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PUBLISHED BY REQUEST OF THE OOMVENTION," 
 
 SYSTEMATIC BENEFICE 
 
 A SERMON 
 
 PRKACHKI) HKFOKK THK ANNUAL MKETIN'tJ 
 
 OP TIIK 
 
 BAPTIST MISSIONARY CONVENTION OF CANADA WEST, 
 
 IX THK CITY OF HAMILTOX. 
 
 October 21, 186?. 
 
 ! I 
 
 I i 
 
 BY REV. T. F. CALDICOTT, D.D, 
 
 P18T0B OP Bond 1st. B.lI-TISr CHURCH, TOBONTO. 
 
 I I 
 
 TORONTO : 
 
 { »'RIVTRI» AT THK OAVAOIAN BAPTIST OKFtOK, KINCJ ATRfifT KArlT. 
 
 ' 18r,:{. 
 
I«l 
 
 N.itional 1 ibfriry Bibliotheque nationalt' 
 ot C.in.i(l,') du Cdnadd 
 
 ,-vN^'^ *'"'/, 
 
 V 
 
 I 
 
 •///,(, « VU'^ 
 
 Canada 
 
PUBLISHED BY REQUEST OF THE CONVENTION, 
 
 SYSTEMATIC BEIEFICENCE. 
 
 A SERMON 
 
 PREACHED BEFORE TUE ANNUAL MEETING 
 
 OP THI 
 
 BAPTIST MISSIONARY CONVENnON OF CANADA WEST, 
 
 m THE CITY OF HAMILTON. 
 
 OCTOBIR 21, 1863. 
 
 BY REV. T. F. CALDICOTT, D.D., 
 
 PASTOR OP BOND ST. BAPTIST CHURCH, TORONTO. 
 
 TORONTO : 
 
 PRINTBD AT THE CANADIAN BAPTIST OFFICE, KINO STKEET EAST. 
 
 1863. 
 
SYSTEMATIC BEXEFICEXCE. 
 
 ''Give, and it shall he f/hm unto //o<' itc— Luke vi. 83. 
 
 Every professed friend of Christ should be deeply inte- 
 rested in the prosperity of bis kingdom — should make 
 himself acquainted with its past history and present condi- 
 tion ; he should become familiar with the work which that 
 kingdom has to accomj)lish, with the ot)stacles wbich it 
 has to overcome, and with the means which are divinely 
 appointed for the accomplishment of this work. 
 
 Every professed lover of this kingdom should inquire if 
 it IS being sustained according to the divine method — 
 whether he himself is at his po.^t, and doing his duty up to 
 Its full measure; he should see if the little success which 
 has hitherto attended the gospel is not owing to the want of 
 conformity, on the part of professors, to divine directions 
 more than to anj-thing else; he should prove that the 
 infidel cry, "Christianity is a splendid failure," is a palpa- 
 ble falsehood, and all that it needs to give it the most signal 
 success is, for itsYriends clearly to understand its require- 
 liients, and fully to meet them. 
 
 One of the important requisitions which God has made 
 upon his people is, that they furnish his spiritual army with 
 "the sinews of war "-money. God might have employed 
 such instrumentalities as would have rendered money 
 unnecessary ; yet, as he has not done this, but has ordained 
 such means as are attended with expense, and has com- 
 
mandcd his people to meet these exponsos by thcfr Tolun- 
 tary contributions, therefore the u.se of money is as essen- 
 tial to the support of his cause, as it is to the maintenanco 
 of tlie family. 
 
 ^Vhile it is conceded tliat the word of God cannot be 
 circulated, houses of worship erected, the gospel preached, 
 missionaries sustained, &c., without the contribution of 
 money, yet there is a great deficiency in the amount 
 contributed, as compared with the amount needed. God 
 requires hrs people to give no more than his cause needs ; 
 but if it should be made plain that they come not near to 
 his requisitions in this matter, a sufficient reason will bo 
 assigned for the little progress of His kingdom. 
 
 The withholding from the cause of Christ more than i» 
 meet, arises from one of two causes— covetousness or igno- 
 rance. No doubt much of it comes of the former, yet 
 we believe much of it to be the result of defective views of 
 the divine method of beneficence. Our present design i» 
 to explain God's method of giving— to show why we should 
 give; how much we ought to give ; to what we should give, 
 and when we are to give. Our prayer is that God may 
 make this a word in a sure place, that he may give his 
 people gj-ace to carefully and prayerfully examine it, and 
 what they fijid ta accord with the word of God to follow. 
 
 "Why should mte Give? 
 
 1. Because the Lord has commanded it. We are under 
 the same obligation to contribute of our means to the cause 
 of Christ, as we are to believe in Christ, to pray to God, or 
 to forgive om- enemies. This obligation does not arise 
 merely out of the fitness of means to ends— as faith to 
 salvation, asking to receivino^, forgiving to forgiveness— but 
 from the command itself. AVe may not perceive the con- 
 nection between the means and the end, yet this does not 
 
release us from the obligation to obey the command. Tho 
 Israelites might not see the connection betvvcen lookin- at 
 tlio brazen serpent and being relieved of a deadly poison 
 Sinners may not sec the necessary relation between l)oliev. 
 ing in Christ and being saved. Many professe<l believers 
 do not see tho necessity of being baptized and commemo- 
 ratmg tho death of Christ by partaking of the Lonl's 
 Supper. But does this excuse them ? Have they not the 
 express command, and has not Christ made their obedience 
 to his commands the test of their love? Do we not fre- 
 quently urge this view of the case upon persons who do not 
 clearly perceive the necessity of observing the ordinances of 
 ot Christ ? To give is as distinctly commanded as to be 
 baptized. We may not feel like giving, or see the necessity 
 of giving ; but while wo have the command, we are laid by 
 It under the imperative obligation to give. Read and ponder 
 the following commands: The text, "Give alms of such 
 things as ye have" (Luke xi. 41) ; -See that ye abound in 
 this grace also " (2 Cor. viii. 7) ; " Honor the Lord with thy 
 substance, and with the first fruits of all thine increase " 
 (Prov. iii. 9.) 
 
 2. Giving is a grace to be cultivated by all, and not a 
 power conferred upon a favored few. 
 
 None are so poor but that they can give something. The 
 beggar, who has just received a crust in charity, can divide 
 It with a fellow-beggar. The poor widow could cast her 
 two mites into the treasury. It is a blessed thing to give- 
 more blessed than it is to receive-and God would have 
 none of his children deprived of this blessedness. 
 
 Benevolence is a gracious disposition of the mind It is 
 susceptible of high culture even among the poor, and it is 
 so contriving that it is sure to find some way of communi- 
 cating to the cause it most loves. The divine method of 
 
6 
 
 calculfitinj; the valnc of our jrifts is not by the nniount, bt^t 
 by tlie donor's ability. Two iiiitcs from the poor widow 
 were, awordini.!; to the divine estimate, of more vaUie than 
 any other gift made that day ; she laid up more treasure In 
 the bank of heaven tl»an any other depositor, f !od recjuires 
 all, rich and poor, to cultivate this grace, as he requires 
 all to cultivate the grace of devotion, of submission, of 
 patience, of contentment, of meekness, &c. He requires 
 them to "abound" in this grace (2 Cor. viii. 7), to be abun- 
 dant, not sparing in their benevolence. Charity or love, 
 from which acceptable giving springs, is the greatest of all 
 the graces ; without it all other characteristics of a Christian 
 arc vain. AVhatever else may be lacking, this grace must 
 not. Every saint, the poor as well as the rich, must possess 
 and cultivate this grace. 
 
 3. Society is so constituted that it cannot subsist without 
 alms-giving. There are in all communities many persons 
 who cannot provide for themselves, who arc thrown upon 
 the charity of others, sometimes by famine (as in the 
 potato famine in Ireland, and the cotton famine in England) ; 
 sometimes by devastating fires or floods, sometimes by 
 reverse of circumstances, men, once prosperous, are reduced 
 to poverty and to dependence; sometimes by sickness 
 individuals are rendered dependent. Besides these, there 
 are always more or less of the indigent, for whom homes, 
 hospitals and graves must be provided at the expense of 
 others. God permits this state of society, to teach men 
 the duty and the privilege of giving, to initiate them into 
 the blessedness of considering the poor (Ps. xli. 1). 
 
 So absolute is the necessity of providing for the poor, that 
 in many countries it is done by taxation. It was, by divine 
 authority, partially so in the Hebrew conunonwealth. 
 Under the Christian dispensation, it seems to be left more 
 
to tho voluntary contributions of the more liic^hly favored. 
 Christianity boin^' a relij^ion of love, it was to he sunposed 
 that one spontaneous fruit of that love would he lihcrality 
 to the poor. AVe see how abundant this fruit was iu tho 
 days of tho apostles, when the lich made the poor tlieir 
 equals in property. Wiiilo iu our day a conununity of 
 goods may neitl;er be commanded nor needed, it is never- 
 theless true that the poor are always with us, and, if wo 
 would preserve the fabric of society, it is our duty to caro 
 and provide for them. 
 
 4. Christ has so constituted his church as to make its 
 sustenance depend upon the voluntary contributions of his 
 people. lie has imposed no levy or tax on any empire, 
 kingdom or state, for its support; he has endowed it by 
 no grants of lands, riches or revenues ; he has imposed no 
 tithes, as Jehovah did upon Israel ; he has left it to tho 
 voluntary contributions of his disciples. 
 
 That it was the divine purpose that the Redeemer's king- 
 dom should be thus sustained, may be fairly inferred from 
 the influence of state patronage, rich endowments, and tho 
 impost of taxes for the support of the church. Under such 
 means the church has always lost its spirituality, its meek- 
 ness and love, and become worldly, arrogant, oppressive — 
 a curse, rather than a blessing. The cause of Christ has 
 always prospered best where and when sustained by tlie 
 voluntary contributions of its friends. Voluntary support 
 for the church of Christ is a principle of Baptists. Let 
 them magnify it by contributing so abundantly as to show 
 that it is not a barren principle— that it is not an article of 
 words without deeds, but that it produces more abundant 
 supplies than imposts or taxes. Let the advocates of volun- 
 tary support remember that the mere advocacy of this piin- 
 ciple is of itself not enough. It will not feed and clothe 
 
8 
 
 the ministers of the gospel, maintain their families, build 
 meeting houses, circulate bibles and tracts, educate theolo- 
 gical students, or send out and sustain missionaries. The 
 principle must be operative, practical, so as fully to meet 
 every necessary demand. 
 
 Christ has laid the foundation of his empire in blood, has 
 secured for it every spiritual agency, has pledged his honor 
 for its final triumph ; but he has so allied his people with 
 himself in the work of the world's redemption, as to make 
 it their duty to furnish the material supplies— the men to 
 labour, their equipments, and their pay. And to induce his 
 people to do this work abundantly and cheerfully, he has 
 promised that if they give, he will give unto them. He also 
 assures them that he loves a cheerful giver (2 Cor. ix. 7). 
 
 5. It is the only means by which Christ's disciples can 
 secure their own support. In no other way can the Chris- 
 tian make sure of his own subsistence. Godliness hath 
 the promise of the life that now is. To be godly is to be 
 god-like ; and in nothing is man so much like God, as when 
 he communicates to the necessities of others— especially 
 when he sends the bread of life to the perishing, ministers 
 of his temporal things to those who minister to him in 
 spiritual things, and gives supplies to disciples in the name 
 of disciples. God is good, and doeth good. His professed 
 people are not like him, however sound in the faith, devo- 
 tional and upright, unless they do good and communicate 
 to the necessities of others. It is this peculiar likeness to 
 God which has the promise of everything pertaining to 
 the present life. God has pledged himself to answer the 
 prayers of those only who do his will (John ix. 31); to 
 give to those Vho give to others (Luke vi. 38). But he has 
 positively promised to bless the liberal (Prov. xi. 25) ; to 
 regard himself the debtor of those who pity and relieve his 
 
 -i 
 
t 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 9 
 
 poor (Proy. ixx. 17); to regard the benefactions of his 
 people as seed-corn, and to return an abundant harvest to 
 those who sow bountifully (2 Cor, ix. 6). It is just as cer- 
 tain that the Lord will give to those who give to his cause 
 and people, as that he will save those who believe ; it is 
 just as certain that he will bless them in proportion to their 
 liberality, as he will in proportion to their faith. It is more 
 certain that he who regularly gives to the cause of Christ 
 will always have something to give, thnn it is that he who 
 regularly ploughs and sows will have ed to sow. If a 
 man would always have something to give, let him make 
 his giving regular, periodical, systematic, as he does the 
 cultivation of the soil, or attention to his business. Then 
 God will prosper him and bless him, and, besides furnish- 
 ing him with all that is necessary, will give him the seed- 
 corn of beneficence to sow season after season to the end of 
 his Ufe. 
 
 It is in this way that giving is made easy. It may bo 
 diflScult at first, as it is to raise the first seed-corn, but this 
 being blessed and multiplied, in due time becomes easy. 
 
 The divine plan of providing for us is, not only by our 
 industry, but by our industry and alms combined. Wo 
 must give as well as work. 
 
 There exists much infidelity on the subject of giving. 
 This is one of the reasons why so much perplexity, loss 
 and poverty abound. If God's people would honor him 
 with their substance and the first fruits of their increase, 
 their barns would be filled with plenty (Pro v. iii. 9, 10). 
 If they would bring all the needed contributions into the 
 Lord's house, he would pour them out blessings, spiritual 
 and temporal, increase their harvests and their profits, and 
 prevent the losses that are now sustained both by devour- 
 ing insects and dishonest men (Mai. iii. 10, 11). Ministers 
 
 ti 
 
}0 
 
 of the gospel can in no way so thoroughly promote the 
 temporal interests of tlieir people, as by teaching them to 
 be liberal. Ministers should never hesitate to preach on 
 this subject, or to set the example. In doing so they will 
 not only promote the present welfare of their people, but 
 their own. If a people are taught to be liberal in other 
 things, they will be liberal to their minister. If ministers 
 have imperfect views or doubts on this subject, no wonder 
 that the people should. "Like priest, like people." If 
 parents would secure the temporal prosperity as well as the 
 eternal good of their children, let them teach them liberality 
 to the cause of Christ — ^teacli them literally and liberally to 
 seek first the kingdom t)f Christ, with the assurance that 
 God will add tempoi'al blessings unto them (Matt. vi. 33). 
 No greater benefit can be ( onferred upon youth, than to 
 teach them to give systematically to the cause of Christ. 
 This will teach them the true use of money, to be econo- 
 mical for Jesus' sake, to live in harmony with the divine 
 economy, and with the constitution of things about them. 
 If young persons would prosper in the world, let them 
 form the habit of systematically contributing to the cause 
 of Christ. 
 
 How MUCH SHOULD WE Give? 
 
 1. Let each one give according to his ability (1 Pet. iv. 
 11). Let each one give, the poor as well as the rich. The 
 blessedness of giving is so great that the poor are not to be 
 deprived of it. The poor man's cent may be as much 
 treasure laid up in heaven as the rich man's pound or 
 thousand pounds. God rcciuires each one to a;ive according 
 to that he hath, and not according to that he hath not (2 
 Cor. viii. 12). God would have no one excused from "iviri"- 
 nor any one burdened ; but computing each man's ability, 
 let him give according to that rule. Probably in no way 
 
 mi 
 
11 
 
 can this equality be attained but by every man giving n 
 certain per ccntaj;e of liis inronio, his whole income, wlie- 
 ther that be derived from trade, merchandise, interest on 
 money or stock, mortgages, rents, proiits, wages, salary, 
 labor, gifts, produce or manufactures, or any other source. 
 
 To give rightly and systematically, every one must give 
 on his whole net income, and not on wliat remains after he 
 has supplied his own supposed necessities ; because every 
 man can make his necessities equal to his entire income, 
 and so have nothing left for (lod. Let the amount of the 
 whole means, as learly as possible, be ascertained for the 
 week, month, quarter or year, as it can best be calculated 
 for either of these portions of time ; then, of this amount, 
 get apart a certain per centage for the cause of God and the 
 needy. There is no one but can, very nearly, ascertain the 
 amount of his means ; no man that cannot devote different 
 portions of the same to different objects ; and no man can 
 make a wise apportionment of his income without system ; 
 none can save without system ; nor any one give well 
 without system. 
 
 But how much per cent, of their income ought Christians 
 to give ? "When giving was regulated by law under the 
 Mosaic economy, the Israelites were required to give one- 
 tenth of their income for the support of the ministers of 
 religion, the Levites, alone ; one-fortieth additional to the 
 priests ; to provide animals, meal, wine and fruits for sacri- 
 fice, and offerings to the temple. Every seventh year they 
 had to leave their land untilled, and to regard its sponta- 
 neous products as common property; every seventh year 
 to /emit debts, and every liftietli year to emancipale their 
 slaves, and to release all mortgages. Every harvest they 
 left about one-sixtieth of their grain to be gleaned by the 
 poor. The Jew was required by law to give about one- 
 
12 
 
 third of his income to the servants and the service of the 
 Lord and his poor. 
 
 See if you can learn anything concerning the measure of 
 your duty from the conduct of the early Christians. They, 
 when it was needed, gave all ; when this urgency passed 
 away they continued to devote large sums to the support 
 of their ministers and missionaries ; for copies of the Scrip- 
 tures ; for the erection of places of worship ; for sustaining 
 seminaries of learning, &c. They had everything to pro- 
 vide for the maintenance and extension of this new religion. 
 Their faith was not propagated without expense, and this 
 expense they bore cheerfully. Besides the ordinary out- 
 lays, they were called upon to contribute immense sums 
 for the redemption of their brethren who were made cap- 
 tives and prisoners for theu- faith iu Christ. Such was 
 their devotion to their religion and to each other ; such the 
 care taken of their sick, poor and dying, that their bitterest 
 enemies were constrained to exclaim— "See how these 
 Christians love one another." 
 
 Did Christ and his ministers condemn or commend them 
 for their liberality ? Would the same amount of liberality 
 now be worthy of commendation or of condemnation ? Is 
 anything like it generally practised at the present day? 
 While the primitive Christians devoted more than half of 
 all their income to the cause of Christ, professors of our 
 denomination in this country, at the present day, do not 
 give to the same cause one-twentieth part of their incomes. 
 Let them begin at once, and devote, at the very least, one- 
 tenth of their whole property to the Lord. Surely it will 
 not be too much for them to give fdr all objects, what the 
 Jews gave to the ministers of religion alone ! But for the 
 sake of systematizing your beneficence, begin with one- 
 tenth as the minimum. The following table shews the 
 
 I 
 
13 
 
 H 
 
 amount to be given weekly, monthly, quarterly or yearly, 
 from an income of from ten dollars to fifty thousand dollars 
 per annum. 
 
 10 PEP. 
 
 TABLE A. 
 
 CENT, C OXTRI BUTI OX. 
 
 Yoaily 
 Income. 
 
 Weekly. 
 
 Monthly. 
 
 Quarterly. 
 
 Yearly. 
 
 $ 
 
 $ C. 
 
 $ C. 
 
 $ C. 
 
 $ C. 
 
 10 
 
 02 
 
 08 
 
 25 
 
 1 00 
 
 50 
 
 10 
 
 40 
 
 1 25 
 
 6 00 
 
 100 
 
 20 
 
 80 
 
 2 50 
 
 10 00 
 
 200 
 
 40 
 
 1 GO 
 
 5 00 
 
 20 00 
 
 300 
 
 GO 
 
 2 40 
 
 7 50 
 
 30 00 
 
 400 
 
 80 
 
 3 20 
 
 10 00 
 
 40 00 
 
 500 
 
 1 00 
 
 4 00 
 
 12 50 
 
 50 00 
 
 1,000 
 
 2 00 
 
 8 00 
 
 25 00 
 
 100 00 
 
 2,000 
 
 4 00 
 
 16 00 
 
 50 00 
 
 200 00 
 
 5,000 
 
 10 00 
 
 40 00 
 
 125 00 
 
 500 00 
 
 10,000 
 
 20 00 
 
 80 CO 
 
 250 00 
 
 1,000 00 
 
 20,000 
 
 40 00 
 
 loO 00 
 
 500 00 
 
 2,000 00 
 
 50,000 
 
 100 00 
 
 400 00 
 
 1,250 00 
 
 5,000 00 
 
 There are very few of Christ's disciples either so poor or 
 so young as to be unable to obtain an income of ten dollars 
 yearly, and out of that to give one dollar. The one dollar, 
 expended on themselves, can make but little difference to 
 their earthly comforts, but it may make a vast diflerenco 
 if deposited in the bank of heaven, or used as seed-corn 
 for means of increased usefulness. Let such a one remem- 
 ber that in giving a dollar a year he has given as much to 
 the Lord as the man of ten thousand a year who gives ono 
 thousand. 
 
 There are but few so rich as to have a nett income of 
 fifty thousand dollars per annum, if any have this amount, 
 
14 
 
 let them remember that one hundred dollars a week from 
 them, is no more than two cents from the youth or poor 
 man who has only ten dollars. 
 
 2. " Give as the Lord prospers you."— 1 Cor. xvi " 
 Not only a certain per centage on your yearly income 
 hut if at any time your profits should be increased your 
 labor more abundantly rewarded, make an additional free- 
 will oflcring to the Lord, and thus acknowledge him as the 
 author of your prosperity. Should it be askcl "What 
 would be the duty of God's people under losses and re- 
 verses?" Are they to deduct from their donations in pro- 
 portion to their losses, or to cease from giving alto-^ether 9" 
 Ye reply, that if God in his providence deprive'them of 
 the means of giving, so that they am earn nothing and 
 become entirely dependant upon others, then are 'they 
 excused, or rather deprived for a time of the blessed privi- 
 lege of giving. In case of greatly reduced circumstances 
 It may be necessary to reduce the amount of beneficence • 
 but according to the whole tenor of God's word, such 
 mstances will be very rare in the experience of those who 
 feel It to be their duty and privilege to give up to the full 
 measure of their ability and in accordance with divine 
 directions; while to those who give grudgingly, and are 
 desirous of finding excuses for lessening their benedictions 
 or for giving nothing ; to such persons God often furnishes 
 excuses by sending them reverses, bringing losses upon 
 them, or depriving them of all their substance. Jhit those 
 who bring all the tithes into God's storehouse, who honor 
 hun with the ^7z-;-«^/yv^/fs of their increase, who seek fh'st 
 tue kingdom of God and his righteousness, such shall be 
 blessed, prospered and increased, instead of being dimin- 
 ished ; so that very seldom, if ever, shall one of these be 
 p,erplexed to know his duty, from reduced circumstances^ 
 
 I 
 
15 
 
 It may be asked " What is the duty of those wlio are in 
 debt ? Ouglit they to give ; and if so, liow much V" " Bo 
 just before you are generous," is an oft repeated maxim. 
 'Pay your debts before you give, or you will give away 
 other men's property," is often asserted as a reason why 
 such persons do not, and should not give. If this objec- 
 tion be made by individuals who are in dcl)t for their 
 farms, for their merchandise, &c., yet are lessening that 
 debt and increasing their property; we sav, that they 
 ought to give on their whole income, less the interest of 
 their indebtedness. Suppose a farmer owes a thousand 
 dollars on his farm ; his products above all expenses are 
 worth six hundred ; then let him deduct from this the in- 
 tcrest on the thousand, say seventy or eighty dollars, and 
 he will then have five hundred and twenty on which to 
 pay ten per cent., which will be fifty-two dollars. But ho 
 exclaims " I have two hundred of this to pay on my farm, 
 and this will reduce my means to three hundred and 
 twenty dollars." We answer, no ; it will increase your 
 own property by two hundred dollars ; but remember the 
 divine rule is first to lay up to the Lord, and he will bless 
 you in what you lay up for yourself. 
 
 Suppose the person be not in debt for productive pro- 
 perty, but for the means of hving, and, from the scantiness 
 of his income, appears to be unable to save anything be- 
 yond his family expenses ; is it his duty to give anything 
 towards the support of the gospel ? Is it not his duty to 
 pay his debts ? Unquestionably it is his duty to pay his 
 debts ; but is he not a debtor to God ? Is he not a 
 debtor to the gospel ? To whom does he owe the most, to 
 God or to man ? Which creditor shall he prefer, man or 
 God? Can God be robbed, mocked, or cheated with im- 
 punity ? The debtor must be fed, and so must his chil- 
 
16 
 
 drcn : who charges him with wrong for not starving him- 
 self and his family, though in buying food he has the less 
 to pay his debts ? And who shall charge him with (jls- 
 honesty for providing food for his soul and the souls of his 
 family ? A man's contribution for sustaining the means of 
 grace should be reckoned among the indispensable neces- 
 sities of his family expenses. Let any minister of the 
 gospel, or any member of a christian church in such cir- 
 cumstances, calculate the whole amount of his income less 
 the interest on the amount of his Indebtedness, and then 
 resolve so to commence as to give f'^n per cent, of that 
 income to the Lord ; and see if the Lord be not well pleased 
 with the offering, and whether, after so doing, it is not 
 more easy to reduce his indebtedness than it was before. 
 We now proceed to enquire—- 
 
 To WHAT OBJECT SHALL WE GiVE ? 
 
 Among the many claims upon christian benevolence, when 
 unable to give to all, how can we know which to select? 
 Let us begin with the more important, and give according 
 to the divine rule, and this difficulty will soon be removed. 
 
 1. Give to the support of your own minister. 
 
 God requires that you minister of your carnal things to 
 Him who ministers to you spiritual things (Rom. xy. 
 27; 1 Cor. ix. 7)). It is God's ordinance that they who 
 preach the gospel, shall be so well paid as to live, and not 
 starve, by so labouring. When God provided for the min- 
 isters of religion by law, they were more abundantly sup- 
 plied than any other class ; for he gave them one-tenth 
 from eleven tribes, so that the Levites had eleven-tenths, 
 while thq rest of the Israelites had only nine-tenths! 
 Although the letter of that law is abrogated, that the 
 offerings of God's people may not be compulsory but vol- 
 untary ; yet the spirit of it is enjoined in the gospel. It 
 
.5^' 
 
 n 
 
 stm remains an impcrativo dnty upon God's people to 
 provnle hberally for their pastors and minister, <> the 
 onctenth of each n,an's income, at least four-lo hs ,on d 
 beg,ven to the minister, whether this be in the >„„, If 
 pow-rent or subscription, for his support, m s me T e 
 where the churches are small and the mem.H.rs poor .' 
 seven, or even eisht-tenths should be given to snnnorf >,'„ 
 
 h™ to set h,« people an exa.nple of liberality and hi, 
 
 example would do more to make his people 1 bend and 
 
 ble .0 be hberal, than a„ his preachin/without it Pr„v 
 
 Chris, anitvn'T T"""^' '""^''"' P°"=^' ^"^--"r^" 
 chnst,a„,ty ,„ churches to l<eep their minister poor- it 
 
 h.nders h,s study, impairs his health and reputation 
 
 weakens h,s power for good, is the cause of mSh , ' 
 
 a he and head-ache, and is a curse instead of a blesst to 
 
 expenses than other men, they have to entertain more 
 vsitors, purchase more books, use more stationery and 
 pay more postage, all of which is unremunerative It 
 would be well if laymen would take this into ser ^us con 
 s,dera ,on, and inquire why Ministers should not be . wel 
 paid as Lawyers and Physicians. Is the soul of less va"uo 
 han the body? Is its salvation of less importan e than 
 he pro ect,„„ of property ? Give, before any thin, ke 
 to the hberal support of your minister ° ^ 
 
 3. Give for the erection, repairs, cleaning, lighting and 
 warmmg „f Houses of worship. Next to th Mh ilt"; the 
 place of mm,stration is to be cared for. A neat clean 
 well-hghted, ventihated and warmed house of worlp ha• 
 and hearers ; whde an unsightly, dirty, dark, dingy, close 
 hot or cold house, has a most deleterious influence 0°: 
 
• 18 
 
 tian churches should bo determined to have comfortablo 
 and chaste houses for tlic worship of God, to see that their 
 exterior and furniture arc quite as good as the average of 
 their own dwellings. Cod reproached tho Israelites for 
 dwelling in ceiled houses, while liis house was left waste 
 (I lag. i. 4). Many churches are without houses of worship, 
 provision should be made foi^ their erection. Many have 
 houses that need extensive repairs and improvements ; let 
 such churches contribute for that purpose. All places of 
 worship need care and expense ; this should be secured by 
 the contributions of the worshippers ; and able churches 
 should have a fund to assist poor ones in building houses 
 for the worship of God. Of the ten per cent, of income, 
 one-tenth should be devoted to the above object. 
 
 3. The Sabbath school should receive of our contribu* 
 tions. 
 
 The Sabbath school is the nursery of the church, it is 
 the hope of the church and of the world. Special attention 
 should be paid to the religious education of the young. 
 Every Sabbath school should be provided with suitable 
 class-books, and a well stocked and well selected library. 
 Nothing is so likely to tell upon the future prosperity of 
 any church as an efficient Sabbath school. One per cent 
 of the contributions of God's people should be devoted to 
 this cause. 
 
 4. Home and Domestic Missions ought to be sustained. 
 The destitute portions of our own country; the poor and 
 
 the depraved of our cities. Foreigners who make this the 
 land of their adoption. The aborigines, and the masses 
 who are under the influence of false religion, are to be 
 cared for. Home Missionary Societies, Missionary Con- 
 ventions, City Missions, &c., &c., are to be sustained. 
 "Beginning at Jerusalem," was the Saviour's command 
 
la 
 
 when commissionins Lis disciples to prcad, the gospel to 
 the word. The work of home evang^hzation is a^^c.^ 
 ■vc as ,t ,s ,™p„rtant ; its importance, as it stands S 
 o he conversion of the worW, cannot be over estin.a e^ 
 If the church at home would have ability to send thett 
 rol abroad, she must nourish her feeble dmrches, cu^v°a^o 
 her was places, reclaim the desert by nudtipl ,, n' hir 
 home labours. Christians shoul.I devote i 1 't^ 
 
 tenth oftbeir contribution,, to Homo mIL:' ^ """" 
 6. MLnisterial Education. 
 
 To secure an able ministry, the church must see that 
 tho young men whom God has converted, endowed and 
 called to tins work, are well educated. It is the work of 
 Cod to endow them with talents, to convert their soulf 
 and mchne them to preach ; but it is the work of his peopl.; 
 
 otrirrd""? '"r' ""™""' r-yp-f-^aS 
 
 clothe .and feed mdigent students. Christ generally call, 
 ..s m,„,sters from among the poor, because he need^ m „ 
 ".urcd to labour ; men to preach to the poor and to s™ 
 pathuse w..h them. He devolves the duty'of educat^^gCr 
 n.m,ster.^ upon the church, as much as the duty of traLn" 
 her d,ery devolves upon the state. ChrisUans sho.dl 
 regularly and sy.stematically appropriate a portion of thdr 
 contnbut.ons to this object. 
 
 9„!; 7''° ".""i" ^°-''"^' ^'•■■"=' ^""'^y' Sunday Scho-I 
 booker '"' "" ''*'"""™ »f ■'™"S^"«'' 
 
 Scarcely anything need be said of tho importance of these 
 
 socetics, especally of the Bible Society. Every christian 
 
 ackno,,,edges tho importance of giving /niversZir ,Mo„ 
 
 o the word of God; but this can be done only by h" 
 
 hberal contributions of God's people 
 
 rt may be said that contribution to all these obieets in 
 
 he proportions su""ested will „, i ., ' 
 
 " ou^^esreo, mil need more than ten per 
 
20 
 
 cent, of one's income, f nic; but it has been Rtntcd thnt 
 ten per cent, is the very least that a christian ought to give. 
 Tliere is no reason why the majority should not increase 
 this i)cr centage, while some may give twenty, thirty, forty 
 or fifty per cent. The more any one gives, the more 
 blessed he is, the richer he is, the more able to give. Cir- 
 cumstances nuist dictate what objects shall share the cor- 
 tribution beyond the minister's salary, chaj.el expenses 
 and the Sabbath school, the circumstances of the donor 
 or of the church to which he belongs. In some cases his 
 donation may, with propriety, be confined to the first three 
 objects above named ; in other cas'.>s, a donor may give to 
 :,A IT ■ tables at the end of this chapter, will su-'o-est 
 this variety of the appropriations. 
 6. Foreign Mission.s. 
 
 The church of Christ must not consider her woik done 
 until she has given the gospel to the world. No church 
 should feel that it has attained its true position until it 
 does something regularly for the foreign field. The duty 
 to preach the gospel to every creature, is binding on every 
 believer. Churches on their first organization, like newly 
 planted trees, may need all they get for their own nourish- 
 ment ; but is expeciod that in time they will bear fruit for 
 others ; if they do not, they will be under the reproach 
 of being empty vines, bringing forth fruit only for them- 
 selves (IIos. X. 1). Every church should labour, not only 
 to sustain itself, but to aid in the great work of evangelizing 
 the world; and liberal amounts should be statedly con*^ 
 tributed for this purpose. 
 
 .. -mM B. 
 
 Showing to what object., •„.. ■ ;,u whn^ proportion, persons 
 in different circumstances, -a::., r.^uocted with churches of 
 varied degrees of numericai aaJ pecuniary strength, may 
 contribute. 
 
 .1 
 
21 
 
 TABLE B. 
 
 Person., m a Clmrcli th;it noo.U all for its own support, 
 witli iiuans varying' from lifty to a thousand Uollai-s. 
 
 AMOUNT. 
 
 10 per rout, 
 on iji.jO. 
 
 $5 00 
 
 10 per cent, 
 on $100. 
 
 $10 00 
 
 10 per cent, 
 on i^.jOO. 
 
 $50 00 
 
 10 per cent, 
 on $1000. 
 
 $100 00 
 
 OBJECTS. 
 
 Minister's Salary. 
 Chapel Expenses 
 . Sabbath School . . 
 
 .Minister's Salary. 
 Chapel Expenses 
 . Sabbath School . . 
 
 Minister's Salary 
 
 Chapel Expenses 
 
 Sabbath School 
 
 I Missionary Convention 
 
 Minister's Salary 
 
 Chapel Expenses 
 
 Sabbath School 
 
 Missionary Convention 
 Ministerial Education. . 
 Missions 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 cts. 
 
 3 
 
 00 
 
 1 
 
 00 
 
 1 
 
 00 
 
 G 
 
 00 
 
 2 
 
 00 
 
 2 
 
 00 
 
 30 
 
 00 
 
 10 
 
 00 
 
 5 
 
 00 
 
 5 
 
 00 
 
 40 
 
 00 
 
 20 
 
 00 
 
 10 
 
 00 
 
 10 
 
 00 
 
 10 
 
 00 
 
 10 00 
 
22 
 
 TABLE B, 
 
 Persons in Churches that are able to contribute to other 
 objects tlian their own. 
 
 AMOUNT. 
 
 10 per cent, 
 on $50. 
 
 $5 00 
 
 10 per cent. 
 on $1,000. 
 
 $100 00 
 
 OBJECTS. 
 
 Minister's support 
 
 Chapel Expenses 
 
 Sabbath School 
 
 Missionarj Convention 
 Ministerial Education. . 
 Missions, Bible Society 
 
 ^ Minister's support 
 
 Chapel Expenses 
 
 Sabbath School 
 
 Missionary Convention 
 Ministerial Education. . 
 
 French Mission 
 
 Bible Society 
 
 Foreign Missions '. . 
 
 1% 
 
 15 
 
 A 
 
 1 
 
 19 
 
 9 
 15 
 
 
 $ cts. 
 
 2 OD 
 
 1 00 
 
 50 
 
 50 
 
 50 
 
 50 
 
 20 OO 
 
 20 00 
 
 10 00 
 
 10 00 
 
 10 OO 
 
 10 OO 
 
 10 OO 
 
 10 0«]> 
 
 I 
 
 i 
 
23 
 
 i 
 
 TABLE B. 
 
 Persons in large and able Churches may extend their 
 
 contribution. 
 
 AMOUNT. 
 
 i 
 
 o 
 
 G 
 
 o 
 o 
 
 T— I 
 
 o 
 
 g 
 
 o 
 o 
 
 o 
 o 
 
 1— ( 
 
 OBJECTS. 
 
 Minister's Salary 
 
 Chapel Expenses 
 
 Sabbath School 
 
 - Missionary Convention 
 Ministerial Education . , 
 
 Bible Society , 
 
 Missions 
 
 _2_ 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 115 
 
 J_ 
 
 10 
 
 1 
 
 Id 
 
 I'a 
 
 3 
 
 10 
 
 Minister's Laiary U 
 
 •^ TO 
 
 Chapel Expenses 
 
 Sabbath School 
 
 Missionary Convention .... 
 
 Ministerial Education 
 
 Bible Society 
 
 Missions 
 
 1 
 75 
 
 1 
 T(J 
 
 j_ 
 
 1 u 
 
 1 
 
 TO 
 
 J_ 
 1 
 
 3 
 1 
 
 $ cts. 
 
 2 00 
 1 00 
 1 00 
 1 00 
 1 00 
 1 00 
 
 3 00 
 
 20 00 
 10 00 
 10 00 
 10 00 
 10 00 
 10 00 
 30 00 
 
'^ 
 
 24 
 
 TABLE B. 
 Individuals giving more than 10 per cent, on their income. 
 
 AMOUNT. 
 
 I 
 
 O 
 
 OBJECTS. 
 
 ©• 
 
 
 o 
 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 
 T— ( 
 
 
 «©. 
 
 o 
 
 a 
 
 O 
 
 o 
 
 O 
 
 ^ 
 
 o 
 
 -M 
 
 o 
 
 G 
 
 
 O) 
 
 (M 
 
 o 
 
 ■€/» 
 
 Minister's Salary 
 
 Chapel Expenses 
 
 Sabbath School 
 
 Missionary Convention , 
 
 Ministerial Education . . 
 
 French Mission 
 
 Bible Society 
 
 Tract Society 
 
 Publication Society .... 
 
 City Missions 
 
 Poor 
 
 Home Missions 
 
 Incidental Expenses 
 
 1 
 
 2 (J 
 
 t 
 2 6 
 
 1 
 
 40 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 I 
 
 2(J 
 
 1 
 2U 
 
 _1 
 
 40 
 
 1 
 
 A 
 
 1 
 
 45 
 
 _1 
 
 40 
 
 1 
 
 2(J 
 
 1 
 
 20 
 
 $ cts. 
 
 100 00 
 100 00 
 50 00 
 100 00 
 100 00 
 100 00 
 50 00 
 60 00 
 50 00 
 50 00 
 60 00 
 100 00 
 100 00 
 
 Foreign Missions -o jjooo 00 
 
 
i 
 
 or. 
 
 ;ome. 
 
 cts. 
 
 00 
 D 00 
 ) 00 
 ) 00 
 » 00 
 ' 00 
 
 00 
 
 00 
 
 00 
 
 00 
 00 
 00 
 00 
 00 
 
 r 
 
 J 
 
 When shall we Give? 
 
 1. Every Lord's Day. Upon the first day of the week 
 let every one lay by him in store, as God hath prospered 
 him (1 Cor. xvi. 3). Let every one select a place of de- 
 posit, a box, a drawer, a pocket book, &c. &c., and call tin's 
 the LonVs Bank Then, as God has prospered him through 
 the week, let each one make a sacred deposit, of one-ten'th 
 or more to the Lord on every Sabbath day. From all 
 earnings, profits or income, let the first appropriation be to 
 tl- Lord's Treasury. Devote the first fruits to the Saviour. 
 This method will always furnish the means to give, and 
 render the act of giving perfectly easy. The only difficulty 
 will be in laying by regularly, and this will soon cease to 
 be difficult, if persisted in. From this deposit take what 
 you have purposed to give to your minister, monthly or 
 quarterly as the case may be; also your other subscriptions 
 as they become due. By this method, every Sabbath will 
 commence with a practical confession of your obligation to 
 God, by a real thank-offering for his goodness, by an act of 
 faith in his promises, and by an act of obedience to one of 
 his most trying commands. It will be a most salutary pre- 
 paration for the services of the sanctuary, will increase your 
 interest in all the duties of the day, will prepare you to 
 meet God with pleasure, and to listen with attention and 
 delight to the messages of his love, will deepen your devo- 
 tion and strengthen your faith, it will also enable you to 
 labor through the week with humble confidence that your 
 labor shall not be in vain. 
 
 2. At the beginning of every year, purpose in your heart 
 what you will give to the cause of Christ during the year, 
 how much to your minister and to other objects. Every 
 man should be able to make some calculation as to his pro- 
 bable income for the ensuing year. There is no man of 
 
26 
 
 prudence but does this to some extent Every man is ob 
 .^■d to do it if he would n,eet the oxpenses^th" yet" 
 Into tl>e.se calculations of expense, should ahvays enteric 
 .tern of contnbutions to the cause of Christ Men mu t 
 calculate for rent, fuel, clothing, food, &c. ; they ough a 
 the same ,me to calculate to meet the demands of God 
 they should make these demands the very first item and 
 consKler every thing else subordinate to this; in so doing 
 ley would really seek first the kingdom of cid, andmight 
 safe ly d pend upon the other things being added unto them. 
 Let the u,eome of the last year from profits, labor or pro 
 ducts, &e be the basis of calculation for the year ensuC 
 then set down the ten per cent or more of that sum, asth^ 
 au,ount to be contributed to the cause of Christ I ^'Z 
 bewell townte down the amount in the form of a promLe 
 somewhat as follows : ^ ' 
 
 " If God in his providence enable me, I will give to his 
 cause dunng the coming year, $ , divided as follows :" 
 
 Minister's salary * 
 
 Chapel expenses ^ & Ji- 
 
 This sum divided by fifty-two or say by fifty, to save frl 
 tions, will give the amount of the weekly deposit which 
 nmount whether it be two cents or a Lndred 'd liars 
 should be laid by every Lord's day morning. ' 
 
 It may be objected, especially on the part of farmers, that 
 the products of the field are so uncertain that it would be 
 mposs.ble for them to make an approximate estimate of 
 heir income for the future. AVhile it is admitted that no 
 c ass of nien are, apparently, so dependent upon the provi- 
 dence of God, none whose means appear to be so uncertain • 
 
 should ; ;""";^7^^' *^-^' - t'-t very ground, this class 
 should be careful to propitiate the favor of that Being on 
 
27 
 
 &c. 
 
 whom they are so dependent, should be careful to brin-all 
 the tithes and offerings into God's storehouse, sliouM honor 
 hun with their substance and tlie first fruits of their increa^.c 
 Let them ask if they have devoted the first and best of all 
 their products to the Lord ; let them ask if they have given 
 the tenth of last year's net income to God, or if it is 'their 
 habit to trust God by resolving to give so much to his cause '^ 
 If they habitually neglect this duty, need they wonder that 
 God, attunes, takes his portion by mildew, rust, weevil ca- 
 terpillar, grasshopper, drought or frost ? Did he not ask his 
 ancient people if they thought they could rob him with 
 impunity ? When through covetousness they failed to leave 
 the land unfilled in the Sabbatical year, did he not threaten 
 that tho land should have rest, and has ho not executed his 
 threat ? If the cultivators of the soil would conform to 
 the divine law of beneficence, there would seldom be any 
 complaint of bad harvests, or of disease among cattle. Any 
 man may estimate nearly what, under ordinary circum- 
 stanceg, his farm will produce in a year ; what from this 
 source will be his income ; and he can, at the commence- 
 ment o' the year, resolve to give a percentage of this to the 
 Lord, and manifest his disposition to trust the Lord and 
 to honor him by first thinking of and providing for his 
 cause. If God should, during the year, bless and prosper 
 him beyond his expectations, he can increase his weekly 
 deposit in the same proportion. 
 
 It may still further be objected, that many persons 
 have not weekly receipts ; some receiving their income 
 monthly, quarterly, half-yearly, or even annually, while 
 farmers generally depend upon the sale of tlieir crops for 
 means to pay their debts or to make donations, and that it 
 would be impossible for such persons to lay by money 
 weekly. If individuals so circumstanced would only do. 
 
28 
 
 in this matter, as wise people do in relation to their own 
 expense., namely, make one receipt provide everything 
 unt,l the time of the next, instead of depending on their 
 periodical receipts or crops to pay debts already incurred 
 the whole difficulty would be removed. The effort to do 
 this, for the sake of complying with the divine injunction 
 to lay by weekly, would prove to mnny a man the greatest 
 earthly good he had ever experienced. 
 How may this mode of giving be promoted ? 
 1. By ministers of the gospel making themselves tho- 
 roughly acquainted with it, with the reasons for it and the 
 details of It; then by their advocating from the pulpit and 
 from house to house, and by themselves conforming to it 
 and thus giving it the weight of their example. 
 
 2. By churches taking it into consideration at the be-in 
 ning of the year, adopting it, determining for what objects 
 subscriptions shall be made and at what time of the year 
 these subscriptions shall be collected. Then it would be 
 well for such churches to obtain a sufficient number of cards 
 so as to furnish two to every adult member of the church 
 and congregation, prepared somewhat like the following --^ 
 
 TABLE C. 
 Giving examples or specimen Cards of Beneficence, 
 
 I- 
 
 J 
 
29 
 
 ;hcir own 
 '■erything 
 on their 
 incurred, 
 •rt to do 
 ij unction 
 greatest 
 
 vcs tho- 
 and the 
 Ipit and 
 ig to it, 
 
 e begin- 
 objects 
 be year 
 )uld be 
 3f cards 
 church 
 ■ing :^ 
 
 ice, 
 
 No. 1. 
 
 Adapted to a church which can scarcely sustain itself. 
 {Face of the Card.) 
 
 CARD OF BENEFICENCE 
 
 OP THE 
 
 Baptist Ciiuucn and Coxgregation in_ 
 
 If God in his providence permit, I will give to his cause the 
 sums stated below, in the order and at the time stated 
 on the back of this card. 
 
 The Subscription of M. 
 
 Minister's Salary 
 
 Building Fund, Repairs, Incidental Expenses, 
 &c 
 
 Sabbath School 
 
 * Missionary Convention . . . 
 
 Total Subscription 
 
 N.B.— Please fill up this Card, and return it when called 
 for next Sabbath. 
 B^" Retain a copy" for your own use. 
 
 * in ho Church mceives aid from the Couyentlon, it wUl La necessary to 
 have one place for this object. 
 
30 
 
 t 
 
 No. 1. 
 
 Adapted to a church which can scarcely sustain itself. 
 
 {Reverse of the Card.) 
 
 THE SUBSCRIPTIOXS 
 
 ON TUB 
 
 FACE OF THIS CARD 
 
 WILL BE COLLECTED IN THE FOLLOWING OltDER : 
 
 Minister's Salary quarterly, viz: ^ on the 1st Sabbaths of 
 March, June, September and December. 
 
 Building Fund and Incidental Expenses : x half yearly on 
 1st Sabbaths of May and October. ^' 
 
 Sabbath School: on 1st Sabbath in February. 
 * Missionary Convention : 
 
 " Give and it shall be given unto you." (Luke vi. 38 ) 
 ^^'jlt is more blessed to give than to receive." (Acts xx. 
 
 *'For God loveth a cheerful giver." (2 Cor. ix. r.) 
 
 i 
 
 1^ 
 
 t 
 
 ■I 
 
31 
 
 f: 
 
 CARD OF BENEFICENCE 
 
 OP THE 
 
 Baptist Chuucu and Coxgreg 
 
 ATIOK IX 
 
 If God in his providence permit, I will give to hig cause the 
 sums stated below, in the order and at the time stated 
 on the back of this card. 
 
 The SuBsciiiPTioN of M. 
 
 To the Minister's Salary 
 
 Building Fund, Repairs, Incidental 
 Expenses, &c 
 
 " Sabbath School 
 
 Missionary Convention 
 
 Ministerial Education Society 
 
 Bible Society, &c 
 
 Missions 
 
 (( 
 
 <( 
 
 Total Subscription 
 
 ^^•^•—I'lease fill up this card, and return it when called 
 
 for next Sabbath. 
 
 |J3F^ Retain a copy for your own use. 
 
32 
 
 THE SUBSCRIPTIONS 
 
 OV TUB 
 
 FACE OF THIS CARD 
 
 "WILL BE COLLECTED IN TUB FOLLOWING ORDER: 
 
 Minister's Salary, in quarterly payments : ^ on the 1st 
 
 Sabbaths of March, June, September and December. 
 Building Fund: on 1st Sabbath of April. 
 Sabbath School : on 1st Sabbath of February. 
 Missionary Convention : 1st Sabbath of May. 
 Ministerial Education Society : 1st Sabbath in August. 
 Bible Society, &c. : 1st Sabbath in October. 
 Missions : 1st Sabbath in January. 
 
 *' Give and it shall be given unto you." (Luke vi. 38). 
 
 *' It is more blessed to give than to receive." (Acts xx. 
 35). 
 
 "For God loveth a cheerful giver." (2 Cor. ix. 7.) 
 
9mmmmm^ 
 
 I 
 
 88 
 
 After the cnnU have been distributed, let tiio member fdl 
 up the blanks with the amount of hi.s subscription, each 
 one retaining one of the two cards, in order that ho may 
 know when each subscription will be collected. The cards 
 being returned, some one appointed by the church, should 
 copy these into a book in alphabetical order, with the sum 
 promised to each object set opposite each subscribe 's name 
 
 iD 
 
 3 order; 
 
 i on the 1st 
 December. 
 
 7- 
 
 in August. 
 
 Luke vi. 38). 
 ive." (Acts XX. 
 
 r. ix. 7.) 
 
34 
 
 p - -S 
 
 
a u 
 o >» 
 
 — « 
 o fl 
 ^^ 
 
 
 ■- >, 
 
 g.2 
 
 £i^ 
 
 s >■ 
 
 .•S,3 
 
 •ss 
 
 aS . 
 
 75.2-3 
 
 nee 
 rect 
 tori 
 
 will 
 liedi 
 dicta 
 
 n -M . 
 
 .S •" o 
 
 "3 3 a 
 
 ■C o S 
 
 t;*"-3 
 
 S ^ m 
 
 o * ® 
 
 05 M 
 « fcO 
 
 o^S s 
 
 js " So 
 
 w J >. 
 
 
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 35 
 
 The sabbath before any subscription is due, let notice be 
 given that it will be colleotea on the next Sabbath the sub- 
 scribers being requeste,] to severally enclose the sum in an 
 envelope, with his or her name written thereon. If the 
 object be any other than the n.inister's salary, it would be 
 ^ell for the pastor to preach on it, stating thcwork, condi- 
 tion and claims of such society. If the amount subscribed 
 as shown in the Book of Uencficence, should bo less than 
 present need of that society, and below the ability of the 
 church to give, the preacher may urge the subscribers to 
 mcrease their subscriptibns, urge those who have not sub- 
 scribed to do so, or to give liberally of loose change as the 
 plates are passed round to receive the subscriptions The 
 writer has known as much loose change to be collected in 
 addition o the subscription, as would have been obV i'n d 
 by an ordinary collection for such an object, exclusive of 
 the .,bscription. The collection having been made, let the 
 pastor, or whoever keeps the Bookof Eeneficence, open tho 
 envelopes and give each one credit for the amount paid and 
 enter he amount of change to the credit of collection; thi 
 will be t.he work of a very short time, if the book is properly 
 prepared. At the end of the year let the book be amlited 
 and the amounts received and paid out, bo reported to the 
 
 3. Associations may do much to promote this work by 
 recommending it to the churches and reporting in thei^ 
 minutes, the names of such churches as confonn to thil 
 
 TnE ADyANTAGES OP SVSTEMATIC BexefiCEN'CE. 
 
 1. It gives the minister frequent opportunities of cultivat- 
 ing this grace, by calling him frequently to set before the 
 peop e the necessities of the kingdom of Christ, to Z hi" 
 people mformauon, respecting the various departments of 
 
36 
 
 christian effort, to show the importance of this division of 
 labor, to dwell upon the claims of each and exhort his 
 people to t:?ive to each its duo. This gives variety to the dis- 
 courses of the pastor, increases the stock of information of 
 his hearers and excites their thirst for more ; not only in- 
 ducing them, to give more, but to get a religious paper and 
 other periodicals, that they may know more of what is doing 
 in the world for the cause of God. It gives the minister an 
 opportunity of knowing what each member does for the 
 cause, how far his benevolence extends, whether he exer- 
 cises this grace or not, and of addressing special exhorta- 
 tions to the negligent. The minister should know whether 
 his members give, as certainly as he should know whether 
 they pray. 
 
 2. It would save a vast amount which is now expended 
 in agencies. Let the churches adopt a good system, and 
 there would be no further need of agents. 
 
 3. It would secure all the money that is needed by all 
 the churches, and for all missionary purposes, &c. &c. 
 
 Suppose this plan should be adopted by all the Baptists 
 in Canada, the thirteen thousand five hundred members 
 would raise over two hundred thousand dollars a year to 
 contribute to the Redeemer's cause. Estimating the aver- 
 age income of these members to not exceed one hundred 
 and fifty dollars per annum, this would amount to two 
 millions and twenty-five thousand dollars a year. Ten per 
 cent, of this (the amount to give) would bo $202,500 
 
 Four-tenths of this, for ministers' salaries, would 
 
 average ?405 each to 200 ministers 81,000 
 
 Two-tenths to church-building, repairs, -sexton, 
 
 fuel, lights, &c., $202 50 each to 200 40,500 
 
 One-tenth to Sabbath schools would be $101 25 
 
 to 200 20,250 
 
f this division of 
 and exhort his 
 •ariety to the dis- 
 of information of 
 re; not only in- 
 igions paper and 
 e of what is doing 
 3S the minister an 
 iber docs for the 
 whether he exer- 
 special exhorta- 
 Id know whether 
 Id know whether 
 
 is now expended 
 ;ood system, and 
 
 is needed by all 
 OSes, &c. &c. 
 y all the Baptists 
 undred members 
 
 dollars a year to 
 imating the aver- 
 :ecd one hundred 
 i amount to two 
 ; a year. Ten per 
 30 $202,500 
 
 s, would 
 
 81,000 
 
 •sexton, 
 
 40,500 
 
 $101 25 
 20,250 
 
 37 
 
 One-tenth to ^fissionary Convention, Home Mis- 
 sion, &c 20,250 
 
 One-tenth to Education and Publication, Bil^lc 
 
 and Tra(;t Societies, &c 20 250 
 
 One-tenth to Missions, French and Foreign 2(1,250 
 
 $202,500 
 Suppose another division of tlio sum total to be made, 
 giving a larger average to ministers, as follows : 
 Five-tenths to ministers, giving to 200 an aver- 
 
 ^^ age of $506 25 $101,250 
 
 Three-twentieths to church-building, repairs and 
 
 incidental expenses j]o 375 
 
 One-twentieth to Sabbath schools, 200, each at 
 
 ^50 C2J 10,125 
 
 One-twentieth to Missionary Conventions 10,125 
 
 One-twentieth to Canadian French ^lission 10,125 
 
 One-twentieth to City Mission, Bibles and Tracts. 10,125 
 
 One-tenth to Foreign Missions 20 250 
 
 One-twentieth to Ministerial Education 10,125 
 
 $202,500 
 The foregoing shows how much can be accomplished by 
 a small denomination, if they wil! go the right way about 
 it.^ Almost any small church of fifty members could, on 
 this plan, raise seven hundred and fifty dollars a year. 
 Should a system like this become universal, it would give 
 the Baptists in England an income for the Gospel of 
 £.•175,000 a year, giving an average salary of £150 each to 
 
 1,800 ministers £270,000 
 
 and leaving more than twice the amount which is 
 at present contributed to religious societies .... 105,000 
 
 i'875,000 
 
38 
 
 Gn.ng an average salary of $500 to 5000* „;inis;^ "''''''' 
 
 Or an average salary of $800 to Vooo n^ • T ' ' ^'^^'^'^^'^ 
 For church-buildin; &c To "'*'''' ^'^^^^'^^'^ 
 For all other purposes 2,000,000 
 
 Christians to ascertain ,,.1. . J'^^'^*''*'*'"- ^^ would enable 
 with regularity. "''' ^^"^"^ societies 
 
 to thj;;:;" rzt Tjr °: ?""""■'• ^-^ -•-'" 
 
 increased temporal hnf'' "".^ ''""« """■" "»' ""'y 
 blessings . sr„Z°,dl thif r"?"' .'P'"''"' •''^•'■™=-- 
 
 «.att..L.„e„rsitrc:re„':^^' "•"-- '-'- 
 
s in the Free 
 
 ■••$7,600,000 
 lis- 
 
 •• 2,500,000 
 ■s. 4,000,000 
 •• 2,000,000 
 •• 1,500,000 
 eived. So it 
 
 aries, secure 
 revent many 
 save many a 
 'ould enable 
 3 benevolent 
 )us societies 
 
 give fervour 
 'n not only 
 blessings — 
 fiost believe 
 
 TORONTO: 
 
 PRINTED BY WILLIAM LAILEY, CAXADIAN BAPTIST OFFICE 
 COUNER CHURCH & KING STREETS. ' 
 
' I 
 
A D VERTTSE>J ENTS. 
 
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 TORONTO. 
 
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 and othkr 
 
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 NORTH EAST CCHNtR OF 
 
 \01SGE &. ADELAIDE i>TS 
 
 TORONTO: C. W. 
 
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