The Pulpit Commentary — Colossians — Section 207

laden with the explosive materials of falsehood and fraud. It might easily have lit up the flames of o. new servile war. But ,Jesus Christ came to effect the grandest revolution, noiselesHly, by the spread of Divine principles fatal to every wrong (Isa. xiii. 2-4, 0, 7). The precept, Matt. vii, 12, laid the axe to the root of slavery, as it also under- minded the ramparts of every other ancient wrong. Christianity must crusb slavery, or it will be corrupted and vitiated by it. Meanwhile it bettered the position of con- verted slaves. It made them masters of their own consciences. It taught them so to prize their spiritual privileges as not to be over-anxious about their earthly lot (1 Cor. vii. 21-24). The same principles are applicable to the present conditions of Christian servants and their masters. I. THE DUTY AND DIGNITY OF CHRISTIAN SERVANTS. It is significant that some of the most impressive statements of Christian doctrine and duty are found in sections of the Epistles addressed to servants (vers. 22-25; Titus ii. 9-14; 1 Pet. ii. 18-25). In this passage we see: 1. The servant's d,,1,ty. (Ver. 22.) • We are reminded here, as in the previous exhortations, of the qualification implied in the term, "according to the flesh;" e.g. Obadiah (1 Kings xviii. 3, 4). Masters cannot command the consciences even of young apprentices (cf. Matt. x:xii. 21; Rom. xiv. 12). God only can adjust the shares of responsibility for a double sin (Job. xii. 16). Servants are especially warned against a common form of unconscientiousness-" eye-service ; " e.g. wasting a master's time, or hiding up slovenly work done in his absence. The :fidelity of Joseph (Gen. xxxix:. 3, 6, 22, 23) may be taken as a pattern, and Nehemiah's maxim (v. 15) as a motto. 2. The servant's privilege. (Ver. 23.) Being bound to do everything in the fear of Goel, he may do everything in the love of God. The great regulating principle of the Christian life may be a motive and au under-current of thought in every detail of duty (as the love of wife and children is to a father busied in commerce). As Jesus was "about his Father's business" when at the carpenter's bench, and as Paul was "serving the Lord Christ" when plying the needle or shuttle, so may Cbrist be served in the kitchen. (Illustrate from George Herbert's 'The Elixir.') Such service being "from tbe soul" will be such as can be presented to the eye of the Divine Master, who is always watching us, with that "singleness of heart" which is the strength and stay of every true disciple's character (2 Cor. i.12). 3. The serva11t's recompense. (Vers. 24, 25.) '!'he twenty-fifth verse reminds even clown-trodden slaves that the wrongs they endure will be no excuse for the wrongs they do. The law of Lev. xix. 15 is the rule of the Divine Judge. But the encouraiement precedes the warning. The reward will b.e proportionate (Eeh, vi. 8; cf. 1 Cor. iii. 8). It will consist of an inheritance (Matt. xxv. 34; 1 Pet. i. 4), the chief glory of which will be its sinless service of a Master who; by giving us the honour of thus serving him (Rev. xxii. 3, 4), will be serving us ( Luke xii. 37). II. THE RESPONSIBILITY OF CHRISTIAN MASTERS, (Ch. iv. 1.) Two things nre demanded even for a slave. 1. Justice. '!'his could easily be refused; and human tribunals, if they could be appealed to, might entangle the weak, but be powerless to restrain the strong. Plato (' De Leg.,' c. 6) tells us that the noblest specimen of justice is when a man ab~tains from injuring those he may easily wrong. Christianity demands even more than this. Hence such cautions as some of the rules of feudalism suggest : "Behveen the servant and the lord there is no judge save God;" "'!.'he lord who exacts what is unjust from his servant exacts it at the peril of his soul." 2. " That which is equal." (Cf. Eph. vi. 9.) This extends to slaves the protection of our Lord's "golden rule," and places masters under this royal law. This points towards emanci- pation, and in most cases enforces it on the enlightened conscience. In our present circumstances the rendering of that which is equal will restrain masters from giving the lowest market price for labour such as bare justice might demand when that price involves grinding poverty; and leaving old servants to "the law of demand and supply." But servants must live under the same law, not forgetting the responsibilities and risks of capital, or nurturing an unreasonable selfishness. Some noble illustrations _of how Christianity leavens commerce in this a3pcct havo been seen m Englaud during tho "cotton famine" of 1862, and in more recent years, when, for tbo sake of the work- people, mills have been kept running and collieries working at a very serious loss. Observe the motive: "Ye have a Master in heaven,"" higher than the highest," before whom earthly distinctions arc but trifles; who delights to observo every generous act; 204 THE EPISTLE TO THE COLOSSIANS. [ou. III. 1-26.