THE CHRISTIAN STEWARD.

AN immense weight of obligation lies on the professed disciples of the blessed Redeemer. They are his appointed instruments for extending his kingdom in the world. To do this, both men and money are required, -men to proclaim the glad tidings of salvation, and money to sustain them in their selfdenying and arduous labours. But it is necessary that appropriate means be used to obtain both these requisites. To the personal exertions we shall not advert, but it will be the aim of this Essay to point out what is considered to be defective in the present mode of devoting property to charitable and religious purposes,—to show what is the Scriptural rule,—and to recommend its more general adoption.

Various able treatises have lately appeared on Covetousness, and the duty and privilege of liberality. The perusal of those works cannot be too strongly recommended, particularly “Mammon" by Dr. Harris, and "Covetousness" by Mr. Treffry. But there is an obligation, even prior to that of giving liberally, which we think has not been sufficiently inculcated or practised-we mean, the deliberate appropriation, and setting apart, a certain portion of our income, to be ready for distribution as occasions

arise.

That this is a plain duty, incumbent on all, we gather from the exhortation of the Apostle Paul to the Corinthians (1 Cor. xvi. 2): "Upon the first day of the week, let every one of you LAY BY HIM IN STORE, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come." It will be one of the main objects of this Essay to impress on Christians the desirableness and importance of duly attending to this precept.

The present, compared with former times, is an age of much liberality, yet still great improvement might be effected in the manner and motive of giving to religious objects, as well as in the amount contributed.

With few exceptions men give their property at present to benevolent institutions more from impulse than from consideration -more from feeling than from principle. They do not sit down composedly and prayerfully to determine how much of their weekly or yearly earnings ought to be devoted to God. Neither do they calmly compare the relative claims of the different objects to which they are called to contribute, and apportion their donations accordingly. The consequence is, that too much is left to the spur of the moment, and hence a common inquiry addressed to a collector is, "How much did I pay last?" or a list of subscribers is asked for, that the inquirer, casting his eye over it, may be guided by what others give. Far too much of the support which all voluntary associations receive depends on the qualifications of the person who is chosen as collector. A good applicant for subscriptions must possess fluency of speech, and tact in suiting himself to the character and disposition of those whom he addresses. These things ought not so to be, for men should give according to the merits of the object; and not because of the influence or persuasion of the individual who makes the collection.

Of course it is not meant that the choice of collectors is a matter of no importance. On the contrary, it is necessary that they be intelligent and judicious persons; able when required

properly to advocate and explain the object of the Society they represent. All we condemn is, the great want of right motives, sufficient reflection, and just discrimination as to the claims of different objects on the part of subscribers generally.

It appears from the fore-cited and other verses in the two Epistles to the Corinthians, that the apostle was very anxious that the Gentile Churches should make liberal collections to relieve the necessities of the poor and persecuted Christians of Judea. He had already counselled the Galatians to proceed in an orderly manner. The precise directions to them, however, have not been left us on record; but under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and, doubtless, for the instruction and guidance of all future generations, he laid down the general rules contained in the verse quoted. Circumstances are somewhat altered since these directions were given. There were then no charitable institutions such as Hospitals, Asylums, or religious Societies—the glory of our age—in operation, to which men might devote their property; but the objects to which the charity of the early Christians was directed, and those to which the moderns devote their attention, were in reality the same. They were twofold—the care of the body and the cure of souls. This collection, which Paul carried to Jerusalem, is an instance of the relief afforded to the bodily wants of the poor; and in various passages in the New Testament it is laid down as the bounden duty, as it was also the practice of the early Christians, to support, by their pecuniary contributions and hospitality, those among the disciples who were especially set apart for administering the divine ordinances, conducting public worship, and extending the knowledge of the gospel around them.

Before, however, we proceed to the chief object of this treatise -the duty of devoting, laying up, and expending a certain portion of income for religious purposes-it will be well to inquire, "What are the different ways in which a man or a woman's

earnings or income, be it large or small, may be spent, so as to meet with God's approval?

It appears plain that there are three objects to which it should be appropriated:

1st. A certain proportion is to be taken for defraying personal and family expenses.

2d. Another portion is to be allowed to accumulate as capital.

3d. A proper share is to be devoted to God.

No one will question, but that God requires the first of these objects to be duly attended to. Every one is to be housed, clothed, and fed out of the proceeds of his industry, or the accumulations of himself or of his ancestors. This needs not be urged on our readers; the only danger is, that too much be taken for this purpose.

With regard to the second, there has been, and continues to be, considerable difference of opinion. Some persons go so far as to affirm, that it is sinful for Christians to lay up property. They say, it is a distrust of God's providence and care, to store up money for the future provision of themselves or their families. They attempt to support their opinions by the misapplication of such texts as these, "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth;""The love of money is the root of all evil;" "Woe to him that ladeth himself with thick clay;" "Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted," &c.

The common sense of mankind, however, as well as Scripture, rightly compared and interpreted, is so totally opposed to these views, that there are few persons who actually carry them into practice. Yet, still, we have observed, that public speakers and