“And so, the pastor continued, every man who went into service ought to look on it not as slavery, nor the master as his enemy; but as schooling, and the master as a blessing from God; for what should the poor do—­i.e., those who had but time and powers (and that was much after all), if no one would give them work and pay.  They should regard their time of service as an opportunity to accustom themselves to work and industry and make a good name for themselves among men.  According as they were true to the master they were true to themselves, and as the master profited by them they profited themselves.  They should never think that only the master gained advantage from their industry; they gained at least as much from it.  Then, even if they came to a bad master, they should by no means plan to punish him by bad behavior; they would only injure themselves thereby, inwardly and outwardly.  Now when a servant worked better and better, was increasingly faithful and capable, that was his own possession which nobody could take from him, and in addition he had his good name.  People would like him and intrust much to him, and the world would be open to him.  Let him undertake what he would, he would find good people to help him because his good name was the best security.  We should stop and think what servants men commended—­the faithful or the unfaithful; and which among them attained property and respect.

“Then the pastor said a third thing, and that touches you especially.  He said that men wanted to have pleasure and ought to have it, especially in their youth.  Now when a servant hated his service and found work disagreeable, he would desire some special pleasures and so would begin to idle, to run wild, to take part in bad affairs, and finally would take delight in these things and meditate upon them day and night.  But if maid or man had seen the light, realized that they might come to something, and had faith in themselves, then they would love their work, would take pleasure in learning something, in doing something well; pleasure in success at something, in the growth of what they had planted, what they had fed.  They would never say, ’What do I care about this?  What business is that of mine?  I get nothing out of it.’  No, they would take genuine pleasure in doing something unusual, undertaking something hard; thus their powers would best grow, thus they would make the best name for themselves.  So they would take delight in their master’s business, in his horses, cows, corn, grass, as if they were their own.  ’Of that in which a man delights doth he think; where the treasure is, there is the heart also,’ said the pastor.  Now if the servant has his mind on his service, if he is filled with the desire to become a thoroughly capable man in the eyes of God and men, then the devil has little power over him, cannot suggest evil things to him, wicked thoughts for him to think continually, so that he hasn’t his mind on his work but is