, becaufe the Offence is already committed (for then it comes unfeafonably and too late) but that it might not be committed again. But frill be fure that the CorretHon be not immoderate and too fevere; neither exceeding the proportion of the Fault, for that is Cruelty; nor unbefeeming thee to inflict, or the Age and Quality of thy Servant to fuffer, for that will be reproachful to both. Generally Reproof is the belt Difcipline. But if they be fuch contumacious Fools as not to be amended with that, although it be lawful, and in fome Cafes necelfary to ufe a lharper Method towards them ; yet the bell: and moft prudent Courfe, and that which will tend moft to thy Quiet and Credit, is to dif~ charge them. Now to move you to Mercy and Lenity towards them; Confider, Firft, That you your felves have a Mafi:er, the great and glorious God. This the Apofi:le urgeth, Eph. 6. 9· Mafters, forbear thret~tning, knowing that your MAfter alfo is in Heaven. Think with your felves how often you pro\'oke him, and yet he forbears you, although you are infinitely more inferiour to him, than any Servant can be unto you: And this will calm your Paffions, and caufe you, if not altogether to wave, yet at leaft to allay and mitigate the Rigour and Severity of your Chaltifements. Secondly, Confider that they are equal with yon in refpect of God. It is true, they are your Servant•, but both ~you and they areFellow-Sarvants to the great Lord and Malter. And if thou in a Rage Jhouldlt take thy Fellow-Servant by the Throat, and imperioufiyabufe him; fear, left thy Lord may require it, and vindicate hisWrongs in the PuniJhment of thy Tyranny. There is no refpet\: of Perfons with him ; but he that hath done Wrong, Jhall receive for theWrong that he hath done. And what art thou, 0 vile Worm, that thou fhouldft domineer over thy Fellow, who is moulded of as good Earth, and hath as precious and immortal a Soul in him, as thy felf? For, Thirdly, Confider that thou art equallikewife in Nature, only Divine Providence bath made the difference. Whence then fuch a fupercilious difdain of Servants, £!!aft non ii[dem tibi & conftent & t~lantur elemrntis, eundemq; !piritum carP""' (as M~~Crob>uJ) as if they did not confilt of the fame Materials, nor draw the fame
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