In illustration of the Savior's beneficence I may say that fed the hungry - gave sight to the blind - hearing to deaf - speech to the dumb - cleansed lepers - raised the dead - expelled demons - and as the crowning proof of his Messiahship, preached the gospel to the poor. When the hour came - the most memorable in the annals of time - in which he was nailed to the cross, he suffered not for himself, but for others. "He was wounded for our transgressions, bruised for iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and with his stripes we are healed." [Isaiah 53:5] By his atoning sacrifice he sustained the dignity of the divine law - vindicated its majesty - and harmonized justice and mercy in the salvation of men. That sacrifice is the foundation of human hope. The redeemed will through eternity ascribe their redemption to its infinite merit, and admire the beneficence exhibited in the amazing fact that their Deliverer became both the priest and the sacrifice. O, it is in the cross we see the wonders divine beneficence has done. And when the Redeemer rose from the dead, the damps of the sepulcher had not chilled the ardor of his love; for he sent forth his Apostles on the beneficent errand of preaching the "gospel to every creature." After he ascended to heaven and the Father, well pleased with what he had done, addressed him in majestic phraseology, saying, "Sit on my right hand till I make your enemies thy footstool" [Psalm 110:1] - he was still the beneficent Savior; for he shed forth the Holy Spirit in rich effusion on his infant church in Jerusalem. And from that day till now beneficence has been enthroned in his person, knowing no change amid the lapse of ages and the revolutions of time.With what moral power should the example of Christ opeerate on his followers! It should be the object of their anxious desire to be like him in doing good. "He has left them aa example that they should follow his steps." [1 Peter 2:21] They should copy him in all his imitable excellences, and in his beneficence he may be imitated. To be like him! What a distinction! What an honor! An honor before which all earthly glories fade away. Is it not a great absurdity to profess discipleship to Christ, and have no portion of that spirit that brought him from his throne to Bethlehem - thence to Gethsemane - and thence to Calvary. Be assured, Christian, that the example of Christ does not exert its legitimate influence over you unless it prompts you to give to the cause of God in proportion to your ability.
4. The responsibility of the churches of the saints in relation to a world lying in wickedness furnishes a powerful motive to pecuniary beneficence.This world belongs to God. It is a province of his vast empire. His claim to its allegiance, the combined powers of earth and hell can never invalidate. He who sets up a counter claim :s guilty of dishonesty and usurpation. This has been done by Satan. Jehovah's most prominent and most implacable antagonist. So extensive is the usurped jurisdiction which he exercises the inspiration has termed him "the prince, the god of this world." He has a kingdom - the kingdom of darkness. He sways a mighty scepter, the power of which obedient millions acknowledge. All his subjects cordially co-operate with him in the accomplishment of the objects of his tyrannical reign; for their depravity creates sympathy for those objects. The revenue of the Satanic kingdom is immense. Its treasury receives supplies from the North, the South, the East, and the West. The gold and silver after ages of desecration are still made subservient to the interests of this kingdom. Indeed, it has had such immemorial control of the wealth of the world that many of the professed subjects of another kingdom practically say wealthy should now be appropriated as it has ever been. Infidelity, idolatry, Paganism, Mohammedanism, Popery, the canal formalism of Protestant lands, a licentious press, and a corrupting literature, are all combining their influence to increase the power of the usurper king.But this world is to be brought back to its Rightful Sovereign. Our alienated planet, after centuries of lawless wandering, is to come into its proper orbit, and perform its harmonious revolutions around the Sun of Righteousness. The titles, "the prince of this world," "the god of this world," are to lose their applicability to Satan. His scepter is to be broken - his throne demolished - his kingdom overthrown. The shout is to be heard in heaven, "the kingdoms of our Lord and his Christ." Earth is become vocal with the praises of the Lamb that was slain - his name is to be music in the ears of all people - and the efficacy of his blood is to be felt in every clime.
It is delightful to contemplate through the medium of prophecy, the subjugation of the world to the Messiah. David, under the promptings of inspiration, said, "His dominion will be from sea to sea." [Zechariah 9:10] "All the ends of the world will remember and turn to the Lord, and all the kindred of the earth will worship before you." [Psalm 22:27] And even when the sweet singer of Israel was about to close his eyes in death, enraptured with the anticipation of the Redeemer's peaceful reign, he cried out, "Let the whole earth be filled with his glory." Isaiah, whose lips were touched with fire from the altar of God, uttered this prediction: "The mountain of the Lord's house will be established in the top of the mountains, and exalted above the hills, and all nations will flow unto it." [Isaiah 2:2] Daniel, who maintained his integrity amid the temptations of a licentious court, prophesied that "the little stone cut out of the mountain without hands should become great and fill the earth. [2:35] Looking through the long vista of years to the expiration of "a time and timely end the dividing of a time," [7:25] he said, "And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven will be to the people of the saints of the Most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions will serve and obey him." [7:27] How cheering are these prophetic declarations! How well adapted to inspire with sacred animation the hosts of Zion!
============== [From the Tennessee Baptist, March 31, 1860, p. 2, from CD edition. Scanned and formatted by Jim Duvall.]
More on J. M. Pendleton
Baptist History Homepage