It would not meet the requisitions of the command, “Thou shalt love they neighbor as thyself.”  Would an Irish lord, amidst the scenes recently experienced in his unhappy country, surrounded by hundreds and thousands of miserable beings, starving, sick, and dying, be justified in view of this law, by contributing to their relief a bare tenth of his income?  Every noble heart will answer in the negative.  These times of agony demanded far greater sacrifices.

Thus all efforts to fix upon a definite ratio of income or property of universal obligation, will give constant ground for questions of casuistry inevitably tending rather to screen the conscience, than to stimulate to generous activity.

But what does the Gospel teach us on the subject?  The religion of the Gospel begins in the heart.  “Son, give me the heart,” is its fundamental precept.  In the Gospel scheme, every individual stands by himself, on his own responsibility; he is bound by a personal tie to his Maker.  The conduct it prescribes is entirely spiritual.  It requires a burning heart, shedding its light and heat on all around.  According to its code, every act must gush from holy love.  It does not prescribe just the amount of action to be put forth, in any one direction; but the heart and conscience of each, guided by wisdom from above, are to direct him.  It is thus with Angels and the redeemed about the throne.  A holy heart, bathed in the truth of heaven, is all the general rule they need to enable them to discharge their duties, and to adapt themselves to the various circumstances in which they may be placed to eternity.  Such is their moral state, that the least intimation of Jehovah’s will sends them speeding on wings of fire to do his pleasure.  The Gospel places man on earth in the same relation to him, and intends that he shall act on the same general principles.  It teaches us that all we have belongs to God, and that all we do must be done to his glory.  A soul, permeated by this heavenly spirit, would find a knowledge of the destitution and woes of others, and an ability to relieve them, a sufficient stimulant and guide.  Angel-like, it would send forth spontaneously the felicitating streams which the Gospel appoints.

This is the source and spirit of all Gospel benevolence.  Says Paul, “Every man according as he purposeth” (desireth or chooseth) “in his heart, so let him give.”  There is to be no constraint.  The working of individual good-will is to be the measure of individual bounty; for “God loveth a cheerful giver."[This principle does not apply to the support of a pastor. _Paul_ does not put charity and the support of the pastor on the same ground.  Compare 2 Cor.  Viii. and ix.  With 1 Cor. ix.  Other elements come in, modifying the result in the latter case. 1.  The idea of wages. 2.  The idea of copartnership.  Each member of the church, on principles of common honesty, is bound to bear his share of the common expenses.] But though no given proportion of property is definitely enjoined, there are certain general principles laid down, by which we may make approximations towards a proportionate amount, and never be at a loss respecting individual gifts in specific instances when the heart is right.  The following are such.