and receiving.
Christ loved His Church, and gave Himself for it, and the influence
should be the consecration of it; and individually we should give
ourselves, and give "now," "now;" not at any
future time, but "now." Ah! that will be a blessed gift;
and what in return? God gives everlasting life. Think just for
one moment of what is given in return, and you must exclaim, "Verily
it is more blessed to give than to receive." For we receive
infinitely more than we give.
Some one asked Alexander to give him a large sum of money, and
he instantly gave it. Some of his courtiers remonstrated with
him on the folly of giving his money to any one who asked him,
and giving all they asked for. He replied, " If it was not
too much for them to ask, it was not too much for an Alexander
to give.
God gives royally, like a king. " If any man lack wisdom,"
(and who does not?) "let him ask of God, who giveth liberally
and upbraideth not."
He gives like a king, but more royally, more princely,
more liberally. He gives everlasting life, obtained only through
the gift of His own dear Son. The Apostle Paul was lost in rapture
when he heard of it and thought of it. He burst out, "Thanks
be to God for His unspeakable gift."
God now says again, "See how wonderfully I have formed you,
put you in a world of wonders, given you a wonderful box that
cannot be destroyed, marvellous lids to let in and out, wonderful
servants to help, and a heart that should have a cluster of the
sweetest affections." Give, and give to the Royal Giver.
A French soldier was wounded by a. musket ball, and the surgeons
were probing the wound deeply to find the ball, when he cried
out, "Probe a little deeper, and you will find the Emperor,"
as much as to say that the Emperor possessed the very inmost and
deepest of his heart's affections, that he was entirely the Emperor's.
This is the giving, the thorough devotion that God requires. Give,
and enjoy the blessedness.
Printed by Hazell, Watson, & Viney, Ld., London
and Aylesbury
