"'But while he is thus bold and faithful with regard to "all villanies"
in particular, we cannot but think it strange that a thing which is said
to be the "sum" of them all, is nowhere spoken against by the Apostle!
On the contrary, he recognizes the duties which grow out of
slave-holding.
"'Let us suppose him to do the same with regard to each villany which he
does to that which my brother calls the "sum" of them all. Then we
should hear him say! Murderers, do so and so; thieves, do so and so; and
ye that are mutilated, do so and so; and ye that are pillaged, do so and
so. I am curious to know how my brother will answer this. What are the
religious "duties" of murderers and thieves, but to repent, to forsake
their evil ways at once, and to make lawful reparation? And what are the
"duties" of those whom murderers and thieves assault, but to resist, and
to seek the conviction of the evil-doer? Oh how strange it seems for the
Apostle to counsel masters and slaves to imitate their "Master which is
in heaven," in their relation to each other, if holding men in bondage
be "the sum of all villanies," and how strange for him to send Onesimus
back to the system to behave in it as Christ would act in his place!
"'Onesimus escapes, we will say, from a gang of murderers, or from a
company of thieves, and the Apostle's preaching is the means of his
becoming a good man.
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