The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-10-19

60 g. a --S with Paul, who
was imprisoned, and was led to faith
in Christ. He endeared himself to the
apostle by ministering to him in his
bonds, a service for which his training
as slave peculiarly fitted him. Yet
the time came when Paul felt he
should send him back to his owner, the
Christian Philemon. But he places in
his hands the letter with which all the
world has become familiar, in order to
insure him kindly reception as a
Christian brother, in spite of his past
defections. Erasmus said of this let
ter, Cicero never wrote with greater
eloquence," and Renan declared that 1t
is "a small but true masterpiece Of the
art Of letter writing"
We will not deal at this time with
the marvellous tact exhibited by Paul
in appealing to Philemon on behalf Of
Onesimus, but confine ourselves to the
terms used by the apostle in speaking
of the slave whom he is sending home.
1t will help us to appreciate these
terms If we remind ourselves that, in
Pauls day. slaves were looked on as
things" rather than men. Wealthy
men sometimes owned as many as TO-
900 or 10000, and couple Of hundred
in family was common. In the time
Of Augustus 400 slaves were put to
death because their master had been
murdered, presumably by one of them.
How remarkable, then, the express
sion Paul uses, my son Onesimus
whom / have begotten in my bonds"
He calls the thief his sonl Again he
refers to him as "my very heart" ".
~ r. w and says, IF thou count me
therefore partner, receive him as my
self" (v. 17). Anything which could
make Pharisee talk SO about a slave
lis certainly worthy Of consideration
and the wonder of it is increased as
we recall that Paul was Roman citi-
/ zen also.
Again, as If punning on Onesimus'
name, he says that he was in time
past ito thee Improbable, but now
profitable to thee and to me- What
was this power that had taken Onesi-
mus out of the refuse heap of society
and made him useful to all to whom
he was related? Voltaire said, "Phil-
osophy does not concern itself with
common minds. We have never under
taken to enlighten cobblers and maid
servants. We leave that to apostles"
Turning Point for John 3. Cough.
Well, fortunately, the apostles knew
a power, even the gospel which is unto
salvation to every one who believes.
/ We wonder what Voltaire could have
i done for Onesimus, or to come to mod
ern times, for John B. Cough? Cough
once lay in the gutter, drunk, with the
monday sun pouring down on his face.
i A good woman passed by and in conf
passion threw her handkerchief over
his bl0ated face to protect it, When
he awoke he found the dainty hand
kerchief and was greatly moved. Said
| he, II am deep enough down, God
i knows, but some one has thought me
worth plying, and If / am worth pity
i ing, / am worth saving" 1t was the
turning point in his life, and that he
| became profitable" needs no demon
4 stration.
i Finally Paul bids Philemon receive
Il this man, mot now as servant, but
4 above servant, brother beloved
specially to me, but how much more
unto thee, both in the flesh and in the
Lord AS one has put it, I'm the flesh
Il Philemon had the brother for his
slave; in the Lord Philemon had the
slave for his brother" We need moi
urge that gospel which made master
and slave brethren sounded the dealt
knell Of slavery.
First Christianize--Then civiiIze.
We hear much today Of social re
form, but forget sometimes that s'th'
soul Of Improvement is the improve
ment Of the soul" Would that W.
might learn from the story of Onesi
mus TnlS truth, WHICH al LILY Yin i't's''
centuries illustrate. The history o
missions In Greenland is a typical one
Hans Egede went out first and laboret
faithfully on the theory that we should
first civilize, then Christianize. But n
finally gave up his task as hopeless. FL
was followed by John Back, who re
versed the process and found the Sc
cret of success. From his lips say
age named Kajarnak heard the stol
Of Christ's agony in the garden. !
melted his heart and he went out wit
flowing eyes and irresistible pathos T
tell his countrymen the story Of u
Cross. He does most for social refori
who plants most deeply the Spirit .
Christ.