495. Any freedom coming from the Lord is real freedom; but any that comes from hell and makes itself at home with a person is slavery. Still spiritual freedom must inevitably seem like slavery to anyone who enjoys the freedom of hell, since they are opposites. Yet all who enjoy spiritual freedom not only know but feel that the freedom of hell is slavery. The angels therefore shun it like the stench of a corpse, though those in hell sniff it as if it were a perfume. It is well known from the Lord's Word that worship freely given is true worship, and what is offered willingly is pleasing to the Lord. That is why we read in the Psalms of David:
I will make a free will offering to God. Ps. 54:6.
and in another place:
The willing ones of the peoples are gathered together, the people of the God of Abraham. Ps. 47:9.
For this reason the Children of Israel had free-will sacrifices. Their chief mode of sacred worship consisted of sacrifices. Because free-will offerings are pleasing to God they were instructed that every man who was impelled by his heart or moved by his own volition should bring a choice offering to Jehovah for the making of the Tabernacle (Exod. 35:5, 21, 29).
And the Lord says:
If you remain faithful to my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will recognise the truth, and the truth makes you free. If therefore the Son makes you free, you will be truly free. But anyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. John 8:31-36.
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