The more important any business becomes, the more essential is precision in its management.  This is a universal maxim.  Now, as beneficence, in its comprehensive import, rises superior to all other employments, so, if it ever reaches its highest possible results, it must be carried on systematically.  How often does benevolence to the poor fail of accomplishing all that it otherwise might, were it not exerted irregularly; whereas, when proceeding in equable flow, by encouraging frugality and economy, it fills even the dwellings of poverty with comfort.  How much more efficient would our great benevolent societies become, were the contributions of the churches uniform, or uniformly rising like the waters from the sanctuary in Ezekiel’s vision; so that those who conduct them might have sufficient data on which to erect their schemes for the future.  It would infuse new life into all their operations; elevate them to a loftier position, from which they might stretch their arms around the world, and kindle joys reaching to heaven.  Besides, is it not matter of personal experience, that when order enters into, and pervades our worldly business, we accomplish far more than when it is left to the driftings of fortune, or to the mere suggestions of the mind?  And can any reason be assigned why the same practice should not be equally productive in carrying out the noblest work of our being?

Thus personal experience in other matters observation, and theory, alike teach us that the work of benevolence may not be left to the impulses of natural feeling—­to the influence of lectures and appeals, or casual stimulants.  It must be planted in principle, and issue in regular contributions, like the tree of life yielding her fruit every month, if we would have the blessing of many ready to perish come upon us.  Those who depend on intermittent springs are liable to suffer thirst.

IV. From the deep-seated depravity of the human heart.  Depravity is supreme selfishness.  This, in unregenerate men, is the governing principle.  Quick-sighted, ever on the alert, and lying, as it does, at the foundation of the active powers, it becomes the propeller of the mind.  It leads to a series, and thus substantially to a system, of actions.  They may not always be rational; yet, as they spring from a fixed principle, and proceed in an uninterrupted current, they may properly be termed systematic.  Hence the natural man feels a constant pressure of motives to conduct pleasing to himself; and is thereby borne away on the maddening torrent of self-gratification.  There must be a counter-current; billow must battle with billow.  The antagonist principle demanded is benevolence; and antagonist principles, coming in collision, must press with equal force, or one gradually gaining upon the other, will eventually secure the victory.  The combatant, who is for a moment off his guard, or ceases to struggle, falls.  As selfishness is always awake, benevolence must never