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And I beheld, etc. We learn here that all heaven, with its "ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands," agree in declaring that Christ, who is in the midst of the throne, is worthy to receive, not only power, wisdom, strength, honour, and glory, but riches, all riches mental and material. Who will gainsay the testimony of witnesses so enlightened, so honest, and so numerous? We shall regard the word as referring to material riches, gold. Gold is precious in more senses than one; it is a moral potentiality, and hence it is thought of in heaven and sung about there. Our subject is - Christ is worthy to receive man's worldly wealth. How can he receive it? He is far up the heights of the universe, beyond the vision and the reach of man. How do the monarchs receive the tributes of their people? Not directly, but through established agencies. Christ has established an agency on this earth for this purpose, and that agency is his Church. Whatever is done to further the evangelizing views and well being of his Church, he regards as being done to him. "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." Why is Christ worthy to receive your wealth?

I. BECAUSE HE IS THE ORIGINAL PROPRIETOR OF IT. The gold that any man holds in his hand is his in a very secondary sense. His property a few years ago was in the possession of others, and a few years hence it will pass from him into other hands. All material wealth belongs to Christ. "The beasts of the forest are mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills;" "The wild beasts of the field are mine," etc. (see also Job 41:11; Deuteronomy 10:14; 1 Chronicles 20:19). Man is but the trustee of his wealth; Christ is the Proprietor.

II. BECAUSE HE HAS ENABLED YOU TO PROCURE IT, Why have you wealth more than others? Has it come to you through heirdom, legacy, or your own industry? In either case you have it through Christ. Perhaps you ascribe it to your shrewdness, your industry, your management: but whence came these? All business aptitudes and opportunities are the gift of Christ. All the conditions by which your wealth has been attained are according to his arrangement.

III. BECAUSE HE GIVES YOU THE QUALIFICATIONS TO ENJOY IT. Do you enjoy your wealth? - enjoy all the conveniences, comforts, and powers which it imparts? If so, why? All do not. The miser does not, the invalid does not, the idiot does not. Who gave you the unmiserly spirit, the bodily health, the mental capacity, by which you enjoy your riches? All the qualifications that you have for enjoying your property are his gifts.

IV. BECAUSE HE WILL MAKE THE BEST USE OF IT.

1. The best use of it for yourselves. There is no better investment. In truth it is for your sake that Christ wishes you to give it to him. He could have planted churches on every hill, schools in every valley, written his Bible on the broad heavens; but he knew right well that you would be better blest by contributing of your property to the diffusion of his truth. Your contributions to him serve you in many ways.

(1) Serve to test your character. Until you can give freely that which you value most, what evidence have you of your love to him? None.

(2) Serve to detach you from materialism. Wealth tends to materialize the soul. Every contribution to spiritual objects counteracts the tendency. It is another step up the ladder whose foot is deep down in materialism, but whose top reaches to the holy heavens of spirit and love.

(3) Serve to ennoble your character. It is a great thing to be trusted, to be thrown upon your honour. Christ trusts you.

2. The best use of it for the world. When you are gone, Christ's Church will be here working with the means you have entrusted to it, and working to spread truth, virtue, and happiness through the world. "Worthy is the Lamb to receive riches." Don't shirk collections, don't regard them as trials. Hail them as blessings, and remember that "it is more blessed to give than to receive." - D.T.

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KJV: And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;

WEB: I saw, and I heard something like a voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousands of ten thousands, and thousands of thousands;