men of taste, and men of science, expend large treasures and make cheerful sacrifices for the gratification of a favourite passion, no wonder is felt; but when Christians, whatever their taste and cultivation in mere matters of embellishment and equipage, indulge in expenditure immensely exceeding what they devote to the relief of humanity, the evangelisation of the earth, and the glorification of Christ, every thoughtful mind must be filled with indignant surprise. Can such conduct fail to harden irreligious men in indifference and scepticism? Surely the rejoinder was as just as severe in reference to Christians generally, when one seriously urged to seek salvation replied, "You do not believe these things yourself. If I believed man to be in the condition you represent, and knew, as you profess to do, the only remedy, I would go all the world over to urge it on the attention of every man I saw."

The Son of God has acted out his belief of these great and solemn truths in the most emphatic and convincing manner. The life of Paul evinces his deep conviction and sincere devotion. Oh, that the followers of Christ would imitate their great Master! Whenever the Church shall practically manifest her belief of truth by large and prayerful sacrifices, and by earnest, affectionate, and untiring labours, a strong sense of the reality, importance, and grandeur of religion, will seize the minds of men, and the approving blessing of Heaven, with such a holy, dependent, and self-devoted host, will make the conquest of a world so convinced an easy and speedy task.

(4.) The sufficiency of such resources for all requirements. No one can doubt this who reflects on the results of the united offerings of a multitude. What vast funds have been realised by the quiet operation of personal periodical contribution, in the various departments of the pecuniary system of the Wesleyan body! Even with the present limited degree of conviction and

dedication, how large the aggregate of means at the disposal of the whole Church! Consider the vast annual taxation of Britain; nearly 60,000,000l. sterling; and you may thereby be prepared to conceive of the immense and all-sufficient funds which theunited and proportionate assessments of the whole body of believers would produce. Let there be but the constant enaction of the scene in Israel, when the people, one and all, prince and peasant, united in contributing the means required for the service of the sanctuary. (1 Chron. xxix. 6-9.) Let there be the large and fully-proportioned offerings of the thousands of merchant - princes of the spiritual Israel, those of the professional classes, and such as are retired on a competency, with the gifts of tradesmen, mechanics, and poorer members of this holy brotherhood, in equal ratio; and how vast beyond conception the aggregate of the Church's resources, and how convincing the evidence of her sincere and cordial devotion! Let such a fund but once exist, and how rich will be the increase ever flowing from its tens of thousands of springs! What finances of earthly potentate under the brightest day of human prosperity and power would approach the sum of the treasures thus laid at the feet of the King of kings?

(5.) Examples of eminent devotedness to the interests of humanity and religion.

The Sacred Volume furnishes some noble instances.

David, who joyfully dedicated vast treasures to the erection of a magnificent temple for the worship of God, though not himself permitted to build it: Nehemiah, who declined taking the income and provision of the governor, that he might not increase his people's poverty, and largely expended his own property to forward the work of God: the Macedonian Churches, whose liberality and general consistency called forth Paul's unqualified commendation and eulogy: the family at Bethany, whose welcome hospitality was

often rewarded by the presence and cordially manifested friendship of the Son of God. Besides these were Gaius, Onesiphorus, Lydia, and a host of worthies, whose sympathy and aid rendered to apostles and suffering saints were eminently valuable, and proved a grateful boon to the approving Saviour.

Instances of similar devotedness are not wanting in more modern times.

Harlan Page expended a large proportion of his limited earnings in an extensive correspondence and distribution of tracts. Mr. Cobb, Boston, U.S., commenced business, resolving never to be worth more than 50,000 dollars capital, and to give onefourth of his net profits to religious and charitable uses if ever worth 20,000 dollars, one-half if 30,000 dollars, and threefourths if 50,000 dollars. This resolution he kept through life, giving in one year 7500 dollars to a separate object, the amount his income had exceeded 50,000 dollars. He died in worldly prosperity and soul-happiness. The noble brothers Haldane consecrated a princely fortune and their personal itinerancies to the effort of saving souls. The magnanimous Buxton often devoted large sums to carry out the plans of human freedom, instruction, and salvation, to which he further consecrated the energies of his life. The Countess of Huntingdon sold her valuables, and adopted a retired and inexpensive life to devote more largely to the Redeemer's glory. An eminent Christian, lately deceased, dedicated annually for years six thousand pounds out of eight to the cause of religion and benevolence. A negro slave, an ingenious mechanic, having saved 35l. by working overhours, devoted it all to the erection of a temple for divine worship.

Time would fail to tell of those of earlier days, as Judge Hale, Baxter, Watts, Doddridge, and others, as well as many of more recent times, who regularly devoted a tenth, or more, of their income to these purposes. Instances, also, of extensive and

systematic liberality of Churches might be noticed; but few, it is believed, have yet approached their capabilities, if exercised on the system recommended.

Christian, will you not henceforth, in view of the untold millions of souls needing salvation, of the unutterable love of Christ to you, and the urgency of his claim upon you, adopt this principle of pecuniary offering? In consideration of the brevity of the period during which you can benefit man, of the mere earthly value of property if used only for time, and of its permanent and expanding worth if employed for eternity,— in view of the hell to which millions are hastening, of the cross which has rescued you from it, and of the heaven to which you are tending, will you not dedicate your property as a means to save them from misery, and raise them to endless glory and bliss?

3. Considerations included in the glory of Christ, and in the Christian's personal consistency, influence, and happiness.

(1.) Every man thus fixes the stamp and standard of his own character and destinies. There is a higher standard of character than that which falls under human observation. The ultimate voice of history is nearest the truth. The judgment of God will reveal the real character of all. Every man is now writing his own history, and fixing his own unchangeable condition. It is left to him to form the character he wishes to appear in for ever. It does not depend on circumstances, education, or property, but on the action of life, as originated by the principles of the heart. Christianity knows nothing of right principles of heart, without conduct of a corresponding nature. Vital religion is the wedded union of faith and works. God, never to be separated on earth. and useless without the other. Together they tend to convert earth into a paradise of peace and prosperity, and to people heaven with untold millions of her sons. There is a spurious

These two joined by Either of them is dead

Christianity which affects lofty piety and spiritualism, but is destitute of labour and sacrifice, which it stigmatises as "legality and self-righteousness," but "By their fruits ye shall know them." The principle of final decision is, "Men shall be judged according to their works," because works are the embodiment of the principles of the inner life. The summary of the judgment is, "Come, ye blessed, for ye did such and such things," or, Depart, ye cursed, for ye did them not."

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There is no higher character for a man to attain than one of self-denial and voluntarily imposed indifference to outward circumstances of time, for the elevation of his spirit and the benefit of his race. How noble is Paul in his avowal, "I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need." Here was a true hero, a conqueror of self. This hero affirmed, "I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls." What possessor of earthly good ever reached so lofty a position as he did? What company of self-indulging ones ever stood so high in the estimation of even the thoughtful worldling, as the poor but liberal Christians of Macedonia? (2 Cor. viii. 1-5.) Every man is now on trial, to discover how he would act if placed in circumstances of greater comfort and affluence. Whether, like God, he would delight to diffuse good, or selfishly prefer to retain all for personal enjoyments. The consequences of his disposition and conduct will be his eternal inheritance. Its review and results will afford him endless sorrow or satisfaction.

(2.) Its happy influence on the character and heart.

An instant effect of the adoption of this plan is to make man honest-minded and simple-hearted, to induce "a conscience void of offence towards God and man." He remembers that he is not a proprietor, but a steward, to employ what he can honestly accumulate for the honour of God. He feels that he cannot better exercise the talent of property than in relieving man's necessities,