Page:The duties of masters and slaves respectively (1845).djvu/24

20 invest him with that right. So to treat servants is to oppress them cruelly.

A master is entitled, 1, To all the service which the time, the strength, or the skill of his servant, may qualify him to render.

This is implied in the very nature of the servile relation. The servant is the property of his master, so far as that his labour, or his skill in any useful art, must be honestly given for the benefit of his master, as if it were for himself "doing service with good will; not with eye-service, as man-pleasers, but as rendering service unto God."

A master is entitled to claim from his servants, 2, Fidelity to his interests. The servant belongs to his master, and is identified with his master's interests. If the master prosper, the servant is benefited: if the master suffer loss, the servant's interests will be affected by that loss. A right view of his relations would teach a servant, that he cannot sunder his interests from those of his master; and that he is bound by the command of God himself, to serve his master with all fidelity, and to labour for the advancement of his master's interests, as he would for his own.

The master is entitled, 3, To respect and attachment from his servants. This is emphatically enjoined in God's holy word. Ephes. 6:5,7: "Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ. doing service, as to the Lord, and not unto men!" Words could not more fully express the duty of respectful obedience, and cordial attachment, from servants to masters. And to this affectionate obedience an upright and intelligent master is fully entitled. He is the best and nearest friend to his servants: he stands to them, in many important respects, in the place of a father: and they owe to him fidelity, honesty, cheerful obedience, and firm attachment, not purloining, not answering again!" An ungrateful, idle, or sullen servant is not a Christian. A rebellious, plotting, mischief-making servant is not, and cannot be a Christian, however loud his professions of piety.

But it is equally true that the master owes certain returns to his servants.

1, He is to yield them an adequate and a comfortable support. The servant devotes his whole time and labour to the master: in return, that master is bound to give him a competent support, i. e. to feed, to clothe and to lodge the servant and his whole family. It is just and equal that a full support be given to the servant, and a comfortable support, suited in all respects to his wants as a human being devoted to labour. This support includes suitable care and attendance in sickness, and all needed