If the truth have no charms for you, let freedom have its charms. In the usage of the Latin
tongue, the expression, “to be free,” is used in two senses; and chiefly we are accustomed to
hear this word in this sense, that whosoever is free may be understood to escape some danger,
to be rid of some embarrassment. But the proper signification of “to be free,” is “to be made
free;” just as “to be saved,” is “to be made safe;” “to be healed,” is, “to be made whole;” so
“to be freed,” is “to be made free.” Therefore I said, “If the truth have no charms for you,
let freedom have its charms.” This is expressed more evidently in the Greek language, nor
can it be there understood in any other sense. And that ye may know that in no other sense
can it be understood; when the Lord spake, the Jews answered, “We were never in bondage
to any man; how sayest thou the Truth shall free you?”4004 That is, “the Truth shall make
you free,” how sayest thou to us, who were never in bondage to any man? “How,” say they,
“dost Thou promise them freedom, who as Thou seest never bare the hard yoke of bondage?”
3. They heard what they ought; but they did not what they ought. What did they hear?
Because I said, “The truth shall free you;” ye turned your thoughts upon yourselves, that ye
are not in bondage to man, and ye said, “We were never in bondage to any man. Every one,”
Jew and Greek, rich and poor, the man in authority and private station, the emperor and
the beggar, “Every one that committeth sin is the servant of sin.”4005 “Every one,” saith He,
“that committeth sin is the servant of sin.” If men but acknowledge their bondage, they will
see from whence they may obtain freedom. Some free-born man has been taken captive by
the barbarians, from a free man is made a slave; another hears, and pities him, considers
how that he has money, becomes his ransomer, goes to the barbarians, gives money, ransoms
the man. And he has indeed restored freedom, if he have taken away iniquity. But what man
has ever taken away iniquity from another man? He who was in bondage with the barbarians,
has been redeemed by his ransomer; and great difference there is between the ransomer and
the ransomed; yet haply are they fellow-slaves under the lordship of iniquity. I ask him that
was ransomed, “Hast thou sin?” “I have,” he says. I ask the ransomer, “Hast thou sin?” “I
have,” he says. So then neither do thou boast thyself that thou hast been ransomed, nor thou
uplift thyself that thou art his ransomer; but fly both of you to the True Deliverer. It is but
a small part of it, that they who are under sin, are called servants; they are even called dead;
what a man is afraid of captivity bringing upon him, iniquity has brought on him already.
For what? because they seem to be alive, was He then mistaken who said, “Let the dead bury
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their dead”?4006 So then all under sin are dead, dead servants, dead in their service, servants
in their death.
4004 John viii. 33.
4005 John viii. 34.
4006 Matt. viii. 22.
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On the words of the Gospel, John viii. 31, ‘If ye abide in my word, then…