The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1873-04-30
FoR THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
THE DUTY OF CHRISTIANS IN REGARD
TO GIVING.
No. 19.

No. 19.
In place of another article on this subjec
we present this week an extract from tn
"Report on Systematic Benevolence"
the Synod in Baltimore, which was laid o
the table. j. W. P
The Report in part, of the Committee on systemati
BenevOlsnce, to the Synod Of Virginia, Nov, 1879.
There are two departments in scripture
giving.
1st. 06latiOn to God, as acts of WORSHIP
and means of grace.
I'd. Distributing Gods revenue to tn
wants and work of the Church
In relation to the first department of thi
service, We sum up the leading features Q
the duty as set forth in the Scriptures.
1st. It is the duty of euery one to make
oblations of his material substance to God
Every one is the recipient of Gods bounties
and every one is required to serve and wor
ship God with the talents given him. "Le
evsry one Of you lay by with himself, treasur
ing up, whatever has been prospered. y
Literal rendering of the Greek.
I'd. Gods portion, as far as practicable
must be set apart FIRST; before any portion
of His bounties is appropriated to our own
use. The honor of God and the faith Of
the Christian demand this. Gods claim
stands before all creature wants, and He is
jealous of his honor. Honor the Lord
with thy substance and with the first fruits
of all thine increase "Seek first the king
dom of God" "All these things shall be
added unto you" This is "walking by faith, "
Sd. Every one should give according to
his means. "It is accepted according to
that man hath, and not according to that
he hath not" "Lay by whatever has been
prospered.''
4th. 1t should not amount to less than a
tenth of the income in the course of the
year. This is the lowest God has ever ap-
pointed, and he has never abolished this
ancient rule There is no approved exam
pie in the Bible that fell below it: all the
teachings and examples in the New Testa-
ment 90 beyond it. "All the 1.-THE of the
land is the Lords" Bring ye all the
tithes into the storehouse that there may be
meat in my house" "Do ye not know"
says Paul to the Corinthians, "that they
who minister about holy things live (feed) of
the things of the temple?" The Levites
here referred to, lived of the tithes. "EUen
so hath the Lord ordained that they who
preach the gospel shall live of the gospel"
5th. As this service is mode of divine
worship and means Of grace, it is required
as far as practicable, to be performed on the
Sabbath. Upon the first day of the week,
&C."
9th. The successful and acceptable per-
formance of this selfdenying duty requires
faith. God has especially connected and
promised temporal favor and prosperity with
this branch of his service. "Honor the
Lord with thy substance; so shall thy barns
be filled with plenty" "Give and it shall
be given unto you" "All things are pos
sible to him that believeth.' "Bat without
faith it is impossible to please him." "This
is the victory that overcometh the world,
even our faith" Faith lives and grows by
exercise. This grain of mustard seed, when
cultivated becomes the greatest among herbs.
Faith an God is the encouragement Paul
urges for the performance of this duty
"God is able to make all grace abound to-
wards you, that ye always having all suf-
6ciency in all things may abound unto every
good work" And as we must ask that we
may receive, Paul follows the promise with
the prayer, Snow he that miniStereth seed
to the sover, both minister bread for your
food, and multiply your seed sown and in.
crease the fruits of your righteousness"
This is the example for every Christian s
prayer and faith. Scripture and experience
teach that a man to learn to pray must
pray to learn to trust, must trust to learn
to give, mast giUe.
From these Scripture teachings we are
led to the conclusion that it is not indispensi-
Bile to the acceptable worshipping of God in
this service, that the offerings be made in
his house, though this would appear desira'
bic when practicable. Offerings in money
can ordinarily be made in connection with
public worship. But confning the service
to this method, cuts off many, especially in
the country congregations, from the privilege
of partaking in it. Many attend public wOr'
ship very irregularly, and many seldom have
money when they do attend.
The Scriptures provide for these cOngre-
cations, by authorizing and requiring obla.
tions Gin all good things" "The first fruits
of all increase" and "to lay by with them
selves"
The practical method, therefore, seems tc
be this: For those who can do SO, to make
their offerings when engaged in public wor
ship; and when detained from the house o.
God, to lay by with themselves on the Lords
day, and take it to the house of God, or de
liver it to the officers of the church, the frs
opportunity.
For those whose business and means rem
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