and numerous advantages, and defigned to be fo by the divine appointment. But, as they acted from the bafeft motives, they were perfectly inexcufable. "Ye thought evil againft me," faid Jofeph, "but God. meant it unto good*.' It pleafed the Lord, likewife, to render the difhonefty of Onefimus, though truly deteftable, fubfervient to the moft gracious purpofes. This, at least, led the way to his converfion; and who shall fay, that it was not permitted, in order to fix upon his heart a deep conviction of his depravity? What else could be the fenfe of the Apostle, when he obferved to Philemon, "Perhaps, he therefore departed for a feason, that thou fhouldft receive him for ever?" This gives us an aftonishing view of the difpenfations of God. He preserves his own holinefs; and yet, the very fins, which are moft hateful to him, form a part of his plan, inafmuch as he intends to make ufe of them for the recovery of the offenders. They follow their own perverfe inclinations, whilft he fecretly conducts them to thofe places and. connections, in which a bleffing awaits them. These cafes frequently occur; but many of them, at prefent, may be wifely concealed from public view, fince men of corrupt minds would thence take occafion to blafpheme the truth, and harden themfelves in their iniquity. But hereafter they will all be displayed, and furmifh the redeemed of the Lord with additional reafons for admiring, loving, and praising Him throughout eternity.

Such alfo is the fovereign Providence of God, that he can never be at a loss for means to accomplish his own purposes. He "waits to be gracious," and fends repeated calls and offers of mercy to thofe, who perfift in their rebellion. Yet he is not difappointed: if one method fails for reducing them to obedience, another is at hand. Onefimus fed from the admonitions of his pious mafter, but in his flight, though this

* Gen. 1. 20.

was

was no part of his intention, he came under the miniftry of St. Paul, and there received the bleffing of a new heart. The Lord God, though not confined in his agency, generally honours the ordinances of his own appointment; and while men seek to evade those exhortations, which are painful to them, he is often pleased to bring them under the found of his word in a different fituation, and produce in them fuch a change, as they neither expected nor defired. But, by whatever inftrument a fpiritual renovation is effected, the whole glory fhould be afcribed to Him, "who worketh all in all *.”

This is not a fubject of mere speculation. Converfion extends not to the judgment only, but to the inward principles and tempers, and will appear in the outward conduct. In fome inftances fufficient time may not be allowed, to give a public and decifive proof of its reality. We do not affert, that in these cafes there is no evidence to be depended on, but none of that sort, which we are authorized to require as indifpenfably neceffary, where life is fpared, and opportunities of doing good are afforded. This I fay therefore, and teftify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk +." "Let your light fo fhine before men, that they may fee your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven ‡."

St. Paul without hesitation pronounced Onefimus a convert; and, doubtless, the change was evinced to his fatisfaction. The poor fugitive flave felt a deep conviction of his guilt, and efpecially of the theft, which he had committed. He opened his distress, and made a frank confeffion to the Apoftle, that through him he might implore forgivenefs from his much injured maiter. Repentance is always accompanied with a painful remembrance of fin, a fenfe of its evil, and a readiness to acknowledge both to God and men every

* Cor. xii. 6. + Eph. iv. 17.

Matt. v. 16.

wrong,

wrong, which has been done. If the mifchief which we have occafioned cannot be repaired, yet we fhould prove our godly forrow by an honeft and unreferved declaration of our baseness. An anxious endeavour to deny or conceal, to juftify or palliate our misconduct, will give fufficient ground for fufpecting an unfoundness of heart.

Onefimus was willing to return to his proper poft, which he had fo fhamefully deferted, and defirous by a ftrict attention to his duty to be useful to that honourable perfon, who had fuffered by his former treachery. This was a favourable fign. It ought never to be forgotten, that true religion will direct our regard to our refpective places in life, which we have forfaken or neglected, and difpofe us to difcharge our appointed offices for the benefit of those, to whom we have been injurious. The fincere penitent will enquire, How may I ferve and glorify God in my fituation? How may I now fulfil thofe obligations, which I have bafely violated in time paft? I have wronged and grieved my nearest connections, my parents or mafter, my children or fervants: in what way may I now be enabled to promote their advantage and comfort? But thofe, who feel no fuch concern about their future conduct, who are not folicitous to answer fome more profitable purpose than they have done, know not the grace of God in truth; but their religion is vain.

In order to probe the wound more perfectly, we obferve, that, if your confciences be diftreffed by the recollection of any trefpafs or injury, which you have committed, you must endeavour to make reparation according to the utmost of your ability. If you refuse this, your profeffions of penitence are hypocritical. Onefimus, probably, could not reftore the pilfered property to Philemon; but he acknowledged his obligation to do it, and St. Paul took that obligation upon himfelf. Thus the Apoftle writes, "If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine

account:

account: I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it."

Onefimus, having obtained forgiveness with God, was cordially received by the Church, and from that time held in confiderable reputation. St. Paul commends him to the notice of the Coloffians, as "a faithful and beloved brother, who was one of them *." And ecclefiaftical hiftory relates, that he was afterwards admitted into the facred miniftry, and laboured diligently for the converfion of others. What an aftonishing and happy change, then, was here accomplished ! How excellent is that fyftem of faith, which is calculated to produce thefe glorious effects! "Instead of the thorn fhall come up the fir-tree, and inftead of the brier fhall come up the myrtle-tree and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting fign that fhall not be cut off +." After fuch a reprefentation,, it will not furely be objected, that the doctrines of the Gofpel are of a licentious tendency. Through the gracious provifion which God has made in Jefus Chrift, there is free and plenteous redemption for thofe, who have been moft abandoned in principle and conduct. But, confiftently with this truth, we maintain that whom the Lord pardons He also fanctifies, and that believers muft prove their fincerity by abounding in all the fruits of righteoufnefs. Do we not, then, effectually fecure the interefts of morality and holinefs?

Some, perhaps, object to the kindness and cordiality, with which fuch converts are ufually received among Chriftians: but this very circumftance, which excites difguft, difplays the ftrong influence of our religion. If there is joy in the prefence of the Angels of God over repenting finners t, fhall not the faints on earth participate of the fame generous affection and difinterefted pleafure? Shall not all, who love + Luke xv. 10.

* Col..iv. 9+

+ Ifa. lv. 13.

the

the Lord, fhew the tendereft regard for thofe, who are reconciled to him, without exception of rank, or even of their former character? If he vouchsafe to admit them into his family as his fons and daughters, who are we, that we fhould treat them with contempt or neglect? The grace of God will teach us, that "we were by nature the children of wrath, even as others *," and difpofe us to love all thofe as brethren, who appear to be renewed by the fame fpirit.

Paul, though an Apoftle, rejoiced over Onefimus, who was no better than a poor flave, and whose conduct had been infamous. He did not urge against him his mean condition, or his atrocious crimes; but, believing him to be born of God, he embraced him as a fellow-heir, very earneftly interceded for him with Philemon, and with the overflowings of parental affection exulted in him as his own child. Do we not feel very forcibly our obligations to Chriftian love, while we observe with what tenderness and fervour St. Paul conimends this young convert to the favourable notice of his mafter: "I befeech thee," fays he, "for my fon Onefimus ;-thou therefore receive him, that is mine own bowels ;-not now as a fervant, but above a fervant, a brother beloved, fpecially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord? If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myfelf." Probably, Philemon complied with the requeft in its full extent, pardoned the returning flave, treated him with affectionate regard, and rejoiced at the change. Let us likewise learn, to lay aside our envious refentments, and, without adverting to paft circumstances, if only we are now united together in the bonds of the Covenant, and "called in one hope of our calling," let us, as brethren of the fame father, "love one another with a pure heart fervently."