The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1862-07-03


gentle. but also 10 the froward, for this is
.hankworty. if man. for conscience to.
ward God, endure grief. suffering wrong
fully ; for what glory is it if. when ye be
bufieled for your faults. ye shall take it
patiently? But if. when ye do we'll and
suffer for it. ye take it patiently. this is
acceptable to God"
In other words. Peter iuculcates the
obedience and submission Of slave to his
master. whether the master be kind or cru.
ell. as a Christian duty enJoined by ICON
science toward God.' and teaches that
patient endurance of unjust chastiscment
is virtue peculiarly acceptable to God
1t ID the peculiar beauty of Christianity
that it recognizes all the institution. and
relations Of human society rs it finds them
aud, in the prospect OF an eternal equality
hereafter, seeks to reconcile all men to the
conditions in which they had themselves
during their short probation on earth. 1t
would make men and wives more happy
by intoxicating fidelity and mutual cont
deuce and affection it would make fan,-
lilies more happy by teaching love and
reverence TO children. and a gentle but
hrm exercise Of authority to parents it
would make both master and servant more
happy. BY enjoiniSg justics and kindness
upon the ope and willing obedience.
honesty and fidelity upon the other; i,
would make nations more happy, by
teaching rulers to dispense equal justice
to all and inculcatiug upon the People
ready submission to the magistrates and
the laws: j. would make all mankind
more happy. by psrsuadiug them to love
their neighbors as themselves-to be con
tent in the position where Providence has
placed them. and to do as they would be
done by upon change Of positions.
The epis,le of Paul TO Philemon gives
US beautiful picture of the relations which
should exist between a Christian mas,er
and Christian slave. It appears that
Philemon. though Shareholder. was de
voted Christian. with a church in Lis
house. Paul found ia Rome q rupaway
slave Of til, devoted Christian called On.
esinus, and converted him TO Christian
| i'y.
Though hs needed his serrio.s In Lie
captivity. lie deemed i: his duty to .end
hi I tack 10 his master with letter in
which he sa;i;
Perhaps he. therefore. departed for q
season. that thou shouldest receive him
forever not now az servant, but above
servant. = brother beloved. especially to
me, but how much more unto thee. both
in the flesh and in the Lurd
Now. suppose Philemon hai hsd a
thousand such servants, all members of
bis church. all contented and happy in
their gospel brotherhood With their mas
ter. ard that svme Brecher or Cheever. by
preaching the modern doctrine that slav-
ery is sin, hxd broken up this brother
hood and sent its happy members to some
ancient Canada. to live on husks like the
prodigal son, do you think Paul would
have recognized him as true Christian ?
He would have been more likely to de
no.nce him as the servant Of him who
taught the happy inmates Of Paradise that
by eating the forbidden fruit they would
become as gods. knowing good and evil
This letter is already so long that
must reserve some future views of the
subject. with its practicable application for
another communication.
Amos KENDALL
March % 1869