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

financial and other sorrows which
would not have come to me in the path
ot duty. But what is the difficulty?
whence is 1t? We make, say five dol
lars per week. 1t seems no great thing
to give one-tenth of that to God-only
fifty cents. But we make, say fifth dol
lars per week. Ali Now what a draw
ing back from giving God one. tenth of
that what Esue dollars per week.
per week, for religion? Why, we are
not able Just the spirit Of the man
who objects to paying that one-fourth of
crops for rent of my farml Just the
spirit of Ananias and Sapphirah who
did not " feel able" to give so much, and
pretended to give all they had A very
common spirit, crippling personal re-
liglon and all the Church of God. We
feel willing to give small amounts to
God. But when it comes to large sums
then the total inability of human nature
rs not to be questioned. A maxim of a
very successful man, was, Never let
feelings interfere with business" A
man will readily adopt that for business.
But who will take it as religious rule?
Never let feelings interfere with re-
hgiom." Most excellent Then the fires
on every family altar" would burn
brightly Then our prayer meetings would
always be full Then inclement weather
would not keep man from church,
more than from business Then the SER
vice of Christ would not want the Cos
pei would not go begging, as it now does,
for support at home, and spread in for
eign lands Then indeed, even an in
spired John, fully lin the Spirit" would
not be able to count that "great null
titude which no man can number" re-
deemed from the earth unto Christ Our
own home fields would wave as Leb-
anon's cedars, and the isles of the sea
would stretch out their hands to God
and as the light pours through the open
ing gates OF the morning, so would the
glory of Jesus Christ, hasten to fill the
whole earth
But, alas eve are not able!" And
that spoils the fair picture. Well, why.
how not able? The honest truth is, ne
Iooe oar money more than qOe love our
GodA And this love of money is the
root of all evil" Says one: Before the
tai! man worshipped God Since the
fall man has worshipped self" True
Proof: No one forgets to spend money
tor his own comfort, or selfserving;
but who can number the great multitude
failing to use money in God serving2
The ordinary dram" drinker spends
upwards of one hundred dollars per wear
in this indulgence. If he makes but
five dollars per week, he will spend al
most one-hay of that for the LIQUOR
god" But that man does not " feel able"
to spend as much for Christ. "Well. no
wonder, for he is not Christian" Nav.
but in many cases, he is. There are
many Christians who take their "three
drains day." besides treats" and
" extra drinks" Money spent on self,
is not missed Money spent for Christ
is lost Do not very many seem to
think so?
But saw calculation, as follows IF
every member of Evangelical churches
IN Europe and America, would give one
dollar and half per gear for ten gears,
the gospel could be preached again and
again to every member of our race. But
facts show that all Christendom together
contributes only one cent per year to
compass the conversion of the world
One cent per year, from each member
OF Christendom, for Christ Words are
useless They cannot do that case JUS
tice Let us pass on.
Beyond all doubt there are MANY who
give nothing. Some are neglectful.
Some are thoughtless. Some are igno-
rant of duty. Some " do not feel able"
The most general trouble is, we do not
feel like giving our money to Christ.
What, if at last, He should not feel like
saving such sinners? So too, we fear we
may lose by it, Ind this is 1Onnt of
faith. Read Matt. 6: 1904. Truly we
are in bad way when love of money"
and unbelief both become our masters
If we loved money less, and trusted
God more, the objections and difficulties
In the way Of giving would not exist
AS the case now stands, we resort to all
kinds of devices for deliverance from the
duty of giving our money to Christ. If
a church wants money, the order is
Tableaux, Charades, Concerts, Fairs, or
something of the kind-almost anything
rather that open our pockets and paying
honest dues Then when we =" act u1 an
entertainment, we are pretty sure to
save ourselves from loss by deducting
expenses from gross proceeds.
But some churches are so weak "
Yes. Then let the larger, stronger
churches help them. That is the scr2n-