The Christian Liberal
W. Birch. Isaiah 32:8 But the liberal devises liberal things; and by liberal things shall he stand. The name liberal comes from the Latin word liberalis, meaning free, open-handed, generous-hearted, and well-bred; it implies also a nature which acts according to its own desire, and yet is neither selfish nor narrow, being of pure mind and noble soul. 1. The genuine, Christ-inspired liberal loves freedom in the highest sense of the word. 2. He embraces other interests than his own. 3. He should be unselfish, broad, and catholic in his character. 4. To be liberal-natured after the standard of Christ is not so easy as it seems; it is the work of a life-time. (W. Birch.) Parallel Verses KJV: But the liberal deviseth liberal things; and by liberal things shall he stand. WEB: But the noble devises noble things; and he will continue in noble things.