The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-02-23
For the Central Presby terrain.
Tithing--Some Objections An
Swered

OF Protestatlon as yet from Presbyterian
On the contrary Doctor of Divinity in
our Church writes: II 1.-THE my income,
and SO does every Presbyterian minister
that L have heard mention the subject"
The testimonies of this kind are multi
plying; and they are invaluable. 1t has
been suggested by several that all our
ministers will not see the call for cards,
and that some will dislike to write about
1T. 1t is earnestly hoped that we shall
be able to obtain the name of every tith-
ing preacher in our Church. For Christ s
sake is the only motive; and these names
will not be used in public print as some
have feared. Will each minister who
has reported by postal card, please en-
deavor to secure the names of all the
brethren in their respective Presbyteries
and forward them? Some are sendinp
other names voluntarily. We are co.
workers, brethren; help me. You can do
it in this way.
We have studied Heb. 7th chapter.
Paul reasons with the Jews that Chrrist's
Priesthood is superior to the Levitical,
declaring six times latter the order of
Melchizedek, who, he says, was "made
like unto the Son of Cod This person
age was all type-the great antitype an
swers-Melchizedek brought forth bread
and wine Uords Supper; he blessed,
and "tithed Greek in Heb. vii: 6,j
Abraham" If our High Priest does not
tsthe His people, IN thts particular only,
does He fail to answer to His type; and
Pauls argument for superiority, as re-
spects this feature of it, is inconclusive.
But 1T is overwhelming, when this is ad-
mitted. Levi had a dsvine command to
take tithes, Heb vii 81. So had Mel
chlzedek, else the argument for superior
ity fails again. Then Abrams TENTH
giving was not an expression of gratitude,
not voluntary offering merely, which
ne could have withheld but religious
obligation. AS such, then, it remains
upon those who by faith in Christ are
children of Abraham Tthing is as
much duty as any other act of religious
worship. The fund accruing from this
act of worship is to be appropriated as
directed in l Cor. xi: Is, IA, to minis
te71Gt support. That embraces Foreign
Missions, Home Missions, Inyalid Fund,
etc.-six out of the seven causes of the
General Assembly.
Objections to this doctrine by Baptist:
l. cit is unscriptural" But the Pa.
triarchal Church for 500 years paid tithes,
religious Observance handed down
doubtless from Abel The Jewish Church
paid tithes (more properly ftth) 1900
years. Our Saviour nowhere abrogated;
but sanctioned. Luke XII: 40. ST. Paul
endorses, and re-affirms.
2. 1t is of Jewish origin" belongs
tO tho Mosaic ooJa Ill =
done away" But that first plain case
recorded in Genesis 18th chapter, secured
before the covenant was established with
Abraham, before circumcision was insti-
tuted. The time of it, that age, eminent
. ly torshadoaoed the Christian DISPENSE
ton. The occurrence was wholly sepa-
rated from everything distinctive of Juda-
ism. Besides, only Authoritarian can
afford to discard, with the ceremonials,
every moral feature of the Mosaic econ
omy. 1t will not do to disparage the
Old Testament. When our Saviour said,
Search the Scriptures-they testify of
me, not line of the New Testament
was written, "All Scripture is given by
inspiration Of God" etc.
3. "Why didn't our Saviour claim the
tithes, why didn't He set the example =?
He was supported by some pious women. :"
Our Saviour was circumcised, and He
Fept the Jewish Sabbath. Didn't He
set the example? But it is not imi-
tated by the objector Why did not
Paul receive a support when he SO clearly
taught the doctrine of ministerial sup
port? 2 Cor. XII: IL, will answer. Our
Lord awakened enough prejudice from
the Jewish Church He sanctioned the
title, that was enough. Just as it was
sufficient for Paul to teach duty and
method of ministerial support without
receiving it. Query: Did Paul ever
doubt the wisdom of his course when in
the exercise of his Christian liberty he
did not claim the support which he might
have demanded? What means q Cor.
XII: l3) forgive me this wrong? Again,
where did those "pious women" get ali
their ideas about their duty to sUpport
their religious teachers? From the old
t'the law Of course. They didn't know
anything else. Our Saviours reputed
father, and His mother paid tithes. He
was raised up under the system. Paid
tlthes himself, doubtless, before his pub
lie ministry began. His disciples knew
no other method of ministerial support
Gas we would say. No plain rule in SO
many words was needed it would have
been superAuous.
Other ohiaotiops ,,;11 - ~.l.e1 ,