A PRIVATE LETTER.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19529, 11 July 1925, Page 2

A PRIVATE LETTER.

Written for tlie Otago Daily Times. By the Rev. 33. Gardner Miller, Once men become Christians they become brothers, and brotherhood eventually will not tolerate conditions that hurt and maim and destroy. Man cannot get rid of God because he cannot got rid of himself. Everywhere a man goes he carries the haunting presence of God with him. The fate of man is that one day he must stand up to tins presence that haunts him. As is well known, most of the epistles of the New Testament are really circular letters sent by the writers to the various churches, and were meant after perusal, to be sent mind the little “Bethels” clustered round the central Church. More than once, traces have been found of additions tic the original letter where the brethren added greetings to their friends in the church where the letter was next to be forwarded. It is a matter of great joy that, amidst these circular letters, there is to be found one of a private nature. Without this private letter we would have missed knowing some of the sweeter and gentler characteristics of the writer. The letter is known as the “'Epistle to Philemon,” and is tucked away in the New Testament between the epistles to Timothy and Titus and the majestic treatise known as the “Epistle to the Hebrews.” The writer of this private little letter is Paul. To many, the name of Paul conjures up the figure of a man who is always arguing and debating, a man who hit hard and hit often. , Here we see the gentler side of him. It is a letter from one gentleman to another, and is full of charm and playfulness. He is asking his intimate friend to do something for him. That “something,” it is not too much to say, has helped to revolutionise men’s thinking about a great social wrong. He asks his friend to take back into his household a man named Onesimous. It seems a little thing, yet behind it lies the thrilling story of a man who made ( good after marring his manhood. Onesimous was a slave in the household of Philemon who, with his wife and child,’ lived in Colosse. It was a Christian homo, and evidently one where Paul was considered a great friend.

One day, Onesimous stole something belonging to his master and fled. Like most wrong-doers he made haste to the city, thinking that in tho midst of the mighty throng ho would bo unnoticed. Ho went to tho city of Rome, and one can visualise him as he went about the city, preferring the back streets and afraid to look men in the face. He knew ho was a haunted man, if not hunted. Then sometiiing tremendous happened, tho most tremendous thing that can happen to a man. He came face to face with Christ. How it came about we don’t know, but one thing wo do know—ho was introduced to the Apostle Paul, who then was in prison, and between the two a groat affection sprang up. That prison house of Paul’s must have been a wonderful place. Here is the scene of one of the greatest books that could bo written. Think of the men who visited Paul in his prison and the arguments that broke its quietness. Think of him as he stands in the flickering light aaid dictates his great letters while the Roman soldiers who guarded him looked on in wonderment, Doubtless Onesimous poured out tho story of his guilt. That the aged Apostle took him to his heart and led him into higher reaches of truth is evident by the references to him in another epistle. Then one day Paul asked Onosimous to do a hard thing. It was to he the bearer of a letter to his old master Philemon. Well may Onesimous shrink, ho knew what it entailed. Never till ess lie sped on his way, and that the letter was delivered is evident by the fact it is now in the Now Testament canon. We have no record of what tpok place between Philemon and his old slave, but we can be reasonably sure that the words of the letter from his old friend, Paul, did not fall upon unheeding ears. Now in asking Philemon to take Onesimous back into his household cm a new footing, Paul was dealing

THE DEATH BLOW TO SLAVERY. Tho slave has become a brother, simply because both master and slave acknou - ledge the same Lord and Master. It is quite true that nowhere docs the New Testament condemn slavery in so many words. It does more. It Jdlls it by creating the atmosphere that makes slavery impossible. Here wc have the principle operating in the heart of the Christian religion. It is simply this, that, once men become Christians, they become brothers, and brotherhood eventually will not tolerate conditions that hurt and maim and destroy. But tho implication of tho letter goes even deeper. It reveals the fundamental truth that men can never gt rid of God because he cannot got nd of himself. Everywhere a man goes no carries the haunting presence of God with him. Twist and turn how ho may, submerge himself in the noisy throng of tlie city or in tho seclusion of the desert, God meets him at every turn.

NO MAN CAN ESCAPE HIS FATE. And the fate of a man is that, one day, he must stand up to this presence that haunts him. Until ho does so, he is consumed with a restlessness that drives him hither and thither. The great interpreters of the soul have voiced this restlessness of man and pointed to its cure in words that are memorable. Augustine, away back in the days of keen struggle between the Church and paganism, says, “Thou hast made us for thyself and our heart is restless until it rests in Thee.” David, that man xvith tho unrivalled knowledge of human nature, cries out, "AVhither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into, heaven Thou are there; if I make my bed in hell, behold Thou art there. ’’ And in our own day who has voiced this pursuit of man like that great and tragic poet, Francis Thompson, who in his “Hound of Heaven,” has given us one of the purest literary gems in the English language.

‘Nigh and mor« nigh draws the chase, With unperturbed pace, Deliberate speed, majestic instancy. And past those noised feet A voice comes yet more fleet— Lo, naught contents thee, who content’st not

Isn’t it human experience that there comes a point in your flight, when, though you think you are fleeing further, you are really being driven home. It was an old cynic, . and cynics sometimes speak the truth, xvho summed up the matter in one sentence when he said, “He hath set Eternity in the hearts of the men.” High above the voices of all tho philosophers and poets is heard the voice of the man Christ Jesus, calling, “.Come unto Ale, all ye that labour and are heaxw laden, and I xvill gix-e you rest.” Yes, it xras xvorth while preserving this private letter.