Servants and Masters

Admonition 6. Servants are to be admonished in one way, and masters in another: servants, that they always keep in view the lowliness of their condition; masters, that they do not lose sight of their nature, in which they were made equal with their servants. Servants are to be admonished not to despise their masters, lest they offend God by behaving proudly and setting themselves against his ordinance. Masters too are to be admonished that they are proud against God with respect to his gift if they do not recognize as their equals, by their common nature, those whom they hold in subjection by their condition. Servants are to be admonished to know that they are servants of masters; masters are to be admonished to recognize that they are fellow servants of servants. For to the one it is said, “Servants, obey your masters according to the flesh,” and again, “Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their masters worthy of all honor.” But to the other it is said, “And you masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening, knowing that both their Master and yours is in heaven.” [a]