SUBSCRIPTIONS FROM NGATIPAOA.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume V, Issue 121, 11 August 1853, Page 4

SUBSCRIPTIONS FROM NGATIPAOA.

[Translaled from the Maori.] The believing heart is quick or ready to do that which is good, and gives freely, but the unbelieving or carnal heart is covetous. When the heart is softened by grace, it will be willing to aid those who are not even friendly, and thus it will be seen that the principle of religion is strong within. These remarks have been suggested to our minds on account of information received with regard to a collection made by the tribes oil this side of llauraki, (the Thames.) The subscriptions alluded to arc by the Ngatipaoa, who reside at Wailickc, at Paliki. and at Taupo, and the following are the sentiments of their letter:— | "This is a subscription list open to all the Churches of Auckland, llauraki, and Manuka. This matter has not been brought before us by the Interpreters, but by the Minister of the Lord, who called upon his flock to give their contributions, for the purpose of erecting a place of worship at Maraitai, in order to partake of the sacrament, and who has sent Matin hither to receive our donations. "May 22, 1833." The moneys raised by the tribe of Ngatipaoa amount to 22/. ICs. '(id. We arc greatly pleased with this subscription,—though it was a request from the Minister, the natives themselves collected the money; nor is the place of worship about to be creeled for the use of the parties who subscribed the moneys, but for the people who reside at the heads of Waikato, who are no way related to them—but on the contrary, were their avowed enemies in former or olden times. Wc consider that this is one of the proofs which shows the good that has been effected by the Gospel. This is no now tiling, but a duty inculcated by the Apostles. It was thus ihal'bolievers aclcd when they embraced the truth, for we read that Barnabas, when lie became a Christian gave up his possessions at Cyprus, to the Church. "Neither was there "any among them that lacked, for as many as were possessors of land, or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that wore sold,—and laid them down at the Apostles feet."—Acts iv., 34, 53. The Churches of Antioch too, when they heard of the distress of Judea, collected money and sent it by Paul and fiaruabas to ihe Klders of the Church at Jerusalem. —Acts xi., 29. The Churches of Macedonia, and Achaia manifested the same benevolence, they collected money and sent it by Paul to the Parent Church at Jerusalem. —Romans xv., 20. The injunction of Paul on this subject is as follows:—" Now concerning the collection of the saints as I have given order to the Churches of Galalia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay bv liini in store us God hath prospered him, that llierc be no gathering when I come."—Corinthians iv., I, 2. St. Paul wished each person to lay aside a portion of his money on the fust day of the week and ihe monies given to hiin on the occasion of

his visiting llie Churches, lie undertook t° distribute to iho friends who were ill distress at Jerusalem. In Paul's second epislle lo ilie Corinthians, lie is very urgent witli the Church lo collect monies lest lie should be ashamed o. their deficiency in this respect, lesl^ there should he no visible tokens of their faith and love, when the collectors came round, their cheerful liberality having been proclaimed bv the A post It! to "the Churches of Macedonia.— •2nd Cor. ix., 1, C . The collection of monies for charitable purposes did not originate with the Apostles, the Tabernacle of Moses was erected by means of subscriptions. 'I lie account ol those subscriptions contained in hxodus, xxxv. 21,35, is very interesting. The offerings were so numerous that Moses was induced to proclaim throughout the camp, " Let neither man nor woman make any more Work for the offering of the sauclu;ir\. So the people were restrained from bringing." David too exerted himself in collecting for benevolent purposes, as did also ISchemiah and Josiah and inaiiv other leadeis among the Jews. Mary's offering to Christ was precious ointment, which she watered" with her tears ; and the poor widow whom the Saviour praised, gave her "all which was one farthing. It is stated that Ngaliteata, Ngatitipa, and Ngatikahu have commenced a collection among themselves. It will indeed be gratifying if the efforts of Ngatipaoa stimulate these irihes lo exert themselves in carrying out the Christian duty of raising subscriptions for the support of llie Church.—Communicated hj a Clergyman,