Moreover, he knew that
by our laws Philemon could put Onesimus to death; yet he sends him back.
"'It is said by my brother that Paul enunciated principles which in time
would kill slavery, and therefore he did not care to denounce it, but
prudently let it alone. What else, I inquire, did Paul fail to denounce?
and why is this "enormous wrong," this "stupendous injustice," alone,
left to die, without being attacked? No, Paul treated slavery as he did
all other forms of government; he did not denounce government, not even
its despotic forms; for he knew that a despotism may be the best form of
government in some circumstances. But he spoke against the abuse of
power by rulers, and in the same way he speaks against the abuse of
power by the master.
"'My brother tells us that slavery is "the sum of all villanies." A
comprehensive term, truly. Let us admit the correctness of the phrase.
"All villanies" includes all "the works of the flesh," and the Apostle
enumerates the principal of them, where he says, "Now the works of the
flesh are these;"--concluding his account with the expression, "and such
like." With unsparing denunciation, he portrays each and every
"villany," and shows how the wrath of God is revealed from heaven
against it.
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