Canon VII.
But the freemen shall be tried by penance for
three years, both for their dissimulation, and for having compelled
their fellow-servants to offer sacrifice, inasmuch as they have not
obeyed the apostle, who would have the masters do the same things unto
the servant, forbearing threatening;
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knowing, says he, that our and their
Master is in heaven; and that there is no respect of persons with
Him.
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Now, if
we all have one Master, with whom is no respect of persons, since
Christ is all and in all, in barbarian, Scythian, bond or
free,
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they ought to
consider what they have done, wishing to preserve their own
lives. They have drawn their fellow-servants to idolatry who
would have been able to escape, had they given to them that which is
just and equal, as again says the apostle.
Balsamon
. But upon the
freemen, or the masters of the servant compelled to sacrifice, he
enjoins a punishment of three years, both because they pretended to
sacrifice, and seemed to assent to it; and also because they compelled
their fellow-servants to offer sacrifice, and did not obey the apostle,
who ordered them to forbear threatening their servants, inasmuch as
they themselves, the masters, are the servants of God, and
fellow-servants with their own domestics. And then they have made
haste to preserve their own lives, and have driven their
fellow-servants to idolatry who might have escaped.
Zonaras
. But upon the
freemen, that is, the masters of the servants who were compelled to
sacrifice, he enjoins a penalty of three years, both because they
pretended to sacrifice, and altogether appeared to succumb; and also
because they compelled their fellow-servants to offer sacrifice, and
did not obey the apostle’s injunction to forbear threatening
their servants; since they also, the masters, are the servants of God,
and the fellow-servants of their own domestics. And they indeed
made haste to preserve their own lives, and drove their
fellow-servants, who might have escaped, to idolatry.
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Eph. vi. 9
.
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Rom. ii. 11
.
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Col. iii. 11
.