The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-12-18

claims of religion, of charity, Of thousand
applicants for help, with philanthrOpic ma
chinery OF oil kinds standing still or work.
ing inetfcienty for want of the fuel which
we possess and cannot use ourselves; with the
hungry crying for food, and the ignorant claim
ing instruction, and sinners needing the Gospel
perishiDg for lack of knowledge-it is fearful
resi- onsblity to possess great wealth, an awful
crime TO live life of covetousness which Is
idolatry, and to die rich, gaining the reputation
of leaving a vast fortune behind which can only
be as stern witness against its possessor an
unfathful steward. All honor, then, to George
Peabody that in his lifetime he recognized the
responsibility rs well as enjoyed the privilege of
wealth, and that he derived greater satisfaction
In scattering his possessions amongst the poor
than in indefinitely augmentng bis store. Alas!
for those who, possessing wealth, hoard it until
they can no longer keep it.; who close their ears
to the cries of the poor until death comes and
claims the whole at once with an irresistible
demand. Alas for those who, not being rich in
good works, die rich in silver and gold-silver
and gold that shall be witnesses of their greed,
and camorous for their condemnation ss un-
faithful stewards,
Jesus said, He that receiveth a prophet in
the name of a prophet shall receive prophets
reward And so we say he that gives penny
In the spirit of millionaire, shall receive
millionaire's reward. Brethren, we all admire
this illustration of benefCence, and we may use
1t to compare with Ii and bring before us the
greatest OF all benefactors. Weare not degrading
the Saviour In this Illustration. This is His own
cuaTaCIer. jesus speaks Ol himself as "A Erlenu,
and a Shepherd, and so from this illustration Of
munifcence we may think of Him who, though
I1o was rich, yet for our sakes became poor
All the world admires this great benefactor and
that noble gift of his. Oh, il all the world did
but prOportionatey admire our Master and our
Lord, who, though He was rich, yet became
poor, that we through His poverty might be
made rich
II will tell you OF Jesus, the prince of philan-
thrOpists, the greatest of emancipators, the
leader of the people, our brother as well as our
Lord, who took our very nature, who came down
and stopped to our low estate, who knew in His
own humanity what fierce temptations mean,
STOPPING so low, low the lowest here, to lift
us up SO high, high Himself in glory.
| 'Ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
| Though He was rich n the glory of Heaven, lit
| became poor to be despised and rejected of
| men; rich in the eifulgence of His Fathers
| favor, he became poor, and exclaimed, My
| God! my God why hast Thou forsaken me 7?
| He became poor, that we through his poverty
might become rich Those gifts of Peabody
| must necessarily be for n few; these gifts of
| salvation are for every one of us; those gifts
| of Peabody wisely are TO be appropriated to
| those who have some little degree of merit,
and who are above the very poorest of the
poor; but these gifts of Christ are for the very
bumblest and lowest, and those of us who
| feel we have no merit and no money and no
price of q moral kind by which TO merit saliva
| tion. 'IlO, every one that thirsteth, come We
| to the waters and he that hath no money,
come buy wine and milk without money and
without price, and in God, our strong habita-
| tion, we may dwell happily and safely. Oh,
| then, let us all accept His gift, honor His
name, obey His laws, uphold His character,
| expect His coming, and eXtoi his praises"