The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-01-19
For the Central Presbyterian.
Are the People Tithing-why Not?

Are the People Tithing-Why Not?
The tithing preachers are still responding.
The fraternity is strong and growing. If each
one could read these cards from his brethren.
his heart would burn 'oithin him at the thought
that so many eye 10 eye in this great and
fundamental matter All their wholesome
words of encouragement ca lnot be published
However, let us have sample from the last
cards received: :" have practiced it since long
before | was minister" writes one; have had
more for my own purposes since than before.
and have never been without something to give"
Another writes My observation is that by
whomsoever it has been embraced and observed,
the result has been most happy" Now. read
Matt. vi: 3l-33. A South Carolina ruling
elder sends up his name. Good Now let us
have the names of all the t,thing ruling elders
Will they foot up list equal to the preachers?
The question asked. "It the preachers
tithe, why not the people2" An answer was
promised. But wait Let the mind of the Be
reans be coveted by all Let the Word be
studied and searched. If that is accomplished
Elders" scheme is not failure Let me whis
per suggestion. With Paul as your preceptor,
critically examine the character of Melchizedec
and the conduct of Abraham (Heb. 7th chap
Go with him paul is good companion and
safe counselor) from l Cor. tx: l3, IA, back
among the obsolete things OF Judaism You can
afford ~ as Christian to go to the antiouated
Mosaic Economy. when invited to do so by the
Apostle Paul. Find out what he means by
eUea so" when with the finger of inspiration
ne points back to a custom ordained by Jehovah.
If he teaches ministerial support, does he not
teach hoD' Mr.. Houston, In his treatise " How
Is yonr Minister Supported?" is sound And
has anybody ever answered DIR. Pratt2 Why
not? Is there tacit consent on the part of
those who have not as yet openly acknowledged,
that the tithe law is still in force?
Brethren of the teaching eldership, you believe,
have you spoken? Have you expounded to
your people the doctrine of the 1.-THE. so that
they too may claim the blessing of the Lord and
avert His rod, by returning unto HIM in this
particular If not, have yop forgotten that the
priests who were guilty q like conduct were
thus charged by the Lord Of hosts "Ye have
corrupted the covenant of Levi" (Mal. ii: S)?
Have you overlooked or forgotten the fact that
they were punished for it, By being made ICON
temptible and base before al the people? Are
you stratened financially Does Slstentation
call loudly for help? Well, go read Malachi.
God cut off the supplies of the priests when they
We're partial in the law" e. g., dereict in the
duty Of preaching the tithe. Has God changed !?
You cannot expect then to go unpunished. You
are His messengers; "your lips should keep
knowledge, and the people should seek the law
at your mouth" You say you believe and
practice the 1.-THE; ought you not to preach it ?
You cannot afford to withhold the counsel of
God. If Christian people are not rendering to
God that which is His due out of their estates
does the blame rest upon the people only2 If
our preachers withhold the truth that God still
requires the 1.-THE from His children, as the least
He has ever deigned to accept, to be rendered
as an act of pure unmixed homage" they not
only doom Gods people to the curse pronounced
against those who rob God, but they themselves
suffer the punishment which God visited upon
this same kind of unfaithfulness more than two
thousand years ago. Do we want Gods bless
ing? We can all obtain it IN HIS aOav His
protection to the cotton cropis guaranteed to the
planter who observes His ordinances (Mal. iii :
1D and the rains and the frosts are His mes
sengers, " whether for correction" or otherwise.
Dob xxxvii: 9-13.). Let our ministers preach
the doctrine, and the people will soon adopt the
tithe. Our church adopts it for this year. Ask
your people to try it. Prove me- saith the
Lord" Nal. iii 10.
think this tithing is better than acreage" >"
because more scriptural. This is not device
of human ingenuity. The cards are still soil
cited. ELDER.
P. o. Box 81, Blacksburg, Va.
January, 1881