The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1867-05-08
GODS METHOD wIsEsT.
RAISING MONEY FOR SACRED USES.


divine warrant Of the 0blation, as an instituted
part of Gods worship, and to point out the
advantage and necessity of the rite as means
of grace to Christians themselves. 1t remains
TO indicate briefly some of the good results to
the Church at large. And first; this act OF
worship enables US to set the sacredness and
bessedness of the DIAGONAL office in its true
light Let any one compare the language OF
the Apostle in Tim iii s to Is, with the de-
predatory estimate of this function lately pre-
valent in our Church, land oil Others and ne
viii see clear proof that there is something
amiss in our arrangements of the matter A
very few years ago, Presbyterians could be
plentifully found, who declared that they saw
no use for deacons, except in few churches
mostly in cities. They seemed to apprehend
that the few financial functions which the
Church needed were purely secular, and not Of
much importance, and that they could easily
be appended to those Of the ruling elder. In
fsstsmseeR xsahgtarians &C this way Of lsipls'
ing It often led the elder to demit, in great
part, his proper work, ''the care of souls, and
he seemed really to have very little to do ex-
cept this fragment Of the assumed functions of
the deacon The Editor of this paper freely
owns the incorrectness, or at least the made
ouacy of his former notions about this whole
matter, and the change which recent observa-
ton and reflection have wrought in his mind.
In regard to the sacred character of this Office
it is very instructive to notice carefully how
the inspired Apostle viewed it He says,
"They that have used the Office of Deacon
well, purchase to themselves good degree,
and great boldness In the faith which is in
Christ Jesus. " Now, according to those de-
plorable methods of expediency which we too
often substitute for Gods appointed way, it is
cured as filthy lucre, " but of which, notwith-
standing Its sordid nature, the Church has
need. With such views they think it may be
very properly administered by trustee" " or
some such invention-an ecclesiastical officer
utterly unknown to Gods word, often not a
prolessed believer, sometimes decidedly un-
godly man. This is not at all surprising re-
suit; the two things correspond exactly. If
we raise money for the Church, with little or
no ideas of sacredness attached to it, is it any
wonder if we think it may be properly man.
aged and expended In the same sort of way ?
Is it any wonder that mammon should enter
the sanctuary when such door is thrown
open?
But according to God s method, the Deacon
is made to feel that his functions are properly
spiritual; although not ruling or preaching)
that the money which he handles is no longer
mere money, but the sacred and consecrated
OblatiOn of Christian love to dying and risen
Saviour, the embodied expression of the purest
spiritual affections of the sancti6ed soul, the
holy vehicle, through which the blessed com
munion of Christian love and sympathy for
Christ's chosen ones circulates between heart
and heart. Thus, doubtless, felt Epaphrodi-
tus, Phil iv: Isl as he carried with reverent
care, and placed upon the prosecuted Apostlf
in his prison, 1.-THE things which were sent
from the Philippian Christians, an odor of a
sweet smell, sacrifice acceptable, well pleas
ing to God" How noble is the incentive to
integrity and diligence thus applied to the
DeaeOn's soul? Cannot we now comprehend
how new born man, dedicating himself on the
principles of the New Testament to the Dea-
cons work, viii find in the receipt and admin
istration of this holy oblation, the most happy
and efficient culture of his own graces, and
win to himself good degree, and great bold
ness in the faith?
The Church also, by disusing this, Gods
method, has lamentably failed to cultivate the
grace Of giving in her members and baptized
children. Had we been satisfied with the
scriptural plan, Zion would have always re-
eeived all the money which she really needed
or ought to have; while her membership
would have enjoyed the appointed means of
grace. But having forgotten or disused Gods
plan, she found herself driven, by her pecuni-
airy necessities, to resort to all the clap-trap
and hoclspocus of worldly management, to ex-
tract money on earnal, or positively unsancti-
fed grounds Thus, instead of holding the
exalted and pure attitude which was hers, as
Gods heavenly appointed almoner, she has too
often placed herself in the notifying attitude
of tricky, assuming and undeserving mendi-
cant, to whom one may give something if he
chooses, or can't help it, just to be rid of the
worry, or to express his amusement at the
adroitness of the trick passed upon him, or for
compliment to the agent employed, or to pur
chase some fulsome applause, or to dodge the
taunt of stinginess which the impudent beggar
may otherwise fling at his head Alas for the
day when the Church began to stoop to this
pitiful work Instead of acting in this, as in
all her functions, as the ordained human in
strument for the specification of men, she has
not only been delinquent, in that she has dis
used the appointed Christian graces by which
the deacon's treasury should have been righte-
ously filed, to the spiritual blessing of givers
and receivers but she has too often become a
positive agent of moral corruption, by appeal
ing to and evoking the unsancti6ed principles
of vain glory, false shame, and avarice In
stead of teaching church members and the
world that they are but Gods stewards, and
are required by Him cheerfully to honor
Him with their substance" they have thus
been educated to feel that there is no obEga-
ton to contribute anything, unless "value re-
eeived" is returned by the artful church man
ayers, in the shape Of worldly amusement or
Aattery, or female smiles, or merchandise. 1t
is very plain to the rejecting that here is to be
found the explanation of much of that depre
ciatory feeling towards the Church and its in
situations which prevails; of that strange lack
of conscience as to the obligation of fulfilling |
pecuniary pledges towards the ministry; of that
general and idOlatrOus worldlness which is ram
pant around US.