April 24

Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour. - Acts 5:31.

LET us view the Saviour’s exaltation in reference to his PERSONAL CHARACTER. When an individual obtains elevation, we are all ready and anxious to know something of his qualities, not merely from curiosity, but on account of the influence he may thereby possess over others. There are four classes of men whom we should not wish to possess much power, for we are persuaded they would either misuse or abuse it.

We should not wish an ignorant man to possess power’: he would, for want of wisdom and knowledge, err in a thousand things. But in him who has “all this power” are “hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” He sees the end from the beginning. He sees actions in their very causes. He can distinguish between appearances and realities. He derives no information from either “events or reports.” He “needs not that any should testify of man, for he knows what is in man,” and therefore is not deceived, and never feels any perplexity in his government with regard to any of his measures or his means. While other rulers are often at their wits’ end, and are compelled to call in counsellors to advise with them, “he worketh all things after the counsel of his own will,” and, while he does all things, he does “all things well.”

Nor should we like an unfaithful man to have power. He too would misuse or abuse it. We have instances enough of this. When God confers power he always commits a trust. In all the endowments he bestows, he looks beyond the receiver. The receiver is not to become a proprietor, but a steward; a receiver not for himself only, but for others. We may exemplify this with regard to property. He gives a man wealth, for what purpose? To be useful, to do good, to communicate. But he improperly hoards it, or improperly expends it; and so the goodness of the Benefactor is counteracted by the villainy of the trustee. But with regard to this Saviour-Prince, he will fulfil every responsibility; he is true to all his trusts; he is faithful to all that is deposited in his hands. The apostle tells us that “it hath pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell” for the use of his church, and he will be faithful to the consignment of it. We are told that “he received gifts for men, even for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them;” and he will apply them accordingly; and he is delighted in the distribution of these benefits.

We should not wish an impatient man to have power. We know that he would ruin a thousand good plans and interests by his impetuosity, his passion, his haste. For as Solomon wisely remarks, “He that is hasty in spirit exalteth folly.” Now, with regard to our Saviour, he does not display slackness, as some people imagine, but he is “long suffering to usward.” He exercises patience; he is slow to anger; and therefore it is we are not consumed, and because his compassions fail not. Let us view him where Paul has placed him. Paul tells us that he is at the “right hand of God, expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.” He is in a state of expectancy, and he is waiting for something there. He knows that he must reign “from the river even to the ends of the earth;” but he sees not at present all things put under him. He looks down and sees much of his own empire at present over run with ignorance, and error, and idolatry, and superstition, and the works of the devil; but he knows that he shall realize it all by-and-by, and “in patience, he possesses his soul.” We make haste; we are eager in many cases; we are ready to complain, and even murmur, if our prayers are not immediately answered. Why, many of the prayers which he offered in the days of his flesh are not answered to this very hour; but they all will be answered-every one of them-in due time and manner; and he knows this, and reposes in the determination of infinite wisdom, “whose thoughts are not our thoughts, and whose ways are not our ways.”

Lastly, We do not wish an unmerciful, an unkind man to have power. Solomon tells us that “as a roaring lion and ranging bear, so is a wicked ruler over the poor people.” What does he know of their miseries? He never tasted their bitter bread. What cares he for any of their sufferings, provided he can roll in luxury, splendour, and ease? How often will he draw them from their peaceful homes, and expose them to hardships,- yea, sometimes lead thousands of them to the slaughter, -to gratify his ambition! But there is “another King, one Jesus.” This Prince does not sacrifice his subjects, but he sacrificed himself for their sakes; for precious is their death in his sight. “My flesh,” says he, “I give for the life of the world.” Ah, we here find that power, absolute power, is placed just where it should be placed.

We find infinite power lodged in the bosom of infinite benevolence. And we may easily forecast results; for him “shall the wilderness and the solitary place be made glad, and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose.” “Men shall be blessed in him; all nations shall call him blessed.”