o the believing
reader on three passages of the word of God. In 1 Cor. xvi. 2, we find
it written to the brethren at Corinth, "Upon the first day of the week
let every one of you lay by him in store, as God has prospered him." A
contribution for the poor saints in Judea was to be made, and the
brethren at Corinth were exhorted to put by for it, _every Lord's day_,
according to the measure of success which the Lord had been pleased to
grant them in their calling during the week. Now, ought not the saints
in our day also to act according to this word? There is no passage in
the word of God why we should not do so, and it is altogether in
accordance with our pilgrim character, not only once or twice, or four
times a year, to see how much we can afford to give to the poor saints,
or to the work of God in any way, but to seek to settle it weekly. If it
be said, I cannot ascertain how much I have gained in the course of the
week by my business, and therefore I cannot give accordingly; my reply
is this, Seek, dear brethren, as much as possible, to bring your
business upon such a footing as that you may be able, as nearly as
possible, to settle how much you have earned in your calling in the
course of the week. But suppose you should be unable to settle it
exactly to the shilling or pound, yet you will know pretty well how it
has been with you during the week, and therefore, _according to your
best knowledge_, contribute on the coming Lord's day towards the
necessities of the poor saints, and towards the work of God, as he,
after your having sought his guidance, may lead you.

Perhaps you say, the weeks are so unlike; in one week I may earn three
or even ten times as much as in another week, and if I give according to
my earnings from my calling during a very good week, then how are such
weeks, when I earn scarcely any thing, or how are the bad debts to be
met? How shall I do when sickness befalls my family, or when other
trials productive of expense come upon me, if I do not make provision
for such seasons? My reply is, 1. I do not find in the whole New
Testament one single passage in which either directly or indirectly
exhortations are given to provide against deadness in business, bad
debts, and sickness, by laying up money. 2. Often the Lord is obliged to
allow deadness in business, or bad debts, or sickness in our family, or
other trials which increase our expenses, to befall us, because we do
not, as his _stewards_, act _