St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1904-07-30

man might learn this lesson and realize
that true liberty is that which is found
within the sphere Of Gods will and
Righteousness.
THERE are perils Of freedom. There 10
/ always danger that blessing may be
perverted to a curse. Every nation and
every individual face this peril. Paul
saw that these Catalan Christians were
in danger in this very respect. He re-
peats in the thirteenth verse the glorious
fact that they were free, but he goes on
to urge: "Only use not your freedom
for an occasion to the flesh" The fact
that Christ delivered them from the law
and its obligations did not warrant them
in indulgences that were violation OF
the righteousness and truth OF God.
They were not to make selfish apple
cation of the principle of their freedom.
And herein lies the peril of freedom.
Man in the Garden of Eden was free to
choose good or evil. Forgetful OF God
and His warnings, he used his freedom
to the qualification of his own desires.
He looked and saw that the fruit OF the
tree was good to eat. In the exercise
of his freedom, he reached out and took
and ate, and his freedom became his
peril. Freedom became bondage. Obe-
dience to God was forsaken for obe-
dience to self. From sinlessness man
passed into a state of sin. Ana sin
brought bondage and death. Freedom
has its perils for this nation. The very
elements of liberty upon which this ma
tional life is founded, government OF
the people, for the people and by the
people. our free institutions, our equal
rights for all, have within themselves
the germs of great danger. Selhshness,
and ambition, and love OF pleasure
threaten to pervert and destroy This
nation. which is the freest nation in the
world, is for that very reason the weak
est. Unless the spirit of the Christians
freedom rules in the national life, up
roofing selfishness, molding ambition.
curling the passion for pleasure and CIV
Ing God first place in the thought and
conduct, there is real and dreadful peril
in this nations freedom.
WITH freedom also comes obliga-
w ton. Because We are free. Paul
says, through love be servants one
to another" The peril of freedom is
in serving self, but the highest obli-
cation of freedom is that that freedom
may equip for the serving of others
It is with no small degree OF prids
that the American can point to tho
many instances in which this free ma
ton has thus splendidly served other
nations and peoples. Great obliga-
tons have been thrust upon us OF
late years because Of the freedom and
which has been vouch-
safed to us by God. In the foremost
rank of the nations, the needy and OPP
pressed of the world are looking to
America for succor. And. thank Gcd.
in splendid spirit and noble self-sacri-
fee. we are fulfilling this obligation.
There has been great pride taken In
the fact that this people could SO serve
others. But the very fulfillment ct
this obligation hes had It's wholesome
reward in strengthening the nation in
[ts own freedom and free institutions.
In giving life to others has come new
life to us. And what is true Of the
nation is true Of the individual. Your
liberty and enlightenment place upon
you heavy obligation.
"He only earns his freedom and existence
Who daily conquers them anew"
And the surest way Of realizing this
Is using our freedom in the service of
others. And of all persons the Chris
ian freedman should meet this OBJ
ligation. Vaughan calls him tho
child of liberty" and urges: BE FREQ
n the spirit of your mind. Have freer
prayer, freer hope, freely take tho
freedom so freely given you" Yea.
ct us meet the obligation which the
Christian freedom imposes upon us.
Let us through love be servants one
o another, because we are free IN
,hrist-free from sin and the old life
md free to throw all our energies and
power to the bestowing Of the bless.
[ngs of that freedom upon others.