WHAT OUR STANDARDS TEACH.

"Saints by profession are bound to maintain an holy FELLOWSHIP and COMMUNION in the worship of God, and in performing such other spiritual services as tend to their mutual edification; as also in relieving each other in outward things, according to their several abilities and necessities. Which COMMUNION, as God offereth opportunity, is to be extended unto all those who, in every place call upon the name of the Lord Jesus."

[Confession of Faith, c. 26, s. 2.

"The Ordinances established by Christ, the Head, in a particular church, which is regularly constituted with its proper officers, are prayer, singing praises, reading, expounding and preaching the word of God; administering baptism and the Lord's supper; public solemn fasting and thanksgiving, catechising, making collections for the poor and other pious purposes, exercising discipline, and blessing the people."

[Form of Government, c. 7.

"The sermon being ended, the minister is to pray and return thanks to Almighty God; then let a psalm be sung; A COLLECTION RAISED for the poor, or other purposes of the church, and the assembly dismissed with the Apostolic Benediction." [Directions for Worship, c. 6.

The duties required in the eighth commandment ........ GIVING AND

LENDING FREELY ACCORDING TO OUR ABILITIES AND THE NECESSITIES OF OTHERS, &c.

The sins forbidden on the eighth commandment besides the neglect of the duties required are... ... and all other unjust or sinful ways of taking or withholding, from our neighbor what belongs to him, or of enriching ourselves, COVETOUSNESS, inordinate prizing and affecting wordly goods, distrustful and distracting cares and studies in getting, keeping, and using them, &c.........-Larger Catechism, Q. 141, 142.

PREFACE.

ANOTHER edition of this pamphlet being required, it is enlarged by a prefatory chapter, and some corrections and additions. It was first printed about eight years since, and has met with very general circulation and concurrence of opinion. What power it may have had in stimulating the universal inquiry into the subject of church and systematic collections, as means of grace, and acts of pious and acceptable worship, I know not; but that our Church will ere long come so to regard and esteem them, is my earnest prayer.

The views which have long been here set forth are embodied in the resolutions of the General Assembly in 1854, which are as follows:

1. Resolved, That this Assembly hereby enjoin upon the pastors of our churches to give greater prominence in the ministration of the word, to the doctrine of the Scripture, as interpreted and set forth in our Standards, (more particularly in chap. xxvi. sec. 2 of the Confession of Faith: in Question 141 of the Larger Catechism: in chap. vii. of the Form of Government, and in chap. vi. sec. 5 of the Directory for Worship,) viz: that "Saints, by profession, are bound to maintain an holy fellowship and communion in relieving each other in outward things, according to their several abilities and necessities, which communion, as God offereth opportunity, is to be extended unto all those who in every place call upon the Lord Jesus," "giving and lending freely according to their abilities;" and in conformity to this doctrine, recognizing, as one of the ordinances established by Christ, in connection with the sermon, prayer and praise, a "collection raised for the poor and other purposes of the church."

2. Resolved, That the Presbyteries which have not anticipated the provisions of this action of the Assembly, are most earnestly and affectionately enjoined, 1st. At their meetings following the rising of this Assembly, to take order that the ministers and church-sessions in their bounds shall be directed to adopt some practicable method by which an opportunity shall be afforded and an invitation given, to all the members of their congregations to contribute regularly to the objects of christian benevolence recognized by the Assembly in the organizations of the Boards of the Church, and to such other institutions as to them may seem right. 2d. And at every spring-meeting to institute a proper inquiry into the diligence

of ministers and church sessions in executing the provisions of such method.

3. Resolved, That the Presbyteries are farther enjoined to enter on record, and report to the next Assembly, their action on the first part of the foregoing resolution; and also to record at their next and all subsequent spring-meetings, the result of the inquiry prescribed, and report the same to the General Assembly with the usual Annual Presbyterial Report, stating the delinquencies and diligence of pastors and church sessions. The views put forward in this pamphlet will also be found very strongly presented and enforced in an "Address to the Ministers, Elders, and People connected with the Presbytery of Baltimore, upon the subject of Systematic Beneficence,' issued during the past year.

As this letter was fully endorsed and approved by our late General Assembly in the report of the Committee on Systematic Benevolence, by Dr. Thornwell,* and even recommended to be published, the views of this pamphlet may now be considered to be in theory those of the Presbyterian Church.

*See at end.

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.

MONEY, though it may be prodigally expended on personal and family indulgence, is the most universal object of man's heartfelt devotion. Covetousness is fallen man's invariable spirit, and covetousness God denounces as "idolatry." The pursuit of wealth is therefore attended with manifold dangers to the everlasting welfare of the soul: For says the apostle, "they that will be rich, fall into temptation, and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition." "For the love of money is the root of all evil which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." "But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness."

Our Saviour, also, has very solemnly warned men against that pride, independence, unbelief, worldliness, ambition, flattery, and all that is implied in "the lusts of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life"-which are the natural results or concomitants of wealth. "Then said Jesus unto his disciples, verily I say unto you, that a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven." "And again I say unto you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.""When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, who then can be saved?"

The greatness of that peril to which all men are exposed of "making shipwreck of faith and of a good conscience," and of hope for eternity, will be evident when we remember that money is made necessary for our very maintenance and comfort in life,-"for if any man, who is able, will not work neither shall he eat," that we are required to be "diligent in business," and that all the "honors that come from man" are based very much upon the amount of man's possessions. With covetousness in the heart, therefore, and the love of pleasure, popularity, and self-indulgence abounding in the soul, we may well ask, "who then can be saved?" How selfevident is it that "except a man be born again"-so as that while "diligent in business" he shall at the same time be "fervent in spirit serving the Lord"-"he cannot enter the kingdom of God." "This is the victory that overcometh the world even faith. Thanks be to God who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

How evident also is it, that such being the natural covetous disposition of the human heart, and such the necessity for to which christians are exposed in "providing things honest for themselves and families," and that they may "have to give to them that need it," and be willing to communicate and ready to distribute "to every good work," how certainly may we divine grace to overcome it, and such the continued temptations. expect that God will be found to have adapted the institutions. of the gospel, the ministrations of the sanctuary, the means of grace, the arrangements of his providence, and the instrumentalities of his kingdom here on earth, so as most effectually to draw forth the self-denial, devotedness, activity, and liberality of his people.

This God has done by leaving the poor, the widow, the fatherless, the aged, the infirm, the sick, the dying, the ignorant, the impenitent, "always with us,"-by identifying Himself with them*-by making us His stewards for the distribution of our means among them freely, cheerfully, and according as He has prospered us;-and by making such charitable collection and disbursements an integral part of His worship, an ordinance of His Church, an acceptable sacrifice, a means of grace and edification, and an essential part of christianity, and of personal piety.

This I shall now endeavour to prove, and urge upon the consideration of my readers, and as the subject is one of paramount importance to every christian, to every Church, and to every christian enterprise, I charge you, my dear readers, before Him to whom you are to give account of thy stewardship, and from whom thou art to receive plentifully or sparingly, or nothing but condemnation, accordingly as thou hast in this life sown plentifully, sparingly, or with grudging penuriousness to read carefully what I have to bring forward from that "Word of God which is to judge you at the last day." Resent not, dear reader, this bold assumption of authority over your conscience and your property. I speak to you only in God's name and as thy best friend. Thou art free to read or to shut this tract, but thou canst not shut the book of life. Thou mayst be rich and increased in goods which thou callest thine own, but "thy gold and silver are the Lord's." These are part of the talents given to thee, and for which thou must account to Him "who regardeth not the rich more than the poor, for they are all the work of His hands." Thou mayest be high and in honor, and accustomed to command and not to obey, nevertheless, He to whom thou art subject has required his ministers to "charge them that are rich, and them who

*Matt. xxv. 31-46.