Sketches from the Life of Paul (1883) — PDF Scan 294
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SOJOURN AT ROME . 287 hath wronged thee,or oweththeeaught,put that on mine account . I Paul have written it with mine own hand,I willrepayit; albeitI do not say to theehow thouowest unto me even thine own self besides ." Paul voluntarilyproposesto assume thedebt of another; he willmake reparationfora crime committed by another,thatthe guiltyone may be sparedthedisgraceof punishment,and may again enjoy the privilegeswhich he has forfeited. The apostlewellknew theseveritywhich masters exercisedtowards theirslaves,and that Philemon was much incensed at the conduct of hisservant. He thereforeapproachedhim in a manner to arousehisdeepestand tenderestfeelingsas a Christian. The conversion of Onesimus has made him a brother in the faith, and any punishment inflictedon thisnew convert from pagan darknesswould be regardedby Paul asthoughinflictedon himself.How fittingan illustrationof the love of Christtoward therepentingsinner! As theservant who had defrauded hismaster had nothing with which to make restitution, so the sinner who has robbedGod of yearsof servicehas no means of cancelingthedebt; Jesusinterposesbetweenthesinnerand thejustwrath of God ,and says, I willpay the debt. Let the sinnerbe sparedthepunishmentof hisguilt. I willsuffer in his stead . After offeringto assumethedebtof Onesimus, Paul gentlyreminded Philemonhow greatlyhe himselfwas indebtedto the apostle; he owed tohim hisown selfin a specialsense,sinceGod had made Paul the instrument of his conversion. He then, in a most tender, earnestappeal,be