and I will freely give.' Yes, beloved brethren, how unprofit- able soever a man may have been in times past, he will not willingly be so any longer, but will be profitable to his minister, and to the Church of Christ, as far as his ability will admit.]
2. To those who have a more immediate claim upon him —
[Onesimus would henceforth be "profitable to his master Philemon." O! in what a different spirit would he serve his master now ! We apprehend indeed that Philemon instantly gave him his liberty ; and that he immediately became an assistant in the Church of Colosse, to whom St. Paul gave him a most satisfactory testimonial': but, if he had continued in the service of Philemon, we can have no doubt but that he would have justified the character given of him by St. Paul, and proved truly profitable to his master. And herein divine grace will be sure to shew itself: it will lead us to fill up our station in life, whatever that station be, with the utmost care and diligence. Are we servants ? we shall regard our master as placed over us by the Lord himself, and shall do him service as unto the Lord. Were we even slaves, we should fulfil our duties as unto God himself, who has appointed us our lot, and who requires that we execute with fidelity the work he has assigned us. It is often made a matter of complaint indeed against religious servants, that they are idle, and impatient of reproof And glad should I be, if there were not too much reason for this complaint. But let not this evil be imputed to religion : for religion condemns it utterly : the Gospel gives no sanction to such conduct, nor any occasion for it. It requires that servants demean themselves with modesty and humility ; and not towards kind masters only, but towards such as are harsh and severe™ : and it especially enjoins, that they fulfil all their duties, " not with eye-service, as men-pleasers, but as unto God, doing the will of God from their hearts"." Let it be remembered then, that the true and proper tendency of the Gospel is, to improve us in every station and relation of life : and that, if it operate not this change in our hearts and lives, we have never received it as we ought".]
Learn then from hence,
1. To abomid in all acts and offices of love — [Who does not admire the character given of Philemon, whose love was such as to attract the notice of all, and con- strain them to acknowledge the abundance of the grace be- stowed upon him, whilst, by his kindness and liberality, " the
1 Col. iv. 9. m 1 Pet. ii. 18.
n Eph. vi. 5—8. ° Tit. ii. 11, 12.