The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1903-03-19
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O MISCELLANEOUS. d J
'%0%9s0.9e-9<os0s-o.o.o.o.s
A SERMON ON GIVING.

Preached by Rev. j. T.. Foster
at Secona Baptist Church, Sunday
March, I, 1903.
Acts, Oh, 20, verse 25.
"Remcmber the words of the
Lord Jesus how he said it is more
blessed to give then to receive"
That is n striking verse which
concludes the gospel testimony of
John. See 2lst chapter 25th
verse.
Doubtless the passage is highly
metaphorical, but it cantains this
great truth: that the Savior's say.
lpgs were 80 very numerous that
it was impossible for them all to
be recorded, or If recorded, tbat
they could not be read.
Now we need not be astonished
at finding Paul using a Saying
which he ascribed to jesus, al.
though it is not found in the
writings of the Evengelist. The
face of Paul's who POSSESSED the
spirit Of inspiraeioh, stating this
sentence to be Christ's is sufficient
warrant for it's Divinity. Let US
then regard this passage as a
precious gem of truth, by tho
Apostle from oblivion, that it
might instruct and edify all
true believers unto the end of the
world
In the text: /. There is q
blessedness implied.
2. The blessedness implied is
that of receiving.
The passage derives all its
logical force from this,
/. 1t is blessed to reoeive D.
supply Of our temporal needs, thus
we are blessed of God exery day.
The body has its wants and
necessities, and these must be met
or misery is the result. AS
temporal happiness is infinitely
preferable to temporal misery,
then it must be blessed to receive :.
New it is also blessed to receive
this temporal supply through the
medium of our fellow-men. For
an illustration of this, see the
miracle of the loaves and fishes.
It is blessed to receive alleviatlon
from our SORROWS and sufferings.
Man is an heir to sorrow, born to it
and ever exposed to it in this world
where it abounds. sometimes this
may be eorrow Of mind, uometimea
pain Of body.
Well it is a blessed thing to re-
ceive consolation, receive heelinp
or even alleviation. Who does not
congratulate those who were the
object Of Christ's compassion on
earth? DO you not say that blind
Bartinehs wrs blessed, the man
whose son wis possessed, the lepers
the widow who received her son to
life again? and Mary and Martha
who received their brother back to
life? Oh, yes, surely they were
blessed. So, when our pool
afflicted fellow creatures are sicl
. and in sorrow, Is it not blessed fo,
them to receive sympathy indeed?
g. 1t is especially blessed tc
' receive spiritual favors. Jesu,
styled it to be blessed to have the
privilege of the Gospel. Luke 10
! %. When the mind is dark, how
blessed to receive the comforts ol
the Holy Ghost, and a sense OF
! forgiving love" "How blessed to
receive grace to help in time o.
need'
Oh who can tell how blessed i,
Is 80 receive the pearl of great
price, the new name, the white
stone. God generally makes use o.
men as the instrument in con.
veying the knowledge of the way
Of salvation to the benighted
. sinner. But we notice:
. J. 1t is more honorable tt
!. give than to receive. Mon have
q applied worldly honor to many
: things horfid and vile. Tho suo'
cessful leader Of o destroying
: army, the man who risks hiu lifl
o and dares to attempt the death o
o another 10 styled SO. Oh, this II
:. FALSELY taatned, this 10 bafrehness
% whatevet men tnay cali it, A
% great. deal Of the honor of th,
y world which 10 not evil Ia vain
h tr1flinB and worthless But ther,
n 10 true honor oanheotad witt
!. benevoletce ahd llbetstity. Tht
:, hohofe Of d Howard, a GlaYkebr
9 add d Reynolds will hout,sh whet1
!" tho natheB bf atassaitia
II ph1losophefs ana %affiofa ~,
i |(havs petiahed from ths earth. "'
:, Tee station ot tbs suulplaus /,
: lsss dignified than thai al tht,, b,
2 RpsssoR who gives ~ ~
~ n ~ is nQse pleas9s6Eie Ii