THE LIBERTIES OF LIFE by William Covert

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · May 18, 1904

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 30, No. 20.

THE LIBERTIES OF LIFE.

By William Covert

THAT beautiful motto of Jesus, called the "Golden Rule," "Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them" (Matt. 7:12) is the comprehensive rule of life. It gracefully puts the doer of a deed in the receiver's place. Properly observed, this rule would maintain a happy moral poise for the whole family of earth.

The Lord intended humanity to enjoy a unit interest in life. The living of each individual was primarily intended for the helpfulness of all. Every departure from this principle is narrow and selfish, and therefore sin. All selfishness is sin. Take selfishness away, and sin is destroyed.

Taking the forbidden fruit was man's first act of selfishness. This set the evil mill going, and nothing but the infinite power of God's love can stop it. Because of selfishness, the commandments are put in the negative form; still their purpose is to promote true liberty. Transgression disturbed the happy equilibrium, and brought "thou shalt not" into the moral code.

But all the commandments are positive in their summary, which tells man to love his neighbor as himself. The soul that possesses this principle, walks at liberty, and is always found in the way of the Lord's commandments. The life that is hardened by selfishness can not be free. The influence of sin upon the heart of man acts like the winter's frost upon a pond of water. The mill-wheels are blocked while the water is frozen, so the work must wait till the water is set free. The warm rays of the sun must act upon the hardened mass. The melted current starts the good mill going, and thence flows on till it mingles with the blue waters of earth's mighty reservoir.

How like the winter-bound stream is the heart calloused by sin. The warm glow from the Sun of Righteousness must shine upon it, and dissolve the hardness. Then will start a stream which, by receiving rivulets, increases in volume until it bears many souls into the great ocean of God's love.

A free-born soul knows what the liberties of life mean. Released from the frosts of sin, life is employed in doing a thousand deeds of kindness, without losing its sweetness. It is softened and flexible, fitting anywhere this service is demanded. "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." "Freely ye have received, freely give."

The liberated water that turned the mill, is free to operate the next wheel in its course. Being versatile, it can be placed in a thousand positions, and yet enjoy its freedom. It may tumble over the cataract, swiftly speed with the current, silently rest in the lake, or be tossed in ocean's waves, and still be free.

A true life desires association. To be alone is bondage. When Adam was brought from the dust, the Lord said, "It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him an helpmeet for him." Gen. 2:18. When Eve was introduced to him, "Adam said, This is now bone of my bone, and flesh of my flesh; . . . and they shall be one flesh." "And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living." By special illumination, he comprehended the great truth that mankind constitute one brotherhood. The parentage of the human family being "one flesh," it follows that all are brothers and sisters, and hence the rights of every one are equal to those of every other.

Adam was made happier by the creation of Eve, because association freed him from the bondage of self. The earth was too large for one alone, but admirably adapted for a multitude.

The narrow-minded and stingy are much like the poor hedgehog, who rolls himself up in his own quills to keep from being approached. Everything that touches the little bundle of selfishness must be pricked by its barbs. The creature is imprisoned by its own embattlements, and seems to live for the purpose of supporting its thorns.

The Largest Life.

Life yields its richest fruit for the one who conforms most closely to its true purpose. The happiest man shares his gladness with the greatest number of people. His joys are multiplied according to the number of lives he blesses. The person who brings joy to a thousand has a thousand shares in the joy.

The apostle said: "Tho I was free from all men, I brought myself under bondage to all, that I might gain the more. . . . To the weak I became weak, that I might gain the weak; I am made all things to all men, that I may by all means save some. And I do all things for the Gospel's sake, that I may be a joint partaker thereof." 1 Cor. 9:19, 22, 23, R. V.

The hope of being a joint partaker in salvation with every soul who accepted Christ through his ministry, was indeed a pleasing prospect. And the sharing of the apostle in all their joy would only increase the joy of all. A thing so good as redemption from sin, must be given to others in order to be kept. He that would have salvation alone, can not have it at all.

In explanation of how he had been made free, the apostle said, "Am I not free? . . . Who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit? Who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk? He that ploweth should plow in hope, and he that thresheth in hope, should be a partaker of his hope." Even the affliction borne, the apostle says, "worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory."

The sowing of an evangelistic life, in the Gospel field, may be compared to the sowing of a grain of wheat, and then gathering and sowing again the whole product from year to year, until all garners are filled with the increase. The life of the first grain planted would thus be multiplied into countless millions. So with the fruit of a life like that of Paul. The increase brought into the kingdom is great beyond computation.

All-Comprehending.

That "life is the light of men." That life is the source and the way, the power and the glory. That life, tho the source of all things, was sown as a seed in the soil, and the prophet says it grew up a "tender plant."

It was sown in men's wounds, and healed over in their bruises. It gave life, and then received and swallowed up and destroyed death. It imparted righteousness, and yet was accounted as transgression. "In all their afflictions He was afflicted." "He bare them and carried them all the days of old." Even the iniquity of all was laid upon Him. He received within himself the accumulated sins of men. He exchanged justified life for inexorable death.

In giving this great price, Christ bought all men. All were lost but those in Him. All go into oblivion save those who live through Him. He lives in all, and all live in Him.