Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1855-09-13
SWORD OF DEFENCE FOB ANTI sLA-
VERY MEN.


Slave of the latter, which has been SO often
presented into tbe defence of slavery, is from
the pen of the Bev. Kiah Bailey, one OF the
ablest theologiars Of the day. 1t carries the
authority of truth. as well as ability along
with II and we ask for it circulation among
all the anti.SlaVery papers of the country
Ed. OF G. NJ. FREEMAN.
pauL ANN pu,LxuoS---A PILL wRAPT IN sue AR
The first notice VIC have OF Onesimus is
Colossians iv. 8. where We are informed that
he was faithful and beiored brother a ma
tive of the city Of Colosse, and an associate
with Tychicus in bis mission to the =, churches
in that and other Asiatie cities These mes
sengers were sent by Paul, while he was at
Rome. Generally they we're kindly received
but respected brother at Colosse seems to
have taken exception against Onesimus, and
IN have refused to receive and trust him as o
Christian brother. He did not complain that
Onesimus had left his service: but that he
had taken his property improperly, and owed
him for the same. This seems to have the
real ground of complaint. And this Paul
engaged to settle 10 his own way. Philemon
verse Is.
When Onesimus returned to Paul, and
stated the facts ia the case, he undertook to
set matters riet.t aaa wrote letter to Phile-
mon. this ietser ne sent to Philemon by
Onesimus, whom Philemon had refused I'd re-
ceive and treat as Christian brother.
The first seven verses of this Epistle NAV
be considered sugar for the pill. In the 9Th
verse, Paul reminds Philemon that he was
authorized as an apostle to eajsia that upon
him, 1hiek wos eoHuenienf; thus intimatiug
that he had not done what was proper. But
wishing to heal the difficulty, the aged apos.
tie adds little more sugar, and introduces
Onesimus, who had been in past times un.
profitable to Philemon, and he says: Whom
| have sent AGAIN, thou therefore receiue him
that is, mine own bowels" Here is the prrIl
of the whole letter, the very point, which the
apostle meant to obtain. He had sent Ones.
linus before, but Philemon would not receive
him. Paul now sends him again, with Lt-
ter mandatory, requiring Philemon to receive
tire old servant with Christian kindness, and
hi at him, in all respects, as he would Paul
stmself. Rather bitter pill; but there it
stands and must stand as long as the Episte
remains in the Bible.
Philemon might be leader in the church
and feel little aristocratie pride. He had
taken his stand, and refused to receive Onesi.
mus as brother, though sent and recommend.
ed by the apostle. Paul addresses letter to
the delinquent, let's him know wherein he had
been faulty, and requires him to alter his con-
duct, and to receive and treat Onesimus as
his own brother--as he would the apostle
himself. There was point fixed, immoua-
ble,--and to it Philemon must cJme. There
was no middle ground; and we have reason
to hope, that Philemon as good man yielded
the point at once, and received Onesimus as
Paul required. All was settled 10 Chris
tian manner. OF Philemon We hear no more !;
but it is said that Onesimus became Bishop
and died martyr. Thus the slave obtained
more honorable name than his master.
After what is clearly DEMANDED in the 18th
and 18th verses as duty enjoined upon Phil
emon, the remainder Of the Epistle may be
considered as sugar in the bottom Of the dish
intended to make the pill set the better.
Should any Northern Minister, who has
seen Southern Slavery, attempt to send back
Fugitive Sluvo to his old master with such
a letter as Paul sent to Philemon, he might
find it necessary to use as much sugar as Paul
did. suspect he would have to send more
than one letter to his slaveholding brother,
before the poor slave was received as brother
beloved by his old master.
1t should be remembered that the point at
issue was between Paul and Philemon. OResi-
mus is introduced as third party. but nei-
Their afirms or denies. Paul considered the
conduct of Philemon as unchristian, takes up
the subject, and requires him to alter his
course, and to treat his old servant, not as
servant, but as a brother beloved. Had Phil
emon refused to yield, Paul would have sawed
off his horns, and placed him with Alexander,
the copper-smith or Diotrephes, who loved to
have the prominence in the church. See ID
Epistle of John v. 8 and 10.
REMARKs.
l. Evidently Paul lays the whole blame
upon Philemon. and required him to make
ample satisfaction to Onesimus. This is evil
dent from the drift of the whole letter.
g | can see no intimation that Paul blam
ed Onesimus for leaving his old master, or
that he really owed him anything. Had
Onesmus told the whole story, we might oil
be satisfied, that he had good reasons tor
leaving Philemon. Paul meant to waive such
questions, and neither afirms or denies.
8. The pretenee that Paul was slave
catcher at Rome, and sent Onesimus back to
his master as a slaue is all moonshine. The
record says: " Not as a staue, but a6oce a
stdUe, II brother belored."
Onesimus was either a member OF the
church at Colosse before he left Philemon, or
a citizen of that city. For Paul says, he
was one of those to whom he wrote, Col. ".
70. Philemon does not acuse him Of running
away, or claim him as slave; but says he
had wronged him and owed him. How could
a 81 ave eve his saaster r.. It seems to be init
mated verse 10, that Onesimus was a near
realtive of Philemon brother in the flesh
and in the Lord. How could this be, unless
they were natural brothers? This brother
was dependent, employed sa servant IN the
family, and transacted business for Philemon
but he did not manage business in profitable
manner. Philemon was dissatisfied, accused
him of wasting his goods, and required him
to pay for them. Paul does not admit that
charge as just. 1t was one.sided. Yet on
such evidence, grave divines have pronounced
Onesimus a siaue, and accused the blessed
apostle of being the patron of slavery, even
Roman slavery. What will such men do
next ?*
A. Had the mission of Onesimus with
Tychicus been after his difficulty with Phile-
r,nx, D.,,1 ...z..lI ,,oA hauo introdunad him