Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1846-01-22

Engagements of families must, for that long period, have
been influenced by that law. And there is no reason
to suppose that they were altered by the Maddenians,
or Romans, whose family laws were as despotic e the
Persians. So that it is almost certain that the decree
of Ahashuerus was recognized throughout the Asiatic
provinces when the gospel was first planted in them;
and every householder was the legal master, or desPot
in his own house.
Il All the epistles in which the relation of masters
and servants is recognized, were directed to persons or
churches in the Asiatic provinces, where the Persian
laws had for centuries been established. And all the
householders admitted into the church were despotoL
So that there were as many despots in the churches
az there were householders, or heads of families. And
if the law made one a STAKEHOLDER, it made them all
Shareholders; and all their wives, children and domes-
tics were slaves. Was this, in fact, the relation which
the Persian law established between the master and
his family? Was every wife, and child, and servant,
m5de a slave by the royal decree? Let us look at the
decree itself, and see how it reads. "EUey man shall
6Gay ,pe in lis oe1 house" Almost in the words of
the Hebrew Lawgiyer. The law was reasonable,
calculated to prevent family broils, and placed the man
NICLC OOu II ulrL pldGGu IiuIt' Z u Va LAhu ~ 10
fully recognized in the civil law and in the statute
laws of all civilized nations and there is no more
slavery in the Persian, than in the Hebrew or British
law respecting family government; all equally assert
the right Of the man to bear rule in his own house.
5. History, it. is believed, furnishes no evidence that
slavery was established in Asia Minor in the days Of
the apostles. The Rev. L. Smith, of Pittsburgh, tells
us tina: he has read $4,000 pages of history, with espe-
cial reference to this fact, and is satisfied that slavery
did not there exist. And if any disbeliste his state
ment, we call upon Them for proof.
6. The alIusion to domestic transactions show, that
servants were hired. How many hired servants; Luke
IS: II, 10.
Householder went ont to hire laborers; Matt. 90 l.
The servants were in such IL condition that they could
owe their master, possess property, sue and be sued;
Matt. Is; q, 80. And the rich men, Sam. G. ], kept
back by fraud the hire of their iaborers. All these
cases clearly show that householders, or despotoi, we're
in the habit of hiring servants, just as farmers in New
England do.
7. The apostle Paul, who well knew the customs
and laws Of the Asiatics, says, The heir, as long as he
is a child, didereth nothing from a servant, though he
be lord of all" Gal. 4: 1. The Galatians had long
been subject to the Persians, and their law placed the
children under the power of the family governor, or
despot, as much as it did the servants. They were all
put under family government, but were no more slaves
than every other person is a slave VINO lives under a
despotic government.
6. Should 1t be said that the despotoi of Greece
s-oro clouobo1Jor, III, u,c,l1 ruo,o ooHL;., nno;aoA
the despotoi of Asia. In America shareholders are
called masters; but this does not prove that masters in
Great Britain are shareholders.
o. The Persian law being essentially the a az
the Hebrew law, for the government Of families, I'VE
might reasonably suppose that the apostles would sane
ton it, and enforce upon christian families their rela-
tive duties. Accordingly, it is written, "WiVes suject
yourselves unto your own husbands; as unto the Lord"
Eph. 5: q, "a. Col 38. Tit o. pet 3: l-6.
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also low
ed the church, and gave himself for it" Eph. s. Is
%. Col. 3: 10. l Pct. 81.
"Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is
right" Eph. G: l, 2,3. Col. 3: 20.
"And we fathers provoke not your children to wrath;
but bring them up in the nurture and admonition ofthe
Lord" Eph. s. 4. Col. B. 81.
Servants, be obedientt to them that are your masters
according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, with
s~ingleness Of heart, as unto Christ" Eph. 6: SO. Col
8: q. ! Pet, 2: Is. Tim. &: 20. Tit. 80. "And
We masters do the same thing unto them, forbearing
threatening giving unto them that which is just and
equal, knowing that your master is in heaven; neither
is there respect of persons with him." That is, he has
no more respect for masters than for servants. Eph. 6;
10. Col. 4: l.
Here we have the christian code for the government
of christian families. And so important was this fami-
ly relation considered that a man was not deemed
qualified for the Office of bishop or deacon, who did not
rule his own house and keep his children in Subsection
with all gravity. l TIM. 3: 4-12. Til. l.: 6. This
may overset the whole Bench Of Bishops, but | can't
help it. Thus it is written, and thus it should be-
For, ifa man know not how to rule his own house,
how can he take care of the church of God?
l now submit to impartial Judges how far | have de-
Tended my position. If am right, it may help to free
the bible from the foul aspersions cast upon that bless
wrong, the advocates for christian slavery can point out
the wrong. But I hope that those who attempt to do
it, will remember that God will bring every work into
judgment, with every secret purpose of the heart.
KIAH BAILEY.
Christian editors, who love the Truth, and are wiling their
readers s~houldJudge for themselves, are requested to copy the above.