SERMON I. Christianity the only true liberty. Preached in 1818. John 8. 34. Verily, verily I say unto you: whosoever committeth sin, is the servant of sin. WHEN the Jews were told by our Saviour that they should know the truth, and the truth should make them free; they despised the promise, because they thought it offered them nothing, which they did not before possess. They said they were Abraham's seedthey were born free, and never were in bondage to any man. They were, indeed, Abra B ham's Christianity the only true liberty. ham's seed; and although in subjection to the Roman government, they retained their ancient institutions, and were governed by their own laws; so that they preserved an appearance of political liberty. But, the liberty meant by our Saviour was a moral or spiritual liberty; a liberty, which would enable them to perform the duties, and pursue the ends, of their being. Of this liberty they were unhappily destitute. Like most other hardened violators of God's law, they did not know, or did not consider that, he who committeth sin, is the servant of sin. This truth however, our Lord declared to them; and, as it is a truth very important and little regarded, I intend, with the divine permission, to employ the present discourse to prove and illustrate it. But first, it may be proper to open the subject, and draw your attention to it, by a brief exposition of a rather difficult passage in the verses following my text. The words are these: The servant abideth not in the house forever; but the son abideth forever. If the son, therefore, shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. Christianity the only true liberty, I know, said our Saviour, that you esteem yourselves highly; because you are the descendants of Abraham, and chosen by God from among all people, that he might establish his name, and his worship among you; for this reason, you claim to yourselves that spiritual freedom, of which I am now speaking. But let me assure you, the advantages of living under the laws and institutions of Moses, are not sufficient to give you freedom from the dominion of sin. The authority of Moses, who was but a servant, was intended to continue only till the son of God should come, to assume the authority of his Father. If you submit to his authority, faithfully embracing his doctrine, you will be fully instructed and empowered to live in obedience to his commands, under the perfect law of liberty. The great truths, which you will learn in the Gospel dispensation, will unfold to you the will, and the mercies, and the goodness of God; the sufficient means of salvation, with the full hope of everlasting glory. It will not only disclose to you the will of God, but give you a heart to love, and power to practice it. The B 2 Christianity the only true liberty. The religion, which the son shall establish, being final and perpetual, shall do away thatinstituted by the servant, who was only sent to prepare you for the greater dispensation of the son. For, the servant abideth not in the house forever, but the son abideth forever. If the son, therefore shall make you free; if you will acknowledge him, and live by the truths which he teaches; you shall be free indeed; you will then be the true seed of faithful Abraham, inheritors of the spiritual freedom, in which he served God. You shall be superior to every hurtful influence to which your nature can be exposed; you shall have all your faculties at full liberty to obey God in a present life of holiness and righteousness, so that you may fulfil his will hereafter in the blessed inheritance, which, from the foundation of the world, He hath prepared for all that love Him. 4 Hence you may learn, my brethren, that the service of God is perfect liberty; that the religion of Christ is the law of liberty; and that no man is truly free, who does not form Christianity the only true liberty. his heart, and direct his life by its doctrines and precepts, although under its restraints. True liberty, therefore, cannot be the possession of the wicked, however gifted by nature or fortune, enlightened with knowledge, or polished by education. And here let me observe; this truth is no less of reason than of religion; a kindred sentiment is found in the most approved and most elegant of profane writings. That the wise man only is free, is a position maintained in the way of a paradox by both the Greek and Roman casuists. It is, indeed, no matter of wonder, since the primary duties of our being are immutable as the supreme power that ordained them, and gave the intellect by which they are apprehended, that the philosopher in the light of nature, and the inspired Apostle, should each inculcate the same moral precept. Yet it is deserving of remark that in the writings of the licentious, although philosophic, Roman Satyrist, there may be discovered a coincidence, on the subject before us, with the doctrine of the divine author of our religion. In some passages of the works of this elegant profane writer,. B 3 |