Then as to the manner of the giving. We are told that it should be cheerful, for God loveth a cheerful giver. It should be no stereotyped and immutable thing, the same through life, but “as God has prospered us.” It should be systematic, as the result of careful thought and weekly planning on the Lord’s day, under the influence of the memory of His resurrection. For it was after his great argument on the resurrection that Paul said “now concerning the collection,” and it was because of its connection with that resurrection that he specified “the first day of the week” as that on which every one should “lay by him in store as God hath prospered him.” Weekly storing in the Lord’s box at home on the Lord’s day, that is what Paul recommends, and then when the Lord makes his appeal to us we can cheerfully give Him of His own. In the neglect of this plan, and the making of gatherings for this and that cause as each comes along, we have the explanation of the disfavor with which, in the public service, too many hear the announcement that a contribution will be made. But now, finally, as to the motive. Here it is: “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor that ye through his poverty might be rich.” The bringing of such a motive to bear on so simple a thing as the making of a contribution for the poor saints of Jerusalem seems like cracking a nut with a Nasmyth steam hammer. But Paul knew what he was doing when he dictated these words. He wanted to exalt and consecrate all Christian beneficence by having it done from the most powerful Christian motive. And after the presentation of such a motive there is no more to be said. For when men know the grace of Christ, they will never feel that they have given Him enough, and till they know it they will never give _Him_ anything. They may contribute to keep up appearances so as to be like other people, or to gain a reputation, but they will never give to _Him_ until they know His grace. This is the very pith and marrow of the matter. Before men give to Christ they must receive from him, and when they have received Christ Himself into their hearts they will be impelled to give. _Im_pelled, not _com_pelled; for the delight and the duty will coincide, or rather the duty will be merged in the delight. So we come round to the point at which we set out. A revived church will become a giving church, and a giving church is the fore-herald of a converted world.