The very year that Paul arrives at Rome, the prefect of the city, Pedanius Secundus, was murdered by his slave; and agreeably to the laws of slavery all the slaves belonging to the prefect, a great number, women and children among them, were put to death indiscriminately, though innocent of the crime.[A] Such is slavery under the Apostle's eye; and yet'-- [Footnote A: Tacitus, _Annals_, xiv.

42 .-- A thrilling tale.

See Bohn's Classical Library, 53.] "'And, therefore,' interrupted the Laodicean brother, 'the Apostle approves of murdering innocent slaves for the sin of one.

That is the conclusion to which your reasoning will bring us.' "'Excusing the brother for interrupting me, I ask, Is that agreeable to the plain facts in the case ?' said the speaker.

'Are the abuses of parentage chargeable upon the relationship of parent and child?
Moreover, does not the Apostle expressly teach us, in this Epistle, that such things are wrong?
but still, does he condemn the relation of master and slave?
"'The tale of that horrid butchery was present to the mind of the Apostle when he sends Onesimus back into slavery.