Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1862-07-10


The Christian Era found the institution
Of slavery pervading not only Judea, but
all the civilized aud barbarian world
Did Christ, in single instance denounce
it as a sin. No, not once. On the con-
trary, he recognizes the relation and the
duty Of the servants to promote the in.
tcrests Of their masters. In the parable
Of the five talents in tho 25th chapter Of
Matthew, he that had received one talent
is 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, vii, 20, u, %:
Let every man abide in the same call
ing wherein he was called. Art thou call
ed, being a servant? care not for it ) but
if thou mayst 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 free, is
Christ's servant.
In the 1st, %, Sd and 4th verses Of the
9th chapter of Ephesians, Paul incucatcs
the Christian duties Of children and par
ents, and then proceeds in the 9th, 9th,
! 7th, Sth and 9th to teach servants and
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 eye service, as men plcasers,
but as the servants of Christ, doing the
will of God from the heart.
"With good will doing service as to
the Lord, and not to men.
! knowing that whatsoever good thing
any man doeth, the same shall he receive
Of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.
"And ye masters do the same things
unto them, forbearing threatenings, know
ing that your master also is in Heaven,
neither is there respect Of persons with
him."
The lain meaning of this passage is,
that it is the Christian duty of the servant
to obey and serve his master with the
same fidelity and devotion as he would
serve God aud Christ /; or rather that
cheerful obedience and faithful service to
his master in portion of his duty to his
God and Savior. And masters are in
structed to treat their servants kindly,
reciprocating their good will, and are
admonished that in the sight of God all
men are equal whatever may be their
earthly relations.
Similar injunctions are imposed on
servants and masters in the third and
fourth chapters of Paul's Epistle to the
Celossians.
In tho sixth chapter of Paul's First
EpiStle to Tim otliy, verses one and two,
the Apostle says :.
LET as many servants as are under the
yoke count their own masters as worththy
of all honor, that the name Of God and
his doctrine be not lasphemed.
"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, call honor" to his
master by slave is in accordance with
the "doctrine" of God, and he is not to
bring that doctrine into disrepute by dis
obedience or misconduct. Nor is he to
think less Of his master because he finds
himself on level with him in the church,
but is rather to serve him with mole zeal
than ever. In his Epistle to Titus.
chapter %, verses 9 and 10, Paul says:
"EXhort servants to be obedicnt unto
their own masters, and to please them
well in all things, Lot answering again,
not purloining, but showing all good fl
deity, that they may adorn the doctrine
of G od our Savior in all thiags."
In other words, the servant who obeys
his master is honest and faithful "ado,ms
tie doctrine of God our Sayior."
The Apostle Peter in his First Epstle,
chapter 2, verses Is. 10 and 20, breaches
the same doctine in still stronger Ian
guagc. He says
"Selvants, be subject to your masters
with all fear not only to the good and
gentle, but also to the froward, for this
is thankw orthy, if a man. for conscience
toward God, endure grief suffering
wrongfully for what glory is it, when
ye be bpfleted 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 ether words, Peter inculcates the
obedience and submission of slave to
his master be kind or cruel, as Chris.
tian duty eyoined By "conscience io'oard
, Goa," and teaches that patient endurance
of unjust chastiSement is a virtue pecu-
HayIy acceDiable to GOd."
1t is the peculiar beauty Of Christianity
that it recognizes all the institutions and
relations of human society as it finds
them. and, in the prospect of and eter.
nal equality hereafter, seeks to reconcile
, all men 20 the conditions in which they
find themselves during their short proba
tion on earth 1t would make men ant
wives more happy by inculcating fidelity
and mutual confidence and affection i
woull make families more happy by
teaching love and reverence to children
and gentle but firm exercise of author
ty to parents it would make both mas
ter and servant more happy, by enoin
ing justice and kindness upon the one ant
a willing obedience, honesty and fidelity
upon the other i. would make nations
more happy, by teaching rulers to dis
pense equal justice to all and incucateC
upon the people ready submission to the
m, oietro fac md tho lauo. 10 yyoull N, l.,