24
with money, were required to be circumcised: and were also allowed to partake of the passover, Exod. 12:44; comp. Gen. 17:12,13. In like manner, (since baptism holds in the gospel church the very place that circumcision did in the Jewish,) Christian masters ought to have all their servants, just as their children, baptized, carefully instructed, and trained for admission to God's church. Thus to treat servants is giving to them that which is just end equal, as to immortal beings. This duty is enforced on masters by the consideration, that "they also have a Master in heaven."
Yes, true it is, we may be legally entitled to certain services from those whose masters we are, but we too have a Master in heaven, who claims our service, in the use of every talent we possess in compliance with his will. For all, we must render to Him a strict account, and for the manner in which we have treated our servants, no less than for the manner in which we have personally improved or abused our own religious privileges. Happy and blessed is the man, who like the holy patriarch of old, trains his entire household, servants no less than children, in the fear of God.
But wo to the selfish and unthinking master, who, (however liberal the provision he makes for the present comfort of his slaves,) puts it out of their power to learn how they may become reconciled to God and save their souls. The man who wantonly kills a servant, is a murderer. He who shuts out his servants from a knowledge of salvation through Jesus Christ, is a murderer of souls, and he must meet a dread responsibility at the bar of God; whose high command is, Masters give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven. Amen.
