Correspondence-Gospel Giving a Duty and a Privilege.

in active service, because we are saved, and not that we may be saved. The gospel makes us the sons of liberty, and not the slaves of the law.

One great branch of Christian duty is embodied in giving a portion of our income to the cause of God. God has honoured us in making us co-workers with Him in the redemption of the world. He permits us to consecrate our talents and our property in His service. Eternal life is God's free gift to us, and we are to evince our gratitude to the Giver by cheerfully giving up a part of our substance to help forward the cause of God in the world. Selfishness is the cankerworm of our nature; it eats out the life, and destroys the beauty of the soul. The doctrines and duties of the gospel are designed to expel this selfishness and to re-adorn the soul with all the beauties of holiness. The gospel inculcates supreme love to God, and sincere sympathy with man. It proclaims aloud that man is not his own property, that he is not at liberty to do what he pleases with his own energies, or with what God has committed to his trust. 'What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own, for ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.' There can be but little doubt that the church of God has neglected this high and important duty of giving to the cause of God. She has been slow to realize her obligations to the Saviour who bought her with His blood. But the time seems to be approaching when this duty will be more fully recognized, and more cheerfully acted upon. What is needed is that each Christian should feel that he owes a portion of his substance to the Lord. Let the principle of giving be diffused over the whole church. Let it touch upon all. Let the poor have the honour and privilege of giving as well as the rich. A farthing can

145

carry the stamp of Divine love upon it as well as a sovereign. The amount is of secondary importance, the principle of primary. Let this be done, and with the blessing of God, we shall see an increase of honest religion in our midst.

The method of giving, which is now being recognized and propagated among us-that of weekly storing and weekly offering-has the sanction of reason, and the support of revelation. If there be any teaching at all in the New Testament on this subject, it is this: Upon the first day of the week, let every one of you lay by in store, as God hath prospered him.'

It would give solemnity to the transactions of life, if God's share were to be sacredly set apart in all that God in His kind providence has given us. The very act would bring the giver into symyathy with the unseen and eternal.

In the days of persecution there were some who acted on this principle. Dr. Waddington, in his interesting little book, 'The Congregational Church,' speaking of a persecuted church, established in 1616, says: They issued in the same year a publication entitled "A Confession and Protestation of certain Christians in England," holding it necessary to observe and keep Christ's true substantial ordi. nances for His church visible and political. Containing a clear exposition of their principles. observe that they adopted the plan of weekly offerings.' Page 58.

We

All who have read the life of Dan Taylor must have come to the conclusion that a more laborious servant of Christ has scarcely existed since the days of the apostles. There is great moral sublimity in the struggles and labours of his life. He fought his way through immense difficulties, and through a succession of severe trials he exhibited the heroism of a man, and the fortitude of a Christian.

When entering on the business of a bookseller in order to increase his income, we find the following entry

There are many other examples March 9th, 1863. on record which illustrate selfdenial and large-hearted charity in the service of Christ. The learned Joseph Mede is represented by a modern Church historian, as a 'Man of singular charity, and sweetness of disposition, temperate, modest, and frugal in his habits, and out of his small income regularly devoting the tenth part to charitable purposes." The same historian speaking of Whately says: 'It is recorded of this good man that he, like Mede, always laid aside the tenth of his income for charitable purposes."

The spirit of the gospel is opposed

Correspondence-Query.

I am sorry to add our resources are about exhausted, and that without further help, our labours in behalf of our ministerial brethren must terminate. The amount received altogether since our appointment as a Committee by the Conference at Loughborough, is £107 13s. 6d., including the sums below, disbursed, £96 15s. 6d. In hand £10 18s. Received since last month

J. E.

147

of the apostle's expressions 'fall away,' in the 6th verse?

Does it mean simply to relapse into an unsaved condition, or not to only forsake one's religion, but turn against Christ, openly slander his gospel, proclaim him an impostor, and attribute his power of working miracles, &c., not to the energy of the Holy Spirit, but to some infernal cause? Do not the following words £ s. d. favour the latter view? Seeing they crucify the Son of God afresh, and put 1 5 0 him to an open shame. Is not the apostle in the 10th chapter of the 500 same epistle and the 29th verse alluding to the same characters ? If this be the case, if the apostle speaks of those who commit the trespass against the Holy Spirit, &c., and not of mere backsliders, may not the word, 'impossible' used by Paul, be taken in its literal, absolute sense; for our Saviour in speaking of the same sin, says 'the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.' He does not say, may not be,' or, 'it is in the highest degree improbable;' but shall not be forgiven.' I must confess that whatever be the meaning of the other parts of the passage in Hebrews I cannot but think, that when the apostle used the word

To the Editor of the General Baptist

Magazine.

6

DEAR SIR,-A. B. is much pleased with the answer to his queries on Heb. vi., 4-6, in the March number of the Magazine, and obliged to the writer for his kind endeavour to make the passage intelligible. One thing has been explained to his satisfaction, viz: that the apostle is impossible,' he meant impossible alluding to persons or characters in its unrestricted sense, and if I that have been truly converted to were to look at it a fortnight, I God. Another point he believes to could not bring myself to believe have been proved, is, that a person he meant anything else; not from thus converted, may fall away into any particular fondness I have for a state similar to the one possessed the word, but because it appears to previous to his conversion. He me most natural and correct. declares too, from the rendering given by your correspondent W. J., K., of the 13th verse of the 5th chapter of Matthew, that a serious obstacle to his correct interpretation of the passage in Hebrews has been removed.

He begs to know, as a further favour, what is the real signification

With many thanks for your correspondent's favour, and hoping the arguments the queries of my friend A. B., have elicited and may elicit, will assist many to understand this most important and difficult passage, I remain,

Yours truly,
J. W., D.

There are many other examples March 9th, 1863. on record which illustrate selfdenial and large-hearted charity in the service of Christ. The learned Joseph Mede is represented by a modern Church historian, as a ‘Man of singular charity, and sweetness of disposition, temperate, modest, and frugal in his habits, and out of his small income regularly devoting the tenth part to charitable purposes." The same historian speaking of Whately says: 'It is recorded of this good man that he, like Mede, always laid aside the tenth of his income for charitable purposes.'

The spirit of the gospel is opposed

Correspondence-Query.

I am sorry to add our resources are about exhausted, and that without further help, our labours in behalf of our ministerial brethren must terminate. The amount received altogether since our appointment as a Committee by the Conference at Loughborough, is £107 13s. 6d., including the sums below, disbursed, £96 15s. 6d. In hand £10 18s. Received since last month

Per Mr. Woodroffe, Normanton ...

...

Per Dr. Burns, London,

147

of the apostle's expressions 'fall away,' in the 6th verse?

Does it mean simply to relapse into an unsaved condition, or not to only forsake one's religion, but turn against Christ, openly slander his gospel, proclaim him an impostor, and attribute his power of working miracles, &c., not to the energy of the Holy Spirit, but to some infernal cause? Do not the following words £ s. d. favour the latter view? Seeing they crucify the Son of God afresh, and put 1 5 0 him to an open shame. Is not the apostle in the 10th chapter of the

(received in January)... 5 0 0 same epistle and the 29th verse

Yours truly,

Melbourne, near Derby,
March 13th, 1863.

QUERY.

J. E.

To the Editor of the General Baptist

Magazine.

alluding to the same characters ? If this be the case, if the apostle speaks of those who commit the trespass against the Holy Spirit, &c., and not of mere backsliders, may not the word, 'impossible' used by Paul, be taken in its literal, absolute sense; for our Saviour in speaking of the same sin, says 'the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.' He does not say, may not be,' or, 'it is in the highest degree improbable;' but shall not be forgiven.' I must confess that whatever be the meaning of the other parts of the passage in Hebrews I cannot but think, that when the apostle used the word

6

Dear Sir,-A. B. is much pleased with the answer to his queries on Heb. vi., 4-6, in the March number of the Magazine, and obliged to the writer for his kind endeavour to make the passage intelligible. One thing has been explained to his satisfaction, viz: that the apostle is impossible,' he meant impossible alluding to persons or characters in its unrestricted sense, and if I that have been truly converted to were to look at it a fortnight, I God. Another point he believes to could not bring myself to believe have been proved, is, that a person he meant anything else; not from thus converted, may fall away into any particular fondness I have for a state similar to the one possessed the word, but because it appears to previous to his conversion. He me most natural and correct. declares too, from the rendering given by your correspondent W. J., K., of the 13th verse of the 5th chapter of Matthew, that a serious obstacle to his correct interpretation of the passage in Hebrews has been removed.

He begs to know, as a further favour, what is the real signification

With many thanks for your correspondent's favour, and hoping the arguments the queries of my friend A. B., have elicited and may elicit, will assist many to understand this most important and difficult passage, I remain,

Yours truly,
J. W., D.