The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-05
THE FINANCIAL LAW OF CHRIST
DIR. Easton Makes IL the Subject of
His Morning Sermon.

/ Before a large congregation yesterday
/ at the Eastern Presbyterian Church the
4 Rev Thomas Chalmers Easton preached a
/ sermon on The Financial Law OF Christ
/ the Necessity Of Our Times"
This is the age of great cities. great
/ enterprises, great discoveries, great
missions. and great charities" he de-
! clared Great funds are now essential
TO sustain existing religious institutions.
Again, the urgent soul wants of three
fouTths Of mankind who at this evening
hour of the nineteenth century are ignor-
! ant Of the Saviour. require large giving.
What is more certain than that in the
course Of civil, social. and personal eX-
penditure, unless systematic provision be
made for works OF benehcence, they will
be iostled aside and fail to obtain needful
funds. System strengthens and solidifes.
Method multiplies means. Are not usual
methods Of finance in Gods work merely
human devices? Is not divine method
better than a human one? Can a Chris
tain ignore a law laid down by Christ and
be consistent? Can he innocenuy cling to
human methods after he knows Of a divine
method? If Christ had a law Of finance
for the successful extension OF his cause
it is downright folly to work by any
human substitutes. Hence" said the
minister, Il ask you TO consider with ne
this morning: 'Christs Law of Finance,
a Vital Necessity Of our Age "
In his discussion Of the subject Mr..
Easton spoke in part as follows:
Consider, first, what is the financial
law of Christ? What God claims a part OF
mans prosperity for his own glory and
the good Of mankind, no intelligent Chris
tian will deny. God is the only real prop
rietor OF what man holds merely in trust.
The claim of creative right is deepened
by the infinite price Of the Saviour's blood.
Apart from what the Christian applies 10
personal and family wants, portion of
his possessions is required for worship
eyangeliZatiOn and humanity. God
claims Of every man toward himself
penitential submission, implicit saith
cordial love, and grateful tribute. The
work OF God should be provided for before
mans Indulgence and at all risks. In the
disobedience OF this lies the great crime
Of modern Christianity. On the first day
Of the week let every one OF you lay by
him in store as God hath prospered him.
| Cor. xvi.2. 1t is a wretched conscience
where anyone holding church relations is
willing to enjoy services at some one else's
expense. No one ought to feel that they
have any claim to church privileges who
can consume their weekly earnings upon
self, and give absolutely nothing to sup
port through means OF grace As it lacks
the elements OF common honesty such
persons should be made to know they
are not in good standing and have no legal
rights to certificates Of honorable admis-
sion. Most Of our church troubles spring
from want of unsystematic giving.
ITO those who are disposed to question
this financial law Of Christ We have two
questions 10 ask. First. has anyone who
has honestly tried it, ever abandoned it
az impracticable? Second. are the apostle
lie injunctions concerning finance OF less
Importance than the command to cele-
brate the Lords supper? They are both
found in the same epistle. Il would be as
Just and consistent TO set aside the Lord s |
supper as this law Of Christian finance.
THE present age greatly needs Ioftiness
OF aim, seriousness OF feeling. steadfast-
ness Of pursuit, and ardor OF devotion |
These would strengthen each other FL |
nancial conservation Of substance to God |
elevated by Christian love to financial |
rule of life. would nourlsh every moral |
and spiritual principle in the soul.
Among the prominent features q this |
age is the id0latry of money. 1t seems |
as il every American had heard the Del |
phic oracle Make coin thy weapon and |
YOU will conquer all
In concluding Mr.. Easton said: Be |
loved. this is the climax OF our thought |
If we are his. Then his cause. his church. |
his kingdom must be always kept at the /
front while he himself shall be all in |
all"