The conclusion, therefore, at which we arrive touching the amount of our charities is this:  it should be such as our means, a distinct knowledge of the wants of others, and a heart of overflowing love, shall prescribe; leaving each one to his own solemn convictions of duty, amenable to the bar of God.

But it may be objected, if beneficence is thus left without the specification of some stated amount, selfish, or but partially sanctified men, will not give as liberally as they ought.  Perhaps they will not.  But all we can so is to press on their attention the commands of Jehovah, and the claims of a dying world—­claims, as strong and affecting as those which brought the Saviour from the throne to the cross; and telling them what the Apostle, enforcing also sparingly; “and he who soweth bountifully, shall reap also bountifully,” leave them to settle the matter of their covetousness with their Final Judge.  We may pray and weep over them; but we may use no efforts to move a single individual from that moral basis—­his own conscience—­on which God has placed him.  Here he must stand; and here we must be willing he should stand; while he himself is under infinite obligation to lay bare his bosom to the energizing influences of truth, and cheerfully yield to its sway.

2. How frequently should stated contributions be made?

System implies order, regularity.  Systematic beneficence implies regularity of contributions, or of stated periods for appropriating property to the Lord.  In regard to the frequency of these statedly recurring periods, there are different opinions.  Owing to the variety, extent, and complexity of men’s avocations, some find it convenient to make consecrations accurately proportionate to prosperity, much more frequently than others.  Hence some advocate the weekly period, some the monthly, while others plead for still longer intervals.  Indeed, to fix upon a definite rule of universal application determining the frequency of periodical contributions, will be found nearly as difficult as to ascertain the precise ratio of property to be bestowed.  There are, however, certain leading principles, which, if contemplated with rectitude of heart, will enable us to please God by the wisdom of our benefactions, no less in this respect than the last.

1st.  As a stepping-stone to a series of more important considerations, showing that these periods of consecrations should very frequently recur, I remark that most may set apart some portion of income without inconvenience as often at least as capital or labor makes returns.  These are the occasions when Providence pours his treasures into our bosoms; when alone we can determine precisely how the Lord has prospered us, and consequently how much we are able to bestow.  Hence if no designations of income to charity have been previously made, or if they have not been sufficiently large, these opportunities of coming to some definite