The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1867-02-13

has been heard in the heavens.
J. M. P. ATKINSON.
For THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
Can the Southern Church take Care Of
and Properly Cultivate the Field of
Labor Committed to Herr
In an article some time ago, l an
swered this question in the affirmative,
and indicated in general way how the
resources of the Church can be reached
and developed. The plans and resolu-
tions of our Church courts, no matter
how well devised or strongly worded, will
not be productive Of much good, unless
the matters therein treated of, and call
ing for the exercise of the diligence of
the Church, are brought home by the in
dividual ministers to the individual con-
sciences of the church members.
Our plans are good-our system al
most perfect-but the great want is the
means with which to work these plans,
and to keep in active operation this sys-
TEN. In plain words, the great thing
we need just at this time especially, to
give fair start to our machinery, and
in all the future to keep it in proper
working order, is the money which God
gives to his people for this very purpose.
The people have it, God has given it
to them, and will ever give it; for as he
calls upon them for service, he ever be-
stows upon them everything to enable
them to perform it. What is needed
then is instruction, for as | have said,
Gods people will come up to the dis
charge of duty just in proportion as they
are faithfully instructed in it. And the
particular point upon which 4 think there
ence to the proportionate amount every
Christian should give to the Lords SER
vice. No matter what plans be devised,
unless the consciences OF the people are
enlightened upon this point, the amount
contributed for carrying on the work of
our Southern Church will be entirely too
small, and the work must languish.
The great defect in reference to this
matter has been and is the want of def
mite rule. The general subject of Civ
ing to God service is set before the peo-
pie with more or less urgency, and then
they are left to their own impulses; so
that most of the money collected in our
churches is the result of impulse, and not
of principle. And this arises from a
want of definite instruction from those
whose duty it is to impart it. By them
this whole matter is either not presented
at all, or is not placed upon its proper
ground as an act of worship; nor are
they definite enough in laying down some
rule or rulesas to theproportionate amount
with which each one should thus worship
God. Too many protesting Christians
are satisfied with rendering to God such
religious service as secret, and family,
and public worship, and look upon the
service they render by giving a small por-
ton of their worldly means as extra in
its nature-to be rendered or not as they
may choose. They practically do not
believe they are under obligation to serve
God acith their substance, and in proper
tion to 1t.
In order to a proper arousing of our
people to their duty they must be taught
faithfully and repeatedly in reference to
both these points, and especially in refer
ence to the latter-that the service must
be IN proportion to what God bestows up
on them. In the former article | re,
marked that the general rule of the
Apostle" as God has prospered" is moi
definite enough--that in the present state
of the Church's work and the Church
conscience, there is necessity that a
minimum proportion of ne'sincomeshould
be fixed upon, as limit below which the
Christian should not go. Each one could
fix that minimum for himself, as starting
point and rule by which to regulate this
part of his religious service. But think
there are good reasons why the titht
should be recommended as that minimum
1 will very briefly mention few.
l 1t has divine warrant. 1t was tht
rule under the Mosaic dispensation. The
people of Israel were instructed by Goo
to give of their substance for the suppor
of the religious institutions of the lane
by tenths.
2. 1t has received the appreciation o.
God in the manifest blessings bestowed
upon those who faithfully have lived &C
cording to this rule; as in the cases O.
Abraham and Jacob, where tithes art
first mentioned; as in the case of th'
Israelites as long as they fulfilled th'
law; as in the case of every one wht
has ever faithfully tried it. So l ven
ture to say that no such one has eve
found good reasons for abandoning it
except for a higher proportion. A mass
of testimony could be gathered on thi
point.
3. 1t is proportion which every one
no matter how poor, can give. If w
are under obligation to serve God witt