Squatter sovereign., 1855-07-17
BY THORNTON sTRINGFELLoW.
Continued.

Continued.
Again But we are furnished with ad-
ditional light, and if we are not greatly
mistaken, with light which arose out Of
circumstances analogous to those which
are threatening at the present moment to
overthrow the peace Of society, and deluge
this nation with blood. To Titus whom
Paul left in Crete, to set in order the things
that were wanting, he writes letter. in
which he warns him of false teachers, that
We're to be dreaded on account of their
doctrine. While they professed :" to know
God," that is, to know his will under the
gospel dispensation, Sin works they denied
him." that is, they did, and required others
to do, what was contrary to his will under
the gospel dispensation. They were
abominable," that is, to the church and
state, and disobedicnt," that is, to the
authority of the Apostles, end the civil au-
thority of the land. Titus, he then exhorts,
g to speak the things that become sound
doctrine;" that is, that the members of the
church observe the law of the land, and
obey the civil magistrate; that Servants be
obedient to their own masters, and please
them well in all things" not '' answering
again, not purloining, but showing all good
fidelity that they may adorn the doctrine of
God our saviour in all things" an that
arhich subjects the ecclesiastical to the ciUiI
authority IN particular. These things
speak, and exhort and rebuke with all au-
thority let no man despise thee. Put
them in mind to be subject to principalities
and powers, to obey magistrates" Titus
i. Is, and H. from to 10, and iii. 1. The
context shows that doctrine was taught
by these wicked men, which tended in its
influence on servants, to bring the Gospel
of Christ into contempt, IN church and
state because of its seditious and insubor-
dinate character.
But at Ephesus, the capital of the lesser
Asia, where Paul had labored with great
success for three years-a point of great
importance tothe Gospel cause.-The Apos-
tie left Timothy for the purpose Of watching
against the false teachers, and particularly
against the abolitionists. In addition to
letter which he had addressed to this
church previously, in which the mutual
duty OF master and servant is taught, and
which has already been referred to, he
further instructs Timothy by letter on the
same subject: "Let as many servants as
are under the yoke count their masters
worthy of all honor, that the name of God
and his doctrine be not blasphemed." l
Tim. VI. |. These were unbelieving mas
ters, as the next verse will show. In this
church at Ephesus, the circumstances
existed, which are brought to light by
PauTs letter to Timothy, that must silence
every cavil, which men, who do not know
Gods will on this subject, may start until
time ends. In an age filled with literary
men, who are employed in transmitting
historically to future generations, the struc-
ture of society in the Roman Empire; thai
would put it IN our power at this distant
day, to know the state or condition of a
slave in the Roman Empire, as well as il
we had lived at the time, and to know be.
yond question, tha. his condition was pre-.
eisely that one, which is now denounced as
sinful: In such an age, and in such circum
stances, Jesus Christ causes his will be tt
published TO the world; and it is this, tha
If Christian slave have an unbelievine
master who acknowledges no allegiance
to Christ, this believing slave must coun
his master worthy of all honor, according
to what the Apostle teaches the Romans
/" Render, therefore, to all their dues, trib.
ute to whom tribute is due, custom to whom
custom is due, fear to whom fear, honor (,
whom honor. Rom. xiii. 2. Now, honol
is enjoined of God in the Scriptures. iron
children to parents-from husbands Il
wives-from subjects to magistrates ans
rulers, and here by Jesus Christ, from
Christian slaves to unbelieVing masters
who held them as property by law. witt
power over their very lives And the
command is remarkable. While we are
commanded to honor father and mother
without adding to the precept "all honor
here Christian servant is bound to rendel
to this unbelieving master s. all honor.
! Why is this2 Because IN the one cass