The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-03-24
Saving and Losing.

odtluS daiA cS6'
People differ moro their religious no
tions than in almost anything else. Some
only have their meetint thouses, while others
have churches. Some join their society, and
others are members Of the Church. The
"church people" are often held up to re-
proach for spending money in paying minis
ters; while the preachers of the ''meetin "
give their people the gospel free.
A blunt old gentleman, once being urged
to Join certain meetin, because it was
cheaper than the "chur& peoples religion, .
inasmuch as the preaching in that society
was given "for nothing" replied; "That IS
Just as much as it is worth, too" That kind
of religionists don't do much towards carry
ing or sending the gospel to the destitute
heather world. -
Stingy, narrow souls take to that kind OF
religious thinking like sd duck does to water.
Talk about money for the minister's salary,
or repairing or building church, or tor
missions, or for educating young men for the
ministry, or for religious publications, and
the like, if you want to stir up their wrath
That is "money .preaching;" and, to them,
it smacks strongly of carnality. Evil COM
munications corrupt good manners; and
hence, some of our people are damaged badly
by association with these surrounding sects
and societies, whose religion does not cost
anything. Come easy, go easy! Cost moth
ing, worth-how much? Christianity cost
the life of Gods dear Son, and is worth
more than all our money.
Our ministers, in some charges, are 80
cowed down by this selfish feeling among
the membership, SO hostile to giving, that
they are absolutely afraid to say "money''
to their people, for any cause. There are
members, who give their ministers cause
enough for this fear. At the bare mention
of the cause that calls for giving, they puck
er up, like cat, when you rub the fur the
wrong way. No sense of duty to God, or
moral obligation for the means of grace, ne
thankfulness for the hope of salvation, moves
their hearts to make an offering unto the
Lord.
Money given to the operations of the
Church, is SO much thrown away, they think.
And what is selfshly withheld from the be-
nevolences of the Church, they suppose is
Just that much saved. This is, virtually, the
practice of many members of the Church.
God knows their hearts, and will hold them
to account.
Farmers do not saus by Withholding their
seed from the ground. They sow the soil
literally, SO that they may not reap sparing-
ly. That is just what the Bible tells us, we
should do, in giving. Sow, in order to reap
Lend to the Lord, to be repaid again with
increase! Lay up treasures, to have them
in time Of need. Put them safely in heaven,
where they will always be ours; not on earth,
where thief, and moth, and rust, may take
them from our hands. Riches make to
themselves wings, and fly away. Secure
them in the Church.
A church cause, lately, appealed to a
family for hundred dollars or more; they
thought the servant of God who presented
it, little crazy tc ask so much, and 80 gave
nothing. Since then, they paid twice that
much to carry on lawsuit, and lost their
case. Can not God head up Jonah when he
runs from duty? In how many ways dc
they not lose what they keep; and in Gods
good time, they securely gain to their own
good what they giue to Him.
Said a man to minister, not long ago.
You remember, you asked me for thou
sand dollars?" "Yes; will you give il
now?" 81 can't; for since then have lost
eight thousand! How often does it thu,
happen?
What is given to the minister, to the
Church, to the Lords cause in any proper
spirit, is the most securely invested, for time
and eternity. What is wrongfully kept
when it ought to be given, can be turned
into curse for you, or for your children
You cannot afford to refuse to honor th'
Lords call upon you.
No troubles in the Church, or neglect O
other members, or ill-feeling towards th'
minister, will excuse the people from givint
to the Lord. 1t is, after all, to the Lord
and not to man, that our offerings are to b.
made. 1t is Christian grace; and tn,
minister has as plain duty to enforce tn
necessity of its growth upon the attention
of the people, as to preach repentance ant
faith.-Reformed Church Messenger.
Sin and the Saviour.
feel. when [ have sinned, an immediat,