est then in office; no such
release, however, was granted to the Gentile slaves, showing that
slavery was not a crime in the estimation of the Most High. Otherwise,
He would have legislated for the departure of slaves from their Hebrew
masters, as He did for manslayers fleeing from the avenger of blood.
Excuse the digression. The thought struck me at the moment.'

"'I put it to the brother,' said the Laodicean, 'whether he himself would
not flee to Rome, were he a single man, if he should be made a slave to
that monster in human shape, Osander of Hieropolis?'

"'I cannot say,' replied the Colossian, 'what my temptations might be,
nor how well I should resist them; but slavery being incorporated into
the government, and I being, in the providence of God, sold into bondage
to Osander,--I being either the child of a slave, or one of those who
are called "lawful captives,"--my race, or my capture in war, or my
indebtedness, or my crimes, subjecting me to bondage according to the
constitution of government, I ought to consider my slavery as the mode
which God had chosen for me to glorify him,--by my spirit and temper, by
my words and conduct, by my Christian example in everything, for the
good of Osander's soul, and the honor of religion. I believe that I
should please God more by staying to suffer, and even to die, than to
run away. I doubt even the expediency of running away, as a general
rule. It implies a want of faith. He is the Christian hero who stays
where God has manifestly placed him.

"'I know,' continued he, 'how easy it is to make this appear ridiculous;
and also how often cases occur in which flight, and even the taking of
life, are proper, under extreme hardships. It is frequently the case
that a servant sees and feels his mental superiority to the man who owns
him. Now one may be so disgusted, and be so constantly vexed and chafed
at this, as to make out a strong case for escaping; another, in the same
circumstances, will feel that God has placed him in charge of his
master's soul, to please him well in all things though he be "froward."
Whether is better, to run off or to "abide"? There can be no doubt how
the Apostle would answer the question. Exceptional cases of extreme
distress do not make a rule; the rule is for each one to "abide" in the
calling in which he is called of God. See what perfect insubordination
would everywhere follow if every one who is oppressed, or believes
himself to be oppressed, sh