The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1856-02-02
For the Central Presbyterian.
"The Glorious Liberty e the Children
of God"

A great deal is, these days said, in the
way Of popular discussion, about ''liberty."
Perfectly visionary and chimerical are many
of the theories advanced on the subject.
Liberty with such dreamers, is licentious-
ness. 1t is understood to be the privilege
of acting, independent of law and autho-
rity, according to mere caprice and impulse.
1t hurls fatal blow at the grave usages
and established proprieties of life. 1t is
agraranism, it is vandalism.
But there is such thing as real and ge-
nuine liberty. Immeasurably transcending
what is of a social or civil character, it is
that "Wherewith Christ hath made us Free"
Let us then, with closer inquiry, glance
at the elements of this GLORIOUS liberty of
the children of God:" And in this inyesti-
cation, there springs up to the mind, as a
foremost thought, that we are exempt from
the shackles Of form.
Think of the cruelties of Paganism and
remember the burdensome ritual of the
Ancient Dispensation! Would We not, with
our views, fret at such yoke; is it not
bondage, compared with the simplicity our
Saviour has taught us to adopt, in religious
worship-"God is a spirit, and they that
worship him, must worship him in spirit and
in truth"
The children of God enjoy ''liberty," as
opposed to the seryile codes and fashions of
the world.
Is not the duelist a slave; is not the vo-
tary to pleasure slave Z Oh, what ele-
waited ground, in comparison, the Christian
occupies, in recognizing, as a supreme rule
of action, the Divine law, which is ''holy,
just, and good"
1t is part of "the liberty of the chill
dren of Cod" that they are not swayed by
vile affections.
Prejudice rests like an incubus upon
some minds; envy warps the Judgment; and
malice pOisons the feelings. While, of the
Christian, it is written, "But now We also
put off all these"
The "liberty" of Gods people places
them above the condemning sentence of the
law.
Not that they are or ever can be, ex-
empt from obligation to the written statute.
Nor would we dare to intimate that any
man perfectly meets its demands. But the
truth, we would affirm, is that the sins of
believers are passed over to Christs ac-
count, and so they stand acquitted at the
bar Of eternal justice. "There is therefore
now no condemnation to them which are in
Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh,
but after the Spirit"
The children of God have 'liberty" from
the despotism of Satan.
What an usurper and tyrant is he =
''the God of this world" d"-"the prince of
the power of the air'-"the wiles of the
deyil"-"the strong man armed'-"And
that they may recover themselves out of the
snare of the devil, who are taken captive
by him at his will !" This is very express
sive language-it indicates degree of OPP
preston, from which it is an unspeakable
blessing to be exempt.
The "liberty' of the children of God
includes free access to the mercy seat
"The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomi-
nation to the Lord; but the prayer of the
upright is his delight" The eyes of the
Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears
are open to their cry. Such are the gra-
cious words in the Bible, addressed to the
godly. While there cannot be a single
sentence gathered thence in favor of the
wicked, the righteous are the subject of
Exceeding great and precious promises"
"Let us therefore come boldly unto the
throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy,
and find grace to help in time of need"
''Be careful for nothing; but in every thing
by prayer and supplication, with thanks
giving, let your requests be made known
unto Cod"
1t remains for us to add that heirship is
a crowning element of the "liberty' of the
children of God.
"And if children, then heirs; heirs of
God and joint heirs with Christ; if so be
that we suffer with him, that we may be also
glorifed together" "Come, ye blessed of
my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared
for you from the foundation of the world"
''To him, that overcometh, will 1 grant to
sit with me in my throne, even as l also
overcame, and am set down with my Father
on his throne" w.