The Apostolical History, Chapter 7 · Section 7
SECT. VII.
PAƲL being now aged, and ſtill a Priſoner, converts, and gains to Chriſt, Oneſimus, a Servant that had run away from his Maſter Philemon, at Coloſſe. By which Oneſimus, he writes an Epiſtle to Philemon at Coloſſe, a City not far from Laodicea in Phrygia.
The occaſion of the Epiſtle was this. Philemon, one of the Coloſſian Paſtors, had a Servant, (Oneſimus by name), who not abiding his Maſters ſervice any longer, watched his time, and ran away; and as it ſeems, did not run away empty, but alſo purloined ſomething. Having run up and down from place to place, at laſt, by the ſpecial providence of God, he comes to Rome, where now Paul was a Priſoner for Chriſt, and preached the Goſpel in bonds. Among other Fiſh, that that great Fiſher of men caught, with the ſpreading Net of the Goſpel, this poor fugitive was one; who being converted, and brought to a ſaving-knowledg of Chriſt, he for ſome time miniſtred to Paul in Priſon. But the Apoſtle, becauſe he was another mans ſervant, (and particularly, his dear friend Philemon's), and of right belonged to him, being his lawful poſſeſſion, and as it were his mony, (as the Law ſpeaks, Exod. 21.21.), he would not detain him from him, without his free conſent. He therefore ſends him back to his Maſter, earneſtly deſiring him to pardon him, and to receive him into favour again. And becauſe the Holy Ghoſt in this matter gives a remarkable inſtance of Gods free-grace to ſinners; and intimates our duty towards thoſe that are penitent, therefore, for the perpetual edification of the Church, he would have this be received among the other Canonical Epiſtles.
In the Epiſtle there are three parts,The Epiſtle to Philemon.
1. The Preface.
2. The Matter of the Epiſtle.
3. The Concluſion.
1. IN the Preface, the Apoſtle joins his Brother Timothy with him, as one He that concurred with him in his requeſt to Philemon.
He alſo ſalutes Apphia, (probably the Wife of Philemon); and Archippus, one of the Paſtors of the Church, [Col. 4.17.], whom he calls, his fellow-Soldier in the ſpiritual warfare of the Goſpel. He ſalutes alſo the Saints in Philemon's Family. To all theſe, he wiſhes abundance of grace and peace from God the Father, the Fountain of all Bleſſings; and from Jeſus the Mediator, who is the Conduit-pipe, by whom they are conveyed. And in the firſt place, he tells them, how he rejoiced and bleſſed God for the report he heard of his Faith in Chriſt, and love to all his Saints; and he daily prayed for him, that his liberality, and readineſs to communicate to ſuch as are in want, being a fruit of his Faith, and ſpringing from it, might be an effectual means to induce others to take notice of, and acknowledg (to the praiſe of God) thoſe good things that were in him, and his Family; namely, their kindneſs and love towards Chriſt *foreign., and his Members. And he aſſures him, he was much comforted by the report of that great Love and Charity of his, whereby the bowels of the poor Saints were refreſhed. From Ver. 1, to 8.
2. He comes to the Matter of the Epiſtle, in which he requeſts Philemon to take Oneſimus his fugitive. Servant into ſavour again; whom he had, during his impriſonment, through the aſſiſtance of grace, converted to Chriſt. He tells him, that though he might by vertue of his Apoſtleſhip received from Chriſt, injoin him, and other Chriſtians, what he judged convenient; yet he rather choſe to requeſt this of him, upon the ſcore of love; and be doubted not, but that he would do that for Paul now aged, and in bonds for Chriſt, which he underſt…od would be acceptable unto him. He intreats him therefore, to receive Oneſimus again, whom (ſince his converſion) he loved as if he were his own Son. I acknowledg, ſays he, that formerly, Oneſimus was not Oneſimus, that is, profitable to thee, as his name ſignifies; but now he will approve himſelf a uſeful and diligent ſervant to thee, as he hath been to me. Therefore I have ſent him back again to thee, and intreat thee to receive him, as my own bowels, th…t is, to entertain him with all kindneſs, as one very dearly beloved by me. Indeed I w…uld gladly have kept him here ſtill with me, that he might have done all thoſe good offices and ſervices for me, (while I am here in Priſon for the cauſe of Chriſt), which I know thou wouldſt willingly do, if th…u wert here. But without thy conſent I would not do it, that thy kindneſs in aff…rding him to me, may be perfectly free, and not, as it were, extorted from thee. And for his leaving of thee ſo injuriouſly, thou oughteſt to paſs that over, becauſe there may come great advantage to thee thereby. For it ſeems, he was by the ſpeci…l providence of God permitted thus to run away from thee, for a little while that by the converſion wrought on him, (to which his flight gave occaſion), he might be an uſeful Servant to thee afterwards, all his life along*foreign ita hic dictum quomodo apud Horatium ſerviet aeternum.. Receive him therefore now, not as a Servant only, but more than ſo, receive him as a faithful Brother in Chriſt, and as one that is very dear to me, and therefore he ought to be much more ſo to thee, and that not only in reſpect of thoſe outward and bodily ſervices which he may perform for thee, but becauſe he believes in Chriſt. If therefore thou account me thy companion in the Faith, and in the miniſtry of the Word; deny me not this requeſt, but receive Oneſimus as thou w…uldſt do my ſelf, if I ſhould come unto thee. If thou haſt ſuſtained any loſs by him, or if he oweth thee any thing, put that on my account. I hereby engage to th…e, under my own hand, that I will ſatisfie thee for it. Yet I may tell thee, th u ow…ſt more to me (being converted by my Miniſtry) than all this amounts to; I ſay, thou oweſt to me (under God) thy converſion, and ſo oughteſt to look upon me as a prime inſtrument of thy eternal well-being, and ſalvation. Therefore (dear Brother) let me obtain this kindneſs from thee (for the Lords ſake), which will much rejoice me; yea indeed, in a matter ſo agreeable to the mind of the Lord, refuſe not to refreſh my bowels, and comfort me. I have written to thee, being confident thou wilt hearken to me, and grant me my requeſt, yea that thou wilt ſh…w more favour to Oneſimus than I have deſired of thee.
To Conclude, I am in hope*Spes Pauli hoc loco non niti… revelatione divinâ, ſed precibu… …idelium; quarum exauditionis, eventus probabilis quidem erat, ſed incertus. vi…. Phil. 2.24. Gomarus., that through your prayers, and the interceſſi…ns of other Chriſtians for me, I ſhall be d…livered out of theſe bonds, and ſhall be giv…n t… y…u again. Therefore prepare me a lodging againſt that time. My Companions here ſalute thee. The grace of Jeſus Chriſt (both as to the effects, and ſenſe of it) reſide in your ſouls and ſpirits*See Gal. 6.16.. Amen. From Ver. 18, to the end.