The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1919-08-07

X ~ Into lascivious-
: ness" 1t is about
this danger we would speak.
Let 1t be clearly understood that
Christians should not live in bond
age to the law, for, as Paul says, they
fare not. under the law but under
grace" (Romaps 6:14). Many, alas,
DO not understand this and pass their
days with the spirit of slaves rather
than with the spirit Of sons.
Christian Liberty Only for Slaves.
We are bold to say, however, that
even thfs spirit Of bondage is better
than a spirit Of laxity which brings
dishonor to the name of Christ. Here
are words which might well be writ
ten in letters Of gold: at is a true
saying that Christian liberty belongs
only to slaves, and that none can safe
ly be set free from law until they
have become, under grace, the slaves
Of God. Better far remain in the
barracks hedged in by law on every
side, even with the daily grace lack
ing. than ever allow Christian liberty
to degenerate into license" A man
ruled by God requires no outward
control, but others do. "Only the God
possessed man can be truly free In
the Christian sense, and If God has
not got his heart he had better stop
behind legal walls and keep at any
rate from dishonoring God. This Is
not the true Christian life, but It Is
good imitation"
But let us rejoice that we do not
need to stop behind legal walls in or
der to be safe, but can be both safe
and free. One has put 1t in this fash
ion: The Gentiles are without law,
the Jews are under law. and Chris
tians have the law Of liberty, or love.
That is, Gentiles have liberty and no
law, Jews have law and no liberty,
while Christians have BOTH
The Doctor and His Dog.
We recently came across homely
illustration which we venture to quote
verbatim. 1t Is from DR.. A. T. Scho-
field, the well-known English special
list on brain and nerve diseases, who
writes as helpfully on the life of the
spirit as he does on physical and men
tai health. He says:
"Some time ago was the proud pos
SCISSOR Of q beautiful collie called Jock.
When he first came up to London, hav-
ing never seen crowded city before,
he was wild with spirits, and would
have dashed away, and / would never
have seen him again had not put him
under law by the purchase Of strong
collar with dog chain attached. Now
there are in London, as in the world
of men, three classes of dogs: The
strong dogs which have liberty and no
law. and end their lives at Battersea;
there are the respectable dogs, like
mine, which have law but no liberty;
and there Is a third class Of dog
which occupies, one might say, the
Christian position of law and liberty
combined.
The Law Of Love.
"Jock, my collie, soon got to know
me, and one day after he had been
with me for few weeks went down
into the hall to take him out, and he
put up his head as usual to have his
chain fastened on his neck. but I said:
NO, Jock, no more chain / opened
the door, and for the first time he
bounded out free. He dashed away
in the joyous possession Of his new
found liberty as If / should never see
him more, but just then another law,
of which he himself was unaware
came into operation; he looked around,
and then came trotting back to walk
behind me. / had got his heart, and
dog will never run away from his
own heart. The law Of liberty is the
law Of love, and my dog was now
chained to my side by the affection
that he bore me. All his actions hence
forth were governed by that glorious
principle which James calls the law
Of liberty, which our Lord calls the
New Commandment"
"The righteousness" 1. e. the right
ecus requirement "of the law (will)
b. fulfilled In us who walk not after
the flesh, but after the Spirit"