MONEY AND THE KINUDOM. 253 



Many give largely, and spend as lavishly on themselves ; 

 nor is it strange, in view of the instructions often given. 

 A pastor, whose fame is in all the churches, and justly, 

 writes: "I say not, indeed, that it is wrong for a man 

 to take such a position in society as his riches warrant 

 him to assume, or that there is sin in spending money 

 on our residences, or in surrounding ourselves with the 

 treasures of human wisdom in books, or the triumphs of 

 human art in pictures and statuary ; but I do say that 

 our gifts to the cause of God ought to be at least abreast 

 of our expenditure for these other things." And a 

 worthy secretary of one of our most honored benevolent 

 societies said: " He shall see the travail of his soul and 

 be satisfied — When? Not till beneficence keej^s pace with 

 luxury.'''' Will that satisfy Him who commended her 

 that cast into the treasury all her living, who requires 

 of his followers daily cross-bearing, and admits no one 

 to discipleship who has not forsaken " all that he hath "? 

 Is the Master satisfied when a rich man to gratify ' ' a 

 nice and curious palate," spends ten thousand a year on 

 his table, provided only beneficence keeps pace with his 

 luxury, and he gives as much more to missions? Or, is 

 it untrue that God requires every one to make the wis- 

 est and the best use of all his money? 



Many churches are never taught that the consecration 

 of all our property to God is no more optional than the 

 practice of justice or chastity or any other duty. Most 

 Christians leave their giving to mere impulse ; they give 

 something or nothing, much or little, as the}' feel like it. 

 They might as well attempt to live a Christian life and 

 be honest or not as they felt like it. The churches are 

 not adequately instructed as to this duty. They hear 

 too often of the " Lord's share." The reformation must 

 begin with the pulpit. While I would not seem censo- 

 rious of my brethren, it must nevertheless be said that 

 too many ministers have not laid hold of this truth, or, 

 at least, it has not laid hold of them. 



No, there is no lack of Avealth in the churches, even in 

 hard times. When the rod of conviction and consecra- 



