2.  Every on engaged in regular business knows, or ought to know, what, taking one year with another, have been the annual proceeds of his labor or investment.  Now, on the supposition that the Lord will prosper him as heretofore, he can form some reasonable estimate of the amount, (extraordinaries excepted) which he ought to contribute to charitable purposes weekly or monthly during the period his capital is making another revolution.  This amount may be appropriated in actual donations by most business men, as they usually have more or less loose money on hand.  By those who cannot do this, it may be charged in a book kept for the purpose at the close of each week or specified period for appropriation—­“one, five, ten, or fifty dollars due to charity,”—­and on the return of their capital, pay this debt as conscientiously as they pay any other.  Then, if on the reception of their entire product, they find they have not given as much as the claims of the destitute demand, they can easily make up the deficit.  This scheme will of course call into exercise our faith; for it is acting on the belief that the Wise Disposer of events will be as merciful to us in the future, as he has been in the past.  But ought not his past goodness to strengthen our confidence in his willingness to continue that goodness?  Christ requires us to live by faith on him, and ought we not to give by faith on him?  To refuse to exercise this faith in the circumstances, partakes of ingratitude.  Besides, to decline making any, or but such appropriations as are exceedingly disproportionate to our property, until we have actually received the return of our investments, is to act on the principle, that we will not give to others until we are certain how much God will bestow upon us; in other words, that we will not trust him,—­whose loving-kindness, as the brightest star of our destiny, has shone upon us in darkness and storm,—­for a single blessing which is not actually in our hands.  Must not such conduct be exceedingly provoking to Unwearied Love?

Or this process of previous consecrations may be varied thus.  The proportion consecrated may be a certain ratio of income fixed on a sliding scale, on the principle that the greater the profits, the greater the proportion which me be spared.  For instance, on the first day of each week, or month, or quarter, or year, one may consecrate a certain proportion of his profits of that week, month, quarter, or year to the Lord, say five, eight, or ten per cent., in case they rise to a specified amount; and if they rise to a certain sum beyond this, he may fix upon a still greater proportion, say twelve or fifteen per cent.; if they rise to an amount still higher, the proportion appropriated may be still larger, say eighteen or twenty per cent., so that his benefactions to the destitute shall be in some degree commensurate to the goodness of the Lord to him.