p. 84 | Freedom by Uriah Smith

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 11, 1862

Freedom

By Uriah Smith

FREEDOM.—Whatever exists as the Lord made it, is free. The air is free, circulating where it will. The water is free, yielding to no obstacles. The birds of the air, and the beasts of the forest, are free. The earth is free, whirling on in its majestic revolution. The planets are free, revolving in the beautiful harmony in which God set them at first in motion. And so, too, the Christian, if he is in the place where his Master wants him, will likewise be free. It is only he who goes about as a roaring lion, who is opposed to freedom, and who would bring us into bondage. Let those about whom he has succeeded in weaving his strong cords, rise in the strength of the Lord, and break them as Samson did the green withes, like a string of tow. The directions which we have are to resist the Devil and he will flee from us; and he can bind us only when we permit him to come up to us; it is therefore in our power to keep ourselves free from his snares. We may be as free as the air which goeth where it listeth; as free as the running brook which rises and rolls over every obstacle which nature or the hand of man may throw across its course, thereby adding another song to the many voices of its melody. So the Christian may, and should, surmount every obstacle that lies in his path, and passing on, buoyant and free, make it the occasion of adding another note to the song of triumph and thanksgiving which he raises to Him who giveth him the victory. U. S.