Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-09-26
DEPARTURES
A Letter ON Siayery-ft IL Vindicated
by the Bible-A Remarkable DOcu-
ment.
TConcluded.1


Among the regulations which God pre-
scrbed through Moses were the following, in
the 21st chapter of Exodus, 2Oth and 21st
verses, viz:
"And If aman smite his servant or his maid
with a rod, and he die under his hand, he
shall be surely punished. Notwithstanding, if
if he continue day or two he shall not be
punished, for he IS his money.
In the same chapter verses 26 and q, it is
provided that if master smite out an eye or
tooth of a servant, he shall let him 60 free.
Under these laws, prescribed by God him.
self, the Hebrew nation commenced their ca
reer. In war with the Aidianites, men,
toned in the 3lst chapter of Numbers, they
put to death all their prisoners except $4,000
virgins, who were reduced to slavery.
Hencetorward, during the history of the
Hebrew nation, the kings, princes and rich
men acquired and held slaves under the au-
thority of Gods law given through Moses.
Even during their captivity in Babylon, many
of the Jews held slaves; for according TO Ne
hemiah. chapter Z, verse 67, there were 1887
men-servants and maid-servants" in the COM
pany which returned to Jerulasem under his
charge.
The Christian Era found the institution of
slavery pervading not only in Judea, but all
the civilized and barbarian world. Did
Christ, in single instance, denounce it as
a sin? No, not once. On the contrary, he
recognizes the relation and the duty of SER
wants to promote the interests of their masters.
In the parable of the five talents, in the 25th
chapter of Matthew. he that had received
one talent, is represented as being punished
for not employing it for the benefit of his
master
But the Christian view of slavery is more
clearly developed in the teachings of the
Apostles Says Paul in First Corinthians,
!: 10, 81, 22:
Let every man abide in the same calling
in which he was called. Art thou called, be-
ing a servant? Care not for it; but if thou
mayest be made free use it rather, for he that is
called in the Lord, being a servant, is the
Lords freeman; likewise, also he that is called,
being tree, is Christ's servant
In the lst, 2d, Sd and 4th verses of the
9th chapter of Ephesians. Paul inculcates the
/ Christian duties of children and parents, and
then proceeds in the 9th, 9th, 9TH, Sth and
9th, to teach servants and their masters their
/ Christian duties. SAYS he:
Servants, be obedient to them that are
your masters, according to the flesh with fear
and trembling, in singleness of your heart as
unto Christ.
Not with eve service, as men pleasers. but
the servants of Christ doing the will of God
from the heart.
with good will doing service as to the
Lord. and not men.
Knowing that whatsoever good thing any
man doeth. the same shall he receive of the
Lord. whether he be bond or free;
.. And vo ma -tar- 10 tho Sap,a .b,n, ne,
them, forbearing threatenings, knowing that
your Master is also in heaven, neither is there
respect of persons with him.
The plain meaning of this passage is, that
II Is he Christian duty OF the servant to obey
and serve his master with the same fidelity
and devotion as he would serve God and
Christ; rather that cheerful obedience and
faithful service to his master is portion of his
duty 10 his God and Savior And masters
!: are instructed 10 treat their servants kindly,
reciprocating their good will, and are admon-
ished that in the sight of God all men are
equal. whatever may be their earthly re-
lationS
Similar injunctions are imposed upon ser
} wants and masters in the 81 and 4th chapters
OF Paurs Eplstle to the Colossians
In the 9th chapter of Paul's First Epistle
10 Timothy, verses lst and ID, the Apostle
SAYS:
Let "a many servants as are under the
woke count their own masters rs worthy of all
honor that the name of God and his doctrine
may not be blisphemed.
" And they that have believing masters. let
them not despise them because they are
brethren. but rather do them service. because
they are faithful and beloved. partakers Of the
benefit. These things teach and exhort.'
In other words, .all honor" to his master
by slave is lin accordance with the doctrine
Of God. and he is not to bring that doctrine