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 BISHOP DOANE'S SERMON 
 
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 THE RULE AND THE REPROOF OF MODERN: 
 
 A SERMON. 
 
 2 CORINTHIANS viii. 1-5. 
 
 Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of god bestowed 
 
 ON THE CHURCHES OF MACEDONIA ; HOW THAT IN A GREAT TRIAL OF AFFLIC¬ 
 TION, THE ABUNDANCE OF THEIR JOY AND THEIR DEEP POVERTY ABOUNDED 
 UNTO THE RICHES OF THEIR LIBERALITY. For TO THEIR POWER, I BEAR 
 RECORD, YEA, AND BEYOND THEIR POWER, THEY WERE WILLING OF THEM¬ 
 SELVES; PRAYING US WITH MUCH ENTREATY THAT WE WOULD RECEIVE THF. 
 GIFT, AND TAKE UPON US THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE MINISTERING TO THE 
 SAINTS. And THIS THEY DID, NOT AS WE HOPED, BUT FIRST GAVE THEIR 
 OWN SELVES TO THE LORD, AND UNTO US, BY THE WILL OF GOD. 
 
 1 CORINTHIANS xvi. 1-3. 
 
 NOW, CONCERNING THE COLLECTION FOR THE SAINTS, AS I HAVE GIVEN ORDER 
 TO THE CHURCHES OF GALATIA, EVEN SO DO YE. UPON THE FIRST DAY OF 
 THE WEEK, LET EVERY ONE OF YOU LAY BY HIM IN STORE, AS GOD HATH 
 PROSPERED HIM, THAT THERE BE NO GATHERINGS WHEN I COME. AND 
 WHEN I COME, WHOMSOEVER YE SHALL APPROVE BY YOUR LETTERS, THEM 
 WILL I SEND TO BRING YOUR LIBERALITY UNTO JERUSALEM. 
 
 The Apostle Paul seems to have entertained a very poor opinion of 
 what men call “ a charitable collection.” Once in a great while—he 
 must have had a breast-plate on of triple brass who first proposed “a 
 quarterly collection,” in a modern city Church!—a notice, worded 
 with the utmost skill, that none may take offence, is tremulously 
 read, that, on a given day, their condescending bounty will be asked, 
 for the Lord’s poor, or for His Church. The newspapers, in the 
 same column with the sale of stocks, and some new dancing-girl, 
 diviner than the last, announce, in the tallest capitals, that that in¬ 
 congruous individual, the popular preacher of the day—as if the 
 
 truth were ever popular, since Jesus Christ was crucified, and Ste- 
 1 
 
2 
 
 >** 
 
 phen stoned, for speaking it—will patronize, for that night only, 
 with his peculiar eloquence, the cause of such and such a charity. 
 By one means and another,—the itching ear, the patronage of fash¬ 
 ion, the dullness of the one night in a week that offers neither fash¬ 
 ionable entertainment nor scientific lecture—what is significantly 
 called “ a full house” is secured. The utmost stretch of logic, and 
 of rhetoric, is brought to bear upon the topic of the night; which is, 
 by clearest demonstration, shown to be the one absorbing charity of 
 the whole age. And they who came to hear, and to be seen, the 
 amusement of the evening done, deposit, without a prayer, it must 
 be feared—perhaps, without a thought—the smallest coin they hap¬ 
 pen to have with them; and go home, to scoid, that charitable col¬ 
 lections come so often, and their reckless minister will beggar all 
 his congregation ! For one whole year, at least, that subject is 
 tabooed throughout the parish; and no other, be it what it may, 
 must be proposed, or thought of, until the last collection shall begin 
 to be forgotten. Nothing like this would the Apostle tolerate in the 
 Corinthian Church. He strictly and explicitly forbids it*—“that 
 there be no gatherings , when I come !” 
 
 A puny faith begets a sickly charity. In nothing, is the faith of 
 our day set in stronger contrast with the faith of the first Christians, 
 than in this, its most immediate and essential fruit. And, if we 
 might presume to look into the judgment scroll, we should be taught 
 by its inevitable record, that Christian faces will at nothing “gather ” 
 darker “ blackness,” than at the disproportion of their alms-deeds to 
 their duty, and their power. Oh, with what dread confusion will 
 their hearts be filled, who sought “ their own,” and pleased them¬ 
 selves, and grasped their gold, till it oozed out between their fingers, 
 when He who sits upon the throne shall meekly vindicate, before 
 admiring angels, and a self-doomed world, those words of His, 
 which they derided, as romantic and unmeaning, “ It is more bles¬ 
 sed TO GIVE THAN TO RECEIVE!” 
 
 You are accustomed, my dear brethren, for the confirmation of 
 your faith, your discipline, your worship, to go back to the first ages, 
 and to find your pattern there. Are you as ready to go back to 
 them, to learn the rule and practice of true charity ; and follow their 
 example, who, having first given “ their ownselves to the Lord,” “ to 
 their power,” “ not only, but beyond their power,” “ were willing 
 
3 
 
 of themselves ”'? It is to the beautiful picture of their habitual self- 
 sacrifice for Christ, that I would now direct your contemplation; 
 beseeching God to send His Holy Ghost, and pour into our hearts 
 that best of gifts, “ without which, whosoever livelh,” does but seem 
 to men to live, since, in God’s sight, he is “ accounted dead.” 
 
 I wish to establish, first, the justice of this trial of the faith and 
 charity of Christians, in all ages, by the comparison with theirs, 
 who first believed in Christ. The Gospel is the revelation of the 
 perfect will of God, made, once for all, to all mankind. It has but 
 one rule, then, for every place, and for all ages; changing not, even 
 as in Him there is “ no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” 
 Nor is it only with the rule, that we are furnished: but with that 
 which, to the just interpretation of a law, is most essential, the record 
 of the practice under it; and that, loo, by an inspired pen. We have 
 their teaching then, not only, who, in the Apostle’s language, had 
 “the mind of Christ;” but their habitual daily life, who were so 
 taught. Surely, if St. Paul could say of the old record, to believers 
 in his day, “whatsoever things were written aforetime were written 
 for our learning,” we may feel, who have the Gospels, and the Acts 
 of the Apostles, and their letters, that we are “ furnished ” “ thorough¬ 
 ly” “to all good works.” Surely, if we fail, as to the standard 
 which should regulate our lives, it is against the clearest light and 
 fullest knowledge; and “every mouth is stopped” before the Lord. 
 “ Now I beseech you, brethren,” says the Apostle, “ by the name of 
 our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that 
 there be no divisions among you, but that ye be perfectly joined to¬ 
 gether in the same mind and in the same judgment.” And again, 
 “let us, therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded; and if in 
 any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto 
 you. Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk 
 by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. Brethren, be follow¬ 
 ers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for 
 an example.” 
 
 Nothing can be so beautiful, on this side of Heaven, as the record 
 of the first days of the Church. The preaching of the Gospel, by 
 the mouth of the Apostle Peter, prevailed, through the mighty power 
 of the Holy Ghost, with many hearts. “Then they that gladly re¬ 
 ceived his word were baptized: and the same day there were added 
 
unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stead¬ 
 fastly in the Apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of 
 of bread and in prayers.” “And all that believed were together, 
 and had all things common ; and sold their possessions and goods, 
 and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, 
 continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread 
 from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness, and singleness 
 of heart, praising God, and having favour with all the people. And 
 the Lord added to the Church daily such as should be saved.” Was 
 there a lovelier picture ever drawn? It was but fifty days, since 
 Jesus hung, a bleeding spectacle, between the earth and heaven. 
 Of all the multitude that gazed upon that mournful scene, was there 
 a hand to succour, or a heart to sympathize? When the black deed 
 was done, and the poor victim was beyond their reach, nature’s 
 “ compunctious visitings ” did vindicate the power of conscience; as, 
 “beholding the things which were done, they smote their breasts, 
 and returned.” But now the truth has triumphed. The Apostle 
 Peter has proclaimed the doctrine of the Cross. Jesus, “lifted up 
 from the earth,” asserts His matchless power, to draw men to him¬ 
 self. The Holy Spirit lends His gracious unction, to subdue the 
 soul. They are convinced of sin. They are softened into penitence. 
 They are “ pricked in their heart.” They yield themselves unto the 
 Lord. It is a free and perfect self-surrender; and it carries with it 
 all they are, and all they have. They are baptized into His name. 
 They continue steadfast in its profession. They are daily in the 
 temple. They count nothing that they have their own . 1 They sell 
 
 lit is to the latter part of the fourth chapter of that most wondrous of all re¬ 
 cords, the book of the Acts of the Apostles, that allusion here is made. “ And 
 the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither 
 said any of them that aught of the things which he possessed was his own ; but 
 they had all things common. And with great power gave the Apostles witness 
 of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. 
 Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were posses¬ 
 sors of lands or houses, sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were 
 8old,and laid them down at the Apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto 
 every man, according as he had need.” 32-35.—I am well aware that the word- 
 catchcrs will be all down upon me, with the clause in Italics, in the way of a 
 reductio ad absurdum; as if it proved too much: and I shall be told of the es: 
 
5 
 
 their possessions, and goods, and part them to all men, according as 
 every man has need. Steadfast faith, fervent piety, universal charU 
 ty: who can wonder that such a Church should draw the world into 
 itself! 
 
 Nor was it only at Jerusalem that it was so. The clusters of the 
 living Vine are all one fruit. The faith which saves, works every 
 where “by love.” When Joses, known afterwards as Barnabas, a 
 Cypriot, and a Levite, became a convert to the Cross, he sold his 
 land, and laid the price at the Apostles’feet. When Saul had looked 
 on Jesus whom he persecuted, he counted no longer even his life dear 
 unto himself. And, in the text, he tells us, that the Macedonian 
 Christians, having first given “ their ownselves to the Lord,” kept 
 nothing back, but, from that time, “beyond their power, were wil° 
 ling of themselves.” It must be so. The controversy of the Gos- 
 
 travagance, absurdity, fanaticism of such suggestions; and shall have quoted at 
 me the Anabaptists, and the Shakers, and the Mormons, and perhaps the new 
 “ Community,” at Roxbury. It were enough to say, “ thus it is written and 
 whoever they may be that live and act in the spirit of the first days of the 
 Gospel, whatever be their deviation from the faith and order of the Church, it 
 becomes us rather to admire their charity, than to reproach their follies or their 
 faults. Shame on us, who have “ the faith once delivered to the saints,” if it 
 work not “by love;” who do continue “steadfastly in the Apostles’” “fellow¬ 
 ship,” without their charity ! 
 
 But let us look a little into this matter of having “all things common.” 
 What was the fact at that time? And what is its application to our own? 
 There is no evidence at all, that what is usually understood as “a community 
 of property,” existed among the first Christians. The community was in use, 
 not in possession. No man called any thing his own, so as to exclude his 
 poorer brother from its needful enjoyment. That all did not sell their property, 
 and cast it into a common stock, is evident, from the fact that rich and poor are 
 every where recognized, in the Acts and in the Epistles. Tabitha was full of 
 alms-deeds ; of course done to the poor. Acts ix. 36. The disciples at Antioch 
 were of different degrees of ability, xi. 26. St. Paul, at Miletus, exhorts the 
 strong to “support the weak;” xx. 35; he orders the Galatian and the Corin¬ 
 thian Churches to make a “ collection for the saints,” 1 Corinthians xvi. 1 ; 
 and exhorts the Ephesian Christians “ to give to him that needeth,” Ephe¬ 
 sians iv. 28. And St. James speaks of one Christian “ with a gold ring, in good¬ 
 ly apparel,” and of another, “ a poor man, in vile raiment.” That whoever did 
 so, might not have done so, and yet have done no wrong, is evident from what 
 St. Peter said to Ananias, “ While it remained was it not thine own ? And after it 
 was sold was it not in thine own power ?” Acts v. 4. “ These words here, Acts 
 
; 
 
 4 
 
 6 
 
 pel is between self and Christ. Until self is conquered, nothing 
 accomplished. “Ye are not your own, for ye are bought with a 
 price,” is the first lesson in the Christian school. How can it be 
 otherwise? When did love ever seek its own? What is there that 
 true love keeps back from the beloved? When is its perfect work 
 accomplished, but when it feels itself absorbed and lost in him? 
 These are familiar truths, dear brethren, trite conclusions. You 
 feel them in your heart. Your daily life acknowledges them. They 
 are instinctive to your social nature. The struggle to resist them is 
 the warfare which embitters all your life. The single weapon, that 
 gives promise of the victory, is the Cross of Christ. Never, until 
 they are nailed to it, and crucified, and killed, can any soul have 
 peace with itself, and peace with God. “He that loveth not knoweth 
 not God; for God is love.” 
 
 ii. 44, and iv. 32,” says Dr. Whitby, in loco, “ do not signify that they had no 
 longer any property in what belonged to them, for then they could not sell them 
 afterwards; but that they used and disposed of them as things common, freely 
 imparting of them to all that had need.” “The Scriptures are sometimes 
 quoted,” says Dr. Burton, “as representing the first Christians to have had a 
 community of goods; but Mosheim has satisfactorily shown (Dissertationes 
 ad Historiani Ecclesiasticam pertinentes ,) that this, in the literal sense of the 
 expression, was not the case. In the simple language of Scripture, the believers 
 mere of one heart and one soul; they were brothers not merely in name: 
 and they looked upon their goods, not as exclusively their own, but as a store 
 from which something might he spared, to succour those who were in need. 
 Some of them did literally sell their property, not perhaps the whole of it (for 
 that would have made them dependent in future upon public charily,) but they 
 converted a part of it into money, and made a common slock, which the Apos¬ 
 tles distributed to the poor.” Lectures on the Ecclesiastical history of the frst 
 three centuries, I. 54, 55. “Every man selling that which he had unmovea¬ 
 ble,” says Dr. Hammond, “ so that he might lie ready to distribute to any ; nay, 
 that he might not trust himself in the distribution, bringing it, and laying it at 
 the Apostles’ feet, that they might distribute it most impartially, and so approv¬ 
 ing themselves to be a people of free-will offerings, in the day of Christ’s power.” 
 (Psalm 1. 10.) Annotations on the Acts, ii. 44.—So that the thirty-eighth of the 
 Articles expresses well the precedents and precepts of the primitive Church, 
 and the duty of Churchmen in all ages, when it declares that “ the riches and 
 goods of Christians are not common, as touching the right, title and possession 
 of the same, as certain Anabaptists do falsely boast. Notwithstanding, every 
 man ought of such things as he possesseth liberally to give alms to the poor, 
 according to his ability.” 
 
I 
 
 The case of the Macedonian Christians teems with instruction for u* 
 oil. The first reception of the Gospel was visited every where with 
 persecution. Saint was synonimous with sufferer. Hence, they made 
 common cause; ‘‘neither said any of them, that aught of the things 
 which he possessed was his.” Wherever the storm raged highest, love 
 was the most lavish of its treasures. Distance made no difference. 
 The “one faith” made for all “one heart.” At this time, the poor Chris¬ 
 tians at Jerusalem were the objects of especial interest. The Apos¬ 
 tle’s tender heart yearned to his brethren of the flesh, now brethren 
 of the faith : and, writing to the Church at Corinth, he pleads their 
 cause with all his own inimitable eloquence. He writes from Ma¬ 
 cedonia. Compared with that at Corinth, the Churches in this province 
 at Philippi, at Thessalonica, at Berea, were poor in this world’s goods. 
 But they were “rich in faith.” He holds them up, therefore, as an 
 ensample to their rich brethren, “to provoke them to good works.” 
 It was no new' case that he presented. A year before, he had ad¬ 
 dressed them on this subject; “now, concerning the collection for the 
 saints, as I have given order to the Churches of Galatia, even so do 
 ye.” But though he had supplied the most minute directions, they 
 had not discharged the duty. Perhaps, from the dissensions, which 
 he reproves so sternly in his first epistle ; for how can hatred dw j ell 
 with love? Perhaps their very riches were the hindrance; for, alas ! 
 the rich in this world’s goods are far from being foremost to pity and 
 relieve the poor. Now brethren , his address to the Corinthians is, 
 we make known to you 1 2 the grace of God , which is given to the 
 Churches of Macedonia ; that , in a trial of great a fiction, the 
 overf owing of their joy, notwithstanding their deep poverty , hath 
 overf owed in the riches of their liberality . For according to their 
 power, (/ bear witness ;) nay, beyond their power, they were willing 
 of themselves ; praying with much entreaty tha t ive would receive 
 the gift and fellowship of the ministry to the saints. And this, even 
 beyond our hope f for first they give themselves to the Lord, and 
 then to us, by the will of God. In which connection, brethern, 1 
 would have you observe : 
 
 1. That a charitable disposition is the gift of God— “the grace of 
 
 1 “ We do you to witwe make you to know. 
 
 2 “Not as we hoped” only; but far beyond it, 
 
God bestowed on the Churches”,— -who sends his Holy Ghost, and 
 pours into all hearts, that will receive it, “that most excellent gift of 
 charity 
 
 2. That it is a source cf pure and rich enjoyment to its possessor, 
 “the abundance of their joy,” the Apostle calls it—“ twice blessed,” 
 in the phrase of our great Poet; 
 
 3. That its exercise, where it exists, is not repressed by poverty, 
 not even “ deep poverty ,” “ in a great trial of affliction 
 
 4. That it waits not to be asked, but is “ willing of itself ;” 
 
 5. That its tendency is always to exceed, rather than to fall 
 short, of the true measure of ability, overflowing, in the riches of its 
 liberality, not only “according to” its power, but “ beyond' 1 ' 1 its 
 “ power ;” 
 
 6. That it counts the opportunity of exercise a favour done to it, 
 Spraying us, with much entreaty , that vie would receive the gift 
 
 7. That this will only be so when the heart has been surrendered, 
 as “a living sacrifice,” and then will always be, first giving “their 
 ownselves to the Lord, and ” then “to us, by the will of God .” 
 
 Dear brethren, be persuaded to make trial of yourselves, and your 
 condition before God, by the ensample, written for your learning, of 
 the Macedonian Churchmen. Oh, how many, weighed in this true 
 “ balance of the sanctuary,” must be found wanting! With their 
 abounding and abiding happiness, who find themselves reflected in 
 this scripture portrait of a primitive Christian, how poor and mean, 
 in the comparison, whatever else the world can give, and misname 
 pleasure! 
 
 And now, suppose that, as the gift of God, His choicest gift in 
 Jesus Christ, His Son, this charitable disposition is possessed; still, 
 it will need directions for its exercise, and rules for its control. The 
 same inspired pen, which has pourtrayed the one so well, supplies 
 the other. Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have 
 given order 1 to the Churches in Galatia , so do ye: on the first day 
 
 1 “ He saith not, ‘ I have advised,’ and ‘ I have counselled but I have given 
 order , which is more authoritative. And he doth not bring forward a single 
 city, or two, or three, but an entire nation: which also he doth in his doctrinal 
 instructions, Even as also in all the Churches of the saints. For if this be po¬ 
 tent for conviction of doctrines, much more for imitation of actions.”— St. Chry - 
 
9 
 
 cfike week, hi every one of you lay somewhat hy itself according 
 us he may have prospered , putting it into the treasury; that when I 
 come, there may he then no collections. Here we have— 
 
 i. The injunction of the duty; “ let every one of you!” Men 
 greatly err in thinking themselves free to give, or not to give. They 
 may refuse indeed: but, if they do, they sin. All that we have, as 
 all that we are, is God’s. We are trustees for Him. Our trial is 
 to use our trust, “ as not abusing it;” remembering the account. 
 
 ii. The due proportion of our gifts; according as we may have 
 prospered: “ each man according to his several ability.” A rea¬ 
 sonable rule, since our ability and prosperity proceed from God; to 
 whom the gift is to be made, whether his Church receive it, or His 
 poor. An easy rule, since, as St. Chrysostom hath said, “ the ga¬ 
 thering by little and little hinders all perception of the burthen and 
 the cost.” 1 2 A certain rule, since He who has imposed it, sees the 
 hand, and reads the heart, and knows if we do justly. 
 
 iii. The time of giving; on the first day of the week: when the 
 week’s work is done, and its result is known ; 3 when the calm quiet 
 of the sacred day disposes to self examination and reflection ; when, 
 if there be a heart, it must be swelled, till the hand open, in the grate¬ 
 ful sense of the rich mercies of redeeming love. 
 
 iv. The mode of giving; laying somewhat apart: separating 
 God’s share for Him, making it secure to His service, and putting it 
 into His treasury; 3 with humble prayers that He will take and bless 
 it to His glory, and the good of men. 
 
 1 When the aggregate amount of the Offerings for the year, in St. Mary’s 
 Church, Burlington, has been stated, it has been a common remark, “ How can 
 it be so much 1 We have none of us felt it!” 
 
 2 Some of those who will object to every thing have said, we cannot know 
 exactly, at the end of the week, how we have prospered. As if this were not 
 against all giving. The safe rule is, be sure to give enough ! 
 
 3 The exposition here differs, with great reverence, from the Received Ver¬ 
 sion. Macknight’s translation is, “ On the first day of every week, let each of 
 you lay somewhat by itself, according as he may have prospered, putting it into 
 the treasury, that when I come there may be then no collections.” Hammond’s 
 paraphrase is, “On the day of the Christian assembly, it is not reasonable for 
 any to come to the Lord empty; (see Exodus xxiii. 15, and Deuteronomy xvi. 
 16,) and therefore at such a time, upon such a special occasion as this, let every 
 
 2 
 
 / 
 
 l 
 
• ... 
 
 It waa to meet this appointment of the Apostle, and on the strffU 
 cient warrant of its authority, that the Offertory was instituted. In 
 the first ages of the Church, the commemoration of the Cross, in its 
 appointed sacrament, was made, at least, on every Lord’s day. An¬ 
 cient piety could not be called too often to remember the death of the 
 atoning Lamb. Ancient faith could not receive too frequently that 
 blessed blood and body, which are the “drink indeed” and “meat 
 indeed” of the immortal soul. And ancient charity, while it felt all 
 its unworthiness of so great mercies, and remembered to what suffer¬ 
 ing multitudes, lying in darkness and death’s shadow, these mercies 
 of redemption were unknown, would not come empty-handed to 
 “ such a heavenly feast.” Hence, at the administration of the Holy 
 Supper, on the Holy Day, the oblations of the faithful were present¬ 
 ed. “Upon the first day of every week,” each one of them laid 
 somewhat by itself, according as he had been prospered, putting i£ 
 into the treasury. The sum of all these sacred contributions was 
 “ laid at the Apostles’ feet; and distribution was made to every man, 
 according as he had need.” While this was so, there was no lack in 
 the Lord’s treasury. In the midst of prejudice, against every form of 
 opposition, in spite of utmost persecution by imperial power, the 
 
 one lay aside whatsoever by God’s blessing comes in to him, by way of increase, 
 so that there may be a full collection made, without any more gatherings when 
 I come.” The sufficient warrant for this explanation is Justin Martyr’s account 
 of the observance of the Lord’s day, in his time, (A. D. 140.)—“Upon the day 
 called Sunday, there is an assembly together, in one place, of all that live in city 
 and in country; and the writings of the Apostles and of the Prophets are read, 
 as time permits. And the Reader having ceased, the officiating Priest, in a 
 sermon, makes an admonition and exhortation to the practice of these good 
 works. Then we rise together, and pray. And when we have ceased to pray, 
 as I said before, bread is offered, with wine and water; and the officiating 
 Priest, in like manner, offers prayers and thanksgivings, with utmost earnest¬ 
 ness, and the people respond, saying, Amen. Then there is a distribution of 
 the eucharistic offering, and a participation of it by all that are present, and to 
 the absent, it is sent by the Deacons. Those who are able and willing, each 
 according to his disposition, freely give: and the contribution is deposited with 
 the officiating Priest, who, from this, ministers to the relief of orphans and wi¬ 
 dows, and of those who from sickness or other cause are in want, and of those 
 who are in bonds, and of strangers who come from far; in a word, he is tho 
 guardian of whoever are in need .”—First Apology for the Christians. 
 
the Roman eagle to the Cross. 
 
 And, now, behold the contrast! At the end of eighteen hundred 
 years, the name of Christianity professed by millions where then 
 there were but hundreds, and persecution an unknown, and almost 
 an impracticable thing, the treasury of the Lord, so far as it depends 
 on men, is bankrupt; fields are lying white in every quarter of the 
 world, and waiting for the harvest, to which reapers are not sent; 1 
 nay, every Bishop of our communion, here at home, in this fair land 
 of light and liberty and plenty, walks bending to his work, oppressed 
 with the sad burden of appeals for help to which he can make no 
 reply, and yearns, as Jesus yearned, upon those fainting multitudes, 
 who roved from field to field, as sheep that had no shepherd. Brethren, 
 shall it still be so? Shall we shut up our light, while nations “grope 
 at noon day, as in the night?” Shall we refuse the crumbs of our 
 rich feast, while millions perish with that most grinding of all wants, 
 starvation of the soul? Shall we sit still, until the judgment cloud 
 rolls over us; and nothing shall remain for us, throughout eternity, 
 but the remembrance of those words of Jesus Christ, “Verily I say 
 unto you, inasmuch as ye did it not unto one of the least of these 
 my brethren, ye did it not to me?” I cannot think that one of you 
 will answer, Yes! What then shall be the remedy? A prompt re¬ 
 turn with penitence and tears, to “the old paths” and practice of the 
 Church. 2 Fall back, in God’s name, upon the ancient faith! De¬ 
 sire, with fervent prayers to God, for His dear Son’s sake, a new 
 outpouring of the ancient charity ! That it may be so, give your¬ 
 selves first to the Lord. Then, like the Macedonian Christians, you 
 will be willing of yourselves. Then, as to God, and in His sight, 
 
 1 See the sad and shameful statements of the Domestic and Foreign Treasu¬ 
 rers of the Board of Missions. 
 
 2 There are some who say that the plan of Systematic Charity here recom¬ 
 mended will not answer in our great cities. Perhaps others allege its unfitness 
 for the country. The answer to both is, St. Paul gave “order” for its adop¬ 
 tion to the Churchmen of the wealthy and luxurious city of Corinth, as he had 
 before done to the Churches in the whole province of Galatia. When General 
 Lee, the story goes, complained to General Washington, at Monmouth, that 
 his troops would not fight the British Grenadiers, he simply answered, “Sir, 
 you have not tried it!” 
 
 U8RARY '— 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF §U 
 
* 
 
 12 
 
 the gift of every man will be according to his just ability. Then will 
 your Christian joy run over, from the deepest poverty, with over- 
 flowing liberality. The beggarly appeal for Christ will then no more 
 be heard. The spasm of an extorted charity will then no more be 
 felt. The Church’s hand, the Offertory, with those simple sentences 
 of God’s own word, to His dear children, will then suffice to gather 
 for the Church. The Church’s alms—each member of it doing what 
 he can, down to the widow’s mite—distilling gently as the morning 
 dew, shall clothe the vallies all with verdure, and surmount the 
 bleakest hill-top with an emerald crown. Grant it to us, God of our 
 salvation, for thy dear Son’s sake: and to thee, the Father, Son and 
 Holy Ghost, shall be the glory and the praise. Amen. 
 
 & ^ustovul better, 
 
 TO THE CLERGY AND LAITY OF THE DIOCESE OF NEW JERSEY, 
 
 IN BEHALF OF SYSTEMATIC CHARITY. 
 
 Dearly beloved Brethren, 
 
 You will bear me witness, that, from the time that the Holy Ghost made 
 me your overseer, I have not ceased to “ stir up your pure minds, by way of re¬ 
 membrance,” as to the Christian privilege of contributing of your substance for 
 the extension of the Gospel in the Church. Nor can I withhold the ac¬ 
 knowledgment of your prompt response to my appeals. At the Convention of 
 the diocese, in 1833, the first time in which I participated with you in our great 
 trust for “ the common salvation,” the amount of contributions reported for Mis¬ 
 sionary purposes, within the diocese, was less than one hundred and thirty dol¬ 
 lars (128.37). By the adoption of the plan of Systematic Charity, then re¬ 
 commended in the Episcopal Address, and known as the Offerings of the 
 Church, the aggregate receipts of eight years, to the 27th of May last, have 
 been $11,714.77 : being an annual average of $1464.34 ; (or more than eleven 
 times the revenue of the year last preceding;) while “ the Offerings,” in one in¬ 
 stance, have risen, in a single year, (1837) as high as $1814.45. According to 
 these indications of Christian zeal and love, has been the growth of the diocese. 
 
13 
 
 In 1833, there were fourteen presbyters and deacons in the diocese ; in 1834, 
 twenty-four; in 1835, twenty-nine; in 1836, thirty-three; in 1838, thirty° 
 nine; in 1841, forty-two: being, in eight years, a threefold increase. Within 
 the same period twelve have been added to the number of organized parishes; 
 and ten, that were “ as good as dead,” have been revived and flourish. Seventeen 
 have been added to the Churches of the diocese, and one is in progress; while, 
 of the old Churches, five have been greatly enlarged, and five others been es¬ 
 sentially improved and beautified. Finally, a larger number of Communicants 
 is now reported from eight parishes, than from the whole diocese in 1833. 
 Such has been the result of God’s blessing on the means of His own appoint¬ 
 ment, within the portion of His vineyard where our lot is cast. 
 
 As the Church has become better known, in her pure doctrines, well ordered 
 ministry, and spiritual worship, the demand for them has been increased. An 
 annual Visitation is never made at which new and important points for Mis¬ 
 sionary stations are not presented. The lowest estimate of our immediate du¬ 
 ty, in this matter, is the appointment of at least one Missionary, to labour in 
 every county of the State. This will require an addition of nearly twenty to 
 our Clergy. These can be had, if, for a time, the means of their support shall 
 be supplied. In three or five years, as many parishes, contributing, of their 
 ability, to carry on the great and gracious work, will be, if God shall bless us, 
 as He has, the sure result. The truth is, beloved brethren, we are now at the 
 point which I have long foreseen. The utmost has been done that the exertion, 
 hitherto enlisted in the cause, could possibly accomplish. Without new efforts, 
 and new means, we can advance no more: and in this, as in every good work, 
 not to advance is to go backward. I ask you, as Churchmen of New Jersey, 
 if this shall be? See how the Lord hath helped us, hitherto ! See how the 
 seed, which we have sown, has sprung up, and increased, and borne its golden 
 sheaves! Say, then, if we shall now sit down, and fold our hands, and send 
 no reapers, to take in the blessed harvest! It is for you to say. I am your 
 servant only, for the Saviour’s sake. I can but plow, and sow, and till, as you 
 shall give the means. When all is done, your prayers must be poured out, 
 with mine, from fervent hearts, to Him who gives the increase. 
 
 But, I have not yet done all my duty. We are to look, not on our own 
 things only, “but on the things of others also.” As Churchmen of New Jer¬ 
 sey, we are members of that “ One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church,” 
 which Jesus Christ has put in trust with the whole world, to “preach the Gos¬ 
 pel ” in it “ to every creature.” “ The field is the world.” And though our 
 most immediate responsibility is for that, which, as one household of faith, we 
 personally occupy; we are joint partners, with the whole family that name the 
 name of Christ, as in its privileges, so in its responsibilities. At a period un¬ 
 exampled, since the time of the Apostles, in opportunities for the Church; at 
 a period when not only the distant portions of our great commonwealth, but 
 most of the elder families of Christendom, decayed and feeble, ask for light arid 
 
14 
 
 eutmlation ; and all heathendom lies bound in chains, the captive of the Prince 
 of darkness, are we doing our proportion to make up the great supply ? Let me 
 rather say, are we reaching forward, panting and breathless, to insure our share 
 of that most precious privilege, to be the fellow-helpers of the King of saints? 
 Are we clear, Churchmen of New Jersey, of that reproach which is now cast 
 upon our Missionary organization, that it fails of its high purpose, and deserves 
 no further confidence? Shall we not have much to answer for, in word, and 
 deed, and good example, if the communion, of which wo are members, cast 
 away from itself, before the world and God, and prove itself unworthy of it, that 
 noblest of all names, a Missionary Church ? I am not willing, that, in the 
 warfare of the Church, against the world and sin, “ the Jersey line ” should ever 
 be a laggard. We owe it to our position, to our opportunities, to the unity and 
 peace and prosperity with which God has blessed us, to take our proper station, 
 in “ the fore-front of the hottest battle.” 
 
 HOW SHALL IT RE DONE? 
 
 In the name and strength of God, by the living energy of faith, with the pa¬ 
 tient, constant, self-denying earnestness of love. “ According as a man hath, it 
 is accepted of him.” The rule of Christian charity and duty is, “ every man, 
 according to his several ability.” You have seen the amount which has been 
 contributed, as “the Offerings of the Church;” and the results, which, under 
 God’s blessing, have been accomplished by it. Not one of you, I boldly say, 
 has ever been the poorer for his share of it; or felt the slightest inconvenience 
 from his contribution. Meanwhile, the increase of the number of the parishes, 
 and the increase of the parishes severally, have greatly added to the number of 
 proper contributors to this treasury of the Lord. When the plan was laid before 
 you, in 1833, the Scriptural warrant for it was given to you, in those words of 
 St. Paul, to the Corinthians, “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as 
 I have given order to the Churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first 
 day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store as God hath prospered 
 him, that there be no gatherings when I come.” The proposition was, that the 
 sums,thus laid by “in store,” should be brought to the Church,on the Sunday 
 of the administration of the Holy Communion, and placed on the Holy Table, 
 with the alms, and other oblations of the people. What I have now to propose 
 —and what I confidently believe, if faithfully carried out, will be blessed of God, 
 to the full and constant supply of our Missionary Treasury—is, that, instead of 
 monthly, or at rarer intervals, “the Offerings of the Church” be made 
 every Lord’s day, in connection-with the Offertory , as appointed in the Com¬ 
 munion Service. 
 
 i. This was the primitive mode. 
 
 ii. This is the simplest and most direct address that can be made to the par¬ 
 ishioners. 
 

 15 
 
 iii. This is the Church’s proper action, in her due organization, under ths 
 direction of her ministers, on the call of her divine Head. 
 
 This plan combines many advantages. 
 
 1. Its frequency is an advantage. The contribution can never be forgotten. 
 
 2. Its constancy is an advantage. The supply from it will be perpetual and 
 sure. There is nothing to be trusted like a habit. 
 
 3. Its simplicity is an advantage. It is intelligible to every one, and will 
 commend itself even to little children. 
 
 4. Its moderation is an advantage. Returning frequently, it, of course, calls, 
 at each time, for comparatively little. Thus, it meets the convenience of all. 
 “If thou hast much, give plenteously ; if thou hast little, do thy diligence glad¬ 
 ly to give of that little.” 
 
 5. Its inexpensiveness is an advantage. It will cost nothing for agencies, 
 and be encumbered with no officers. 
 
 6. Its sobriety is an advantage. It makes no exciting appeals; and creates 
 no heat, to be followed by a more than corresponding coldness. It is the oozing 
 of the water from the rock that fills the springs. It is the gentle dropping of 
 the dew that clothes the vales with verdure. 
 
 What are its disadvantages'? 
 
 1. It is disagreeable to be asked so often to contribute.—As if the Lord’s 
 Prayer did not ask every day for “daily bread !” 
 
 2. It is disagreeable to make the collection so frequently.—As if it were not 
 better to be “ a door-keeper in the house of the Lord, than to dwell in the tents 
 of the ungodly !” 
 
 3. It is disagreeable to connect the giving of money with the worship of the 
 Sanctuary.—As if there were any surer test of a heart given up to God ! As if 
 the Sanctuary itself could be built or sustained, without money ! As if the of¬ 
 ferings, by God’s own appointment, were not formerly brought to His own holy 
 Temple ! As if the silver and the gold were not all His ! 
 
 4. It is disagreeable to be detained so long.—As if five minutes, occupied in 
 hearing sentences from Holy Scripture, and in prayer, were to be esteemed a 
 hardship, for a soul that looks to an eternity of worship! 
 
 Brethren, dearly beloved in the Lord, I have but little more to say. I need 
 say but little more. My office compels me to acquaint myself with the destitu¬ 
 tion of the Saviour’s “ 3heep, that are scattered abroad in the midst of this 
 naughty world.” I have only you to look to, for the means by which they 
 may be gathered to his fold, and “ saved through Christ forever.” If I seem 
 importunate to any of you, it is that you may secure that precious privilege, of 
 which He hath said, “ It is more blessed to give than to receive.” You will 
 pardon me this wrong. 
 
 A single word, as to the practical working of the plan, which I am very anx¬ 
 ious should go into operation at the very beginning of the new year. I cannot 
 
give it more intelligibly, than by stating to you the course, which I design, if it 
 please God, to pursue, in my own parish. 
 
 On every Sunday in the year, immediately after the Sermon, in the Morning 
 Service, I shall read from the Chancel, the sentences of the Offertory; during 
 which, “the Offerings of the Church” will be collected, by the Wardens, or 
 others. When they have been placed on the Lord’s Table, I shall proceed with 
 the prayer, “for the whole state of Christ’s Church militant;” after which, if 
 there be no Communion, I shall dismiss the people with the blessing. 
 
 The Weekly Offerings of St. Mary’s Church, Burlington, will be appropria* 
 ted as follows: 
 
 1. On the first Sunday in the month, to the relief of the poor of the parish ; 
 
 2. On the second Sunday in the month, to the Domestic and Foreign Missions 
 of the Church, in charge of the Board of Missions; 
 
 3. On all other Sundays, to the Missions of the Diocese. 
 
 i. When the Holy Communion is administered on a week day, the Offerings 
 will be appropriated to the Missions of the diocese, unless otherwise notified 
 to the congregation. 
 
 ii. When a collection is deemed proper for any other than the objects specified 
 above, special notice will be given, and the stated contribution for that day 
 will give place to it. 
 
 tii. All Offerings for the General Missionary treasury, may be designated, by a 
 mark on the envelope, as for Domestic or Foreign purposes, or for any special 
 object of either department; and where no such designation is made the pro¬ 
 ceeds will be divided equally between the Domestic and Foreign Treasuries, 
 iv. The Offerings of the diocese will always be at the disposal of the Bishop, 
 with “the Trustees of the Offerings of the Church,” appointed at each annual 
 collection. 
 
 Dear brethren, it is the season, throughout all Christendom, of highest and 
 peculiar joy. The Saviour, in whose coming we rejoice, became incarnate, that 
 the world might all be Christendom. What our “ hand findeth to do,” let us 
 do gladly, that the chorus of the Angels may the sooner be made real; “ Glory 
 be to God on high, and on earth peace, good will to men !” Open your hearts, 
 dear brethen, that God may send His Holy Ghost, and pour into all of them 
 ** that most excellent gift of charity, without which, whosoever liveth is counted 
 dead,” before Him. “ The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, 
 and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.” 
 
 Affectionately your Pastor and friend, 
 
 George W. Doane, Bishop of New Jersey. 
 
 Riverside, Eve of the Nativity , 1841. 
 
a pastoral setter, 
 
 TO THE CLERGY AND LAITY OF THE DIOCESE OF NEW JERSEY, 
 
 IN BEHALF OF THE MISSIONS OF THE CHURCH; 
 
 TO BE HEAD IK THE CHURCHES, OK SEXAGESIMA SUKDAT. 
 
 Dearly beloved Brethren, 
 
 “The Spirit of Missions,” for December, and for January, is before me. In 
 the latter, there is such language as this, from the Secretary for Domestic Mis¬ 
 sions.—“Are the members of our communion aware that a crisis in our Mis¬ 
 sionary operations, as at present conducted, is fast approaching] We are no 
 alarmists; but deem it our duty to direct the attention of all concerned to the 
 real state of the case. 
 
 “ We say a crisis is fast approaching: how can it be otherwise ?—the Octo- 
 ber salaries have not, in many instances been paid ; and yet here, (1st of Janu¬ 
 ary,) another quarter has become due, and this at a season of the year when the 
 largest contributions from the Churches may be expected. The advanced state 
 of the season forbids the hope, that, were a special meeting of the Board called, 
 it could be so generally attended as to embody and send forth the sense of the 
 Church upon the emergency. The Committee have exhausted their powers of 
 appeal. Through the Spirit of Missions, urging regular offerings—by corres¬ 
 pondence with bishops and clergy in all sections of the country, invoking co¬ 
 operation; ‘ line upon line, line upon line, here a little and there a little;’ their 
 Secretary presenting the subject from the pulpit, as opportunity presents itself; 
 nothing remains for them to do, but wait patiently and in faith, two months 
 longer, when the remaining heavier contributions for the year will have come 
 in, and then throw themselves upon the bishops of the church to re¬ 
 commend collections ik their dioceses. Will they do it? If they do, the 
 debt’of the Missionaries will he paid, and the Board will assemble in New York, 
 in June, to consider, after the experience of another year’s difficulty, what is to 
 be done. If the Bishops do not recommend collections, our domestic mis- 
 sioks are bankrupt. Of course we shall have no repudiation; but the Mis¬ 
 sionaries must be discharged the service, and the contributions that come in 
 ^such as they are) he applied to the liquidation of the Church debt to them. 
 Such a spectacle would be conducive to humility, certainly, after our position 
 that every baptized man, woman, and child in the Church is a member of the 
 Society. These are estimated (see Church Almanac, 1844) to amount to 
 1,200,000. If every one of them had paid three cents during the year, the crisis 
 would have been averted.” 
 
 In the former, “ the attention of the Clergy and Laity is earnestly called to 
 the following Circular,” which is signed by the Secretary Tor Foreign Missions. 
 “The Foreign Committee of the Board of Missions are compelled to in¬ 
 form the Church, that in consequence of the failure of receipts from a large por¬ 
 tion of the parishes, their Missionary operations are again in danger of very 
 serious embarrassment. 
 
 “The Committee do not now dwell upon the condition and success of our 
 Missions abroad: nor upon the prospects which so greatly encourage us to seek 
 their enlargement: inasmuch as the pages of our Missionary Periodical, sent with - 
 out charge to every Parish Minister, have -conveyed full information. They 
 
would only stale that while the providence of God is calling upon them more 
 loudly than ever to extend their labours, and while the Church, witnessing these 
 signs, is expecting them to follow the leadings of that providence so plainly 
 manifested, they have not enough to meet present wants. 
 
 “ They are therefore constrained to ask every member of the Church to re¬ 
 member his duty herein: and especially would they lay before its communi¬ 
 cants, who professedly recognize the solemn obligation of aiding in the extension 
 of the kingdom of their Lord, the needs of our Foreign Department: and the 
 case with which, by contributions systematically rendered from each one, they 
 may be permanently relieved.” ' * 
 
 Having again and again, not without some success, entreated your engage¬ 
 ment, heart and hand, dear brethren, in the plan of systematic charity adopted 
 in this diocese in the first year of my Episcopate, and having laid my whole 
 mind before you in a recent Pastoral Letter on the subject, I shall enter into no 
 detail of argument or exhortation. Nothing is more manifest than this, that if 
 the members of the Church would but unite in the adoption of this scriptural 
 plan, the contribution of our smallest silver coin, by each of them, upon this 
 holy festival, would fill the sacred treasury till it overflowed; and realize again 
 that record of St. Matthew, of some who sought the infant Christ, “and wor¬ 
 shipped Him ; and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto 
 Him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.” Would it be too much, taking 
 our whole communion, young and old, rich and poor, one with another, to ex¬ 
 pect an equal contribution upon “ the first day ” of every week! Let any one- 
 compute the sum, in millions, that would thus be brought! The tenth of it 
 would meet our utmost wish. 
 
 What I ask of you, dear brethren, in discharging my bounden duty, as your 
 overseer for God, is, that you will pour out with me your fervent and continual 
 prayers, that it may please Him to send His Holy Ghost, and pour into all hearts 
 “ that most excellent gift of charity;” that “every one according to his several 
 ability,” may bring his offerings to God’s house, that so it may he “ full and 
 plenteous with ail manner of store:” and then, that on Quinquagesima Sunday 
 next ensuing, there be in every Church in this Diocese, a sermon on the Mis¬ 
 sions of the Church, and a collection in their behalf; to be divided equally, un¬ 
 less the donor shall in any case direct otherwise, between the two Committees 
 of the Board. 
 
 Brethren, I beseech you, for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, that you will not 
 refuse this token of your love for Him: and that so far from resting in it, till 
 another crisis wrings a new exertion from us, you accustom yourselves to act, 
 as in the sight of God, upon that “ order ” of St. Paul, to the Corinthian and 
 Galatian Churches, “ upon the first day of the week, let every one of you lay 
 by him in store”—more properly, put into the treasury —“ as God hath pros¬ 
 pered him.” “ Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your 
 spirit. Amen.” 
 
 Affectionately your pastor and servant in the Church, 
 
 George W. Doane, Bishop of New Jersey. 
 
 Riverside , Feast of the Epiphany , 1844. 
 

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