Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1855-09-13

brother, though sent and recommended hv the
apostle. Onesimus then returned to Rome
and reportcdto Paul who having proved the
whoIeinatter. prepared letter for Philemon.
not the church at Colosse, and sent Ouesimus
again to carry it. In this letter Philemon
is percmptorialy required to do what he had
refused to do. He must receive his old serv.
ant, not as servdnt. but as a brother in
Christ, an equal, even as Paul himself So
understood the whole story is natural and easy
to he understood, by any honest mind.
5. As Philemon has long been claimed bv
Shareholders and their advocates, we shall
leave him with them to enjoy all the honor of
being so connected. We hang Paul's epistle
round his neck and say go carry it to your
brethren.
I Philemon was then wealthy STAKEHOLDER,
who held conspicuous position in the church
at Colosse. Onesilnus was his slave, accord.
ing to the law of heather Rome; and for
some cause left his master and went to Rome.
There he was converted, became very useful
to Paul, and under his ministry soon acquir-
ed such reputation in the church, that he
was appointed to go with Tychicus, and visit
the churches with letter recommendatory
from the apostle himself. When the messen-
gers arrived at Colosse Philemon was morti.
titled to see his old slave so honored, took ex.
ceptions against him, and refused to receive
him as Christian brother and apostolic
messenger. 1t seems to be intimated, that he
was willing to receive him as servant, but
not as brother. Not now as serpaat, a
slave, but ADORE serDani, a brother beloved"
Verse 16.
If Philemon did claim Onesimus as his
slave, Tychicus and the church resisted his
claim, and sent Onesimus back to Rome, .
free man. They would not allow Philemon
to hold his Christian brother as slace. Ant
when the matter was reported to Paul, b.
fully sustained the church, disapproved tn
conduct OF Philemon, and required him II
receive and treat his old slave as brothe
beloved. This was the point in dispute, an,
Paul would not yield it. Philemon had don
wrong and must yield; and in all respect
treat Onesimus as brother in Christ.
Christian master must not receive one tina
had been his slave, but was now free in Christ
as ;laDe, but as a brother beloved Her
the rule is clearly stated and has been give
to all the churches of our Lord for their in
struction. This was the law which Chris
enjolned upon his disciples whenhe command
ed them to love one another. This was tn
law by which the apostle enforced in his epis
ties upon all Christian masters Eph. vi. 8
Col. iv. l. And this was and is the roya
ia'o, which unites Christ and all his disciple
in one body. Can q man live in constan
violation of this law, and yet be united t.
Christ?
Here then is tho conclusion of the who'll
matter: Christian masters must remembe
that they have Master in heaven, who ha
no more respect for them that for their slaves
(Eph. vi. 81 that they must not threaten then
that they must give them what is just ant
equitable, (Col iv. ~ and in all cases trea
their Christian servants as brethren. Here
is the rmle which the apostle has left as
the only one by which churches aud master!
should govern Themselves in respect to thei,
Christian SERVANTS, whether they be bond o.
free. And those churches and masters who
will not regard such rule, have little reason
to call themselves the disciples of Christ, who
says: " If ye love me keep my commands.
Let this great Christian law be carried
out honestly by churches and masters, anc
servapts, evGn siuves, would have little cause
to complain. Would churches faithfully re
gard this rule, angels on their thrones woulc
sing anew song In6dels would be constran
ed to drop their most deadly weapon; and thu
church would rise from her degraded position
scorn to pander to slavery, shake herself from
the dust, put on her beautiful garments, and
shine as light in this dark world. How
long o how long must the bride, the Lambs
wife, be deformed, polluted with the plague
spot of Satan's first born, black as the pit
from which he Camel AN OLD DISCIPLE
Vermont Chronicle.