We do not urge the Israelitish tithing system as embracing the whole duty of believers in the third message in point of free-will offerings. That system was necessary in God's plan of the Levitical priesthood; but the closing message presents a far greater call for something of the kind.
We regard it as an utter impossibility to find a plan that would insure perfect equality in every particular. We do not see it in the Israelitish system, though it was the result of Infinite Wisdom.
The great moral duty embraced in the tithing system is plainly taught in the New Testament, which also requires equality; and its multiplied importance should be, and will be felt by every well-instructed believer in the third message.
We have suggested a plan which in our judgment is the best to insure equality in accomplishing the object. If others can improve, or present a better plan, they will do us and the cause a valuable favor.
In answer to the question we would say, we meant just what the churches are adopting in Michigan; viz., They regard the use of their property worth the same as money at ten per cent. This ten per cent they regard as the increase of their property. A tithe of this would be one per cent, and would be nearly two cents per week on each one hundred dollars, which our brethren, for convenience sake, are unanimous in putting down.
Now for equality. Some one will say that the above is not a system of equality. Hold, brother! The above is only a part of it. Next comes the personal donations. Let the young men who have no taxable property come up nobly here, also the young women. But let that feeble brother, or aged, or that widow, if they have but little, be excused from personal donations, unless the wealthy choose to have them enter the arrangement, and pay the trifling sum for them. Also let them be excused, if they have only a few hundred dollars, from paying the weekly amount on that, if they choose, unless others pay it for them.
With these exceptions, we think all consistent believers will from choice come right up to the figures. And those worth from five to fifteen thousand dollars, whose increase of property is from five to fifteen hundred dollars yearly, are still laying up treasures on earth, instead of sacrificing. Such have a duty beyond the figures proposed. Some are so situated in life that a consistent view of the matter calls for all the increase of their property, and more. They should break in upon the principal, and decrease their abundance.
This view of the subject presents the best plan of equality we have seen. With this plan none are eased and others burdened. First, the aged, feeble, and widows are not burdened. Second, young men and young women who have no taxable property have a chance to present liberal free-will offerings. Third, others who have but a few hundred dollars, according to proposed figures, would have an extremely small free-will offering to present. Fourth, those having a few thousands are generally still better able to come up to the figures. Fifth, those who are worth from five to twenty thousand dollars should give all their increase to be consistent with their faith, instead of heaping up treasures for the last days.