Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-07-08

troll in that household. There is only
one thing that regret, and that is
that 1 stole some gold from my master
to help me in making my way to other
lands. BY this means was enabled to
come to this city. And was not the
hand of God in 1t so that l was led
to you?"
Eyes, truly, it was the goodness Of
God which led you to us but, my son,
your own heart tells you that the TAX
ing Of that gold was wrOng-it was in
fact, a theft. And as to the question
of your bondage; true, God is our
Father, and He would have all men to
be brethren If the Spirit Of Jesus ruled
in the hearts of men, all slavery and
oppression would disappear. This is
our hope and prayer, but to accom-
plish it, we must employ peaceful
means; in meekness and humility, we
must instruct men, and until they be-
come willing of themselves to act out
the mind of the Master, we His SER
wants must carefully obey the laws. By
no means must we use violence in order
to cause violence to cease among others,
for thereby we ourselves should become
breakers of the law. We must be sub
ject to rulers, and servants must obey
their masters in the flesh, working
heartily as unto the Lord and not unto
men. He that doeth wrong, whether
servant or master, shall receive again
for the wrong he hath done, for there
is no respect of persons with God. My
son, know it is hard, but you must
return"
"What Leave you? Leave my new
ly obtained freedom of body and spirit,
and return to slavery? And what
about the gold?"
at is hard for me also, for as you
know, have learned to love you as my
own child; and, too, need your help.
But your duty is clear; you must return
to your master and serve him till the
Lord gives you honorable permission to
have your liberty.
"As for the gold, l will assume that
debt myself. Just at this time l am
engaged in writing a letter to the
church at Coloss9 which Tychicus is
to bear to them. You shall go with
him, and by you will send a special
letter to my old friend, your master,
explaining the whole matter, and l am
we'll assured he will gladly receive you
in my stead and do for you even more
than shall ask of him. Yes, my dear
son, 1 grieve to part with you, but it
must be DONE"
And so it came to pass that not many
days thereafter the messengers received
the precious letters, said q touching
farewell to the revered teacher with
whom another meeting in the flesh was
most doubtful, and set their faces to
the rising sun. OF their reception by
the church at ColossR and Of the sub
sequent treatment which OnesimuS re-
ceived at the hands of his former mas
ter, the record does not speak; but we
may imagine with almost a certainty
what did happen. The kindly Philemon
gave the youth a cordial welcome, for
his own sake, for from the beginning
he had planned generous things for the
poor captive. But when he heard his
story and read the letter sent by his
hand from the great teacher who had
led him to Jesus, all hesitation vanish
ed; his plans ripened at once and on
the spot he told Onesimus he was free.
Not only was he free, but taking him
by the hand and leading him to an in
ner apartment, he called young girl
and presented her to Onesimus. With
astonishment the two gazed a moment
at each other, and then with Joy unut-
terable they sprang to embrace; for the
girl was the sister Onesimus had count
ed lost. But good Philemon having
found her also in the slave market and
learned her story, had purchased her
liberty. Henceforth they both were
adopted as children in this home of
wealth, where there reigned the Spirit
of Jesus.-Christian Union-Herald.