The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-05-12

SuCn CruCnS as LuelI aooui oioo IhoV Oou ia'
vors and prospers the cheerful and liberal
giver, making his offering, like the scattered
seed, yield him large increase, SO that he
is richer, both temporarily and spiritually for
having scattered? And on the other hand
that God frowns upon and disappoints those
that "withhold more than is meet?" If
their faith in Christ as our sacrifice for sin,
and the Lord our righteousness and strength,
is no more cordial and lively, than their
faith in these Scriptures, it is to be feared
such professors have but a name to live,
while they are dead in trespasses and sins.
Such faith in Christ cannot save the soul.
How is the soul converted and sanctifed ?
"Of his own will begat he us by the word
of truth"
"Chosen to salvation, through sanctifca-
ton of the Spirit and belief of the truth. +"
Sanctify them through Thy truth" Lo,
Gods children are "begotten by the truth, F"
=" chosen to salvation through belief of
the truth, >" sanctifed through the truth" :"
But the truths we have been considering,
seem to have had little or no influence in the
conversion of many Christians of the pre-
sent day. Hence these truths are not en-
braced in their faith. Therefore we argue
they are not concerted to these truths they
do not believe them.
All efforts, therefore, to bring Christians
up to the duty of liberality in supporting
the Gospel, which assume their faith in the
doctrine to be converted, spiritual and
lively faith, must continue to fail in the fu-
ture as they have failed in the past They
are but the effort to remove deeply seated
constitutional disease by the use of stimula-
ting bitters, instead of strong remedies suit
ed to rectify the disordered constitution
When ministers preach to sinners, they do
not first exhort them to perform the practi-
cal duties of Christian, for this would be
asking the thorn to bear grapes; but urge
them to come first and at once to Christ, by
faith and repentance. Equally futile is it
to urge the bulk of Christians with their
present faith to give with that large liberali-
ty which the present wants of Christ's cause
demands, and the promises of God warrant
Liberality is grace that springs from faith
and grows by faith. 1t is admitted that our
people are poor; but has our Divine Sure.
ty failed? Has he not said, "My grace is
sufficient for thee ?" "All things are pos
sible to him that believeth ?" If our peo-
die in their worldly poverty, were rich in
faith, they would honor the Lord with the
first fruits of all their increase, and thus
seek first the Kingdom of God, before their
food and raiment, believing that all these
things would be added unto them. How
few Christians exhibit such faith by their
works
The plea that our people are too poor to
meet the claims of Christ's cause, is con-
fession of unbelief. Has He not said, GAS
thy day, SO shall thy strength be 2"
The writer would humbly suggest to our
Church courts and their agents-the mana
gers of our benevolent schemes, that they
deal less in stimulating bitters, which more
frequently nauseate weak and disordered
stomachs than stimulate feeble life; and
that they adopt a more sovereign remedy,
and one better suited to the condition Of
the patient. Let them set before our people
their God-dishonoring sin of unbelief, that
shuts up Gods bountiful hand; and let them
enjoin on all our people, humiliation, fast
ing and prayer, confess their sins of omis-
sion in both faith and works, and importu-
nately invoking the reviving and converting
power of the Holy Spirit, to quicken the
faith of all, and convert all Christians to a
hearty belief of the divine truths that
teach the relation in which the Christian
and his property stand to Christ.
1t may be true of the "evil spirit now
possessing the Church, as it was in the case
of the demoniac brought to the disciples,
"and they could not cure him." that "this
kind cometh not forth but by prayer and
fasting If the people of God will thus
with one accord, in the spirit of the pente
costal Christians, swat for the promise oi
the Father" consecrating themselves and
their property to Christ, and begin to bring
the tithes into the store-house, He, who wait
eth to be gracious, will doubtless "open the
windows of heaven and pour us out bless
ing that there shall not be room enough tc
receive it" And then, Christians in true
and lively faith, not considering caught Of
the things which they possess as their own,
and "praying us with much entreaty to re
ceive the gift," will fill the treasury of the
Lord and as when Israel in their poverty
built the tabernacle, "the people will have
to be restrained from giving
ZACcHEUs.
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