The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1868-07-08
The Dews of Heaven.

All observant persons know how CRATE
full and how refreshing to the growing
corn are the dews of heaven. They know
that while the night-dews are copious,
the crops flourish. though the clouds
withhold the rains. But when the atmos-
phere becomes so arid that the dews cease,
then the corn willis, and the embryo ears
perish The dews by night are more re-
freshing than the same measure of mois-
ture in showers by day. Light showers
quickly evaporate, and the tender blades
are scalded by the hot sun; but the dews
keep the corn vigorous during the night.
We are as dependent upon the dews Of
heaven as upon the rains.
Yet when drought comes, and the crops
languish, our prayer is for rain. We
never think of praying for cOpious dews,
though they would minister more refresh
ment than the hasty showers.
Even so, regular weekly, or even
monthly contributions to the cause of
benevolence, would yield more than occa-
sional high-pressure collections. A Pres
bytery or Synod may rouse up, once
in a year or two, and under the pressure
of an exciting appeal, make contribution
so credtable that all the churches within
its limits may repose for whole year
upon the credit of that very liberal col
lection, while missionaries are starving.
Now, if all the churches within the
bounds of that Presbytery had been
quietly making weekly or monthly con-
tributions, though none of them should be
so large as to feed their vanity, still they
would have sustained the missionaries
and as relief would be coming in, the
missionaries would have no fears of being
compelled to abandon the field. And
these regular contributions, thong h small,
would, in the aggregate, yield more
than occasional public collections. The
ocean is made up of an accumulation of
rain drops, and the melting of the snow.
Nevertheless, if churches do not make
regular weekly or monthly contributions,
then, when their pastors and representa-
tives come up to Presbytery, it is impor-
tant, and indeed essential to their spirit
ual health and efficiency, that they be
bled freely, and if thelast dime be drawn
from their pockets, all the better for
them and the church. They must be
taught to give, and to give literally, or
they will be poor, dwarfed, penurious,
Improbable members, which the church
can better afford to lose than retain. And
their religion, if they have any, is such
Sickly, dwarfed, and barren thing, that
no sensible man should be willing to risk
his souls salvation upon it.
Let the churches, therefore, have stated
periods for making contributions, either
weekly, monthly, or quarterly, as may
be best adapted to their condition, and
let them report to each session of the
Presbytery the amount contributed.
Churches in the towns and cities that
have weakly services can adont tho Weakly
collection. All churches ought to observe
the Monthly Concert. But if any country
churches find itimpracticable, let such take
up quarterly collections in the public
congregation, and forward the amount to
the Presbytery.
Thus all the churches should be trained
to regular stated contributions. And as
the dews of heaven silently refresh and
feed the growing crops, so these regular