On the duties of subordination. Rules of the Bible. Respectful manners the mark of a lady.

My Friends:

I have shown that the chief way in which the station of a domestic is to be raised in public estimation, is by raising the character of those who occupy this situation. I have shown also, that it is by the formation of a right character, that we are to secure true happiness both in this and in a future life. You will therefore understand the propriety of my attempting to point out the course which you need to take in order to form the right character, and also the proper manner of performing your various duties in life.

In attempting this, I will first direct your attention to what are called the duties of subordination.

By this I mean those duties owed by all [92]persons to those who have authority, or any right to control and direct them. We all of us know that no kind of work can be well done, unless there are overseers to direct those who work. For this reason, every kind of business is managed by persons, who have authority to control others. The rulers of a nation have a right to direct others in all points where the laws require them so to do. The captain of a ship has authority to command all his hands. The master of a store, or shop, has a right to control all who work in his employ. The teacher of a school has a right to command his scholars in all matters pertaining to his school. The master and mistress of a family, too, have a right to control their children, and also all those persons whom they hire to do their work, in all matters relating to this work.

In all these cases, those who are entitled to direct others should be treated with respect by those who are under their control; and in all those matters where they have a right to command, they should be cheerfully and exactly obeyed.

This duty is constantly, and often enjoined [93]by God in his Holy Word. “Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake.” “Obey those that have rule over you.” “Render therefore to all their dues, fear to whom fear, and honour to whom honour is due.”

It is because the duties of subordination are so important to the happiness of those who are to be controlled, as well as to society at large, that God so often and so earnestly urges these duties in the Bible. And we cannot fully realize the force of these directions, unless we bear in mind the state of things that existed when they were written.

In the first place, the kings and rulers over the people, in those times when these directions were given, were not those appointed by themselves, who were to rule according to laws made by the people for their own good, as is the case in this country. Instead of this, the rulers were bad men and cruel tyrants, who by the help of their soldiers gained power and authority by mere strength. And in the family state, the domestics were not, as in this country, persons who for a reward agree to perform the work of the family. On the contrary, [94]they were white men and women, who were forced against their will into servitude, and driven by stripes and cruelties to work for their masters. Some of these white slaves, it is probable, were from England, the land of our forefathers.

Now what were the directions given by God to subjects, and to domestics, in these circumstances? He did not tell them, that because their rulers and masters were bad men, and had gained power in a wrong way, that they might refuse to obey. On the contrary, God saw that it was best, whenever men gain the power over others, that the weaker ones should submit and obey. He teaches us that the power which men gain over each other in this way, is permitted by God. In Prov. 8: 15, 16, God says, “By me kings rule, and princes decree justice. By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.” This teaches us, that in whatever way it may be, that men gain power to rule over others, so long as they really hold this power, it is by the permission of God. Though he may disapprove of the men, and of the means they use to get power, yet so long [95]as they hold the power, He sees that it is best for all they govern, to submit and obey. Thus In Eccles. 5: 19, it is said: “Where the word of a king is, there is power, and who may say to him, what doest thou?” Again, in Daniel 2: 20, it is written, “Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: and he changeth the times and the seasons; He removeth kings, and setteth up kings.” Dan. 4: 32, “The Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.” Thus it appears that it is by God’s will and appointment, that even bad men gain power to rule over others. And when they have gained this power, the following texts show what God requires in regard to the honour and obedience to be rendered to them.

In Matt. 22: 21, when some men came to Christ asking him whether it was their duty to pay tribute to C?sar, who was the cruel tyrant then ruling over them. To this, Christ replied, after looking at the tribute money, “Render unto C?sar the things that are C?sar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s.” This means, render to C?sar what [96]he has power to require, just as you render your duties to God.

The Apostle Peter, by God’s authority, also teaches thus, 1 Peter 2: 13, 14, “Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether it be to kings as supreme, or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him, for the punishment of evil doers. As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.”

This command teaches us that we are to submit to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake. That is, when men have power to make laws, customs and ordinances, we must submit to them for the Lord’s sake—that is, in order to please and obey God. The only cases where it is right to resist is, when we are commanded to do what is sinful. It was on this principle that our forefathers, for a long time, obeyed the laws of the king of England; even when they were bad laws. But as soon as the people found they had power to make their own laws, they appointed rulers of their own, and then they ceased to obey the king of England, who had not power to force them to do it; and obeyed [97]their own rulers, who had power given them to govern by the people. As soon, then, as it is found, that men have power given them to rule, God requires those under them to submit and obey for the Lord’s sake. This is the wisest and safest way, for it saves from constant fighting and quarrels. In the story of the shipwrecked company, we can see that it would have been better for them all, to submit to be governed by one man, even if he was a bad man, than to continue in the state of uproar, disorder and oppression that existed when there was none to rule over them.

The same sort of directions also, were given by God to domestics.

At the time these were written in the Bible, men and women were made servants by force, and their masters had power to whip, starve and murder them without punishment. God saw, that in this case, it was safest and best for servants, as well as for the whole community, that they should submit to those who had this power. Accordingly the Apostle Paul, by authority from God, gives these directions, Eph. 6: 5, “Servants, be obedient to them that are [98]your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of heart, as unto Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatsoever good thing a man doeth, the same shall be received of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.” Here, those who were held in the most cruel bondage, were required, so long as they were in the power of their masters, to submit, and not only to serve them, but to do service “with good will,” “as to the Lord.” That means, feel kindly to your masters, and do them good, for the sake of obeying and pleasing Jesus Christ.

Again, the same apostle writes, Col. 3: 22, “Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eye-service, as men-pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing God. And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance, for ye serve the Lord Christ.” Again, Paul, when teaching Titus how to perform his duties as a minister of Christ, directs thus, Titus 2: 9, “Exhort servants to be [99]obedient to their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; not purloining, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.”

Another Apostle thus commands, by the authority of God, 1 Peter 2: 18, 19, “Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. For this is thankworthy, if a man, for conscience toward God, endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if when ye be buffeted for your faults ye take it patiently? But, if when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable to God. For even hereunto ye were called; because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example that ye should follow his steps: who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered he threatened not, but committed himself to Him that judgeth righteously.”

Now, consider that these directions were given to persons, taken contrary to their own [100]wishes and the wishes of their parents, and subjected to the most degrading servitude, without any compensation. Such were required by God to “be obedient in all things,............