Ezra 1:4

Let the men of the place help him with silver.

Spontaneous offering

“Not many years since,” writes a clergyman, “I had occasion to solicit funds to aid in the prosecution of a work of benevolence. I stepped into the office of a Christian friend, with whom I had a partial acquaintance, and incidentally mentioned the unpleasant business before me, and inquired of him for the residence of a certain benevolent individual, and added that I hoped to get one dollar of him. After receiving directions, I turned to go out. ‘But stop,’ said this brother, ‘suppose you let me have the privilege of contributing a little of the money which the Lord has lent me to this cause. Put down £20 for me.’ I expressed my surprise that he should contribute so liberally, and remarked that I should feel myself in duty bound not to call on him very soon on a similar errand. ‘Well, then,’ said he, ‘my brother, I think you will very much mistake your duty. If you knew how much pleasure it gave me to contribute of my substance to the Lord, you would feel no reluctance in calling again. And now let me charge you, when engaged in similar business, never to pass me by. Call, and I think I shall be able to do something; and if not, my prayers shall go with you.’“ (Signal.)

A stimulus to generous offering

Two weeks ago I told you that three thousand dollars had got to be raised to pay for the repairs of this house. The plates were sent round, and about six hundred dollars were raised. I was heartily ashamed, and have not got over it yet. Last week the trustees came, and asked me if I would name the matter again, and I said, “No, I will not.” But this week, upon their renewed application, I have consented to speak once more. If this don’t do, you may pay your debt how you can, for I will never mention it again. I’m not going to be a pump to be thrust into men’s pockets to force up what ought to come up freely. When the surgeon comes to a place where he must cut, he had better cut. For more than a year I’ve seen that our plate collections grew meaner and meaner. I didn’t want to face you with such things as I’ve got to say to-day, and I put it off as long as I could. Now I shall speak plainly once for all, not having the face to bring the matter up again. This debt has got to be paid, and will you meet it honourably, and pay it like men, or will you let it drip, drip, drip out of you reluctantly, a few dollars st a time? You can take your choice. I’m not going to try to drill money out of you as I would drill stones. The amount of meanness among respectable people is appalling. One needs to take a solar microscope in order to see some men. (H. W. Beecher.)