ADDITIONAL NOTES by Dudley Marvin Canright

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Sep 9, 1889

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 15, No. 35.

ADDITIONAL NOTES.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

"WHATSOEVER passeth under the rod." Says Kitto in his Cyclopedia: "The tithing is to take place three times in the year, about fifteen days before each of these great festivals. . . . On each of the three occasions the herd of every owner extending over a pasture-ground not exceeding sixteen Roman miles were collected together into one fold, whilst those beyond the prescribed limits formed a separate lot. In the pen wherein the herd was thus gathered, a small door was made which only admitted of one animal at a time, and the owner placed himself at this narrow opening, holding a rod or staff in his hand, wherewith he counted each animal as it made its exit from the fold till he came to the tenth, which he marked with red color, saying, 'This is the tithe.'"

It may be said that all these scriptures concerning tithes applied to the Jewish age, and not to the Christian. Those who may look at it in this way will do well to consider, 1. The principle underlying the tithing system. All these requirements on the part of God are for man's highest good. To deny this is to deny God's wisdom and goodness. If it was for man's good in the patriarchal and Levitical dispensations; by what reasoning can it be made to appear otherwise in the Christian dispensation?

2. IF it was an obligation under the Melchizedek priesthood as recognized by Abraham, the father of the faithful, is it not just as binding upon those who hope to be children of Abraham in the anti-typical priesthood of Christ? By what reasoning can it be shown that this is not so?

3. There is much greater light shining on the people of God now than in past dispensations. We have the record of so many promises fulfilled to those who believed in the past, the proved fact that Jesus has died and risen again for us, the light of the last days showing that his coming is near and that all things of earth are soon to be swallowed up; certainly with such increased light how much more careful ought we to be to meet every obligation. Is it not so?

4. The Levites devoted themselves to the service of God for the good of the people of God. The Lord provided for their support by the tithe. The priests were more especially devoted to the holy service, attending upon the Lord continually. God made provision for their support. This provision was not a hap-hazard one. They were provided for in accordance with the prosperity of the people,—a tithe, or tenth, of the land, whether much or little. That left them to place their care and energy on the spiritual wants of the people, knowing that their temporal wants would be provided for.

God has servants now whose whole time is devoted to spiritual service, to the preaching of the word, to the building up of the people of God. Ought they not to be provided for the same as the priests of old? Is it not true that he who preaches the gospel should live of the gospel? Is that living to be so precarious that the minister of Christ is to have his chief care and anxiety turned in another direction? or should he not receive a regular income proportioned to the prosperity of the people of God? Is there a better system than the tithing for this purpose? Can it be shown that it is not now obligatory?

5. THE injunction of our Saviour was not for past dispensations: "These ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone." Matt. 23:23. It was for time to come, and had direct reference to tithing. Can it be honestly shown that it does not to our time?

6. THE prophecy of Malachi 3 is also for this dispensation, covering the entire period. The first verse refers to John the Baptist as the forerunner of Christ, Christ's messenger; it refers to Christ as "messenger of the covenant," and to both the first and second advent. Verses 2-6 refers to the priesthood of Christ, the second advent, the judgment, some of the prevailing sins of the world, and the righteousness of that remnant who will be saved. Verse 7 is a rebuke to the professed people of God. Verses 8 and 9 show wherein the people of God have departed from his ordinances. And the book closes with reference to the great day and final judgment. This chapter is parallel as regards time and application to Isaiah 58. Isaiah mentions one solemn duty neglected—the Sabbath. While Malachi presents another—tithes and offerings. Covetous man is robbing God of time and means. Can it be honestly shown that Malachi 3 does not refer to our time?

VERSES 10-12 are a compendium of blessings which will be bestowed upon the people of God if they will but yield to his requirements. Three times in those few pregnant words we read, "Saith the Lord," literally, saith Jehovah—the One who is and was and is to come, the self-existent One. "Prove me," he asks, "if I will not open the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it." God has power, will he not do as he has promised? To not accept of his conditions is to deny him.

THE heart which will truly submit to God's tests of time and means without reserve will submit to all his requirements. These requirements submitted to will teach man justice; he will render to God his own. They will make him care-taking and prudent, for he will not wish in any manner to defraud God, and to not do this he must keep strict accounts of his income. They will make him generous and merciful; for as yielding to them destroys the covetousness of his nature, the love of God takes its place. To truly submit, he must acknowledge God's claims as first of all. And to him who does this, God's love will fill his heart, bringing with its gracious influence, liberty, mercy, and love for his fellow-men. In thus submitting, that which at first was a crucifixion to the flesh will prove a rest to the heart and a regenerator to the life. Man's mind will go out beyond his own narrow sphere to the limitless expanses of the kingdom of God which he hopes to inherit. His mind instead of being dwarfed and weakened by selfishness will be enlarged and strengthened by love. He will bring gladly, not only the tithes, but the thank-offerings of a renewed heart, because he first has yielded himself. M. C. W.