In thinking over certain themes, it has occurred to me, how infant-like has been the birth of liberty in our country, how far yet it is from the growth it is destined to attain.
Our nation has led all others in enacting statutory laws to insure and enforce liberty, but have we learned the glorious spiritual laws, knowing and living which can alone make men free? No nation has so exalted the name of liberty, or made more sacrifices for its attainment, and yet have we not been attempting to reach it thus far under the laws and practices of "an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth"? And is not God's liberty-insuring law of universal Love, generally perverted to-day into a self-love, which only enslaves? And when we consider how many among us are engaged in this mortal strife of selfishness, daily striving in the name of "liberty" and "competition" to take from the liberties and substance of others, in the blind belief that we are thus adding to our own, is it surprising that our first liberty bell has cracked under the strain?
Our nation as a whole has not yet learned that there is an immutable spiritual law, above human beliefs and codes, which says, "With what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again." What we take from another, we deprive ourselves of, and it is really only what is given to him, that can come to ourselves. The Science of Christianity makes this clear, and its practice demonstrates it, as it does also that sincere love for God and our fellowman is the only fulfilling of the law which perfectly liberates, and brings peace, rest, and heaven on earth to-day. In this light it is seen that something more than human, liberty-giving law and government is required to reach the highest liberty. The hearts of men must be turned from the enslaving strife of selfishness and evil, to the life and liberty-giving works of unity and love, supported by the heaven-born, honest desire to build each other up in character, health, and prosperity in all ways. The one is a "Union" in name only—an attempted one of selfishness—a house divided against itself; while the other is a union in Spirit and in Truth, joyous in its strength, permanence, and freedom.
