Eastern times., 1850-11-07
S ELECT TALE
The Bargain with Heaven.
BY r. s. ARTHUR.

Justin Palmer was twenty-seven years OF
age He had come into the possession of fif-
teen thousand dollars, and was about entering
into busiaess for himaef Being lover of
money, he was particularly anxious to succeed.
He thought much, therefore, of the prospect
before him and naturally enough, endeavored
so to mature his plans, as to make failure next
to impossible. While in this state of mind he
fell into company with the minister of the
church to which he belonged During con-
versation that passed between them, Palmer
referred to the circumstance of his being about
to make start in the world for himself, and
expressed .ceafdence in the result
Il think, said he, that understand busi-
ness well enough to make success certain
Nothing is 'ceftain m this life,' replied the
minister. 4Slhe Lord setteth up whom he will
'anH whom he will he casteth down- Riches,
you know, often take to themselves wings
and fly away
True, but riches fly from many because
they do not take proper care Of them,'
'Or, you might better say, DO net make
proper use of them. So many abuse the wealth
that comes into their hands, by turning all the
streams Of benevolence, so TO speak, in upon
themselves, that Providence diverts the waters
into new channels, that the many may enjoy
their refreshing Influences. I often wonder
that rireasaads who commence business are not
as wise as R, whom you know to be one
of the wealthiest men in our connection
'What particular course did he adoptr
asked Mr.. Palmer.
He commenced business replied the min
lister, 'at twenty-five, possessing thousand
dollars capital. He was a pious young man,
and fully acknowledged all he possessed gift
from Heaven; and in view of this, he made a
resolution in the beginning, that he would year
ly devote one-tenth of his clear income to char
liable and religious purposes. This he has
faithfully done ever since; yet for all there
was so heavy drain, he has steadily increased
IN wealth, and is now i'll the enjoyment of sew
eral hundred thousand dollars There are
many, not worth cent to-day, who, if they
had acknowledged partnership with Heaven as
II" did, would be in the possession of large
wealth. If men, under the influence of selfish
ness, forget the Source of all their blessings,
how can they hope to prosper''
And R really gives one-tenth of all
his income, yearly to benevolent purposes1'
said Palmer, with surprise
Yes, SO he has himself assured me. He
says, that he has always been exceedingly care
ful in making UP his estimates every year, in
order to be certain that he does not give away
less than his original stipulation; if any error
has been committed, he thinks it is against
himself
And does he attribute his prosperity to the
fact of having thus tithed his iBcomer
He does; and so do l.
This conversation made strong impression
upon Palmer. The leading hesire of his life
was TO accumulate riches-at the same time a
religious education had stamped his mind with
bias to the things of the Church, and giving
him an entire belief ia the governing and dis
posing agency of Divine Providence That
the earth is the Lords and the fullness there
of he fully acknowledged. This being SO, it
was natural for him to seize upon the minister s
suggestion and to turn it over and over again in
his mind To part with tenth of his income,
every year, seemed large sacrifice of proper
ty.
sOne hundred dollars out OF every thousand,
said he to himself as he unused on the subject.
1t really seems like too much, But the lsra-
elites thus came in the counter argument in
his mind, were ti,hed for the support of the
church; and this tithing, being of Divine ap-
pointment, was of course right. If now, with
out an ordinance from Heaven, / voluntarily
set apart one-tentb ofmy income for religious
and benevolent purposes, it cannot but be pleas
ing in the sight of God. Were all men to de-
vote as large share of their yearly increase
for the spread of the gospel and the relief of
human suffering, the wilderness would soon
blossom as a rose, and springs of water abound
in the arid deserts. But so few use the boun-
lies Of Providence as almoners of Heaven, that
it is little wonder few are permitted to accu-
mulate wealth. Yes, R acted wisely and
Justly. 1t is not matter of surprise that he
prospered in his basket and in his store. 1t
svould have been surprising had the case been
otherwise. l Twill follow so good an example,
j will yearly devote tenth of my income to
the church and charity
With this resolution, Palmer commenced
business. At the end of the first year. he
found, after careful estimate of every thing,
that his actual profits were just one thousand
dollars They were larger on his business
transactions; but the expense of fitting up a
store, and snndry charges incident to begin
ming, were all deducted, thus leaving balance
Of one thousand dollars. To decide whether
he should call the profits of the year three
thousand or one thousand, caused long and
serious debate in his mind. The expense Of
fitting up his store, it occurred 10 him, was a
necessary investment of capital, and should
not be charged out against the profits Of the
year. But, as his personal expenses had been
Thousand dollars, and the clear profit, after
the reduction referred to, was no more, he
could not decide to place three hundred dollars
on interest in the Lords treasury. So one
hundred had to suffice as the tenth of his in
come. Already he had paid thirty dollars for