Book II, Part 2, Chapter 5. Of the Obligation of particular States and Callings

1. After having spoken of the duties of all sorts of persons in general, it would be well to show now what is most proper for every one in particular, according to his condition and employment. But because this would be too tedious, I shall content myself at present with a word or two, in short, to show how highly it concerns each particular person, over and above what I have said already, to have a regard to the laws and obligations of the state he is in. Now these laws are many and different, according to their different callings. For some are appointed to command, and it is the business of others to obey ; some are married, others are religious, others are masters of families, &c. Now, every one of these conditions has its particular obligations.

2. As to those that have the charge of government, the apostle advises them to be " watchful in all things, to take pains, and to discharge their duties ;" 2 Tim. iv. 5. And Solomon gives the same advice, when he says, " My son, if you are bound for your friend, and have engaged yourself for another man, you are bound by your own words, and are taken by your speech. Do, therefore, my son, what I say, and disengage yourself. Run, make haste, waken your friend, let not your eyes sleep, and give no rest to your eyelids; save thyself as a doe from the hands of the hunter, and as a bird from the hands of the fowler." Prov. vi. 1 — 5. Do not wonder at the wise man's requiring so much solicitude in a matter of such concern as this. For it is usual for men to take a great deal of care in those things they are intrusted with, upon two accounts, either because of the value of them, or else because of the danger they are exposed to. Now both those reasons are so strong in the concern of our souls, that there is nothing can be of greater value, nor in more danger ; and, therefore, much care must be taken in looking after them.

3. The business of a subject or inferior is to look upon his superior, not as a man but as God himself, so that he must have the same respect for him as he has for God, and should do whatsoever he bids him with the same readiness he would do it, had God himself commanded it. For if the master, whose service I am in, should bid me obey his house-keeper, or his steward, who is it I obey, in obeying the steward, but the master himself? If God, therefore, commands me to obey my superior, it is not so much my superior that I obey, as God himself, when I do whatsoever is ordered me. As if St. Paul would have a servant submit to and respect his master, not as a man but as Jesus Christ, how much more reasonable is it for an inferior to obey his superior, when obedience is the tie of his obligation? Ephes. viii. 5.

4. There are three degrees in this obedience : the first* is to obey in action only, the second is to obey both in action and will, and the third in action, will and understanding. For some do what is commanded them, yet neither do they like what they do, nor do it with a good will. Others do it with a good will, but still disapprove of what they do ; others there are, in fine, wiio, " captivating their understanding to the service of Christ" (2 Cor. x. 5), obey their superiors as they wrould do God himself, in action, word and understanding, doing whatsoever he orders them, with cheerfulness and readiness, with humility approving of it, without sitting as judges over those to whom they themselves are answerable. You must, therefore, make it your business to obey your superiors all these three different ways, remembering that our Saviour says, " He that hears you hears me, and he that despises you despises me ;" Luke x. 16. Never murmur or say any thing against them, that they may never have occasion to tell you, " It is not against us that you murmur, but against the Lord ;" Exod. xvi. 8. Despise them not, for fear God himself should say to them, "They have not despised you, but me, that I should not reign over them ;" 1 Kings viii. 7. Treat them with all kind of truth and sincerity, that no one may upbraid you, saying, "You have not lied to men, but to God" (Acts v. 4), and lest, like Ananias and Sapphira, you be punished with sudden death for your rashness.

5. Let the married woman look to the government of her house, and take care of her family, please her husband, and do all that a wife should do ; when she has satisfied those obligations, let her spend the rest of her time in devotion as much as she pleases, but still let her remember, that the duties of her state call upon her first.

6. Let those that are fathers of children frequently reflect upon the severe punishment that was inflicted upon Heli, for his neglect in chastising and instructing his sons ; 1 Kings iv. This omission of his, God punished not only with his owTn and his children's sudden death, but with the loss of the priesthood, which was removed for ever after from his family. Consider that the sins of the children are, in some manner, imputed to the fathers, and that the ruin of a son is very often the cause of his father's destruction : nor does he deserve the bare name of father, w7ho, after having begotten his son for this world, does not also beget him for the next. Let him correct him, reprove him, advise him, keep him out of bad company, and seek good masters for him : let him train him up in virtue, and instruct him, like Tobias, from his very infancy to fear God (Tob. iv.) ; let him break him of his own will and inclinations ; and since, before his birth, he was his father

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according to the flesh, he must, now he is born, be his father according to the spirit. For it is against reason, that a man should do no more of the duty of a father than birds and beasts do, whose only business is to feed and maintain their young ones. Man must behave himself in this matter like a man, nay, like a Christian, like a faithful servant of God. He is to bring his child up so as that he may be the child of God and an heir of heaven, not a slave to the devil and an inhabitant of hell.

7. Masters of families, that have servants, should remember what St. Paul says : " If a man does not take care of those that are under him, and especially of those that are of his own family, he has denied his faith, and is worse than an infidel ;" 1 Tim. v. 8. They are to consider, that those of their family are like sheep of their flock, and that they are the shepherds and keepers, especially of those that are their servants. Let them not forget, that the time will come when they must give an account of them, when they shall be asked, "Where is the flock that was committed to your charge, and the noble herd that you had the care of?" It was properly called noble, because of the price of its redemption, and the most sacred humanity of Christ, by which it has been ennobled ; since there is no slave so mean, that has not received both his liberty and nobility from the humanity and blood of Christ. It is, therefore, the duty of a good Christian to be particularly watchful over those of his family, and to keep them from all kinds of open sins, as quarrelling, gaming, swearing, cursing, &c. ; but above all, from sins of impurity. He must, besides all this, endeavor to instruct them in the principles of religion; he must make them observe the commandments of the church, particularly that of hearing mass upon Sundays and holidays ; of fasting upon all the vigils and other appointed fasting days in the year, unless, as we have said already, there be some lawful excuse for their not complying with these precepts.