The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-03-16

OhrlsC, at least one-tenth was the require
ment upon every one of Gods people.
In fact, they gave nearer third. But
one-tenth was the lowest limit of duty.
| see too, that from the very beginning,
God demanded and received gifts OF
money, or its equivalent in His worship.
Therefore no one may say: CT do not
like this mixing of money and religion"
Go did it. That is enough. "But that
1.-THE law is not re-enacted in the New
Testament" No. Yet where is its re-
peal? Where is any evidence that it
was set aside by fulfilment as in the case
of types? If nothing repealed or set it
aside, we may not say it is not now in
force. Moreover, though Christ constant
ly and inwardly condemned the formal
ism of the Pharisees and others, He did
not condemn, but approved, when they
were found tithing. His only condemna-
ton was, that they omitted Judgment,
mercy. and faith" Matt. xiii %; Luke
xi: 40. But apart from this, by what
process of reasoning can we find that our
duties are less than those of former Chris
tians? Under the Old Testament they
served God in little tract of country
say 200 miles long, by 80 miles at its
widest point. But we haze whole ,0orl1
as our field of serving. Do we owe God
less than they did? Is less required from
each one, for doing this far greater work?
That can not be. However, if there is
any doubt, let us ask the opinion of
Christians who learned duty from the
Lord and His apostles. What do their
actions say? They not only eq,talled,
but exceeded the Old Testament saints.
If occasion required, they sold all then
had and devoted it to the service of Christ
and His people. And did they not suf-
fer by such extravagant GU liberality?
No. God always promised to honor those
who honored Him. So the record is,
" Neither was there any among them that
lacked" This is according to God. He
always blessed His people in giving, but
sent troubles upon them in neglecting
this duty. Here then are the Christians
of the early Church, with the brightness
OF Christ's presence yet lingering in the
midst-and they lead off in duty like
that poor widow whose praises Christ has
sounded to the ends of the earth. Then
gave all they had, when occasion demand
ed. Again the questions: Are our duties
less? Do we owe this same Lord, this
same work, less than they? 1t is impos-
siblel Therefore the very lowest limit
of duty is, and must be, tenth of in
come. | say this is the Lowest estimate.
Beyond that, Every man. according as
he purposeth in his heart, so let him
give; not grudgingly, or of necessity; for
God loveth cheerful giver." Another
question.
5. From what point am I to reckon nv
gifts? Suppose" says one, az get only
one dollar per day, and it takes at least
that much to support me. Am I to cut
OFT one-tenth from my support" Ger
tainly. In real ty you own only minety
cents of that dollar, and have no right to
live on more. Suppose 1 rent you farm
We have the contract stating that you
are to pay me one-fourth of the crops as
rent The year rolls by, and your time
to settle comes. Will you say to me, cit
takes all | can make to support me-
Therefore 1 cannot pay that one-fourth
for rent?" Would that be good reason
for not paying? Or you say, Il have
some debts to pay, in addition to family
expenses, therefore | am not able to pay
the one-fourth rent" Men never think
of such thing in business The one
fourth for rent is independent of your ex-
penses and debts. 1t is not yours, but
7alne-belongs to me alone; and you
have no claim upon it. 1t is to be paid,
whether you make enough for support or
not. You are to separate it, first of all,
for me. Then do the best you can with
what remains to you Does not every
one understand this? But if you refuse,
and spend my portion for your own ben
eft, that is, use my property for your
expenses, what do men call such trans
action? Now have we any property in
fee simple? Are there no conditions at
tached to our holding it? God is the
owner. We are His tenants. Our first
obligations are to Him-bcfore family,
expenses, debts, and all else. To deny
this on any just grounds, is impossible.
Here then my question is answered. l
am to begin with gross income. One
tenth, at least, of that already belongs to
God, and I have no right to touch it. If
L withhold it, that is robbing God. Ct
read of this in the Bible) If I use it for
my own purposes, under the idea of re-
paying, | use what is not mine, and what
| may not be able to replace in due time.
Many crimes have grown out of this con-
duct. Again, if man objects to tithing
the gross income, he is not likely to do