ould not urge frequency
of donations on this account. I would advocate benevolence only on
those principles which will give it life and vigor for eternity. The
Bible says nothing about humoring the selfishness of the heart, of
adopting plans of beneficence that will be scarcely felt. Its language
is, "Crucify the flesh with the affections and lusts." It directs us to
_die_ unto sin or self. It makes no compromise with covetousness. It
bids us not rock it to sleep, but slay it. Let every one then stand up
in the lofty sternness of his spirit, and adopt that system as to
frequency in giving, which, other things being equal, is most crucifying
to the carnal heart.

But a system of almost continued contributions will not be peculiarly
crossing to our avaricious desires, if trifling sums are given, or those
greatly disproportionate to property. In this case, selfishness,
instead of being disturbed, may be rather cajoled into a species of
benevolence; though a species as sickly and unsubstantial as the vine
that grows amid the damps of a vault, never aspiring to heaven as the
place of its nativity. But when the sums are so large as to demand
personal sacrifice, the self-appropriating principle feels it keenly.
The uninterrupted repetition of such gifts is a continued draught on its
life-blood. Its remains even in the Christian's breast are galled and
lacerated by the repeated attacks, and sometimes writhe as in "the dying
strife." Especially is this the case with one who has amassed his
property by almost daily additions;--by sums, perhaps, smaller in amount
than those which the calls of humanity now claim almost as frequently at
his hand. He sees his wealth going nearly the same way in which he
acquired it, and he feels that its very pillars are giving way. Thus
frequency in contributions, if sufficiently large, is usually most
crossing to selfishness, and most destructive to avarice; and as a
system of beneficence is instituted mainly to combat these evil
principles, we should allow but short intervals between our deeds of
charity.

3d. _We should give so frequently as to form a habit of giving_.
Jeremiah says, "Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his
spots? then may ye also do good that are accustomed to do evil." This
shows the susceptibility of our natures to the formation of habits; and
their controlling power over us. The injunction of Solomon, "Train up a
child in the way he should go,