Page:The Parochial System (Wilberforce, 1838).djvu/66

 sacrifice and self denial,) we must not shut our eyes to the fact, that the subscription lists of our societies both indicate and encourage the opinion, that a man does enough when he gives that of which he does not feel the want. Because a mighty river results from the union of innumerable drops, therefore is it deemed enough that each should afford but a drop out of the abundance wherewith God has caused his cup to overflow. Far nobler and more Christian was the temper of those ages, when these societies indeed, of which we boast so loudly, were unknown; but when innumerable and most costly works arose, each as the spontaneous offspring of some high mind, the fruit of individual love, and gratitude, and self-denial.

A more miserable developement of the same vicious principle, is presented by our charity sales, and charity amusements. These are devices to effect the great results which are the natural fruit of genuine self-denying Christian beneficence, by means of our meagre and niggard rule of giving that which we shall never miss. As if to ensure the absence of self-denial, and to poison more thoroughly the very fountains of charity, we must be bribed to give to God even that which we do not want. We have ceased to give for the love of Christ, that we may learn, even in devoting our substance to His Church and to the poor, to be influenced by the love of worldly pleasure.