on him? To refuse to exercise this faith in the circumstances, partakes
of ingratitude. Besides, to decline making any, or but such
appropriations as are exceedingly disproportionate to our property,
until we have actually received the return of our investments, is to act
on the principle, that we will not give to others until we are _certain_
how much God will bestow upon us; in other words, that we will not trust
him,--whose loving-kindness, as the brightest star of our destiny, has
shone upon us in darkness and storm,--for a single blessing which is not
actually in our hands. Must not such conduct be exceedingly provoking
to Unwearied Love?

Or this process of previous consecrations may be varied thus. The
proportion consecrated may be a certain ratio of income fixed on a
sliding scale, on the principle that the greater the profits, the
greater the proportion which me be spared. For instance, on the first
day of each week, or month, or quarter, or year, one may consecrate a
certain proportion of his profits of that week, month, quarter, or year
to the Lord, say five, eight, or ten per cent., in case they rise to a
specified amount; and if they rise to a certain sum beyond this, he may
fix upon a still greater proportion, say twelve or fifteen per cent.; if
they rise to an amount still higher, the proportion appropriated may be
still larger, say eighteen or twenty per cent., so that his benefactions
to the destitute shall be in some degree commensurate to the goodness of
the Lord to him.

In these last suggestions, a vital principle in systematic beneficence
is developed, which challenges our special attention. _It is, the duty
of making provision for the dissemination of charity previous to the
reception of our income_. This is a point of immense importance, and
may by no means be overlooked; though it is a point which Christians