p. 4 | LIBERTY by H. A. St. John

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Oct 1, 1902

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 28, No. 40.

LIBERTY

By H. A. St. John

A Dream.

In my dream I suddenly arrived at a place where a multitude of people were assembled. At once I became interested to discover the object of the assembly, and so was not long in learning that it was Independence Day, and that the people were being addressed by stirring speakers on the subject of liberty. Pressing near to the speakers’ stand, I heard the closing words of one speaker, and no sooner was he seated, than, to my great surprise, my name was called. And instantly, it seemed to me, a multitude of voices were calling loudly and lustily for me to appear on the rostrum, and make a speech on the subject of liberty. At first I felt sorry that I had appeared in their midst, but there seemed no way of escape, so I quickly stepped on the platform. At once I noticed two vacant chairs, and the one nearest to me was a rocking-chair. I mounted the rocker, and, in part, spoke as follows:—

Ladies and gentlemen, fellow-citizens: You are, on this glorious Fourth of July, being filled and thrilled with the inspiring theme of national liberty. Our forefathers, the founders of our glorious republic, secured this liberty for themselves and for us, their posterity. They fought, and shouted, “Give us liberty, or give us death.” They obtained the liberty, but where are they to-day?—Ah! they are dead. It will be so with all of us who are alive here this day. We may fight to obtain or retain liberty of speech, but in a little while we lose the power to speak altogether. We may secure liberty of action, but in a little while we lose all power to act, we pass off the stage of action. Political, civil, or national, liberty is a good thing, as far as it goes, but it does not go far enough. It will not give one of us continued or immortal life. And the foes of our civil liberty are ever on the alert, and they abound in our very midst. It has passed into a national maxim that “Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.” It may be likened to this rocking-chair upon which I stand. It requires my constant attention to preserve my equilibrium. Allow me to change my standpoint to the still, strong chair by my side. As you see, I have made the change easily, with the aid of a friend near by, for the better foundation was near at hand. Just as near to every one of us as this, is a liberty resting upon a foundation that can not be moved; as much broader, and better, and higher than simple civil liberty, as the heavens are broader and higher than the earth. I refer to the liberty freely offered to every soul in the Gospel of Christ.

Jesus Christ is the greatest Liberator the world ever knew, or ever can know. He gave His life to purchase liberty for all who will accept it. And he whom Jesus makes free, is free indeed. This is really the only liberty worth the name. And this soul liberty is right

at your hand. Do not stand on the rocking-chair foundation of civil liberty alone, but take the outstretched hand of the great Liberator, and He will plant your feet upon the Rock of Ages. Then you will begin to appreciate the only true liberty, the liberty of body, soul, and spirit, liberty for time and eternity, liberty that earth can neither give nor take away, a liberty that transforms the requirements of God into a law of liberty. This is perfect, personal, and perpetual liberty. First a gracious liberty, next a growing liberty, and last a glorious liberty, even the glorious liberty of the children of God.

Strike for this Gospel liberty, and then at no distant day your last armed foe, which is death, will expire under the hand of your great Liberator and Deliverer. Then all oppressive rule, and authority, and dominion, and force, will be put down forever. Supreme love to God, and equal love to fellow-creatures, will pervade and govern the universe of God, henceforth and forever. Then the long-looked-for and prayed-for kingdom of God will have come, and the will of God will be done on earth as it is now done in heaven. Then, and not till then, will this world of ours become the land of the free and the home of the saved. Then every house will be a palace, every meal a banquet, every step a triumph, every day a jubilee, every hour a rapture, every moment an ecstasy, every breath an inspiration, every thought a doxology. Glorious liberty, internal, external, and eternal. H. A. St. JOHN.