II.  The condition and treatment of servants make the doctrine that they were mere COMMODITIES, an absurdity.  St. Paul’s testimony in Gal. iv. 1, shows the condition of servants:  “Now I say unto you, that the heir, so long as he is a child, DIFFERETH NOTHING FROM A SERVANT, though he be lord of all.”  That Abraham’s servants were voluntary, that their interests were identified with those of their master’s family, and that the utmost confidence was reposed in them, is shown in their being armed.—­Gen. xiv. 14, 15.  When Abraham’s servant went to Padanaram, the young Princess Rebecca did not disdain to say to him, “Drink, MY LORD,” as “she hasted and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink.”  Laban, the brother of Rebecca, “ungirded his camels, and brought him water to wash his feet and the men’s feet that were with him!” In 1 Sam. ix. is an account of a festival in the city of Zuph, at which Samuel presided.  None but those bidden, sat down at the feast, and only “about thirty persons” were invited.  Quite a select party!—­the elite of the city.  Saul and his servant had just arrived at Zuph, and both of them, at Samuel’s solicitation, accompany him as invited guests.  “And Samuel took Saul and his SERVANT, and brought THEM into the PARLOR(!) and made THEM sit in the CHIEFEST SEATS among those that were bidden.”  A servant invited by the chief judge, ruler, and prophet in Israel, to dine publicly with a select party, in company with his master, who was at the same time anointed King of Israel! and this servant introduced by Samuel into the PARLOR, and assigned, with his master, to the chiefest seat at the table!  This was “one of the servants” of Kish, Saul’s father; not the steward or the chief of them—­not at all a picked man, but “one of the servants;” any one that could be most easily spared, as no endowments specially rare would be likely to find scope in looking after asses.  Again:  we find Elah, the King of Israel, at a festive entertainment, in the house of Arza, his steward, or head servant, with whom he seems to have been on terms of familiarity.—­1 Kings xvi. 8, 9.  See also the intercourse between Gideon and his servant.—­Judg. vii. 10, 11.  Jonathan and his servant.—­1 Sam. xiv. 1-14.  Elisha and his servant.—­2 Kings iv. v. vi.

III.  The case of the Gibeonites.  The condition of the inhabitants of Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kirjathjearim, under the Hebrew commonwealth, is quoted in triumph by the advocates of slavery; and truly they are right welcome to all the crumbs that can be gleaned from it.  Milton’s devils made desperate snatches at fruit that turned to ashes on their lips.  The spirit of slavery raves under tormenting gnawings, and casts about in blind phrenzy for something to ease, or even to mock them.  But for this, it would never have clutched at the Gibeonites, for even the incantations of the demon cauldron, could not extract from their case enough