The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1890-07-02
Nloral ann Reltgious.
A Captains Advice.


The question of giving to the cause of
Christ at times must come prominently
before every Christian. There are
those who feel they ought to do more,
and some who feel the church wants
too much. Some think they ought to
give just what they please, while many
feel they ought to pay so much for
seat in church and then they are en-
titled to all the privileges of Gods
house. This question is one upon
which the Bible speaks a great deal.
Whether you accept the position that
one must give the tenth of his income,
or the position of those who say we
arejudges of what we are to give" you
will all find this fact in the Bible.
We are to put conscience into our
giving. Good loveth a cheerful giver."
"See that we abound in this grace
Oibt rality) Also" " Not grudgingly nor
of necessity" }" As God hath prospered
you ARE some of the expressions of
Scripture on the subject. The follow
ing incident is related by Rev. A. j.
Gordon, ID, of Boston, Mass, in adj
vocating Systematic giving to Gods
cause.n
Many years ago lad of sixteen years
left home to seek his fortune. As he
trudged along, he met an old neighbor,
the captain of canal-boat, and the
| following conversation took place,
which changed the current of the boys
life:
Well, William, where are you
going?"
81 don't know" he answered,
4" father is too poor to keep me at home
any longer, and says must now make
a living for myself"
"There's 70 trouble about that"
said the captain. BE sure you start
right, and you'll get along finely"
William told his friend that the only
trade he knew anything about was soap
and candle-making, at which he had
helped his father at home.
Well" said the old man, " let me
pray with you once more, and give you
little advice, and then | will let you 60"
They both kneeled down upon the tow
path. The dear old man prayed ear
nestly for William, and then gave this
advice: Some one will soon be the
leading soap-maker in New York. 1t
can be you as well as any one. l hope
it may. Be a good man; give your
heart to Christ give the Lord all that
belongs to him of every dollar you earn
make an honest soap; give full pound,
and | am certain you will be a pros
porous and rich man."
When the boy arrived in the city he
found it hard to get work. Lonesome
and far from home, he remembered his
mothers words and the last words of the
canal-boat captain. He was then led
to 6 seek first the kingdom of God and
his righteousness, and united with
the church. He remembered his prom
Use to the old captain, and the first dol
lar he earned brought up the question
of the Lords part. In the Bible he
found that the Jews were commanded
to give one-tenth; so he said, eff the
Lord will take One-tenth, | will give
that" And so he did; and ten cents
of every dollar were sacred to the Lord.
Having regular employment, he soon
became partner, and after few years
his partners died, and William became
the owner of the business.
He now resolved to keep his promise
to the old captain. He made an honest
soap, gave full pound, and instructed
his book-keeper to open an account
with the Lord and carry one-tenth of
all his income to that account. He
prOspered; his business grew; his
: family was blessed; his soap sold, and
he grew rich faster than he had ever
|, hoped. He then gave the Lord two
tenths, and prospered more than ever;
then he gave three-tenths, then four.
! tenths, then fve-tenths.
r He educated his family, settled all
i; his plans for life, and gave all his in
come to the Lord. He prospered more
than ever.
t This is the story of Mr.. William Col
gate, who has given millions of dollars
to the Lords cause, and left name
that will never die.-Ihe Ensign.