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900
THE KEY OF KNOWLEDGE.
The fictitious discourse recorded in the verses that follow this dynamic truth was only designed to furnish a hint to the thoughtful as to the nature of the bondage referred to. The important verses bearing on the point are reproduced below :33. "They answered him, we be Abraham's seed, and were never
in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, ye shall be
made free? 34, “Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, who
soever committeth sin is the servant of sin. 35. " And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the
son abideth ever, 36. “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free
indeed." If we are to construe these verses correctly, we must first endeavour to find out the truth each of them lays down. Careful reflection will show that the 34th is intended to settle the question raised in the 33rd-whether the bondage meant national or political subjugation? The answer is plain : it is the servitude of sin that is meant, not national captivity. In the 35th verse a distinction is made between the conditions of servitude and Sonship, the former of which is pronounced to be terminable, but the latter eternal. The 36th finally lays down that true freedom from all kinds of bondsnote the force of indeed' after 'free'-can only be conferred by the Son who is to abide for ever. Now, we already know what the word 'Son' signifies in the mouth of Jesus- the soul that has inherited the status and glory of God. Thus if we put down our conclu- . sions categorically, we get,
1. that the word bondage in religion means the servitude or thraldom of sin;
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