No wonder that men cursed with slavery embraced with joy a religion which was perpetually teaching the worth and dignity of the human soul, and declaring that rich and poor, peer and peasant, master and slave, were equal in the sight of God.  And yet, great as this growth was, it contained within it elements of danger.  It was to be feared, lest men, hearing for ever of brotherhood and Christian equality, should be tempted and excited to throw off the yoke by force, and compel their masters and oppressors to do them right.

The other fact we are to keep in remembrance is this—­that all this occurred in an age in which slavery had reached its worst and most fearful form, an age in which the emperors were accustomed, not unfrequently, to feed their fish with living slaves; when captives were led to fight in the amphitheatre with wild beasts or with each other, to glut the Roman appetite for blood upon a Roman holiday.  And yet fearful as it was, the apostle says, “Care not for it.”  And fearful as war was in those days, when the soldiers came to John to be baptized, he did not recommend them to join some “Peace Association,” to use the modern term; he simply exhorted them to be content with their wages.

And hence we understand the way in which Christianity was to work.  It interferes indirectly and not directly with existing institutions.  No doubt it will at length abolish war and slavery, but there is not one case where we find Christianity interfering with institutions, as such.  Even when Onesimus ran away and came to Paul, the apostle sent him back to his master Philemon, not dissolving the connection between them.  And then, as a consolation to the servant, he told him of a higher feeling—­a feeling that would make him free, with the chain and shackle upon his arm.  And so it was possible for the Christian then, as it is now, to be possessed of the highest liberty even under tyranny.  It many times occurred that Christian men found themselves placed under an unjust and tyrannical government, and compelled to pay unjust taxes.  The Son of Man showed his freedom not by refusing, but by paying them.  His glorious liberty could do so without any feeling of degradation; obeying the laws, not because they were right, but because institutions are to be upheld with cordiality.

One thing in conclusion we have to observe.  It is possible from all this to draw a most inaccurate conclusion.  Some men have spoken of Christianity as if it was entirely indifferent about liberty and all public questions—­as if with such things as these Christianity did not concern itself at all.  This indifference is not to be found in the Apostle Paul.  While he asserts that inward liberty is the only true liberty, he still goes on to say, “If thou mayst be free use it rather.”  For he well knew that although it was possible for a man to be a high and lofty Christian even though he were a slave, yet it was not probable that he would be