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Hiotographic

Sciences
Corporation

as WIST MAIN STRUT

wnsTiR.N.Y. Msao

(716) S7a-4S03

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^.^ ^

The greater part of the following paper was
jitfressed . to the congregation of St. George^s
Oiiirch, Toronto, on Sunday, the 8th inst&nt, by the
iieumbent; and, having had a few additions made
dereto for the purpose of rendering it more suitable
for general reading, and thrown into parts, with a
Iketding for each, was read to the Lord Bishop, who
kindly addressed to the writer the following letter:

• Rev. and Dear Sir, •

" I have heard your paper oii Systematic Benefi-
cence with much pleasure and satisfaction, and I
believe that were it published and widely circulated
it would produce great g'>od among all classes of
joeiety. Such charity is the glory of the gospel,
ind by its practice in a regular and orderly manner,
we shall all of us duly realise our Lord's memorable
saying, * It is more blessed to give than to receive.'
I would further recommend that it be read in every
family of my diocese.

"JOHN TORONTO."

"To the Rev. Dr. Fuller, R.D.,
" Rector of St. George's, Toronto.**

It is now circulated, with prayer to Almighty God
that his blessing may be vouchsafed it.

TorcrUOy 30th December, 1861.

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3 ^ c^-^
SYSTEMATIC BENEFICENCE.

■ 1 '

The present position of our church in this diocese,
in regard to its finances, is a very peculiar one. We
are in a transition state, passing from the condition
of a body, dependent on missionary societies in
England, and on provision made for it by the State,
to that of a body, whose chief dependence for the
future must be on the free-will offerings of the
people. Our people have not fully realised their
true position in this respect ; nor have they become
fitted to their places, as the chief financial pillars of
the sacred edifice.

Most of them — cither accustomed to have the
ministrations of religion furnished for them (in this
country) by societies of that noble land, to which all
North America gladly acknowledges its deep in-
debtedness, or provided for them from the proceeds
of the Clergy Reserves, or maintained for them (in
the country from which they have emigrated) from
the tithe of the land, set apart for that purpose by
the piety of their forefathers — feel the demand now
made upon their means for the support of the
church, as one for which they had made little or no
calculation.

They have made provision, it is true, for the
support, the clothing, and the education of their
children ; but they have made none whatever, or

very little, for the maintenance of religion amongst
them.

The consequence has been, that various expedients
have beea employed, to obtain that which ought to
be freely offered with prayer to the Lord ; expe-
dients that partake more or less of an injurious
character, but which, however, the exigencies oi the
church seem to demand. . ,.^ ... . i,-.

JSlven the appeals which are made from the
pla,tform and from the pulpit, to induce people to
give to God*s service, too often partake of the spirit
of the world. •; • ^: ; r;

THE NECESSITY FOR SOME NEW PLAN; AND A PLAN

PROPOSED.

I- ■ .

What then is to be done ? Means a,re required,
not only for the extension of God's Churchy which
should be deemed by us not only our duty, but also
our privilege ; but for its very maintenance. Many
congregations are burdened with heavy debts. The
mission board of the diocese, trusting that the mem*
bers of the church would respond to the urgent
appeals that have been made to them from time to
time on behalf of the destitute portions oi the dio-
ceac, have extended their aid to a few of those desti-
tute places, but what has been the result ? It is told
in the recent appeal on behalf of the board by the
Lord Bishop, in which his lordship states that it wiU
require 03,540 to meet the engagements of tha board on
the first of January next.

The question then recurs, whai is to he done to meH
tl^e inereinspii demf^ndi^? I firmly believe that the

sciioceih
veftth«|>i
eitension
knoWledg*
means of

i , -a J * •

One of
tian wor!
10 cotiec
no Tesp<
the imp
Afe^
was f a^
a few
admira

8tBC0ti<

thinra^

Igion amongst

\re required,
^^rch, which
'^y» but also
mce. xMany
^^^ts. The
at the mem-
the urgent
*Ki time to
^ the dio-
Jioso desti-
It is toJd
^^ by the
that ii will

that the

a^ptiM by our people of the principle laid dowru by
the Apostle Paul, that it is the chrUtian^s duty to
itMe a fixed proportion o/hit income to God* 8 service,
li He, in His infinite goodness and mercy, is pleased
td bless him— ^and a more extensire and constant
teaching of the same duty in our families, in our
Safiday tchooln^ and by means of the press-^would
enable churchmen lo discharge their duties in this
r^ard ; to dispense with those plans for the raising
of money for church purposes, of which> in their con-
sei^nce^ they do not entirely approve ; and to con-
rert th« pTOCuring of means for the maintenance and
eitension of God's church upon earth, from an ac-
kndtv'ledged hindrance into a rich aad abundant
means of grace. . r ..

-citiUV iu;

■'?

( rti '

J.'c.,,

Tint AElkARlCAaLE VKANIMltt OP CHttldtlAN WRITERS,

■iyjiiJii. OF VARIOtJS B01>IBS, ON THIS POINT. i'^sy;;

One of the n&os^ eficouraging featurdai of the chris-
tian world, at the present day, is the return of many
10 cotrect principles of thought and action ; and in
no respect is this more manifest than in regard to
the important subject now under consideration.

A few years ago every clergyman in this diocese
was furnished gratuitously, through the liberality of
a few churchmen in Montreal, with a copy of an
admirable work called ** Gold and the Gospel/' This
Work Comprised fivd excellent ebsays " on th6 dufp of
gihingi according to mettne and income;" written, the
fifM^ by a ctergymkn of thb chnroh in Ireland ; the
second^ by a Free Kirk likiiiielev of Bbotland ; the
tkird, by ai minisMr eC t)ie Syirad •f Uleter in Ire-

land ; the fourih, by an Independent minister of
England ; and the fifth by a layman.

In 1855, a clergyman of our diocese, a brother full
of zeal and ability, had the honour of writing and
publishing a very able manual, under the title of
" the Sacerdotal Tithe," which has not been without
producing most valuable results. Since then, the
American Tract Society has published a volume,
entitled ** Systematic Beneficence,*' being the
three premium essays written by three Congrega-
tional ministers of Massachusetts. And about the
same time the Tract Society of the Episcopal Metho-
dists in the United States published a volume on the
same subject, with the same title, written by three
of their ministers. »y. V - - -h

And it is well worthy the consideration of all chris-
tians, that these various works, written by so many
different individuals, belonging to so many diflferent
denominations, and in so many dififerent countries,
lay down only the one plain christian duty^ tiMt each
should devote a regular proportion of his income to
€rod*8 services^ as God has prospered him ; and this
arising from the fact that God has so willed and ordered
it to be done* ^mum^^ ■itntau wvfi jr»^>jds»if :tf«iifM|Ost yft

O0D*S GRACIOUS DB8ION IN RBQVIRINO BENEFICENCE

sti? li?, \^^wtt « WROM HIS PEOPLB.'*^^"^'*^'""-* "^^^ '

«.f<(T, ■ / ',k():i^V' :-H«.i •i.miiv 4iw».' "- «-•'>'.(,«.:>. vjiiow -alrfwiiuil' ,
We should remember that God has been pleased
to employ his people as instruments for effecting
his purposes on earth. Had it been his gracious
will, He oould have so diffused his gifts, that there
would have been no poor, and He could have pub-

lished His goj
I in man to His
Bat God kn
hhould cultival
I He left us H
world, and H
|lhe blessings
Iwanso/develo
IbMA pleased,
|oui duty to I
Itjtima^ hy 1
Id like ma
Iwho is anxiou
IbeDeficence ii
Ineans, and t
hhould be pre
Ihim opportut
IbeDeficence.

The duty c

Ituaent, not s(

Icessities are <

|ic%ving the

|thiaos, and s]

lof the poor, SI

|thing, in fait

dl diligence

Lbound in t

IbeDeficence.

isking assis

4id not add

iwhom he

jDQ high-wrc

Uhom he as

7^':

tithed His gospel to every creature without calling :.
ionaan to His aid. *ikiu/:t;v '/-'it. vu .f<Mitr»ei)i*^ .i^^i^' Je^*
BdtGod knew that it was for our good that we i
dioald cultivate benevolent afTections, and, therefore,'
He left us His poor to be with us to the end of the
world, and He gave us the privilege of extending j
the blessings of the gospel throughout the world, us
9mt of developing our diristian characters, God hasi
been pleased, I say, so to order it, and whilst it is
oar duty to act in accordance with His ordering, ^
^i$f»ade hy Sim one of the appointed means of grace* ^
Id like manner, we often see a faithful parent, t
who is anxious to cultivate the principle of christian
beneficence in his child, first bestowing upon him
means, and then providing that objects of charity ..
should be presented to his attention, as furnishing
him opportunities for cultivating the principle of
beneficence.

The duty of giving is inculcated in the New Tes-
tament, not so much for the sake of those whose ne-
cessities are to be relieved, as for the benefit of those^.
lelifiving them. St. Paul, in writing to the Corin-
thians, and speaking of their contributing to the relief
of the poor, says: *' Therefore, as ye abound in every-
thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in
ill diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye
ibound in this grace also,*' — that is, the grace of
ineficence. It is well worthy of remark, that in
iking assistance for the suffering brethren, St. Paul
id not address himself to the sympathies of those
{tQ.whom he made application ; he placed befpre them
9 high-wrought picture of the distress of those for
horn he asked assistance. He seems to have looked

rMher to tktt benefit to be derived by the bestowen
of those gifts, than by the recipients of them ; ud
this fttUy accords with our blessed Lord's declaration,
** It is more yessed to give than to receive."

thh ^ew of oar duty will fttrni«h us with a key to
the right understanding of many passages of tb^
Bibl^ WhfOh, wrtboot it, could not be understood.
llius, if we goto fhttt book, which is the churchman's
rule of faith Atid practice^ we find that it ineuka^
nd h fitful practice of gi v^ing, when the case is ons
of ft very diMressing character, or when the importu-
nity of the person craving assistance becomes t6o
plirafut to resist ; but that i^e eitt^r upon (he regukiir
pmctici of «elf-dmiaf /or the bettefk of our fellow omi'
tim»^j and thus esiahUsh and iwatnMin a system of\
gMmgi ■ -•• '■ m ,.>»••- ' ■ ■,; . :■_ " ij.-;.,^ ' '- ■■: '_ ^^' ■ '^ ■ ■ ■ ' • "-

OOD's REaVIREMENTS FROM HIS PEO^tE.

The practice of giving gifts for religious purposet,
as an act of homage to GK>d and benevolence to msti
was long prior to the law given to Moses on Mottfltl
Siwai. i^r W9e< iiid that Abrahaim gAf6 tithes to Mtil'
chlsedek, the priost of the liiost hfgh God i that JaeoV
vow«d a to&th «t Beth6), lind thibt^ the custiOtt of givittf
to God's aetviee is fullY r«<e6g<iisod in the book«f{
Job* '^"'fi orf) \m Juif-J— ■ ,oal» oobi-q eiifi at fe.

When (h« law was given on Mount Sinai, spedfiol
d'rreciiotiB were given to GodV people i A referenii^ n
this^iatid other duties, as we shttlf islioW; an><f yet thet«
\ttti'flibttiidin«0 of room left to Mdtiifest a benevoleritl
dfvpdskl^n'owratidkbotie the 'stHeV Ul^bt th^lM^
^ 'f^fli potfioi^ Gtfd^ etafttf^d fbf hiHitseH; ft^l6dri!i«k|f l«|

•i

Idkit we gfftther from the Bible* uppears to us ia tiie
iMBMnt day* who are accustomed to giro m Utlla, as
Ifff great indeed. It may be well, therefore, ihmt I
l^ld call your attention to what Qod required from,
[itf tttiioient people} in order that yon may learn your
\k^ therefrom, and may be induced, through Qod's
\flCt, to discharge it. V:ViCr<5tuw« «&V^Ntttvtf^«'5 m immm

We gather from the books of Exodus, Numbers,

Ud Deuteronomy, that adl of the first frttHs, both of

frait and animals, were required to be consecrated (a

\9$d. We learn from Deuteronomy that the fhrst

IfmUso/cornt wine^ oHy and sheep* e tooolwere to he offered

[pfOie Leviies. Besides the frst fruits the Jews were

jnqoired (as we learn from the book of Numbers) to

pty the tent?i8 or tithes of aU thet/ possessed. These tithes

[weie generally collected of all the^oefwce </^Ae earth;

but chiefly of corn, wine, and oil, and were rendered

erery year except the Sabbatical year.

When the tithes of these were paid, the owners of
19 fruits further gave another tenth part, which was
carried up to Jerusalem and eaten in tlie Temple at
cileiiBg feasts, as a sign of rejoicing and gratitude to
Qod. Theee were called second tithes. Lastly, there
i»Fe tithes allotted to the poor, for whom there was
[4lO' left a corner in every field,, which it was not law-
fill to reap with the rest, and they were likewise
iMewed such ears of corn or grapes as were dropped
qf scattered about, and also tlie sheaves which mig^t
}» accidenially forgotten in the field.

Nordid the strict observance of these requirements
twd (as some vainly imagine it might do in our day)
tot penury or want; on the contrary, we are told that
the* Israelites were straightened or prosperous, just

^"-^.-

in proportion as they obeyed or disobeyed God's Itws.
It is quite true that the gospel does not, with the
minuteness of the Mosaic law, prescribe rules ai to
the exact portion of income that should be devoted to
benevolent and religious objects ; for the gospel is &
dispensation of love and not of ordinances; but it
cannot be reasonably supposed that its spirit is Im
getteroust or that the obligations of its disciples to
support rdiffion and relieve the poor are lest tJian wert
thoM of pious t/eirs. ^^'^V'--- .- --^ ■-^...■x..: .-

There is no result of the first outpouring of the
Spirit on the day of Pentecost, on which the sacred
historian dwells with more feeling than on the r«<
marhahle spirit of individual sacrifice for the good of
the brethren, when those who had possessions sold
them, and distribution was made to every one as they
had need. ,^», (-j/xa h-,. f«* -•u*:r*/..^^=»%v:j:'«---\

■r*^ ijfTA

. ',S

Jsi iTf'.j, Via-t* •.!?■» !'

ST. PAUL S RULE.

'i,">y..' ',■ 1) ■""'

St. Paul, in the second epistle to the Corinthians,
ch. 16, V. 1, lays down an excellent rule for the
christian's guidance, a rule to be observed by most,
however, rather in the spirit than in the letter ; for it
is not possible for every person to set apart his pot-
tion each week ; but this duty should be performed
periodically, at longer or shorter intervals, as circum-
stances will admit ; for it must be clear to all, that
the spirit of the rule laid down by the Apostle cannot
be met without some form of stated systematic action.
«To shew how this can be done, I will notice two
cases : the one 1 have met with in my reading, the
other was mentioned to me by the person who ob-
serves it, a lay member of the church in this city.

jfkt former, every Sunday eveningj at the hour of his

liijfvte derotions, lays aside the sum which he

liitiks he ought to devote for that week to cbaritahle

Ud religious purposes, according as he has been

tfoipered. If he has not the money at his command,

ke charges himself with the amount in favour of his

(btritable fund» When a call comes he takes from

his fund what his conscience tells him he ought to

give; but when the call is for more than is to the

credit of his fund, or when several come together,

18 is often the case, he overdraws this fund and

leiwrges it with the balance to be re-paid from the in-

I emie of future weeks. This is an easy and simple

I method, and of great value as connected with the

I spiritual exercises of the Lord's day. ■ *^ft "*'^V^'*«*f

The latter case is that of an individual who has
practised it for twenty-six years, and who has found
the promise of his God fulfilled in his case ; for
whilst scattering freely his means have been greatly
increased. He began twenty-six years ago by
setting aside religiously his tenth of his earnings
18 a journeyman tradesman ; and he has gone on un-
til three years ago his tenth had increased to £260;
his income being that year jS2,500. His plan is to
nake up by the 1st of February in each year an ac-
! count of his income for the preceding year, and hav-
ing thun ascertained its amount, he puts aside a
tenth part for charitable and religious purposes for
the ensuing year; and having done this, he looks
npon it as no longer his^ but Qod's, and to be tued
uldy /or hit service, jv.. i :<i j.

This plan can be carried into practice very eott'/y
by the pious tradesman who is anxious to discharge

hie duty to bis God in this retpeet. Heaodovbtl
** takes stock " once a year, at least. When he iom I
so let bim Jay by in store tbe tenth oi his earninfs
since laflft he took stock ; and let that be die LoTd'i '
treasury from which he will feel it a privilege to '
draw, when bis conrxience tells him he ought toeon*
tribute to God*s church or Qod's poor.

The pious farmer can do it in this way : when*
ever he sells a load of grain or of pork, or dispotet
of a fat animal or horse, instead of putting it all away
in a bag, from which it requires a very eloquent ser*
mon or an hour's pleading to extract a quarter or
half-a-doUar ; let him put aside a tenth in another
bag, (as is done by a worthy churchman near Oriliia,)
acting on the assurance of scripture, ^Uhere is that
scattereth and yet increaseth, and there is that with-
holdeth more than is meet and it tendeth to poverty."
The equity of this rule of the text so admirably
carried out in both the cases alluded to above — in the
former to the very letter, in the latter in its spirit-— is
a rule that applies to rich and poor ; to those who
have been highly prospered, and to those whose proa*
perity has been but limited, ** Ai Chd ha^ prospered
you^ Again the Apostle says, **I mean not that
other men be eased and ye burthened ; but by an
equality that now at this time your abundance may b«
a supply for their want, that their abundance may
also be a supply for your want, that there may be
equsJity/' All can see th^ perfect justice of every
one contributing as Qod has been pleased to prosper
him. If he has much bestowed upon him, more ii
required from him ; if he has had less, he is not re-
quired to g^ve so much. -^.i -, „„♦-..«,, J >i^«i*| ;..,

•'«i»*'-v.

1^8 admirable rule of the Apostle Qpensii-vfty -by
Ijbe jK>Qr are encouraged to give to 6od*A -tnr-
lnu. Tbe amount tbey can give at any one tine,
Bthout the previous plan of laying fl8id« jsgnlaffly
iQod has prospered them, is so small, thai other-
jffjie they would be discouraged from «ttMi]|ktiDg
Lf thing ; but let the labouring man, foor inctance,
u/by one-tenth of his wageis, and much to hia sur-
1^ he will ^d that he has sixty-thvee cents y<et
Ifeok, and $82.76 per annum. These may seem very
lii^ sums for the labouring man to spare from his
liciQtjr wages, but they are much smaller propoKtiont
jtiiio GU>d required from his ancient people the Jews.
Vfyjf they are much smaller sums lha& mMky a la-
booring man i^ends each week and each year upon
Itbiogs ruinous to tbe body and perilous to die nevto-
Ujing soul, but which being spent frxMn day to 4ay
|in scarcely missed. < ; ^f- t^'^

It was once remarked by the late celebrated and
Iwy excellent Dr. Chalmers of Edinburgh, that if
ike good people of Scotland could be induced to forego
llie use of snuff and save the money thos wmted,
lilisy would have more means at their dispcnal than
m whole amount contributed for the support of all
iebristian missions throughout the world. Let scny
iRMler of this appeal, who feels in fats comCMnctt
{that he is spending those means (of which Qod has
aide him steward) on any indulgence, wbiUiever it
nay be, that he feels to be injurious to him, break
loose once and for ever from the evil habit, and le^
him devote to Qod's service that which he has been
I more than wasting.
Let any one who is in the receipt of inoome from

any source whatever, be it labour, or business, or p
perty, only lay by one-tenth of this income for God'
service, and whilst the treasury of the Lord will b(
overflowing, he will have greater ability to give yeai
by year, till he is called upon to render an accoun
of his stewardship to the Great Judge of all.

It would be well if every one, young as well ai
old, practised self-denial, in order that they ma
have to give to God*s service. We often creat
wants, and then find it hard to supply them, withomi
trenching upon that which belongs to God. I know'
a benevolent lady, who gives a great deal each year
to the poor, the destitute, and God*s church, and
feels great pleasure in doing so ; but she is economi-
cal, in the true sense of the term. She denies her-
self in things which others in her rank and statidn,
and with her means, allow themselves, in order that
she may indulge herself in the pleasure of doing
good to the bodies and souls of others. I know a
sweet girl of eleven years of age, who being anxious
to give something of her own to an object in which
she felt interested, proposed to her father, (who is a
clergyman,) that if he and her mother would allow
her during Lent to do without cakes, preserves, and
sugar, and would give her at the end of that season
the amount she had saved the family, she would
be glad. ) ^

The proposition was accepted, and she carried out
h^r plan ; and has repeated it twice since then, much,
no doubt, to her own benefit.

•• •^^ r •

THE GREAT CONVENIENCE OF THIS RULE.

The godly principle inculcated in the words of St.

„ enable]

tfully.

_jed in
lich, (on
oneevenl

Ling his laF

tfiib so "^H
Ugingiy ;
Ijithis city
Iptes not 01
Ike consider
jOn enquiry
Ly friend, ^
liied systei
{salts.

One peci;

jofgivingini

(or meeting

it are read J

business, or POM
Income for God']
fhe Lord will J
P'ty to give yea]
Her an acconnj
^ofalJ. '

*""§: as wellaj

that they may

e often creatfi

Ihem, withouJ

'^°^- Unofff

deal each year

's church, and

she is economi.

She denies her.

ikand statidn,

s» in order that

asure of doing

'^^' I know a

^^irig anxious

»ject in which

her, (who is a

r would allow

^reserves, and

>f that season

y^» she would

le carried out
' then, much,

Ifti

I, enables the christian to give willingly, nay
[fully. A clergyman of this diocese, who was
red in the arduous duty of collecting for his<

iirch, (on which lay a heavy debt,) was complain-

one evening to a few friends, how very disheart^
[(tiog his labours were, in consequence of meeting
Ifiib so many parties who refused all aid, or gare,
Uidgingly; *<but,'' remarked he, "there is one man
jiithis city upon whom it is a pleasure to call : he
|ire8 not only liberally, but gladly; and says that.'
|k considers it a privilege to give to good objects.**

enquiry I learned that the person alluded to was'
|oy friend, who for six and twenty years had prac-
Itiied systematic beneficence with the happiest re--
^nilts. .■;,.-.■■.. .. :'\^i-' >yH; ;}■■>,'

One peculiar advantage resulting from the system
of giving inculcated by the Apostle, is that the means
for meeting the calls made upon those who practise
it are ready whenever the call is made. ,., . » ..^ t- :■-

words of St.

COMPUANCE WITH THIS RULE TENDS TO THE TEHPORAl
-t -. GOOD OF THOSE WHO OBEY IT. - , •. -

Obedience to the exhortation of the text tends to
the promotion of even the temporal interests of the
giver. We have the clearest scriptural evidence for
believing this. St. Paul declares expressly in his
second epistle to the Corinthians : ** He that soweth
sparingly shall reap also sparingly, and ho which
soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.^'
•> Every man, according as he purposeth in his
heart, so let him give ; not grudgingly nor of neces*
shy, for Qod loveth a cheerful giver." ** And God

19 abla to malce all grace abound tawaitl» you ; ttaa
70taliMi3F8. having all sufficiency in all thingv ng^l
l^uund: to mety good work." * . ^ < . . ^

ithsaheen' welliemaiked, in regtard to this pM-l
atfgt^ that ^a inczease hero promifeod is all stttfrJ
cieney in all things* to enable ua to abound in eiraryl
good wodif and aa the giving of alms is one of
theae good; wodcs^ a supply of the means fo¥ ftitme
^fts must here be included in the inereaise of grace {
whiiohis: hen promised. ^ "i?j

The plan here recommended tends to the cultiva-
tion; of indui^ouB and thrifty habits. It has ofien
been a great blessing to a young man to have the
support of a beloved mother and tender sisters
thrown upon him. The feeling that they depended
upon him for support spurred him on to exertioits,
audi begot in; him habits, which, without it, he would
probably never have acquired. So it is with him
who feels that Qod has a claim on a portion of his
income. In order to meet that claim, he exerts him-
self and practises those economical virtues, which
enable him to save more from wasteful expenditures
than the amount he gives to Gud*s service^ whilst
neither he nor his family are the loosers, but are
greatly benefitted thereby.

Thisr habit of beneficence also involves a practical
aoknowledgment of God and Bi& blessing, as the
soureot of all pmsperity : which aoknowledgment is
a direet means of securing blessings. ** Honour the
Lord with) thy substance and the first fruits of their
incieaae, so shall thy barns be filled with plenty,
and thy presses shall burst out with new wine."
Nor should this surprise us, when we remember,

that it i»
being ;"
and all tl
fruitful
lonrce of '
get on th|
iccordingi
that they '
paid agail
while bad
Date spec
jnme wha
is meet."
This pi
its workir
longed to
supplies f
And the i
purpose ii
its meast
by the (
were aboi
entrench*
Jehovah 1
had conq
of raising
He plain
became s
IS God 1
support!
energy.

tliat it 18 in God ** we live and more and have our
being ;" that << in his hands are our life and hreath
lod all things;*' that to Him we are indebted for
firoitful seasons, and abundant harvests, the real
MUiTce of a country's prosperity, and that thosa who
ict on the scripture rule of giving to Qod's service,
iccording to means and income, will invariably find
that they are paid first in their own coin, and then
paid again in the coin that is current in heaven ;
while bad crops, bad debts, midnight fires, unfortu-
oate speculations and the like disasters, often con-
tome what is gained from ** withholding more than
is meet."

This plan of beneficence is exceedingly simple in
its working. It has been well remarked that it be-
longed to Divine wisdom to lay the plan for raising
supplies for the wars of the cross against the world.
And the plan which Divine wisdom devised for this
purpose is above the products of human wisdom in
its measure, as much as is the plan of salvation
by the cross. The little company of chiistians
were about to engage with the powers of darkness
[entrenched in the strongholds of heathen Rome.
Jehovah had sent them to conquer the empire that
had conquered the world, and He gave them a plan
of raising supplies that was equal to the emergency.
JHe plainly saw that if all christians, as fast as they
became such^ adopted this plan of weekly oflTerings,
I as God had prospered them, the war would be self-
supporting in its progress^ and increasing in its
energy. • ■ ' ' ^i •■ .d"-; -■- ^ -■-,-■-■ -'•jft'- t**>^^i

; l. THE PRACTICE OF THE PRIMITIVE CHURCH.

The rule of systematic beneficence is strongly re-
commended by the practice of the primitive church.
The spirit that warmed the hearts of the first cou*
verts to the gospel, and brought forth such self-
denying fruits, continued to infiuence their followers
for the next two generations. Many denied them-
selves almost the very necessaries of life, in order
that they might have wherewith to extend the bless-
ings of the gospel to the heathen world. Some who
had no property gave the avails of their labour, and
it is recorded of one man, that he sold himself as a
slave to a heathen family, in order to obtain access
to them for their conversion; and for years cheerfully
endured the labours and condition of a slave, till he
succeeded with the whole family, and obtained his
liberty from the gratitude of his converts. The same
most zealous christian, on a visit to Sparta, again
entered himself as a slave in the family of the
governor of that city, served two years, and was
again successful in his design.

It was this spirit that, through the blessing of
God, extended the conquests of the cross, so that
before the close of the second century, most of the
nations of the civilized world were more or less
evangelized. *

The primitive christians abounded in works of
charity. They felt that this was quite cls much tJieir
duty ai was prayer to God. Contributions for thei;e
purposes were made regular parts of public worship.
In cases of great and urgent calls, the people fasted,
and gave to the church what they saved by abstin*

ence irom

.19 • ■•/ ■ /J;

eDce from food. Indeed, so greatly did the first
christians excel in these respects, that they consti-
tuted their chief characteristic, and the wonder of
the heathen world. It is related, that so glorious
ind impressive was the white robe of charity, worn
by the primitive church, that Julian, the apostate
emperor of Rome, seeking to revive in h^s day the
prostrate institutions of heathenism, did his utmost
to clothe paganism in the white robe of charity, fondly
hoping that it would, like the bones of Elisha, give
life to the dead. «.

THE PRACTICE OF MODERN CHRISTIANS.

The principle of devoting a regular portion of his
income to God's service, has influenced many emi-
nent christians in modern times. Sir Matthew Hale,
Lord Chief Justice of England, Dr. Hammond, the
eminent commentator, and the Rev. Richard Baxter,
observed the rule of giving at least a tenth part of
their income. The Rev. John Wesley, a still larger
portion ; Archbishop Tillotson and Dr. Isaac Watts
devoted a fifth. To these might be added the names
of the Honourable Robert Boyle, and many others
''nfiinent for their piety, who have felt it a duty and
a privilege to give regular portions of their income
to God's service.

Nor are those wanting in this diocese who are
acting on this principle of giving a tenth of their
income. It has come to my knowledge, that in ad-
dition to several laymen, there are nine clergymen
amongst us who are doing so, thus in several instances
religiously setting apart j£15 per annum from their

incomes of j£150, though they have i«inilie8 to 8U{».|
port.

la conclusion, allow me to urge upon those whol
read this paper the adoption of this plan. It is ia
my opinion the only one which will enable you to
discbarge your duty to Qod, and to render an accouot I
of your stewardship which will be accepted «f Al-
mighty God on the great day of account ; and, if on
a review of the past, you &xid ihat you have corns
far short of your duty, endeavour to make amends ibr
your past short-comings by doing the most for the
future. And defer not till to-morrow to do that which
you ought to do to-day. .. „^, „ ., ,

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KOirstlX * XUIS, PBINUM, KUIO ST., XORORXO.

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