The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1870-03-16
For THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
WEEKLY COLLECTIONS.

Mr.. Edltor,-Let me thank you Tor CIV
ing, through the Central Presbyterian, the
results of regular and systematic contrlbu-
tions, in the performance of our duties In
reference to our church obligations by means
of weekly collections. Besides giving light
to your readers, it aids in the good work OF
educating the people in the knowledge OF
truth, in this matter. In much that your
correspondent "Zaccheus' writes, we all
sympathise. His congregations are repre-
sentatives, for there are few churches, of the
country especially, which are not 'mostly of
the poorer class, some of them "a few posi-
Bly, comfortable livers and none of them
wealthy" And yet the comfortable livers'
do actually absent themselves from church
and deny themselves the privilege of hearing
the truth as faithfully preached by "Zacche-
US" because they say that they have moth
ing to contribute occasionally to the weekly
collections =" He believes the "plan' to be
''divine, and adds his, to the mass of re-
ported testimony, that in his church, after
two years trial, his congregations have "no
doubt raised more money than they would
have done on the old plan of quarterly col.
lections.
In many of the churches, both of the
Presbyterian and other denominations, and
especially of our Baptist brethren,) the ex-
pertinent of taking up weekly collections has
been eminently successful, both in the
amounts collected and in the cordial acqui-
escence of the people in the plan, where it
has been perseveringly continued. 1t is
more convenient to the people, and in some
churches, where it was, at first, deemed un-
wise, the congregations would not now aban-
don it. And what is most gratifying, the spir-
itual benefits, resulting from the experiment,
are marked and evident.
Why should we not confidently expect the
blessing of God and success in executing
any "divine plan?" 1t is not asserted that
the teaching in Cor. xvi: 2, is imperative,
but wise plan for every church. The apos-
tie had been teaching the necessity and
manner of the resurrection, and concludes
with the grand exhortation to the Corinthian
| Church, "to be steadfast, unmoveable, all
ways aboundinq in the work of the Lord, for
asmuch as ye know that your labor is not
IN vai,s in the Lord" AS practical infer
ence, he proceeds to urge upon them pro-
vision for the poor saints and particularly,
as the first day of the week was the usual
day of meeting for devotion, each one should
deposit something in the treasury of the
church, as God had prospered him, for the
poor brethren at Jerusalem" A commen-
tator forcibly observes on this passage, "this
plan of setting apart, to benevolent uses, a
portion of the gains of each week is admi-
rably adapted to promote the spirit of liber-
ality. The sums being comparatively small,
avarice is not excited. But when portion
of gears profits is looked at, it is so large
that avarice fastens her talons upon it, and
nothing short of the grace of God can un'
fasten the grasp"
God does not require US to accomplish i'm
possibilities, nor to perform duty without
giving US ability to do so. But if we can
give only one copper and will not do SO, we
may we'll consider our responsibility for fail
ing to perform that duty. And when we
talk of debt which we owe, and of the neces-
sites of the support of our families which
cause so much anxious thoug hit, we should
not forget that the calls upon us for the sup
port of the ministry and the spread of the
Gospel, through the various instrumentalities
of the Church, are from creditors, whose
debts are of quite as high dignity as any
others we owe, and that the paying for spir-
itual food is as necessary for our growth in
grace, as procuring bread is for the susie.
nance of our bodies.
May [ commend an experiment to my
brethren, who desire to perform their duty
in reference to the weekly contributions
Offer the earnest prayer of faith, that the
Holy Spirit may guide you to a knowledge
and to the performance of duty in this re,
gard; "ask and ye shall receive" the means
God will so prosper you, every week, thai
on ''the first day" thereof, you may clay by
in store either five cents or five dollars, fol
this weekly contribution. There are those
who look back on the past five years with
amazing gratitude, at their daily supplies
of food; and there are those who have per-
severed in their desires and efforts to make
their Sunday contributions, who are aston
ished at their ability to keep up these weekly
contributions. Faith will enable US to dc
the wOrk of removing seeming mountains Of
difficulties.
The Church has ample testimony now tt
continue in we'll doing in this matter; anc
we shall yet reap more abundantly of Spir
itual and temporal blessing, if we only
faint not. Those brethren (such as my mos
beloved brother, B. NJ. Smith, who hav,
been for years educating the Church, b.
their efforts to teach the duty and reward
of systematic beneuOzence, may we'll feel en-
couraged at the results of their efforts, ant
at the PROGRESS made by the Church, il
coming up to the Scripture standard. Will
these brethren thus see that they have no