d in an age in which slavery had reached its worst and most
fearful form, an age in which the emperors were accustomed, not
unfrequently, to feed their fish with living slaves; when captives
were led to fight in the amphitheatre with wild beasts or with each
other, to glut the Roman appetite for blood upon a Roman holiday. And
yet fearful as it was, the apostle says, "Care not for it." And
fearful as war was in those days, when the soldiers came to John to be
baptized, he did not recommend them to join some "Peace Association,"
to use the modern term; he simply exhorted them to be content with
their wages.

And hence we understand the way in which Christianity was to work. It
interferes indirectly and not directly with existing institutions. No
doubt it will at length abolish war and slavery, but there is not one
case where we find Christianity interfering with institutions, as
such. Even when Onesimus ran away and came to Paul, the apostle sent
him back to his master Philemon, not dissolving the connection between
them. And then, as a consolation to the servant, he told him of a
higher feeling--a feeling that would make him free, with the chain and
shackle upon his arm. And so it was possible for the Christian then,
as it is now, to be possessed of the highest liberty even under
tyranny. It many times occurred that Christian men found themselves
placed under an unjust and tyrannical government, and compelled to pay
unjust taxes. The Son of Man showed his freedom not by refusing, but
by paying them. His glorious liberty could do so without any feeling
of degradation; obeying the laws, not because they were right, but
because institutions are to be upheld with cordiality.

One thing in conclusion we have to observe. It is possible from all
this to draw a most inaccurate conclusion. Some men have spoken of
Christianity as if it was entirely indifferent about liberty and all
public questions--as if with such things as these Christianity did not
concern itself at all. This indifference is not to be found in the
Apostle Paul. While he asserts that inward liberty is the only true
liberty, he still goes on to say, "If thou mayst be free use it
rather." For he well knew that although it was possible for a man to
be a high and lofty Christian even though he were a slave, yet it was
not probable that he would be so. Outward institutions are necessary
partly to make a perfect Christian characte