Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1845-08-14
For The Freeman.
The Church and SIavery.~NO. 7.
Ely REV. KIAH BAILEY

BH REV. KAH BAILEY.
Tothe Ministers and Churches Of Ne,o England
DEAR BRErHEEN:-
In this number shall try to roll away the re-
proach of being STAKEHOLDER from Philemon
And whatever the state of Onesilnus might have
been in Philemon's family, he did not go back to
resume it, He was above serUGnt-an apostolic
messenger to the churches; and Camet tells US he
was appointed Bishop of Berea: and the Roman
authorities say he was afterwards made bishop of
EPhesus, in Asia. Rather an elevated position
for slave.
Philemon was respectable and useful member
of The church at Colosse, popuous city in Phry-
gia; having so large and well regulated a family
as to constitute church. Onesimus was also II
Colosson, and his family connections might have
been as respectable as Philemon's, if he was not
his own brother. Onesimus had been employed
as domestic in Philemon's service, but had neg
ected his duty, wasted or embarrassed his mas
ter's property, and departed to Rome. While
there he was, by some means, introduced to Paul,
then prisoner at Rome. Under the kind and
faithful instructions Of that aged apostle Onesimus
was led TO embrace the gospel, aud by his good
conduct to give evidence of true repentance, For
a season he remained with the apostle, and, as an
a1ectionate son, minstered to him in the bonds Of
the gospel. But after season, Paul had occasion
to send some important messages to the churches
in PhrYgia and especially to the one at Colosse,
and selected Tychus and Onesimus to perform the
service, &c Il my state" said Paul, shall Tychius
mr. hO ia n hoIOvad hro thara NIL
faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord
whom have sent unto you (the saints and faith
fol brethren at Coosse) for the same purpose that
he might know your state; and comfort your
hearts. With Oncsimus, faithful and beloved
brother, toho is one Of youj they shall make known
unto you all things, that are done here" Col. a:
7, 8, g." Here the apostolic comnedation of Ty-
chius and Onesimus is clearly given, and the OBJ
lect for which they sent is especially stated,
in this public cpstle. But Paul knew that there
had been some unpleasant difficulty between Phil
emon and Onesimus, and wished to have it Settled
so that Philemon night cordially receive Onesi-
mus r his new character and relation, NOT AS A
SERVANT, but above serUant brother btLoued,"
and apostolic messenger to the churches of Christ.
He therefore wrote, and sent by Onesilnus, pri-
gate letter to Philemon, in which he informs him
Of the conversion and good conduct of OnesmuS,
requests him to forgive his past misconduct and
desires him 10 receive and trust Onesimus. as he
would his own spiritual father-even the aged a.
poste himself. lfthou count me, therefore, as
partner, receive him as myself If he hath wong
ed thee, or oweth thee aught (Which are questions
which ! DO not wish to decide) put that on mine
account. j. Paul, have written it with mine own
hanil; will repay t;-albeit, do not say to thee,
how thou owest to me even thine own self beside
Yea, brother, let mo have joy of thee in the Lord
refresh my bowels in tho Lord (by forgiving your
former servant, aud by treating him with parental
i kindness.) Having confidence in thy ordinance,
wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also dc
more than say" (and do all you can 10 make him
comfortable and useful in his mission to the
churches) Such an appeal must have melted the
heart of stone; and Philemon must have beer
worse than a heather if it did not soften his hear
and ind ce him to receive his old domestic, not al
f seruant-a relation which he no longer sustained
but brother beloved, and an apostolic messenger
an office above that sustained by any servant in any
private family There can be no reasonable doub
but that the difficulty was settled at once. The.
met as brethren in Christ, and Philemon did cheer
fully what he could to aid the messengers sent Il
o the churches by the aged apostle.
e This, any reasonable man would think, shout
: be the end Of the chapter, but there has been S
= much effort made to bIacken the character of tn
+ blessed apostle, and to make him tho minister o
II sin, even patron Of Roman slavery thut it seem
;, necessary to say something more TO clear his char
e acter from so vile an dispersion. We ask then,
s. /. Was Onesmus slave, held by Philemo
N under Roman slave law3 If this were the fac
\ then, he was no more to blame for leaving Phil
50 mon, and taking so much of bis goods as would
n a reasonable compensation for his past service
O. than the IsrealiteS were FER leaving Egypt, al
d, keeping the goods, which they had borrowed