b) The right and power to act, believe, or express oneself in a manner of one's own choosing.
c) The condition of being physically and legally free from confinement, servitude, or forced labor.
Freedom from unjust or undue governmental control.
A right or immunity to engage in certain actions without control or interference: the liberties protected by the Bill of Rights.
[Middle English liberte, from Old French, from Latin lberts, from lber, free; see leudh- in Indo-European roots.]
The Duty of Standing Fast in Our Spiritual and Temporal Liberties
A Sermon, Preached in Christ-Church, July 7th, 1775.
Before the First Battalion of the City and Liberties of Philadelphia; And now published at their Request.
By the Reverend Jacob Duche´, M. A. Philadelphia.
Galatians, Chap. 5 Part of First Verse
Stand fast, therefore, in the Liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free.
Gentlemen of the First Battalion of the City and Liberties of Philadelphia,
Though I readily accepted of the invitation, with which you were pleased to honor me, and am fully satisfied that there can be no impropriety in complying with your request, yet I confess, that I now feel such an uncommon degree of diffidence, as nothing but a sense of duty, and a sincere sympathy with you in your present trying circumstances could enable me to overcome. The occasion is of the first importance: the subject in a great measure new to me – Throwing myself, therefore, upon your candor and indulgence, considering myself under the twofold character of a minister of Jesus Christ, and a fellow-citizen of the same state, and involved in the same public calamity with yourselves; and looking up for counsel and direction to the source of all wisdom, "who giveth liberally to those that ask it" – I have made choice of a passage of scripture, which will give me an opportunity of addressing myself to you as freemen, both in the spiritual and temporal sense of the word, and of suggesting to you such a mode of conduct, as will be most likely, under the blessing of Heaven, to ensure to you the enjoyment of these two kinds of liberty. Stand fast, therefore, in the liberty, wherewith Christ hath mad us free.
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