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Show 184 LID ERTY AND SLAVERY. interpretation of Scripture with exegetical rcasons and arguments. In looking into these reasons and nrgumcnts,- if reasons and arguments they may be called -we are at a loss to conceive on what priuci~le theit· authors have proceeded. Tho most plausible conjecture we can make is, that it was deemed sufficient to show that it is possible, by a bold stroke of interpretation, to call in question the fact that Oncsimus was the slave of Philemon; since, if this may only be questioned by the learucd, then the unlearned need not trouble themselves with the Scripture, but simply proceed with the work of abolitionism. Then may they cry, " Who shall decide when doctors disagree?"* and give all such disputings to the wind. Such seems to us to have been the principle on which the assertion of Mr. Sumner and Mr. Barnes has proceeded ; evinciug, as it does, an utter, total, and reckless disregard of the plainest teachings of inspiration. But let the candid reader hear, and thou determine for himself. * Fools mo.y hope to escape responsibility by such o. cry. Dut if there be any truth in mornl science, then every mnn Bhould examine and decide, or else forbear to net. AROUi\lENT FROM Tllli: SCRIPTURES. 185 The Greek word !JouJ.o(, applied to Onesinnas, means, according to l\.fr. Barnes, either a slave, or a hired servant, or an apprentice. It is not denied that it means a slave. "The word," says Mr. Barnes himself, "is thnt which is commonly applied to a slave." Indeed, to assert that the Greek word !JouJ.o, does not mean slave, were only a little less glaringly absurd than to affirm that no such meaning belongs to the English term slave itself. If it were necessary, this point might be most fully, clearly, and conclusively established; but since it is not denied, no such work of supererogation is required at our hands. But it is insisted, that the word in question bas a more extensive signification than the English term slave. "Thus," says Mr. Barnes, "it is so extensive in its signification as to be applicable to any species of servitude, whether voluntary or involuntary." Again: "All that is necessarily implied by it is, that he was, in some way, the servant of Philemon-whether hired or bought cannot be shown." Once more, he says: "The word denotes sermnt of any kind, and it should never be assumed that those to whom it was applied were slaves." Thus, according to Mr. Bat·nes, the word in 16• |