“MISSIONARY PAPER. 
 
 7 ‘THE DIVINE METHOD OF RAISING CHARITABLE 
 eo CONTRIBUTIONS. 
 
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MISSIONARY PAPER. 
 
 THE DIVINE METHOD OF RAISING CHARITABLE 
 CONTRIBUTIONS. 
 
 _ “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.” 
 
 1 Cor. xvi. 2. 
 
 Love gives a cup of cold water to a disciple. Love 
 visits the needy and the afflicted. Love goes forth to seek 
 and save the lost. Ina distant country, under the burn- 
 ing sun, amid privations, many and great, love cheers the 
 weary, drooping stranger, while he pities, and instructs, and 
 guides the returning wanderer. So God sent his Son into 
 the world to save sinners. So the Son came, saying, “I 
 delight to do thy will, O my God.” ‘To build the taber- 
 nacle, the willing-hearted brought enough, and more than 
 enough. Said the man after God’s own heart, ‘“‘ Because 
 I have set my affections to the house of my God, I have 
 of mine own proper good, of gold and silver, prepared 
 with all my might three thousand talents of gold, and seven 
 thousand talents of silver. Who then is willing to conse- 
 crate his service this day unto the Lord?” 
 
 Love was the grace of God bestowed upon the churches 
 of Macedonia. Then, ina great trial of affliction, the abun- 
 dance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto 
 the riches of their liberality. They were willing of them- 
 selves beyond their power. ‘They prayed the Apostles 
 with much entreaty to receive the gift. They first gave 
 themselves to the Lord, and then were they ready to do 
 his will in every good work. Love inspires the grateful 
 recollection of the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, 
 though he was rich, yet for our sakes became poor,. that 
 we through his poverty might become rich. We are not 
 our own, but are bought with a price; and, in the exercise 
 of love, we devote to him that loved and bought us, all that 
 we are and have, and all that we can do, to carry inte 
 
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2 The Divine Method. 
 
 effect his designs of mercy to perishing men, and we ask, 
 each one for himself, 
 
 ‘¢ What can I do for Him that died, 
 To save my wretched soul 1” 
 
 Knowing, as we do, the languishing state of the 
 missionary enterprise, in all its departments, we shall 
 rejoice to find the Divine Method of raising all the funds 
 we need. 
 
 Let us examine this DIVINE METHOD. 
 
 1. It is to contribute frequently and statedly. Upon 
 the first day of the week. This is frequently, for it is 
 once in seven days. Nor shall we think that God calls 
 too frequently, if he calls once a week, to make some 
 appropriate acknowledgement of his right, by giving a 
 portion of what he gives us, to carry on his peculiar 
 work in the world, and to save the perishing; to save 
 them, not from starvation, but from perdition. Can oncea 
 week be too frequently to lay by in store to feed the hun- 
 gry and clothe the naked? Was it not ordered in the 
 Churches of Galatia, as well as in the Church of Corinth, 
 that the same rule should be observed? . And can we 
 hesitate for a moment to adopt it in regard to the evange- 
 lizing of the world? Once a week—can this be too 
 often to make a pecuniary contribution to send the word 
 of life, or the messenger of mercy, announcing life to those 
 who are dead in sins? Were our souls where theirs are, 
 should we think once a week too often to be thought of 
 and prayed for, and labored for, that we might live? 
 Relief must be had. God has ordered it to be given by 
 us, and given on the first day of the week. Frequently, 
 so that we may never forget it. 
 
 Statedly also. Upon the first day of the week. What 
 day could be more appropriate? The Redeemer’s birth- 
 day. Asitis said, ‘‘This day have I begotten thee.” 
 The day of the Church’s foundation : for, on the first day 
 of the week, the stone which the builders rejected, be- 
 came the head of the corner. What precious associations! 
 A rising Savior! A Church founded! Now, on the 
 same day, we lay by in store that which may honor the 
 Savior, add lively stones to the building, send hope to 
 the benighted world. It must be good also to begin the 
 
 
 
 
 

 
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 The Divine Method. 3 
 
 week with this labor of love. Let God have the first fruits 
 of all our time; let the noble object of saving lost men, as 
 co-workers with God, pre-occupy our thoughts and our 
 plans, give tone to our spirit, and direction to all our 
 movements. ‘Il’o commence the week in this manner 
 assimilates earth to heaven, the employments of Christians 
 to the employments of angels. The sanctity and the bles- 
 sedness of the Sabbath are thus spread over all our time 
 and all the work of our hands. Thus frequently and sta- 
 tedly the Divine Method requires to lay by in store. 
 
 2. It is fo contribute universally. ‘‘Fvery one of you.” 
 Is it a duty to contribute frequently and statedly for 
 evangelizing the world? Whose duty is it? the duty of 
 every Christian. Is it a privilege? Whose privilege? 
 Does our Lord demand the service of every one? Does 
 he not, at the same time, allow every one the privilege ? 
 Who is it, then, among all his friends, that is to be 
 exempt from the duty? Who that is to be deprived of 
 the privilege? Not one. Due allegiance is expected of 
 all, and due favor is shown toall. It is ordained that 
 every one shall lay by him in store. How suitable and 
 how beautiful is this arrangement! Here the whole 
 Church of Christ, the high and the low, the rich and the 
 poor, the male and the female, appear before him on the 
 first day of the week. Nor does any one appear empty. 
 Every one lays by him in store an offering, as an acknowl- 
 edgement of obligation and thanksgiving. This being 
 done frequently and statedly, and on that day of consecra- 
 tion and blessing, it is suited to produce the most happy 
 results. Here all hearts beat in unison before the face 
 of the Lord. This act is done by every one in his own 
 dwelling, under the eye of the Lord, who seeth not as man 
 seeth, but looketh upon the heart. From a principle of 
 obedience and love every redeemed sinner gives an offer- 
 ing to the Lord. While this method cherishes the best 
 feelings towards God our Savior, and towards his people 
 and cause, it does, at the same time, lie as the basis of all 
 that is needful by way of contribution. 
 
 For a moment think of the power which the mighty 
 Savior can call into action on this principle. Suppose a 
 church of two hundred and fifiy members. Let every one 
 be poor, and every one lay by only the widow’s two mites, 
 

 
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 4 The Divine Method. 
 
 which make a farthing. One cent a week from two 
 hundred and fifty Christians, will amount, in a year, to at 
 least one hundred and twenty-five dollars! Is not the 
 Divine Metuop one of great power? How vast the sum 
 from a million of Christians!—from a million of poor 
 Christians! Not less than five hundred thousand dollars! 
 
 But this is by no means the divine standard of contribu- 
 tion. Itis only the frequency and universality that we 
 have yet considered. And far be it from us to intimate 
 that the rich are to contribute no more than the poor. 
 Such is by no means the Divine Meruop. 
 
 3. It is to contribute in due proportion. ‘‘ As God 
 hath prospered him.” It is supposed that every Christian 
 is engaged in business. It is needful while in this world 
 that every one should have some honest and laudable 
 mode of acquiring property, both to supply personal and 
 domestic wants, and afford a surplus for the needy. 
 Believers were generally poor in apostolic times, and 
 obtained the means of their support by their daily labor. 
 
 “At the end of the week, their work being done, they could 
 
 be ready to observe the Divine Providence in regard to 
 them, and to know how they had been prospered in their 
 business. And this was the rule of proportion for their 
 contribution. They might lay by in store a certain per 
 cent., five, ten, twenty, or any other proportion, just as 
 they were able, or as their love prompted them to do, 
 either more or less. If, at any time, they had received 
 more than common, then their proportion would be the 
 same, while the amount would be greater. And so if 
 they had received less. This would operate equally upon 
 all the members; for the rich would give abundance from 
 their abundant income, and the poor would give a little, 
 just in the same proportion. 
 
 The Apostle does not say, however, how much each 
 man should give, only that it should be proportionate to 
 each one’s prosperity. Every one is able to exercise his 
 own judgment. God wishes not that we should feel as 
 tributaries, but as friends and children; that he is Lord 
 of all, the Father of mercies, and the Savior of the lost ; 
 that we should understand the work he is engaged in, and 
 that we are allowed and expected to co-operate in it. 
 And, that our views may be enlarged and our affections 
 
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The Divine Method. 5 
 
 engaged, he allows us the unspeakable privilege of con- 
 sidering his kingdom as our kingdom, his work as our 
 work, his glory as our glory, and the happiness and glory 
 of all that is achieved and done, as his joy, in which we 
 are permitted to share. With such a work before us, 
 and such results as our ultimate reward and portion, he 
 calls us to take part in the work, with the assurance that 
 every one shall receive a reward according to his own 
 labor. With our eyes fixed on the future joy, he allows 
 us to deny ourselves, to labor, to make sacrifices, and 
 bear his cross, just in proportion to our faith and love; all 
 proceeding spontaneously from our ardent affection for 
 him, and his cause, and the souls of men. In this blessed 
 enterprise he lays out before us, not only this world, 
 which is the field in which he works and employs us, but 
 heaven and hell, with their eternal realities. Heaven, the 
 dwelling of all that become holy and happy, on the one 
 hand; and hell, with the wicked and the lost, on the other, 
 God reveals to us as the final destination of every soul of 
 man. It is not, then, a mere estimate of our doing a 
 certain amount of labor, or giving a certain amount of 
 contribution, or bearing a certain weight of sorrow and 
 affliction, that is to regulate our action, or our suffering; 
 but it is the worth of the soul, the bliss of heaven, the 
 pains of hell, the example of God, angels, and good men, 
 that are to be always before us. Such are the themes of 
 thought, the expanding, ennobling, and invigorating reali- 
 ties, which are to move us. And, with these in view, God 
 allows us to judge and determine how great shall be the 
 amount that we will consecrate to this noble, angelic, 
 godlike enterprise. The purpose and the act are to be 
 our own, in the sight of God, with the glory and joy that 
 are set before us. 3 
 Such is the Divine Merson, 
 
 4, Itis such as requires order and care. ‘ Let every 
 one of you lay by him in store.” Laborers have store- 
 houses. In them they preserve the fruits of their labor. 
 They have also a place for their money ; their iron chest 
 or some other place of safety. This is their treasury. In 
 this they deposit the results of their industry and frugality. 
 For what? For the double purpose of order and safe- 
 keeping. On this place of deposit, how much thought 
 
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 6 The Divine Method. 
 
 may be expended! It is the store, perhaps, laid up for a 
 day of trouble, or for the helplessness of old age, or as an 
 inheritance for children. In view of this store, one may 
 say to his soul, “‘ Thou hast much goods laid up for many 
 years.” Another may calculate how much he may gain 
 by the provident use of this store; or he may pride him- 
 self on the power he can exert with his wealth. Others 
 may look towards their little store with an anxious eye, 
 unable to tell how their wants shall be supplied amid the 
 vicissitudes of an uncertain hereafter. 
 
 But where is the man who keeps a treasury for God? I 
 mean a place of deposit, in which he may lay up in store, 
 as God has prospered him, his contribution for the relief 
 of the needy, especially the needy soul. It would be no 
 great stretch of the imagination to suppose that a pious 
 mind would find as much pleasure in thinking of the 
 Lord’s treasury as of his own. It is the testimonial of 
 his heavenly Father’s bounty. Every thought of it calls 
 forth a new emotion of love, with a strong desire to do 
 good to the needy. In this treasury the money is safe, 
 and it is ready. This was one design of the Apostle in 
 ordering this deposit—‘‘ that there be no gatherings when 
 I come.” He was making collections in Asia and 
 Europe, among the churches of the Gentiles, to relieve 
 the poor saints at Jerusalem. He was the general agent 
 in this concern. As he was passing from one church 
 to another to promote ‘their spiritual interests, he was 
 willing to take charge of their collections, and be the 
 bearer of them for the relief of the poor. But he did not 
 wish to do what they could do themselves. Nor did he 
 wish to be diverted or detained from his great work while 
 their collections were being made. If they would follow 
 his directions, all would be ready. He would receive their 
 bounty, and rejoice with them in their readiness and 
 liberality. Then God would be pleased with their cheer- 
 fulness, and honored by the abundance of thei contri- 
 bution and their joy. So in all cases of charitable 
 liberality, if the Divine Mernop were followed, how 
 pleasant, how delightful would be the aspect of the Church! 
 Every member laying by him in store upon the first day of 
 the week, as God had prospered him, what an abundance 
 would there be for every want! How promptly, how 
 cheerfully, how satisfactorily would every want be met ! 
 
 “Sa, 
 
 
 
 
 
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 The Divine Method. 7 
 
 Then would there be no complaint of hard times; for 
 every one’s bounty would be ready. ‘Then would there be 
 no complaint of too many calls; for on every Lord’s day 
 the store would be replenished. Let there be a call on 
 one Lord’s day for the Bible Society ; on another for the 
 Tract Society; on a third, for the Foreign Missionary 
 Society; on a fourth, for the Home Missionary Society ; 
 on a fifth for the Education Society; on a sixth, for the 
 Sabbath School Society ; and so on, till all the Societies, 
 which deserve our aid, have called—and then—what ? 
 Let them call again; for again we shall be ready. Note, 
 however, that the Apostle does not direct these supplies to 
 be laid by in the house of God on the first day of the week ; 
 but every one in his own house. Then, at the call of the 
 Lord, there may be brought forth, from every one’s store, 
 whatever has been laid by, or as much as may be needful 
 and proper for that object. 
 
 Let rHese Divine InstTrRucTIONS BE APPLIED. 
 
 1. Personal responsibility 1s an essential element of 
 the Divine Mevuop. 
 
 Our Lord does not intend that the individual shall be 
 lost in the mass. His eye is upon the treasury. He ob- 
 serves every Offering. ‘The rich may cast in much. But 
 his eye is upon every one. He orders every one of us, on 
 the first day of the week, to lay by in store as he has pros- 
 pered us. And he looks as carefully at the gift of the poor 
 as at the gift of the rich. He kindly takes notice of the 
 love, the hard labor, the self-denial of the poor disciple who 
 presents a small oblation. The turtle-dove, the young pi- 
 geon the two mites, the hard-earned shilling, given cheer- 
 fully, joyfully, with a heart overflowing with faith and love, 
 attracts the notice of the ‘‘ High and Lofty One.” But if 
 there be among his professed followers, one, or two, or 
 any other number, who present no oblation, how do you 
 think the Omniscient views them? ‘They have no trea- 
 sury for God. ‘They lay by nothing in store. They have 
 no present for him in their hand, nor in their house. He 
 sees nothing in all they possess designed for him, unless 
 connected with some self-interest. Do you think that 
 Christ is pleased with such? They may think, indeed, 
 that the church to which they belong does much; and 
 they may think that they shall pass along with the church, 
 
 
 

 
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 8 The Divine Method. 
 
 as being bountiful. But what theology, what logic is this? 
 The Church ts bountiful; therefore, every member is boun- 
 
 tiful? Do such expect to die with the mass, to be judged — 
 
 with the mass, to be admitted into heaven with the mass? 
 Is it not written that, ‘‘ Every one of us shall give account 
 of himself to God?” And does not the same authority or- 
 der that ‘‘ upon the first day of the week, every one shall 
 lay by him in store as God hath prospered him?’ As cer- 
 tainly as every member of the Church is an individual 
 being, just so certainly is every one ordered to lay by in 
 store as God hath prospered him. 
 
 2. Lhe Divine Method is feasible-—In regard to ma- 
 ny plans there is doubt whether they will operate well in 
 practice, because it may be difficult to carry them out. 
 But there-is no difficulty in regard to this; for only one 
 person is concerned in carrying itout. He is not depend- 
 ent on any one but himself. None need inquire whether 
 the whole church, or any considerable number, or even 
 any other one, will do it. It is apersonal matter. Nor 
 can any one say he is not able; for it is only to lay by in 
 store as God has prospered you. It is the simplest of all 
 methods, and can be easily carried into effect by every 
 one that desires to do it. Let there be but a willing mind, 
 and you will do as did the contributors to build the taber- 
 nacle or the temple; or, as did the Gentile churches to 
 relieve the poor saints at Jerusalem. A willing mind 
 makes a cheerful giver, and God loveth a cheerful giver. 
 
 3. The Divine Method is for the best interest of the 
 Church.—Let every member try it at once. It will give 
 new views to many on this most practical subject. It will 
 greatly enlarge the mind. It will put every one on a de- 
 sire to arrange his affairs with system. It will. tend to 
 inspire every one with energy. It will dilate the heart 
 with joy. It will open a new source of enjoyment. And 
 it will give an unwonted impulse to all religious feeling 
 and action, and to the common business of life; for, as 
 you adopt this Divine Method you will feel more than 
 ever before that you live for God, for the Church, for the 
 benefit of souls, and for a vast eternity. Your meditations, 
 your prayers, your plans, your whole manner of life will be 
 improved. You will at once become more like Christ in 
 
 
 
 
 
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 The Divine Method. 9 
 
 your regard to the great work of evangelizing the world; 
 and, in many important respects, the aspect of the world, 
 of time and eternity, will be changed. You will aim at 
 higher, nobler, more enduring, and more glorious objects, 
 for you will more readily understand the mind of Christ, 
 and more justly estimate the superlative excellence of his 
 kingdom and glory. 
 
 4. The Divine Method carried out will furnish abun- 
 dant supplies.—If one cent a week from a million will fur- 
 nish five hundred thousand dollars, as the contributions of 
 the poor, what an abundant supply will be furnished when 
 the more able and the rich shall lay by in store as God has 
 prospered them! Fifty cents are but the tenth part of five 
 dollars. If every one should adopt Jacob’s vow, what an 
 income would annually flow into the Lord’s treasury! For 
 every ten dollars one; for every hundred dollars ten: for 
 every thousand a hundred! But we are not to suppose 
 that the more able will be content to give no larger pro- 
 portion than the poor. Where much is forgiven, the love 
 will be much. Where the Lord bestows bountifully, he 
 expects to reap bountifully. And the pious soul, that 
 receives much from the Lord, delights to consecrate 
 much to him in return. There can, therefore, be no 
 doubt of abundant supplies, if the Divine Method be 
 carried out. 
 
 5. The Divine Method affords a test of Christian 
 love.—In some parts of the world a man becomes a Chris- 
 tian at the risk of his life. So it was generally during 
 the first three hundred years after the Christian era. 
 And thus were verified the words of Christ to his disciples: 
 Ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. He 
 added, ‘‘ He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that 
 hateth his life for my sake, shall find it.” But what is 
 the test of Love to Christ, at this time, and in this land ? 
 It is not the name of Christ. So many are called Chris- 
 tians, that the name is far from being a term of reproach. 
 It requires no self-denial, no sacrifice, no cross, to assume 
 the Christian name, at this time, and in this country. 
 What then is a test of Christian lave? Is it orthodox 
 doctrine? Is it moral duty or religious form? Is it 
 penance or abstinence? Is it frequent or long continued 
 
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 10 The Divine Method. 
 
 exercises of prayer, preaching, or effort to persuade 
 sinners to become such sort of Christians as everywhere 
 abounds? None of these, nor all of them together ; for 
 all these may be where there-is nothing of the peculiari- 
 ties of that love which would die for Christ. But here is 
 a test of Christian love. When one hears the command 
 of Christ, “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel 
 to every creature,” and says, ‘‘ Lord, here am I, send me,” 
 and goes forth: when another perceives that he is not 
 qualified to go, but is willing to do as much at home, and 
 deny himself as much, and suffer as much to encourage 
 and sustain him that goes,—this is Christian love; and 
 this is precisely what 1s needed in this country at this 
 time. For the sake of illustration, suppose that you were 
 to devote yourself and your all to the missionary cause, 
 just as the most devoted missionary of whom you ever 
 heard, and labor at home instead of going abroad. You 
 live in as good a house, and wear as good apparel, and 
 spread as good a table, and regulate all your expenses, and 
 
 improve all your time, and train your family just as you 
 .think it becomes your brother, the missionary, to do; at 
 
 the same time you deny yourself as much, and do all in 
 
 - your power as much to promote the cause, as you expect 
 
 him to'do. In all these things you keep the Lord Jesus 
 Christ in view, and seek to please him, and imitate his 
 example, and bear his cross, and seek his kingdom. You 
 also, as a true yoke-fellow, work shoulder to shoulder with 
 them who toil abroad ; pray as they pray, and feel as they 
 feel, and hope as they hope. Tell me now, is not this 
 Christian love? Tell me again, does not the Divine 
 
 Method \ead to this very course? Is it not then a test of 
 
 Christian love? Is not this the very thing that is needed 
 at this time and in this country? It is not a bloody test, 
 to be sure; but is it not as surely atest? Admit indeed, 
 if it be demanded, that all this might be without love to 
 Christ.- We contend, too, that a man might “ give his 
 body to be burned” without charity; but this alters not 
 the nature of the test. It still stands good for this pur- 
 pose; and by this must Christian love, at this day, and in 
 this land, be tried. 
 
 6. Finally. Shall the Divine Method be adopted and 
 pursued ?—For one, I answer in the affirmative. I will 
 
 
 
The Divine Method. E.. 
 
 not preach to others what I will not do myself. I have 
 weighed this matter; and I beg you to allow me to say, 
 without being thought ostentatious, that I have practised 
 this method, substantially, for about thirty years. I. do 
 not say that I have literally laid by on the first day of 
 the week, as God has prospered me; but that I have 
 done the same as to the general amount. I do not 
 say that I have loved Christ, or his cause, or the souls of 
 men, or denied myself and suffered so much as I might 
 have done. But I do say that 1 have, during these years, 
 devoted a certain proportion, a tenth at least, of all that 
 God has-given me, to his treasury. Nor would I have 
 said this publicly, were it not that consistency. seemed to 
 require it, for I wish to bear testimony that the Divine 
 Method is good. It impresses upon the Christian a sense 
 of personal responsibility ; it is feasible ; it is good to the 
 one who follows it; it enables one to do his part in con- 
 tributing to evangelize the world ; it ts a test of Christian 
 love. ‘And now, I must urge every one to adopt and pur- 
 sue this method. The single fact that it is of God, is 
 sufficient to recommend it to every one that loves God. 
 Then the fact that it is called for at the present time to 
 sustain and carry forward the missionary enterprise, should 
 recommend it to every one who loves Christ and the souls 
 of men. It proposes that something be done; that it be 
 done now; that every Christian should do it, and continue 
 to do it. It isno oppressive method; but one of equality. 
 It is no partial method ; but one to be adopted by every 
 Christian. It is no fitful method; but one to be pursued 
 steadily, as based on Christian principle. It is no unsuit- 
 -able method ; but one adapted to the exigency of the times 
 and adequate to all the demands of charity. It is no novel 
 invention; but it has stood the test of ages. Nor is it 
 just now discovered; for it is written in the ancient 
 records. ‘The author of ‘“‘ The Great Commission ” urges 
 it as appropriate to the present wants of the world, as well 
 as of divine authority. We expect of our missionaries as 
 much at least as this Divine Method requires. And why 
 should not every one of us do as they do, and bring all 
 our love, and self-denial, and practical energy to bear upon ° 
 this heavenly enterprise? . “‘ Who then is willing, this 
 day, to consecrate his services to the Lord,” and to a 
 perishing world? ‘* His God be with him, and make him 
 a blessing to thousands of millions.” 
 

 
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 APPENDIX. 
 
 
 
 Kingsboro’, Fulton Co., N. Y., June 22, 1844. 
 To the Rev. WiLL1aM J. ARMSTRONG. 
 
 Dear Broruer :—Your favor of the 3d instant proposed to 
 me “to append the practical results of the system, as they have 
 been brought out under my own observation and among my 
 own people.” It is easy to state many facts, but not so easy to 
 ascertain their causes. Many influences co-operate to produce 
 results, especially in the cause of benevolence, which is not 
 congenial to the selfishness of our nature. During more than 
 forty years, my congregation, with me, have been receiving 
 good influences to effect the little of charitable contribution, 
 which we have made for the promulgation of the gospel. For 
 little it certainly is, when compared with our ability and oppor- 
 tunity, and the greatness of the work of evangelizing the world. 
 Whether it is more, or less, than others have done is of no con- 
 sequence. “For they that measure themselves by themselves, 
 and compare themselves among themselves, are not wise.” 
 The Lord is our judge, and I have many times feared that he 
 would not be able to say of any of us, “ Well done.” But the 
 Lord is good, and has given us grace to do a litile in his service. 
 Would that we had such a testimony as the apostle gave of the 
 churches in Macedonia—“ For to their power, yea, and beyond 
 their power, they were willing of themselves.” 
 
 Foreign Misstons have always been the most prominent 
 object of Christian benevolence in my own view and in the 
 view of many of my people; because the unevangelized must 
 have a preacher to make known the word of God, that they may 
 hear, and believe, and call upon him, and be saved. About the 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 The Divine Method. 13 
 
 time of the formation of the American Board of Commissioners 
 for Foreign Missions, one of our members read “The Star in 
 the East,” and “ Christian Researches,” by Dr. Buchanan, and 
 then said, “I thought, if I had but two dollars in the world, I 
 would give one of them to aid in sending the gospel to the 
 heathen.” Not many years after he gave one hundred dollars 
 to the Board, in four equal payments of $25 each. Onward 
 from year to year we continued to contribute till the year 1833, 
 when we undertook to sustain one missionary in the foreion 
 field; not naming him, but leaving the Prudential Committee to 
 appropriate the money as they saw best. We undertook to 
 raise $600 annually, supposing that might be the average 
 
 amount, needful to sustain a missionary family. For eleven 
 
 years, including *33 and 743, our payments amounted to 
 $6,476 76 ; i. e. $600 annually, on an average, except $123 24. 
 We are sorry to say that so much is behind of our missionary’s 
 salary, and that we did not always pay him punctually. Ws 
 hope to make it up in time to come. ; 
 Tue Brsie Secrery has always been subject to fewer cies: 
 tions than any other benevolent institution ; and from the year 
 1816 it has received the cordial support of many. Indeed al- 
 most all classes of people agree to give the word of God to the 
 destitute. For the last nine years, commencing with 1835, my 
 congregation have contributed a little more than $2,100. Butas. 
 their contributions have been collected with those of other deno- 
 minations in some cases, it is not easy to separate them. The 
 amount collected in this place and Gloversville is considerably 
 more than I have stated above. But that sum, at least, is: 
 known to have been paid by members of my congregation. 
 Home Misstons received our early attention; and for some 
 years before 1833 we raised several hundred dollars, and one 
 year about $500. But after ’33 the annual amount was not so 
 great, though ranging in the neighborhood of one hundred 
 dollars. But for the last two years the spirit of home missions 
 is revived, the amount being $736 31. It was our wish to 
 sustain four men, while preaching the gospel among the desti- 
 tute in our great western valley. Perhaps, including a box of 
 clothing, forwarded to one missionary and not included in the 
 
 2 
 
ow nhyineciagaperroritopermentcencsprpenierht enka snaeninpierited biped 
 
 14 The Divine Method. 
 
 above sum, we have not come short of realizing the object of 
 our desiré. 
 
 Tue Epucation Society has encountered more difficulties 
 among us than any other of the benevolent associations ; and 
 yet most of the pious believe that special pains need to be 
 taken in this department. When truly enlightened on the sub- 
 ject, they feel that it is of vital importance in all our missionary 
 operations. Probably an average of $75 annually for the last 
 ten years would not be far from the truth. 
 
 Without specifying the amount contributed to other benevo- 
 lent associations, it may suffice to say, that the Tract Society, 
 the Séaman’s Friend, and Bethel Societies, the Colonization 
 Society, the American Sunday School Union, and some other 
 associations usually share in the annual contributions of the 
 congregation. What the whole amount may have been, for 
 any one year, I am not able to say. Nor is it at all necessary 
 to present the sum total for the last ten, or any other number of 
 years. It is well known that during the series of the last ten 
 years, some have been remarkable for pecuniary prosperity, and 
 others as remarkable for pecuniary embarrassment. Our peo- 
 ple have shared in both. But the amount of contribution during 
 the last five years has been greater than ever before during as 
 many years. The years of plenty produced less for the Lord’s: 
 treasury than did the yeas of scarcity; showing the need of a 
 father’s correction. We commenced building a new house of 
 worship during the last of the years of prosperity, and were 
 obliged to pay in those of adversity. More than $7,000 were 
 thus called for in “ hard times,” in addition to our usual contri- 
 butions, during the last five years. On the whole we have 
 much reason to be thankful for the grace bestowed, though 
 connected with salutary corrections. ‘The principle and the 
 spirit of liberality have received new accessions of strength, 
 and many lessons have been taught, which will not soon be 
 forgotten. 
 
 “ You have a large congregation,” say strangers sometimes to 
 me, in view of our contributions for benevolent objects. No— 
 120, or 130 families are about all that are connected with our 
 congregation; and the average number of members of the church, ' 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 The Divine Method. 15 
 
 during the last ten years, has been about 250. We are not 
 
 large, but about as large as country congregations in general. 
 
 «Then you are rich.” By no means. Our land does not 
 bring forth by handfuls. More than one has said, when ob- 
 serving the nature of our soil, “ How is it that your people are 
 able to contribute so much?” So much!—when shall we 
 cease to compare ourselves with some that contribute less in 
 proportion to their means? May the time come when we shall 
 compare ourselves with the churches of Macedonia! We are 
 not rich. If we were, I fear that we should feel able to give 
 much less than we do. For riches tend to strengthen the hold 
 on money, contract the heart, and harden it against the cries of 
 the needy. 
 
 I am sorry to say that as some few of my people approximate 
 towards wealth, they contribute less in proportion to their 
 ability than they did before—less than some, whose ability does 
 not equal theirs. Hence the need of Agur’s prayer, “ Give me 
 neither poverty nor riches:” for poverty allows not the means 
 —riches take away the heart. Men of industry and frugality, 
 who gain by their toil and skill, and occupy the medium be- 
 tween want and abundance—these are the men to give. Such 
 are our contributors, with very few exceptions. They gene- 
 rally earn, during the year, what supplies their own wants, and 
 enables them to “lay by in store” for the treasury of the Lord. 
 Industry and frugality are, in this sense, the two olive branches 
 through which grace from the Lord pours the golden oil into 
 the lamp, which illumines the world. Of the deceitfulness of 
 riches I will name one case as illustrative of others. A man 
 told me some time ago, in connection with the duty of paying 
 our vows to the Lord, that he had experience on this subject. 
 «One year,” said he, “I was prospered pretty well, and gave 
 $50 for foreign missions. I thought, if I should be prospered 
 as much the next year, I would give $500. I was prospered 
 just about as much, and then I gave $50. The year following 
 I lost all. I think it is best to pay our vows.” 
 
 From what I have observed among my people, during a period 
 of forty years, I am as well established in the faith, that Chris- 
 tian liberality is conducive to prosperity in the best sense, as I 
 

 
 16 The Divine Method. 
 
 -am..in the faith, that a sinner is saved by grace and not by 
 
 works. I know that “the silver and the gold are the Lord’s.” 
 I know that “ there ‘is a man, who scattereth, and yet increas- 
 eth; and there is a man, who withholdeth more than is meet, 
 but it tendeth to poverty.” I have seen such contrasts as are 
 described in the following stanzas : | 
 
 “That man may last, but never lives, 
 Who much receives, but nothing gives, 
 Whom none can love, whom none ean thank, 
 Creation’s blot, creation’s blank ! 
 
 ‘The man who marks, from day to day, 
 In gen’rous acts‘his radiant way, 
 Treads the same path his Savior trod— 
 The path to glory and to God.” 
 
 I have seen men commence life with property enough; and 
 have observed them wasting away and coming to nothing, while 
 toiling hard to get more, but never contributing to charitable 
 objects. On the other hand, I have seen men begin with noth- 
 ing, who became pious, and then liberal, and then able enough 
 for all the purposes of living comfortably and usefully and re- 
 spectably in the world. On the whole I amsure, that as a gen- 
 eral fact, Christian liberality tends decidedly to advance all the 
 desirable interests of this life; while the contrary practice tends 
 either to poverty and vice, or to deadness and hardness of 
 heart to the common sympathies of humanity. I could specify 
 cases, but there is no need. And I hesitate not to recommend 
 to any, and especially to a young man, to act on the principles 
 of Christian liberality, just in proportion as he desires to be 
 prospered in the best sense in the things of this life. And 
 when a man contributes a suitable sum for any judicious pur- 
 pose of benevolence, I feel that he is receiving more good, than 
 if he should receive the same amount as a donation. Hence 
 the pleasant feeling I enjoy, when inviting men to contribute — 
 for such purposes. I feel that 1 am doing them more good in 
 receiving their free-will offerings, than I should do them, if I 
 were carrying around silver and gold to give to them just as 
 much as they give ta the Lord. 
 
 
 
 
 
The Divine Method. 17 
 
 One thing more, my dear Brother, remains to be stated. It 
 48 the influence of this system on the wterests of religion in this 
 congregation. ‘Two things need to be considered in relation to 
 this part of the subject, and they are inseparably connected: 
 one is, the influence of the system upon religion; the other, 
 the influence of religion upon the system. As bothare of God, 
 their action and influence are mutual. I must first consider the 
 influence of religion upon the system. Religion’s essence is 
 holy love :—love to God—love to men. The system, implied in 
 the Divine Method, is designed to diffuse love through the 
 world. Hence their mutual influence. Religion, borne upon 
 the wings of the heavenly dove, takes: up its everlasting abode 
 in the soul. Hence in every heavenly communication, and es- 
 pecially in every genuine revival of religion, love to God and 
 man receives an impulse towards its objects—to the glory of 
 God, and the salvation of men. Hence too, I have found every 
 revival of religion among my people giving new accessions to 
 the energy of divine love in promulgating the gospel. Other 
 happy effects follow, but this is one of the most desirable. 
 More than forty years ago the first revival laid the foundation 
 for benevolent action among my people. And forty years ago 
 this very season, a charity sermon preached in the city of Al- 
 bany, by the venerable man, who has presided so long over 
 Union College, seemed to give the first impulse to my heart and 
 to some of my people, on the blessedness of relieving the dis- 
 tressed,—either in body or mind. In the years 1814, ’15, and 
 716; in 1822; in 1829, ’30, ’31, ’82, and ’83; and in the years 
 1838 and *39, the influences of heaven descended copiously, 
 and caused perceptible advances to be made in the several de- 
 partments of missionary enterprise. ‘These divine influences, 
 in connection with the labors of excellent missionaries and 
 agents, aided us greatly in the divine work. Missionary publi- 
 cations also have exerted a powerful and steady influence on — 
 this cause. As a specimen, one man, who used to give a few 
 dollars before he read the Missionary Herald, gave ten times as 
 much after he read it. But it was the power of religion on his 
 heart, which led him to love, and then to think, to read and to 
 give. Religion too has led to a fixed principle of doing good. 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 18 The Divine Method. 
 
 This being fixed, the next thing is to inquire how the good 
 work may be done ; systematically, frequently, liberally. Hence 
 the adoption of the Divine Method. Yet 1 would not venture 
 to say how far this method had been adopted and carried out. 
 No definite arrangement has been explicitly entered into in re- 
 gard to it. Yet frequent, cheerful, and proportionate contribu- 
 tions have been made, and made for years by individuals. Ido 
 not know definitely what proportion many individuals give, nor 
 how often they actually deposit their money in the Lord’s treas- 
 ury. I think that many advantages result from carrying out 
 the system as near the letter of the Apostle’s instructions as can 
 be. But it is not essential, provided accurate accounts of our 
 receipts be kept, and the money be ready when called for. 
 Each contributor subscribes or pays, when the call is made. 
 Calls are made for some object almost every month; and made 
 when agents come, or when the season appointed for the object 
 arrives. ‘Towards the close of the year, or near the commence- 
 ment of a new year, a report is generally made of all that has 
 
 been done during the year. ‘Thus religion influences our char- 
 
 itable contributions, and we are encouraged to pray and labor 
 for the outpouring of the Spirit, not only that God may be glo- 
 rified in the salvation of the souls immediately affected; but 
 also that God may be glorified in the increased liberality of 
 Christians, already engaged in the work, and in bringing new 
 helpers to put their hand to the work, for the salvation of a 
 world. 
 
 As to the influence of the system in promoting the cause of 
 religion, I cannot state facts to my own satisfaction. But it 
 seems to me that it must be of great value, as presenting an 
 object in which genuine piety finds a salutary test. The ques- 
 tion may often be asked: What does your religion cost? Is it 
 anything more than a profession and an observance of divine 
 ‘ordinances and institutions? In what do you deny yourself? 
 How do you show your love to Christ and the souls of men? 
 A systematic contributor can feel, if he does not say, and others 
 will feel, if they do not hear him say, that he acts consistently, 
 and honors his religion and honors God with his substance. He 
 does not serve “God with that which costs him nothing.” He 
 
 
 
 
 
The Divine Method. 19 
 
 manifests the state of his mind by following in its spirit, if not 
 in the letter, the Divine Method of doing good. It is not the 
 impulse of the moment, which draws from him occasionally a 
 contribution ; but it is a subject, on which he thinks, over which 
 he prays, and on which he sets his heart. And one thing I am 
 bound to say, that the systematic, regular, liberal contributors 
 are seldom, if ever found among the “troublers of Israel.” 
 Our trouble in the church, during the forty years, has been with 
 other classes of members. One [ shall never forget who caus- 
 ed us a great deal of trouble. “Would you give a dollar for 
 missions, if you knew it would save asoul?” He answered 
 not till his dying day. I am sure therefore that systematic con- 
 tribution prevents trouble by keeping Christians engaged in do- 
 ing good. 
 
 But alas! We are far from being as we should be, either in 
 the power of religion, or in the spirit of liberality. Some say 
 that we give too much. Not such, however, as give much. 
 And now I declare it to be my deliberate conviction, that, if all 
 our members would follow the Divine Method, as some do, our 
 annual contributions would be doubled; our Christian light 
 would shine with manifold more splendor ; our character, where 
 we are known, would be vastly improved; and the amount of 
 effort to evangelize the world would greatly redound to the 
 glory of God, while upon us would descend “the blessing of 
 many ready to perish ”—who will perish through our neglect, 
 if we do not speedily extend to them the means of salvation. 
 Such thoughts fill me with grief; and then I cry out for more 
 to come to the help of the Lord, and to the rescue of souls. 
 The Lord forgive us and the Christian world for past neglect, 
 and move our hearts to do his will, as did the Macedonians, to 
 the extent of our power. 
 
 Your affectionate brother, 
 
 Exisoa YALE. - 
 
 
 

 
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