The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-11-17
THE PULPIT.
D. SCHOLARLY SUNDAY SERMON BY
THE REV. JOSEPH A. BENNETT
Theme: Ilingship OF Jesus.

Brooklyn, N. Y.-Sunday morning
the Rev. Joseph A. Bennett, Of New
ark, Ohio, preached in the Greene
Avenue Baptist Church. His subject
was "The Kingship of Jesus" The
text was from John 1914, Behold
your King" Mr.. Bennett said:
The world has had many kings, all OF
whom have been more or less famous.
But it has had only one, who could in
truth be called King OF Kings and
Lord of Lords. Time and time again
the world has trembled, to know what
conception it's .~sovereigns had of their
sovereignty, for their conceptions in
evitably shaped their policies and de-
termined their actions But in
all the history of the world was it so
important. for the children of men to
know what conception their soVer-
eigns had of their sovereignty, as 1t
is for the child Of God to know what
conception the Christ had Of His king
ly office. And thanks be unto God,
we are not left in the dark concern
ing this momentous question, for we
may easily gather from the words II
the King Himself. and the lips OF
those whom He has commissioned to
speak in His behalf, a clear and vivid
conception of His Kingship. And this
is the task set for the accomplishment
of the present hour. We approach
the task with Joy and gladness, but
without the slightest hope of being
able fttingly to portray the beauties
of the King Eternal, and yet we wish
to consider as best we may, tho
Kingship of Jesus in its ground, its
realm, its character and its influence "
y First, then, the ground Of His King
ship. What right has the Christ to be
King? What are His credentials?
The kings Of this earth have gone to
their thrones by way OF royal birth,
intellectual force, the might of arms
or the glitter of gold. If such creden-
tials, be sufficient to insure a crown
and WELD a scepter, then surely the
Christ ought to wear the brightest
crown and sway the mightiest scepter
the world has eve known, for He
is as far above earthly monarchs as
the stars are above the ponds which
reflect their shimmering light. No;
Christ did not 60 to His throne
through royal birth, intellectual force,
the might of arms, the glitter OF gold,
or the schemes of politicians. What,
then, were His credentials? Well,
first, divine appointment, when in
the Second Psalm, Jehovah says, yet
have 1 set My King upon My holy hill
of Zion," He speaks of the Christ.
and. when in the fullneSs Of time the
Christ comes, it is not without signs
OF divine appointment and approval.
Among these we notice the song OF
the angels, the shining of the star,
the visit Of the Wise Men, the hushing
of the winds, the shilling of the waves,
the opening of blind eyes, the healing
of the sick and the raising Of the
dead. But, again, the Christ creden-
tials are Inherent Qualification" 1t
is necessary to a successful sovereign
that he have a comprehensive knowl-
edge of his subjects. He must know
their virtues and their vices, their
vocations' and their avocations, their
religion and their irreligion. In a
word, he must know and understand
human nature. He must also be pos
sessed Of a mind legislative and be
able to enact such laws as shall be
for the best interest Of his people.
Tie IuuSL US pOooC5SCu I'll q !
judicial and be able to execute those
laws with judgment tempered by
mercy. He must have a mind a
tial and be able to marshal the forces
of the realm for the protection and,
defense of his people. -
In all these things Jesus is pre-
eminent. He knows mankind as only
the Creator can;know. He knows the
weakness of the flesh and the strength
of temptation. He knows the deceit-,
fulness of the heart and the allure
ments of the world. He knows the
strength and temper of the devils
sword, for He has often crossed
blades with him. Jesus knows all.
these things and He is able to make
laws which, if obeyed, will make US
happy here and hereafter. He is able
to, and will, execute the laws which
He has formulated. Nor will He for
get the rewards and the p"nishments
belonging to those who obey or dis
obey. He is able and willing to mar
shall all the forces of Heaven to pro-
tect the weakest saint, who puts con-
idence in His name.
Again, the Christ credentials are
m%ediatorial acquisition. BY all the
sufferings of the cross, by the atone
ment Of His blood, He has won the
right to the scepter over human lives.
So much for the grounds OF His SOW
ereignty. But in what realm is He
sovereign? In the realm Of nature.
l;y Him and for Him were all things
made. The centre of this universe is
not the milky way, along which count
less worlds blaze their light, but
C''rist the new and living way, along
witch countless multitudes pass 70
tic Fathers house. He is King also
in Heaven. All the angels Of God
bCv down and worship Him. His
k: gdom is hig'er than the highest
HI ven. and deeper than the deepest
he.l. He is King among men. Mil
lions bow down before Him and wor-
shi', Him as King. On! yes; I know
millions more refuse to worship Him,
SAYING, I'VE will not have this man to
REIN over u.s." but some day Gods
wo.d will be fulfilled, when every
knee shall bow and every tongue con-
fesa Him as Saviour and Lord.
lie is King in the realm of the
CHI "cn. He has never abdicated His
throne or delegated His power to an
other. Christ alone is King, not
syrods, not presbyteries, not confer
encas, not, councils, not ~discredited
professors or ex-presidents of colleges,
but Jesus Christ.
He alone is King, and the scepter
OF His authority must sway in Chris
tan lives. No new religion here. A
Christian is one who loves Jesus