The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-05-12
For THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
CHURCH FINANCES.
(CoNCLUDED.)

CONCLUDED.
The writer would not deny that to the
want of proper instruction and system, SC
far as means are concerned, this great defect
in the Church may to large extent be traced
But after much anxious thought and obser.
vation he would venture the opinion that the
real cause lies much deeper and in more
vital part of the spiritual system-that this
disease which has so long baffed the efforts
of the doctors, is not located in the limbs
and attributable mainly to want of suitable
diet and exercise, but has its seat in the very
vitals of the body, and can only beremoved
by "active treatment.
The writer is forced to the conclusion that
the bulk of protesting Christians do not be-
lieve the teachings of Scripture on the sub
iect of the relation they and their property
bear to Christ, and of the duty of giving
of their substance to the Lord for the pur-
pose of honoring him, furthering their own
sanctifcation and spreading the Gospel. In
other words, that the bulk of protesting
Christians, and we will say, real Christians,
have never been concerted from their natural
state of unbelief to true and spiritual
faith, as its respects these Scripture truths.
Let not the pious reader be startled or
sneer at this declaration, and call it pre-
sumptuous. But let him patiently consider
the unmistakable teachings of notorious
facts. 1t will not be disputed that the New
Testament, no less than the Old, enjoins on
every disciple of Christ to contribute of his
substance, freely and frequently as God
prospers him, for the purposes above named.
That thepoorest are not exempt; and that the
Lords claims are to be met first, even be-
fore food and raiment Now no one who
seeks for information on this point, can fail
to be convinced that one half of processing
Christians give scarcely anything, and but
a small portion of those who do give, come
any where near the Scripture requisition.
True, Church officers are some what at
fault in not affording the opportunity and
urging the duty to give, and not few, in
these straitened times, find great difficulty
to obtain money to give when called on.
But every minister who has tried to do his
duty in this matter, has been impressed with
the belief, that the obstacle in the way of
enlarged liberality is not the want of means,
but the want of heart to the work and if
he has conversed personally and extensively
with Christians on this subject, he has dis
covered that but very few, perhaps not more
than one out of FIVE or ten have any lively
impression of the claims of God upon them,
or have faith in the promises relative to this
duty.
If any one doubts the truth of this re-
mark let him test it by conversing with
Christians and urging them to prove their
faith by their works. Let him ply them
with such texts as the following: "Honor
the Lord with thy substance and the first
fruits of all thine increase; so shall thy
barns be filled with plenty" Prov iii: 9.
"There is that scattereth and yet increas-
eth; there is that withholdeth more than
is meet and tendeth to poverty" Prov.
XII: "a. He that giveth to the poor lend.
eth to the Lord, and that which he giveth will
he pay him again" Prov. xix: II. "Bring
ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that
there may be meat in mine house, and prove
me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if
I will not open you the windows of heaven
and pour you out blessing, that there shall
not be room enough to receive it." Nal
iii: 10. "Give and it shall be given unto
you; good measure" &c. Luke vi: 3S.
"I have showed you all things, how that SO
laboring ye ought to support the weak, and
to remember the words of the Lord Jesus,
how he said, 1t is more blessed to give than
to receive" Acts Xxx: 35 "He which
soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly
and he which soweth bountifully shall reap
also bountifully. Every man according as
he purposeth in his heart, so let him give
not grudgingly, or of necessity for God
loveth cheerful giver. And God is able tc
make all grace abound toward you; that ye
having always all suficiency in all things
may abound to every good work" 2 Cor
tx: 6, 7, s. Let him draw from them theil
view of the duty here enjoined, and of tht
promises connected with it, and learn how
far they perform the duty in reliance on tht
promises; and if he does not discover il
four cases out of five, astonishing unbelie
and even surprising ignorance, in respect t.
the true import of these passages, his expe
rience will differ from that of the writer
Such tests will doubtless convince any hon
est seeker after truth that the bulk of pro
Tossing Christians do not believe these ant
like promises, with true spiritual faith
Their faith goes but little if any farthe
than that of the unconverted man who be
lieves the Bible. He believes the Scriptur