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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/15822.txt b/15822.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9534982 --- /dev/null +++ b/15822.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2805 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Faithful Steward, by Sereno D. Clark + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: The Faithful Steward + Or, Systematic Beneficence an Essential of Christian Character. + + +Author: Sereno D. Clark + +Release Date: May 12, 2005 [eBook #15822] +[Last updated: January 17, 2011] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE FAITHFUL STEWARD*** + + +E-text prepared by Jared Fuller + + + +Prize Essay. + +THE FAITHFUL STEWARD; + +Or Systematic Beneficence an Essential of Christian Character. + +by + +REV. SERENO D. CLARK. + + + + + + + +PUBLISHER'S ADVERTISEMENT. + +The following is from the Circular of the Committee of Award, signed +THOMAS S. WILLIAMS, WILLIAM R. WILLIAMS, R. T. HAINES. + +"The committee selected to award a premium of $250 for 'the best approved +treatise on the importance of Systematic Beneficence, and of statedly +appropriating certain portions of income for benevolent objects,' report, +that they have examined one hundred and seventy-two manuscripts submitted +to them, several of which are large treatises, and a number marked by +distinguished merit. They selected four, as in their judgment superior +to the rest. Of these four, each was found to have its peculiar +excellencies and adaptation to usefulness--this in one walk, and that in +another. Literary merit, thoroughness of discussion, and a spiritual and +practical character, each and all necessary, in their measure, to render +a composition 'THE BEST' in the sense of the original offer of the donor, +are to be found blended, in various proportions, in these several +treatises, and rendered the task of decision the more embarrassing. The +committee were thus unable to select any one, two, or three, as on the +whole preferable to the remainder of these four. They therefore awarded +the premium, which the benevolent donor has increased to $400, to be +divided equally among these four manuscripts;" one of which is here +offered to the public. + + + + +CONTENTS. + +PART I. + +Introduction.--Systematic Beneficence argued.--Nature + of such a System, + +PART II. + +Distinction between a General and Particular System. + --Two Questions discussed. 1. What is the proportional + amount of property or income to be given individually + in charitable contributions; together with the principle + on which the amount is to be ascertained? 2. How + frequently should stated contributions be made? + --The method of previous appropriations discussed, and + the duty enforced, + +PART III. + +The General System given in detail.--1. It must consist + of intellectual views, their inculcation, and harmonizing + affections and desires. 2. Of general purposes and + resolutions. 3. Of correspondent actions.--The adoption + of the Individual System urged.--Systematic + Beneficence an essential of Christian character, + +CONCLUSION. + +An Address to professed Christians.--An Address to the + Rich.--An Address to the Young, + + + + + +THE FAITHFUL STEWARD. + +PART I. + +"GOD IS LOVE." Perfectly blessed in Himself, he desired that other +intelligences should participate in his own holy felicity. This was his +primary motive in creating moral beings. They were made in his own +image--framed to resemble him in their intellectual and moral capacities, +and to imitate him in the spirit of their deportment. Whatever good they +enjoyed, like him, they were to desire that others might enjoy it with +them; and thus all were to be bound together by mutual sympathy,--linked +to Himself, and to one another; otherwise, they would not resemble their +Great Original, either in feeling or conduct. But intelligent beings, +unlike Himself, Jehovah, in consistency with his holy character, could +never purpose to create. He thus must eternally abhor the covetous; and +hence, with all the strength of his infinite nature, threaten them with +everlasting death. + +How glorious this idea of creation, and how beautiful the universe +produced!--the whole mantled in the effulgence of the eternal throne; +the Sovereign Creator upholding all ranks of intelligences in the hollow +of his hand, and pouring into their bosoms the fullness of his own +fruition; while their hearts, in turn, rise to the Source of their being +in sweetest incense of joy and praise; each burning with a seraph's love +to communicate his own overflowing enjoyments to those around him. Well +might the morning stars have sung together when such a universe awoke to +being. + +The greatest good, the richest possession, then, of an intelligent +being, is a soul in harmony with this original design of creation--a +oneness of principle, of feeling, and interest, with God; in other +words, _disinterested benevolence_. Truly, "It is more blessed to give +than to receive;" for without the good will the generous deed implies, +whatever else we have, we must have sorrow. + +But how little of this spirit is evinced by man in his fallen state. +Those ties of love, that bound us to our Creator and to one another, are +sundered; as a race, severed from the governing Centre of all, each has +chosen a centre for himself, and is moving on in darkness and ruin; +selfishness the rule, self-interest the end. + +Benevolence is not, therefore, natural to man. To practise it requires +the greatest effort; it is reascending to that lofty height whence we +have fallen. Hence the importance of System in the great work of +beneficence. + +System in action implies a principle from which it proceeds. +Fluctuating opinions and feelings produce fickleness of conduct; while +settled convictions, stability of affections, and fixedness of purpose, +give birth to persevering and methodical action. A system of +beneficence must be founded on abiding principles and dispositions. + +_I proceed to show in the first place, the Duty of Systematic +Beneficence thus founded_. + +I. _I argue the duty of systematic beneficence from the analogy of +nature_. The Author of nature is the perfection of order. Whatever he +does, he does systematically. He proceeded in the great work of +creation with regularity. Order moulded the planets, and every star +that gems the evening sky; it launched them forth in their orbits, and +guides their glorious way, producing "the music of the spheres." Order +stretched the very layers of the everlasting rocks like ribs around the +earth, and shaped the crystals of the cavern. There is order in the +structure of every spire of grass, of every flower and shrub, of every +tree and trembling leaf; in the mechanism of every animal, from man in +his godlike attitude, to the smallest microscopic tribes. All organic +existences are preserved in being, nurtured, grow and mature, according +to certain laws. Even the winds, that stir the petals of the flowers, +breathing fragrance and health, and the tornado, that bows the forest +and dashes navies, obey established principles. Now, shall there be +order all around me, and in my physical frame, in the flowing blood, in +the heaving lungs, and chiseled limbs, while the accountable actions of +this finely-knit and symmetrical form, especially the loftiest actions +for which it was made, the diffusion of good, are exempted from this +universal law? Such an exception, how incongruous! It would be an +excrescence on the very vitals of nature. + +II. _From the characteristic of Divine beneficence_. The supply of +our physical necessities and comforts comes in the order of those +natural laws already referred to. Social and civil blessings result +from certain principles of mental, moral, and political science. Method +is equally characteristic of our spiritual blessings. No sooner had man +fallen, than God began to unfold the remedial scheme. But he is +influenced by no impulses in accomplishing the wondrous plan. He rushes +not to the result with an impetuosity indicative of a zeal that flames +along its course uncontrolled by reason. But there is a steadiness of +onward movement, showing that unwavering principles of order preside +over all his proceedings. The world, the intelligent universe, must be +prepared for such a stupendous event as the incarnation and death of the +Son of God; prophecies, promises, types, and ritual institutions must +gradually open the scheme, ere the final development could be suitably +made. After forty centuries of preparation, Christ came; and yet years +must pass away, before, in that order of events which God had +established, the crowning event of all could occur,--the propitiatory +sacrifice be offered up. In extending the kingdom thus founded, the +same order, the same adaptation of means to ends, is observable. The +word of God, the Sabbath, the sanctuary, the workings of the Holy +Spirit, and the co-operation of the individual reason and conscience, +are all linked consecutively to each other, or work in beautiful harmony +together. Thus, throughout the entire scheme of spiritual blessings, +reaching from the opening promise of a Saviour to the incarnation; and +from the incarnation to the judgment; and onward to eternity, everything +is done systematically. + +This is the result of the unchanging principles of the Divine Mind. +They grow with a steady heat, equally prompting him to activity at every +moment. Hence, like the sun shining in its strength, God sends down +unweariedly the rays of his love, both on the evil and on the good, +crowning their days with "loving-kindness and tender mercies." Indeed, +should the ardor of his love cool, or the hand of his power or grace be +withdrawn but for a single moment, all our hopes would be dashed, our +very existence cease. + +From this characteristic of the Divine beneficence, the inference is +irresistible. If man is bound by the condition of his being, to imitate +God in his moral character and conduct, he must cherish the same abiding +principles of benevolence, and carry the same steady hand in diffusing +good. The ardor of his love may never cool; his hand of charity never +weary. He must be god-like. With permanency and uniformity of conduct, +imitative of his own, our Holy Sovereign will be well pleased. But with +him who is wavering in his principles; vacillating and impulsive in his +purposes of good; at one time toiling for others with the utmost +earnestness, and then, forgetful of their wants and woes for months +together, he must be displeased. How unlike our Great Exemplar. He was +_always_ doing good. "The labor of his life was love." Reader, would +you please your compassionate Savior? Go, and do likewise. + +III. _From the necessity of system to success in any kind of business_. +One cannot accumulate wealth, acquire learning, rise to distinction in +any of the professions or trades without system. Even the pleasures of +life depend much on regularity; otherwise they cloy and become insipid. +He, who is unsteady in his habits, now indulging in ease, and now +straining every muscle; who, as some excitement arouses him,--such +perhaps as the fresh inculcation of economy and industry, flares up and +bustles about, resolves that his business shall henceforth be prosecuted +with vigor and managed with precision, and in a few days relapses into +his old, careless, inefficient habits, heedless alike of prudence and +precept, gives little promise of success in any department of life. Or +should one be perseveringly industrious, but suffer his affairs to lie +in confusion, like the material world at its birth, he would be deemed +at best but a busy-body. If he intends to succeed, he must have some +established principles and a fixedness of purpose, which will prompt to +accuracy and method, would be the universal decision of the wise. This +is reasoning correctly. But must men practise on system in providing +the means of personal supply and gratification; while in the Divine work +of relieving the sorrows and wants of others, all system is matter of +indifference? Is order so important in the _accumulation_ of property; +while the _diffusion_ of it, in obedience to God's commands, may be +safely left to the spontaneous impulses of feeling? The more important +any business becomes, the more essential is precision in its management. +This is a universal maxim. Now, as beneficence, in its comprehensive +import, rises superior to all other employments, so, if it ever reaches +its highest possible results, it must be carried on systematically. How +often does benevolence to the poor fail of accomplishing all that it +otherwise might, were it not exerted irregularly; whereas, when +proceeding in equable flow, by encouraging frugality and economy, it +fills even the dwellings of poverty with comfort. How much more +efficient would our great benevolent societies become, were the +contributions of the churches uniform, or uniformly rising like the +waters from the sanctuary in Ezekiel's vision; so that those who conduct +them might have sufficient data on which to erect their schemes for the +future. It would infuse new life into all their operations; elevate +them to a loftier position, from which they might stretch their arms +around the world, and kindle joys reaching to heaven. Besides, is it +not matter of personal experience, that when order enters into, and +pervades our worldly business, we accomplish far more than when it is +left to the driftings of fortune, or to the mere suggestions of the +mind? And can any reason be assigned why the same practice should not +be equally productive in carrying out the noblest work of our being? + +Thus personal experience in other matters observation, and theory, alike +teach us that the work of benevolence may not be left to the impulses of +natural feeling--to the influence of lectures and appeals, or casual +stimulants. It must be planted in principle, and issue in regular +contributions, like the tree of life yielding her fruit every month, if +we would have the blessing of many ready to perish come upon us. Those +who depend on intermittent springs are liable to suffer thirst. + +IV. _From the deep-seated depravity of the human heart_. Depravity is +supreme selfishness. This, in unregenerate men, is the governing +principle. Quick-sighted, ever on the alert, and lying, as it does, at +the foundation of the active powers, it becomes the propeller of the +mind. It leads to a series, and thus substantially to a system, of +actions. They may not always be rational; yet, as they spring from a +fixed principle, and proceed in an uninterrupted current, they may +properly be termed systematic. Hence the natural man feels a constant +pressure of motives to conduct pleasing to himself; and is thereby borne +away on the maddening torrent of self-gratification. There must be a +counter-current; billow must battle with billow. The antagonist +principle demanded is benevolence; and antagonist principles, coming in +collision, must press with equal force, or one gradually gaining upon +the other, will eventually secure the victory. The combatant, who is +for a moment off his guard, or ceases to struggle, falls. As +selfishness is always awake, benevolence must never slumber. The latter +must be as spirited and persevering as the former. Hence, benevolence +must be systematic in its operations, or it will be overborne by the +ever-stirring energies of its opponent. Its series of acts must be as +continuous and energetic as that of selfishness, in order simply to +arrest the course of the latter; and to make advances against its +headlong current, a strong additional force is requisite. A system, +therefore, one founded in the depths of the soul, and bringing to its +aid all the resources of reason and conscience, is indispensable to +efficiency in the angelic work of doing good. System must be emblazoned +on the banner of every benevolent society; and inscribed on the brow of +every man by nature selfish, would he bless the world by his +munificence. + +Especially is system necessary to encounter emergencies. Men of +business not unfrequently meet with crises when their affairs are in a +critical state. Numerous calls for money may come thronging in upon +them almost simultaneously. Their nerves may become depressed, and +things may appear darker than they really are. Besides, Christians even +may become worldly-minded, and their religious affections low. At such +times benevolence will almost surely be submerged by the whelming tide +of selfishness, unless buoyed up by well-established system. + +V. _From experience, which shows the inefficiency of impulsive +benevolence_. That liberality is sometimes the offspring of the kindly +tendencies of our natures, is readily admitted. God, in making us +social beings and helpers of each other's joy, gave us susceptibilities +to sympathetic emotions. When objects of suffering are presented before +us, our sensibilities are moved, tears flow, and the hand is extended in +relief. But these emotions are short-lived. The exciting object being +removed, they soon expire. And though thousands have flowed into the +treasuries of charity from this source, when an accomplished agent, with +a soul heated to a glow with his theme, has stirred the sensibilities of +his hearers as the trees of the forest are rocked by the tempest, or +some other influence has violently swept the chords of the heart; yet it +is a source of too little depth and durability to give vitality to the +persevering work of beneficence, in a world cankered to its center with +corruption. Selfishness soon leads off the mind to other subjects; so +that contributions can be drawn from the natural sympathies only by the +repeated and almost continued presentation of the suffering object. But +this course will ultimately defeat its own end; tending, as it does, to +harden the heart, and thereby to seal up the very fountains intended to +be opened. Accordingly, we find that those who have no plan of +munificent effort, but give merely as their sensibilities are moved, +usually contribute less and less as they advance in age; their +susceptibilities to sympathetic emotion becoming hardened like the road +over which the crushing wheel has rolled for years. Hence, though the +product of impulsive benevolence may sometimes be bountiful, yet when we +contemplate its workings for any lengthened period, its fruits are found +neither uniform nor abundant. The soil is too thin for enduring +fertility. + +We find this exemplified in our churches where no system of charity is +adopted. For want of stated times for contributions to the different +objects, they are apt to be forgotten or neglected. They whose duty it +is to make the appointments, are engaged in other cares; time whirls on; +the year passes away, and no collection is made. Or if a few objects +receive occasional attention, others are passed over for years +altogether; proving to a moral demonstration, that what is done +irregularly in the work of beneficence, is ill done. To this, the +agents of our benevolent societies passing through our churches, can +bear sorrowful testimony.--The same is true of the individual. Every +one knows that what falls not into his regular routine of duties, is apt +to slide from the memory. This is peculiarly true of benevolence, for +selfishness helps us to forget; and it the contribution come to our +recollection, we are not ready to give just then; some debt must be +first paid, some convenience purchased, or some other urgent call +attended to. Thus he, who has no system in the bestowment of his +bounties, is always finding excuses to turn off the edge of arguments +and the force of appeals; though perhaps with the resolution of giving +liberally at some future period. Here lies his greatest danger. The +resolution satisfies his conscience; and while resting upon it, the +opportunity to contribute passes away, and souls are lost; whereas, had +he acted on principle, the donation, though inconvenient would have been +made, and souls saved. + +Such is not unfrequently the mournful termination of impulsive +benevolence. Tears may be shed over the anguish wrought; but tears +cannot remedy the evil; this must flow on in wailing and woe forever. +But it may be prevented by the timely admonitions of experience. For +that selfishness can be suppressed, and benevolence sustained, only by +the strong hand of principle and systematic effort, is the voice of +ages. + +VI. _From Scripture_. All duties enjoined in the Scriptures, if +contemplated in their principles, will be found subjected to the control +of reason; and, if they lie under the control of reason, they must be +conducted methodically. All acts of worship, from the first requisition +of Divine homage given in Eden, onward through the successive +generations of the patriarchs, were to be performed with decency and in +order. The Mosaic economy was one of the most rigid exactness. The +ritual prescribed to the Jews required the utmost method. The same law +held in regard to the payment of tithes and their multiplied gifts to +the Lord. This precision, with which every one must be struck in +reading the Old Testament, is doubtless designed for the instruction of +all succeeding times. But what is its peculiar lesson to us? It, at +least, shows us that God is pleased with regularity in the conduct of +his people; and not less in their beneficent transactions than in the +discharge of their other duties. The same principle of order is +transferred to Gospel times. Here, there may be liberty, but there must +be regularity. This is taught in that general commendation of Paul to +the Colossian christians for the order and steadfastness that rejoiced +him. (Col. ii. 5.) But if regularity in other things is pleasing to +God under the New Dispensation, why is it not in this divinest work of +an intelligent being? This is specifically shown in the injunction of +Paul to the Corinthians,*[1 Cor. Xvi. 2.] for each one to lay by him in +store on the first day of the week, as God had prospered him. Now, +without pushing this text to extremes, and affirming that the Holy Ghost +intended to require of all christians in all circumstances and in all +ages, to contribute a portion of their substance in charity every +Sabbath, the passage most distinctly shows that God is pleased with +systematic benevolence--with stated appropriations of income to objects +of munificence. As order is nature's first law, so it is of the +Scriptures. + +System in our benefactions is thus clearly a duty devolving on all. It +is alike the voice within and the voice from heaven. It cannot be +neglected without imminent peril. It is a subject of vital interest. +It must be deeply pondered. It must be earnestly prayed over. The +great idea must enter, like a consuming fire, into the very heart's +core, and inflaming it with zeal, bring forth fruit an hundred fold to +the Lord. + +One thing more. Every man is bound to make the most of his being. All +his powers, both of body and of mind, are to be taxed to the utmost, and +exerted in the most _effective manner_. Each duty, without intrenching +on others, should be performed in such a way, as best to secure the end +aimed at in the obligation. Manner may not be disregarded. If there is +reason to believe that the end contemplated in the obligation to +beneficence may be best reached by a course of systematic effort, the +very fact should lead to its immediate adoption. At the close of the +preceding arguments, without reasoning in a circle, this may be adduced +as a consideration of no small force, inducing every one to cast about +him, and solemnly consider whether he is conducting his charities in the +most efficient method; _manner_ and _spirit_ being as binding as the +generous deed itself. And on this principle, every precept, promise, +and example of revelation, enforcing benevolence, is really a precept, +promise, and example, arousing to systematic benevolence. The same is +true of the various incentives to this glorious work, offered in the +ensuing pages; and in this light let the reader regard them. + +_In the second place, what is the Nature of a Scriptural System of +Beneficence_? This is an important inquiry. Every system, as we have +seen, must be founded in principle--a principle rooted in the active +powers, resting down upon the main-springs of the soul, so as to be +moved forward by all the mental energies combined. But it must not only +rest on principle; it must rest on right principle. The moral character +of a system depends on the character of the moral feelings from which it +rises; and it is the moral character of any scheme of action, which, +under the government of God, gives it permanent efficiency; for to +succeed, it must have his co-operation and aid. Besides, a system of +benevolence is designed to combat the selfishness of the heart; a +principle, strong, subtle, insidious, and developing itself in ten +thousand different ways. Diametrical opposition to this, therefore, +must be its leading characteristic. The natural sympathies, and +conscience, and reason, must, indeed, be enlisted in its service; but +all these united are insufficient to support enduringly a system of +munificence against this formidable antagonist. For selfishness may +entirely submerge the sympathies, so that he who can weep with his +bereaved neighbor at the grave of his child, may, with the malignity of +a fiend, be inwardly pleased at the death of an enemy. Selfishness may +so control the conscience, that it will utter no upbraiding accents; and +so bewilder the keen-sightedness of reason, that one may put darkness +for light, and bitter for sweet, and sin for holiness, while +complacently feeling that he is standing on the everlasting hills of +truth. Neither the natural sympathies, nor conscience, nor reason, +then, can form the substantial basis of a system of action which is to +battle with the selfishness of the human heart. It must be informed +with a higher and nobler principle. Holy love is such a principle. +This, in its very nature, is superior to all other affections of the +soul. The object on which it is fastened is the Great Supreme, and all +other objects disappear before it, as the stars before the morning sun. +A system, then, inwrought with this heaven-born principle, controlling, +quickening, inspiring all the moral energies of the soul, may resist +this mighty foe of the heart; and it forms the only insuperable bulwark +to his malignant inroads. This position accords with the Scriptures. +They approve of no external act, only as it proceeds from a holy heart; +otherwise, they stamp it as self-righteousness or superstition. A +system of benevolent action, resting on any other foundation, falls +under the same condemnation; it contains no element of life, nothing +truly pleasing to God. Men may endeavor to find other bases on which to +rear schemes of charity; they may bring to the task the most penetrating +sagacity, and traverse again and again the secret windings of the mind, +to find some other lurking principle which can resist and subdue the +batteries of covetousness; but all their efforts will be vain. Whatever +they may erect will be built upon the sand; the winds and floods will +sweep it away. There is no foundation which can withstand the +underminings of the depraved heart, and the shocks of a depraved world, +but the rock of holy love. + + + +PART II. + +Systematic beneficence is capable of a twofold division. There is a +general or universal system, binding indiscriminately and equally on all +of every rank and condition; and a particular system adapted alone to +the circumstances of each individual. The latter stands related to the +former, as the edifice to the foundation on which it rests. This +distinction must be kept clearly before mind, if we would have definite +views of our obligations relative to this important subject. In the +ensuing discussion, I shall confine myself mainly to the general system; +believing that if God's people are correct in sentiment, rooted and +grounded in moral and christian principles, they will be substantially +correct in practise. And as the particular or individual system grows, +by a moral necessity, out of the other when fully embraced, being, in +fact, involved in the practical part of it, I propose to give but +occasional hints concerning it. + + +Practically considered, a system of beneficence consists in two things: +the amount of property bestowed, and the frequency of stated gifts to +the Lord. + +Before detailing in full, therefore, the general system of beneficence, +these two questions must be thoroughly discussed--1. What is the +proportional amount of property or income to be given in charitable +contributions? 2. How frequently should stated contributions be made? + +The first of these is a point the most difficult for the depraved heart +to reach. Self-interest clamors most loudly for the smallest sum +possible. Her whole strength must here be encountered. But +selfishness, properly so called, has nothing to do with the question. +The rule determining the amount must be fixed upon, not only entirely +without her aid, but in direct opposition to her insidious suggestions. +It must also be a rule growing out of those principles which take hold +of, and bind the conscience; and therefore clearly taught in the Bible. +This is a consideration which may not be overlooked. If we endeavor to +deduce a rule from principles not found nor recognized in the +Scriptures, the influence will be disastrous; we shall rather +strengthen, than weaken, the covetous tendencies of the heart. + +It has appeared to some of vast importance to fix upon a definite amount +of income as each one's yearly contribution. A tenth has been named as +the proportion divinely approved, in imitation of Jacob's vow to give a +tenth to God of all that he should receive at his hand; and because the +Jews were required to pay a tithe of their yearly increase for the +support of the Levites. Arguments have been adduced to show that this +ratio in charity is obligatory on all; at the same time, it has been +acknowledged not to be enjoined in the New Testament. We think, +however, the ground untenable; and all efforts to designate this or any +other fixed proportion as universally binding, both inexpedient and +unscriptural. + +In the first place, it would not be equal. An alleged requisition, not +pressing equally upon all in its ordinary operations, cannot rise out of +the necessary relations of the spiritual universe, and therefore is not +essential to a moral government. It can be made obligatory on the +conscience only by a positive precept from the Great Lawgiver himself. +But no ratio of income, universally applicable can be assigned, pressing +equally upon all. While one's income may be large, his debts may +likewise be large. Another's health may be feeble, his family numerous, +and his expenses great; while his neighbor's constitution may be +vigorous, his family small, and his necessary expenditures few. Thus +circumstances may render it a greater sacrifice for some to give a +twentieth, a fiftieth, or even an hundredth of their income, than for +others to bestow one half, or indeed, the whole of it, and thousands +besides. + +One's entire possessions must be taken into the calculation. Take a +simple case. Two men start in business together; both plan and toil for +ten years. One has an expensive family, parents to maintain, children +to support and educate; he has been withal unfortunate, and has laid up +scarcely a thousand dollars. The other has no family, has prospered and +accumulated ten thousand. The eleventh year Providence smiles upon both +alike; the income of each is a thousand dollars. Now, would it be equal +to require of both respectively a hundred in charity? + +Nor can any ratio of standing property and income combined be +designated, ensuring equality. Though this might approximate towards +equalizing the burden, still the same or similar causes would prevent a +uniform pressure. Besides, calls on our benevolence are not always +equally loud or imperious; and therefore, with the same means, more is +demanded on some occasions than others. + +Undoubtedly there is a certain amount of property, which, taking into +view the whole circle of one's relations, he ought to contribute in +charity. It is by no means contended that one cannot fix upon a +definite amount for himself. This he may and should do. All that we +aver is, that no general rule can be made, assigning that amount, +because no general rule can meet the ten thousand circumstances that +modify individual cases; and, therefore, obligations to comply with it +would not be universally felt. Besides, no one thinks of specifying +certain proportions of labor and attention which all are equally bound +to bestow on others; and yet, these are sometimes far more beneficial to +the suffering than gifts of money. To assign a certain number of +external acts employed in charitably distributing property, while we fix +upon no definite amount of labor to be expended in beneficence, is +making a difference without a reason; this being seen, the conscience +will not be holden, unless some scripture precept can be found demanding +the discrimination. + +But could a ratio be found pressing equally upon all, it would not be +desirable. Man, while under the influence of the natural heart, if he +tries to please his Maker at all, endeavors to do it by external acts +merely; when driven from this ground, he seeks to please him by acting +out some principle of natural sympathy, conscience, or reason; when +shown the fallacy of this, he endeavors still to discharge his duties in +some way without the _entire consecration_ of the soul. Now, does not +the advocacy of a general ratio obviously fall in with this depraved +inclination, tend to flatter this pride of heart, and to encourage this +aversion to entire self-immolation? Indeed, founded on this principle, +the work of benevolence is extremely liable to degenerate into sheer +superstition. The payment of the stipulated sum is soon thought to +render one worthy of Divine acceptance; and thus, instead of gushing +from the heart, charity becomes a mere mercenary business, scarcely +rising to the dignity of a virtue. This the experience of the religious +world proves, as is evidenced by the views and conduct of the Jews +respecting tithes in the time of Christ; and at the present period, by +the payment of periodical contributions in the Romish church. + +Besides, as a general rule must apply to all classes and conditions +indiscriminately, the bestowment of the designated sum would satisfy the +consciences, not only of the poor, but also of the rich, who ought, +unquestionably, to contribute oftentimes far more than one tenth of +their annual increase, or any other proportion which the most generous +philanthropy might appoint; thus both rendering them deaf to +extraordinary calls, and, when the truth, so agonizing to the carnal +heart, that our all belongs to God, is pressed with vital intensity on +the mind, affording a secure retreat to the tortured conscience. + +Such an arrangement also would often fail to meet the yearnings of the +Christian heart. The sympathy of the true Christian is as deep and +far-reaching as human suffering. Neither one, nor two, nor three tenths, +would be regarded as sufficient on particular emergencies. Such was the +case with the Macedonians of whom Paul says, "That in a great trial of +affliction, the abundance of their joy, and their deep poverty abounded +unto the riches of their liberality. For to their power, yea, and +beyond their power, they were willing of themselves; praying us with +much entreaty, that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the +fellowship of the ministering to the saints." The Christian king of the +Friendly Islands felt the same burstings of a Christian heart. The +missionary says of him: "He had not often gold or silver to give. But +one time he had obtained ten pounds from the ship for food he had sold. +How much do you think he gave to the missionary society? One pound? +Five pounds? This would have been a great deal. But he did more; he +gave the whole!" + +It would not meet the requisitions of the command, "Thou shalt love they +neighbor as thyself." Would an Irish lord, amidst the scenes recently +experienced in his unhappy country, surrounded by hundreds and thousands +of miserable beings, starving, sick, and dying, be justified in view of +this law, by contributing to their relief a bare tenth of his income? +Every noble heart will answer in the negative. These times of agony +demanded far greater sacrifices. + +Thus all efforts to fix upon a definite ratio of income or property of +universal obligation, will give constant ground for questions of +casuistry inevitably tending rather to screen the conscience, than to +stimulate to generous activity. + +_But what does the Gospel teach us on the subject_? The religion of the +Gospel begins in the heart. "Son, give me the heart," is its +fundamental precept. In the Gospel scheme, every individual stands by +himself, on his own responsibility; he is bound by a personal tie to his +Maker. The conduct it prescribes is entirely spiritual. It requires a +burning heart, shedding its light and heat on all around. According to +its code, every act must gush from holy love. It does not prescribe +just the amount of action to be put forth, in any one direction; but the +heart and conscience of each, guided by wisdom from above, are to direct +him. It is thus with Angels and the redeemed about the throne. A holy +heart, bathed in the truth of heaven, is all the general rule they need +to enable them to discharge their duties, and to adapt themselves to the +various circumstances in which they may be placed to eternity. Such is +their moral state, that the least intimation of Jehovah's will sends +them speeding on wings of fire to do his pleasure. The Gospel places +man on earth in the same relation to him, and intends that he shall act +on the same general principles. It teaches us that all we have belongs +to God, and that all we do must be done to his glory. A soul, permeated +by this heavenly spirit, would find a knowledge of the destitution and +woes of others, and an ability to relieve them, a sufficient stimulant +and guide. Angel-like, it would send forth spontaneously the +felicitating streams which the Gospel appoints. + +This is the source and spirit of all Gospel benevolence. Says Paul, +"Every man according as he purposeth" (desireth or chooseth) "in his +heart, so let him give." There is to be no constraint. The working of +individual good-will is to be the measure of individual bounty; for "God +loveth a cheerful giver."*[This principle does not apply to the support +of a pastor. _Paul_ does not put charity and the support of the pastor +on the same ground. Compare 2 Cor. Viii. and ix. With 1 Cor. ix. Other +elements come in, modifying the result in the latter case. 1. The idea +of wages. 2. The idea of copartnership. Each member of the church, on +principles of common honesty, is bound to bear his share of the common +expenses.] But though no given proportion of property is definitely +enjoined, there are certain general principles laid down, by which we may +make approximations towards a proportionate amount, and never be at a +loss respecting individual gifts in specific instances when the heart is +right. The following are such. + +The great truth that God has a supreme and inalienable right in us and +in all that we possess. "The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, +saith the Lord of Hosts." "For every beast of the field is mine, and +the cattle upon a thousand hills." "Behold, all souls are mine; as the +soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine."--The +injunction to dedicate ourselves to God. "I beseech you, brethren, by +the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, +holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."--The +requirement to love God and his cause and interest more devotedly than +the dearest worldly possession. "If any man come to me, and hate not +his father, and mother, and wife and children, and brethren, and +sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple." +"Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath cannot be my +disciple."--The command to love our neighbor as ourselves; that we are +to supply his necessities, and relieve his sufferings, so far as lies in +our power, with the same willingness that we do our own.--The intimation +that our gifts should be such as to call into exercise our faith and +self-denial. The poor widow cast into the treasury of the Lord "all +that she had, even all her living;" with which generous sacrifice Christ +was well pleased; and Paul commends the Macedonian Christians, because +they gave not only according to their power, but beyond their power.-- +The promises to the benevolent. "The liberal soul shall be made fat." +"He that watereth shall be watered himself." "It is more blessed to +give than to receive."--The duty of imitating Christ, who "suffered for +us, leaving us an example, that we should follow in his steps;" that we +should "walk even as he also walked." + +Also, the very large amount of their income, (which has been estimated +at not less than one fifth) required of the Jews to be given for the +support of religion, and in charity, was intended to convey to us +similar instruction. For though the law of tithes or double tithes is +not binding upon us, the great sacrifices which they were required to +make, are designed to have a _moral influence_ on succeeding +generations. It is not the idle record of a bygone race, or of a +dispensation that has vanished away; it utters a voice to us; it is the +living exemplification of a principle which we are bound to adopt. If +even the poor among the Jews could give so much, the poor can still give +bountifully in proportion to their means,--and, were they disposed, how +profusely might the rich lavish their munificence. With the fact before +us of the great sacrifices the Jews were commanded to make for the +support of religion in their own narrow bounds; when we consider the +breadth of the field we are called to cultivate,--the spiritual +necessities of the perishing millions of our race, the opportunities to +reach them, the worth of the undying soul, the revenue of glory its +salvation will yield the Saviour, what sacrifices ought the poor, at the +present day, to make in their penury, and the rich in their abundance, +to promote the glory of Christ in the salvation of souls; and how +terrible the doom of those who refuse. + +These principles, requisitions, promises, and examples, show us that our +sacrifices should be _great_, and the amount of our contributions +_large_, when either the worldly or spiritual necessities of others +demand our aid; while they leave the treasuries of benevolence to be +filled by the spontaneous flow of each individual soul. + +The desire, therefore, to fasten on the consciences of men the +obligation to contribute periodically a certain portion of their income +or property, as universally binding, is not to be gratified by arguments +drawn either from reason or revelation. We may resort to no artificial +means. We may trust in no machinery which does not work and glow with +the living fires of the heart. Love, conscience, and reason, must be +the originating and guiding forces. We must fall back upon, and confide +in, these vital principles of holy conduct. First the heart, and then +the act, is the Gospel scheme, and we may not reverse the process. To +attempt it, and to say, "What we seek in a system of beneficence, is not +a benevolent heart, but benevolent _actions_;" is to come in open +collision with the spirit of the Gospel. It is apparently a lurking +disposition to induce men to discharge the duties of beneficence, +without laying their hearts on the altar of God, and keeping them +perpetually burning there; whereas Christ requires the _heart_, and the +heart _always_; and then that conduct which inevitably bursts from a +consecrated soul. As Paul says of the Macedonian Christians, "_They +first gave their own selves to the Lord_;" and then their wealth, to be +used as he should direct. + +Indeed, the process necessarily gone through in determining, from +general principles, the particular amount it becomes our duty +individually to bestow in charity, Christ evidently intended should be a +means of _moral discipline_, which we cannot safely dispense with. Its +influence, though not generally realized, is far-reaching, almost +magical. It strengthens the intellect, elevates to a noble independence +and disinterestedness of feeling, gives stability to character and +energy to purpose, leading on to thoroughness of self-inspection, +earnestness of investigation as to the personal claims of God, and +childlike simplicity in submitting to their authority. Just glance at +its workings in the present instance. As Christ has told us, in order +to know his doctrine we must do his will, so in order to ascertain the +exact sum we are to contribute in benevolence, we must cherish a heart +in sympathy with his own. Holy love must perpetually glow in our +bosoms; otherwise, we shall sometimes fail in the correctness of our +conclusions. Thus the first impulse of benevolent feelings puts us in +the way to increase them; for every desire to give must be attended with +a scrutinizing estimate of our motives, and a constant struggle with +selfishness, lest the latter gain the ascendency, and mar the beauty of +the deed. The legitimate result of the process, therefore, is a deep +and watchful piety; while the works of beneficence, thus determined, +never degenerate into superstition or self-righteousness; and its +obligations will seize at once and unrelaxingly the conscience of all. + +The conclusion, therefore, at which we arrive touching the amount of our +charities is this: it should be such as our means, a distinct knowledge +of the wants of others, and a heart of overflowing love, shall +prescribe; leaving each one to his own solemn convictions of duty, +amenable to the bar of God. + +But it may be objected, if beneficence is thus left without the +specification of some stated amount, selfish, or but partially +sanctified men, will not give as liberally as they ought. Perhaps they +will not. But all we can so is to press on their attention the commands +of Jehovah, and the claims of a dying world--claims, as strong and +affecting as those which brought the Saviour from the throne to the +cross; and telling them what the Apostle, enforcing also sparingly; "and +he who soweth bountifully, shall reap also bountifully," leave them to +settle the matter of their covetousness with their Final Judge. We may +pray and weep over them; but we may use no efforts to move a single +individual from that moral basis--his own conscience--on which God has +placed him. Here he must stand; and here we must be willing he should +stand; while he himself is under infinite obligation to lay bare his +bosom to the energizing influences of truth, and cheerfully yield to its +sway. + +2. _How frequently should stated contributions be made_? + +System implies order, regularity. Systematic beneficence implies +regularity of contributions, or of stated periods for appropriating +property to the Lord. In regard to the frequency of these statedly +recurring periods, there are different opinions. Owing to the variety, +extent, and complexity of men's avocations, some find it convenient to +make consecrations accurately proportionate to prosperity, much more +frequently than others. Hence some advocate the weekly period, some the +monthly, while others plead for still longer intervals. Indeed, to fix +upon a definite rule of universal application determining the frequency +of periodical contributions, will be found nearly as difficult as to +ascertain the precise ratio of property to be bestowed. There are, +however, certain leading principles, which, if contemplated with +rectitude of heart, will enable us to please God by the wisdom of our +benefactions, no less in this respect than the last. + +1st. As a stepping-stone to a series of more important considerations, +showing that these periods of consecrations should very frequently +recur, I remark _that most may set apart some portion of income without +inconvenience as often at least as capital or labor makes returns_. +These are the occasions when Providence pours his treasures into our +bosoms; when alone we can determine precisely how the Lord has prospered +us, and consequently how much we are able to bestow. Hence if no +designations of income to charity have been previously made, or if they +have not been sufficiently large, these opportunities of coming to some +definite decision with reference to the proportion of the bounties of +Providence we shall devote to purposes of beneficence, may not be passed +over; and the consecration, not to say the disbursement, should be made +_immediately_, while the idea that our possession are from God is fresh +in our minds, and before selfishness shall seize them as her own. +Procrastination is often but giving heed to her treacherous voice, and +ere we are aware, she carries us captive. As we receive our increase +from the hand of God, like faithful stewards, we should set apart the +portion belonging to others without delay. To indulge ourselves by +holding them up before us, and doating upon them as our own, will but +inflame our covetousness; and we shall be tempted to rob the needy of +their portion. This is not hypothesis; facts prove that money is +contributed far more cheerfully when in a loose state than after it +becomes fixed property. This rule, directing frequency of +consecrations, conforming itself to individual circumstances, is +oppressive to none. + +But the capital of some makes returns only once a year; of others, only +once in a series of years. To such this rule can be by no means +applicable; for the wants and sufferings of those whom God has made it +our duty to relieve, often demand far more frequent distributions; +while, in a variety of instances, it calls into exercise our benevolence +too rarely to suppress the selfish tendencies of the heart,--a point, +which, in rearing a system of beneficence, may never be overlooked. +Other principles must therefore be noticed. + +2d. _Our contributions should be so frequent as will tend to repress +the selfish, and keep alive the benevolent affections_. We should give +so frequently as to impress and nurture the conviction that we were made +not only for ourselves, but for others; and that the noblest use of +property is its distribution to the needy. This conviction it is +difficult to engender, and harder to keep alive, but it is best produced +and quickened to energy by frequently engaging in the duties of charity. +Benevolence, to become strong, must be cultivated; and it is so much of +an exotic in the human breast, that it needs the most earnest and +assiduous care; while selfishness, such is its strength and tenacity of +life, can be deadened and kept in abeyance only by repeated and vigorous +assaults. As a general rule, that system, as to frequency, should be +chosen, which comes most strongly in collision, and wrestles most +powerfully with the selfishness of the heart. Some, I know, would deal +gently with this obnoxious principle; rather humor than goad it; and on +this ground urge the importance of frequent, and, of course, small +contributions, which will scarcely be felt; maintaining that on the +whole a larger amount will be collected. But I would not urge frequency +of donations on this account. I would advocate benevolence only on +those principles which will give it life and vigor for eternity. The +Bible says nothing about humoring the selfishness of the heart, of +adopting plans of beneficence that will be scarcely felt. Its language +is, "Crucify the flesh with the affections and lusts." It directs us to +_die_ unto sin or self. It makes no compromise with covetousness. It +bids us not rock it to sleep, but slay it. Let every one then stand up +in the lofty sternness of his spirit, and adopt that system as to +frequency in giving, which, other things being equal, is most crucifying +to the carnal heart. + +But a system of almost continued contributions will not be peculiarly +crossing to our avaricious desires, if trifling sums are given, or those +greatly disproportionate to property. In this case, selfishness, +instead of being disturbed, may be rather cajoled into a species of +benevolence; though a species as sickly and unsubstantial as the vine +that grows amid the damps of a vault, never aspiring to heaven as the +place of its nativity. But when the sums are so large as to demand +personal sacrifice, the self-appropriating principle feels it keenly. +The uninterrupted repetition of such gifts is a continued draught on its +life-blood. Its remains even in the Christian's breast are galled and +lacerated by the repeated attacks, and sometimes writhe as in "the dying +strife." Especially is this the case with one who has amassed his +property by almost daily additions;--by sums, perhaps, smaller in amount +than those which the calls of humanity now claim almost as frequently at +his hand. He sees his wealth going nearly the same way in which he +acquired it, and he feels that its very pillars are giving way. Thus +frequency in contributions, if sufficiently large, is usually most +crossing to selfishness, and most destructive to avarice; and as a +system of beneficence is instituted mainly to combat these evil +principles, we should allow but short intervals between our deeds of +charity. + +3d. _We should give so frequently as to form a habit of giving_. +Jeremiah says, "Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his +spots? then may ye also do good that are accustomed to do evil." This +shows the susceptibility of our natures to the formation of habits; and +their controlling power over us. The injunction of Solomon, "Train up a +child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart +from it," is founded on the same mental tendency. Habit, indeed, +governs half the world; it is like a self-moving machine, when once +started, continuing, of its own accord, in the same direction and with +the same velocity. Let one accustom himself to harden his heart in view +of genuine objects of sympathy, and it will be exceedingly difficult to +unlock his bosom to the loudest calls of benevolence. On the contrary, +he, who accustoms himself to spend his money as fast as he acquires it, +will never be likely to hoard for future supplies. A habit of giving +would follow the same law, and greatly assist us in the duties of +charity. But infrequency of beneficence, giving only once in six months +or a year, or at irregular intervals, will never form an efficient habit +of giving. It must be a regular and oft-repeated act; for it is a +frequency of the same acts in succession alone, which creates habit. +Our benevolence, therefore, should go forth in reiterated acts, like the +monthly, flowering and shedding its fragrance as regularly as its +seasons recur. The spirit of benevolence must thus be wrought into the +very texture of our being; so that we shall move forward, scattering our +alms about us as naturally as we perform the common duties of life. +This thought is of immense importance to the young, and to those engaged +in the pursuits of wealth. For the latter, especially, from the very +nature of their employments, and their necessary trains of thought, are +inevitably acquiring habits of accumulation; and, unless counteracting +habits of benevolence are also acquired, their desires of gain will +assume the tyrant, and the Divine curse, threatened against the +covetous, will rest upon them forever. They are hanging over an abyss, +and their only safety, under God, is in winding around their hearts the +iron cords of habit in beneficence, and, therefore, in giving +frequently. + +4th. The Scriptures favor the idea of frequency in giving. Christ says, +"Give to him that asketh of thee." The duty of charity is here clearly +founded on our calls and ability. But in this world, where we have the +poor always with us, calls on our benevolence cannot be otherwise than +frequent. Again Christ says, "Freely ye have received, freely give." +We frequently receive, we should therefore frequently give. Paul +directs the Corinthian Christians, "Upon the first day of the week, let +every one of you lay by him in store as God has prospered him." This +suggestion of the Apostle may probably be adopted a general rule by a +majority of Christians at the present day; and every one should make it +a matter of solemn consideration and earnest prayer whether it is not +his individual duty; for all must conform to it in spirit. But without +maintaining that every one, under whatever circumstances, is required to +lay by something weekly for charitable purposes, the principle here +taught us most unequivocally binds us to great frequency of stated +contributions. From this decision of the Holy Spirit, according, as it +does, with the teachings of reason, there can be no appeal. + +5th. _The experience of practical men, as to the best means of acquiring +property, evinces the same principle_. The experience of the world on +this point has been embodied in maxims such as these: "Take care of +your cents, and dollars will take care of themselves;" "Save your +ninepences," &c. Men of wealth have often remarked that they acquired +their property by frequently storing away small sums as they could spare +them. I knew a man lay up several dollars by making it a rule to put +into a bag kept for the purpose, every fifty cent piece that came into +his possession. We have here the development of a principle in +accumulating a fund to meet the contingencies of life. We may apply it +to benevolence, and take men of business and opulence on their own +ground. If this principle will fill one's own treasuries, it will fill +the treasuries of the Lord. Let it then be regarded. I would sound it +in the ears of the million who are delving the earth for gold, and +startle them from their delusive dreams. I would that it might echo and +re-echo till its solemn utterances should make every votary of Mammon +tremble. Hear, ye rich men; give ear, ye who are pursuing the bubbles +of wealth! is it christian, is it right, to adopt principles of prudence +and self-denial in filling your own coffers, while you refuse to act +upon the same principles in replenishing the streams of mercy? No. +Conscience and God answer, No. The perishing heathen, the dying pillow, +the judgment-seat, the wailings of hell, all answer, No. + +Then let every one, whether indigent or affluent, frequently lay by in +store sums for charity as God shall prosper him, though they are but +small; and let him do it with the same whole-heartedness, earnestness, +and perseverance, as he would to increase his own wealth; and rarely +will he be unable to relieve the cries of misery. He will have no +occasion to offer the excuse, "I have no change." He will have dollars +in store. The history of benevolence proves this. I have know a +sabbath-school class, by each member's giving 10, 15, or 25 cents a +month, contribute an amount during the year, which previously they would +have thought impossible to raise. This is only one instance among a +thousand. Let the principle be acted upon; a trial is easy. Scriptures +and reason cannot both be wrong. + +But how shall these frequent contributions be made by those whose +capital yields returns only at long intervals? According to the +proverb, "Where there's a will, there's a way"--it can be either +actually or virtually done. + +1st. By saving expenses. Water, running into a vessel no faster at a +given orifice than it flows out at another, will retain a constant +level; and if with the same influx we would have it issue at a higher +orifice, we have only to stop or lessen the lower one. Thus, if we +would have our possessions rise to the _giving point_, we have only to +stop the leakage--check expenses. This hint may be of service to the +poor, and not inappropriate to the rich. Many expend their ready money +as rapidly as they receive it; making their calculations to do so; and +thus, during the interval between one return of capital and another, +plead their inability to meet the frequent calls of benevolence. But is +this a valid excuse? Could they not be met by sacrificing some social +pleasure, some luxury in drink, in food, in dress, in furniture, in +display? or by foregoing some convenience, the expense of which is +equivalent to the pledged sum? Vast multitudes are deprived of these +luxuries, and even of what we deem necessaries, during their whole +lives; and cannot we forego the gratification of them occasionally, +that we may thereby relieve the suffering, or save the deathless soul? +True, this will require self-denial; but has not God demanded of us +self-denial? Dare any one offer this as an excuse? + +2. Every on engaged in regular business knows, or ought to know, what, +taking one year with another, have been the annual proceeds of his labor +or investment. Now, on the supposition that the Lord will prosper him +as heretofore, he can form some reasonable estimate of the amount, +(extraordinaries excepted) which he ought to contribute to charitable +purposes weekly or monthly during the period his capital is making +another revolution. This amount may be appropriated in actual donations +by most business men, as they usually have more or less loose money on +hand. By those who cannot do this, it may be charged in a book kept for +the purpose at the close of each week or specified period for +appropriation--"one, five, ten, or fifty dollars due to charity,"--and +on the return of their capital, pay this debt as conscientiously as they +pay any other. Then, if on the reception of their entire product, they +find they have not given as much as the claims of the destitute demand, +they can easily make up the deficit. This scheme will of course call +into exercise our faith; for it is acting on the belief that the Wise +Disposer of events will be as merciful to us in the future, as he has +been in the past. But ought not his past goodness to strengthen our +confidence in his willingness to continue that goodness? Christ +requires us to live by faith on him, and ought we not to _give_ by faith +on him? To refuse to exercise this faith in the circumstances, partakes +of ingratitude. Besides, to decline making any, or but such +appropriations as are exceedingly disproportionate to our property, +until we have actually received the return of our investments, is to act +on the principle, that we will not give to others until we are _certain_ +how much God will bestow upon us; in other words, that we will not trust +him,--whose loving-kindness, as the brightest star of our destiny, has +shone upon us in darkness and storm,--for a single blessing which is not +actually in our hands. Must not such conduct be exceedingly provoking +to Unwearied Love? + +Or this process of previous consecrations may be varied thus. The +proportion consecrated may be a certain ratio of income fixed on a +sliding scale, on the principle that the greater the profits, the +greater the proportion which me be spared. For instance, on the first +day of each week, or month, or quarter, or year, one may consecrate a +certain proportion of his profits of that week, month, quarter, or year +to the Lord, say five, eight, or ten per cent., in case they rise to a +specified amount; and if they rise to a certain sum beyond this, he may +fix upon a still greater proportion, say twelve or fifteen per cent.; if +they rise to an amount still higher, the proportion appropriated may be +still larger, say eighteen or twenty per cent., so that his benefactions +to the destitute shall be in some degree commensurate to the goodness of +the Lord to him. + +In these last suggestions, a vital principle in systematic beneficence +is developed, which challenges our special attention. _It is, the duty +of making provision for the dissemination of charity previous to the +reception of our income_. This is a point of immense importance, and +may by no means be overlooked; though it is a point which Christians +have too much lost sight of. They have been awake neither to the +enjoyment nor obligations growing out of it. It is time that its solemn +utterances should pierce the heart, and arouse the conscience of every +follower of the Lamb, and startle him from his slumbers. They should +reverberate through every dwelling in Zion. It is a principle of +universal application. All, whether rich or poor, should make it an +abiding rule of conduct. There is no difficulty in the way. While, of +course, the rich should fix upon a higher proportion of income than the +indigent, each one can decide upon some percentage adapted to his +peculiar circumstances, and at stated periods lay up in store as the +Lord prospers him. Every one, as St. Paul clearly taught the +Corinthians, should have "a savings-bank" for charity. + +The results of this principle would indeed be most happy, on whatever +ground the previous arrangements should be made. In the first place, it +would greatly increase the sum total of our contributions to the Lord. +It would be acting on an acknowledged maxim in the acquisition of +wealth. We know if we have a debt of ten dollars, an hundred dollars, +or any sum within our possible ability to pay, the money will be by some +means obtained; whereas, otherwise it will be extremely liable to be +consumed in the ordinary flow of expenses. Thriving men, sometimes on +this principle, keep constantly a little debt by the purchase of +valuable property, knowing that it will stimulate their industry and +frugality to meet the anticipated payment. Here men are not afraid to +trust the past goodness of the Lord; why will they not be equally wise +and confiding in the godlike work of benevolence? + +It would also deepen our sense of personal devotement to Christ; leading +us constantly to feel that our minds employed in planning, and our hands +engaged in labor, are the Lord's, and must be used in his service. It +would likewise promote the ease and cheerfulness with which our +appropriations would be made, and materially enhance our enjoyment, in a +work which, though self-denying, brings us into intimate fellowship and +cooperation with our blessed Lord. Even when engaged in our most +ordinary avocations, it would induce the impression that we are laboring +for Christ as well as for ourselves; and thus procuring the means of +extending the glorious gospel, whose precious promises are our daily +support and joy, and which opens to our view, beyond the skies, the +crown and the harp, with which we hope to bow before the throne, when +our bodies are crumbling in the grave. What greater happiness can +the Christian experience on earth than the continued consciousness of +co-working with his Saviour in diffusing through the world these richest +enjoyments of our being, and kindling anthems whose enrapturing notes +shall never falter? + +Thus, if we would make antecedent provisions for charity; if we would +exercise suitable self-denial, forethought, and confidence in God; if we +would _contrive_ as earnestly to save something for munificence, as we +do to hoard, our sources of charity would be replenished; we should +seldom be unable to make, at frequently recurring periods, either actual +or pledged appropriations, and be happy in our work. + +_An Inference_.--If that degree of frequency should be adopted which is +best calculated to curb the selfish inclinations, then the more deeply +we are engaged in worldly pursuits,--the stronger and more riotous the +avaricious desires become, the oftener should the appointed period of +our benefactions recur; and not only so, but the greater the necessity +that our gifts be commensurate with our means; for otherwise, although +we may give frequently, and perhaps congratulate ourselves on our +generous liberality, the curse of God may be hanging over us for our +parsimony. + + + +PART III. + +We are now prepared to present in detail that general system of +beneficence, demanded alike by Scripture and reason, and best fitted to +secure permanent and ever-growing results. + +While universal, it must be a system in its nature adapted to each +individual, and binding on the individual conscience; one founded on, +and embracing, the entire man,--his reason, his heart and will, +including views and principles, feelings and affections, with their +inculcation, general purposes and resolutions, with corresponding +action. The tree must be symmetrical from its roots to its topmost +bough. Beneficence may not stand alone; it must spring out of a +consistent character, must be a branch of activity, harmonizing with +other shoots from the common stock. Else, it will be like a verdant +twig on a rotten trunk, growing up amid broken and withered limbs, the +sighing monitors of its own decay. + +Some, I know, would advocate a system of beneficent actions without the +heart; others would direct it merely to one or a few favorite objects. +But these are views neither broad nor deep enough. It is grafting +consistency on inconsistency. True benevolence is a spirit of +universality, and hence, of harmony, gushing forth in streams numerous +as our relations. No reason can be assigned why one should contribute +of his property to save the souls of others, while he neglects his own; +or spend his substance for the spiritual benefit of those at a distance, +while he neither puts forth personal efforts, nor manifests a holy +example, to rescue perishing immortals immediately around him. A system +thus partial has a worm at the root; its protecting shadow will be as +transient as Jonah's gourd. + +I. _There must be a system of intellectual views, and a harmonizing +train of desires and affections flowing naturally from them_. + +I will, therefore, present a series of principles, sentiments, and +obligations, which, by being lodged in the intellect, and quickened by +the Spirit, warm the heart, and awaken appropriate feelings; thus +forming not only the basis, but a constituent part, of an efficient +system of benevolence. + +I would premise, however, that these intellectual views may also be +regarded as _inducements to munificence_, and thus to the adoption of an +individual system, fitted to each one's peculiar relations; for they +will thus operate from the nature of the case; the very object of +fastening them systematically in the understanding being, that +penetrating to the heart, and binding themselves on the conscience, they +may lead on to rational activity. + +1. We should bear in mind that we were not made for ourselves, but for +the service of God. Let the truth, "Thou art God's," be written with +fire on the heart, as well as its legitimate consequence, that all that +appertains to our being is his;--our strength, our health, our powers of +reason and love, our capacities of acquisition, our property, our time, +our all, so that its thrilling accents, "All that thou hast is God's," +will ring in our ears at every turn. As Jehovah created us for himself, +has preserved us for himself, and redeemed us for himself, we ought at +once to acknowledge his claim and devote ourselves to his service. This +self-surrender is the true foundation of all giving to the Lord. Any +system of beneficence not built on this must crumble. Giving one's +self is an earnest and pledge that everything else will be given; on +the contrary, while self is withheld, there is no warrant that our +possessions will be yielded, much less that God will accept the offering. +But self being surrendered, all is virtually conveyed over to the Lord +and sealed forever his. + +2. That all right feeling is feeling as God does in the same +circumstances, and in respect to the same objects. There must be a holy +sympathy of soul with him,--a oneness of affection, of desire, of will, +of purpose. We must feel concerning ourselves as God does, who desires +to see our hearts burning with the same hallowed love that fills his +own. We must feel concerning sinners as the Father does, "who so loved +the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth +in him should not perish, but have everlasting life;"--as the Son, who +exchanged the abodes of peace for the abasement of flesh and the agonies +of the cross;--as the Holy Ghost, who is willing to dwell in our +polluted hearts, consuming the dross with his own vital energies. We +must imitate the angels, who, sympathizing with the Triune Jehovah, +strike their lyres with new and more rapturous hallelujahs at the +repentance of the returning sinner. No other feelings in kind or +strength, in proportion to our capacities, are right feelings. The +sacrifices of Christ were, indeed, stupendous; but we must be willing to +make as disinterested sacrifices for a perishing world; else we are not +in sympathy with our crucified Lord. Let us often visit the scenes of +his sufferings, hear the groans of Gethsemane, and witness the blood and +agony of the cross, and there learn what it means to have the same mind +"which was also in Christ Jesus." Let us make this love the great +standard of feeling and action, and cultivate the habit of trying +ourselves by this, and this alone; inquiring daily, "Oh, am I benevolent +as Christ?" "Do I sympathize with him over a ruined world?" + +3. That God created us to occupy a position near himself. As all our +springs are in him, communion with him was to be our life and joy. We +were to be full of God; to see him everywhere and in everything, and to +value nothing only as the work of his power, the fruit of his love, or +as showing forth his praise. We were to dwell so far up the mount, that +earthly objects would appear insignificant; approach continually its +lofty summit, till our views of the world and the glory of it should +harmonize with God's views of them; for not only were our feelings to +accord with Jehovah's; but also our sentiments concerning sublunary +things were to be in unison with his own. So familiar were we to be +with the glories of our spiritual existence; our tastes and moral +sensibilities were designed, by intercourse with Infinite Purity, to +become so elevated and refined, that the glitterings of gold, and the +fascinations of wealth, would fail to charm. Our home was to be so near +the throne, that its light would perpetually shine in upon our souls; +its spirit always bathe our spirits; so that seraph-like, possessing the +benevolence of heaven, we should breathe the love of heaven on all +around. + +4. That merely becoming rich is not the great object for which we were +sent into the world. Man's being aims at a higher goal. This is a +point which should be distinctly understood; and to bring out the +thought clearly, I will make two distinctions. 1. The very obvious +difference between benevolence and indifference to property or its +acquisition. Benevolence means "wishing well," and beneficence "doing +well," to others. Benevolence, then, bears no resemblance to +undervaluing money. I know that the gentleman who used to _skip_ his +silver dollars on the fair bosom of the Connecticut for the amusement of +his friends, and he who freely tosses around the social glass to his +boon companions, may be pronounced generous fellows. But such may be as +entirely destitute of all true benevolence as the most determined miser, +and, what is more deplorable, as offensive to Infinite Love. Property +is God's gift, and he does not require us to undervalue his gifts, but +to use them with his own good-will to men. To be willing that our labor +or capital should be unproductive is no indication of a faithful +steward. 2. There is a difference between the design of becoming rich, +and that of acquiring property. The latter, under certain restrictions, +is a duty incumbent on all. One may have a peculiar talent in this +direction;--a turn for business, a sagacity to lay plans, to foresee the +favorable changes in the commercial world, and all that shrewdness so +essential to success in the career of opulence. It is an endowment of +heaven, and should be used in such a way as heaven will approve. While +regulated strictly by the principles of Revelation, it should be +employed in the acquisition of property, as a means of usefulness. But +it is a common opinion, that money may be made solely for the sake of +accumulation. Parents instil the idea into the minds of children, so +that they grow up with the conviction, that the great end of life is the +procuring of wealth. Implanted in the tender mind, and nurtured with +its strength, it assumes the tenacity of a first principle. But it is +altogether erroneous. It is the product of the selfish heart. No +sentiment is more fertile in covetousness, or more blighting to that +generous humanity, which it is the first object of the Christian to +cherish. It is a sentiment grovelling in its tendency, bowing +multitudes, it is feared, even of professedly good men, to a species of +slavery, over which devils smile, and angels weep; knowing that it +obstructs the flow of thousands into the treasury of the Lord. A +sentiment so hurtful should be eradicated from the public mind. It +should be discarded from the individual breast. The toils of pecuniary +gain must be pervaded by a loftier motive. It should be sought, not as +a gratification to avarice; but, in the fear of the Lord, by industry, +by economy, by frugality, by forecast, by the most profitable +investments of capital, and with a heart full of mercy, as an instrument +to enlighten the ignorant, and relieve the sorrows of human-kind. This +idea has not taken so firm a hold of the christian public as its +importance deserves. How useful might some, who have little talent +either for learning or public speaking, become, would they +disinterestedly devote their lives to the acquisition of money for +purposes of beneficence. Wealth, pursued with this spirit, will never +beget avaricious desires, and thus acquired, will be a treasury of +blessings to multitudes here, and a source of enjoyment to the pious +owner forever. Its worth will survive the grave. Let it be an abiding +thought--money may be invested where it will yield an eternally +increasing revenue. + +5. That in laying our pecuniary plans, we should be governed by a +single view to the glory of God. The plans we adopt must be chosen +because, in our deliberate judgment, we can do more to advance Christ's +interests by prosecuting them than in any other way. Every act sustains +relations of moral influence. Every kind of business or method of +carrying it on, has certain relations which will modify its results, +and, perhaps, its moral bearings, either on own usefulness, or the +spiritual well-being of the community at large. Now we are bound to +engage in that business, and adopt those schemes, whose results, +considering these wide-spreading relations, will be most favorable to +the kingdom of Christ. If we lay our plans recklessly, without regard +to their moral tendencies, or shrink from these moral discriminations +respecting them, we evince anything but a will in harmony with the +Divine will. I know some fondly cherish the opinion, that their +sagacity or peculiar tact for money-making at least is their own; and +that they may employ it in devising such pecuniary schemes as they +please, provided they are strictly honest, and do not interfere with the +privileges of others. But this is not true. This reference to the +Divine glory sheds the sunshine of heaven over all our employments, and +must be the guiding principle of all our enterprises. It is also +indispensable to any sustained system of munificence. If our schemes +have ultimate reference to self, we shall be likely to use their +proceeds as selfishness shall dictate; whereas, if our plans are laid +with a view to the honor of God, we shall be disposed to use their +results for the promotion of the same great end. This is a truth of +incalculable importance to our present subject. It should be bound to +the conscience of every Christian, and burn there with such intensity +that it can never be forgotten. + +6. That God made us to be almoners of his bounty to others. +Reciprocity is the pillar of every social system; it is of the human +family. This principle was practically developed in Eden. On this +ground, Paul argued that there should be equality between those who are +in want and those who have abundance. (3 Cor. viii. 14.) Every man was +designed to stand like a conductor of the electric fluid, to convey the +influences of heaven to those around him. Our Creator has made the duty +of benevolence as obligatory as that of justice. One is as much bound +to help other, and thus, unless in very extreme cases, to contribute of +his substance for the benefit of the needy, as to be honest. When, +therefore, we pass a portion of the good things of life to others as +they are conveyed to us, we are fulfilling the great end of our social +being; when we grudgingly retain it, we are defeating that end. This +sentiment must be riveted in our minds. It is a hard lesson for selfish +men to receive; yet it must be learnt. It is indeed the noblest idea of +our natures; the link that unites us to purer intelligences. + +7. A lively remembrance of the Source of our blessings; realizing that +they are all streams from the Father of mercies. Had he been other than +Jehovah, they would long ere this have been stayed. For how have we +sinned, and forfeited every claim to good; and yet he has continued to +uphold and refresh us. We have repeated the sin, and under aggravated +form,--abused his bounties, despised his Son, grieved his Spirit, +disregarded his warnings, and slighted his entreaties; and still his +blessings have continued to flow as if nothing could provoke him to +withhold them. What unutterable goodness! What exhaustless mercy! +Surely the gifts of such mercy should be devoted to the works of mercy; +and how more appropriately than in aid of that wondrous scheme which the +agonized Jesus died to accomplish? While we enjoy our blessings, let us +turn our eyes upward to the overflowing Source, and while we gaze, let +the streams of gratitude gush forth. As we have freely received, freely +let us give. + +8. The importance of praying over the gifts of Providence, and the +varied calls of charity. As the reception of our income should be one +of the special occasions of consecrating a portion to the Lord, so in +the gladness of the moment of its reception, we should make it our rule +to decide as to the amount to be thus consecrated on our knees before +God. Also, when the claims of the destitute are presented, let the +amount of our contributions be fixed upon so far as practicable in the +same way; determining, at whatever sacrifice to our own feelings, to +give just what God requires. Prayer, while a privilege at all times of +doubt and perplexity, is a special duty on such occasions;--first, +because, when alone with the Searcher of hearts, brought up, as it were, +into the full blaze of his presence, our consciences will be quickened, +and speak truthfully; while the humble attitude of the suppliant is +peculiarly fitted to inspire gratitude, and render it effective;-- +secondly, because such are hours of special temptations; the adversary +of all good and our wicked hearts combining their efforts to prevent a +generous liberality; and there is great danger that selfishness, rather +than mercy, will gain the ascendency, and, under artful guises, control +our determinations;--thirdly, because our decisions on such occasions +are some of the most influential in their consequences, both upon +ourselves and others, which we are ever called to make in the common +routine of duties. Take a simple instance. The question whether +we give to the Bible Society one dollar or ten, fifteen dollars or +twenty-five, is virtually whether we will send forth for the enlightening +and felicitating of this dark and wretched world, four or forty, sixty +or a hundred, volumes of the Word of Life. And when, aside from all the +distorting and hardening influences exerted on our own moral natures by +a grudging refusal to meet the calls of benevolence, we consider the +civil and social melioration which has attended the pathway of this +heavenly light, together with its refining and sanctifying influences of +the individual soul; when we stretch our thoughts into the eternal +world, and catch the songs of joy, unuttered and unutterable by mortal +tongues, which will thrill forever the souls of the redeemed, what acts +of life can the thoughtful mind contemplate, demanding more solemn +consideration, more fervent prayer, than such decisions? + +Thus the practice of coming to our determinations of charity with +prayer, a practice involving, as it does, both mental and moral +principles of the first importance, and even leading on to +interminable consequences, may not be neglected. We should +cultivate, therefore, a docile temper, a simple, child-like spirit +towards Christ. We should cherish such vital nearness to our Lord, +that we may commune as freely with him as friend communes with +friend; feeling that we can and would do nothing, even in the +common affairs of life, without his aid and guidance. It is said of +a lady in one of our cities, whom an intimate acquaintance urged to +spend a few days with her in the country, that she replied, "I +should like to, but I don't know, it may not be best;" and added with +great simplicity, and in agreement with the spirit of her life, "I will +go and ask my Saviour." Thus, on the reception of worldly +treasures, or in determining beforehand what proportion of our +expected increase we shall appropriate to the Lord, we should go to +Jesus with the same sweet simplicity and earnestness, crying, "Lord, +what proportion of these thy bounties shall I share with the +destitute?" failing not to devote that portion which our consciences, +enlightened by scripture, shall dictate when kneeling before the +mercy-seat. + +9. The responsibility of maintaining a healthful and enlightened +conscience in respect to benevolence. The Bible is the great teacher +and rectifier of the conscience. We must in the first place, then, take +fair, impartial, disinterested views of all the precepts, examples, +promises, and teachings of the Scriptures on this point. We must +investigate them thoroughly, and be sure that we obtain precisely the +mind of the Spirit. Dim or distorted views either cripple the springs +of action, or give them wrong direction. True, the scriptural standard +towers high, and shines brightly. Some would obscure its brightness; +would wrest those passages most vividly presenting it; would convince +themselves that so great sacrifices as some, in their zeal, have +prescribed, are not required; that we are permitted to enjoy our own +interests, and, to a great extent, seek our own happiness; and if we +barely obey the suggestions of natural sympathy, and manifest common +generosity, it is enough. They would bring down this exalted standard +to our own diminutive stature, so that we can measure ourselves by it +without inconvenience. But all such efforts are high-handed rebellion, +and will prove utterly vain. God has placed it on a pedestal high as +the eternal throne, and there it will stand and burn forever. We must +bind our consciences to this standard; they must rise to its height, +and shine with its radiance. If to our selfish hearts it appear a +blood-stained cross, we must nail them to it, and let them bleed and +agonize there. To gratify our selfish desires, God will never lower +his claims. We must come up to them. If unwilling to do it in time, +we shall meet them in all their solemn realities at the final bar; if +we have been obedient, there receiving the smile of our Judge; if not, +his everlasting frown. + +Secondly, we should keep ourselves informed of the spiritual wants of +our race. Every one is bound to be in earnest in this work. He should +strive to enstamp on his heart a full-drawn image of the world scathed +by sin. We should realize how great a portion of our globe is yet +untouched by the vivifying light of the Cross; that the desolating +systems of idolatry, of Mohammedism, of Romanism, and other false +religions, are now overshadowing and blasting the nations. We should +search for distinct knowledge of the intellectual degradation, of the +moral corruption, of the oppression, wretchedness, and woe, of the +groans uttered, and the tears shed, by the millions now subject to their +galling sway, "as for hid treasures." Ignorance on these topics, at the +present day, cannot be excusable. The organs of the various benevolent +societies come weekly or monthly to our doors, detailing scenes of +sottish ignorance, of pollutions and misery, which cause philanthropy to +weep. They are indeed distressing to the feeling heart; and I have +sometimes thought there were those, who shrink from the affecting view +of a world ravaged, enslaved, and tortured by sin, lest it should work +too strongly on their sympathies, and thus forcing the guards of +covetousness, open their treasures against their more settled purposes; +while others have been too heartless in their investigations. But this +is treason to the Divine government; it is an unwillingness to know +exactly our relations, and thus the claims of the human family on our +regards. Such treachery and indifference cannot go unpunished. Did +Christ shrink from contemplating the loathsomeness and woe of our +outcast race? He not only contemplated, he shared our sorrows. Let +every one then survey the world as it is, and let its appalling scenes +glare on his conscience. + +In the third place, we should hold up before our minds striking examples +of benevolence. God has raised up some with great hearts, who have +given bountifully in proportion to their means, to promote his cause. +Such were the poor widow, who gave "all that she had," the Macedonian +Christians, whose liberality exceeded their means, and the King of the +Friendly Islands already mentioned. Such was the late Mr. Goodell of +Vermont, who, with a house and farm not estimated at over $1,000, +contrived by labor, frugality, and self-denial, to pour his hundreds and +tens of hundreds into the treasury of the Lord. Such were the late Mr. +Smith of Hartford and Mr. Cobb of Boston, "the sweet savor" of whose +names awakens the kindliest associations, and whom God sustained, made +cheerful and happy in all their sacrifices for him. Such was the aged +African of Jamaica. He had earned, while a slave, ninety-six dollars. +Being afterward emancipated, he came to the missionary, and offered the +whole for the service of Christ; and when told it was too much, replied, +with the most generous devotion, "No, _I want to give it all_." Such +was the poor colored woman, who, while she had no dependence for support +but the labor of her hands, gave $60 at one time to educate pious young +men for the Gospel ministry. "When she offered the above sum, the agent +refused to receive it all, until pressed by the humble donor, who said +that she had reserved five dollars; and that she hoped to earn enough to +provide for her wants in her last sickness, and for her funeral." This +is said to be but a specimen of her liberality; and her hopes in regard +to her earthly wants were not disappointed. + +Perhaps in the small circle of our personal acquaintance, we can number +some few, who, with souls more elevated and spiritually refined by +grace, have bestowed in benefactions all their income; peradventure, +even common farmers and mechanics--such as have fallen under the notice +of the writer--who, after frugally supplying the wants of their +families, have generously given the remaining proceeds of their labor to +the Lord. + +On these, and such as these, we should fix our eyes; they are stars of +the first magnitude which God has fixed in the dark canopy of time as +guides. We may not be able to give as they did; but the sacrifices they +made, we can and ought to make. If we seek to ward off the force of +their example by arguing that they gave too much, or by referring at +once to professedly good men who have given far less, we may reasonably +conclude that covetousness is still grasping and palsying our christian +sympathies. Such efforts are clearly but the struggles of selfishness, +to ease the conscience of the dart. For, from such generous deeds, the +voice does, and will come inevitably, "Go, and do likewise." + +10. The felicity of beneficence. That "it is more blessed to give than +to receive," is the voice of inspiration. Jehovah's felicity flows +mainly from that fundamental element of his being, disinterested or holy +love, and its infinitely diversified and glorious workings. He created +us in his own image; and when this love has possession of our hearts, +and our conduct is in obedience to its laws, the mental machine works in +harmony, and the result is enjoyment; but when the opposite principle +controls, its movements are obstructed, and the result is sorrow. It is +a law of our being, as fixed as the ordinances of heaven, that we drink +the richest draughts when holding the cup of enjoyment to another's +lips. Happiness eludes the grasp of the pursuer; while like a flower +that sheds its sweetest fragrance when crushed, only tread it under foot +in the eager pursuit of another's good, and its subtle influence +vibrates through all our frame. The blessedness of self-denying efforts +for the salvation of souls cannot be estimated. It is god-like; it is +harmonizing with our dying Lord; co-working with him in carrying out the +redemptive scheme; wakening a joy which the harps of eternity alone can +utter. "They that turn many to righteousness shall shine as the stars +forever and ever." What a revenue of glory will forever flow into the +enraptured souls of such men as Baxter and Doddridge, and Swartz and +Martyn, and Goodell and Norman Smith, as they cast their crowns at the +feet of the Saviour; for it is the highest fruition of the redeemed that +all their glory is ultimately Christ's. Who, as he contemplates the +perpetually increasing joy and brightening exaltation of a soul restored +to the image of God, becoming through unnumbered years more and more +assimilated to its glorious Head, would not participate in a work so +transporting in its results? Perhaps you have had some feeble +conception of its blessedness, some half-waking desires to become a +standard-bearer in the hottest of the fight with the foes of God,--a +minister or missionary of the Cross, so as to labor more efficiently in +saving souls. But in your circumstances you find it an idle wish. Do +you hence smother these kindling emotions and fold your hands in +despair? The Gospel may be preached by your alms. There are many links +in the chain of influences which God employs in rescuing sinners from +death; and one of the most effectual at the present period, is the +bestowment of funds to send forth the heralds of salvation. These +desires, therefore, that feebly burn in your breast, may be gratified. +In an important sense, you may preach the unsearchable riches of Christ +to the nations, thereby becoming a coadjutor in a work, the sublimest of +heaven and the most felicitating to man. This is an interesting truth. +Let it blaze quenchlessly before the mind, warming the heart to mercy. + +11. The sin and danger of covetousness. Covetousness is unlikeness to +God, to our compassionate Saviour, to the blessed spirits before the +throne, whose only symphonies are love. When indulged, the frown of the +holy universe is fastened upon us. It is violating the laws of our +mental frame,--an instrument so exquisitely attuned that the slightest +vibration of its delicate chords awakens notes of joy or wailings of +sorrow; and it thus becomes the source of irritation and remorse here, +and of disquieting premonitions of the most appalling woes in the world +to come. Hear what God hath spoken: "But fornication and all +uncleanness or _covetousness_, let it not be once named among you. For +no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor _covetous_ man, who is an +_idolater_, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. +Let no man deceive you; for because of these things cometh the wrath of +God upon the children of disobedience." This is terrible language, and +explicit as terrible. According to the plainest principles of +interpretation, covetousness is here put in the same category with some +of the worst vices that degrade man and provoke the wrath of heaven. +Indeed, if benevolence is required equally with justice, then +covetousness is as distinctly a violation of the divine law as +injustice; and he who hoards as the expense of the suffering poor, is as +guilty in the sight of God as he who rifles another's goods. And is it +strange that he who nurtures a principle thus pernicious in its +tendencies, should be excluded from heaven? No. Let us not flatter +ourselves; we cannot indulge in covetousness without imminent peril. +Who will dare thus offend his gracious Sovereign, and incur his wrath? +Let this bright, but awful truth, flash in our faces, deterring us from +the fearful sin, and inducing a sleepless vigilance over our selfish +propensities, lest they grow with our growth, and strengthen with our +increasing wealth. + +12. The dignity and responsibilities growing out of the fundamental +truth before partially unfolded, that God, under the gospel, having +given us general principles and laws touching benevolence, has left the +amount and frequency or our contributions to our own decision. The +position we occupy under the new dispensation is full of interest and +solemnity. As it is one of peculiar dignity, it is one of peculiar +peril. God has now raised us to the true platform of intelligent and +moral beings; given our reason and consciences free scope to exercise +their own energetic and controlling powers. He has, indeed, always +given man this prerogative, but in a higher sense under the Gospel than +before; in other words, placed him in a position better fitted for the +development of his whole being. He has thrown him more entirely on +his personal responsibility and the decisions of individual judgment, +by laying down general principles from which he is to ascertain his +every-day duties. All the noble powers of the soul, directed by the +Spirit's influences, are to be brought into full operation and work in +concert; the heart, without impediment, concurring with the reason; the +purposes, with the affections. This is "the liberty wherewith Christ +hath made us free." + +Paul has beautifully illustrated this subject by comparing the condition +of a son before and after becoming of age.*[Gal. iv.] While a minor, he +is kept in subordination to his father; "under tutors and governors," +his judgment in the management of affairs is under the control of +another. While a minor, he is kept in subordination to his father; +"under tutors and governors," his judgment in the management of affairs +is under the control of another. But when he comes of age, he is +elevated to a new position, assumes new interests and new +responsibilities. He must then reason, judge, and act for himself. So +under the Jewish dispensation, God dealt with our race as minors; left +them not to the direction of their own individual wisdom--to form +specific rules from general principles; but led them by definite +precepts; not such always as rise out of the nature of things; but such +as he saw best fitted, by a sort of foreshadowing, to prepare them for +the more glorious state to which they were approaching. Hence all those +positive laws, rites, and solemn festivals--appointed "days, and months, +and times, and years," tithes and double tithes to which they were in +bondage. But when Christ came, this bondage was broken. We were +emancipated from this system of tutelage; henceforth, breathing the +spirit of adoption and enjoying the freedom of sons, we were to act +according to the dictates of our sanctified hearts and enlightened +judgments, like beatified spirits, who, swayed alone by reason, +conscience, and love, in the highest sense free and intelligent, speed +on their course in harmony with Jehovah. So, under the dispensation of +grace, every act must spring voluntarily from the mind, enlightened by +comprehensive views of Scripture principles. Charged with obligations +inalienable as our very being, we are sent forth on the career of +probationary existence, amenable alone to our own consciences and the +bar of final awards. God, so to speak, has reposed confidence in us, +and it may not be abused. This is true in relation to charity, as well +as to other duties. For the free discharge of this duty is one of our +most solemn trusts. Each one, enlightened by the great principles of +disinterested benevolence, is left to the decisions of his own mind in +shaping his conduct and alms to its requisitions. To be permitted to +judge for ourselves in matters of such high and solemn import is an +exalted dignity. But to every degree of dignity and privilege, there is +attached an increase of responsibility. + +Such is our present attitude in relation to the work of benevolence. +Now shall we abuse this confidence, despise our privileges, and show +ourselves unworthy of our almost angelic exaltation? Shall we make this +liberation from the specific requisition of tithes "an occasion to the +flesh," an excuse for less pecuniary sacrifices than the Jews were +subjected to? What ingratitude! How displeasing to our Heavenly Father +who has raised us thus high! + +Hence, exemption from tithes, instead of relaxing our obligations to +beneficence, rather strengthens them. As charity is purely a matter of +voluntariness, the whole soul must be enlisted in it. We must not only +guard against a betrayal of our trust, but against dispositions in the +least at variance with its duties. We must keep our hearts in sympathy +with Christ; lest, failing in sympathy with him, we fail to imitate him. + +Let these responsibilities, together with the ingratitude and contempt +of God's favor implied in the non-fulfilment, be earnestly contemplated. +Let us tremble lest we make the privilege of a more spiritual +beneficence, and excuse "for withholding more than is meet," and turn +the blessing into a curse. + +13. That benevolence is the measure of personal piety. Personal piety +is personal resemblance to Christ. "Let this mind be in you, which was +also in Christ Jesus." Christ's character is essentially love. This +induced him to die for lost man. Now just so far as we resemble Christ +we shall imitate him, and, therefore, feel for those on whom the wrath +of God is still abiding. And just so far as we feel for them, we shall +be willing to do for them; and just so far as we are willing to do for +them, we shall contribute of our substance in proportion to our means to +relieve their spiritual necessities. So that our beneficence or +sacrifices for the extension of the Redeemer's kingdom, will be the just +measure of our love to him. This truth we should wear in our hearts. +We should make it a principle to give that amount which we shall be +satisfied to recognize as the exponent of our piety, and be content that +others should thus regard it; such as we shall be willing to pen down +and hang up in our bed-chambers, so that we can contemplate it every +evening and morning as our full estimation of Christ's dying love;--such +that after counting our herds and flocks, examining our barns and +granaries, surveying our merchandise, and reckoning up our dues, we can +enter our closets and pray for the conversion of the world without +blushing before God. Does any one shrink from this criterion of his +piety? I fear he will shrink away from the presence of his final Judge, +and bury himself in the darkness of hell; his works and conscience alike +testifying his unfitness for the world of light. + +14. That the true mission of the church in the present age is +beneficence. Though the gospel has been preached nearly 2000 years, yet +a deep night of spiritual darkness is still brooding over the greatest +portion of the world. Millions on millions have no knowledge of the +Saviour, and other millions have no right appreciation of his truth and +grace; while, blinded by sin and fascinated by its treacherous charms, +they are treading their way, rank after rank, to woes everlasting. +God's providence seems now to be moving upon the spiritual chaos, +preparing it for the reception of light. Obstacles to the introduction +of the gospel into benighted regions are fast giving way. The kingdoms +spread beneath the sun, from north to south, from China to the farthest +verge of the west, are seemingly in the posture of waiting for +evangelical instruction. The Macedonian cry is coming up from the four +winds. It is made to the church, the sacramental host of God's elect; +and _they must answer it_. + +God appoints, in some respects, special duties to different ages and +nations. It was the peculiar mission of European Christians in the +sixteenth century to break the yoke of papal supremacy; of England in +the time of Cromwell to waken those notes of ecclesiastical and civil +freedom which are still reverberating among the mountains of Europe, and +shakings dynasties; of our fathers to achieve the political independence +of the United States,--to plant the genial tree of liberty, and water it +with their blood. Now what does the providence of God indicate as the +special ministry of the church in the present age? It is written all +over the face of the world. We learn it in the awakened condition of +heathen, barbarous, and half-civilized countries; in the stir of +intellectual energy which is sweeping over the kingdoms, jostling +thrones and alarming monarchs; in the tottering pillars of corrupt +religions, and of long-established institutions of iniquity; in the +progress of governmental science in connection with political liberty, +and the extension of the arts of civilization; in augmented facilities +for traveling, together with increased efforts for education, and the +consequent quickening of mind; in the degradation of those "who know not +God," the wants of seamen, of the oppressed, of the spiritually +destitute both in our own and other lands, and in the charitable +movements of the times. All these seem to declare unequivocally that +the special work of the church in this age is benevolence--to toil, to +endure privations, to make sacrifices of ease and of property to +evangelize the nations. God has opened channels flowing past almost +every man's door, ready to convey his donations to distant regions of +the globe, carrying light and salvation wherever they go. The appalling +condition of the heathen in bygone ages has been as great and pitiable +as now; but never have there been so many available opportunities to +reach them. These opportunities impose new obligations. + +We have seen in a preceding part of this essay, that our bounties should +be in a compound proportion to calls and ability. This is a principle +which the present generation would do well to consider; letting it +penetrate the very heart's core. To meet such emergencies as are now +transpiring on the moral stage, perhaps, was one reason why Christ +designated no specific ratio of income for charity. He foresaw there +would be crises when no proportion would be adequate, and when the +christian heart would yearn to give more than his income, even all his +living. And may not the present be such a crisis? + +Indeed, the multiplied opportunities afforded us of invading the +dominions of the prince of darkness plainly intimate that the present is +a crisis demanding the most generous sacrifices for God. The sigh of +every breeze that sweeps over the blood-stained regions of idolatry +declares it. The cries and outstretched arms of millions sinking into +the everlasting gulf declare it. Then let it be laid up in the mind as +a settled truth, that it is our peculiar ministry to break the chains of +ignorance and superstition, to demolish the habitations of cruelty, to +crush the thrones of intellectual and moral enthralment, to overthrow +the temples of idolatry, and bring up man from his long degradation to +reunion with God through the blood of the Lamb. There has probably been +no age since the foundation of the world, which has demanded so great +contributions as this, and, perhaps, no subsequent age will, till the +desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose. At least in a few +generations we trust the Gospel light shall illumine every shore. Then +there will be no such urgent calls on our charities; certainly none +pressing with such undying interests. This, therefore, is emphatically +the age of _giving_; for the bulk of the church can aid effectually in +bringing about the happy consummation of millennial glory in no other +way. Would that Christians of the present generation could be induced +to look at this truth in its intense application to themselves +individually. Would that its accents could be made to ring over every +hill top, and echo through every valley in Christendom; startling the +soldiers of the cross to deeds of love, as the voice of Peter the hermit +once bristled with arms the plains of Europe to shed the blood of +infidels. + +Not long since, thousands were starving and dying in Ireland. A cry of +anguish came up, and thousands of generous American hearts responded to +the call. This was noble. It was thought to be an especial occasion +for benevolence. Who did not feel that every Irish landholder should +have shared his abundance with the suffering and dying poor around him? +But what is the death of the body to the death of the soul! What is the +temporal destruction of a few thousands to the eternal damnation of +hundreds of millions! Was it the duty of the wealthy Irish to feed +their starving neighbors? And since the providence of God has made the +remotest of earth's dwellers who are perishing for lack of vision our +neighbors, should we not supply them with the bread of heaven, and thus +prevent untold agonies? I ask every candid reader, is not the present a +_special occasion_ for benevolence? and if the church is to be the +instrument by which God has determined to work in restoring the kingdoms +to his Son, will it not be such an occasion till that blessed period +arrives, when there shall be nothing to hurt or destroy in all God's +holy mountain? + +15. The duties growing out of the possession of property in view of +death, judgment, and eternity. The obligations imposed upon us by the +possession of wealth may be irksome, but we cannot escape them; we must +bear them to the judgment. In our pride we may resolve that we will use +our money as we please; but God commands us to use it as he pleases. A +vivid sense, then, of the tremendous scenes before us should be ever +associated in our minds with ideas of property. We should realize how +our wealth will appear in the final hour, as its pleasures and +enchanting illusions begin to fade from the dying eye, and as we reflect +how short and unsatisfactory, like "a dream when one awaketh," all these +enjoyments have been. Rioting amid the luxuries of affluence, and giddy +with its bewildering joys, these may be unpleasant thoughts. But why +regard thoughts of that which we cannot avoid, unpleasant? We must not +only _think_ of these dread realities, we must _meet_ them, and +experience all their joy or woe. Then let us realize, now and always, +how all our uses of property will appear at the bar of God, where the +thought of every misimprovement will be sharper than a serpent's fang; +how, in eternity, as we contemplate those who might have been saved by +our liberality in undying misery; how, if we are lifting up our eyes +with them in torments; how, if, while we ourselves shall be saved as by +fire, we behold them excluded from those blissful seats by our +covetousness. Let each one put these searching questions to his own +conscience; and let him take heed that his gifts be such, that their +remembrance will not only sweeten his dying moments, but diffuse a +fragrance over all his future being. + +16. The worth of money hoarded or spent unnecessarily, contrasted with +the worth of souls as gems in the Saviour's crown. The true value of +wealth as a worldly good we fully appreciate. It contains no hidden +excellence which the circumstances of life conceal. But the true glory +of a soul redeemed the mists of time obscure. Our attachment to the +world and the hallucinations growing out of it, prevent its full +appreciation. But soon all this illusion will vanish. Both will stand +before us in their true light. One will be seen to be vanity as it is; +the other to possess a worth which no language can express:--a worth +consisting not merely of the endless blessedness and glory it is itself +capable of enjoying, but also of the glory that will redound to the +adorable Trinity through its redemption. Take a position most favorable +for its true estimation. Transplant yourself into the heavenly state; +contemplate a blood-washed soul in all its peace, its joy, it +ravishment, as it circulates about the throne of love, approaching +nearer and nearer to its blissful centre, constantly increasing in +capacities, and more and more joyful in its high hallelujahs, till it +shall enjoy more blessedness in a single hour, than Gabriel has enjoyed +since the moment of his creation. Behold it, as it shines, a star, in +the Saviour's diadem; gaze upon it purifying and brightening there as +revolutions of eternity's time move on, till it shall attract the +admiration of the heavenly throngs, and call forth from their wondering +harps symphonies louder and more rapturous than have yet been heard in +that world of sweetest hosannahs. The comparative worth of money +hoarded or wasted, and the of the ransomed soul to itself, to the +Saviour who redeemed it, to the adoring hosts whose fruitions are +enhanced by the displays of grace evinced in its redemption, will be +then clearly seen. Oh, how trifling will that money which has been +squandered or grudgingly withheld from charity then appear, contrasted +with the results in glorified souls of what was cheerfully and +prayerfully bestowed. The condition of the churl and the liberal, how +different then! He who hoarded most will then be found the poorest; and +he who gave most with the greatest sacrifices, the richest. + +17. The brevity of the period allotted us to labor and to make +sacrifices for the salvation of men. "A point of time, a moment's +space," is all we have. What we do in charity, the labors we perform, +the privations we suffer, must all be accomplished or endured soon. The +distress we relieve, the souls we save, the joys we inspire, must feel +the quickening hand of mercy without delay. Time is on his rapid wing. +Thousands who need our help are perishing daily; the entire generation +now occupying this stage of toil and probation, the great Destroyer will +speedily sweep from the scene. Almost "in the twinkling of an eye" we +shall stand together before the judgment throne. He who died to save +the poor as well as the rich, the heathen as well as the evangelized, is +now speaking from heaven; "whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with +thy might." + +These are some of the intellectual views and obligations which should be +_systematized_ in the mind, forming both inducements to, and a +constituent part of, systematic beneficence. They should lie like +blazing fuel on the heart, kindling their appropriate feelings and +affections. I have briefly unfolded them, as a specimen of that process +of reasoning and personal application, which, according to our mental +laws, when attended by the Holy Spirit, is fitted to soften and +harmonize the mind preparatory to benevolent action; a process which +all, as rational beings, are bound to engage in and carry out. I know +this part of the system requires unpleasant work. Most are willing to +feel, but they would feel without principle; and if they act, they would +act only from the impulse of the moment. They shrink from +introspection; from working on their own hearts through the laborious +operations of the intellect, so that the affections may be at once both +right and rational. But if we would see the gorgeous palace towering in +symmetry and grandeur, unpleasant work must be done; the rubbish must be +removed, the soil excavated, the marble chiselled into form, and the +unsightly timbers erected. Without these, though it might glitter in +the sunbeams, it would be but a gossamer tissue. So this mental part is +the bone and sinew, the life, of a system of beneficence. Confined to +resolutions and conduct, its movements would be like the effects of +galvanism on the muscles of the dead--unnatural and spasmodic. The +truth is, there can be no system of action without some system both of +intellectual views and of the moral sensibilities. All inconsistency +among Christians arises from defects in one or other of these respects. +The fountain is not invariably at the same height, and therefore the +stream alternately swells and sinks. + +Resolutions are proverbially frail; and they are so, because they rest +not on a mind consolidated by principles, and a heart glowing like a +furnace with corresponding feelings. When resting on such a mind and +heart, resolutions are not frail; but invincible as adamant. + +Our purposes of charity, therefore, must rest on an unshaken foundation; +and in order to this, the principles and considerations fitted to +promote benevolent sentiments and feelings must be pressed on the mind, +till in view of them the bosom warms, and throbs, and swells, and bursts +forth in high and determined resolves. It is not enough that they pass +like a burning ray across the mind, producing a single flash of +benevolence. What is needed is a continuation of the same effect; and +for this, the same cause must continue to operate. It is important, +therefore, that these truths be systematically applied. Seasons should +be set apart for daily meditating and reasoning upon them, attended by +earnest supplication for the impressing influences of the Holy Spirit. +The mind must thus be drilled to reflection upon them till they become +principles of action, so vital and permanent, that a shape and +inflexibility shall be given to the moral sensibilities, which no wear +of time or circumstances shall change or efface. + +This is the only process by which the soul can be brought into, and kept +in, that state of unity implied in volition; especially of that abiding +unity implied in a general purpose, without which no scheme of action +can be long sustained. This, too, is the only method by which unhappy +influences exerted on the heart by the pursuits of gain can be +counteracted. As one engages in active business, and his property +accumulates, his thoughts usually become more engrossed, and his love of +money increases. Why is it? Precisely on the principle recognized by +the Psalmist, "While I was musing, the fire burned." It is a law of our +mental nature, that the more we think of any subject naturally pleasing, +the greater interest we feel respecting it. Now the management, the +proper investment, and safe keeping of property, must engage, more or +less, the attention; and owing to the extreme selfishness of the heart, +are very liable to awaken a lively interest. Hence, the more people are +employed in the acquisition of affluence or competence, the more +covetous they usually become. This influence, so chilling to the +generous affections, can be resisted only by a counter process of +reflection. The truth that ourselves and all we have belong to God; the +extreme selfishness of the natural man; the insufficiency of worldly +good to satisfy the cravings of the soul; the dangers attending +acquisition; the obligations and privilege of giving; the benevolent +mission of the age; the spiritual wants of the world; the worth of a +soul redeemed; and all those great and solemn considerations fitted to +incite to munificence, must be presented before the mind as frequently +at least as ideas of property, in order to counterbalance the influence +of the latter; and, indeed, more frequently, so as to repress the strong +tendencies of the selfish heart, which the avocations of gain are so +well calculated to invigorate. This can be done by no merely external +system of benevolent action, any farther than such a system has a reflex +influence on the moral feelings. Farther than this, the effort would be +like attempting to stop the floods of the Amazon with a bulrush. + +The great work, therefore, in erecting a system of beneficence, must be +wrought in the soul,--in impressing views and regulating affections. +For this there can be no substitute. This deep and steady current of +truth and thought, is to the mind in connection with the Spirit's +operations, what showers are to the earth. If there are none, it soon +becomes parched, and verdure withers; if they descend frequently and +copiously, the ground is filled with moisture, vegetation blooms, and +fruits ripen; springs burst forth, the streams dash along the valleys, +sweep through the meadows, and pouring into the ocean, roll their +mountain waves around the world. + +II. Standing on this high ground of established principles and +correspondent affections, we are prepared to take the second step in a +universal system of beneficence; consisting in the exercises of the will +in the formation of general purposes and resolutions. These should be +made with a solemn sense of the responsibilities of our being; of our +relations to the world and to the judgment-seat; and with a full +conviction of our own weakness and entire dependence on the grace of God +to assist us in their fulfilment. + +Reader, with this humble reliance on Divine aid, will you now make the +following resolutions your own? + +1. As a foundation to all others, I solemnly consecrate myself, soul +and body, to God in an everlasting covenant. + +2. I will prayerfully endeavor to keep my heart in sympathy with the +great principles and duties above unfolded. + +3. I will make the benevolence of Jesus Christ, in its spirit and +design, the pattern of my own, constantly carrying about the conviction, +that I must practise great self-denial, and make continued sacrifices in +imitation of my dying Lord. + +4. I will make unremitting war on the selfishness of my heart, knowing +it to be the worst of evils; and fully purposing that it shall never +influence my decision, either in regard to a general scheme, or a +particular act, of beneficence. + +5. I will thoroughly and candidly consider the spiritual destitutions +of our country and the world; the peculiar mission of the church in the +present age; and manfully, and with a whole heart, make the +renunciations thereby demanded. + +6. I will regard my health, strength, life, and property, as valuable +only as instruments of advancing the kingdom of Christ; and therefore +hold them all without reserve at the call of God. + +7. I will seize every opportunity for doing good by example, by +conversation, by labor, and by contribution. + +8. I will daily and prayerfully consider whether the circumstances of +the age in which I live do not require of me as great sacrifices in +alms-giving as were made by the Jews in contributing two tenths of their +income to the service of the Lord. + + +9. In laying all my pecuniary plans, and in all my labors to carry them +into effect, I will have the glory of God uppermost in view, and +therefore make it one of my leading objects to acquire property for +distribution; being thus, according to the injunction of Paul, "not +slothful in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord." + +10. To give to charitable purposes such portion of my property as God, +by his Word and providences, seems to demand, I will deem as sacredly +incumbent upon me as to make an economical expenditure of it in the +support of myself and family. + +11. For the sake of strengthening the benevolent tendencies of the +soul, I will perseveringly cherish all its generous impulses by doing or +giving as they shall dictate, so far as scripture and ability prescribe. + +12. I will fix upon a system of giving which shall be made solemnly and +prayerfully in view of my circumstances and calls; in the clear light of +God's Word and of the awful retributions of the last tribunal. As to +amount and frequency of donations, I will endeavor to make them such as +I shall wish they had been, when, bowing before the great white throne, +I shall gaze into the face of my crucified and exalted Saviour; actually +participating in the fruits of his unutterable sacrifices for me. + +13. Cherishing, amid the toils of gain, an abiding sense of the +strength of the selfishness of the human heart, and the consequent +dangers of acquisition, I will daily pray and strive for disinterested +benevolence as the greatest good; also for direction as to the amount of +sacrifices I ought to make; and then agreeably to my prayers, act +according to the dictates of conscience uttered in the presence of God. + +14. I will frequently and at stated periods solemnly renew these or +similar resolutions. + +Now, if you refuse to make these solemn resolutions your own, can you +assign any reason for such refusal, which you will be willing to utter +in self-justification when facing your Final Judge? + +Whatever theories we may adopt concerning volition, or the governing +determinations of the mind, all will agree in the fact, that the +energies of the human soul, when aroused, may be strung like fibres of +steel, giving and adamantine firmness and indomitable force to the will. +We have seen this exemplified in the fortitude with which one sometimes +endures surgical operation; in the heated courage of the soldier, +rushing with the loud huzza into the very face of the engulphing +battery; in the cool, calculating resolution which carries the +unflinching column with steady tread into the very centre of bristling +squares. All this is but the strength of will when the energies of the +soul are stirred. Now one's resolution may and should become thus +iron-like in the war with his own covetousness. He should determine in +the strength of grace to break it down, however much it may cost. God +has given us this power of will, and to him we are responsible for its +proper exercise; ever remembering that it is strengthened by cultivation +of reiterated effort. The raw recruit cannot be trusted at the post of +danger like the veteran, who has repeatedly nerved up his spirit, +till by habit it has become as unyielding as a rock. The latter has +learnt to be brave. So we should learn to be soldiers in the war +with selfishness, by perseveringly girding our minds to the deadly +conflict.--Has depraved man such energy of will in spreading devastation +and death; and shall not Christians exhibit as great force of resolution +in diffusing the blessings of salvation? Who dare say, I cannot, or will +not, exercise it? Let us be mindful of our obligations. If our minds +may be wrought up to such invincible firmness and energy of resolution +to do evil; surely, God assisting, they may not only be inspired with a +lofty enthusiasm to resist the solicitations of selfishness, but also +roused to a sublimity of generous emotions, to engage, like a Mills or a +Howard, in disinterested and self-denying efforts for the good of +others. + +III. We are now ready to take the last step in erecting a general +system of beneficence, viz.: the carrying into effect right principles +and well-directed resolutions. While, on the one hand, the intellectual +and emotional qualities of the mind give character and vitality to +action; on the other hand our conduct exerts a powerful reflex influence +on the affections and purposes. Nothing tends more to give strength and +spirit to a mental principle than accordant action; and nothing tends +more to obliterate an emotion from the breast, or to paralyze a +resolution, than the neglect of its appropriate manifestations. However +deeply the one may be engraven on the soul, or however solid the texture +or vigorous the life of the other, a few instances of neglect or +violation will strike them with the chills of death. + +Principles and resolutions, then, are of little avail without +corresponding efforts. The "well of water" must not only spring up in +the soul, it must flow out in the life. We must act as well as think +and resolve; and act, as if we _felt_ that ourselves and all that we +have belong to God by the twofold right of creation and redemption; act, +as if selfishness were our deadliest foe, and as if it were our great +business to attain its mortification and overthrow; act, as if +disinterested love, a soul like angels, like God, were the greatest good +to be possessed by an intelligent being; act, as if we were prayerfully +watching the calls of Christ on our generosity, and were ready and +determined manfully to meet them; act, in laying our pecuniary plans, as +if the highest object of acquisition were the means of diffusing good; +act, as if self-denial were the main condition of our being on earth, +and as if the circumstances of the age were requiring of us peculiar +sacrifices in order to rescue millions, perishing in mental thraldom, +whose souls are as precious as our own; act, as if we were in earnest, +as if the whole soul were kindled to a blaze of zeal, and bent on the +most determined efforts for the exaltation of Christ in the salvation of +men; knowing that the time allotted for the accomplishment of a task +eternal in its consequences, is but a hand-breadth. + +Act with _forecast_. This is a point of unspeakable importance. I +would reiterate and enforce the thought, till it shall be wrought into +the very web of all our benevolent purposes. There must be +_contrivance_ to give. Worldly men make previous arrangements to +increase their stores. Lovers of pleasure contrive to support their +follies. Why should not lovers of Christ be equally wise to fill the +world with light, and heaven with anthems? + +Act _systematically_. With a mind illumined with knowledge, a +conscience impressed with obligation, and a heart glowing with love of +God and man, form an individual system of beneficence; and let it be one +you will not blush to review in heaven. Be particularly careful, +therefore, that it be such as will come most strongly in collision with +the selfishness of the heart, and yield the richest revenue to the Lord; +requiring as generous and frequent contributions as circumstances will +allow, agreeably to the Divine injunction: "Every man shall give as he +is able, according to the blessing of the Lord thy God, which he hath +given thee;" in a word, let it be such as system as you will be willing +to hand in at the judgment-seat, as decisive testimony that you have +loved your neighbor as yourself. And when it is formed, never violate +its rules by giving _less_, except impelled by imperative necessity; +though ever stand ready to deviate from it, when Providence commands, by +giving _more_. + +Let benevolence be ever operative, like the sun ever shining. Wait not +for the modest poor, or heedlessly perishing, to ask for aid; but go +forth in search of objects appropriate for philanthropy to relieve, to +enlighten, to cheer. Obey the voice from heaven: "Open thy hand wide +unto thy brother;" "Sow beside all waters;" scattering a little here and +a little there, and thus, to the extent of ability, aid in bringing back +"the state of Eden's bloom," and planting trees of righteousness all +over the world. + +Let deeds of charity be consistent one with another, and harmonize +with a general deportment, elevated to the true Gospel standard of +self-consecration; so that they may exert an influence, not only in +relieving the wants of the needy and forlorn, but as examples of +heartfelt beneficence, inciting others to the glorious work. Let Christ, +therefore, be the pattern of all charitable efforts. Let the love that +moved him to endure a life of privation and a death of agony, take full +possession of the soul, prompting to the same unwearied and self-denying +activity in doing good. With a constancy and vigor based on this +life-giving principle, let each one endeavor to make his influence felt +throughout the world; becoming, in his sphere, like one of those fixed +stars that sparkle in the midnight sky--a blazing sun to those that are +near, a gem of sweetest ray to those afar. + +Such is the system, and, as we believe, substantially the only universal +system of beneficence, with which God will be well pleased. It grows +out of our relations to him as intellectual and moral beings. Its +life-spring is in the heart. It is purely spiritual or moral in its +character. It rejects all machinery, and can be permanently helped +forward by no scheme of merely external actions. It occupies the whole +soul; with its roots winding round every intellectual and virtuous +principle, it shoots up its stately trunk, sending forth its far-reaching +branches, whose leaves are for the healing of the nations. + +It is a system forming an essential part of Christian character. It +requires that the great themes of our meditation be spiritual and +eternal, that the mind be so imbued with thoughts of God, his government +and law, of Christ, his love, his sufferings and death, of the +restorative scheme thereby wrought out, of its relation to this apostate +world, of our responsibilities as co-workers with Christ in spreading +the knowledge of his name, and of the consequences both to ourselves and +others of fidelity to our trust--it requires that these thoughts be so +thoroughly impressed, and the heart so permeated, warmed, and animated +by their influence, that they shall become, as it were, inherent +elements of moral action, involuntarily suggesting themselves as often +as occasions for their operation arise. But all this is but another +process of thought and emotion descriptive of the _spiritually minded_. +It also requires the same intellectual and moral discipline which is +essential to the formation of the benevolent character. This does not +consist in a single act, a single out-gushing of generous activity, but +in a series of generous actions, flowing from an established principle; +a principle pervading the whole soul, never wavering, never succumbing +to the biddings of selfishness. But the benevolent character thus +deeply laid is the _Christian character_. The scheme further requires +consistency of moral and religious conduct. While it no more demands +regular and persevering beneficent action than it demands other +Christian duties, it imperiously demands regular and persevering +beneficent action as an essential branch of Christian conduct, +inevitably resulting from those immutable principles which form the +basis of the Christ-like character. Thus the particular or individual +system grows, by a moral necessity, out of the general system of +thoughts, affections, and volitions, here unfolded; it being a moral +impossibility for one cordially to adopt the latter, in all its length +and breadth, without determining upon such a private system of +beneficence as his means, his relations to God and to the wants and woes +of our species, demand. To refuse this system of benevolent principles +and correspondent actions, therefore, is to refuse to be spiritually +minded; is to refuse to exhibit consistency of holy conduct; is to +refuse to exert all our powers and embrace all opportunities to do good; +in a word, it is to wear a blot on our Christian name which many waters +can never wash out. + +Hence the beauty of the system,--general and particular--here presented, +is that, resting down on the eternal and changeless foundations of the +spiritual universe, and consequently harmonizing with the spirit of +Revelation and with the laws of mind, it rises up and expands into a +beautiful exhibition of the fruits of the Gospel, the legitimate product +of its holy precepts. It gives no encouragement to the idea that God's +favor may be secured, or duty done, by any mere external system of +munificence, any farther than the external system proceeds from right +affections and sound principles. It must originate in the renewed +heart, be nourished by the life of grace, and increase its +productiveness as light and holiness increase in the soul. In its +perfect development, _it is the full and symmetrical development of the +Christian character_. + +Thus it is a system equal in its pressure, and therefore adapted to +fasten on the conscience of every one, whatever his age or +circumstances. No one can justly plead exemption from its claims. None +can reasonably propose questions of casuistry to shield his bosom from +its shafts. None can shake off the convictions of duty it impresses, +but by shutting its principles from the mind, or by rousing the heart to +resistance. In short, it leaves every man to himself, facing his God, +his conscience laid bare to the quenchless rays of truth. + + +CONCLUSION. + +Who will refuse thus systematically to reflect, to feel, to resolve, to +give? Will you, professed follower of the self-denying Jesus? Can you, +"bought with blood divine," when looking around on the possessions God +has bestowed, have a heart to deny that aid which undying millions +demand? Is it not beyond expression inconsistent to profess to give +yourself to Christ, and then withhold your property from him?--But what +are your relations to him as implied in this profession? and what are +his claims upon you, as growing out of it? With the last tribunal and +the sorrows of Calvary in view, will you give these a moment's prayerful +reflection? + +Go back with me to those delightful scenes so full of gentle joy, of +ineffable sweetness, and hallowed peace, when first you cast your all on +Jesus, and felt + + "The Saviour's pard'ning blood, + Applied to cleanse your soul from guilt + And bring you home to God." + +Then, calm and trustful in spirit, transported in the freshness of a +new-born life, you could sing with a ravished heart, + + "I am my Lord's, and he is mine: + He drew me--and I followed on-- + Charm'd to confess the voice divine." + +These were precious seasons. "How sweet their mem'ry still!" Then came +an hour of tender, impressive, and almost awful interest. You entered +the sanctuary of God, and in the presence of men, of angels, and your +adored Saviour, avouched the Lord Jehovah, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, +to be your God, consecrating yourself and all your possessions, +unreservedly, to his service. Was this an unmeaning ceremony? No. You +remember the occasion, the hopes and fears of your trembling faith, +those sweet experiences, those glimpses of your Redeemer's smiles, which +forced the tear to your eye; the solemn and faltering accents of your +beloved pastor; and the weeping sympathy of a dear father and mother-- +now, perhaps, gone to their rest--who had long yearned over a +thoughtless child. Or you may remember your soul's peaceful trust in +God, as you stood _alone_, with no sympathizing kindred; and felt, as +you tasted the cup,--the emblem of your Saviour's blood, and the pledge +of the eternal sacrifice of yourself to him,--that you could cheerfully +forsake brother and sister, father and mother, all, for Christ. It was +a touching scene; and you thought you should never forget it. And, ah! +it never has been forgotten in heaven. The eternal Judge, and those +blest spirits who affectionately stooped to sustain and strengthen you +for the irrevocable vow, remember it. + +Now have you acted up to this surrender of your all to Christ, +especially in relation to the duty of beneficence? In that impressive +hour, did you make a mental reservation, withholding certain sources of +private gratification,--the privilege of using your property as you +pleased, of seeing yourself and family supplied with the conveniences, +the comforts, and even the luxuries of life, ere you attended to the +cries of the myriads sinking to woes unutterable for the want of +Gospel light? Were you thus unfeeling? Did you think to deceive +the heart-searching Jesus? Oh, no! I cannot believe it; and you +are appalled at the suspicion. But what did you mean by those +all-surrendering vows? What do you mean, often as you renew them at +the sacramental board? Let the question come home to your conscience; +_what do you mean_? If they lead you not to hold your property at the +call of God, ought you not to tremble lest you never gave yourself away, +and are, therefore, with all your professions an heir of hell? Did +Christ once weep over covenant-breaking Jerusalem? Does he not now +weep over you, as he thinks of all his agonies to rescue you from +unquenchable fire; of your voluntary vows; your unfaithfulness; and your +mockery, as perhaps you have prayed that the kingdoms of the world might +speedily become his; while amid your numerous comforts, you have refused +to deny yourself scarce a convenience, or even superfluity, for the +salvation of those whom he died to redeem? How inconsistent! Well +might tears still bathe the Saviour's cheeks. Oh think, are these the +kind returns you owe for pardoning love? It is unreasonable that you +spend your worldly goods for him, who shed his blood for you? Go, I +beseech you, to your closet, and there plead, till from the heart you +can say: "Lord, here I am and all I have. Take the worthless sacrifice, +now and forever." + +Will the rich, they who have enough and abound, reject this rational +scheme of principles, feelings, actions? What treatment is this of the +compassionate Giver of your abundance? Do you not owe to him alike your +being and possessions? Perhaps you refuse to give even _yourselves_ to +him; and employ to private ends those bodily and mental powers with +which you are endowed for his service. Is not this robbing God? And +how is it with the favors of his hand? Have not the crucibles of your +selfish hearts melted and moulded them into household gods? As the +streams of Providence have poured in upon you to overflowing, instead of +dispersing abroad as God intended, have you not carefully enlarged your +own reservoirs so as to retain the whole? Thus grasping all that lies +within your reach of that wealth which God has created for the +advancement of his kingdom, have you not withheld it from its +appropriate channel, and thus become doubly guilty of robbing God? + +What a spectacle do you present to holy intelligences! They behold you +rational and accountable beings like themselves; upheld in existence by +Jehovah's mercy, partaking freely of his bounties, and treasuring up +future supplies; but resolutely refusing to share your abundance with +the perishing, even when the generosity required would but enhance your +personal enjoyment. And yet, perchance, you are the professed followers +of the compassionate Jesus. Dare you compare your spirit and conduct +with his? + +Truly, you, who have redundant stores, sustain tremendous +responsibilities; would that you might realize them. You enjoy glorious +privileges; will you slight them? With the power, under God, of +relieving the sorrowful, enlightening the ignorant, elevating the +degraded, and diffusing a vital energy through every pore of this +suffering world, will you stand like some bleak Alpine cliff, breathing +perpetual frost, merely an object for the curious to gaze upon? so +live that your selfish heirs shall rejoice at your death, and the +judgment-day clothe you with eternal shame? + +Do you say, "My money is my own; I may use it as I please?" Hark! God +thunders, "Thy gold and thy silver is mine." Will you trifle with +Jehovah's voice, and incur his righteous wrath? Hear the terrible +denunciations of James: "Go to, now, ye rich men, weep, and howl for +your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and +your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the +rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as +it were fire." Absorbed in the pursuits of gain, or whirling on your +glittering rounds of pleasure, you may heedlessly disregard the appeals +of distressed humanity, and proudly congratulate yourselves on your +exalted positions, your honors and flatteries; but, rely upon it, you +are only heaping "treasure together for the last day." Every call of +charity from which you turn coldly away will be a drop of anguish to +your undying soul. How trifling your gifts to the Lord, compared with +the vastly greater sacrifices of many far poorer than yourself, and +whom, perhaps, you now despise. When these shall shine forth as the sun +in the kingdom of their Father, where, O, where will you be found? O, +how will all that affluence in which you have garnered up your hopes +appear, when hearing the voice of your Final Judge, "Inasmuch as you did +it not to one of the least of these my brethren, ye did it not to me;" +and bereft of your treasures and your hopes together, you find the +prison of despair a dread reality, where covetousness will eternally +work without restraint, and unrelieved; a fire shut up in the soul, +agonizing it evermore? + +Will the young refuse to enter upon this systematic course of doing +good?--You who are in the warm glow of youthful affections and +sympathies, I presume are not prepared to answer in the negative. You +feel that it would be delightful, the highest grade of human excellence, +to go about scattering charities--feeding the hungry, relieving +distress, smoothing the dying pillow, and sending the light of salvation +to those on whom the dayspring of the Saviour's mercy has never dawned. +This, perhaps, you intend to do at some future time; but you cannot now; +you have not the ability; you must first amass the means. But let me +warn you; here lies the treacherous pitfall. You have within a subtle +and malignant principle, whose maturity is utterly destructive of +benevolence. This the very employment of acquiring the means of charity +will fan to a flame, unless, in all your plans and avocations, you carry +along with you the spirit of Christ's good-will to men. The work of +charity must be begun in the infancy of the selfish tendencies. A small +blaze among the withered leaves of autumn a child may extinguish; but +when the winds have hurled it, and the wild fire is running and leaping +from point to point, streaming up trees and wrapping the forest in +sheets of flame, it will take the energies of thousands to quench it. +So it is with the principle of avarice. It must be repressed early, +before its giant coils wind around the entire heart, crushing its better +purposes. Hence, as the morning of life is peculiarly favorable to the +formation and fixing of habits, the importance of inuring yourself to +battle with this inward foe, in this flexible season. Put on the armor +at once, and learn to wield it; for victory is as much dependent on +skill as on strength. + +Let the spirit of benevolence be the warmest aspiration of the youthful +breast. Let it be the early, the earnest, the daily inquiry, "What can +I do for my race?" Good to others should be your aim when means are +small. True, its light at first may be no more than the feeble +glimmerings of the glow-warm by the pathway of the benighted traveller; +yet it will be genial, soothing many a sad and torn heart. In the very +commencement of business, then, cherish a Christ-like spirit; and, +adopting a system of accordant action, maintain it all along the path of +life; so that when you arrive at its close, it will be seen, a line of +light stretching around the world, with many a flower of Paradise +blooming on its borders. But wait till you obtain the means before you +begin to seek in earnest the benefit of others, and, unless Divine Grace +powerfully interpose, by the time, in your own judgments, the means are +procured, your hearts will have become like the nether millstone. + +Be persuaded, then, to lay your youth a victim on the altar of charity. +Let your whole being burn there till life is extinct; and when you enter +upon the peaceful rest of heaven, you will find multitudes there, aided +thither by your timely munificence, with whom you may unite in +transporting hallelujahs forever. + +Finally, let me entreat readers of every class deeply to ponder the +subject here unfolded. No rational being, with any sense of his +responsibilities, can treat it with indifference. I beseech you, pass +not over these pages with a hasty glance, and then throw them aside. +Meditate upon them till your hearts burn within you. Pray over them +till you feel a harmony of soul with Christ; and, in this spirit, come +to a solemn determination whether you will adopt or reject this system +of views, of affections, of resolutions, and of accordant actions. Do +one or the other. No other course is either rational or christian. And +while you deliberately decide, realize that the eye of the Triune +Jehovah is fixed upon you, and that that dread Judge, before "whose face +the earth and the heavens" shall flee away, will review the transaction. +How solemn your position! What amazing consequences are depending on +your present determination! It will affect your usefulness here, and +your relations in eternity. You are striking a chord of the mighty harp +of the universe, which will tremble with the songs of the redeemed, or +the moanings of the damned. 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