Moreover, he knew that by our laws Philemon could put Onesimus to death; yet he sends him back.
"'It is said by my brother that Paul enunciated principles which in time would kill slavery, and therefore he did not care to denounce it, but prudently let it alone.

What else, I inquire, did Paul fail to denounce?
and why is this "enormous wrong," this "stupendous injustice," alone, left to die, without being attacked?
No, Paul treated slavery as he did all other forms of government; he did not denounce government, not even its despotic forms; for he knew that a despotism may be the best form of government in some circumstances.

But he spoke against the abuse of power by rulers, and in the same way he speaks against the abuse of power by the master.
"'My brother tells us that slavery is "the sum of all villanies." A comprehensive term, truly.

Let us admit the correctness of the phrase.
"All villanies" includes all "the works of the flesh," and the Apostle enumerates the principal of them, where he says, "Now the works of the flesh are these;"-- concluding his account with the expression, "and such like." With unsparing denunciation, he portrays each and every "villany," and shows how the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against it.
"'But while he is thus bold and faithful with regard to "all villanies" in particular, we cannot but think it strange that a thing which is said to be the "sum" of them all, is nowhere spoken against by the Apostle! On the contrary, he recognizes the duties which grow out of slave-holding.
"'Let us suppose him to do the same with regard to each villany which he does to that which my brother calls the "sum" of them all.

Then we should hear him say! Murderers, do so and so; thieves, do so and so; and ye that are mutilated, do so and so; and ye that are pillaged, do so and so.