CHAP. IV.

CHARITY.

PROFESSIONAL ASSISTANCE.

THIS

HIS kind of beneficence is chiefly to be expected from members of the legislature, magiftrates, medical, legal, and facerdotal profeffions.

1. The care of the poor ought to be the principal object of all laws, for this plain reason, that the rich are able to take care of themfelves.

Much has been, and more might be done, by the laws of this country, towards the relief of the impotent, and the protection and encouragement of the induftrious poor. Whoever applies himfelf to collect obfervations upon the ftate and operation of the poor laws, and to contrive remedies for the imperfections and abuses which he obferves, and digests these remedies into acts of parliament, and conducts them by argument or influence through the two branches of the legifla

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legiflature, or communicates his ideas to thofe, who are more likely to carry them into effect; deferves well of a clafs of the community fo numerous, that their happiness makes no inconfiderable part of the whole. The study and activity thus employed is charity, in the most meritorious fenfe of the word.

2. The application of parochial relief is entrusted in the first inftance to overfeers and contractors, who have an interest in opposition to that of the poor, inasmuch as whatever they allow them comes in part out of their own pocket. For this reafon, the law has deposited with juftices of the peace, a power of fuperintendence and control; and the judicious interpofition of this power is a moft ufeful exertion of charity, and oft-times. within the ability of those, who have no other way of ferving their generation. A country gentleman of very moderate education, and who has little to spare from his fortune, by learning fo much of the poor is to be found in Dr. Burn's Justice, and by furnishing himself with a knowledge of the prices of labour and provifion, fo as to be able to eftimate the exigencies of a family, and what is to be expected from their industry, may, in this way,

5

law as

way, place out the one talent committed to him, to great account.

3. Of all private profeffions, that of medicine puts it in a man's power to do the most good at the leaft expence. Health, which is precious to all, is to the poor invaluable; and their complaints, as agues, rheumatisms, &c. are often fuch as yield to medicine. And with respect to the expence, drugs at first hand coft little, and advice cofts nothing, where it is only bestowed upon those who could not afford to pay

for it.

4. The rights of the poor are not fo important or intricate as their contentions are violent and ruinous. A Lawyer or Attorney, of tolerable knowledge in his profeffion, has commonly judgment enough to adjust these disputes, with all the effect, and without the expence, of a law-fuit; and he may be said to give a poor man twenty pounds, who prevents his throwing it away upon law. A legal man, whether of the profeffion or not, who, together with a spirit of conciliation, poffeffes the confidence of his neighbourhood, will be much resorted to for this purpose, especially fince the great increase of cofts has produced a general dread of going to law.

Nor is this line of beneficence confined to arbitration. Seasonable counfel, coming with the weight which the reputation of the adviser gives it, will often keep or extricate the rash and uninformed out of great difficulties.

I know not a more exalted charity than that which presents a fhield against the rapacity or perfecution of a tyrant.

5. Betwixt argument and authority (I mean that authority which flows from voluntary respect, and attends upon fanctity and difintereftednefs of character) fomething may be done amongst the lower orders of mankind, towards the regulation of their conduct, and the fatiffaction of their thoughts. This office belongs to the minifters of religion; or rather whoever undertakes it becomes a minifter of religion. The inferior clergy, who are nearly upon a level with the common fort of their parishioners, and who on that account gain an easier admission to their fociety and confidence, have in this respect more in their power than their fuperiors: the discreet ufe of this power conftitutes, one of the most respectable functions of human nature.

CHAP.

CHAP. V.

CHARITY.

PECUNIARY BOUNTY.

I. The obligation to bestow relief upon the poor,
II. The manner of beftowing it.

III. The pretence by which men excufe them-
felves from it.

I. The obligation to beflow relief upon the poor.

T

HEY who rank pity amongst the origi

nal impulses of our nature, rightly contend, that, when it prompts us to the relief of human misery, it indicates fufficiently the divine' intention, and our duty. Indeed the fame conclufion is deducible from the existence of the passion, whatever account be given of its origin. Whether it be an instinct or a habit, it is in fact a property of our nature, which God appointed: and the final caufe, for which it was appointed,