326 HISTORY OF OHIO. 



thoughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia [Minor,] and 

 Bythinia. These provinces, were the great slave marts, the 

 Pennsylvania Avenues, the Georgetovvns and Alexandnas of 

 the ancient world. But, we have not yet done with Paul's 

 conduct, precepts and example, as the}' respected masters and 

 servants. Paul had left his Ephesian church in tears, when 

 they fell on his neck and kissed him, and had gone to Jerusalem 

 where he had been arrested and condemned for being a christian, 

 from which judgement, he appealed to Caesar himself, Paul 

 being a Roman citizen. He had sailed to Rome, to await his 

 trial, and was in jail. Onesimus, a servant of Philemon, 

 ran off from his master, and had arrived at Rome likewise. Here 

 while Paul was in prison, this servant was converted by the apos- 

 tle's preaching. To Paul, Onesimus confessed his faults, and 

 that he had grievously wronged his master. 



We do not find the wrongs specifically set forth, but there 

 were wrongs done to the master by Onesimus. Paul being 

 in jail, had great need of the services of Onesimus, but learn- 

 ing the exact circumstances, from the servant of his flight 

 from his master, and the Avrongs done him; the apostle wrote 

 a letter to Philemon by Onesimus, and sent him back to his 

 old master. Tychicus, who was about to travel the same 

 route, as far as Colosse, became a fellow traveler, and the 

 two, jointly carried a letter from Paul, to the Colossians. 

 These epistles thus sent, we proceed to examine. To the 

 Colossians, the apostle writes, as he had to Ephesus, in relation 

 to masters and servants, holding the same language, almost 

 word for word. He reminds Philemon of the new rela- 

 tion which now subsists between him and his servant; that 

 now they are brothers. Does Paul threaten Philemon with 

 everlasting perdition, unless he instantly emancipates his 

 slave? No, he does not threaten him at all, but he prefers 

 a request, though, very pressingly too, thai Philemon would 

 set his servant free, and that if he did so, to charge Paul, in 

 account with him, all the sums out of which, Onesimus had, in 

 any wise wronged him, and he, Paul, would pay them, on de- 

 mand. This example of the apostle of the Gentiles, should 



