The Placer herald., 1862-08-02

ject, it would be solved by the 4th verse of the
2lst chapter of Erodus in which it is provided
that If the master Of the Hebrew servant "have
given him wife and she have borne him sons
or daughters, the wife and her children shall be
her masters and he shall go out by himself"
But If the husband and father prefer remaining in
servitude with his wife and children. it is provi
ded. (verse 6,) that "his master shall bring him
to the door or unto the doorpost, and his mas
ter shall bore his ear through with an awl; and
he shall serUe him forever"
1T hence appears that when master had given
his Hebrew servant wife, the wife and childaen
were not to be free with the husband and father
who might, if he chose remain servant with
them not to the year of jubilee only but "for-
cUer."
practical illustration of the meaning of
these provisions is found in the 34h chapter of
jeremiah. 1t seems that the Jews had fallen in
to hepractce of disrcgardng the law and hold
ing their Hebrew brethern in bondage more than
six years. On being required to comply with the
law they had done so, and set their Hebrew
wants free. Aterward however, they resumed
control over them and again reduced them to
slavery. For this violation Of the law the proph-
ct denounced against them the most terrible
judgements. The crime, however, did not con-
sst III holding a Hebrew in bondage sir gears or
the stranger forever; but holding the Hebrew
more than six years. The class Of servants to
which the crime was confined, is explicitly stated
in the 9th verse, as follows viz: "That every
or an Hebrewess, go free; that none should serve
himself of them, to wit, of Jew his brother
In Abraham's time the power of The master
over the slave appears to have been absolute; nor
was it very materially modified by the laws of
Moses
Among the regulations which God prescribed
through Moses, were the following, in the 2lst
chapter of Exodus, 10th and 2lst verses viz
''And if man smite his servant or his maid
with rod, and he die under his hand, he shall
,a lv had Notyy hcfo n1 ho
tinue day or two he shall not be punished; for
he is his property.
In the same chapter verses 2G and 27, it is pro-
vided that if a master smite out an eye or
tooth Of servant he shall let him go free.
Under these laws prescribed by God himself,
the Hebrew nation commenced their career In
war with the Midiantes mentioned in the 3lst
chapter of Numbers, they put all their prisoners
to death except $4,000 virgins, who were reduced
to slavery.
Henceforward, during the history of the He
brew nation, the kings, princes and rich men ac-
quired and held slaves under the authority cf
Gods law given through Moses. Even during
their captivity in Babylon, many of the Jews
held slaves; for according to Nehemiah, chapter
I, verse G7. there 1887 men servants and
maid servants in the company which returned to
Jerusalem under his charge.
The Christian Era found the institution of sa
very pervading not only in Judea, but all the
civilized and barbarian world Did Christ, in u
single instance denounce it a sin? No. not
once. On the contrary, he recognizes the rela-
tion and the duty Of servants to promote the in
tcrests of their masters. In the parable Of tie
five talents. in the 25th chapter of Mathew, he
that had received one talent, is represented as be-
ing punished for not employing it for the benefit
of his master
But the Christian view of slavery is more clear
ly developed in the teachings of the Apostles, !
Says Paul in First Corinthians, I; 20. 21. %:
Let every man abide in the same calling in
which he was called. Art thou called, being u
servant? Care not for it; but if thou mayest be
made free use it rather for he that is cacd in the
Lord being servant, is the Lords freeman;
likewi Sc also he that is called. being free, is
Christs servant"
In the lst, I'd, Sd and 4th verses of the 9th
chapter of Ephesians, Paul inculcates the Chris
tian duties of children and parents and then
proceeds in the 5th, 9th, 7th, Sth ami 9Th to teach
servants and their masters their Christian duties.
Says he:
Servants, be obedent to those who are your
masters according to the flesh, with fear and
trembling, in sngeness of your heart as unto
Christ"
"Not with an eye 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 received of the Lord |
whether he be bond or free.
"And ye masters, do the same things unto them,
forbearing threatnings, knowing that your Mas
ter is also in Heaven, neither is there respect of
persons with him."
The plain meaning of this passage is, that it
is the Chistian duty Of the servant to obey and
serve his master with the same fidelity and devo-
tion as he would serve God and Christ; or rather
that cheerful obedience and faithful service to
his master is a portion OF his duty to his God and
Savior And masters are instructed to treat their
fc l. 1yin11u f,yer hn;r
and are admonshed that in the sight Of God all
men equal, whatever may be their earthly re-
! latons
Similar injunctions are imposed upon servants
and masters in the Sd and 4th chapters of Paul's
Epstle to the Colossans
In the 9th chapter of Pnul's First Epistle to
Timothy, verses lst and I'd, the Apostle says:
"Let many servants under the yoke
count their own masters rs worthy of all honor,
that the name of God and his doctrine be not
blasphemed
And they that have believeing masters, let
them not despise them because they are brethern,
but ratqer 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 in accordance with the ''doctrine' of
of God, and he is not to bring that doctrine into
disrepute by disobedience or misconduct. Nor is
he to think less of his master because he finds
himself on q level with him in the church, but is
rather to serve him with more zeal than ever.
In his Episte to Titus, chapter "a, verse 9th and
10th, Paul says:
! "Exhort servants to be obedient to their own
masters, and to please them well in all things.
not answering again, not purloning but showing
all good fidelity that they may adorn the doc
trine of God our Savior in all things"
| In other words, the servant who obeys his mas
ter, and is honest and faithful, "adorns the doe
trtne of God our Sar0r"
The Apostle Peter, in his First Epistle, chapter
2verses Is, 10 aud 20, breaches the same doc
trine in still stronger language. He says:
Servants, be subject to your masters with all
fear not only to the good and gentle, but also
| to the forward for this is thankWorthY. If man |