The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1867-06-26
A GOOD PROvERB.
BIS dat, qua cito dat
[RE GIVES TWICE, WHO GIVES QUICKLY.

BE GIVES TWICE, WHO GIVES QUICKLY.
The proverb comes from the Latin language
but it is so good that it deserves place among
"every kindred, and people, and tongue, un
der heaven" It's plain meaning is, that s
gift promptly bestowed, is double the value o.
one that comes tardily. True iberality con
sists not so much in giving a great deal-fol
many have it not-as giving willingly and sea-
sonably
Who has not sometimes seen a donation OBJ
tain a manifold value from being bestowed at
the very moment of need? The two pence Of
the Samaritan, coming as they did just in time,
were worth more to the wounded man than a
whole years income of the Priest and the Lee
vite, if given few hours after; for then he
would probably have been dead.
Lord Chesterfield could give no patronage to
DR.. johnson struggling hard with his poverty.
But after the publication of his great Diction-
airy had thrown a splendor around his name,
then it was profusely offered butt is pleas
ant to know-it was righteously rejected
Study opportunity. That poor and (why do
people keep saying, 6ut?) pious, noble, young
man, who after years Of toll makes good his
place and name, may have the praises of thou
sands poured into his ear but the helping
hand quietly given him years before, in the
time of want, by some plain, unpretending
but unfailing friend, was worth more than ten
thousand fatterers, whose patronage waited
till the crisis was over. We could point to
many instances in the circle of our acquaint-
ance among the ministers of our Church, pre-
senting remarkable and instructive lessons on
the usefulness Of timely help. Would that the
duty might be remembered by people now
At this very time of need, of peculiar need
even a little help to young man struggling
along his way to prepare for preaching "the
unsearchable riches of Jesus Christ, may do
much, not only as money, but to give him
courage, to cheer his spirit The same prin-
ciple applies, in many ways, to the aid which
people may give their pastors-the prompt
help they may give by even little money-to
a feeble people in an almost desperate but ex-
ceedingly resOlute effort to build sanctuary,
so absolutely necessary for the existence-not
to say prosperity of their church. Take the
enterprise at Culpeper Court House as an ex-
ample, We that are waiting for one)
But no one need be at loss for objects on
which to put this good proverb into speedy
practice. Go and help the destitute, the sor-
rowing and sufering-help them ao,o:. it may
reach farther, and administer more comfort
now than many times the amount at later
date. A prompt, seasonable GIFT or good deed
is like the timely shower in drought: the
blessing IS that it comes Just then, when it re-
freshes all nature.
Wait not till death takes your wealth out of
your own disposal. Dispose of it aolo for God,
that it may begin at once to do good in Sa-
viour's Church, and in world of sin. The
dimes now cast into the Lords treasury, will
interest more rapidly than thou
sands Of dollars bequeathed as legacies.
One of the great blessings of giving quickly
s, that by it we learn to give freely. :" God /,
oveth a cheerful giyer There is"-says
N old writer-"no grace in benefit that
sticks to the finger.