THE SACRIFICE OF CONTINUAL PRAISE. 25 who shall bravely fight to rivet tighter the chains of their own kindred. Says Count De Gasparin: “There exists, thank God, between liberty and the gospel, close, eternal, indestructible relations. I know of one species of freedom which contains the germ of all the rest, freedom of soul. Now wdiat was it, if not the gospel, that introduced this freedom into the world ? Remember ancient Paganism : neither liberty of conscience, nor liberty of individuals, nor liberty of families—such was its definition. The State laid its hand upon all the inmost part of existence: the creeds of the fathersand the education of the children. Moral slavery also existed every where, and if slavery properly called had been any where wanting, it would have given cause for astonishment. T'De gospel came, and with it these new phenomena ; individual be lief; true independence, makes its advent here on earth ; a liberty, worthy of the name, appears finally among men. From this time we see men lifting up their heads ; despotism finding its limits ; the humblest, the weakest, opposing to it insurmountable barriers.” We will, we must, yet be a free people—the gospel of Jesus Christ; the church of God, shall be the mighty instrumentalities that shall open the prison door to let the oppressed go free. The night has been dark, and fearful, and long, but “ behold the morning cometh ” is the message sent to cheer our hearts, by the watchman from the. tower. Yes! the morning cometh, and the day will dawn ; the day of 4
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTM4ODY=