The Potter journal and news item. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1872-1874, 1873-03-28
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From the Liberal Christian ]
Liberal Christianity.


IfEberahty in matters Of religion
means federation for error. indi1fer-
ence to opinions, sentimental soft
( ness in Judging theological conclu-
sions, the less Of it We have the bet
ter. We never liked the name under
which We ourselves pass as : denomi-
nation. Liberal Christianity IS
either a tautology or there is 8 Chris
tianity which is not liberal That We
wholly deny God is either liberal or l.
liberal. Welove, onorand adore Him
because he Is the fountain ofaIl gener-
osity largeness ofspiritand coundless-
ness oftruth and goodness. His Christ
/. is the express image of this liberality
and came full Of grace and truth to
make better known the bounty and
fullness and glory Of God. Christi
anity Is therefore essentially liberal.
1t is large, generous, merciful, benef-
cent, ayerse to all exclusive, limit
ing and partial notions and methods.
It IS liberal through and through. II
aims at universal salvation by uni
versal truths and universal hopes
and warnings commended by a uni
versal Saviour. Jesus came to do
away the partiality Of the Jewish
peculiar people" notions: to abolish
national religions, distinctions OF
rich and poor, black and white, man
and woman, small and great, Jew
and Gentle, as having any impor-
tance in the Divine eye when looking
down upon His one great family.
God is not liberal toward sin; ol-tho
contrary, very exclusive and iIl.beraI.
in order that he can be very liberal 10
sinners. Heis too liberal towards His
children TO be willing TO see them mar
rowed, starved, impoverished by sin.
He visits ii with persistent, stern aD6
never-remitted penalties; L-,t II,
loves and forgives and saves sinners
by continually helping ana blessing
their endeavors to escape out Of their
sins; BY lending them ever-fresh in
ducements to forsake them. HIS
doors are always open; His hand i
always outstretchcd, His eye Is never
averted. The wicked cannot sin
away Gods fatherly love to them
they may sin away their own hlial
love to Him. But God loves SIN
ners, not as sinners butas His children
who have sinned, and in spite Of their
sins. This is the whole heart Of the
Gospel Of Christ. It's Gods love for
men in~pite oftbeir sins, and Hiscease-
less, liberal, inexhaustible desire to
turn them from their sins end make
them love Him Is He loves them
not for His own sake, but their @akes.
The ola religions made God q jealous
God; a God who wanted human
sacrifices and service and worship
and hosanuas and obedience as a
tribute to his sovre;gnty. God was
by these accounts the most selfish of
all his selfish creatures. He was
arbitrary, selfconsidering, hungry
for glory, angry at neglect. But
Christianity reverses all this. II
makes God the free fountain Of love,
truth. mercy, blessedpess, holiness,
who gives everything and asks moth
ing for Himself It is "for our good
always that His commandments are
laid upon US. His gloryis our purity
and blessedness; our saved souls are
the crowns of His reioicir 2. Christi
anitv in showing rs God in the face
Of Christ exhibits this liberality IN
the most touching fullness. Jesus
has nothing to ask or reeeive,-eveTy-
thing to give. He gives his life for
sinners. It's all bounty and liberal
itv-no narrowness. no exclusive
ness, no bargaining.