Some "priest" or "Levite," "passing by on the other side," quite self-possessed and all complacent, reads in reply from his broad phylactery, Paul sent back Onesimus to Philemon!

Yes, echoes the negro-hating mob, made up of "gentlemen of property and standing" together with equally gentle-men reeking from the gutter; YesPaul sent back Onesimus to Philemon!

A fair specimen this of the manner in which modern usages are made to interpret the sacred Scriptures? Of the particular passages in the New Testament on which the apologists for slavery especially rely, the epistle to Philemon first demands our attention.

2. Philemon was a benevolent and trustworthy member of the church at Colosse, at whose house the disciples of Christ held their assemblies, and who owed his conversion, under God, directly or indirectly to the ministry of Paul. 3.

Onesimus was the servant of Philemon; under a relation which it is difficult with accuracy and certainty to define.

His condition, though servile, could not have been like that of an American slave; as, in that case, however he might have "wronged" Philemon, he could not also have "owed him ought."

He and Philemon appear to have parted from each other on ill terms.

The general character of Onesimus, certainly, in his relation to Philemon, had been far from attractive, and he seems to have left him without repairing the wrongs he had done him or paying the debts which he owed him.

In reviewing his history in the light of Christian truth, he became painfully aware of the injuries he had inflicted on Philemon.

A letter in behalf of Onesimus was therefore written by the apostle to Philemon.

He admits that Onesimus had behaved ill in the service of Philemon; not in running away, for how they had parted with each other is not explained; but in being unprofitable and in refusing to pay the debts which he had contracted.

And as to any pecuniary obligations which he had violated, the apostle authorized Philemon to put them on his account.

Thus a way was fairly opened to the heart of Philemon.

He asks that Philemon would receive Onesimus, How?

Philemon was to receive him as "a son" of the apostle"as a brother beloved"nay, if he counted Paul a partner, an equal, he was to receive Onesimus as he would receive the apostle himself.

It raises him to full equality with the master, to the same equality, on which Paul and Philemon stood side by side as brothers; and this, not in some vague, undefined, spiritual sense, affecting the soul and leaving the body in bonds, but in every way, "both in the FLESH and in the Lord."

On this account, he might have urged it upon Philemon in the form of an injunction, on apostolic authority and with great boldness.

He would give Philemon an opportunity of discharging his obligations under the impulse of love.

To this impulse, he was confident Philemon would promptly and fully yield.

The request respecting it came from a benefactor, to whom, under God, he was under the highest obligations.[40] That benefactor, now an old man, and in the hands of persecutors, manifested a deep and tender interest in the matter and had the strongest persuasion that Philemon was more ready to grant than himself to entreat.

"If any one doubts, let him take the case of Paul's sending Onesimus back to Philemon, with an apology for his running away, and sending him back to be his servant for life.

7, 8] "Paul sent back Onesimus to Philemon."

He wrote a letter to the church a Colosse, which was accustomed to meet at the house of Philemon, and another letter to that magnanimous disciple, and sent them by the hand of Onesimus.

Of this he assured Philemon, in language the most explicit and emphatic.

Here we find one reason for the conduct of Paul in sending Onesimus to Philemon.