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I should formally record both my plan, and my proceedings in carrying it out. As in my worldly business all becomes confusion, unless my income, my outlay, and all my pecuniary transactions, be regularly entered in some register or put on file-so here, I need a register adapted to my purpose; I must enter therein what I devote to God, and how I employ what has thus been devoted. True; all this may occasion trouble, but can a faithful steward decline trouble for his Lord? All this may differ widely from what is usual among men in the use of their property, or what has long been usual with me. But it is not the usual, it is the divine, the righteous, the revealed, and the authoritative sayings of God, that are my standard, and these demand such a course as that which is now suggested.

But fourthly, and to be less general still, it appears every way expedient for a steward deliberately to set apart for his Lord a determinate sum. That sum should bear a rightful proportion to the Lord's goodness, or in other words, the means which he has placed at the steward's disposal-a tenth, a fifth, a half.

Fifthly, That proportion should be periodically adjusted. There may be occasions when it must be diminished; but there may also be seasons when it should be increased, and that increase should be duly and conscientiously made. Once each year, or oftener, the transaction should be reviewed, especially by those whose incomes fluctuate, as in the case of business-men. Just as the upright dealer, who would neither deceive himself, nor be deceived by others, periodically "takes

stock," should the stewards of God periodically investigate their position as his stewards, and revise their givings to his cause. By this By this process, the right proportion would be adjusted from time to time, and neither would the treasury of God be defrauded, nor the selfishness of man be pampered.

Next in regard to "laying by in store" as urged by Paul when writing to the Corinthians, that injunction is in spirit as needful still, as it was eighteen centuries ago. Would I have the means at command for works of charity and mercy? Would I be prepared when the poor are in need, or when the claims of the heathen are urged? Then I must "lay by" for that purpose. It is not to be left to chance whether I can aid or notjust as it is not to be left to chance whether I am to be honest and upright with my neighbour. Out of my "store" in one form or another, I am to be ready to distribute, not merely when clamour calls, but statedly, periodically, and on system. The poor man from his weekly earnings, the richer from his ampler means, and the richest out of his abundance, are all to be ready to give, but that they are not likely to be, unless they have devoted a due proportion for the direct service of God, and adopt deliberate means for carrying their purpose into effect. There may be a will to perform, but not a readiness, or ability, unless such a "store" be at hand.

Seventhly, It were desirable, nay, it seems essential, that an upright steward should bind himself to punctuality in his stewardship by some formal written deed, unless conscience be prompt, and habit already con

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firmed. Having deliberately, and under the eye of his Lord, fixed on the proportion to be given, let it be recorded and religiously adhered to. A mental resolution may be evanescent, and too commonly is so. It is the embodied purpose that stands prominently out before the conscience, soliciting, nay demanding, the due attention. All past systems have failed to draw forth the needed liberality. The cause of God still languishes. Stewards are still unfaithful. The poor and the perishing continue poor and perishing still, in spite of all appeals however touching, and all oratory however powerful. Now, why is this still the case? Perhaps because men do not adopt the system of deliberately recording their purpose to act as God's stewards. That should be done with all the solemnity of a latter will, and conscience would thus be both enlightened and re-inforced. In a word, nothing should be left to impulse or casualty—all should be definite and precise. The amount to be given, the objects to be aided or promoted, should all be accurately defined, just as a merchant defines the nature of his business, or the channels of his trade.

But, Eighthly, It is not to be supposed that by such deliberate proceedings, the steward is to continue bound, even though his circumstances should be entirely changed. Nay, if the Lord of all in providence discharge him, by some unforeseen loss of property, he is free to modify or cancel the dedication. But we speak in general terms of all ordinary cases; and in these, men should regard what they have consecrated to God as a

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just and lawful debt, not to be alienated without dishonesty, and a deep wound to conscience. Acting in this spirit, men would become as upright and exact in their dealings with God as many are honest and highprincipled in dealing with man. They would be as much ashamed to meet their own conscience when God is defrauded, as they would tremble to have their books examined did they contain a registry of deceptions and of frauds; and why, we repeat, should upright men be more lax toward the Great Proprietor than toward their fellow-stewards ?*

* For some of these suggestions we are indebted to a friend who is much engaged in business, and well acquainted with its details and its dangers on the one hand, and with the claims of charity and mercy on the other.

SCRIPTURE-ITS LIBERALTY.

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CHAPTER IX.

EXAMPLES IN GIVING THE RIGHT.

"The liberal deviseth liberal things, and by liberal things shall be stand." -ISAIAH XXxii. 8.

Henry Clay-The liberality of Scripture, a proof of its divine origin―The early Church-Modern examples of proportion in giving, Baxter, Doddridge, Wilberforce, Budgett, and others-Rev. James Hervey-His system in giving-His discretion in giving-John Wesley-David Dale -Robert Haldane-A steward indeed - His Plans - Thwarted Man's hostility to God's cause-The South Sea Islanders-The Sandwich Islanders-Individual examples of liberality-The Bristol Orphanage -George Müller.

An American Statesman, Henry Clay, once exclaimed, “I had rather be right than President," and the sentiment has been ten thousand times applauded, but not so often acted on, amid the struggles and temptations of political or mercantile life. Let us now, however, contemplate the conduct of some who had caught the spirit which prompted Clay's remark, and who, as stewards, sought to do justly, to love mercy, and walk humbly with their God.

The whole tenor of Scripture is signalized by a large and an unearthly liberality—in that aspect, it is plainly divine. First of all, the Father gives the Son. Then the Son "gives himself for us." Next, the power to wel