AN ADDRESS | AdventAI

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 3, 1859

AN ADDRESS.

From the Church of God at Battle Creek, to the Churches and Brethren and Sisters in Michigan.

DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS: We wish to call your attention to a plan of systematic benevolence to support the proclamation of the Third Angel's Message, which may be in harmony with the plain declarations of Holy Scripture.

"Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come." 1 Cor. xvi, 2. "For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not. For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened: but by an equality," &c, 2 Cor. viii, 12-14. "That the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not of covetousness. But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity; for God loveth the cheerful giver." 2 Cor. ix, 5-7.

The texts here cited all relate to one purpose which the Apostle was endeavoring to accomplish, which was, to send relief to the poor saints which dwelt at Jerusalem. We may learn from Acts ii, 44, 45; iv, 32-37, the reason why such assistance was needed by that church. They had expended their means in the cause of God at the very commencement of the work, and were thus reduced to poverty. Hence when Agabus stood up at Antioch, and signified by the Spirit that there should be a great dearth throughout the world, "the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judea; which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Paul." Acts xi, 27-30.

It was fifteen years subsequent to this that Paul wrote to the Corinthians to engage them also in this benevolent work. In the text cited from 1 Cor. xvi, he proposes the method which should be adopted by the churches in the prosecution of this object. And in the texts quoted from the second epistle he shows the motives that should actuate them in this work. That the great Apostle succeeded in this effort appears from Rom. xv, 25-31. "But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints. For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia (Corinth was a city of Achaia) to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem." We have an account of Paul's visit to Jerusalem with this bounty for the saints. Acts xxi, 15. "And after those days we took up our carriages, and went up to Jerusalem." The word rendered carriage is literally baggage; and such was once the signification of the word in English. Thus much respecting the circumstances that stand connected with Paul's directions to the Corinthian church. It remains that we gather from these facts some instruction relative to our own duty.

If Paul found it essential to complete success, that method should be observed in raising means for benevolent purposes, it is certainly not unreasonable to conclude that we should find the same thing beneficial in promoting a similar object. As Paul wrote by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, we may rest assured that his suggestions were not only safe to follow, and calculated to insure success, but also that they were in exact accordance with the will of God. We shall not therefore displease him by adopting the suggestions of his servant Paul.

"Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him," &c. This implies, 1. A stated time for the business; viz., the first day of the week. 2. The concurrent action of each individual; for he adds, "let every one of you" lay by him in store. 3. And this is not a public collection, but a private act of setting apart for the Lord a portion of what one possesses. 4. The amount to be given is brought home to the conscience of each individual by the language, "as God hath prospered him." How may we reduce to practice these excellent suggestions? We recommend the following plan, which we think all, with very few exceptions, can adopt.

1. Let each brother from eighteen to sixty years of age lay by him in store on the first day of each week from five to twenty-five cents.

2. Each sister from eighteen to sixty years of age lay by her in store on the first day of each week from two to ten cents.

3. Also, let each brother and sister lay by him or her in store on the first day of each week from one to five cents on each and every one hundred dollars of property they possess.

Each church may choose one of their number whose duty it shall be to take the names of those who cheerfully act upon this plan, and also the sums they propose to give each week, and collect these sums on the first of each month, and dispose of them according to the wishes of the church. Those scattered, and not associated with any church, can act for themselves, or for their households, in the same manner.

The lowest sums stated are so very small that those in the poorest circumstances (with very few exceptions of some widows, infirm and aged) can act upon this plan; while those in better circumstances are left to act in the fear of God in the performance of their stewardship, to give all the way up to the highest sums stated, or even more, as they see it their duty to do.