PEN PICTURES by William P. Pearce

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 20, 1900

PEN PICTURES.

By William P. Pearce

WILLIAM P. PEARCE.

“God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3: 16.

One morning, several years ago, I received through the mail a letter with a New York stamp-mark upon it. On opening it, I found a brief message, and a check for over one hundred dollars. I read the significant words, again and again: “Pay to the order of William Pearce the sum of,” etc. Yes, that was my name, and the money was never more acceptable. It took but a moment to arrange for its investment. But one thing troubled me. Who sent the check? and was it meant for me? After considerable investigation, I found that it was for another William Pearce, who was then a student at the same school that I had left a short time before. The check was sent to its rightful owner, with the request that one of us change his name, and thus the middle initial of my name was born.

It is a blessed thing that John 3: 16 does not read, “God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that” William Pearce might be saved; for I know of several such characters, and what a life of anxiety and worry I should have in wondering if that William Pearce meant me. But when it says “whosoever,” that takes in all the Pearces, and Smiths, and Browns, and all the sinners of the whole world. “It is,” as Baxter said, “the most comforting word of the Bible.” It is the battle-ax which knocks to pieces the anxious soul reared in extreme Calvinism. It gives every sinner who will receive it, part and parcel in the great work of salvation, and makes him heir to eternal riches.

“Whosoever”—that means you, the one qualifying condition being “belief,” the result “saved,” and the gift “everlasting life.” Thank God for this gospel in a nutshell, which knows “no difference” in intellect, social standing, nationality, or wealth.

“Whosoever heareth, shout, shout the sound, Send the blessed tidings all the world around; Spread the joyful news wherever man is found, Whosoever will may come.”