Familiar to all of us by many repetitions are the words of Madame Roland: "O liberty! how many crimes are committed in thy name!"
Since it is so evident that a man must ascend into liberty, which is self-government, by his highest nature, it is manifest that criminality is in no wise connected with liberty. Whence, then, such a sentiment as above quoted, unless the fact be that men of rapacious and criminal minds use the name of liberty as a cloak for their wrongdoing? By such use the word is defamed, for evil conduct is the expression of license, not liberty. Burke, in his "Reflections on the Revolution in France," says: "But what is liberty without wisdom, and without virtue? It is the greatest of all possible evils; for it is folly, vice, and madness, without tuition or restraint." It may be correctly said that there is no genuine understanding of liberty apart from Christianity. Therefore it is of deep importance to humanity that the guidance and teachings of the New Testament should be understood, so that men may learn freedom under the tuition of Christ Jesus.
The Greek word translated liberty connects itself with an old verb whence comes the future of the word meaning "to come." The freeman can say, I shall come; so the word "free" indicates literally "one who can go where he will." The word can be more clearly apprehended when the institution of slavery is remembered. The slave was coerced in his going and in his coming, and in no sense whatever was he free to carry out his own wish or desire. This point is made exceedingly clear in the teaching of Jesus in the eighth chapter of John's gospel. His discussion had induced many to believe on him, and to these he said, "If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." As they were Jews, they at once made assertion that as Abraham's seed they had never been in bondage. Then Jesus indicated what the foe of liberty really is, saying, "Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin." When we think of a "servant" we have in mind care and kindness, and wage as a reward for work done; but the Greek word here is "slave." Into the life of a slave came no reward; he worked under compulsion, and was perpetually in danger of punishment. Jesus went on to explain how through sonship, which he as the Son of God was unfolding, those who continued in his word should be "free indeed." We are therefore able to understand the statement of Paul, "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." It should be carefully noticed, however, that Jesus spoke of a continuing attitude of acceptance of his teaching, because experience shows what many wise men have said, that perpetual vigilance is necessary for the preservation of true liberty.
