Morning Star

SYSTEMATIC CHARITY.
BY L. F. DIMMICK.

The subject of religious charities, is to some people an unpleasant subject. Even those who feel it a duty to make some appropriations in this way, yet do not always do it with so willing a mind as is desirable. There is a way in which it may become a pleasant subject. In the first place, love the Lord your God with all your heart. In the second place, love your neighbor as yourself. In the third place, set apart a certain portion of your income as soon as it comes into your hands, or as soon as you have it in prospect, expressly for this purpose. Some have followed the example of Jacob, and vowed one tenth of their income to the Lord. Some have perhaps consecrated less; and some have consecrated even more. Whatever the portion may be. the setting it apart on first receiving it, is attended with many. advantages. It is acting from a settled plan. And surely the business of doing good, the great work for which man was sent into the world, ought to have some plan by which to be prosecuted. Then, further, when the stipulated portion is set apart, you feel that it is no longer yours. When a call is made, therefore, you do not consider it is a demand upon your purse. It is, if the object be worthy, a demand upon the Lord's treasury. made by the Lord himself. And. be assured, under these circumstances you will meet the demand with joy, and not with grief. Only pursue this method, for this year, and if you do not find the subject of religious charity a pleasant subject, then are these remarks made altogether under a misapprehension. This method, while it would remove all the unpleasantness of the subject, would at the same time increase the amount of contributions to benevolent objects: God would be glorified by "cheerful givers;" men would be happy in giving; the cause of benevolence would go forward with greater rapidity; and heaven would rejoice over the accelerated work.