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THE RELATIVE DUTIES OF MANKIND. [Part III.
him, that they are bad genealogists, and miserably ill-informedconcerning their own family history. It is not in that order, Iam afraid,” concludes this beautiful writer, “ that we are toexpect any extraordinary extension of what is called natural af-fection.” *
SECTION IV.
RELATION OF MASTER AND SERVANT.
The last of the domestic relations, the moral duties of whichI am to explain and illustrate, is that of master and servant.Servants have been reckoned a part of the families of their mas-ters from the earliest times,f and the relation has been familiar inevery country. Servants have always comprehended no smallportion of the entire human race ; ■— their very number, there-fore, among other circumstances, gives them a strong claimto the notice of the moral philosopher. And it may be re-marked, that there is scarcely any one of the relations of life,the duties of which between the respective parties, are moreclearly defined, or more fully insisted on, by the sacred writers,than in the case of master and servant.
“ Servants, obey in all things your masters according to theflesh ; not with eye-service, as men-pleasers ; but in singlenessof heart, fearing God. And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily,as to the Lord and not unto men ; knowing, that of the Lord yeshall receive the reward of the inheritance ; for ye serve theLord Christ. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for thewrong which he hath done ; and there is no respect of per-sons.” J: Again, St. Paul says, “ Exhort servants to be obedientunto their own masters, and to please them well in all things ;not answering again ; not purloining, but showing all good fidel-ity ; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in allthings.” § And again, “ Let as many servants as are under theyoke, count their own masters worthy of all honor, that the nameof God and his doctrine be not blasphemed. And they that
* Theory of Moral Sentiments, Vol. II. pp. 25-29.t Gen. xxiv. 2, 5, 27, 34, &c. $ Col. iii. 22-25. § Titus ii. 9, 10.