that it was unadviſedly divided from it, is generally agreed, 4 Having put Se l ] thoſe who have a juſt right over Servants to mind their own duty toward thoſe under their command. 6 Though your ex- tract or eftate hath advanced you above them in humane $So- ciety, yet vou have the ſame nature and infirmities that they have, and (as in the foregoing Verſe) muſt appear with them before the ſame Judge and Rewarder at the ſame Tribunal, And the Apoſtle doth elſewhere, Eph. 6. g. require of Maſters in their ſuperiour Relation, what he doth of Servants in their znferiour one, to do the ſame rhing, 1, e, not the particular offices of their Servants, but according to general rules of right reaſon, which by the Law of God, Nature and Nations, that which is common to, and incumbent on all Relatives, Aom. 13, 7, 8. Gal. 5. 13. Eph.6. 8. As hedoth here require Maſters to do their Servants right, give to them that which is their due for Soul and Body, Gen. 18. 19. Exod, 12. 44. with reſpect to work, that it be neither too much nor too little, Prov. 12, IO. & 29, 21, to food, that it be convenient for nouriſhment, not luxury, P/al. 27. 27. & 21, 15, Luk, 12, 42. & 15. 17. Wages, Exed. 2, 21, Fam. 5. 4. and recompence, Deut., 15.13. © Ye are likewiſe to give them that which is equal or equitable as well as juſt, which implies you fhouid not be cruel ito them, or diſcourage them ; as you expect they'*ihould ſerve you with good will, ſo you Hhould govern them wiſely, and be good and gentle to them, P/ai, 101.2, 1 Pet. 2.18. who are faithful, allowing them ſea- fonable reſt and refreſhment, Deur, 15. 14. not deſpifing their prudent anſwers, Fob 31. 13, 14. but ſhewing them favour in
ſickneſs as well as in health, 2 AYE 5. 5,6. Prov. 14. 25, Mat, 9.6. d And that upon this weighty reaſon intimated before,
COLOSSIANS.
Aſters a, give unto your ſervants that which is juſt þ and equal c, knowing that ye alſo
rrants upon their duty, he doth here ingage all
humane Rights, Mat, 22, 21, Rom, 12.7, 1 Pet, 2, 15,
fidering they are not of the houſhold of faith, Gal, 6, 10. profeſs to be, you ſhould be more circumſpect, that von « give occaſion of offence to them, x Tim. 5. 14. as well 35 t4.. care you be not intetted with their pradtices, 1 Cor, 5. «. hy. endeavour to adorn the dodtrine of God our Saviour in all thi... Tir, 2.10, p Shewing your prudence, ſay fome learned Mer Fi gaining time by honeſt craft, to ſecure you from ſpiritual dancer; to your Souls, or divert thoſe who have power from Peri. tions. Taking the exprefhion proverbially, Ard for that Pur. poſe citea paſſage in the Prophet from the Sepmaginr, Dan, 9, others and the moſt import of the original words take rin- for opportunity, or the fitneſs it hath for ſome good; and the Pare ticiple, we render redeeming, to import either morally (not hs. tically, which is impoſſible) a recalling or recovery of time p33 that is loſt, by a double diligence in employing what renin; . or a buying up the preſent time, 2, e, parting with any tij-- for the improvement of it to our ſpiritual advantage; oy 4 buying it out, 2. e. a reſcuing it (as it were) out of the hai; of Satan, and the World, which by diftrafting cares 2, terapting pleaſures do occation often the miſpence of it ; ſee F;4,
G. 16,
6 Let your ſpeech be alway * withgrace q, ſeg-;., | ſoned with ſalt r, that ye may know how ye ought © to anſwer every man /.-
q Becauſe Diſcourſe is the tendereft part of our converſe wit; Men, eſpecially thoſe without, and ought to be manag'd wit; the greateſt circumſpettion ; upon occaſions in every ft {eafr, in imitation of Chrift who entertained thoſe that did conver with him with gracious words, Luke 4. 22. you ſhould ende; vour ſo to ſpeak when called, that the Hearers may concei;: your Diſcourſe doth proceed from a gracious Spirit, or grace ir; the Heart, ch, 4. 6. teaching your Mouth, Prov. 15, 23, 24, with meekneſs of wiſdom, Fam. 3. 13. uſing knowledge aright. Prov, 15. 2. being in its tendency gracious, £ccleſ. 19, 12. not ungrateful (as tinur'd with gall or venom) but miniftring grace to the hearers, Eph. 4.25. 7 Even as meat. duly powdrc with ſalt, (Mat. 5. 13.) becomes - acceptable to the diſcernin; palate, ſo to the ear that trieth ſpeech, fitly ſpoken ww. (Prov, 25,11.) are of a grateful ſavour cleanſed from corruption, Fob 33. 2. Markg.5o. / To this purpoſe chiefly in tie m2jn points of Chriſtianity, that in a Goſpel becoming, m:rner, you may be able to giye a reaſon of the hope that is in you to thoſe that ask you with meeknels and fear, Mar, 9.6, 1 Pet. 3. 15, courteouſneſs and ſincerity, Eph f. 4.25. free from thoſe eyi!: of ſpeech he had hefore enjoyned them in this Epiftle to put 2:
0 Con. ds Yrr1 ( Na
Wo
that he above whom ye ſerve, will treat you as you do them : this you may be aſſured of, Eph. 6. 8, 9. If you expett favour at his hands,when he comes to diſtribute rewards and puniſhwents, ſhew it now to your inferiours, who will then appear as your fellow fervants, when you muſt give an account of your Steward- ſhip, Mat. 24. 49. with Luk, 16, 2.
2 Continue in prayer e, and watch in the ſame f with thanſgiving g.
e Perſevere, or hold on ſtrongly in Prayer with fervency ; we are apt to grow ſluggiſh and indiſpoſed, and therefore have need of quickning to this duty, Luke 18, 1, Eph. 6.18. f En- deayouring to keep the heart in all fit ſeaſons unto this, as an help to the precedent and ſubſequent duties, 7/4. 5. 3» Mark T3. 32, &, As 12, 12, Rom, 12.12. 1 Theſſ. 5, 17, Fam, 5, IG, Kev. 2.2, g With acknowledgment of thanks for what we have already received, P/al. 116, 12, 13, I Thef]. 5.18,
3 Withal, praying alſo for us h, -that God would open unto us a door of utterance z, to ſpeak the myſtery of Chriſt k, for which I am allo in bonds I.
þ Not only putting up Petitions for themſelyes, but alſo interceding for Paul and others with him, eſpecially Timothy mentioned in the ſalutation, ch. 1. 1, 7. Rom. 15. 20. 2 Cor. 1, That God
way, ch. 3.8. ;
7 All my ſtate ſhall Tychicus declare unto you x; whos a beloved brother «, and a faithful miniſter », and fellow ſervant in the Lord x.