In sending a second impression of the following little work into the
world after a lapse of four years from the publication of the former
edition, it may be right to state, that my views on the subject of
it, have undergone no change in the way of relinquishment; but on the
contrary the experience of every day in my own history,--every
observation I have been able to make on the history of those with
whom I have come into the closest contact, and who have either
received or rejected the view, and in whatever degree, has tended
exceedingly to strengthen the conviction on my mind, of the
infinitely deep knowledge of the human heart, and springs of human
actions which these injunctions of our Blessed Lord manifest: and
that he means simply what he says in "Lay not up for yourselves
treasures upon earth," etc. There is an eye-salve in this doctrine,
when received by faith, that wonderfully clears the field of our
spiritual perceptions; therefore, he that can receive it, let him
receive it. Many more, certainly, have been influenced by it, and
some to a much greater extent than I had expected; and the clusters
that have adorned their branches seem to be of the true Eschol
grapes; however, of these, and many other things, time will be the
manifester, and the Lord the judge.
The principal objections urged, seem to arrange themselves under
three heads:--The influence of which this principle would rob the
Church;--the children it would leave without a provision;--and that
it would require those having estates to sell them, and would not be
satisfied with the dedication of the interest or profits arising out
of such property. My business, however, is not with the consequences
of the precept, but with the precept itself. Yet still I would say,
there is in this reasoning as deistical a disregard of the Lord's
especial government of his Church and people, as could be expected
from an infidel.
I purpose publishing, the Lord sparing me, a few remarks separately,
in relation to the first of these subjects--that of Influence;--the
nature of that which is Christian, and its distinction from that
which is worldly, and which operates either upon worldly men, or that
worldliness which still adheres to every one of us. And I shall
endeavour to show, that a grain of the pure gold of Christian
influence, which is the exhibition, in truth, of the mind of Christ,
springing from the love of Christ in the soul, is no wise increased
in value by being beaten out into plates as thin as imagination can
conceive, and employed to gild the brassy admixture of earthly
influence,--the titles, honours, rank, wealth, learning and secular
power of this world. It looks indeed like a mighty globe of gold; and
the eyes of the inexperienced may be caught by it; but the least
scratch proves its brassy character. If this simple principle had
been perceived, how differently would many public religious bodies
have been constituted for the purpose of extending the influence of
Christ's Kingdom.
With regard to the other two points, I feel they may be disposed of
under one general argument, which is this: That the principle of
God's government is paternal; and therefore its primary object is the
development in us of the character of dear children, the essential
feature of which is unlimited dependence. But, of course, this
relation implies its co-relative, the Fatherly character of God; and
the least entrenchment upon daily dependence for daily provision,
either for temporal or spiritual supplies, affects God's honour in
this character. Then, as to our children, David knew that they shall
not beg their bread--at least, that he, who had been young and then
was old, had not seen such a thing; and to suspect such a thing, is
to suspect the perfection of the Fatherly character of God; of whom
our blessed Lord said, "Your Father knoweth you have need of all
these things," and, therefore, "all these things shall be added unto
you." As to capital and estates, after knowing that our loving Father
will supply us in every need, the sooner we are disencumbered by
disbursement, for His honour, and His service, the better; for then
we shall have the happiness of seeing it spent for the glory of Him
chose it is, and for whom we are only stewards; whereas were we to
die to-morrow, we do not know whether the capital and estates may
fall into the hands of a wise man or a fools so that we may be cut of
after spending part of a year's income for God--say one hundred, out
of a thousand pounds, and this, I think, would be called Christian
devotedness by many--and the fool comes in and spends the whole
residue, twenty thousand pounds perhaps, for Satan and the corruption
of the world. But some may say, Are not all things given us richly to
enjoy? Yes; but it would be degrading indeed to the members of the
Kingdom of Christ, to make their rich enjoyment appear in consuming
on their own lusts like the members of the kingdom of Satan, those
things which they are permitted to apply to the exaltation of their
Lord and Redeemer. Be assured, my dear friends, the sooner we can see
it appropriated to God's service and glory the better. For then it is
gone for the Lord; and the world, the flesh, and the devil, cannot,
though combined bring it back, and the Lord will not allow us to wish
it were, so graciously will He receive our weak services and so
kindly and overwhelmingly repay them with the light of His
countenance, and the secret assurance in our own souls, that our
dedication has been acceptable at our hand.