and the force of appeals; though perhaps with the resolution of giving
liberally at some future period. Here lies his greatest danger. The
resolution satisfies his conscience; and while resting upon it, the
opportunity to contribute passes away, and souls are lost; whereas, had
he acted on principle, the donation, though inconvenient would have been
made, and souls saved.

Such is not unfrequently the mournful termination of impulsive
benevolence. Tears may be shed over the anguish wrought; but tears
cannot remedy the evil; this must flow on in wailing and woe forever.
But it may be prevented by the timely admonitions of experience. For
that selfishness can be suppressed, and benevolence sustained, only by
the strong hand of principle and systematic effort, is the voice of
ages.

VI. _From Scripture_. All duties enjoined in the Scriptures, if
contemplated in their principles, will be found subjected to the control
of reason; and, if they lie under the control of reason, they must be
conducted methodically. All acts of worship, from the first requisition
of Divine homage given in Eden, onward through the successive
generations of the patriarchs, were to be performed with decency and in
order. The Mosaic economy was one of the most rigid exactness. The
ritual prescribed to the Jews required the utmost method. The same law
held in regard to the payment of tithes and their multiplied gifts to
the Lord. This precision, with which every one must be struck in
reading the Old Testament, is doubtless designed for the instruction of
all succeeding times. But what is its peculiar lesson to us? It, at
least, shows us that God is pleased with regularity in the conduct of
his people; and not less in their beneficent transactions than in the
discharge of their other duties. The same principle of order is
transferred to Gospel times. Here, there may be liberty, but there must
be regularity. This is taught in that general commendation of Paul to
the Colossian christians for the order and steadfastness that rejoiced
him. (Col. ii. 5.) But if regularity in other things is pleasing to
God under the New Dispensation, why is it not in this divinest work of
an intelligent being? This is specifically shown in the injunction of
Paul to the Corinthians,*[1 Cor. Xvi. 2.] for each one to lay by him in
store on the first day of the week, as God had prospered him. Now,
without pushing this text to extremes, and affirming that